Beverage container and valve for a beverage container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage containers with gas-containing beverages, such as carbonated drinks, face issues with excessive foaming during dispensing due to trapped foam in the head space, and the need for costly and cumbersome riser pipes, which can lead to blockages and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container design with a smooth, sloping inner surface at the neck area to prevent foam trapping, combined with a snap-fit valve assembly that eliminates the need for riser pipes, ensuring easy closure and mounting, and using recyclable materials for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a riser pipe is provided to feed beverage from the bottom of the container to the valve, then beverage can be dispensed through the valve at the upper end, but the riser pipe increases the risk of blockage by the container wall, may pierce the container when compressed, and can trap beverage volume between the container wall and riser pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the riser pipe component entirely from the system. The beverage is dispensed directly from the container through the valve without requiring a separate riser pipe to bridge the bottom and upper valve, thereby eliminating the blockage and leakage risks associated with riser pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is positioned to directly access the beverage compartment without requiring an intermediate riser pipe structure. The container design integrates the valve mounting directly into the container wall, merging the dispensing function into the container structure itself rather than requiring a separate conduit.
2Ease of operation
If a riser pipe is used to connect the beverage valve, then beverage can reach the valve at the upper end, but it is cumbersome, costly and ineffective, and increases the risk of blockage and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The riser pipe is extracted and removed from the system entirely. The invention achieves beverage dispensing without this intermediate component, simplifying the overall structure and reducing cost while maintaining the essential function of delivering beverage from the container to the dispensing point.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a riser pipe to extend upward from the bottom to reach the valve, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the valve to directly access the beverage compartment through the container wall, eliminating the need for vertical extension structures.
3Reliability
If foam is trapped in the head space of the container, then excessive foaming occurs during dispensing, but foam needs to be dispensed with the initial beverage portion to prevent uncontrolled foaming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses foam management by ensuring the valve is positioned and configured to dispense foam along with the initial beverage portion before controlled dispensing begins. This preliminary action of removing trapped foam prevents subsequent uncontrolled foaming during the dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design and positioning enable rapid initial dispensing that quickly passes through the foam layer in the head space, allowing foam to be expelled with the first portion of beverage. This rushing through the foam layer prevents foam accumulation and subsequent uncontrolled foaming.
Data Source
AI summary
Beverage container (1) and valve (6) for a beverage container. Beverage container (1), comprising a body (2) and a neck (3), wherein at the neck (3) a valve (6) is provided for dispensing a beverage comprising gas from the container (1), wherein an inner surface part (21) of the container (1) adjacent the valve (6), especially an inner surface part of the container within the neck between the body and an inlet side (8) of the valve (6) is smooth and sloping towards the inlet side of the valve, such that foam is prevented from being trapped at the inner surface of the neck (3).