Flush adaptor for use with a valve fitment assembly for cleaning of the assembly

A flush adaptor for use with a valve fitment assembly for dispensing liquids from a container; wherein the flush adaptor comprises an outer ring-collar; a flange with an edge molded to the bottom of the outer ring-collar; an interior ring-collar adjacent to the outer ring-collar; a ridge molded in the interior ring-collar; a seat molded onto the interior ring-collar and a pin molded into the interior ring-collar which keeps the valve in an open position; and a hollow tube molded into the adaptor to allow the flow of liquid through the adaptor and into the fitment assembly; whereby the flush adaptor allows for cleaning of the assembly and any tubes connected thereto.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adaptor that is used in conjunction with a valve fitment assembly for dispense liquids from the container. The adaptor is utilized with the valve fitment assembly to allow for cleaning of the fitment assembly and lines connected thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is possible that valve fitment assemblies comprising a slider valve fitment and collar that is used to dispense liquid from a collapsible bag or container, any lines connected thereto for dispensing liquids may be relatively difficult to clean. It would be desirable to have an attachment or an adaptor that can be easily attached that would allow for cleaning of the fitment assembly and any lines connected thereto.

The adaptor of this invention is readily attached to such a slider valve fitment and collar and allows for cleaning of the fitment and attached dispensing lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A flush adaptor used with a valve fitment assembly for dispensing liquids from a container; wherein said flush adaptor comprises the following parts:

an outer ring-collar having a top and a bottom and an outer and an inner surface, and having threads molded into said outer surface of the collar;

a flange with an edge molded to the bottom of said outer ring-collar of said adaptor;

an interior ring-collar having a top and a bottom and an outer and an inner surface molded in adjacent relationship to said outer ring-collar near the top of said interior ring-collar, and wherein said outer surface of the top part of said inner ring-collar and the top part of said inner surface of said outer ring-collar forms a U-shaped channel for receiving a part of the fitment valve assembly;

an inverted dome structure molded toward the bottom of said inner surface of said interior ring-collar defining at least one opening for the flow of fluid therethrough;

a ridge molded in said inner surface of said interior ring-collar centrally positioned in said interior ring-collar;

a seat molded onto the bottom of said interior ring-collar for forming a seal with said fitment assembly; and

a pin molded into the bottom of said interior ring-collar which engages said fitment assembly and keeps a valve in said fitment assembly in an open position thereby allowing flow of fluid through said fitment assembly; and

a hollow tube molded into the bottom of said adaptor and to said pin to allow the flow of liquid through said adaptor and into said fitment assembly;

whereby said flush adaptor connected to said valve fitment assembly allows for cleaning of said fitment assembly and any tubes connected thereto by passing a liquid, preferably water, through the hollow tube of said flush adaptor and into said fitment assembly and lines connected thereto thereby cleaning the assembly and lines.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a process for the cleaning of said valve fitment assembly and the related lines used for dispensing liquids by removing said valve fitment assembly from the liquid dispensing container and attaching the flush adaptor to said valve fitment assembly and passing liquid through said flush adaptor and fitment assembly and lines attached to said fitment, thereby cleaning the fitment and lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the singular form of a word includes the plural, and vice versa, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, the references “a,” “an,” and “the” are generally inclusive of the plurals of the respective terms. For example, reference to “a method” includes a plurality of such “methods.” Likewise, the terms “include,” “including,” and “or” should be all construed to be inclusive, unless such a construction is clearly prohibited from the context. Similarly, the term “examples,” particularly when followed by a listing of terms, is merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be deemed to be exclusive or comprehensive.

The term “comprising” is intended to include embodiments encompassed by the terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” Similarly, the term “consisting essentially of” is intended to include embodiments encompassed by the term “consisting of.”

The methods and compositions and other advances disclosed herein are not limited to particular equipment or processes described herein because, as the skilled artisan will appreciate, they may vary. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to, and does not, limit the scope of that which is disclosed or claimed.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms, terms of art, and acronyms used herein have the meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in the field(s) of the invention, or in the field(s) where the term is used. Although any compositions, methods, articles of manufacture, or other means or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred compositions, methods, articles of manufacture, or other means or materials are described herein.

All patents, patent applications, publications, technical and/or scholarly articles, and other references cited or referred to herein are in their entirety incorporated herein by reference to the extent allowed by law. The discussion of those references is intended merely to summarize the assertions made therein. No admission is made that any such patents, patent applications, publications or references, or any portion thereof, are relevant, material, or prior art. The right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of any assertion of such patents, patent applications, publications, and other references as relevant, material, or prior art is specifically reserved.

A fluid dispensing system is shown inFIGS. 1A, and1B. To clean the fluid dispensing system, the dispensing connector110,FIG. 1, is disconnected from the adaptor50,FIG. 1A, for dispensing fluids and connected to flush adaptor70,FIGS. 2-4.FIG. 5shows the dispensing connector in relation to the flush adaptor70ofFIG. 5A.FIG. 6shows the flush adaptor70seated in the dispensing connector110. To clean the system, a line (not shown) is attached to adaptor70via hollow stem78molded in the adaptor and a liquid usually water or water containing a detergent is passed through the system for cleaning.

In the operation of the fluid dispensing system, a fitment assembly is attached to a fluid container containing a fluid, such as soda water or juices, as shown inFIG. 1A, and1B.FIG. 1shows a cross-section of a dispensing connector110;FIG. 1Ashows a cross-section of an adaptor50; and aFIG. 1Bshows a cross-section of a cylindrical spout and valve assembly30attached to a fluid container.

FIG. 1shows the dispensing connector110positioned in collar120. The dispensing connector110comprises valve stem126having an inner collar127around the valve stem and a nipple128attached at the end of the valve stem126. The connector has two exit ports129and130and fluid from the fluid container40(FIG. 1B) flows through these ports when the dispensing connector is in an open position. Collar body121is in an abutting relationship with the dispensing connector110and has an internal threaded flange122, which engages with the threaded external outer ring51of the adaptor50(FIG. 1A). Receiving space123allows the adaptor50to be positioned in the receiving space123.

The adaptor50(FIG. 1A) having a threaded external outer ring-collar51is screwed into and meshed with the internal threads of the threaded flange122of the collar body121. The top51aof the threaded external outer ring-collar51is sealed with the grooved area125of the collar body121. Also, the U-shaped channel54formed by the outer ring-collar51and the interior ring-collar51bof the adaptor50is sealed in grove124of the collar body121. These seals prevent leakage of fluid from the container40as the fluid is being dispensed. Molded to the collar51of the adaptor50is a flange57that holds the collar body121in place. Locking tabs58and58aare attached to flange57and lock the collar body121in place to prevent movement and leakage of fluid being dispensed. Groove59of the adaptor50has an O-ring (not shown) positioned therein to form a seal with the dispensing connector110. Groove60positioned at the bottom of the adaptor50having an O-ring (not shown) forms a seal with cylindrical spout31. Ridge56positioned at the bottom of the adaptor50retains valve opening device61that depresses valve assembly35positioned in cylindrical spout31to allow flow of liquid from container40. Openings62in the inverted dome55of the adaptor50allow fluid to flow from the container40.

The cylindrical spout and valve assembly30(FIG. 1B) are attached by conventional means, such as by heat-sealing or with an adhesive, to fluid container40. The cylindrical spout30has an exterior threaded collar32that meshes with the internal threaded part of the collar52of the adaptor50and is positioned in the receiving space53of the adaptor50. Spout flange33is in contact with flange57of the adaptor. A cylindrical support collar34is attached to flange33that supports flange33and rests on rest on the fluid container40. Valve assembly35is positioned in the center of the cylindrical spout and valve assembly30. When the valve head36is depressed on engagement with the valve opening device61positioned below the adaptor50and which is actuated by nipple128of the valve stem126when the valve stem126is engaged into its open position, the top of the fluid container41is depressed and opened and fluid flows from the fluid container40out through the dispenser connector110and out through the fluid exit ports129and130.

The following is a description of the operation of the fitment, adaptor and spout and valve assembly for the release of fluid from a container. Valve stem126of the dispensing connector110is depressed, which can be accomplished by simply sliding the valve stem into an engaged position or the valve stem can be threaded in the dispensing connector110and rotated into the engaged position. The nipple128attached to the bottom of the valve stem126engages the valve opening device61thereby depressing the valve head36, and the top41of the fluid container40is depressed and opened and fluid from the container40flows through openings in the bottom of the cylindrical spout31wherein ribs37encircle the valve head36but provide opening for the flow of fluid. The fluid then flows thorough the dispensing connector110out either or both exists129and130of the dispensing connector110.

For cleaning the system, the dispensing connector110is disconnected from the adaptor50by unscrewing it from the adaptor50. The flush adaptor70used for cleaning (FIGS. 2-4) is then threaded into the dispensing connector110. The adaptor70(FIG. 2bottom view andFIG. 3top view) having a threaded external outer ring-collar71is screwed into and meshed with the internal threads of the threaded flange122of the collar body121(FIGS. 5,5A and6). The top72of the threaded external outer ring-collar71is sealed with the grooved area125of the collar body121. Also, the U-shaped channel74formed by the outer ring-collar71and the interior ring-collar73of the flush adaptor70(FIG. 4) is sealed in grove124of the collar body121(FIGS. 5 and 5A). These seals prevent leakage of fluid as the fluid is forced through the dispenser connector110and into fluid dispensing lines (not shown) attached to the connector. Molded to the collar71of the adaptor70is a flange with and edge79that holds the collar body121in place. Ridge75of the adaptor70and seat area76of the adaptor70each form a seal with the dispensing connector110(FIGS. 4,5,5A and6). Pin77molded to hollow stem78to which a hose (not shown) is connected that forces cleaning fluid into the system engages with nipple128of the valve stem126(FIGS. 5,5A, and6), thereby keeping it in the open position to allow for flow of cleaning fluid, usually water or water containing a detergent.

FIG. 7illustrates a dispensing connector110having one exit port with a spring131positioned adjacent to the valve stem andFIG. 7Aillustrates the flush adaptor70in relationship with the dispensing connector.

In one embodiment, the adaptors50and70are each molded from an elastomer, such as a polyurethane or a thermoplastic, such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene.

These and other aspects of the invention do not limit the understanding and communication of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

Labeling In Figures

111Open end of Dispensing Connector

122Internal threaded flange of collar body

123Receiving space in collar body

124Groove for placement of adaptor

125Grooved area for receiving51a(threaded collar of adaptor50)

127Inner collar surrounding valve stem

128Nipple attached to end of valve stem

129/130Fluid exits ports from dispensing connector

51Threaded external outer ring-collar of adaptor

51aTop of threaded outer ring-collar of adaptor

52Internal threaded part of the collar of the adaptor

53Receiving space for threaded collar of cylindrical spout30

54U shaped channel for receiving and sealing collar120

55Inverted dome of adaptor having openings not shown

56Ridge for holding valve opening device

58Locking tab for holding collar120in place

58aLocking tab for holding collar120in place

59Groove having an O ring (not shown) positioned therein for sealing dispersion connector

60Groove having an O ring (not shown) positioned therein to seal cylindrical spout31

61Valve opening device for depressing valve head36

62Opening in dome of adaptor for fluid flow

30Cylindrical spout and valve assembly

32Threaded collar of cylindrical spout

34Cylindrical support collar

35Valve assembly for flow of liquid from fluid container40

37Ribs surrounding valve head providing opening for fluid flow

41Top of fluid container in contact with valve head36

71Threaded external outer ring-collar of adaptor

72Top of threaded outer ring-collar of adaptor

74U-shaped channel for receiving and sealing collar120

76Seat area for sealing dispensing connector110

78Hollow stem molded into the flush adaptor70for connecting hose for cleaning

79Flange with an edge molded to the bottom of the outer collar71of flush adaptor70.

131Spring for valve stem