US 12,103,841 B1 · Connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly controllably couples a box having a plurality of containers containing a liquid, is provided. Each container has a fitment. The connector assembly includes a housing, a valve assembly, actuator and a locking plate. The valve assembly includes a plurality of fitment receptacles. The actuator is rotatably coupled to the housing and is movable between an open position, a closed position and an engaged position. The locking plate assembly includes a plurality of opening corresponding to each fitment. The opening has a first diameter when the actuator is in the open position. The first diameter of the opening is configured to allow entry of the fitments into the opening. Movement of the actuator from the open position to the closed position closes the opening to a second diameter.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A connector assembly for controllably coupling a container containing a liquid, the container having a fitment, the fitment having a channel and configured to releasably connect the container to the connector assembly, comprising:

a housing having a recess for receiving the container;
a valve assembly including a fitment receptacle, the valve assembly having a liquid flow channel and an outlet, wherein the liquid flow channel couples the fitment receptacle to the outlet;
and,
an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator being movable between an open position, a closed position and an engaged position;
and,
a locking plate assembly coupled to the actuator and forming an opening corresponding to the fitment, wherein the opening has a first diameter when the actuator is in the open position, the first diameter of the opening configured to allow entry of the fitment into the opening, wherein movement of the actuator from the open position to the closed position closes the opening to a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the second diameter being smaller than a diameter of the fitment.

3 more elements

A connector assembly for controllably coupling a plurality of containers containing a liquid, each container having a fitment, each fitment having a channel and configured to releasably connect a respective container to the connector assembly, the containers being housed in a box with the fitments being arranged in predetermined relative locations, comprising:

a housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion extending from the lower portion, the lower portion and the upper portion forming a recess for receiving the box;
a valve assembly including a plurality of fitment receptacles, each fitment receptacle being associated with a respective fitment, the plurality of fitment receptacles being arranged in a pattern coinciding with the predetermined relative locations of the fitments, the valve assembly having a liquid flow channel and an outlet, wherein the liquid flow channel couples the fitment receptacles to the outlet;
and,
an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator being movable between an open position, a closed position and an engaged position;
and,
a locking plate assembly having a first locking plate and a second locking plate, the first and second locking plates being coupled to the actuator and forming an opening corresponding to each fitment, wherein the opening has a first diameter when the actuator is in the open position, the first diameter of the opening configured to allow entry of the fitments into the opening, wherein movement of the actuator from the open position to the closed position closes the opening to a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the second diameter being smaller than a diameter of the fitments.

3 more elements

a housing having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion extending from the lower portion, the lower portion and the upper portion forming a recess for receiving the box;
a guide plate configured to bear the weight associated with the containers, the guide plate being inclined downward towards a back end of the housing;
a valve assembly including a plurality of fitment receptacles, each fitment receptacle being associated with a respective fitment, the plurality of fitment receptacles being arranged in a pattern coinciding with the predetermined relative locations of the fitments, the valve assembly having a liquid flow channel and an outlet, wherein the liquid flow channel couples the fitment receptacles to the outlet;
and,
an actuator coupled to the housing, the actuator being movable between an open position, a closed position and an engaged position;
a locking plate assembly having a first locking plate and a second locking plate, the first and second locking plates being coupled to the actuator and forming an opening corresponding to each fitment, wherein the opening has a first diameter when the actuator is in the open position, the first diameter of the opening configured to allow entry of the fitments into the opening, wherein movement of the actuator from the open position to the closed position closes the opening to a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the second diameter being smaller than a diameter of the fitments, the locking plate assembly being configured to move towards the housing in response to the actuator being moved from the locked position to the engaged position;
and,
a scale coupled to the back frame configured to detect a weight associated with the containers within the box and to responsively provide a visual indication of the detected weight.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connector assembly

Life of this patent

Connector assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36