Bottle mixing assembly

• US 8,226,126 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JPro Dairy International, Inc.
• Inventors: Johns, Garry Patrick, Johns, Corey Neil, Kuitems, Timothy Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US12/546,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20110042944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 285/3, 285/4, 215/DIG.8, 215/227, 222/83, 206/222
• US Class Current: 285/3
• 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 includes 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;

an outer cylindrical wall with a first internally threaded portion configured to mate with a first bottle,

an inner cylindrical wall concentric within the outer cylindrical wall, the inner and outer cylindrical walls defining a first annular opening,

a second internally threaded portion adjacent to a second opening opposite the first opening;

a temporary seal coupled to the inner cylindrical wall of the coupler and configured to temporarily seal contents of the first bottle; and

a tubular insert having an externally threaded insert portion configured to mate with the second internally threaded portion of the coupler and an internally threaded insert portion configured to mate with a second bottle, the insert being movable with respect to the coupler to breach the seal and open fluid communication between the first bottle and the second bottle.

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 internally 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 internally 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 internally 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, wherein further comprising a sealing relationship formed between the coupler and the insert.

10. A coupling assembly, comprising:

a coupler having a first annular opening, a first internally threaded portion adjacent to the first opening and configured to mate with a first bottle, a second opening opposite to the first annular opening, and a second internally threaded portion adjacent to the second opening;

a temporary seal coupled to the coupler adjacent to the first opening, the seal temporarily sealing contents of the first bottle;

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

wherein the insert is configured to securely mate with the second bottle and move in unison with the secured second bottle toward the seal to breach the seal.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the internally 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.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the internally threaded insert portion further comprises a third set of threads configured to mate with a third bottle spout.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the insert is configured to be screwed into the coupler after securely receiving the second bottle.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the internally threaded insert portion comprises an axial length in the range of 3 mm to 20 mm.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein no portion of the seal is dislodged once breached.

16. A coupling assembly, comprising:

a coupler having;

an internally threaded outer cylindrical wall adjacent to a first annular opening and configure to mate with a first bottle,

an inner cylindrical wall concentric within the outer cylindrical wall, and

a second internally threaded portion adjacent to a second opening opposite the first opening;

a temporary seal coupled to the inner cylindrical wall of the coupler and configured to temporarily seal contents of the first bottle; and

a tubular insert having an outer threaded insert portion configured to mate with the second internally threaded portion of the coupler and an inner threaded insert portion configured to mate with a second bottle, the insert comprising a distal end configured to move through the inner cylindrical wall and breach the seal either when the insert is advanced towards the coupler or when the coupler is advanced towards the insert.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert comprises:

a distal portion which includes the distal end; and

a proximal portion which includes the externally threaded insert portion and internally threaded insert portion.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the temporary seal remains tethered to the coupler after the temporary seal is breached.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the insert is configured to be screwed into the coupler after the second bottle is securely mated with the inner threaded insert portion such that the insert and the second bottle are moved in unison to breach the temporary seal.

20. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the outer cylindrical wall and the concentric inner cylindrical wall form an annular opening configured to receive a spout of the first bottle.