SELF CLOSING FLOW CONTROL DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE ACTUATOR ELEMENT FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES

Abstract

The invention relates to a spill proof self-closing flow control device (SCFCD) with adjustable actuator element for flexible or rigid containers with fluids. The SCFCD comprises a spout (2), a flexible valve-retaining element and a container closure element (12). The valve-retaining element is a one-part component consisting of an actuator element (9), a cylindrical valve holder (11) and a valve (10) for alternately opening and closing the flow-through orifice. In the various embodiments two or three pressure chambers are formed with pressures P1, P2 and P3 controlling the flow control device, separated by the valve-retaining element. In a first, second and fourth embodiments the actuator element is configured to move the valve in the downstream direction by an under pressure in the first chamber thereby bringing the valve in the open position, while in a third embodiment, the actuator element opens the valve in the upstream direction. Provisions are foreseen to increase the fluid outflow from container by externally adjusting the opening/closing force of the actuator element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a container closure with a self-closing flow control device, axisymmetric in shape with an actuator element for rigid or semi rigid/flexible fluid containers which prevents spilling and leaking when the container is tipped over or overturned and easy to manufacture and use. The actuator element opening force is adjustable to increase a liquid outflow from the container for users with low suction capabilities such as toddlers, children, elderly people, etc. or for active users on-the go.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,090 B1, a self-closing flow control element is described, comprising a spout that is leak tight attached to a housing enclosure that holds a spring, a centrally perforated membrane, a hollow valve stem with flow through opening in the bottom and in the top, a valve stem guide and a valve. The hollow valve stem is attached to the perforated membrane on one side and to the valve on the other side. When suction is applied to the spout, the membrane moves the valve in the downstream direction, thereby allowing fluid to flow through an opening in the valve stem, the valve stem itself and the perforated membrane to the mouth. When the suction stops, a spring closes the valve against the pressure inside the container. The fluid opening to the valve extends through a flexible tube to the bottom of the container to allow emptying of the container completely. An air vent is provided within the valve stem guide, compensating for the reduction in pressure inside the container, when inside pressure drops below atmospheric pressure. The potential drawback of the above solution is in the arrangement of the valve stem guide, which protrudes into the container in such away that the container cannot be fully emptied unless an internal straw is used. In addition this solution requires a special configuration, which adds to the number of parts, thus affecting its reliability and increases the cost of manufacturing and assembly of the spout closure.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks, by eliminating the valve stem guide in the container and placing the air inlet valve either within the one-way primary valve, or in the container closure element. The self-closing flow control device is thereby provided with an actuator element integrally connected via a valve holder to a primary valve, that opens a flow-through orifice in the downstream direction, while the exiting fluid volume in the container is replaced by air that flows back into the container through the secondary (air inlet) valve, as will become clear in the description of the first and second preferred embodiment below. The entire self-closing flow control device can be constructed from only three parts namely the spout, valve retaining element and the container closure element, thereby enhancing the reliability of the container closure means.

In WO 01/92133 A2, a flow control device is described in which the extruded portion of the membrane acts as a spout, and the valve opens in the upstream direction. The drawback of this solution is that the valve stem guide protrudes far into the container, thereby not allowing the container to be fully emptied and is not optimized in terms of parts used for its configuration, thus making the product more expensive to produce and also less reliable. The spout and the perforated membrane are combined into one-piece component of resilient material, making the mouthpiece of the spout very flimsy. A better conceptual solution has been described in the present patent application in a third preferred embodiment, thereby reducing the height of the valve holder and integrating the valve with the extruded portion of the perforated membrane and providing a plurality of valve stems, that at the same time adds strength and stability to the mouthpiece of the spout. In this embodiment the valve holder within the container has been eliminated thereby providing a flow-through orifice in the container closure element which is opened and closed by a valve connected to the centrally perforated membrane, with a mouthpiece and a valve holder integrally connected to the valve by valve stems which at the same time reinforces the valve holder of the spout. These improvements become clear in the detail description of the third preferred embodiment below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an optimized self-closing closure cap (adjustable or non-adjustable) for single serve liquid-holding bottles and containers that prevents the spilling of liquid when the bottle/container is accidentally tipped over or overturned, for drinking on the go and in awkward situation e.g. while driving in the car, when sporting, cycling, hiking etc. This objective is reached by providing the drinking means with a valve that automatically closes the bottle/container opening, when not being used and no suction is applied. There are four disclosed embodiments of the present invention making it applicable for different type of fluids (carbonated or still drinks), stored in containers of different shape and material, flexible or rigid.

The first embodiment of the present invention comprises a self-closing flow control device with a spout for drinking from a bottle or handheld container. The self-closing flow control device is activated by suction on the spout, whereby a centrally perforated membrane type element (further called ‘actuator element’) lifts a primary valve from a flow-through orifice, which closes the inside of the container from the outside. The inside of the container can be of a higher or equal gas pressure than the external atmospheric pressure. The self-closing flow control device comprises a spout with a mouthpiece, integrated or air tight connected to a housing or closing cylinder, which holds a pre-stressed actuator element, integrally connected to a central tube element, acting as a valve holder, that extends in the upstream direction. This valve holder is connected to a plurality of valve stems, (with a minimum of one), which are connected to the primary valve, in such away that when the actuator element moves up or down, the valve moves with it. The valve opens and closes a flow-through orifice in the center of a container neck closure element that at its periphery is leak tight connected to the rim of the container neck. The actuator element, valve holder and valve are integrated into one-piece component, which is made of a resilient material. By prestressing the actuator element during assembly of the self-closing flow control devise, the actuator element pulls the valve firmly onto its seat of the flow-through orifice. The lower side of the actuator element is held at atmospheric pressure due to one or more openings in the housing/closing cylinder of the flow control devise, while the upper side of the actuator element has a direct connection with the opening of the spout. By suction on the spout, a pressure difference is created over the actuator element, which opens the primary valve in the downstream direction of the fluid flow from the container, when the container is brought into drinking position. The valve closing area, respectively the orifice area is substantially smaller than the active surface area of the actuator element. A small pressure difference over the actuator element will thereby result in a relatively large force to open the valve against the resilient force that normally keeps the valve closed. The combination of the valve diameter, the resilient force and actuator diameter is thereby an essential part of the invention, enabling the self-closing flow control devise to work. When the pressure inside the container drops below atmospheric pressure, by the reduced fluid level, ambient air flows into the container through a secondary valve (air inlet valve), which is provided within the primary valve. This air inlet valve is one-way valve and opens only when the container pressure drops below the atmospheric pressure, thereby replacing the volume of the reduced fluid amount in the container. Thus described, the flow control devise securely closes off the inside of the handheld container against any spillage or when not in use. This embodiment is ideally suited for still and slightly carbonated beverages in a flexible container.

In a second embodiment of the invention, air inlet valves are placed in the containerneck closure element, allowing a continuous airflow into the container, when suction on the spout is applied, thus preventing deformation and distortion of the container shape and making it applicable to both; flexible and rigid containers. This solution is well suited for still and slightly carbonated beverages stored in rigid containers.

Unlike the self-closing flow control devise of the first and second embodiments, with the valve opening in the downstream direction, a third embodiment of this invention has a valve opening a flow-through orifice in the upstream direction. The valve is activated by a pressure difference over an actuator element, when suction is applied on the spout. The valve is thereby connected via a plurality of valve stems to a valve holder, which in turn is connected to the actuator element, having a protrusion in the downstream direction that acts at the same time as a spout. The valve stems are radially placed as protuberances on the inside of the valve holder, thereby improving the rigidness of this cylinder, while in addition a spout guide is provided, to improve the stability of the spout. This solution is well suited for carbonated beverages with an increased internal pressure, but requires a flexible container.

A fourth embodiment has been described, which is a simplified version of the first embodiment, in which only two pressure chambers are used, without compromising the advantage of a non spilling spout and no spillage will occur, when the bottle or container is accidentally overturned.

For a number of instances, it is desirable that the opening force of the actuator element is adjustable, for users with low suction capabilities, such as elderly, toddlers, hospital use etc., as well as active users looking for an increased outflow of fluid from the container. The opening force of the actuator element is externally adjusted either by rotation/twisting/pulling/pushing or snap-on means added to the self closing closure cap used for all types of containers flexible and rigid, metal or plastic. In addition, if used with the flexible container, the actuator element can be adjusted in such as way that by squeezing the bottle (in the ‘first’, ‘second’ and ‘fourth’ embodiments below), a continuous outflow of liquid can be obtained, which will automatically stop when the squeezing ceases.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axial cross-section of a first preferred embodiment and application of the present invention for a self-closing flow control device with actuator element opening a valve in the downstream direction.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 showing the spout, axisymmetric in shape, screwed onto a cylindrical container neck.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement view ‘S’ of FIG. 1, showing details of the self-closing flow control device with the primary valve in the open position, and a secondary valve (air inlet slit valve) in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is an enlargement view ‘T’ of FIG. 1, showing details of the self-closing flow control device with the primary valve in the closed position, and the slit valve in the open position, allowing air to flow into the container.

FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional top view A-A of FIG. 3 with the primary valve in the open and the slit valve in the closed position.

FIG. 6 is a detail cross-sectional top view B-B of FIG. 4 with the primary valve in the closed and the slit valve in the open position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ‘U’ of FIG. 1, showing details of the self-closing flow control device with a skirt.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ‘V’ of FIG. 1, showing details of the self-closing flow control device with a ridge in the actuator element adding flexibility to the actuator element, as needed.

FIG. 9 shows a second preferred embodiment of the self-closing flow control device wherein the slit valve in the primary valve is replaced by a self-closing, one-way air valve.

FIG. 9A shows an enlarged detail ‘W’ of FIG. 9, with the primary and secondary valve in the closed position.

FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional top view C-C of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the self-closing flow control device, in which one-way air valves are applied in the container closure element.

FIG. 10A shows an enlargement view ‘X’ of FIG. 10, of a one-way air valve.

FIG. 11 is an axial cross-section of a second preferred embodiment and application of the present invention with air inlet openings in the peripheral area of the container neck closure element, closed off by a flexible washer, that also acts as a seal for the container neck.

FIG. 11A shows an enlarged view ‘Y’ of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is an axial cross-section of a second preferred embodiment and application of the present invention with air inlet openings in the peripheral area of the container neck closure element, closed off by a flexible washer as part of the container neck closure element.

FIG. 12A shows an enlarged view ‘Z’ of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is an axial cross-section of a third preferred embodiment and application of the present invention for a self-closing flow control device with actuator element opening a valve in the upstream flow direction, wherein the actuator element pulls the valve closed by a resilient force of the actuator element.

FIG. 13A is a partial cross-sectional top view D-D of FIG. 13 showing the spout axisymmetric in shape, screwed onto a container neck.

FIG. 14 shows a partial enlarged view ‘XX’ of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an axial cross-section of the third preferred embodiment and application of the present invention for a self-closing flow control device with actuator element wherein the valve is opened by a pressure difference (P1−P2) over the actuator element.

FIG. 16 shows a cylindrical extension within the actuator element, while the valve is in the closed position.

FIG. 17 is a partial top cross-sectional view E-E of FIG. 16.

FIG. 17A is an enlarged view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 shows a cylindrical extension within the actuator element, while the valve is in the open position.

FIG. 19 shows an enlarged view ‘YY’ of FIG. 15 of the valve holder and a detail of the flexible valve, which is brought into position by one directional flexing structure of the valve through the orifice in the container closure element.

FIG. 20 shows a means to adjust the valve closure force by the actuator element for a valve that opens in the downstream direction.

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged detail ‘ZZ’ of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 shows a means to adjust the valve closure force by the actuator element for a valve that opens in the upstream direction.

FIG. 23 shows an enlarged detail ‘Z-Z’ of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an axial cross-section of a fourth preferred embodiment and application of the present invention for a self-closing flow control device with actuator element incorporating integrally a (primary/secondary) valve, shown in the closed position, which valve opens in the downstream direction.

FIG. 25 shows an axial cross-section of the fourth preferred embodiment of FIG. 24 with actuator element holding the valve, which valve is in the open position, allowing fluid to be withdrawn from the container. The valve is held closed by a resilient force of the actuator element and opens when a sufficient pressure difference (P3−P2) exists over the valve surface area.

FIG. 26 shows a cross-sectional top view F-F of FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now described in detail for the first preferred embodiment of the self-closing flow control device thereby referring to FIGS. 1-8, however, not limited thereto. The drawings of FIGS. 1-8 disclose one specific embodiment; axisymmetric in shape, while in FIGS. 9-12 a number of alternative solutions are shown as second embodiments of the invention. The self-closing flow control device has been described for a single serve bottle holding a drinking fluid. In this description the bottle is normally stored in the upright position and may be rigid or flexible depending on the opted embodiments. The bottle as such, however, is not part of this invention. The drawings as used to describe this invention refer to this upright position of the bottle, whereby the orientation of the self-closing flow control device is described in the same direction. Terms as upper/topside, bottom, horizontal etc. refer to this position of the bottle and closure cap. Although the invention has been described as being a closure cap for a single serve bottle, the invention is not restricted thereto and is applicable to all type of rigid or flexible containers of different designs holding a beverage or drinking fluid for consumption.

The first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, with a top view in FIG. 2 of which an enlargement ‘S’ and ‘T’ of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A self-closing flow control device assembly 1, comprising a spout 2 that is either detachable or integrally connected to a closing cylinder 4 having a inner screw thread, connecting to an outer screw thread of a bottleneck 6, which is part of a bottle 7, holding a drinking fluid 8. The self-closing flow control device assembly 1, comprises further a flexible actuator element 9, at its center integrally connected to a valve holder 11, with at its lower end a primary valve 10, that opens and closes a flow-through orifice 19. The bottleneck 6 is closed off with a disc type bottle closure element 12 having a cylindrical periphery 13, with a wall thickness 14 of which the lower side 15 is leak tight connected with a seal 16 to the rim 17 of bottleneck 6. The upper side of cylinder 13 is connected to the cylindrical rim 18 of the actuator element 9. The bottle closure element 12 has a central flow-through orifice 19, with at its periphery a valve seat 20. The upper side of the bottle closure element 12 is at its center integrally connected to a stationary cylinder element 21 with a height 22, large enough to allow the valve holder 11, which is integrally connected to primary valve 10 to move at least ¼ of the diameter 23″ of orifice 19, in axial direction. The valve holder 11 as part of the actuator element 9 fits coaxial within the stationary cylinder element 21 with a leak and airtight axial sliding seals 24 between the valve holder 11 and the stationary cylinder element 21. The upper side of the cylindrical rim 18, as integral part of the actuator element 9, has an airtight seal 25 with the inner rim of spout 2. The one-way primary valve 10 holds at its center a secondary (one-way air inlet) valve 26. This air inlet valve 26 can be a slit valve having a plurality of slits 27 (with a minimum of one slit, while on the drawings 3 slits are depicted). These slits are normally closed and preferably shaped as part of a half globe 28, which is an integral part of the primary valve 10 in such a way that when pressure P3 inside the bottle is higher than or equal to the external atmospheric pressure P1, the slit valve is forced into the closed position. The circumference of primary valve 10 is integrally connected to the cylindrical valve holder 11 with spoke type elements 30 but at the same time has at its periphery a flow-through opening 29 allowing an open connection between the mouthpiece 5 with the inside of bottle 7, when the primary valve 10 is lifted from its seat 20. The actuator element 9, valve holder 11, primary valve 10 and secondary valve 26 configured preferably into one component of a resilient material, called a ‘valve retaining element’ 3, while the remainder parts of the self-closing flow control device 1 are made of a harder less flexible plastic material. Thus described, a self-closing flow control device assembly 1 comprising three pressure chambers A, B and C, of which each chamber can have different pressures respectively P2, P1 and P3 in which P1 is the external atmospheric pressure. Chamber ‘A’ is confined to the spout opening 33; inside of the spout 2; and upper side of the valve-retaining element 3. Chamber ‘B’ is confined to the lower side of the actuator element 9, valve holder 11 and stationary cylinder 21 closed off by axial sliding seal 24, upper side of the bottle closure element 12 and its periphery cylinder 13. In cylinder 13 a plurality of openings 31 are provided, allowing ambient air to flow freely in and out through the threading of cylinder 4 and a circumferential air space 32 around cylinder 13, thereby keeping the pressure in chamber ‘B’ at the atmospheric pressure P1. Chamber ‘C’ is defined as the inside of bottle 7 at P3.

The working principle of the self-closing flow control device 1 is thus as follows: the bottle 7 with its contents 8 is normally stored in the upright position whereby the pressure in chamber ‘A’ is equal to the pressure in chamber ‘B’, being P1. The primary valve 10 is positioned on its seat 20, closing off the inside of the bottle 7 from the outside. The pressure P3 in chamber ‘C’ can be higher than P1 but not substantially lower. When drinking, the bottle 7 is held upside down in a drinking position and the pressure in the spout 2 is lowered to P2, causing a pressure difference P1−P2 over the actuator element 9. The actuator element 9 moves in the downstream direction, thereby lifting the primary valve 10 from its seat 20, resulting in a outflow of fluid 8 through orifice 19 and open flow area 29 to spout opening 33 and to the mouth. When drinking is stopped the pressure P2 within the spout opening 33 returns to the ambient pressure P1 and the primary valve 10 returns to its seat 20 by the resilient force of the valve retaining element 3 and the fluid outflow from the bottle is stopped. As fluid is withdrawn from the bottle, the pressure P3 in chamber ‘C’ may drop below the ambient pressure P1. This pressure difference P3−P1 will than open the globular slit valve 26/28 causing an inward air flow through the open slit valve 34 (FIG. 6), bringing the inside pressure of the bottle to pressure P1. This inflow of ambient air will persist as long as P3<P1, while no inflow of air will take place when P3>P1. The valve closing force caused by the resilience of the valve-retaining element 3 is one parameter in determining the maximum pressure P3 that can exist in the bottle 7. Another parameter in the proper functioning of the self-closing flow control device 1 is the active surface area of the actuator element 9 in relation to the flow-through area of the orifice 19. The maximum opening force ‘F’ acting on the valve by suction on the spout is determined as F=π/4*(D²−d₁²)*(P1−P2)+π/4*d₂²*(P3−P2), in which P3>P2 and P1>P2, and where π=3.14. This force F shall be larger than the resilient closing force of the valve-retaining element 3. Various provisions can be made to increase or decrease the resilient valve closing force of the valve-retaining element 3, e.g. by adding a ridge 37 to the actuator element 9 as shown in FIG. 8 and/or by changing the rigidness of the valve retaining element material and/or by adding additional closing means such as a spring (not shown) etc. Instead of a slit valve 26 of FIGS. 1-8, a one-way air inlet valve 38 of the type as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 respectively enlargements FIGS. 9A/B and 10A can be applied within the primary valve 10 of FIG. 3. In order to enhance the flow characteristics of the fluid, a skirt 36 can be added as shown in FIG. 7.

The above-described first preferred embodiment of the invention is applicable for flexible bottles that regain their shape when the air volume replaces the volumetric amount of fluid, withdrawn from the bottle.

In a second embodiment one or more one-way air inlet valves 39 in the outer rim area 40 of the bottle closure element 12 of FIGS. 10 and 10A are provided. In this case ambient air in chamber ‘B’ can freely flow into the bottle, when the pressure P3 becomes less than the ambient air pressure P1. The air valve assembly 39 is of a resilient material that closes off an opening 41 by an air inlet valve 42 in the bottle closure element 12. Valve 42 is drawn on its seat by a valve stem and three or more flexible protuberances 43 in star shape, thereby holding the air inlet valve 39 closed. Other provisions can be used to allow ambient air to flow into the bottle by openings 44 in the circumferential area of the bottle closure element 12, which are closed off by a flexible resilient closure ring 45 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 11A, which at the same time provides a seal 46 between the rim of the bottleneck 17 and the rim of the bottle closure element 12. In a similar way a flexible resilient closure ring 47 can be provided as shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A, which is held in place by a boss 48 of bottle closure element 12. The above solutions as depicted in FIGS. 9-12 and 9A, 9B, 10A, 11A, 12A are applicable to the second preferred embodiment of the self-closing flow control device 1, wherein a actuator element and valve are applied moving downstream, when suction is applied to the spout and fluid is withdrawn from a bottle. This embodiment is well suited for rigid containers.

A third embodiment is of a type whereby the valve moves upstream, when suction is applied to the spout, which is substantially different from the first and second embodiments of this invention and further in detail described hereinafter.

The description of this third preferred embodiment relates to a self-closing flow control device 100, which is axisymmetric in shape and of which a longitudinal cross-section is shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 with a top view in FIG. 13A, while an enlarged detail view XX is shown in FIG. 14 and an enlarged detail view YY in FIG. 19. FIG. 13 represents the self-closing flow control device holding a valve that closes off the inside of the bottle from the outside in its rest position, while in FIG. 15 the valve is in the active open position. The self-closing flow control device 100, consisting of a flexible spout 101 with a mouthpiece 102, being an integral part of an actuator element 103 with its periphery 104 sealingly connected to the periphery 111 of a bottle closure element 110 by the top of a closure cylinder 105 extending downwards 106 over a bottleneck 107, having on its inside screw thread, that connects with a screw thread of a bottleneck 107, being part of a flexible bottle 108, holding a drinking fluid 109. The bottleneck 107 is closed off by a bottle closure 110, which at its periphery 111 is sealingly connected to the rim 112 of the bottleneck 107, while at the center a flow-through orifice 123 is provided, that is normally closed off by a valve 114. The flexible spout 101, having a cylindrical mouth piece 102, is on the top side integrally connected to a valve holder 115, while at the lower side this valve holder 115 is connected to valve 114 by a plurality of valve stems 116 (with a minimum of one), which valve closes off orifice 123 in bottle closure 110. The actuator element 103 is pre-stressed, in such away, that it pulls the valve close to its seat 117. The lower part of the valve holder 115 has a flow through path 118 between the valve stems 116 allowing fluid 109 to pass when the valve 114 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 15. The configuration as shown in FIGS. 15 and 18 show three chambers A, B and C, in which 3 different pressures can prevail Chamber ‘A’ is defined by the inside of the valve holder 115, with an open end 119 at the top and the valve 114 at the bottom. Chamber ‘B’ is defined by the inside of mouthpiece 102 the outside of the valve holder 115, the lower side of the actuator element 103 and the upper side of the bottle closure element 110. Chamber ‘C’ is the inside of bottle 108, closed off by bottle closure 110 and valve 114, when the system is not in use. Chamber ‘B’ has at the lower site of the valve holder 115 an open connection with chamber ‘A’. In its rest/closed position, the pressure in chamber ‘A’ is equal to pressure in chamber ‘B’, being the external atmospheric pressure P1, while in chamber ‘C’ a different pressure P3 can exist, which pressure can be larger, lower or equal to the external atmospheric pressure P1. When sucking on the self-closing flow control device 100, the pressure in chamber ‘A’ will reduce below atmospheric pressure P1 to P2 (P2<P1). This results in a pressure difference (P1−P2) over the actuator element 103 causing the actuator element to move downwards. As the valve 114 is indirectly connected to the actuator element 103 via the valve holder 115 and mouthpiece 102, the valve will be pushed open, thereby moving in the upstream direction. This pressure difference (P1−P2) causes the actuator element 103 to move against the resilient closing force of the pre-stressed actuator element and the inside pressure of the bottle P3. When the bottle is turned upside down in the drinking position, the fluid 109 can now freely flow downstream to the spout and to the mouth. When drinking stops, the pressure difference P1−P2 becomes zero and the valve 114 returns to its seat 117, by the resilient force of the pre-stressed actuator element 103. Thus described a self-closing flow control device 100, holding a valve that closes automatically when drinking is stopped. This embodiment can be provided with, a dust cap 120 for cleanliness of the spout, which can be attached through a hinge 121 to the closure cylinder 106 or can be snapped onto this cylinder. Both the dust cap and the self-closing spout can be further completed with a tamper evident band 122 between the self-closing spout and the bottle and at the interface of dust cap 120 with closure cylinder 106, both not shown on the drawings. As the spout 101 shall move only in axial direction, a spout guide 130 can be added, which is an integral part of the bottle closure 110 and extending thereof in the down flow direction between the valve holder 115 and the mouthpiece 102 of the spout 101 as shown in FIGS. 16-18, but with a height h1 (131) less than (h2−h3) (132/133). The thickness of this spout guide 130 shall allow adequate clearance with mouthpiece 102 and valve holder 115, in order to allow free air passage to chamber ‘B’. The valve 114 is of a flexible resilient material and is larger in diameter than the orifice 123 and needs to be brought in place through this orifice 123. In order to accomplish this, the rim 125 of the valve 114 is made to bend inwards (FIG. 19), while passing through the orifice 123, after which it bends backwards in such a way that it will remain in place and closes off the orifice 123 effectively, even when the internal pressure of chamber ‘C’ at P3 is substantially higher than the external atmospheric pressure P1.

For the above-described embodiments the valve-retaining element can be made externally adjustable in such away that the valve is opened at different suction pressures P2. This is accomplished by a spout 2, having at the inside a cylindrical urging member 50, which is an integral part thereof, that will change the closing force of the valve retaining element 3 on the valve 10 by pushing the cylindrical urging member 50 into the actuator element 9 at some location close to the outer rim 52 of the actuator element as shown in FIG. 20, and of which an enlargement is shown in FIG. 21, thereby increasing the closing force on the valve 10 and visa versa. The spout 2 is thereby further screwed down onto the container neck 4, deforming the flexible actuator element at its periphery 52 and 53. This will result at the same time in a reduction of the active surface area of the actuator element, thereby increasing the suction pressure difference (P1−P2) to open the valve but at the same time allowing a higher internal pressure P3 in the container. A similar means is provided for a self-closing spout as shown in FIG. 22, with a detail view in FIG. 23. The spout 5/102 is thereby connected by a cylindrical element 51 being an integral part thereof, by a screw thread 54 to either the rim of the bottle closure element 12, or the bottle closure cylinder 4 (not shown). By screwing down the spout 5/102 onto the bottle closure cylinder 4, the urging member 50 increases/decreases the resilient opening/closing force on the valve 10/114.

The fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, with a cross sectional top-view F-F in FIG. 26. A self-closing flow control device assembly 150, comprising a spout 151 with a suction opening 152, which spout is either detachable or integrally connected to a bottle closing cylinder 157 having an inner screw thread, connecting to an outer screw thread of a bottleneck 158, which is part of a bottle or container 159, holding a drinking fluid 160. The self-closing flow control device assembly 150 comprises further a flexible actuator element 153, which at its center is integrally connected to a valve 156 that opens and closes a flow-through orifice 163. The bottleneck 158 is closed off by a disc type bottle closure element 154 having a cylindrical periphery 164 that fits at the upper side leak tight within the threaded closing cylinder 157 and at its lower side leak tight to the rim of bottleneck 158. The bottle closure element 154 has a central flow-through orifice 163, which is opened and closed by the valve 156. The one-way primary valve 156 holds at its center a secondary (one-way air inlet) valve 165. This air inlet valve 165 can be a slit valve having a plurality of slits 166 with a minimum of one slit, while on the drawing (FIG. 26) 3 slits are depicted. These slits are normally closed and preferably shaped as part of a half globe 167, which is an integral part of the primary valve 156 in such a way that when pressure P3 inside the bottle is higher than or equal to the external atmospheric pressure P1 (P3≧P1), the slit valve is forced into the closed position. The primary valve 156 is integrally connected to the actuator element 153, which is of a flexible/resilient material that keeps the valve 156 in the closed position, when not in use. This is accomplished by pressing the actuator element 153 at its periphery 155 down with a force ‘F₁’ greater than the circular cross sectional surface area of the orifice 163 times the pressure difference over the valve 156 [F₁≧π/4*d²*(P3−P1)], in which P3>P1, d is the valve diameter and π=3.14. The actuator element 153 however, has at the same time at its periphery one or more flow-through opening(s) 168 allowing an open connection between the mouthpiece 151 with the inside of bottle 160, when the primary valve 156 is lifted from its seat 169. The actuator element 153 and the valve 156, are preferably made of one component of a flexible/resilient material, while the remainder parts of the self-closing flow control device 150 are made of a harder (less flexible) thermo plastic material.

Thus described, a self-closing flow control device assembly 150 comprising two pressure chambers ‘D’ and ‘E’ of which each chamber can have different pressures respectively P1 and P3 to start with, whereby P1 is the external atmospheric pressure and P3 the internal pressure in the bottle 160. Chamber ‘D’ is defined as a space formed between the spout 151, the valve-actuator element 153 and the primary/secondary valve 156/165, with pressure P1. Chamber ‘E’ is defined as the inside of bottle 159 with a pressure P3.

The working principle of the self-closing flow control device 150 is as follows: The bottle 159 with its contents 160 is normally stored in the upright position closed off by the present flow control device 150, whereby the pressure in chamber ‘D’ is equal to P1. The primary valve 156 is positioned on its seat 169, closing off the inside of the bottle 159 from the outside. The pressure P3 in chamber ‘E’ can be higher than P1 but not substantially lower (P3≧P1). When drinking, the bottle 159 is held upside down in a drinking position and the pressure in the spout 151 is lowered to P2, causing a pressure difference (P3−P2) over the projected valve area 156. The primary valve 156 is lifted from its seat 169, thereby moving the actuator element in the downstream flow direction, resulting in a outflow of fluid (Arrow 161) through orifice 163 and open flow area 168 in the actuator element to spout opening 152 to the mouth. When drinking is stopped the pressure P2 within the spout 151 returns to the ambient pressure P1 and the primary valve 156 returns to its seat 169 by the resilient force of the valve actuator element 153 and the fluid outflow from the bottle is stopped. As fluid is withdrawn from the bottle, the pressure P3 in chamber ‘E’ may drop below the ambient pressure P1. This pressure difference P1−P3 will than open the globular slit valve 165 causing an inward air flow through the open slits 166 (FIG. 26), bringing the inside pressure of the bottle to pressure P1. This inflow of ambient air will persist as long as P3<P1, while no inflow of air will take place when P3≧P1.

The valve opening force F₁ caused by pressure difference over the valve 156 is one parameter that causes the valve to open to a certain degree. Another parameter in the proper functioning of the self-closing flow control device 150 is a force F₂ that acts on the active surface area [π/₄*(D²−d²)] of the actuator element 153 (in which D is the active outside diameter of the actuator element and d the diameter of the Orifice 163). The additional force F₂ needs to be experimentally determined, which is zero to start with but is positive when there is a fluid flow from chamber ‘E’ to ‘D’ causing a slight pressure difference Δp over the valve-actuator element. This force F₂ will assist the opening force F as described above and which can be described by F₂=[π/₄*(D²−d²)]*Δp, in which Δp needs to be experimentally determined, when there is an outward fluid flow. The maximum opening force ‘F’ acting on the valve by suction on the spout is than determined as F=F₁+F₂ in which F₁=π/₄*d²*(P3−P2), and F₂=π/₄*(D²−d²)*Δp.

This force F shall be larger than the resilient closing force of the valve-actuator element 153. Various provisions can be made to increase or decrease the resilient valve closing force of the valve-actuator element 153, e.g. by adding a circumferential ridge (not shown) and/or by changing the rigidness of the valve actuator element material and/or by adding additional closing means such as a spring (not shown) etc. The channel effect between the valve-actuator element 153 and the bottle closure element 154 may be shaped in such away to maximize the pressure difference Δp over the valve-actuator element, e.g. by providing a circumferential ridge 171 on the closure element 154.

The actuator element can also be made in such away that the valve 156 clicks away from the orifice opening 163 when the pressure difference (P3−P2) over the valve 156 and actuator element 153 reaches a predetermined value and clicks back onto its seat 169 when the suction on the spout 151 is terminated.

All provisions of air inlet valves as described before are also applicable to this fourth embodiment. For hygienic purposes and other reasons, a dust cap 170 (not further described), can be applied to close off the flow control element 150.

Claims

1. A self-closing flow control device (SCFCD) (1) for a bottle (7) with a bottleneck (6), holding a drinking fluid (8), wherein said self-closing flow control device is detachably or permanently connected to said bottleneck, comprising;

a) a spout (2) with a mouthpiece (5) and a connecting threaded cylinder (4) screwed onto said bottleneck; and

b) a flexible valve retaining element (3) comprising an actuator element (9), an axially moveable cylindrical valve holder (11) and in the upstream direction a primary valve (10) with integrated air inlet valve (26); and

c) a bottle closure element (12), with at its center a flow-through orifice (19), on the upper side a stationary cylinder (21) and on the lower side at its periphery of the cylindrical rim (13) air and leak tight connected with a seal (16) to the rim (17) of bottleneck (6) and on the top side via the cylindrical rim (18) of the actuator element, and airtight seal (25) connected to the periphery of said spout, while at the same time an air passage (31) is provided, through the threading of the connecting cylinder (4), which closure element (12) forming a barrier for the fluid stored in the bottle; and

d) said valve holder (11), slides in axial direction airtight within said open ended concentric stationary cylinder (21), which extends in the downstream direction as an integral part from said bottle closure element, thereby forming three distinct pressure chambers ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ of which chamber ‘A’ is formed between said spout and said valve retaining element with pressure P2, chamber ‘B’ is formed between the bottle closure element and valve retaining element which is maintained at the ambient pressure P1 while chamber ‘C’ is basically the inside of said bottle at a pressure P3; and

e) said cylindrical valve holder (11) holds at the bottom side a one directional primary valve (10), with a flow-through passage (29), which opens and closes the flow-through orifice (19), while at its center provided with a one directional air inlet valve (26); and

f) said primary valve (10) is normally closed when P2 equals P1 (P2=P1) and opens a flow through path (29) when the suction pressure P2 drops below the atmospheric/ambient pressure P1 (P2<P1), while the secondary air inlet valve (26) opens when the bottle pressure P3 drops below the ambient pressure P1 (P3<P1) and air flows back into the bottle (7), replacing the volume of fluid taken from the bottle.

2. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1 in which the actuator element (9) of said valve retaining element (3) is pre-stressed in such away that it urges said primary valve closed, when the self-closing flow control device is not in use, while the area of the actuator element (9) is large enough to overcome the pre-stressed force and the primary valve opens when suction is applied on the spout.

3. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1, wherein an axial movable valve holder (11) is provided with an axial seal (24), sliding concentric and air tight in axial direction within said stationary cylinder (21), which is an integral part of said bottle closure element (12), allowing said primary valve to open and close said flow-through orifice (19), in said bottle closure element, thereby preventing fluid and air leakage through the axial sliding seal.

4. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1, wherein said valve retaining element (3) comprises an actuator element (9), which at its center is integrally connected to said valve holder (11) to said primary valve (10) and air inlet valve (26), configured into one-piece component made of a flexible material of which said actuator element (9) is resiliently deformable having an undulated shape or ridge (37).

5. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1, wherein said primary valve allows a fluid to flow in one direction from the bottle to the mouth, while a secondary air inlet valve allows air to flow in the opposite direction into the bottle, of which said air inlet valve is incorporated into said primary valve in the main fluid stream.

6. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1, wherein said air inlet valve of claim 5 can be configured as a one-way slit valve (27, 34), or one-way air inlet check valve (38) in the primary valve (10) or closing an air passage in the outer rim area or periphery (40) of the bottleneck closure element (12) with air inlet check valve (39), (45), or (47), which is closed when the pressure within the bottle P3 is higher than the ambient air pressure P1 or suction pressure P2.

7. (canceled)

8. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 1, wherein the resilient closingforce of said valve-retaining element (3) is assisted by a spring (not shown) or other type of forcing means, to urge the primary valve to close.

9. A self-closing flow control device (SCFCD) (100) for a bottle (108) with a bottleneck (107), holding a drinking fluid (109), wherein said self-closing flow control device is detachably or permanently connected to said bottleneck, comprising;

a) a flexible valve retaining element (101) with a spout and a mouthpiece (102), integrally connected to an actuator element (103); and

b) a disc type bottle closure element (110), with at its center a flow-through orifice (123); and

c) a threaded closure cylinder (106) extending downwards over said bottleneck, having a screw thread inside for attachment to said bottleneck, while clamping at the upper side with an integral top ring (105) of said threaded closure cylinder, the actuator element (103) and the closure element (110) at its periphery (111) air and leak tight to the rim (112) of bottleneck (107); and

d) a cylindrical valve holder (115) at the top integrally connected to said mouth piece (102) and a mouth opening (119) in the down stream direction while in the upstream direction a two-way valve (114) integrally attached to said valve holder (115); and

d1) said two way valve (114) being flexible constructed in such away that the valve, having a flexible rim (125), can easily pass through said flow-through orifice (123) in the upstream direction, but cannot move back easily, thereby allowing higher pressure inside the bottle than the external atmospheric pressure;

d2) said two way valve (114) connected to said valve holder via a plurality of valve stems (116, 124), which extends in the axial direction between the valve (114) and high up in the valve holder (124), while adequately strong in radial direction assuring a certain rigidness of the construction of the valve stems and the valve holder, thereby being able to push the valve open against the force acting on the valve by the pressure difference over the valve and assuring a flow path from the bottle to the mouth opening (119), when someone sucks on the spout;

e) said actuator element (103) of said valve retaining element (101) urges said two way valve (114) to open and close said centrally located flow-through orifice (123) in said bottleneck closure element (110), which forms a barrier for the fluid held in the bottle, thereby forming three distinct pressure chambers ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, wherein chamber ‘A’, is formed by the inside of the valve holder (115), with a mouth opening at the top and said valve at the bottom, which is in direct communication with chamber ‘B’ through the air and fluid passage (113) at the lower end of said valve holder, wherein chamber ‘B’ is formed by the inside of said mouthpiece (102) the outside side of said valve holder (115), the lower side of the actuator element (103) and the top side of said bottle closure element (110) and a chamber ‘C’ which is basically the inside of said bottle; and

said two way valve (114) is normally closed when P2 equals P1 (P2=P1) and opens a flow through path (118) when the suction pressure P2 drops below the atmospheric/ambient pressure P1 (P2<P1), while the same valve (114) opens when the bottle pressure P3 drops below the ambient pressure P1 (P3<P1) and air flows back into the bottle (108), replacing the volume of fluid taken from the bottle.

10. Said self-closing flow control device according to claim 9, wherein said actuator element (103) is made of a flexible resilient material having an undulated shape or ridge (37) in cross-section.

11. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 9, wherein the surface-area of the actuator element (103) on which the suction pressure P2 acts, is substantially larger than the surface-area of the valve (114) on which the inside gas pressure P3 of the container acts.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. Said self-closing flow control device of claims 1 and 9 with a valve-retaining element (3, 101), wherein the closing force of said resilient valve retaining element acting on the primary valve externally adjusted by valve opening adjustment means or cylindrical urging member (50) within the self closing flow control device (1, 100) or separate closure adjustment piece (51) e.g. by rotation/twisting/pulling/pushing/screwing or snap-on to a desired suction pressure for opening the valve.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 9 in which said closure element (110) is on the top side, provided with a cylindrical spout guide (130), for axial guidance of the valve holder (115).

20. A self-closing flow control device (SCFCD) (150) for a bottle or container (159) with a bottleneck (158), holding a drinking fluid (160), wherein said self-closing flow control device is detachably or permanently connected to said bottleneck, comprising:

a) a spout with a mouthpiece (151) having a suction opening (152) at the top and which is at the bottom integrally connected to a threaded closing cylinder (157) screwed onto said bottleneck, allowing fluid to pass from the bottle to the suction opening (152) of spout/mouthpiece (151); and

b) a bottle closure element (154) within said spout that closes off the bottleneck by being leak and airtight pressed by said threaded closing cylinder (157) onto the rim of said bottleneck (158) and having at its center a flow-through orifice (163); and

c) a flexible resilient valve actuator element (153) that is pre-stressed and flexes towards the interior of the bottle (159) holding at it center a one directional primary valve (156) that opens and closes said flow-through orifice (163), while held in place at its periphery (164) by said threaded cylinder (157) in combination with said spout/mouthpiece (151) and said closure element (154) while having flow-through openings (155) at its periphery; and

d) a one directional secondary air inlet valve (165), integrated in said primary valve (156) allowing ambient air to flow into said bottle when the pressure within the bottle becomes lower than the ambient outside pressure; and

e) a dust/closure cap (170) for hygienic and/or extra closure purposes when the bottle with SCFCD is not used or in storage; and

f) said one directional primary valve (156) is normally closed when P2 equals P1 (P2=P1) and opens a flow through path (161) when the suction pressure P2 drops below the atmospheric/ambient pressure P1 (P2<P1), while the one directional secondary air inlet valve (165) opens when the bottle pressure P3 drops below the ambient pressure P1 (P3<P1) and air flows back into the bottle (159), replacing the volume of fluid taken from the bottle.

21. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20 in which said actuator element (153) flexes towards the interior of the bottle or container and is pre-stressed in such away that the exerted force F1 keeps the primary valve (156) closed, when the self-closing flow control device is not in use and P3>P1, while the circular cross-sectional projected area of the valve with diameter ‘d’ is large enough to overcome the pre-stressed force ‘F1’ and the primary valve opens when suction is applied to the spout with P2<P3 and the pre-stressed force is smaller than the suction force on the valve [F1<π/4*d2*(P3−P2)], in which P3 is the pressure in the bottle, P2 the suction pressure in the spout and P1 the ambient pressure.

22. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20, wherein said actuator element (153), is at its center integrally connected to said primary valve (156) and said secondary air inlet valve (165), configured into one-piece component made of a flexible material of which said actuator element is resiliently deformable, by virtue of its shape and material.

23. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20, wherein said primary valve (156) opens and closes said flow-through orifice, allowing a fluid to flow in one direction from the bottle to the mouth, while said secondary air inlet valve (165) allows air to flow in the opposite direction into the bottle, of which said air inlet valve can be incorporated into said primary valve in the main fluid stream, or outside this stream in said bottleneck closure element (154) and whereby said secondary air inlet valve acts independently from said primary valve, each having its own operating characteristics.

24. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20, wherein said air inlet valve can be configured as a one-way slit valve with a plurality of slits (166), or one-way air a inlet check valve (38) within the primary valve or opening and closing an air passage in the outer rim of the bottleneck closure element (12, 154), which is (are) closed when the pressure within the bottle is higher than the ambient air pressure.

25. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20, wherein the openingforce of said actuator element (153) is assisted by a small pressure difference Δp over the actuator element caused by the outward fluid flow on the lower side of the actuator element, by proper shaping the flow channel using a flow restriction on the periphery of said flow channel, e.g. a ridge (171) or other cylindrical restriction in the out flow path (161) that causes the valve to flexes away from the interior of the bottle and opens the primary valve more easily and whereby the projected surface area of said actuator element (153) is substantially larger than the projected area of the primary valve (156), respectively projected area of the flow-through orifice (163).

26. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20 applicable for single serve beverages, temporarily stored in rigid or flexible handheld containers or bottles, which may or may not hold, a dust cap (170), provided for hygienic purposes and for extra sealing during storage.

27. Said self-closing flow control device of claim 20 holding a flexible/resilient valve actuator element (153) with an integrated primary valve (156) that opens and closes a flow-through orifice (163), whereby the valve clicks away from the valve seat, when suction is applied to the spout and clicks back onto its seat, when the suction stops and the SCFCD is not in use.

28. (canceled)