IMPROVEMENTS IN STORAGE AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR LIQUIDS

Abstract: A container for storage and dispensing of fluids, more particularly an aerated or activated liquid such as lemonade, the container being adapted to collapse upon itself as the contents are dispensed therefrom, the container serving to maintain a substantially constant level of aeration of contents such that the first drink therefrom is as good as the last, notwithstanding the elapsing of significant time therebetween. There is also disclosed a tap or dispensing means, which is reusable, for use with such a container.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN STORAGE AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR LIQUIDS. The present invention relates, in general, to an improved system or means allowing for the storage and dispensing of perishable fluids, more especially liquids, activated or otherwise. The invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to components for such a system, including: (1) a container for such fluids; (2) tap means co-operable with said container whereby to allow for selected and controlled • dispensing of the contents thereof. In this regard, the container and tap means in accordance with the present invention are both particularly suited for use with activated fluids. It should be realized, however, that the invention is not to be considered restricted to such usage. Throughout the ensuing description, for ease of explanation reference will be made initially at least to the above-mentioned components in isolation. It should be understood, however, that the invention resides not only in the individual components, but also in their combination. Insofar as what might be termed non- activated or still fluids, especially liquids, are concerned, nowadays substances such as milk, fruit juices, still wine and other perishable or degradable fluids are stored in a variety of containers. By way of example only, nowadays milk may be stored in paper (cardboard) or other equivalent material cartons, plastics material bottles, glass bottles etc. Fruit juice may be stored in paper (cardboard) or the like material cartons, plastics material bottles etc. Still wines may be stored in disposable sachets or disposable bags of any given size- with such sachets or bags generally being adapted, in use, to be suitably disposed within an outer protective container, be it in the form of a cardboard carton, plastics material cooler arrangement or the like. Insofar as activated fluids, especially liquids, are concerned, as for example beer, lemonade, sparkling wines etc., in the past only half-hearted attempts have been made to allow for storage of such liquids in bulk. Indeed, it has generally been considered that the problems associated with ensuring adequate aeration or activation during usage of the product, usage which may normally be extende -over a substantial period of time, have been more or less insurmountable. By way of example only, nowadays manufacturers of aerated liquids, such as lemonade, are attempting to market their products in larger volume containers - two litre and even three litre containers (bottles) as distinct from the 26 fluid ounce bottles (760 ml.) employed previously. Even these large volume containers, however, suffer from the drawback that, once opened, it is preferred that the contents be dispersed (used) totally relatively quickly thereafter. Indeed, the presently-in-use containers for such aerated liquids do not lend themselves to re-sealing of an opened and not emptied container whereby to allow for later use. In a practical sense, and effectively regardless of what type of cap or re-sealing means is employed, when subsequently opened the user will be presented with a substantially "flat" or still (unaerated) liquid, or at best a liquid which is less than adequately aerated - a totally unacceptable and indeed unpalatable result. Accordingly, the prior are containers intended for the storage of aerated or activated liquids have been found to exhibit an extremely limited life-span or life-time in use, in that once opened their shelf-life is extremely short. In the result the prior art containers for such liquids led to significant wastage in that, if the container was not in fact emptied shortly after it was initially opened, then the contents remaining, with the passage of time, became less than satisfactory. Indeed, the general practice has become to.in fact "throw away" liquid not consumed within a relatively short time after the container was initially opened. The present invention seeks to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art containers of this general type and to provide, firstly, a form of container which is particularly suited for the storage of activated or carbonated liquid products, as for example beer, lemonade and sparkling wines, a container which allows substantially complete emptying therefrom of the contents, over a substantial period of time, at a substantially constant level of aeration, activation etc. for the contents. The invention furthermore provides an improved and re-usable dispensing means or tap for use in conjunction with a container of the aforementioned type. In a practical sense, however, it should be understood that any existing type of tap or dispensing means would be employable with a container in accordance with the present invention, although not with the same degree of effectiveness as with the present applicant's improved form or type of tap. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a container for fluids, said container being adapted to receive for storage and dispensing as desired an activated fluid, said container being so constructed and arranged as to adopt a substantially parallelepipedal shape when filled with said fluid, the arrangement being such that, when in use, the container is adapted to progressively collapse upon itself with egress of contents therefrom whereby to maintain a substantially constant level or aeration or activation of said contents. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing means for a container for fluids, more specifically for a container of the type referred to in the preceding paragraph. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail a preferred embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, and also a preferred embodiment of a tap or dispensing means in accordance with the present invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a first embodiment of container in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention, showing the container in both its filled (expanded) - in phantom - and collapsed (empty or partially empty) states or conditions - in full lines.; Fig. 3. is a sectional view, in side elevation, of a container for storage' of activated liquids • in accordance with the invention, showing the container in its collapsed (empty or partially empty) state or condition; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but in edge elevation, of a container in accordance with the invention in its collapsed state or condition; Fig. 5 is a view of a socket, for incorporation in a container in accordance with the invention, said socket being adapted in use to co-operate with and receive a dispensing means or tap assembly; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a tap assembly or dispensing means in accordance with the invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view (exploded) of a tap and cooperating socket for use with the present invention; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tap assembly or dispensing means shown in-Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an end view of the socket shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is an exploded, composite view of a dispensing means or tap assembly in accordance with the invention, in conjunction with a socket means for the container. Turning firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated therein an improved form of container or storage means for activated liquids in accordance with the invention. The container storage means as illustrated preferably takes the form of a collapsible/expandable container 1, of any suitable substance. In an especially preferred embodiment the container 1 may be formed, in a blow moulding operation, of food grade polypropylene, a substance which is substantially oxygen impermeable. In a practical sense, however, it should be realised that a container 1 in accordance with the invention may be manufactured or produced from any material having suitable recovery properties, as explained hereinafter in more detail. The container 1 in accordance with the present invention is created or formed using blow-moulding techniques and thus, in contrast to the prior art containers for still wines, etc., cannot be considered to constitute a bag or sachet formed as a laminate. When in its empty or deflated condition the container 1 in accordance with the invention adopts the configuration as shown in full lines in the Fig. 2. In accordance with known principles such a container 1 may be filled, with both liquid and activating gas, such as carbon dioxide, using any known technique, as for example pin filling through a heat- sealable aperture . Once filled the container 1 adopts the configuration shown in phantom in Fig. 2 and retains therein the prescribed mixture of liquid and activating gas. The container 1 includes means 3, in the form of a socket, for the location therein or relative thereto of a suitable tap assembly or dispensing means, as for example a tap in accordance with the invention, as to be described in detail herein¬ after, or indeed a tap of any known type. In accordance with a preferred feature of the present invention the container 1 and an associated socket for a dispensing means or tap assembly are formed in a simple blow moulding operation. Otherwise, if container and associated socket are formed separately for subsequent assembly, such an arrangement may exhibit a tendency to leakage in the area of join between socket and container. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated for example in Fig. 1., a blowing mandrel and a separate filling mandrel may be provided. After forming and filling the container sealing thereof is achieved by bonding together by heat, the material making up the container being fused by heat in the vicinity of (around the edges of) the filling and blowing apertures. Once the tap assembly or dispensing means is located appropriately, actuation thereof will give rise to selected and controlled emptying of the contents of the container 1. As the volume of the contents within the container 1 is reduced, the natural recovery properties of the material making up the container 1 will result in that container 1 attempting to resume its un-expanded condition (as shown in full lines in the Fig. 2 for example) . In a practical sense this tendency for recovery of the material making up the container, in conjunction with the inherent tendency of the liquid-gas system within the container to attempt to restore equilibrium within that container, will ensure in effect a constant or substantially constant level of aeration or degree of activation, effectively regardless of the volume of liquid currently being stored in the container 1 itself. To assist further in the recovery of the container 1, that container 1 is constructed whereby to assume, in its collapsed condition, the configuration shown in full lines in Fig. 2. To achieve this result the container is formed with what are termed "concertina" folds 4 at the changes of direction on the four corners of the substantially parallelepipedal container. This configuration allows the container 1 to itself expand or contract as desired whereby to maintain equilibrium in or of the contents of the container. In a practical sense, dependent upon parameters such as the degree of activation of the liquid and the ambient temperature. the container will expand or contract to suit. The container 1 in accordance with the present inven ion" being in the form of a "corrugated" and expandable container, differs from any other type of container currently in use by reason of its very configuration. By way of further explanation the present applicant's container, once in its expanded and filled condition or state, will adopt a substantially parallelepipedal shape and will not be subject to unwanted "bulging" beyond such a shape, in marked contrast to the prior art configurations. The advantages of this capability of assuming and retaining a substantially parallelepipedal shape, in terms of ease of storage, etc., should be self-evident. The corrugations provided in the container in accordance with the present invention assist in ensuring that the liquid within the container is maintained at a substantially constant level of aeration during the lifetime of the container, effectively regardless of the actual volume of liquid within the container at any given time. In such a way, then to all intents and purposes the last drink taken from the container is as enjoyable as the first, in marked contrast to prior art containers. In accordance with the present invention it is believed that the very existence of the "corrugations" in the container as formed, in conjunction with the very nature of the material making up the container, give rise to a container which, in use and when filled with liquid, tends to adopt a substantially - parallelepipedal shape which is not prone to unwanted bulging. Such a result is not practically possible with the prior art sachet-type containers. It should be realised that the present invention relates, in principle, to a container of the aforementioned type. For perhaps cosmetic and/or protective reasons it will generally be the situation that such a container is adapted to be located in any known manner within an outer protective covering, perhaps in the form of a carton or the like. The location of the container within such a carton will also give rise to a more regular shape for the overall configuration, thereby assisting in storage, cartage, etc. It should be realised that a container for activated liquids in accordance with the present invention, particularly but not exclusively designed for domestic use, could be formed in a variety of sizes whereby to allow for storage of different volumes of liquid, as for example 2 litre, 4 litre etc. In a practical sense there could be expected to be a limit to the size and storage capacity of such containers, that limit being set by parameters such as overall weight, strength of the material making up the container, etc. Nowadays activated liquids, such as beer, are packaged in bottles. In a real sense a significant percentage of the weight of a filled bottle (of glass for example) is taken up by the bottle itself. With the present applicant's arrangement, as defined or described earlier, the weight of the container 1 itself represents a much reduced percentage of a filled container. The container in accordance with the present invention, by reason of its storage capacity or volume, provides a convenient means for storage and cartage of significant volumes of activated liquids, especially when compared to conventional bottles and the like non-flexible containers for such liquids. The present invention also provides an improved,form of tap assembly or dispensing means 5 for use in or in .conjunction with containers for liquids of the aforementioned type. A tap assembly in accordance with the invention may take the form as illustrated, for example, in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 10. Such a tap assembly preferably would 10 be formed primarily of acrylic butadiene styrene, although other suitable materials may also be employed. The tap assembly in accordance with the invention includes a number of blades, to be located therein during moulding of the tap body L5 in general, such blades being preferably made of metal. In accordance with the invention the blades are designed to penetrate the middle part of the dispensing socket (polyethylene moulding) to be located on a container for liquids. Such a configuration 20 is in marked contrast to tap or dispensing arrangements as now in use wherein some form of cutting means is intended to pierce, rather than cut, a thin film membrane disposed across a dispensing socket or the like, utilising a peripheral form of cutting. 25 With the preferred tap configuration of the present invention central cutting, rather than peripheral cutting, is to be employed. In the drawings there is shown a preferred form of tap assembly, generally designated 10 for 30. use with containers for aerated, and non-aerated, liquids in accordance with the present invention. Tap assembly 10 includes a substantially cylindrical main body member 12 within which slides a valving member in the form of a piston 14. Piston 14 includes a head portion 16 which is adapted to seat on a complementary-shaped valve seat 18 at the end of bore 20 of main body 12. Main body 12 includes ah end "cap" means 21 adapted for connection, in any known manner, to one end thereof. To allow for longitudinal movement of the piston 14, a central stem 22 projects from the axial centre thereof and is coupled, in any known manner, to a flap 24. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10 the stem 22 of piston 14 projects through the end cap 21 for operative connection to flap 24. To bring about such connection the stem 22 includes a protrusion 23a at the free end thereof adapted, in use, to be received by and co¬ operate with complementary-shaped lugs 25 provided internally of the flap. Flap 24 is pivotally attached to main body 12, via end "cap" means 21, in any known manner and is pivoted by movement of angled tab 28 forming part of tap 24. In the embodiment of Fig. 8, such connection is achieved by hinge means 26. In the embodiment of Fig. 10, however, the flap 24 includes an inwardly directed lug or protrusion 24a adapted to be received by a complementary-shaped slot or groove 21a in "cap" means 21. Stem 22 is made of a flexible material in order that piston 14 will not jam when tab 28 is moved in the arrowed direction. To restore piston 14 to the position shown in Fig. 8 a spring 30 is located between piston 14 and flap 24. Preferably, the spring 30 will exhibit a minimum pressure of 2 3 lb.in , whereby to ensure that there is no leakage. To further assist in movement of piston 14 a further tab 32 is mounted on main body 12. By pressing tabs 28 and 32 between thumb and forefinger a very convenient method of moving piston 14 is achieved. In use, piston 14 exposes an outlet port 34 for liquid contained in a container (not shown) . Thus piston 14 will, when tab 28 is pushed against tab 32, be moved towards the right (as viewed in Fig. 8) and outlet port 34 will be uncovered. Accordingly liquid may be dispensed through outlet port 34. To further assist in the sealing action of piston 14 within bore 20, an O-ring or seal 35 may be located in a groove on either piston 14 and/or within bore 20. To fit the tap assembly to a container the embodiments illustrated include a plurality of lugs 36 which co-operate with respective, bayonet cam tracks 38 in a socket 40 of or for the container. Each bayonet cam track 38 includes a lead-in section 42 and a locking section 44 substantially at right angles thereto. Main body 12 includes an annular ring section 48 which forms a step for a resilient sealing means 50. Projecting from ring section 48 are a plurality of blades 52 for cutting the container. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 four blades 52 will be provided, each blade being adapted to travel through an arc of 120 whereby to ensure total trepanning or cutting of wall of the socket. Socket 40 has an inner recessed ledge 46 on which sealing means 50 will abut. Liquid from the container will enter socket 40 through aperture 54. In use, lugs 36 of tap 10 will be inserted in co-operating lead-in sections 42 of the bayonet cam tracks 38 of socket 40 and the tap assembly pressed inwardly. Sealing means 50 will abut inner recessed ledge 46 and be compressed to provide a leakprσof seal. A further inward thrust will cause blades 52 to cut the container. A twist of the tap will cause lugs 36 to be moved into locking section 44 to positively secure tap 10 to socket 40. the twisting action will cause blades 52 to lengthen the cuts in the container allowing liquid to flow into socket 40. Movement of tabs 28 and 32 between thumb and forefinger will then allow the liquid contents of the container to be dispensed. The principle of operation of the subject tap or dispensing means is as follows. The trepanning or cutting effect of the blades 52 allows for excision from the container of a substantially circular piece thereof, thereby affording a substantially circular opening to the container. The excised or cut material is then in fact held on the blades 52 against removal and an unrestricted flow of fluid from the container can thus be achieved. In this regard it should be realized that, in a practical sense, flow of liquid occurs around the periphery of the cut circular piece or section as held on the blades 52. When the container is empty, the tap may be removed from the socket, the cut circular piece removed from the blades, and the overall tap cleaned ready for re-use. It should furthermore be realized that, in an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the tap also includes means allowing for aeration as desired, such means being in the form of an aperture provided on the uppermost portion of the tap, the arrangement giving rise to a venturi-type effect. Finally, it should be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of a dispensing and storage system, and the various components thereof, in accordance with the present invention, and that variations and modifications are possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

Claims: 1. A container for fluids, said container being adapted to receive for storage and dispensing as desired an activated fluid, said container being so constructed and arranged as to adopt a substantially parallelepipedal shape when filled with said fluid, the arrangement being such that, when in use, the container is adapted to progressively collapse upon itself with egress of contents therefrom and to maintain a substantially constant level or aeration or activation in or of the contents thereof. 2. The container as claimed in Claim 1, including at least one socket means therein, said socket means being adapted to receive and retain a dispensing means for said fluid within said container. 3. The container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said socket means and said container are formed in a single operation, thereby creating a unitary or one- piece container which is not susceptible to leakage at or in the vicinity of said socket means. 4. The container as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, said container being constructed from a material which exhibits pronounced recovery properties upon expansion, said container being formed in a blow-moulding operation and including a plurality of "concertina" type folds or corrugations, formed at the changes of direction at the corners of said container. 5. The container as claimed in Claim 4, constructed from food grade polypropylene. 6. Apparatus for dispensing fluids from a container, said apparatus including: a body member for attachment to said container; valve means slidably located within said body member; means associated with said body member for cutting a hole at a predetermined position on said container whereby to allow for egress of fluids therefrom; and means for selectively controlling said valve means whereby to allow for passage of fluids from said container through said dispensing apparatus. 7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said body member has a central and longitudinally extending bore therein, adapted to receive said valve means, said bore including a step forming a seating means for said valve means, said body member further including an end cap member adapted for releasable connection thereto. 8. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, constructed primarily from acrylic butadiene styrene, wherein said cutting means includes a plurality of blade members, preferably constructed of metal, located within said body member during the formation thereof, said blade members being adapted to protrude outwardly from one end of said body member whereby to come into cutting contact with the outer surface of said container. 9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein said valve means is in the form of a piston-like member slidably * located within said body member, said piston-like member being selectively movable between a first position, wherein one end thereof co-operates with said complementary-shaped seat or seating means located internally of said body member whereby to prevent passage of fluids from said ocntainer, and a second position wherein said one end is removed from said seating means whereby to provide a passage for fluid from said container. 10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein said control means is in the form of a pivotable flap or handle member, said flap or handle member being operatively connected to the other end of said valve means and pivotally connected to said body member, the arrangement being such that manual operation or the application of pressure to said flap means will result in movement of said valve means away from said seating means whereby to provide a pathway for flow of fluid from said container. 11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, including resilient means operatively connecting said valve means and said flap or handle member, said resilient means acting to bias said valve means to its closed position in engagement with said seating means.

Inventors: BEGGS CROMWELL SEMPLE, BEGGS, CROMWELL, SEMPLE
Applicants: BEGGS CROMWELL SEMPLE, BEGGS, CROMWELL, SEMPLE
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D83, B67D3