Patent Publication Number: US-2022212853-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and methods for closed fluid delivery

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/134,877 entitled, “Apparatus, system, and methods for closed fluid delivery” filed Jan. 7, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is generally related to fluid delivery devices and methods, and more particularly is related to an apparatus, system, and methods for closed fluid delivery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Certain fluids, such as chemicals, medications, and food products, are often transported in concentrated form to save on transportation and shipping costs, as well as to save space in storage. When the product is needed by the end user, he or she can dilute the fluid to water or another substance which is readily available, such that the product reaches its usable form. With some fluids, it can be crucially important to ensure that all of the concentrated material is correctly and accurately diluted into a specific quantity of non-concentrated fluid. Without accurate dilution, the end product may be inferior. As an example, beverage syrups used in commercial restaurants must be correctly mixed with carbonated water to ensure the beverage tastes as intended. While there are many fluid delivery systems conventionally available to ensure concentrated fluids are correctly diluted, certain concentrated fluid chemicals require specific delivery systems which ensure the fluid can be handled correctly and safely when diluting. 
     Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system, apparatus, and method for closed fluid delivery. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The apparatus for closed fluid delivery has a bottle capable of holding a quantity of fluid. A membrane is positioned over an opening of the bottle. The membrane is positioned to seal the quantity of fluid within an interior of the bottle. A closed fluid delivery adapter has a first portion having a first mateable end connectable to the bottle along the opening of the bottle, and a second portion having a second mateable end positioned to connect to a container. A fluid pathway is between the first and second portions and a puncturing structure is positioned along the fluid pathway. A removable collar is positioned at least partially between the first and second portions, wherein the removable collar prevents the first and second portions from moving closer together. Upon removal of the removable collar, the first and second portions are movable closer together, whereby the puncturing structure punctures the membrane, thereby allowing the quantity of fluid to flow from the bottle and through the closed fluid delivery adapter and into the container. 
     The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a closed fluid delivery adapter apparatus. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. A first portion has a first mateable end connectable to a bottle along an opening of the bottle. A second portion has a second mateable end positioned to connect to a container. A fluid pathway is between the first and second portions. A puncturing structure is positioned along the fluid pathway. A removable collar is positioned at least partially between the first and second portions, wherein the removable collar prevents the first and second portions from moving closer together, and wherein, upon removal of the removable collar, the first and second portions are movable closer together, whereby the puncturing structure punctures a membrane, thereby allowing the quantity of fluid to flow from the bottle and through the closed fluid delivery adapter and into the container. 
     The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a method for closed fluid delivery. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a bottle holding a quantity of fluid; positioning a membrane over an opening of the bottle, wherein the membrane seals the quantity of fluid within an interior of the bottle; attaching a closed fluid delivery adapter to the bottle, wherein the closed fluid delivery adapter has: a first portion having a first mateable end connectable to the bottle along the opening of the bottle; a second portion having a second mateable end positioned to connect to a container; a fluid pathway between the first and second portions; a puncturing structure positioned along the fluid pathway; and a removable collar positioned at least partially between the first and second portions, wherein the removable collar prevents the first and second portions from moving closer together; removing the removable collar from the closed fluid delivery adapter; and moving the first and second portions closer together, thereby causing the puncturing structure to puncture the membrane, thereby allowing the quantity of fluid to flow from the bottle and through the closed fluid delivery adapter and into the container. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view illustration of a closed fluid delivery apparatus, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view, cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional illustration of the fluid adapter of the closed fluid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1  in an activated position, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 6-7  are various illustrations of the removable collar of the closed fluid delivery apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method for closed fluid delivery, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To improve upon the shortcomings identified herein, the subject disclosure is directed to a closed fluid delivery apparatus which allows for the accurate and safe transfer of a fluid, such as a concentrated chemical, into a separate container for dilution or otherwise.  FIG. 1  is a plan view illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  is an exploded view, cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3  together, the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10 , which may be referred to herein as ‘apparatus  10 ’ includes a bottle  20  capable of holding a quantity of fluid (not shown) within an interior  22  thereof. The bottle  20  may be formed from any material or structure capable of containing fluid. For instance, the bottle  20  is commonly formed from a molded plastic material to create a structure having the interior  22  space for holding fluid, whereby the fluid is dispensable from the bottle  20  through a neck  24  of the bottle  20  having threads  21  or similar structures for mating the bottle  20  to another structure using a removable connection. The bottle  20  may have any size, interior or exterior, and may, in some instances, include multiple compartments or similar arrangements. 
     A membrane  30  is positioned over an opening  26  of the bottle  20  and acts as a seal for the bottle  20 , thereby sealing any contents within the interior  22  of the bottle  20  therein. In particular, the membrane  30  may be formed from a breathable material, such as that sold under the trademark GORE-TEX®, which allows the passage of air and similar gasses, but prevents the passage of fluid therethrough, such that the membrane  30  seals fluid within the interior  22  of the bottle  20  yet allows gas and air within the bottle  20  to dissipate or equalize with an exterior atmosphere. Not only does the membrane  30  prevent the fluid from inadvertently flowing out of the bottle  20 , but it ensures the bottle does not suffer from a structural failure due to the expansion of pressure of the liquid within the interior  22  of the bottle  20 . 
     The ability for the seal  30  to allow the release of air and similar gasses may be a particularly important consideration for when the bottle  20  contains a fluid chemical which gives off gasses and other materials which must be allowed to evacuate to the outside atmosphere. Without use of a membrane  30  or similar valve or breathable port, the fluid within the bottle  20  may expand until it ruptures the sidewall of the bottle  20  or a cap positioned on the bottle  20 . In a similar situation, the ability for the seal  30  to allow breathing of the fluid within the interior  22  of the bottle  20  may be useful for when the bottle  20  experiences changing temperatures, which can alter a pressure within the interior  22  of the bottle  20 . When the fluid is a non-expanding fluid, in a different example, the membrane  30  may be formed from a non-breathable material which does not allow the passage of gas or air. 
     A closed fluid delivery adapter  40  (simply referred to as ‘adapter  40 ’) is an assembly of components which together are connectable to the bottle  20  along the opening  26  thereof, such as by connection to the threads  21  positioned proximate to the opening  26  of the bottle  20 . In this position, the membrane  30  may be positioned between the bottle  20  and the adapter  40 . In greater detail, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the adapter  40  has a first portion  42  which includes a first mateable end connectable to the bottle  20  along the opening  26 . In one example, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , the first mateable end includes interior threading which is sized to mate with the exterior threading  21  on the neck  24  of the bottle  20 . Other forms of mateable connections may also be used, such as friction connections, slip connections, or other mechanical interfaces which are generally fluid-tight. 
     The adapter  40  includes a second portion  44  which is selectively movable relative to the first portion  42 , as discussed in greater detail in the following passages. The second portion  44  has a second mateable end  45  which is positioned to connect to a container (not shown) and may have larger interior threading which can be engaged with the exterior threading on the container, such as a bottle or other conventional container used for fluid delivery. In one example, where the bottle  20  contains a concentrated fluid chemical, the container which connects to the second mateable end  45  may be sized larger than the bottle  20 , for example, such that the container is approximately 1-5 gallons in size whereas the bottle  20  has a volume of substantially less than one gallon. 
     In the middle of the adapter  40 , i.e., along a central axis of the adapter  40 , there is a fluid pathway  46  formed between the first and second portions  42 ,  44 , which allows for the fluid from the bottle  20  to flow through the fluid pathway  46  and into the container which is connectable to the second mateable end  45  of the second portion  44 . The fluid pathway  46  may have any shape or size which allows the flow of fluid therethrough. Within or along the fluid pathway  46  is one or more puncturing structures  48  which are positioned to be proximate to the membrane  30  sealed over the opening  26  of the bottle  20 . The puncturing structure  48  may be, in one example, a terminating end of one or more structures forming the fluid pathway  46  which are sharpened or otherwise formed such that they are able to puncture, break, or otherwise remove the membrane  30  when desired. The specific design of the puncturing structure  48  may be selected based on the type of material the membrane  30  is formed from, such that certain materials may require sharp puncturing structures  48  whereas other materials may only require a blunt end of the puncturing structure  48  to force through the membrane  30 . As shown in the figures, the puncturing structures  48  may be positioned interiorly of the outer walls of both of the first and second portions  42 ,  44 . 
     The adapter  40  further includes a removable collar  50  which is positioned at least partially between the first and second portions  42 ,  44 . As shown in  FIG. 1  in detail, the removable collar  50  may be substantially cylindrical in shape such that it traverses fully or partially around the adapter  40 . The removable collar  50  may also have a protruding tab  52 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 , which extends circumferentially outwards from the body of the removable collar  50  and the adapter  40  such that a user can grasp the protruding tab  52 . When the removable collar  50  is in place on the adapter  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , it prevents the first and second portions  42 ,  44  from moving closer together by acting as a structural stop which prevents interiorly biased movement. 
     However, when the tab  52  is pulled with sufficient force, the removable collar  50  may be separated from the adapter  40  and pulled away, partially or entirely. When this occurs, the first and second portions  42 ,  44  are now adjustably movable relative to one another, such that a user is able to move the first and second portions  42 ,  44  together towards one another or away from one another, in a direction along a central axis of the adapter  40 . For instance, this movement of the first and second portions  42 ,  44  closer together may be achieved by rotating one of the bottle  20  or the adapter  40  relative to the other, where this rotational movement translates into linear movement of one or both structures, causing mateable threading  54  positioned along the fluid pathway  46  to move the structures closer together. After the first and second portions  42 ,  44  are moved a sufficient distance, the puncturing structure  48  contacts and punctures the membrane  30 , such that fluid from within the bottle  20  can flow from the bottle  20  and through the adapter  40  and into a container attached to the second portion  44 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional illustration of the fluid adapter  40  of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 4 , the details of the threading  54  between the first and second portions  42 ,  44  can be seen in detail. These threadings  54  allow for the first and second portions  42 ,  44  to mate with one another and be movable relative to one another when the removable collar  50  is removed from the adapter  40 , such that the interior terminating ends  42 A,  44 A of the first and second portions  42 ,  44  can move closer together, or contact one another. However, when the removable collar  50  is in place, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the physical structure of the removable collar  50  prevents the interior terminating ends  42 A,  44 A of the first and second portions  42 ,  44  from moving towards one another. This prevents the puncturing structure  48  from contacting the membrane  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , which is a cross-sectional illustration of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  in an activated position, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the removable collar  50  has been removed from the adapter  40  and the first and second portions  42 ,  44  have moved closer to one another. As shown, the interior terminating ends  42 A,  44 A are substantially in contact. When this position is achieved, the puncturing structures  48  are moved towards the bottle  20  where they make contact with the membrane  30  and pierce or otherwise break the membrane  30 . This unseals the interior  22  of the bottle  20 , thereby allowing fluid  12  therein to move along the fluid path  46  through the adapter  40 , as indicated by the broken arrow. 
     When a container is connected to the second mateable end  45  of the second portion  44  of the adapter  40 , and the user orients the apparatus  10  in a position where the opening of the bottle  20  is substantially facing downwards, the fluid  12  can flow through the fluid passage  46  and mix with any fluid within the container. Similarly, any fluid within the container can also be flowed through the fluid passage  46  to enter the bottle  20  and mix with the fluid  12  therein. In this way, the apparatus  10  allows for fluid delivery of the fluid  12  to the container in a closed system where the fluid cannot spill or otherwise leak from the bottle  20  during delivery, and where possible contaminants in the air or surrounding atmosphere cannot gain access to the interior of the bottle  20  or container. This helps ensure that the correct volume of fluid  12  from the bottle  20  is accurately delivered to the container. It also helps ensure the safety of the individual or individuals handling the fluid  12  during delivery. 
     To provide greater details of the removable collar  50 ,  FIGS. 6-7  are various illustrations of the removable collar  50  of the closed fluid delivery apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the removable collar  50  may be structurally attached to the adapter  40  through the use of small connectors  56  which extend between two portions of the removable collar  50 , or between the removable collar  50  and the sidewall of the adapter  40 . For instance, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the small connectors  56  may be connected between a part of the collar  50  where the tab  52  is located, and an opposing end of the collar  50  which is in near proximity to the tab  52 , such that the small connectors  56  maintain the collar  50  in an annular position on the adapter  40 . 
     These small connectors  56  may be sufficient to retain the removable collar  50  in place until the tab  52  is pulled with sufficient force, at which point the small connectors  56  may break to allow the removable collar  50  to separate from the adapter  40 . Accordingly, the small connectors  56  may be durable enough to prevent inadvertent removal of the collar  50 , yet capable of breaking or releasing when a user desires to remove the collar  50 . The size, position, and specific construction of the small connectors  56  may depend on the material and construction of the collar  50 , but it may be common for the collar  50 , the tab  52 , and the small connectors  56  to be formed from the same material, often a molded plastic material. In this example, the small connectors  56  can be formed as small, bridging portions of the material which are sized small enough to break with a sufficient pulling force on the tab  52 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart  100  illustrating a method for closed fluid delivery in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure. 
     As is shown by block  102 , a bottle is provided, where the bottle is holding a quantity of fluid. A membrane is positioned over an opening of the bottle, wherein the membrane seals the quantity of fluid within an interior of the bottle (block  104 ). A closed fluid delivery adapter is attached to the bottle (block  106 ). The closed fluid delivery adapter has: a first portion having a first mateable end connectable to the bottle along the opening of the bottle; a second portion having a second mateable end positioned to connect to a container; a fluid pathway between the first and second portions; a puncturing structure positioned along the fluid pathway; and a removable collar positioned at least partially between the first and second portions, wherein the removable collar prevents the first and second portions from moving closer together (block  108 ). The removable collar is removed from the closed fluid delivery adapter (block  110 ). The first and second portions are moved closer together, thereby causing the puncturing structure to puncture the membrane, thereby allowing the quantity of fluid to flow from the bottle and through the closed fluid delivery adapter and into the container (block  112 ). Any number of additional steps, functions, processes, or variants thereof may be included in the method, including any disclosed relative to any other figure of this disclosure. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claim.