Abstract: Casks for liquids such as fruit juices or wine use air impervious bags to contain the liquid so as to increase its shelf life considerably. However, the material of the dispensing tap allows oxygen to penetrate thus reducing the shelf life. To overcome this it is proposed to use an oxygen impervious diaphragm at the inner end of the dispensing tap. It is therefore necessary to include in the tap a device for rupturing the diaphragm without interfering with the operation of the tap. This is done by including in the apparatus a body, a probe mounted within the body, and a handle. An initiator is provided to move the probe during or prior to the first operation of the apparatus to move the probe axially inwardly so as to rupture the diaphragm.

Abstract: A dispenser tap has a body, a handle, and a probe mounted within the body. The probe is hollow and has a pointed inner end with openings allowing liquid to be dispensed. The body has a spigot-receiving part which has a bore passing through it and a seal at one end thereof. The probe has radially outwardly extending pins that fit into corresponding slots in the body. In use, turning the handle cammingly moves the probe to an extended non-return position such that the seal is pierced and rupturned. The pins within the slots prevent the probe from rotating during this operation.

Abstract: A filling-dispensing closure for a bag-like container including a neck member and a closure member telescopically related thereto, the closure member having a frangible diaphragm adapted to be ruptured by a dispensing tap.