WO1988005026A1

WO1988005026A1 - Dispenser for liquids contained in packages

Info

Publication number: WO1988005026A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/000104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes H. Kessler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-07
Filing date: 1988-01-06
Publication date: 1988-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-07
Also published as: AU1151288A

Abstract

A dispenser for emptying liquids from packages having a rectangular top (1) with four right-angled guide strips. A plate (3) is positioned on the top (1) which top has two openings (8) which receive dagger-like pouring tube (4) and a dagger-like ventilation tube (5). The plate is latched by cams (6). A cover (9) is placed on the plate (3) and secured by a bayonet lock (10). A removable handle (14) is locked into a slot (17) at the rear of the dispenser by means of a pair of flanges (15). Two holding plates (19) positioned at the rear of the dispenser to prevent compression of the enclosed package (20). The holding plates (19) are preferably provided with grooves. Projections (13) arranged at the forward interior of the dispenser prevent the package (20) from slipping out once enclosed in the dispenser. A pouring spout (7) is provided at the front of the plate (3).

Description

DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS CONTAINED IN PACKAGES

The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing liquids from a package with ease and without dripping.

Dispensers of a similar kind are known. For the most part, these involve rectangular containers which have an interior shape conforming to the outer shape of the package. It has been shown that due to a lateral pressure of the pack¬ age on the side walls of the dispenser, liquid may be sprayed out through the inserted pour spigot. One invention, U.S. Patent No. 4,057,175, largely eliminates this problem.

It has been shown that a dispenser closed on all sides has a disadvantage, since the contents of the punctured package within the dispenser is not visible. With a shape of this design the empty packages are removed only with difficul¬ ty from the dispenser, since only one small recess is provided in the dispenser for two fingers.

Also, it was necessary in order to achieve complete sealing between the inserted reed-like pour spigot and the cardboard package, that an elastic sealing material such as rubber be used. This leads to the accumulation of liquid resi¬ dues under the rubber seal which residue in the case of liquids such as milk may spoil. The reed-like pour spout when inserted imposes a high frictional resistance which with some¬ what softer packages has lead to compression.

One advantage of the present invention is the eli¬ mination of the disadvantages described above. This is accom¬ plished by providing a dispenser closed on all sides with individual guide strips extending at right angles from the corners of a rectangular cover. The cover supports a sliding plate having a pouring and ventilation tube which penetrate the package at previously-determined perforation points. A sliding plate with the dagger-like pouring tube and the dagger-like ventilation tube can easily be set in two openings of the cover and latched with two cams. Immediately after the insertion of the point of the pouring tube, air flows into the completely filled packages. In this way pressure is gen¬ erated on the lateral walls of the cardboard packages. The relatively elastic lateral walls expand. The result is that an air cushion forms in the upper part of the cardboard pack¬ age into which the drain and ventilation tubes perforate and penetrate. The cardboard package expands between the guide strips.

The pouring and ventilation tubes are shaped like daggers. This configuration permits the least resistance to penetration of the package and after insertion a seamless collar is formed around the penetration opening which provides complete sealing between the penetrating drain tube and the cardboard package in the dispenser. No rubber sealing mater¬ ial is necessary. The easily removable arrangement of the sliding plate and pouring and ventilation tubes facilitates cleaning of the tubes.

Certain liquids like wine, milk and the like must be reclosed after opening the carton. To accomplish this, a cover is provided on the sliding plate and by rotating the cover the pour opening may be closed or opened.

The dispenser of the present invention can be used with or without a handle as a handle can be mountd easily to the dispenser. This is done using a pair of U-shaped flanges which cooperate with a slot arranged at the back side of the dispenser and which lock the handle in place. To make it easier to push through the carton, the tips" of each tube are formed with sharp points formed li e a needle. By pushing through the carton with the needle-like point, the tension of the surface of the carton will be eliminated and the sharp points are capable of pushing through even a very soft carton package. When lifting the dispenser with a filled package, as well as when pouring, it is possible by exerting pressure with the fingers grasping the dispenser on the closed package, that liquids will be sprayed out accidentally through the pouring tube. This is especially true when the dispenser is used without a handle. Pressure of the fingers on the closed car¬ ton is prevented, using the subject invention by providing a holding plate on each of the two sides at the rear of the dis¬ penser. The holding plates have external grooves to increase the strength of the handle. The cartons or package placed in the dispenser are somewhat compressed at the upper section and through this pressure slipping of the cartons from the dis¬ penser is prevented. Two clamping projections are set at the front interior of the dispenser and also serve to strengthen the support of the packages in the dispensers. To extract the empty package, the dispenser is grasped at the guide strips. This facilitates the removal of the empty packages from the dispenser.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the draw¬ ings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the dispenser of the pre¬ sent invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the four guide strips;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the sliding plate and the dagger-like pour and ventilation tubes;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the dagger-like pour tube;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the dagger-like pour tube;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the dispenser showing the openings for the sliding plate with the handle attached at the side of the dispenser;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the dispenser with the sliding plate and handle in place; Fig. 8 is a side view of the handle with the attachment flanges;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the handle and the attach¬ ment flanges;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the dispenser showing the slot for inserting the handle;

Fig. 11 is a top view of the sliding plate showing the opening for inserting the bayonet lock in the cover;

Fig. 12 is a top view of the sliding plate with the cover in the open position;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the cover showing the bayonet seal cams; and

Fig. 14 is a side view of the dispenser with a carton inserted.

The dispenser shown in Figs. 1 to 14 consists of a rectangular cover 1, on which right-angled guide strip 2, Figs. 1, 2, 10 and 11, extend from each corner of the cover. A removable plate 3 is provided with a dagger-like pouring pin 4 and a dagger-like ventilation tube 5.each having a point 4a. The point 4a may be metal or hard plastic and it is pre¬ ferred that the diameter of the point 4a shall not exceed 2 mm. The point 4a preferably extends no more than 3 mm from the end of the tubes. A cam 6 is positioned at the upper part of the pouring tube 4 and the ventilation tube 5. After inserting the sliding plate 3 in the openings 8 in cover 1, the sliding plate 3 is pushed forward and latched. A pouring spout 7 is provided at the front of the sliding plate 3. A cover 9 is rotatable relative to sliding plate 3 using a bayonet seal 10 which cooperates with opening 11. Fig. 4 shows the dagger-like pouring tube 4 with the inlet opening 12. In Fig. 5, the dagger-like pouring tube is illustrated from the front. The inlet opening 12 of the pouring tube 4 is provided only at one side of the tube. At the forward inter¬ ior of the dispenser a clamping projection 13 is provided on each of the sides to engage a part of the package. The removable handle 14 includes a pair of U-shaped flanges or plate 15. At the opposite inwardly-directed upper side of the plate 15 a locking cam 16 is provided which fits into the back of the dispenser at opening 17 and prevents handle 14 slipping from slot 18.

A holding plate 19 is provided at the back of the dispenser and prevents compression of the cartons 20 placed in the dispenser with the fingers. The holding plates 19 are groove .

The side view of the dispenser in Fig. 14 shows the dispenser with a carton 20 in position ready for pouring. The dispenser is inverted over the package and then pressed down. Thus, the pouring tube 4 and the ventilation tube 5 penetrate carton 20 perpendicularly. Liquid flows through the inlet 12 in the pouring tube to spout 7. Air flows through ventilation tube 5 through the opening 12 set in ventilation pin 5 into the carton and vents the carton 20 for easy pouring.

I CLAIM:

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A dispenser for a flowable substance in a pack¬ age having a puncturable top and side walls, said dispenser comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular top defining two spaced-apart openings;

(b) guide strips depending from the top and engageable with the carton side walls;

(c) a sliding plate having a depending pour¬ ing tube and a ventilation tube each

• defining an opening therein and aligned with said spaced-apart openings; and

(d) latching means for detachably securing said sliding plate to said top.

2. The dispenser of Claim 1 wherein said pouring tube and said ventilation tube are each provided with a dagger-like point.

3. The dispenser of Claim 1 further including a removable cover rotatably secured to said top.

4. The dispenser of Claim 1 having a handle de¬ tachably securable to said dispenser.

5. The dispenser of Claim 1 further including support plates extending from said top arranged at opposite sides of the pakage and having grooves therein.

6. The dispenser of Claim 1 further including projection means positioned to engage the opposite sides of the package.

7. The dispenser of Claim 1 further including spout means associated with the said sliding plate and commu¬ nicating with said pouring tube.