Claims
- 1. A self-sealing dispensing tap, comprising:
an elongate tube having a generally rigid exterior wall, said elongate tube comprising:
a penetrating end; and a hinge stop encircling said exterior wall adjacent said penetrating end; a hinge plate attached to said tube adjacent said hinge stop, said hinge plate comprising:
a ring plate having an inner diameter sized to enable application of said hinge plate over said elongate tube; and a plurality of fingers affixed to the outer circumference of said ring plate; a compression plate, comprising:
a disc having a centrally located opening sized and configured to enable application of said disc over said elongate tube; and a lock positioned an axial distance away from said hinge stop on the side of said hinge stop opposite said penetrating end.
- 2. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, further comprising:
a sealing ring sized and configured to enable application of said sealing ring over said elongate tube between said compression plate and said hinge plate.
- 3. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 2, said sealing ring being formed of a flexible material.
- 4. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 3, said sealing ring further comprising:
a sealing disc having a centrally located opening configured with an opening diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of said elongate tube.
- 5. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 2, wherein said sealing ring forms a barrier around the exterior of said elongate tube.
- 6. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
an angled face defining a piercing tip.
- 7. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
a pair of sharpened edges formed in a top and bottom portion of the wall of said elongate tube.
- 8. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 7, further comprising:
a pair of knife edges, each said knife edge extending along the outside of the wall of said elongate tube in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said tube, the radial dimension of said knife edge diminishing as it approaches said penetrating end of said elongate tube.
- 9. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 8, wherein the maximum diameter of each said knife edge begins adjacent said hinge stop.
- 10. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, wherein each said hinge finger is sufficiently flexible to enable each said hinge finger to be pivoted with respect to said ring plate.
- 11. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, wherein each said hinge finger is only partially attached to the outer circumference of said ring plate.
- 12. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 11, each said hinge finger further comprising:
an end wall adjacent said ring plate wherein said hinge finger is attached to the outer circumference of said ring plate along only a portion of said end wall, the remaining portion of said end wall being detached from the outer circumference of said ring plate.
- 13. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 12, wherein each said hinge finger may be pivoted with respect to said ring plate along the portion of said end wall attached to said ring plate.
- 14. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, said lock further comprising:
a lock stop having an angled face at an upper end furthest from the penetrating end of said elongate tube; and a right angle stop at a bottom end of said lock stop.
- 15. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 1, said lock further comprising:
a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from said elongate tube and circumferentially aligned along the exterior of said tube, wherein
said compression plate is provided at its centrally located opening with a plurality of radial slots extending into the interior wall of said compression plate.
- 16. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 15, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so as to enable said compression plate to pass over said locking means when said slots and protrusions are axially aligned.
- 17. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 15, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, preventing said compression plate from traveling along said elongate tube.
- 18. A self-sealing dispensing tap, comprising:
an elongate tube having a generally rigid exterior wall, said elongate tube comprising:
a penetrating end; and a section of said exterior wall having reduced outside diameter defining an indentation along the body of said tube, said section of reduced diameter being adjacent said penetrating end; a generally flexible seal member having a centrally located opening with an inner diameter approximately equal to said reduced outside diameter of said indentation; a compression plate, comprising:
a disc having a centrally located opening sized and configured to enable application of said disc over said elongate tube; and a lock positioned an axial distance away from said indentation on the side of said indentation opposite said penetrating end.
- 19. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, wherein said flexible seal member is composed of silicone.
- 20. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said flexible seal member further comprising:
a disc having a maximum thickness adjacent its central opening, said thickness diminishing radially toward the outer circumference of said disc.
- 21. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
an angled face defining a piercing tip.
- 22. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
a pair of sharpened edges formed in a top and bottom portion of the wall of said elongate tube.
- 23. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 22, further comprising:
a pair of knife edges, each said knife edge extending along the outside of the wall of said elongate tube in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said tube, the radial dimension of said knife edge diminishing as it approaches said penetrating end of said elongate tube.
- 24. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 23, wherein the maximum diameter of each said knife edge begins adjacent said indentation.
- 25. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said lock further comprising:
a lock stop having an angled face at an upper end furthest from the penetrating end of said elongate tube; and a right angle stop at a bottom end of said lock stop.
- 26. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said lock further comprising:
a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from said elongate tube and circumferentially aligned along the exterior of said tube, wherein
said compression plate is provided at its centrally located opening with a plurality of radial slots extending into the interior wall of said compression plate.
- 27. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 26, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so as to enable said compression plate to pass over said lock when said slots and protrusions are axially aligned.
- 28. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 26, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, preventing said compression plate from traveling along said elongate tube.
- 29. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 18, said lock further comprising:
a clamp ring, comprising:
a generally cylindrical, hollow wall having threads on its interior; and said compression plate attached to said clamp ring and extending radially outward from said cylindrical wall; and external threads formed on the exterior wall of said elongate tube, said external threads being configured to receive said internally threaded clamp ring.
- 30. A self-sealing dispensing tap for attaching to a flexible package, said dispensing tap comprising:
an elongate tube having a generally rigid exterior wall, said elongate tube comprising:
a penetrating end; and a hinge stop encircling said exterior wall adjacent said penetrating end; a hinge plate attached to said tube adjacent said hinge stop, said hinge plate comprising:
a ring plate having an inner diameter sized to enable application of said hinge plate over said elongate tube; and a plurality of fingers affixed to the outer circumference of said ring plate; a compression plate, comprising:
a disc having a centrally located opening sized and configured to enable application of said disc over said elongate tube; and a lock positioned an axial distance away from said hinge stop on the side of said hinge stop opposite said penetrating end, said that when said hinge plate is flush against an interior wall of said flexible package said lock holds said compression plate against an exterior wall of said flexible package.
- 31. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, further comprising:
a sealing ring sized and configured to enable application of said sealing ring over said elongate tube between said compression plate and said hinge plate.
- 32. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 31, said sealing ring being formed of a flexible material.
- 33. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 32, said sealing ring further comprising:
a sealing disc having a centrally located opening configured with an opening diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of said elongate tube.
- 34. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 31, wherein said sealing ring forms a barrier around the exterior of said elongate tube, said that when said compression plate is locked against the exterior wall of said flexible package, a seal is formed sufficiently tight to prevent product within said flexible package, bacteria, or oxygen from passing between the interior and exterior of said flexible package.
- 35. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
an angled face defining a piercing tip.
- 36. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
a pair of sharpened edges formed in a top and bottom portion of the wall of said elongate tube.
- 37. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 36, further comprising:
a pair of knife edges, each said knife edge extending along the outside of the wall of said elongate tube in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said tube, the radial dimension of said knife edge diminishing as it approaches said penetrating end of said elongate tube.
- 38. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 37, wherein the maximum diameter of each said knife edge begins adjacent said hinge stop.
- 39. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, wherein each said hinge finger is sufficiently flexible to enable each said hinge finger to be pivoted with respect to said ring plate.
- 40. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, wherein each said hinge finger is only partially attached to the outer circumference of said ring plate.
- 41. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 40, each said hinge finger further comprising:
an end wall adjacent said ring plate wherein said hinge finger is attached to the outer circumference of said ring plate along only a portion of said end wall, the remaining portion of said end wall being detached from the outer circumference of said ring plate.
- 42. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 41, wherein each said hinge finger may be pivoted with respect to said ring plate along the portion of said end wall attached to said ring plate.
- 43. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, said lock further comprising:
a lock stop having an angled face at its upper end furthest from the penetrating end of said elongate tube; and a right angle stop at its bottom end.
- 44. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 30, said lock further comprising:
a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from said elongate tube and circumferentially aligned along the exterior of said tube, wherein
said compression plate is provided at its centrally located opening with a plurality of radial slots extending into the interior wall of said compression plate.
- 45. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 44, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so as to enable said compression plate to pass over said lock when said slots and protrusions are axially aligned.
- 46. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 44, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, holding said compression plate against an exterior wall of said flexible package.
- 47. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 46, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, preventing said compression plate from traveling along said elongate tube.
- 48. A self-sealing dispensing tap for attaching to a flexible package, said dispensing tap comprising:
an elongate tube having a generally rigid exterior wall, said elongate tube comprising: a penetrating end; and
a section of said exterior wall having reduced outside diameter defining an indentation along the body of said tube, said section of reduced diameter being adjacent said penetrating end; a generally flexible seal member having a centrally located opening with an inner diameter approximately equal to said reduced outside diameter of said indentation; a compression plate, comprising:
a disc having a centrally located opening sized and configured to enable application of said disc over said elongate tube; and a lock positioned an axial distance away from said indentation on the side of said indentation opposite said penetrating end, said that when said seal member is flush against an interior wall of said flexible package said lock holds said compression plate against an exterior wall of said flexible package.
- 49. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, wherein said flexible seal member is composed of silicone.
- 50. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said flexible seal member further comprising:
a disc having a maximum thickness adjacent its central opening, said thickness diminishing radially toward the outer circumference of said disc.
- 51. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
an angled face defining a piercing tip.
- 52. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said penetrating end of said elongate tube further comprising:
a pair of sharpened edges formed in a top and bottom portion of the wall of said elongate tube.
- 53. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 52, further comprising:
a pair of knife edges, each said knife edge extending along the outside of the wall of said elongate tube in a direction substantially parallel to the major axis of said tube, the radial dimension of said knife edge diminishing as it approaches said penetrating end of said elongate tube.
- 54. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 53, wherein the maximum diameter of each said knife edge begins adjacent said indentation.
- 55. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said lock further comprising:
a lock stop having an angled face at an upper end furthest from the penetrating end of said elongate tube; and a right angle stop at a bottom end of said lock stop.
- 56. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said lock further comprising:
a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from said elongate tube and circumferentially aligned along the exterior of said tube, wherein
said compression plate is provided at its centrally located opening with a plurality of radial slots extending into the interior wall of said compression plate.
- 57. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 56, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so as to enable said compression plate to pass over said lock when said slots and protrusions are axially aligned.
- 58. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 56, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, holding said compression plate against an exterior wall of said flexible package.
- 59. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 58, wherein said plurality of slots are sized and configured so that when said compression plate is rotated about the central axis of said elongate tube said slots and protrusions are axially misaligned, preventing said compression plate from traveling along said elongate tube.
- 60. The self-sealing dispensing tap of claim 48, said lock further comprising:
a clamp ring, comprising:
a generally cylindrical, hollow wall having threads on its interior; and said compression plate attached to said clamp ring and extending radially outward from said cylindrical wall; and external threads formed on the exterior wall of said elongate tube, said external threads being configured to receive said internally threaded clamp ring.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and gains priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/360,238, entitled “Self-Sealing Dispensing Tap for Flexible Packages”, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 27, 2002 by the inventors herein, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60360238 |
Feb 2002 |
US |