This invention relates to apparatus for providing a flow path from a normally sealed container.

Apparatus for dispensing the contents of sealed containers should generally be capable of providing a flow channel for the material, should ideally be capable of being securely fixed to the container to prevent leakage, and also should be provided with some kind of piercing element to allow stored materials to flow out. It is known to provide a gland on the container, which is adapted to cooperate with a part of the apparatus to hold it in place whilst a frangible portion of the container is penetrated. The container and sealed gland are fabricated together, the gland being sealed, the arrangement being such that at a time and place distant from the place of manufacture, dispensing apparatus may easily be attached to allow access to the contents. However, it has been found that often, accidental piercing of the frangible part of the gland can occur when the apparatus is in place, before the piercing element is intended to be used.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate problems such as this.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for providing a flow path from a normally sealed container for flowable material in the container, comprising a mounting part adapted for mounting on a support part of the container, piercing means adapted to pierce the container to open a flow path through the apparatus, and means operatively connected to the piercing means for shifting the piercing means between a first position in which the piercing means is remote from the container and a second position in which part of the piercing means is adjacent the container ready for piercing.

The operative means may include a cylindrical sleeve and may further include a hand-operable projection.

It is preferred that the apparatus includes a guide slot to guide the operative means from the said first position to the said second position. The hand operable projection may be adapted to travel in the guide slot, which may be substantially U-shaped.

The piercing means may comprise a cylindrical member including a screw thread adapted to cooperate with a screw thread of the operative means, whereby to move the piercing means from the second position to pierce the container.

The mounting part may be substantially horseshoe-shaped.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for flowable material including apparatus as defined above.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate an operational sequence of apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown apparatus 1 for providing a flow path from a normally sealed container 2 for flowable material in the container 2, comprising a mounting part 3 adapted for mounting on a support part 4 of the container 2, piercing means (part shown) adapted to pierce the container 2 to open a flow path through the apparatus 1 and means 5 operatively connected to the piercing means 15 and movable, for shifting the piercing means between a first position "A" in which the piercing means 15 is held remote from the container 2 and a second position "B" in which the

piercing means 15 is held adjacent the container 2, ready for piercing.

The container 2 is provided with a gland 6 in the form of a ring having two annular flanges 7 which define a channel 8 therebetween. The gland 6 is fixed to the surface of the container 2, which is generally of plastic by any suitable means such as for example glueing or welding. A part of the surface of the container 2 is accessible through the centre of the gland and may, in one embodiment, be modified to be more easily broken than the rest of the container. Thus the part may be a membrane of plastic material. In a further alternative embodiment, no gland is employed, the apparatus 1 being attached directly to the container 2 by any suitable means such as for example glue, the support part 4 being in this case, a part of the wall of the container 2.

The mounting part 3 of the illustrated embodiment is adapted to removably connect the apparatus 1 to the support part 4 and for this purpose is provided in the shape of a horseshoe. A U-shape may also be used. T e mounting part 3 is further provided with a flange 9 on its lower surface, which flange 9 is dimensioned to fit closely within the channel 8 when the mounting part 3 is fitted to the gland 6 as by sliding. The flange 9 and channel 8 cooperate to prevent the apparatus 1 from being inadvertently pulled away from the container 2. Attached to the mounting part 3, the apparatus 1 has a short cylindrical body 10 of similar diameter to the gland 6, which is provided with a U-shaped slot 11 through its wall, the arms of the "U" being upright when the apparatus is in use as illustrated in the drawings.

Within the body 10 there is located a cylindrical connecting sleeve 12 which fits into, and is adapted for telescopic movement within the body 10. The connecting sleeve 12 has a projection in the form of a button 13 protruding from one side, which button passes through and can move freely in the slot 11. In combination,

the sleeve 12, and button 13 comprise the operative means.

The inner surface of the sleeve 12 (not shown) is provided with a screw thread, and engaged with the thread by means of a complementary thread 16 is the piercing means 15. The piercing means 15 is adapted to pierce the container and provide a flow path for the contents as already stated and may be configured in a number of ways. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the piercing means comprises a cylindrical body having one tip or pointed end, provided with one or more apertures which communicate with the internal bore of the cylinder, and which form flow channels for the stored material. The cylindrical body fits within the sleeve 12 and is movable therein by means of the cooperating screw threads. The piercing means is provided with a knurled ring 17, and may be formed internally with, or connected to a spigot 14 of any suitable shape, for attachment of a conduit (not shown) to draw off stored product.

In use, the apparatus 1 is offered up to the gland 6 of a container 2, the gland 6 sliding between the arms of the horseshoe, with the flange 9 engaging the channel 8. As shown in Fig. 1 , in the first position "A", the sleeve 12 and piercing means 15 are fully retracted, the piercing means 15 being prevented from inadvertently piercing the container by the sleeve and button arrangement which prevent linear movement of the piercing means 15 towards the container 2. When it is required that product be dispensed from the container 2, the sleeve 12 is moved from position "A" (Fig. 1) to position "B" as shown in Fig. 2, by moving the button 13 along the slot 11 as shown. This has the effect of shifting the piercing means 15 bodily so that the tip thereof lies adjacent the container 2. To dispense stored product, the piercing means 15 is then rotated by means of the knurled ring 17 which moves it within the sleeve 12 towards and through the wall of the container 2 as illustrated in Fig. 3. To stop the flow of material, the piercing means 15 is withdrawn from the container 2 by rotating the ring 17

in the opposite direction, which returns the apparatus 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Thus it can be seen that the invention allows a dispensing apparatus to be attached to a container of product without the danger of inadvertent piercing of the container.

In this way the invention may be used in a number of different applications, such as on bag in a box containers for drinks such as wines, drinks dispensing machines, powder dispensing and indeed in any application where flowable product is stored in a normally sealed container.