초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a tap assembly for dispensing fluids from a flexible film bag such as a “bag-in-box”. Known taps associated with such flexible bags do not efficiently dispense fluid from a bag which is partially collapsed and/or can damage the opposite wall of the partially collapse

The present invention relates to a tap assembly for dispensing fluids from a flexible film bag such as a “bag-in-box”. Known taps associated with such flexible bags do not efficiently dispense fluid from a bag which is partially collapsed and/or can damage the opposite wall of the partially collapsed bag. The tap assembly includes a body with a bore, an actuation member to cover at least a portion of the bore and a piercer which is configured to pivot within the bore and pierce and cut a sterility membrane positioned over an open end of the bore upon movement of the actuation member by a user. The piercer comprises a curved surface which functions to position the piercer away from the plane of the adjacent bag wall after initial piercing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tap assembly for dispensing a fluid from a fluid container, the tap assembly comprising: a body having a bore formed therein;an actuation member configured to move axially within the bore and cover at least a portion of the bore; anda piercer configured to pierce and cut an adjacent sterility f

1. A tap assembly for dispensing a fluid from a fluid container, the tap assembly comprising: a body having a bore formed therein;an actuation member configured to move axially within the bore and cover at least a portion of the bore; anda piercer configured to pierce and cut an adjacent sterility film as a result of movement of the actuation member by a userwherein the piercer is pivotable with respect to the bore and comprises a substantially curved surface configured to form a barrier to prevent blockage of the fluid within the bore from the cut sterility film and position the piercer away from an adjacent wall of the fluid container after piercing and cutting of the sterility film. 2. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid container is a flexible film bag to which the body of the tap assembly is attached. 3. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bore is configured to facilitate fluid communication between an open end of the body configured for attachment to a fluid container and an exit spout. 4. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuation member is configured to move the piercer from a retracted position, whereby the piercer is housed within the bore of the tap, to an extended position, whereby a substantial portion of the piercer extends from the bore of the tap. 5. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer is moved from the retracted position to the extended position via a curved surface of the piercer abutting an end surface of the actuation member as the actuation member is moved axially within the bore. 6. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer is attached to the body at least one pivot point. 7. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the piercer is attached to the body at two pivot points. 8. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pivot points are joined by a shaft. 9. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer is held temporarily within the bore before first use of the tap assembly via a protrusion on the curved surface of the piercer, wherein the protrusion is configured to be retained in a corresponding detent on a wall surface of the bore. 10. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer comprises at least one cutting edge. 11. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the at least one cutting edge comprises at least one serration configured to maintain the piercer in place relative to the sterility film after entry of the piercer into the sterility film and subsequent cutting by the cutting edge. 12. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer also comprises at least one fluid passageway to facilitate the flow of fluid between the fluid container and the tap assembly after piercing and cutting of the sterility film by the at least one cutting edge. 13. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer is configured to pull away the cut sterility film from the intended fluid flow path after piercing and cutting of the sterility film. 14. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second sterility film is attached over the bore on an end of the exit spout and configured for removal before first use of the tap assembly. 15. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap assembly also includes a cap configured to cover an end of the actuation member and attach to the body to prevent inadvertent activation of the tap assembly before first use. 16. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cap comprises a weakened join configured to tear and release the cap from the actuation member. 17. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes a seal connecting the actuation member to the body, the seal being engageable with the cap. 18. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes a wing-shaped projection peripherally extending from the body in the vicinity of the end of the actuation member. 19. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has an internal surface with a cam profile. 20. The tap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the protrusion of the piercer is configured to make an initial entry into the sterility film in response to a force applied to the end of the actuation member. 21. A tap assembly, comprising: a tubular body having a through hole therein;a spout connected to the tubular body and configured to discharge a fluid;a shaft axially extending through the through hole in the tubular body, the shaft having a first end and a second end and configured to be slidably moved along the through hole in response to a force to be applied to the first end; anda claw-shaped cutter placed within the tubular body and having a leading end and a proximal end, the leading end facing an adjacent membrane to be disrupted by the cutter, the leading end being positioned between the membrane and the second end of the shaft, the cutter being pivotable with respect to the proximal end, whereinthe shaft and the cutter are positioned in a substantially perpendicular relationship to each other to be operable in such a way that the sliding movement of the shaft is transmitted to the cutter from the second end of the shaft and is translated into a pivotal movement of the cutter to cause the leading end to advance into the membrane and secure a fluid passage way. 22. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer is configured to pierce and cut an adjacent sterility film as a result of axial movement of the actuation member by a user. 23. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation member is configured to move linearly within the bore. 24. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer includes a point configured for piercing the film and sharp cutting edge configured to cut the pierced film after the tip has pierced the film. 25. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer is configured to move relative to the actuation member. 26. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap assembly is configured such that the axial movement of the actuation member in a first trajectory results in rotational movement of the piercer in second trajectory different from the first trajectory. 27. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein both the first and second trajectories lie in the same plane, and wherein the second trajectory diverges away from the first trajectory. 28. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer is pivotable with respect to the actuation member. 29. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer comprises two arms that extend towards each other to a single point, the point being configured to pierce, the arms having separate cutting edges, the cutting edges configured to cut. 30. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuation member is configured to move the piercer from a fully retracted position where the piercer has not pierced the film and where the piercer is housed within the bore of the tap, to a fully extended position where the piercer has pierced and cut the film, whereby a substantial portion of the piercer extends from the bore of the tap. 31. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer is moved from the retracted position to the extended position via a camming action. 32. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piercer comprises at least one cutting edge that extends in a curved manner away from a point of the piercer. 33. The tap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercer is a curved “V” shaped component with space in between the arms of the “V.”