Beverage container valves

Abstract

The valve (1) for a beverage container (100) includes a mounting element (10) for mounting the valve (1) to a container opening. The mounting element (10) extends radially from the inside to the outside, forming a fluid passageway (12) through the mounting element (10) and sealing against the container rim at the container opening. The mounting element (10) is coupled to a valve housing (20) having a housing sidewall (21) extending axially from a housing top wall (22) to a housing bottom wall (23). The housing top wall (22) has a beverage outlet opening (25) sealed against the mounting element (10) and aligned with the fluid passageway (12). The housing sidewall (21) has a beverage inlet. The valve body (30) is axially movable within the valve housing (20) from a first position that closes the beverage outlet opening (25) to a second position that opens the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening (25). The valve body (30) has a closed upper end (31) that is fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening (25) in a first position and is movable axially from the beverage outlet opening (25) over at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the side wall to a second position. The valve body (30) further has a lower end (32) that extends axially from the closed upper end (31) toward the housing bottom wall (23), and the lower end is arranged to abut against an inner surface of the housing (20) at least in the second position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve for a beverage container.The present invention further relates to a beverage container comprising a valve arranged for opening and closing the beverage container. [Background technology]

[0002] Beverage containers filled with beverages, particularly gas-containing beverages such as beer, wort-based beverages, cider, Radler, and soft drinks, are well known in the art and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes and be made of a variety of materials, usually metal or plastic. Known beverage containers are provided with a valve that allows the beverage within the container to be sealed from the external environment at least prior to use and that allows the beverage to be dispensed upon use.

[0003] Most known containers, such as kegs, bag-in-containers (BICs), or bag-in-bottle, bag-in-box, or bottle-in-bottle (BIB) containers, use valves attached to the neck of the container. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007 / 0129998 discloses a valve for a beverage container, which includes a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening in the neck of the beverage container. The mounting element extends radially from an inner side defining a fluid passage through the mounting element to an outer peripheral side disposed to seal against the container edge of the container opening. The mounting element is coupled to a valve housing having a housing sidewall extending axially from the housing top wall to the housing bottom wall. The housing top wall is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a gasket inserted between the housing top wall and the mounting element. The gasket has a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passageway of the fitting element and a beverage outlet opening in the top wall of the housing to allow beverage to flow from the valve housing through the gasket bore and the fitting element while preventing leakage of beverage between the valve housing and the fitting element. The housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening to allow beverage to flow from the beverage container to the valve housing. The valve includes a valve body loaded by a metal spring mounted within the valve housing supported on the bottom wall of the housing, such that the valve body is axially biased against the gasket toward the fitting element to close the beverage outlet opening.The valve body is operable to move axially within the valve housing from a first position closing the beverage outlet opening to a second position opening the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening by introducing a spout of a dispensing unit, for example a dispense adapter, through a fluid passageway to seal the hole in the gasket, engaging the valve body and forcing the valve body away from the gasket against a spring to open the valve. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 70003 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 5,431,205 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 0294719 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When used in a beverage container, known valves can adequately seal a beverage contained within the beverage container from the environment by holding the valve body against a gasket and closing the beverage outlet opening, while allowing the beverage to be dispensed from the container whenever desired by manipulating the valve body away from the gasket. Notwithstanding the above, it may be desirable to use a valve that does not use a metal spring, or no spring at all. For example, metal springs can affect the recyclability of the valve or the beverage container to which the valve is attached, and the application of springs can generally affect the durability of the valve.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative valve for a beverage container. A particular object of the present invention is to provide a metal-free valve and / or a spring-free valve and / or a valve that does not contain a metal spring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve that is easy to manufacture, relatively inexpensive, and / or easy and convenient to recycle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve that allows for easy closure of a beverage container, and in particular to provide a valve that allows for easy installation, even in, for example, a wet environment in a filling line or filling station line.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an alternative beverage container with a valve. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative container for containing a gaseous beverage, in particular a carbonated beverage, which can be compressed to dispense its contents through a valve provided in the container. The container can be a self-contained container or part of a BIC or BIB type container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recyclable valved container.

[0008] At least one or some of these and other objects and objectives of the present invention may be obtained as disclosed herein by the container and / or valve according to the aspects or embodiments described herein. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to a first aspect, there is provided a valve for a beverage container, comprising an attachment element for attaching the valve to a container opening of a beverage container, the attachment element extending radially from an inner side to an outer periphery forming a fluid passage through the attachment element to seal against a container rim of the container opening, the attachment element being coupled to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a top wall to a bottom wall sealed against the attachment element, the top wall having a beverage outlet opening aligned with the fluid passage, and the side wall having a beverage inlet opening, a valve body axially movable within the valve housing from a first position closing the beverage outlet opening to a second position opening the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening, the valve body having a closed upper end fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position over at least a part of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall, and a lower end extending axially from the closed upper end towards the bottom wall, the lower end being arranged to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least in the second position.

[0010] The valve body may have an upper end configured and shaped to tightly fit into the beverage outlet opening in the first position. The valve body may include or be formed of an elastic material. The valve body may, for example, be made entirely of plastic. The upper end of the valve body may, in particular, include an elastically deformable radially outer surface that is at least partially compressed by the housing upper wall in the first position of the valve body. In this way, the valve body is held in a resting state, i.e., in the first position that closes the beverage outlet opening, without the need for a spring or other biasing means, before the valve body is actuated to move to the second position that opens the beverage outlet opening. In particular, the upper end or the entire valve body may be a plug-like member that acts as a radially fixed plug within the beverage outlet opening in the first position.

[0011] The valve body is operable to move axially within the valve housing from a first position that closes the beverage outlet opening to a second position that opens the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening, which can be achieved, for example, by introducing a spout of a dispensing unit, such as a dispensing adapter, through the fluid passage and pressing it against the upper end of the valve body.

[0012] The upper end of the valve body is preferably designed to be held in the beverage outlet opening by a fixing force, e.g. a clamping force, in particular a radial fixing force, which securely fixes the valve body in the first position, e.g. such that under normal circumstances the valve will not open unless deliberately operated by a user, but the fixing force can be easily overcome by a manual force from the user. For example, the valve allows the beverage container to which it is applied to remain closed from the external environment, while the beverage in the beverage container can be dispensed whenever desired, e.g. by manually pressing against the valve body with the spout of the dispensing unit.

[0013] The valve in the second position of the valve body may be fully open, i.e., when the valve body is in the second position, beverage flow is permitted through the beverage inlet opening and the beverage outlet opening, allowing the dispensing of the beverage contained in the beverage container to which the valve is applied.

[0014] To prevent the beverage inlet opening from being undesirably blocked or closed due to uncontrolled positioning of the valve body inside the valve housing, which may affect the beverage dispensing characteristics of the beverage container, for example reducing the dispensing rate or preventing the beverage from being dispensed altogether, the lower end of the valve body is configured to contact the inner surface of the housing at least in the second position. The lower end contacting the inner surface of the housing limits the freedom of movement of the valve body at least in the second position, thus reducing the risk of the valve body blocking or closing the beverage inlet opening in the valve housing side wall due to being incorrectly positioned within the valve housing when moved to the second position.

[0015] Preferably, the lower end is radially constrained by a lower portion of the valve housing side wall when the valve body is in the second position. For example, the lower end of the valve body includes a peripheral wall having an outer surface, and at least a portion of the outer surface is positioned to radially abut against the inner surface of the valve housing.

[0016] Preferably, at least the lower end of the valve body is guided by the inner surface of the valve housing when moved from the first position to the second position. For example, the peripheral wall abuts its outer surface against the inner surface of the valve housing in the first position and slides along the inner surface toward the bottom wall of the housing when the valve body moves from the first position to the second position. In particular, the outer diameter of the lower end of the valve body and the inner diameter of the valve housing are at least approximately the same. The radial abutment between the outer and inner surfaces may be at least substantially liquid-tight. The valve body may, for example, form a piston that is axially movable through the valve housing and can displace a fluid volume upon movement. One or both of the outer and inner surfaces may be smooth. One or both of the outer and inner surfaces may be irregular surfaces with protrusions and corresponding recesses, such as a corrugated surface, or one or more ribs and corresponding grooves, which assist in accurate positioning of the valve body in the housing when moved from the first position to the second position. This or other means may prevent the valve body from rotating about its longitudinal axis when moved from the first position to the second position. The outer and / or inner surfaces may include or be provided with openings, e.g., grooves, to allow beverage flow between the surfaces when the valve is in use. For example, the outer and inner surfaces do not abut in a fluid-tight manner around the entire periphery.

[0017] The valve may have a valve body including a solid element, such as a rod or rod-like element, as its lower end. In one embodiment, the valve has a peripheral wall that forms a hollow element, in particular a hollow tube, closed on one side by an upper end and open on the other side facing the bottom wall of the housing. Instead of a solid body, a hollow element or body, such as a tube, requires less fluid displacement and is therefore easier to move when the valve body is moved within a valve housing filled with beverage. Furthermore, such a hollow body requires less material and is therefore lighter in weight and less expensive to manufacture. When the valve is used in a beverage container, the cavity defined by the hollow element can be filled with beverage, and fluid can be exchanged between the cavity and the space within the valve housing outside the hollow body via the open surface facing the bottom wall of the housing.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the valve has a lower end having a hollow element and an upper end forming a valve body configured to be biased in use by buoyant forces from the beverage acting on the valve body, such that the valve body remains in or returns to the first position. The valve body may be biased to support maintaining a liquid-tight seal at the beverage outlet opening in the first position. In use, the valve body can be operated with sufficient manual force to overcome the buoyant forces moving axially inside the valve housing from a first position that closes the beverage outlet opening to a second position that opens the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening. The valve body can be configured to have buoyancy that enables at least a substantial liquid-tight seal at the beverage outlet opening during use of the valve after the valve is opened, in particular. For example, the valve body can be configured to reseal the beverage outlet opening by returning to its first position after the force that actuated the valve body to move from its first position to its second position is removed. Preferably, when this valve is used with a beverage container, the beverage volume between the upper end of the valve body and the beverage outlet opening in the second position of the valve body is smaller than the beverage volume below the upper end of the valve housing in the second position of the valve body. In particular, upon use of the valve in a beverage container, the smaller beverage volume between the upper end of the valve body and the beverage outlet opening is emptied relatively quickly when the actuating force to move the valve body from its first position to its second position is removed, thereby creating a temporary localized pressure on the valve body which, together with the buoyancy on the valve body, enables a reliable liquid-tight resealing of the beverage outlet opening. Therefore, beverage containers equipped with such valves are re-broachable.The valve may have a valve body arranged as a suitable valve body for this purpose by providing it with a particular shape, for example by having an outer surface shaped to seal fluid-tight against the inner surface of the valve housing in the second position so that liquid flow between the volume above the valve body and the volume below the valve body is reduced or at least almost completely prevented, and / or by providing the valve body as being mainly hollow, and / or by using a material with a suitable low density.

[0019] In another aspect, the valve can include a positioning means configured to guide the valve body to a third position, where the valve body is accurately positioned within the valve housing so that it can return to its first position after the force that actuated the valve body to move it from its first position to its second position is removed. The positioning means can include, for example, a spring or spring-like member, such as a helical spring, positioned between the bottom wall of the valve housing and the valve body. The spring need not be a relatively high-force metal spring, as used in prior art valves to bias the valve body to hold it in the closed position, but instead can be a relatively simple, low-force, reusable spring, made of, for example, plastic, since it only needs to be positioned to accurately position the valve body so that it can return to its first position. The correct position of the valve body is one in which the valve body has its upper end aligned with the beverage outlet opening so that it can axially return into the outlet opening.

[0020] In one embodiment, the valve has an upper end and a lower end of the valve body that are integrally formed. Therefore, the upper and lower ends can be formed of the same material. For example, the upper and lower ends are formed of the same elastic material. Preferably, the upper and lower ends are made of a thermoplastic material. The upper and lower ends of the valve body can also comprise different materials. Preferably, at least the upper end is made of an elastic material. The lower end can be formed of an elastic material or a non-elastic material, such as a thermosetting plastic.

[0021] In one embodiment, the valve includes a valve housing having a space defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall. The space defines a cross-sectional diameter of the space adjacent to the bottom wall, which is smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the space adjacent to the top wall. The inner surface of the housing facing the space defines, for example, a seat for the upper end of the valve body. This seat is configured to prevent the upper end of the valve body from moving within the space having the smaller cross-sectional diameter, thereby preventing the valve body from moving beyond the second position when operated. Preferably, the lower end of the valve body is guided along the inner surface of the valve housing within the smaller cross-sectional diameter of the space. Alternatively, or in addition, other stop means may be provided to stop the axial movement of the valve body at the desired second position. For example, the axial length of the lower end may be configured to have the lower end of the valve body rest against the bottom wall at the second position, depending on the axial length of the valve housing. The housing space may narrow continuously in diameter from near the top housing wall to near the bottom housing wall, for example by a smooth, constant, inclined or sloping inner surface of the housing side wall, or may narrow stepwise, for example by one or more shoulders provided on the housing side wall.

[0022] In another aspect, the valve has a valve housing that is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible seal inserted at least partially between the housing top wall and the mounting element. The seal is configured to minimize or prevent leakage of liquid between the valve housing and the mounting element. The flexible seal can be made of a resilient material. For example, the flexible seal can be formed from rubber or plastic.

[0023] The sealing body includes a sealing ring having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage and beverage outlet opening of the attachment element, and allows a beverage to be dispensed through the beverage outlet opening, the central bore, and the fluid passage when the valve is open in use. The central bore of the sealing body can be configured to receive, in use, a portion of an actuator introduced into the beverage outlet opening to operate the valve body, e.g., for a spout of a dispensing unit such as a dispensing adapter. The central bore can have a size and / or diameter such that, in use, the actuator passes through the sealing body and the outer surface of the actuator is fluid-tightly sealed against the sealing body. For example, the sealing body can be a relatively simple circular sealing ring such as an O-ring or a gasket.

[0024] In one aspect, the valve has, in the first position of the valve body, a sealing body including a radial sealing wall extending axially from the sealing ring through the beverage outlet opening towards the housing bottom wall between the housing top wall and the radially outer surface of the valve body. The radial sealing wall arranged between the housing top wall and the radially outer surface of the valve body may be configured to radially seal the valve body against the housing, such that leakage of beverage from the beverage outlet opening is reliably prevented when the valve is used in a beverage container.

[0025] In one aspect, the valve has an upper end of the valve body, the upper end including an engagement portion that extends into the central bore of the sealing ring when the valve body is in the first position. The engagement portion may be formed by a local thickening of the upper end of the valve body. For example, the upper end of the valve body may include a bulge or dome-shaped portion arranged to extend into the central bore of the sealing ring. The engagement portion may provide a suitable engagement surface against which a portion of an operating body, such as the spout of a dispensing unit like a dispensing adapter, introduced into the beverage outlet opening to operate the valve body can act to operate the valve body.

[0026] Preferably, the valve body in the first position is fixedly received between the radial sealing walls to prevent the valve body from unintentionally moving from its first position, for example, before use. The radial sealing walls can, for example, provide a clamping fit around the valve body. The valve body can, in particular, have an elastically deformable radially outer surface that is at least partially compressed against the radial sealing wall in the first position of the valve body to provide a clamping fit. The elastically deformable radially outer surface can be defined by a rib or rib-like thickening on the outer surface of the lower end of the valve body. The outer surface of the lower end of the valve body can be a raised outer surface or otherwise roughened, i.e., not smooth, outer surface. Preferably, the elastically deformable radially outer surface is configured to improve fluid-tight sealing contact between the valve body and the seal body.

[0027] The valve of the present invention is characterized in that the valve body and the seal are formed from the same elastic material. Preferably, the valve is made of one or more elastic materials. In particular, the valve contains only recyclable materials. Specifically, the valve does not contain metal.

[0028] In a further aspect, there is provided a beverage container comprising a valve according to the first aspect described herein. The beverage container may be a keg, a bag-in-container (BIC), or a bag-in-bottle, bag-in-box, or bottle-in-bottle (BIB) container. The container may include a neck having a container opening, within which a valve is applied to seal the opening. Preferably, the beverage container is a beer container containing beer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1A] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a closed position of the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a second open position of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a valve according to the present invention. [Figure 3A] 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 3B] 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 3C] 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4A] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a closed position of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a second open position of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another valve embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 6A]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7A] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a first, closed position. [Figure 7B] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a second open position. [Figure 7C] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a container having a body and a neck with a valve of the present disclosure in a third semi-closed position. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another valve embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 9C] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 9D] FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment of a valve body used in the embodiment of the valve according to the present invention shown in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] These and other aspects of the present disclosure are further illustrated below by the accompanying drawings and corresponding embodiments, which are given by way of example only. The drawings are not intended to reflect in any way a limitation of the scope of the invention unless clearly and explicitly indicated. These examples are provided for a better understanding of the invention and are not limiting.

[0031] In this application, similar or corresponding features are indicated by similar or corresponding reference numerals. The description of the embodiments is not limited to the examples shown in the figures, and reference numerals used in the detailed description and claims are not intended to limit the description of the embodiments, but are included to describe the embodiments by reference to the examples shown in the figures.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B , a beverage container 100, shown in cross section at its top, includes a wall 110 extending from the neck to form a container lid, which defines a container opening providing access to the interior space of the beverage container. While the wall may be integral with the remainder of the container 100, it is shown here as a separate body formed as a mounting ring 110 that attaches to the neck of the container. At the container opening, a valve 1 is attached to the mounting ring 110. As further shown in FIG. 2 , the valve 1 includes a mounting element 10 having a base 11 extending radially from an inner side defining a fluid passageway 12 through the mounting element to an outer periphery for sealing against the container edge of the container opening. A portion of the outer periphery of the base 11 straddles the edge of an upwardly facing wall 111 of the mounting ring 110, which extends radially around the container opening. Valve 1 includes snap means 13, such as snap fingers, snap ring, or cylinder, extending from base portion 11 configured to fit and secure valve 1 within a container opening against mounting ring 110. As shown in Figure 1, sealing means 50 is provided around a portion of valve 1 between snap means 13 and base portion 11 to provide a fluid-tight seal at the interface between valve 1 and mounting ring 110. Sealing means 50 may be a separate body, such as an O-ring or other suitable deformable body, e.g., made of rubber, or may be provided as an integrally formed seal, for example by 2K injection molding.

[0033] Beneath the mounting element 10, a sealing body, e.g., a sealing ring or gasket 40, is positioned against the underside of the base part 11. At the opposite location, the gasket 40 is supported on the valve housing 20 of the valve 1. The gasket 40 has a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage 12 thereon and a beverage outlet opening 25 located below it in the valve housing 20.

[0034] The valve housing 20 has a housing side wall 21 extending axially from a housing top wall 22 having a beverage outlet opening 25 to a housing bottom wall 23. The housing top wall 22 is sealed to the mounting element 10 via a gasket 40. As shown, the housing bottom wall 23 is provided with a known safety wing 24 that protects or prevents the valve from jumping out of the container opening, for example, if the pressure in the beverage container unexpectedly rises above a safety pressure. The housing top wall 22 has a beverage outlet opening 25 aligned with the gasket central hole and the fluid passage 12, so that beverage exchange, e.g., beverage flow, is possible between the beverage outlet opening and the fluid passage when the valve is open. The housing side wall 21 has at least one, preferably two or more, more preferably four beverage inlet openings 26 configured to allow beverage exchange, e.g., beverage flow, between the container space and the valve housing.

[0035] The valve 1 comprises a valve body 30, further shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C together with a gasket 40, which is axially movable through the space within the valve housing 20 from a first position in which it closes the beverage outlet opening, as shown in Figure 1A, to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through the beverage outlet opening, as shown in Figure 1B. The valve body 30 has a closing upper end 31 that is fixedly received within the beverage outlet opening in the first position. For this purpose, the upper end 31 is made of an elastic material and is slightly oversized relative to the size of the beverage outlet opening, so that in the first position the upper end of the valve body is slightly compressed by the housing upper wall 22 and held tightly within the beverage outlet opening. Thus, as shown in Figure 1A, the valve body closes the beverage outlet opening in its first position.

[0036] The valve body 30 can be manually operated by inserting a spout 60 of the dispensing system shown in Figure 1B through the fluid passage 12 to engage the upper surface of the upper end of the valve body and pushing the valve body away from the beverage outlet opening to a second position axially past at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening 26 in the side wall, as shown in Figure 1B. Thus, in the second position, the valve is fully open and beverage can flow from the container space into the valve housing via the beverage inlet opening 26 and out of the valve housing via the beverage outlet opening 25 and the fluid passage 12.

[0037] The valve body has a cylindrical lower end 32 that extends axially from the closed upper end 31 toward the housing bottom wall 23. The lower end 32 contacts the inner surface of the housing in both the first position shown in Figure 1A and the second position shown in Figure 1B.

[0038] Figures 4A and 4B show part of an embodiment of a container 1 similar to that shown in Figures 1A and 1B, except that the valve 1 includes an alternative valve housing 20, an alternative valve body 30, and an alternative sealing body 40, which are further shown in Figures 5 and 6A, 6B, and 6C. The valve 1 according to this embodiment has a valve body 30 that is smaller than the valve body of the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The sealing body 40 includes a cylindrical upper portion 42 and a radial sealing wall 41 extending axially from the upper portion 42 through the beverage outlet opening toward the housing bottom wall 23, between the housing upper wall 22 and the radially outer surface of the valve body. A portion of the cylindrical upper portion 42 is sealingly fixed between the underside of the base portion 11 of the mounting element 10 and the upper side of the housing upper wall 22. The valve body 30 includes a closed upper end 31 that is fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in a first position, and an engagement portion 33 that extends into a central bore of the sealing body 40 in the first position of the valve body. The valve body in the first position is fixedly received between the radial sealing walls 41 to prevent unintentional movement of the valve body from its first position. Thus, the valve body 30 cooperates with the sealing body 40 to seal and close the beverage outlet opening in its first position, as shown in Figure 4A.

[0039] The valve body 30 can be manually operated by inserting a dispensing system spout 60 through the fluid passage 12 to engage the engagement portion 33 at the upper end of the valve body, and pushing the valve body away from the sealing body 40, which remains fixed in position, and pushing the beverage outlet opening 25 axially beyond the beverage inlet opening 26 in the side wall to a second position, as shown in Figure 4B. Thus, in the second position, the valve is fully open and beverage can flow from the container space into the valve housing via the beverage inlet opening 26 and out of the valve housing via the beverage outlet opening 25 and the fluid passage 12.

[0040] The valve body 30 of this embodiment also has a cylindrical lower end 32 that extends axially from the closed upper end 31 toward the housing bottom wall 23. The lower end 32 in this embodiment has a shorter length compared to the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Because the valve body 30 is securely clamped in the first position by the sealing body 40, the valve body does not need to contact the inner surface of the housing in the first position, as shown in Figure 4A. When moved to the second position, as shown in Figure 4B, the lower end 32 surrounds the inner surface of the valve housing, preventing the valve body from blocking the beverage inlet opening 26.

[0041] 7A, 7B, and 7C show portions of an embodiment of a container 1 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 4A, 4B, but with another alternative valve housing 20, valve body 30, and seal body 40, as further shown in FIGS. 8, 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D. This embodiment of the valve 1 essentially includes a valve body 30 that combines the valve body embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 with the valve body embodiments shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The valve body 30 has an elongated tubular lower end 32, similar to the lower end of the valve body shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, extending axially from the closed upper end 31 of the valve body toward the bottom wall 23 of the valve housing 20. The tubular lower end 32 abuts the inner surface of the housing in both the first, closed, and second, open positions of the valve body, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively. The upper end 31, similar to the upper end of the valve body shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, is configured to be fixedly received within the beverage outlet opening clamped by the radial sealing wall 41 of the sealing body 40 in the first position of the valve body. The upper end 31 includes an engagement portion 33 that, in use, is engaged by an opening means, such as a dispensing system spout 60, to push the valve body from its closed first position to its second position, thereby opening the beverage outlet opening. The valve body in this embodiment includes a positioning means 34 configured as a simple, low-spring-force helical spring acting on the valve body. The spring 34 is attached to the valve housing bottom wall 23 and extends within the tubular lower end 32 to the upper end 31 of the valve body 30. In the first position of the valve, shown in Figure 7A, the spring is relaxed and no biasing force is applied to the valve body by the spring. When the spout 60 is inserted, the valve body 30 moves axially, i.e., downward toward the housing bottom wall 23, placing the valve in the open second position, thereby compressing the spring 34. When the spout 60 is removed, the compression spring 34 acts on the valve body 30 in the opposite axial direction, i.e., upward, to assist the valve body and guide it under temporary local pressure above the valve body to the third position shown in Figure 7C, where the valve body is positioned with its upper end 31 abutting against the underside of the sealing wall 41 of the sealing body 40.In this third position, the valve body 30 is precisely positioned and aligned within the valve housing 20 against the sealing wall 41 to close the beverage outlet opening 25. Valves used with pressurized beverage containers allow pressure under the valve body to return the valve body 30 to the valve's first position. The valve thus enables a reliable fluid-tight resealing of the beverage outlet opening, and beverage containers equipped with such valves are re-broachable. The spring 34 can be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of a plastic that is compatible with the rest of the valve for recyclability.

[0042] In embodiments, the valve 1 and the container 100 can be made of plastic materials. Preferably, the plastic material or materials are selected so that they can be easily recycled together. Preferably, the valve and the container are made of plastic materials that can be welded together in embodiments. For example, the container and / or valve may be made of PET or PEN or a blend thereof. Preferably, the container and valve are made of the same material or materials that can be recycled together.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Methods and materials for use in the present invention are described herein. The materials and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise indicated. For clarity and conciseness of description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate aspects and preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be understood that the scope of the present invention can include embodiments having all or a partial combination of the described features.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention may also be implemented with fewer components than provided in the embodiments described herein, where one component performs multiple functions. Similarly, the present invention may be implemented with more components than shown in the figures, where the functions performed by one component in the embodiments provided are distributed among multiple components.

[0045] The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those stated in a claim. It also does not exclude the absence of anything else, i.e., it can also encompass the meaning of "consisting of." Furthermore, the words "a" and "an" should not be construed as being limited to "only one" but are instead used to mean "at least one" and do not exclude a plurality. (Addendum) (Appendix 1) 1. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; - the mounting element extends radially from an inner side to an outer periphery side to define a fluid passageway therethrough for sealing against a container edge of the container opening; - the mounting element is coupled to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - the housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with the fluid passage; - the housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body axially movable within said valve housing from a first position closing said beverage outlet opening to a second position opening a fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body that is fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and that is movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; A valve comprising: (Appendix 2) 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the closed upper end of the valve body is configured to tightly fit into the beverage outlet opening in the first position. (Appendix 3) 3. The valve of claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper end of the valve body comprises a resilient material and a deformable radially outer surface that is at least partially compressed by the housing upper wall in the first position. (Appendix 4) 4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the valve body comprises a peripheral wall having at least a portion of an outer surface arranged so as to radially abut against the inner surface of the valve housing. (Appendix 5) 5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall abuts the outer surface against the inner surface of the valve housing in the first position and is guided along the inner surface toward the housing bottom wall when the valve body is moved from the first position to the second position. (Appendix 6) 6. The valve of claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall forms a hollow tube that is closed at one end by the upper end and is open at the other end facing the housing bottom wall. (Appendix 7) 2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the valve body and the lower end of the valve body are integrally formed. (Appendix 8) 8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing includes a cavity defined by the housing top wall, the housing bottom wall, and the housing side wall, and wherein the valve body moves in the cavity from the first position to the second position, and wherein the cavity near the housing bottom wall has a cross-sectional diameter smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the cavity near the housing top wall. (Appendix 9) 9. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible seal at least partially interposed between the housing upper wall and the mounting element. (Appendix 10) 10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the sealing body comprises a sealing ring having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage and the beverage outlet opening of the mounting element. (Appendix 11) 11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the sealing body comprises a radial sealing wall extending axially from the sealing ring through the beverage outlet opening towards the housing bottom wall between the housing top wall and the radially outer surface of the valve body. (Appendix 12) 12. The valve of claim 10 or 11, wherein the upper end of the valve body has an engagement portion that extends into the central bore of the seal ring when the valve body is in the first position. (Appendix 13) 13. The valve of claim 11 or 12, wherein the valve body in the first position is fixedly received between the radial sealing walls. (Appendix 14) 14. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the valve body and the seal body are formed from the same elastic material. (Appendix 15) A beverage container equipped with a valve according to any one of appendices 1 to 14.

Claims

1. 1. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with A valve according to claim 1, wherein the closed upper end of the valve body is configured to be a tight fit with the beverage outlet opening in the first position.

2. 2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the valve body comprises a resilient material and a deformable radially outer surface that is at least partially compressed by the housing upper wall in the first position.

3. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with the upper end of the valve body comprising a resilient material and a deformable radially outer surface that is at least partially compressed by the housing upper wall in the first position.

4. 4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the valve body comprises a peripheral wall having at least a portion of an outer surface arranged to radially abut the inner surface of the valve housing.

5. 5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall abuts the outer surface against the inner surface of the valve housing in the first position, and is guided along the inner surface toward the housing bottom wall when the valve body is moved from the first position to the second position.

6. 6. The valve according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral wall forms a hollow tube that is closed at one end by the upper end and is open at the other end facing the housing bottom wall.

7. 2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the upper end and the lower end of the valve body are integrally formed.

8. 8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing comprises a cavity defined by the top, bottom, and side walls, in which the valve body moves from the first position to the second position, the cavity near the bottom wall having a cross-sectional diameter that is smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the cavity near the top wall.

9. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with the valve housing includes a cavity defined by the housing top wall, the housing bottom wall, and the housing side wall, the cavity in which the valve body moves from the first position to the second position, the cavity near the housing bottom wall having a cross-sectional diameter smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the cavity near the housing top wall.

10. 10. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the valve housing is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible sealing body at least partially interposed between the housing top wall and the mounting element.

11. 11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the sealing body comprises a sealing ring having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage and the beverage outlet opening of the fitting element.

12. 12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the sealing body comprises a radial sealing wall extending axially from the sealing ring through the beverage outlet opening towards the housing bottom wall between the housing top wall and the radially outer surface of the valve body.

13. 13. The valve of claim 11 or 12, wherein the upper end of the valve body has an engagement portion that extends into the central bore of the seal ring at the first position of the valve body.

14. 13. The valve of claim 12, wherein the valve body in the first position is fixedly received between the radial seal walls.

15. 15. The valve according to claim 10, wherein the valve body and the seal body are formed from the same elastic material.

16. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with the valve housing is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible seal at least partially interposed between the housing top wall and the mounting element; the sealing body comprises a sealing ring having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage and the beverage outlet opening of the fitting element; a valve characterized in that the sealing body comprises a radial sealing wall extending axially from the sealing ring through the beverage outlet opening towards the housing bottom wall between the housing top wall and the radially outer surface of the valve body.

17. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with the valve housing is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible seal at least partially interposed between the housing top wall and the mounting element; the sealing body comprises a sealing ring having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid passage and the beverage outlet opening of the fitting element; The valve according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the valve body has an engagement portion that extends into the central bore of the seal ring at the first position of the valve body.

18. The valve of claim 16, wherein the valve body in the first position is fixedly received between the radial sealing walls.

19. A valve for a beverage container, comprising: a mounting element for mounting the valve to a container opening of a beverage container; the fitting element extends radially from the inside to the outside to form a fluid passage through the fitting element for sealing against the container rim of the container opening; - the mounting element is connected to a valve housing, the valve housing having a housing side wall extending axially from a housing top wall to a housing bottom wall sealed against the mounting element; - said housing upper wall has a beverage outlet opening aligned with said fluid passage; - said housing side wall has a beverage inlet opening; a valve body is axially movable within said valve housing from a first position in which it closes said beverage outlet opening to a second position in which it opens the fluid connection through said beverage outlet opening; In the valve, a closed upper end of the valve body fixedly received in the beverage outlet opening in the first position and movable axially from the beverage outlet opening to the second position beyond at least a portion of the beverage inlet opening in the housing side wall; a lower end portion extending axially from the closed upper end portion toward the housing bottom wall, the lower end portion being positioned to contact an inner surface of the valve housing at least at the second position; It is equipped with the valve housing is sealed against the underside of the mounting element by a flexible seal at least partially interposed between the housing top wall and the mounting element; A valve, characterized in that the valve body and the seal body are formed from the same elastic material.

20. A beverage container comprising a valve according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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