Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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 .
" 1
,~ .
.
-2-
. .,
.
7~
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
-- 4 --
,~
~ 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;
'' "
-- 5 --
. , .
:f~
.6573(~
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.
,:'
6 -
i Y~
657~
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.
73~
~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
. .,
-10-
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
-12-
,~
1 11~573Q
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
~.-;
,~, ,
'. .,
~ 13 -
''~,::
'
: "
.'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.
- 14 -
~.'
