GB2246764A

GB2246764A - Drinks box dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2246764A
Application number: GB9017328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony David Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-07
Filing date: 1990-08-07
Publication date: 1992-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-07
Also published as: GB9017328D0; GB2246764B

Abstract

A drinks box dispenser (11) for housing a boxed drinks container (12) having a dispensing tap (13) comprises a base (21) which receives the container, and a cover (23) which fits over the container. The cover has a integral tap actuator (33) including a push button for operating the dispensing tap (13). The dispenser (11) is a polymeric material moulding, made from for example a rigid polyurethane high density foam. <IMAGE>

Description

A DRINKS BOX DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING DRINKS HELD IN A CONTAINER WITHIN THE DISPENSER The invention relates to a drinks box dispenser which is for use with drinks containers, and in particular relates to wine boxes.

In recent times wines have been sold to the general public not only in the conventional bottles, but in wine boxes, which generally contain larger volumes of wine than the traditional bottle, usually three litres. These boxes are generally typically a three litre collapsible container which is supported in surrounding cardboard box with a dispensing tap for the container exposed for dispensing the wine. These cardboard box containers are generally known as wine boxes and are manufactured by various carton manufacturers, including the Dickinson Robinson Group.

When the wine boxes are arranged on a flat support surface for dispensing the wine, the observer will see a cardboard box which may be unsightly.

The present provides a decorative surround for a wine box which is attractive to the eye, and provides additional stability to the box particularly in an empty condition and which facilitiates dispensing of the wine.

Accordingly there is provided a drinks box dispenser for completely enveloping a boxed drinks container having a dispensing tap , said dispenser comprising a base portion for sitting on a surface, and which is recessed to receive a said boxed container, and a cover portion which fits over the container, and engages with the base portion, wherein said cover includes a tap actuator for operation of the dispensing tap for dispensing the drink from the boxed container.

Preferably the boxed drinks container is a wine box. The term wine also embraces fortified wines. The drinks box dispenser may be manufactured from a high density polymeric material having a density in the order of 1.2 1.4. The weight of the dispenser provides stability to the boxed container especially when nearly empty.

Also according to the invention there is provided a drinks box dispenser for completely enveloping a boxed drinks container having a dispensing tap, said dispenser comprising a base portion for sitting on a support surface and which is recessed to receive a boxed container and a cover portion which fits over the boxed container and engages with the base portion, the dispenser completely surrounding the boxed container except for the tap outlet to thermally insulate the boxed container and the recess in the base portion is sufficiently deep to accommodate at least one freezer pack for cooling the boxed container and contents.

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a drinks box dispenser according to this invention illustrated as an exploded diagram also showing a wine box in situ, Fig 2 illustrates the tap actuator.

With reference to Fig 1 there is illustrated a drinks box dispenser 11 with a wine box 12 in situ. The wine box is a three litre collapsible container supported in a cardboard box with a dispensing tap 13 exposed for use.

The tap is operated by depressing the raised button 14 on the top of the tap to operate an internal valve aI'-wing wine to flow through the tap 13. The tap valve is spring loaded so that on release of the raised button the tap will automatically close. Almost all wine boxes have this type of tap mechanism. The wine box and its tap mechanism form no part of the present invention and are presently manufactured by the Dickinson Robinson Group..

The drinks box dispenser 11 comprises a base portion 21 which rests on a support surface 22, and a cover portion 23. The base portion 21 has a lip 24 normal to the base portion 21 for engaging the edge of a shelf or work top and a rectangular recess 25 into which the wine box 12 will fit.

In this example the wine box 12 is a three litre wine box but box dispensers could be made for other sizes of boxed container. Adjacent the recess 25 is a raised rectangular rib 26 which engages within the cover portion 23 to secure the cover portion 23 and base portion 21 together.

The base portion 21 also has an outwardly extending front flange 27 which will pass underneath the tap 13 of the wine box and has a shaped cavity 28 to accommodate the underside of the container tap 13, so that in use the wine box 12 will sit in the recess 25 with its tap 13 accommodated in the cavity 28 and the tap outlet passing downwards through a hole 29 in the flange 27.

The cover portion 23 is a rectangular section cover that completely envelopes the wine box 12 and may be decorated externally, with mouldings 31. The cover portion 23 .includes a tap actuator 33 (see Fig 2) comprising a slideway 34 moulded integrally with the cover portion 23, and a slide member 35 which is supported for vertical movement in the slideway 34. The slide member 35 has an integral push-button 36 at its upper end for manual operation of the dispenser tap 13 and its lower end is shaped to act against the raised button 14 on the container tap 13. The integral push-button 36 projects outwardly from the cover portion and is accommodated for downwards movement by a slot 37 in the slideway which also help provide lateral support for the slide member.

The slide member 35 could be spring-loaded upwards for closure of the tap 13, but it has been found that the tap valve closure spring is generaly strong enough to return the tap actuator 33 to a non-operative position.

The drinks box dispenser 11 should be made from a material having sufficient weight to make the dispenser and boxed drinks container stable especially when the drinks container is almost empty. It has been found that a hard wood or other materials having a density of approximately between 1.2 and 1.4 gms/cc is necessary for sufficient stability. Preferably a three litre wine box dispenser should weigh about 3 Kg to provide suitable stability.

A suitable material for the purpose is a high density polyurethane resin of the two part type in which a polyol is reacted with an isocyanate to produce a curable mixture.

The mixture can be cast into moulds to obtain the desired shape of component. The moulds may be made from glass fibre or mat reinforced polyester or epoxy resins. During the moulding process a small amount of blowing agent may be added to the reacting mixture to cause a slight expansion in mould during curing for improved moulding of details in the external surface of the dispenser 11.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the recess 25 in the base portion 21 can be deepened to accommodate a pre-frozen ice pack or cooler pack so that the wine box 12 can sit in proximity to the cooler pack for chilling of white wines. The dispenser 11 is made from a thermally insulating material and will act as a cool box.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A drinks box dispenser for completely enveloping a boxed drinks container having a dispensing tap, said dispenser comprising a base portion for sitting on a surface, and which is recessed to receive said boxed container, and a cover portion which fits over the drinks container, and engages with the base portion, wherein said cover includes a tap actuator for operation of the dispensing tap for dispensing the drink.

2. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tap actuator comprises an enclosed slideway formed integrally with the cover portion, and a slide member which is slideably mounted in the slideway and has its upper end exposed for manual operation, and its lower end resting on the tap operating mechanism.

3. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the dispensing tap returns the tap actuator to at-rest condition after each dispensing of wine.

4. A drinks box as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the base portion of the box dispenser has a lip portion to engage the edge of a shelf or work surface to stabilise the box dispenser when resting thereon.

5. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the box dispenser is manufactured from a material having a density of between 1.2 to 1.4 gm/cc.

6. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the box is manufactured from a high density rigid polymeric material.

7. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent upon Claim 5 wherein the box dispenser is manufactured from a very high density, rigid material comprising a two part poluurethane resin in which two reactive components are mixed to cause the polyurethane to cure.

8. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in Claim 7 , in which the polyurethane resin very small amount of foaming agent is added to cause slight expansion in mould for picking up mould detail.

9. A drinks box dispenser as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 8 wherein the base portion has a recess of sufficient depth to accommodate a freezer pack together with the boxed drinks container.

10. A drinks box dispenser for completely enveloping a boxed drinks container having a dispensing tap, said dispenser comprising a base portion for sitting on a support surface and which is recessed to receive a boxed drinks container and a cover portion which fits over the boxed container and engages with the base portion, the dispenser completely surrounding the boxed container except for the tap outlet to thermally insulate the boxed container and the recess in the base portion is sufficiently deep to accommodate at least one freezer pack for cooling the boxed container and latch.

11. A wine box dispenser substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.