Fluid dispensing assembly
First Claim
1. A fluid dispensing assembly comprising:
- a valve body comprising;
a first valve, movable between an open and closed position by an actuator to respectively allow fluid flow through, and obturation of, a valve body fluid outlet; and
a first portion of an interlocking coupling;
a connector body connected to the valve body comprising;
a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to respectively allow fluid flow through, and obturation of, a connector body fluid inlet; and
a second portion of the interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with the first portion of the interlocking coupling by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis;
whereinthe first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing dispensing of fluid from the fluid dispensing assembly unless the first and second valves are both in the open position, andwhereinthe fluid dispensing assembly also comprises a control element, attached to the second valve and retained within the connector body for restricted linear and rotational movement along, and about, the first fluid dispensing assembly axis after rotational engagement of the first portion of the interlocking coupling with the second portion of the interlocking coupling.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Known fluid dispensers can suffer from the disadvantage of inadvertent disconnection of a connector causing potentially hazardous spillage of fluid. The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing assembly comprising a tap and a connector body. The tap comprises a first valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through; and a first portion of an interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with a second complementary interlocking coupling portion of the connector body by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis. The connector body also comprises a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to allow fluid flow through. By this configuration, the first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing disconnection of the connector body from the tap unless the first and second valves are both in the closed position.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fluid dispensing assembly comprising:
-
a valve body comprising; a first valve, movable between an open and closed position by an actuator to respectively allow fluid flow through, and obturation of, a valve body fluid outlet; and a first portion of an interlocking coupling; a connector body connected to the valve body comprising; a second valve, movable between an open and closed position to respectively allow fluid flow through, and obturation of, a connector body fluid inlet; and a second portion of the interlocking coupling, configured for rotational engagement with the first portion of the interlocking coupling by rotation about a first fluid dispensing assembly axis; wherein the first and second interlocking coupling portions remain interlocked preventing dispensing of fluid from the fluid dispensing assembly unless the first and second valves are both in the open position, and wherein the fluid dispensing assembly also comprises a control element, attached to the second valve and retained within the connector body for restricted linear and rotational movement along, and about, the first fluid dispensing assembly axis after rotational engagement of the first portion of the interlocking coupling with the second portion of the interlocking coupling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
wherein movement between the first and second positions is obstructed unless the control element is positioned along the first fluid dispensing assembly axis such that the second valve obturates the connector body fluid inlet.
-
-
5. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the control element is further constrained from rotational movement from the second to the first position by at least one projection on the control element biased into engagement with a corresponding indentation in the connector body.
-
6. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the projection is a shoulder projection on at least one laterally enlarged control element limb projection.
-
7. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein engagement of the projection with the indentation prevents rotation of the control element with respect to the connector body about the first fluid dispensing assembly axis, disengagement of the shoulder projection being effected by movement of the control element along the first fluid dispensing assembly axis against the force of the biasing means.
-
8. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve body and the connector body are provided with a first visual indicator.
-
9. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first visual indicator is in the form of a pin extending from an outer surface of the connector body and configured to pass through a corresponding slot in the connector body.
-
10. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a tap, wherein the tap and the connector body are provided with a second visual indicator.
-
11. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a tap, wherein the second visual indicator is in the form of a pointer extending from an upper edge of the connector body and a corresponding aligned marking on an outer surface of the tap.
-
12. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing assembly is configured to limit rotational movement of the second valve via positive retention.
-
13. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing assembly is configured such that the control element limits rotational movement of the second valve via contact of the control element with structure of the connector body that include obstructions that protrude into a rotation path of the control element that would be present in the absence of the obstructions.
-
14. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing assembly is configured such that the control element limits rotational movement of the second valve via interaction with a slot in the connector body.
-
15. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control element is a substantially rigid component.
-
16. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control element is spring biased by a spring, and wherein the control element is configured such that the spring deflects at least substantially more than the control element in the axial direction when a force is applied to the control element.
-
17. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control element is spring biased by a spring, and wherein the control element is configured such that the spring deflects at least substantially more than the control element in the axial direction when a force is applied to the control element.
-
18. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid dispensing assembly is configured to limit rotational movement of the second valve via structural obstruction.
-
19. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a center structure of the control element is located in the center of the connector body.
-
20. A fluid dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control element is an elongate body.
Specification