It is well known to provide a so-called"bag in a box"for the purpose of storing wine for sale and subsequent transport to, and use in the home by the customer. This comprises a box, usually of cardboard, which is erected from a pre-formed carton blank and into which is introduced a flexible bag which has been pre-filled with wine. The bag is introduced through an open end of the box and which is subsequently closed by folding- down and securing a closure flap of the box, so that the closed box can then be easily transported and loaded onto a display shelf e. g. in an off-licence. The purchaser can then easily take the box home, and with suitable manipulation of a pre-formed cut-out portion in a side wall of the box, access can be had to a discharge spout of the bag.

Usually, the spout can be manipulated by finger action, so as to be mounted on the edge of the opening defined by removal of the pre-formed cut-out portion.

The present invention is concerned with an openable storage box which can contain a liquid-containing flexible bag, and which is readily transportable in closed form, but which can be opened so as to expose part of the bag to contact with a cooling surface in order to cool the contents of the bag prior to dispensing the contents of the bag.

According to the invention there is provided an openable storage box which can contain a liquid-containing flexible bag having a dispensing spout, and which is readily transportable in closed form with the bag contained therein, said box being erected from a pre-formed carton-forming blank and having a side wall and end walls which define a storage space to receive the flexible bag, in which: a removable cut-out portion is provided in the side wall of the box to allow access to be had to the dispensing spout of the bag and for the spout to be withdrawn from the box in order to allow the contents of the bag to be dispensed; and, one of the end walls is openable so as to allow the lower end of the box to stand on a support so that the box is free-standing on said support, and to allow a portion of the bag to be exposed to direct contact with a cooling surface provided on said support in order to cool the contents of the bag.

The invention therefore provides a storage box which can contain a flexible liquid-containing bag and, in the closed condition of the box, the box and bag can be

readily transported to a retail outlet, and from the outlet to the ultimate point of end use e. g. home or office.

The storage box can then be opened, by opening one of the end walls, and which leaves the lower edge of the side wall free to be placed on the support with the box being free-standing on the support. The cut-out portion in the side wall can then be removed, so that the dispenser spout of the bag can be withdrawn through the opening defined by the removal of the cut-out portion, and the bag contents can be dispensed when required.

Alternatively, a removable portion may be provided in the lower end wall of the box, to allow intimate thermal contact between the lower wall of the bag and the cooling surface, while the remainder of the lower end wall is supported by a support surface or platform on the base unit.

Preferably, the support with which the invention may be used comprises a self- contained cooler unit having a support ledge or platform on which the box can be free- standing, and an upwardly projecting cooling surface to make direct thermal contact with the exposed surface portion of the bag.

In a further aspect, the invention comprises a self-contained cooler unit for supporting and cooling a beverage-containing storage box.

One preferred form of cooling surface is a part-spherical dome which projects into the interior of the box (via the box opening defined by opening of the end wall) so as to bear at least part of the weight of the bag and its contents, and to be in thermal contact with the bag.

The cooler unit is preferably electrically operated, and may have a thermostatic control to maintain any required cooling temperature of the cooling surface.

It is envisaged that the invention will be particularly applicable to the repeated supply of mineral or spring water or other beverage for domestic, office or restaurant use.

Each customer can purchase/rent the cooler unit, and then purchase boxed bags of mineral or spring water, or other beverage from the supplier which are easily transportable, and then opened to be mounted on the cooler unit with the dispenser outlet of the bag exposed, so that chilled beverage is always on the cooler unit until the bag runs out, when a fresh box can be installed.

The preferred shape of the box is of rectangular cross section, with four sides joined together by hinge or fold lines, and the removable cut-out portion is provided in one of the sides.

Preferably, the end wall opposite to said one openable end wall is also openable, and is formed by an openable closure flap, so that a filled bag can be loaded into the box via this end, prior to closure and transport of the boxed bag.

The cooling unit may have a heat sink which is arranged below the dome-shaped cooling surface, and may also include a cooling fan.

A preferred embodiment of a storage box for a flexible liquid-containing bag according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an erected storage box according to the invention, in which a flexible liquid-containing bag is housed, and also showing the box free-standing on a support platform of a base cooler unit; Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of the base cooler unit.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a carton-forming blank which can be erected to form a storage box according to the invention; Figures 4a, b and c, show, respectively, a plan view, a side view, and a vertical sectional view of a self-contained cooler unit forming a support for use with the storage box according to the invention; Figures 5a and b, are, respectively, plan view, and perspective view of the base of the cooler unit, but with a dome shaped cooling surface removed; and, Figures 6a and 6b are, respectively, side views and plan views of the dome shaped cooling surface.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a storage box according to the invention is designated generally by reference 30, and is free-standing on a support ledge or platform of a base cooler unit 31.

The box is rectangular in shape, and houses a flexible liquid-containing bag therein (not shown). A dispenser nozzle 32, attached to the bag, is taken through a cut-out or press-out hole formed in a front wall of the box to allow the contents of the bag to be dispensed.

The base unit 31 has a horizontal support platform 33 on which the lower end of the box is supported, and projecting upwardly from the plane of the platform there is provided a dome-shaped cooling surface 34. To provide thermal contact between the bag and the cooling surface 34, a cut-out or press-out portion, preferably circular, is provided in the lower end wall of the box, and the dome-shaped projection is therefore able to extend into the box via the aperture in the lower wall of the box, and so as to be in intimate thermal contact with the bag. The weight of liquid in the bag will press the bag into close thermal contact with the cooling surface, and which also will bear some of the weight of the bag and its liquid contents.

Referring now to figure 3, an openable storage box according to the invention is erected from a pre-formed carton-forming blank designated generally by reference 10. The blank 10 has longitudinal fold lines 11 which separate adjacent sides 12 which form a four sided side wall of the box, when erected. Upper closure flaps 13 define an upper open end of the box, when erected, to allow a liquid-containing flexible bag to be loaded therein via the upper end. Upon completion of the loading operation, the flaps 13 are folded inwardly, and held in the inward folded position by any suitable means e. g. locking tabs and/or adhesive, to form a closed upper end of the box. The flaps 13 fold inwardly about upper transverse fold lines 14.

The lower end of the box is initially open, upon erection of the carton blank 10, but can be closed by inward folding of lower closure flaps 15 about transverse fold lines 16.

The lower end wall of the box is therefore closed, by locking tab and/or adhesive securement together of the lower closure flaps 15, and the upper openable wall of the box is closed by closure of the upper flaps 13. The box, with the liquid-containing flexible bag contained therein, can then readily be transported and stored on a shelf at a retail outlet, ready to be purchased and transported by the customer to the ultimate point of end use e. g. home or office. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the storage box of the invention may be of use also to other users, such as restaurant owners. The openable storage box of the invention is particularly, though not exclusively, adapted for use in the storage, transport and subsequent dispensing of mineral or spring water or other beverage contained in a large flexible bag, typically of 10 litre capacity.

One of the sides 12a is provided with a removable cut-out portion 17, which allows access to be had to a dispenser spout of the bag, and for the spout to be withdrawn from the box in order to allow the contents of the bag to be dispensed. The dispensing spout may be a moulded structure, which can be readily mounted on the edge of the opening defined by removal of the cut-out portion.

When the customer wishes to consume the contents of the box, the lower end wall is opened, by downward folding of the lower closure flaps 15, and this then allows the lower edge of the side wall of the box (formed by the fold lines 16) to stand on a support so that the box itself is free-standing on the support.

Alternatively, the lower wall of the box may have a pre-formed removable portion, preferably circular in shape (which can be removed e. g. by pressing-out along pre-formed perforations), and which then allows intimate thermal contact between the lower wall of the bag and the upwardly projecting cooling surface provided on the base cooler unit.

The box is therefore free-standing on the base cooler unit via its lower wall, and with part of the weight of the bag contents being borne by the upwardly projecting cooling surface.

A detailed example of the support 31 of Figures 1 and 2 with which the storage box of the invention may be used will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

The support is therefore designated generally by reference 18, and is a self- contained cooler unit having a support ledge or platform 19 on which the box is free standing, and also has an upwardly projecting cooling surface to make direct thermal contact with a portion of the bag which is exposed, after opening of the lower end of the box and mounting of the box on the support ledge 19.

The cooling surface, in the illustrated embodiment, is a part spherical dome 20 which projects into the interior of the box (via the box opening defined by opening of the lower end of the box) so as to bear at least part of the weight of the bag and its contents, and to be in direct thermal contact with the bag.

The cooler unit is electrically operated, and has a thermostatic control to maintain any required cooling temperature of the cooling surface 20.

The cooling unit forming the support 18 of the invention has a heat sink 21 which is arranged below the dome-shaped cooling surface 20, and also includes a cooling fan 22.

The base of the cooling unit also incorporate a power adapter unit to supply power to the electrically operated cooler device (not shown in detail) housed in the base.

The flexible bag may supply mineral or spring water (or other beverage) for domestic, office or restaurant use, and typically may be about 10 litres in capacity. It is envisaged that each customer can purchase or rent the cooler unit, and then purchase boxed bags of beverage from the supplier which are easily transportable, and then opened to be mounted in free standing manner on the cooler unit, with the dispenser outlet exposed so that chilled beverage is always available for consumption until the bag runs out, when a fresh bag can be installed.

The preferred shape of the box is of rectangular cross section, with four sides joined together as shown, and the removable cut-out portion being provided in one of the sides. However, it should be understood that many other shapes of box may be utilised, provided that a suitable storage volume is defined therein for receiving a flexible liquid containing bag.