WO1995021101B1

WO1995021101B1 - Back-flow preventing bag valve for bag-in-box container

Info

Publication number: WO1995021101B1
Application number: PCT/US1995/001358
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1995-02-01
Publication date: 1995-09-08

Abstract

A bag valve coupling member (22) for a soft drink syrup bag-in-box container having a back-flow preventing one-way valve (30) therein, preferably in addition to the standard self-sealing poppet valve (40) that is biased closed and that is opened when a hose connector (20) coupling member is attached to the bag valve coupling member. The one-way valve (70) prevents back-filling (reuse) of the bag and syrup substitution.

Claims

8

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 18 August 1995 (18.08.95); original claims 2-6, 9, 15 and 16 amended remaining claims unchanged (2 pages)]

2. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 wherein said one-way valve is located between said first valve and said inner end of said housing.

3. (Amended) A bag valve coupling member for a collapsible bag of a bag-in-box container comprising:

(a) a housing having an inner end and an outer end and having a liquid passageway extending therethrough for dispensing liquid flow therethrough in the direction from said inner to said outer end;

(b) a first self-sealing valve having closed and open positions and being disposed in said passageway and including a first valve seat, a first valve member movable into and out of sealing contact with said first valve seat, biasing means for biasing said first valve member into sealing contact with said first valve seat, and a movable actuating stem connected to said valve member and extending toward said outer end of said housing for causing said first valve to move to its open position when said stem is caused to move; and

(c) a back-flow preventing one-way valve disposed in said passageway for preventing reverse liquid flow through said passageway in the direction from said outer end to said inner end, said one-way valve including a second valve seat and a second valve member being movable toward and into sealing contact with said second valve seat by reverse liquid flow through said passageway closing said passageway, and being movable away from and out of contact with said second valve seat by dispensing liquid flow through said passageway, opening said passageway; and

(d) wherein said housing is cylindrical and said inner end of said housing includes a flat, circular wall perpendicular to the axis of said passageway, said wall including a plurality of equally spaced-apart circular openings in a circular array, and said second valve member being ring-shaped.

4. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 wherein said second valve seat includes, on its inner surface facing said second valve member, a pair of radially spaced- apart circular ridges, one located radially inside and one located radially outside of said circular array of openings, said ridges providing sealing contact against said second valve member.

5. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 including a one-way valve chamber located between said first valve and said inner end of said housing, said one-way valve being located in said chamber, said first valve member moving into said chamber and toward said second valve member when moving out of contact with said first valve seat, and said second valve member moving into said chamber and toward said first valve member when moving away from said second valve seat.

6. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 wherein said housing is cylindrical and includes means on its outside surface for connecting said housing to a bag spout.

7. The coupling member as recited in claim 6 wherein said housing also includes means on its outside surface for connecting said housing to a hose connector.

8. The coupling member as recited in claim 7 including a hose connector coupled to said housing, said hose connector including means for contacting and actuating said stem to move said first valve to its open position.

9. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 including a flexible, collapsible bag having a bag spout defining a liquid opening into said bag, and wherein said bag valve coupling member is inserted into and connected to said spout.

15. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 including a spring biasing said one-way valve into sealing contact with said second valve seat to close said passageway.

16. (Amended) The coupling member as recited in claim 3 including a dust cap connected to said housing on said outer end in liquid sealing relationship to said housing.

1 0

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

In accordance with Article 19(1) and Rule 46.1 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, applicant herewith submits a substitute set of claims (Pages 5-6) to replace the claims of record in this application (Pages 5-7).

The distinction in the Substitute Claims as compared to the claims presently of record is as follows:

Page 5 of the originally filed application contains claims 1-4 and part of claim 5. On page 5 of the substitute claims, claims 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been amended.

Page 6 of the originally filed application contains the remainder of claim 5 and claims 6-13. On page 6 of the substitute claims, the remainder of amended claim 5 and claims 6-9, 15 and 16 have been amended.

Page 7 of the originally filed application contains claims 14-16.