Communicating Through A Filter Patents (Class 215/308)
  • Patent number: 10442288
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a work vehicle is disclosed. The fuel tank includes a tank body, an oil filling cylindrical portion protruding from the tank body, and an oil filler cap detachably attached to the oil filling cylindrical portion for opening/closing an oil filling opening of the oil filling cylindrical portion, A cap body of the oil filler cap has a tubular portion to be detachably fitted on the oil filling cylindrical portion and a lid portion formed at an upper end portion of the tubular portion for opening/closing the oil filling opening. A skirt portion extends from the cap body to opposite side to the lid portion relative to the tubular portion, a diameter of an extending end portion of the skirt portion being larger than a diameter of the tubular portion of the cap body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nada, Takeshi Tsuchiya, Kazuyuki Tashiro, Hiroki Bessho
  • Patent number: 10214328
    Abstract: A lid may be sized and configured to be attached to a container, and the lid may include an activator, a fluid-flow member, and a connecting member. The activator, the fluid-flow member and the connecting member may be pivotally connected. The activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member may be movable between open and closed positions. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the closed position, fluid may be prevented from exiting the container. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the open position, fluid may exit the container through a fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Runway Blue, LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Sorensen, David O. Meyers
  • Patent number: 10214330
    Abstract: A fluid container cover includes a cap having an outer and an inner surface. The inner surface is capable of being coupled to the fluid container. A spout includes a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a curved, distal end. The spout is capable of being actuated from a first closed position to a second open position by an external force. A flexible tube is coupled inside of the spout, and has a first end and a second end. An air venting component has a nub and a plurality of air vent holes. When the spout is in the first closed position, the flexible tube is deformed preventing flow through the spout. When the spout is actuated from the first closed position to the second open position, the curved, distal end of the spout deflects the nub allowing passage of air with the fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: THERMOS LLC
    Inventors: John Paul Leimone, Shane Rogers, Brian Holm
  • Patent number: 9844285
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of bottle caps that comprise a rigid body configured to be secured to an opening of a bottle, a multi-position valve coupled to the body for regulating fluid flow through the cap, and a lid coupled to the body that can cover the valve. The cap can be adjustable between at least a closed position, a selectively open position, and a fully open position. In the closed position, the lid covers the multi-position valve and fluid flow through the multi-position valve is prevented. In the selectively open position, the lid is uncovered from the multi-position valve and the multi-position valve is operable to open to allow fluid flow when a flexible portion of the multi-position valve is squeezed by a user. In the fully open position, the lid is uncovered from the multi-position valve and fluid can flow freely through the multi-position valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TSI Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Matt Hoskins
  • Patent number: 9783344
    Abstract: A universal bottle cap assembly includes a housing having a cavity therein, a cap insert, and a dispensing member. The housing defining an opening configured to provide access to the cavity therein. The cap insert extends between a first portion and a second portion, each of the first and second portions of the cap insert including a plurality of concentric sleeves configured to enclose a beverage container, wherein the cap insert is configured to be disposed within the cavity of the housing. The dispensing member extends through the cap insert and includes a hollow body configured to provide a free flow of materials therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventors: Antonios Vournou, Stella E. Tsimis
  • Patent number: 8881931
    Abstract: A waterproof and breathable plug is provided. A protection net is assembled with one side or two sides of a waterproof and breathable membrane, to prevent insects from contacting and damaging the waterproof and breathable membrane. A collet is further assembled with the waterproof and breathable membrane, to prevent the waterproof and breathable membrane from moving, contracting and being deformed. The collet is also easily to be assembled in a breathable bolt. The waterproof and breathable plug is adjustable to regulate the breathing rate, fitting different electrical boxes or different weather conditions. Therefore, the problems of the prior art that the conventional waterproof and breathable membrane is easily bit by insects, the waterproof and breathable membrane has a constant-sized opening that cannot regulate the air amount, and the waterproof and breathable membrane is likely deformed due to the bad weather and high humidity and temperature are thus overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: AVC Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Teh-Tsung Chiu
  • Patent number: 8696778
    Abstract: A self-contained breathing closure for flasks and other containers that require gas exchange. An illustrative embodiment of the closure is comprised of a splashguard, an adaptor for attaching the closure to the container, a bellows element and a gas-permeable barrier element. The splashguard is intended to keep liquid contents under vigorous agitation in the container without wetting the gas-permeable barrier. The adaptor couples the closure to the container in a secure fashion. The bellows element allows for repeated changes in the internal volume of the container-closure system. The gas-permeable barrier allows desired gases to enter and leave the container while excluding small particles and/or microorganisms. The technology may be used with existing glass flask technology, or coupled to a plastic flask that may be configured for either single-use, or multiple-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Todd A. McAdams, Harold W. Howe, Jeffrey E. Draper, Lawrence C. Farrar
  • Patent number: 8454567
    Abstract: Multi-conduit connector apparatuses for use in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods for installing multi-conduit connector apparatuses in NPWT apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Aidan Marcus Tout, Larry Tab Randolph, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 8434636
    Abstract: A culturing container is disclosed having a container base and a container cover with plural vent openings. Plural filter retaining frames are affixed surrounding the vent openings to accommodate filter retention across the vent openings thereby establishing plural integral filter vents in the container cover. Multi-ridge outer peripheries of the container base and the container cover are engageable to provide substantially air-tight container sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Byers Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Byers
  • Patent number: 8409443
    Abstract: A device for limiting sample evaporation. The device has a vessel body having a body exterior surface and at least one body interior surface. The at least one body interior surface has one or more walls defining a first chamber, a second chamber and a conduit means. The first chamber has a first chamber opening for receiving at least one of the groups selected from a sample and a sample dispensing device. The first chamber opening defines the border of the body exterior surface and the body interior surface. The conduit means is in communication with the first chamber and the second chamber for receiving at least one of the group consisting of sample from said first chamber, a sample from a sample dispensing device and a sample dispensing device passing through or into the conduit means for placing the sample in the conduit means or into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Gilar, Christopher C. Benevides, Jennifer Fournier
  • Patent number: 8397927
    Abstract: The break-open valve (1) for a container (21) comprises a break-away element (4) which can be twisted off by turning an activator (3). The valve (1) can be used for hermetically sealing a container (21) until its first opening and also for making it tamper-evident. The activator (3) is rotatably affixed to the valve head (2). The activator (3) comprises an inserted disk (16) with at least one opening (10) and a socket (5) which engages the break-away element (4). The activator (3) further comprises a membrane (17) which protects the contents within the activator (3) from contaminants entering through spout (18). The valve (1) has the advantage that it is cost efficient in its production, that it is easy to use and that it is suitable for dispensing sterile contents in more than one dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Laboratoires Thea
    Inventor: Daniel Krebs
  • Publication number: 20120298614
    Abstract: A personal bottle lid including a filter cup received in a filter holder, the cup and holder having apertures orbitable into alignment with one another for flow through the filter cup and orbitable out of alignment with one another to isolate the cup from the interior of the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GOMATE LLC
    Inventor: Steven D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8110102
    Abstract: A liquid filter intended for use as a fuel filter is composed of a housing produced from aluminum by an extrusion process and of a cover (1) formed as an aluminum casting. The cover (1) is provided with connecting bores (4?, 5?) in which pipe elements (6, 9) which are intended for delivering and discharging fuel are held by means of an adhesive bond. This results in a cover which can be produced more cost-effectively than the prior art and which can further be used as a casting which can be employed in modular fashion, this casting allowing different variations for the connections of the pipe elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: A. Kayser Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Ronald Fay
  • Publication number: 20110297698
    Abstract: Described is a bottle having a cap with an atmospheric venting means comprising a venting receptacle and a porous thermoplastic plug. The porous plug can be held in place with a retaining ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Casper Chiang, Andrew Doan
  • Patent number: 8051998
    Abstract: In embodiment, the present invention relates to a cap and container assembly comprising at least one selective gas permeable membrane, wherein the assembly is manufactured so that the membrane is an integral part of the assembly and wherein the membrane is composed of a material for controlling conditions of gas concentration in an internal portion of the assembly when the cap is closed. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of forming a cap and container assembly comprising at least one selective gas permeable membrane that is integral with the assembly comprising: cutting the membrane to a pre-selected form, wherein the membrane is composed of a material for controlling conditions of gas concentration in an internal portion of the assembly when the cap is closed; placing the membrane into a mold by robotic means; and overmolding the assembly about the membrane to form an assembly wherein the membrane is an integral part of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: CSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Giraud, Joseph W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7861900
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system for efficiently rapidly dispensing fluid for a user to drink. The fluid dispensing system generally includes a container including an upper end, a lower end, a cavity and an upper opening, wherein the upper end is opposite the lower end, wherein the upper opening extends within the upper end and wherein the cavity extends from the upper opening of the upper end toward the lower end. A release valve extends within the container, wherein the release valve includes a channel extending through the release valve and wherein the release valve selectively seals the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Kevin A. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7621412
    Abstract: A method for hot-filling and closing a polymer container is disclosed in which one of the closure for the container and the head space area of the container is provided with a hole covered with a hydrophobic air permeable membrane. The container is then filled with a hot liquid and the filled container is closed but for the air permeable component. The filled container is then cooled with the pressure between the interior of the container and the ambient pressure being equalized due to the air permeable membrane. Subsequent to cooling, an air-tight seal is provided over the membrane-covered hole. An associated container and closure cap is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp, Inc.
    Inventor: Subodh K. Raniwala
  • Publication number: 20090152232
    Abstract: A complex cap includes a coupling element, a shielding element and at least one filtering element. The coupling element has a first coupling part to be coupled with a neck portion of a bottle body, a recess formed in the first coupling part, and a first opening is formed in a bottom of the recess. The first opening is communicated with the mouth portion of the bottle body when the first coupling part is coupled with the neck portion of the bottle body. The shielding element is used for at least partially sheltering the first opening of the coupling element and comprises a second coupling part to be tight-fitted into the recess of the coupling element. The filtering element is mounted in the recess of the coupling element and arranged between the coupling element and the shielding element for filtering off external contaminants and controlling gas-permeable amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Uei-Chern Chen, Chi-Ni Hsia
  • Publication number: 20080277372
    Abstract: A stopper particularly for a bottle for containing wine comprising a body which can be associated within or at the open end of the neck of the bottle so as to close it; at least one block is associated axially and internally with the body and is made of a material which is permeable to air, impermeable to liquids and porous, its ends being connected, directly or by means of at least one duct, to the inside and the outside of the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Giorgio Baggio, Giorgia Baggio
  • Publication number: 20080257853
    Abstract: A stopper (1, 100, 200) for sealing bottles (3), particularly for sealing bottles of wine for ageing, comprises:—a main body (2) shaped in such a way as to be removably housed in engagement in an aperture (3a) of the bottles,—a first surface (5) and a second surface (6) formed on the main body and facing, respectively, the outside and the inside of the bottles when en the main body is received in engagement in the aperture,—at least one passage (4) extending between the first and second surfaces and capable of making the inside of said bottles communicate with the environment outside the bottles,—a permeable element (16, 101, 201) which is impermeable to liquids and permeable to oxygen, the said permeable element being extended to seal the said passage in order to regulate the flow of oxygen between the inside and the outside of the bottle, and having an oxygen permeability, measured at 2O° C., in the range from 10?5 to 10?11 (Ncm3*cm/cm2*cmHg*s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Giovanni Cappello
  • Patent number: 7419591
    Abstract: A filter assembly is provided that includes a hood, a drain manifold, a filter disposed between the hood and the drain manifold, a drainage space that is disposed between and in fluid communication with both the filter medium and the drain manifold, a check valve that is configured to permit air to escape but not to enter the drainage space so that a siphon can be established that draws additional fluid through the filter medium and into the drain manifold, the siphon continuing until air entering the hood disrupts the siphon, and a check valve cap that is configured to permit air to escape the check valve while preserving an air-filled void above the check valve when the filter assembly is submerged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Contech Stormwater Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Aberle, James H. Lenhart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7364048
    Abstract: A cheese server including a flat serving tray with an upwardly domed closure mountable thereover and including an enlarged vent opening generally parallel to and aligned over the tray with the vent opening closed by a removable vent panel having multiple openings therethrough with the openings overlaid by a venting foil of a material which is both waterproof and has a predetermined degree of vapor permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Victor J. J. Cautereels, Johan M. J. K. Mortier, Jean-Marie De Craim
  • Publication number: 20080011708
    Abstract: A cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is removed from the container, the cap assembly includes: a cap having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from the roof portion into the cap. The well further has a wall terminating at a base structure, and the base structure has an aperture that is sized smaller than the well. The cap assembly also includes a filter sized to frictionally fit into the well section and the filter is air permeable and liquid impermeable. The cap assembly also includes a seal that has an opening sized to fit over the well and has a diameter substantially matching the internal diameter of the.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: ROLL, LLC
    Inventor: Craig RAPPIN
  • Patent number: 7048140
    Abstract: A vented liquid containment device has a cup member located within the structure of a threaded cap so that a filter material can be placed within the cup member to prevent liquids from being splashed in an upward direction into contact with a vent that is formed within an inside portion of the cap. When used in conjunction with a marine vessel, rough water can cause oil within an oil reservoir to splash upwardly and come into contact with the vent opening which is intended to allow air and other gases to pass back and forth between the cavity of the reservoir and the atmosphere. The presence of the filter material prevents the liquids from being splashed into direct contact with the vent openings which could otherwise allow oil to spill outwardly onto surfaces of the reservoir and nearby components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 6837400
    Abstract: An improvement to a bottle for storing, identifying, and dispensing liquids comprises a valve-type nozzle coupled to the outer end of the tube, a vent, and an optional identification tag. The valve-type nozzle is adjustable along a continuous range between open and closed conditions to permit dispensing of fluid in a controlled fashion and sealing of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Nalge Nunc International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Leoncavallo, John D. DeLorme
  • Patent number: 6800072
    Abstract: A contrast dispensing system (10) reduces cost by directly connecting a check valve (210) to and between the reservoir inlet port (220) and the mating luer connector (204) of a disposable set (200). A contrast dispensing system (10) includes as part of the reservoir (212) an integrally molded cap (280) having the inlet port (200) and a lateral pipe (300) to confine contrast media (14) therein and disperse it at separate locations (334, 336) within the chamber (260) of reservoir (212). The reservoir (212) may have a vent port (284) with a flip cap (294) for selectively opening or closing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Medex, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Patzer
  • Publication number: 20040173564
    Abstract: Container closure, such as is suitable for being mounted in the exit aperture of the container and hermetically closing the exit aperture, and which comprises a first inflatable part (1) and a second part (3) suitable for being secured in the exit aperture, and means of separation (7) suitable for preventing a liquid held in said interior of said container from passing to said first inflatable part (1). The means of separation (7) can comprise a semi-permeable filter (8), suitable for allowing the passage of gases and for preventing the passage of liquids, or a hermetic division.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Albert Montserrat-Marsal
  • Patent number: 6730004
    Abstract: A blow-moldable container, having a centrally located, generally tubular handle spanning a central recess has improved balance and ergonomics over existing blow-molded containers. Such a balanced container has great utility as a handheld freeweight, or as a container for pourable substances. An integrally molded base allows our container to be stood upright on end like a regular bottle. Products may be marketed in such containers under the premise that the consumer automatically acquires a freeweight by purchasing the product. The inclusion of fitably engageable contours on its top and bottom surfaces makes such a container stackable with others of its kind, for ease of packaging, shipping, and storage. A graduated set of handheld fillable freeweights may thus be compactly stored without a special rack. Since blow-molding offers great economy of production for sufficiently large numbers of containers, the average person will now be able to afford an entire graduated set of freeweights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Publication number: 20040074862
    Abstract: A stopper for closing wine bottles. The stopper has a tubular duct to communicate residual interior gaseous atmospheric volume with the outer ambient. A membrane is secured transversely in the duct to allow the passage of gaseous atmosphere through the membrane and to selectively block the passage of liquid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Marco Musaragno
  • Patent number: 6715624
    Abstract: A vial closure device, a sample vial incorporating such a vial closure device, and certain methods of using such a vial and closure device. The vial and closure device are intended to contain a gaseous sample or a headspace gas present above a liquid or solid material, so that the gaseous sample or headspace gas can be conveniently analysed, typically by means of an autosampler connected to an analytical instrument such as a mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometric methods of determining the isotopic composition of hydrogen and oxygen comprised in aqueous samples contained in vials fitted with such closure devices are disclosed. The vial closure device comprises a hollow body member locatable in the mouth of a vial, and a first seal for making a substantially gas-tight seal between the exterior of said hollow body member and said vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Graham Brockwell
  • Patent number: 6619499
    Abstract: A venting system for a container and the overall container assembly that uses the venting system is claimed. A container and a lid are provided. The lid of the container defines a venting port for equalizing gas pressure within the container. A support platform is placed over the venting port. The support platform defines a plurality of holes. Placed in each of the holes is a filter element. The filter element is made of a porous sintered powder metal having a pore size of no greater than five microns. In this manner the filter elements enable gas to vent to and from the container, yet the contents of the container are prevented from passing through the filter elements should the contents of the container touch the filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Lin
  • Patent number: 6565743
    Abstract: A portable liquid filtration system includes a container 22 having a filtering assembly 30 therein and an arrangement for indicating the number of times that the cap has been fitted to the container in order to determine the remaining useful life of the filter. The indicator includes a clutch plate 50 having downwardly extending projections that mate with a plurality of upwardly extending projections on the filtering assembly top 34. The cap includes a vent and may include an arrangement to ensure that the filter is positioned correctly therein. Preferably, the indicator releases the filtering assembly after a predetermined number of uses that approximates the life of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm D. Poirier, Paul Metaxatos, David Mathieu, Jeffrey E. Fish, Kevin P. McGrath
  • Patent number: 6523711
    Abstract: A sports bottle cap having a pressure differential valve is provided which allows water to flow out through the bottle cap only when the bottle is inverted and squeezed or alternatively a straw may be threaded through the pressure differential valve, thereby deactivating it, and attached to the bottle cap allowing the user to draw liquid from the bottle through the straw. In operation the bottle cap of the present invention allows the user to dispense fluid from within the bottle in two different ways. The first manner of use allows liquid to be dispensed only when the bottle containing the liquid is inverted and squeezed. Squeezing causes the pressure to increase on the inside of the bottle thereby causing the pressure differential valve to open and liquid to exit; however, when the bottle is not squeezed the pressure differential valve remains in the closed position sealing bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventors: Douglass E. Hughes, Raymond G. Bryan
  • Patent number: 6523724
    Abstract: The present inventors have discovered a new vent which can be used in a venting closure and particularly in venting closures for large heavy duty liquid detergent and other liquid laundry product containers. In one embodiment, the vent comprises a wall, a vent opening in the wall, and one or more spacers on the surface of a face of the wall. Most especially the spacers are protuberances, especially rounded protuberances. A liner is adhered to a portion of the surface of the face and spaced from the vent opening by the spacers. The liner is made of a material which permits air to pass through the vent hole, but preferably, the liner material does not permit liquids to pass through the vent hole. In an especially preferred embodiment, the liner is comprised of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer. In a most preferred embodiment the application is also directed to a venting closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Paulovich, Edward John Giblin, Richard Chalmers, Corinne Saso
  • Patent number: 6454126
    Abstract: An anti-fraud closure device for providing evidence of the initial opening of a container for liquids having a pouring body, a connecting element, a mixing element for connecting the pouring body to the neck of the container, a removable cap and an outer cap disposed over and housing a cap. The device further includes a sleeve, a tubular element inserted in the sleeve and connected thereto for partial angular movement and for axial movement between a first and a second position and an element for indicating that the initial opening of the container has taken place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Guala Closures S.p.A.
    Inventor: Piero Battegazzore
  • Publication number: 20020066714
    Abstract: A vented closure, for preventing deformation of a container containing a gas evolving liquid, is provided. The closure includes a first closure member and a second closure member. The first closure member seals the container from the outside atmosphere and defines a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a gas flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. A gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane is placed in the gas flow passage. The second closure member is moveably fitted on the first closure member and encases the first closure member with a small clearance fit that allows gas passage. A sealing element coupled to the second closure member is aligned with the gas outlet of the first member so as to block gas flow when a predetermined load is applied to the second closure member and allow gas flow when the predetermined load is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: W.K. Mainquist, John F. Breznock
  • Patent number: 6395170
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable water filter are described and shown, each embodiment being adapted to fit and seal into a bottle neck without modification of, or attachment to, the bottle or its cap or other closure. The filter has a flange system that rests on the lip of the bottle neck and that has slanted or curved surfaces to seal with the neck and the bottle cap when the cap is screwed onto the bottle. The filter further includes a connector for attachment to a straw for an alternative use of the filter in a cup or mug. The filter water inlets are preferably in the lower region of the filter housing, to facilitate suctioning of the liquid from the bottom of the cup or mug even when the liquid level is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventors: Douglass E. Hughes, Raymond G. Bryan
  • Patent number: 6375028
    Abstract: An improved sealing device for a container is provided with a sealing member that varies the sealing capacity of the device in response to pressure changes within the container. The sealing member is further provided with very small vent channels that aid in the sterile air venting of the container. In further embodiments, the sealing device is constructed with a pipette tip wiping mechanism, a tamper evident tethered one piece assembly, filtering capability and the ability to store chemicals, tissue samples etc. in the closure itself for ease of testing and/or evaluations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: James C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6312364
    Abstract: A blow-moldable container, having a centrally located, generally tubular handle spanning a central recess has improved balance and ergonomics over existing blow-molded containers. Such a balanced container has great utility as a handheld freeweight, or as a container for pourable substances. An integrally molded base allows our container to be stood upright on end like a regular bottle. Products may be marketed in such containers under the premise that the consumer automatically acquires a freeweight by purchasing the product. The inclusion of fitably engageable contours on its top and bottom surfaces makes such a container stackable with others of its kind, for ease of packaging, shipping, and storage. A graduated set of handheld fillable freeweights may thus be compactly stored without a special rack. Since blow-molding offers great economy of production for sufficiently large numbers of containers, the average person will now be able to afford an entire graduated set of freeweights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Patent number: 6299006
    Abstract: A whistling beverage bottle construction (10) including: a cap member (20) adapted to engage the threaded neck portion (31) of a bottle member (30) having a peripheral lip (33) which surrounds the mouth opening (32) of the bottle member (30). The peripheral lip (33) is provided with a notch (34) and a resilient sealing gasket member (40) disposed intermediate the cap member (20) and the peripheral lip (33) such that carbonated gases escaping through the notch (34) in the peripheral lip (33) of the bottle member (30) as the cap member (20) is initially disengaged from the bottle member (30) produces a whistling sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Michael E. Samonek
  • Patent number: 6274209
    Abstract: A venting cap (1) has a cavity (7), at least one first passage (4) for fluids connecting the cavity (7) with the inside of the container, at least one second passage (5.1, 5.2, 5) for fluids connecting the cavity (7) with the outside of the container, and a liquid-absorbing mass (8) arranged within the cavity (7). The liquid-absorbing mass (8) acts, after absorption of liquid, as a selective filter prohibiting the passage of liquid, but permits the passage of gas. This ensures the foolproof selective permeation of gas but not of liquid. Venting properties remain unaltered even at extreme conditions of transportation and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Argo AG Plastic Packaging
    Inventors: Jannis Pagidas, Efstathios Koklas, Alexis Stassinopolous
  • Patent number: 6247604
    Abstract: A container having a closure comprising a closure wall having a puncturable region in communication with the interior of the vessel, and having on an inwardly facing region of the closure wall a desiccant material separated from the interior of the vessel by a semi-permeable membrane which permits transmission of water vapor therethrough but is substantially impermeable to liquid water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham p.l.c.
    Inventors: Charles Bernard Taskis, Paul John Whatmore
  • Patent number: 6196409
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container, or a cap for a container for viscous liquid products. The container or the cap comprises a venting element. The venting element allows passage of gases between the interior and the exterior of the container when the pressure inside the container differs from the external ambient pressure. The container or cap further includes a control feature which controls the phase separation of the product splashed onto the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kirk Wallace Lake, Neil John Rogers, Marcel Vandebroek, Bruno Van den Branden
  • Patent number: 6193088
    Abstract: A closure (20) for sealing a micro-organism container (50) is disclosed. The closure (20) includes a resilient seal (24) for sealing the container (50), a passageway (26) extending through the seal (24), or filter media (28) extending across the passageway (26) integrally molded to the seal (24) for allowing sterile gas exchange therethrough. A method of making a flask closure (20) is also disclosed. The method includes molding a sealing member (24) having a port (26) extending therethrough while simultaneously sealing a peripheral edge (31) of a filter media (28) within the passageway (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventors: Monty E. Vincent, John R. Costello, Jr., Jonathan N. Lipsky, Ralph W. Collins, Robert A. Giacobbe
  • Patent number: 6179141
    Abstract: A container assembly provided with an antibacterial agent against “slow-leak” bacteria, comprising a container such as a plastic bottle which has a mouth portion having a rim; and a seal member such as a crown cap fitted to the mouth portion at the rim, wherein at least either a surface portion of the rim or the rim-contacting surface portion of the seal member includes an antibacterial agent such as silver zeolite in the form of a coating or a liner, thereby effectively blocking the entry of unwanted live bacteria and eumycetes which may enter the interior of the container assembly due to slow-leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Kenji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6173852
    Abstract: A container, particularly for medical preparations, comprises a container body (2) with an integral closure portion (16) and a cap (6) provided over the closure portion. The container body is provided with a frangible portion for removal of the integral closure. The cap is provided with an internal spike (28) which penetrates the closure portion (16) when the cap (6) is screwed towards the container body (2). A Luer connector (26) is provided on the cap (6) and accesses the container contents via a passage through the spike (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Nycomed Imaging A/S
    Inventor: Martin Monteagle Browne
  • Patent number: 6170684
    Abstract: A closure (20) for sealing a micro-organism container (50) is disclosed. The closure (20) includes a resilient seal (24) for sealing the container (50), a passageway (26) extending through the seal (24), or filter media (28) extending across the passageway (26) integrally molded to the seal (24) for allowing sterile gas exchange therethrough. A method of making a flask closure (20) is also disclosed. The method includes molding a sealing member (24) having a passageway (26) extending therethrough while simultaneously sealing a peripheral edge (31) of a filter media (28) within the passageway (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Monty E. Vincent, John R. Costello, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6095356
    Abstract: A vented flask cap having a body portion with proximal and distal ends with a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the proximal end to the distal end of first and second support plates are formed at the proximal end of the body portion and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; a filter assembly is also provided which includes a first, lower membrane having a first porosity, a second, upper membrane having a second porosity and a radiation absorbing material disposed between the first and second membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corp.
    Inventor: Miriam Rits
  • Patent number: 6012596
    Abstract: An adaptor cap for a container. The adaptor cap includes a skirt constructed to engage a fluid container and to retain the adaptor cap on the fluid container. The adaptor cap further includes a dome projecting outwardly from said skirt. The dome defines an interior chamber. The dome further defines a spike port providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior environment of the dome, the spike port being constructed to receive and retain a hollow spike therein. The dome also defines at least one vent aperture therethrough, the vent aperture providing fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior environment of the dome. The adaptor cap further includes a microbial filter mounted on the dome across the vent aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Richard K. Oglesbee, William J. Hook, Julie L. Soltesz
  • Patent number: RE45611
    Abstract: A bottle stopper is provided having a cylindrical body formed of a resilient, flexible, elastic material that includes a first cylindrical section adapted to be inserted into an opening of a bottle in sealing engagement with the bottle and a second cylindrical section disposed adjacent the first cylindrical section for extending above the opening of the bottle when the first cylindrical section is inserted in sealing engagement with the bottle. An air passageway is disposed adjacent and extends longitudinally along substantially at least the length of the first cylindrical section and along the internal periphery of the cylindrical body. A visual indicator, preferably a spout, is disposed on an outer surface of the second cylindrical section for identifying the relative location of the air passageway with respect to the visual indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Vinum Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Haley