Liquid container valve structures for use with service-line connectors

• US 5,697,410 A
• Filed: 09/13/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DS Smith Plastics Limited (DS Smith PLC)
• Original Assignee: Packaging Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Spalding, Lamar, Rutter, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/528,394
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 141/346, 141/348, 141/349, 141/351-354, 137/614.04, 251/149.6
• US Class Current: 141/346
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/043 with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A spout fitment attached to a liquid filled bag, or other fluid container, of a type having a slidable dispensing valve member to receive a line connector for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container, through a valve element in the line connector and into a service line attached to the line connector. Although the dispensing valve member is slid into the container when the line connector is inserted therein, the sliding motion does not form the container valve action. The container seal is established by a valve element within the slidable dispensing valve member that is resiliently biased to close an opening therein. The dispensing valve member thus need not be slid in the fitment when the line connector is removed from the dispensing valve member, thereby making it easier to remove and reinsert the line connector. Insertion of the line connector within the dispensing valve member causes their respective valve elements to engage each other to open and form the fluid flow path.

Claims

1. In a combination of a service line connector including a first valve member therein which is resiliently loaded to normally close off an end opening thereof and having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to a spout fitment that is carried by a container and which includes a dispensing valve member held therein to receive the connector end for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container to a service line attached to the connector, said dispensing valve member, comprising:

a shell having first open end into which the connector end is inserted, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is slidable with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a second valve member extending through said wall and having one end terminating in a probe facing toward said shell first end and including a sealing element on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said probe being positioned and dimensioned to be inserted into said connector end to open its said first valve member when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end,

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing element when the connector end is removed from said shell first open end, and

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position as the connector end is urged into said shell first end with the first valve member and second valve member probe contacting each other.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the improved dispensing valve member further comprises an absence of any attachment between the connector and the dispensing valve member that causes the shell to withdraw from its said second position extending into the container toward its said first position upon withdrawal of the connector end from said shell first end.

3. The combination of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein only said second member probe of the improved slidable dispensing valve member functions to open the first valve member as the connector end is positioned into the shell first open end.

4. The combination of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said second valve member includes at least one edge extending outward therefrom a distance from an end of the probe and in a position to engage said connector end adjacent its said end opening as the connector is inserted into the shell first open end, whereby motion of the line connector end against said edge causes the second valve member to move through said wall opening against its said resilient holding means, said distance between said probe end and said edge being sufficient to open the first valve member to establish fluid flow through the connector end opening.

5. The combination of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said second valve member includes an edge extending outward therefrom a distance from an end of the probe in order to contact said wall to limit an extent of travel of the second valve member through said through said wall when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fluid opening provides the exclusive fluid path into and out of the container within the fitment.

6. In a combination of a service line connector including a first valve member therein which is resiliently loaded to normally close off an end opening thereof and having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to a spout fitment that is carried by a container and which includes a dispensing valve member held therein to receive the connector end for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container to a service line attached to the connector, said dispensing valve member, comprising:

a shell having first open end into which the connector end is inserted, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is slidable with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a second valve member extending through said wall and having one end terminating in a probe facing toward said shell first end and including a sealing element on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said probe being positioned and dimensioned to be inserted into said connector end to open its said first valve member when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end,

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing element when the connector end is removed from said shell first open end, wherein a resilient strength of the resiliently loaded first valve member is less than a resilient strength of the second valve member resilient means, whereby the second valve member opens first when the connector end is inserted into the shell first end, and

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position as the connector end is urged into said shell first end with the first valve member and second valve member probe contacting each other.

9. The combination of either claims 6 or 7 wherein the improved dispensing valve member further comprises an absence of any attachment between the connector and the dispensing valve member that causes the shell to withdraw from its said second position within the fitment toward its said first position upon withdrawal of the connector end from said shell first end.

7. In a combination of a service line connector including a first valve member therein which is resiliently loaded to normally close off an end opening thereof and having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to a spout fitment that is carried by a container and which includes a dispensing valve member held therein to receive the connector end for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container to a service line attached to the connector, said dispensing valve member, comprising:

a shell having first open end into which the connector end is inserted, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is slidable with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a second valve member extending through said wall and having one end terminating in a probe facing toward said shell first end and including a sealing element on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said probe being positioned and dimensioned to be inserted into said connector end to open its said first valve member when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end,

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing element when the connector end is removed from said shell first open end, wherein a resilient strength of the resiliently loaded first valve member is less than a resilient strength of the second valve member resilient means, whereby the first valve member opens first when the connector end is inserted into the shell first end, and

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position as the connector end is urged into said shell first end with the first valve member and second valve member probe contacting each other.

8. In a combination of a service line connector including a first valve member therein which is resiliently loaded to normally close off an end opening thereof and having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to a spout fitment that is carried by a container and which includes a dispensing valve member held therein to receive the connector end for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container to a service line attached to the connector, said dispensing valve member, comprising:

a shell having first open end into which the connector end is inserted, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is slidable with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a second valve member extending through said wall and having one end terminating in a probe facing toward said shell first end and including a sealing element on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said probe being positioned and dimensioned to be inserted into said connector end to open its said first valve member when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end,

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing element when the connector end is removed from said shell first open end,

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position as the connector end is urged into said shell first end with the first valve member and second valve member probe contacting each other, wherein the service line connector additionally includes an annular groove therearound adjacent said connector end and a resilient O-ring positioned therein for establishing a fluid seal with an inside surface of the shell when the connector end is inserted into the shell first open end, and wherein the shell additionally includes a projection carried by an inside surface thereof in a position to be caught in the line connector annular groove when the connector end is fully inserted into the shell first open end.

11. For a combination of a service line connector including a resiliently loaded valve normally covering an opening at an end of said line connector, said line connector having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to a spout that is carried by a container for establishing a fluid path from an interior of the container to said service line connector, said container spout comprising:

a fitment attached to the container;

a shell having first open end into which the line connector end is insertable, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is slidable with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a valve member extending through said wall and including a sealing surface positioned on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said valve member being positioned and dimensioned to contact said line connector end surrounding said line connector valve in a manner that when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end, said sealing surface is urged away from said wall, thereby uncovering said fluid opening;

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing surface when the line connector end is removed from said shell first open end, and

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said line connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position as the line connector end is urged into said shell first end.

12. The container spout of claim 11 further comprising an absence of any attachment mechanism for attaching to the line connector that causes the shell to withdraw from its said second position extending into the container toward its said first position upon withdrawal of the line connector end from said shell first end.

13. The container spout of either of claims 11 or 12 wherein said valve member includes a probe extending through said wall and at least one edge extending outward therefrom a distance from an end of the probe and in a position to engage said line connector end adjacent its said end opening as the line connector is inserted into the shell first open end, and in said manner that when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end, said sealing surface is urged away from said wall, thereby uncovering said fluid opening.

14. The container spout of either of claims 11 or 12, further comprising a projection held by the shell such that the projection causes the line connector valve to open as the line connector is inserted into the shell.

15. The container spout of claim 14 wherein said projection includes a probe and an edge extending outward therefrom a distance from an end of the probe in order to contact said wall to limit an extent of travel of the valve member through said wall when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end.

16. The container spout of claim 11, wherein the service line connector additionally includes an annular groove therearound adjacent said line connector end and a resilient O-ring positioned therein for establishing a fluid seal with an inside surface of the shell when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end, and wherein the shell additionally includes an extension carried by an inside surface thereof in a position to be caught in the line connector annular groove when the line connector end is fully inserted into the shell first open end.

17. A spout assembly for fluid communication with a service line connector which has a first valve member being resiliently loaded to normally close off an end opening thereof and having a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to said spout assembly, said spout assembly comprising:

a fitment having first and second open ends and a fluid passageway therebetween, said first open end capable of receiving the line connector end in manner that a fluid seal is established between said line connector and said fitment for preventing fluid from leaking out through said first open end;

a wall extending across said fluid passageway a distance from said first open end and including a fluid opening therein;

a second valve member extending through said wall and including a sealing surface positioned on a side of said wall opposite to said first open end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the first open end, said second valve member further including an extending member positioned and dimensioned to be capable of contacting said line connector end without contacting the first valve member and in a manner that when the line connector end is inserted into said first open end, said sealing surface is urged away from said wall, thereby uncovering said fluid opening for allowing fluid flow through said fluid passageway for establishing said fluid communication with said line connector; and

means positioned within said fitment for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said first open end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing surface when the line connector end is removed from said first open end.

18. The spout assembly of claim 17, wherein the second valve member includes a projection for causing the first valve member to open when the line connector is inserted into the fitment.

19. The spout assembly of claim 18, wherein said second valve member further includes a plurality of extending members equally spaced around said projection.

20. The spout assembly of claim 19, wherein said plurality of extending members is a plurality of ribs and said projection is a probe.

21. The spout assembly of claim 20, wherein said probe is dimensioned and positioned to be capable of contacting said first valve member in a manner that when the line connector end is inserted into said first open end, said probe urges said line connector valve member away from said line connector end opening, thereby uncovering said line connector opening for allowing fluid flow therethrough.

22. The spout assembly of claim 21, wherein said probe is positioned closer to said first open end than said plurality of ribs such that when the line connector end is inserted into the fitment through said first open end, said probe urges said first valve member away from said line connector opening prior to said line connector end urging said sealing surface away from said fluid opening.

23. A spout for providing a fluid connection between a container and a service line connector, the connector being of a type having a resiliently loaded first valve member normally closing off an end opening of said connector and including a mechanism outside of said end for removable attachment to said spout, said spout comprising:

a fitment capable of being attached to said container;

a shell having a first open end capable of receiving therethrough said line connector end, a wall extending thereacross a distance from the shell first end which includes a fluid opening therein, and an outside surface carried by the spout fitment in a manner that the shell is capable of sliding with respect to the fitment from a first position outside of said container to a second position extending into the container,

a second valve member extending through said wall and including a sealing element positioned on a side of said wall opposite to said shell first end that covers said fluid opening when said second valve member is urged toward the shell first end, said first valve member further including an extending member positioned and dimensioned to contact the line connector end without contacting said first valve member, and in a manner that when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end, said sealing surface is urged away from said wall, thereby uncovering said fluid opening,

means positioned within said shell for resiliently urging said second valve member toward said shell first end in a manner to normally cover said fluid opening with said sealing element when the line connector end is removed from said shell first open end, and

a surface as part of said shell that is complementarily shaped with said line connector end for causing said shell to slide from its said first position to its said second position when the connector end is urged against said shell surface.

24. The spout of claim 23 further comprising an absence of any attachment that causes the shell to withdraw from its said second position toward its said first position upon withdrawal of the line connector end from said shell first end.

25. The spout of either of claims 23 or 24, further including a projection held by said shell for causing said first valve member of said line connector to open when said line connector end is inserted into said shell first open end.

26. The spout of claim 25 wherein the projection is a probe capable of opening the first valve member of the line connector when the line connector end is positioned into the shell first open end.

27. The spout of claim 26 wherein said extending member of said second valve member comprises a first edge of said probe extending outward therefrom a distance from an end of the probe and in a position capable of engaging said connector end adjacent its said end opening in a manner that when the line connector end is inserted into said shell first open end, said line connector end urges against said first edge causing said sealing element to move away from said wall opening against its said resilient holding means, said distance between said probe end and said first edge being sufficient so that it is capable of opening the first valve member of the line connector to establish fluid flow through the line connector end opening.

28. The spout of claim 27 wherein said extending member includes a second edge extending outward from the probe and at a distance from an end of the probe in order to contact said wall to limit an extent of travel of the second valve member through said wall when the line connector end is inserted into the shell first open end.