Assembly for ejecting the contents of a bottle containing an effervescent liquid such as champagne and a sealing-diffusing gasket for said assembly

The invention relates to an assembly (1) which includes a sealing-diffusing gasket (2) provided with a diffusion opening, intended for being clamped resiliently around the neck (5) of the bottle (3) and for sealing the mouth (7) of the bottle. The assembly also includes a fast portion (8) forming a hand grip, secured to the sealing-diffusing gasket (2), and including first hand-gripping means of the bottle (6) and first nesting means (8). The assembly also comprises a second portion (12) forming a hand grip and provided with second nesting means (12) suitable for nesting with the first nesting means (8) and second hand-gripping means (16) secured to the second nesting means (12). The assembly makes it possible to produce a jet of effervescent liquid of a selected size, duration and distance, by a user agitating the first and/or second hand grip portions (6 and 16) thus nested inside one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/057074, filed Mar. 31, 2016, and claims the priority of FR 1553559, filed Apr. 21, 2015, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. The International Application was published on Oct. 27, 2016 as International Publication No. WO 2016/169742 A1.

The present invention relates to an assembly for ejecting the contents of a bottle containing an effervescent liquid such as champagne and a sealing-diffusing gasket for the assembly.

It has general applicability in recreational accessories, and more particularly those associated with a jet of liquid such as champagne.

The playful “spraying” of guests with a shower or jet of champagne is traditionally part of the world of parties and celebration. This is usually done by partially sealing the mouth of an open bottle of champagne (or any other effervescent liquid) with the thumb so as to “pinch off” the area of the mouth that remains open so that, by shaking the bottle violently with both hands (more rarely with only one), the internal pressure of the bottle brings about the ejection of a jet of liquid whose length and width depend on the size and the shape of the area of the mouth that is uncovered as well as on the “shaking” force.

It was the object of the invention to provide a recreational accessory that reproduces the traditional spraying activity that is based on a bottle of champagne (or any other effervescent liquid) while taking on the shape and appearance of a firearm, such as a submachine gun, thereby rendering this spraying activity even more festive, safe, and fun.

The present invention provides just the solution to achieving this object.

It relates to an assembly for ejecting the contents of a bottle containing an effervescent liquid.

According to a general definition of the invention, the ejecting assembly comprises: a sealing-diffusing gasket provided with at least one diffusion opening and designed to be clamped resiliently around the neck of the bottle when the bottle is opened and placed into the ejection position and designed to seal the mouth of the bottle when the sealing-diffusing gasket is clamped in this way, and at least one first grip-forming part that is integrally formed with the sealing-diffusing gasket and comprises a first means for gripping the bottle in the hand when the bottle is in the ejection position, with the assembly enabling a jet of effervescent liquid to be produced which is of a selected size, duration, and distance when the first grip part is shaken by a user.

According to one embodiment, the first grip-forming part further comprises a first nesting means, and the assembly further comprises a second grip-forming part that is provided with a second nesting means that is designed to nest with the first nesting means when the bottle is placed in the ejection position, and a second gripping means that is integrally formed with the second nesting means, with the assembly enabling a jet of effervescent liquid to be produced which is of a selected size, duration, and distance when a user shakes the first and/or second gripping means that are nested in one another in this manner.

The ejecting assembly thus makes it possible to insert and securely hold a bottle while ensuring the tightness of the closure at the mouth and to eject liquid in a jet over a distance of several meters (5 m, for example) for a duration of several seconds (10 seconds, for example) and without endangering the user and the surrounding people.

According to one embodiment, the sealing-diffusing gasket is embodied as a single piece made of a flexible elastomer-type material.

In practice, the sealing-diffusing gasket comprises a mounting portion that is designed to be clamped resiliently around the neck of the bottle in the ejection position after the bottle is opened, and a sealing-diffusing portion designed to close the mouth of the bottle placed in the ejection position.

Alternatively, the gasket comprises a plurality of diffusion openings.

According to another embodiment, the first grip-forming part further comprises a clamping means for keeping the assembly of the sealing-diffusing gasket secure and sealed around the neck of the bottle in the ejection position.

According to yet another embodiment, the second grip-forming part further comprises a means for holding the body of the bottle in the ejection position.

In practice, the first nesting means comprises a tube having a selected length and diameter, whereas the second nesting means comprises a reinforcement rod that is shaped such that it mates with the tube in such a way that one nests in the other when the bottle is in the ejection position.

According to yet another embodiment, the first nesting means is integrally formed with the first gripping means, whereas the second nesting means is integrally formed with the second gripping means.

For example, the first and second gripping means are arranged in the shape of a gun grip.

The object of the present invention also includes a sealing-diffusing gasket that is suitable for the ejecting assembly according to the invention. According to another aspect of the invention, the gasket is capable of being clamped resiliently around the neck of the bottle in the ejection position after the bottle is opened and is capable of closing the mouth of the bottle placed in the ejection position, with the gasket being provided with at least one diffusion opening.

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the ejecting assembly1comprises a sealing-diffusing gasket2and at least one first grip-forming part4that is integrally formed with the sealing-diffusing gasket2(one-handed mode). Advantageously, the ejecting assembly further comprises a second grip-forming part10which nests in the first grip-forming part4in the closed position when a bottle3is in place (two-handed mode).

As will be described in greater detail below, the gasket2is suitable for being resiliently clamped around the neck5of a bottle3that is placed in the ejection position after the bottle is opened. The gasket2then closes the mouth7of the bottle3that is placed in this way in the ejection position.

The first grip-forming part4comprises a first means6(gun grip in front in the case of an assembly in the form of a submachine gun) for gripping the bottle that has been placed in the ejection position, and a first nesting means8. The second grip-forming part10comprises a second nesting means (reinforcement tube)12that is capable of nesting in the closed position with the first nesting means8when the bottle is placed in the ejection position and a second gripping means16(gun grip in back) that is integrally formed with the second nesting means12.

The assembly that has been mounted in this way in the closed position with the bottle placed in the ejection position (FIG. 1) enables a jet of effervescent liquid to be produced which is of a selected size, duration, and distance

When in the form of a submachine gun having a center ring, the rear part of the assembly1is composed of a rear gun grip16having a center ring18for holding the bottle, and a reinforcement rod12, whereas the front part of the assembly1is composed of a front gun grip and a barrel or hollow tube8.

With reference toFIG. 3, the assembly1is in the closed position. The tube12enables the assembly1to be reinforced. For example, the rigid tube12is made of steel and can be hollow or solid. The bottle is held mechanically with the aid of the rear gun grip16, which has a projection17having a shape which mates with the base9of the bottle.

With reference toFIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the sealing-diffusing gasket2is embodied as a single piece. It is a centerpiece of the ejecting assembly. The gasket is preferably made of a flexible material so as to enable it to fit against and “hold” the neck5of the bottle at the moment it is closed. The trade-off between flexibility and rigidity in the material is also critical for controlling the deformation of the part when the pressurized liquid is ejected. In this regard, the structure at the gasket2can be reinforced with one or more holding parts (for example, clamping rings28—FIGS. 4B and 4C) placed on or in the gasket as reinforcement in the areas of deformation.

For example, the gasket2is an elastomer that is kept under pressure on the neck5and the mouth3. The jet of liquid must only emerge from the gasket through the opening20or openings20created on the front surface21of the gasket2facing toward the outlet of the mouth7of the bottle3. The elastomer product is selected for its ability to adhere to the glass of the mouth that it is intended to seal. Protruding elements22can be arranged on the mounting portion23of the gasket2so as to facilitate the engagement of the gasket with the first grip part4. These elements22can also be used to remove the gasket and exchange it for another type of gasket, for example in order to achieve a different jet configuration (wider jet of shorter duration or narrower jet of longer duration) or for a spout-type version.

The openings20on the front face (sealing portion)21of the gasket2enable the force and the direction of the liquid jet to be controlled. The distance and the general shape of the jet, as well as the duration of the activity, as well as the tightness at the mouth, depend on the configuration thereof (number, diameter, arrangement). For example, in “normal” usage conditions, in order to achieve a jet that exceeds 5 to 6 meters of distance while enabling the activity to last for a minimum of 15 seconds of continuous jet, a single opening20can be provided that has a diameter of less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

In one design variant, a shorter, wider, and more diffuse jet can be achieved by adding one or more holes20having a diameter that is less than or equal to that of the center hole and arranged around the periphery thereof.

With reference toFIG. 5, the first4and second parts10are in the nesting position with the rigid tube12inserted into the barrel (hollow tube)8. The body11of the bottle3is inserted into the center holding ring18. The bottle is opened (uncorked) beforehand. The ejecting assembly is closed by sliding the barrel8onto the steel reinforcement tube12until it reaches a holding clip13in the rear part10of the assembly. In the “clipped” position, the bottle3is held securely in the middle by the holding ring18, at the bottom by the detent17on the fixture of the rear gun grip16, and at the top in the diffusing gasket2, which will seal the bottle3when the front barrel12is closed in order to hold the assembly.

With reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, a translational30and rotational slide system32is machined in the reinforcement tube12. This enables the assembly to be opened and closed through the forward/rearward translation30of the front part8combined with a rotation32thereof, which enables the holding ring18to be disengaged completely from the rear part10so that the bottle can be inserted and to return to the closure axis once the bottle3is in place. A guide pin34is mounted on the inside face of the front part12. The guide pin34travels along the slide30forward, rearward, and rotationally around the axis of the tube12when the front part is manipulated in order to open/close the ejecting assembly.

With reference toFIG. 7, the assembly1is in the closed position with a bottle3placed in the ejection position.

Such a “champagne submachine gun” is implemented in the following manner:

The assembly1is first opened by sliding the front part8on the tube12translationally toward the front until it reaches the detent34and then by pivoting it about the axis of the tube12over a sufficient angle (about 60 degrees). This translational/rotational movement enables the center holding ring18to be disengaged so that the previously opened bottle can be inserted therein in a vertical (or substantially vertical) position, mouth upward. Once the bottle is in place, it rests on the rear gun grip16and is held by the center ring18. Closing is achieved by pivoting the front part8so as to return the front gun grip6to the axis of the rear gun grip16. This position can be facilitated by means of foolproofing mechanisms (not shown) placed on the front8and rear parts12that only allow closure through the nesting of the two parts12and8once the alignment is correct. Once this alignment has been achieved, all that remains to be done is to slide the front part8rearward (or inward) from the reinforcement tube12until the front8and rear parts12nest completely. This complete closure can be realized by means of one or more reclosable clips13, for example. Good closure thus means correct positioning of the diffusing gasket2on the mouth7of the bottle and the mechanical integrity of the assembly. After closure, the user initiates the activity by energetically shaking the assembly once or twice until the jet of liquid is formed, and he can continue by continuing to shake as necessary until the pressure inside the bottle is too low to maintain the jet of liquid satisfactorily.

In a variant, a provision can be made that the front part8of the assembly1is separate from the rear part12. The previously opened bottle can then be inserted in a vertical position like in the previous case. Once the bottle is in place, closure is achieved by causing the front part8to engage on the reinforcement tube12of the rear part12and then aligning and reclosing the assembly as explained above.

In another variant of an embodiment of the invention, the disengagement from the holding ring18can be achieved by rotating the front part8outward about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis defined by the “barrel” part of the rear part12and situated at a junction between the front part8and the rear part12. Once the bottle has been inserted as described previously, the assembly can be closed by pivoting the front part8in the opposite direction (inward) about the same axis until the front part8closes over the mouth7of the bottle3.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but encompasses all of the embodiments that fall within the inventive concept thus described.