Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~Z~4~%
1 The present invention relates to a liquid
dispenser, and more particularly to a dispenser adapted
to attach to an opening of a container, e.g. a can,
a barrel, or a bottle, to dispense easily the liquid in
the container.
~ecently, beer packed in a medium capacity metal
or plastic container, e.g. 2 litre and 3 litre container,
has begun to be sold. It is desired that a dispenser may
be attached to such a container after the closure has been
removed in order to dispense the beer easily to a mug or a
glassO Many kinds of such dispensers have been proposed.
However, the ob]ective of such dispensers has been to solve
problems and disadvantages associated with the dispenser
itself, such as easy attachment to the container or easy
control of pouring quantity. However, such improvements
relate only to essential pouring functions.
One pouring problem which often occurs when
liquid is poured quickly from a large bottle into a glass
is that because of an intermittent liquid flow the
liquid overflows the glass. An intermittent liquid flow,
which occurs when an unsealed bottle filled with liquid is
sharply tilted, is generated in the following stages.
As a first stage, a part of the liquid inside
the mouth of the bottle is pushed down and flows out due
to the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid because the air
pressure inside the bottle is equal to the atmospheric pres-
sure. The flowing out of the liquid increases the volume
of the air occupying the space above the liquid in the bottle
and lowers its pressure.
As a second stage, when the total pressure on the
lower surface of the liquid which is a combination of hydro-
static pressure and the air pressure in the bottle, becomes
- 1 ~
~2~
1 less than the atmospheric pressure, the liquid flow stops
and the air under the lower surface of the liquid enters
and rises up as a bubble due to its buoyancy through the
liquid to the upper surface. When, by the entering of the
air into the bottle, the total pressure on the lower surface
of the liquid becomes greater than the atmospheric pressure,
a part of the liquid newly occupying the inside of the
mouth flows out as in the first stage. Thus, the alternate
occurrence of the liquid flow stage and the air entry
stage generates the in-termittent flow.
Many inventions and improvements propose to use
an air introduction tube, guiding air from the outside of
the container into the air space above the liquid in the
container. The air introduction tube makes the liquid flow
smoothl~ because the air is introduced continuously
through the tube.
The present invention aims to provide a liquid
dispenser which is adapted to attach to a beverage con-
tainer and which has ef~ective pouring properties as well
as the new property of producing an agreeable sound when
the beverage is poured from the container.
According to the present invention, the liquid
dispenser comprises at least one liquid pouring conduit,
an air introduction tube, and a sound generating means in
the air introduction tube.
By selecting the diameter and length of the air
introduction tube, intermittent or pulsating air flow is
produced in the tube when liquid such as beer is poured
from the container through the liquid pouring conduit to a
mug or a glass. Thus, when a sound producing mechanism is
combined with the air introduction tube, the produced sound
is not a long-lasting whistle sound, but rather a "cheep"
sound or the intermittent sound of a chick. Consequently,
the produced sound is agreeable to hear for users of a wide
.~ .
4~
range.
The sound producing mechanism may be selected from
any known means of such sound production. The mechanism
may be a reed, or a small hole or holes throttling the air
flow in the air introduction chamber, or it may be a side
hole opened to the air introduction tube. ~n the case of a
small hole or holes, a resonance chamber may be constructed
in -the air introduction tube.
The foregoing as well as additional features and
advantages of the invention will become more apparent as
the following detailed description of preferred embodiments
is read. The description, explained by W2~ of example,
should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,
wherein li~e reference numerals denote like parts in all
views and wherein~
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dis-
penser, according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is an end view along arrow II of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of
Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the pouring nozzle of the
dispenser shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 5 is an end view similar to Fig. 2 showing a
variation of the dispenser sho~n in Fig. l;
Fig. 6 is a front view of a dispenser, according to
the second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the dispenser shown in
Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dis-
penser shown in Fig. 6 attached to the mouth of a bottle,
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dis~
penser, according to the third embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 10 is an end view of the dispenser, viewed
along arrow I~ of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section view of a
.
-- 3 --
Z,'t;~,
1 dispenser, according to the fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section view of a
dispenser, according to the fifth embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 13 is a cross section view along line XIII-
XIII of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a side view of the dispenser shown in
Fig. 12, and
Fig. 15 is a plan view of a reed mechanism of the
dispenser along line XV of Fig. 13.
The liquid dispenser of the present invention
comprises at least one liquid pouring conduit, an air
introduction tube, and a sound generating means in the air
introduction tube. The dispenser is detachably mounted to
an opening of a liquid container. By selecting the diameter
and the length of the air introduction tube, when liquid
is poured from the container through the liquid pouring
conduit a pulsating air flow is generated in the air
introduction tube which causes the sound producing mechanism
to generate an intermittent chirping sound. Furthermore,
the dispenser causes a liquid flow having a finer vibration
which generates a finer foam of carbon dioxide in beer
poured through the dispenser into a receptacle.
The principal conditions to give a pouring flow a
finer vibration are described in Japanese specifications of
Laying-open No. 82-28797 (App. No. 80-94380) and Laying-open
No. 83-82853 (App. No. 81-173296). The inside ~iameter of
the air introduction tube is from 1 to 6 mm, preferably from
2 to 4 mm. The projecting length of the air introduction
tube into the containex is up to 50 mm, preferably from
30 to 40 mm. Generally, the pulse of liquid flow becomes
longer as the inside area of the tube becomes larger and
the pulse becomes stronger as the length of the air intro-
duction tube becomes shorter. Conversely, the pulse becomes
finer as the inside area of the tube becomes smaller and the
~z~
1 pulse is weakened by the elongation of the tube and
disappears when the -tube reaches the surface of the liquid.
The pulse of the liquid flow is due to the
formation and departure of an air bubble from an end of the
air introduction tube. When the air bubble departs from
the end of the tube, the liquid, pushed aside by the bubble,
rushes into the outlet of the tube and causes a shock
spreading through the liquid. Thus, a narrower tube
makes a smaller bubble and causes a smaller pulse, and a
wider tube makes a laryer bubble and causes a larger pulse.
As the projecting length of the tube becomes longer, the
shock waves caused by the departure of the air bubble from
the end of the tube is weakened as it travels a long distance
through the liquid to the outlet~
We have determined the conditions under which an
air bubble generates a pulsating air flow in the air intro-
duction tube. To produce the pulsating air flow the inner
end of the air introduction tube must be positioned beneath
the surface of the liquid in the bottle when the liquid is
poured, and there are critical limitations on the lengtn
and diameter of the air introduction tube. If the
inside diameter of the air introduction tube is smaller than
2 mm, the air flow does not have enough power to produce a
sound. If the inside diameter is larger than 6 mm, there
is a ris~ that liquid might flow into the air introduction
tube and impede the sound generating mechanism, especially
if the projecting length of the tube is shorter. If the
projecting length is longer than 100 mm, the end of the
tube projects above the surface of the liquid during
pouring even when a considerable quantity of liquid remains
in the bottle and the sound ceases. Therefore, to produce
a pulsating air flow the inside diameter of the air
introduction tube should preferably be from 2 to 6 mm, and
the tube should extend from 10 to 60 mm inside the container.
Referring now to Figs. 1 - 4, a dispenser 1 accord-
ing to first preferred embodiment of the present in~Jention,
.
1 is formed by a body 2 and a pouring nozzle 3. The body 2
bends at a certain angle at the outlet which is the right
end portion shown in Fig. 1. At the left end shown in
Fig. 1, the body 2 forms an integrally secured flange 5.
Contiguous with the flange 5, an attached cylindrical body
~ is formed integral with the body 2. On the periphery of
the cylindrical body 6, several projections 7 are formed.
By means of the projections 7, the dispenser 1 can be
pressed into an opening of a liquid container, not shown,
in a sealed and removable rela-tionship.
In the bent portion of the body 2, a semi-
circular partition wall 8 is projected from the top
portion of the inside periphery of the body 2 into a
passage 10 of a pouring barrel 9. By the partition wall 8,
air stagnation spaces 11 and 12 are formed adjacent to the
bent portion of the main pouring passage 10 when liquid is
poured through the passage 10. When the container is
raised up to stop pouring, the air-remaining in the air
stagnation space 11 makes the remaining beer foam in the
passage 10 separate from the upper wall of the passage 10,
so the beer foam easily slides down into the container.
This prevents a beer foam burst caused by the pressure of
gasified carbon dioxide in the container. The free
end of the body 2 is adapted to engage
~2~4~
1 smoothly with the pourlng nozzle 3, will be explained in
detail later. Upwards, and spaced from the top portion 9a,
outer end 13a of an air in-troduction tube 13 with "cheep"
mechanism i.e. sound producing mechanism to be described
later, is positioned. ~ projec-tion 14 is integrally formed
with the body 2, opposite to the tube 13. Inside the
projection 14, a backing element 15 is formed and an
insertable recess 16 of generally semicircular cross
section is formed between -the backing element 15 and the
projection 14.
The inner end 13b, or left end in Fig. 1, of the
air introduction tube 13 is projected beyond the attachment
flange 5 for a predetermined distance s. Preferably the
distance s is from 10 to 60 mm. On the-outer end 13a, or
right end in Fig. 1, of the air introduction tube 13, a
"cheep" tube 17 is mounted. The "cheep" tube 17 is open
at one end and is closed at the other side by a partition
wall 18 which has a small hole 21. Projected further from
the partition wall 18, tne tube 17 forms a cover tube
19 which forms a taper surface 20 at open end. Preferably
the inner diameter of the air introduction tube is from
2 to 6 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, inner diameter
d of the outer end 13a of the air introduction tube is
about 4 - 6 mm, while the inner diameter d of the small
hole 21 of the "cheep" tube 17 is about 2.7 - 3.3 mm, and
the inner diameter D of a chamber 30 formed in the tube 17
adjacent to the hole 21 is about 7 - 10 mm.
The pouring nozzle 3 forms a plurality of axially
extending semi-circular sectioned projections 22a, 22b and
22c. The projections add rigidity to the nozzle 3 and
prevent the nozzle 3 from deformation when the nozzle 3 is
mounted on the barrel 9. The pouring nozzle 3 forms a thin-
walled fitting portion 23 which fits in a thin-walled open-
ing 24 formed at the open end of the pouring barrel ~. A
.. .
.
,,
. .
1 subsidiary flow chamber 25 is formed integrally under pour-
ing passage 10 with the nozzle 3. At the right end in
Fig. 1, the subsidi.ary flow chamber opens to a subsidiary
pouring outlet 26. The upper surface of the subsidiary
flow chamber 25 is open with the main pouring passage 10.
At the left end.of the subsidiary chamber 25, a cutout 27
is formed in the thin wall portion 23. A semi-circular
sectioned insert wall 28 is formed adjacent the cutout 27.
The insert wall 28 is inserted in the above-described
insertable recess 16 of the body 2. The main pouring
passage 10 of the pouring nozzle 3 forms a tapered outle-t
surface 2g.
To use the dispenser 1, the cylindrical body 6 is
pressed into the opening of the liquid container so that
the dispenser 1 is fixed with the container. As usual, the
container is held and tilted to pour the liquid, e.~. beer
into the mug. I~hen the liquid is poured, air is introduced
into the tube 13 through the small hole 21 of the "cheep"
tube 17 and the chamber 30. The small hole 21 functions as
an orifice, which makes tubulance on the air flow passing
therethrough, and the chamber 30 acts as a resonator to
produce sound. As the air flow through the tube 13 is
intermittent, the sound is not a long-lasting whistle sound,
but is an intermittent sound of "cheep" such as that a
little bird would make. The "cheep" sound is agreeable and
delightful to hear.
When the liquid in the container is poured, aided
by air introduced via tube 13, through the main pouring
passage 10 of the pouring nozzle 3, the liquid in the
subsidiary flow chamber 25 is poured simultaneously from
the subsidiary outlet 26. Liquid poured ~hrough the
subsidiary outlet 26 applies fine vibrations to the liquid
level surface which is already formed by previously poured
liquid. ~hus, carbon dioxide dissolved in the liquid
.
1 is separated by the vibration in-to numerous fine
bubbles which cover tne liquid surface. In this way
the entraining of air is limited only to the initial stage
of pouring and thus the generation of air foams is effect-
ively decreased.
When the container is raised to stop the pouring,
liquid and foam in the passages of the dispenser 1 return
back into the container. While pouring, stagnant air in
- 8a -
~f~ 42 ('
the stagnation spaces 11 and 12 on both sides of the wall
14 decreases viscosity resistance between the li~uid flowing
back into the container, and also prevents the inadvertent
injection.
The sound of the "cheep" mechanism is determined by
diameter d of the small hole 21, diameter D and the axial
length of the chamber 30, and the material from which the
"cheep" tube 17 is constructed. By projecting the inner end
13b of the air introduction tube 13 into the container for
a predetermined length, a fine pulsatory motion is produced
in the flowing air so that an intermittent "cheep" sound is
produced instead of a whistle sound.
After all li~uid in the container is consumed, the
dispenser 1 may be removed from the container. The removed
dispenser 1 can be utilized as a whistle. The inner end 13b
of the air introduction tube 13 is held in the mouth and air
is blown or sucked through the tube. By blowing or sucking
- ~ air a resonance phenomenon is produced in the tube 17 so
that whistling sound is produced.
Fig. 5 shows a variation of the dispenser shown in
Fig. 1. Note that in Fig. 5 the subsidiary passage and the
outlet thereof are eliminated from the dispenser 1, the
other construction of the dispenser shown in Fig. 5 is
similar to that of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1.
Figs. 6 - 8 show a dispenser according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser shown in
Figs. 6 - 8 is formed from suitable plastic material, e.g.
polyethylene or polypropylene, as is the dispenser 1 shown ~
in Figs. 1 - 4, and consists of a dispenser body 2' and a
pouring nozzle 3' which are fit together. The air introduc-
tion tube 13 is formed integral with the body 2' while the
outer end 13a is received in the "cheep" tube 17 which is
integrally formed with the pouring nozzle 3'. As before,
the "cheep" tube 17 has the partition wall 18 having the
small hole 21.
The pouxin~ nozzle 3' includes a nozzle body portion
having the "cheep" -tube 17 and the main pouring outlet 10
includes a subsidiary outlet portion having two subsidiary
.,1 ~:. .......... . .
.
6~
outlets 261 and 262. As shown in Fig. 8, a fitting end
portion 31 of the main passage 10 is generally semi-circular
~ith a flat top portion, and a fitting end portion 31 which
communicates with the subsidiary outlets 261 and 262 and
which is generally oval in the illustrated embodiment. The
shape of the fitting portion may be selected as desired.
The subsidiary flow chambers 25 do not directly communicate
with the main flow passage 10, but communicate through an
opening 32 adjacent to flange 5' of the main bod~ 2'. The
operation of the dispenser shown in Figs. 6 - 8 is similar
to that of the dispenser shown in Figs. 1 - 4.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a dispenser according to a third
embodiment of the present invention. In the above described
embodimentst the dispenserIbody 2 or 2' fits with the pour-
ing nozzle 3 or 3' along an outer fit line ~ - B, while the
main passage portion of pouring nozzle 3" is fit in main
body 2", and the right end portion 13'a of the air introduc-
tion-tube 13 is secured into the "cheep" tube 17' which is
integral with the pouring nozzle- 3". In the embodiment
shown in Figs~ 9 and 10, the end surface of dispenser body
; 2" is substantially flat and outer fit line A - A is linear.
Each portion of the dispenser no~zle 3" is mounted onto each
portion of the body 2". More particularl~, "cheep" tube 17'
is integral with the pouring-nozzle 3" and on the free end
of the tube 17', an end wall 18' with a small hole 21l is
integrally formed. Opposed to end spaced from the small
hole 21', a small hole 33 is formed in a partition wall 34
which is molded into the air introduction tube 13. Between-
the walls 34 and 18', a chamber 30 having a predetermined
axial length and a predetermined inside diameter is defined
in the air introduction tube. When the air column defined
by the chamber 30 is resonated, sound is produced.
In a preferred embodiment of the "cheep" mechanismr
or the sound producing mechanism, the thickness of the walls
18' and 34 is 1.0 mm, the inside diameter of the small holes
21' and 33 is 2.8 mm, the length of the chamber i.e.
distance between the partition walls 18' and 34, is 10 mm,
and the inside diameter of the air introduction tube 13 and
-10
ii . ' . -
the "cheep" tube 17 is 4 mm.
The embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 has no sub-
sidiary pouring outlet, and connection between the body 2l'
and the pouring nozzle 3" is rather weakly de~ined compared
with the first and second embodiments. However, construc-
tion is very simple and compact.
Fig. 11 shows a dispenser, according to a fourth
embodiment oE the present invention. The only difference
between this fourth emdobiment and the third embodiment
shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is the sound producing mechanism.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. ll, a small hole 25 is
opened to the outer wall of the dispenser body 2" to
communicate with the air introduction tube 2". The "cheep"
tube 17" without the former wall 18' is secured in the outer
end 13a of the air introduction tube 13. A space defined
between the inner end of the "cheep" tube 17" and the small
hole 25 acts as the above-mentioned chamber 30. Also, in
the embodiment the subsidiary flow chamber 25 which commu-
nicates with the main pouring passage 10, and a subsidiary
outlet 26 is provided as in the first embodiment.
Figs. 12 - 15 show a dispenser 40, according to a
fifth embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser
40 has a flange 5 with a cylindrical attachment body 6, a
dispenser body 42 which forms both an inlet 41 and a pouring
outlet 10, a projection 43 which forms a subsidiary flow
chamber 25 in communication wi~h both the main flow passage
10 and a subsidiary outlet 26, and ~inally an upper projec-
tion which defines an air introduction tube 13.
As a sound producing mechanism, a reed mechanism is
utilized in the dispenser 40. Any desired reed mechanism
may be inserted into the air introduction tube 13. In the
illustrated embodiment, the reed mechanism inc.ludes an elas-
tic reed 45 formed by a thin metal plate, a rigid scaphoid
or boat-shaped member 46 which has a peripheral portion
generally corresponding to that of the reed 45 and a recess
46b spaced from the reed 45, and a short sleeve 47 holding
the reed 45 and the boat-shaped member 46. The short slee~e
47 is adapted to insert into the air introduction tube 13.
The sleeve 47 may be secured in the tube 13 by any desired
. .
means. In the emhodiment shown, the sleeve 47 has periph-
eral groove 47a which engages with one or more projections
13c which have been formed inside the air introduction tube
13 so that the reed mechanism is secured with the tube 13
in a selected position. The sleeve 47 and the dispenser
body 42 are preferably made of a suitable plastic material.
The reed assembly consisting of the reed 45, boat-shaped
member 46 and sleeve ~7 can be pushed into the air introduc-
tion tube 13 from the right end as shown in Fig. 12. The
boat shaped member a6 forms a throttle in the air introduc-
tion tube 13 and induces air flow to the reed 45 to effect
vibration of the reed 45O Thus, the desirea sound deter-
ined by the reed 45 is produced. In the illustrated
embodiment, the reed 45 produces sound in both air flow
directions, i.e. the dispenser 40 can be used as a whistle
when air is blown from the left end 13b of the air introduc-
tion tube~ For dispenser use, the reed 45 may be made as
a one direction whistle.
The subsidiary pouring outlet shown in the embodi- .
20 ments of Figs. 1, 7, 11 and 12 is effective to produce ~ine
foam bubbles when beer is used with the dispenser. However,
according to the present invention the subsidiary outlet may-
be eliminated from the dispenser as shown in the embodiments
represented in Figs~ 5~and 10.
As described in detail, the dispenser of the present
invention pours beverages, e.g. beer ideally and has a ~ery
simple sound producing mechanism i.e. a "cheep" mechanism
combined with the air introduction tube. Thus, when the
beverage is poured, an agreeable sound is produced by the
intermi-ttent air flow in the air introduction tube. As the
user of the dispenser pours the beverage and hears the
agreeable sound, the user may approve more of the beverage
itself. Because dispenser can after the container is empty,
be utilized as a whistle, the dispenser itself is likely to
gain approval by younger boys. Consequently, the dispenser,
of the present invention produces a "cheep" sound when the
beverage is poured and also produces a whistle sound after
the dispenser is removed from the container so that two
kinds of sound are produced.
- 12 -
J~
