Liquid dispensing arrangement

Abstract

 A liquid dispensing arrangement (10) comprises a first container (12) having a curved wall (16). The arrangement (10) also includes a second container (14) inside the first container for retaining a liquid. The dispensing arrangement (10) also includes dispensing means (22) for dispensing the liquid.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to liquid dispensing arrangements. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to bag-in-boxes, for example bag-in- boxes for holding and dispensing wine.

[0002] It is known to sell wine in so called bag-in-boxes. However, such bag-in-boxes have problems associated with storage and transportation.

[0003] According to the invention there is provided a liquid dispensing arrangement comprising a first container having a curved wall, and a second container inside the first container for retaining a liquid.

[0004] The curved wall may be a side wall and is preferably cylindrical. The first container may comprise top and bottom walls on the curved wall, the curved wall may have a circular plan profile. The top and bottom walls and the curved wall may define a closed space. The second container may be flexible and may comprise a bag. The second container may be formed from a suitable plastics material such as PVC. The second container preferably corresponds to the first container in shape and maybe cylindrical.

[0005] The first container may be made from a suitable rigid material, such as cardboard. The arrangement may include dispensing means on the second container for dispensing the liquid. The dispensing means may be a tap which may have a channel which extends through the first container and the second container. The liquid may be a drink such as an alcoholic drink, for example wine. The liquid dispensing arrangement may comprise a bag-in-box arrangement, for example a wine bag-in-box.

[0006] Carrying means may be provided to carry the arrangement. The carrying means may be mounted on the first container. The carrying means may comprise a flexible member, for example a length of cord or string. The first container may define a pair of apertures, which may be opposite each other into which the flexible member extends. The flexible member may be knotted at opposite end regions thereof within the first container to retain the flexible member mounted on the first container.

[0007] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a liquid dispensing arrangement;

Figure 2 is a view along the lines II - II in Fig 1.

[0008] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a liquid dispensing arrangement 10 in the form of a wine bag-in-box. The arrangement 10 comprises a first or outer container 12, and a second or inner container 14. The inner container 14 is disposed within the outer container 12 and is, therefore, shown mainly in broken lines in Fig.1. The inner container 14 is provided to retain the liquid, e.g. wine, to be dispensed from the arrangement 10.

[0009] The outer container 12 is known by persons skilled in the art a box and formed of a suitable rigid but lightweight material such as cardboard. The inner container is known by persons skilled in the art as a bag and is formed of a suitable flexible material that will collapse when the wine is emptied therefrom via a tap 22 as explained below.

[0010] The flexible material from which the second container is made preferably of a flexible plastics material such as PVC.

[0011] The outer container 12, comprises a curved side wall 16 and circular top and bottom walls 18, 20. In the preferred embodiment, the side wall 16 is cylindrical, and as can be seen from Fig.2, the side wall 16 has a profile in plan which is circular. Correspondingly, the top and bottom walls 18, 20 are circular in shape. Dispensing means in the form of a tap 22 is provided on the inner container 14. The tap 22 has a channel 23 through which the liquid can be dispensed. The tap 22 extends through the first container 12 via an aperture 24, provided by perforations in the outer container extends. The tap 22 is of a known construction in the art and comprises a spout 26 and a button 28 which, when pressed, allows the wine in the container 14 to dispense from the spout 26.

[0012] The arrangement 10 also includes carrying means 30 to allow it to be carried. The carrying means 30 comprise a flexible cord 32, which extends through a pair of opposed apertures 34 in the outer container 12, towards the upper end thereof. The opposite regions 36 of the cord 32 extend through the apertures 34 and are knotted to form knots 38 to retain the cord 32 attached to the outer container 12.

[0013] There is thus described a bag-in-box arrangement which is more stable than conventional bag-in-box arrangements, and makes international freight and transportation easier and less expensive. Also, the cylindrical shape of the wall 16 allows the bag-in-box invention to be more robust than prior art bag-in-boxes. As a result, the boxes which are damaged during transport will be reduced.

[0014] Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0015] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing arrangement comprising a first container having a curved wall, and a second container inside the first container for retaining a liquid.

2. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 1 characterised in that the curved wall comprises a substantially cylindrical side wall.

3. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the first container comprises top and bottom walls on the curved wall.

4. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 3 characterised in that the curved wall has a substantially circular plan profile, and the top and bottom walls are substantially circular in configuration.

5. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the curved wall defines a closed space.

6. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the second container is a flexible container.

7. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the second container comprises a bag.

8. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the second container is formed from a suitable plastics material, such as PVC.

9. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the second container corresponds to the first container in shape.

10. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the first container is made from a suitable rigid material, such as cardboard.

11. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised by dispensing means on the second container for dispensing the liquid.

12. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 11 characterised in that the dispensing means comprises a tap.

13. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 11 or 12 characterised in that the dispensing means has a channel which extends through the first container and the second container.

14. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that the liquid is a drink such as an alcoholic drink, for example wine.

15. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that liquid dispensing arrangement comprises a bag-in-box arrangement.

16. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to any preceding claim characterised in that carrying means is provided to carry the arrangement, the carrying means being mounted on the first container.

17. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 16 characterised in that the carrying means comprises a flexible member.

18. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 17 characterised in that the first container defines a pair of apertures opposite each other into which the flexible member extends.

19. A liquid dispensing arrangement according to Claim 18 characterised in that the flexible member comprises a length of cord or string and is knotted at opposite end regions thereof within the first container to retain the flexible member mounted on the first container.

Drawing