Device for dispensing carbonated beverages

Abstract

A device for dispensing carbonated beverages and collapsing the containers for the beverages.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/336,579, filed on Dec. 4, 2001, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Embodiments of the invention relate to devices for dispensing carbonated beverages that are bottled in plastic or other flexible packaging material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] All over the world carbonated beverages are sold in PET plastic bottles in sizes as large as two to three liters. These bottles are typically sold to households for multi use as single use beverages are sold in smaller size aluminum, plastic or glass containers. The problem with the larger PET plastic bottles is that the carbonation escapes after repeated opening and dispensing from the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Embodiments of the invention prevents the loss of carbonation as well as providing for a system in which the bottle does not have to be opened and shut repeatedly. Embodiments of the invention also act as an insulating system assuring that carbonated beverage within the PET bottle remains cold for an extended period of time assuring consumers of a fully carbonated cold drink. Embodiments of the invention also accomplish the task of reducing the size and volume of the empty PET bottle allowing for easier disposal in trash or materials for recycling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0005] FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectioned view of an embodiment of the invention containing a carbonated beverage bottle.

[0006] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the beverage bottle in successive stages of collapse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] The invention is a device generally depicted as 1 in FIG. 1. Device 1 is a solid cylinder, cube, sphere or other shaped container which is large enough to fully contain the PET carbonated beverage bottle 2 within the container. The lid of the container 3 is screwed onto the top of the full beverage bottle 2 from which the screw top provided by the manufacturer has been removed. Within this lid 3 on the opposite side to which the bottle 2 is screwed into, is a faucet or valve 4 which will control the flow of the beverage from the bottle into a glass 5 from which it is ultimately drunk. After the lid 3 is tightened onto the bottle 2 the lid 3 is screwed into the body 6 of the device 1. The whole device 1 is then inverted such that it stands on the legs 7 of the body 6 and the bottle is oriented upside down with the carbonated beverage contained above the lid 3. An air or fluid pump 8 which is either attached or separate from the body of the device 6 pumps air or other fluid through a one way valve 9 into the annular space 10 between the bottle 2 and the inside surface of the body 6 of the device. The added air or fluid pumped into the annular space 10 exerts pressure on the plastic wall 11 of the bottle 2 and in turn on the carbonated beverage 12 within the bottle 1. The beverage 12 can therefore be dispensed at will out of the faucet or valve 4 into the glass 5. As the beverage 12 is withdrawn from the bottle 2, the wall 11 of the bottle 2 is deflected inward and the bottle's 2 volume is reduced. This reduction in volume decreases the space in the bottle 2 that is not filled with beverage, thereby minimizing the free volume within the bottle into which carbon dioxide can escape allowing the carbonated beverage 12 to remain more fully carbonated that is normally experienced by simply pouring beverage 12 from a bottle 2 and repeatedly opening and closing the bottle 2 with the cap provided by the manufacturer of the beverage 12. If the user so desires ice, cold water or some other refrigerated material can be inserted into the container prior to the lid 3 containing the bottle 2 being fastened to the body 6 of the device. The body 6 can be manufactured of metal, plastic or other combination of solid material. Certain materials for the body 6 have insulation capability thereby allowing the beverage 12 to remain chilled for an extended period of time. After the beverage 12 is fully dispensed from the bottle 2, a fraction of the air or fluid in the annular space 10 is released to the outside by relieving any positive pressure through pressure relief valve 13. The lid 3 is then unscrewed from the body 6 and the empty and compressed bottle 2 is discarded or recycled. The process is repeated and the device can be used over and over to dispense carbonated beverages.

[0008] The device 1 can also be used to dispense any fluid such as wine, oil or other product which is contained in a flexible container and need not be carbonated. Other products that spoil when opened to air such as wine, milk, fruit juice, oil etc. could be dispensed from the device without the contents being exposed to air thereby reducing spoilage. The device could be used to dispense a variety of other fluids which do not spoil or are carbonated but that a user simply wants to easily dispense a controlled amount of fluid. Another such application is the dispensing of glue, paint, etc.

[0009] It is to be understood that it is in the spirit and scope of the invention that alternative embodiments of the invention can be configured so that the neck of the bottle can be pointing upwardly. In other words, the housing would be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees from the orientation depicted in FIG. 1. The plump 8 could be relocated to for example the side or top of the housing as presently oriented and the valve 4 would be fitted with a “U” shaped nozzle so that fluid could be dispensed into for example a glass. Pressurizing the housing with the pump 8 would cause fluid to flow through an opened valve 4 and out of the nozzle.

[0010] The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device adapted to dispense a fluid contained in a flexible container comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a flexible container which has a neck;

a port provided in the housing, said port adapted to receive the neck of the flexible container;

a valve adapted to regulate the flow of fluid from the flexible container and through the neck; and

a pump communicating with an interior of the housing and adapted to apply fluid pressure to the flexible container in order to cause fluid to be released from the flexible container and to collapse the flexible container when the valve is opened in order to dispense fluid from the flexible container

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to hold the flexible container so that the neck is below a body of the flexible container.

3. The device of claim 1 including a mount extending from the housing so that the housing is held above the mount.

4. The device of claim 1 including a relief valve communicating with the housing.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said port includes threads which are adapted to mate with the threads on the neck of the flexible container.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a lid that is removable attached a body of the housing, and wherein said port is provide through said lid.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said valve is adapted to mate with threads located on a neck of the flexible container.

8. A device adapted to dispense a fluid contained in a flexible container comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a flexible container which has a neck;

a port provided in the housing, said port adapted to receive the neck of the flexible container; and

a pump communicating with an interior of the housing and adapted to apply fluid pressure to the flexible container in order to cause fluid to be released from the flexible container and to collapse the flexible container as fluid is dispensed from the flexible container.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said housing is adapted to hold the flexible container so that the neck is below a body of the flexible container.

10. The device of claim 8 including a mount extending from the housing so that the housing is held above the mount.

11. The device of claim 8 including a relief valve communicating with the housing.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said port includes threads which are adapted to mate with the threads on the neck of the flexible container.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said housing includes a lid that is removable attached a body of the housing, and wherein said port is provide through said lid.

14. The device of claim 8 including a valve that is adapted to mate with threads located on a neck of the flexible container in order to control the flow of fluid from the flexible container.

15. A device adapted to dispense a fluid contained in a flexible container comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a flexible container which has a neck;

a port provided in the housing, said port adapted to receive the neck of the flexible container;

a valve adapted to regulate the flow of fluid from the flexible container and through the neck;

a relief valve communicating with the housing;

a mount extending from the housing so that the housing is held above the mount;

wherein said port is located under said housing so that said housing is adapted to hold the flexible container with the neck of the flexible container directed downwardly below the housing; and

a pump communicating with an interior of the housing and adapted to apply fluid pressure to the flexible container in order to cause fluid to be released from the flexible container and to collapse the flexible container when the valve is opened in order to dispense fluid from the flexible container.