Method and valve device for a drinking container

• US 20040144792A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartSeal AS (Valve Cap AB)
• Original Assignee: Næsje, Kjetil
• Inventors: Næsje, Kjetil
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/714
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/002 by using valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 11/0095 Seal rupturing means containers having several compartments for products to be mixed A61J1/2093
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/008 having storage compartments, e.g. for storing a teat
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/243 moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7836 Flexible diaphragm or bellows reactor

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the flow of liquid from drinking containers, wherein a membrane (12) is movably connected to a valve (50) to form a valve, controlled by negative pressure, for liquid from a drinking container, the force resulting from the pressure difference (P1−P2) across the membrane (12), opening the valve (50), even by positive pressure (P3) within the drinking container, caused by a carbonated refreshing drink, for example.

Claims

1. A method of preventing inadvertent flow of liquid from a drinking container (23), comprising the use of a membrane (12), a valve (50) and a partition ( ), characterized in that the membrane (12) is placed in a fixed relationship to the valve (50) at least at one point, and that the membrane (12) is provided with a pressure-tight disconnection ( ) between the outside ( ) and inside ( ) of the membrane (12) and is put into connection with the at least one valve (50) through at least one valve stem ( ), or at least one brace ( ), in use the membrane (12) being supplied with a pressure difference (P1−

P2) between its outside ( ) and inside ( ) through a drinking conduit (5), so that at least at one point the pressure difference (P1−

P2) imparts a motion to the membrane, which is transmitted to the at least one valve which opens to liquid flow as long as the pressure difference (P1−

P2) is maintained.

6. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the membrane (12) there is provided at least one through membrane hole (312) leading into the said suction chamber (310), there being connected in a pressure-sealing manner to the said at least one membrane hole (312) at least a drinking conduit (5) leading out of the device.

7. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said drinking conduit (5) is connected to a top lid (4) arranged to the partition (304) or valve housing (25) and placed on the opposite side of the membrane (12) relative to the suction chamber (310), whereby a normal pressure chamber (311) is provided between the membrane (12) and the top lid (4).

8. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) is connected to a top lid (4) through a drinking conduit (5), so that the cap (1, 244) or drinking container (23) together with the top lid (4) forms a protection against inadvertent touching of the membrane (12).

9. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) is provided with a drinking spout (7), so that the membrane (12) is suitable for the liquid to be consumed without the use of a top lid (4) for example.

10. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) is provided with at least one brace (100) preventing inadvertent compression of the suction chamber (310) in that, on an external load on the top, side (318) of the membrane (12), the at least one brace (100) flexes out from the central point of the device, the surfaces 1320, 321) of the brace (100) thereby contacting each other, preventing further movement and compression of the membrane (12).

11. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) has at least one flexible zone (52).

12. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) has a flexible zone (52), which is provided with at least one vertical reinforcement (40).

13. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking spout (7) is formed as a teat.

14. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking conduit (5) is provided with at least one movable flipper (120), which closes partially to flow whenever liquid or gas moves in the reverse flow direction of the drinking spout (5), in order to form a controlled choking by the admission of air into the drinking container (23) in that the negative pressure (P2) is maintained and the valve (50) is thereby kept open while the negative pressure (P2) is sufficient.

15. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking spout (7) is placed off centre relative to the membrane (12).

16. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (12) and the valve (50) are formed in such a way that a venturi effect is created, affecting the membrane (12) in such a way that an opening pressure difference (P1−

P2) is maintained across the membrane (12) as long as there is sufficient pressure (P3) within the drinking container and sufficient flow through the device.

2. A valve device for a drinking container, in which the device is arranged to an outlet opening ( ) of a drinking container ( ) in its position of use, the valve ( ) being arranged to control the outflow of liquid from the drinking container ( ), and the device comprises at least a flexible membrane ( ) and at least one valve stem ( ), to which at least one valve head ( ) is arranged together with at least one through hole ( ) arranged in a partition ( ) which forms a wall portion of the drinking container ( ) or, alternatively, a wall portion of a cap (1, 244) connected to the outlet opening ( ) of the drinking container ( ), the partition ( ) also forming a partition between the device ( ) and the interior of the drinking container ( ), characterized in that the outer edge ( ) of the membrane ( ) is placed in a pressure-sealing manner against the extension of the internal surface of the partition ( ) and spaced from the partition ( ), whereby a suction chamber ( ) is provided between the membrane ( ) and the partition ( ), and that the suction chamber ( ) is connected to a drinking conduit (5) leading out of the device, and that the said at least one valve stem (14) is connected to the membrane (12) and projects therefrom through the said at least one through hole (300) of the partition (304), whereby the said at least one associated valve head (15) is placed on the internal surface (306) of the partition (304), and the device is arranged, in its inactive position, with the valve head (15) placed in a pressure-sealing manner against the internal surface (306) of the partition (304), but the device is activated in that air is sucked out from the suction chamber (310) through the said drinking conduit (5), a negative pressure (P2) thereby being created in the suction chamber (310) relative to the surrounding pressure (P1) of the drinking container (23), the membrane (12) and the at least one valve stem (14) thereby being moved towards the partition (304), whereby the valve head (15) is moved away from the partition (304) and liquid may flow out of the drinking container (23) under the influence of the said negative pressure.

3. A valve device for a drinking container (23), the device being arranged, in its position of use, to an outlet opening (314) in the drinking container (23), the device being arranged to control the flow of liquid out of the drinking container (23) through a drinking spout (7), and the device comprising at least a flexible membrane (12) and at least one valve stem (14) or at least one strut (168, 234), to which at least one valve (50) is arranged together with a partition (304) which forms a wall portion of the drinking container (23), or, alternatively, a wall portion of a cap (1, 244) connected to the outlet opening (314) of the drinking container (23), the partition (304) also forming a, division between device and the interior (316) of the drinking container (23), characterized in that the membrane (12) communicates with the at least one valve (50) through at least one valve stem (14) or at least one brace (168, 234), which is attached to one end of the membrane (12), the membrane (12) being fixed by its other end to an outer side of the cap (1, 244), and which, in use, is placed by the same end through the drinking conduit (5) in a pressure-sealing manner against the user'"'"'s mouth for the formation of a suction chamber (310), which may open the at least one associated valve (5) on the supply of a suction force, the negative pressure (P2) caused in the suction chamber (310) relative to the pressure (P1) surrounding the membrane (12) creating a moving force on the membrane (12) which is transmitted to the valve (50), whereby the valve (50) opens and liquid may flow out of the drinking container (23) as long as the said negative pressure (P2) is maintained.

4. A device for controlling the flow of liquid from a drinking container (23), the liquid flow being controlled by the pressure difference (P1−

P2) supplied by the user on consumption of the liquid, consisting of a membrane (12), valve stem (14), valve head (15) and cap (1, 244), characterized in that the pressure difference (P1−

P2) across the membrane (12) moves the membrane (12), the movement of the membrane being transmitted to the valve head (15) through the valve stem (14), so that liquid flow will be allowed as long as the pressure difference (P1−

P2) is maintained.

5. A device for controlling the flow of liquid from a drinking container (23), the liquid flow being controlled by the pressure difference (P1−

P2) supplied by the user on consumption of the liquid, consisting of a membrane (12), at least one valve (50) and a cap (1, 244), characterized in that the pressure difference (P1−

P2) across the membrane (12) moves the membrane (12), the movement of the membrane being transmitted to a valve (50), so that liquid flow will be allowed as long as the pressure difference (P1−

P2) is maintained.