Abstract: The present invention relates to a tap assembly for dispensing fluids from a flexible film bag such as a “bag-in-box”. Known taps associated with such flexible bags do not efficiently dispense fluid from a bag which is partially collapsed and/or can damage the opposite wall of the partially collapsed bag. The tap assembly includes a body with a bore, an actuation member to cover at least a portion of the bore and a piercer which is configured to pivot within the bore and pierce and cut a sterility membrane positioned over an open end of the bore upon movement of the actuation member by a user. The piercer comprises a curved surface which functions to position the piercer away from the plane of the adjacent bag wall after initial piercing.

Abstract: This invention provides an attachment for mounting electromagnetic identification tags onto the necks of bottles. The tag has a portion which provides a receptacle portion for an RFI tag. This receptacle portion is connected to a portion that embraces a neck of a bottle to attach the receptacle portion, and thereby, the RFID tag to the neck of the bottle. The identification tag may be formed from a material that does not interfere with electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: Known fluid dispensers can suffer from the disadvantage of inadvertent disconnection of a connector causing potentially hazardous spillage of fluid. The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing assembly comprising a tap and a connector body. The tap comprises a first valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through; and a first portion of an interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with a second complementary interlocking coupling portion of the connector body by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis. The connector body also comprises a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through. By this configuration, the first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing disconnection of the connector body from the tap unless the first and second valves are both in the closed position.

Abstract: This invention provides a valve for a flowable material. The valve has a body defining a bore defined therein. An opening is defined in the side of the bore for material to flow from the bore. The valve also has an actuatable member which is movable along the bore to control the extent of an uncovered area of the opening defined in the bore to control the flow of material through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tap assembly for dispensing fluids from a flexible film bag such as a “bag-in-box”. Known taps associated with such flexible bags do not efficiently dispense fluid from a bag which is partially collapsed and/or can damage the opposite wall of the partially collapsed bag. The tap assembly includes a body with a bore, an actuation member to cover at least a portion of the bore and a piercer which is configured to pivot within the bore and pierce and cut a sterility membrane positioned over an open end of the bore upon movement of the actuation member by a user. The piercer comprises a curved surface which functions to position the piercer away from the plane of the adjacent bag wall after initial piercing.

Abstract: Known fluid dispensers can suffer from the disadvantage of inadvertent disconnection of a connector causing potentially hazardous spillage of fluid. The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing assembly comprising a tap and a connector body. The tap comprises a first valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through; and a first portion of an interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with a second complementary interlocking coupling portion of the connector body by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis. The connector body also comprises a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through. By this configuration, the first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing disconnection of the connector body from the tap unless the first and second valves are both in the closed position.

Abstract: This invention provides a valve for a flowable material. The valve has a body defining a bore defined therein. An opening is defined in the side of the bore for material to flow from the bore. The valve also has an actuatable member which is movable along the bore to control the extent of an uncovered area of the opening defined in the bore to control the flow of material through the opening.

Abstract: This invention provides an attachment for mounting electromagnetic identification tags onto the necks of bottles. The tag has a portion which provides a receptacle portion for an RFI tag. This receptacle portion is connected to a portion that embraces a neck of a bottle to attach the receptacle portion, and thereby, the RFID tag to the neck of the bottle. The identification tag may be formed from a material that does not interfere with electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: A valve assembly to avoid or minimise the effect of “compression setting” which occurs when valves control the flow of some hazardous and/or corrosive fluids, especially when at en elevated temperature. The valve assembly includes a valve stem having a head portion which engages with a valve seat in order to close and seal the valve and an elastically deformable portion. In order to allow fluid to flow through the valve, the elastically deformable portion of the valve stem is deformed to allow fluid to pass between the head portion and the valve seat. An additional biasing element such as a cylindrical or conical compression spring is provided to urge the head portion towards contact with the valve seat. In this way, should “compression setting” of the elastic portion of the valve stem take place, the additional spring will ensure that the valve head is still able to be engaged with the valve seat to thereby close the valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly is designed to avoid or minimise the effect of “compression setting” which occurs when valves control the flow of some hazardous and/or corrosive fluids, especially when at an elevated temperature. The valve assembly includes a valve stem having a head portion which engages with a valve seat in order to close and seal the valve and an elastically deformable portion. In order to allow fluid to flow through the valve, the elastically deformable portion of the valve stem is deformed to allow fluid to pass between the head portion and the valve seat. An additional biasing element such as a cylindrical or conical compression spring is provided to urge the head portion towards contact with the valve seat. In this way, should “compression setting” of the elastic portion of the valve stem take place, the additional spring will ensure that the valve head is still able to be engaged with the valve seat to thereby close the valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid dispenser which is adapted to connect to a container, the container including a membrane seal, wherein the dispenser is movable between two configurations being an unopened configuration to an open configuration which opens a liquid channel from the liquid dispenser to the container cap, and which pierces the membrane seal to open a liquid channel from the container through to the dispenser. A method of manufacturing such a dispenser is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid dispenser which is adapted to connect to a container, the container including a membrane seal, wherein the dispenser is movable between two configurations being an unopened configuration to an open configuration which opens a liquid channel from the liquid dispenser to the container cap, and which pierces the membrane seal to open a liquid channel from the container through to the dispenser. A method of manufacturing such a dispenser is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid dispenser which is adapted to connect to a container, the container including a membrane seal, wherein the dispenser is movable between two configurations being an unopened configuration to an open configuration which opens a liquid channel from the liquid dispenser to the container cap, and which pierces the membrane seal to open a liquid channel from the container through to the dispenser. A method of manufacturing such a dispenser is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is capable of engagement with a fluid port and capable of being open to create a fluid path, where the valve assembly includes a valve head for closing a fluid path to a port associated with a valve assembly, and a housing, and at least one engagement element formed integrally with the housing, wherein the valve assembly is characterized in that to open the valve assembly the valve head is driven into an engagement element deforming the valve head and creating the fluid path through the valve assembly.

Abstract: A measure for dispensing measured quantities of two liquors from a pair of bottles has a pair of measuring and receiving bowls associated with the bottles. Sleeves engage within necks of the bottles for delivery of liquid from each bottle to an associated bowl. Valve members in each bowl have normally open inlet liquid seals which cooperate with the sleeves to control filling of the bowls. Outlet liquid seals on the valve members normally close liquid outlets of the bowls. An actuating lever is operable to raise the valve members, moving the seals upwardly for opening the outlets and closing the inlets of the bowls. Thus, liquid measures flow from the bowls substantially concurrently into a glass or the like placed below the liquid outlets. The outlets are arranged to direct the two liquids to opposite sides of the glass so that the liquids remain separated within the glass. Release of the actuating lever drops the valve members closing the liquid outlets and opening the inlets for recharging the bowls.

Abstract: An anchor for fixing a first member (35) to a second member (8), such as a plasterboard or similar sheet material wall. The anchor is formed from a plastics material and includes an elongate shank (2) for passage through the second member (8) from a front surface (7) thereof to beyond the rear surface. The shank has a screw thread (17) for engaging the second member for retaining the shank therein, and the shank includes a passage (25) extending from an outer head end (3) for reception of a fastening screw (24-26), a toggle bar (5) and at least one frangible connector (20-21-22) attaching the toggle bar on the shank in an inoperative position at which the toggle bar extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongate shank and does not interfere with passage of the shank through the second member.