Fluid dispenser

Dispensers for flexible sealed plastic bags used for the storage of wines or other liquids that may spoil when exposed to the air. The outer sleeve of each of the described embodiments of the dispenser is attached to the exterior surface of the sealed bag and either cuts or shears open the bag by a combination of rotational and longitudinal movement of the barrel of the dispenser within the sleeve. The fluid is thereafter dispensed through radial holes through the sleeve and the barrel by only rotational adjustment of the sleeve within the barrel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
The invention described and claimed herein is related to inventions 
disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 317,060, filed Nov. 2, 
1981 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,297 for "Self-Closing Rotatable Fluid 
Dispensing Valves", and in copending application Ser. No. 225,788, filed 
Jan. 16, 1981 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,737, for an angle mounted fluid 
dispensing valve that pierces an opening in its attached flexible fluid 
container when first rotated to its open position. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to bulk fluid containers and particularly to novel 
fluid dispensers for small bulk fluid containers such as those having a 
relatively rigid outer box of corrugated paper board and a flexible, 
sealed, fluid-containing inner bag. 
Boxed bulk containers of this type are especially valuable for the 
shipping, storage and dispensing of fluids that may become contaminated or 
otherwise deteriorated when exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere. In 
general, such containers employ a dispenser having a flange cemented to a 
bag of a flexible plastic material that will not deleteriously affect the 
fluid. The bag is filled, sealed, and placed in an outer container 
supporting box of corrugated cardboard or the like. 
If properly filled and sealed, the bag will contain no air or other gasses 
that may damage the fluid during storage. When ready for use, a dispenser 
having a sharp point or cutting edge is inserted through the center of the 
flange to pierce the plastic bag and provide a valved dispenser for the 
fluid as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,018, U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,104 
to Scholle, or U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,172 to Malpas. As the fluid is 
dispensed from the container, the flexible plastic bag correspondingly 
shrinks in volume without admitting air. Therefore, if the container is 
used for the storage and dispensing of oxygen-sensitive fluids, such as 
wine, a partially filled container may be stored for long periods of time 
without danger of oxidation and souring of the contents. 
Most prior art dispensers employ a longitudinally movable dispenser barrel 
having a sharpened point centered between end openings in the inner end of 
the barrel for admitting the fluid from the pierced fluid bag into the 
dispenser. When the barrel is rotated so that a radial hole near its outer 
end becomes aligned with a corresponding radial hole in the barrel 
supporting sleeve, the fluid is dispensed. 
Because fluid bags are usually non-refillable, they are discarded when 
empty along with the attached dispenser assemblies. The dispensers are 
therefore molded of a relatively inexpensive plastic material with 
piercing points that are often so dull that it is quite difficult to 
pierce the plastic bag diaphragm across the end of the attached dispenser 
sleeve. When such piercing difficulties occur, then the dull point may 
become bent or even broken to further complicate the bag-piercing 
operation. 
My copending patent application Ser. No. 225,788, filed Jan. 16, 1981, 
describes and claims a dispenser in which the dispenser sleeve is attached 
to the bag at an oblique angle and the barrel within the sleeve has a 
sharpened tongue which slices an opening in the diaphragm when the barrel 
is first rotated to its "on" or dispensing position. In that dispenser 
there is only rotation between barrel and sleeve and no longitudinal 
movement of the barrel takes place. 
Briefly described, the present invention includes several embodiments of 
dispensers which either cut or shear open the plastic bag diaphragm by a 
combination of both rotational and longitudinal movement of the barrel 
within a sleeve that is perpendicularly attached to the fluid bag surface. 
Three embodiments of the invention employ a barrel having a plurality of 
sharpened longitudinal cutting teeth on the inner end of the barrel which, 
when first rotated, is advanced into the outer sleeve by threaded members 
in either the barrel or outer sleeve. In two other embodiments, the inner 
end of the barrel is cemented to the fluid bag and is sheared open by a 
combination of rotation and inward longitudinal movement of the barrel. 
One important advantage in these shearing embodiments is that there is no 
residual bag material that can accidentally block the entrance holes or 
bore of the dispensing barrel. After opening the fluid bags, all 
embodiments dispense the fluid by rotation of the barrel to a point of 
alignment of corresponding radial dispensing holes in both the barrel and 
the sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Illustrated in the perspective view of FIG. 1 is a fluid container box 20 
of corrugated paper board or similar materials having a suitable bursting 
strength to support the sealed inner container of a suitable plastic 
material containing a liquid. Near the lower end of the front surface of 
the box 20 is a rectangular shaped flap 22 scored through the wall of the 
container so that it may be lifted to expose a fluid dispenser 24, stored 
prior to its use behind the flap 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2. When ready 
for use, the dispenser 24 is withdrawn and a slot formed between spaced 
annular rings 26 and 28 on the dispenser sleeve engages a corresponding 
slit formed by the removal of the flap 22. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and in greater detail in FIG. 4, the flange formed 
by the innermost ring 26 is cemented or otherwise firmly attached to the 
surface of a plastic fluid container bag 30 which is usually fabricated 
from several plies of various plastic material to obtain a puncture 
resistant, strong bag that is impervious to air and moisture. As 
illustrated in FIG. 2, the plastic surface of the bag 30 is stretched over 
the inner end of the dispenser to form a sealed diaphragm which is 
punctured by the dispenser only when the contents of the bag are to be 
withdrawn. 
FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of one embodiment of the dispenser 24 
and illustrates a tubular sleeve 32 containing a coaxial tubular barrel 
34. One end of the barrel 34 designated the inner end is provided with a 
plurality of sharpened longitudinal teeth 36. The opposite or outer end of 
barrel 34 is provided with a handle 38 which has a tooth 40 that engages a 
slot 42 cut in the outer surface of the sleeve 32. 
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the sleeve 32 and 
the details of the slot 42. The slot 42 may have any suitable 
cross-section, such as rectangular or semicircular, and is cut from the 
end surface 44 adjacent handle 38 and extends in a spiral around the 
surface of the sleeve 32 to a point where it reverses direction and forms 
an annular slot 46. The length of the spiral, or the longitudinal spacing 
between the end surface 44 and the annular slot 46 should generally 
correspond to the length of the overreach between handle 38 and its tooth 
40. Thus, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, if the tooth 40 is not engaging 
any portion of the slots 42 or 46, the barrel 34 is partially removed from 
the sleeve 32 and the sharpened teeth 36 are similarly well removed and 
cannot puncture the surface of the plastic bag 30. Dispenser 24 
illustrated in FIG. 2 is shown with tooth 40 and removed from slot 42, and 
in this position the entire fluid-dispensing assembly may be shipped or 
stored without danger of puncturing the fluid bag 30 and the consequent 
release of the contents. 
When the fluid contents of bag 30 are to be dispensed, the dispenser 24 is 
removed from behind the flap 22 and attached into the slot in the outer 
container 20. Handle 38 is then rotated to the point where the tooth 40 
will engage slot 42. Further rotation of the handle 38 will force the 
barrel 34 further into the sleeve 32 to the point where the sharpened 
teeth 36 will puncture or open the plastic bag 30 to permit the fluid 
therein to enter the bore of the barrel 34. When the tooth 40 engages the 
annular slot 46, further rotation will align an annular hole 48 in the 
wall of the barrel 34 near handle 36 with the corresponding radial hole 50 
through the wall of the sleeve 32 to thereby provide a valve for 
dispensing the fluid. It will be noted that the floor of the annular slot 
46 is provided with a small step 51 which will prevent the tooth 40 from 
re-entering the spiral slot 42 in the sleeve 32. Thus, the barrel 34 
cannot accidentally be removed from the dispenser. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional elevation views of another embodiment of a 
fluid dispenser which shears open the plastic bag by the combination of 
rotation and longitudinal movement of the barrel 52 within the tubular 
sleeve 54. In this embodiment, the flat inner end surface 56 of the barrel 
52 is cemented to the surface of the fluid bag 58. As indicated by the 
cross-hatched section of the bag 58, the inner flange 60 of the sleeve 54 
is also cemented to the surface of the bag 58. 
As with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the embodiment of FIG. 5 
includes a tubular barrel 52 with a suitable handle 62 at its outer end 
and with a radial dispensing hole 64 in the barrel wall of the barrel and 
adjacent the handle end thereof. One or more additional radial holes 66 
are formed in the wall of the barrel 52 adjacent its end surface 56. A 
radial dispensing hole 68 is located in the bottom surface of the sleeve 
54 near its outer end. 
At all times prior to the initial dispensing of the fluid within the bag 
58, the barrel 52 extends from the outer end of sleeve 54 so that the end 
surface 56 is substantially flush with the inner surface of the flange 60. 
In order to prevent accidental opening of the bag 58 during shipping or 
storage, a removable plastic band or tear strip having a width 
corresponding to the extension of the barrel 52 from the outer end of 
sleeve 54, may be wrapped around the barrel 52 between sleeve 54 and 
handle 62 for removal by the consumer just prior to dispensing of the 
fluid. When this tear strip (not shown) is removed, the barrel 52 is 
rotated by handle 62 and simultaneously urged into the sleeve so that the 
portion of the plastic bag between the cemented end surface 56 and 
cemented flange 60 will shear open to permit the fluid contents of the bag 
to enter the radial hole 66 and the bore of the barrel 52. Although not 
illustrated in the drawing, the barrel in this embodiment may be rotated 
and longitudinally moved by a threaded groove and tooth such as shown and 
explained in connection with FIGS. 2-4 and with other embodiments to be 
subsequently described. When barrel 52 is rotated to the point where the 
radial hole 64 is aligned with the hole 68 in the sleeve 54, the fluid 
will be dispensed. A slight turn in either direction of the barrel 52 will 
cut off the dispensing of the fluid. 
It will be noted that one advantage of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 
6 is that the shearing out of a section of the surface of bag 58 will 
leave substantially no shredded plastic bag material that can enter or 
block the passage of fluid through the barrel 52. It will also be noted 
that the barrel 52 may be removed from the sleeve 54 if it is desired to 
insert another type of dispenser, such as a suitable plastic extension 
hose or the like. In such cases, the hose will be inserted completely 
through the bore of sleeve 54 and into the interior of the bag 58 and the 
dispensing hole 68 in the sleeve 54 may then be utilized for inserting a 
hose retainer. 
FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view illustrating a modification of the 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the 
barrel 70 is a tubular section having a conical inner end 72 having a 
sawtooth peripheral edge as shown in FIG. 8. The inner end of the sleeve 
74 has a conical surface 76 adapted to mate with the conical end 72 of the 
barrel 70. One or more radial holes 78 in the sleeve wall adjacent the 
conical end 72 interconnect the exterior surface of the barrel 70 with its 
bore and a second radial hole 80 will dispense fluid through the bore of 
the barrel when aligned with the radial hole 82 through the wall of the 
sleeve 74. The dispenser of FIG. 7 is assembled by first inserting the 
barrel 70 into the sleeve 74 and then cementing the conical end surfaces 
of the barrel and sleeve flange to the outer surface of the 
fluid-containing bag 84. The handle 86 is then cemented to the outer end 
of the barrel 70 and into the bore of the barrel as shown. As with the 
embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, the modification 
illustrated in FIG. 7 operates by a combination of rotation and 
longitudinal movement of the handle 86 and barrel 70 and the embodiment 
may include the spiral slot and engaging key such as described in 
connection with FIGS. 2-4 and FIGS. 9-12. The sawtooth cutter of FIG. 8 on 
the inner end 72 of the barrel will very readily cut a large circular 
opening in the bag 84 to admit the fluid contents into the bore of the 
barrel 70. Rotation of the barrel 70 to the point where dispensing holes 
80 and 82 are no longer in alignment, will shut off the flow of fluid. It 
will be noted that the barrel 70 is locked into the bore of the sleeve 74 
and cannot be removed. 
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate still another embodiment of the dispenser 
using the same bag-opening features of a combination of longitudinal and 
rotational movement of the barrel. 
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of only the sleeve 90 attached 
to the surface of the plastic bag 92 at the surface of the inner flange 
94. The bore of sleeve 90 contains a short section 96 of a smaller 
diameter in which is formed an approximate one-turn thread 98 which begins 
in the outer section of the bore 100 and terminates in an annular ring 102 
having a diameter approximately the same as that of the bore 100. 
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the barrel 104 that is inserted into the 
sleeve 90 of FIG. 9. Barrel 104 is tubular in shape with the handle 106 at 
its outer end and with a plurality of sharpened longitudinal teeth 108 at 
the opposite or inner end. A key radially extending outward from the outer 
surface of the barrel 104 and near the toothed inner end thereof, is 
adapted to engage the thread 98 of FIG. 9. 
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the barrel 104 of FIG. 10 inserted through 
the bore of sleeve 90 of FIG. 9. When the barrel 104 is first inserted 
into the sleeve, the wall between the reduced diameter section 96 and the 
outer bore 100 of the sleeve (FIG. 9) prevents the key 110 on the barrel 
from being further inserted into the sleeve. As the handle 106 is rotated 
clockwise, key 110 engages the threads 98 and after the key 110 passes 
approximately one-half through the threaded reduced area 96, the sharpened 
points 108 will tear the surface of the bag 92. Further threading of the 
key 110 through the thread 98, will place the key 110 into the annular 
ring 102 at which point the bag surface is completely torn and the fluid 
flows into the bore of the barrel 104. When handle 106 is rotated so that 
the radial dispensing hole 112 in the barrel 104 is aligned with the 
radial dispensing hole 114 in the sleeve 90, fluid will be dispensed from 
the dispenser. The rotation of the handle 106 in either direction will 
shut off the flow of fluid but the key 110, being rotated through the 
upper semicircular half of the annular ring 102, will prevent the barrel 
104 from being accidentally removed from the sleeve 90. If it is desired 
to remove the barrel from the sleeve, it is only necessary to rotate the 
barrel 104 approximately one and one-half turns while gently pulling out 
the handle 106. 
FIG. 12 is an illustration of a section of still another embodiment of a 
dispenser which also cuts open a fluid-containing bag 116 upon the 
combined rotation and longitudinal movement of the dispenser barrel 118. 
In this embodiment, a screw thread is cut into the outer surface of the 
tubular barrel 118. The thread 120 begins at one point on the outer 
surface of the barrel and is spiraled into an annular groove 122. To 
assemble this dispenser, the barrel 118 is inserted into the sleeve 124. A 
radial hole 126 through the surface of the barrel 124 is aligned with the 
thread 120 and a short plastic pin or rod 128 is inserted and cemented 
into the hole 126 with the inner end of rod 28 engaging the thread 120. 
The barrel 118 is therefore permanently retained within the sleeve 124 and 
may only be moved longitudinally when the end of rod 128 is engaged in the 
thread 120. 
In operation, barrel 118 is screwed or rotated clockwise to provide the 
longitudinal movement required for the sharpened teeth 130 on the inner 
end of the barrel 118 to cut through the surface of the bag 116. Barrel 
118 is further rotated until the inner end of the rod 128 engages the 
annular groove 122. At that point, further rotation will align the radial 
dispensing hole 132 in the barrel 118 with the corresponding dispensing 
hole 134 in the sleeve 124. 
It will be noted that all embodiments described herein will cut or shear a 
fluid-containing bag by a combination of rotation of the dispenser barrel 
and inward longitudinal movement of the barrel. After the fluid-containing 
bag has been thus opened, the fluid that flows into the bore of the barrel 
may be dispensed by only rotational movement of the barrel to the point 
where there is alignment of radial holes in the barrel and in the outer 
sleeve. 
It will also be noted that in some of the embodiments, to wit, those 
illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, the barrel may be removed from 
the sleeve prior to the opening of the fluid containing bag. When removed, 
the barrel may, if desired, be replaced with a tubing connector barrel 
having the same rotational bag opening characteristics of the removed 
barrel but with a tubing connector for conveying the fluid contents to 
some remote fluid tap for dispensing.