Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With wall-collapsing means
Patent
1986-03-04
1988-07-12
Spar, Robert J.
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With wall-collapsing means
222105, 222340, 222391, B65D 3530
Patent
active
047564504
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a dispenser of drinks capable of releasing gas in solution at atmospheric pressure, the dispenser comprising a vessel, at least one wall portion of which is deformable in proportion as the drink is dispensed, the vessel being disposed in a chamber having a wall dimensioned to withstand the pressure in the vessel after release of the gas and comprising means preventing the volume of the vessel increasing through the increase in pressure after the drink has been dispensed.
Flexible vessels have already been proposed for transporting non-aerated drinks, more particularly wine, and have commonly replaced the small casks formerly used for delivering wine in bulk for bottling by private individuals.
In the case of drinks capable of outgassing at ambient pressure, this packaging can be used only if the flexible vessel is disposed in a rigid chamber and means are provided for keeping the flexible vessel wall at a volume which constantly corresponds to that of the liquid, to prevent the drink from outgassing.
For example it has been proposed, inter alia in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,019, to use water to fill the space left free between the flexible vessel and the rigid chamber as the drink is dispensed, a valve being provided for the purpose. This solution has a number of disadvantages. It needs a source of water under pressure, which is not always available e.g. at a picnic or camp-site. The rigid chamber has to be sealing-tight to hold the water surrounding the flexible vessel.
A resilient element cannot be used, since the force to be exerted on the flexible vessel walls varies substantially depending on whether the aerated liquid is being withdrawn. When the drink is withdrawn the pressure drops progressively, so that the force to be exerted on the flexible vessel walls to reduce the volume left free by the withdrawn drink is small and decreases to zero or negative values depending on the volume withdrawn. When on the other hand the vessel is hermetically sealed, the liquid outgasses until the pressure rises to about 1.1 to 3.times.10.sup.5 Pa. If a resilient element is used it will flex until equilibrium is obtained, resulting in some increase in the volume of the vessel and a corresponding reduction in the volume of gas. Spring pressure also decreases as the vessel empties. In the case of a spring element the spring pressure is added to that of the liquid, so that when the vessel is full the pressure may be excessively high.
The solution proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,802 solves the problem of the variable spring force but is not of use for dispensing a gassy drink, in view of the considerable pressures which may occur in the vessel.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,706 it has been proposed to place a flexible bag in a vessel having rigid walls with an end adapted to move axially inside the side wall of the vessel. The side wall is joined to the end by ratchet teeth formed on the inner surface of the side wall and resilient lugs secured to the end and engaging the teeth. The flexible bag is not designed to hold a liquid capable of outgassing. Manual pressure is exerted on the end to produce pressure in the flexible bag for ejecting the product.
The invention aims to provide a solution which has the advantages but is free from the disadvantages of using an incompressible fluid to fill the space released by withdrawal.
To this end, the invention relates to a drink-dispensing vessel according to claim 1.
The advantage of the proposed solution is that it is simple and the vessel according to the invention is completely self-contained, i.e. can be used at any place and therefore under any circumstances. In contrast to "multi-packs" of aerated drinks, the vessel according to the invention can reduce the weight, volume and price of packaging while retaining the gassy properties of the drink. This solution, therefore, has exactly the same technical advantages as the use of an incompressible fluid to fill the space between the flexible vessel and the rigid chamber.
An embodiment and a variant of the drink-disp
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patent: 2491259 (1949-12-01), Funderburg
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patent: 3235138 (1966-02-01), Bull
patent: 3938706 (1976-02-01), Cohen
patent: 3951310 (1976-04-01), Steiman
patent: 4136802 (1979-01-01), Mascia et al.
patent: 4264019 (1981-04-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 4330070 (1982-05-01), Doubleday
Koblet Norbert
Negaty-Hindi Guy
Trouilhet Yves
Battelle (Memorial Institute)
Smith P. McCoy
Spar Robert J.
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