US20060278656A1 - Spout handle and nozzle assembly - Google Patents
Spout handle and nozzle assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060278656A1 US20060278656A1 US11/452,586 US45258606A US2006278656A1 US 20060278656 A1 US20060278656 A1 US 20060278656A1 US 45258606 A US45258606 A US 45258606A US 2006278656 A1 US2006278656 A1 US 2006278656A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- actuator
- spout
- bag
- container
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/08—Details
- B67D1/0829—Keg connection means
-
- 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
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
- B67D7/02—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
- B67D7/0288—Container connection means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
- B67D1/08—Details
- B67D1/0801—Details of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
- B67D2001/0827—Bags in box
Definitions
- the sliding valve has a plurality of gripping fingers disposed around a circumference of the valve.
- the actuator has a corresponding circumferential groove.
- the gripping fingers press against an interior sidewall of the spout and keep the valve closed, preventing inadvertent sliding of the valve.
- actuator pushes the sliding valve inward toward the box and the gripping fingers are pressed inward and into the groove of the actuator, to allow the valve to slide within the central opening. This keeps the valve and actuator moving securely together.
Abstract
A valve assembly has a spout having a central opening in communication with an interior of the bag, and a circumferential interior sidewall. There is a sliding valve disposed within the central opening, the sliding valve having an open position wherein contents of the bag can flow through the valve, and a closed position, where the valve is sealed against the interior sidewall of the spout. There is a valve actuator connected to a dispensing apparatus. The valve actuator moves the sliding valve from a closed position to an open position when the spout is placed on the actuator, and the actuator moves the sliding valve from an open position to a closed position when the spout is removed from the valve actuator. The sliding valve remains in its set open or closed position until it is moved by the actuator. This arrangement prevents leakage of the container when the container is not being used in a dispensing apparatus.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) of United States Provisional Application No. 60/690,327 filed on Jun. 14, 2005.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a valve assembly for use with a bag-in-box type liquid container. The valve assembly comprises a spout, a sliding valve within the spout and an actuator for actuating the valve, along with a support handle, for use with a bag in box container intended to carry a liquid such as juice or other fluids therein.
- Bag-in-box type fluid containers are well known. Such containers are usually formed by a bag created from a film material which is intended to carry a liquid therein, with the bag then being fully enclosed by a corrugated box. The bag is produced with a fluid exit opening to which is scaled an exit port sealingly engaged to the fluid exit opening. The method of securing the exit port to the fluid exit opening is usually dependent upon the material of which the bag is produced, and certainly includes such procedures as heat sealing, adhesive sealing, and the like. The box has an opening corresponding to the exit port of the bag so that the bag can be contained within the box and have the exit port extending outwardly from the corrugated box. In many applications, the bag-in-box assembly is installed in a device which has a valve assembly of some type such that once the box is installed in the assembly, the valve may be alternately opened and closed to permit fluid to exit from the bag for consumption.
- The advantage that such containers have over other older containers is that the fluid contained within the bag will stay fresher for much longer periods of time and the product has an extended shelf life. Furthermore, such assemblies do not require air holes in the container in order to permit the fluid to flow and exit from the container into the consumer's vessel.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,814 describes a bag-in-box container for containing a pharmaceutical fluid. That invention provides a fitment which may be interposed between the plastic pouch with the box, and the valve so that the valve may be rigidly secured to the pouch. The fitment is constructed from a rigid plastic which is thermally welded to the pouch by a sealing sleeve and otherwise then affixed to the valve so that the valve is securely fitted to the pouch. The valve permits fluid to be extracted from the pouch with the fitment extending outwardly from the box through an aperture. The description indicates that various valve structures may be used in connection with the pouch, including a flap valve, or a ball check valve.
- United States Pat. No. 6,561,386 to Martens discloses a ball check valve assembly for use with bag-in-box type containers, where the exit port of the container is fitted with a ball check valve. The valve is opened upon placement of the valve onto a fitting in the dispensing machine, which pushes the spring-loaded ball upward into the container to release the contents of the container. This system has many disadvantages, however, because the ball is easily released, and the contents are particularly prone to leaking out of the valve. In addition to the mess created by leaking containers, it also increases the risk of contamination of the contents inside the containers.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bag-in-box liquid containing assembly having an improved valve assembly that permits a juice to be efficiently dispensed from the bag without the risk of leakage or contamination.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly which has a support structure to prevent the valve from collapsing inside the container.
- These and other objects are accomplished by a valve assembly comprising a spout having a central opening in communication with an interior of the bag, and a circumferential interior sidewall. There is a sliding valve disposed within the central opening. The sliding valve has an open position where contents of the bag are in communication with an aperture in the valve and can thus flow out of the spout, and a closed position, where the apertures in the valve are sealed against the interior sidewall of the spout. There is a valve actuator connected to a dispensing apparatus. The valve actuator moves the sliding valve from a closed position to an open position when the spout is placed on the actuator, and the valve actuator moves the sliding valve from an open position to a closed position when the spout is removed from the valve actuator. The actuator has a channel extending through the center of the actuator, to allow the liquid to flow through and into the dispensing appartus when the valve is in the open position. The sliding valve remains in its set open or closed position until it is moved by the actuator. This arrangement prevents leakage of the container when the container is not being used in a dispensing apparatus.
- The sliding valve has a plurality of gripping fingers disposed around a circumference of the valve. The actuator has a corresponding circumferential groove. When the valve is in the closed position, the gripping fingers press against an interior sidewall of the spout and keep the valve closed, preventing inadvertent sliding of the valve. In the open position, actuator pushes the sliding valve inward toward the box and the gripping fingers are pressed inward and into the groove of the actuator, to allow the valve to slide within the central opening. This keeps the valve and actuator moving securely together.
- There is a support structure surrounding the spout, to retain the spout on an outside of the bag-in-box container. In containers lacking the ring, excess inward pressure on the spout, either during transit or by the dispensing machine can cause the spout to collapse into the box and be difficult to use. The structure comprises a ring that surrounds the base of the spout and covers the opening of the box where the spout emerges, so that excess pressure on the spout is diffused by the ring and does not allow the spout to collapse. The support ring can be connected to a handle so that the bag-in-box container can be carried by the handle. The support ring and handle are preferably made from a stiff, durable molded plastic.
- In a preferred embodiment, the sliding valve has a concave front surface and the actuator has a convex end portion, such that the convex end portion fits within the concave front surface to move the valve between open and closed positions. The rounded concave/convex arrangement also facilitates placement of the valve on the actuator, because the valve does not have to be aligned perfectly vertically in order to fit onto the actuator. This is important, because the containers can be heavy. The rounded shape provides a self-correcting alignment of the valve and actuator.
- The spout preferably has an threaded exterior sidewall so that the spout can accommodate sealing caps.
- Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a top view of the spout, valve and handle assembly connected to a bag-in-box container; -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spout, valve and actuator in a closed position; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spout, valve and actuator in an open position; and -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container being mounted onto a beverage dispensing apparatus holding the actuator. - Turning in detail to the drawings,
FIG. 1 shows a top view of a bag-in-box liquid container 10, which is attached to aspout 20 having a slidingvalve 30 disposed within the central opening ofspout 20.Sliding valve 30 has a series offingers 31 surrounding its lower periphery. As shown inFIG. 2 ,fingers 31 abut the inside wall 21 ofspout 20 whenvalve 30 is in a closed position, and keepvalve 30 in the closed position. Valve 30 has a set ofapertures 35, which remain sealed against interior wall 21 ofspout 20 to prevent any liquid inbag 10 from escaping whenvalve 30 is in the closed position. - To
open valve 30, anactuator 40 is inserted into the roundedinner cavity 32 ofvalve 30, as shown inFIG. 3 . Onceactuator 40 is fully inserted, as shown inFIG. 3 ,fingers 31 ofvalve 30 become released from inside wall 21, and wrap aroundactuator 40 into groove 41, which runs around the circumference ofactuator 40. This releasesvalve 30 fromspout 20, and asvalve 30 moves toward the interior ofbag 10, as pushed byactuator 40,apertures 35 come into communication with the interior ofbag 12, and liquid frombag 12 is free to run through the apertures and into thechannel 45 extending through the length ofactuator 40. - To close
valve 30,actuator 40 is pulled out ofspout 20, which slidesvalve 30 toward a distal end ofspout 20, thus causingapertures 35 to be sealed againstinside wall 32 and shut off any fluid flow. Pullingactuator 40 fully out ofspout 20 then causesfingers 31 to spring out from groove 41 and come to rest again against the end portion of inside wall 21, to fixvalve 30 in the closed position. - Because
valve 30 cannot be easily moved unless it is pushed or pulled byactuator 40,valve 30 is less prone to inadvertent openings, thus, decreasing the risk if leakage and contamination. Standard ball valves are easily actuated during transit and leakage and contamination of the product is common. -
Spout 20 can be equipped withexternal threads 24, to which a cap can be connected, if desired. In addition, threaded fittings from the dispensing machine could also be connected to spout 20 viathreads 24. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , asupport structure 50 can be attached to spout 20, to preventspout 20 from collapsing intocontainer 10 under pressure.Structure 50 has aring 51 disposed betweencontainer 10 and aflange 23 onspout 20 to fixspout 20 in place.Structure 50 can be equipped with ahandle 52 to allowcontainer 10 to be easily carried. -
FIG. 4 shows a front view of a bag-in-box container 10, havingspout 20, being placed on anactuator 40, which is installed in abeverage dispensing machine 60. - Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (8)
1. A valve assembly for dispensing liquid from a bag-in-box container, comprising:
a spout having a central opening in communication with an interior of the bag, and a circumferential interior sidewall;
a sliding valve disposed within the central opening, said sliding valve having an open position wherein contents of the bag can flow through the valve, and a closed position, where the valve is sealed against the interior sidewall; and
a valve actuator adapted to be connected to a dispensing apparatus, said valve actuator moving the sliding valve from a closed position to an open position when said spout is placed on said actuator, and said valve actuator moving said sliding valve from an open position to a closed position when said spout is removed from said valve actuator.
2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding valve has a plurality of gripping fingers disposed around a circumference of the valve and the actuator has a circumferential groove, and wherein in the closed position, the gripping fingers press against the interior sidewall of the spout and keep the valve closed, and in the open position, the gripping fingers are pressed inward into the groove of the actuator, to allow the valve to slide within the central opening.
3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve has at least one aperture therethrough, such that in the open position, the at least one aperture is in communication with an interior of the container to allow fluid from the container to flow through the at least one aperture, and wherein in the closed position, the at least one aperture is sealed from the fluid in the container.
4. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the actuator has a channel running longitudinally therethrough, such that in the open position, fluid from the container runs through the at least one aperture of the valve and into the channel of the actuator.
5. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a support structure surrounding the spout, said support structure retaining said spout on an outside of said bag-in-box container.
6. The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said support structure has a handle so that said bag-in-box container can be carried by said handle.
7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sliding valve has a concave front surface and said actuator has a convex end portion, such that said convex end portion fits within said concave front surface to move the valve between open and closed positions.
8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spout has a threaded exterior sidewall.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/452,586 US20060278656A1 (en) | 2005-06-14 | 2006-06-14 | Spout handle and nozzle assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US69032705P | 2005-06-14 | 2005-06-14 | |
US11/452,586 US20060278656A1 (en) | 2005-06-14 | 2006-06-14 | Spout handle and nozzle assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060278656A1 true US20060278656A1 (en) | 2006-12-14 |
Family
ID=37523226
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/452,586 Abandoned US20060278656A1 (en) | 2005-06-14 | 2006-06-14 | Spout handle and nozzle assembly |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060278656A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080000928A1 (en) * | 2006-06-15 | 2008-01-03 | Choiniere Stanley W | Adhesive dispenser system |
WO2008119337A2 (en) * | 2007-04-02 | 2008-10-09 | Spiegel, Margret | Diaphragm pump for the carbonation of degasified beer |
US8342372B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2013-01-01 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
NL2012776A (en) * | 2012-11-22 | 2014-07-29 | Heineken Supply Chain Bv | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly. |
WO2018028450A1 (en) * | 2016-08-08 | 2018-02-15 | 上海鸿研物流技术有限公司 | Liquid transport system, liner bag and method of use |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4421146A (en) * | 1981-11-09 | 1983-12-20 | Liqui-Box Corporation | Quick-disconnect service-line connector and valve assembly |
US4515294A (en) * | 1982-03-31 | 1985-05-07 | Southern Chemical Products Company | Liquid dispenser, valve therefor and process of producing the valve |
US5307956A (en) * | 1989-10-31 | 1994-05-03 | The Coca-Cola Company | Five gallon nestable plastic syrup container |
US5390814A (en) * | 1992-05-07 | 1995-02-21 | Inpaco Corporation | Container having fitment |
US5816298A (en) * | 1994-05-10 | 1998-10-06 | Scholle Corporation | Two-part fluid coupling with guide structure |
US6126045A (en) * | 1997-07-21 | 2000-10-03 | Itsac N.V. | Connector assembly for a fluid connection |
US6561386B1 (en) * | 2002-01-03 | 2003-05-13 | Juice Tyme | Ball check valve assembly |
-
2006
- 2006-06-14 US US11/452,586 patent/US20060278656A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4421146A (en) * | 1981-11-09 | 1983-12-20 | Liqui-Box Corporation | Quick-disconnect service-line connector and valve assembly |
US4445551A (en) * | 1981-11-09 | 1984-05-01 | Bond Curtis J | Quick-disconnect coupling and valve assembly |
US4421146B1 (en) * | 1981-11-09 | 1998-02-17 | Liqui Box Corp | Quick-disconnect service-line connector and valve assembly |
US4515294A (en) * | 1982-03-31 | 1985-05-07 | Southern Chemical Products Company | Liquid dispenser, valve therefor and process of producing the valve |
US5307956A (en) * | 1989-10-31 | 1994-05-03 | The Coca-Cola Company | Five gallon nestable plastic syrup container |
US5390814A (en) * | 1992-05-07 | 1995-02-21 | Inpaco Corporation | Container having fitment |
US5816298A (en) * | 1994-05-10 | 1998-10-06 | Scholle Corporation | Two-part fluid coupling with guide structure |
US6126045A (en) * | 1997-07-21 | 2000-10-03 | Itsac N.V. | Connector assembly for a fluid connection |
US6561386B1 (en) * | 2002-01-03 | 2003-05-13 | Juice Tyme | Ball check valve assembly |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9327308B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2016-05-03 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US8113385B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2012-02-14 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US8132693B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2012-03-13 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US8167170B2 (en) * | 2006-06-15 | 2012-05-01 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US8342372B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2013-01-01 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US8474658B2 (en) | 2006-06-15 | 2013-07-02 | Handy & Harman | Adhesive dispenser system |
US20080000928A1 (en) * | 2006-06-15 | 2008-01-03 | Choiniere Stanley W | Adhesive dispenser system |
WO2008119337A2 (en) * | 2007-04-02 | 2008-10-09 | Spiegel, Margret | Diaphragm pump for the carbonation of degasified beer |
WO2008119337A3 (en) * | 2007-04-02 | 2009-02-19 | Spiegel Margret | Diaphragm pump for the carbonation of degasified beer |
NL2012776A (en) * | 2012-11-22 | 2014-07-29 | Heineken Supply Chain Bv | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly. |
CN104903230A (en) * | 2012-11-22 | 2015-09-09 | 喜力供应链有限公司 | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly |
WO2014081294A3 (en) * | 2012-11-22 | 2014-09-18 | Heineken Supply Chain B.V. | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly |
US10258940B2 (en) | 2012-11-22 | 2019-04-16 | Heineken Supply Chain B.V. | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly |
US11247183B2 (en) | 2012-11-22 | 2022-02-15 | Heineken Supply Chain B.V. | Beverage dispensing assembly and container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly |
WO2018028450A1 (en) * | 2016-08-08 | 2018-02-15 | 上海鸿研物流技术有限公司 | Liquid transport system, liner bag and method of use |
US11655076B2 (en) | 2016-08-08 | 2023-05-23 | Shanghai Hongyan Returnable Transit Packagings Co., Ltd | Liquid transport system and a liner bag and a method of using the same |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LEMON-X CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ROSS, SCOTT;REEL/FRAME:018185/0889 Effective date: 20060627 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FCC, LLC, D/B/A FIRST CAPITAL, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:LEMON-X CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:029108/0811 Effective date: 20120928 |