Pourer for pouring a liquid from a bottle, and product of the pourer, the liquid, and the bottle

Abstract

A pourer for pouring a liquid from a bottle having a solid main body; a flow channel at the main body; a check valve at the flow channel; an air-vent channel at the main body; and a filter at the air-vent channel. The flow channel and the check valve are configured for allowing via the same a flow of the liquid from inside the bottle towards outside the bottle under the action of gravity when the bottle is turned to a pouring position for pouring the liquid; the air-vent channel is configured for allowing air from outside the bottle to pass inside the bottle via the air-vent channel during the flow of the liquid; and the filter is configured for producing a filtration of the air when the latter passes from outside the bottle to inside the bottle via the air-vent channel. Also, a product includes the pourer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pourer for pouring a liquid from a bottle, the pourer comprising:
 a solid main body that is configured to be attached to a mouth or a neck of the bottle;   a flow channel at the main body;   a check valve at the flow channel;   an air-vent channel at the main body; and   a filter at the air-vent channel;   wherein the flow channel and the check valve are configured for allowing via the same a flow of the liquid from inside the bottle towards outside the bottle under the action of gravity when the bottle is turned to a pouring position for pouring the liquid;   the air-vent channel is configured for allowing air from outside the bottle to pass inside the bottle via the air-vent channel during the flow of the liquid; and   the filter is configured for producing a filtration of the air when the air passes from outside the bottle to inside the bottle via the air-vent channel.   
     
     
         2 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel has a first cross section of a first area, and the air-vent channel has a second cross section of a second area that is larger than the first area. 
     
     
         3 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises any of a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, a polypropylene membrane, a polythersulfone membrane or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is porous with a pore size of between 0.01 μm and 1 μm, and preferably of about 1 μm, and more preferably of about 0.45 μm, and most preferably of about 0.2 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the check valve has a movable member that is configured to move between an open position and a close position, and the flow channel and the check valve are configured for allowing via the same a flow of the liquid from inside the bottle towards outside the bottle when the movable member is at the open position, and are also configured for inhibiting a reverse flow via the same of the liquid when the movable member is at the close position, the reverse flow being opposite in direction to the flow. 
     
     
         6 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtration is a sterile filtration. 
     
     
         7 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protection flap that is proximal to the air vent channel. 
     
     
         8 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mesh that is in the flow channel. 
     
     
         9 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the check valve comprises a ball that comprises an antimicrobial material. 
     
     
         10 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         11 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the pourer is any of a snap-on pourer, a roll-on pourer, a screw-on pourer, or a cap. 
     
     
         12 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to be attached to the bottle permanently or removably. 
     
     
         13 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to be attached to the bottle such that the liquid cannot exit the bottle without passing via the pourer. 
     
     
         14 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to fit at the mouth and/or at the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         15 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is cylindrical. 
     
     
         16 . The pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the check valve is a check ball valve. 
     
     
         17 . The pourer according to  claim 16 , wherein the flow channel comprises a main chamber; and 
       the check ball valve comprises a ball which is within the main chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The pourer according to  claim 17 , wherein the main chamber has an entrance via which the liquid enters the main chamber during pouring, and an exit from which the liquid exits the main chamber during pouring, and a movement of the ball during pouring is restricted by walls of the main chamber such that the ball does not block the exit and does not block pouring. 
     
     
         19 . A product comprising:
 a bottle;   a liquid inside the bottle; and   a pourer for pouring the liquid from the bottle, the pourer comprising:   a solid main body attached to a mouth or a neck of the bottle;   a flow channel at the main body;   a check valve at the flow channel;   an air-vent channel at the main body; and   a filter at the air-vent channel;   wherein the flow channel and the check valve are configured for allowing via the same a flow of the liquid from inside the bottle towards outside the bottle under the action of gravity when the bottle is turned to a pouring position for pouring the liquid;   wherein the air-vent channel is configured for allowing air from outside the bottle to pass inside the bottle via the air-vent channel during the flow of the liquid; and   wherein the filter is configured for producing a filtration of the air when the latter passes from outside the bottle to inside the bottle via the air-vent channel.   
     
     
         20 . The product according to  claim 19 , wherein the liquid is a drink, preferably the drink having a concentration by volume of alcohol in the range of 0% to less than 1.5%.