[0001] The invention relates to a device for releasing a fluid into a first liquid in a
container.
[0002] In a number of applications, such as mixtures of different liquids, it may be necessary
to release and mix a liquid into another liquid shortly before the liquid mixture
is used. It may not be possible or desirable to store the liquids in a premixed form,
as they may react undesirably with each other when stored as the mixture for a period
of time. An example of this may be mixtures of alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic
drinks. However, it can also apply to other liquids or to mixtures of liquids and
gases.
[0003] Devices are known for releasing a liquid into another held in a container. Such devices
are disclosed in Patent documents US 4201316 and DE 2432290. These devices are for
use with containers having screw-threaded closures, and have the disadvantage that
they require the closures to be screwed down, to release the contents of the device,
then screwed up again and off in order to open the container.
[0004] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device
for releasing a fluid into a liquid according to Claim 1.
[0005] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a container of a liquid
comprises an opening closed by a releasable closure and a device for releasing a fluid
into the liquid in the container, the device being mounted in the container adjacent
the opening, and the device being in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
[0006] An advantage of the invention is that by having a fluid chamber which releases fluid
when it is punctured it is possible to delay puncturing the fluid chamber until the
fluid is to be released into the liquid in the container, just before the liquid is
to be used.
[0007] A further advantage is that when the pressure within the container is greater than
ambient pressure or atmospheric pressure when the container is closed, the pressurisable
portion will equalise to the same pressure as the container. When the container is
opened a pressure differential will be created between the container and the pressurisable
portion because pressure is not released from the pressurisable portion, and the pressure
differential can be used to move the fluid chamber to the release position.
[0008] The housing may include a conduit into which the fluid passes after passing through
the fluid outlet and the conduit extends below the surface of the liquid in the container.
Typically, the conduit extends to at least adjacent the mid-section of the first liquid
in the first container and preferably, extends to adjacent the bottom of the first
container.
[0009] Alternatively, the fluid may be released onto the surface of the liquid in the container
by the device.
[0010] Typically, the fluid chamber may contain a liquid and/or a gas. Preferably, the fluid
in the chamber is pressurised prior to puncturing of the chamber. Pressurisation of
the fluid would aid expulsion of the fluid from the fluid chamber on release of the
closure.
[0011] Preferably, the fluid chamber includes a rupturable member which is punctured by
the puncturing device to release the fluid from the fluid chamber. Typically, the
rupturable member may be a membrane.
[0012] The valve device may be a semi-permeable membrane which permits gas into the pressurisable
portion of the housing but is not sufficiently permeable to permit the gas to escape
from the pressurisable portion when the container is opened and before the fluid chamber
moves to the release position. Alternatively, the valve device may be a one-way valve.
[0013] Preferably, the pressurisable portion may be sealed from the portion having the fluid
outlet by the fluid chamber which co-operates with the housing to effect a seal between
the fluid chamber and the housing. A sealing device may be located on one or both
of the fluid chambers and the housing to help effect the seal.
[0014] Preferably, the fluid and the liquid may be any combination. Examples of combinations
are the fluid being lime juice and the liquid being lager, or the fluid being chocolate
flavouring and gas and the liquid being milk. The first combination would give the
user a lager and lime drink, the second combination would give a chocolate milk shake
with the gas helping to generate the froth on the shake.
[0015] Examples of a device for releasing a fluid into a liquid in a container in accordance
with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:-
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an upper portion of a container, showing
an example of a device for releasing fluid into liquid in the container with the device
in a first position, this example not being according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1, with the closure
of the container removed and the device in a second position;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1, with the device in a
release position;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1 showing the device being
removed from the container;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through an example of a device according to the invention
for releasing fluid into liquid in a container with a fluid chamber in a first position;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the device of Fig. 5 showing the fluid chamber
in an intermediate release position; and,
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the device of Figs. 5 and 6 showing the fluid
chamber in a final release position.
[0016] Fig. 1 shows an example of a device 54, not according to the present invention, for
releasing a fluid 58 into a liquid in a container 1. The device 54 comprises a housing
57 which has spurs 33, 34 which hold a head 35 of a fluid chamber 36. The chamber
36 has a sealing gasket 37 which defines an opening 38 which is closed by a foil membrane
and plastic seal 39. The opposite end of the chamber 36 has a hole which is covered
by a membrane 40. The lower portion of the housing 57 has a rupture portion 41 with
a fluid passageway 42 therein. Depending from the rupture portion 41 is a connector
43 to which a dip tube 44 is attached. Hence, the fluid passageway 42 communicates
with the interior of the dip tube 44.
[0017] The upper section of the housing 32 has a telescopic section 45 in which is located
a plunger 46. Bleed holes 47 in the housing 57 and the telescopic section 45 permit
gas to bleed into void 48 between the plunger 46 and the upper end of the fluid chamber
36 from air space 49 in the container 1. In addition, an optional spring 50 may be
located between the upper end of the chamber 36 and the inside of the plunger 46 (see
Fig. 2). The spring 50 is optional and is preferably used where the liquid in the
container 1 is a still liquid. However, the spring 50 may also be used where the liquid
is aerated or naturally produces a gas.
[0018] In use, the device 54 is located in the container 1 in the neck 3 and is secured
in position by a threaded cap 51 which also seals the container 1.
The cap 51 threadedly attaches to the opening 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The position
of the device shown in Fig. 1 is the position in which the container 1 would be retailed
or stored.
[0019] When a user wishes to use a liquid within a container 1, the threaded cap 51 is removed
and either pressure of the spring 50 and/or the pressure of gas in the void 48, which
has entered the void 48 through the bleed holes 47, forces the telescopic section
45 upwards to the position shown in Fig. 2.
[0020] When the device 54 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, a user may press the plunger
46 downwards in the direction of the arrow 52. This causes the telescopic section
45 to move downwards, forcing the chamber 36 downwards by spurs 53 which are engaged
against the upper end of the chamber 36. As the chamber 36 is forced downwards within
the housing 54, the rupture portion 41 ruptures the foil membrane 39 which releases
fluid 58 through the fluid outlet 42 into the dip tube 44. The fluid 58 is either
pressurised on insertion of the fluid 58 into the chamber 36, or else gas from the
void 49 in the container 1 has pressurised the fluid 32 by entering the chamber 36
through bleed holes 37, void 48 and the semi-permeable membrane 40. The pressurised
fluid 58 is expelled from the chamber 36 through the dip tube 44 into the liquid in
the container 1 by this pressure.
[0021] After the fluid 58 has been expelled from the chamber 36, the device 54 may be removed
from the container 1 (see Fig. 4) by a user grasping nibs 55 on the top end of the
telescopic section 45.
[0022] An example of a device 80 according to the present invention for releasing a fluid
81 into a liquid in a container (not shown) is shown in Fig. 5. The device 80 comprises
a housing 82 which has an upper section 83 and a lower section 84. Attached to the
upper section 83 is a cap 85 which has a number of ridges 86 on its top surface. In
addition, there is a vent hole 87 in the cap 85 and the hole 87 is covered by a semi-permeable
membrane 88. Located within the housing 82 is a fluid chamber 89 in which the liquid
81 is contained. The fluid chamber 89 has an open end 90 which is sealed by an annular
gasket 91 and a central aperture 92 of the gasket 91 is sealed by a foil membrane
93. A protective cap 94 covers the gasket 91 and the cap 94 has a central aperture
therein which coincides with the aperture 92 in the gasket 91. The cap 94 is snapped
over open end 90 of the fluid chamber 89 and the cap 94 terminates in sprung legs
95 at the side of the fluid chamber 89.
[0023] The lower portion 84 of housing 82 has a central rupturing portion 96 in which grooves
97 are formed. The lower portion 84 of the housing 82 is formed by arms 98 which extend
from upper portion 83 downwards and then radially inwards to join the rupturing portion
96 and there are gaps between the arms 98.
[0024] In use, the device 80 may for example be filled with a liquid which is super-saturated
with nitrogen. The device 80 may then be attached to the underside of the cap of a
drink can, in which the ring pull of the drink can is located. The device 80 may be
attached to the underside of the cap of the drink can by adhesive which attaches ribs
86 to the underside of the drink can. The ridges 86 are not continuous thus permitting
gas within the drink can to pass from the drink can, after it is sealed, through membrane
88 and vent hole 87 into air gap 99 between the top of the chamber 89 and the underside
of the cap 85.
[0025] Typically, the drink can may be a can for beer or another drink in which the contents
of the can are pressurised.
[0026] When a user opens the can by pulling the ring pull, the pressure within the can will
drop to atmospheric pressure. However, the membrane 88 prevents immediate equalisation
of the pressure between the air gap 99 and the rest of the can and therefore prevents
the pressure in the air gap 99 falling to atmospheric pressure. This pressure differential
acts against the upper end of the chamber 89 which forces the chamber 89 downwards
and against the rupturing portion 96 which ruptures the foil membrane closure 93.
The chamber 89 is then in the position shown in Fig. 6 in which the rupturing portion
96 has pierced the membrane 93. Fluid 81 in the chamber 89, which is pressurised,
is then expelled through grooves 97 in the rupturing member 96 and out of the housing
82 via the gaps in the arms 98 in the lower section 84 of the housing 82, and into
contact with the liquid in the can. As the excess pressure in the air gap 99 bleeds
through the vent hole 87 and membrane 88, the pressure on the upper end of the chamber
89 reduces to atmospheric pressure and the chamber 89 relaxes to the position shown
in Fig. 7.
[0027] When the rupturing member 96 ruptures the foil membrane 93, spring arms 95 are already
engaged below lugs 100 which prevents the pressure within the chamber 89 pushing the
chamber 89 back upwards to the position shown in Fig. 5.
[0028] An advantage of the device 80 shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is that the fluid 81 within the
chamber 89 can be released into the contents of the liquid in the container, for example
a drink can or a bottle, without requiring a user to activate the device 80.
[0029] A further advantage of the invention is that the fluid chamber is only punctured
or ruptured, when the fluid needs to be released into the liquid in the container.
[0030] The use of a dip tube, such as the dip tube 44 on device 54, permits the fluid to
be introduced into the body of the liquid, rather than the surface.
This has the advantage that gas in the fluid may be used, for example, to froth the
liquid or generate a head on the mixed liquid. An example of such a mixed liquid may
be a flavoured milkshake, in which case the fluid may be a mixture of a flavour concentrate
and a gas.
[0031] A further advantage of the invention is that the devices can be used with containers
which are pressurised or non-pressurised and with fluid which may be a liquid, gas
or a liquid/gas mixture.
[0032] Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope
of the invention as claimed.
1. A device (80) for releasing a fluid into a liquid in a container having a releasable
closure, the device comprising a housing (82); a puncturing device (96) mounted on
the housing (82); a fluid chamber (89) movably mounted within the housing (82) for
movement between a storage position, in which fluid (81) is retained within the fluid
chamber (89), and a release position, in which the fluid chamber (89) is punctured
by the puncturing device (96) and fluid is released from the fluid chamber (89) to
exit from the device through a fluid outlet (92) in said fluid chamber,
characterised in that:
the housing comprises two portions, a pressurisable portion (83) within which the
fluid chamber (89) is mounted and a portion (84) having the puncturing device (96),
and a valve device (88) is fitted on the pressurisable portion (83) to permit the
pressure within the pressurisable portion (83) to equalise slowly with the pressure
within the container, the valve device (88) substantially preventing immediate release
of pressure from the pressurisable portion (83) when the releasable closure is removed
to open the container, such that pressure within the pressurisable portion (83) acts
to cause movement of the fluid chamber (89) to the release position.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid (81) in the fluid chamber (89) is
pressurised.
3. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid chamber (89)
contains a liquid (81) and/or a gas.
4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid chamber (89)
includes a rupturable member (93) which is punctured by the puncturing device (96)
to release the fluid (81) from the fluid chamber (89).
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the rupturable member (93) comprises a membrane.
6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the valve device is a
semi-permeable membrane (88).
7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the pressurisable portion
(83) is sealed from the portion (84) having the puncturing device (96) by the fluid
chamber (89) which co-operates with the housing (82) to effect a seal between the
fluid chamber (89) and the housing (82).
8. A container (1) of a liquid comprising an opening closed by a releasable closure and
a device (80) according to any of the preceding claims, the device releasing a fluid
(81) into the liquid (64) in the container, and the device being mounted in the container
adjacent the opening.
1. Eine Vorrichtung (80) zur Abgabe eines Fluids in eine Flüssigkeit in einem Behälter
mit einem lösbaren Verschluss, wobei die Vorrichtung aus einem Gehäuse (82); einer
am Gehäuse (82) montierten Perforiervorrichtung (96); einer Fluidkammer (89), die
bewegbar innerhalb des Gehäuses (82) zur Bewegung zwischen einer Lagerungsposition,
in der das Fluid (81) innerhalb der Fluidkammer (89) gehalten wird, und einer Abgabeposition,
in der die Fluidkammer (89) von der Perforiervorrichtung (96) perforiert wird und
das Fluid aus der Fluidkammer (89) abgegeben wird, um aus der Vorrichtung durch einen
Fluidauslass (92) in der Fluidkammer auszutreten, montiert ist, besteht,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
das Gehäuse aus zwei Teilen, einem unter Druck setzbaren Teil (83), innerhalb dessen
die Fluidkammer (89) montiert ist, und einem Teil (84) mit der Perforiervorrichtung
(96) besteht, und eine Ventilvorrichtung (88) auf den unter Druck setzbaren Teil (83)
gepasst ist, um zu ermöglichen, dass sich der Druck innerhalb des unter Druck setzbaren
Teils (83) dem Druck innerhalb des Behälters langsam angleicht, wobei die Ventilvorrichtung
(88) die sofortige Abgabe des Drucks aus dem unter Druck setzbaren Teil (83), wenn
der lösbare Verschluss entfernt wird, um den Behälter zu öffnen, im Wesentlichen verhindert,
so dass der Druck innerhalb des unter Druck setzbaren Teils (83) die Fluidkammer (89)
zur Abgabeposition bewegt.
2. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Fluid (81) in der Fluidkammer (89) unter Druck
gesetzt wird.
3. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Fluidkammer (89) eine
Flüssigkeit (81) und/oder ein Gas enthält.
4. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Fluidkammer (89) ein
zerreißbares Element (93) umfasst, das von der Perforiervorrichtung (96) perforiert
wird, um das Fluid (81) aus der Fluidkammer (89) abzugeben.
5. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei das zerreißbare Element (93) aus einer Membran
besteht.
6. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Ventilvorrichtung
eine halbdurchlässige Membran (88) ist.
7. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der unter Druck setzbare
Teil (83) von dem Teil (84) mit der Perforiervorrichtung (96) durch die Fluidkammer
(89), welche mit dem Gehäuse (82) zusammenwirkt, abgedichtet wird, um eine Abdichtung
zwischen der Fluidkammer (89) und dem Gehäuse (82) zu erzielen.
8. Ein Behälter (1) einer Flüssigkeit, bestehend aus einer Öffnung, die von einem lösbaren
Verschluss geschlossen wird, und einer Vorrichtung (80) gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei die Vorrichtung ein Fluid (81) in die Flüssigkeit (64) in dem Behälter
abgibt, und wobei die Vorrichtung in dem Behälter angrenzend an die Öffnung montiert
ist.
1. Un dispositif (80) destiné à libérer un fluide dans un liquide dans un récipient ayant
une fermeture détachable, le dispositif comprenant un logement (82) ; un dispositif
de perforation (96) monté sur le logement (82) ; une chambre à fluide (89) montée
de façon mobile au sein du logement (82) afin de se déplacer entre une position de
stockage, dans laquelle du fluide (81) est retenu au sein de la chambre à fluide (89),
et une position de libération, dans laquelle la chambre à fluide (89) est perforée
par le dispositif de perforation (96) et du fluide est libéré de la chambre à fluide
(89) pour sortir du dispositif par une sortie de fluide (92) dans ladite chambre à
fluide,
caractérisé en ce que :
le logement comprend deux portions, une portion pressurisable (83) au sein de laquelle
est montée la chambre à fluide (89) et une portion (84) possédant le dispositif de
perforation (96), et un dispositif formant soupape (88) est emboîté sur la portion
pressurisable (83) pour permettre à la pression au sein de la portion pressurisable
(83) de s'équilibrer lentement avec la pression au sein du récipient, le dispositif
formant soupape (88) empêchant sensiblement la pression d'être libérée immédiatement
de la portion pressurisable (83) lorsque la fermeture détachable est ôtée afin d'ouvrir
le récipient, de sorte que la pression au sein de la portion pressurisable (83) a
pour effet d'entraîner un déplacement de la chambre à fluide (89) vers la position
de libération.
2. Un dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le fluide (81) dans la chambre
à fluide (89) est pressurisé.
3. Un dispositif selon n'importe lesquelles des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
la chambre à fluide (89) contient un liquide (81) et/ou un gaz.
4. Un dispositif selon n'importe lesquelles des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
la chambre à fluide (89) comporte un élément pouvant être rompu (93), lequel est perforé
par le dispositif de perforation (96) afin de libérer le fluide (81) de la chambre
à fluide (89).
5. Un dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'élément pouvant être rompu (93)
consiste en une membrane.
6. Un dispositif tel que revendiqué dans n'importe lesquelles des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le dispositif formant soupape est une membrane semi-perméable (88).
7. Un dispositif tel que revendiqué dans n'importe lesquelles des revendications précédentes
dans lequel la portion pressurisable (83) est séparée de façon hermétique de la portion
(84) possédant le dispositif de perforation (96) par la chambre à fluide (89), laquelle
coopère avec le logement (82) afin de réaliser un joint hermétique entre la chambre
à fluide (89) et le logement (82).
8. Un récipient (1) d'un liquide comprenant une ouverture fermée par une fermeture détachable
et un dispositif (80) selon n'importe lesquelles des revendications précédentes, le
dispositif libérant un fluide (81) dans le liquide (64) dans le récipient, et le dispositif
étant monté dans le récipient de façon adjacente à l'ouverture.