GB2203117A

GB2203117A - Containers for pressurised liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2203117A
Application number: GB08708300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Alan Giles
Original assignee: Metal Box PLC
Current assignee: Crown Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-07
Filing date: 1987-04-07
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB8708300D0

Abstract

A container for dispensing draught beer or other pressurised liquid, comprises a deflatable plastics vessel 10 domed at top and bottom ends thereof, the top domed end 4 of which is formed with a dispensing orifice 6, and a generally cylindrical outer sleeve 12 within which the vessel is received and located and which has a base end 14 by which the container may be supported. The vessel is secured within the outer sleeve by a plurality of straps 20, 21, two straps for each end and each strap extending across a said domed end of the vessel between and through circumferentially spaced apertures 18 in the outer sleeve. The straps may include looped ends 22 which are held against the sleeve by toggles 24 or the straps may be heat sealed to the sleeve. The sleeve is preferably formed of spirally wound board comprising a laminate of kraft paper and polyethylene, the base end is a plastics standing ring, the straps are of woven polypropylene, and the vessel of polyethylene terephalate. The dispensing orifice 6 extends through apertures in the upper straps. The vessel contents may be dispensed by squeezing the vessel using a compacting device having jaws which engage the vessel ends. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINERS This invention relates to containers for dispensing draught beer or other pressurised liquids, comprising a deflatable plastics vessel domed at its top and bottom.

According to the invention the vessel is mounted inside a generally cylindrical outer sleeve, having a base for standing the assembly of vessel and outer sleeve upright, the vessel being secured in the sleeve by straps around the ends of the vessel, the ends of the straps being held to the side wall of the sleeve.

The drawing of this application is a diametral crosssectional elevation showing, by way of example only, one embodiment of the invention in which a vessel for dispensing draught beer is mounted in an open-ended outer sleeve.

The vessel, 2, has a domed top end 4 with a filling and dispensing mouth 6 in which a stopper, not shown, can be fitted. For dispensing, a beer pump will be fitted in the mouth. The top end 4 is joined to a domed bottom end 8 by a cylindrical central portion 10. The vessel 2 is of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or any other suitable, collapsible plastics material.

The vessel 2 is mounted in a rigid outer sleeve 12 having a body 13 which may be made of a spirally-wound board material. Its inner and outer surfaces are p; bly covereA in a laminated material, consisting for example of kraft paper and polyethylene, to create a water-resistant surface.

The sleeve 12 has a base ring 74, of any suitable material such as expanded polyethy"lene strip formed into a ring and welded to form a seam 16. Ring 14 is shown riveted to the body of the sleeve 12.

Two sets of slots 18 are formed through the body 13.

C Each set comprises four slots spaced apart by 90 . The vessel is mounted in the sleeve 12 by means of four straps 20 and 21, two around its top end 4 and two around its bottom end 8. The two upper straps, 20, are enlarged in their middle section, the enlarged portion having a hole through which the mouth 6 protrudes.

Each strap has a loop 22 at each end, extending through a respective one of the slots 18 and held against the side wall of the sleeve by a toggle 24.

As beer is removed from the vessel 2, it collapses in on itself, while remaining trapped in the outer sleeve by the straps, which can flex as required.

The straps themselves can be of any suitable material.

A preferred material is woven polypropylene, which can be heat sealed to form the end loops 22. An alternative to the use of loops 22 and toggles 24 is to heat-seal the straps to the sleeve body 13. If the sleeve 12 is to be re-usable, the lower straps 21 are attached removably, e.g. by using the toggles 24. The upper straps 20 may however be permanently secured to the sleeve body.

The contents of the vessel may be dispensed by squeezing the vessel itself, using a suitable compacting device having jaws engaging the top and bottom ends of the vessel. The jaws can be arranged to extend through the open ends of the sleeve 12.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A container for dispensing draught beer or other pressurised liquid, which comprises a deflatable plastics vessel domed at top and bottom ends thereof the top domed end of which is formed with a dispensing orifice, and a generally cylindrical outer sleeve within which the vessel is received and located and which has a base end by which the container may be supported, for securing the vessel within the outer sleeve the container further comprising a plurality of straps each extending across a said domed end of the vessel between and through circumferentially spaced apertures in the outer sleeve.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein each strap extends generally diametrically of the container between and through opposed apertures in the outer sleeve.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein two straps are provided for each domed end of the vessel, the straps being disposed to cross at right angles and extending between and through four apertures which are regularly spaced around the outer sleeve.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the dispensing orifice is disposed centrally in relation to the top domed end, and extends through apertures formed in the respective straps.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein each strap has looped ends which extend, at projecting parts thereof, through and beyond the respective said apertures in the outer sleeve, the straps being secured to the outer sleeve by toggles extending through their said projecting parts outside the outer sleeve.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container has a central cylindrical portion disposed in close-fitting engagement with the outer sleeve.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is of polyethylene terephalate.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer sleeve is substantially of spirally wound board.

9. A container according to claim 8, which has water-resistant inner and outer surfaces provided on the spirally wound board by a laminate of kraft paper and polyethylene.

10. A container according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the outer sleeve has a plastics standing ring arranged to provide an annular standing surface for the container.

11. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the straps are of woven polypropylene.

12. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.