Liquid dispenser

Abstract

 A dispenser for a liquid for example a beverage comprising a container made preferably of deformable plastics material in which the wall or a wall of the container incorporates a conduit having an inlet communicating with the interior of the container in the region of the base and an outlet having a closure located at or towards the top of the container. The closure is preferably a 'crack-off' tab.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an improved dispenser more particularly but not exclusively for the dispensing of beverages.

[0002] Beverages are sold on a large scale in containers which are adapted to be opened readily to enable a straw or other narrow gauge tube to be inserted so that the contents of the container can be drawn out. Different methods have been employed for enabling an aperture to be formed in the wall of the container sufficiently large to permit insertion of the straw. For example, some containers are made of waxed paper and at least a part of a seal in the top of the container joining opposing sections of walls is made sufficiently weak so as to enable it to be broken when the walls of the container are pulled apart. A straw can then be inserted into the aperture formed by the rupture of the seal, Another form of container which acts as a dispenser comprises rectangular carton made from thermo-plastics sheet material having a lid which has been heat sealed to a flange forming part of the carton. The lid is porvided with a weak area which can be readily perforated with a straw made preferably from a plastics material and having a sharpened end.

[0003] This invention is directed to a dispenser in which in effect a straw is incorporated in the structure of the dispenser and which therefore avoids the need for a separate straw.

[0004] Accordingly this invention provides a dispenser for liquids comprising a container wherein the or one wall of the container incorporates a conduit having an inlet the inlet communicating with the interior of the container and located towards its base and an outlet having a closure located at or towards the top of the container.

[0005] This invention is illustrated but not restricted by the following drawing which shows a view in perspective of one preferred form of dispenser.

[0006] In this figure a container 1 in the shape of a prism is made from a sheet of thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene and having a thickness of 0.1 mm. The thickness of the sheet is sufficient to give the container some rigidity and at the same time the walls are readily deformable. The container is provided with a flange 2 which on one side is widened to accommodate an open conduit 3 which extends downwards to the base of the container and communicates with the interior of the container through conduit 4. The upper end 5 of conduit 3 is blanked off. The container is . closed by heat sealing a film of thermoplastics material to flange 2.

[0007] In doing so conduits 3 and 4 are covered and are converted into a pipe at one end 5 and open at the other 4. Flange 2 is provided with a line of weakness 6 to form a crack-off tab. When liquid is to be drawn from the container the tab is removed from the container and conduit 3 is then in effect converted into a straw through which liquid can be drawn when suction is applied by the mouth of the operator to the now open end 8 of conduit 3. Any initial reduction in pressure in the container is compensated by inward deformation of the walls of the container.

[0008] The design of the present containers can be altered in different ways. For example, they can have other shapes, for example cylindrical or non-cylindrical, square or oblong. The walls need not be thin and readily deformable, although if the walls of the container are rigid provision for enabling air to enter the container when liquid is abstracted may be required. For example, a second crack-off tab can be formed into the flange at the top of the container so that when it is removed a short conduit is opened permitting communication of the space above the liquid with the atmosphere. The conduit may be formed wholly from one wall or by the co-operation of sections of different walls and for the purposes of the present invention the term 'wall' is taken to include an extension of a wall, for example a flange. The closure can take the form of a 'crack-off' tab as described. However a valve, plug or other form of re-sealable closure can be employed if desired so that the dispenser can be re-sealed when a part only of the contents have been abstracted.

Claims

1. A dispenser for liquids comprising a container wherein the or one wall of the container incorporates a conduit having an inlet communicating with the interior of the container the inlet being located towards the base of the container and an outlet having a closure located at or towards the top of the container.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 comprising a container having a flange and one wall of the container comprises a sheet of liquid proof material secured to the flange.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the conduit is formed by the flange and the sheet of liquid proof material.

4. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure comprises a crack-off tab.

5. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the closure comprises a valve.

6. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the wall or walls of the container comprises deformable plastics material.

7. Dispensers for liquids as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. Dispensers as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the drawing.

Drawing