Liqui-box Corporation

Ds Smith Plastics Limited

The Coca-cola Company

Lb Europe Limited

Corplex Plastics UK Ltd

Trimas Company LLC

Ian Darby

Paul Nick Georgelos

Mark A Smith

Michael Fishel

Chris Bowers

Matthew Ruschmeier

Anthony Robert Hoare

A dispensing system for a liquid container including a cap configured to be mounted to a spout connected to a liquid container. The system includes a flexible valve positioned in the cap to be in contact with the liquid contents of the liquid container and a retaining ring connected to the cap to secure the flexible valve to the cap. The cap includes at least one channel defined by a projection configured to receive the tab of a connecting member and secure the connecting member to the cap by securing the tab in the channel under the projection.

Dispensing system

A valve assembly () comprising a valve body () and a mono-material plunger (). The valve body (has a primary opening () and a secondary opening () that are axially spaced apart. The plunger () comprises a primary sealportion () and a secondary seal portion (). The plunger () comprises the following operational positions with respect to the valve body: a transit seal position in which the primary seal portion () of the plunger () is in contact with the valve body () in order to occlude the primary opening (); and a fluid flow position in which the plunger () is maintained in the fluid flow position by an external forceand a force caused by a pressure differential across the valve assembly ().

Valve assembly

A valve assembly () comprising a valve body () and a plunger (). The plunger () is movable through an opening () in the valve body from (i) a transit seal position in which an axial bias spring () is relatively uncompressed, to (ii) an operating configuration in which the plunger () is movable between an operational open position and an operational closed position by or against the axial bias spring (). In addition, the valve assembly () is configured to provide a mechanical restriction to the plunger () moving from the transit seal position to the operating configuration.

The bag side connector for a BIB package comprises: an element () having a longitudinal axis () and including a flange () with an upper and a lower face, wherein a first collar () protrudes from the upper face, so that a cylindrical chamber () is defined, a second collar () protrudes from the lower face, and the flange () has at least one through hole () in the area delimited by the second collar (); and an internal valve device including an obturator () slidable along said axis () and a third collar () protruding from the lower face of the flange () coaxially and internally in respect of the second collar () and externally in respect of the area with at least one through hole (), wherein said obturator () has a foot () suitable for contacting a distal edge () of the third collar () to form a leak-tight seal, and a top wall () from which an actuating pin () protrudes and extends through a center bore () of the flange (). The connector further comprises an external valve device arranged in the chamber () and suitable for allowing/interrupting the fluid communication between the chamber () and the at least one (through hole () in dependence on the pressure existing in the chamber ().

Bag side connector for a bib package

A tap assembly with a hollow tap body which defines a dispensing chamber leading to an outlet arrangement. A valve assembly with a valve element is provided to selectively open an inlet into the dispensing chamber. A push button is provided which operates the valve assembly, and which defines an operating chamber, with the push button movable into the operating chamber. A connecting member is provided extending from the push button through the operating chamber. A seal is provided to prevent liquid passing from the dispensing chamber to the operating chamber.

Tap assembly

A tap assemblywith a hollow tap bodywhich defines a dispensing chamberleading to an outlet arrangement. A valve assembly with a valve elementis provided to selectively open an inlet into the dispensing chamber. A push buttonis provided which operates the valve assembly, and which defines an operating chamber, with the push button movable into the operating chamber. A connecting member is provided extending from the push buttonthrough the operating chamber. A sealis provided to prevent liquid passing from the dispensing chamberto the operating chamber.

A dispensing assembly for a liquid container including a ring part configured to be mounted to a liquid container, a resilient member positioned in the ring part to be in contact with the liquid contents of the liquid container, a ring member mountable to the ring part to secure the resilient member to the ring part, and a hollow connecting member with an outlet. The connecting member is releasably securable to the ring member and includes a hollow projecting member which, when the connecting member is secured to the ring member, engages the resilient member so as to urge an opening in the resilient member to permit liquid in the container to pass into the connecting member and subsequently out through the outlet.

Dispensing assembly

The system and method discloses a cleanable connector system for a Bag-In-Box ('BIB') type package having a valve arrangement that prevents the mixing of product within the bag and in the line. Various embodiments provide a connector system including a valve arrangement having a line-side valve and a bag-side valve, wherein the valve arrangement allows connection to a bag and to a line-side connector while preventing the product within the bag and in the line from mixing. The system improves the user experience by only requiring a relatively weak connection force between the line-side valve and the bag-side valve. The system and method improves the shelf life of products within the bag and reduces the risk of contamination of the bag, the line, and the product within the bag by minimizing the risk of introducing biological and other foreign material into the system when connecting the bag and the line.

Bag in box cleanable connector system having conical plunger

A system and method for connecting a fluid within a product container such as a bag to a product dispenser. The system and method, more particularly, discloses a cleanable connector system for a Bag-In-Box ('BIB') type package having a valve arrangement that prevents the mixing of product within the bag and in the line. Various embodiments provide a connector system including a valve arrangement having a line-side valve and a bag-side valve, wherein the valve arrangement allows connection to a bag and to a line-side connector while preventing the product within the bag and in the line from mixing. The system and method improves the shelf life of products contained within the bag and reduces the risk of contamination of the bag, the line, and the product contained within the bag by minimizing the risk of introducing biological and other foreign material into the system when connecting the bag and the line.

Bag in box cleanable connector system

A valve () comprising a tubular body () closed at a proximal end () and open at a distal end (), outer sealing surfaces () provided at the proximal and distal ends for sealing against an inner surface of a tube, the body comprising a flexibly mounted leg () between the proximal and distal ends, the leg configured to flex outwards from the body on engagement of the open distal end with a spigot so as to open a fluid flow path through the body.

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Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Ian Darby