LIQUID DISPENSING ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A tap assembly for "bag-in-the-box" containers for beverages. The tap assembly includes a tubular spout (1) and hollow probe (11) movably located in the support and in sealing engagement therewith. Radial openings (13, 8) in the walls of the probe and the spout can be brought into alignement for dispensing of liquid by rotation of the probe which results in forward axial movement of the probe by use of complementarily engaging formations on the spout (10) and probe (16, 19, 20). The formations may be a part helical guide (16) and slide combination.

Description: LIQUID DISPENSING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a liquid dispensing assembly and more particularly to a tap for use in the dispensing of liquids from deformable containers usually retained in a self-supporting package. Over recent years containers of the type above referred have become popular for the marketing of wines, fruit juices and the like. Several designs of taps have been developed by the present applicant and others to meet different requirements. Usually it is desirable that the ingress of oxygen into the packaged liquid be prevented and taps have been provided to break into a sealed container when first operated to allow the contents to be dispensed. This construction is of necessity of a so e- what complex nature and it is the object of the present invention to provide a simple tap which may be used for dispensing of liquids and which has only two parts. According to this invention there is provided a tap assembly including a tubular spout having a mounting means at one end, a hollow probe movably located in the spout in sealing engagement therewith and closed at an end projecting from the spout remote from the mounting means end, radial openings extending through the walls of the probe and spout located to be brought into alignment on relative movement of the spout and probe and complement¬ arily engaging formations on the spout and probe to cause predetermined axial movement of the probe in the spout to project the open end of the probe forwardly when bringing the outlets into alignment by rotation of the probe. The invention also provides a flexible container for liquids having a spout as above defined secured by a flange thereto. Still further features of this invention provide an assembly of a container as above defined located in a self-supporting package with the projections on the spout engaging the wall of an aperture through the package in non-rotatable manner and the probe positioned in the spout with the outlets out of alignment. Other features of this invention will become apparent from the following description of one non-limitative preferred embodiment thereof. Reference will be made in the description to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the tap assembly; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tap assembly shown in Fig. 1 located in a self-supporting package, shown in the closed position; and Fig. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 2 with the tap assembly in the open position. In the illustrated embodiment the tap assembly is used for dispensing of wine or fruit juice from a flexible container retained in a self-supporting package in the form of a cardboard box. This type of package is now well known. The assembly is moulded from suitable plastics material and consists of two components. The first is a spout 1 which is a hollow tube having a flange 2 at one end. Part of the flange is removed at 3 to enable the spout to be easily properly located when the spout is attached to a flexible container 4. Spaced a small distance away from the flange 2 are a pair of projections 5 also in the form of flanges which have between them flat parallel surfaces (not shown) at right angles to the edge 3 of the flange 2. These formations 5 and surfaces (not shown) are provided to engage the wall around an opening formed in a cardboard box 7 adjacent the bottom of the box. A radial outlet 8 opposite the edge 3 of flange 2 is provided through the wall of the spout. This outlet 8 is spaced further along the spout from the flanged end than the projections 5 so that it will be located outside of the box 7 in the assembled package. Adjacent the end 9 of the spout remote from the flange 2 are a pair of diametrically oppositely located outwardly extending protuberances 10. These form slides in a guide and slide arrangement described below. The second component is a probe 11 which is slidable in sealing engagement with spout 1. The probe 11 is hollow and open at one end 12 which is inserted into the spout from the end 9 remote from flange 2. The end 12 has a pointed end 17 to puncture the wall of the container 4. The probe also has a radial outlet 13 through the wall thereof which can be brought into and out of align- ment with the outlet 8 through the wall of the spout. The other and outer end 14 of the probe is closed and provided with a co-axial sleeve 15. This sleeve 15 receives the end 9 of the spout and has a guide 16 formed therein as part of a coarse pitched helix. This guide 16 " accommodates the protuberances 10 on the spout 1. It will be appreciated that the arrangement is such that rotation of a grip 18 on sleeve 15 while the spout is held stationary will cause relative axial and rotational move¬ ment between the spout 1 and the probe 11. This movement will bring the outlets 8.and 13 into and out of alignment while also simultaneously projecting and retracting the end 12 of the probe 11 through the flanged end of the spout. In use the spout 1 is fixed to the wall of the container 4 near the bottom. The container 4 is then filled and sealed in known manner and placed in the box 7. The cut edge 3 of the flange is located parallel to the bottom of the container 4 and this ensures that the outlet 8 from the spout is directed downwardly when the assembled package is stood upright. The tap assembly may be packed inside the box 7 and retrieved for use through an opening in the wall of the box made by removing parts of the wall of the box along pre-formed lines of weakness. The opening thus formed will enable the projections 5 to engage the wall of the box around the opening with the surfaces 6 preventing any rotation of the spout 1. When it is required to dispense the liquid the grip 18 is turned to draw the probe 11 inwardly into the spout to puncture the container. The outlets 8 and 13 are also brought into alignment and the liquid can flow there- through. Reverse rotation of the knob 15 moves the outlets out of alignment to once again seal off the container 4. Although the embodiment has been described with a flange 2 secured to container 4 it is clear that other forms of securement may be used. An extension beyond flange 2 could be used which would be received in a socket as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,469,249, the contents of which are incorporated herein. To further assist the user in knowing when the extremity of the fully open and fully closed positions have been reached the guide 16 includes end slots 19 and 20 which are angularly offset from the helix. ' To ensure the tap assembly is turned off, and to avoid creep of the probe 11 along spout 1, locking nipples 21 are located in end slots 20. Accordingly the nipples 21 will lock probe 11 in the closed position and a slightly increased force will be required to initiate any opening of the tap assembly. If desired, sleeve.15 can have a wiping portion which can cover and close outlet 8 when the outlets 8 and 13 are not aligned to prevent dripping of liquid at outlet 8 when closed. Instead of puncturing container 4 by point 17 the end 12 could include cutting serrations or a cutting edge. The tap assembly above described enables the container to be filled and kept free from oxygen ingress until the first dispensing operation takes place thus affording a satisfactory shelf-life for the contents of the container. It is believed that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the tap assembly described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A tap assembly including a tubular spout having a mounting means at one end, a hollow probe movably located in the spout in sealing engagement therewith and closed at an end projecting from the spout remote from the mounting means end, radial openings extending through the walls of the probe and spout located to be brought into alignment on relative movement of the spout and probe and complementarily engaging formations on the spout and probe to cause predetermined axial movement of the probe in the spout to project the open end of the probe, forwardly when bringing the outlets into alignment by rotation of the probe. 2. The tap assembly of claim 1, wherein said hollow probe includes a tubular member closed by an integral outer co-axial sleeve member, said sleeve member not extending the full length of said tubular member and sliding over the outer circumference of said tubular spout. 3. The tap assembly of claim 2, wherein said sleeve member includes a part helical guide and said tubular spout has a protuberance thereon for engaging within said part helical guide to form said complementarily engaging portions. 4. The tap assembly of claim 3, wherein a- further protuberance is provided on said tubular spout diametrically located with respect to said protuberance and said sleeve member includes a further part helical guide for co-operation with said further protuberance. 5. The tap assembly of any preceding claim, wherein said mounting means includes a peripheral flange. 6. The tap assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said mounting means includes a socket member. 7. The tap assembly of any preceding claim, wherein said tubular spout is closed at said one end by a frangible diaphragm. 8. The tap assembly of claim 7, wherein said open end of said probe is shaped to puncture, tear or remove said frangible diaphragm on forward movement of said probe. 9. The tap assembly of claim 3, wherein said part helical guide includes retaining projections which increases the force needed to turn said probe on first use of said tap assembly. 10. A tap assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Inventors: CALDER ALAN REGINALD, MALPAS JON HENRY, CALDER, ALAN, REGINALD, MALPAS, JON, HENRY
Applicants: DIEMOULDERS PTY LTD, DIEMOULDERS PROPRIETARY LIMITED
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B67D3
IPC codes: B65D47, B65D77, B67D3