Patent Publication Number: US-6983861-B2

Title: Dispensing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
   This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/287649 filed Nov. 5, 2002 and 10/449401 filed Jun. 2, 2003, both pending. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a beverage pack and, more particularly, to a dispensing apparatus for a beverage pack. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Beverage is contained in various containers such as bottles, cans and packs. Such a pack is typically made of a laminate. The laminate includes a paperboard and an aluminum foil coated on the paperboard. 
   In a design, no weak point is provided in the pack. A corner must be cut from the pack so as to define an orifice through which drink can be poured. A pair of scissors or a knife is necessary for getting drink from the pack. 
   In another design, an orifice is punched in the paperboard during production of the pack. A straw with a sharp point is inserted through the orifice in order to pierce the aluminum foil. Thus, drink can be sucked from the pack through the straw. However, this design is not convenient for two persons wanting to share a beverage pack. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 54,7370 discloses a detachable spout and can opener including a hollow body B with a sharp point d. The body B includes four walls a. Above a line  1 — 1 , the walls a are constantly wide. Below the line  1 — 1 , the walls a converge to the sharp point d. A ridge f is formed on each wall a. An opening g is defined in each wall a. A pack can be pierced by means of the sharp point d. Beverage can flow through the openings g. Complete opener portion of the body B into the pack is prevented by means of the ribs f. However, the body B tends to slack and fall from the pack since the walls a are equally wide above the line  1 — 1 . The body B can be closed by means of a cap (not numbered). Once removed from the body B, the cap can be lost easily since it is an independent element. 
   The applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/287649 filed on Nov. 5, 2002 discloses a dispensing apparatus. The dispensing apparatus cannot keep beverage in a pack once it is inserted into the pack. 
   The applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/449401 filed on Jun. 2, 2003 discloses a dispensing apparatus including a spout and opener  10  and a cover  30  pivotally connected with the spout and opener  10 . The spout and opener  10  can be closed by means of the cover  30 . 
   The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, a spout and opener includes an opener portion with a sharp tip for opening a pack. The opener portion gets thicker and thicker from the sharp tip in order to fit into the pack tighter and tighter. The spout receives liquid from the pack. The spout portion directs the liquid to the exterior of the pack from the opener portion. The stop extends between the spout portion and the opener portion for avoiding insertion of the whole spout and opener into the pack. 
   The primary advantage of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention is the opener portion getting thicker from the sharp tip in order to fit tighter into the pack. 
   Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view taken along a line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a spout and opener of the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are cross-sectional views of a beverage pack opened by means of the spout and opener shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIGS. 8 through 10  are reduced cross-sectional views of the beverage pack and the spout and opener shown in  FIG. 6  in different positions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1˜4  show a dispensing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the dispensing apparatus includes a spout and opener  10 , a cap  20  and a cover  30 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the spout and opener  10  defines a passage  14 . The spout and opener  10  includes a spout portion  11 , an opener portion  12  and a stop  13  between the spout portion  11  and the opener portion  12 . A cutout  15  is defined in an edge of the opener portion  12 . A slot  16  is defined in the opener portion  12 . A ridge  17  is formed on the spout portion  11 . Two recesses  18  are defined in the spout portion  11 . A slot  19  is defined in the stop  13 . 
   The cap  20  defines an aperture  21  through which a ring (not shown) can be inserted. Thus, the dispensing apparatus can be hung on a proper external article. The cap  20  includes a tab  22  extending from an edge thereof. The tab  22  is inserted into the slot  19  when the cap  20  covers the opener portion  12 . 
   The cover  30  is pivotally attached to the spout portion  11 . The cover  30  includes two ears  31  formed thereon, a boss  32  formed on each of the ears  31  and a hook  33  formed thereon. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the bosses  18  are put in the recesses  32 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the cover  30  can thus be pivoted between a covering position and an opening position on the spout portion  11 . In the covering position of the cover  30 , the buck  33  holds on to the spout portion  11 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the opener portion  12  becomes thicker from a sharp tip  25  to the stop  13 . When the opener portion  12  is inserted in a pack  40  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), the increasing dimension of the opener portion  12  makes the opener portion  12  fit tighter in the pack  40 . The stop  13  can abut against the pack  40  in order to prevent insertion of the whole spout and opener  10  into the pack  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , the opener portion  12  is tightly inserted in the pack  40 . The cover  30  is in the covering position. Thus, beverage is kept in the pack  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the cover  30  is in the covering position. The pack  40  is tilted so that the beverage is poured into a cup  41  from the pack  40  through the spout and opener  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , as only a small amount of the beverage is left in the pack  40 , the pack  40  is turned upside down so that the last amount of the beverage is poured into another cup  42  from the pack  40  through the spout and opener  10 . At this instant, the last amount of the beverage flows through the slot  16 . 
   The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.