Patent Application
20210387781
Embodiments herein relate to a connectors, particularly, though not exclusively, for connecting first and second liquid containers to one another to permit mixing of their contents.
There are situations where it would be advantageous to combine or mix different substances in a portable, convenient and contained manner.
One example is with fluids, including gases and liquids, but possibly also with solids, e.g. powdered substances.
To give a practical example, smoothie drinks are very popular, being liquefied or pureed forms of fruit and/or vegetables for drinking. Commercially available products come in a limited number of varieties and combinations, e.g. orange and mango. It would be useful for consumers to be able to select two or more ‘base’ fruit and/or vegetable smoothies from a larger selection, and combine them in a portable, convenient and contained way to produce a smoothie drink having the required flavour and/or nutrient combination.
According to one aspect, there is provided a connector for a container, comprising:
The positive mechanical connection may be a snap-fit connection by means of applied force along or parallel with an axis running through the connector space. This may by means of any suitable snap-fit mechanism, for example protrusions on the outside of the connector locating under or over protrusions on the inside or outside of the other connecter. One set of said protrusions may temporarily deform due to the applied pressure and return to their original form to secure the connection.
The platform may taper inwardly from the ring member substantially towards a position at or near the centre of the interior space and wherein the blade carried by the platform extends from a position between the ring member and a position short of the centre of the interior space.
The blade carried by the platform may be located substantially along the centre of the platform.
The platform may be substantially planar and wedge-shaped.
The connector may further comprise one or more guide members for permitting the connection with another connector only in a predetermined relative orientation.
The connector may further comprise a membrane covering the interior space around the platform. The membrane may be watertight. In other embodiments, the membrane may be provided on the container rather than the connector.
The platform may be frangible or similarly removable from the ring member.
The platform may be removable by means of a region of weakness being provided at or near the junction of the platform to the ring member.
The connector according to any preceding claim may be attached to a drinks container.
A second aspect provides a connector system for connecting a plurality of containers together, the container system comprising first and second-type connectors, wherein each said connector comprises:
The blade may be an elongate member extending from a position at or near the perimeter of the ring towards the centre of the interior space.
The connector may further comprise means to permit the positive mechanical connection only at a predetermined relative orientation of the connectors, whereby, at such orientation, the platforms of each connector do not interfere when the connectors are connected.
The form and arrangement of the platform and blade may be such as to cause a puncture and then dragging of the membrane due to the respective positive mechanical connection and subsequent rotation, thereby gathering the slackened membrane towards an edge.
The method may further comprise removing one of said platforms from a container, said platform being connected to the ring member with a region of weakness.
The method may further comprise removing one of said platforms by means of peeling one of said membranes in the general direction of the platform.
Embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments herein relate to connectors for connecting a plurality of containers together, for example one on top of the other, such that their contents may mix. Embodiments also relate to a connector system that provides first and second connectors, one of which may be connected to a first wall of a container and another of which may be connected to another wall of the container, such that two or more like containers may be connected end-on-end for mixing contents. As such, any number of such containers having such a connector system may be joined to one another. In the case of potable (drinkable) liquids, this enables a range of different flavoured drinks to be mixed to provide a cocktail.
However, example embodiments provide connectors appropriate for mixing any contained substance, including non-potable chemicals, powders and gases.
The first and second-type connectors may be substantially the same in general form, other than the means by which they mechanically connect, as will become clear. Accordingly, the following description will focus on the first-type connector 14 and it will be appreciated that the second-type connector will be identical save for the differences to be explained.
The container 12 may be formed of any suitable material, such as cardboard or plastic. The material may depend on the intended purpose and substance to be contained. The material, may be waterproof if its intended content is a liquid. The container 12 may be formed of a coated cardboard material, for example, formed of a planar blank and then assembled by folding to form the shown cuboid shape. With reference to
In the shown example, the first-type connector 14 is located onto or over the upper wall so that it generally positioned over or around the aperture. The connector 14 may be adhered to the upper wall by means of a surrounding flange 15 which may conform generally to the profile of the upper wall, although this is not necessary.
The connector 14 may comprise a ring or ring-like member 16 (hereafter ring) defining an interior space or aperture 30. The ring 16 may be substantially planar such that it sits generally parallel to the container upper wall. Upstanding from at or near the outer perimeter of the ring 16 is a circumferential wall 17 having an interior surface and an exterior surface. On the exterior surface is or are carried one or more protruding members 24A, 24B. As seen in
A platform 18 is provided, extending inwardly from the ring 16, towards substantially the centre of the ring, i.e. the effective centre 50 of the interior aperture 30. The platform 18 may be generally planar in section, and may be generally wedge-shaped when viewed from above. The apex 52 of the platform 18 may terminate at or just short of the centre 50. The platform 18 may therefore occupy a sector of the interior aperture 30, the sector having an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Other angles are possible. The platform 18 carries on its upper surface an elongate blade 20 which upstands from said platform 18. The blade 20 extends between the outer region of the ring 16 to a position nearer the apex 52. In the shown example, the blade 20 extends along or parallel to a notional radius of the ring 16, and therefore may be situated along the centre-line A-A of the platform 18. Deviations from this arrangement are possible.
The above components of said connector 14 may be formed in any suitable material, for example plastics material, and may be produced by any suitable method, such as by extrusion. The connector 14 may be formed in one integral piece to simplify manufacture, and adhered to the container 12 using a suitable adhesive at an appropriate assembly stage.
A membrane 35 is attached such that it covers the space 30; the membrane 35 may be formed of a foil or flexible material 8 which tears or breaks by means of applied mechanical pressure. The membrane 35 may be a waterproof material. The membrane 35 is in the shown example adhered beneath the ring but it could alternatively be adhered over the aperture of the container. The membrane 35 acts as a seal to contain the contents within the container 12. In order to access the contents, the membrane 35 is broken, which may be by means of a user jabbing a straw or finger through the membrane 35, or by means of connecting a second-type connector to the first-type connector in order to mix two contained substances.
As an optional feature, a window 26 may be provided in one or more walls of the container 12 to make its contents visible.
It will be appreciated that the
Referring now to
The second-type connector 60 is similar to the first-type connector 14 in that it comprises a ring 74 defining an interior aperture which is covered with a membrane 85. An upstanding wall 80 is connected to the ring 74. A wedge-shaped platform 70 similar to that shown in
In order for the first-type connector 14 to positively engage the second-type connector 60, a groove 82 is defined between the ring 74 and upstanding wall 80. The groove 82 is dimensioned and arranged to receive the upstanding wall 17 of the first-type connector in a close-fit manner. Further, the groove 82 may only receive said upstanding wall 17 when the two connectors 14,60 are in a predetermined orientation, which is dictated by an arrangement of spaced-apart overhangs 90A-C which define in-between spaces 84A-C. Said spaces 84A-C are dimensioned and arranged to receive the protruding members 24A-C of the first-type connector 14 only at said orientation. This is ensured by one of said in-between spaces 84B being larger than the others 84A, 84C. Said orientation ensures that the two platforms 18, 70 do not interfere when the first and second-type connectors 14, 60 interconnect, and permits them to rotate relative to one another, through a given angle.
On the inner surface of the upstanding wall 80 are further provided a plurality of spaced-apart bumps 86. The bumps 86 provide the snap-fit assembly, in that the first-type connector 14 is slightly wider and pressure is needed to force it under the bumps. Further provided on the upstanding wall 80, below the level of the bumps, are a series of spaced-apart teeth 87. The teeth 87 may have an asymmetric profile to provide a ratchet, permitting only one-way rotation of the first-type connector 14 relative to the second-type connector 60 due to the harpoon part 30 which acts as a pawl.
To connect the first and second-type connectors 14, 16, they are brought together such that the protruding members 24A-C pass through the spaces 84A-C. Applying pressure causes the protruding members 24A-C to locate under the bumps 86 in a snap-fit manner. When this occurs, the opposed blades 20, 72 pierce the membranes 85, 35 associated with the other connector. This happens substantially simultaneously. The amount of mixing may be minimal due to the relatively small hole produced, even if the containers are shaken. Accordingly, rotational force applied to one or both connectors 14, 16 (in opposite directions) permits relative movement in one direction due to the harpoon part 30 engaging the teeth 87. This rotation, and the arrangement of the blades, causes the membranes 35, 85 to be pulled open further and gathered towards the circumferential edges. This rapid opening allows efficient and quick mixing of the contained substances when shaken, and also keeps the slackened membranes 35, 85 away from the openings to avoid interference.
Applicable to any of the above described embodiments is provision of the platform 70 to be frangible or similarly arranged so that it can be detached from the ring 74, as shown by way of example in
As mentioned, a container may comprise both the first and second-type connectors 14, 60 on opposite faces to permit multiple containers to be stacked, one on top of the other, to permit three or more containers to mix their contents. However, it is also possible to provide just two containers for mixing their contents, one having the first-type connector 14 and the other having the second-type connector.
Other advantages of preferred embodiments include the ability to adhere or otherwise connect such connectors 14, 60 to any form of container having a hole or aperture. Although example embodiments assume that the membranes 35, 85 are adhered or otherwise connected to the connectors 14, 60, in other embodiments, the membranes may be adhered or otherwise connected over the hole or aperture of the container. In some embodiments, the membranes 35, 85 may be adhered or otherwise connected over the top of the connectors 14, 60, that is so that they overlie the blades 20, 72.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1816347.7 | Oct 2018 | GB | national |
| 1902613.7 | Feb 2019 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2019/000152 | 10/7/2019 | WO | 00 |
