U.S. patent application number 13/669486 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for machine independent metal safety bottle.
This patent application is currently assigned to SODASTREAM INDUSTRIES LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SODASTREAM INDUSTRIES LTD.. Invention is credited to Avi COHEN, Antony Frank PATEMAN, Allan RING.
Application Number | 20130112648 13/669486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48223002 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130112648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COHEN; Avi ; et al. |
May 9, 2013 |
MACHINE INDEPENDENT METAL SAFETY BOTTLE
Abstract
A metal bottle for holding pressurized content includes a metal
receptacle to hold the pressurized content and a safety plug
configured to vent the pressurized content from the metal
receptacle at a pre-determined level of pressure.
Inventors: |
COHEN; Avi; (Jerusalem,
IL) ; PATEMAN; Antony Frank; (Peterborough, GB)
; RING; Allan; (Mercaz Shapira, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SODASTREAM INDUSTRIES LTD.; |
Ben Gurion Airport |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SODASTREAM INDUSTRIES LTD.
Ben Gurion Airport
IL
|
Family ID: |
48223002 |
Appl. No.: |
13/669486 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61628813 |
Nov 7, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/225 20130101;
F16K 17/16 20130101; B65D 2205/00 20130101; B65D 1/0207 20130101;
B65D 51/1638 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/307 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Claims
1. A metal bottle for holding pressurized content comprising: a
metal receptacle to hold said pressurized content; and a safety
plug configured to vent said pressurized content from said metal
receptacle at a pre-determined level of pressure.
2. The metal bottle according to claim 1 and comprising means to
attach said bottle to a home carbonation machine.
3. The metal bottle according to claim 1 and wherein said safety
plug comprises: a membrane set to rupture at said pre-determined
level of pressure; and an assembly to connect said membrane to said
metal receptacle.
4. The assembly of claim 3 and also comprising a body and a cover
having holes evenly sized and evenly spaced apart to evenly
disperse gas and liquid from said receptacle after the rupture of
said membrane.
5. The metal bottle according to claim 3 and wherein said
pre-determined level of pressure is lower than a rupture pressure
level of said metal receptacle.
6. The metal bottle according to claim 1 and also comprising a
window in said metal receptacle.
7. The metal bottle according to claim 1 and also comprising a
float.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application: 61/628,813, filed Nov. 7, 2011, which is hereby
incorporated in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to bottles generally and to
safety features for metal bottles with pressurized content in
particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are many different bottles available on the market for
use with home soda machines. These may come in different shapes and
materials, typically plastic or glass. As all bottles are subject
to cracking or even explosion under pressure, home soda machines
are typically configured with built-in safety functionality such as
protective sleeves and methods for limiting pressure buildup during
the carbonation process, such as pressure relief valves within the
machine.
[0004] Metal bottles have been known to be used with home soda
machines and are generally more durable than their glass/plastic
counterparts. Theoretically, metal bottles may be manufactured with
a very thin wall thickness in order to withstand the internal
pressures generated by a standard carbonation process, typically up
to 8 atmospheres. However, metal bottles with a very thin wall
thickness are easily deformed during standard handling and/or by
the application of light external pressure, not unlike the manner
in which a standard soda can may be easily crushed by a typical
adult when empty. Therefore, in the interests of durability, a
reusable metal bottle must have thicker walls which as a
consequence are capable of sustaining significantly higher internal
pressure, e.g. greater than the 8 atmospheres required for standard
carbonization. Accordingly, in the event of some form of failure
during the carbonation process in which uncontrollable excess
pressure is applied to the bottle, the internal energy built up
inside the bottle can possibly exceed 8 atmospheres causing the
bottle to explode with potentially high if not fatal consequences.
Therefore due to these concerns their use is limited. Thus bottles
for use with home soda machines are mainly manufactured in
glass/plastic and typically may be designed to withstand pressures
of around 20 atmospheres. Glass/plastic bottles may still explode
under some conditions; however the resulting damage may be
considerably less than that of an exploding metal bottle, thus the
need for extra safety considerations when using a metal bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0005] There is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, a metal bottle for holding pressurized
content. The metal bottle includes a metal receptacle to hold
pressurized content and a safety plug configured to vent the
pressurized content from the metal receptacle at a pre-determined
level of pressure.
[0006] Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the metal bottle includes a means to attach the
bottle to a home carbonation machine.
[0007] Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the safety plug includes a membrane set to
rupture at the pre-determined level of pressure and an assembly to
connect the membrane to the metal receptacle.
[0008] Still further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the assembly includes a body and a cover
having holes evenly sized and evenly spaced apart to evenly
disperse gas and liquid from the receptacle after the rupture of
the membrane.
[0009] Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the pre-determined level of pressure is
lower than a rupture pressure level of the metal receptacle.
[0010] Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the metal bottle includes a window in the metal
receptacle.
[0011] Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the metal bottle also includes a float.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly
pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the
specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and
method of operation, together with objects, features, and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following detailed description when read with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a machine independent
safety bottle, constructed and operative in accordance with the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a safety plug to be
implemented in the bottle of FIG. 1, constructed and operative in
accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a machine independent
safety bottle with a window, constructed and operative in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a machine independent
safety bottle with a float, constructed and operative in accordance
with the present invention.
[0017] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the
elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.
Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be
repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0018] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled
in the art that the present invention may be practiced without
these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,
procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as
not to obscure the present invention.
[0019] Applicant has realized that there is room on the market for
a metal bottle that can be used with a home soda machine if it
takes into account various safety measures. Assuming that such
safety measures may reduce the dangers of explosion, there may be
many advantages to using a metal bottle over plastic/glass. For
example, they may be more durable. Furthermore, as will be
discussed hereinbelow, such safety measures may free a metal bottle
from reliance on the built-in-safety measures of the home soda
machine itself, thus rendering it safe to use with different types
and/or other brands of home soda machines.
[0020] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which is a cross sectional
diagram of a metal bottle 100 to be used with a home soda machine.
Bottle 100 may comprise mouth 10 to connect the bottle to the home
soda machine and safety plug 20 situated at the base of the bottle.
It will be appreciated that the indentation design at the base of
the bottle may facilitate the implementation of the safety plug
within bottle 100.
[0021] It will be appreciated that currently home soda machine
bottles may rely on sensors within the home soda machine to monitor
mounting pressure during carbonation. This can be problematic if it
is not known to what pressure a bottle can stand. For example, a
glass bottle may be manufactured to withstand a pressure of 20
bars. However, a slight scratch or chip may render it vulnerable to
explosion at 2 bars or even lower, whereas the carbonation process
may expose it to 8 bars or more.
[0022] Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which is an expanded view of
safety plug 20. Safety plug 20 may comprise a burst disk 30, a
burst disk assembly body 40, a burst disk assembly cover 50 and an
O-ring 60. It will be appreciated that the purpose of safety plug
20 may be to prevent bottle 100 from being pressurized above 15
bars. It may be designed to relieve excess pressure by releasing
gas and fluid from bottle 100 in a safe and orderly manner.
[0023] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the membrane of burst disk 30 may be configured to
rupture whenever the pressure in bottle 100 exceeds a set pressure
point, for example a threshold pressure of 15 bars, thusly allowing
the release of both gas (carbon dioxide) and fluid through the
ruptured burst disk 20 to prevent an uncontrolled explosion of the
entire bottle 100. It will be appreciated that burst disk 30 may be
manufactured from metal with a thickness that is thinner than the
walls of bottle 100. It will further be appreciated that the
threshold pressure point may be determined to ensure that at the
set pressure, only the membrane of the burst disk will rupture and
not the walls of bottle 100. Thusly, burst disk 20, also provides a
solution for dealing with rising pressure during an uncontrollable
carbonation process when, for whatever reason, the process
continues past safe limits.
[0024] It will be appreciated that the spacing and size of the
holes within burst disk assembly body 40 and assembly cover 50 may
be thermodynamically designed to evenly disperse fluid and carbon
dioxide emissions from bottle 100. This may minimize the buildup of
ice created endothermically by the carbon dioxide emissions when
released. This even spacing of the holes may prevent the creation
of a single chunk of ice that could plug the flow of liquid from
bottle 100 and thus cause a further buildup of pressure within
bottle 100. It will further be appreciated that the uniform
dispersion of fluid from bottle 100 while it is still attached to
the home soda machine, may serve to stabilize bottle 100 and
prevent it from leaning to one side and potentially toppling over
the home soda machine and causing damage.
[0025] It will also be appreciated that safety plug 20 may be built
into the bottle 100 to prevent external tampering which may cause
the membrane of burst disk 30 to break or not function
properly.
[0026] It will be appreciated that an optimal amount of fluid may
be defined for bottle 100 for the carbonation process. Too much
fluid may result in an overflow during/after carbonation; whereas
not enough fluid in the bottle during the carbonation process may
cause an excess buildup of potential energy within bottle 100. It
will further be appreciated that as opposed to the glass/plastic of
the prior art, metal bottle 100 may be opaque, such that a user may
not be able to verify that an optimal amount of fluid is in bottle
100 before attaching it to the home soda machine. Reference is now
made to FIG. 3. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
current invention, bottle 100 may also comprise window 70 in order
to gauge fluid level within the bottle
[0027] In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the current
invention, bottle 100 may also comprise a float to gauge fluid
level within the bottle. FIG. 4, to which reference is now made,
illustrates bottle 100 configured with a float assembly 80 to
indicate when an optimum amount of fluid may be in bottle 100.
Float assembly 80 may comprise a level indicator rod 85 which may
be configured to rise above mouth 10 as the level of fluid in
bottle 100 approaches an optimum level for carbonation. It will be
appreciated that float assembly 80 may be removable to facilitate
washing between uses.
[0028] It will be appreciated that since metal bottle 100 has its
own built in safety element, it may be manufactured with thinner
walls than the prior art discussed in the background, without the
danger of an uncontrolled and potentially fatal explosion due to
excess high pressure during the carbonation process. This indeed
may render the bottle more portable and may provide opportunity for
the manufacture of aesthetically designed bottles such as sports
bottles. It will be further be appreciated that since metal bottle
100 has its own built in safety element it may be used with
competitor home soda systems since it does not need to rely on any
other in built safety measures.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it will be
appreciated that safety plug 20 may also be implemented in a
plastic bottle. Due to the cost of manufacture of safety plugs
vis-a-vis the cost of manufacturing of plastic bottles, this option
may not economically viable; however there may be situations
wherein such a configuration may be deemed cost effective. It will
be even further appreciated, that implementation in a glass bottle
may not be feasible due to the possibility of scratches in the
glass affecting the threshold of pressure the bottle walls may
withstand as described hereinabove.
[0030] While certain features of the invention have been
illustrated and described herein, many modifications,
substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of
ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that
the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
* * * * *