FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of fluid filters used in bottles as a component of a bottle stopper, and in particular to constructions of components of the said filters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

This description provides a construction of the bottle filter for beverages. The filter is placed into the bottle outlet neck after having filled it with the beverage, usually in an industrial way by the equipment for mass production. The filter is not intended for repeated use but a filter of similar construction can be used many times. A filtering element is a mesh. Small holes of the mesh are required to filter out extremely small free-flowing impurities of the beverage. If that mesh covers the entire area of the bottleneck outlet, due to the difference in capillary phenomena and pressure in the inside and outside of the bottle, the beverage cannot flow out spontaneously or flows out within a very long period of time (e.g. 500 ml of fluid in 2 minutes or more). In order to equalize the pressure by rigid, solid walls of the bottle in the inside and outside, a tube is used together with the filter through which the air enters the inside of the bottle when the beverage is being poured out; thus it eliminates the root causes preventing flowing of the beverage. The main object of the present invention is the said air intake tube, its shape, size and position in respect of the filter which allow to accelerate the filtering of the beverage and its spontaneous pouring out of the bottle in a stable stream of adjustable intensity.

Document US2010288129A1 (published on November 1 8, 201 0) provides a filter used in a beverage bottle with an air intake. However, this document does not mention anything about a shape of the air intake tube. Also, document US3966099A (published on June 29, 1976) describes an air intake tube and its location in a bottle stopper but it does not provide anything about a shape of the tube; moreover it does not include the filtering of the fluid.

Document US5799836A (published on September 1 , 1989) describes a bottle stopper with a filter and a vent tube. But the said document does not mention anything about an air intake tube and its shape, and there is no information on their influence on the fluid flow speed. In addition, the construction provided will allow the fluid to be poured out only when the ventilation outlet is in the upper position. Patent document US201 1210092 (A1 ) (published on September 1 , 201 1 ) provides multiple air tube options that allow the pouring out of fluids from containers but it does not include the filtering of the poured fluid.

Some of the mentioned documents provide filters for bottles, but none of the mentioned analogs of the related art do not analyze the problem of the spontaneous fluid flowing from the bottle and the way of solving it with help of the shape of the air intake tube in relation to the filtering element.

This description provides the shape and position of the air intake tube in the bottle in respect of the filter, allowing the filtered fluid to flow out spontaneously from the bottle (without changing its shape, without pressing) in a stable stream of adjustable intensity and faster than other known solutions. At the same time, the filtering element with small holes (~ 1 50 μιη) - a mesh can be used for the filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This description provides a filter for filtering solid impurities placed into the fluid outlet of the fluid container with solid, rigid walls (in the present invention - of a beverage bottle). The filter has at least the following components: a sleeve, a body, a filtering element, an air permeability (air intake tube). In this case, the mentioned filter is a component of the bottle stopper.

When holes of the mesh (filtering element of the bottle filter) are small, an air intake tube is required to equalize air pressure in the inside and outside of the bottle. This description provides the shape, size and position of the air intake tube in the bottle in respect of the filter, allowing the filtered fluid to flow out from the bottle in a stable stream of adjustable intensity within a shorter time than is possible with the solutions used for the same purposes as discussed above. When the shape, size, and constructional features of the stopper are different, the process of the spontaneous flowing out of the filtered fluid from the bottle is disrupted, and therefore, in this case, the configuration and dimensions of these constructional elements are respectively adjusted. In addition, it is possible to adjust the intensity of the stream of the flowing filtered fluid by choosing the correct angle of pivot of the bottle. A smooth, non-flashing stream is important for pouring in small, accurate doses. For this purpose (for example, in bars, restaurants, etc.) special bottle nozzles are used for pouring which are attached to the bottleneck after having removed the upper part of the stopper but are not intended for filtering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the outside of the filter at different angles.

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the filter placed in the stopper parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter.

The presented figures are more illustrative, scale, proportions and other aspects do not necessarily correspond to the actual technical solution.

THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

Beverages packaged into bottles and other containers may naturally contain solid impurities of various sizes because of its recipe, which must be removed before use. Consequently, the fluid poured out of the container must be filtered. One method of filtering is to insert a filter in the outlet of such container, which filters a flowing fluid. A possible filtering element for fluids is a mesh with holes of appropriate size through which the fluid will penetrate but which will retain impurities. In the presence of small impurities, small holes of the mesh are required. In this case, in order to properly filter impurities, the diameter of a hole of the mesh should be about 150 prn. When only a mesh with such size of the mesh hole that covers the entire area of the outlet of the bottle, certain fluids (e.g., water, ethyl alcohol, etc.) do not flow out from the bottle (if the inner capacity of the bottle is not changed). It is due to the capillarity and the difference in the pressure in the inside and outside of the bottle resulting when the fluid is poured. If the air does not come into the inside of the bottle during pouring, the pressure in it gradually becomes less than the atmospheric pressure in the outside of the bottle, causing the fluid to stop flowing. In order to allow outside air to enter into the inside of the bottle, filters are fitted with tubes, openings, outlets, channels, or other similar elements through which the air enters the bottle from the outside of the bottle. The parameters of the filtering and flowing out of the fluid from the container depends on the construction of these elements, their layout in relation to each other and interconnection (possibility of spontaneous flow, time of flowing out and its control, fluid flow uniformity, etc.).

In other cases, the term "bottle" used in this description may refer to any container for fluids with one outlet for pouring the fluid which has rigid, solid walls. The bottle filter may have at least these components:

- a sleeve (1 ), which is based on and is fastened into the inner wall of the outlet of the bottleneck,

- a body with a tube (2), where the body connects all components of the filter into one system, and the air from the outside of the bottle enters into the inside of the bottle through the tube; in the present invention, the body and tube (2) are formed of a solid material, in other cases the body and tube (2) may be separate elements,

- a filtering element (3) (in this case - a mesh) that holds out solid impurities of the fluid,

- and/or other components.

The said bottle filter may be formed as a component of a bottle stopper, which may have a cap (4), a seal (5), and other elements. The stopper cap (4) encloses the top of the bottleneck. As usual, the cap (4) is formed from a metal sheet in such a way that, by loosening the upper part of the cap (4) with the thread, the said upper part is broken away from the bottom. When fully disconnected, the detached upper part is removed with the seal, the bottle is uncovered and the fluid can be poured out from it. The seal (5) placed between the edges of the cap (4) and the bottleneck, which seals the gap between the cap (4) and the edges of the bottleneck and prevents leakage of the fluid.

In the present invention, in order to properly filter the beverage from the bottle, the diameter/size of holes of the filter mesh should be about 150 μιη. In the presence of such filtering mesh, after covering the entire bottle outlet, regardless of the angle of the bottle, the fluid does not or flows very slowly with large bumps; as well as all the fluid from the bottle will not flow out. In these circumstances, a technical solution is needed to allow a proper pouring of the beverage from the bottle, i.e. the stream of the fluid flowing spontaneously must be stable and the fluid must flow in the maximum stream within a sufficiently short time (500 ml in no more than 50 seconds). In order to meet the requirements for the proper pouring of the beverage from the bottle, it is necessary to ensure that the air pressure inside the bottle is as close as possible to atmospheric pressure. In the present invention, the beverage filter has an air permeability - an element resembling a hollow tube (hereinafter - a tube (2)), through which the air enters the inside of the bottle from the outside of the bottle.

The shape of the entire filter of the bottle resembles a cylindrical shape, and the tube (2) is oriented in the direction of the central axis of the said cylinder-shaped filter. In other embodiments, the axis of the tube (2) may coincide with the central axis of the filter. In the latter case, the size of the stream of the outlet fluid depends on the angle of inclination of the bottle but does not depend on the position of the bottle body (rotation) in relation to its longitudinal axis. The shape, size and position of the tube (2) in respect of the filter determines the speed of air intake into the bottle, and at the same time the speed of the fluid flow from the bottle. When selecting the shape and size of the end of the tube (2) directed to the inside of the bottle, it is necessary to adjust the parameters of the tube (2) so that the flow of air entering the bottle does not allow the tube (2) to flow from the bottle to the unfiltered fluid. This can be achieved by reducing the inside diameter of the tube (2) or the size of the outlet of the tube (2) directed to the inside of the bottle. On the other hand, reducing these values it results in reducing the flow of air inside the bottle, causing the fluid to flow out of the bottle more slowly. It is necessary to find the correct combination of parameters so that the fluid from the bottle does not flow through the tube (2), while ensuring an acceptable flow debit of fluid from the bottle.

In the present invention, the component of the filter of the bottle is a sleeve (1 ) which is fastened in the inner part of the bottleneck and performs the technical function of fastening other components of the filter in the bottle, made of plastic or other substances with similar chemical and physical properties. The said substance must be harmless in the contact with appropriate food. The sleeve (1 ) in its shape resembles a cylinder which contacts its inner walls with the inner walls of the bottleneck and the inner walls of the sleeve (1 ) is for fastening other elements of the filter. In the present invention, at the end of the sleeve (1 ) directed to the inside of the bottle, on its inner surface there are formed longitudinal edges to seal the filtering element (3) tightly to the step on the outer wall of the tube (2). The said edges protrude from the inner walls of the sleeve to the inner part of the sleeve (1 ), along the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

The filtering function is performed by the filtering element (3). The filtering element (3) together with an element keeping its shape and strength is fastened in the construction of the filtering element. The filtering element (3) completely covers the entire cross-section through which the beverage flows from the bottle, thus the beverage cannot flow out from the bottle bypassing the filtering element (3) and can flow through it, i. e. it cannot flow outside of the filtering element (3). The filtering element (3) can be made of paper of different structure, non-woven and mesh-based textile or other materials. In the present invention, the mesh-based textile material (a polyamide mesh derived from bio-compatible materials) that meets the requirements for materials that may come into contact with food is used. In the present invention, the mesh hole of the said mesh does not exceed 150 μιη. In the present invention, the filtering element (3) is used together with the element keeping its shape and strength. The filtering element (3) together with the element keeping the strength is tightly mounted on the tube (2) with its inner perimeter and is based on the step formed on its outside, located near the part of the tube (2) which has the maximum diameter. The longitudinal edges of the inner side of the sleeve (1 ) are based on the outer perimeter of the filtering element (3) which together with the step on the outer wall of the tube (2) fastens tightly the filtering element into the construction of the filter.

In one embodiment, another component of the bottle filter is a body which, depending on the shape of the filtering element (3) and other parameters, can take various shapes. In other embodiments, the body may be called using different terms and performs a slightly different function. Available functions of the body are the following: fastening the filtering element (3) into the filter, connecting all the components of the filter to one system. The body can be fastened into the inner walls of the sleeve (1 ). In other embodiments, the filter body can be made seamlessly with the sleeve (1 ). In the present invention, the body is manufactured seamlessly with a tube (2), so in this description the body is not individually separated and is called a tube (2).

The shape of the cross-section of the air intake tube (2) of the bottle filter according to the present invention may be varied but in the present invention a circular cross-section tube (2) is used. The pipe (2) has at least three parts along its length, in which the inner diameter of the tube (2) is different from that of the other parts, and the diameter of one of parts evenly changes along the tube (2).

The diameter of the tube (2) at the outlet for pouring the fluid from the bottle, i.e., at the point where the tube (2) is fastened to the other parts of the filter (in the case of this invention) is largest. In the present invention, the said diameter is about 6 mm. The expansion of the tube (2) is necessary to allow the air, which flows through the inside of the tube (2) to the inside of the bottle, not to pump the fluid flowing out from the bottle through outlets near the tube (2) and prevent disturbances of the fluid flow uniformity. Further, the inner diameter of the tube (2) extends down to - 4 mm (in the present invention), extending towards the air into the bottle in the opening tube (2) (i.e., towards the inside of the bottle). Closer to the air intake outlet in the tube (2), i.e. : at the end of the tube (2) directed to the inside of the bottle, the inner diameter of the tube (2) starts to decrease sharply, thus the inner walls of the end of the tube (2) resembles the cone. In the present invention, after making a cross-section of the said cone perpendicularly to its substructure, through the cone axis, the angle of the obtained triangle at the outlet is 74°. In other embodiments, the said reduction in diameter, i.e., the said angle of the cone may be different. The diameter of the tube (2) at the apex of the said cone ceases to decrease; an outlet is formed with which the inner capacity of the tube (2) contacts the inner capacity of the bottle. In the present invention, the diameter of the said outlet is 1 -2 mm and its height is 1 -2 mm. When the minimum diameter is reached, the inner diameter of the tube (2) slightly increases and forms the edges of the walls of the tube (2). In other words, the apex of the cone of the said tube (2) ends in an outlet with rounded edges. In this way, the diameter of the tube (2) of the bottle (2) of the air entering the bottle along the tube (2) is different: the largest at the outside of the bottle, that is, the closest to the outlets through which the fluid flows from the bottle, then the diameter decreases towards the other end to the inside of the bottle or decreases and continues at a constant diameter, and forms a cone whose tip ends with a diameter of 1 to 2 mm in diameter through the inside of the bottle, but which does not allow the fluid contained in the bottle to enter the tube ( 2) inside.

The minimum length of the tube (2) is limited by a requirement that the distance from the outlet, through which the air from the tube (2) enters the inside of the bottle to the filtering element (3), should be no less than 1 0 mm. - this is the length of the tube, which, in the present invention, results in a pressure difference in the filter area, sufficient to defeat capillary forces of the filtering element (3) and all the fluid could flow out from the bottle through the filtering element (3) of the said parameters. The larger the length of this tube (2), the greater the air intake to the inside of the bottle with the same angle of inclination of the bottle in respect to the horizontal, and a more favorable environment is created to facilitate the smooth control of the flow and the accuracy of the flow of the flowing fluid, which is important when it is poured in small doses. In this case, the intensity of the stream and the accuracy of the dosing are controlled by hand changing the angle of inclination of the bottle in a convenient wrist rotation range. The maximum length of the tube (2) is not limited, and, in the present invention, the tube (2) protrudes beyond the filter about 32 mm. This distance ensures a smooth pouring of the filtered fluid, in addition, the end of the tube does not protrude from the cap (4) surrounding the bottleneck, i.e. the cap (4) completely hides the end of the tube (3) directed to the bottle. This is important in the real technological equipment for packing fluids when these stoppers are automatically oriented and put into the bottle closing position, as well as the peculiarities of the process of closing the bottle. Depending on the fluid, bottle and other parameters, lengths and projections of the tube (2) in the bottle may be different. However, the parameters (e. g., the size of the holes of the filtering element, the size of the air tube, the inner diameter of the bottleneck, the size of the bottle, etc.) must be matched, otherwise changing only one of the parameters and without adapting other parameters, the fluid flow parameters may be different (for example, the fluid may not flow out from the bottle) than in the present invention.

The position of the tube in respect of the entire filter is also important. In the present invention, the central longitudinal axis of the tube (2) coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the bottleneck, i.e. the tube (2) is in the middle of the bottleneck and is evenly spaced from walls of the bottleneck. This ensures that the fluid can be poured out from the bottle spontaneously and in a stream of uniform intensity, regardless of the rotation of the bottle in respect of its longitudinal axis. This is not ensured by solutions where an air permeability is placed not in the center of the bottleneck.

In order to illustrate and describe the invention, the description of the most suitable embodiments is presented above. This is not a detailed or restrictive description to determine the exact form or embodiment. The above description should be viewed more than the illustration, not as a restriction. It is obvious that specialists in this field can have many modifications and variations. The embodiment is chosen and described in order to best understand the principles of the present invention and their best practical application for the various embodiments with different modifications suitable for a specific use or implementation adaptation. It is intended that the scope of the invention is defined by the definition added to it and its equivalents, in which all of these definitions have meaning within the broadest limits, unless otherwise stated.

In the embodiments described by those skilled in the art, modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of this invention as defined in the following definition.