Dispensing – With conveying conduit jacket and/or inert atmosphere...
Patent
1998-12-14
2000-04-25
Shaver, Kevin
Dispensing
With conveying conduit jacket and/or inert atmosphere...
2224008, 222544, 426397, 426404, B67D 108, B65D 8300, B65B 5500
Patent
active
060533668
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a closable pouring cap for a container for drink comprising a housing, a plunger movable in the housing and a pouring opening provided in the housing, while at its bottom side, which is intended for placing on the container, the housing is provided with means for fastening onto the container and a duct is provided which extends from the bottom side of the housing to the pouring opening and which can be sealed by means of the plunger.
Such a pouring cap is known from the European patent application EP-A 0 692 432. Said known pouring cap is in particular suitable for soft drink bottles. However, such a cap is less suitable for containers of liquids whose quality deteriorates after the permanent seal necessary for transport and storage has been removed. This is especially the case with wine bottles, the content of which, after removal of the cork, comes into contact with the air as a consequence of which elements responsible for the flavour of the wine oxidize, and the wine's quality depreciates. It is known that after the wine bottle has been opened and part of the wine consumed, the deterioration in quality can be inhibited by storing the remainder such that the influence of oxygen is prevented as much as possible. It is now the object of the invention to embody the closable cap according to the preamble such that it is suitable for containers in which perishable drink is stored.
To this end the closable cap according to the invention is characterized in that the means for fastening onto the container comprise a seal made of elastic material through which the duct passes and that a pump is provided connected to the duct for the withdrawal of gas present in the duct.
An advantage of the pouring cap according to the invention is that immediately after opening, said pouring cap may be placed on the opening of the container respectively the wine bottle, and can be used as required both as pouring means and as sealing means for the container until said container is empty and the cap may be removed to be placed on a next container of perishable drink.
The problems with the known means for the preservation of wine stored in a bottle, such as the bung known from the Dutch patent application 8600111 is, that in order to be able to pour the drink, the bung has to first be removed and then replaced to seal the container. For the preservation of drink in the container a separate pump has to be applied for the withdrawal of air remaining in the container, which pump has to be shaped conform with the bung on the container. This requires various actions with the chance that the bung has been mislaid just when it should be replaced on the bottle. The pump may also have been mislaid. The user then has the choice to either leave the wine to spoil or, in order to make good use of the remainder, to consume it. This problem will certainly not arise with the pouring cap according to the invention. At any given moment after drawing a particular amount of liquid from the container, the pump of the pouring cap can be activated to withdraw gas in order to preserve the perishable liquid.
To promote its effectiveness, the pouring cap according to the invention is shaped to the opening of the container which the cap is intended to seal, and that in longitudinal direction the seal comprises one or more flexible collars placed concentrically in relation to the duct.
It is desirable that the plunger comprises an end plate which fits tightly in the housing, so that when the plunger is in the closed position, the duct is provided with a gas- and liquid-tight seal and a stem coupled to the end plate, which stem extends to outside the housing and is provided with a control knob. This facilitates the use of the pouring cap. It is preferable that the plunger can be fixed, when it is in the position in which it closes off the duct. This achieves a true seal and avoids that with careless handling an unintentional gas load is put on the liquid in the container.
A simple manner for fixing the plunger in the closing position
REFERENCES:
patent: 4392578 (1983-07-01), Fipp et al.
patent: 4473174 (1984-09-01), Heuser
On-Top Products B.V.
Quinalty Keats
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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