Patent ID: 12258260

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1shows an overall arrangement of a storage container10for fluids and a system12with a connection apparatus14for establishing a fluidic connection between the storage container10and another fluidic device (not shown) and a corresponding ring element16for coding the storage container10. The fluid storage container10is formed as a canister18with a container outlet20(explicitly shown inFIGS.6and13) and a handle22. The system12is mounted on said container outlet20(whereby this outlet20is not visible inFIG.1).

The ring element16is fastened to the container outlet20such that the ring element16embraces the container outlet20. The connection apparatus14comprises a main body24, a connection piece26for connecting the other fluidic device and a support28for mounting the connection apparatus14on the container outlet20of the storage container10.

The support28has a spatial coding structure30for forming a joint of interlocking parts together with a spatially compatible counter-coding structure32(visible inFIGS.6and9to12) of the ring element16in such way that only spatially compatible coding structures30,32of connection apparatus14and ring element16permit the connection apparatus14to be mounted on the container outlet20(the parts interact in a similar way to key and lock). Each of the elements14,16of the system12for ensuring a desired combination of storage container10and connection apparatus14, namely the connection apparatus14itself and the ring element16, is labeled with a marking34,36according to a marking scheme. The marking type used in this embodiment is a colour marking for both elements14,16.

FIG.2shows the overall arrangement of a storage container10and the system12with the connection apparatus14and the corresponding ring element16, wherein coding and counter coding structures30,32fit together and the connection apparatus14is mounted on the container outlet20. The counter-coding structure32coats the coding structure. The ring element16can be understood as a spacer for the installation of the connection apparatus14on the container outlet20. If the coding/counter coding structures30,32do not fit together, the ring element16acts as the spacer and prevents the fluidic connection. Furthermore, a ventilation opening38of the container10is visible inFIG.2.

FIG.3shows the connection apparatus14in a cutaway (sectional)3dview. In addition to the components referred to above (main body24, connection piece26for connecting the other fluidic device and support28for mounting the connection apparatus14on the container outlet20of the storage container10), the connection apparatus14further comprises an extraction probe40for extracting liquid from said storage container10and a check-valve42in a liquid path between the extracting probe40and the connection piece26. The check-valve42is located in the center of the main body24and comprises a spring47and a ball48as a valve member. The extracting probe40comprises a hollow needle44for penetrating a membrane (shown e.g. inFIG.6) in the container outlet20and a sleeve46surrounding the hollow needle radially. When the connection apparatus14extracts liquid from the storage container10the liquid flows through the hollow needle44, the check-valve42and the connection piece26. The main body24of the connection apparatus is made of plastic.

FIG.4shows the connection apparatus14in a sectional view. Extracting probe40and check-valve42form a single component40,42. This single component40,42is—as well as the connection piece26pressed into the main body24.

FIG.5shows the connection apparatus14in an upside down presentation. In this presentation two protrusions50and two recesses52of the coding structure30are visible. The coding structure30therefore might be called a crown-like protrusion-recess structure54. The crown-like protrusion-recess structure54is interacting with the coding structure32of the ring element16, which is a corresponding crown-like protrusion-recess structure56(shown inFIG.6).

FIG.6shows the storage container10and the ring element16for coding the storage container10surrounding the container outlet20. Within the container outlet20an insert component58(or a head of a suction lance, respectively) with the membrane60is visible. The counter-coding structure32of the ring element16comprises two protrusions62and two recesses64of the counter-coding structure32. The counter-coding structure32therefore might be called a crown-like protrusion-recess structure56. Each of the recesses64has the form of a semicircular slot in which the protrusion52of the corresponding coding structure30can engage. The ring element16further comprises nose structures66for a detachable clip-on connection between connection apparatus14and ring element16as well as snapper elements68for establishing a snap-fit connection for fastening the ring element16to the container outlet20. The snapper elements68are interacting with an external screw thread70of the container outlet20.

FIG.7shows the ring element16for coding the storage container10surrounding the container outlet20in a first sectional view (cut like the cut for a piece of pie). Parts of the insert component58are forming a guiding structure72for the sleeve46of the extracting probe40. The membrane60is located at the top part of said guiding structure72.

FIG.8shows the ring element16for coding the storage container10surrounding the container outlet20(planar cut).

FIGS.9to12are showing ring elements16with different spatial counter-coding structures32. These different spatial counter-coding structures32are associated with a colour code given by table 1. The colour code is used for the marking34executed as label and the marking36executed as material colour of the ring element16.

TABLE 1coding table specifying the correlation between the coding structure andthe colour codecoding2 protrusions3 protrusions2 protrusionsstructure1 protrusion(symmetrical)(symmetrical)(asymmetrical)colour coderedgreenyellowgrey

FIG.9shows a first embodiment of the ring element16comprising a spatial counter-coding structure32with only one protrusion50. According to table 1 this spatial counter-coding structure32is linked to the colour red of the colour marking.

FIG.10shows a second embodiment of the ring element16comprising a spatial counter-coding structure32with two protrusions50arranged opposite to each other. According to table 1 this spatial counter-coding structure32is linked to the colour green of the colour marking.

FIG.11shows a third embodiment of the ring element16comprising a spatial counter-coding structure32with three symmetrically arranged protrusions50. According to table 1 this spatial counter-coding structure32is linked to the colour yellow of the colour marking.

FIG.12shows a fourth embodiment of the ring element16comprising a spatial counter-coding structure32with two asymmetrically arranged protrusions50. According to table 1 this spatial counter-coding structure32is linked to the colour grey of the colour marking.

FIG.13shows another overall arrangement of the storage container10and the system12with the connection apparatus14and the ring element16shown inFIGS.1and2; andFIG.14shows the container outlet20and parts of the storage container10in the surrounding of the container outlet20together with the connection apparatus14and the ring element16in a sectional view. The mounting of the connection apparatus14to the container outlet20is blocked by the ring element16because the spatial coding structure30of the connection apparatus14and the spatial counter-coding structure32of the ring element16do not fit. In this combination the hollow needle44does not penetrate the membrane60in the container outlet20through which the liquid flows when extracting the liquid from the storage container10.

It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing “a compound” includes a mixture of two or more compounds. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

REFERENCE SIGNS

10storage container12system14connection apparatus16ring element18canister20container outlet22handle24main body (connection apparatus)26connection piece28support30spatial coding structure (connection apparatus)32spatial counter-coding structure (Ring element)34marking36marking38ventilation opening40extracting probe42check-valve44hollow needle46sleeve47spring48ball50protrusion52recess54protrusion-recess structure56protrusion-recess structure58insert component60membrane62protrusion64recess66nose structure68snapper element70screw thread72guiding structure