Pitcher with spout

A pitcher for use in dispensing liquid from a flexible-walled, liquid containing pouch comprising:

• a cylindrical, substantially rigid, open-topped container having a base, a side-wall and a handle and of dimensions to contain a flexible-walled, liquid containing pouch;
• a cover adapted for engaging an upper portion of the side-wall of the container;
• a spout having a conical piercing end for puncturing an upper wall portion of one side of a pouch and a hollow cylindrical portion having an access port in a wall thereof for communication with a pouring portion of the spout;
• a cylindrical sleeve mounted on the cover and extending inwardly from an opening therein for receiving the cylindrical portion of the spout in liquid tight relationship and for forming a seal with a puncture hole in an upper wall portion of a pouch outwardly of the piercing end of the spout, the spout being slideably moveable in the sleeve between a sealing and piercing configuration in which the sleeve covers the access port, and a pouring configuration in which the access port is exposed inwardly of the sleeve;
• and
• a pusher member mounted on the cover and extending inwardly therefrom and spaced from the sleeve for pushing downwardly on the other side of an upper wall portion of a pouch and to push the one side of the upper wall portion of the pouch into engagement with the piercing end of the spout as the cover is pushed downwardly onto the container to facilitate puncturing of the pouch by the probe.

A flexible-walled, liquid containing pouch in combination with a pitcher for use in dispensing liquid from the pitcher comprising:

• a substantially rigid container adapted to receive the pouch;
• a spout having a wall piercing means of tapering cross-section for puncturing a wall of the pouch;
• an access port spaced from the wall piercing means and in fluid communication with a pouring portion of the spout;
• a sleeve for receiving the spout and having a sealing portion for forming a seal with a puncture hole in the pouch outwardly of the wall piercing means, the spout being moveable relative to the sleeve between a sealing configuration in which the sleeve covers the access port, and a pouring configuration in which the access port is exposed inwardly of the sealing portion in the interior of the pouch;
• and
• a support means for mounting one of the spout or sleeve on the container.