Abstract:
A device for maintaining effervescence of a beverage within a container having a body for attachment to the container and a snap cap pivotally mounted on the body. A squeezable bulb provide a source of air pressure to the container. A pair of valve assemblies control air flow to permit pressurization and maintainence of pressure within the container.

Description:
This application claims the priority date of filing of the provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/141,044, filed Jun. 24, 1999 and Ser. No. 60/176,194, filed Jan. 14, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates in general to beverage containers and, more particularly, to a device for maintaining pressure within a container having a carbonated beverage. 
     2. Summary of the Prior Art 
     It is a common problem to experience a loss of effervescence or fizz of a beverage from a container, such as a plastic bottle, during storage after being opened. Several devices have been introduced in the prior art to provide a better seal of an opened bottle to prevent loss of fizz. Other techniques have also attempted to pressurize the interior of the bottle in combination with an enhanced seal to maintain effervescence of the beverage. Such designs rely on inconvenient means such as hand pumps and the like. Although prior designs have met with some degree of success, none have combined the optimum effectiveness in maintaining fizz, with ease of use, economy of manufacture, and an aesthetically pleasing design as is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an objective of the invention to provide a device for maintaining the fizz or effervescence of a beverage within an opened container, such as a plastic bottle. The invention of the application is attachable to the open top of a container and includes a squeezeable bulb capable of pressurizing the interior of the container to maintain fizz. The bulb may be constructed with an aesthetically pleasing shape, such as a cartoon character. Valve means of the invention cooperates with the bulb and container to allow pressurized air into the container, but prevents release of pressure when the bottle is pressurized. The device herein disclosed has a snap action cap to maintain a seal or easily open the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device for maintaining effervescence of a beverage of the invention attached to a plastic container; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts in section and parts shown exploded, of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the screw cap of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the screw cap of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of the side view of the screw cap of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the screw of the cap of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the screw cap of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a back elevational view of the screw cap of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of one of the two valves of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of one of the two valves of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the snap cap of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the snap cap of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the snap cap of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a back elevational view of the snap cap of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, of the snap cap of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the snap cap of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 19 is a front elevational view, with parts in section, of one of the valve caps of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevation view of one of the valve caps of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 21 is a top view of one of the valve caps of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 22 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of one of two valves for use in the device for maintaining effervescence of a beverage within a bottle of the invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the valve of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 24 is a bottom plan view of the valve of FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 25 is a front elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  25 — 25  of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  26 — 26  of FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of one of two valves for use in the device for maintaining effervescence of a beverage within a bottle of the invention; 
     FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of the valve of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 29 is a bottom plan view of valve of FIG. 27; 
     FIG. 30 is a front elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  30 — 30  of FIG. 29; 
     FIG. 31 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  31 — 31  of FIG. 27, and 
     FIG. 32 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a snap cap for use in the device of the invention for maintaining effervescence of a beverage within a bottle; 
     FIG. 33 is a side elevational view of the snap cap of FIG. 33; 
     FIG. 34 is a bottom plan view of the snap cap of FIG. 32; and 
     FIG. 35 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, taken along lines  35 — 35  of FIG.  32 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated the device of the invention for maintaining effervescence of a beverage within a container, generally designated by reference numeral  2 . The device  2  includes an upper bulb  4  fabricated from a compressible rubber or plastic material surrounding chamber  6 . The upper bulb  4  can have an aesthetically pleasing shape, such in the form of an animal, cartoon character and the like. The bulb  4  is squeezed to be compressed in shape to displace air under pressure through the effect of reducing volume of the chamber and introduce air pressure into a snap cap  8  for pressurizing the container  10  of a standard design in a manner as will be apparent. The snap cap  8  may be a molded plastic member and includes a circumferentially extending lip  12  for attachment to bulb  4 . A continuous groove  4   a  is formed in the neck  4   b  defining the outlet of the bulb  4  to receive lip  12  in a sealed relationship. The snap cap  8  is pivotally connected to a plastic screw cap body  14  to open and close the bottle  10  as further will be described. The screw cap  14  has internal threads  14   a  (FIGS. 2 and 5) to be secured to the threaded upper neck portion  10   a  of bottle  10 . The screw cap  14  is further provided with central passage  15  as seen in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  5 , and  6  which is selectively in fluid communication with bulb  4  and the interior of container  10 . A compressible ring  16  having a continuous lip  16   a  (FIG. 2) is inserted into the lower interior of screw cap  14  to create a circumferential seal with the neck portion  10   a  of bottle  10 . The snap cap  8  receives a lower valve cap  18  and valve  20  within cavity  22  in the bottom of snap cap  8  and an upper valve cap  18 ′ and valve  20 ′ within cavity  22 ′ in the top of snap cap  8  to control air flow. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13 to  18  details of snap cap  8  are shown. The snap cap  8  possesses a body  8 ′ having downwardly extending spaced rear legs  26  and downwardly extending spaced front legs  28 . A horizontal member  32  connects legs  26  at their lower end and a horizontal member  34  having upper surface  34 ′ connects legs  28  at their lower end and has an upper surface  34 ′. The horizontal member  34  serves as a handle to open and close bottle  10  with the aid of grooved bottom surface  34   a.  As seen in FIGS. 2,  13 ,  17  and  18 , a central air passage  46  is provided through the snap cap body  8 ′. An air passage  48  is also provided on the snap cap body  8 ′ from the exterior (FIGS. 14 and 15) to provide air through port  48   a  into cavity  22 ′ and bulb cavity  6  dependent on pressure conditions. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-8, the horizontal member  32  is arranged to be snapped in downwardly facing groove  40  formed in the lower portion of a pair of rear projections  42  provided on screw cap  14  in a manner to create the pivot axis of snap cap  8 . As further seen in FIGS. 1-6, a pair of spaced projections  44  project from the front of screw cap  14  to engage the upper surface  34  horizontal member  34  to lock the snap cap  8  to the screw cap  14  as best illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4 ,  6  and  8 . The legs  28  are sufficiently flexible to allow the horizontal member  34  of snap cap  8  to be released from engagement with spaced projections  44  for locking and release. The bottom portion  12 ′ of cap  8  creates circumferentially extending curved surface having a decreasing diameter to engage lip  14 ′ of screw cap  14 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9 to  12 , details of valve  20  are shown. Valve  20 ′ is identical to the structure shown in FIGS. 9 to  12  with reference to valve  20 , but is in reversed orientation in the top cavity  22 ′. Valve  20  is formed as a plastic disc having a circular cut out central area  50  defined by circular periphery  52 . An open passage  54  is in fluid communication with the upper cut area  50  and is exposed at bottom of valve  20  when in position within cavity  22 . The open passage  54  extends in a circumferentially extending path for an extent of greater than 270°, but less than 360° and is in fluid communication with upper cutout area  50 . Valve  20 ′ has an identical central cutout area  50 ′, periphery  52 ′, and open passage  54 ′ (FIG.  2 ). Valves  20 ,  20 ′ respectively have central solid portions  56 ,  56 ′ connecting portions  58 ,  58 ′ and outer periphery  52 ,  52 ′. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 12 the central portion  56  is thinner than periphery  52  and has a face  57  in alignment with the face  52   a  of peripheral section  52 . The connecting portion  58 ,  58 ′ are sectionally thinner than central portion  56  to create a pressure sensitive flexure area. The connecting portions  58 ,  58 ′ allow flexure of solid portions  56 ,  56 ′ with respect to periphery  52 ,  52 ′ to provide valve seating as will be described. 
     Referring to FIGS.  2  and  19 - 21 , details of the valve cap  18  of valve  20  are shown. Valve cap  18  is identical to valve cap  18 ′ to be inserted in upper cavity  22 ′ of valve  20 , but is reversed in orientation when inserted. As seen in FIGS. 19-21, valve cap  18  has a one-piece body with an enlarged circular portion  60  having a diameter greater than cavity  22  of valve  20  and a hollow tubular projection  62  adapted for insertion in cavity  22 . A central port  64  is formed in the bottom of upper portion  60  at diametrical opposite directions above circular projection  62  and extends from the interior face  60   a  of circular portion  60  to the outer surface  60   b  of enlarged portion  60 . The circular projection  62  when inserted in cavity  22  contracts the interior surface of portion  60  and forms a chamber  66  which is in communication with cavity  66 . The cavity  66  is in selective communication with passages  64  dependent on pressure conditions. Upper valve cap  18 ′ has an identical enlarged portion  60 ′, tubular projection  62 ′, rectangular passages  64 ′ and chamber  66 ′ as lower valve cap  18 . 
     The respective heights of valves  20 ,  20 ′ are slightly less than the depth of chambers  66 ,  66 ′ formed by the valve caps  18 ,  18 ′. The valves  20 ,  20 ′ are opened whenever air pressure may flow to the bottle  10  when passage  36  is uncovered and to bulb  4  when passage  38  is uncovered. As bulb  4  is squeezed with snap cap  4  locked, the central portion  56 ′ of valve  20 ′ is closed by being displaced through flexure of connecting portion  58 ′ downward into chamber  66 ′ by pressure being introduced into ports  64 ′ of valve cap  18 ′ to prevent atmospheric air from passage  48  from entering because lower portion  56 ′ blocks port  48   a.  At the same time the central portion  56  of lower valve  20  is displaced away from passage  48  by the pressure created in chamber  36  by squeezing bulb  6 . As a result of opening passage  38  by displacement of central portion  56  of valve  20 , pressurized air from chamber  36  flows through valve  20  via passage  54  and valve cap passages  64  into the central passage  15  of screw cap  14  to pressurize the bottle. After the bulb is squeezed and released, the elasticity of bulb  6  returns the bulb to its normal shape thereby reducing the pressure in chamber  36 . The lower valve  20  is pressed through flexure of central portion  56  into contact with the lower portion of snap cap  8  whereby the surface of central portion  56  of valve  20  closes the valve by covering passage  48 . As the bulb expands, atmospheric pressure becomes greater than the pressure in chamber  36  to displace the central portion  56 ′ of valve  20 ′ and open port  48   a  of passage  48  to allow atmospheric air through valve  20 ′ and ports  64 ′. The foregoing squeezing and release of bulb  4  may be repeated as desired for needed pressurization of bottle  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 22 to  26  there is illustrated a second embodiment of the lower valve disc, designated as valve  20   a,  for use with the valve cap  18  of FIG.  2 . The upper valve (not shown) is intended for use in device  2  with valve cap  60 ′ and is identical to valve  20   a,  but has a reversed orientation in use in the manner as the previously described valves  20 ,  20 ′. Valve  20   a  is intended to improve valve seating as compared to valves  20  and  20 ′ previously described. Valve  20   a  is in the form of a plastic disc having a cutout central area  50   a  and a circular periphery  52   a.  A plurality of open passages  54   a,  three in number, are in fluid communication with the upper cutout area  50   a.  Valve  20   a  has a central solid portion  56   a  and three connecting portions  58   a  which interconnect central solid portion  56   a  with circular periphery  52   a.  The connecting portions  58   a  allow flexure of central portion  56   a  with respect to periphery  52   a  to provide valve seating as will be described. As seen in FIGS. 25 and 26, the central portion  56   a  is thinner than periphery  52   a  and has a face  57   a  in alignment with face  52   a ′ of peripheral section  52 . The connecting portions  58   a  are sectionally thinner than central portion  56   a  to create three pressure sensitive flexure areas. The use of three flexure areas provides controlled movement of central portion  56   a  for enhanced seating to close the valve and prevent jamming. 
     Referring to FIGS. 27 to  31 , there is illustrated a third embodiment of the lower valve element, designated as valve  20   b,  for use with the valve cap  18  in device  2  of the invention. The upper valve (not shown) for use in device  2  is identical to valve  20   b,  but has a reversed orientation in use in connection with valve cap  18 ′. Valve  20   b  is intended to improve valve seating. Valve  20   b  is in the form of a plastic disk having a circular periphery  52   b,  a plurality of openings  54   b  and a central portion  56   b.  The central portion  56   b  is interconnected to the periphery  52   b  by three flexure portions  58   b  which allow central portion  56   b  to move relative to periphery  52   b  to close the valve in response to pressure conditions. As seen in FIGS. 30 and 31, the central portion  56   b  has a thickness generally equal to the thickness of periphery  52   b.  The flexure portions  58   b  have a less thickness than central portion  56   b  and periphery  52   b  and are disposed generally at midpoint between opposed faces  20   b ′ and  20   b ″ of valve  20   b.    
     Referring now to FIGS. 32-35 there is illustrated a second embodiment of the snap cap of the invention generally designated by reference numeral  8   a.  The snap cap  8   a  can be used in place of snap cap  8  in device  2  in a similar manner as described previously with reference to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  13 - 18 . The snap cap  8   a  functions in a similar manner as snap cap  8 , but employs a modified latching means in the form of a modified “V” to provide easy release and locking, even for a child. 
     The snap cap  8   a  possesses a body  8   b  of a similar external configuration as body  8 ′ of the previous embodiment and connects to downwardly extending spaced rear legs  26   a  interconnected by a horizontal connecting member  32   a.  As with horizontal member  32  of the embodiment of FIGS. 2-8, the horizontal member  32   a  is arranged to be snapped into downwardly facing groove  40  (FIGS. 2-8) formed in the lower portion of a pair of rear projections  42  provided on screw cap  14  in a manner to create the pivot axis of snap cap  8   a  as previously described as seen in FIG.  2 . The snap cap  8   a  includes an upper valve and valve cap receiving cavity  22   a ′ and a lower valve cap and valve receiving cavity  22   a  as in the previously described snap cap  8 . A central passage  46   a  is in fluid communication with chamber  36   a  and valve cavity  22   a.  An atmospheric air passage  49   a  is provided in communication with chamber  22   a ′ receiving the upper valve disc and cap of any of the three previously described embodiments. 
     The latch mechanism  70  of snap cap  8   a  is in the form of a modified “V” having a pair of spaced downwardly extending legs  72  integrally formed on body  8   b.  A curved upright wall  74  having a width approximate equal to combined spaced width of spaced legs  72  are integrally attached to legs  72  through interconnecting portion  76 . As seen in FIGS. 33 and 35, the legs  72 , interconnecting portion  76 , and wall  74  form a modified “V” shape from a side perspective. The interconnecting portion  76  extends the width of upright wall  74  and includes an upper surface  78  which snaps into locking relationship with the projections  42  on screw cap in a manner as previously described with reference to FIG. 2 by which the snap cap  8   a  is closed. The upper edge  80  of wall  74  projects outward to allow an individual to easily flex wall  74  and interconnecting portion  76  away from screw cap projections  42  to release the snap cap  8   a.    
     A pair of relief openings  82  are provided the interconnecting portion  76  to increase flexibility to reduce the effort required for release. A notch  84  may be formed in the bottom of wall  74  to increase flexibility.