Dispensing assembly and method using snap engagement of a mixer and a cartridge

摘要

A dispensing assembly includes a cartridge for containing a fluid and a mixer for mixing and dispensing the fluid. The cartridge includes a locking flange or wall and the mixer includes a locking latch configured to snap into and out of engagement with the locking flange. To this end, the mixer and the cartridge are coupled and uncoupled by a snap-on and snap-off engagement that does not require relative rotation of the mixer and the cartridge. The locking latch also includes a latch release mechanism such as a squeeze handle, a peel handle, or a locking ring for forcing the locking latch into and out of engagement with the locking flange. As a result, the connection of the mixer and the cartridge is a quick and easy process and cross contamination of fluids in multiple fluid cartridges is avoided.

主权项

1. A dispensing assembly, comprising:
a cartridge for containing a fluid, said cartridge including a fluid chamber and an outlet socket in communication with said fluid chamber, said outlet socket defining a proximal wall and a hollow port extending distally from said proximal wall; a mixer for mixing and dispensing the fluid, said mixer including a mixer conduit, an inlet socket sized to be engaged with said hollow port and in fluid communication with said mixer conduit, and a first locking latch extending outwardly from said inlet socket and configured to snap into engagement with said proximal wall to couple said cartridge to said mixer, wherein said first locking latch is integrally molded with said mixer conduit and said inlet socket to provide said mixer as a unitary piece; and a latch release mechanism coupled to said first locking latch and operable to disengage said first locking latch from said proximal wall without rotating said mixer with respect to said cartridge, wherein said latch release mechanism includes a first squeeze handle extending distally from said first locking latch towards said mixer conduit, said first squeeze handle configured to be depressed towards said mixer conduit to snap said first locking latch out of engagement with said proximal wall, wherein said mixer further includes a second locking latch positioned on an opposite side of said inlet socket from said first locking latch, and said latch release mechanism includes a second squeeze handle coupled to said second locking latch and extending distally from said second locking latch towards said mixer conduit, wherein one of said outlet socket and said inlet socket includes a radial projection and the other of said outlet socket and said inlet socket includes a radial slot for receiving said radial projection when said cartridge and said mixer are coupled together by snapping said first locking latch into engagement with said proximal wall, wherein said radial projection and said radial slot prevent any rotation of said mixer relative to said cartridge while said mixer and said cartridge are coupled together, and wherein said inlet socket of said mixer defines an outer periphery provided by an uninterrupted 360° annular wall, and the only structure projecting outwardly beyond said outer periphery consists of said radial projection, said first and second locking latches, and said first and second squeeze handles.