Connection device for dispensing fluid from a bottle

• US 5,862,961 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IMI Cornelius Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Freitas, Francisco De Assis Reis, Motta, Carlos Fernando Carvalho
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/950,007
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 222/82, 222/85, 222/91, 222/325, 222/400.7, 137/212
• US Class Current: 222/400.7
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0832 with two valves disposed concentrically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/314 Unitary mounting for gas pressure inlet and liquid outlet

Abstract

The present invention is a device for attaching to a bottle for permitting the sanitary extraction of fluid there from through the use of pressurized air. The extraction device herein includes two major parts, a flow regulating portion and a flow actuating portion. The flow regulating portion is secureable to the neck end of the bottle and includes valve mechanisms for regulating and directing the flow of liquid and air. The actuating portion is releaseably securable to the regulating portion and includes structure for opening the liquid flow valve mechanism, for directing air flow from an outside source to the air valve mechanism and for directing the flow of the liquid contents out of the bottle. The flow actuating mechanism is also further constructed so that the flows of air and liquid are maintained fluidly separate from each other.

Claims

1. An extraction device providing for the extraction of a liquid from a bottle, the bottle having a bottom end and a cylindrical neck and an exterior surface extending there between defining a liquid containing interior volume, and the cylindrical neck having an open end, an exterior neck surface and an interior neck surface, the exterior neck surface having screw thread means there around and the neck interior surface defining a neck interior area, the extraction device, comprising:

a flow regulating portion for insertion into the bottle through the open neck end thereof and retainably securable to the open neck end, the flow regulating portion having a cylindrical wall portion sized to be received within the neck end and closely adjacent the interior surface thereof, the cylindrical portion having a first open end for positioning adjacent the neck open end and an opposite floor end, the floor end having top and bottom surfaces and having a first hole extending centrally there through and one or more second holes extending there through around an internal perimeter thereof between the first central hole and the cylindrical wall portion, first resilient normally closed one direction valve means in fluid tight securing with the first hole and securable to the floor end bottom surface and second resilient normally closed one direction valve means in fluid tight securing with the one or more second holes and securable to the floor end bottom surface,

a flow actuating portion releasably securable with the regulating portion, the flow actuating portion having a fluid connecting member having a gas inlet fitting and a liquid outlet fitting, the gas inlet fitting in fluid communication with a gas channel extending centrally of the connecting member to a distal end thereof the gas channel distal end and a portion of the floor end top surface around the central hole having means for providing liquid tight sealing there between when the flow actuating portion and the flow regulating portion are secured together, and the fluid connecting member having means for opening the second resilient normally closed valve means when the flow actuating portion and the flow regulating portion are secured together, and the fluid connecting member having a fluid path there through fluidly separate from the gas channel for providing sealed fluid communication between the second resilient normally closed valve means and the fluid outlet fitting so that gas under pressure flowing into the gas channel is directed into the first resilient normally closed one direction valve means causing opening thereof for entry of the gas into the bottle interior volume whereby liquid contents of the bottle are forced through the second resilient normally closed valve means into the fluid path and out of the fluid outlet fitting.

2. An extraction device providing for the extraction of a liquid contents of a bottle by the replacement thereof with a gas, the bottle having a body defining an interior volume thereof and having a bottom end and an open neck end, the extraction device, comprising:

a flow regulating portion for insertion into the bottle through the open neck end thereof and securable thereto, the flow regulating portion having a perimeter wall sized to be received within the neck end and held closely adjacent an interior surface thereof, the regulating portion having an open end and an opposite floor end positioned within the bottle neck end, the floor end having top and bottom surfaces and having a gas orifice extending there through and one or more fluid holes extending there through, a normally closed valve in fluid tight securing with the gas orifice and a resilient normally closed member in fluid tight securing with the one or more fluid holes,

a flow actuating portion releasably securable with the regulating portion, the flow actuating portion having an exterior housing having a gas inlet fitting and a liquid outlet fitting extending there from at a proximal end thereof and the having a fluid flow opening at a distal end thereof,

a gas channel extending through the flow actuating housing providing for exclusive fluid communication between an outlet hole at an outlet end thereof and the inlet fitting, and a fluid passageway extending through the flow actuating housing providing for exclusive fluid communication between the outlet fitting and the fluid flow opening,

one or more opening structures extending from the flow actuating portion distal end for insertion into the one or more fluid openings when the flow actuating portion and the flow regulating portion are secured together for deflecting the resilient normally closed member from the one or more fluid openings for permitting fluid flow there through, and the floor end of the flow regulating portion positioned so that when the flow regulating portion and the flow actuating portion are secured together the outlet end of the gas channel contacts the gas orifice of the floor portion whereby seating means provides for fluid tight seating there between so that gas under pressure flowing into the gas channel is directed exclusively into the normally closed valve causing opening thereof for entry of the gas into the bottle interior volume whereby liquid contents of the bottle is forced by such entry of gas to flow through the one or more fluid openings into the fluid passageway and out of the fluid outlet fitting.

3. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the gas orifice extending through the center of the flow regulating portion floor end and the one or more fluid holes extending through the floor end around a perimeter thereof between the gas orifice and the perimeter wall.

4. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the normally closed valve comprising a duck bill valve secured to a bottom surface of the floor end.

5. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the resilient normally closed member comprising a collar of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end and covering the one or more fluid holes whereby the opening structures operate by insertion thereof into the one or more fluid holes for moving the collar of resilient material away from the normally closed position thereof over the one or more holes.

6. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the normally closed valve and the resilient normally closed member comprising a unitary structure of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end.

7. The extraction device as defined in claim 6, and the normally closed valve comprising a duck bill valve.

8. The extraction device as defined in claim 7, and the resilient normally closed member comprising a collar of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end and covering the one or more fluid holes whereby the opening structures operate by insertion thereof into the one or more fluid holes for moving the collar of resilient material away from the normally closed position thereof over the one or more holes.

9. The extraction device as defined in claim 3, and the closed valve and the resilient normally closed member comprising a unitary structure of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end.

10. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the flow regulating portion having a gas flow directing member secured thereto and the gas flow directing member having a gas cavity for receiving and providing fluid sealing with a portion of an exterior circumference of the normally closed valve, and the flow directing member having an elongate tube fluidly secured thereto for providing fluid communication from the gas chamber thereof, the elongate tube extending from gas chamber into the bottle interior volume to a position adjacent the bottle bottom end so that gas exiting the normally closed valve is directed into the elongate tube for exiting therefrom adjacent the bottle bottom end.

11. The extraction device as defined in claim 8, and the flow regulating portion having a gas flow directing member secured thereto and the gas flow directing member having a gas cavity for receiving and providing fluid sealing with a portion of an exterior circumference of the normally closed valve, and the flow directing member having an elongate tube fluidly secured thereto for providing fluid communication from the gas chamber thereof, the elongate tube extending from gas chamber into the bottle interior volume to a position adjacent the bottle bottom end so that gas exiting the normally closed valve is directed into the elongate tube for exiting therefrom adjacent the bottle bottom end.

12. The extraction device as defined in claim 2, and the flow regulating portion having a fluid flow directing member secured to a distal end of the flow regulating portion and having a central orifice for providing fluid tight receiving around an exterior circumference of a portion of the normally closed valve therein, and the fluid flow directing member spaced from the end wall bottom surface for creating a fluid chamber between the fluid flow directing member the bottom surface of the end wall, the circumferential portion of the normally closed valve and an interior surface of the perimeter wall of the flow regulating portion, and the fluid flow directing member having a gas tube fluidly secured thereto and extending therefrom into the bottle interior volume adjacent the bottle bottom end.

13. The extraction device as defined in claim 8, and the flow regulating portion having a fluid flow directing member secured to a distal end of the flow regulating portion and having a central orifice for providing fluid tight receiving around an exterior circumference of a portion of the normally closed valve therein, and the fluid flow directing member spaced from the end wall bottom surface for creating a fluid chamber between the fluid flow directing member the bottom surface of the end wall, the circumferential portion of the normally closed valve and an interior surface of the perimeter wall of the flow regulating portion, and the fluid flow directing member having a gas tube fluidly secured thereto and extending therefrom into the bottle interior volume adjacent the bottle bottom end.

14. An extraction device providing for the extraction of a liquid contents of a bottle by the replacement thereof with a gas, the bottle having a body defining an interior volume thereof and having a bottom end and an open neck end, the extraction device, comprising:

a flow regulating portion for insertion into the bottle through the open neck end thereof and securable thereto, the flow regulating portion having a perimeter wall sized to be received within the neck end and held closely adjacent an interior surface thereof, the regulating portion having an open end and an opposite floor end positioned within the bottle neck end, the floor end having top and bottom surfaces and having a gas orifice extending centrally there through and one or more fluid holes extending there through along a perimeter extending around the gas orifice, a first normally closed valve in fluid tight securing with the gas orifice and a resilient normally closed member in fluid tight securing with the one or more fluid holes,

a flow actuating portion releasably securable with the regulating portion, the flow actuating portion having an exterior housing having a gas inlet fitting and a liquid outlet fitting extending there from at a proximal end thereof and the housing defining an interior space having a fluid flow opening at a distal end of the flow actuating portion,

a gas tube slideably retained within the interior space and moveable against biasing means between a normally closed position and an open position and the gas tube having a central gas passage extending along a central axis thereof providing for fluid communication between an inlet hole at an inlet end thereof and an outlet hole at an outlet end thereof, the gas tube outlet end having an end surface extending transverse to the axial extension of the central passage thereof and the central passage ending with the gas tube outlet hole centrally thereof, and the gas tube outlet end and a perimeter of the interior space fluid flow opening having sealing means there between for preventing fluid flow into the interior space when the gas tube is in the normally closed position,

an inlet tube section in the interior space having a first end in fluid tight securing with and extending from the gas inlet fitting partially into the interior space and the gas tube inlet end insertable into the inlet tube section wherein the gas tube inlet hole is received within the inlet tube section and wherein the inlet tube section provides for fluid tight dynamic sealing of the gas tube around an exterior surface thereof,

one or more opening structures extending from the flow actuating portion distal end for insertion into the one or more fluid openings when the flow actuating portion and the flow regulating portion are secured together for deflecting the resilient normally closed member from the one or more openings for permitting fluid flow there through, and the floor end of the flow regulating portion positioned so that when the flow regulating portion and the flow actuating portion are secured together the end surface of the gas tube outlet end contacts the top surface whereby the gas tube is moved linearly from its normally closed position to an open position for providing a fluid flow path from the one or more openings into the interior space to the fluid outlet fitting and so that contact is created between the gas tube outlet hole and the gas orifice of the floor portion whereby seating means provides for fluid tight seating there between so that gas under pressure flowing into the gas channel is directed exclusively into the first resilient normally closed valve causing opening thereof for entry of the gas into the bottle interior volume whereby liquid contents of the bottle is forced by such entry of gas to flow through the one or more fluid openings into the interior space and out of the fluid outlet fitting.

15. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the gas orifice extending through the center of the flow regulating portion floor end and the one or more fluid holes extending through the floor end around a perimeter thereof between the gas orifice and the perimeter wall.

16. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the normally closed valve comprising a duck bill valve secured to a bottom surface of the floor end.

17. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the resilient normally closed member comprising a collar of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end and covering the one or more fluid holes whereby the opening structures operate by insertion thereof into the one or more fluid holes for moving the collar of resilient material away from the normally closed position thereof over the one or more holes.

18. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the normally closed valve and the resilient normally closed member comprising a unitary structure of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end.

19. The extraction device as defined in claim 18, and the normally closed valve comprising a duck bill valve.

20. The extraction device as defined in claim 19, and the resilient normally closed member comprising a collar of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end and covering the one or more fluid holes whereby the opening structures operate by insertion thereof into the one or more fluid holes for moving the collar of resilient material away from the normally closed position thereof over the one or more holes.

21. The extraction device as defined in claim 15, and the closed valve and the resilient normally closed member comprising a unitary structure of resilient material secured to the bottom surface of the floor end.

22. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the flow regulating portion having a gas flow directing member secured thereto and the gas flow directing member having a gas cavity for receiving and providing fluid sealing with a portion of an exterior circumference of the normally closed valve, and the flow directing member having an elongate tube fluidly secured thereto for providing fluid communication from the gas chamber thereof, the elongate tube extending from gas chamber into the bottle interior volume to a position adjacent the bottle bottom end so that gas exiting the normally closed valve is directed into the elongate tube for exiting therefrom adjacent the bottle bottom end.

23. The extraction device as defined in claim 20, and the flow regulating portion having a gas flow directing member secured thereto and the gas flow directing member having a gas cavity for receiving and providing fluid sealing with a portion of an exterior circumference of the normally closed valve, and the flow directing member having an elongate tube fluidly secured thereto for providing fluid communication from the gas chamber thereof, the elongate tube extending from gas chamber into the bottle interior volume to a position adjacent the bottle bottom end so that gas exiting the normally closed valve is directed into the elongate tube for exiting therefrom adjacent the bottle bottom end.

24. The extraction device as defined in claim 14, and the flow regulating portion having a fluid flow directing member secured to a distal end of the flow regulating portion and having a central orifice for providing fluid tight receiving around an exterior circumference of a portion of the normally closed valve therein, and the fluid flow directing member spaced from the end wall bottom surface for creating a fluid chamber between the fluid flow directing member the bottom surface of the end wall, the circumferential portion of the normally closed valve and an interior surface of the perimeter wall of the flow regulating portion, and the fluid flow directing member having a gas tube fluidly secured thereto and extending therefrom into the bottle interior volume adjacent the bottle bottom end.

25. The extraction device as defined in claim 20, and the flow regulating portion having a fluid flow directing member secured to a distal end of the flow regulating portion and having a central orifice for providing fluid tight receiving around an exterior circumference of a portion of the normally closed valve therein, and the fluid flow directing member spaced from the end wall bottom surface for creating a fluid chamber between the fluid flow directing member the bottom surface of the end wall, the circumferential portion of the normally closed valve and an interior surface of the perimeter wall of the flow regulating portion, and the fluid flow directing member having a gas tube fluidly secured thereto and extending therefrom into the bottle interior volume adjacent the bottle bottom end.