Patent Description:
The invention further relates to a system with an aforementioned connection apparatus and a ring element for coding a storage container and a kit of parts for establishing such systems.

A connection apparatus for establishing a fluidic connection between a storage container and another fluidic device like a dispensing device is known from document <CIT>. This document describes a dispensing assembly with a connection unit for establishing a fluidic connection between a storage container and the dispensing assembly, the connection unit comprising: (i) an extracting probe for extracting liquid from said storage container; (ii) a connection part for connecting the rest of the dispensing assembly; and (iii) a support in form of an insert component for mounting a container outlet of the storage container on the connection unit such that the extracting probe extends into the container outlet, wherein the insert component has a spatial coding structure for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a spatially compatible counter-coding structure on the upper part of a cap capping the container outlet, wherein only spatially compatible coding structures of connection apparatus and ring element permit the storage container to be mounted on the dispensing assembly.

<CIT> refers to a Container for storing a cleaning or care medium with a coding element for distinguishing between such containers and a method for producing such a container.

<CIT> refers to a connecting device for ensuring proper connection of liquid containers is provided. The connecting device comprises a bottle closure having a dip tube passage and a first key code pattern at the top.

<CIT> refers to a method and device to ensure that a particular dispensing packagecan only be engaged into an appropriate dispensing location.

<CIT> refers to a Device for connecting at least a discharge tube and return tube to a bung connection of a container for liquids and the like, said connection being embodied with inner screw thread, which device comprises: a cylindrical insert with screw thread arranged on the cylinder outer wall and co-acting with the bung, and a bottom provided with at least two openings, a tube connecting bung provided with passages for the discharge tube and return tube aligned with said openings, and a clamping piece for fixing the connecting bung in the cylindrical insert via connecting means, wherein there are arranged lugs placed in a determined pattern and recesses receiving these lugs, wherein the clamping piece is connected non-slidably in axial direction to the bung but freely rotatable relative thereto, and wherein the connecting means in the insert are arranged at a distance from the bottom in order to form a chamber, the recesses are placed above the chamber in the insert and the lugs lie on a downward extended part of the clamping piece and at a distance below the connecting means, whereby the tube to be connected onto the container remains free of tension.

<CIT> refers to a two-part key coded device that can be added to existing container and dispense stations. The key coded device includes a female key ring that is retrofitted to an existing bung and a compatible male key ring that is retrofitted to an existing or new dispense head.

Other connection apparatuses are intended for mounting on the storage container and are intended for specific liquids only.

Therefore, one object underlying the present invention is to provide measures to prevent confusion and mistakes when mounting such a connection apparatus for a specific liquid on a storage container.

This object is achieved by the invention as defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims detail advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to various aspects of the invention, the connection apparatus for extracting liquid from a storage container comprises: (i) an extracting probe for extracting liquid from said storage container; (ii) a connection piece for connecting the other fluidic device; and (iii) a support for mounting the connection apparatus on a container outlet of the storage container such that the extracting probe extends into the container outlet, wherein the support has a spatial coding structure for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a spatially compatible counter-coding structure of a ring element embracing the container outlet, wherein only spatially compatible coding structures of connection apparatus and ring element permit the apparatus to be mounted on the storage container; wherein the spatial coding structure is a crown-like protrusion-recess structure for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a protrusion-recess structure of the spatially suitable counter-coding structure of the ring element; and wherein the crown-like protrusion-recess structure includes two protrusions that are axially extending and two recesses.

By this measure mix-ups can be safely avoided.

Preferably the coding of the crown-like protrusion-recess structure is given by the form and/or arrangement of the protrusions and recesses of said protrusion-recess structure.

In accordance with another aspect of the connection apparatus according to the invention, the connection apparatus further comprises a marking corresponding to the spatial coding structure, which is clearly visible in operation of the connection apparatus. The marking is preferably located at the top of the connection apparatus.

The marking especially is a colour marking. The marking might comprise more than one colour, but preferably the marking comprises only one colour.

In accordance with another aspect of the connection apparatus according to the invention, the extracting probe comprises a hollow needle for penetrating a membrane at the container outlet, wherein said hollow needle forms a channel though which liquid flows when extracting the liquid from the storage container.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the connection apparatus according to the invention, the connection apparatus further comprises a check-valve in a liquid path between the extracting probe and the connection piece.

The invention further relates to a system according to claim <NUM>.

The invention finally relates to a kit of parts according to claim <NUM>.

Additional details, features, characteristics and advantages of the object of the invention are disclosed in the figures and the following description of the respective figures, which - in exemplary fashion - show one embodiment and an example of a dispensing system according to the invention. In the drawings:.

<FIG> shows an overall arrangement of a storage container <NUM> for fluids and a system <NUM> with a connection apparatus <NUM> for establishing a fluidic connection between the storage container <NUM> and another fluidic device (not shown) and a corresponding ring element <NUM> for coding the storage container <NUM>. The fluid storage container <NUM> is formed as a canister <NUM> with a container outlet <NUM> (explicitly shown in <FIG> and <FIG>) and a handle <NUM>. The system <NUM> is mounted on said container outlet <NUM> (whereby this outlet <NUM> is not visible in <FIG>).

The ring element <NUM> is fastened to the container outlet <NUM> such that the ring element <NUM> embraces the container outlet <NUM>. The connection apparatus <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>, a connection piece <NUM> for connecting the other fluidic device and a support <NUM> for mounting the connection apparatus <NUM> on the container outlet <NUM> of the storage container <NUM>.

The support <NUM> has a spatial coding structure <NUM> for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a spatially compatible counter-coding structure <NUM> (visible in <FIG> and <FIG>) of the ring element <NUM> in such way that only spatially compatible coding structures <NUM>, <NUM> of connection apparatus <NUM> and ring element <NUM> permit the connection apparatus <NUM> to be mounted on the container outlet <NUM> (the parts interact in a similar way to key and lock). Each of the elements <NUM>, <NUM> of the system <NUM> for ensuring a desired combination of storage container <NUM> and connection apparatus <NUM>, namely the connection apparatus <NUM> itself and the ring element <NUM>, is labeled with a marking <NUM>, <NUM> according to a marking scheme. The marking type used in this embodiment is a colour marking for both elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the overall arrangement of a storage container <NUM> and the system <NUM> with the connection apparatus <NUM> and the corresponding ring element <NUM>, wherein coding and counter coding structures <NUM>, <NUM> fit together and the connection apparatus <NUM> is mounted on the container outlet <NUM>. The counter-coding structure <NUM> coats the coding structure. The ring element <NUM> can be understood as a spacer for the installation of the connection apparatus <NUM> on the container outlet <NUM>. If the coding/counter coding structures <NUM>, <NUM> do not fit together, the ring element <NUM> acts as the spacer and prevents the fluidic connection. Furthermore, a ventilation opening <NUM> of the container <NUM> is visible in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the connection apparatus <NUM> in a cutaway (sectional) 3d view. In addition to the components referred to above (main body <NUM>, connection piece <NUM> for connecting the other fluidic device and support <NUM> for mounting the connection apparatus <NUM> on the container outlet <NUM> of the storage container <NUM>), the connection apparatus <NUM> further comprises an <NUM> for extracting liquid from said storage container <NUM> and a check-valve <NUM> in a liquid path between the extracting probe <NUM> and the connection piece <NUM>. The check-valve <NUM> is located in the center of the main body <NUM> and comprises a spring <NUM> and a ball <NUM> as a valve member. The extracting probe <NUM> comprises a hollow needle <NUM> for penetrating a membrane (shown e.g. in <FIG>) in the container outlet <NUM> and a sleeve <NUM> surrounding the hollow needle radially. When the connection apparatus <NUM> extracts liquid from the storage container <NUM> the liquid flows through the hollow needle <NUM>, the check-valve <NUM> and the connection piece <NUM>. The main body <NUM> of the connection apparatus is made of plastic.

<FIG> shows the connection apparatus <NUM> in a sectional view. Extracting probe <NUM> and check-valve <NUM> form a single component <NUM>, <NUM>. This single component <NUM>, <NUM> is - as well as the connection piece <NUM> pressed into the main body <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the connection apparatus <NUM> in an upside down presentation. In this presentation two protrusions <NUM> and two recesses <NUM> of the coding structure <NUM> are visible. The coding structure <NUM> therefore might be called a crown-like protrusion-recess structure <NUM>. The crown-like protrusion-recess structure <NUM> is interacting with the coding structure <NUM> of the ring element <NUM>, which is a corresponding crown-like protrusion-recess structure <NUM> (shown in <FIG>).

<FIG> shows the storage container <NUM> and the ring element <NUM> for coding the storage container <NUM> surrounding the container outlet <NUM>. Within the container outlet <NUM> an insert component <NUM> (or a head of a suction lance, respectively) with the membrane <NUM> is visible. The counter-coding structure <NUM> of the ring element <NUM> comprises two protrusions <NUM> and two recesses <NUM> of the counter-coding structure <NUM>. The counter-coding structure <NUM> therefore might be called a crown-like protrusion-recess structure <NUM>. Each of the recesses <NUM> has the form of a semicircular slot in which the protrusion <NUM> of the corresponding coding structure <NUM> can engage. The ring element <NUM> further comprises nose structures <NUM> for a detachable clip- on connection between connection apparatus <NUM> and ring element <NUM> as well as snapper elements <NUM> for establishing a snap-fit connection for fastening the ring element <NUM> to the container outlet <NUM>. The snapper elements <NUM> are interacting with an external screw thread <NUM> of the container outlet <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the ring element <NUM> for coding the storage container <NUM> surrounding the container outlet <NUM> in a first sectional view (cut like the cut for a piece of pie). Parts of the insert component <NUM> are forming a guiding structure <NUM> for the sleeve <NUM> of the extracting probe <NUM>. The membrane <NUM> is located at the top part of said guiding structure <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the ring element <NUM> for coding the storage container <NUM> surrounding the container outlet <NUM> (planar cut).

<FIG> are showing ring elements <NUM> with different spatial counter-coding structures <NUM>. These different spatial counter-coding structures <NUM> are associated with a colour code given by table <NUM>. The colour code is used for the marking <NUM> executed as label and the marking <NUM> executed as material colour of the ring element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a ring element <NUM> comprising a spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> with only one protrusion <NUM>. According to table <NUM> this spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> is linked to the colour red of the colour marking.

<FIG> shows a ring element16 comprising a spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> with two protrusions <NUM> arranged opposite to each other. According to table <NUM> this spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> is linked to the colour green of the colour marking.

<FIG> shows a ring element16 comprising a spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> with three symmetrically arranged protrusions <NUM>. According to table <NUM> this spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> is linked to the colour yellow of the colour marking.

<FIG> shows a ring element16 comprising a spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> with two asymmetrically arranged protrusions <NUM>. According to table <NUM> this spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> is linked to the colour grey of the colour marking.

<FIG> shows another overall arrangement of the storage container <NUM> and the system <NUM> with the connection apparatus <NUM> and the ring element <NUM> shown in <FIG>; and.

<FIG> shows the container outlet <NUM> and parts of the storage container <NUM> in the surrounding of the container outlet <NUM> together with the connection apparatus <NUM> and the ring element <NUM> in a sectional view. The mounting of the connection apparatus <NUM> to the container outlet <NUM> is blocked by the ring element <NUM> because the spatial coding structure <NUM> of the connection apparatus <NUM> and the spatial counter-coding structure <NUM> of the ring element <NUM> do not fit. In this combination the hollow needle <NUM> does not penetrate the membrane <NUM> in the container outlet <NUM> through which the liquid flows when extracting the liquid from the storage container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connection apparatus (<NUM>) for establishing a fluidic connection between a storage container (<NUM>) and another fluidic device, the connection apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
an extracting probe (<NUM>) for extracting liquid from said storage container (<NUM>);
a connection piece (<NUM>) for connecting the other fluidic device; and
a support (<NUM>) for mounting the connection apparatus (<NUM>) on a container outlet (<NUM>) of the storage container (<NUM>) such that the extracting probe (<NUM>) extends into the container outlet (<NUM>),
wherein the support (<NUM>) has a spatial coding structure (<NUM>) for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a spatially compatible counter-coding structure (<NUM>) of a ring element (<NUM>) embracing the container outlet (<NUM>), wherein only spatially compatible coding structures (<NUM>, <NUM>) of connection apparatus (<NUM>) and ring element (<NUM>) permit the connection apparatus (<NUM>) to be mounted on the storage container (<NUM>);
wherein the spatial coding structure (<NUM>) is a crown-like protrusion-recess structure (<NUM>) for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a protrusion-recess structure (<NUM>) of the spatially suitable counter-coding structure (<NUM>) of the ring element (<NUM>); and
wherein the crown-like protrusion-recess structure (<NUM>) includes two protrusions (<NUM>) that are axially extending and two recesses (<NUM>).