CA1165730A

CA1165730A - Containers for liquids

Info

Publication number: CA1165730A
Application number: CA000377801A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jon H. Malpas
Original assignee: Diemoulders Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Diemoulders Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-19
Filing date: 1981-05-19
Publication date: 1984-04-17
Also published as: ZA813209B; AR225670A1; IT8112527A0; GB2077243B; DK212681A; PT73038B; PT73038A; BE888801A; FR2482567B1; FR2482567A1; IT1147218B; BR8103153A; DE3119547A1; GB2077243A; NZ197128A; JPS5717746A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A closure and dispensing device for engagement with the outer end of a filling socket for a bag-like container in a leak-free manner, the closure being adapted to receive and retain therein a dispensing tap, there being a frangible diaphragm across the closure, with the diaphragm being adapted to be engaged and fractured by the tap so as to permit flow of contents from the bag-like container.

Description

S7~() ~his invention relates to improvements in containers and it refers particularly, but not exclusively, to improve-ments in containers for liquids and/or particulate ~aterial.
So-called composite containers of the type under consideration are enjoying usage nowadays on an ever-increasing scale for the storage of beverages such as, $or example, fortified or unfortified wines, spirits, fruit juices, cordials and even milk. For purpo~es of simplicity of explanation the ensuing description will refer in particular to containers of the "bag and box"
type, now normally employed a~ so-called "wine casks"
for the storage and packaging of wines and other alcoholic beverages. However, it should be understood that this represents merely a preferred usage for containers of the type under ¢onsideration, and that the present invention is not to be restricted solely to such a preferred usage.
It is a common practice nowadays to package wine or tbe like in a bag-like ¢ontainer having a neck fitting or socket to which a dispensing tap or the like may be connected. In general such bag-like container~ are first filled with wine and then an open end of the bag itself is sealed. When the present applicant's "AIRIESFL0"
(Registered Trade Mark) wine cask was first introduced into the market-place some years ago it included an outer ~; container of a relatively rigid material, for example in the form of a cardboard box or a metal can, and an inner bag-like container of a suitable plastics material wherein , i .
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the wine would be placed. ~he inner container would first be filled with wine and then sealed across the previously opened edge or end, thereby preventing escape of wine from that inner container. The inner container wa~ furthermore provided with a dispensing fitting or neck member which would be engaged in the outer container and which was adapted to receive a so-called dispensing tap by which the contents of the inner container itself could be dispensed.
In an alternative arrangement it was proposed to provide a~ inner container in the form of a sealed bag and including thereon a filler fitting or socket and a dispensing fitting or socket, with the two fittings or sockets being spaced from each other such that the bag-like container may be filled through the filling socket which is then sealed off to provide a secure container for the wine, which wine will subseguently be dispensed through the second or dispensing socket having a tap or the like dispensing means connected thereto. To be more speciric, once the container was filled and sealed the dispensing fitting or socket would be engaged in any known manner in the outer container and, when it was desired to dispense wine from within the inner container, a tap or the like could be inserted in the dispensing socket.
In yet a further alternative arrangement it has been known to provide an inner container incorporating therewith a dispensing tap, which tap may only be released to an ~ ~573() operative or dispensing position relative to the outer container by opening out a slot or the like provided in the outer container and then engaging the tap in that slot.
The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the previously mentioned "AIRLESFLO" (Registered Trade Mark) type of container so as to provide an inner container having a fitting assembly through which liquid may both be fed into the inner container and subsequently dispensed from that container, with the inner container in fact initially at least being sealed by the attachment thereto of the fitting assembly previously mentioned.
The present invention furthermore seeks to provide a filling-dispensing assembly for use in and with a composite container for fluids and the like.
The present invention provides a filler-dispenser assembly for containers for fluids and/or particulate material, said assembly including: a first socket member adapted to be located on said container whereby to allow for filling thereof with said fluid or particulate material;
and a second socket member adapted to co-operate with said irst socket member whereby to seal the container when filled, said second socket member further including inner and outer concentric cylindrical members interconnected at one end thereof by a flange, the innermost wall of said inner concentric cylindrical member adapted to receive and retain therein a dispensing means whereby to allow for dispensing of the contents of said container, and a frangible diaphragm adapted to be pierced by said dispensing means across the other end of said inner concentric cylindrical member.
The present invention also provides a bag-like ,~

~ 16573n container for fluids and/or particulate material, said container including: a first socket member located on said container whereby to allow for filling thereof with said fluid or particulate material; and a second socket member adapted to co-operate with said first socket member whereby to seal the container when filled, said second socket member further including inner and outer concentric cylindrical members interconnected at one end thereof by a flange, the innermost wall of said inner concentric cylindrical member adapted to receive and retain therein a dispensing means whereby to allow for dispensing of the contents of said container, and a frangible diaphragm adapted to be pierced by said dispensing means across the other end of said inner concentric cylindrical member.
The present invention is intended to be used in conjunction with a dispensing tap in accordance with U.S.A.
Patent Number 3,448,889, although without being limited to such a tap.
In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein:
Figures 1 and 2 represent a top plan view and a side elevation respectively of a first embodiment of a filling socket for a bag-like container;
Figures 3 and 4 are a top plan view and a side elevation respectively of a first embodiment of a closure means in accordance with the invention;
Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the closure of Figure 3;
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Figure 6 is a sectional view of the closure of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the closure of Figure 3.
In accordance with a first embodiment, and as illustrated for example in Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a filler-dispensing socket 1 of substantially tubular cylindrical shape, of a diameter sufficiently large to accommodate the nozzle of a filling machine by which wine or the like contents is to be passed into an inner container.

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At the innermost end of the socket 1 there is provided a relatively large diameter external flange 2, by means of which the socket itself may be secured to the inner bag of a composite container. Such securement may be achieved in any known manner, as for example b~
means of adhesives or alternativel~ by welding as by the application of heat or by tbe use of ultrasonics.
At the outermost end of the socket 1 there is provided a second external flange 3, of somewhat lesser radial dimension than the previously mentioned flange 2.
In an especially preferred embodiment as illustrated the central portion of the first mentioned flange 2 is thick-ened whereby to provide, in effe¢t, a ~urther flange 4 of substantially the same radial dimension as the second-mentioned flange 3, w~th the second-mentioned flange 3 and the further flange 4 in fact being separated by a space, constituting a neck portion 5, sufficient to a¢¢ommodate the material of the outer container.
At or in the vicinity of the outer end portion of the socket 1 there is provided an internal flange or rib (not shown) which is operable to provide means for holding in position a se¢o~d so¢ket member 6 (Figures ~ to 6J
for reception of a dispensing tap or the like. In an alternative arrangement the socket 1 may be provided with internal corrugations or threads for co-operation with complementary threads or corrugations provided on a means for holding in position a fitting 6 for reception of a dispensing tap.

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~he second socket member 6 preferably includes two substantially cylindrical concentric members 7 and 8 adapted to be interconnected at one end thereof, aQ for example by means of an outwardly extending flange 9.
Such a flange 9 will extend outwardly from the outer rim of the innermost substantially cylindrical member 8 across to tbe adjacent end of the external ~ubstantially cylind-rical member 7 and then externally of said external or outer cylindrical member 7.
As illustrated the inner substantially cylindrical member is tubular in shape, having a centrally aligned passageway 10 extending therethrough, with that passageway 10 being adapted to receive and retain a dispensing tap or the like. The external substantially cylindrical member 7 include~ an external rib or pro~ection 11 thereon adapted to engage with the internal rib of the first filler socket : member 1 whereby to allow for said di~pensing socket member 6 to be retained in position relative to said first socket member 1.
In t~ 3 outer surface of the outwardly extending ..
external flange 9 of the second socket member 6 there is provided a~non-circular recess 12 for engagement with a non-circular flange provided on the external surface of a barrel o~ a dispensing tap whereby said dispen~ing tap may be engaged within the filler-dispensing as~embly in such a - manner a~ to prevent rotation thereof relative to said filler-dispensin~ assembly. In this regard attention is -. directed to Australian Patent No. 407456 of the present .. ',: :

' -8-,. i ,~, ~ 1~s73n applicant relating to dispensing taps for containers for this type.
In an especially preferred embodiment, and again as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, on the undersurface of the external flange 9 o~ the second socket member 6 there are provided a plurality of transverse members 13 adapted to proJect a sufficient distance from the surface of the flange 9 so as to engage with the external surface of the external flange at the outer end of the first socket member such that said external flange of said second ~ocket member will be spaced from the external flange of said first socket member.
Across the end of the inner substantially cylindrical member 8 there may be provided a film or membrane 14 of plastics or other material, said film 14 serving to provide a frangible barrier against escape of contents from the ¢ontainer once the second socket member 6 has been inter-connected with the ~irst socket member 1. The film 14 is preferably of a sufficient thickness that, on insertion of a dispensing tap into the inner member 8 of the second socket member 6 the film 14 will be broken whereby to permit the contents of the container to flow into the tap and from thence be dispensed. In an especially preferred embodiment both the first and second socket members 1 and 6 may be constructed of polyethylene, with the frangible film 14 also being constructed o~ that material. However it should be understood that other materials may prove e~ually suitable.

_g_ 1 ~573(-The film 14 may be formed integrally with the inner member 8 or may be manufactured separately and attached subsequently by gluing, welding or other suitable methods.
Alternatively, or in addition, a further film (not illustrated) may be placed across the inner end of member 7. Such film would be attached by gluing, welding or other suitable methods.
In an especially preferred embodiment a flexible inner container is provided, with that inner container being constructed of what may be termed a ply-plastics material.
Preferably, on the innermost surface of the ply is a plastics material of a type which will not react with the contents to be stored in the flexible bag or container. A ~econd layer of the ply may be constructed of a plastics material of a type which will constitute a barrier to the passage, as by permeation, of air or oxygen. There may also be included a third and preferably outermost layer of a relatively ~trong pla9tics material, with this third outermoAt layer providing strength for the composite ply. The materials desirable to achieve such results are well known and, in an especially preferred arrangement, a flexible container of the aforementioned type will include layers of polyethylene, polyvinylacetate, nylon, polyvinylalcohol, aluminium metalized polyester, or pure aluminium foil sheet, polyester, or polyvinylchloride in any number of combinations or permutations.
In practice the material from which the bag i9 formed is made to the desired shape and is then sealed around the peripheral edges thereof. The bag thus fo~med is provided at one location with an opening of a size . ., i ~5731) sufficient to accommodate the first socket member 1, which socket member 1 is inserted through that opening or placed over that opening and attached thereto by any known means, as for example by welding of the external flange 2. ~hereafter the bag with first socket or filling member 1 attached thereto is filled with wine or the like to the required extent. Once filled the second socket member 6 i8 brought into contact with the first socket member 1 whereby to constitute a closure for that first 60cket member 1 and prevent escape of liguid therethrough.
When it is re~uired to dispense contents from the container it is merely necessary to fit a tap into the passageway 10 provided by the inner substantially cylind-rical member 8 to an extent such that the inner end of the tap in itselr engages with and penetrates the frangible film 14 provided at the inner end Or said inner substant-ially ¢ylindrical member 8. ~hereafter, by pushing the J
tap firml~ home into the socket member such that the external flange provided on the surface of that tap is brought into engagement with the complementary shaped re¢ess 12 in the external flange 9 of the~ second socket member 6, the tap will be firmly locate~d such that it will be efre¢ti~ely non-rotatable relati~e to the container-iller-dispenser assembly. ~he tap may then be employed ;
in the usual manner whereby to allow for dispensing of the contents of the container itself.
If desired, a removable or frangible barrier (not , - ~ illustrated) may be placed across the other end of member ' -11-~;, ~1~57~

8 so as to prevent the ingress of dirt or other co~tam-inants into the member 8. ~his barrier may be in the form of a removable closure cap; a removable label of suitable material attached to the outer surface of flange 9; an integrally moulded diaphragm across the outer end of member 8; a further diaphragm across the outer end of member 8 which would be secured by gluing or welding or other suitable methods; or any other suitable closure device.
In a further preferred embodiment a single frangible diaphragm ma~ be positioned BO as to achieve both desired results, namely to prevent unwanted outflow of li~uid contents of the container during storage etc. and to prevent ingress of unwanted foreign matter and oxygen to the filling-dispensing assembly.
~o refer now to Figure 7, there is shown a variation of the socket 6 of Figures 3 to 6.
Here, the socket 6' is adapted to receive and retain a dispensing tap or the like (not shown) in two separate and distinct positions, namely a first or storage position and a ~econd or dispensing position. In the first position, the dispensing tap is located and retained in the concentric passageway of the inner substantially cylindrical member 8' of said fitting 6' without piercing or fracturing the frangible plastics material film 14'.
In the second position the tap is pushed further into the fitting itself whereby to fracture the film 14' and allow for dispensing of container contents. To assist in the achieving of the abovementioned result the fitting member ,~

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may be extended in the longitudinal dimension thereof and, preferably have two internal ribs 40 co-operable with complementary external ribs, slots or grooves on the barrel of a dispensing tap.
When in the first or s$orage position, the tap will be rotatable relative tc the fitting. On the other hand, when in the second or dispensing position, once again engagement between the non-circular recess 12' of the outwardly extending flange 9' of the fitting 6' and the non-circular flange of the tap will prevent relative rotation between fitting and tap.
If the tap is of the type having a rotatable spigot it may be found necessary to provide means for preventing rotation of the barrel of that tap relative to the socket members. It may furthermore be desirable to provide means for locating the second socket or dispensing member ; relative to the first or filler socket member.
In the various embodiments illustrated and described, ; 20 the air-impervious plastics material employed for the barrier8, films, diaphragms and so forth may be a two-layer material rather than the three-layer material previously described, including a first layer of polyethylene and a ~ second layer of a substantially air-impervious material such;~ 25 as polyester or nylon. Alternatively to or in addition to ;~ the multi-ply material, it may be preferred to employ a thin layer of a material such as metallized (e.g. aluminium) foil, or suitably coated or laminated pure ~luminium sheet depending on the contents to be protected, which may be 1,:,, ~ 30 fastened adhesively to the inner end of the second or ~.-;
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.'1" i , ~ , ' : , dispensing socket member. This multi-ply construction allows the frangible films or diagrams to seal around the entry or piercing portion of the tap as the diaphragm or film is being ruptured. This prevents any unwanted leakages and oxygen ingress. A further modification would be to coat the outer surface of the second socket member with a very thin layer of a suitable substantially air-impervious material.
Finally, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that variations and modifications are possible without department from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. A filler-dispenser assembly for containers for fluids and/or particulate material, said assembly including:
a first socket member adapted to be located on said container whereby to allow for filling thereof with said fluid or particulate material; and a second socket member adapted to co-operate with said first socket member whereby to seal the container when filled, said second socket member further including inner and outer concentric cylindrical members interconnected at one end thereof by a flange, the innermost wall of said inner concentric cylindrical member adapted to receive and retain therein a dispensing means whereby to allow for dispensing of the contents of said container, and a frangible diaphragm adapted to be pierced by said dispensing means across the other end of said inner concentric cylindrical member.

2. A filler-dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, including means for restraining said dispensing means against rotational movement relative thereto.

3. A filler-dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further including means for restraining said dispensing means against longitudinal movement relative to said second socket member.

4. A filler-dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frangible diaphragm is constructed of an air-impervious material.

5. A filler dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said socket member further includes a restraining means for restraining said dispensing means against unwanted longitudinal movement, said restraining means being adapted to retain said dispensing means in an interim position prior to said dispensing means fracturing said diaphragm.

6. A filler-dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frangible diaphragm is formed integrally with said second socket member.

7. A filler-dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a removable film in addition to said frangible diaphragm.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is in the form of a tap having a non-circular outer flange thereon, and wherein said second socket member includes a recessed portion of a shape complementary to said flange of said tap whereby to retain said tap against rotational movement relative to said second socket member.

9. A bag-like container for fluids and/or particulate material, said container including: a first socket member located on said container whereby to allow for filling thereof with said fluid or particulate material; and a second socket member adapted to co-operate with said first socket member whereby to seal the container when filled, said second socket member further including inner and outer concentric cylindrical members interconnected at one end thereof by a flange, the innermost wall of said inner concentric cylindrical member adapted to receive and retain therein a dispensing means whereby to allow for dispensing of the contents of said container, and a frangible diaphragm adapted to be pierced by said dispensing means across the other end of said inner concentric cylindrical member.