Abstract
A tap (1) for dispensing liquids from a container is described, comprising a main body (3) adapted to be placed at the dispensing end of the container and comprising an integrated tamper-evident guarantee ring (3.1) which can be removed in a first opening step of the tap (1), a valve (5) inserted between a lower fixing body (4) and the main body (3), including slits (5.2) for the penetration of a dispensing dart (6), the lower fixing body (4) designed to block the valve (5) and allow the correct opening and closing and sealing of the slots (5.2) of the valve (5), and an upper cap (2) mounted on the main body (3) and anchored to the security ring (3.1) integrated in the main body (3).
Claims
1. Tap (1) for dispensing liquids comprising: a main body (3) equipped with an integrated tamper-evident ring-seal (3.1) which can be removed when opening the tap (1) for the first time; a lower body (4) designed to be operatively connected to the main body (3); a flexible valve (5) located between the main body (3) and the lower body (4) and equipped with a central opening with slit consisting of slits/flaps (5.9), the flexible valve (5) being designed to cooperate operationally with a dart/pin (6) able to be inserted in the main body (3), in the flexible valve (5) and in the lower body (4) and able to engage the flexible valve (5) to open-close the slits/flaps (5.9); and a cover cap (2) placed above the main body (3) and designed to protect the tap (1) and to allow heat and aseptic treatments, the cover cap (2) being equipped with a semi-spherical support surface (2.1) designed to keep the flexible valve (5) in its closed position and avoid opening of the flexible valve (5) due to pressure inside the tap (1), characterized in that the flexible valve (5) is made of silicone and is formed of an outer fastening ring which has an upper surface (5.5) and a lower surface (5.6), designed to couple respectively with the surface (3.12) of the body (3) and the surface (4.12) of the lower body (4), the valve (5) having a zone (5.4) which allows a controlled elongation of the valve (5) in the vertical direction, the valve (5) also having a anchoring zone (5.2) designed to mate with a tooth (4.2) of the lower body (4), keeping the valve (5) in an extended configuration and generating a sealing force necessary for the flaps (5.9) of the flexible valve (5).
2. Tap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover cap (2) is equipped with an integrated security seal and flexible handles.
3. Tap (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main body (3) is additionally equipped with anchoring means (3.2) for anchoring to the lower body (4) by means of a hooking tooth (4.9) and a second hooking tooth (3.3), which allow the tap (1) to be placed at a dispensing end of a container on a connection spout, the main body (3) being also equipped with a coupling seat (3.5) designed to allow connection with the cover cap (2) due to a ring geometry (2.3) with which the cover cap (2) is equipped.
4. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower body (4) is shaped with an external coupling system (4.9) and a facilitating system (4.8) for a correct assembly, in order to stably block the flexible valve (5) to the main body (3), the lower body (4) also comprising a lower seat (4.12) in order to have an anchoring abutment area that pushes the flexible valve (5), once assembled to the main body (3).
5. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower body (4) is also equipped with geometries (4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) which allow the internal flexible valve (5) to move, pushed by the dart/pin (6), the internal flexible valve (3) moving on an inclined plane (4.1) and increasing more and more the circumferential force acting on the surfaces of the slits/flaps (5.9) of the flexible valve (5), and the possibility consequent of the dart/pin (6) to widen the flaps-slits (5.9) and dispense liquid, once dispensing is complete and once the dart/pin (6) has been removed, the flexible valve (5) remaining anchored to the lower body (4), due to the geometries (4.2 and 4.3), the flexible valve (5) being in vertical elongation, blocked by the geometries (4.2 and 4.3) and generating a force to keep the flaps-slits sealed (5.9).
6. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main body (3) is equipped with a vertical seat (3.13) for containing the flexible valve (5), which allows the valve (5) to be inserted and remain locked in the assembly position until the lower body (4) is placed, on the main body (3) the tamper-evident ring (3.1) being also obtained, integrated in the body (3) due to breaking jumpers (3.10), which fits stably on the top cap (2) by means of geometries obtained on a central pin (2.2).
7. Tap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top cap (2) is equipped with integrated handles (2.6) and constrained by means of breaking teeth (2.5), the teeth (2.5) being designed to break and free the two handles (2.6), and being able to perform a 90 overturning, which allows the end user to have a comfortable grip on the top cap (2) in order to apply the force necessary to remove the top cap (2) itself, which is bound to the tamper-evident ring (3.1) of the main body (3), and to overcome the interference force that exists between the seat (3.5) of the main body (3) and the ring (2.3) present on the top cap (2), releasing the tap (1) from the top protection.
Description
[0050] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tap according to the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 2 are two side views and one top views of the tap according to the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 3 are a top view and two sectional views of the assembled tap of FIG. 1 in the completely closed position;
[0054] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the tap of the invention of FIG. 1;
[0055] FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view of the tap of the invention of FIG. 1;
[0056] FIG. 6 is a sectional isometric exploded view of the inventive tap 1;
[0057] FIG. 7 are a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 1, when the upper guarantee seal 2 is removed and the inventive tap is ready to be connected to the dispensers;
[0058] FIG. 8 are a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 2 ready to be operated;
[0059] FIG. 9 is a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 3, when the dart/pin 6 comes into contact with the flexible valve 5 and the first opening phase begins;
[0060] FIG. 10 are a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 4, when the dart/pin 6 has pushed and stretched the flexible valve 5 to the maximum position, anchoring it to the geometries of the lower body 4 and generating the maximum sealing force between the flaps (which would normally be open) of the flexible valve;
[0061] FIG. 11 is a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 5, i.e. of complete opening of the flexible valve 5, due to the complete penetration of the dart/pin 6 and to the subsequent opening of the valve flaps 5;
[0062] FIG. 12 is a top view and two side-sectional views in detail of the embodiment of the tap according to the present invention in STEP 6, when the dart/pin 6 is removed and the valve 5 returns with the flaps in the hermetic closing phase, due to the action of the pulling force T of the valve 5 which generates an opposite circumferential force F on the outside of the valve, which creates force vectors acting on the same flaps F1 and F2 which determine a hermetic seal and effectively cancel the weak cut point of these flexible valves, that is to always be normally open without having to use an additional spring component;
[0063] FIG. 13 is a top, side, sectional, isometric and detailed view of the body 3 of the inventive tap 1;
[0064] FIG. 14 is a top, side, sectional, isometric and detailed view of the over-cap 2 of the inventive tap 1;
[0065] FIG. 15 is a top, side, sectional, isometric and detailed view of the lower body 4 of the inventive tap 1;
[0066] FIG. 16 is a top, side, sectional, isometric and detailed view of the flexible internal valve 5 with standard cross cut of the inventive tap 1;
[0067] FIG. 17 is a top, side, sectional, isometric and detailed view of the insertion dart/pin 6 drawn in a generic way to summarize those on the market used for opening the valve 5 of the inventive tap 1.
[0068] An embodiment of the tap 1 according to the invention will be described below, based on the method used for the permanent fixing between a main body 3 and a lower body 4, that is by means of interlocking between the various components (which will be the main and favorite embodiment). It goes without saying that any other method of conformation and connection between the elements (welding, screwing, etc.) falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0069] In summary, the embodiment of the tap 1 for dispensing liquids according to the invention will be described, resulting from the coupling of the components listed below: [0070] a main body 3, shown in FIG. 13, to be coupled, preferably by interlocking, with a lower fixing body 4, shown in FIG. 15. A flexible valve 5 with a central opening with notch is stably placed between the two aforesaid components. Above the main body assembly 3flexible valve 5lower body 4, a cover cap 2 is placed to protect the assembly itself and to allow heat and aseptic treatments.
[0071] It will be evident to a skilled person in the art that the described tap can be made in shapes, sizes and with equivalent details, and can be used for containers of various types, for example those so-called Bag-in-Box, but also rigid or semi-rigid containers and the like.
[0072] The tap 1 of the invention is used for dispensing liquids from a container (not shown) by means of the operative insertion of a dart/pin 6 of FIG. 17, and substantially comprises: [0073] the main body 3 (better shown in FIG. 13) equipped with a central guarantee ring/seal (1st tamper-evident element) 3.1, and with anchoring means 3.2 for anchoring to the lower body 4 (better shown in FIG. 15) by means of a coupling tooth 4.9 (FIG. 15) and a coupling tooth 3.3 (FIG. 3), which allow the tap 1 to be placed at the dispensing end of the container (rigid, semi-rigid or flexible type BIB) on the connection nozzle to the flexible bag (not shown). The main body 3 is also equipped with a coupling seat 3.5 useful for allowing the connection with the top cap 2 of FIG. 14 due to the ring geometry 2.3; [0074] a flexible valve 5 (better shown in FIG. 16), preferably in silicone, to be produced with known resin injection and/or compression molding systems to reduce production costs, and equipped with slits/flaps 5.9 created after molding. The valve 5 is formed by an external fastening ring which has an upper surface 5.5 and a lower surface 5.6, which are respectively to be coupled with the surface 3.12 of the main body 3 (coupling 3.12-5.5) and the surface 4.12 of the lower body 4 (coupling 5.6-4.12). The valve 5 has an area that allows controlled elongation 5.4 (FIG. 16) and an anchoring area 5.2, which then goes into coupling with the tooth 4.2 of FIG. 15 of the lower body 4, blocking the valve in extension/pulling and generating that force T which will then be transformed into force F in FIG. 12, opposite to force T, and in a circumferential position, which then allows the decomposed vectors F1 and F2 of FIG. 12 to provide a sealing force necessary for the cut edges 5.9 of the valve flexible 5 (effectively transforming it from a normally open valve to a normally closed valve). The valve 5 is also equipped with a static sealing surface 5.1 through cooperation with the surface 4.1 when the tap 1 has not yet been activated for the first time (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) A cut will be made on the central part, which can be a cross, and will be the area that will allow the passage and holding of the dart/pin 6 as shown in FIG. 11; [0075] the lower fixing body 4 (better shown in FIG. 15), conformed with an external coupling system 4.9 and a facilitating system 4.8 for correct assembly, in order to stably block the flexible valve 5 to the main body 3. A lower seat is created 4.12 in order to have an anchoring abutment area which pushes, once assembled to the main body 3, the flexible valve 5, providing a correct sealing interference and thus allowing all the activation phases of the system shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. A stable and no longer demountable assembly is created. On the lower body 4 there are the geometries 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 (FIG. 15) which allow the flexible internal valve 5 to move, pushed by the dart/pin 6 as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, moving on the inclined plane 4.1 and increasing more and more the circumferential force acting on the surfaces of the slits/flaps 5.9 of the flexible valve 5 until the climbing over of tooth 4.2 (shown in FIG. 15) and therefore the subsequent release of the flaps from the circumferential vector force F of FIG. 12, and the consequent possibility of the dart/pin 6 to widen the slits 5.9 of FIG. 16. This allows the delivery of liquid and the sealing of the same dart/pin 6 by means of the external surfaces 6.2 of FIG. 17 for engagement on 5.8, as also shown in FIG. 11. Once dispensing is complete and once the dart/pin 6 has been removed, the flexible valve 5 remains anchored to the lower body 4, due to the geometries 4.2 and 4.3 of FIG. 15, and the condition shown in FIG. 12 occurs: in this case, the end user has a second evidence (2nd tamper-evident system) (after removing the tamper-evident ring 3.1 from body 3 as shown in FIG. 7) of the first opening of the tap 1, as the flexible membrane 5 appears visually in the operating pull/elongation position, as shown in FIG. 12. In this condition highlighted in FIG. 12, the flexible valve 5 is in elongation, blocked by the geometries 4.2 and 4.3 of FIG. 15 and, taking advantage of its elasticity and its natural predisposition to return to the original rest position, generates a force tension T, which generates on the flexible valve 5 (the front part) a circumferential stress F which allows the valve 5 itself to generate the force vectors F (FIG. 12), i.e. the vectors F1 and F2, acting in the opposite way on the faces of the flaps 5.9, to keep these slits 5.9 sealed, obtained by a cut on the flexible valve 5 (which otherwise would remain open). The force F is the force that is generated due to the flexible valve 5 in pull T of FIG. 15. These resulting F1 and F2, acting in the opposite way on the flaps 5.9, favor the sealing of the same at all times and transform a normally open system into a normally closed system, increasing the general seal of tap 1, and without using an additional component, as occurs for example on the tap produced by LIQUIBOX (elastic spring added). This mechanical closure generated by the natural pull T of the elastic valve 5 blocked/wedged on the lower body 4 due to the geometries 4.2 of FIG. 12 generates the circumferential force F which in turn generates the vectors F1 and F2, and also has another notable advantage, namely that of not necessarily having to use a silicone valve, which in any case remains preferential for the application, but of being able to also use other flexible materials on the market, thus reducing the cost of the same and consequently guaranteeing entry on the competitively priced market for the inventive tap 1; [0076] the top cap or top cap 2, preferably with integrated guarantee seal and flexible handles (3rd tamper-evident system) which provides another evidence to the customer, in addition to the two previously exposed, for easy removal of the same during the first opening, which serves to create the global tamper-evident system, once mounted on the main body 3, and anchored to the tamper-evident ring 3.1, integrated in the body 3.
[0077] In its main configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, in detail, referring to FIG. 3, the section of the tap 1 of the invention can be identified, assembled and in its closed and transport position in its preferred configuration.
[0078] In particular, reference is made to FIGS. 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, where the various stages are shown, of opening the inventive tap 1 and then removing the dart/pin 6 and the subsequent configuration after the first opening shown in FIG. 12.
[0079] In particular, with reference to FIG. 3, the tap 1 can be seen in section and in its closed position with the upper cap 2 assembled.
[0080] The main body 3 is equipped with internal coupling geometries 3.2 (FIG. 13) and with an abutment plane 3.12 towards the flexible valve 5, as well as with a vertical seat 3.13 for containing the flexible valve 5, which allows the valve 5, preferably made of silicone, to be inserted and remain locked in the correct assembly position until the lower body 4 of FIG. 15 is placed at the rear, preferably interlocking. The tamper-evident ring 3.1 integrated in the main body 3 is also obtained due to breaking bridges 3.10 (FIG. 13) which fits stably on the top cap 2 by means of the geometries obtained on the central pin 2.2 (FIG. 14), binding to it stably and forming the second tamper-evident system present on the tap inventive 1. The top cap 2 will be provided with integrated handles 2.6 and constrained by means of breaking teeth 2.5 (which are the first tamper-evident system present on the inventive tap 1). These teeth are designed to break and free the two handles 2.6 (FIG. 14) present on the top cap 2, and can make a 90 overturn (each of them), not shown in the drawings, which allows the end user to have a comfortable grip on the top cap 2 to be able to apply the force necessary to remove the top cap 2 itself, which is bound to the tamper-evident ring 3.1 of the main body 3, and to overcome the interference force that exists between the seat 3.5 of the main body 3 and the ring 2.3 on the top cap 2, effectively freeing the tap 1 from the top protection, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0081] Always analyzing the situation of the completely closed cap 2 in FIG. 3, it can be seen that on the rear part, in addition to the flexible valve 5, the lower body 4 is also stably placed, which pushes, due to the internal plane 4.12 (FIG. 3), on the lower part of the valve 5, thus creating a correct interference that stably blocks the flexible valve 5 in the middle of the main body 3 and the lower body 4 (3.12-5.5 and 5.6-4.12 in FIG. 3). The lower body 4 is stably assembled due to the geometries 4.9 of FIG. 15 with the geometries 3.2 present on the main body 2 of FIG. 13, stably constraining and locking the flexible valve 5 which is located between the main body 3 and the lower body 4, as shown in FIG. 3. To finish the analysis of the inventive tap 1 of FIG. 3, in its completely closed and still inviolate position, it can be noted that the upper cap 2, when mounted on the main body 3, supplies the internal valve 5 with a flexible semi-spherical support surface 2.1 which further keeps the valve 5 in its closed position and prevents its opening due to pressures coming from the inside of the container, due to the coupling of the surface 5.8 of the valve 5 and the surface 2.1 of the top cap 2, as highlighted in the detail of FIG. 3.
[0082] FIG. 7 shows the dispensing tap 1 when the top cap 2 is removed, effectively breaking the first two tamper-evident systems present on the tap 1, i.e. the tamper-evident ring 3.1 of FIG. 7 and the jumpers 2.5 of FIG. 14 of the handles 2.6 of the top cap 2.
[0083] FIG. 8 shows the inventive tap 1 ready to be activated by an external dart/pin 6 member, while FIG. 9 shows the inventive tap 1 with the dart/pin 6 approaching. In both figures, the static conditions with respect to the situation shown and described in FIG. 3 do not change. In fact, it can be noted that the flexible valve 5 is in the rest position, but with the outside in interference with the inclined wall of the lower body 4 with 5.1-4.1 as shown in FIG. 8, and this causes the valve to be normally closed and therefore has the flaps 5.9 of FIG. 16 perfectly sealed (not like on the prior techniques known and industrialized by the SCHOLLE, RAPAK companies or the first VITOP model or the flexible valve supplied by APTAR/LMS, which is normally open and does not guarantee a perfect sealing, especially in the event of a sudden increase in pressure inside the container). With this induced closure of the flaps 5.9 of FIG. 16, the guarantee is instead provided that the system will be perfectly sealed until use.
[0084] Continuing the analysis of the steps that lead to the opening and therefore to the dispensing of liquid of the inventive tap 1 by the dart/pin 6, one can see in FIG. 10 the continuous advancement of the dart/pin 6 on the flexible valve 5 by means of the thrust of the tip 6.3 of the dart/pin 6 highlighted in detail in FIG. 10, thrust that occurs on the surface 5.8, which is the internal surface of the flexible valve 5. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the flexible valve 5 extends towards the tooth 4.2 of the lower body 4 until it passes over the anchoring tooth 4.2. The flexible valve 5, being anchored stably and perimeter due to the operative joint between the main body 3 and the lower body 4 (due to the geometries 3.12-5.5 and 5.6-4.12 of FIG. 10) keeps this external perimeter area firm and stable, while item 5.3 of FIG. 10 stretches, exploiting the elasticity of the flexible material used, and allows the tip of the flexible valve 5, where the slits 5.9 are also obtained, to move easily without opening due to the interference 5.1-4.1, which grows, as the dart/pin 6 moves the tip of the valve 5 downwards, as the profile 4.1 of FIG. 15 is conical, and therefore prevents the valve from opening the flaps 5.9 until the tip of the flexible valve 5 is will have climbed, controlled by the dart/pin 6, over the anchoring edge 4.2 of FIG. 15 present on the lower body 4. Once the tip 5.2 of the flexible valve 5 has passed the tooth 4.2 of the lower body 4, then the interference on the cone 4.1 of FIG. 15 stops acting on the tip of the flexible valve 5 (detail 5.2 of FIG. 16) and therefore the action of the interference shown on the cut edges 5.9 ends its action, and therefore allows the same edges 5.9 of the flexible valve 5 to open, allowing the dart/pin 6 to pass through the cut created on the flexible valve 5.
[0085] FIG. 11 shows the situation when the inventive tap 1 is with the dart/pin 6 fully inserted and operational, thus allowing the delivery of liquid.
[0086] Continuing with the description in FIG. 12, the configuration of the inventive tap 1 is seen once the dart/pin 6 is removed, after the first use. As it can be easily noticed, the configuration shown in FIG. 12 is completely different from the initial one shown in FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9. In this case, the flexible valve 5 maintains the elongation position due to the anchoring between the tooth of the lower body 4 and the external part of the flexible valve 5, as shown in detail in FIGS. 12 (4.2-5.2).
[0087] The pulling force T generated by the flexible valve 5 which tries to return to its rest condition generates a circumferential force F which then translates, as shown schematically in FIG. 12, into vector forces F1 and F2 which keep the flaps firmly closed 5.9 of the flexible valve 5, maintaining the induced characteristic of a normally closed valve. This extreme advantage means that the flexible valve 5, which is preferably made of silicone, can also be made of other flexible materials. This feature is impossible to achieve without additional components from other expensive valves currently used.
