Valve device for a drinking container and a method for using the valve device
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47G-019/22
B65D-051/16
출원번호
UP-0479906
(2002-06-05)
등록번호
US-7537133
(2009-07-01)
우선권정보
NO-20012671(2001-06-05); NO-20021051(2002-03-01)
국제출원번호
PCT/NO02/000198
(2002-06-05)
§371/§102 date
20031205
(20031205)
국제공개번호
WO02/098757
(2002-12-12)
발명자
/ 주소
Naesje, Kjetil
대리인 / 주소
Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
8인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
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 me
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.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve device for a drinking container having an internal volume for containing fluid, the valve device comprising: a wall portion separating the internal volume of the drinking container from a suction chamber, the wall portion defining a wall opening that connects th
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve device for a drinking container having an internal volume for containing fluid, the valve device comprising: a wall portion separating the internal volume of the drinking container from a suction chamber, the wall portion defining a wall opening that connects the internal volume to the suction chamber, the suction chamber also being connected to a downstream drinking opening for said fluid; and a valve that is movable between an open position wherein fluid in the internal volume can flow out of the drinking container via said wall opening and further via said suction chamber and drinking opening, and a closed position wherein fluid in the internal volume cannot flow out of the drinking container via said wall opening, suction chamber and drinking opening; wherein the valve comprises a pressure-responsive movable membrane, at least one bracing element and a sealing element, the bracing element connecting the membrane to the sealing element such that movement of the membrane causes movement of the sealing element; wherein in the closed position the sealing element seals against fluid outflow via the wall opening, and in the open position the sealing element does not seal against fluid outflow via the wall opening; wherein the movable membrane has at least one surface exposed to pressure in the suction chamber, and at least one opposite surface exposed to ambient pressure outside the drinking container; wherein the sealing element has at least one surface exposed to the pressure in the internal volume of the drinking container, the internal pressure being equal to or higher than ambient pressure; wherein application of a predetermined amount of suction at the drinking opening reduces the pressure in the suction chamber below ambient pressure so as to produce a differential pressure across the membrane, whereby said differential pressure acts on the membrane to move the membrane in the direction of the suction chamber and thereby force the sealing element and thus the valve out of the closed position; wherein said bracing element comprises at least one stem; and wherein the stem is positioned within, and projects axially out from, an outflow opening provided in the membrane, and wherein the stem is secured in a manner allowing for unobstructed fluid flow through the outflow opening when the valve is in the open position. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, comprising a cap, and wherein the separating wall portion is part of the cap. 3. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises at least one flexible zone that is resilient upon movement of the membrane. 4. The valve device according to claim 3, wherein the flexible zone comprises at least one concentric annular membrane corrugation that is positioned between an axis that is transverse to the wall portion and a peripheral edge of the membrane. 5. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the membrane that is exposed to the suction chamber has a substantially planar shape, and wherein the planar shape is substantially parallel to the wall portion. 6. The valve device according to claim 1, comprising a flexible annular seal disposed on the outside of the membrane and around the outflow opening, wherein the flexible annular seal is structured in a manner allowing it to surround a separate drinking conduit, whereby the membrane is arranged for releasable connection to the drinking conduit. 7. The valve device according to claim 6, wherein the drinking conduit is formed in a lid which is arranged in a pressure-equalizing manner to the outside of said wall portion and surrounds the valve, and wherein a first end portion of the drinking conduit is arranged to fit into said annular seal, whereas a second end portion of the drinking conduit is connected to the lid. 8. The valve device according to claim 7, wherein the lid surrounding the drinking conduit is shaped as a drinking spout. 9. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the separating wall portion is part of the drinking container. 10. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein said drinking opening is provided in a side wall of the cap so as to allow pressure communication with said suction chamber. 11. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the outflow opening in the membrane defines said drinking opening. 12. The valve device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one membrane corrugation is arranged in the direction of the axis at the peripheral edge of the membrane, whereby the membrane may be resilient like a bellows in the axial direction. 13. The valve device according to claim 5, wherein the membrane, at its peripheral edge, is provided with an axially extending and flexible collar portion which is arranged to be resilient in the axial direction. 14. The valve device according to claim 13, wherein the collar portion, along its circumference, is provided with axially extending and elastically flexible struts which are arranged to exert a specific resistance to axial compression, the struts being radially flexible. 15. The valve device according to claim 14, wherein a strut consists of two axial strut elements, their adjacent end surfaces being of complementary form and being hinged together at their radial outer sides, whereby the elements are arranged to interlock when the valve device is inactive, but wherein the elements are arranged to buckle radially via said hinging when influenced by said differential pressure. 16. The valve device according to claim 3, wherein the membrane is formed as a bellows arranged with a first end portion which is associated with said opening in the wall portion, and which is associated with said sealing element, and an axially opposite second end portion shaped as a drinking opening, the internal cavity of the bellows thereby constituting the suction chamber, and wherein the bellows is arranged peripherally and radially contractible by means of its flexible zones, the bellows contraction being converted into a valve-opening axial force via the at least one bracing element. 17. The valve device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows, along its circumference, is provided with axially extending corrugations, whereby the bellows may be contracted peripherally and radially, the axial corrugations also having an axially bracing effect on the bellows. 18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bellows is provided with force-transmitting axial struts. 19. The valve device according to claim 16, wherein at the second end portion of the bellows is fixed relative to said wall portion, whereby the bellows upon radial contraction is extended axially towards the sealing element. 20. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least two projecting stems are arranged around the outflow opening in the membrane. 21. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the outflow opening is defined by an axially extending tubular membrane stub projecting into the suction chamber, and wherein the membrane stub, in one free end portion thereof, is connected to the stem, and its other end portion is associated with and is surrounded by the membrane, the stub thereby forming a drinking conduit. 22. The valve device according to claim 21, wherein the surrounding membrane is shaped as a drinking spout. 23. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the outflow opening is defined by an axially extending tubular membrane stub projecting out from the outflow opening of the membrane and away from its suction chamber. 24. The valve device according to claim 23, wherein the membrane stub is releasably associated with an invertible lid which is arranged in a pressure-equalizing manner to the outside of said wall portion, a middle portion thereof being formed with an axially projecting drinking spout which is provided with an axial through-going drinking opening, and wherein one end of the drinking opening is provided with a breakable seal, the breakable seal being arranged to protect an outlet of the membrane stub when the valve device is inactive, but wherein the seal, when the lid is turned over axially, is broken and covers and surrounds the membrane stub like a pressure-sealing gliding seal, whereby the valve device is ready for use. 25. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein said drinking opening, along its internal circumference, is provided with elastic radial flaps, wherein the free ends of the flaps are arranged to rest closingly against each other when the valve device is inactive, and wherein the flaps are arranged to flex out and open in the fluid outflow direction when said predetermined amount of suction is applied at the drinking opening. 26. A valve device for a drinking container, the device comprising: a valve, which in its position of use, is connected to at least one opening in a separating wall portion associated with the drinking container, wherein the valve, via a downstream drinking opening, is arranged to open and close to outflow of a fluid from the drinking container, wherein the valve comprises a movable membrane which is associated with a sealing element, said membrane being formed about an axis on the outside of said separating wall portion, wherein the membrane is arranged with a peripheral edge which, when in its position of use, is disposed in a manner surrounding said at least one opening of the separating wall portion, thereby defining a suction chamber between the membrane and the separating wall portion, wherein an outside of the membrane is pressure-balanced against the ambient pressure (P1) of the drinking container, whereas an inside of the membrane faces the suction chamber, wherein the membrane is provided with an outflow opening for pressure communication between the suction chamber and said drinking opening, wherein the membrane, via at least one bracing element, is associated with said sealing element, and wherein the membrane is arranged in a manner allowing it to open to fluid outflow when the pressure (P2) of the drinking opening, and therefore the pressure (P2) in the suction chamber, is lower than the ambient pressure (P1) by a predetermined value, whereby a resulting differential pressure (P1-P2) moves the membrane in the direction of the suction chamber and transmits an axial valve-opening force (F1) to the sealing element so as to displace the sealing element into an open position for fluid outflow. 27. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the membrane is provided with at least one flexible zone which is resilient upon movement of the membrane. 28. The valve device according to claim 27, wherein the flexible zone comprises at least one concentric annular membrane corrugation positioned between the axis and the peripheral edge of the membrane. 29. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the membrane substantially is of a planar shape, at least on its inside, and wherein the membrane is positioned perpendicular to the axis. 30. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the at least one bracing element between the membrane and the sealing element comprises at least one stem. 31. The valve device according to claim 30, wherein the stem is positioned within, and projects axially out from, said outflow opening in the membrane, and wherein the stem is secured in a manner allowing for unobstructed fluid flow through the outflow opening when the valve is open. 32. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the membrane, on its outside and around the outflow opening, is provided with a flexible annular seal which, when in its position of use, surrounds a separate drinking conduit, whereby the membrane is arranged for releasable connection to the drinking conduit. 33. The valve device according to claim 32, wherein the drinking conduit is formed in a lid which is arranged in a pressure-equalizing manner to the outside of said separating wall portion and surrounds the valve device, and wherein a first end portion of the drinking conduit is arranged to fit into said seal, whereas a second end portion of the drinking conduit is connected to the lid. 34. The valve device according to claim 33, wherein the lid surrounding the drinking conduit is shaped as a drinking spout. 35. The valve device according to claim 31, wherein the membrane, on its outside and around the outflow opening, is provided with a flexible annular seal which, when in its position of use, surrounds a separate drinking conduit, whereby the membrane is arranged for releasable connection to the drinking conduit. 36. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the separating wall portion forms a part of the drinking container. 37. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein the separating wall portion forms a portion of a cap for pressure-sealing engagement with the drinking container. 38. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein said outflow opening in the membrane defines the drinking opening. 39. The valve device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one membrane corrugation is arranged in the direction of the axis at the peripheral edge of the membrane, whereby the membrane may be resilient like a bellows in the axial direction. 40. The valve device according to claim 29, wherein the membrane, at its peripheral edge, is provided with an axially extending and flexible collar portion which is arranged to be resilient in the axial direction. 41. The valve device according to claim 40, wherein the collar portion, along its circumference, is provided with axially extending and elastically flexible struts which are arranged to exert a specific resistance to axial compression, the struts being radially flexible. 42. The valve device according to claim 41, wherein a strut consists of two axial strut elements, their adjacent end surfaces being of complementary form and being hinged together at their radial outer sides, whereby the elements are arranged to interlock when the valve device is inactive, but wherein the elements are arranged to buckle radially via said hinging when influenced by said differential pressure (P1-P2). 43. The valve device according to claim 27, wherein the membrane is formed as a bellows extending concentrically and axially about the axis, whereby the membrane bellows is arranged with a first end portion which is associated with said opening in the wall portion, and which is associated with said sealing element, and an axially opposite second end portion shaped as a drinking opening, the internal cavity of the bellows thereby constituting the suction chamber, and wherein the bellows is arranged peripherally and radially contractible by means of its flexible zones, the bellows contraction being converted into said valve-opening axial force (F1) via the at least one bracing element. 44. The valve device according to claim 43, wherein the bellows, along its circumference, is provided with axially extending corrugations, whereby the bellows may be contracted peripherally and radially, the axial corrugations also having an axially bracing effect on the bellows. 45. The valve device according to claim 43, wherein the bellows is provided with force-transmitting axial struts. 46. The valve device according to claim 43, wherein said first end portion of the bellows terminates in a closable conical beak, and wherein the beak is arranged to, and can pivot about, a concentric annular articulated zone of the bellows, whereby the beak, when influenced by said axial force (F1), is subjected to a beak-opening torque, the beak thereby constituting the sealing element. 47. The valve device according claim 46, wherein the beak is formed by converging the mouth of the bellows into an expandable membrane ring which constitute the sealing element, and wherein the membrane ring is provided with a circumferential collar that is connected to the drinking container, and that forms said wall portion. 48. The valve device according to claim 46, wherein the beak is formed by converging the mouth of the bellows into a cone tip which is provided with axially extending and closable slot openings, the cone tip with its slot openings thereby constituting the sealing element. 49. The valve device according to claim 43, wherein at the second end portion of the bellows is fixed relative to said wall portion, whereby the bellows upon radial contraction is extended axially towards the sealing element. 50. The valve device according to claim 30, wherein at least two projecting stems are arranged around the outflow opening of the membrane. 51. The valve device according to claim 30, wherein the stem is positioned within, and projects axially out from, the outflow opening in the membrane, and wherein the stem is secured in a manner allowing for unobstructed fluid flow through the outflow opening when the valve is open. 52. The valve device according to claim 51, wherein the outflow opening is defined by an axially extending tubular membrane stub projecting into the suction chamber, and wherein the membrane stub, in one free end portion thereof, is connected to the stem, and its other end portion is associated with and is surrounded by the membrane, the stub thereby forming a drinking conduit. 53. The valve device according to claim 52, wherein the surrounding membrane is shaped as a drinking spout. 54. The valve device according to claim 51, wherein the outflow opening is defined by an axially extending tubular membrane stub projecting out from the outflow opening of the membrane and away from its suction chamber. 55. The valve device according to claim 54, wherein the membrane stub is releasably associated with an invertible lid which is arranged in a pressure-equalizing manner to the outside of said wall portion, a middle portion thereof being formed with an axially projecting drinking spout which is provided with an axial through-going drinking opening, and wherein one end of the drinking opening is provided with a breakable seal, the breakable seal being arranged to protect an outlet of the membrane stub when the valve device is inactive, but wherein the seal, when the lid is turned over axially, is broken and covers and surrounds the membrane stub like a pressure-sealing gliding seal, whereby the valve device is ready for use. 56. The valve device according to claim 26, wherein said drinking opening, along its internal circumference, is provided with elastic radial flaps, wherein the free ends of the flaps are arranged to rest closingly against each other when the valve device is inactive, and wherein the flaps are arranged to flex out and open in the fluid outflow direction when said pressure (P2) is supplied to the drinking opening.
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