NZ275768A

NZ275768A - Postmix connector for dispensing liquid from a container: internal valve controls fluid flow

Info

Publication number: NZ275768A
Application number: NZ275768A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Motta Carlos Fernando Carvalho; Assis Reis Freitas Francisc De
Original assignee: Imi Cornelius Brasil Ltda
Priority date: 1993-10-26
Filing date: 1994-10-26
Publication date: 1997-01-29
Also published as: WO1995011855A1; AU679285B2; CN1139414A; AU8101594A; BR9304369A

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand No. International No. 275768 PCT/BR94/00032 Priority Date(s):... Complete Specification Filed: Class: (6) Publication Dote: P.O. Journal No: l!rfr.J..3L NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Container connection device, fluid dispensing assembly therefor and container provided therewith Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: IMI CORNELIUS BRASIL LTDA, a Brazilian company of Rua Itaocara, 97, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ^ (FOLLOWED BY PAGE 1 A) po gl5 7 6 B - l - Title: "A CONNECTION DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS SUITABLE FOR HOLDING FLUID, CONCENTRATES AND THE LIKE, ENGAGEABLE WITH A PRE AND POST-MIX DISPENSING APPARATUS AND WITH A SOURCE OF FLUID, A FLUID EXTRACTING ASSEMBLY AND A CONTAINER ENGAGEABLE TO PRE 5 AND POST-MIX DISPENSING MACHINES" Background of the invention FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fluid connection and extraction devices for containers and more particularly 10 for containers engageable to equipments within a liquid dispensing system that processes two or more fluids having different viscosity to dispense a final fluid. Among the many systems for dispensing a final product a beverage dispensing system basically includes a source 15 of gaseous fluid, a plurality of containers for storing diferent beverage concentrates, commonly known as syrup, suction pump and the beverage-dispensing machine, which combines two fluids having different viscosity with water and dispenses cold gaseous beverages commonly known as soft 20 drinks. The Prior Art AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP - 2 275 7 6 8 Containers holding the syrup are usually made of stainless steel and with undesirably large capacity, which are returned after use to the concentrate furnisher and submitted to cleaning for removing the residues, thereby generating ad-5 ditional costs. On the other hand, due to* the large capacity of the stainless steel containers the beverage dispenser post requires space and to stock the concentrate for undesired long time intervals. In another known embodiment, the syrup is packed in 10 plastic pockets, which unfortunately do not support pressurization, requiring the aid of suction pumps or additional equipment besides its small capacity. The use of any of these containers impose mounting assemblies having differentiated couplings for each of the 15 pressurization devices and/or suction devices besides maintenance costs associated therewith. Various attempts have been made in order to replace said containers by disposable plastic bottles of the PET type or the like but low cost and reliable connection devices for 20 connecting to said PET bottles for storing and dispensing the concentrate within a beverage dispensing system are not known in the prior art, moreover disposable ones. Among the connection devices of the prior art for coupling to a neck portion of a container those disclosed in 25 EP 0 224 380 and EP 0 226 713 will be briefly cited. EP 0 244 380 discloses a connection device comprising an insert dimensioned and specially configured to fit in a necked opening of a container, housing a valve member or plug and a fitting means at a distal end of said insert in align-30 ment with the center line of the container for receiving a syphon tube. As described on pages 6 thereon said insert defines a valve housing consisting of two pieces which are spin welded or bonded together. The valve member or plug has a plurality 35 of apertures located along a path of travel thereof in said valve housing, said va.\ve member and said valve housing having a plurality of projections spaced along a length of said slidable valve member. The valve member is slidable movable inside said valve housing between a top of the connection de- AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP - 3 - 27 5 7 6 8 vice and the distal syphon tube. The valve member requires a spring for urging the same against the top of the valve housing so as to keep the valve assembly in closed position. An advantage of the connection device disclosed in EPO 224 380 is 5 that permits the insertion thereof in containers for stocking beer, aerosol and the like for long periods, but this connection device requires to be sealed co the neck of the container such as by bonding or spin welding before the filling function as cited on page 7 and shown in figure 1. The bond-10 ing or spin welding requires skill and high complexity so as to ensure a gas-tight and/or liquid-proof seal and pressure resistance requirements for this type of containers. Due to the material involved in PET containers and the very small inner diameter of the neck of the commercially known PET bot-15 ties, ca. 22 mm, the mounting operation of this connection device to said neck has turned out to be not cost-effective as desired. Moreover the filling of a PET bottle with said connection device already mounted is too much time consuming for the beverage industry due to the very reduced passages and ap-20 ertures to be flooded. In an another attempt to satisfy the industry and operating requirements EP 0 226 713 discloses a connection device to be threaded on a container already filled for use in discharging a final product. No control elements, plugs or 25 valves are located inside the neck portion of the PET bottle, only being two diferent flow paths traversing the cross section of the neck. However, as described in said document on page 4, the connection device of the prior art requires two non return valves which are mounted at distal ends of an in-30 flow conduit and outlet conduit respectively. Each non return valve is urged to a closed position by a respective spring. However the PET bottle has to be adapted for use with this device by sealing the opening of the PET container before coupling the device of EP 0 226 713. 35 As mentioned on page 6 the opening of the container has to be sealed with a special sealant. This sealant comprises a thin film in the form of three layers, polyethilene, aluminium and PET. With PET inside, this sealant is bonded to the end of the neck of the container by heating for example. - 4 _ 27 5 7 6 8 During connection of the connection device to the container, there is a risk of part of the of the severed sealant clogging the tube for discharging the liquid as mentioned on page 12 in EP 0 226713. 5 The connection devices of the prior art basically use valve plugs and valve seats, springs, O-rings or the like in many materials and additional manufacturing steps, not only in connection with the device but also with the PET bottles. It is observed that the inner diameter of the neck and the 10 final top surface of the opening of the known PET bottles or the like impose limitations to the connection devices of the prior art. Objects of the invention The present invention besides overcoming the limita-15 tions discussed above refers to a disposable connection device comprising a single control element located inside the neck of a PET bottle, the connection device being also disposable. The connection device of the present also eliminates the known suction pumps in the known art. 20 In a first aspect the invention relates to a con nection device placed on the neck of the container, preferably but not exclusively to the neck of a disposable commercial bottle holding the concentrate, maintaining it sealed with respect to the environment and for immediate use in the process 25 of preparing beverage and in a second aspect to a fluid-extracting assembly actuating on the connection device already mounted inside the neck of the bottle for controlling the passage of two fluids having different viscosity. Said second device is in flow connection with a source of pressurization 30 and with the beverage-dispensing machine. The extraction assembly can operate with the opening of the PET bottle downwardly and upwardly oriented, with three possibilities of extracting liquid from the container, namely, by pressure, by gravity and by pumping, and all the combina-35 tions thereof. The present invention is described for a preferred embodiment, for instance, in disposable PET bottles containing AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP 5 275760 concentrate for obtaining a gaseous beverage, but its use not being limited to this type of container. Summary of the Invention According to the invention the connection device is mounted into the neck of a bottle of the PET type rendering said bottle engageable with the beverage dispensing system. The connection device is provided with tamper-sensitive means for protecting and identifying the type and origin of the concentrate as a matter of normal design in the food industry and with controlled blocking valve means. This connection device is obtained with a low production cost, with resilient and sanitary plastic materials such as high and low density polyethylene, centroprene or equivalent rubbers. The connection device of the extracting assembly comprises: a body formed by a continuous peripheral skirt having opposite upper and lower perimetric edges and an opening at the lower perimetric edge for delimiting a cavity; said cavity housing an inner cylindrical wall extending along said cavity with opposed internal and peripheral surfaces and having a smaller diameter than the diameter of said neck portion; said peripheral skirt and said inner cylindrical wall being joined by bridges at said upper perimetric edge for delimiting an annular space thsrebetween for receiving said neck portion of said container, inner space being sealed against the environment, and a central region de-limited by said internal surface, wherein said central region comprises: an upper end region adjacent to the upper perimetric edge suitable for receiving an actuator device; a lower end region comprising a chamber with an opened side at said lower perimetric edge; an intermediate barrier region between said upper and lower end regions; and valve means fixedly mounted in said intermediate barrier region and lower end region for controlling first and Rppnnd flnw naths of fluids of different viscosity—Lft- rr IN 7 PATENT OFFICE opposite directions through said central reaiqrr:'-: " — - 6 DEC 1996 rScsveo 6 2 7 5 7 e a The complementary distal device of the bottle of the present extracting assembly, which may be brought together with the connection device located at the neck, comprises: a body with first connection side having peripheral skirt for coupling to said connection device and an opposite connection side comprising distal ends for fluid connection by tubes for respectively connecting said fluid-extracting assembly to said liquid dispensing apparatus and said fluid source; first and second actuator means, first actuator means being spring loaded and in alignment with the centre line of said peripheral skirt and of said connection device and second actuator means comprising a plurality of fixed claw-shaped protrusions surrounding said first actuator means for traversing upper end and barrier regions of the connection device for respectively opening said flow passages when said connection and second devices are brought together. Besides this unexpected application without any adaptations to be done on known disposable PET bottles the user has the possibility of storing different concentrates with a rapid replacement of flavours, with a considerable reduction of space and costs by eliminating equipment that is indispensable in the prior art. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the following drawings. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section view of the connection device mounted on the neck of a commercially available PET bottle and the coupling device before their engagement; L:\LIBRARY\WDH\SPECS\35657 3.TJH - / - Figure 2 shows an enlarged longitudinal section view and an upper plan view of the connection device; - Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section view of the second couplable and distal device, which together with the 5 device of figure 3 forms the liquid-extracting assembly and a bottom plan view thereof; and - Figure 4 shows a partial longitudinal section view similar to figure 1, but with the internal tube displaced from its central position for collecting liquid from the bottom. 10 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The connection device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is secured to the neck 14 of a known bottle 13 and the coupling device 2 for engaging the container to the beverage-dispensing device by connection tubes to be linked at the respective distal ends 15 11 and 12, just before the coupling. During the first mode of application, namely storage of the concentrate in the bottle 13, only the device 1 is secured to the neck 14. The body of the device 1 defines a cavity delimited 20 by a continuous skirt wall 19a, the height of which is delimited by peripheral upper 3 and lower 4 edges and a cap 23 provided with tamper-sensitive means disposed at the peripheral upper edge 3, being.open on the opposed perimetrical edge 4 to the interior 16 of the container 13. The skirt 19a is inter-25 nally provided with conventional threads 24 or similar means for engagement with the neck 14 of the container 13. According to the preferred embodiment, the reference number 19b indicates a cylindrical wall having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the neck 14 with peripheral and 30 internal surface opposite each other, which extend along said cavity. The cylindrical internal wall 19b and the peripheral wall 19a are joined by bridges alternating with the tamper-sensitive means of the cap 23 so as to define a peripheral circular space for receiving the neck 14 of the container 13. 35 The inner surface of the cylindrical wall 19b delimits a central space, which extends longitudinally from the portion of the cap 23 to the opposed open end along a first upper end re- AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP - 6 - gion 17a, suitable for receiving the support device 2, an intermediate barrier region 17b and a lower end region 17c. The reference numbers 9, 26, 27, 28 indicate internal valve means through which fluids with different viscosity Qui and 5 Qu2 can pass, in opposed directions between the upper and lower end regions 17a,17c substantially at the same time. Device 2 shown in figure 1 forms, together with the connection device 1, the fluid-extracting assembly and its inclusion in the figure is intended to facilitate the under-10 standing of the claimed assembly. The device 2 will be described with reference to figure 3. Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the device 1 in longitudinal section and a diametral section thereof. Again, the two concentric cylindrical walls 19a, 15 19b, the cap 23 and the three regions 17a, 17b and 17c are indicated. The upper region 17a is hollow and the walls form a seat suitable for receiving and guiding guide elements 29 of the device 2 during engagement. 20 The region 17b is a barrier region between upper end 17a and lower end 17c regions. Cross section thereof is divided into normally closed passages 5,15,1515" when the container is not in use. The passage 5 can be crossed by a first fluid Qui, and the passages 15,15',15" can be crossed by a 25 second fluid Qu2, both of a different viscosity and in a substantially simultaneous manner in opposed directions between the upper and lower end regions 17a,17c, when device 1 and 2 are brought together. Central passage 5 for establishing a first communi-30 cation by a fluid of a first viscosity Qui and a plurality of passages 15,15',15" disposed around said central passage 5 for establishing another communication by a fluid of a second viscosity Qu2 are isolated from each other. The reference number 25 indicates cuts engageable with complementary 35 projections 29, formed in the device 2. The radial distribution of the cuts 25 is specific of the contents of the bottle for the purpose of ensuring the correct composition of the concentrate in dispensing the beverage and help in the tightness thereof. AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP - 9 - The internal valve device 26,27,28 is a flow control element that extends axially by the region 17a. The flow control element has a tubular body 27 with two opposed and distal ends and with obturator portions 26 adjacent one of said ends 5 of the body, forming a single piece. One end is open an turned to the intermediate region 17b, ending at a bead aligned with the central passage 5. The opposed distal end terminates in a narrowing 28 with a normally closed passage bore that blocks the central passage 5. The blocked portions 26 are distrib-10 uted radially around said bead at the open end and maintains the passages 15,15',15" normally closed. The final flow-controlling device 26,27,28 is kept in a central position by a spacer 32 connected by arms 33,33',33" to the internal wall 19b of the device 1. The spacer 32 in longitudinal section has 15 two opposed H-shaped concavities. Both concavities are communicated by a central bore 35. One concavity receives the narrowing 28. The opposed concavity receives a prolongation element 8 by means of an adaptation 34. The passage bore in the narrowing 38, the central bore 35 of the spacer 32 and the 20 prolongation element 8 are aligned and can be crossed by said first fluid during the use of the container. The annular chamber 9 is open in the direction of the lower region 17c and blocked in the direction of the upper region 17a of the device 1 by the plurality of passages 25 15,15',15", located in the region 17b, which are normally closed by the respective obturator planes 25 from the lower region 17c. The obturator portions 26 control the second of the two fluid communication between the two end regions 17a and 30 17c. It should be noted that the command of the f1;>ws in opposed directions of the first and second fluids occurs within the circular section and the height of the neck 14 of a PET-type bottle. Although the figure illustrates the bottle in up-35 right position for storing the concentrate when not in use, the central location of the prolongation element 8 corresponds to the condition in which the bottle operates with the entry directed downwardly. Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the distal AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP - 10 - device 2 and a bottom view thereof. The device 2 has a body formed by a peripheral skirt 28 with shoulders formed on outer surface. A lower coupling side 32 is delimited by the diameter of the peripheral skirt 5 28 being engageable to the portion of the sealing 23 and on the peripheral skirt 19a of the device 1. References 11 and 12 indicate distal connection for connecting said device to respective tubes retained on shoulders 21 and 22 to a gaseous source and to the liquid-dispensing machine. 10 Device 2 houses a retractile central actuator 31 un der spring action and a plurality of fixed actuators 6 distributed concentrically around the actuator 31 and cooperating with each other, surrounded by the internal wall of the skirt 28. The actuators 6, 31 act in the direction of insertion, 15 traversing the tap 23 and engaging the final flow-controlling element 26,27,28 for opening the normally closed passages 5,15,15',15" in barrier region 17 b so as to establish two independent fluid communications between the lower end region 17c or free end of the device 1 and the pair of distal ends 20 11, 12 of the device 2, when both are brought together. The actuator 31 is a hollow rod with a first closed end and the opposite open end. The rod 31 is retractile and urged by a spring 30, which limits its displacement to two end positions aligned with the axis and that correspond to respec-25 tive conditions of blocking and simultaneous conduction of first and second fluids. The closed end of the rod 31 is downstream of the distal connection 11. The opposite open end is engageable with the bead of the upper end of the element 26, 27 shown in 30 figure 2. The rod 31 has a non-through axial bore 39 intercepted by a transverse bore 34, forming a "T" at the proximity of the closed end. Rod 31 is guided by guide surfaces 35 near said closed end. Bores 34 are blocked by said guide surfaces 35. 35 The internal diameter of the distal end 11 extends in the direction of the rod 31 and is greater from a given distance to create a cavity 36 upstream of the guide surfaces 35. Said cavity 36 is suitable for receiving the upper end of the rod 31 provided with the bore 34 during the retraction of AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP -lithe rod 31. The actuators 6 have the form of prominences and, in the present example, are conical claws. The conical claws 6 have a penetration end to cross the cap 23 and a back upper 5 flank as seat of a portion of the open end of the actuator 31. The spring force of spring 30 maintains the rod 31 biased against said back upper flank of the claws 6. This situation occurs when device 2 is not coupled with device 1, and there is no communication between any pair of the distal ends 10 11, 12 and the coupling side 32. When devices 1 and 2 are brought together claws 6 perforate the cap 23 and maintain the mutual coupling between devices 1 and 2 in a rigid manner. The reciprocal coupling between the devices 1 and 2 overcomes the spring force of the 15 spring 30 and rod 31 retracts into the cavity 36 by sliding along the guide walls 35 and leaving the bore 34 unblocked within the cavity 36. Simultaneously the rod 31 presses against the bead of the final control element 26,27 hence opening by transmission the normally closed bore at the oppo-20 site end 28 and unblocking the central passage 5. A first fluid communication Qui between the distal end 11 connectable to a gaseous source and the interior 16 of the bottle 13 forms through the extracting assembly of the invention. The first one of said fluids floods the chamber 36, 25 crosses the rod 31 by the radial and axial bores 34 and 39 of the device 2, passes to the device 1 through the central passage 5 and the internal wall of the final control element 27, the bore at the end 28 and the bore 35 of the spacer 32 and the open section of the prolongation element 8, the 30 insufflated gas reaching the interior 16. Simultaneously, the cla-vs 6 actuate on the blocked portions 26, opening the normally closed passages 15,15',15" in the device 1 and with the retraction of the rod 31 the annular passage 38 appears, which is formed by the separation 35 of the end portion of the rod 31 of the back upper flank of the claws 6 and that communicates to the distal end 12 through the annular chamber 10 in the device 2. A second fluid communication Qu2 in opposed direction to Qui is established between the distal end 12 AlVitrNO'dZ) - 12 - engageable with a dispensing machine and the interior 16 of the claw 13. The second fluid Qu2 leaves the interior 16 of the container 13 impelled by the insufflation of the first fluid towards the distal end 12. This flow Qu2 follows a 5 course isolated from the previous one, crosses the lower region 17c the chamber 9, the passages 15,15',15" in the region 17b, the annular passage 38 formed by the retraction of the rod 31, the annular open chamber 10 to the distal end 12, connectable to the dispensing machine. 10 In the bottom view of device 2 the reference number 28 indicates the peripheral skirt, a radial distribution of shoulders 29 and the penetration flanks of the claws 6. The radial distribution of shoulders 29 is engages a respective radial distribution of recesses 25 located in device 1, to en-15 sure the tightness of the extracting assembly. The penetration flanks of the claws 6 perforate the sealing 23, traverse upper region 17b and rest in region 17c being retained in region 17b. Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section of the 20 device 1 of figure 2, but with the prolongation element 8 connected to the chamber 9. The prolongation element 8 acts as a fisher and is in fluid communication with distal end 12 when the devices 1 and 2 are coupled. In this mode of use, the opening of the bottle is directed upwards, that is, upright, 25 so that the liquid is "caught" by the prolongation element 8 and conducted to the chamber 9 as a result of the injection of fluid through the central passage 5. The normal or inverted orientation of the disposable bottle determines the positioning of the prolongation element 30 8. The extracting assembly of the present invention further permits that only CO2 will be utilized, so that there will not be any risk of contaminating the surrounding air, which would cause the presence of undesired taste in the dis-35 pensed beverage. In this way, the absence of oxygen avoids oxidation of the beverage. The connection device and the extracting assembly of the present invention are not limited to the present example. The containers provided with the connection device and the ex- AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP 27 5 7 68 tracting assembly are equally suitable for use in different areas and with different liquids, among which the following are pointed out: - concentrates of juices and natural or artificial effusions 5 of fruits and herbs; juices and natural or artificial effusions of fruits and herbs; - concentrates of natural or artificial soft-drinks; - concentrates of milk products and its derivatives; 10 - concentrates of alcoholic beverages; - alcoholic beverages; - concentrates of chemical products and detergents; - chemical and detergent products. It will be understood that the figures and de-15 scriptions disclosed are given as an example to facilitate the understanding of the invention the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. AMENDED SHEET IPEA/EP fjjjjjATgjyOFRCE - 6 DEC 1996 RECeVED </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 14 275768 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A connection device for containers with a neck portion suitable for holding fluids, engageable to a liquid pre- and post-mix dispensing apparatus and/or a source of fluid, said connection device comprising a - body formed by a continuous peripheral skirt having opposite upper and lower perimetric edges and an opening at the lower perimetric edge for delimiting a cavity; - said cavity housing an inner cylindrical wall extending along said cavity with opposed internal and peripheral surfaces and having a smaller diameter than the diameter of said neck portion ; - said peripheral skirt and said inner cylindrical wall being joined by bridges at said upper perimetric edge for delimiting an annular space therebetween for receiving said neck portion of said container , inner space being sealed against the environment, and a central region de-limited by said internal surface, wherein said central region comprises: - an upper end region adjacent to the upper perimetric edge suitable for receiving an actuator device ; - a lower end region comprising a chamber with an opened side at said lower perimetric edge ; - an intermediate barrier region between said upper and lower end regions; and - valve means fixedly mounted in said intermediate barrier region and lower end region for controlling first and second flow paths of fluids of different viscosity in opposite directions through said central region, j PATENT OFFICE - 6 DEC 1996 -RiSiTvED 15 27 5768

2. A connection device according to Claim 1, characterised in said valve means comprising: - a plurality of controlled flow passages in said barrier region defining said first flow path through said chamber and said barrier region ; and - a central controlled flow passage traversing said chamber along said lower end region and said barrier region for defining said second flow path, said controlled flow passages being normally closed.

3. A connection device according to Claim 2, characterised in said valve means further comprising a stationary resilient flow control element and extending along said lower region said flow control element comprising a tubular portion with a distal narrowing end bearing a normally closed bore in alignment with said central flow passage and an adjacent plane surface integrally with said tubular portion acting on said plurality of normally closed flow passages

4. A connection device according to Claim 3, characterised in said tubular portion comprising a shoulder on the other end thereof engageable by a first actuator means of said actuator device so as to open said closed bore on said distal end in response to said actuator and providing for a flow condition through said second flow path along said central flow passage and said adjacent plane surface comprising obturator portions to be actuated by second of said actuator device so as to open said plurality IN.ZJ^^TOFFIC^ -6 0EC 1996 J """"received I 16 275768 of normally closed flow passages and providing for a flow connection through said first flow path.

5. A connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in said valve means being expandable.

6. A connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in further comprising a tube with one end thereof in flow communication with said central passage through said second flow path.

7. A connection device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in further comprising a tube with one end thereof in flow communication with said chamber through said first flow path.

8. A fluid-extracting assembly suitable for use with a container engageable with a pre- and post-mix liquid dispensing apparatus, characterised in comprising said connection device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 7, and a second device comprising: a body with first and second substantially opposite connection sides; said first connection side having a peripheral skirt for coupling to said connection device and said opposite connection side comprising distal ends for fluid connection by tubes for respectively connecting said fluid-extracting assembly to said liquid dispensing apparatus and said fluid source; - first and second actuator means , said first actuator means being spring loaded and in alignment with the centre line of said N.Z PATENT Oi FiCej - 6 DEC 19^ 17 27 5 7 6 8 peripheral skirt and of said connection device and second actuator means comprising a plurality of fixed claw-shaped protrusions surrounding said first actuator means for traversing said upper end region and barrier region of said connection device for respectively opening said flow passages when said connection device and said second device are brought together.

9. A fluid-extracting assembly : according to Claim 8, characterised in said first spring loaded actuator means comprising a guided hollow stem with spaced apart open and closed ends, a bore near said closed end and in flow communication with said one distal connection end for providing said second flow path, and each of said plurality of claw-shaped projections comprising a seat for a portion of said open end of said hollow stem and abutting means on opposite side thereof for acting on said plurality of obturator portions for providing a first flow path between said chamber and said other distal connection end when said connection device and second device are brought together.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, characterised in comprising a controlled annular passage responsive to an abutment of said spring loaded stem with said barrier region , said annular passage providing said second flow path.

11. A container engageable to a liquid pre- and/or post-mix dispensing apparatus and to a source of a fluid characterised by comprising a connection device defined in any one of Claims 1 to 7. N.Z PATENT OFFICII - 6 DEC 1996 : f RECEIVED | 18 275768

12. A container engageable to a liquid pre- and post-mix dispensing apparatus and to a source of a fluid, characterised by comprising a fluid-extracting assembly as defined in any one of Claims 8 to 10. DATED THIS , DAY OP N.Z. PATcNT OFFICE -6 DEC 1996 RECEIVED </div>