FLOW CONNECTION

Abstract: A set of parts (1) for providing a flow path connection between respective interiors of two members, such as a bag or reservoir (2a ) in a box (2b ) and a dosing apparatus (3), comprising a support part (4) for mounting on the box (2b ), and a piercing part (5) cooperable with the other dosing apparatus or member (3) and with the support part (4), the arrangement being such that when the two parts (2a , 2b ) and (3) are assembled piercing means such as a slant tip (6) of the piercing part (5) pierces the bag (2a ) of the one member (2a , 2b ) on relative movement of the two parts (4, 5).

Description: FLOW CONNECTION The invention relates to a flow connection, particularly between respective interiors of two members which are connected, or to be connected, with a flow path between them. It is often necessary to connect two members, for example a drinks holder of the kind in which a flexible reservoir or bag of, say, liquid is held in a box, and the reservoir and box is to be connected to a dosing device for a measured distribution of the liquid from the reservoir in say a drinks machine. Such boxes with reservoirs therein are replaceable and it is accordingly essential that the contents of the reservoir remain sealed until the box is mounted in a drinks machine ready to be dispensed. Until now, it has not proved possible readily to provide a sealed container which is also easily prepared for dispensing of its contents when connected with a dispensing or dosing device. Similar considerations apply to dispensing of powders, panicles or granules held initially in a sealed bag prior to dispensing from a machine in which the bag itself in a box, is mounted. It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts for providing a flow path connection between respective interiors of two members, comprising a support part for mounting on one member, and a piercing part cooperable with the other member and with the support part, the arrangement being such that when the two pans are assembled piercing means of the piercing part pierces the one member on relative movement of the two parts. The support part may have external engagement means releasably cooperable with engagement means of a mounting device of the one member. This provides a relatively simple construction. The respective engagement means may comprise snap-engageable means. This provides for ease of use and manufacture. The two parts may be interengageable by cooperable means whereby the piercing part may move telescopically with respect to the support part. This provides a positive action, particularly as the cooperable means may comprise screw thread means. The piercing means may comprise a tip of the piercing part. This provides a relatively simply integral piercing means. There may be detent means of one part preventing undesired relative movement of the two parts in a particular direction. This provides for ease of transport and storage. The detent means may comprise an external shearable stop means on the piercing part. This provides for relatively simple operation to pierce a member. There may also be seal means whereby the support part and piercing part may be sealed together when the piercing part is in use moved to a fully piercing position relative to the support part. Thus the seal means may comprise an annular bead on one part and a complementary groove on the other part. This makes for an effective seal, and the bead may be on the support part. The piercing part may comprise a seating for cooperation with the other member, which seating may comprise a well in which the other member is received with a push fit, suitably a substantially leak-proof interference fit. This provides a simple yet effective assembly. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a flow path connection comprising a set of parts as hereinbefore defined, with the two parts being assembled together. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided two members connected together by a flow path connection as hereinbefore defined. One member may comprise a reservoir pierced by the piercing member. The one member may also comprise a container of flowable material, for example a liquid such as wine. The other member may comprise a dosing apparatus. Sets of parts embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. l is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a set of parts, assembled, according to the invention; figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a longitudinal section view and a plan view of a support part of a second embodiment of a set of parts according to the invention; and Figs. 4, 4A and 5 show piercing part of the second embodiment, Fig. 4 being a longitudinal sectional view, Fig. 5 a plan view, and Fig. 4A an enlargement of part A of Fig. 4. Referring to the drawings in which like parts are shown by like reference numerals, there is shown a set of parts 1 for providing a flow path connection between respective interiors of two members, such as a bag or reservoir 2a in a box 2b and a dosing apparatus 3 , comprising a support part 4 for mounting on the box 2b , and a piercing part 5 cooperable with the other dosing apparatus or member 3 and with the support part 4, the arrangement being such that when the two parts 2a, 2b and 3 are assembled piercing means such as a slant tip 6 of the piercing part 5 pierces the bag 2a of the one member 2a, 2b on relative movement of the two parts 4, 5. The bag or reservoir 2a is of pierceable plastic or the like and is hermetically sealed and contains a liquid, say wine. Secured to the exterior of the bag 2a by a flange 7 is a mounting device or boss 8 which, by a substantially parallel flange 9, is secured to the inner surface of the box 2b, which can suitably be made of cardboard or the like. The boss 8 is mounted to surround a hole 10 through the box 2b and to provide a passage to the exterior surface of the bag 2a. The support part 4 and piercing part 5 are formed from a suitable material such as plastic. The support part 4 and boss 8 are releasably engaged by releasably cooperable means in the form of external profiles 11 on the support part 4 snap engageable in complementary recesses 12 in the boss 8. The support part 4 also has internal means in the form of a screw thread 13 which is cooperable with an external screw thread 14 forming cooperable means of the piercing part 5. The screw thread 14 is carried on a tubular part 15 of the piercing part 5, which tubular part 15 terminates in the slant tip 6 forming the piercing means. A transverse hole 16 in the tip 6 provides for complete emptying of the bag 2a in use. The support part 4 has a flange 17 which abuts the external surface of the box 2b, the flange 17 having seal means in the form of an annular bead 18 of triangular section which is cooperable with a complementary groove 19 of a facing part of the piercing part 5. The set of parts 1 also comprises detent means in the form of a shearable stop 20 mounted externally on the tubular part 15 of the piercing part 5 and which prevents unwanted movement towards the bag 2a. The piercing part 5 also has a seating 21 in the form of an enlarged part which receives with a leak-proof interference fit the second member or dosing apparatus 3. In use, the support part 4 and piercing part 5 are screwed together so that the stop 20 abuts the outer surface of the flange 17 of the support member 4. The dosing apparatus 3 is mounted in the seating 21 and the support part 4 is snap engaged in the boss 8, the stop 20 preventing the piercing tip 6 from engaging the bag 2a. The two members 2a, 2b and 3 are thus connected together, and can be stored and transported, the bag remaining intact. In this condition the whole assembly can be mounted for example on a drinks dispensing apparatus (not shown). The piercing part 5 is then screwed into the support part 4, so shearing the stop 20 and causing the tip 6 to pierce the bag 2a cleanly and quickly. When fully screwed down the annular bead 18 enters the groove 19 and seals the parts together 4, 5. The two members 2a, 2b and 3 are then connected with a flow path connection between them via the assembled set of parts 1. The support part 4 has flats 22 which locate in and on the box 2b to hold the assembly firm whilst screwing down and hence piercing the bag 2a. Referring now to the second embodiment 100, shown disassembled in Figs. 2 to 5 and in which the bag or box 2 and dosing apparatus 3 are omitted for clarity, there is shown a support part 4 and a piercing part 5 cooperable with the dosing apparatus and with the support part 4. The parts 4 and 6 are made from plastic. The support part 4 is similar to that of the first embodiment, in having profiles 11 and an internal screw thread 13. The piercing part 5 is similar to that of the first embodiment, one of the main differences being that there is a base or flange 101 which has projecting therefrom a plurality (in the embodiment, four) of projecting flexible and resilient fingers or teeth 102. These teeth 102 are arranged circumferentially of the flange 101 so as to be able to engage in teeth or stops 103 of the support part 4, these teeth or stops 103 being arranged circumferentially of and projecting inwardly of a wall 104 defining a well 105 in which the flange 101 is received. The teeth 103 are unequally spaced angularly so ensuring that any two of the fingers 102 are always in contact with diametrically opposite teeth 103. The arrangement is such that when the members 4, 5 are assembled and the piercing part 5 is rotated relative to the support part 4, the fingers 102 flex and click over the teeth 103 until the two parts 4, 5 are firmly screwed together to the desired extent. The arrangement of the teeth 103 is then such that the fingers 102 lock behind the teeth, and unscrewing is prevented or hindered. Thus if there is no contact in the screwed- up position, any rotation of about a VΛ revolution will ensure that opposite fingers 102 come into contact with opposite teeth 103, thereby preventing undesired unscrewing of the two parts 4, 5. The teeth 103 and fingers 102 thus provide an ami rotational means. The crests of the screw thread 14 of the piercing part 5 are flat as in the first embodiment, but in the second embodiment, there are flattened thread crests 105 of the internal thread 13 of the support part 4. There is also a protrusion or pip 106 between two thread crests of thread 14 of the piercing part. This protrusion or pip 106 is resilient, and, when the two parts 4, 5 are screwed together, is forced to one side, and rides onto or presses against a flat 105 of the thread of the support part 4. This prevents the two parts 4,5 from being unscrewed by rattling down or up, in a condition before piercing of a bag. The protrusion or pip 106 is thus essentially a damper means against vibration in use. There is also on the piercing part an angled shoulder 107 receiving an 'O' ring which in use seats against a wall 108 of the support part 4. Use of the second embodiment 100 is as described with respect to the first embodiment. It will be understood that modifications are possible. For example the stop 20 may be replaced by a removable or frangible membrane such as a tear off strip. Also, the fingers may be unequally spaced, and the teeth equiangularly spaced. The invention described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings can be used with any flowable material such as a particulate material, for example a food powder, or gas with suitable seals, or liquid other than wine.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A set of parts for providing a flow path connection between respective interiors of two members (2a, 2b & 3), characterised by a support part (4) for mounting on one member (2a, 2b), and by a piercing part (5) cooperable with the other member (3) and with the support part (4) , the arrangement being such that when the two parts (4, 5) are assembled piercing means (6) of the piercing part (5) pierces the one member (2a, 2b) on relative movement of the two parts (4, 5) . 2. A set of parts according to Claim 1 , characterised by the support part (4) having external engagement means (11) releasably cooperable with engagement means (12) of a mounting device (8) of the one member (2a). 3. A set of parts according to Claim 2, characterised by the respective engagement means ( 11 , 12) comprising snap-engageable means. 4. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by the two parts (4, 5) being interengageable by cooperable means (13, 14) whereby the piercing part (5) moves telescopically with respect to the support part (4). 5. A set of parts according to Claim 4, characterised by the cooperable means (13, 14) comprising screw thread means. 6. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by the piercing means (6) comprising a tip of the piercing part (5). 7. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by detent means (20) of one part (4 or 5) preventing undesired relative movement of the two parts (4, 5) in a particular direction. 8. A set of parts according to Claim 7, characterised by the detent means (20) comprising an external shearable stop means on the piercing part (5). 9. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by seal means (18, 19) whereby the support part (4) and piercing part (5) are sealed together when the piercing part (5) is in use moved to a fully piercing position relative to the support part (4) . 10. A set of parts according to Claim 9, characterised by the seal means comprising an annular bead (18) on one part (4) and a complementary groove (19) on the other part (5). 11. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by the piercing part (5) comprising a seating (21) for cooperation with the other member. 12. A set of parts according to Claim 11 , characterised by the seating (21) comprising a well in which the other member (3) is received with a push fit. 13. A set of parts according to Claim 12, characterised by the push fit comprising a substantially leak-proof interference fit. 14. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by anti- rotational means (102, 103). 15. A set of parts according to Claim 14, characterised by the anti-rotational means (102, 103) comprising a plurality of spaced fingers (102) on the piercing part (5) , and a plurality of spaced teeth (103) on the support part (4). 16. A set of parts according to Claim 15, characterised by the teeth (103) being unequally spaced. 17. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, characterised by anti- damping means (105, 106) . 18. A set of parts according to Claim 17, characterised by the anti-damping means comprising a flat ( 105) or thread (13) of the support part (4) and a protrusion (106) on the piercing part (5). 19. A set of parts according to Claim 18, characterised by the protrusion (106) being between crests of a thread (14) of the support part (4). 20. A flow path connection, characterised by a set of parts according to any preceding claim, with the two parts (4, 5) being assembled together to provide a connection (1 , 100). 21. Two members connected together by a flow path connection according to Claim 20. 22. Two members according to Claim 21 , characterised by one member (2a) comprising a reservoir pierced by the piercing member (5). 23. Two members according to Claim 22, characterised by the one member (2b) comprising a container of flowable material. 24. Two members according to Claim 23, characterised by the other member (3) comprising a dosing apparatus.

Inventors: SHIPWAY MALCOLM, SHIPWAY, MALCOLM
Applicants: SHIPWAY MALCOLM, SMITH DAVID S PACKAGING, DAVID S. SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B67B7
IPC codes: B67B7, H01R13, H02G15