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.

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 F 1  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 ‘F 1 ’ 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 [F 1 <π/ 4 *d 2 *(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)