The present invention concerns a hygiene-maintaining device of an underpressure-activated valve for a drinking receptacle. The valve is used to control a pressurized or non-pressurized liquid outflow from the receptacle. The liquid may be a liquid nutrient, for example a refreshing drink or a milk-containing product, and the liquid may be pressurized from carbon dioxide or some other suitable gas. Preferably, the present hygiene-maintaining device is intended for use in connection with a drinking spout or similar drinking device for the drinking receptacle, or in connection with a cap for the drinking receptacle. For example, the drinking receptacle may be a bottle, soft drink bottle, feeding bottle, carton, pouch, can, tube, paper drinking cup or a plastic cup.
The invention is based on the use of an underpressure-activated valve of a type that includes a suction chamber for opening the valve to liquid outflow from the drinking receptacle. Various examples of such underpressure-activated valves with a suction chamber are known from patent publications mentioned hereinafter. The underpressure-activated valve opens when said suction chamber is exposed to an underpressure P2 relative to the ambient pressure P1 of the drinking receptacle. Normally, the ambient pressure will be atmospheric air pressure. Preferably, the underpressure P2 is formed in response to a consumer of the liquid sucking air out of the suction chamber via a downstream drinking opening connected to the chamber. Moreover, the liquid is present in is the receptacle at a pressure P3, which represents an overpressure relative to the ambient pressure P1. The composition and mode of operation of the valve will be described in further detail hereinafter.
Common to said known examples of such an underpressure-activated valve is that liquid must exit via at least a portion of said suction chamber. Consequently, liquid residues may remain in the suction chamber after cessation of the liquid outflow. Depending on the type of liquid contained in the drinking receptacle, this may result in bacterial growth in the liquid residues and potential bad odour emanating therefrom. As such, there is a risk of bacteria being mixed into subsequent liquid outflows so as to create unhygienic conditions therein, which is undesirable.
The following patent publications show examples of underpressure-activated valves of the present type:
Generally, most valves consist of an activation element and a seal member. The activation element is connected to the seal member and can move the activation element between an open and a closed position. The activation element may comprise an operating member (or maneuvering member) and a bracing element connected to the operating member. The operating member is arranged so as to provide an activation force, which is transmitted via the bracing element to the seal member in order to move the seal member and open the valve. For example, the bracing element may be a strut, a valve stem or a tube. The seal member may be a valve head that is attached to the bracing element, and which closes, whilst in position of rest, a liquid outlet opening within or connected to the drinking receptacle.
The underpressure-activated valves according to the above-mentioned patent publications make use of a pressure sensitive operating member activated by means of an underpressure P2 in said suction chamber. A flexible membrane, possibly parts of a membrane, a bellows or some other flexible body of similar type may be used as an operating member. The operating member is pressure-balanced against the ambient pressure P1 of the drinking receptacle, and the operating member is arranged so as to open to air outflow when the pressure P2 in said downstream drinking opening is less than the ambient pressure P1 by a predetermined value. Thereby, a resulting differential pressure (P1-P2) moves the operating member with said valve-opening activation force, which is transmitted to the seal member of the valve.
As mentioned, a substantial disadvantage of the valves according to said patent publications is that remaining liquid residues in the suction chamber may be mixed into subsequent liquid outflows so as to create unhygienic conditions therein.
The object of the invention is to remedy the above-mentioned disadvantage of said known and underpressure-activated is valves.
The object is achieved by means of features disclosed in the following description and in subsequent patent claims.
In principle, the object is achieved by arranging the valve so as to fully or partially prevent liquid residues from entering into the suction chamber of the valve. In practice, this is achieved by placing the suction chamber separate from a liquid outlet path through the valve. Simultaneously, the suction chamber must be connected to at least one activation opening through which said underpressure P2 may be established to activate the operating member of the valve.
The operating member is movable and comprises at least one flexible zone being resilient upon movement thereof. As such, the operating member may include, at least partially, a flexible body, for example a membrane of suitable construction and material(s). NO 316506 shows several examples of suitable membrane constructions. Besides, Norwegian patent application 2002 5193 shows a membrane construction in the form of a conically shaped membrane sleeve arranged so as to transmit maximum opening force to the valve's seal member upon underpressure-activated movement of the membrane. In the following, such membrane constructions will be shown in greater detail and in association with the present hygiene-maintaining valve device.
At least one bracing element connects the operating member to the seal member of the valve. The bracing element is of a design allowing throughput or bypassing of a liquid outflow from the drinking receptacle. As such, the bracing element may consist of a liquid throughput tube, or of a bypassable valve stem.
At least whilst in position of use, the underpressure-activated valve is connected to and pressure-sealingly encloses an outlet opening in a suitably shaped wall portion associated with the drinking receptacle. The valve is provided at the downstream side of the outlet opening. Said wall portion may be a portion of the drinking receptacle, or it may be a wall portion, preferably an end wall, of a cap for the drinking receptacle. The wall portion functions like a partition between the inner space of the drinking receptacle and the outer surroundings thereof. Hereinafter, the wall portion will be referred to simply as a partition, and the outlet opening of the partition will be referred to as a partition opening. When the valve is open, liquid exits through the partition opening, through the valve and onwards out through a downstream drinking opening connected to the valve. Preferably, the valve is provided within a drinking spout or similar drinking device. The underpressure-activated valve may also be arranged for releasable connection to the drinking receptacle or to a cap for the receptacle.
The seal member of the valve is provided at the upstream side of the partition opening. Whilst in position of rest, the seal member bears pressure-sealingly against a valve seat or similar provided at the upstream side of the partition. When an overpressure P3 is present in the drinking receptacle, the seal member will be forced harder against the partition and thus seal the partition opening better off (so-called positive pressure-sealing). Upon underpressure-activation of the operating member, the bracing element is moved in an upstream direction and pushes the seal member away from its valve seat, thereby opening the valve to liquid outflow. This valve construction is appreciably different from the valve according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,090, the seal member of which is provided at the downstream side of the outlet opening of the drinking receptacle. Thus, the valve according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,090 will open automatically at a certain overpressure P3 in the receptacle. Therefore, and contrary to the present discharge valve, the valve according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,090 should only be used for non-pressurized liquids in the receptacle.
In order to separate the present valve's suction chamber from the valve's liquid outlet path, either the operating member or the partition may be provided with a separating barrier enclosing both the partition opening, at the downstream side thereof, and the bracing element. This barrier constitutes the hygiene-maintaining device of the valve and represents the distinctive characteristic of the invention. For example, the barrier may consist of a tubular body, e.g. a sleeve, connected to the operating member or the partition, cf. subsequent examples of embodiments.
Inasmuch as the valve's operating member and bracing element are arranged movable relative to the partition opening, thereby enabling opening and closing of the valve, said barrier should be associated with a liquid-flow-restraining device arranged so as to fully or partially prevent liquid flow between the suction chamber and the liquid's outlet path during said relative movement. For this reason, the barrier should be connected to at least one liquid-sealing device that seals between the barrier and the relatively-moving valve element against which the barrier seals. The liquid-sealing device may consist of an intermediate sliding seal, for example in the form of a seal surface, a seal lip, an elastic bellows or an elastic connecting material movably connecting the barrier with the relatively-moving element. Alternatively, a constricted passage, which restrains liquid flow therethrough, may be formed between the barrier and the relatively-moving element. A combination of the above-mentioned seal devices and other known seal devices may also be used.
Even though the suction chamber and the liquid's outlet path are physically separated in order to fully or partially prevent liquid residues from entering into the suction chamber, said at least one activation opening and a downstream portion, preferably a downstream drinking opening, of the liquid outlet path may be arranged in proximity of each other. In some embodiments, the activation opening may also include a portion of the liquid outlet path. Preferably, the drinking opening is provided within a drinking spout of a cap for the drinking receptacle. Such a relative placement of the activation opening(s) and said liquid outlet portion renders possible to establish a valve-activating underpressure P2 in the suction chamber, simultaneously allowing liquid to flow past the suction chamber and out of the liquid outlet portion.
The at least one activation opening may be present as any suitable number of openings of appropriate shape, size and extent. Several activation openings may also have similar or dissimilar size and shape. The at least one activation opening may be present as at least one opening in the wall element defining the suction chamber and constituting a portion of the valve's operating member, cf. subsequent examples of embodiments. For instance, the wall element may be formed into a drinking spout, a housing, a mantel or a cover. A suitable underpressure-activation of the valve's operating member may be achieved by arranging the activation opening(s) with an appropriate shape, size and length, insofar as the length corresponds to the wall element's material thickness in the region of interest thereof. Thus, a suitable flow profile for venting the suction chamber is achieved. Thereby, the operating member's response time and course of response may be suitably adjusted with respect to the application in question. Among other things, the response time will depend on the number of activation openings and the physical size and shape thereof. For example, small openings will result in slower response time. The response time may also be important with respect to ensuring sufficient venting and pressure-balancing of the drinking receptacle upon completion of liquid outflow.
An activation opening may also be provided with an airflow control device for controlling the course of venting in and out of the activation opening. The airflow control device may be arranged so as to promote airflow in one direction and restrain airflow in the opposite direction. For example, the device may be arranged in a manner allowing air that is sucked out of the suction chamber to underpressure-activate the operating member, to flow substantially easier and at a higher rate than that of a subsequent and oppositely directed airflow flowing into the suction chamber in order to balance the pressure therein. The flow control device may be used to provide rapid flow and short response time when discharging air from the suction chamber, but slow air influx into the suction chamber on the other hand accompanied with a delayed closing of the valve in order to balance the pressure in said drinking receptacle.
The flow control device may comprise two or more flexible flaps that are attached around the activation opening, preferably within and around the wall thereof, and which project obliquely out from the suction chamber. Whilst in position of rest, the flaps, and particularly the free ends thereof, are placed in proximity of each other, possibly fully or partially in contact with each other. Assembled in this manner, the flaps define a conical shape or other tapered shape, in which the cone tip or taper tip faces outwards from the suction chamber. When admitting air into the suction chamber, the airflow will force the flaps against each other and thus constrict the flow section of the activation opening, which has a flow-restraining effect on the airflow. When discharging air from the suction chamber, the airflow will force the flaps away from each other and thus increase said flow section, which has a flow-promoting effect on the airflow and facilitates the course of discharge. Such a flow control device may also contribute to prevent any liquid residues from entering into the suction chamber. Moreover, one or more activation openings each may be connected to or provided with a unidirectional valve (check valve) allowing air discharge from the suction chamber only. Preferably, such unidirectional valves should be placed closest to said downstream liquid outlet portion in order to minimize the risk of influx of liquid residues into the suction chamber.
Hereinafter, various examples of embodiments of the invention will be shown, in which:
Furthermore, the figures are schematic and may be somewhat distorted. By and large, similar or analogous details of the figures will be given the same reference numerals hereinafter.
The valve embodiments according to
At its downstream side, the partition 6 is connected to a tube-shaped body in the form of a sleeve 16 that is arranged concentrically around the partition opening 12, and which projects axially and freely out from the partition 6. The sleeve 16 constitutes the above-mentioned separating barrier, and thus the present hygiene-maintaining device in the valve 2.
A ring-shaped bulb 18 formed in the transition between the partition 6 and the sleeve 16 defines the partition opening 12. At its upstream side, the bulb 18 is formed with a valve seat 20 for the valve's valve head 22, which constitutes the valve's seal member. The valve head 22 is dome-shaped and is formed in an upstream and free end of a short discharge tube 24, which constitutes the valve's bracing element. The discharge tube 24 is provided within the sleeve 16, whereby the tube 24 and the sleeve 16 define an annular interstice 26. In order to fully or partially prevent liquid outflow, the valve head 22 is also provided with an external, annular and elastic valve head seal lip 28. The seal lip 28 is placed in a sealing manner against the valve seat 20 when the valve 2 is inactive and closed, as shown in
Immediately downstream of the valve head seal lip 28, the discharge tube 24 is provided with several tube wall openings 30 in the form of axial and peripherally distributed discharge slots formed in the wall of the tube 24. When the valve 2 is open, liquid may flow through the slots 30, into the tube 24 and onwards therein to exit via a drinking opening 32 provided at the downstream end thereof.
Immediately downstream of the discharge slots 30, the discharge tube 24 is expanded diametrically and thus is expanded in this downstream longitudinal portion. Thereby, said annular interstice 26 outside the discharge tube 24 is provided with a constriction portion 34 directly opposite said expanded longitudinal portion of the discharge tube 24. Moreover, the discharge tube 24 is provided with an external sliding seal in the form of a ring-shaped liquid-sealing lip 36, which is placed movably and sealingly against the inside of the sleeve 16.
The downstream end of the discharge tube 24 is connected to the valve's operating member, which comprises a manoeuvre portion and an attachment portion.
The manoeuvre portion includes a relatively rigid and axially extending drinking spout 38 that concentrically encloses the sleeve 16 and the discharge tube 24 therein, and which is connected to the tube 24 via said drinking opening 32 at the downstream end thereof. Around the drinking opening 32, the drinking spout 38 consists of an essentially radially extending drinking region 40. The manoeuvre portion also includes a flange portion 42, which in this embodiment essentially extends outwardly and radially from the foot of the drinking spout 38. The flange portion 42 is provided with at least one concentric and flexible zone 44, this example only showing one such zone. The flexible zone 44 results from forming the flange portion 42 substantially thinner in its zone 44.
In the embodiment according to
Furthermore, the valve 2 according to
Preferably, the operating member, the discharge tube 24, the valve head 22 and the seal lips 28, 36 are formed from one and the same material, preferably a plastics material, and preferably moulded in one mould piece by means of a suitable casting method. Among other things, such a casting method is described below, and in connection with
The valve embodiment according to
In the embodiment according to
The valve embodiment according to
A free end of an axially extending sleeve 16 concentrically encloses the partition opening 12 and a length of the tube-shaped partition portion 6c. The partition portion 6c and the sleeve 16 thus define an annular interstice 61. The sleeve 16 is connected to the operating member of the valve 2 and projects out in an upstream direction from the operating member. Similar to the preceding embodiments, also the sleeve 16 is connected to a liquid-flow-restraining device arranged so as to fully or partially prevent liquid flow via said annular interstice 61 and into the suction chamber 50 of the valve 2. In this example, the liquid-flow-restraining device is comprised of an internal sliding seal in the form of a ring-shaped liquid-sealing lip 62 that is provided at the inside of the sleeve 16, and which is placed movably and sealingly against the outside of the tube-shaped partition portion 6c. The sleeve 16 constitutes the above-mentioned separating barrier and the present hygiene-maintaining device in the valve 2.
In this embodiment, the valve's manoeuvre portion comprises a flexible, sleeve-shaped membrane 64 and a relatively rigid attachment ring 66. The membrane 64 is axially extending and conically shaped, whereby the axial end portions of the membrane 64 include a wide and a narrow diameter portion, respectively. The wide diameter portion is connected to the attachment portion of the operating member and encloses both the sleeve 16 and said partition portions 6a, 6b and 6c, whereas the narrow diameter portion is connected to the attachment ring 66 at the outer perimeter thereof. The outer perimeter of the attachment ring 66 is also provided with an external and flexible seal collar 68, the function of which will be described in further detail below. The inner perimeter of the attachment ring 66 is connected to said sleeve 16.
The partition 6, the liquid-sealing lip 62, the sleeve 16 and the operating member (which includes the membrane 64 and the attachment ring 66 define the suction chamber 50 of the valve 2. The suction chamber 50 is connected to its external surroundings and the ambient pressure P1 via three activation openings 52 through the wall of the attachment ring 66, and in a region between the sleeve 16 and said seal collar 68. Only one activation opening 52 is shown in
A bypassable valve stem 70 is provided within the sleeve 16. In this embodiment, the valve stem 70 consists of three radially and outwardly projecting, peripherally distributed rib elements 70a having a common, central joining point. At its downstream end, each rib element 70a is provided with a further outwardly projecting attachment rib 70b, which is attached to the inside of the sleeve 16 vis-à-vis the attachment ring 66. The rib elements 70a and the attachment ribs 70b are peripherally distributed at an equal angle distance therebetween. This is best shown in
The stem 70 is conveyed through the partition opening 12, and the stem's upstream end is provided with a flexible valve head 22. Whilst in position of rest, the valve head 22 is positioned in a positive pressure-sealing manner against a valve seat 20 provided at the upstream side of the tube-shaped partition portion 6c.
In this embodiment, the operating member's peripheral attachment portion consists of an attachment flange 76 connected to said wide diameter portion of the membrane 64. The flange 76 is positioned in a peripheral recess 78 in the partition 6. The attachment flange 76 is releasably attached in the recess 78 by means of a ring-shaped grip claw 80, which is arranged in a lower end of a drinking-spout-shaped cover 82 enclosing the valve 2. The grip claw 80 grips over the attachment flange 76 and a supporting, ring-shaped protrusion 84 projecting radially out from the partition 6. This releasable attachment arrangement also constitutes a snap coupling 46.
At its downstream end, the drinking-spout-shaped cover 82 is provided with a centred drinking opening 32 positioned immediately downstream of the operating member's attachment ring 66 and its flexible seal collar 68. The collar 68 is placed movably and sealingly against the inside of the cover 82 and prevents liquid from entering into a pressure balancing chamber 86 defined by the operating member, the seal collar 68 and the cover 82. The pressure balancing chamber 86 communicates with the ambient pressure P1 via at least one air vent in the form of a air opening 88 through the wall of the cover 82 and vis-à-vis the pressure balancing chamber 86. Other types of air vents or air channels may also be employed, for example venting via said snap coupling 46 for the cover 82.
The valve 2 according to
The valve embodiment according to
Preferably, the attachment flange 76, the membrane 64, the attachment ring 66, the seal collar 68, the sleeve 16, the liquid-sealing lip 62, the valve stem 70 and the valve head 22 are made from one and the same material, preferably a plastics material, and preferably moulded in one mould piece by means of a suitable casting method, as described hereinafter.
The lower casting segment 90a is provided with a dome-shaped depression 94, the shape of which corresponds to the outside of the dome-shaped valve head 22 and a lower portion of its radially and outwardly projecting, pointed and elastic valve head seal lip 28. According to the method, the casting segment 90a is also provided with a through-going hole 96 terminating in the depression 94. Then, a releasable push rod 98 of suitable material is placed in the hole 96, the upper end of the push rod 98 being placed near or flush with the surface of the depression 94.
The intermediate casting segment 90b has a shape corresponding to the inside of the operating member, to the outside of the discharge tube 24 (in this example, inclusive of the liquid-sealing lip 36 and the above-mentioned discharge slots 30 in the wall of the tube 24), and to an upper portion of valve head seal lip 28, insofar as the upper portion is shaped as a seat 100 in the casting segment) 9b. Thereby, the casting segments 90a and 90b are releasably assembled around the valve head seal lip 28.
The upper casting segment 90c has a shape corresponding to the outside of the operating member and to the inside of the discharge tube 24. Concurrently, the discharge tube 24 has a tapered perimeter shape in the direction of its valve head 22, which facilitates the subsequent extraction of the discharge-pipe-shaped portion of the upper casting segment 90c when the mould casting is completed.
After having completed the casting of the plastics mould piece 92 in the mould cavity of the casting mould 90, the upper casting segment 90c is removed from the intermediate casting segment 90b. Thereby, the upper casting segment 90c is liberated from the operating member and the inside of the discharge tube 24, as shown in
The present embodiments of valves 2 according to the invention are specifically designed for manufacturing by means of suitable casting methods. Such a valve 2, and a potential cap 4 associated therewith, may thus be mass-produced. For this reason, it is particularly preferable to form the constructional elements of the valve 2, and also a potential cap 4 therefore, as continuous as possible and with as few numbers of elements as possible. This will contribute to increase the efficiency of both the manufacturing and the assembling of the valve 2, possibly together with a cap 4.
With respect to the valve embodiments according to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20043775 | Sep 2004 | NO | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/NO05/00314 | 8/31/2005 | WO | 00 | 12/4/2008 |