Capsule body attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950286-B2
Application number	US-201314059567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2013
Priority date	Oct 22, 2013
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A filter housing comprising an accommodation space for accommodating a filter is disclosed, wherein the filter housing further comprises at least one connector-like coupling element configured to indirectly or directly mate with at least one mating coupling element of a mating filter housing; and wherein the coupling element is integrally formed on a portion of the filter housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter housing assembly comprising: at least first and second filter housings, each of which has an accommodation space for at least partly accommodating a filter, each of the filter housings having first and second coupling elements formed integrally on a portion of the respective filter housing, the second coupling element of the first filter housing being configured to mate directly with the first coupling element of the second filter housing to form the filter housing assembly, the second coupling element of the first filter housing and the first coupling element of the second filter housing being configured to provide an electrical connection for at least one of receiving, transmitting, and carrying at least one of communication, power, and electrical signals between the first and second filter housings, the second coupling element of the second filter housing being configured for connection to either an external communication device or to a first coupling element of a further filter housing of the filter housing assembly.

2. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein each of the coupling elements is at least one of molded and welded on at least one of an end cap, a body, a filter connector, and a label ring of the filter housing.

3. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element of the first filter housing and the first coupling element of the second filter housing are formed respectively as male and female coupling elements configured for mating with one another.

4. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element of the first filter housing comprises a barbed end and the first coupling element of the second filter housing comprises a receiving holder for receiving the barbed end.

5. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element of the first filter housing includes an attachment end with a displaceable locking tab configured to at least partly enter a void space of a fitted receiving holder of the first coupling element of the second filter housing and lock a connection between the first filter housing and the second filter housing.

6. The filter housing according to claim 5 , wherein the displaceable locking tab is further configured to be operable to remove the connection between the first filter housing and the second filter housing by detaching the attachment end from the fitted receiving holder.

7. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements comprise a fastener which is at least one of hook and loop fasteners, mushroom shaped fasteners, woven fasteners, and magnets.

8. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements comprise a reinforced attachment section comprised of an insertion slot and at least one internal locking tab, wherein the reinforced attachment section is configured to receive an external locking piece insertable into the insertion slot, wherein the external locking piece is held into place with the internal locking tab.

9. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element of the first filter housing comprises an attachment end being resiliently deformable which is configured to attach to a receiving holder of the first coupling element of the second filter housing.

10. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the second coupling element of the first filter housing comprises a receiving holder configured to attach to an interconnection member which is further configured to attach to a mating receiving holder of the first coupling element of the second filter housing.

11. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling element of the first filter housing is configured for attaching at least one external device.

12. The filter housing of claim 11 , wherein the external device is a power device that is connected to the first filter housing using the first coupling element, wherein the power device includes at least one of: a rechargeable battery, a power cord or other wired connection, a powered communication port, a solar cell, a mechanical power source, an electromechanical power source such as a hand crank, and a wireless power source.

13. The filter housing of claim 11 , wherein the external device includes at least one of: a communications device, a sampling device, a measuring device, a flow meter, a temperature sensor, a pressure driven device, an orientation sensor, a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, a free-fall sensor, an impact sensor, a vibration or acoustic sensor, a weight sensor or other load bearing sensor, a force gauge, a dosimeter, a metal detector, a motion detector, a dynamic surface tension sensor, a pressure sensor, a concentration sensor, a hygrometer, a conductivity sensor, a viscometer, a rheometer, a chemical sensor, a trace gas sensor, a pH sensor, a light sensor, a luminance sensor, a dissolved oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a glucose sensor, a protein concentration sensor, and an assay sensor.

14. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the coupling element is configured to attach the filter housing to a holder mechanism comprising at least one of a plurality of legs and tripods.

15. The filter housing according to claim 14 , wherein the holder mechanism is configured with a plurality of at least one of tube holders, holes, notches, and guides for the proper placement and alignment of at least one of tubing, manifolds, cables, and electronic equipment.

16. The filter housing according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the coupling elements and holding mechanism is molded and/or color coded to attach only to a correct coupling element of a correct filter housing.

17. The filter housing according to claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling element of each filter housing comprises a visual, electronic, and/or audible confirmation of a connection provided to an operator, a machine, or a monitoring device.

18. The filter housing according to claim 17 , wherein the confirmation includes at least one of: a plurality of changes including a visual change in color, a change in shape, an alignment of pictographs, symbols or lettering, an LED light, an infrared LED light, an alignment of at least two separated augmented reality marker parts to form a completed whole, a proximity of at least two static augmented reality marker, or a variable augmented reality marker; an electronic change in an RFID or NFC presentation, and an audible confirmation including at least one of a mechanical click sound when components are mated and a digital or analog sound including a chime or spoken voice from a speaker.

19. A filter capsule comprising the filter housing of claim 1 .

20. A method of forming a filter housing assembly comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of filter housings each with an accommodation space for at least partly accommodating a filter,
integrally forming on a portion of each of the filter housings first and second coupling elements,
mating the first coupling element of a first of the filter housings of the plurality of filter housings with the second coupling element of a second of the filter housings of the plurality of filter housings for attaching the first and second filter housings and forming at least a part of the filter housing assembly, wherein each of the coupling elements is configured to provide an electrical connection for at least one of receiving, transmitting, and carrying at least one of communication,

Assignees

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Inventors

• Maggiore Frank
• Wright Robert
• Makowenskyj Peter
• Walter Kevin
• Thelemann April
• Dawson Gary

Classifications

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• B01D2201/4023

  Means for connecting filter housings to supports · CPC title

• B01D2201/56

  Wireless systems for monitoring the filter · CPC title

• B01D2201/52

  Filter identification means · CPC title

• B01D35/303 Primary

  the housings being modular, e.g. standardised · CPC title