BOTTLE MIXING ASSEMBLY

• US 20110042944A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuitems, Timothy Henry, Johns, Corey Neil, Johns, Garry Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/330
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2055 having gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/005 joints with cut-off devices which can be perforated cut-off devices with a breakable closure member in general F16K13/04

Abstract

A mixing assembly comprises a coupler with a temporary seal that is connected to a first container containing mix ingredients. An internally and externally threaded insert is threadedly mated with the internally threaded coupler in an initial position short of breaching the temporary seal. A second container is screwed into the internally threaded insert. Sealing relationships are formed between the coupler and the insert, and between the insert and the received second container. Once the second container is secured to the insert, the coupler is screwed downwardly toward the insert to cause the insert to threadedly advance toward and eventually breach the temporary seal to enable contents of the first container to mix with that of the second container.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly, comprising:

a coupler having a first end, a first threaded portion configured to mate with a first bottle, a second threaded portion and a second end;

an insert having an outer threaded insert portion configured to mate with the second threaded portion of the coupler and an inner threaded insert portion configured to mate with a second bottle; and

a temporary seal temporarily blocking fluid communication between the coupler and the insert.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to prevent the coupler and the insert from disconnecting once the seal is sufficiently breached.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

an internal ratchet formed on the coupler; and

a corresponding external ratchet formed on the insert and configured to mate and lock with the internal ratchet.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner threaded insert portion comprises:

a first set of threads configured to mate with a first bottle spout; and

a second set of threads configured to mate with a second bottle spout.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the inner threaded insert portion further comprises a third set of threads configured to mate with a third bottle spout.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert is configured to be rotated with respect to the coupler after securely receiving the second bottle.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner threaded insert portion comprises an axial length in the range of 3 mm to 20 mm.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein no portion of the seal is dislodged once breached.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tubular seal formed between the insert and the second bottle.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein further comprising a sealing relationship formed between the coupler and the insert.

11. A coupling assembly, comprising:

a coupler having a first end, a first threaded portion configured to mate with a first bottle, a second threaded portion and a second end;

an internally and externally threaded insert having an outer threaded insert portion configured to mate with the second threaded portion of the coupler and an inner threaded insert portion configured to mate with a second bottle; and

a seal temporarily blocking fluid communication between the coupler and the insert;

wherein the insert is configured to securely mate with the second bottle before breaching the seal.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a tubular seal.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the inner threaded insert portion comprises:

a first set of threads configured to mate with a first bottle spout; and

a second set of threads configured to mate with a second bottle spout.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner threaded insert portion further comprises a third set of threads configured to mate with a third bottle spout.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the insert is configured to be screwed into the coupler after securely receiving the second bottle.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the inner threaded insert portion comprises an axial length in the range of 3 mm to 20 mm.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein no portion of the seal is dislodged once breached.

18. A method of coupling containers, comprising:

connecting a first container containing mix ingredients to a coupler;

temporarily sealing the mix ingredients with a seal;

screwing a bottle into an internally and externally threaded insert; and

screwing the bottle and the insert together into the coupler to breach the seal;

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

preventing leakage between the bottle and the insert.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of preventing leakage between the bottle and the insert comprises forming a seal between a spout of the bottle and an internal stop within the insert.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of preventing leakage between the bottle and the insert comprises disposing a tubular seal between the insert and the bottle.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

preventing leakage between the coupler and the insert.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

forming the insert with at least two sets of internal threads for mating with two different bottle spouts.