Abstract: A system and method for easily operated self-releasing stopper/cork for bottles of compressed liquids. The corks have a gas bladder that is designed to be inserted in a bottle and inflated, the bladder having a ribbed or smooth exterior to complete the sealing of the bottle whereby a gas release mechanism can be activated by depressing a button on a cap or via an on-board micro controller and/or electro-mechanical release solution in the cap. Once the gas is released from the bladder the pressure inside the vessel will collapse the bladder's bottom and eject the cork assembly from the bottle.

Abstract: A bottle cap includes a vacuum unit, a pressure relief unit and a drinking water pipe unit. After the bottle cap is combined with a bottle, the vacuum unit can vacuum the interior of the bottle to preserve food or drink inside the bottle, and the pressure relief unit may be operated to release the air pressure in the bottle in order to open the bottle cap, or open a flip cover of the drinking water pipe unit to drink the fruit juice or water from the bottle. The bottle cap has the effects of preserving the food or drink in the bottom and facilitating drinking.

Abstract: A fluid preservation device, for preserving a liquid within a container, which includes an elongated member with a proximal end and a distal end and an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The outer shaft and inner shaft are attached to an expandable sealing member. The expandable sealing member has an expanded state and a collapsed state and a state change mechanism attached to the proximal end of the elongated member to change the state of the expandable sealing member between the expanded state and the collapsed state. When the expandable sealing member is in the collapsed state, it can pass through an opening of a container and when the expandable sealing member is in the expanded state it is big enough to contact the inner surface of the container near the surface of the liquid.

Abstract: A volumetric displacement preservation system for preserving a volume of flowable substance in a vessel. A fluid exchange structure has a stopper, a head portion, and a fluid exchange valve with a first condition where fluid inlet and exhaust pathways in the fluid exchange structure are simultaneously closed and a second condition where the fluid inlet and exhaust pathways are simultaneously opened by conduit joining portions in the fluid exchange valve. A chamber retains a volume of preservative gas and is connected to the fluid inlet pathway externally to the vessel. The preservative gas can be supplied from the chamber into the vessel through the fluid inlet pathway as liquid is exhausted through the fluid exhaust pathway. The chamber can be replenished from preservative gas displaced from the vessel in a reverse volumetric displacement process or from preservative gas supplied by a preservative gas production canister.

Abstract: A fluid preservation device, for preserving a liquid within a container, which includes an elongated member with a proximal end and a distal end and an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The outer shaft and inner shaft are attached to an expandable sealing member. The expandable sealing member has an expanded state and a collapsed state and a state change mechanism attached to the proximal end of the elongated member to change the state of the expandable sealing member between the expanded state and the collapsed state. When the expandable sealing member is in the collapsed state, it can pass through an opening of a container and when the expandable sealing member is in the expanded state it is big enough to contact the inner surface of the container near the surface of the liquid.

Abstract: Surgical device to allow an easy delivery of the fetus during a Cesarean Section when fetal head is deeply wedged in the female pelvic cavity. The device consists of inflatable portion to lift the fetal head attached to foldable base plate that can be folded with the inflatable portion for insertion of the device into the female vagina below the fetal head. The inflatable portion is inflated by injecting biocompatible fluid by pressurizing device such as syringe, pressure bag, hand pump or powdered pump. The device can also be of use in other situations like abdominal delivery of a premature or small baby and when cord prolapse has occurred.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sealing beverage containers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a beverage container cap for resealing a beverage container comprises a cap member and an inflatable member. The cap member has an interior side for sealingly coupling with an opening of a bottle. The cap member defines a pathway for selectively communicating gas through the cap member. For example, a pump can provide air through the pathway and to the interior side of the cap member. The inflatable member is configured to couple to the cap member and to expand in volume upon receiving gas from the pathway. The inflatable member includes a fluid impermeable layer and an elastic layer.

Abstract: A fluid preservation system for use with a container containing both fluid and gas where there exists a transition between the fluid and the gas and where the container has an opening with a first inside diameter and a first inner surface and a body with a second inside diameter and a second inner surface. The fluid preservation system comprises an elongated member with a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable sealing member near the distal end of the elongated member, where the expandable sealing member has an expanded state and a compressed state. Means to change the expanded sealing member between the expanded state and the compressed state is located near the proximal end of the elongated member. The expandable sealing member in the expanded state is in contract with the second inner surface of the container near the transition between the fluid and the gas. The expandable sealing member in the compressed state is able to pass through the first inside diameter of the opening of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus including a flange topped by a fitting including a trap adapted to seize and drive a lid of a barrel for opening the same and two inflatable gaskets equipping the flange and the trap that are inflated for clamping the container and the lid of the barrel at the connection thereof. Contamination inside the barrel and inside the upper enclosure will only spread over small surfaces of the apparatus between the gaskets and to the connection of both parts of the barrel.

Abstract: A volumetric displacement dispenser and method of using the dispenser is disclosed for dispensing liquid contents from an interior of a bottle with a bottle neck while preventing air from filling a void created within the interior of the bottle caused by the liquid contents being poured out of the bottle by gravity. The dispenser includes a stopper having first and second boreholes extending there through, the stopper being adapted to form an air-tight seal when it is seated into the bottle neck. An air pressure tube routed through the first of the boreholes has a first end open to atmospheric air and a second end open to the interior of the bottle. An expandable volumetric displacement balloon is attached to the second end of the air pressure tube and a one-way liquid valve is disposed in the outlet of the liquid flow channel in the stopper.

Abstract: A sample container for minimizing evaporation of a contained volume of sample includes a container housing, a repuncturable self-sealing membrane, and a collapsible sample bag. The container housing includes an open end and a hollow interior region. The repuncturable self-sealing membrane configured to self-seal after repeated punctures is engaged in the open end of the container housing and includes an exterior surface exposed to the external environment and an interior surface oriented toward the hollow interior region of the container housing. The collapsible sample bag includes a proximate end that is permanently attached to the interior surface of the repuncturable self-sealing membrane.

Abstract: A container with a secured closure is provided with a sealing system having an inflatable seal. A user actuated pneumatic or hydraulic pump supplies a quantity of air to inflate the seal. When the seal is inflated, a surface of the seal acts against surfaces of the container and the closure to effect a hermetic seal. The air may be selectively released from the inflatable seal by the user of the container to facilitate access to the contents of the container. Conversely, the air may be selectively pumped into the inflatable seal by the user to provide a secure, impermeable seal when the container is closed.

Abstract: A cap unit (10) for a container (38) has a cap (20) and an annular skirt (12). The skirt (12) is mounted in the container (38) defining an aperture, the cap (20) being movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the cap (20) covers the aperture and seals it, and in the second position the cap uncovers the aperture, the cap (20) being journalled pivotably around an axis (26) perpendicular to the plan defined by the aperture and placed outside the aperture so that the cap may swing between the first position and the second position. Furthermore, the cap (20) and the skirt (12) have respective claw-formed catching means (14, 16, 18) which are adapted to fix the cap (20) in relation to the skirt (12) and allow the cap (20) to swing from a first to a second position.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a container which includes an air-impervious diaphragm which when subjected to differential pressure will expand to retain articles in place within a container. The diaphragm is retained in position by a ring member that secures the marginal portions of the diaphragm in position. the diaphragm may be secured to a container filled in a vacuum chamber so that atmospheric pressure will extend the diaphragm into the desired position or it may be subject to high pressure air to extend the diaphragm. Means for exhausting the high pressure air or for admitting atmospheric air into the interior of the container for facilitating removal of the closure assembly from the container are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for retarding oxidation of a liquid that only partly fills a container formed with an opening through which a liquid can be poured comprises a cap mountable adjacent to the opening, an inflation tube insertable through the cap, and an air bladder connected to the inflation tube and positionable within the container. A pump is connected to the inflation tube and positionable outside the container. A valve is connected to the pump and the inflation tube. An exhaust tube is insertable through the inflation tube and has an inlet portion positionable in the container and an outlet portion positionable outside the container.

Abstract: A closure for partially filled containers which has an interconnecting opening from outside of the container to the unfilled portion of the inside of the container and bladder which is inflatable within the container. A valve apparatus is located within the opening within the closure which, when actuated by an operator, allows pressurized air to enter the inflatable bladder. A simple hand operated pump apparatus can readily provide pressurized air to inflate the bladder. A simple method of depressurizing the expanded bladder is provided by simply depressing an extended portion of the valve apparatus releasing the pressurized air from within the bladder.

Abstract: An inflatable member fabricated of an elastomeric expandable material is provided. The inflatable member has a sack-like configuration and is provided with a substantially centrally disposed nipple. A plastic disc is secured to the upper portion of the inflatable member or formed integrally therewith and the nipple extends upwardly through a central aperture in the disc. The inflatable member is positioned within the neck of a bottle, especially a wine bottle, with the disc positioned atop the lip of the bottle. The inflatable member is then filled with a pressurized inert gas through the nipple causing the elastomeric material to expand and be forced into contiguous and coextensive relationship with an interior portion of the bottle neck, thereby hermetically sealing the bottle. The nipple is then heat fused to maintain the hermetic seal.

Abstract: An improved stopper apparatus for bottles, such as wine bottles, which prevents contamination of the contents therein. The improved stopper apparatus comprises a stopper plug, a bladder attached thereto, a venting valve for venting gas within the bottle, a pump for inflating the bladder and a reservoir valve and inert gas reservoir. The bladder is inserted into the bottle and the stopper plug secured within the neck thereof. The bladder is filled within the bottle forcing the gas therein to escape through the venting valve. The stopper apparatus is adapted to enable a small quantity of heavy inert gas to be deposited into the bottle from the inner gas reservoir prior to filling the bladder, whereby to form a protective layer of inert gas over the surface of the bottle's contents.