Back to results
US 5,332,495 AGranted
Connector apparatus
OwnerRichard T. Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A detachable connector apparatus to provide an outlet from a bag includes a hollow nipple having a stem extending through the bag, and a nipple clamp engaged with the nipple and a portion of the bag. The bag may be supported in a pouch and locked thereto by a locking ring, which engages the nipple clamp. An optional end cap is provided to stop the fluid flow and seal off the nipple.
Claims6
In combination, a pouch for surrounding and supporting a flexible plastic film bag, and a detachable connector apparatus for use with a flexible plastic film bag, said bag having a wall, to provide an outlet through the wall of the bag for fluid flow,
- said connector apparatus comprising
- nipple means for pushing through the wall of the plastic film bag for providing an outlet through the wall for fluid flow,
- said nipple means having a base and a tapered stem projecting from said base, said stem having an outer tapered surface,
- a passageway extending through said base and said stem,
- a groove formed on said stem,
- an O-ring positioned in said groove of said stem, and
- seal creating means for creating a seal between a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and the stem,
- said seal creating means including
- a nipple clamp having a tapered passageway removably engaging the outer tapered surface of said stem for compressing a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and said O-ring between said nipple clamp and said stem,
- said nipple clamp having a base and a frustoconical body extending from said base, and
- said frustoconical body having an outer tapered surface, said base of the nipple means including outwardly extending flange means positioned proximate the base of the nipple clamp for bracketing the flexible plastic film bag between said flange means and the base of the nipple clamp, and
- said pouch having a wall,
- and further including
- an opening in said wall of the pouch through which said nipple clamp extends, and
- a locking ring on said outer tapered surface of said nipple clamp body compressing said wall of the pouch between the locking ring and said nipple clamp.
12 more elements
A detachable connector apparatus for use with a flexible plastic film bag, said bag having a wall, to provide an outlet through the wall of the bag for fluid flow, comprising
- nipple means for pushing through the wall of the plastic film bag for providing an outlet through the wall for fluid flow,
- said nipple means having a base and a tapered stem projecting from said base, said stem having an outer tapered surface,
- a passageway extending through said base and said stem,
- a groove formed on said stem,
- an O-ring positioned in said groove of said stem, and
- seal creating means for creating a seal between a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and the stem,
- said seal creating means including
- a nipple clamp having a tapered passageway removably engaging the outer tapered surface of said stem for compressing a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and said O-ring between said nipple clamp and said stem,
- the flange means of the base of the nipple means being an outwardly extending annular flange,
- the nipple clamp having a base having an outwardly extending annular flange, said base of the nipple means including outwardly extending flange means positioned proximate the base of the nipple clamp for bracketing the flexible plastic film bag between the flange of the nipple means and the flange of the nipple clamp, said stem having an outer tapered surface, and
- the annular flange of the base of the nipple means and the annular flange of the base of the nipple clamp forming opposed walls for positioning a portion of the wall of the plastic bag between.
8 more elements
In combination, a flexible plastic film bag, said bag having a bag wall, a pouch for surrounding and supporting the bag, and a detachable connector apparatus for use with the flexible plastic film bag to provide an outlet through the wall of the bag for fluid flow,
- the connector apparatus comprising
- nipple means for pushing through the wall of the plastic film bag for providing an outlet through the wall for fluid flow,
- said nipple means having a base and a tapered stem projecting from said base, said stem having an outer tapered surface,
- a passageway extending through said base and said stem,
- a groove formed on said stem,
- an O-ring positioned in said groove of said stem, and
- seal creating means for creating a seal between a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and the stem,
- said seal creating means including
- a nipple clamp having a tapered passageway removably engaging the outer tapered surface of said stem for compressing a portion of the wall of the plastic bag and said O-ring between said nipple clamp and said stem,
- said nipple clamp having a base and a frustoconical body extending from said base, and
- said frustoconical body having an outer tapered surface, said base of the nipple means including outwardly extending flange means positioned proximate the base of the nipple clamp for bracketing the flexible plastic film bag between said flange means and the base of the nipple clamp, and
- said pouch having a wall,
- and further including
- an opening in said wall of the pouch through which said nipple clamp extends, and
- a locking ring on said outer tapered surface of said nipple clamp body compressing said wall of the pouch between the locking ring and said nipple clamp,
- the plastic bag having a bag wall,
- the bag wall having an opening and a collar surrounding the opening,
- said nipple stem extending through said opening and engaging said collar,
- said nipple clamp being mounted on said collar and over said stem to compress said collar and said O-ring between said nipple clamp and said stem to form a seal therewith, and
- an end cap provided on the stem of the nipple means for sealing of the passageway extending through the base and the stem of the nipple means.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.