Flexible container with displaceable fitting and probe coupler apparatus

Claim 2

The combination of a closure fitment, a seal plug, and a probe connector for use with a disposable container; said closure fitment comprising a hollow body having a portion attachable to a wall of the container and having a passageway providing communication between the exterior and the interior of the container; said seal plug preventing external contaminants from entering the container and controlling flow of fluid from the container through a first aperture means, said seal plug comprising a body which is movable within said fitment between positions to open and close said first aperture means; said probe connector providing means for connecting said closure fitment to a delivery tube for conveying fluid from said container to a point of use; said probe connector comprising probe means, probe adapter means, and a second aperture means; said probe adapter means being detachably connectible to said closure fitment to place said second aperture means in communication with said first aperture means; said probe means having a tubular body slidably journaled in said adapter means for axial movement between positions to open and close said second aperture means; a manually rotatable probe actuating member connected to said probe means and threadedly engaged with said adapter means to move said probe means in an axial direction in response to rotation of said probe actuating member relative to said adapter means; whereby forward flow of fluid is enabled from the container to the point of use by opening the first and second aperture means when the probe connector is connected to the closure fitment; and whereby further, back flow of fluid from the delivery tube is prevented by closing the second aperture means when the probe connector is disconnected from the closure fitment.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which the probe adapter means is connectible to the closure fitment by screw thread means.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 in which the probe adapter means comprises: a cylindrical sleeve member within which the tubular body of the probe means is slidably journaled; and another member fastened thereto having a cylindrical section with a screw-threaded connection to the closure fitment.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which the probe adapter means comprises: a cylindrical sleeve member within which the tubular member of the probe means is slidably journaled; and another member fastened thereto having a cylindrical section with a screw threaded connection to the manually rotatable probe actuating member.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 in which said seal plug has a tubular section with an outer cylindrical wall axially movable within an inner cylindrical wall of said closure fitment, and detent means is provided between said cylindrical walls enabling separate degrees of insertion of the seal plug within the closure fitment as follows: a pre-fill position in which the seal plug is relatively lightly retained and can readily be withdrawn for filling the container; an intermediate tamperproof position beyond the pre-fill position from which the seal plug cannot be withdrawn without noticeable damage to the detent means; and a final drain position beyond the intermediate tamperproof position in which the first aperture means is open.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 in which said detent means comprises a first rib of one axial length on one of said cylindrical walls, the other of said cylindrical walls having a pair of ribs spaced apart axially a distance to provide a groove therebetween within which said first rib can fit when the seal plug is in said pre-fill position, the lower one of said pair of ribs being so dimensioned and positioned to provide only minor resistance to removal of the seal plug from said pre-fill position, but the other of said pair of ribs being below said one rib in said intermediate tamperproof position and being dimensioned and positioned to provide major resistance to removal of the seal plug from said tamperproof position.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 in which the upper end of said seal plug extends above said closure fitment in said pre-fill position to facilitate removal for a filling operation, and in which the upper end of said seal plug is substantially flush with the end of said closure fitment in said intermediate tamperproof position to make the seal plug difficult to remove.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 in which said first aperture means is in one of said cylindrical walls and is uncovered in said final drain position.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 in which the seal plug has an external cylindrical wall surface sealingly engageable by a wiper ring at the bottom of said closure fitment, said first aperture means extends through said cylindrical wall in the seal plug and is displaced beyond said wiper ring into communication with the interior of the container when the seal plug is moved to open said first aperture means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 3 in which the probe means tubular body includes a head section with an external cylindrical wall in slidable engagement with an internal cylindrical wall in said sleeve member, said second aperture means extends through said external cylindrical wall and said head section has a pair of O-ring seals disposed in grooves flanking said second aperture means.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 in which the seal plug has an internal cylindrical wall axially aligned with the internal cylindrical wall in the sleeve member, both of said internal cylindrical walls being of substantially the same diameter, said cylindrical wall in the seal plug being of sufficient axial length to receive at least that part of the head section having said O-ring seals and having a wiper ring at its upper end sealingly engageable with said external cylindrical wall on said head section.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 in which said sleeve member is engageable with the seal plug to move the latter into a bottomed position where the first and second aperture means are in open position.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 5 in which the seal plug has a stop flange engageable with the closure fitment in the final drain position to prevent further movement of the seal plug beyond said final drain position.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 1 in which the manually rotatable probe actuating member is connected to the probe means through a rotatably journaled connection.

Claim 16

The combination of a closure fitment, a seal plug, and a probe connector for use with a disposable container; said closure fitment comprising a hollow body having a portion attachable to a wall of the container and having a passageway therethrough providing communication between the exterior and interior of the container; said seal plug comprising a body which is movable within said fitment to an opened position; first aperture means acting between said closure fitment and said seal plug and being effective when said seal plug is moved to said opened position to provide communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the seal plug; said probe connector comprising probe means, probe adapter means and manually rotatable probe actuating means which is separable as a unit from said fitment; said probe adapter means comprising a body which is detachably connectible to said closure fitment; said probe means comprising a hollow tubular body having means for connecting to an external delivery tube and being slidably journaled within said probe adapter means and axially movable between opened and closed positions; second aperture means associated with said probe adapter means, said probe means, and said seal plug, said probe means being effective when moved to its said opened position to provide communication between the interior of said container and the interior of said probe means through said first and second aperture means, said probe means being effective when moved to its said closed position to close said second aperture means to prevent back flow from the delivery tube when the probe connector is disconnected from the closure fitment; and said manually rotatable probe actuating means comprising a tubular body having means connecting it with said probe means and said probe adapter means respectively to move said probe means between its said opened and closed positions in response to rotation thereof.

Claim 17

The combination of a closure fitment, a seal plug, and a probe connector for use with a disposable container; said closure fitment comprising a hollow body having a portion attachable to a wall of the container and having a passageway therethrough providing communication between the exterior and interior of the container; said seal plug comprising a body which is movable within said fitment to an opened position; first aperture means acting between said closure fitment and said seal plug and being effective when said seal plug is moved to said opened position to provide communication between the interior of the container and the interior of the seal plug; said probe connector comprising probe means, probe adapter means and manually rotatable probe actuating means which is separable as a unit from said fitment; said probe adapter means comprising a body which is detachably connectible to said closure fitment; said probe means comprising a hollow tubular body having means for connecting to an external delivery tube and being slidably journaled within said probe adapter means and axially movable between opened and closed positions; second aperture means associated with said probe adapter means, said probe means, and said seal plug, said probe means being effective when moved to its said opened position to provide communication between the interior of said container and the interior of said probe means through said first and second aperture means, said probe means being effective when moved to its said closed position to close said second aperture means to prevent back flow from the delivery tube when the probe connector is disconnected from the closure fitment; and said manually rotatable probe actuating means comprising a tubular body having means connecting it with said probe means and said probe adapter means respectively to move said probe means between its said opened and closed positions in response to rotation thereof.