Connector and connection assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12018787-B2
Application number	US-202117363046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

There may be provided a connector for a liquid container. The connector may include a connector body, and a through-hole for fitting on a neck portion of the liquid container. The connector may further include a restraining arrangement positioned proximal to the through-hole. The restraining arrangement may include a first restraining member and a second restraining member extending towards a central axis of the connector body. The first restraining member may have a distal end that extends further than a distal end of the second restraining member. The distal end of the first restraining member may engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a first position, and the distal end of the second restraining member may engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a second position. The connector may further include a connector-to-key-interface arrangement configured to mate with a corresponding surface of a key member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector comprising:
a connector body comprising a first axial surface, a second axial surface, and a through-hole with an inner surface extending between the first and the second axial surfaces, wherein the through-hole is adapted to fit on a neck portion of a liquid container;
a restraining arrangement positioned proximal to the through-hole, the restraining arrangement comprising a first restraining member and a second restraining member extending toward a central axis of the connector body, wherein the first restraining member comprises a distal end that extends further than a distal end of the second restraining member,
wherein the distal end of the first restraining member is configured to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a first position, and the distal end of the second restraining member is configured to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a second position;
wherein the first restraining member is flexible, and the second restraining member is rigid;
and
a connector-to-key-interface arrangement on the second axial surface,
wherein the connector-to-key-interface arrangement is configured to mate with a surface of a key member.

2. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first restraining member further comprises a plurality of first restraining members, and the second restraining member further comprises a plurality of second restraining members,
wherein the first and second restraining members are arranged in a side-by-side manner along the inner surface.

3. The connector of claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of first restraining members and the plurality of second restraining members are arranged in an alternating manner along the inner surface.

4. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first restraining member extends in an upward manner towards the central axis to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at the first position, and the second restraining member extends in a substantially horizontal manner towards the central axis to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at the second position.

5. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first restraining member extends in a substantially horizontal manner towards the central axis, and the second restraining member extends in a substantially horizontal manner towards the central axis.

6. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first restraining member is positioned on a first lateral plane relative to the central axis, and the second restraining member is positioned on a second lateral plane relative to the central axis,
wherein the first lateral plane is closer to the second axial surface of the connector body than the second lateral plane.

7. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the connector-to-key-interface arrangement comprises at least one protrusion element extending away from the second axial surface of the connector body.

8. The connector of claim 7 ,
wherein each of the at least one protrusion element comprises a reinforcing rib portion protruding laterally from a side surface of the protrusion element.

9. The connector of claim 7 ,
wherein the connector body comprises an annular shape comprising an outer circumferential surface.

10. The connector of claim 9 ,
wherein the connector body comprises a side protrusion from a portion of the outer circumferential surface.

11. The connector of claim 10 , further comprising:
a guide post at the side protrusion of the connector body,
wherein the guide post is adapted to be insertable into a corresponding opening on the surface of the key member that aligns the key member with respect to the connector.

12. The connector of claim 11 ,
wherein the guide post is longer than the at least one protrusion element.

13. The connector of claim 11 ,
wherein the guide post comprises an oblong shape.

14. The connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the connector body, the restraining arrangement, and the connector-to-key-interface arrangement are made of a plastic material.

15. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adaptor configured to couple the connector body to the neck portion of the liquid container in a manner such that the adaptor is disposed between the connector body and the neck portion of the liquid container.

16. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
the key member comprising the surface configured to mate with the connector-to-key-interface arrangement of the connector such that the second axial surface of the connector body is in contact with the surface of the key member.

17. A connection assembly comprising:
a connector for a liquid container, the connector comprising a connector body with a first axial surface and a second axial surface, a connector-to-key-interface arrangement on the second axial surface, and a through-hole adapted to fit on a neck portion of the liquid container;
a restraining arrangement positioned proximal to the through-hole, the restraining arrangement comprising a first restraining member and a second restraining member extending toward a central axis of the connector body, wherein the first restraining member comprises a distal end that extends further than a distal end of the second restraining member, and the distal end of the first restraining member is configured to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a first position and the distal end of the second restraining member is configured to engage the neck portion of the liquid container at a second position; and
a key member detachably connectable to the connector, the key member comprising a key-member body with a first axial surface and a second axial surface, and a key-to-connector-interface arrangement on the first axial surface of the key-member body;
wherein the connector-to-key-interface arrangement of the connector comprises at least one protrusion element extending from the second axial surface of the connector body; and
wherein the key-to-connector-interface arrangement of the key member comprises at least one corresponding protrusion-receiving hole for receiving a corresponding protrusion element therein,
wherein the connector-to-key-interface arrangement of the connector and the key-to-connector-interface arrangement of the key member are configured to mate with each other;
wherein the connector-to-key-interface arrangement of the connector comprises at least one guide post extending perpendicularly from the second axial surface of the connector body, wherein the at least one guide post is taller than the at least one protrusion element; and
wherein the key-to-connector-interface arrangement of the key member comprises at least one corresponding alignment opening for receiving a corresponding guide post therein.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Ulmer Alexis
• June Michael
• Davison Peter

Classifications

• B67D7/0288

  Container connection means (for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829) · CPC title

• B67D7/344

  by checking a correct coupling or coded information · CPC title

• F16L2201/20

  Safety or protective couplings · CPC title

• F16L2201/10

  Indicators for correct coupling · CPC title

• F16L43/02 Primary

  adapted to make use of special securing means · CPC title