Mechanically Energized Substance Communication Coupling System
First Claim
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1. A system for receiving a substance consumer comprising:
- a substance communication coupling system comprising;
a first substance connector component capable of being operably associated with the substance consumer and including a contact proximity target;
a second substance connector component operably engageable with the first substance connector component, the second substance connector component being capable of being operably associated with a substance source;
a substance switch operably associated with the second substance connector component, the substance switch selectively permitting the flow of the substance from the substance source to the first substance connector component; and
a contact proximity sensor operably associated with the substance switch, the contact proximity sensor engageable with the contact proximity target when the first substance connector component is engaged with the second substance connector component;
wherein the substance switch is operable to permit flow of the substance to the first substance connector component in response to the contact proximity sensor engaging the contact proximity target.
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Abstract
A substance communication coupling system includes a substance connector component for communication of a substance with another substance connector component. A substance switch is provided for selectively permitting communication of the substance between the substance connector components. The substance switch is activated to transfer a substance from a substance source to a substance consumer in response to a proximity sensor engaging a proximity target.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for receiving a substance consumer comprising:
a substance communication coupling system comprising; a first substance connector component capable of being operably associated with the substance consumer and including a contact proximity target; a second substance connector component operably engageable with the first substance connector component, the second substance connector component being capable of being operably associated with a substance source; a substance switch operably associated with the second substance connector component, the substance switch selectively permitting the flow of the substance from the substance source to the first substance connector component; and a contact proximity sensor operably associated with the substance switch, the contact proximity sensor engageable with the contact proximity target when the first substance connector component is engaged with the second substance connector component; wherein the substance switch is operable to permit flow of the substance to the first substance connector component in response to the contact proximity sensor engaging the contact proximity target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A substance communication coupling system for connecting a portable device to a host, the substance communication coupling system comprising:
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a substance connector component capable of communicating a substance; a substance switch operably connected to the substance connector component for selectively permitting the substance to be transmitted to the substance connector component; and a contact proximity sensor operably connected to the substance switch and engageable with a contact proximity target; wherein the substance switch is configured to allow the substance to be transmitted to the substance connector component when the contact proximity sensor engages the contact proximity target. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for use in association with a host having a substance provider, a first substance connector component, and a substance switch selectively providing a substance to the first substance connector component and having a contact proximity sensor, and in association with a substance consumer, the system comprising:
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a second substance connector component engageable with the first substance connector component; a substance line interconnecting the substance consumer and the second substance connector component; and a contact proximity target capable of engaging the contact proximity sensor to activate the substance switch to provide the substance to the first substance connector component. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An adapter for removably coupling an accessory device having a first device substance connector component to a host having a substance provider, a first host substance connector component that cannot be directly connected to the first device substance connector component, and a substance switch selectively providing a substance to the first host substance connector component in response to a contact proximity sensor engaging a contact proximity target, the adapter comprising:
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a second host substance connector component engageable with the first host substance connector component; a second device substance connector component engageable with the first device substance connector component; a substance line interconnecting the second host substance connector component and the second device substance connector component for the transfer of a substance therealong; and a contact proximity target capable of engaging the contact proximity sensor to actuate the substance switch. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A substance communication device for substance communication with an appliance having a housing, a cavity in the housing, the cavity having an first substance connector component, and a first proximity coupling system component associated with the first substance connector component, the substance communicating device comprising:
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a second substance component capable of connecting with the first substance connector component for the communication of substance therebetween; and a second proximity coupling system component associated with the second substance connector component, the second proximity coupling component being capable of communicating with the first proximity coupling system component within a proximity coupling system to selectively control the communication of substance between the first and second substance communicating connectors in response to the interaction of the first and second proximity system coupling component providing an indication that the first and second substance communicating connectors are coupled. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification