US 9,296,523 B2Granted

Lock with two profile strips and sliders for connecting and separating such locks

AssigneeFlecotec AG

InventorsGuenter Untch, Peter Lais, Martin Koch

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A lock system includes a first lock and a second lock each with two profile strips operable for engagement with an at least partially flexible bundle and effective to enable a connection of a first bundle with a second bundle in a closed docking position and for guidance of a flow in a flow direction through lock members from the first bundle into the second bundle in an open docking position. The second bundle provides the lock members facing toward the first bundle, which lock members in the open docking position engage the lock members of the first bundle and jointly with the lock members of the first bundle form a flow channel for flow in the flow direction. Additionally, a slider for connecting and separating such locks is provided.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A lock system for enabling a sealed connection between a first bundle and a second bundle in a closed docking position comprising:

a first lock on said first bundle having a first narrow profile strip and a first wide profile strip;
a second lock on said second bundle having a second narrow profile strip and a second wide profile strip;
said first lock and said second lock extending respectively from proximate ends of respective said first bundle and said second bundle and positioned for operative engagement therebetween;
said first narrow profile strip, said first wide profile strip, and said second narrow profile strip, and said second wide profile strip extending from respective first and second bundles along respective bundle widths that are generally transverse to a longitudinal direction between the bundles;
a plurality of locking elements projecting from each said profile strip;
each locking element is oriented transversely to said longitudinal direction;
said first narrow profile strip and said second narrow profile strip having said locking elements along proximate ends thereof and extending on opposing respective sides of each said first narrow profile strip and said second narrow profile strip;
said first wide profile strip and said second wide profile strip having said locking elements along proximate ends thereof and extending on only one side of each said first wide profile strip and said second wide profile strip;
said locking elements of said first wide profile strip being releasably engageable with said respective locking elements on said first narrow profile strip and on said second narrow profile strip;
said locking elements of said second wide profile strip being releasably engagable with said respective locking elements on said first narrow profile strip and on said second narrow profile strip;
a slider slidably operably and removably engageable with each said first lock and said second lock during a use of said lock system;
and
said slider including at least one device that slidably receives and secures said plurality of locking elements on each of said first lock and said second lock during an engagement thereof along an engaging direction and for slidably separating and releasing said plurality of locking elements on each of said first lock and said second lock during a disengagement thereof along a disengaging direction.

10 more elements

A method for using a lock system to enable a sealed connection between a first bundle and a second bundle in a closed docking position, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first lock on said first bundle having a first narrow profile strip and a first wide profile strip;
(b) providing a second lock on said second bundle having a second narrow profile strip and a second wide profile strip;
(i) said first lock and said second lock extending respectively from proximate ends of respective said first bundle and said second bundle and positioned for operative engagement therebetween;
(c) positioning said first narrow profile strip, said first wide profile strip, and said second narrow profile strip, and said second wide profile strip extending from respective first and second bundles along respective bundle widths that are generally transverse to a longitudinal direction between the bundles;
(d) providing a plurality of locking elements projecting from each said profile strip, wherein each locking element is oriented transversely to said longitudinal direction;
(i) said first narrow profile strip and said second narrow profile strip having said locking elements along proximate ends thereof and extending on opposing respective sides of each said first narrow profile strip and said second narrow profile strip;
(ii) said first wide profile strip and said second wide profile strip having said locking elements along proximate ends thereof and extending on only one side of each said first wide profile strip and said second wide profile strip;
(iii) said locking elements of said first wide profile strip being releasably engageable with said respective locking elements on said first narrow profile strip and on said second narrow profile strip;
(iv) said locking elements of said second wide profile strip being releasably engagable with said respective locking elements on said first narrow profile strip and on said second narrow profile strip;
(e) providing a slider slidably operable and removably engageable with each said first lock and said second lock during a use of said lock system;
(f) providing in said slider at least one device that slidably receives and secures said plurality of locking elements on each of said first lock and said second lock;
and, during a disengaging use thereof, enables a separating and releasing of said plurality of locking elements on each of said first lock and said second lock along a disengaging direction, whereby said slider enables said sealed connection between said first bundle and said second bundle in the closed docking position;
(g) engaging said slider with respective said first lock and said second lock along an engaging direction and during a sliding thereof receiving and securing respective said locking elements.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/298,945Filed 17 Nov 2011
Priority: DE 20 2010 015 525 U18 Nov 2010
Published: US 2012/0124789 A124 May 2012
Granted: 29 Mar 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65D 33/2588
Characterized by the slider: being provided with flexing or moving parts
B65B 1/28
Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or…:…
B65B 39/00
Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or
B65B 69/00
Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for