| abstract |
This liquid container and dispenser includes a rigid or semi-rigid housing 3, a charging and discharging opening defined by a mouth 3a of the housing for permitting the passage of liquid content into or out of the container, a flexible and open-ended bag 2 suspended from the housing opening, and valve structure 4, 5,5a, 6 for controlling the charging and discharging of the liquid content of the bag 2 via the opening. The bag 2 is made of an elastomeric material and is of sufficient wall strength to expand without rupture within the confines of the housing 3 from a relaxed contracted state 2a upon charging of the bag with liquid, and is returnable to its contracted state by its own inherent resilience in order to discharge its liquid content. To facilitate the contraction of the flexible bag 2, a pressure control valve 8 communicates with the internal space 3b defined between the exterior of the bag 2 and the internal wall of the housing 3, the control valve 8 being operable to allow ingress of ambient air to the internal space 3b as the bag 2 contracts during liquid discharge. |