Abstract:
The invention concerns a fitment apparatus which includes: a flange having first opening; at least one projection assembly containing at least one second opening in which the projection assembly is attached to the flange such that said first opening and said second opening form a channel; and at least one engagement structure mounted on the projection assembly for detachably securing the fitment apparatus to an interface. The invention also concerns an interchangeable fitment system which includes: a container; and an interface detachably engaged to the container in which the interface has a notch having predetermined dimensions for receiving a first fitment apparatus and a second fitment apparatus. The first and second fitment apparatuses each have an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions in which the perimeter of the opening of the second fitment apparatus is not equal to the perimeter of the opening of the first fitment apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   (Not applicable) 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   (Not applicable) 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention relates generally to shipping containers, and more particularly to a fitment apparatus and system for use in such containers. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Currently, many companies use shipping containers to transport a wide variety of cargo. Notably, a large number of these containers are used to haul fluids. Some of the containers that are used to haul fluids use a durable, inner plastic liner bag as the primary means of fluid containment. Once the cargo reaches its final destination, it must be drained from the shipping container and the plastic bag in which it is stored. As such, the containers used to transport fluid cargo generally contain one or more drainage mechanisms to permit the contents to be drained. 
   Conventional draining mechanisms typically consist of a fitment and a mechanical securing device for securing the fitment to the shipping container. The fitment usually includes a flange and a threaded female outlet for receiving a threaded male valve that can be attached to a drainage hose or pipe. The mechanical securing device is usually integral to the container and is often sized to receive a fitment of a specific dimension. 
   The present system, however, suffers from several significant drawbacks. Notably, there is no uniform standard in the shipping industry for mechanical securing devices to secure fitments. Consequently, if a user desires to place a three inch threaded opening fitment in draining mechanism, then the selected container needs to include a securing mechanical device that is able to accommodate a three inch fitment. If the user wishes to switch to a two inch threaded fitment, then it will be necessary to select a container with a mechanical securing device that is able to accommodate a two inch fitment. 
   The mechanical securing devices used in containers are often able to accommodate either a two inch or three inch fitment but not both sizes. However, even when a container has a mechanical securing device that can accommodate two and three inch fitments, the requirement for containers to include a mechanical securing device complicates container design and adds to manufacturing costs. Further, the mechanical securing devices can jam thereby preventing the fitment form being properly secured. The mechanical securing devices can also capture particles of food or dirt, which can contaminate perishable cargo during the shipping and unloading stages. Thus, what is needed in the art is a new fitment system that can eliminate the need for mechanical securing devices for securing fitments within containers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a fitment apparatus which includes: a flange having a first opening; at least one projection assembly containing at least one second opening in which the projection assembly is attached to the flange such that the first opening and the second opening form a channel; and at least one engagement structure mounted on the projection assembly for detachably securing the fitment apparatus to a container interface. The engagement structure can be a detent or a spring-loaded snap. In one arrangement, the projection assembly can contain a projection for receiving a fluid flow device and at least one support rib. In addition, the flange can contain a midpoint, and the second opening of the projection assembly can have a center, and the center of the second opening can be located below the midpoint of the flange. 
   The fitment apparatus can also include a protrusion in which the protrusion can be attached to the flange and can extend outwardly away from the flange to a first point. Further, the projection assembly can include a projection in which the projection can be attached to the flange and can extend outwardly away from the flange to a second point. In addition, the first point and the second point can be substantially in the same vertical plane. 
   The present invention also concerns an interchangeable fitment system which includes: a container; and an interface detachably engaged to the container in which the interface has a notch having predetermined dimensions for receiving a first fitment apparatus and a second fitment apparatus. The first fitment apparatus has an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions, and the second fitment apparatus has an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions in which the perimeter of the opening of the second fitment apparatus is not equal to the perimeter of the opening of the first fitment apparatus. 
   In one arrangement of the above system, the first fitment apparatus can include: a flange; at least one projection assembly in which the projection assembly can be attached to the flange; and at least one engagement structure, which can be mounted on the projection assembly, for detachably securing the first fitment apparatus to the interface. Further, the second fitment apparatus can include: a flange; at least one projection assembly in which the projection assembly can be attached to the flange; and at least one engagement structure, which can be mounted on the projection assembly for detachably securing the second fitment apparatus to the interface. 
   The present invention also concerns a method of providing a fitment apparatus which includes the steps of: providing a flange having a first opening; providing at least one projection assembly having at least one second opening; attaching the projection assembly to the flange such that said first opening and said second opening form a channel; and mounting at least one engagement structure on the projection assembly for detachably securing the fitment apparatus to a container interface. In the above method, the engagement structure can be a detent or a spring-loaded snap. Also, the projection assembly can contain a projection for receiving a fluid flow device and at least one support rib. In another aspect, the flange can contain a midpoint, and the second opening of the projection assembly can contain a center, and the attaching step can further include the step of attaching the projection assembly to the flange such that the center of the second opening of the projection assembly is located below the midpoint of the flange. 
   The method can further include the steps of providing a protrusion and attaching the protrusion to the flange such that the protrusion can extend outwardly away from the flange to a first point. In addition, the projection assembly can include a projection, and the method can further include the step of attaching the projection to the flange such that the projection can extend outwardly away from the flange to a second point. Also, the first point and the second point can be substantially in the same vertical plane. 
   The invention also concerns a method of providing an interchangeable fitment system including the steps of: providing a container; providing an interface which has a notch having predetermined dimensions; detachably securing the interface to the container; providing a first fitment apparatus having an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions; providing a second fitment apparatus having an opening corresponding to the predetermined dimensions in which the perimeter of the opening of the second fitment apparatus is not equal to the perimeter of the opening of the first fitment apparatus; and interchangeably connecting the first fitment apparatus and the second fitment apparatus to the interface. 
   In one arrangement of the above method, the providing a first fitment apparatus step can further include the steps of: providing a flange; providing at least one projection assembly; attaching the projection assembly to the flange; and mounting at least one engagement structure on the projection assembly for detachably securing the first fitment apparatus to the interface. Moreover, the providing a second fitment apparatus step can further include the steps of: providing a flange; providing at least one projection assembly; attaching the projection assembly to the flange; and mounting at least one engagement structure on the projection assembly for detachably securing the second fitment apparatus to the interface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a fitment apparatus in accordance with the inventive arrangements. 
       FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the fitment apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the fitment apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of an interchangeable fitment system in accordance with the inventive arrangements. 
       FIG. 5   a  shows a fitment apparatus engaged to an interface. 
       FIG. 5   b  shows an alternative fitment apparatus engaged to an interface. 
       FIG. 6A  shows an alternative arrangement of a fitment apparatus in accordance with the inventive arrangements. 
       FIG. 6B  shows a side view of the fitment apparatus of  FIG. 6A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fitment apparatus  10  is shown. The fitment apparatus  10  can include a flange  12  and a projection assembly  14 . Although the fitment apparatus  10  is shown as having one projection assembly  14 , the invention is not so limited, as the fitment apparatus  10  can contain any number of projection assemblies  14 . The projection assembly  14  can include a projection  16  and one or more support ribs  18 . While  FIG. 1  illustrates the projection  16  as having a circular shape, the projection  16  is not limited to such a configuration, as the projection  16  can be any other suitable shape. In addition, the flange  12  is not limited to a substantially circular disk configuration as pictured in  FIG. 1 , as the flange  12  can have any other suitable configuration. Alternatively, the flange  12  can be comprised of one or more support beams extending substantially horizontally, substantially vertically or at any other suitable angle across the projection assembly  14 . 
   The projection  16  can also include one or more openings  20 . Although not pictured, the flange  12  can also include an opening. As a result, the projection assembly  14  can be attached to the flange  12  such that the opening  20  of the projection  16  can be placed over the opening in the flange  12  to create a channel  22  through which a wide variety of suitable materials may flow. Although the opening in the flange  12  and the opening  20  in the projection  16  can have the same dimensions such that the channel  22  that is created by such a union has a uniform perimeter, the channel  22  is not so limited; the opening in the flange  12  and the opening  20  in the projection  16  can both be any suitable shape or size. Moreover, the shape of the opening  20  in the projection  16  is not limited to the shape of the projection  16  in which it sits. 
   In one arrangement, the inner surface of the projection  16  can include one or more threads  24  for detachably engaging an appropriately-sized opening of a fluid flow device such as a hose or pipe. Placing the threads  24  on the inner surface of the projection  16  can permit the projection  16  to engage the male couplings of the fluid flow device. In an alternative arrangement, the threads  24  can be placed on the outer surface of the projection  16  thereby enabling the projection  16  to engage the female coupling of an appropriate fluid flow device. In another alternative arrangement, one or more latches for detachably engaging an appropriate fluid flow device can be mounted on either the inner or outer surfaces of the projection  16 . 
   The support ribs  18  can be attached to the flange  12  and the projection  16  thereby providing extra support to the projection  16 . It should be noted that the support ribs  18  are not limited to the particular configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , as any number of support ribs  18  can be placed on the flange  12  in any other suitable pattern. In one arrangement, the fitment apparatus  10  can include an outer support rib  18  defining an outer perimeter  19  of the projection assembly  14 . As will be explained below, this type of design can permit the fitment apparatus  10  to be received by a loading/unloading interface. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the fitment apparatus  10  can also include one or more engaging structures  26 . The engaging structures  26  can enable the fitment apparatus  10  to be detachably secured to a loading/unloading interface (not pictured). Once the fitment apparatus  10  is secured to a suitable loading/unloading interface, the engaging structures  26  can hold the fitment apparatus  10  in place as a fluid flow device is coupled to or decoupled from the fitment apparatus  10  and as material passes through the channel  22 . Since the engaging structures  26  can permit the fitment apparatus  10  to be secured to a loading/unloading interface, the present invention can eliminate the need for a receiving container (to which the fitment apparatus  10  can be coupled) to have its own mechanical securing device for securing the fitment apparatus  10  along with the inherent disadvantages associated with the mechanical securing device. In one arrangement, the engaging structures  26  can be detents or spring-loaded snaps; however, the engaging structures  26  are not limited to any particular structure, as the engaging structures  26  can be any suitable device or structure for securing the fitment apparatus  10  to a loading/unloading interface. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the engaging structures  26  can be mounted on the outermost support rib  18 . In addition, the outermost support rib  18  can include one or more substantially straight edges onto which the engaging structures  26  can be mounted. The invention, however, is not limited to this particular embodiment, as the engaging structures  26  can be mounted on any other suitable structure on the fitment apparatus  10 . As an example, the engaging structures  26  can be mounted on the projection  16  or any other suitable support rib  18 . Moreover, the engaging structures  26  are not limited to being mounted on substantially straight edges, as the engaging structures  26 , for example, can be mounted on a support rib  18  having a rounded edge. In fact, the engaging structures  26  can be mounted on any suitable structure on the fitment apparatus  10  so long as the fitment apparatus  10  can be properly secured to a loading/unloading interface. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the flange  12  can have a midpoint M located substantially in the geographical center of the flange  12 . In addition, the opening  20  of the projection  16  can have a center C located substantially in the geographical center of the opening  20 . In one arrangement, the center C of the opening  20  can be located below the midpoint M of the flange  12 . Such a design can help drain a larger amount of the material flowing through the projection  16  from the container to which the fitment apparatus  10  is attached since the opening  20  can be placed at the lowest possible point on the fitment apparatus  10 . It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited in this regard, as the center C can also be located above or in substantially the same horizontal plane as the midpoint M. 
     FIG. 4  shows an interchangeable fitment system  30  in accordance with the inventive arrangements. The system  30  can include a container  32 , a loading/unloading interface  34 , one or more inner liner bags (not pictured) typically constructed of plastic or some other suitable material and one or more differently sized fitment apparatuses  10 . In one arrangement, the inner liner bag can be placed inside the container  32  and can be filled with cargo to be shipped or stored. The container  32  can be any container suitable for shipping or storing numerous types of cargo. The interface  34  can be detachably engaged to the container  32 . Although the interface  34  can be engaged to the container  32  at any suitable location, it may be desirable, for purposes of draining the container  32 , to place the interface  34  at a location near the bottom of the container  32 . The fitment apparatuses  10  can be attached to the inner liner bag for purposes of filling or emptying the inner liner bag. In one arrangement, the fitment apparatuses  10  can be heat sealed to the inner liner bags or attached to the inner liner bags with an adhesive; however, any other suitable means of attaching the fitment apparatuses  10  to the inner liner bags can be used. 
     FIG. 5   a  shows a closer view of the fitment apparatus  10  and the interface  34 . As pictured, the interface  34  can be designed to receive the fitment apparatus  10 . The interface  34  can have a notch  36  of predetermined dimensions for purposes of receiving the fitment apparatus  10 . In one arrangement, the interface  34  can have a notch  36  of a predetermined size such that the notch  36  can snugly fit the outer perimeter  19  of the projection assembly  14 . This embodiment can help hold the fitment apparatus  10  in place during the loading/unloading or shipping processes and can serve as a backup if one or more of the engaging structures  26  should fail or be damaged. The invention, however, is not limited in this regard, as the interface  34  can incorporate any other suitable design and the notch  36  can have any suitable dimensions for receiving the fitment apparatus  10 . As an example, the interface  34  can merely engage the engaging structures  26  in order to secure the fitment apparatus  10  to the interface  34 . Such an embodiment can establish even greater uniformity throughout the fitment industry, as fitment apparatuses  10  with no or relatively small outer perimeters  19  can be secured to a uniform interface  34 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 5   b , a fitment apparatus  10  with a large opening  20 , no support ribs  18  and having the engaging structures  26  located on the projection  16  could be secured to the interface  34 . Different fitment apparatuses  10  may be used interchangeably with the interface  34 . 
   In operation, the projection assembly  14  of the fitment apparatus  10  can be inserted through the notch  36  of the interface  34 . In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 5   a  as the projection assembly  14  moves through the notch  36 , the inner surfaces of the interface  34  can engage the engaging structures  26  and can force the engaging structures  26  towards the center of the projection assembly  14 . Once the engaging structures  26  move beyond the notch  36 , the engaging structures  26  can snap back into place and can engage the outer surfaces of the interface  34  thereby securing the fitment apparatus  10  to the interface  34 . The flange  12  can prevent the fitment apparatus  10  from passing completely through the notch  36  of the interface  34 , as the flange  12  typically extends beyond the predetermined dimensions of the notch  36 . It should be noted that this is merely one example of the operation of the invention, as the engaging structures  26  can incorporate any other design capable of allowing the fitment apparatus  10  to pass through the interface  34  while at the same time securing the fitment apparatus to the interface  34  once the fitment apparatus  10  is properly received by the interface  34 . 
   As noted earlier, the dimensions of the openings  20  of many different fitment apparatuses  10  are dissimilar. For example, many fitment apparatuses  10  contain openings  20  that are approximately two inches in diameter while many contain openings  20  that are approximately three inches in diameter. The fitment apparatuses  10  having approximately two inch openings  20  are currently designed to fit a particular mechanical securing device, and the fitment apparatuses  10  having approximately three inch openings  20  are generally designed to fit another differently-sized mechanical securing device. Therefore, many fitment apparatuses  10  have disparate outer perimeters  19 . This nonuniformity leads to added costs and increased inefficiencies, as the interfaces  34  containing these mechanical securing devices must be switched for fitment apparatuses  10  of different sizes. 
   Since the present invention, however, eliminates the need for mechanical securing devices (through the incorporation of the engaging structures  26 ), the design of the outer perimeter  19  of the fitment apparatus  10  is no longer constrained by the limitations imposed by the predetermined dimensions of a notch housed by such a mechanical securing device. As such, the outer perimeter  19  can be uniform for a large number of fitment apparatuses  10 . Integrating a uniform outer perimeter  19  for different fitment apparatuses  10  can permit the use of a single interface  34 . This can obviate the necessity of switching interfaces  34  if the fitment apparatuses  10  must be switched. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an alternative arrangement of the fitment apparatus  10 . As shown, one or more protrusions  38  can be attached to and can extend outwardly away from the fitment apparatus  10 . The protrusion  3   8  can extend outwardly to a point A in which point A is the distance from the flange  12  to the end of the protrusion  38 . Also, the projection  16  or at least a portion of the projection  16  can extend outwardly to a point B in which point B is the distance from the flange  12  to the end of the projection  16  or the portion of the projection  16 . In one particular arrangement, point A can be in substantially the same vertical plane as point B. Although  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the protrusion  38  as being attached to the top center of the outer perimeter  19 , it is understood that the invention is not so limited, as the protrusion  38  can be positioned on any other suitable portion of the fitment apparatus  10 . 
   Attaching one or more of these protrusions  38  to the fitment apparatus  10  in this manner can improve a manufacturing process associated with the fitment apparatus  10  when it is part of the interchangeable fitment system  30  (not pictured in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ). Specifically, to attach an inner liner bag to the fitment apparatus  10 , the fitment apparatus  10  is typically positioned such that the opening  20  of the projection  16  faces down. As the projection  16  may be off-center (as discussed above), the fitment apparatus  10  may have a tendency to tip such that an upper portion  40  of the fitment apparatus  10  may come into contact with the surface supporting the fitment apparatus  10 . If the fitment apparatus is tilted, it may be difficult to attach an inner liner bag to the fitment apparatus  10  in an automated manner. Notably, however, the protrusion  38  can prevent the fitment apparatus  10  from tilting as the liner bag is attached to the fitment apparatus  10 , particularly if point A is in substantially the same vertical plane as point B. 
   It should be understood the embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and various modifications or changes in light thereof will be obvious to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application. The invention can also take other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.