EP2382140A1 - Distributeurs de liquide - Google Patents

Distributeurs de liquide

Info

Publication number
EP2382140A1
EP2382140A1 EP10701033A EP10701033A EP2382140A1 EP 2382140 A1 EP2382140 A1 EP 2382140A1 EP 10701033 A EP10701033 A EP 10701033A EP 10701033 A EP10701033 A EP 10701033A EP 2382140 A1 EP2382140 A1 EP 2382140A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
inner tube
connection member
dispenser
open position
tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP10701033A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2382140B1 (fr
Inventor
Matthew Eric Smith
Karl Mondszein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carbonite Corp
Original Assignee
Carbonite Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carbonite Corp filed Critical Carbonite Corp
Publication of EP2382140A1 publication Critical patent/EP2382140A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2382140B1 publication Critical patent/EP2382140B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/32—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with means for venting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/26—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts
    • B65D47/28—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts having linear movement
    • B65D47/283—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with slide valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by sliding over a port, e.g. formed with slidable spouts having linear movement between tubular parts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/04—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another
    • B65D77/06—Liquids or semi-liquids or other materials or articles enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers
    • B65D77/062—Flexible containers disposed within polygonal containers formed by folding a carton blank
    • B65D77/065—Spouts, pouring necks or discharging tubes fixed to or integral with the flexible container
    • B65D77/067—Spouts, pouring necks or discharging tubes fixed to or integral with the flexible container combined with a valve, a tap or a piercer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2205/00—Venting means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to liquid dispensers of resealable type, that is to say to devices in the nature of taps that may be selectively opened to dispense a liquid from a container and may then be closed again and will then form a reliable seal and prevent further dispensing of liquid until it is desired.
  • the invention relates to a liquid dispenser of the type including an outer tube with a discharge opening formed in its side wall and an inner tube which is at least partially accommodated within the outer tube and defines with it an annular space, the outer tube being connected in a sealed manner to a one- piece connection member, which defines an inlet space, for connection to a liquid container, one end of the inner tube being closed and the outer tube being integrally connected to the inner tube by a flexible integral web, whose width in the radial direction is greater than that of the annular space, the outer surface of the inner tube being in sliding sealed contact with the connection member, a liquid flow opening being formed in the wall of the inner tube, the inner tube being movable longitudinally within the outer tube between an open position, in which the inlet space communicates with the discharge opening, and a closed position, in which the inlet space does not communicate with the discharge opening.
  • a liquid dispenser of the type referred to above is disclosed in WO 2007/020440.
  • the liquid dispenser disclosed in this prior document is in practice intended for containers such as wine boxes, that is to say containers which progressively collapse as their contents are dispensed, which means that as liquid is dispensed from the container it is not replaced by atmospheric air.
  • containers such as wine boxes, that is to say containers which progressively collapse as their contents are dispensed, which means that as liquid is dispensed from the container it is not replaced by atmospheric air.
  • container of this type there are also numerous types of container which are not collapsible and in which it is therefore necessary for the volume of any liquid displaced to be replaced by atmospheric air.
  • the liquid dispenser disclosed in the prior document referred to above is not suitable for this purpose because it is unable to admit air to replace the volume of liquid that is dispensed.
  • the seal of the prior dispenser may also not be of sufficient integrity in all cases because the inner tube is in sliding sealed contact with the connection member over only a small proportion of its length.
  • a further object is to provide such a dispenser which is suitable for use with a liquid container of non-collapsible type in which it is necessary that air be admitted to replace the volume of liquid that is dispensed.
  • a liquid dispenser of the type referred to above is characterised in that the connection member includes an integral tubular portion of which one end is closed and the other end communicates with the inlet space, that the outer surface of the tubular portion is in sliding sealed contact with the inner surface of the inner tube, whereby the two flow openings are at least partially in registry in the open position and are out of registry in the closed position.
  • the tubular portion of the connection member and the inner tube may be of any desired length and thus the length over which they are in sliding sealed contact may be adjusted to whatever value is appropriate in the circumstances to achieve the desired sealing integrity. Accordingly, the previous potential problem relating to leakage may be eliminated.
  • the inner tube is also provided with an airflow opening circumferentially offset, preferably by about 180°, from the liquid flow opening in it and the tubular portion of the connection member is also provided with an airflow opening positioned so that when the inner tube is in the open position the two airflow openings are at least partially in registry and when the inner tube is in the closed position the two airflow openings are not in registry.
  • the dispenser when the dispenser is in the open position, liquid can flow out through it via the two overlapping flow openings and the liquid which flows out is replaced by air which flows in through the discharge opening, the annular space between the inner and outer tubes and then through the overlapping air flow openings into the container to which the dispenser is connected.
  • the inner tube Whilst the inner tube may be pulled outwardly to open the dispenser it is preferred that it is pushed inwardly to open it. It will be appreciated that since the integral web has a width greater than that of the annular space between the inner and outer tubes, the inner tube inherently has two equilibrium positions with respect to the outer tube in which the integral web is undeformed. In all other relative positions, the integral web will exert a force on the inner and outer tube which will tend to move it to one of the equilibrium positions.
  • the closed position of the dispenser is preferably one of the equilibrium positions and when the inner tube is moved towards the open position, the web will initially exert a restoring force on the inner tube tending to return it to the fully open position.
  • the open position may be the second equilibrium position of the inner tube but it is preferred that the inner tube does not reach the second equilibrium position. This is achieved by the provision of a stop which acts on the inner tube as it moves into the open position and prevents it from reaching an equilibrium position in which the web is unstressed, whereby in the open position of the inner tube the web exerts a force on the inner tube urging into contact with the stop.
  • the inner tube and the connection member are so constructed that one end of the inner tube is in contact with the connection member in the open position of the inner tube, whereby the connection member constitutes the stop.
  • connection member Whilst the connection member may be permanently connected to the outer tube, it is preferred that it is only connected to it by a snap connection.
  • connection member is provided with an annular flange which fits inside the open end of the outer tube and is snap-connected to it, e.g. by means of a cooperating annular recess and projection formed on the two opposed surfaces.
  • liquid In use of the liquid dispenser, that is to say when connected to a liquid container, when the dispenser is open liquid will flow out of the discharge opening and air will flow in through the discharge opening in the opposite direction and then through the two airflow openings into the container to replace the volume of liquid that has been dispensed.
  • the area of the discharge opening is greater than that of the liquid flow opening in the inner tube.
  • connection member 2 comprises an annular cylindrical portion 6, integral with one end of which is an annular flange 8.
  • annular flange 8 Integral with the inner edge of the flange 8 is a tubular portion 10, whose axis is parallel to that of the annular portion 6 and which is open at the end closest to the annular portion 6 and is closed at the opposite end.
  • the interior of the tubular portion 10 thus communicates with the inlet space defined by the annular portion 6.
  • an airflow opening 14 is also formed in the wall of the tubular portion 10 at a position diametrically opposed to that of the liquid flow opening 12 .
  • an airflow opening 14 Integral with the surface of the flange 8 on the side opposite to the annular portion 6 and extending parallel to the axis of the annular portion 6 is a short annular flange 16, the outer surface of which is slightly convergent in the direction away from the annular portion 6 and affords an annular recess 18 adjacent to the flange 8.
  • the discharge portion of the dispenser comprises an inner tube 20, which is open at one end and is closed at the other end by a cap 23 which extends in the radial direction beyond the inner tube 20 and thus provides a handle by which the inner tube 20 may be grasped by the fingers of a user.
  • Extending around and spaced from the inner tube 20 is an outer tube 22, which is integrally connected at one end to the inner tube 20 at a point intermediate its ends by a flexible web 24.
  • the width of the web in the radial direction is greater than that of the annular space between the tubes 20 and 22, whereby the web 24 constitutes a bistable connection between the two tubes, as will be discussed in more detail below.
  • Integral with the lowermost portion of the outer tube 22 is a spigot 26, which defines a discharge opening 28.
  • a liquid flow opening 30 Formed in the lowermost portion of the inner tube 20 is a liquid flow opening 30 and formed in its uppermost portion diametrically opposed to the opening 30 is an airflow opening 32.
  • the inner surface of the outer tube 22 is conically divergent towards the free end and adjacent the widest end of this divergent portion is an annular projection 34. It will be appreciated that this divergent surface and the projection 34 correspond closely in shape and size to the convergent surface and the recess 18 on the flange 16 of the connection member.
  • the discharge member 4 is connected to the connection member 2 by a snap connection constituted by the two complementary converging and diverging surfaces on the outer tube 22 and flange 16 and the engagement of the annular projection 34 in the annular recess 18.
  • the dimensioning of these components and the material which is used, in this case polypropylene, ensure that the connection is both firm and liquid-tight.
  • the tubular portion 10 is accommodated within the inner tube 20 with its outer surface in sliding sealed contact with the inner surface of the tube 20.
  • the tubes 20 and 22 are connected together in a bistable manner.
  • the two tubes inherently have two positions at which the web 24 is in equilibrium, that is to say is not deformed, and one of these is shown in Figure 2.
  • no force is applied to the inner tube 20 by the web 24, due to the fact that it is relaxed and not deformed, and the airflow openings 14 and 32 are not in registry with one another and the liquid flow openings 12 and 30 are also not in registry with one another.
  • the two sets of openings are sealed from one another by the sealing engagement of the surfaces between them and there is therefore no communication between the inlet space defined by the annular member 6 and the annular discharge space defined by the tubes 20 and 22. If the inner tube 22 were now moved inwardly, that is to say to the right as seen in the drawings, by the application of pressure to the cap 23, the web 24 is progressively deformed and thus exerts, initially, a force on the inner tube 22 tending to return it to the closed position, that is to say to move it to the left.
  • liquid will start to flow out of the container to which the dispenser is connected by means of the annular portion 6.
  • This flow is through the inlet space defined by the annular portion 6, the flow opening 12, the flow opening 30, the annular space defined by the tubes 20 and 22 and finally through the flow opening 28 defined by the spigot 26.
  • This initial flow of liquid will cause a reduced pressure in the liquid container and this pressure will act via the airflow openings 14 and 32 on the annular space between the tubes 20 and 22. Air is therefore drawn through the discharge opening 28 into the annular space between the tubes 20 and 22 and then through the airflow openings 32 and 14 into the liquid container.
  • the volume of liquid dispensed from the container is therefore replaced by inflowing air and the pressure within the container is therefore not permitted to fall below atmospheric to any substantial extent or for any significant period of time. It will be appreciated that such a subatmospheric pressure within the container would impede and potentially wholly prevent the discharge of liquid from the container, unless the container were of collapsible type.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

On décrit un distributeur de liquide de type rebouchable comprenant un tube extérieur (22) dans lequel est formée une ouverture (28) de sortie et un tube intérieur (20) partiellement logé à l'intérieur du tube extérieur (22) et définissant avec celui-ci un espace annulaire. Le tube extérieur est relié de manière étanche à un organe monobloc (2) de raccordement qui définit un espace d'entrée destiné au raccordement à un récipient de liquide. Une extrémité du tube intérieur (20) est fermée et le tube extérieur (22) est relié de façon intégrée au tube intérieur (20) par une toile souple incorporée (24) dont la largeur dans la direction radiale est supérieure à celle de l'espace annulaire. Une ouverture (30) d'écoulement de liquide est formée dans la paroi du tube intérieur (20) et le tube intérieur (20) est mobile longitudinalement à l'intérieur du tube extérieur (22) entre une position ouverte, où l'espace d'entrée communique avec l'ouverture (28) de sortie, et une position fermée, où l'espace d'entrée ne communique pas avec l'ouverture (28) de sortie. L'organe (2) de raccordement comprend une partie tubulaire incorporée (10) dont une extrémité est fermée et l'autre extrémité communique avec l'espace d'entrée. Une ouverture (12) d'écoulement de liquide est formée dans la partie tubulaire (10) et la surface extérieure de la partie tubulaire (10) est en contact glissant étanche avec la surface intérieure du tube intérieur (20), ce qui fait que les deux ouvertures (12, 30) d'écoulement de liquide sont au moins partiellement alignées dans la position ouverte et ne sont pas alignées dans la position fermée.
EP10701033A 2009-01-14 2010-01-11 Distributeurs de liquide Not-in-force EP2382140B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0900559A GB0900559D0 (en) 2009-01-14 2009-01-14 Liquid dispensers
PCT/GB2010/000036 WO2010082017A1 (fr) 2009-01-14 2010-01-11 Distributeurs de liquide

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2382140A1 true EP2382140A1 (fr) 2011-11-02
EP2382140B1 EP2382140B1 (fr) 2013-03-20

Family

ID=40379543

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10701033A Not-in-force EP2382140B1 (fr) 2009-01-14 2010-01-11 Distributeurs de liquide

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2382140B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN102307792B (fr)
GB (1) GB0900559D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010082017A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202011103529U1 (de) * 2011-07-21 2011-10-14 Markus Poschmann Verschluss- und Haltevorrichtung für ein Behältnis, insbesondere Tube
JP6097848B2 (ja) * 2013-11-26 2017-03-15 ネステク ソシエテ アノニム 消費可能製品パッケージ用のアダプタ及びこれを使用する方法
CN104843306A (zh) * 2015-05-06 2015-08-19 李红彪 托盘弯曲吸管盖
GB201510679D0 (en) * 2015-06-17 2015-07-29 Drake Gerald A dispensing apparatus
AT519376B1 (de) * 2016-11-21 2018-08-15 Georg Hagleitner Hans In eine Behälteröffnung einsetzbares Verschlusselement
CN110482009A (zh) * 2019-08-13 2019-11-22 中山市华宝勒生活用品实业有限公司 一种可伸缩侧撕的盖组件

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1980002546A1 (fr) * 1979-05-11 1980-11-27 M Quinsee Vanne de distribution amelioree
AUPR380601A0 (en) * 2001-03-19 2001-04-12 Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd A push/pull closure
WO2003086892A1 (fr) * 2002-04-05 2003-10-23 Technocaps Limited Fermeture de type tire-pousse pour contenants destines a des boissons gazeuses et analogue
DE102004040928B4 (de) * 2004-08-24 2012-10-31 Georg Menshen Gmbh & Co. Kg Verschluss für einen Behälter
GB0516963D0 (en) 2005-08-18 2005-09-28 Carbonite Corp Liquid dispensers

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2010082017A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2010082017A1 (fr) 2010-07-22
CN102307792B (zh) 2013-06-12
EP2382140B1 (fr) 2013-03-20
GB0900559D0 (en) 2009-02-11
CN102307792A (zh) 2012-01-04

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