FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract: A beverage container flow control device comprises a flow prevention valve (7, 9), a thermostatic actuation means (6, 10) and a cap (11) with flow path. When the vessel (1, 8) is filled with a beverage, the flow control device is secured to the vessel (1, 8) thereby immersing the thermostatic actuation means (6, 10) in the beverage. If the beverage in the vessel (1, 8) is above the pre-set temperature, the thermostatic actuation means (6, 10) will close the flow prevention valve (7, 9), closing the flow path through the cap (11) with flow path thereby preventing the flow of beverage from the vessel (1, 8) to the consumer. Once the temperature of the beverage has fallen below the pre-set temperature, the thermostatic actuation means (6, 10) opens the flow prevention valve (7, 9) enabling the flow of beverage from the vessel (1, 8) to the consumer.

Description: FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER The present invention relates to liquid containers and particularly to beverage containers such as baby feeding bottles and drinking beakers and to disposable beverage containers such as paper or plastic vessels for hot and cold beverages. The invention is not however limited to beverage containers . It is often desired to serve the contents of a vessel heated, chilled or at a pre-determined temperature prior to consumption. In the case of infant feeding it is important to serve a beverage at a temperature that will not cause harm or discomfort to the infant. Prior to weaning, for example, an infant should be provided with beverages at a temperature of approximately 37 degrees Celsius or body temperature. Similarly, it is not desirable to serve hot beverages, such as tea or coffee, at a temperature that is objectionable or will cause harm or discomfort to the consumer. There have been a number of proposals for providing some form of indication means for indicating the temperature of the contents of a beverage container. For example, a temperature sensor has been incorporated into or attached to an infant feeding bottle or drinking beaker that provides a visible indication of the temperature of the beverage contained within. Similarly, colour changing temperature sensitive strips have been developed that may be applied to wine bottles to indicate when the wine contained within has achieved a correct drinking temperature. Alternatively, an infant feeding bottle or drinking beaker has been provided with a temperature sensor that provides a visible and/or audible warning if the temperature of the beverage contained within exceeds a pre-determined level. However, such proposals do not physically prevent the consumption of beverages from the container that are at a temperature that is either objectionable or harmful to the consumer. We have now devised a device that will prevent the flow of a liquid from a beverage container if that liquid is at a temperature that may be objectionable or harmful to the consumer. Accordingly, the present invention comprises a valve to prevent, upon actuation, the flow of liquid from a beverage container and a thermostatic actuation means. The term 'valve* encompasses any structure which is effective to open and close an opening through which liquid can flow out of a container. If the temperature of the liquid contained within the beverage container is above a pre-set level, the thermostatic actuation means, will upon immersion in the liquid, actuate the flow prevention means thereby closing the flow path between the contents of the beverage container and the consumer. The thermostatic actuation means may also be arranged so as to actuate the flow prevention means if the temperature of the liquid is below a pre-set level. Alternatively, the flow prevention means and thermostatic actuation means may be so arranged as to prevent the flow of liquid from the beverage container if the liquid is at a temperature above, or below, a pre-set temperature thereby only enabling a flow path between the contents of the beverage container and the consumer if the temperature of the liquid is at or around a pre-set level. Suitable methods of thermostatic actuation include thermostatic bimetal, thermostatic biplastic, memory metal, memory plastic, thermostatic gas strut, thermostatic bellows arrangement or in fact any mechanical arrangement, or arrangement of materials, that will provide a suitable mechanical movement over the desired temperature range. In one embodiment of the invention, applicable to, for example, baby feeding bottles, feeding beakers and cups, the flow control unit comprises a flow prevention means, a thermostatic actuation means for actuating the flow prevention means and a flow prevention assembly holder. The flow control unit is so arranged as to provide a separate unit that may be inserted into the beverage container and removably retained by a retaining collar with feeding teat, a feeding beaker cap, a cup lid with drinking flow path or in fact any suitable means that, as a single component or plurality of components, will retain the flow control unit whilst providing a flow path between the contents of the beverage container and the consumer. The thermostatic actuation means may be so positioned within the flow control unit so that, when the flow control unit is inserted into the beverage container, the thermostatic actuation means remains submerged within the liquid contained by the beverage container if the beverage container is half full in either an upright or inverted position. The flow control unit maybe so arranged as to be easily opened or disassembled to enable access to, and facilitate the cleaning or replacement of, internal components. In another embodiment of the invention, applicable to, for example, feeding beakers and cups and bottles, the flow control unit is securably attached to a feeding beaker cap or cup or bottle lid which in turn provides a flow path between the contents of the beverage container and the consumer. This arrangement comprises a single unit that maybe removably secured to the beverage container. Once again, the unit maybe so arranged as to be easily opened or disassembled to enable access to, and facilitate the cleaning of, internal components. In another embodiment of the invention, applicable to, for example feeding beakers, cups and disposable beverage containers, the flow control unit, cap and flow path between the contents of the beverage container and the consumer comprise a unit moulded or formed as a single component. This maybe achieved by, for example, forming an "integral hinge 1 of biplastic material between the closure means and flow path of the flow prevention means using, for example, a 'two shot' moulding technique. Alternatively, the closure means and flow path of the flow prevention means maybe moulded around either end of a bimetal strip, for example. Another aspect of the invention relates to thermoplastic biplastic actuators per se, which can find uses beyond the opening and closing of containers. Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example only with respect to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of one form of the invention applicable to a baby feeding bottle; Figure 2 shows, in perspective, a flow control unit for the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 with the flow prevention means in the closed position; Figure 5 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 with the flow prevention means in the open position; Figure 6 shows, in perspective, an exploded view of another form of the invention applicable to disposable beverage containers; Figure 7 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 6 with the flow prevention means in the closed position; and Figure 9 shows, assembled and in cross-section, the form of the invention shown in Figure 6 with the flow prevention means in the open position. With reference to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 comprises a vessel 1, a feeding teat 2 , a retaining ring 3 , a cap 4 and a flow control unit comprising a valve assembly holder 5, a thermostatic actuation means 6 (in this case a bimetal snap disc set to actuate at a temperature of above 37 degree Celsius) and a flow prevention valve 7 (in this case a mushroom type valve) . The valve assembly holder is so designed as to open to facilitate cleaning as shown in Figure 2. In operation, the vessel 1 is filled with the desired beverage. The flow control unit is then inserted into the vessel 1 thereby immersing the thermostatic actuation means 6 in the beverage. The flow control unit is retained in place by the retaining ring 3 , which in turn retains the feeding teat 2. Finally, for the purpose of hygiene, the cap 4 is placed over the feeding teat 2 and is held in place by the retaining ring 3 as shown in Figure 3. If the beverage contained within the vessel 1 is at a temperature above 37 degrees Celsius, the thermostatic actuation means 6 will close the flow prevention valve 7, closing the flow path between the flow prevention valve 7 and the valve assembly holder 5 thereby preventing the flow of beverage from the vessel 1 through the feeding teat 2 to the consumer as shown in Figure 4. Once the temperature of the beverage contained within the vessel 1 has fallen below 37 degrees Celsius, the thermostatic actuation means 6 resets, opening the flow path between the flow prevention valve 7 and the valve assembly holder 5 thereby enabling the flow of beverage from the vessel 1 through the feeding teat 2 to the consumer as shown in Figure 5. With reference to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6 comprises a vessel 8 and a cap/flow control unit comprising a flow prevention valve 9, a thermostatic actuation means 10 and a cap with flow path 11. The cap/flow prevention unit is, using a "two shot' moulding technique, formed as a single unit with the thermostatic actuation means 10 forming an integral hinge of biplastic material between the flow prevention valve 9 and the cap with flow path 11 as shown in Figure 7. In operation, the vessel 8 is filled with the desired beverage. The cap/flow control unit is then secured to the vessel 8 thereby immersing the thermostatic actuation means 10 in the beverage. If the beverage contained within the vessel 8 is at a temperature above the pre-set temperature, in this case a few degrees below a temperature that would cause the consumer to be scolded, the thermostatic actuation means 10 will close the flow prevention valve 9, closing the flow path through the cap with flow path 11 thereby preventing the flow of beverage from the vessel 8 to the consumer as shown in Figure 8. Once the temperature of the beverage contained within the vessel 8 has fallen below the pre-set temperature, the thermostatic actuation means 10 opens the flow prevention valve 9 enabling the flow of beverage from the vessel 8 through the cap/flow control unit to the consumer as shown in Figure 9.

Claims: Claims 1. A flow control device that will prevent the flow of a liquid from a container outlet if that liquid is at a temperature above a preset threshold temperature, the control device comprising a thermostatic actuator and a valve which can open or close the outlet, wherein the actuator actuates the valve to close the outlet when the temperature of the liquid in the container is above the threshold temperature. 2. A container for liquids having an outlet and a flow control device that will prevent the flow of a liquid from the container outlet if that liquid is at a temperature below a preset threshold temperature, the control device comprising a thermostatic actuator and a valve which can open or close the outlet, wherein the actuator actuates the valve to close the outlet when the temperature of the liquid in the container is below the threshold temperature. 3. A container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the actuator will only open the valve if the liquid is at a temperature within a preset temperature range. 5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flow control device is incorporated within a lid for the container. 6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, being a beverage container. 7. A container as claimed in Claim 6, being a disposable cup with the flow control device being incorporated in a lid for the container. 8. A container as claimed in Claim 6, being a baby's bottle. 9. A flow control device for use with a container as claimed in any preceding claim. 10. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 that opens to facilitate cleaning. 11. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a thermostatic bimetal . 12. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a thermostatic biplastic . 13. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a memory metal. 14. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a memory plastic. 15. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a thermostatic gas strut . 16. A flow control device as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the thermostatic actuator is a thermostatic bellows. 17. A flow control device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thermostatic actuator, the container outlet and the valve are formed as a single component which is designed as a container lid.

Inventors: MILAN GUY DIMITRI, STOCKMAN ANTHONY JOHN, MILAN, GUY, DIMITRI, STOCKMAN, ANTHONY, JOHN
Applicants: MILAN GUY DIMITRI, STOCKMAN ANTHONY JOHN, MILAN, GUY, DIMITRI, STOCKMAN, ANTHONY, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D47
IPC codes: A47G19, A61J9, B65D47, B65D51, F16K17, F16K31