| CPC A47L 11/4083 (2013.01) [A47L 11/26 (2013.01); A47L 11/4088 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A method of engaging a dispensing package comprising the steps of:
providing a dispensing system comprising:
a cradle (200) moveable along a z-axis (Z) from a first position to a second position, wherein
said cradle comprises a liquid transport aperture (340) aligned with said z-axis;
a chassis (210) in a fixed position along said z-axis;
a cradle spring (230) engaged with and positioned between said cradle and said chassis;
a sliding lock (240) slidingly engaged with said chassis and reciprocatingly movable relative to said z-axis at a fixed position along said z-axis through a range of motion, wherein said sliding lock comprises;
(i) a button (250) oriented in a direction away from said z-axis;
(ii) an open frame (260) engaged with said button, wherein said open frame is open in line with said z-axis through said range of motion of said sliding lock; and
(iii) at least one latch (270) extending from said open frame in a direction towards said cradle to a free end (280), wherein said latch has a catch side (290) oriented towards said button and a catch surface (300) oriented towards said open frame;
an inlet canula (220) projecting in a direction parallel to said z-axis through said open frame,
wherein said inlet canula comprises an inlet canula entrance (330), wherein when said cradle is in said first position said inlet canula entrance is between said chassis and said cradle and when said cradle is in said second position said inlet canula entrance projects through said cradle at said liquid transport aperture in said cradle;
wherein said cradle comprises at least one engagement aperture (350) aligned with said latch,
wherein when said cradle is in said second position said latch projects through said engagement aperture;
providing a dispensing package (15) comprising:
a coupling shell (40) comprising a top wall (55), wherein said top wall has a top wall periphery (60) and a shell wall (65) extending from said top wall periphery, wherein said top wall and said shell wall partially define a shell interior (115), wherein said top wall has a longitudinal axis (L), a transverse axis (T) orthogonal to said longitudinal axis and intersecting said longitudinal axis at said z-axis, wherein said z-axis is orthogonal to said longitudinal axis and said transverse axis, wherein said coupling shell further comprises:
at least one front aperture (70) in said top wall;
a dispensing opening (80) in said top wall and aligned with said z-axis;
a neck fitment (110) at least partially surrounding said dispensing opening and projecting from said top wall into said shell interior and aligned with said z-axis; and
a container (125) comprising a base (130), and a body wall (135) extending from said base towards said coupling shell and extending around said z-axis, a shoulder (137) extending from said body wall to a neck (140) that extends around said z-axis, a finish (150) that extends around said z-axis and extends from said neck to a sealing surface (155) that extends around said z-axis, and a membrane seal (160) engaged with said sealing surface, wherein said neck fitment is engaged with said neck, and wherein said top wall is spaced apart from said shoulder;
manually positioning said dispensing package so that said coupling shell is in a downward orientation;
aligning said front aperture with said engagement aperture and aligning said dispensing opening with said liquid transport aperture;
manually contacting said top wall to said cradle;
manually pushing downwardly on said container to move said cradle from said first position to said second position, whereby said inlet canula punctures said membrane seal;
engaging said latch with said front aperture; and
releasing said container and leaving said dispensing package engaged with said latch.
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