Connect/Disconnect Coupling for a Container

Abstract

A coupling assembly for removing contents of a container from an opening in the container. The coupling assembly includes a container insert coupled to the container opening, the container insert including an insert passage, and an insert vent path extending through the container insert. The coupling assembly also includes a unit including a unit cavity, a valve assembly positioned axially therein, and a unit vent path. When the unit is coupled to the container insert, the insert vent path mates with the unit vent path to create a complete vent path extending from within the container to a vent port on the unit, and the valve assembly opens to place the insert passage in fluid communication with the first unit cavity.

1 . A unit for a coupling assembly for removing contents of a container from an opening in the container, the unit comprising:
 a main unit body including first and second unit ends;   a coupling ring with threads positioned to engage insert threads of a container insert when coupled thereto, the coupling ring being configured to rotate about the main unit body;   a first unit seal positioned to seal with respect to the container insert;   a coupling sleeve extending to the first unit end;   a valve assembly positioned axially within the coupling sleeve, the valve assembly including a poppet member with first and second ends, the first end including a valve that seals against a shoulder formed in a first unit cavity defined by the unit, and a spring member positioned in the first unit cavity to force the valve into a closed position against the shoulder;   wherein the unit defines a unit passage through the coupling sleeve and the first unit cavity to a unit port, and defines a unit vent path extending through the coupling sleeve to a vent port.   
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein, when the unit is coupled to the container insert, the coupling sleeve defines a unit keyed surface that mates with an insert keyed surface of the container insert. 
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein, when the unit is coupled to the container insert, the unit vent path mates with an insert vent path of the container insert to define a complete vent path extending from within the container to the vent port. 
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein, when the unit is coupled to the container insert, the poppet member is forced against the spring member so that the valve unseats with respect to the shoulder to place the first unit cavity and the unit port in fluid communication with an insert passage defined by the container insert. 
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter including first and second adapter ends, the first adapter end of the adapter being configured to mate with the unit port, and the second adapter end being configured to mate with a connector. 
   
   
       6 . The unit of  claim 5 , wherein the connector is a quick connect/disconnect connector. 
   
   
       7 . A coupling assembly for removing contents of a container from an opening in the container, the coupling assembly comprising:
 a container insert configured to be coupled to the opening of the container and having first and second insert ends, the container insert including a first seal positioned adjacent to the first insert end to seal the container insert with respect to the container, and defining a first insert cavity with insert threads, a second insert cavity, a third insert cavity with an insert valve engagement member, and a dip tube engagement surface adjacent to the second insert end for engaging a dip tube that extends into the container, the container insert defining an insert passage extending from the first insert end to the second insert end and through the first, second, and third insert cavities, and the container insert defining an insert vent path extending through the container insert to the first insert cavity; and   a dispense unit including a main dispense body including first and second dispense ends, and a coupling ring with threads positioned to engage the insert threads when coupled thereto and a first dispense seal positioned to seal the container insert with respect to the first insert cavity, a coupling sleeve extending to the first dispense end, a valve assembly positioned axially within the coupling sleeve, the valve assembly including a poppet member with first and second ends, the first end including a valve that seals against a shoulder formed in a first dispense cavity defined by the dispense unit, and a spring member positioned in the first dispense cavity to force the valve into a closed position against the shoulder, and the dispense unit defining a dispense passage through the coupling sleeve and the first dispense cavity to a dispense port, and defining a dispense vent path extending through the coupling sleeve to a vent port;   wherein, when the dispense unit is coupled to the container insert, the insert vent path mates with the dispense vent path to define a complete vent path extending from within the container to the vent port, and the insert valve engagement member forces the poppet member against the spring member so that the valve unseats with respect to the shoulder to place the insert passage in fluid communication with the first dispense cavity and the dispense port   
   
   
       8 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the coupling ring is configured to rotate about the main dispense body. 
   
   
       9 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising an adapter including first and second adapter ends, the first adapter end of the adapter being configured to mate with the dispense port, and the second adapter end being configured to mate with a connector. 
   
   
       10 . The coupling assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the connector is a quick connect/disconnect connector. 
   
   
       11 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a shipping cap that is configured to seal the dip tube and the container insert during shipping. 
   
   
       12 . The coupling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the shipping cap includes cap threads formed on an outer surface thereof that are sized to engage the insert threads formed in the first insert cavity of the container insert, and a sealing member that seals with respect to the first insert cavity of the container insert. 
   
   
       13 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a key coupled to an exposed surface of the container insert. 
   
   
       14 . The coupling assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the key is configured to provide a visual indicia of the contents of the container, and wherein the visual indicia corresponds to a key ring coupled to the dispense unit. 
   
   
       15 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7 , wherein, when the dispense unit is coupled to the container insert, the coupling sleeve defines a dispense keyed surface that mates with an insert keyed surface of the container insert. 
   
   
       16 . The coupling assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the insert keyed surface includes a plurality of keys that are sized and positioned to engage key slots formed in the dispense keyed surface when the dispense keyed surface mates with the insert keyed surface. 
   
   
       17 . A method for dispensing contents of a container, the method comprising:
 providing a container insert having first and second insert ends, the container insert including a first seal positioned adjacent to the first insert end to seal the container insert with respect to the container, and defining a first insert cavity with insert threads, a second insert cavity, a third insert cavity with an insert valve engagement member, and a dip tube engagement surface adjacent to the second insert end for engaging a dip tube that extends into the container, the container insert defining an insert passage extending from the first insert end to the second insert end and through the first, second, and third insert cavities, and the container insert defining an insert vent path extending through the container insert to the first insert cavity;   providing a unit including a main unit body including first and second unit ends, and a coupling ring with threads positioned to engage the insert threads when coupled thereto and a first unit seal positioned to seal the container insert with respect to the first insert cavity, a coupling sleeve extending to the first unit end, a valve assembly positioned axially within the coupling sleeve, the valve assembly including a poppet member with first and second ends, the first end including a valve that seals against a shoulder formed in a first unit cavity defined by the unit, and a spring member positioned in the first unit cavity to force the valve into a closed position against the shoulder, and the unit defining a unit passage through the coupling sleeve and the first unit cavity to a unit port, and defining a unit vent path extending through the coupling sleeve to a vent port;   coupling the container insert to an opening in the container; and   coupling the unit to the container insert such that the insert vent path mates with the unit vent path to define a complete vent path extending from within the container to the vent port, and the insert valve engagement member forces the poppet member against the spring member so that the valve unseats with respect to the shoulder to place the insert passage in fluid communication with the first unit cavity and the unit port.