This invention relates to improvements to liquid containers and in particular to containers which may be applied although not exclusively applied to the storage of wine or other liquids which are subject to deterioration when in contact with air. Background Art

Conventionally/ wine is stored in bottles of various sizes such as 750 ml. size or flagon size with such bottles being stoppered by corks, plastic caps or other closures. Alternatively wine for consumer usage is stored and sold in wine casks which comprise a flexible bladder which contains the wine arranged within an outer box or container normally formed of cardboard and the bladder is provided with a valve which may be operated to dispense wine therefrom. Whilst the former types of container are normally preferred for the higher quality wines, wastage often occurs because the contents of the bottle tend to deteriorate if the bottle is opened and not emptied at the time of opening as excess air enters the opened bottle and causes oxidation of the wine. This therefor limits the appeal of the more expensive higher quality wines. Cask type containers whilst popular for lower quality less expensive wines are not suited to usage with higher quality wines. Containers for other liquids such as ink also suffer the disadvantage that opening thereof permits entry of air and subsequent deterioration of the contents. Disclosure of Invention The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing an improved container for liquids which permits a portion of the liquid stored in the container to be dispensed whilst ensuring that the remaining liquid in the container comes into minimum contact with the external atmosphere so as to reduce or eliminate the risks of the liquid deteriorating due to oxidation.

With the- above and other objects in view, the present invention resides broadly in a container comprising an outer hollow supporting part; an inner flexible bladder-like part disposed within said outer part and supported thereby, said inner part being adapted to contain liquid, means communicating the region between said inner and outer parts with the external atmosphere and valve means communicating with said inner part, said valve means preventing in the non-dispensing attitude of said container, substantial ingress of air into the interior of said inner part and opening to permit dispensing of liquid from said inner part when said container is moved away from said non- dispensing attitude.

Preferably, the outer part is in the form of a conventional bottle which may be formed of glass or any other material such as aluminium and the valve means is disposed in the normal neck of the bottle. Suitably, the valve means is disposed within a tubular-like insert located within the mouth of the container, the insert defining with the bottle neck passage means for communicating the region between the inner and outer parts of the container with the atmosphere. Preferably, the inner part includes a throat portion located within the neck of the outer part and sealingly sandwiched between the valve means and the insert. Suitably, the valve means includes a valve member which comprises a ball valve and the valve means includes or defines a valve seat for the ball valve so that when the container is upended to dispense liquid from the inner part, the ball valve lifts under the influence of gravity off the valve seat to permit liquid to be dispensed. Suitably also the valve means includes means to restrain substantial movement of the ball valve away from the valve seat to prevent loss thereof upon tipping of the container. Preferably the outer part of the liquid container is externally threaded adjacent the mouth to accept a screw cap. Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily

understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate- a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational partly cut away view of one form of liquid container according to this invention ;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the liquid container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating details of the valve assembly and insert at the container neck; and Fig. 4 illustrates in perspective partly cut-away view the housing of the valve assembly and associated insert. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a liquid container 10 according to the present invention including an outer rigid or substantially rigid part 11 which in this embodiment is in the form of a glass bottle including a neck portion 12 but which may be of any suitable form and constructed of any material such as metal for example aluminium. Disposed within the outer part 11 and supported thereby is a flexible liquid holding container or bladder part 13 which is suitably formed of plastics material and which substantially follows the internal periphery of the container part 11. The bladder part 13 also includes a discharge throat 14 which is located in the neck portion 12 of the outer part 11.

Also disposed within the neck portion 12 of the container part 11 adjacent the discharge opening thereof is a valve assembly 15 and tubular insert 16, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent. The insert 16 as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 includes an annular head portion 17, a depending tubular body part 18 and a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced ribs 19 which are disposed on the outer surface of the body part 18 and extend radially outwardly on the underside of the head portion 17 as illustrated. The ribs 19 extend outwardly from

the body part 18 to lie on a radius substantially the same or slightly greater than the internal radius of the neck portion - 13 adjacent the discharge opening so as to be securely engaged with the internal surface of the neck portion in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The ribs 19 define with the internal surface of the neck portion 14 of the container part 11 and the end thereof a plurality of air passages 20 which are adapted to communicate the region 21 between the inner and outer parts 11 and 12 of the container 10 with the external atmosphere.

The valve assembly 15 includes an housing 22 which comprises a tubular body part 23 having a generally cylindrical external surface which is slightly smaller in external diameter than the internal diameter of the insert body 18. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the body part 23 has an external radius of such a size as to co-operate with the inner surface of the body part 18 and sandwich therebetween portion of the throat 14 of the bladder part 13 so that the throat 14 is sealed to the body part 23 of the valve housing 22 and secured to the neck portion of the container part 11.

Disposed at one end of the body part 23 is an annular head portion 24 which is formed frustoconically in its top surface to define a pouring lip 25 for facilitating the dispensing of liquid from the container 10 whilst the body part 23 at its opposite end tapers inwardly to form a frustoconical valve seat 26 surrounding a circular opening 27. The body part 23 also includes on its inner surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs or fins 28 which extend longitudinally from the valve seat 26 to terminate in inwardly directed lugs or retainers 29. A spherical valve ' ball 30 is located within the body part 23 between the lugs 29 and the valve seat 26. The ribs or fins 28 serve to maintain the ball 30 centrally within the body part 23 in alignment with the seat 26 and the lugs 29 serve to limit movement of the ball 30 away from the seat 26 out of the housing 22 whilst at the same time permitting it to lift off

the valve seat 26.

The neck portion 12 of the container part 11 also suitably includes a threaded portion 31 on the external surface of the neck 12 so that a screw cap 32 may be engaged therewith and abut against the top edge of the pouring lip 25 to seal off the container 10 and so as to permit the container 10 to be stored in an upright attitude or on its side.

In the non dispensing attitude shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the ball 30 is located on its seat 26 to substantially prevent, with the assistance of any liquid which may remain in the housing 22 about the ball 30, air passing into the container inner part or bladder 12. For dispensing purposes, the screw cap 32 is removed and the container 10 may be simply upended as in conventional pouring from a bottle. The ball 30 will, under the influence of gravity lift from the seat 26 thereby permitting liquid in the inner part 12 to flow out through the opening 27 and the interior of the housing 22 to be directed by the pouring _. lip 25 as desired say into a glass. At the same time, air will enter the region 21 between the inner and outer parts 11 and 12 of the container 10 via the passages 19, this region 21 increasing in size as more liquid is dispensed. This overcomes the need for air to enter the inner part 12 to replace the dispensed liquid.

After the required quantity of liquid is dispensed, the container 10 is returned to its upright position so that the ball valve 30 returns to the position shown in Fig. 2. This will substantially seal the interior of the inner part 12 from the outside atmosphere. As stated above, sealing of the inner part 12 is also facilitated by any liquid which may remain within the housing 22 after dispensing, this liquid co-operating with the ball 30 and seat 26 to ensure against air entering the bladder part 12. This sealing effect also reduces the necessity of having an absolute sealing fit between the ball 30 and its seat 26. The air in the region 21 which enters via the passages 20 defined by the insert 16

collapses the inner part 1 ^' 2 due to atmospheric pressure in preference to air entering into the interior of the part 12 so that where the liquid say is wine, oxidation does not occur. After dispensing, the screw cap may be replaced if desired, however the ball 27 (and any remaining liquid in the housing 22) will ensure suitable sealing when the container 10 is in an upright attitude. By using the above arrangement it will be apparent that the remaining liquid in the inner part 13 may be retained without deterioration for further use.

In one form the inner flexible part 13 may be blow moulded into the outer bottle part 11, the outer bottle part 11. defining a mould for the blow moulding operation and suitably blow moulding of the inner part is carried subsequently to fitting of the insert 16. The valve assembly 15 may then be inserted into the neck of the bottle part 11 to sealingly sandwich the throat of the inner part 13 between the valve housing 15 and insert 16. The ball valve 30 is fitted subsequent to filling of the inner part 12 by forcing it past the lugs 26 after which the screw cap may be engaged.

Suitably, the insert 16 and valve housing 22 are moulded from a plastics material whilst the ball valve 30 is formed of glass. The inner bladder part 13 may be formed of any plastics material such as- lightweight polypropylene. In an alternative embodiment the throat of the bladder part 12 may be sandwiched between the valve housing 22 and neck 14 and alternate means are provided for permitting air to enter the region 20. Such alternate means may comprise a simple aperture in the wall of the outer part 12. The valve assembly 15 may of course be of many different forms, however, it is preferred that the valve be operated under the influence of gravity. The outer container part 11 may be of many different forms such as conventional 750 ml. size or flagon size or of any form to suit the application.

The ribs 19 of the insert 16 whilst serving to define the air passages for the container region 21 also are such as to

accommodate variations in the size of the bottle outlet. In the preferred form, there are eight ribs spaced evenly about the insert 16, however any number of ribs may be used. Similarly the ribs may be of any form. The fins 28 in the valve housing 22 may be eliminated if desired, however, means are preferably provided to prevent the ball 27 moving out of the housing 21 when the container 10 is upended. Such means may take the form of a barrier of suitable form extending diametrically of the housing 22.