Liquid Dispensing Tap And Liquid Container Provided With Said Tap

Abstract

Liquid dispensing tap 1 connectable to a liquid container 70, e.g. a bag in box, for controlled dispensing of a liquid therefrom. The tap includes a housing 10 forming an inlet of the tap and including a dispensing chamber wall portion 13 delimiting a dispensing chamber 14 with a valve seat 15 at an axial end and forming a dispensing outlet 17 in communication with the dispensing chamber 14. The tap 1 includes a plunger 30 with a stem 31 and a valve portion 32. The stem having an actuator engagement portion 33 outside the dispensing chamber and extending along an axis 15 through a bore 18 in the dispensing chamber wall portion and throughout the dispensing chamber. The plunger moves axially between a closed and an open position. A manually operable plunger actuator 50 engages the engagement portion of the stem to open the tap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid dispensing tap ( 1 ) adapted to be connected to a liquid container, e.g. a pouch ( 70 ), e.g. a pouch of a bag in box container ( 75 ), for controlled dispensing of a liquid from said container, the tap comprising:
 a housing ( 10 ) comprising:
 a connector portion ( 11 ) adapted to connect the tap to a liquid container and forming an inlet of the tap, 
 a dispensing chamber wall portion ( 13 ) delimiting a dispensing chamber ( 14 ) having a vertical axis ( 15 ), which dispensing chamber wall portion comprises a valve seat ( 16 ) at an axial end thereof and forms a dispensing outlet ( 17 ) of the tap in open communication with said dispensing chamber, 
   a one piece molded plastic plunger ( 30 ) having a valve portion ( 32 ) that is integrally molded with a stem ( 31 ) of the plunger, wherein the stem has an actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) outside said dispensing chamber ( 14 ) and wherein the stem extends along said axis ( 15 ) through a first bore ( 18 ) in said dispensing chamber wall portion ( 13 ) and through the dispensing chamber, wherein the valve portion ( 32 ) is embodied to cooperate with the valve seat ( 16 ), and wherein the plunger is axially movable between a closed position, wherein the tap is closed, and an open position, wherein the tap is open,   a manually operable plunger actuator ( 50 ) which engages said engagement portion of the stem of the plunger allowing a user to open the tap for dispensing of liquid,   characterized in that the plunger ( 30 ) has an integrally molded annular flexible sealing lip ( 34 ) that extends around the stem ( 31 ),   and in that the first bore ( 18 ) forms a first cylinder ( 19 ) along said axis ( 15 ), and wherein the sealing lip ( 34 ) slides within and sealing engages the first cylinder ( 19 ) in any position of the plunger ( 30 ).   
     
     
         2 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem ( 31 ) has a small diameter section ( 31   a ) connected to the actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) and large diameter section ( 31   b ) within the dispensing chamber ( 14 ) and wherein the stem ( 31 ) has a shoulder ( 35 ) between said small and large diameter section. 
     
     
         3 . A tap according to  claim 2 , wherein the annular flexible sealing lip ( 34 ) extends from said shoulder ( 35 ), concentrically about the small diameter section ( 31   a ) of the stem. 
     
     
         4 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve seat ( 16 ) has a substantially cylindrical valve seat surface, and wherein the valve portion is embodied as a dish ( 36 ) with a flexible peripheral rim ( 37 ) that is primarily compressed in radial direction when contacting said valve seat surface. 
     
     
         5 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial movement of the plunger between the closed position and the open position is a vertical movement, wherein the valve portion of the plunger in the closed position sealingly engages with said valve seat and wherein in the open position one or more openings are formed between the valve portion and the dispensing chamber, e.g. the dispensing outlet of the dispensing chamber, which openings allow fluid to be dispensed. 
     
     
         6 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a second bore forming a second cylinder, said second bore and second cylinder coaxial with and offset axially with respect to said first bore and first cylinder, wherein the stem and the valve portion of the plunger extend through said second bore, and wherein the valve seat and dispensing outlet are formed at the axial end of said second cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . A tap according to  claim 6 , wherein the internal cross-sectional area of the second cylinder is enlarged at the dispensing outlet, e.g. through the provision of a conical inner surface or indentations to the second cylinder at the end thereof, so as to provide one or more openings between the valve portion and the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         8 . A tap according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing has an outer wall portion forming an exterior of the tap, wherein said outer wall portion comprises a portion of the second cylinder, e.g. the dispensing outlet thereof, e.g. the dispensing outlet and the valve seat thereof, and wherein the first cylinder is provided within and radially spaced from said outer wall portion. 
     
     
         9 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the stem ( 31 ) is hollow with an open end at the side of the valve portion ( 32 ) and a blind end at the side of the engagement portion ( 33 ). 
     
     
         10 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a manually depressable push button ( 50 ), that is exposed to allow operation by a user's finger, e.g. a thumb. 
     
     
         11 . A tap according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a resilient biasing member providing a biasing force on the plunger urging the plunger to the closed position thereof, preferably in an embodiment of  claim 11  the push button ( 50 ) being embodied as a one piece resilient material push button providing said biasing force. 
     
     
         12 . A tap according to  claim 10 , wherein the push button ( 50 ) comprises a snap fit collar ( 51 ) having an outer diameter, which snap fit collar is snap fitted over a snap fit head ( 33 ) forming the engagement portion of the stem of the plunger. 
     
     
         13 . A liquid dispensing tap ( 1 ) adapted to be connected to a liquid container, e.g. a pouch ( 70 ), e.g. a pouch of a bag in box container ( 75 ), for controlled dispensing of a liquid from said container, the tap comprising:
 a housing ( 10 ) comprising:
 a connector portion ( 11 ) adapted to connect the tap to a liquid container and forming an inlet of the tap, 
 a dispensing chamber wall portion ( 13 ) delimiting a dispensing chamber ( 14 ) having a vertical axis ( 15 ), which dispensing chamber wall portion comprises a valve seat at an axial end thereof and forms a dispensing outlet ( 17 ) of the tap in open communication with said dispensing chamber, 
   a plunger ( 30 ) comprising a stem ( 31 ) and a valve portion ( 32 ), wherein the stem has an actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) outside said dispensing chamber and wherein the stem extends along said axis through a first bore in said dispensing chamber wall portion and through the dispensing chamber ( 14 ), wherein the valve portion ( 32 ) is embodied to cooperate with the valve seat, and wherein the plunger ( 30 ) is axially movable between a closed position wherein the tap is closed and an open position wherein the tap is open,   a manually operable plunger actuator ( 50 ) which engages said engagement portion of the stem of the plunger allowing a user to open the tap for dispensing of liquid,   characterized in that the stem ( 31 ) has small diameter section ( 31   a ) connected to the actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) and a large diameter section ( 31   b ) within the dispensing chamber ( 14 ), wherein the stem has a shoulder ( 35 ) between said small and large diameter sections, and wherein the stem has a hollow cavity ( 38 ) that extends from an open end at the valve portion ( 32 ) through the large and small diameter sections ( 31   a,b ) to a blind end at the side of the engagement portion ( 33 ).   
     
     
         14 . A tap according to  claim 13 , wherein the greater diameter section ( 31   b ) of the stem has a diameter that is at least 35% of the diameter of the valve portion ( 32 ). 
     
     
         15 . A liquid dispensing tap ( 1 ) adapted to be connected to a liquid container, e.g. a pouch ( 70 ), e.g. a pouch of a bag in box container ( 75 ), for controlled dispensing of a liquid from said container, the tap comprising:
 a housing ( 10 ) comprising:
 a connector portion ( 11 ) adapted to connect the tap to a liquid container and forming an inlet of the tap, 
 a dispensing chamber wall portion ( 13 ) delimiting a dispensing chamber ( 14 ) having a vertical axis ( 15 ), which dispensing chamber wall portion comprises a valve seat ( 16 ) at an axial end thereof and forms a dispensing outlet of the tap in open communication with said dispensing chamber, 
   a plunger ( 30 ) comprising a stem ( 31 ) and a valve portion ( 32 ), wherein the stem has an actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) outside said dispensing chamber and wherein the stem extends along said axis through a first bore ( 18 ) in said dispensing chamber wall portion and through the dispensing chamber, wherein the valve portion ( 32 ) is embodied to cooperate with the valve seat ( 16 ), and wherein the plunger is axially movable between a closed position wherein the tap is closed and an open position wherein the tap is open,   a manually operable push button ( 50 ) which is connected to said engagement portion of the stem of the plunger allowing a user to open the tap for dispensing of liquid, which push button is embodied as a one piece resilient material push button providing a biasing force on the plunger urging the plunger to the closed position thereof,   characterized in that the push button ( 50 ) is made of polypropylene (PP) or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).   
     
     
         16 . A liquid dispensing tap ( 1 ) adapted to be connected to a liquid container, e.g. a pouch ( 70 ), e.g. a pouch of a bag in box container ( 75 ), for controlled dispensing of a liquid from said container, the tap comprising:
 a housing ( 10 ) comprising:
 a connector portion ( 11 ) adapted to connect the tap to a liquid container and forming an inlet of the tap, 
 a dispensing chamber wall portion ( 13 ) delimiting a dispensing chamber ( 14 ) having a vertical axis ( 15 ), which dispensing chamber wall portion comprises a valve seat ( 16 ) at an axial end thereof and forms a dispensing outlet ( 17 ) of the tap in open communication with said dispensing chamber, 
   a plunger ( 30 ) comprising a stem ( 31 ) and a valve portion ( 32 ), wherein the stem has an actuator engagement portion ( 33 ) outside said dispensing chamber and wherein the stem extends along said axis through a first bore ( 18 ) in said dispensing chamber wall portion and through the dispensing chamber, wherein the valve portion ( 32 ) is embodied to cooperate with the valve seat, and wherein the plunger ( 30 ) is axially movable between a closed position wherein the tap is closed and an open position wherein the tap is open,   a manually operable push button ( 50 ) which is connected to said engagement portion of the stem of the plunger allowing a user to open the tap for dispensing of liquid, which push button is embodied as a one piece resilient material push button providing a biasing force on the plunger urging the plunger to the closed position thereof,   wherein the push button has a depressable wall portion ( 54 ) with a user engagement face having a central area ( 56 ) and with a stem connector portion ( 51 ) at an opposite face of said central area, wherein the push button has an outer collar portion ( 53 ) secured to the housing of the tap,   characterized in that   the push button ( 50 ) has multiple concentric undulations ( 58 , 59 ) between the central area ( 56 ) and the outer perimeter ( 57 ) of the depressable wall portion ( 54 ), preferably the central area being axially raised relative to the outer perimeter ( 57 ) of the depressable wall portion ( 54 ).   
     
     
         17 . A container, e.g. a pouch ( 70 ), e.g. a pouch of a bag in box container ( 75 ), provided with a liquid dispensing tap ( 1 ) of  claim 1 .