EP0223717A2 - Removable dispensing tap for a liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

This dispensing tap comprises a fixed element (3) integral with the neck (1) of the liquid container, and a movable element (8) capable of being moved in translation against a return spring (11) disposed outside the elements (3) and (8) and separated in a leaktight manner from the liquid to be dispensed, in order to bring in communication an opening (12) of the movable element and a discharge conduit (13) of the fixed element. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a removable dispensing valve adaptable to the neck of a liquid container. It relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to a plugging and racking system of this type, intended to equip the containers composed of a rigid overpack and of a bag made of a flexible material, for example plastic, containing the liquid.

Such packages are currently very popular for the sale or distribution of various drinks, because they are simple, compact and inexpensive, and their use is very easy. Numerous variants of these packages have moreover been proposed in the art and we will mention for the record those that the Applicant markets under the name "Bag-in-Box" (registered trademark).

However, they have the disadvantage of being equipped with a liquid distribution system which is generally complex and expensive.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a dispensing tap which is less expensive and more reliable than those of the known technique, because it consists only of two parts which are movable relative to one another, between which is interposed an elastic return member, which does not come into contact with the dispensed liquid and, therefore, can be made of a non-food grade material.

The invention also aims to provide a dispensing valve of this type which can be easily locked in the liquid withdrawal position, as well as in the closed position.

The invention finally relates to such a dispensing tap which, given its limited cost, can constitute a disposable member after use.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a removable dispensing tap for a liquid container, comprising a fixed element, capable of being made integral with a conduit forming a neck of said container by communicating with the interior of said neck, and a mobile element. relative to said fixed element, this mobile element comprising a tubular member mounted to slide inside a tubular part of corresponding diameter of said fixed element, so that said neck, said tubular part and said tubular member are in permanent communication, the side wall of said tubular part comprising an evacuation orifice, while the side wall of said tubular member has an opening capable of being brought into communication with said evacuation orifice for sliding of said movable element inside said fixed element, this dispensing tap being characterized in that it comprises a return spring of said movable element in the position where ladi the opening is not in communication with said discharge orifice, said return spring being disposed outside of the tubular member of said movable member and outside of the tubular part of said fixed member, concentric with these members , which separate it tightly from the liquid to be dispensed.

The return spring may be a simple plastic spring interposed between the ends of the fixed element and the mobile element furthest from the neck. It will therefore suffice to exert pressure with a finger on the end of the movable element, against the return spring, to move this element and allow the liquid to exit through the discharge orifice, without this liquid comes into contact with the spring. This may, therefore, be made of a non-food grade material, therefore very inexpensive.

In order to be able to lock the movable element in the racking position, provision will advantageously be made on the side wall of the tubular member of this movable part, an L-shaped cutout or of similar shape, in which a lug projecting on the internal face of the tubular part of the fixed element. Conversely, a lug formed on the external face of said tubular member of the movable part can be engaged in an L-shaped or silimary recess of the internal wall of the tubular part of the fixed element. The longest branch of the L will be arranged in the direction of movement of the mobile element, while the shortest branch will be arranged radially with respect to the mobile element or the fixed element, so that it can lock the lug by causing a simple rotation of the movable element relative to the fixed element.

Naturally, in order to avoid any unwanted passage of the liquid, seals will be provided between the fixed and mobile elements, in particular downstream and upstream of the dispensing orifice of the fixed element and of the opening of the mobile element intended to be brought into communication with this dispensing orifice.

As is well known, in containers consisting of a flexible addition equipped with a rigid neck, the dispensing valve can be equipped, at the end by which it enters into communication with the container, with a flexible membrane shutter, which should be drilled during the first distribution of liquid. In this case, this role to be devolved to the movable element of the tap, by giving at its end closest to said further a cutting or blunt profile, making it possible to perforate said plastic film using this end by sliding of the movable element inside the fixed element.

The fixed element can be made integral with the neck by engaging a tubular portion of this element in the neck, and by joining them by clipping, if these parts are made of an elastically deformable material such as a plastic material. It could possibly be an integral part of this bottleneck.

• La figure 1 est une coupe axiale du robinet monté sur le goulot du récipient;
• Les figures 2, 3 et 4 sont trois vues latérales, décalées de 120°, de ce robinet.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows of an embodiment of such a valve-dispenser, given by way of nonlimiting example. In this description, reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is an axial section of the valve mounted on the neck of the container;
• Figures 2, 3 and 4 are three side views, offset by 120 °, of this valve.

The container containing the liquid, a flexible addition for example, is not shown in the drawings, where we only see the neck 1 of this container, externally threaded.

The dispensing valve according to the invention comprises two elements, one 3, integral with the neck 1 and fixed in position relative to the latter, the other 4, movable in translation and in rotation relative to the previous one. These parts are made of plastic.

The fixed element 3 comprises two concentric tubular parts 5 and 6 joined by an annular portion 7. The part 5, of external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the neck 1 is engaged in the latter and its mouth, facing the container, is closed, before the first use of the tap, by a flexible waterproof membrane 2. Part 5 of the fixed element 3 is locked in position on the neck 1 by clipping the end 1 a of the neck, with a slightly smaller internal diameter , in an external throat corresponding 5 a of part 5. Part 6, open at its two ends, protrudes inside part 5.

The element 4 comprises essentially a pipe 8 slidably mounted within the portion 6 and which only is ourverte the front end 8a, which protrudes outside the portion 6, within the part 5 The orifice of this end 8 a is situated in a plane arranged obliquely with respect to the axis of the neck, so that the end 8 a can perforate the membrane 2. The opposite end of the element 4 comprises, outside, a skirt 9, concentric with part 8 and facing the neck 1 This skirt 9 is slidably mounted on an external skirt 10 concentric with part 6 of the fixed element 3, of which it is integral, and directed in the opposite direction of the skirt 9.

Between the skirts 9 and 10 is interposed a return spring 11, which, by its position, is never in contact with the liquid and which can therefore be made of any material of non-food quality.

The side wall of the conduit 8 is pierced with an opening 12, while the part 6 of the fixed element comprises a side tube 13 for discharging the liquid. The opening 12 is arranged in such a way, relative to the evacuation tube 13, that by simply exerting a push on the external end of the element 4, against the spring 11, this opening can be brought in accordance with the inlet of said tube 13 and thus allow the evacuation of the liquid from the container through this tube. Likewise, in order to be able to pierce the membrane 2 closing off the mouth of part 5, when using the dispensing tap placed on the neck of a container full of liquid for the first time, it is sufficient to move the element. mobile 4 to bring the end 8 a of the conduit 8 to pierce the membrane 2.

Of course, in order to avoid any leakage of liquid, seals such as 14 are provided between the tubular parts 6 and 8 of the fixed and movable elements, downstream and upstream of the inlet of the tube 13 and the opening 12.

In order to be able to immobilize the movable element in the liquid dispensing position, by ceasing to exert pressure at the free end of the movable element 4, the duct 8 has an L-shaped cutout 15 in which is engaged a lug 16 protruding from the inner wall of the tube 6. The large branch of the L is arranged parallel to the axis of the conduit 8, while the small branch is distant from the container.

It will thus suffice to push the movable element 4, by exerting manual pressure thereon, in order to bring the lug 16 to the point of connection of the two branches of the L, then to rotate the element 4, to penetrate the lug into the small branch of the L, to block the movable element in the liquid withdrawal position.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and includes all the technical equivalents. Thus, for example, that the end 8a of the conduit 8 could have any other shape allowing it to pierce the membrane 2. The cutout 15 of the duct 8 may be replaced by a cutting portion 6 or a recess the internal wall of this part, the associated lug then projecting from the external face of the duct 8. The cutout 15 can also be given a shape different from an L. It can also be provided, if necessary, on the duct 8 , two or more exhaust pipes such as 13.

Finally, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the neck 1 and the fixed element 3 can constitute one and the same integral part of the container, the membrane 2 closing, in this case, the mouth of the neck in concordance with the container discharge opening.

Of course, many other modifications can be provided by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Removable dispensing tap for liquid container, comprising a fixed element (3), capable of being made integral with the neck-forming conduit (1) of said container by communicating with the interior of said neck, and an element (4) movable relative to said fixed element, this mobile element comprising a tubular member (8) slidably mounted inside a tubular part (6) of corresponding diameter of said fixed element (3), so that said neck (1), said part tubular (6) and said tubular member (8) are in permanent communication, the side wall of said tubular part (6) having a discharge orifice (13), while the side wall of said tubular member (8) has an opening (12), capable of being brought into communication with said discharge orifice (13) by sliding of said movable element (4) inside said fixed element (3), this dispensing tap being characterized in that it comprises a return spring (11) of said element movable in the position where said opening (12) is not in communication with said discharge orifice (13), said return spring (11) being disposed outside the tubular member (8) of said movable element (4) and outside the tubular part (6) of said fixed element (3), concentric with these members which separate it in a sealed manner from the liquid to be dispensed. 2. Dispensing valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said return spring (11) is interposed between parts (9, 10) of said movable (4) and fixed (3) elements projecting outside these elements . 3. Tap according to claim 2, characterized in that said projecting parts (9, 10) are constituted by external skirts concentric with said movable (4) and fixed (3) elements. 4. Tap according to claim 3, characterized in that said skirts (9, 10) are slidably mounted relative to each other. 5. Dispenser valve according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that, in order to lock said valve in the liquid distribution position, said tubular member (8), respectively said tubular part (6) comprises a cutout or a L-shaped or similar recess (15) in which is engaged a lug (16) carried respectively by said tubular part or by said tubular member (8), the large branch of the L of the cutout or the recess being directed along the axis of said tubular parts, while the small branch of the L is arranged perpendicularly. 6. Dispensing valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said neck (1) and said fixed element (3) form a single piece. 7. Faucet valve according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in a manner known per se, the end (8a) of said tubular member (8) closest to said neck (1) has such a shape that it can pierce the membrane (2) closing the inlet orifice of said neck. 8. Dispensing valve according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, in a manner known per se, said fixed element (3) comprises a tubular part (5) engaged in said neck (1) and made integral with that -this by clip-sage.

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