Lock-out device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9708172-B2
Application number	US-201514810190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2005
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A method and device to insure that a particular dispensing package ( 18 ) can only be engaged into an appropriate dispensing location ( 14 ). Specifically, the package and the dispenser have mating concentric rings ( 24, 30 ) (or portions thereof) to prevent engagement and dispensing of an inappropriate product. In one embodiment, the package ( 18 ) is provided with one or more concentric ring projections ( 24 ) (or portions thereof) and the dispenser ( 10 ) is provided with one or more matching concentric ring recesses ( 30 ). The projections and the recesses have similar diameters to define a mating set. In some embodiments, the concentric ring projections are placed on a closure ( 20 ), such as a cap, of the package. In alternative embodiments, the projections are placed on the dispenser and the recesses are placed on the package.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lock-out assembly for controlling engagement between a package and a dispensing apparatus having a cradle, the lock-out assembly comprising:
a closure attachable to the package and including a first mating surface;
a selectively movable insert removably receivable in the cradle and having a second mating surface;
a recess positioned on one of the first mating surface or the second mating surface; and
a projection positioned on the other of the first mating surface or the second mating surface,

wherein the projection is dimensioned and configured to releasably mate with the recess to engage the package with the dispensing apparatus.

2. The lock-out assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection includes a rib, and wherein the projection and the rib releasably engage the recess.

3. The lock-out assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recess is annular.

4. The lock-out assembly of claim 3 , wherein the projection is annular.

5. The lock-out assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recess is a first recess and the lock-out assembly further includes a second recess that is concentric with the first recess, and wherein the second recess is positioned on one of the first mating surface or the second mating surface.

6. The lock-out assembly of claim 5 , wherein the projection is a first projection and the lock-out assembly further includes a second projection that is concentric with the first projection and that is positioned on the other of the first mating surface or the second mating surface, and wherein the second projection is engageable with the second recess.

7. The lock-out assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recess is positioned about at least a portion of a circumference of a circle having a first diameter.

8. The lock-out assembly of claim 7 , wherein the projection is positioned about at least a portion of a circumference of a circle having the first diameter.

9. The lock-out assembly of claim 8 , wherein the recess extends around the entire circumference of the circle having the first diameter.

10. The lock-out assembly of claim 8 , wherein the projection extends around only a portion of the circumference of the circle having the first diameter.

11. A dispensing apparatus comprising:
a package containing a product to be dispensed, the package including a closure defined by a closure mating surface having a projection or a recess;
a dispensing location including a cradle; and
a selectively movable insert removably received in the cradle, the insert having an insert mating surface releasably mating with the closure mating surface, the insert mating surface having the other of a recess or a projection, the closure mating surface cooperating with the insert mating surface to engage the package with the dispensing location such that the product can be dispensed from the first package.

12. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the closure is selectively removable from the package.

13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the projection includes a rib, and wherein the projection and the rib releasably engage the recess.

14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of projections.

15. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of concentric projections, and the recess includes a plurality of concentric recesses complementary to the plurality of concentric projections.

16. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the projection includes a first projection that extends a first distance, and a second projection that extends a second distance, wherein the first and second distances share the same center of origin, wherein the second distance is different from the first distance, and wherein the recess includes a first recess that is complementary to the first projection, and a second recess that is complementary to the second projection.

17. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the closure mating surface is a first closure mating surface, the dispensing apparatus further comprising:
a second package containing a second product to be dispensed, the second package including a second closure defined by a second closure mating surface having a projection or a recess;
a second dispensing location including a second cradle; and
a second selectively movable insert removably received in the second cradle, the second insert having a second insert mating surface releasably mating with the second closure mating surface, the second insert mating surface having the other of the recess or the projection;
wherein the positioning of the projections and the recesses allow the second package to engage the second dispensing location such that the second product can be dispensed from the second package; and
wherein the positioning of the projections and the recesses prevent the first package from engaging the second dispensing location to dispense the first product and prevent the second package from engaging the first dispensing location to dispense the second product.

18. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the projection is positioned about a circle having a diameter, and wherein the recess is positioned about a circle having the diameter.

19. The dispensing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the projection extends only partially around the circle having the diameter.

20. The dispensing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the recess extends around the entire circle having the diameter.

Assignees

• Diversey Inc
• Webb Shirley A

Inventors

• Reimann Kirk
• Simpson William E
• Trafelet Nancy D
• Swain Andy
• Holden David
• Crossdale Garry W
• Haworth Brian D
• Van Der Heijden Bert
• Webb Christopher J

Classifications

• B67D7/34 Primary

  Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid · CPC title

• B67D7/344 Primary

  by checking a correct coupling or coded information · CPC title

• B67D7/02

  for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants · CPC title