# US 12,214,230 B2 · Nutrition tube connector for sealed nutrition pouch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,230 B2 - Document ID: US12214230B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/319,490 - Filed: 2021-05-13 - Published: 2021-11-18 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-13 - Assignees: D. Wheatley Enterprises, Inc. - Applicants: D. Wheatley Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Patrick Hulbert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214230B2 ## CPC - A62B 18/086: {Adaptations for consuming refreshments without unmasking} - A61J 1/1418: {Threaded type} - A61J 1/1481: {with connection retaining means, e.g. thread or snap-fit} - A61J 1/10: Bag-type containers - A61J 15/0011: {Feeding-tubes for delivery of nourishment to the mouth; Mouth pieces therefor (breast-nipple shields A61J13/00; mouth pieces for drinking straws A47G21/185; straws to take medicine A61J7/0038, mouthpieces for tracheal tubes A61M16/0488)} - A61J 15/0026: {Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes (external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08)} - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE ## Abstract Disclosed is a connector for connecting a sealed, flexible nutrition pouch to the hydration system of a user's protective mask, that allows the nutrition pouch to remain sealed until the user intends to consume the product inside of the nutrition pouch, enables resealing of the pouch after it has initially been opened, and allows connection of the nutrition pouch to the user's hydration system. The connector comprises a multi-piece body having an inlet end that may be manually attached to the outlet of the nutrition pouch without breaking the seal covering the outlet of the nutrition pouch. The connector likewise has an outlet end configured for attachment to an adapter on the user's fluid delivery system. Upon attachment of the adapter to the outlet of the connector, a piston inside of the connector is pushed toward the outlet of the nutrition pouch and breaks the seal over the outlet of the nutrition pouch, thus forming a flow channel for material in the nutrition pouch to flow through the connector and into the adapter and fluid delivery system for ultimate consumption by the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nutrition tube connector, comprising: a multi-piece body portion defining an internal channel extending from a bottom of said multi-piece body portion to a top of said multi-piece body portion; at least one body retainer holding multiple sections of said multi-piece body portion in a fixed configuration; a spool core having a bottom head, a central portion and an upper head, wherein said bottom head and said central portion are positioned inside of said internal channel of said multi-piece body portion and said upper head extends above a top end of said multi-piece body portion, said spool core having an open piston chamber extending there through; a piston movably mounted in said piston chamber and held in an upper position in said piston chamber at a detent; and a cap plug removably positioned in a cap plug receiver at a top end of said spool core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nutrition tube connector of claim 1, said internal channel of said multi-piece body portion having a first portion of a mating connection configured to receive a second portion of said mating connection on a disposable nutrition pouch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nutrition tube connector of claim 2, wherein said cap plug receiver is configured to receive an inlet of an adapter of a fluid hydration system comprising the adapter, a hose connected to the adapter, and a fluid delivery device connected to the hose and configured for connection inside of a safety mask. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The nutrition tube connector of claim 3, wherein said piston is positioned in said connector so as to engage said adapter and to move toward said first portion of said mating connection upon engagement of said adapter in said cap plug receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The nutrition tube connector of claim 3, further comprising a compressible sealing member positioned between said cap plug and said spool core. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The nutrition tube connector of claim 5, further comprising an end cap positioned over a top end of said spool core, wherein at least a portion of said end cap extends over said compressible sealing member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The nutrition tube connector of claim 2, said spool core further comprising a nutrition pouch outlet seat positioned to abut a top face of said disposable nutrition pouch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The nutrition tube connector of claim 7, further comprising a compressible sealing member positioned at a bottom of said spool core adjacent to said nutrition pouch outlet seat and engaging a horizontal compressible sealing member support wall in said multi-piece body portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The nutrition tube connector of claim 1, wherein said piston chamber has a narrowing diameter from a bottom of said piston chamber to a top of said piston chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The nutrition tube connector of claim 9, said piston having a head portion sized to contact an upper, interior face of said piston chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The nutrition tube connector of claim 1, said piston further comprising a plurality of arms extending radially outward from a center support of said piston, said piston defining a fluid flow channel between each adjacent pair of arms. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The nutrition tube connector of claim 11, said piston chamber further comprising a circumferential notch adjacent a bottom of said piston chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The nutrition tube connector of claim 12, wherein said detent comprises a ridge extending radially outward from each said arm and said circumferential notch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The nutrition tube connector of claim 13, wherein each said arm further comprises a blade portion at a bottom surface of each said arm.