Sealed storage container with a coupling assembly

• US 7,635,012 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Inventors: Johns, Garry P., Johns, Corey N., Kuitems, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US11/451,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 141/112, 141/322, 141/329, 206/219, 206/222
• US Class Current: 141/322
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2814 the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it

Abstract

An initially sealed storage apparatus carrying a material is provided. The present invention is directed to a mixing unit comprising a sealed container joined to a second container. When the second container is fully united with the sealed container, a seal in the sealed container is breached and the contents of the first container and the second container can be mixed. The seal is breached by a bushing enclosed within the sealed container or enclosed in a coupler between the sealed container and the second container which is advanced against the seal, and ruptures the seal when the second container is advanced into the coupler of the coupler portion of the sealed container.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus for receiving a first container comprising:

a hollow housing having a conduit with first and second open ends and a seal sealing the first open end from the second open end of the conduit;

a container body rotatable with respect to the hollow housing, the container body having a storage plenum within an annular wall, a top enclosed wall and an open end, the open end of the annular wall received within the conduit and adapted to be advanced toward the second open end of the hollow housing to breach the seal and open communication between the second open end of the hollow housing and the first opening of the container body when the container body, the annular wall being configured to remain in a fixed position after being advanced toward the second open end of the hollow housing.

2. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second open end is adapted to receive a first container.

3. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conduit, and the annular wall have a common longitudinal axis.

4. The storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the seal is connected by its periphery to the conduit.

5. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal is a rigid membrane.

6. The storage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a substantial portion of the periphery of the seal connected to the conduit is shearable by the hollow housing when it is advanced toward the first open end.

7. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

8. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

9. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the hollow housing has an open breaching end, the longitudinal axis of the annular wall, the conduit, and the second open end having a common longitudinal axis.

10. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the open end of the hollow housing is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

11. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the open end of the hollow housing is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

12. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal is adapted to be torn around the greater portion of its periphery connected to the bushing when the seal is breached by the open end of the annular wall leaving at least a portion of its periphery connected to the hollow housing.

13. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal is adapted to be torn into at least four pie-shaped segments extending from its center to its periphery, the pie-shaped segments hinged away from the longitudinal axis and positioned approximately parallel to the conduit wall as the open end of the annular wall is advanced through the seal, each pie-shaped segment remaining connected to the bushing.

14. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the seal is adapted to be torn into four pie-shaped segments extending from its center to its periphery, the pie-shaped segments hinged away from the longitudinal axis and positioned approximately parallel to the conduit wall as the open end of the annular wall is advanced through the seal, each pie-shaped segment remaining connected to the bushing.

15. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second open end of the hollow housing is threaded to receive the threaded nozzle of a first container.

16. The storage apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the second open end of the hollow housing is adapted to form a sealing contact with the end of the threaded nozzle of the first container.

17. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the annular wall has an exterior side and the conduit has an interior wall, the exterior side of the annular wall slidably engaging the interior wall of the conduit in a moveable and sealable relationship.

18. The storage apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the interior wall of the conduit has a circumferential bead in moveable and sealable contact with the exterior wall of the hollow housing.

19. The storage apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the exterior side of the annular wall has a circumferential bead in moveable and sealable contact with the interior wall of the conduit.

20. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the annular wall is configured to penetrate and remain past a tethered hinge of the seal to maintain the seal in an open position.

21. The storage apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the seal extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container when breached.

22. A storage apparatus for receiving a first container comprising:

a hollow housing having a conduit with first and second open ends and a seal sealing the first open end from the second open end of the conduit;

a container body having a storage plenum within an annular wall, a top wall and an open end, the open end of the annular wall received within the conduit and adapted to be advanced toward the second open end of the hollow housing to breach the seal and open communication between the second open end of the hollow housing and the first opening of the container body when the container body

wherein the container body has an end wall opposite the opening of a second annular wall around the annular wall and spaced apart therefrom, the top of the second annular wall connected to the top wall, the inner side of the second annular wall being threaded;

the hollow housing having an outer wall with an inner side surrounding a portion of and spaced apart from the conduit wall with a circumferential groove between the outer annular wall and the conduit wall, the outer side of the conduit wall threaded and adapted to threadedly engage the threaded inner side of the outer annular wall of the container body to advance the annular wall in the conduit to breach the seal.

23. The storage apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the inner side of the outer annular wall within the groove has a circumferential ring of ratchet teeth and the outer side of the outer annular wall of the container body has opposing sections of ratchet teeth adapted to engage the ring of ratchet teeth of the hollow body to advance the container to permit the container body to be screwed into the hollow housing and to the container body from being screwed out of the hollow housing.

24. A storage apparatus adapted for use in connection with a vessel having a threaded neck, comprising:

a hollow housing configured to mate with the threaded neck of the vessel;

a container body configured to be engaged with, and rotatable with respect to, the hollow housing, the container body comprising a top enclosed wall and a storage plenum for holding a first material;

a breakable seal initially sealing the first material carried in the container body from the vessel, the breakable seal being initially coupled to the hollow housing,

wherein the container body is movable with respect to the hollow housing between a first configuration, where the breakable seal is intact, and a second configuration where the container body ruptures the seal to provide fluid communication between the storage plenum and the vessel, the container body being configured to remain fixed in the second configuration.

25. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the seal is tethered to the hollow housing in the second configuration at a tethered point, and a lower end of the container body is configured to penetrate and remain beyond the tethered point of the seal to maintain the seal in a fully open breached position.

26. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a tear-away band to prevent the container body from moving to the second configuration.

27. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 wherein:

the container body comprises a closed top, an outer annular wall, and an inner annular wall; and

the hollow housing comprises an outer annular housing wall and an inner annular housing wall.

28. The storage apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the hollow housing further comprises a ring wall disposed between the outer annular housing wall and the inner annular housing wall.

29. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 wherein in the second configuration, the hollow housing forms a seal with the container body.

30. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the hollow housing forms a seal with the threaded neck of the vessel.

31. The storage apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the breakable seal comprises at least one groove to facilitate the breakable seal being ruptured into multiple segments in the second configuration.