Patent Application
20170284577
The present disclosure relates generally to a collar for coupling a hose to a container, and more specifically to a collar that is tamper-resistant or provides evidence of tampering if one attempts to remove the collar.
In the container industry, some containers are part of a “closed” system, in which the container is filled and emptied without exposing the contents of the container. For example, closed systems are commonly used in storing and transporting insecticides to reduce the risk of human interaction with harmful insecticides. From time to time it becomes necessary to stir the contents of these containers, but because it is a closed system, this must be accomplished without opening the container. One technique for stirring the contents is to inject pulses of air into the container, which is done by connecting a machine that generates the air pulses to the container using a coupler. The coupler is typically keyed to a valve in the container such that contents can only be extracted from or inserted to the container via the specifically-keyed coupler. By using such a coupler, unauthorized filling of the container can be prevented. However, if the coupler can be disconnected from the air pulse device, the coupler can be used for unauthorized filling of the container. Unauthorized filling presents numerous problems, including lack of quality control regarding the quality of the contents placed in the container. Unauthorized filling would also potentially allow one to fill a container with water or some or other liquid so that the container weighs as much as a full container of insecticide, and charge full price for a full container of insecticide. Accordingly, it is beneficial to prevent unauthorized filling or at least provide evidence that unauthorized filling has occurred so as to alert the owner of the container of a potential problem.
According to an aspect of one or more exemplary embodiments, there is provided a tamper-resistant or tamper-evident collar that is secured to the air pulse unit in such a way that removing the collar from the air pulse unit is impossible or at least leaves an indication that the collar was removed. The collar according to one or more exemplary embodiments may include a body portion having a first diameter and a flange portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The flange portion may include a plurality of holes configured to receive fasteners that couple the collar to an air pulse generating unit.
The plurality of holes in the flange portion of the collar may be configured to break the fasteners if the collar is attempted to be disconnected from the air pulse generating unit.
The body portion may include a plurality of facets connect to each other around the circumference of the body portion.
The body portion may also include a threaded inner portion configured to securely receive a coupler device. The threaded inner portion may include a permanent adhesive configured to adhere the collar to the coupler device.
The flange portion may include a hole configured to receive a nipple portion of the air pulse generating unit. The hole in the flange portion may include a permanent adhesive configured to adhere the nipple portion of the air pulse generating unit to the flange portion of the collar.
Reference will now be made in detail to the following exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well-known parts are omitted for clarity.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the collar 202 may be secured solely to the air pulse unit 201 with tamper evident fastener 302. As shown in
Although the inventive concepts of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts.
