Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
  • B65D81/245—Internal membrane, floating cover or the like isolating the contents from the ambient atmosphere

Definitions

• the present invention relates to improvements made in the field of the protection of liquids contained in neck containers in order to protect them from damage to the atmosphere which surmounts them in the containers, and in particular oxidation due to oxygen. air enclosed in partially filled containers. This may include the protection of drinking liquids, such as wines and spirits.
• the object of the invention is essentially, knowing the state of the art mentioned above, to propose a practical technical solution capable of protecting a liquid contained in a neck container whatever the level of the liquid in said container while leaving all freedom to pour the liquid by inclination of the container.
• the invention proposes a protective device for protecting, vis-à-vis the atmosphere that surmounts it, a liquid contained in a neck container, said device comprising a discoidal element made of an elastically deformable material, having a density less than that of the liquid, and dimensioned in correspondence with the internal transverse dimension of said container, and support means adapted to support said disc element inside the container, which device being arranged in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the support means comprise:
• tubular body having a mounting portion adapted to be fitted frictionally into the neck of said container, said tubular body being provided with an upper axial opening and being open in its part situated under said upper mounting portion,
• a movable shutter member adapted to close said upper axial opening of said tubular body
• the discoidal element can rest on the free surface of the liquid by accompanying the variations of level thereof in the container and the device, its shutter member being removed, allows the free discharge of the liquid out of the inclined container.
• the portion of the tubular body which is underlying said upper mounting portion has a length that the discoidal element, collected around the tubular body when the introduction of the device through the neck of a container, can unfold freely in the body of the container once the device in position in the container.
• the tubular body is radially deformable or, preferably, that the portion of the tubular body which is underlying said upper mounting portion has a diameter substantially less than that of said upper mounting portion: an annular space is thus left free between the tubular body and the wall of the neck of the container during the introduction of the device through the neck of a container, annular space which is adapted to receive the dis ⁇ oidal element picked up around the tubular body.
• the portion of the tubular body which is underlying said upper mounting portion is substantially frustoconical ⁇ onicity turned towards the lower end of the tubular body.
• the upper mounting portion of the tubular body is adapted to cooperate sealingly with the neck of the container, and for this purpose, it can be provided that the upper mounting portion of the tubular body comprises at least one peripheral external rib protruding radial.
• the container can be tilted to pour liquid without leakage at the neck of the container.
• the tubular body is closed at its lower end by a bottom and that it comprises at least one open through-hole in the side wall below the upper mounting portion of the tubular body, and advantageously it can be provided several through lights distributed regularly around its periphery. This ensures that the liquid can flow out of the inclined container, regardless of its level in said container and regardless of the orientation in which the container is taken in hand.
• the guide rod is slidably supported by the end of the tubular body, which whereby the guide rod can occupy a storage position in which it is telescopically cleared at least in part in the tubular body thereby making the device easier to store outside of its periods of use.
• the bottom of the tubular body may be provided with a through passage and the guide rod may be engaged through said passage.
• the device according to the invention can, thanks to the flexibility of the discoidal element which it is equipped, be placed in a neck container or be extracted with a significant deformation of the discoidal element and can isolate the liquid ambient atmosphere through this disc element which, being deployed in the container, forms a membrane that floats on the surface of the liquid accompanying it as its level change.
• the device leaves the entire possibility of pouring the liquid by inclination of the container and can remain in place therein until the liquid is drained.
• FIGS. IA and IB are side views, in section, of a preferred embodiment of a device arranged in accordance with the invention, shown in two different functional positions respectively;
• - Figure 2 is a partial side view, in section, of an alternative embodiment of the device of Figures IA and IB;
• Figures 3A and 3B are views showing the extraction of the device of Figures IA and IB out of the neck of a container such as a bottle and its introduction into the neck of such a container;
• Figure 4 shows the device of Figures IA and IB in place in a partially filled bottle
• FIG. 5 shows the pouring of a liquid by inclination of a partially filled bottle and equipped with the device of Figures IA and IB.
• the terms upper and lower as well as the terms above and below must be understood in reference to the approximately vertical situation occupied by the device set up in a container neck such as a bottle based on a flat support.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B on which is shown a preferred embodiment of a device arranged according to the invention.
• the device comprises a tubular body 1 having a mounting upper portion 2 adapted to be fitted frictionally into the neck 3 of a container 4, and advantageously clean to cooperate sealingly with the neck 3 of the container 4 (the device is visible in position in the neck 3 of a container 4 in Figure 4).
• the mounting portion 2 of the tubular body 1 may comprise an annular seal for example in the form of at least one peripheral outer flexible rib 5 projecting radially; preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is provided with a plurality of successive flexible ribs 5.
• the tubular body 1 may be provided as an outer collar 6, which is located above the ribs 5 and which has a radial projection at least equal to that of the ribs 5 so as to serve as' axial abutment at the depression of the device in the neck 3 of the container (as shown in FIG. 4).
• the tubular body 1 is provided with an upper axial opening 7 and the end of the tubular body 1 is arranged in flared form to form a pouring edge 8.
• a movable shutter member 10 (in practice for example a removable plug as shown) is adapted to seal the upper axial opening 4 of said tubular body.
• a guide rod 11 is supported substantially axially by the lower end of the tubular body 1 and extends in the extension of said tubular body 1.
• a thin discoidal element 12 in the general shape of a membrane is pierced substantially centrally and is mounted to slide freely on said guide rod 11.
• the discoidal element 12 is made of an elastically deformable material having a lower density than that of the liquid, so as to float on the free surface thereof.
• the lower end of the guide rod 11 is shaped as an enlarged head 13 adapted to retain the discoidal element 12.
• the discoidal member 12 Upon introduction of the device into the container through the neck 3, the discoidal member 12 must be picked up on itself and then unfolded across the body 20 of the container. At this time, it is therefore necessary that the deployment of the discoidal element 12 is not hindered by the wall of the shoulder of the container.
• the portion 21 of the tubular body 1 which is underlying said upper mounting portion 2 has a length specific to that the discoidal element 12, picked up around the tubular body 1 when the device is introduced through the neck 3 of a container 4, can unfold freely in the body 20 of the container once the device is in position in the container.
• this length is determined according to the diameter of the discoidal element 12 and the shape of the container, and in particular the height of the shoulder of the container (part between the neck and the body of the container).
• the length of the portion 21 of the body may be limited to the radius of the discoidal member 12; in the case of a bottle with long shoulder as shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 4, the tubular body 1 should extend approximately to the connection of the shoulder with the body of the bottle (about 15 cm from the drinking of the cervix).
• the length of the tubular body 1 could be substantially shortened, it is however the long body conformation which is adopted in practice as being suitable for all types of bottles, so as not to multiply the different models of the device.
• the guide rod 11 being erased inside the tubular body 1, discoidal element 12, forced by the wall of the neck 3 of the container, is collected in an umbrella around the body 1 tubular.
• the portion 21 of the tubular body 1 which is underlying said upper mounting portion 2 has a substantially smaller diameter than that of said upper mounting portion 2.
• annular space is left free between the tubular body 1 and the wall of the neck 3 of the container during the introduction of the device through the neck 3 of a container 4, annular space which is adapted to receive the element 12 discoidal, picked up around the tubular body.
• the portion 21 being cylindrical of revolution with a smaller diameter, forming a shoulder with the mounting portion 2
• the portion 21 of the tubular body 1 which is underlying said upper mounting portion 2 is substantially conical frustoconical turned towards the lower end of the tubular body 1 as shown in Figures IA and IB.
• the tubular body 1 is open in its lower part below the mounting portion 2.
• the tubular body 1 has a relatively large height for the reason explained above, so that, being installed in a container as shown in FIG. deep inside of it.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B there are provided a plurality of through-lights 9 distributed regularly around its periphery. so that it is possible to pour the liquid regardless of the part of the periphery of the container that is taken in hand.
• the guide rod 11 is supported by the tubular body 1 in a telescopic manner, so that it can be at least partially erased in the tubular body 1 when the device 1 is not used as shown in Figure IA.
• the tubular body 1 is closed at its lower end by a bottom 14 pierced with a passage 15 through which is engaged the guide rod 11. It is advantageous to provide a boss 22 (better visible in Figure 4) above the enlarged head 13 of the lower end of the guide rod 11.
• the boss 22 has a transverse dimension greater than that of the passage 15 of the bottom 14, but less than that of the central hole of the disc element 12.
• the boss 22 is thus able to bear against the bottom 14 and hold the rod in the erased position in the tubular body 1 as shown in Figure IA; the guide rod 11 can be disengaged by a thrust on its upper end, for example by means of the closure member 10 which, in the position shown in FIG. 3A, is not fully sunk into the body 1 tubular.
• the guide rod 11 is equipped / at its upper end which remains internal to the tubular body 1, an enlarged head 16 retaining.
• FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which the tubular body 1 is substantially shorter than that shown in Figures IA and IB, and may for example be considered in combination with a discoidal element 12 of reduced diameter, for example to adapt to a smaller diameter container (eg half bottle) .
• a container eg half bottle
• the container 4 with a rounded shoulder (type Bordeaux bottle) of lower height.
• the tubular body 1 can be made relatively short and extend only approximately to the height of the neck. The introduction of the device then requires to collect the discoidal element 12 on itself down, opposite the tubular body 1, and to introduce it as well.
• the tubular body 1 may then have a lower axial opening 17 which can easily be borrowed by the liquid when the container is inclined.
• Several legs 18, for example four or six regularly distributed angularly, which extend in the extension of the tubular body 1 support a plate 19 disposed coaxially facing the lower opening 17 and an axial distance therefrom. It is then the plate 19 which is provided with the passage 15 through which the guide rod 11 passes.
• the membrane-shaped disc-shaped member 12 has a diameter approximately corresponding to the inside diameter of the body 20 of the container 4; the protection of the liquid will be all the better that the liquid surface in contact with the ambient atmosphere will be reduced, and therefore the diameter of the discoidal element 12 will be better adjusted to the inside diameter of the body 20 of the container.
• the discoidal element 12 may be made of any elastically deformable material which is inert with respect to the the liquid contained in the container 4. It is in the form of a flexible membrane which can be thicker and / or reinforced towards its center and thinned towards its periphery. The discoidal element 12 is thus able to deform substantially, closing in an umbrella around the rod 11 during the introduction of the device into the neck 3 of a container 4 as shown in FIG.
• Figure 5 shows a bottle equipped with the device of Figures IA, IB and inclined in pouring position of the liquid. It flows unhindered through the lights 9, while the discoidal element 12, because it is floating and free on the rod 11, can tilt and let the liquid flow.
• Figures IB and 2 is shown schematically by an arrow F the path of the liquid.
• the device according to the invention which has just been described may be equipped with a removable filter (not shown) suitable for retaining particles present in the liquid (deposit in a wine for example).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=36974701

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (4)

• 2005
  • 2005-12-28 FR FR0513408A patent/FR2895376B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-12-27 WO PCT/IB2006/003773 patent/WO2007074382A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2006-12-27 DE DE602006010908T patent/DE602006010908D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-12-27 AT AT06842279T patent/ATE450454T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-12-27 EP EP06842279A patent/EP1973807B1/de not_active Not-in-force

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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