Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT ADVANCED CONTAINER COMPONENT(S) WITH VENTING ARRANGEMENTS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/608,981, entitled ADVANCED CONTAINER COMPONENT(S) WITH VENTING ARRANGEMENTS, filed on December 12, 2023, naming Kirrily Michele HASKARD as an inventor, the entire contents of that application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] There is utilitarian value in disinfecting some medical devices. SUMMARY [0003] The teachings herein can provide a container for storing and dispensing a liquid, the container including an access port having a frangible seal for allowing contained liquid to be dispensed and a vent permeable to vapor but impermeable to liquid such that vapor may be vented from the interior of the container. [0004] In one embodiment, the vent includes an aperture covered with a membrane, the membrane being substantially permeable to vapor but substantially impermeable to liquid. [0005] In one embodiment, the container includes at least one sidewall extending from a base to a top, the sidewall having a region of reduced thickness adapted to be pierced by a piercing device. [0006] In one embodiment, the container includes at least one locating formation engageable with a complimentary engaging formation operatively associated with the piercing device, wherein, in use, the container is substantially aligned with the piercing device adjacent the region of reduced thickness prior to the actuation of the piercing device. The container can include two locating formations engageable with a complimentary engaging formation operatively associated with the piercing device. [0007] In one embodiment, the access port includes a funnel portion having a narrow end, the frangible seal being substantially disposed in the narrow end of the funnel portion, the frangible seal being adapted to be pierced by another piercing device. [0008] In one embodiment, the container includes a closure, the closure being centrally disposed in a top portion of the container. The closure includes the access port and the vent.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [0009] In one embodiment, the container includes a neck portion having a circumferentially disposed thread protrusion for threaded engagement with a cap, the thread protrusion being periodically interrupted to allow gas transfer between the vent and the atmosphere when the cap is engaged with the neck portion. [0010] In one embodiment, the closure includes a plurality of spacer protrusions for spacing the cap away from the vent thereby allowing gas transfer between the vent and the atmosphere when the cap is engaged with the neck portion. [0011] In one embodiment, the container has a generally circular cross section. [0012] In one embodiment, the container is formed from a substantially opaque material. The opaque material can be a plastics material. [0013] In one embodiment, the container is adapted to store and transport an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. [0014] According to another aspect, the teachings can provide an apparatus for dispensing fluid from the container according to the first aspect, the apparatus including: [0015] a housing for securing the container in a generally downwardly facing direction; [0016] an upper piercing device for piercing a region of reduced thickness of the container to provide an atmospheric vent; and [0017] a lower piercing device for piercing the frangible seal such that the fluid is dispensed under gravity through the access port. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] Some embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0019] FIG.1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with an aspect of the teachings herein; [0020] FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of the container of FIG.1, also showing a cap; [0021] FIG.3 is a perspective view of the closure portion of the container of FIG.1; [0022] FIG.4 is an assembled perspective view of a liquid dispensing apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the teachings herein; [0023] FIG.5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.4;
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [0024] FIG.6 is a side view of the container of FIG.1 further showing two dispensing tubes which form part of the dispensing apparatus of FIG.4; [0025] FIG.7 is an assembled perspective view of a piercing device; [0026] FIG.8 is an exploded perspective view of the piercing device of FIG.7; [0027] FIG.9 is a perspective view of some of the components of the piercing device of FIG. 7; [0028] FIG.10 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment; [0029] FIGs.11-14 are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiments; [0030] FIG.15 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment; [0031] FIGs.16-21 are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiments; [0032] FIG.22 a top view of an exemplary embodiment; [0033] FIG.23 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment; [0034] FIG.24 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment; [0035] FIG.25 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment; [0036] FIG.26 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment; [0037] FIGs.27-33 are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiments; [0038] FIG.34 is a flowchart; [0039] FIGs.35-43 are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiment; [0040] FIG.44 is an isometric view of some exemplary closure bodies; and [0041] FIGs.45-54 are cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0042] Teachings herein are presented in the context for use with / as part of a container for storing and transporting an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. An apparatus and method for dispensing liquid stored in the container is also disclosed. However, the teachings herein are not limited to such particular fields. Embodiments include any one or more or all teachings herein being used with containers or other fluid containing and/or dispensing device(s) than those disclosed herein and/or other for other fluids, such as, for example, hydrogen peroxide, water, etc.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [0043] Embodiments are presented herein in the context of disinfecting / providing arrangements to disinfect, devices, such as endoscopes, which allow physicians to inspect the internal cavities of the human body. Exemplary disinfection devices include devices that utilize lenses and/or small cameras cooperating with rigid or flexible tubes to provide a visual image. Disinfection devices include devices that allow physicians to take biopsies and retrieve foreign objects through the use of additional manipulators. [0044] A typical endoscope that can be the subject of disinfection based on the teachings herein, such as those found in a physician's office or hospital surgery, will be used repeatedly throughout its life. It is therefore good that it be disinfected. [0045] One known method of disinfection can be the placement of an endoscope into a closed chamber and an aerosol of air and nebulised hydrogen peroxide is introduced to fill the chamber. The aerosol distributes quickly and evenly within the closed area to disinfect the inner and outer surfaces of the endoscope. [0046] This process benefits from the safe transport, storage and dispensing of a disinfection fluid such as hydrogen peroxide, which can be problematic without the teachings herein for example. Hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizer. Embodiments include storing hydrogen peroxide at various percentage solutions in a cool, dry, sufficiently ventilated area away from, for example, flammable or combustible substances. Embodiments include storing HP in a container formed from a non-reactive material such as stainless steel, glass or some plastics. Embodiments can take into account the fact that hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly when exposed to light, and thus the teachings present the use of generally opaque containers, and thus the pharmaceutical formulations of hydrogen peroxide can be contained in brown bottles that filter out light. [0047] Aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide contained and/or dispensed in some embodiments are such that the solutions can be harmful of the solutions come into contact with human skin. Embodiments include containing and/or dispensing hydrogen peroxide that is highly concentrated. Embodiments include concentrations where there is utilitarian value in exercising care when dispensing exemplary disinfection fluids, such as HP, and embodiments include doing so in a generally closed system, where little to no residual liquid is left on fittings or containers that may later be in contact with human skin. [0048] Embodiment can provide a container configured to safely store and/or transport the toxic liquids used with disinfection devices. Embodiments also include techniques to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT discourage the potentially hazardous practice of refilling. In some embodiments, this is done by providing a closure on / for the container at the point of initial filling. Embodiments can include a container that can cooperate / interface with a safe dispensing apparatus to enable the use of the fluid contained therein in / with the disinfection devices and associated components as detailed herein. Embodiments include any one or more of the devices, systems and/or methods disclosed herein in combination or separately at various levels. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a disinfection system that includes the disinfection device as disclosed herein by way of example along with any one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein of a bottle or a portion of the bottle connected to the disinfection system. Note that disinfection includes semi-critical / high level disinfection per the Spaulding classification (for, for example, devices that contact mucous membranes and/or non-intact skin). [0049] Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIGS.1 to 3, there is provided a container 1 for a fluid dispensing apparatus. Embodiments include configuring the container for and using the container to store and transport liquids such as hydrogen peroxide, which are employed in medical device disinfection. Jumping ahead briefly, in a further application, the container is used in combination with a dispensing apparatus 100 (shown in FIG.4) to dispense liquids into a disinfection apparatus (not shown). [0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the container is in the form of a round bottle 2 having a sidewall 6 extending from a circular base 8 to a top portion to define a circular neck 11 and open top 12. It is noted that these are but exemplary features, and other embodiments can have other features. In some embodiments, the container 1 includes a closure including a circular bung 14 including a body 41, which in an exemplary embodiment, is made from a thermoplastic, having a centrally disposed access port 16 that is provided to seal the open top 12. Some embodiments do not use a bung 14. More on this below. [0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle 2 and bung 14 are formed from a substantially opaque plastics polyethylene material so that the amount of light transmitted to any contained liquid is limited. In some embodiments, after initial filing by a supplier, the bung 14 is sealed to the open top 12 using a mechanical seal, suitable adhesive or plastic welding process, all by way of example. [0052] As shown by way of example only in FIG.2, the sidewall 6 includes an area of reduced thickness 7 located between two seam portions 10. This area of reduced thickness 7 is adapted to be pierced by a dispensing tube associated with the dispensing apparatus 100 (described
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT below). In order to correctly align the container within the dispensing apparatus 100 so that the correct part of the sidewall is pierced, in an exemplary embodiment, bottle 2 can further include a pair of opposed engaging formations 13 which engage with complementary formations located within the dispensing apparatus 100. [0053] As shown by way of example only, in FIGs.2 and 3, a frangible seal 18 is disposed in the center of the access port 16. Specifically, the frangible seal 18 is located at the narrow end of a funnel portion 20, which when sealed in the open top, is directed into the bottle 2. The arrangement is such that upon rupturing of the seal, the liquid contained is dispensed through the access port 16. [0054] Note that “frangible” as used herein corresponds to a material that is designed to be broken / split, including pierced during use, as will be detailed herein. [0055] As mentioned above, embodiments of the container 1 are used to store and transport liquids used in disinfection processes. In the one exemplary embodiment, the liquid is 35% concentrated hydrogen peroxide. In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid is less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 or 60% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments (e.g., 19.7%, 33.3%, 21.4% to 43.3%, etc.). As will be appreciated by those well versed in the art, transport and storage of hydrogen peroxide is problematic due to its highly reactive properties. As a consequence, several safety considerations are made in some embodiments. [0056] For example, one such safety consideration is that in embodiments where the bottle is configured for transport and storage, the bottle can be vented to allow the release of gasses created / generated in the bottle from the liquid. An embodiment includes a vent that avoids a scenario where an excessive buildup of internal pressure may occur. Bottle 2 can thus include a vent 19 in the form of a vent membrane insert 30 that includes a support structure supporting a membrane (here, trapped between the two cylindrical portions spanning an inside diameter thereof) housed in a membrane housing 32, which, in turn, is located in the bung 14 to one side of the access port 16. In this embodiment, the passageway for the vent membrane insert is straight, and the membrane insert is located at a lower portion of the closure. [0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the vent membrane insert 30 utilizes a membrane material, which is permeable to vapor but impermeable to liquid. More specifically, this
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT material can be in the form of an extremely fine gas transfer mesh. Because of this construction, only gas particles pass through the membrane and consequently, any gas, or at least oxygen gas, produced by the hydrogen peroxide is allowed to exit the bottle when orientated in an upright position. In the same vein, however, due to the relatively larger size of liquid particles, any contained liquid particles are restricted from exiting the bottle through the vent membrane insert, notwithstanding the orientation of the bottle. [0058] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, during transport and storage, a cap 34 is threadingly engaged with the neck 11 to cover the frangible seal. In an embodiment, upon sealing engagement with the bottle, the cap will effectively impede gas flow through the vent 19 by blocking the vent egress though housing 32. In order to address this, the bung 14 can include a plurality of spacer protrusions 38 peripherally disposed about its top surface to define a plurality of gas passageways 40. Because the spacer protrusions extend past the edge of the membrane housing 32, an exit path can be provided for any escaping gas. The container can thus include a cap 34 as well, although as noted below, in other embodiments, there is no cap. [0059] Similarly, male thread protrusion 42, which is disposed on the neck 11 to engage corresponding female thread protrusions on the inside of the cap 34, is periodically interrupted to define thread gaps 44. These thread gaps 44 can further provide an escape path for any vented gas when the cap 34 is engaged. Accordingly, the cap does not provide a seal for the bottle 2 / does not seal the bottle 2. [0060] Referring to FIGS.4 and 5, the bottle 2 is used in combination with a liquid dispensing apparatus 100. The dispensing apparatus 100 can include a bottle housing 110 for securing the bottle 2 in a generally downwardly facing direction. The bottle housing is sized to be complementary to the bottle 2, and further includes a pair of opposed cut out slots 111 for allowing a user to easily remove a used bottle. The apparatus further includes an upper piercing device 112 for piercing the area of reduced thickness 7 of the bottle sidewall 6; and a lower piercing device 114 for piercing the frangible seal 18 thereby allowing the contained liquid to flow from the bottle, under the force of gravity. [0061] More specifically, with reference to FIG.6, two generally hollow dispensing tubes 122 having needlepoints 124 at one end and an open ends 126 at the other, form the main working component of either the upper or lower piercing devices 112, 114, and are used to rupture the frangible seal 18 and the sidewall 6 of the bottle 2. The dispensing tubes also include delivery apertures 123, which upon insertion, are either approximately aligned with the narrow most
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT area of the funnel portion 20, or alternately in the case of the sidewall, inserted until the aperture reaches the inside of the container 2. In this way, due to the force of gravity, upon insertion into the frangible seal 18 and the sidewall, liquid stored in the bottle will pass through the delivery aperture 123 to be dispensed through the open end 126 of the dispensing tube 122 with the vent sidewall rupture allowing the liquid to flow unimpeded. [0062] Returning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the dispensing apparatus 100 further includes a delivery door 134 hingedly connected to a body 136. The door includes the bottle housing 110 fixedly attached to one side thereof. The arrangement is such that the door is opened to insert the bottle 2. To make sure that the door is not opened during dispensing operation, it is locked by an electric solenoid latch 138. [0063] The lower piercing device 114 delivers the dispensed liquid to a delivery reservoir 139 through a transfer conduit 140. The delivery reservoir in turn, delivers the liquid to the disinfection machine (not shown) through an exit port 142. A shroud 137 is further provided to minimise contamination once the frangible seal 18 is ruptured. Moreover, it should be noted that any vented gas travelling between the upper piercing device 112 and the reservoir 139, or vice versa, will pass through transfer conduit 144. In this way, a generally closed loop and fluidly sealed system is defined to advantageously minimise any potential contamination from or to the atmosphere. [0064] FIGS.7 to 9 depict the various sub assemblies of the upper and lower piercing devices 112, 114. As mentioned earlier, each piercing device includes a substantially hollow dispensing tube 122 having a dispensing aperture 123 intermediate its ends. A needlepoint 124 is disposed at one end and an open end 126 is disposed at the other. A nozzle 127 connectable to a fluid transfer conduit is secured to the open end 126. It should be noted that dispensing tubes 122 are substantially analogous to the dispensing tubes shown in FIG.6. [0065] In the illustrated embodiment, a portion of the periphery of each needlepoint 124 is partially blunt so that a hinged flap is created when the sidewall or frangible seal is pierced. Advantageously, this minimises the dispensing tubes filling with plastic cut offs and becoming blocked after repeated use. [0066] The device is adapted so that respecting dispensing tubes move upon linear actuation from an inserted to a retracted configuration. For this reason, each piercing device 112, 114 includes a linear actuator in the form of electric motor 125 and a gear reduction set having a rack 128 and reduction gears 130 housed in a body 131. The combination of rack 128,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT dispensing tube 122 and nozzle 127 forming dispensing tube sub assembly 129. A pair of light sensors 132 is also provided to determine if the dispensing tube is in an inserted or retracted configuration. [0067] Returning to FIG.4, a programmable controller 146 provides operational control of the dispensing apparatus 100 by monitoring the various sensors and limit switches throughout the apparatus as well as energising the various motors. In these respects, the programmable controller energises motors 125, solenoid latch 138 and various other solenoid valves (not shown) based on its programming and user actuation. It should be appreciated that the programmable controller will only unlock the delivery door 134 if it has determined that the delivery reservoir 139 is completely empty. This prevents a user removing a partially full and potentially leaking bottle 2 from the dispensing apparatus. [0068] To dispense the liquid from the bottle using the illustrated dispensing apparatus 100, the user first opens the delivery door 134 and a full bottle 2 is inserted in a downwardly facing direction into the bottle housing 110 and rotated until the engaging formations 13 align and engage with their respective corresponding formations (not shown) at the bottom of the bottle housing. Upon opening, in some exemplary embodiments, the door only rotates to a limited angle, say 35 degrees, ideally presenting the housing to the user and making it easier from the user to insert, or remove, the bottle. The door is then closed and by way of example, automatically locked by solenoid latch 138. A microswitch (not shown) detects the bottle's presence and relays this information to the programmable controller 146. [0069] In some embodiments, because of the close complementary fit provided by the housing 110, if the wrong bottle is used or the bottle is incorrectly inserted or, i.e., with the open top 12 facing upwardly, the door will not close because the bottle will protrude past the top of the housing. It is further noted that when the door is closed and locked it will align generally flush with the body 136. Advantageously, this does not provide any grip points for an operator to place their hands anywhere to force the door open, which results in improved user safety. Furthermore, in the event of a loss of power, the door will remain locked, which again is safer for operators. [0070] Upon dispensing apparatus 100 activation, the upper piercing device 112 pierces the area of reduced thickness of the sidewall 6 by actuation of its motor 125 to laterally move its dispensing tube 122. It should be noted that due to the way the bottle is moulded, the sidewall area of reduced thickness has a more consistent thickness than the base portion. As a
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT consequence, the resulting flap created when the sidewall is pierced has clean edges and is more reliably formed. The use of engaging formations 13 enables the bottle to have a specific radial positioning, to allow the piercing of the sidewall in a predetermined radial position, either to target an area of specifically reduced thickness or to avoid piercing through elongate seams, labels and the like. [0071] The lower piercing device 114 then operates to move its dispensing tube 122 into the access port 16 to rupture the frangible seal 18 / pierce the seal 18. It should be noted that the dispensing tube 122 of the lower dispensing device 114 continues its movement until the dispensing aperture 123 generally aligns with the lowest point of the funnel portion 20. [0072] Due to the bottle 2 being downwardly directed in the housing 110, upon rupturing of the frangible seal 18, the liquid contained in the bottle will flow substantially unimpeded through the lower piercing device's dispensing tube 122 to the delivery reservoir 139 through transfer conduit 140. At the same time, gas flows from the reservoir and into the bottle through transfer conduit 144 such that the liquid flow is unrestricted. [0073] Due to the alignment of the dispensing aperture 123 with the lower extremity of the funnel portion 20, all of the liquid contained is able to be released from the bottle 2. This advantageously results in no left over liquid being in the bottle 2 when it is removed from the fluid dispensing apparatus and no resulting opportunity for liquid to make contact with a user's hands. [0074] When the bottle and the reservoir are both sensed to be empty, the solenoid latch 138 unlocks the door and the used bottle may be removed and disposed according to local regulations. Advantageously, the slots 111, best shown on FIG. 5, allow a user to avoid the bottle access port 16 when removing. A full bottle may then be inserted. [0075] The illustrated container provides a utilitarian and otherwise safe way to store and transport the toxic liquids used in medical device disinfection and ideally as a relatively safe means to store, transport and dispense hydrogen peroxide. It will be further appreciated that the illustrated liquid dispensing apparatus 100 allows the liquid contained to be safely dispensed with minimal contamination. [0076] In some embodiments, the bottle housing 110 is sized such that larger bottles will not fit in the apparatus 100; similarly, bottles that are too small will not be detected by the various sensors employed. As a result, the illustrated apparatus will not operate using bottles that are
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT not designed specifically for use in the dispensing apparatus. In this way, a further level of safety control is provided to prevent non-standard and potentially unsafe bottles being used. [0077] Also, if the bottle has experienced an excessive pressure build up during transport or storage due to misuse or otherwise, a lower concentration of the container liquid will result. For this reason, the base 8 of the bottle 2 has been designed to swell out under relatively higher pressures (approximately 55 kpa). Under these circumstances, the bottle will again not be able to fit into the illustrated liquid dispensing apparatus 100 providing a further safety feature. [0078] It is briefly noted that the dispensing apparatus 100 is but an example of one type of such apparatus. The container’s detailed herein can be utilized with other types of dispensing apparatuses. Embodiments include containers that can be utilized with any dispensing apparatus that can have utilitarian value meeting the other teachings detailed herein, providing that the art enables such, unless otherwise noted. Conversely, embodiments include dispensing apparatuses that can be utilized with containers such as those disclosed herein and variations thereof. [0079] Embodiments of the present invention key off of the embodiments of FIGs.1, 2 and 3 above, as well as the other embodiments above, but are different from those above (although embodiments can use some of the features thereof, as will be detailed for example below – in an embodiment, unless otherwise specified, any of the structural features and/or method steps of the arrangement of FIGs.1-3 (or the embodiments of FIGs.4-9 for that matter) can be used in the embodiments associated with FIGs.10 and onward and thereafter). FIG.10 presents an exemplary embodiment that is different from that of the embodiments of FIGs 1-3. In this regard, the innovations described herein correspond to the embodiments of figure 10 and the figures thereafter. Any means-plus-function and/or step-plus function claims relating to gas venting and closing of the bottle / features above the shoulder of the bottle correspond to FIGs. 10 and thereafter and do not include the teachings of figures 1-9. But again, some exemplary embodiments of the invention can utilize some of the structure and/or function of the teachings detailed above, and the features thereof are not repeated below for the purposes of textual economy. And embodiments of the containers according to the invention can include one or more of the above noted structures and/or functions and/or can implement one or more of the above noted method actions can include methods that include one or more of the above noted method actions. The teachings associated with FIGs.1-9 should be treated as related art that some aspects of the invention can utilize. In many embodiments, there are features that are
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT distinctly different from the arrangement of FIGs. 1-9, and embodiments include containers that explicitly exclude one or more of the features presented above. [0080] Figure 10 presents another exemplary embodiment of sealingly engageable closure 214 for a bottle. In this embodiment, the bottle and the cap are the same as detailed above, but the closure is different, and this depicts what would be the case if this closure is used on the container above with the cap above. Figure 10 depicts a cross-sectional view (without crosshatching and with the back lines removed for clarity – the horizontal back lines of the neck 11 and the closure 214 are not shown for purposes of clarity, but note that in an exemplary embodiment, other than the vent structure as will be noted below, the components shown in figure 10 can be rotationally symmetric and otherwise concentric about a longitudinal axis of the various components shown and otherwise the total container assembly) taken along a plane that lies on a longitudinal axis of the container when the container is assembled. In this exemplary embodiment, the bottle, or at least the neck 11 thereof and the cap 34 correspond to those detailed above, although it is noted that in at least some exemplary embodiments, the cap and/or the bottle can be different, as will be described in greater detail below in another exemplary embodiment. The closure 214 includes a closure body 241, which can correspond to the body detailed above in at least some aspects thereof, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the outer portions thereof that interface with the neck 11 and the top portion thereof facing the top portion of the 34, and the “middle” portions thereof with respect to the frangible component 18 and the support structure thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the closure 214 has the functionalities of the bung 14 noted above. Indeed, in an embodiment, the body 241 corresponds the body 41 noted above other than the vent 19. In this regard, in this exemplary embodiment, as seen, the passageway 219 of the vent dog legs along the path from the inside of the closure (relative to the bottle) to the outside of the closure (again relative to the bottle). More on this in a moment. [0081] In an exemplary embodiment, the closure includes a vent component 230 permeable to vapor such that vapor is vented from the interior of the bottle. Variously herein, element 230 may be referred to as a vent component / gas permeable material / gas permeable component, although they are not the same exact thing, and as noted below, there is a variation of a vent component which is an assembly of a gas permeable material and support structure. Any reference to one corresponds to an alternate disclosure of the other, and vis-a-versa, in the interests of textual economy. In an exemplary embodiment, the material of the vent component is less permeable to liquid relative to the permeability of the vapor, including not permeable to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT liquid / impermeable to liquid. (It is briefly noted that herein, reference to gas will sometimes be made, and sometimes reference to vapor will be made. Gas always covers vapor. Embodiments are directed to vapor management. Embodiments can also be applicable to other types of gas management (gases that are different than vapor phase gas).) In an exemplary embodiment, on a unit mass and/or unit volume basis, the material is at least and/or equal to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 or 85 percent or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments (e.g., 14.7%, 33.3%, 18.1% to 83.2%, etc.), which includes 100% less (not permeable). In an exemplary embodiment, the material is a Sterlitech ™ Laminated 0.2 micrometer (pore size) or less PTFE component. In an exemplary embodiment, the material is a Sterlitech ™ unlamiated 0.2 micrometer (pore size) or less PTFE component. In an exemplary embodiment, the material is a Sterlitech ™ 0.2 micrometer or less PE (material). In an exemplary embodiment, the material is a Porex ™ PMA20 component. [0082] In an embodiment, the container has a total closed interior volume of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 liters or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 liter increments and/or a liquid volume in the container of those amounts. The container is less than, greater than and/or equal to 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% or 100% of the total closed interior volume thereof or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments. In an embodiment, the substance in the container is liquid at 1 atm at 70 degrees F shielded from sunlight or otherwise any substantial infrared sources after 1 hour or 15 hours or 24 or 36 or 48 or 72 hours at those conditions, or otherwise at standard environmental conditions at sea level. In an embodiment, some of the liquid will transform into the vapor phase, and this will increase pressure in the container. Embodiments can manage this vapor to manage pressure. In an embodiment, on a per unit mass and/or volume basis, less than and/or equal to or greater than 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the substance(s) contained in the container (the volume below the bung / closure for example) is in the liquid phase at the just noted environmental conditions, and the remainder is vapor or some other gas. [0083] In an embodiment, with the container closed / in a shipping and/or storage state, where the bottle is upright so that the opening faces upwards opposite the direction of gravity at 1 G at sea level at 21 degrees C at 1 atm, and no lateral acceleration at all, the upper surface of the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT liquid in the container is less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, 16, 127, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments from a bottom surface of the gas permeable component and/or the frangible seal (the values need not be the same – this is presented in the interests of textual economy). [0084] In an embodiment where the container meets any one or more or all of the above noted qualifications, an outgas rate of vapor of air and/or H2O2 and/or H2O or a combination thereof or of any gas mixture is less than, greater than and/or equal to one or more of the rates herein (at, for example, 35 degrees C after the container has been subjected to such for 1 day without protection from such temperature – this is the case with any of the control features detailed herein). [0085] The body 241 can be made of a thermoplastic material, such as HDPE. The body supports the vent component directly, and in some embodiments, the permeable material directly In this embodiment, the gas permeable material 230 is in direct contact with the body of the closure 214. As will be described below, in this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable material 230 is interference fitted into the passageway 219 of the vent. In some embodiments, there is no other feature that holds the material in the passageway, while in other embodiments, a lock ring or the like can be fit over top of the material, which lock ring can expand into grooves in the passageway 219 so as to lock the material in the passageway. The inner diameter of the lock ring is smaller than the inner diameter of the passageway and also smaller than the outer diameter of the material 230. In this embodiment, the material 230 forms the vent component in its entirety. This can be a vent block, which can be in the form of a puck, and can have a thickness, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.5, 0.6.0.7, 0.8.0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.25, 2.5.2,75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75 or 4 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [0086] Conversely, figure 11 depicts another exemplary embodiment of a vent component 230A (and any use of component 230 herein corresponds to a disclosure of an alternate use of component 230A, and visa-versa, unless otherwise noted, in the interests of textual economy), that includes a hollow cylindrical support body 234 that supports a vent membrane 232, which membrane is a material permeable to vapor but having the relationship to liquid noted above, and thus in some embodiments, the membrane 232 is impermeable to liquid. This can be
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT analogous to element 30 detailed above with respect to FIG.2 (whereas instead of cylindrical bodies of different sizes one on top of the other, a single cylindrical body is used and the membrane is trapped in an internal groove thereof). In an embodiment, the support structure clamps the membrane 232 at the outer periphery thereof. This can be accomplished by a support structure that includes a plurality of components, where the first of the component screws into the second component so as to clamp the membrane there between. (Here, there would be two cylinders of the same size, whereas the embodiment of element 30 uses cylinders of different sizes.) Other mechanical arrangements can be utilized to attach the two components to one another to secure the components relative to one another and also to secure the membrane to the support structure. The membrane can have a thickness of no more than and/or equal to 0.25 mm in some embodiments, only by way of example and not by way of limitation. The vent component 230A can be fit into the passageway in some embodiments in the same manner as described above with respect to the material 230. Note also that in some embodiments, the vent component can be welded or glued into the passageway. Any device, system and/or method that can enable the securement of the vent component in the passageway that can enable the teachings detailed herein can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. [0087] In an embodiment, the outer dimensions and the overall dimensions of vent component / gas permeable component 230A and vent component / gas permeable component 230 can be the same or otherwise any dimension and/or feature disclosed herein with respect to one can correspond to the other and vice versa, providing that the art enables such unless otherwise noted. That said, as will be understood, the effective surface area of the material will be smaller with respect to the embodiment of figure 11 vs. the embodiment of figure 10 at least in some exemplary embodiments owing to the fact that the support structure takes up some of the diameter of the passageway (note that in some embodiments, the membrane 232 can be located in the passageway directly against the “shoulders” of the passageway (the portions of the body directly below material number 230 in figure 10), and a ring structure, such as one identical to the support structure 234, can be placed over the membrane, clamping the membrane between the shoulders and the ring, and thus trapping the membrane in place - note that such an arrangement can also be utilized with the lock arrangement as well). [0088] In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the material permeable to vapor of the vent component / gas permeable component is located less than and/or equal to 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT increments from a top portion of the closure. In this exemplary embodiment, this can correspond to the distance D1 shown in figure 10. In an embodiment, all of the gas permeable material is located within the aforementioned ranges, and in some embodiments, half of the gas permeable material or at least half of the material is located within the aforementioned ranges. It is noted that the top portion of the closure corresponds to the portion that is located away from the main liquid containing portion of the bottle when the closure is utilized with the bottle to close the bottle to establish a closed container. [0089] In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the material permeable to vapor of the vent component is located less than and/or equal to 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments from a top portion of the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, this can correspond to the distance D2 shown in figure 10. In an embodiment, all of the gas permeable material is located within the aforementioned ranges, and in some embodiments, half of the gas permeable material or at least half of the gas permeable material is located within the aforementioned ranges. It is noted that the top portion of the bottle corresponds to the opening of the bottle, and thus these values correspond to distances from the opening of the bottle as well. [0090] Thus, in an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a sealingly engageable closure, such as those disclosed herein, and a bottle, wherein the just detailed ranges are present. [0091] And note that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the material permeable to vapor of the vent component is located less than and/or equal to 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or 3 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments from a top portion of the container. In this exemplary embodiment, this can correspond to the distance D3 shown in figure 10. In an embodiment, all of the material is located within the aforementioned ranges, and in some embodiments, half of the material or at least half of the material is located within the aforementioned ranges. It is noted that the top portion of the container corresponds to an end portion of the container that is on the side of the opening. And as can be seen in figure 10, the top portion of the container corresponds to the top portion of the 34. In embodiments without a, as will be described below, the top of the container would also be the top of the closure and thus the aforementioned distances would correspond to the dimension D1. In the interests of completeness, D7 can be less than or equal to or greater than, in some embodiments, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT mm increments, and D8 can be D7 can be less than or equal to or greater than, in some embodiments, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [0092] It is noted that while many of the specific teachings provided herein are presented with respect to the embodiment of figure 10, it is noted that these teachings can be applicable to the embodiments of figure 2 and figure 3 providing that the art enables such, unless otherwise noted. Any disclosure herein with respect to one embodiment corresponds to an alternate disclosure with respect to any other embodiment providing that the art enables such, unless otherwise noted, in the interests of textual economy. [0093] In an embodiment, the maximum outer diameter of the material permeable to gas and/or the vent component is 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12 or 13 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [0094] In an embodiment, there is a container that includes a bottle and the sealingly engageable closure for the bottle. The closure includes a vent including a material permeable to vapor but less permeable to liquid, including impermeable to liquid, such that vapor is vented from the interior of said bottle. The closure also includes the body, which body supports the vent. In this embodiment, the container is at least substantially filled with a liquid, such as an oxidizing liquid. In an embodiment, the container is less than, greater than and/or equal to 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments filled with liquid. For example, at 100% full, there would be no room for gas in the internal volume established by the bottle and the closure. [0095] In an exemplary embodiment, the material permeable to vapor is located in the body of the closure in a manner to reduce a number of scenarios where the material will become wetted by the liquid relative to other locations. This is contrasted to, for example, the arrangement of figure 2 in figure 3, where the passageway for the vent membrane insert is different from that shown in figure 10. [0096] In this exemplary embodiment of figure 10, the closure has the arrangement taught by way of example as above. In an exemplary embodiment, with respect to a scenario where the container, when assembled, is subjected to a vertical deceleration while moving upwards (i.e.,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the cap / neck / closure is at the leading edge with respect to movement and the fluid has momentum towards the material) and/or a vertical acceleration while moving downward (i.e., the cap / neck / closure is at the trailing part of the container and the fluid has momentum towards the material) of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 Gs or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 G increments, a higher G will be required for the material to be wetted relative to the embodiment of figure 2 in figure 3 by way of example, all other things being equal, at one or more of the fill levels detailed herein (e.g., 97% full) with one or more of the fluids detailed herein. In an embodiment, the G value will be at least 25, 33, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750 or 800% or higher or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments in the wetting avoidance arrangement where the material does become wetted (it may never become wetted) than that which would otherwise be the case, such as with the embodiment of FIGs.2 and 3. Note here, “at least” covers the scenario where there is no wetting of the antiwetting embodiment. That said, an embodiment covers “no more than” any one or more of these values, and thus would require wetting. [0097] The above said, embodiments can instead and/or in addition to this better accommodate lateral accelerations and decelerations. In an exemplary embodiment, with respect to a scenario where the container, when assembled, is subjected to a lateral deceleration and/or acceleration while moving to the left or right relative to the plane of FIG.10 (i.e., the vent passageway has its maximum diameter(s) on the plane, which plane is parallel to the direction of movement and thus acceleration / deceleration) and/or is subjected to a lateral deceleration and/or acceleration while moving in and/or out of the plane of FIG.10 (i.e., the vent passageway is “furthest” from the vector of movement as it can be), of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 Gs or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 G increments, a higher G will be required for the material to be wetted relative to the embodiment of figure 2 in figure 3 by way of example, all other things being equal, at one or more of the fill levels detailed herein (e.g., 98% full) with one or more of the fluids detailed herein. In an embodiment, the G value will be at least 25, 33, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750 or 800% or higher or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments in the wetting avoidance arrangement where the material does become wetted (it may never become wetted) than that which would otherwise be the case, such as with the embodiment of FIGs. 2 and 3. Note here, “at least” covers the scenario where there is no wetting of the antiwetting embodiment. That said, an
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiment covers “no more than” any one or more of these values, and thus would require wetting. [0098] In an embodiment, the location of the material provides an anti-splashing arrangement vis-à-vis a liquid in the bottle when the closure closes the bottle. In an embodiment, the location reduces a number of scenarios is higher with respect to vertical location relative to the container than the other locations. In an embodiment, the location reducing a number of scenarios is offset from a longitudinal axis of the container relative to the other locations. In an embodiment, the location reducing a number of scenarios is in a complex passageway, such as the passageway of FIG.10. As seen, the passageway 219 has a portion that has a portion that extends a considerable distance, relatively speaking, only in the vertical direction. There is then a portion that dog legs away from the vertical direction. Figure 12 presents a “channel” perspective of the vent passageway (in the sense of nautical navigation, which is a utilitarian way to describe the vent passageway). Here, it can be seen that there is an axis 1210 about which the upper portion of the vent passageway extends. Also, as can be seen, the passageway has an axis 1220, which extends obliquely relative to the axis 1210. This represents the direction of travel, again, nautically speaking, through the bottom opening 240 of the passageway 219, that would be taken to reach the axis 1210 while keeping the portions of the closure body furthest away on either side. This is contrasted to the scenario where movement from inside the bottle into the upper portions of the passageway 219 can be achieved by a straight linear vertical movement because the bottom portion of the passage does not completely extend past the left side of the passage (relative to the figures). It is noted that in some embodiments, such as that seen in figure 13, the lower portion of the passage does extend past the upper portions of the passage, and the longitudinal axis 1221 extends in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 1210. Both of these arrangements seen in figures 12 and 13 constitute complex passageways. Note that there can be more axes than those shown in an even more complex passageway, such as for example, where the passageway dog legs downward in a direction 90° from the axis 1221 by way of example. [0099] Note that in at least some exemplary embodiments, the cross-sections of the portions of the passageway taken normal to the axes thereof have an profile that is circular, while in other embodiments, the outer profile could be oval-shaped or rectangular shaped, etc., and the outer profiles need not have the same shapes along the entire passageway (of course, as seen, the diameters of the passageways will change, but the cross-sectional area on those planes may or may not be the same along the entire length - more on this in a moment). Indeed, in an
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT exemplary embodiment, the portion of the passageway represented by axis 1220 and/or 1221 could be oval-shaped in view of the conical nature of the surface of the body into which it opens, and the passageway represented by the axis 1210 could be circular shaped in outer profile. [00100] In an exemplary embodiment, the passageway can have two or more axes that are angled relative to one another, where the axes represents directions of extension of the passageway taken where the wall of the passageway is equally distant from the longitudinal axis on either side of the longitudinal axis about the longitudinal axis. Put another way, the axes are centered in the passageway and follow the passageway in a general manner and/or a specific manner (a general manner would be that shown in figure 12, where there are only two axes shown, and a specific manner would include potentially four or five or more different specific axes, or at least three, representing how the axes changes to maintain the equally distance on either side from the wall surface of the passageway (axis 1220 would likely be made up of two axes, one of which takes a more horizontal direction than that shown to reach axes 1210 - conversely, an even more general manner shown with respect to the embodiment of figure 12 we have the bottom portion of axes 1210 lower than that shown, and axes 1220 more horizontal than that shown) – FIG.14 shows this example, where axes 1223, 1222 and 1212 follow a specific channel that is furthest away from the walls relative to FIG.13). [00101] In an exemplary embodiment, the passage has at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment local axes in the general and/or specific manner, which axes are established by the practice of placing the axes equally distance from the walls establishing the passageway, whether this is in two dimensions associated with a cross-sectional plane, such as in figure 12 by way of example, which lies on the longitudinal axes of the closure and through the widest portion of the passageway, or in three dimensions where there could be a third dimension to the longitudinal axes with respect to a varying cross- sectional shape of the passageway, wherein at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment are angled relative to one another vis-à-vis contiguous axes, with respect to the smallest angle (out of the 360 degrees – the other angle would be larger save for the case where the angle is 180 degrees), of no more than and/or equal to 170, 160, 150, 140, 130, 120, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40 or 30 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. And note that the angles need not be the same. For example, an embodiment where there are three distinct local axes, the smallest angle between the first and second local axes could be 123 degrees and the smallest angle between
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the second and third local axes could be 90° (and for the purposes of thorough explanation, the largest angles would be 360 minus123 degrees and 360 minus 90 degrees). [00102] In an embodiment, the liquid contained in the container is hydrogen peroxide. In an exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen peroxide is that a concentration of less than, equal to and/or greater than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments. In an exemplary embodiment, the remainder can be water, whether distilled or otherwise. Thus, embodiments include a container where the liquid therein is hydrogen peroxide at least a 10% concentration (per unit volume and/or per unit mass). [00103] Embodiments include a sealingly engageable closure for a bottle, comprising a material permeable to vapor such that vapor may be vented from the interior of said bottle and a body supporting the material. The body includes a passageway that establishes a baffle, wherein the material is located in the passageway. In an embodiment, the closure is part of a container. While embodiments presented above have focused on the closure body as being a separate component from the bottle, which closure body can be interference fitted into the neck of the bottle and/or welded (e.g., heat welded and/or ultrasonic welded) to the bottle and/or adhesively bonded to the bottle, etc. More on connection techniques of the body to the bottle below. In other embodiments, the closure body can be a monolithic component with the rest of the bottle, or at least some portions thereof can be a monolithic component with the rest of the bottle (the frangible portion of the body could be added after blow molding or spin molding, or in some embodiments, the container can be made by injection molding where two halves of the bottle / body are later welded to each other), by way of example. In this exemplary embodiment, the container, including the bottle that is at least substantially filled with an oxidizing liquid and the material permeable to vapor is located in the body in a manner to reduce a number of scenarios where the material will become wetted by the liquid relative to other locations. Indeed, in this embodiment, the baffle provides an anti-splashing arrangement vis-à-vis a liquid in the bottle when the closure closes the bottle. In an embodiment, the above noted quantifications for splashing can be achieved. [00104] By way of example only and not by way of limitation, a path of gas flow through the closure has a dog leg, wherein the material is located in the path, such as seen in FIG.10. [00105] In an embodiment, the closure includes walls that establish a passage for gas (walls of the vent passage for example as detailed herein), the walls providing different cross-sectional
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT areas of the passage with respect to such areas lying on a plane normal to local directions of extension of the passage. In an embodiment, the closure includes walls that establish a passage for gas, the walls providing different maximum diameters lying on planes normal to local directions of extension of the passage, such as, for example, the diameters lying on planes that lie on the same plane that is parallel to and lying on the local directions extension of the passage (e.g., diameters measured on the plane of figure 10). In an embodiment, the maximum distances are measured normal to the local longitudinal axes, specific and/or general, depending on the embodiment. [00106] In an embodiment, a first cross-sectional area and/or a first maximum diameter of the different cross-sectional areas is at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments smaller than a second cross-sectional area and/or second maximum diameter. Again, in an embodiment, the cross-sectional areas are located on a plane normal to the local longitudinal axis. [00107] In an exemplary embodiment, there is are nth cross-sections of the vent passageway, which can be established by the walls of the vent passageway (the outer boundaries of the cross-sections are so establish) wherein respective nth areas of the respective nth cross-sections and/or respective nth maximum diameters of the respective nth cross-sections (whether in total all the way about the longitudinal axes (the largest diameter anywhere) or based on a plane on which the longitudinal axes extend (e.g., the plane of FIG. 10), which diameters are taken normal to the local longitudinal axes) have values that are at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments smaller than the largest of the diameter and/or area of the nth cross-sections, and the values need not be the same. If n=1 cross-section has the largest diameter, n=2 cross- section could have a diameter that is at least 5% smaller than that of n=1, and n=2 cross-section could have a diameter that is at least 20% smaller than that of n=1, and n=3 cross-section could have a diameter that is at least 13% smaller than that of n=1, etc. [00108] Briefly, with respect to figure 10, D5 is the diameter of the passageway immediately beneath the material 230, and D6 is the diameter of the passageway at the opening into the passageway, both diameters being measured normal to a direction of the local longitudinal axes. In an embodiment, D5 can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12 or 13 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. In an embodiment, the maximum outer
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT diameter of the material permeable to gas and/or the vent component is 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12 or 13 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. D4, the diameter of the passageway at the location of the vent component can equal these values (they need not be the same, but if they are, there is a slip fit) or can be less than any one or more of those values or greater than any one or more of those values by 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.005, 0.006, 0.007, 0.008, 0.009, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6.1.8, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments. [00109] In an embodiment, n can equal 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment. In an embodiment, there may be only n cross-sections, where each cross-section spaced away from the other by at least and/or equal to and/or no more than 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6.0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75 or 4 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments, and the values need not be the same for each cross- section (as is always the case for any feature disclosed herein in a manner for textual economy). [00110] In an embodiment, the passage has m axes in the general and/or specific manner, which axes are established as noted above, where m can equal 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment. Respective axes can be angled relative to each other as noted above. Each axes can have n cross-sections, and thus there can be m times n cross-sections. Each cross- section lies on a plane normal to the local axes. [00111] In an embodiment, the body includes a vent wall, which vent wall has a first section that extends in a first direction and a second section that extends at an oblique and/or normal angle to the first direction, the vent wall establishing a passage in which the material is located. In an embodiment, the vent wall has m sections. [00112] It is briefly noted that while embodiments disclosed above have been directed towards the utilization of a single vent component that is permeable to vapor, in an alternate embodiment, there can be two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more separate vent components. In an exemplary embodiment, the passageway can be such that the cross-sections vary more than that shown in the figures. By way of example only and not by way of limitation,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the lowest (the one closest to the bottom of the container with respect to the orientation figure 10) vent component could be located in a portion of the vapor passageway that has a first diameter normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, and a second vent component which can be above the lowest vapor component can be located in a portion of the vapor passageway that has a second diameter normal to the longitudinal axis thereof that is larger than the first. In this embodiment, the lowest vent component would be inserted first, and then the second vent component would be inserted above the first. In an embodiment, there can be a space between the two. In an exemplary embodiment, this can provide a safeguard against the first vent component becoming wetted. If, for example, the first vent component (the lowest) becomes wetted, the second vent component, located above the first vent component, but not become wetted because the first vent component will protect the second vent component. In an exemplary embodiment, the minimum and/or maximum distance between various vapor components or otherwise the material permeable to vapor of respective vent components is less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6.0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, or 30 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments, and the values need not be the same. [00113] In an embodiment, one or more or all of the vent components are coaxial with each other, while in other embodiments, the vent components can be offset relative to one another. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the vent components can be angled relative to that of the other vent components. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, with respect to the compound vent passage, one of the vent components would have the angle of the respective local passageway longitudinal axes, and another of the vent components would have the angle of the respective local passageway of the longitudinal axes. In an exemplary embodiment, longitudinal axes of the vent components can share the features associated with the longitudinal axes of the passageway. [00114] In an exemplary embodiment, the height / thickness, and width (lateral diameter) of the material permeable to vapor and/or the overall vent component (e.g., the single block or the housing supported membrane (e.g., the embodiment of figure 11), and the block can be supported by a support structure as well)) can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6.0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, or 13 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments, and the values need not be the same for different materials / vent components. [00115] In an embodiment, there is a sealingly engageable closure for a bottle, comprising a material permeable to vapor such that vapour may be vented from the interior of said bottle and a body supporting the material. In this embodiment, the closure is configured so that the material is inserted from a top portion of the closure to assemble the closure, whether in block form or supported by a support structure. In this embodiment, the material cannot be inserted from a bottom portion of the closure. In an exemplary embodiment, this can be because the diameter of the vent passageway at the bottom is smaller than that of the material or otherwise the vent component, at least with respect to the material’s ability to be compressed to fit through this smaller diameter portion of the passageway. In an embodiment, the diameters of the passageway at the bottom or smaller than that of the top. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameters might be larger, but because of the above-noted dog leg, the material cannot be inserted from the bottom. Note that in some embodiments, there is the qualification that the insertion results in the material being located as is the case in the resulting product. For example, it could be that the material could be forced into the bottom portion of the passageway, but the material could not reach the end location in the final product if inserted from the bottom, at least not without damaging the vent component, or otherwise resulting in a vent component that does not have any one or more of the above-noted functionalities detailed herein. [00116] Consistent with the embodiments that utilize the sealingly engageable closure with a bottle to establish a container, such as where the container includes a cap, the material is positively retained, directly or indirectly (e.g., the support structure supporting the membrane could be positively retained) in the body on one side by a portion that is either monolithic with the body or effectively permanently fixed relative to the body (e.g., with respect to the former, the shoulders established by the walls of the passageway below the material 230 in figure 10, and for example, a lock ring with respect to the latter by way of example or a construction interference fitted or press fitted into the overall passageway, all by way of example) and on another side opposite the one side by the cap. Consistent with at least some embodiments, the cap is removable and as noted herein, again consistent with some embodiments, the cap does not form a liquid tight seal with the remainder of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the height of the vent component is greater than the space between the lower most portion of the passageway and the cap when the cap is fully seated on to the neck of the bottle, and thus
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT if the vent component moves upwards towards the cap, the cap prevents further movement upward and thus out of the passageway, thus positively retaining the cap in the passageway, albeit not at the location in the passageway resulting from manufacturing of the container or otherwise the closure. [00117] Note that the positive retention is not mutually exclusive to other types of retention. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the arrangement of figure 10 can be such that the material 230 is press fitted into the passageway and the press fit also provides retention. The press fit however is not positive retention. This is opposed to, for example, a lock ring or a constructive ring having a smaller inner diameter than that of the outer diameter of the vent component 230 that secured in the passageway above the vent component 230 to retain the vent component 230 therein. But note that this is not mutually exclusive with the cap 34 providing the positive retention. But note that in an embodiment, it is the cap 34 that only provides the positive retention, while in other embodiments, there are multiple arrangements that provide positive retention. And embodiments include a vent component that is positively retained at the location in the passageway resulting from manufacture. In an embodiment, the closure is configured so that vent component cannot move more than 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments from the manufacturing location of the vent component without destroying or otherwise permanently damaging the closure, which would include eliminating or otherwise effectively reducing the ability of the vent component to function according to the teachings detailed herein. [00118] Consistent with the teachings above, in some embodiments, the material which is permeable to gas is in direct contact with the material the body of the closure, while in other embodiments, the material which is permeable to gas is not in direct contact with the material of the body. This can be seen in figure 11 with respect to the latter, where the membrane material is at most in direct contact with the body of the closure. In an embodiment, the body is a monolithic component that makes up at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the mass and/or displacement volume of the closure. [00119] Returning back to the concept where the vent component can be inserted into the closure from the top thereof, in an exemplary embodiment, this can have utilitarian value with respect to manufacturing, where the vent component can be maintained in an upward direction during manufacturing for a substantial number of the manufacturing operations. In an
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT exemplary embodiment, the vent component could be placed into the closure with the body in the right side up position, and then the body could be moved to the bottle, still in the right side up position, and inserted into the neck. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the vent component is placed into the body after the body of the closure is inserted into the neck and/or after the body of the enclosure is secured to the bottle. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the vent component is inserted into the body after the bottle is provided with liquid or otherwise filled as intended with liquid. [00120] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the total amount of liquid to be provided into the bottle is provided through the vent passageway. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle is filled to a certain percentage with the body not attached to the bottle. Then, the body is attached to the bottle, and then a second amount of liquid is provided into the bottle through the vent passageway. Then, after this, the vent component is placed into the body. This can have utilitarian value with respect to enabling the container to be “topped off” after the body is attached to the bottle. In this regard, if the vent component is already in the body, there could be a pressure buildup when the body is placed on the bottle, and thus a certain amount of space would “need” to be maintained in the bottle for gas to be compressed when the body is placed onto the bottle. Granted, the vent component is permeable to gas, but that could be over a period of time. Even if the vent component will vent the overpressure gas within a minute or two, this still could frustrate manufacturing. Conversely, if the vent component is not located in the body until after the container is full, the amount of pressure buildup will be reduced relative to that which would otherwise be the case. The point is, the total volume and/or mass of the liquid provided in the bottle upon completion of the manufacturing process of the container with the liquid can be greater in embodiments utilizing the teachings of the arrangement of figure 10, etc. relative to that which would otherwise be the case, such as with respect to the embodiments of figure 3 and figure 4. [00121] Note also that even in a manufacturing scenario where the vent component is located in the body prior to attachment of the body to the bottle, if the vent can accommodate the pressure buildup that results in the attachment of the body to the bottle, or if the arrangement is such that the pressure buildup is de minimus, because the vent component is located at least some of the heights detailed herein, more liquid can be placed in the bottle relative to that which would otherwise be the case while providing the desired spacing / utilitarian spacing between the liquid and the vent component, or more specifically, the material that is permeable to gas of the vent component. In an exemplary embodiment, in a one G environment, with the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT container perfectly operating such that a longitudinal axis of the container is perfectly aligned with the direction of gravity, and there are no lateral accelerations on the container (the only acceleration on the container is due to the direction of gravity), the liquid is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments away from the material that is permeable to gas in a direction parallel to the direction of gravity. Put another way, there is an embodiment where there is a container, wherein the bottle contains liquid, and wherein, in a 1 G gravity environment, with the container aligned so that a longitudinal axis of the container is parallel to the direction of gravity, and there are no other accelerations on the container, a shortest distance between the material and the liquid is no more than any one or more of the values noted above, and/or is no less than any one or more of the values noted above, and/or equal to any one of the values noted above. [00122] Figure 15 presents another exemplary embodiment of a cup body usable with a bottle herein, to establish a container, which eliminates the closure. Specifically, there is cup body 1534, that includes through holes 1560 (here, there are 4 equally arrayed about a longitudinal axis of the cup body at 90 degree angles) and a frangible component 1570 located at the center of the cup body and in some embodiments is rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis, while in other embodiments, the component 1570 is not rotationally symmetric (the component could be square shaped or rectangular shaped in some embodiments). FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view of the cup body when attached to the bottle taken in plane 16-16, and a cross-section of a portion of the bottle as well when the cup body 1534 is fully seated onto the neck 11 of the bottle (back lines are not shown, such as the back lines that connect the portion of the inboard of the vent ports 1560). Here, as can be seen, there is material 1530 interposed between the top of the neck 11 and the top wall of the cup body 1534. In this exemplary embodiment, material 1530 is compressed by the top of the neck and the interior of top wall of the cup body 1534 so as to hold the material 1530 against the top of the neck 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the material 1530 can be a material that is permeable to gas, but less permeable, including impermeable to liquid. This material can have the same properties and/or can be the same material as that detailed above with respect to the block or the membrane in the embodiment of figure 10 and/or figures 2 and 3. But here, as seen, the size is larger in that the material 1530, which can be a circular disk or otherwise a short and wide cylinder (material 1530 is rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis and has a
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT circular cross-section on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis 1616 of the cup body / the neck / the bottle / the container, and thus the material 1530). In an exemplary embodiment, the material 1530 is a membrane, while in other embodiments, it is a block of material. In the interest of textual economy, any one or more of the features detailed above with respect to the material/membrane/vent component can correspond to that of material 1530 providing that the art enables such unless otherwise noted. For example, element 1530 can instead be a vent component that includes a support structure that supports the material in a manner concomitant with the embodiment of figure 11 by way of example. For example, the thickness/height of material 1530 can correspond to that of material 230 detailed above. However, the width/maximum diameter of material 1530 will be much larger at least in some embodiments than that detailed above. In this regard, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a maximum diameter of element 1530 measured on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis could be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. [00123] FIG.17 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a vent component 1530A according to an exemplary embodiment that is a stand in for the vent component 1530 of figure 15. There are parallels to the embodiment of figure 11. Briefly, there is a support structure 1734 which can correspond to a ring having a cross-section as shown which supports a membrane 1732 which can be a gas permeable material in accordance with the teachings herein. Consistent with the teachings above, in an alternate embodiment, the material 1732 can instead be a block of gas permeable material and otherwise not a membrane. Any of the teachings presented herein with respect to the embodiment of figure 11 can be utilized with the embodiment of figure 17 and vice versa unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such. In an embodiment, the outer dimensions and the overall dimensions of vent component 1530A correspond to those of vent component 1530, just as is the case with respect to vent component 230A and vent component 230. Figure 19 shows another embodiment of a vent component 1530B, where the support structure 1734A supports the membrane 1732 at a top portion thereof, so as to place the membrane 1732 closer to the ports. The membrane 1732 might be bonded or adhered to the support structure, while in other embodiments, it is the “clamp up” that secures the membrane relative to the support structure. [00124] Returning back to figure 16, the cross-section shows vent ports 1560 which constitute through holes through the top of the cup body 1534. In an exemplary embodiment, ports 1560
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT permit outgassing of gas through material 1530 or more accurately, ports 1560 permit gas that outgassing is through material 1532 escape outside the container assembly. This can have utilitarian value with respect to embodiments where the cup body 1534 establishes a gas tight seal at other locations where, for example, in the absence of the ports 1560, gas from the bottle could not escape past the cup body 1534. Note that this embodiment can be different than the embodiment of figure 10 in figures 2 and 3, where, for example, the cap 34 does not establish an airtight or gas tight closure. Here, it is contemplated that the tolerancing between the cup body and the neck is tighter and will otherwise create a gas tight seal. Alternatively, and/or in addition to this, owing to the membrane material, it could be that insufficient amounts of gas will be able to travel laterally through the material and then downward between the neck and the cup body. Alternatively, and/or in addition to this, the addition of the vent simply provides for more rapid gas permeability relative to that which would otherwise be the case. In an exemplary embodiment, on a per unit mass and/or a per unit volume basis, the gas permeability of the embodiment of figure 16 is at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800, 900, or 1000%, or any value or range values therebetween in 1% increments more than the embodiment of figure 10 and/or figures 2 and 3 all other things being equal. [00125] In an embodiment, element 1530 is a sintered disk. In an embodiment, element 1530 is a piece of sintered PTFE by way of example. In an embodiment, element 1530 could be sintered to the neck and/or to the cup body, by way of example. Additional details of sintering PTFE technology used in some embodiments will be described in greater detail below. Any of the teachings relating to sintering herein can correspond to a teaching applicable to the embodiment of FIG. 15 visa-vis element 1530. Any vent component / filter herein can be sintered PTFE in an embodiment. [00126] Embodiments include arrangements where, for example, the cup body 1534 is adhesively bonded and/or welded to the neck 11 or the main body of the bottle (embodiments include an alternate design where, for example, the bottom portion of the cup body 1534 extends to a location proximate the “shoulder” of the bottle, and the bonding and/or welding can take place between the bottom of the cup body 1534 and/or the outer periphery at the bottom of the cup body and the shoulder – in an embodiment, the local portions of the bottle proximate the bottom portions of the cup body can be beefed up as shown so as to provide for extra bottle material for the adhesive and/or welding. In this regard, depending on the type of adhesive and/or welded, the structure of the bottle and/or cap will be deformed in some
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiments. Heat welding for example can deform the body at the location where the weld is established, and thus the utilitarian value of the extra bottle material at the location where the weld is located. Certain epoxies can also deform the structure of the bottle. Thus the utilitarian value of the additional material at the weld location. In this regard, Figure 18 shows an exemplary cup body 1834 and an exemplary neck 1811 that does not include threads along with the “beefed up” shoulders (portion 18181) of the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the bottom of the cup body 1834 / the outer portions of the bottom of the cup body 1834 can be welded to the shoulder to form a gas tight seal. [00127] The connection techniques utilized for connecting on component to another component can be varied. As noted above, in some embodiments, adhesives are utilized while in other embodiments, epoxies are utilized. In an embodiment, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the welding is established by heat welding and/or ultrasonic welding. Alternatively or in addition to this, an adhesive can be used. An epoxy can be used. [00128] While the embodiment of figure 18 presents an exemplary techniques for attaching connecting the cap to the bottle, FIG. 18A shows an exemplary technique for connecting the closure body 241 to the neck 11. In this exemplary embodiment, there is a radially extending rib 2411 that protrudes from the outer surface of the closure body 241 as seen. In this exemplary embodiment, this rib can snap fit into the radio groove 1111 on the inside of the neck 11. In an exemplary embodiment, the material of the neck 11 deforms outwards and or the material of the closure body 241 deforms inward a sufficient amount so as to enable the rib 2411 to fit inside the opening at the top of the neck. This deformation is elastic at least in part so that upon the movement of the rib 2411 into the opening a sufficient amount, upon alignment of the rib with the groove 1111, the rib and groove will snap fit together, thus attaching the body 241 to the neck 11, and thus the remainder of the bottle. [00129] In an exemplary embodiment, an epoxy is located at the interface 1871 as shown. The epoxy can be placed on the top surface of the rib 2411 and/or on the top surface of the groove 1111 so that when the body and the neck are positioned as shown in figure 18 A, the surfaces that establish interface 1871 are in sufficient proximity that the epoxy can attach the two components together. In an exemplary embodiment, after the body is pushed inward into the neck opening, so that the rib and the groove are aligned in the rib is inside the groove, the body 241 can be pulled outward a limited amount so that the top surface of the rib contacts the top surface of the groove as shown, or at least so that those surfaces are brought into sufficient
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT proximity with one another that the adhesive can effectively bond the two components together at the location where the adhesive is located. [00130] In another exemplary embodiment, and ultrasonic weld can be established at the interface 1871. In an exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic weld head can be placed in between the top of the neck and the bottom surface of the outermost portion of the top of the body (gap 18A). A fixture can also be located inside the top portion of the body (the area 18B). The fixture can apply sufficient pressure so that an ultrasonic weld can be established at the interface 1871. In this exemplary embodiment, the portion of the neck that is above the top of the groove would be of limited amounts so that the ultrasonic welding can take place. In this regard, the groove could be located closer to the top of the neck than that shown in figure 18A. [00131] Figure 18A1 shows another exemplary embodiment of establishing an adhesive bond and/or a weld, such as an ultrasonic weld or a heat weld at the interface 1872 between the rib and the groove. In an exemplary embodiment as shown here, the rib and grooves have a rectangular cross-section, but in an alternative embodiment, the cross-section can be a partial circle shape and/or a partial oval shape or any other shape that can enable the teachings detailed herein. In an embodiment, the shapes are such that they generally match one another, with potentially size reduction that could be utilitarian, although in other embodiments, the dimensions could actually be the same and/or the dimensions of the male portion could be bigger than the dimensions of the female portion, where some amount of deformation after the two components are fitted at their and positions is acceptable and could very well be utilitarian in some embodiments. In some embodiments, different shapes are utilized. In an embodiment, the rib has a curved outer profile at least on a portion thereof, while the groove has the flat rectangular profile as shown. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the reverse is the case. The rib could have a triangular shape where the tip portion would interfere with the inner wall of the groove for example. Any shape that can have utilitarian value with respect to establishing a weld and/or a bond can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. [00132] The concept of interfering components is seen in figure 18B, where, for example, the inner diameter D181 of the groove is smaller than the outer diameter D182 of the rib prior to attachment of the body 241 to the neck 11. Figure 18B and FIG.18C (FIG.18C is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 18B) shows by concept with resect to the shaded area 1881 the hypothetical overlap that would exist if the components could return to their relaxed at rest state without any deformation. In this regard, sections 1873 present conceptually the overlap that would exist in this exemplary embodiment. This does not exist in real life. In an exemplary
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiment, the wall of the neck 11 is deformed outward, and the wall of the body 241 is deformed inward when the two components are attached to each other prior to bonding or welding, etc. in at least some exemplary embodiments, this deformation is elastic although in other embodiments, some amount of plastic deformation can be the case as well. And note while the embodiments of FIGs. 18A-C have a male-female relationship with respect to the local interface of the rib 2411 and groove 1111, in an embodiment, there is only a rib or only a groove. FIG.18D shows an exemplary embodiment of such, where there is only a rib (FIG. 18D shows the hypothetical overlap with respect to the shaded area 1882 if the two components were at rest and undeformed). [00133] FIG.18E shows an exemplary results of the utilization of a bonding agent that “melts” the material of the closure body 241 and the neck 11 to establish a joint at that location, represented by reference 1897. In this regard, for example, the embodiment of figure 18 D presented above has applied thereto a bonding agent, where the resulting interference between the two components, or more accurately, the pressure resulting from the interference of the two components, at the interfering locations, and the application of the agent renders the joint as shown. This then connects the two components beyond that which results from the interference fit. Figure 18F shows an exemplary results where ultrasonic welding is utilized where the material of the closure body 241 is welded to the material of the neck 11 at the location indicated by arrow 1899. [00134] Embodiments have focused on the concept of a relatively abrupt protrusion alone and/or in combination with a relatively abrupt groove. More subtle arrangements can be utilized, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, as seen FIG.18G. Here, while this embodiment also utilizes an interference regime, the interference regime is based on wedge concepts. In particular, the closure body 241 is wedged into the opening of the neck 11. Figure 18G shows the overlap between the two components that would exist if the two components were not deformed or otherwise in free space separated from one another. This would be how the components would compare to one another in free space without constraints other than gravity, all by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In this regard, the area 1877 is the overlap. Here, shoulder 241S of body 241 rests on the inside edge of the top opening of the neck 11. Shoulder 241S is sloped as shown, where the slope is less than, greater than and/or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments from the horizontal. Also seen is the wedge surface 241W of the body 241. Here, this can be angled from the horizontal, by way of example only and not
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT by way of limitation, by less than, greater than and/or equal to 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 or 85 or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments (of course, depending on the angle of the surface 241S). As seen, the body 241 has additional services below surface 241W that connect that surface to the general outside surface of the main wall of body 241. While this embodiment depicts flat surfaces, in other embodiments, the surfaces could be curved. Neck 11 also includes angled surfaces. As seen, there is angled surface 11 W which extends downward from the vertical surface that extends from the top surface of the opening of the neck 11. This surface is angled from the vertical by angle 18A, where angle 18A can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 or 65 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. Any angle that is utilitarian and can otherwise provide enablement can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. Further with respect to figure 18G, D187 can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6.1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 or 3 mm or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. In an exemplary embodiment, D185 can be 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.225, 0.25, 0.275, 0.3, 0.325, 0.35, 0.375, 0.4, 0.425, 0.45, 0.475, 0.5, 0.525, 0.55, 0.575 or 0.6 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. Note that the distance from the uppermost portion of surface 241S to the top most portion of body 241 can be in some embodiments less than, greater than and/or equal to 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75 or 3 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [00135] Still with reference to figure 18G, in an exemplary embodiment, an agent can be placed over one or more of the contacting surfaces (and with respect to area 1877, the interfering surfaces), or the agent will melt the structure of one or both closure body 241 and the neck 11 at at least the interfacing locations so as to join the two components together. In this regard, the joint would exist at least at the location of area 1877, at least in part. A joint could also exist at the contact point between the upper surface of the neck 11 and the surface 241S. Alternatively, ultrasonic welding can be utilized. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, after the closure body 241 is interference fitted into the neck 11, and otherwise positioned at the desired height relative to the neck 11, a collar 18C is placed around the neck as seen in FIG. 18J. Element 18C can be any type of support fixture that can enable the teachings detailed herein and otherwise can provide utilitarian value with respect to establishing a joint between the closure body and the neck. In this regard, collar 18C provides at least a slip fit, if not a compressive force onto the outside of the neck 11. Because the collar 18 C extends about the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT neck 360° and at least some exemplary embodiments a compressive force or at least a reaction force can be established completely around the neck. In an embodiment, the inner diameter of the collar is the same as the outer diameter of the neck, while in other embodiments, it is smaller (all at at rest positions – not deformed). In an embodiment, the inner diameter of the collar is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the neck in the undeformed arrangement so as to allow for some deformation outward when the closure body is inserted into the neck. [00136] FIG. 18H shows another exemplary arrangement where the closure body 241 has an outside wall that does not extend as far as the embodiments presented above. Other components of the closure body 241 are not shown. Here, there is surface 241S which slopes in a manner as indicated above to the vertical sidewall, which is angled 90 degrees from the horizontal. This vertical sidewall extends to the bottom of the outer wall as shown. The sidewall 11 has a wedge surface 11W2, that is angled by A19 from the horizontal, where A19 can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 or 70 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. In an embodiment, the “overlap” area is represented by area 1977, where the two parts interfere. In this regard, FIG. 18H shows the shape of the parts if undeformed if they were separated. In this regard, FIG. 18I shows the parts away / separated from each other prior to full insertion of body 241 into the opening of neck 11. Here, the bottom surface 241B of the outer wall of closure body 241 is aligned with the top most portion of surface 11W2, and this arrangement can be utilized to explain some of the features of these components. Specifically, D224 can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85 or 0.9 mm or more or any value or range of values in 0.01 mm increments. D222 and/or D201 can be 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 or 2 or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 increments times D203 (and D222 need not be the same as D201). In an embodiment, D195 is less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9 or 0.95 mm or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. It is briefly noted that any one or more of the just noted dimensions can be applicable to any of the other embodiments detailed above, and vice versa with respect to the other dimensions detailed above in the other embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, the interference value D195 can be utilized for the interference value of the embodiments above by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, there is no interference.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00137] In any event, in an exemplary embodiment, the ultrasonic welding can lead to a weld that is located, by way of example only, as shown in figure 18K, which shows the result of ultrasonic welding of the embodiment of FIG.18G, where reference number 18018 shows the presence of two welds after the welding process, and the resulting joints when body 241 is joined to neck 11 at the completion of the weld. In an embodiment, if the structure of the body 241 and/or the neck 11 is arranged a bit differently from that shown in the above, a single weld could result. Conversely, three or four or five separate welds could result in alternate embodiments, again depending on how the structure is arranged otherwise sized and dimensioned. [00138] In an embodiment, ultrasonic welding can be utilized where there is no spark and/or no flame involved in the welding process. In an embodiment, HDPE to HDPE welding can be achieved, and thus both the body and the neck can be made of HDPE in an exemplary embodiment. And note that in an embodiment, the heat resulting from the welding can be controlled so that the amount of H202 decomposition is no more than 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.075, 0.05, 0.025, 0.02, 0.015, 0.01 or 0.005% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments of the total amount of H202 in the container at the time of welding, such as where the percentage is any one or more of those detailed herein (e.g., 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40% H202). [00139] Any device, system and/or method that can provide a weld between workpieces that are positioned together otherwise held together before the welding that results in the creation of metallurgical bonds can be utilized. [00140] In view of the above, it can be seen that in an exemplary embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle, such as any of the bottles detailed above, such as bottle 2. Located in or on or otherwise in contact with the bottle is a sealingly engageable closure, such as by way of example only and not by way limitation, closure 214 as noted above. In this exemplary embodiment, the closure can include a vent component, by way of example only and not by way of limitation. This vent component can include a material permeable to vapor such that vapor is vented from the interior of the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure is bonded to the bottle. [00141] Consistent with the teachings detailed above, in an exemplary embodiment, the bond is located between an outer wall of the closure and an inner wall of the neck of the bottle. That said, alternatively and/or in addition to this, in an alternate embodiment, the bond is located
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT between an outer portion of the bottle such as an outside surface of the bottle, such as, for example, the top surface of the neck of the bottle at the very top of the bottle in figure 18A, and a surface of the closure, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the bottom surface of the top flange or ring 1860 of the closure, as seen in FIG.18K for example. Indeed, as seen in that figure, there are two bonds. Of course, in an embodiment, the bond could be contiguous. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the bond is located between an outer wall of the closure and an inner wall of the neck of the bottle, and the bond is located between the outside surface of the bottle and a surface of the closure. [00142] In view of the above, it can be seen that in an exemplary embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle, such as any of the bottles detailed above, such as bottle 2. Located in or on or otherwise in contact with the bottle is a sealingly engageable closure, such as by way of example only and not by way limitation, closure 214 as noted above. In this exemplary embodiment, the closure can include a vent component, by way of example only and not by way of limitation. This vent component can include a material permeable to vapor such that vapor is vented from the interior of the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure is bonded to the bottle. [00143] Consistent with the teachings detailed above, in an exemplary embodiment, the bond is located between an outer wall of the closure and an inner wall of the neck of the bottle. That said, alternatively and/or in addition to this, in an alternate embodiment, the bond is located between an outer portion of the bottle such as an outside surface of the bottle, such as, for example, the top surface of the neck of the bottle at the very top of the bottle in figure 18A, and a surface of the closure, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the bottom surface of the top flange or ring 1860 of the closure, as seen in FIG.18K for example. Indeed, as seen in that figure, there are two bonds. Of course, in an embodiment, the bond could be contiguous. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the bond is located between an outer wall of the closure and an inner wall of the neck of the bottle, and the bond is located between the outside surface of the bottle and a surface of the closure. [00144] Consistent with the teachings above, the bond can be an adhesive bond. In an embodiment, the bond is formed by way of example by an epoxy. This can be a two-part epoxy as is known in the art or another form epoxy. In an embodiment, the bond is a weld. In an embodiment, hot glue bonding is utilized to establish the bond.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00145] In an embodiment, the bond is formed by melting of material of the sealingly engageable closure and melting of the material of the bottle. [00146] In an embodiment, the bond is a metallurgical bond. By way of example only and not by way limitation, the bond can be established by ultrasonic welding. In an exemplary embodiment, again by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the bond can be established by the material addition welding. The bond can also be established by material addition welding. [00147] Consistent with the teachings detailed above with respect to the material properties, in an exemplary embodiment, the bottle is made of HDPE at the location of the bond and/or a body of the closure is made of HDPE at the location of the bond (in some embodiments, the entire bottle is made of HDPE and the entire body of the closure is made of HDPE. [00148] It is noted that while the embodiments above with respect to the bonding or otherwise the joints have been directed to the closure body 241 in combination with the bottle two, the techniques detailed above can also be applicable to the other embodiments providing that the art enables such. Accordingly, any of the disclosures above with respect to the use of adhesives or welding, etc., can be applicable to the other embodiments providing that the art enables such unless otherwise noted. [00149] The welding can create a gas tight seal, and thus the utilitarian value of the vent ports 1560. In this regard, while embodiments of figure 16 show the male thread of the neck 11 and the female thread of the cup body 1534, in other embodiments, such as where the cup body 1534 is welded to the neck 11, there are no threads, as seen in figure 18. In this exemplary embodiment of figure 18, the cup body 1534 is simply fit over the neck and then moved downward until the material 1530 for the vent component or the parts that secure the vent in place are sandwiched between the cup body 1834 and the top of the neck 1811, and then sufficient downward pressure is maintained during the welding process to weld the cup body 1534 to the bottle so that the cup body 1834 is no longer removable from the bottle. [00150] In some alternate embodiments, a flange or an outer ledge that extends about the neck extending away from the neck can be present, which flange or ledge abuts the bottom of the cup body, where the flange and the cup body can be welded to one another. All of this said, in an exemplary embodiment, there could be an arrangement where the threads are utilized to create a sufficient seal between the cup body and the bottle.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00151] Briefly, in the interests of completeness, D11, the inner diameter of the neck, can be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments, and D25 can be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 3.25, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, or 44 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. In an embodiment, the outer diameter of the material 1530 taken on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis thereof will be larger than value D11, and could be larger than value D25 or could be the same as the value of D25 or could be less than the value of D25. In an embodiment, the maximum outer diameter of the material 1530 taken on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis thereof could correspond to the internal diameter of the cup body 1534 at the location where the material 1530 is seated at the final assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the material could be less than the local diameter or greater than the local diameter of the cup body 1534, depending on the desired type of fit. In an exemplary embodiment, the outer diameter of the material 1530 and/or 1532 is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117,118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the value of D11 or D25 (the two will not be the same of course). Note that the undersize values could be embodiments where, for example, the material 1532 is supported by a support structure, where the support structure extends inward towards the longitudinal axis 1616. D26, which is the inner diameter of the cup body (aside from the female thread), can be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, or 46 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. [00152] Also, consistent with the statement above that features associated with one embodiment can be utilized with other features associated with another embodiment, a lock ring or the like can be utilized to hold the material 1530 in place in the cup body 1534, or a ring can be press fit into the cup body 1534, which ring has an inner diameter that is larger than the circumference of a circle that encompasses all of the vent ports 1560, although in other embodiments this need not be the case, and this ring could also establish a gas tight seal at the interface of the ring and the top of the neck 11. This has analogies to the arrangement detailed above with respect to the material 230 when located in the passageway.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00153] In the embodiment of figure 16, the cup body 1534 is not removed before the container is placed into the disinfection machine. In this regard, the dispensing tube 122 that pierces the frangible component 1570 pierces the cup body 1534. In this regard, the features associated with the closure are incorporated into the cup body 1534, at least with respect to those features that relate to inserting the hollow dispensing tube into the bottle. Thus, figure 16 presents an exemplary container without a removable cup body or otherwise where the cup body need not be removed and is not removed when utilized with the disinfection machine. [00154] In view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an assembly for sealing a bottle, comprising a generally cylindrical inverted cup body (e.g., the cup body 1534 or the cup body 1834) and a gas permeable component (e.g., the material 1530 or the component 1530A). (Note that in some embodiments, the inverted cup body is conical / truncated conically shaped, and can be other shapes – any shape that can enable the teachings herein can be utilized in some embodiments.) In this exemplary embodiment, the cup body has at least one orifice in the inverted bottom thereof (ports 1560), which orifice is barriered by the permeable component. In an embodiment, the gas permeable component extends across at least 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of an interior diameter of the cup normal to a longitudinal axis of the cup. In an embodiment, the component can extend the full length of D26, or less than the full value of D26. [00155] In an embodiment, the cup body, which can be monolithic, provides reinforcement against movement of the permeable component in a direction of the orifice away from an opening of the cup body. This is achieved by the bottom (top when inverted) of the cup body that contains the frangible component. In an embodiment, the permeable component is directly against the bottom (top when inverted) of the cup body for at least 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the total socap surface area (not including the ports) of the bottom (top when inverted) of surface area of the inside of the bottom of the cup body (the space inside of the boundaries of the side wall(s) of the cup body / the space inside D26). [00156] In an embodiment, the inverted cup body and the permeable component establish a cup assembly and the permeable component establishes a base (as opposed to side) inside surface of the cup assembly. In an embodiment, the at least one orifice is at a topmost portion of the cup and the permeable component is as close to the at least one orifice as structurally possible. In an embodiment, the permeable component is within 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.9, 0.8,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.075, 0.05, 0.025, or 0.01 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001 mm increments of the at least one orifice (and this can be for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or more orifices or all orifices. [00157] In an embodiment, if the cup body was positioned rightside up, the cup would hold zero liquid beyond meniscus in the absence of the permeable component (e.g., because of the orifices / ports). That said, even with the permeable component, in some embodiments, the cup would hold zero liquid after 1 hour at 21 degrees C at 1 atmosphere. In an embodiment, the liquid is water or hydrogen peroxide at one or more of the various concentrations detailed herein. [00158] In an embodiment, there is a container that comprises an assembly including a cup body and a gas permeable component. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup body can correspond to the cup body 1534 or the cup body 1834 by way of example, and can correspond to other types of cup bodies. Any cup body that can enable the teachings detailed herein can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, gas permeable component can correspond to a block of material and/or can correspond to a subassembly in accordance with the teachings herein, such as by way of example, the assembly of figure 17. In this exemplary embodiment, the permeable component is trapped between the cup body and the bottle at an opening end of the bottle. This is shown in figure 16 and figure 18 by way of example only. [00159] In an embodiment, the container, when assembled with the liquid therein and ready for delivery / shipment (the container manufacturing process is completed), has a clamping force on the vent component that is at least and/or equal to and/or no more than 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 Newton increments. [00160] In an embodiment, the clamping force is due to and/or maintained by (at the time of shipping / completion of the container) screwing of the cup onto the bottle. In an embodiment, the clamping force is due to positioning of the cup body relative to the bottle (the “lower” the cup body is onto the bottle, the greater the force). In an embodiment, the clamping force is maintained by a weld holding the cup relative to the bottle at a specific location. In an embodiment, the clamping force is maintained by a snap coupling relative to the cup and the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT bottle. In this regard, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a male/female snap coupling can be utilized. Figure 20 shows an exemplary embodiment of this, where, for example, there is male protrusion 2042 and female receptacle 2044, all rotationally symmetric about axis 1616, although in other embodiments, this need not be the case. In an embodiment, there can be two, three, four, five, six, or more separate distinct male portions and/or female portions (the male portions could be segmented and distinct and female portion could be a single female portion that extends completely around on the inside of the cup about the axis 1616). In an embodiment, there can be a single male portion and/or a female portion, and this single male portion and/or female portion need not extend completely around the axis 1616. In an exemplary embodiment, it is sufficient that there is a single male portion and female portion on one side for example. Any snap coupling that can enable the teachings detailed herein can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. In any event, in an exemplary embodiment, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a male coupling protrusion and/or a series of protrusions can extend about the neck of the bottle, and there can be a corresponding female portion on the cup which receives the male portion (and/or visa-versa), and when the cup is pushed over the male portion, the male portion elastically deforms inward and then the male portion “snaps” outward into the female portion, the cup is held in position relative to the bottle, at least after any relief of any flexible components utilized for the snap coupling. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the male component and/or the female component can be elastically deformed during the assembly process. That said, in an exemplary embodiment, there can be plastic deformation associated with the snap coupling as well. In an embodiment, this is all that is utilized to hold the cup to the bottle, while in other embodiments, welding or the like can be utilized. In an embodiment, a crimp can be utilized after the cup is placed onto the bottle, which can entail permanently deforming/plastically deforming the cup and/or the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be a male portion that extends about the cup on the shoulder of the bottle, which can be elastically deformed into a female portion on the outer periphery of the cup at the bottom of the cup, which can thus hold the cup relative to the bottle. [00161] FIG.42 shows an exemplary arrangement where cup 3442 and neck 1142 has a male- female snap coupling arrangement established by elements 2044 and 2042 as discussed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup 3442 snaps onto the neck 1142 in an analogous manner to the way that the exemplary closure assembly 21442 described above Snaps onto the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, the snap fit is configured to enable the cup (here, cap or lid) to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT be removed from the neck of the bottle to achieve results that are analogous to the action of removal of the cap detailed above with respect to the embodiment where the cap is screwed onto the neck. In this exemplary embodiment, the male element 2042 and/or the female element 2044 can be sized and dimensioned to enable the relative ease of removal of the cup 3442 from the neck, and in some embodiments, can enable the replacement of the cup on the neck again utilizing the snap fit coupling. That said, in an exemplary embodiment, the snap fit can be an arrangement that is designed and configured for essentially one time use. In this regard, the only way to remove the 3442 is to elastically deform and/or break male protrusion 2042 and/or a portion of the female cavity 2044, which elastic deformation and/or breaking can be achieved by a sufficient upward force or otherwise a sufficient force applied to the 3442 away from the neck 1142. In an exemplary embodiment, a force of less than, greater than and/or equal to 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 Newtons or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 Newton increments can be sufficient to remove the cup 3442 from the neck 1142 (and these values can be the case for the other snap couplings detailed herein as well), and this can be to plastically deform and/or elastically deform and/or break the protrusion and/or the receptacle, depending on the embodiment. Note that in an exemplary embodiment, the downward force required to snap couple the cup onto the neck can correspond to any of these values as well, in the interest of textual economy, where, for example, in at least some embodiments, the removal force would be greater than the force required to snap fit the cup onto the neck by an amount such as, for example, at least, no more than and/or equal to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175 or 200% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments more than the force that it took to snap couple the cup in the first instance. [00162] And to be clear, in some embodiments, the arrangement is configured so that the only way to remove the cup 3442 is to elastically deform and/or break one or more of the snap coupling components. While in another embodiment, all removal scenarios will simply result in plastic deformation of the protrusion and/or the receptacle of the snap coupling arrangement. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, in view of the above, the cup 3442 is snap fitted on to the bottle as opposed to screwed onto the bottle. But note that in an exemplary embodiment, the two arrangements can be combined. The snap fitting could be used in combination with the screw arrangement. This can have utilitarian value with respect to an arrangement that provides for redundancy or otherwise provides for an indication that the cup is sufficiently screwed onto the neck, where the indication that is provided by the snap
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT couplings snapping into place is the indication that the cup is sufficiently screwed onto the neck. [00163] In view of the above, there is container, comprising a bottle, such as bottle 2, and a generally cylindrical inverted cup body, such as any of those detailed herein, at least as modified as will be soon described, but in this exemplary embodiment, such as cup 3442. In an embodiment, there is also a gas permeable component. Here, the generally cylindrical inverted cup body is snap coupled onto the bottle in general, and the neck of the bottle in particular. In this embodiment, at least one of the gas permeable component is within a volume established by the cup body, as seen in FIG. 42 or the gas permeable component is within a volume established by the bottle, also as seen in FIG.42, all by way of example. This said, in an alternate embodiment, the gas permeable component can be outside a volume established by the bottle in general, and the neck in particular. In this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component can still be inside a volume established by the cup body. Consistent with the teachings above, the snap coupling is established by a male portion at least carried by the bottle and a female portion of the cup bod and/or visa-versa (note that while embodiments herein have depicted a single male component and a single female component that extends radially outside and inside the respective components, in an alternate embodiment, these components can be bifurcated or trifurcated or divided even further, such as by way of example by division about the radial direction, so that there are two or three or four or five or more components that can be evenly spaced or can be unevenly spaced about the radial direction. That said, in an alternate embodiment, there could be two or more snap couplings that are arrayed in the axial direction, such as, for example, above components 2044 and 2042 as shown in figure 24 (e.g., those components could be duplicated above the components shown). And note that in an alternate embodiment, for the second set of snap couplings, the male component could be on the cup and the female component could be on the neck of the bottle or vice versa. [00164] In an exemplary embodiment, the male portion is a monolithic portion of the bottle or a monolithic portion of the body of the cup, while in an alternative embodiment, the male portion can be a portion that constitutes structure that is separate from structure of the bottle and/or the body of the cup. By way of example only and not by way limitation, a metal ring made of spring steel could be placed into a groove that is located on the outside of the neck 1142, and this ring could extend outward away from the outsides of the neck and can be sufficiently flexible or otherwise angled to establish a male snap coupling portion. That said, in an embodiment, the ring could be interference fitted about the smooth outer surface of the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT neck 1142 where the ring compresses about the neck in a manner that is sufficient to hold the ring in place. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, the ring could be heated so that the inner diameter expands to a diameter larger than the diameter of the neck, and then placed over the neck and moved to the desired axial position, and then as the ring shrinks, the ring will grip and otherwise secure itself to the neck so it will not move axially, and thus operate as the male portion. Corollary to this is that this ring could be shrunken by exposure to for example, dry ice, and the ring could shrink, and thus could be moved into the inside of the cup, and located in a groove that extends about the radial axis thereof, and then as the ring warms, the ring would expand into this groove, and this ring could have an interior that functions as the male portion. In an embodiment, there is no groove in the cup, and instead, the expansion creates the sufficient interference fit to hold the ring in the axial direction. [00165] In an embodiment, the female portion is monolithic with the neck or the body of the cup. In an embodiment, the female portion can be a component that is a separate structure from the body of the cup. When the insider on the outside can be placed about the neck and/or in the interior of the cup and the above-noted shrinking and/or expansion actions can be undertaken to achieve a utilitarian result so as to establish that ring as the female component of the snap coupling. [00166] As noted above, in some embodiments, the cup is readily removable from the neck in a manner that overcomes the snap coupling. In an exemplary embodiment, the removal does not permanently damage or otherwise permanently deform any portion of the coupling, while in an alternate embodiment, the removal permanently deforms or otherwise permanently damages at least a portion of the snap coupling. [00167] And in the interest of textual economy, it is noted that any of the features detailed herein associated with the snap coupling between the bottle and the cup can correspond to an alternate disclosure associated with snap coupling of the closure body and the neck provided that the art enable such, unless otherwise noted. This can also correspond to any of the teachings detailed herein with respect to the structure, such as the housing, that supports the vent material for example, where the housing is snap coupled into the neck or into the body and/or into the cup (embodiments include a cup that includes the vent material). [00168] In an embodiment, such as where the cup is welded to the bottle, the container constitutes a capless container. In an exemplary embodiment, the only way to remove the cup is to damage or otherwise destroy the container. But in alternate embodiments, the container
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT constitutes a capped container. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, if the cup body can be removed from the bottle without damaging the cup body and the gas permeable component, the cup body would correspond to a cap, if it met the other requirements herein. In an exemplary embodiment this would be a cup body that interfaces with the neck of the bottle utilizing a screw thread where there is no elastic deformation by way of example when the cup body is screwed onto the neck of the bottle. Elastic deformation may or may not render the cup removable, depending on the extent of the deformation and how much that deformation can be reversed when the cup is removed. [00169] And note that in an exemplary embodiment, the container is of a configuration where the cup body can be installed onto the bottle, removed from the bottle, and then reinstalled onto the bottle, all without damaging the container, and all without adding anything to the container during this process. In an exemplary embodiment, upon the reinstallation of the cup body to the bottle, the container is in the exact same state that it was prior to the removal of the cup body, albeit there might be some gas escape as would be expected. [00170] In view of the above, it can be seen that in at least some exemplary embodiments, there is a container that includes a bottle, wherein the cup body is screwed onto the bottle so as to attach the cup body to the bottle. Conversely, in an exemplary embodiment, the cup body and/or the bottle are screwthreadless bottles. That is, there is no screwthread, in contrast to the embodiment of figure 16 by way of example. [00171] In view of the above, in an embodiment, there is an assembly for sealing a bottle, comprising a generally cylindrical inverted cup body, such as the cup bodies described above in figures 20, 18, 16, and 15 by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, consistent with the teachings above, this assembly also includes a gas permeable component. In this exemplary embodiment, the permeable component is attached to the cup body. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the permeable component could be interference fitted in the base of the cup body. The permeable component could be screwed into the base of the cup body or crimped into the base of the cup body or adhesively bonded to the base of the cup body. This as opposed to a mere slip fit between the permeable component and the cup body, or an embodiment where there is a gap between the cup body and the permeable component. And note that when the cup body and the bottle are attached to one another and the permeable component is trapped in between, that is not a permeable component attached the cup body. That is, a permeable component can be attached to the assembly of the cup body and the bottle. Consistent with the teachings detailed above, the gas permeable component can be a block of
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT material permeable to gas and less permeable to liquid and/or can be an assembly of a material permeable to gas and less permeable to liquid along with a support structure supporting material. In an embodiment, the gas permeable component includes a membrane that is permeable to gas and less permeable to liquid. In the membrane can be used with a support structure or can be used without a support structure. [00172] In an embodiment, there is a container, comprising the bottle having an opening and the assembly that includes the inverted cup body and the gas permeable component. The gas permeable component spans an entire width of the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component includes a gas permeable material that spans an entire width of the opening. Both of these embodiments are depicted in figure 16 by way of example, and depending on how the arrangement of figure 17 is applied, if the support structure is completely outboard of the opening of the bottle, the gas permeable material would span the entire width of the opening. [00173] Conversely, in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component can include a gas permeable material that spans less than an entire width of the opening. [00174] In an embodiment, the gas permeable material spans less than, greater than, and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range values therebetween in 1% increments of the opening of the bottle. [00175] In an exemplary embodiment, the container is a bungles container, as seen in the embodiment of figure 16. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and 10 detailed above, which are bunged containers. [00176] As noted above, the cup body includes a frangible seal portion 1570 that operates in a manner that is the same as or otherwise analogous to the frangible seal of the embodiment of figures 2 and 3 and figure 10. Here, the frangible seal is built into the base of the cup 1534 and is located in between the various ports 1560. In this exemplary embodiment, a diameter of the frangible seal D22 can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible seal is an area of reduced material thickness in total or over a portion thereof that is conducive to puncturing by the dispensing tube detailed above. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, a thickness of the material of the cup body over the area encompassed within D22 is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, or 3.5 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. In an embodiment, these thicknesses are present over the entire span represented by D22, or a subset thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, these thicknesses are present over less than, greater than, and/or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the span represented by D22, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments. In an exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned thicknesses can be achieved via scoring of the material of the cup body in a portion that initially starts out with a higher thickness. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, if the local thickness of the base of the cup is for example 2 mm, the material could be cut to form a trench in an X shape configuration (when viewed from above) extending across the span D22, which trench is for example 1.3 mm deep, and thus the remaining thickness at the bottom of the trench of the material would be 0.7 mm. This would establish a weakened area where, when the dispensing tube is pushed through the frangible area, the frangible area will break at that location. Note also that in an exemplary embodiment, the area above the frangible seal could be “hogged out” with a router or the like so as to establish that the intersection relative the other portions of the base of the cup body. In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the frangible seal portion of the cup body (the area within the dimension D22 in the embodiment of figure 16) relative to the areas immediate adjacent such is less than, greater than and/or equal to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the value of the thickness of the area of the cup body immediately adjacent to the frangible area. Note that this is but an exemplary embodiment. Any device and/or system for and/or method of controlling the force needed to pierce the frangible are can be used in some embodiments. In an embodiment, the thickness of the body immediately adjacent the frangible area is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25 or 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. Note that some or all of the dimensions/features of the frangible seal of the embodiment of FIG. 16 can be applicable to the frangible seal of the embodiment of FIGs. 10 and 2, for example, in the interests of textual economy (where, for example, the base of the cup corresponds to the portions on either side of the frangible seal). [00177] In the interests of completeness, interior diameters of the orifices / ports can be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25 or 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. And while the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 15 has the ports located symmetrically around the frangible seal area, other embodiments may not be so arranged. In an exemplary embodiment, there could be one single port by way of example located only on one side of the frangible seal. There could be two or three or more ports clustered on one side of the seal relative to an opposite side of the seal. And in the interest of textual economy, it is noted that the base portions of the cup that are not thin / not of reduced thickness for the frangible seal portion can span the distance that corresponds to the value D26 minus D22, and may or may not take into account the orifices 1560 depending on the cross-section (the view of figure 16 shows that the base section is relatively limited, but that is because this is a cross- section through the orifices 1516 – if this cross-section was on a plane 45° relative to the plane shown in figure 16 about the longitudinal axis 1616, the base of the cup body would be solid up to the beginning and end of dimension D22). [00178] It is also noted that the gas permeable component is also piercable by the dispensing tube. In view of this, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an assembly for a closing of a bottle, which includes a generally cylindrical inverted cup body, and a permeable component, wherein the cup body and the permeable component are pierceable by dispensing tube in a single piercing operation. [00179] The embodiment of figure 16 will be described in terms of an arrangement where the dispensing tube 122 pierces the gas permeable component 1530. That is, portions of the material of the components separate from one another. But note that in other embodiments, the material 1530 can instead or in addition to this collapse into the neck 11 and otherwise be dislodged from its position adjacent the opening of the bottle into the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the dispensing tube 122 pushes the gas permeable component 1530 into the neck 11 to make room for the dispensing tube or otherwise for the dispensing tube to gain access to the interior of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the disinfection machine is configured to seal the orifices 1560 or otherwise trap any liquid that might escape through the orifices 1560. Any disclosure herein of piercing of the gas permeable component corresponds to an alternate disclosure of collapsing the gas permeable component / dislodging the component and vice versa unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such, all in the interest of textual economy.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT In an exemplary embodiment, the cup body and the permeable component are pierceable by a downward force of less than, greater than, and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 N increments applied by a rod with a circular cross-section of 2 mm diameter with a 1 mm radius hemispherical end and/or with a 3 mm diameter and a 1.5 mm radius end or a 1.5 mm diameter with a 0.75 mm radius end all ends with a polished smooth surface. But this is for test purposes to evaluate the resulting product. In practice, consistent with the teachings above, the dispensing tube has a sharpened point. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the cup body and the gas permeable component are pierceable by a downward force of less than, greater than, and/or equal to, in some embodiments, of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.56, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 N increments applied by a rod with a circular cross-section of 2 mm diameter with an end that is completely cut back from one side to the other at a 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 degree angle, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments applied against the assembly. In an embodiment, at least some of the noted forces are forces that will be experienced with existing disinfection machines when the existing disinfection machines are utilized with the some of the exemplary teachings detailed herein. To be clear, in an exemplary embodiment, at least some of the containers herein are configured to be backwards compatible with existing disinfection machines. In an exemplary embodiment, at least some of the teachings detailed herein constitute “adapters” and adapter technology that adapt the bottle for use in these heritage machines, all by way of example only and not by way of limitation. [00180] Consistent with the embodiment of figure 15, the cup body has orifices, and the piercing is through a portion of the cup body located between the orifices. In an exemplary embodiment, the permeable component has sufficient structural rigidity that the permeable component remains in place during piercing relative to the base of the cup. In an embodiment, the maximum displacement of the permeable component from the base of the cup is no more than and/or equal to 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, or 8 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments. In an exemplary embodiment, this can correspond to or otherwise result from the permeable material “bowing” downward until the material is punctured and/or being drug downward as a result of friction by the outer surface of the rod at the punctured portion of the material.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00181] In an embodiment where there is a container wherein liquid is closed in the bottle of the container by the gas permeable component and the cup body, in accordance with the teachings detailed herein, the gas permeable component is trapped between the body and an opening of the bottle. This is shown in the embodiment of figure 16, and differs from the embodiment of figure 10, where the gas permeable component, to the extent it is trapped, is trapped within the opening as opposed to between the opening. Granted, in the embodiment of figure 16, a portion of the permeable material might be “inside” the opening because the outer periphery is compressed by the top surface of the opening and the cup body, but still, the trapping is between the body and the opening of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening of the bottle includes a surface facing a base of the cup, which is the top surface of the bottle neck in figure 16 (the horizontal surface). The surface directly interfaces with the gas permeable component as seen in the embodiment of figure 16. In an embodiment where the gas permeable component includes a gas permeable material, the opening of the bottle may include a surface facing the base of the cup, which surface could directly interface with the gas permeable material or not directly interface with the gas permeable material. With respect to the latter, this could be the case with respect to the embodiment that utilizes the gas permeable component of figure 17 by way of example only and not by way of limitation, if the support structure of the component is the part that is clamped between the top of the neck and the cup. [00182] To be clear, in an exemplary embodiment, other than de minimus amounts of the permeable component that might flex inward or be driven inward a slight amount owing to the clamping, the opening area of the bottle is devoid of material other than potentially liquid and/or gas. [00183] In an exemplary embodiment with respect to a distance from the top of the bottle/the opening of the bottle that extends 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120 or 150 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, when the container is completely assembled and filled with liquid, other than liquid and gas, the volume of the bottle from the opening to that distance (e.g., 18 mm downward from the opening) is 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments empty, again, other than liquid or gas), concomitant with the fact that there is no bung in the opening. The volume can be measured by “displacement” method, such as by taking the displacement of the bung of the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiment of figure 2 and subtracting that from the total volume without the bung of the bottle with respect to the just detailed measurements. [00184] In an exemplary embodiment, without trapping of the permeable component between the cup body and the bottle, the permeable component would be shifted in its entirety with piercing of the generally cylindrical inverted cup body from an opposite side of the permeable component towards the permeable component away from a pre-piercing location of the permeable component. In this regard, the trapping is sufficient to hold the gas permeable component in place, albeit with potential bowing or deflection owing to the piercing component applying pressure onto the gas permeable component. [00185] In an exemplary embodiment, the clamping force on the gas permeable component can have any of the values noted above as a result of the trapping arrangement. In an exemplary embodiment, this force is distributed effectively equally about the top of the neck and effectively equally about the portion of the cup that interfaces with the permeable component. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the forces can be divided up and concentrated at certain locations. That is, the clamping forces can be higher at some portions of the top surface of the neck than others, and the same concept applies with respect to the cup. In an exemplary embodiment, the clamping results in a clamping pressure that does not vary more than 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, or 5%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments from a minimum or a maximum clamping force. (Note that unless otherwise specified, relative percentages disclosed herein correspond to a disclosure of percentage variation from the minimum and a disclosure of percentage variation from the maximum unless otherwise noted.) [00186] In an exemplary embodiment, again where there is a container with the cup body and the gas permeable component and the bottle having an opening, the permeable component functions as a major seal for the bottle opening when the cup body and the gas permeable component is attached to the bottle. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and 10 above, where the major seal is the body of the closure / the body of the bung. Granted, the gas permeable material does form part of the seal, but it is a minor seal for the bottle. As noted above, the cap of the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and 10 above do not form a seal for the bottle. By “major seal,” it is meant that the seal that is formed is the predominant seal of the container. [00187] In an exemplary embodiment, a cross-sectional area of the gas permeable component taken on a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the bottle has an interior any area that is at
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT least 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the interior area of a section of the interior of the opening of the bottle (i.e., a cross-section of the neck with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 16) lying on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the bottle within 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments of the gas permeable component and/or immediately adjacent to the gas permeable component. Indeed, with respect to the embodiments above, the gas permeable component spans the entire length of the opening, although in other embodiments, this is not necessarily the case. [00188] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is the only structure of the container between the opening and the generally cylindrically inverted cup body. Consistent with the embodiment shown above, the gas permeable component can be completely inside the cup body when the container is assembled. In some exemplary embodiments, the gas permeable component is the only component directly covering the opening as seen in figure 16. The portions of the base of the cup body facing the opening indirectly cover the opening. [00189] In an exemplary embodiment, a leak rate of the liquid, when the container was placed upside down with a longitudinal axis of the container parallel to a direction of gravity, and the opening faces downward, and the container is not subjected to any lateral acceleration, at sea level at 1 atm pressure and 70°F ambient environment, is no more than 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments mm3/hour and/or mm3/day and/or is no more than 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70, or any value or range of is therebetween in 0.1 increments grams/hour and/or grams/day. Note that while these values are presented in terms of the embodiment of figure 16, it is noted that these values can correspond to performance features of one or of the other embodiments detailed herein providing that the art enables such unless otherwise noted. [00190] In view of the above, it can be seen that embodiments include a disinfection material supply and storage apparatus. In this exemplary embodiment, the supply and storage apparatus can include any one or more of the components detailed herein, such as, for example, the generally cylindrical inverted cup body, the gas permeable component, a disinfecting liquid, and a bottle having an opening, wherein th disinfecting liquid is contained in the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus is configured to store the disinfecting material for at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 months, or any value or range of values therebetween in one month increments without any
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT additional components. In an embodiment, there is no removable cap of the apparatus. The apparatus is capless. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus can have any one or more of the features detailed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is directly exposed to an ambient environment of the disinfection material supply apparatus upon completion of production of the apparatus. This is the embodiment of figure 16. This is contrasted to, for example, the vent components of the embodiments of figures 2 and 3 and 10, where there is a cap that covers the opening of the neck of the bottle and the shields the vent components from direct exposure to the ambient environment. The vent components would be indirectly exposed to the ambient environment owing to the fact that there is a gas passage. By rough analogy, a roof of a house, or the windows of a house, are directly exposed to an ambient environment of the house, whereas a living room of the house is only indirectly exposed when the windows thereof are open. [00191] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a disinfection material supply and storage apparatus as detailed herein, that includes any one or more of the models detailed herein, that includes a disinfection liquid contained in the bottle wherein the disinfection material supply and storage apparatus is in a long-term storable state. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the apparatus can be a single apparatus in a closed box used for shipping or storage. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the apparatus can be in a box with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in one increments other apparatuses. This can be for shipping purposes, where the box is then utilized to store the apparatus for the long-term, where the long-term can be any of the temporal periods detailed herein by way of example. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an apparatus that does not include a cap that is in a box for long-term storage. And note that embodiments include any one or more of the configurations as described herein (e.g., a container without a cap and/or without a dust cover over the permeable component, etc.) being stored after completion of the container / assembly for storing and dispensing fluid prior to use or otherwise prior to dispensing of any of the liquid contained in the container and/or prior to piercing by a dispensing tube and/or prior to being inserted / placed into the disinfection machine for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 weeks, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 months, or any value or range of values therebetween in one week increments.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00192] In an exemplary embodiment, there is no dust protection or the like for the vent component / permeable component in general and the permeable material in particular. In this regard, again where the direction of gravity scenario is useful in explaining the phenomenon, dust or dirt or debris falling in the direction of gravity will directly impinge upon the permeable component and/or the permeable material without having to dog leg or had a lateral movement direction thereof. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiment of figure 2, where dust would fall down and then have to be blown upwards in between the cap and the neck and then move laterally inboard and then down. In that regard, the cap 34 provides dust protection. And in a similar vein, in the exemplary embodiment of figure 16, there is also no dust protection for the frangible seal as contrasted to the embodiment of figure 2. [00193] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a direct path along a single vector starting at a location outside of the container to a location inside the container through the gas permeable component and/or the gas permeable material which only passes through the gas permeable component and/or the gas permeable material. This exists in the embodiment of figure 16 with respect to a vector parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body (offset from the axis in this embodiment). This does not exist in the embodiment of figure 2 owing to the cap. The direct path does exist in the embodiment of figure 2, but that path would be comprised of multiple vectors that are angled relative to one another to “snake” between the cap and the neck and then into the passageway to reach the gas permeable material. And note that while the embodiments disclosed herein represent gas permeable components that can be reached by vertical vectors / vectors parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, other embodiments can be such that the gas permeable components can be reached by horizontal vectors or otherwise vectors normal to the longitudinal axis of the container, such as embodiments where the gas permeable component is located facing the side of the container as opposed to the top of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, these vectors can be obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis and/or in axis normal to the longitudinal axis. [00194] It is noted that some embodiments include storing the container in a box or otherwise shipping the container and a box. The ambient environment of the container, and thus the disinfection material supply and storage apparatus, would be the ambient environment within the box, as that is the ambient environment of the model and the apparatus. [00195] As noted, embodiments include a capless container. As used herein, a cap is a cap that can be at least removed without damaging the container. Caps can be removable and reinstallable in some embodiments, and thus these caps would be reinstallable caps. Note that
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT by “damaging the container,” it is meant that the container can no longer be used for its intended purpose which is to store and supply liquid. This is distinguished from, for example, the ubiquitous tamper indicator arrangements of, for example plastic water containers, where the container is configured so that there is a ring that is located on the neck of the container, which ring has “threads” which extends to the cap, and when the cap is removed, these threads break. Typically, these threads are plastic threads. There may be five or seven or 10 of these arrayed about a neck of a bottle. In some scenarios, these tamper evident components are more than threads or otherwise thicker than threads in that they may form weakened portions of the overall body of the bottle. The point is that tamper evident components that “break” do not damage the container. They instead render a container which can be used to store and supply liquid, but which indicates previous tampering at some point in time. [00196] Also, as used herein, a cap is a component that spans the entire opening of the bottle in all directions with a non-permeable to liquid and gas structure. This is seen in the embodiments of figure 2 and figure 10. Conversely, the embodiment of figure 16 does not have a component that spans the entire opening in all directions, owing to the ports in the base of the inverted cup. There are portions that span the entire opening in an uninterrupted manner (not shown in figure 16, but again, this is present if another cross-section is taken 45° offset from the plane of the view of figure 16), but still, the inverted cup does not have a component that spans the opening in all directions uninterrupted. [00197] Now, if the embodiment of figure 16 had an uninterrupted base of the inverted cup, the cup would be a cap. [00198] In an exemplary embodiment, the inverted cup body and the gas permeable component establish a closure that is locked onto the bottle. Figure 21 and figure 22 show exemplary embodiments of portions of the inverted cup body and the neck of the bottle respectively according to an exemplary embodiment that utilizes locking technology. Here, on the inside of the cup body 2134, which can correspond to any of the cup bodies disclosed herein, there are ratchet teeth 2152 as shown (FIG.21 is a cross-sectional view of a cup body taken normal to the longitudinal axis of the cup body at a location where the ratchet teeth 2152 are present, which could be any distance within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 mm, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 mm increments from the opening of the cup body (the bottom with respect to the orientation figure 16)). The neck 2211 of the exemplary bottle utilizing locking technology includes mail lock teeth 2252 as shown (where figure 22 represents a cross-sectional view of the neck portion taken on the same plane as that
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT of figure 21). The teeth 2252 are elastically and/or plastically deformable. In use, the cup body 2134 is rotated in one direction, typically the direction of thread travel when screwing the cup body onto the neck, causing the cup body to travel downward along the neck, and ultimately engaging with the male teeth 2252, where the ratchet teeth 2152 deform the male teeth 2252 inboard a sufficient amount to provide clearance, and then when the cup body is seated fully on the neck or otherwise seated a sufficient amount, the rotation of the cup body is halted. The teeth 2252 will spring outward and interface with the ratchet teeth 2152 in such a manner that the cup body cannot be rotated in the reverse direction to remove the cup body or otherwise unscrew cup body from the neck. This is because the leading edges of the teeth 2252 will be trapped in the valleys of the teeth 2152 owing to the ratcheting action that occurs when the cup body is screwed onto the neck. This thus establishes a one-way lock. [00199] Now, embodiments can also include a two way lock, or more accurately, a lock that operates to prevent the cup from rotating in two directions once the lock is installed. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, a dowel pin could be inserted through a hole in the cup body (by way of example with respect to the orientation figure 16, normal to the longitudinal direction of the container and in the plane shown in figure 16) and into a well of the neck, and the pin could be interference fitted into one or both. If the well and the hole are sized properly, such as sized to create an interference fit, when the dowel is in place, the cup body cannot be rotated counterclockwise or clockwise. The neck portion of the bottle or another portion of the bottle could include a “beefed up” section that provides sufficient amount of material for the well so that the hole for the pin does not extend all the way into the bottle, although in other embodiments, providing that the pin is of an arrangement that will seal the hole, the hole could extend all the way to the bottle (an adhesive or sealant might be used in some embodiments). [00200] And while the embodiment just detailed contemplates a dowel pin that extends horizontally with respect to the embodiment of figure 16, in other embodiments, the dowel pin could extend through a skirt of the inverted cup and into the shoulders of the bottle in a direction that is oblique from the longitudinal axis and the horizontal, or even in some embodiments, parallel to the longitudinal axis. [00201] And while the ratchet system has been disclosed as being on an interior of the cup body, in another embodiment, the ratchet system could be applied to a skirt that extends about an outside of the cup body. Note also that the male teeth and the ratchet teeth could be reversed with respect to the components of which they are a part. Any device, system, and/or method
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT that will enable the locking in accordance with the teachings detailed herein can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. [00202] As seen, embodiments include arrangements that provide a positive retention of the inverted cup body to the bottle. This as contrasted to, for example, the retention that results from a screw thread arrangement such as that of figure 2 or figure 10, where it is friction forces and the micro elastic and potentially plastic deformation of the thread portions and/or other portions of the neck and the cup body that cause the cup body to be retained on to the rest of the bottle. The arrangement of figure 21 and figure 22 provide components, the teeth, that engage with one another provide the positive retention because there is a component that abuts another component with respect to a direction of removal. The dowel pins are another example of positive retention. Conversely, if a screw or a dowel was used to extend through the side wall of the cup for example, but not extend into the neck or the shoulders of the bottle, etc., but instead would operate on a principle of operation that the friction force between the end of the dowel pin and the surface of the bottle would hold the cup in place, that is not positive retention. Conversely, if a screw or the like with a sharp edge was utilized, and this sharp edge was screwed into the shoulder the bottle for example a certain distance, so that a sufficient portion of a distal end of the screw was below grade relative to the bottle, this would be positive retention. [00203] In view of embodiments where the inverted cup body is not meant to be removed, in an exemplary embodiment, the cup body can be gripless. In this regard, referring to the embodiment of figure 2, it can be seen that the cap 34 includes longitudinally extending ridges 54 that form a grip on the lateral outside of the cap 34. That is, the lateral outside of the cap 34 is not smooth. Conversely, the lateral outside of the inverted cup body of figure 16, etc., is smooth and does not include a grip, and thus the cup body is gripless. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup body is devoid of knurling for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the average at the macroscopic level of the outside of the cup body over an area extending 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more, or a range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments contiguous square centimeters and/or a cylindrical arc at the same “height” of the cup (from the bottom for example) on an outside of the inverted cup, such as the lateral outside of the inverted cup, has a surface roughness on average at the macroscopic level of that of or within 30% of that which results from injection molded plastic. Conversely, the addition of the longitudinal grooves such as that shown in figure 2 would result in a macroscopic level surface roughness larger than that. In an embodiment, the surface roughness on average is no more than 60, 120, 200,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 300, or 400 RMS, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 RMS increments. In an embodiment, over a 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mm, or any value or range of values in 1 mm increments arcuate distance at the same height of the cup, the height of the surface of the cup (outer radius) does not change more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 2,5 or 30%, or any value or range of values therebetween. [00204] Figure 23 presents another exemplary embodiment, which utilizes the cap 34 of the embodiment of figure 10 as detailed above, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, but which cap could be another arrangement, and a different version of a closure 2314 that includes a different bung body 2341 from that disclosed above and a different gas permeable component 2330 from that disclosed above. Here, the gas permeable component 2330 comprises a ring of gas permeable material having the permeability properties detailed herein by way of example that is coaxial in this exemplary embodiment with the longitudinal axis 2316 of the body 2341/closure 2314/neck 2311 of the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, gas from the liquid or otherwise gas internal to the bottle is vented by a route that takes the gas between the body 2341 and the neck 2311 upwards to the gas permeable material 2330, and then laterally through the material 2330, and then downwards between the cap 34 and the outside of the neck 2311 of the bottle. As seen with respect to the graphic presenting the three lines, one of which is line 2350, the path of the gas through the gas permeable component has a horizontal component as the primary component thereof. Put another way, in an embodiment, the gas cannot travel through the gas permeable component without moving horizontally or otherwise without moving in a line that includes a horizontal component. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiment of figure 3 and figure 10, and figure 16 for that matter where the outgassing through the gas permeable material can be accomplished with a completely vertical line thereof. This is not to say that the line of gas flow would not have a horizontal component to it at the microscopic level or otherwise due to the intricacies associated with the material at the base level. This is to say that with respect to the overall structure and layout of the body and the neck and the cap and the gas permeable material, a direction of gas flow through the gas permeable material could have a totally vertical line. This is in contrast to the arrangement of figure 23, where the gas flow must have a horizontal component to the line thereof through the gas permeable material. [00205] To be clear, in an exemplary embodiment, if say the passageway of the embodiment of figure 10 was such that the horizontal dog leg was sufficient to accept the gas permeable material rotated 90° from that shown in figure 10, this would also meet the arrangement where
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the gas flow must have a horizontal component to the line thereof through the gas permeable membrane. But that arrangement does not require such owing to the layout of the passageway and the material. And note that it is not whether the passageway has a horizontal component that controls per se. It is the combination of the layout of the gas permeable material and the passageway that results in the horizontal component. [00206] Accordingly, the embodiment of figure 23 is such that there must be a horizontal component of a line of gas flow from one side of the material 2330 to the other side of the material. [00207] One way to consider this is to consider the most extreme line possible with the most vertical component thereof. Thus, starting on a first side (liquid side) of the passageway in which the permeable material is located and/or a first side of the material, at the lowest location or the highest location or the leftmost location or the rightmost location, and then charting a line to a second side of the material at the opposite location closest to the starting location. In all of the embodiments presented above, the resulting line has at least a horizontal component, except for the embodiment of FIG.23. Now, start from different locations on one side of the material and try to chart out a purely horizontal line somehow to any location on an opposite side of the material. As seen in the embodiments above, it is only the embodiment of figure 23 that results in such. The same can be done with a purely vertical line by the way, and this would exclude the embodiment of FIG.23. [00208] Still with reference to figure 23, it can be seen that the bung body 2314 is threaded on the outside thereof. Here, there is a male thread 2344 that extends about the outer periphery thereof, which interfaces with a female thread on the inside of the neck 2311 of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the threads of the bung and the neck (interior) are arranged in a manner consistent with the teachings above with respect to the thread on the outside of the neck and on the inside of the cap with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 and figure 2, with the comparable functionality detailed above. That is, the interface between the bung body and the neck in general, and the respective thread in particular, prevents a gas tight or airtight seal between the two components so as to enable gas to travel from the inside of the bottle to the outside of the bottle. The thread can be segmented as seen in the embodiment of FIG.2. [00209] While the embodiment of figure 23 is presented in terms of a threaded interface between the bung body and the neck, in an alternate embodiment, the interface can be a slip fit or an interference fit. In an embodiment, the bung body could be welded or crimped to the neck or
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT vice versa. In such an exemplary embodiment, there could be a channel on the outside of the bung body and/or a channel on the inside of the neck extending vertically or at least having a vertical component that extends from below or at least at the beginning of the bung body to the location where the gas permeable component 2330 is located so as to provide a channel for gas to be vented from inside the bottle to the gas permeable component. The use of the channel is not inconsistent with the use of an interference fit for example, because the bulk of the services will still interfere with each other a sufficient amount to secure the bung body to the neck. And note that in this exemplary embodiment, the presence or absence of the cap 34 does not impact the retention of the bung body to the neck, as is the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 in figure 2 detailed above, although of course the cap will provide additional retention. In some embodiments, the cap 34 will contact directly the bung body and in some embodiments will clamp the bung body inside the neck. And this can be the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 and/or figure 2 detailed above. In some other embodiments, the cap 34 never contacts and otherwise is not configured to contact or otherwise is configured to avoid contact with the bung body. [00210] In view of this, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a sealingly engageable closure for a bottle, comprising a gas permeable component configured to permit gas to vent from an interior of the bottle, and a bung the body. In this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component has at least a portion thereof outside the bung body. This is shown in the embodiment of figure 23 (even though there is hat portion of the bung body – more on this below). In this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is completely outside the bung body. This as opposed to if gas permeable component was located on the other side of the wall 2349 relative to that which is shown in figure 23 (and thus inside the bung body). In this exemplary embodiment, component 2330 is in its entirety a gas permeable material. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the gas permeable component could be an arrangement that has a support structure and a gas permeable component in a manner concomitant with the teachings detailed above. By way of example, there could be two rings of thermoplastic material concentric with axis 2316 located one above the other separated by beams spaced apart from one another so that gas can travel through the spaces between the beams but also so that the beam support the rings relative to one another or otherwise maintain a distance relative to one another. A ring-shaped membrane could extend between the two rings having the thickness of the membrane aligned with the horizontal as opposed to the vertical with respect to the embodiments above, where the membrane would extend vertically. This membrane can be gas
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT permeable material. Any arrangement that can enable the teachings detailed herein with respect to gas permeability can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. [00211] In view of the embodiment of figure 23, in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component includes a gas permeable material that includes at least a portion thereof that is located outside the bung body. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiment of figure 3 above and the embodiment of figure 10 above. In an exemplary embodiment, the entire gas permeable material is located outside the bung body. However, in other embodiments, a portion of the gas permeable material can be located inside the bung body. This is shown in figure 24 and figure 25, which shows a gas permeable material 2331 having a portion inside the bung body (and a portion outside the bung body as seen). Note that the embodiment of figure 25 provides two routes for the gas to vent from inside the bottle to outside the bottle, or more accurately, from the path between the bung body and the neck to outside of the bottle. [00212] The embodiment of figure 24 can have utilitarian value with respect to securing gas permeable component to the bung body. This as compared to the embodiment of 23, where the gas permeable component is slip fit or clearance fit over the bung body – the gas permeable component need not contact the lateral portions of the bung body providing that the gas permeable component is clamped between the hat portion 2360 and the top surface of the neck as shown in figure 23. In this regard, in some embodiments, the gas can travel a completely horizontal line from one side of the gas permeable component to the other side of the gas permeable component because there is a space between the inside wall of the gas permeable component and the outside of wall 2349 of the bung body. Conversely, if the gas permeable component is in contact with and otherwise against the outside of wall 2349 of the bung body, the gas must first travel upwards in the gas permeable component and then travel horizontally to leave the gas permeable component, or more accurately, there will be at least a vertical component in all scenarios to such gas movement. [00213] And it is briefly noted that the embodiments of figures 24 and 25 also include a non- gas permeable seal 2399. In this exemplary embodiment, element 2399 is a semicircle and element 2331 is a semicircle, and thus gas permeability is limited to only one side of the bung body 2341, and thus the recessed portion of the outer wall of the bung body that permits a portion of the gas permeable component to be located extends only partially about the outer circumference. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the recessed portion can extend completely about the outer circumference of the bung body outer wall, and the elements 2399
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT and 2331 can be identical semicircular components with respect to the size thereof, the material being different of course. That said, the gas permeable material 2331 or the gas permeable component with the material can extend completely about the bung body in the recess. [00214] With respect to the embodiment of figure 25, there is a through passageway through the wall 2349 in which the gas permeable material 2332 is interference fitted. This through passageway extends only a portion of the way about the outer periphery of the bung body. There can be two or three or four or more passageways, which passageways are filled with a gas permeable component such as a gas permeable material. [00215] It is briefly noted that embodiments that include the recess and/or the through hole are embodiments where the bung body carries the gas permeable component. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiment of figure 23, where the gas permeable component is located away from the bung body or otherwise there is a gap between at least a portion of the bung body and at least a portion of the gas permeable component (e.g., on one side, the gas permeable component may abut the outer wall of the bung body and then there is a gap on the other side, but this still does not carry the gas permeable component). [00216] In any event, as can be seen, the gas permeable component can include a gas permeable material that includes at least a portion thereof that is located outside the bung body. The gas permeable component can be a ring extending completely about the bung body, and the gas permeable component can include a gas permeable material that extends completely about the bung body. The gas permeable component can include a membrane that extends completely about the bung body or only part of the way about the bung body. [00217] As seen with respect to the embodiments of figures 23 and 24, the gas permeable component can be located on an outer circumference of the bung body. [00218] While at least some of the embodiments described above have been described in terms of whether or not a portion of the gas permeable component is inside or outside of the bung body, other embodiments can be described in terms of whether or not a portion of the gas permeable component is inside or outside an outer wall of the bung body. In this regard, both the embodiments of figures 23 and 24 have all of the gas permeable component located outside the outer wall of the bung body (wall 2349). Conversely, this is not the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 25. This is also not the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 detailed above. In an exemplary embodiment, an outer profile of the bung is a cylindrical structure as seen in the figures (note that the embodiments of figures 23 to 25 and the other
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiments show cross-sections that are rotationally symmetric for the most part about the longitudinal axis). In the embodiments of figures 23 and 24, the gas permeable component is located on the outside of the cylinder, whereas in the embodiments of figures 10 and 2, all of the gas permeable components are located inside the cylinder. The embodiment of figure 25 has a portion thereof that is located outside the cylinder and a portion thereof that is located inside the cylinder. [00219] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a container that includes the closure detailed above or otherwise herein, and a bottle as detailed above or otherwise herein. In this exemplary embodiment of the container, the permeable component is located completely outside the bottle when the bung body is attached to the bottle. This is shown in all of the embodiments of figures 23 to 25. This is also the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 16 detailed above, and is not the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 or figure 3 by way of example. In the embodiments of figures of at least 23 and 24, the permeable component is trapped between the bung body and the bottle when the bung body is connected to the bottle. Conversely, this may not be the case with respect to the embodiment of figure 25 where for example the gas permeable component is a plug that is located in a hole through the wall 2349 and thus is not necessarily trapped between the bung body and the bottle. In the embodiments shown of figures 23, 24, and 25, the permeable component is compressed between the bung body and the bottle when the bung body is connected to the bottle. This compression can provide utilitarian value with respect to reducing the likelihood that a path for the gas could be present that extends around the gas permeable component 2332. In view of the embodiments just described, there embodiments where the permeable component is clamped between the body of the bung in general, and the hat portion 2360 in particular in some embodiments, and the top surface of the bottle. [00220] In some embodiments of the containers according to some exemplary embodiments, the only path for gas from an interior of the bottle to an outside of the bottle is a path that extends between the bung body and the bottle. This as compared to, for example, the embodiment of figure 2, where the gas path extends completely through the bung body and the path is not between the body and the bottle. Of course, in exemplary embodiments, the path of gas also extends through a gas permeable material. In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 23, the path also extends between the bottle and the cap 34 consistent with the embodiments of figures 10 in figure 2, but different from the embodiment of figure 16, where there is no cap.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00221] The embodiments of figures 23 and 3 and 10 provide a dust cover and dust protection for the gas permeable component, unlike the embodiment of figure 16. [00222] Returning back to the concept of lines, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a container that comprises a bottle, a bung the body, and a gas permeable component. In this exemplary embodiment, the container is configured so that there is a path for gas to travel from inside the bottle to outside the container, which path has a component normal to a longitudinal axis of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, this is the only path for gas to move from inside the bottle to outside the container. This is contrasted to, for example, the embodiment of figure 16, which while the path could travel in a direction that has a component normal to the longitudinal axis, the path could also travel straight upwards along a line totally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and thus not having a component normal to the longitudinal axis. [00223] In an exemplary embodiment, the path has a portion that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the container. This is different than merely having a path that has a component normal to the longitudinal axis. In this regard, a path that extends at an angle of 45° by way of example, from the longitudinal axis has a component that is normal to the longitudinal axis. Conversely, a path that has a portion that is normal to the longitudinal axis must be only 90° from the longitudinal axis. That is, the only component of the path is a component normal to the longitudinal axis. [00224] The path that the gas takes from inside the bottle to outside the container can be characterized or otherwise broken down into a series of continuous lines. This is shown by way of example with respect to the series of lines associated with line 2350 of figure 23. This shows a series of three lines. Granted, this path would include additional lines extending about the thread on the inside of the neck and on the outside of the neck, but note that embodiments include threads that have gaps, and thus the lines could extend all the way upward and all the way downward from the horizontal line 2350 from inside the bottle to outside the container respectively, providing that the gaps in the thread are aligned to enable such. In any event, with respect to these lines that are contiguous to one another, it can be seen that there is a line that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the container. [00225] In an exemplary embodiment, the line that is normal to the longitudinal axis extends less than, greater than or equal to or at least (and disclosure of greater than herein corresponds to an alternate disclosure of at least and vice versa and any disclosure of less than herein corresponds to an alternate disclosure of no more than an vice versa unless otherwise noted
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT providing that the art enables such) 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or any value or rage of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, if the horizontal thickness of the gas permeable component 2330 on one side of the longitudinal axis is 3 mm, in the embodiment of figure 23, line 2350, which corresponds to the line that is normal to the longitudinal axis, would extend at least 3 mm the line could extend 3 or 4 mm or more depending on how much space there is between the inside of the cap 34 and the outer surface of the gas permeable component for example (and the inner surface of the gas permeable component and the outer wall 2349, again by example). Conversely, if for example the gas permeable component or more accurately, the gas permeable material of the embodiment of figure 10 has a maximum outer diameter or otherwise a maximum width of 2 mm, a line having the length of 3 mm cannot exist if for some reason the path took a 90° turn from the vertical direction (where the local portion of the passage in which the material is seated establishes a slip fit for the material, and thus the inner diameter of the passage also equals 2 mm). [00226] In an exemplary embodiment, again with respect to the contiguous line path, the path can have a line that is normal to the longitudinal axis, a line that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a line on a side of the line normal to the longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.. If we enumerate the just described lines as line 1, line 2, and line 3, the lines can form an upside down U if the three lines are contiguous. Note that the qualification here is that the path is broken down to contiguous lines, that does not mean that the enumerated lines must be contiguous with one another, only that the path has been broken down into contiguous lines. Still, in an exemplary embodiment, the three lines can be contiguous with each other and thus form the upside down U (digital U – no round part - but note that in a scenario where there are 10 or 15 for example contiguous lines, the lines could mimic a finite element analysis approach and thus establish the rounded portions of the U when considered from a distance in the macroscopic context). In an exemplary embodiment, wherein movement of the gas from inside the bottle to outside the container, following the path broken down to contiguous lines, has movement on line 1 in one direction and has movement on the line 3 that is in another direction opposite the other direction. This can be seen with respect to the three lines of figure 23 by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, the first and third lines are normal to the second line whether or not the lines are contiguous with one another.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00227] To be clear, it is noted that the aforementioned line disclosure does not mean that the gas molecules take the path described with the lines. It is that the container is of a configuration that can permit the gas molecules to take that path. [00228] In an exemplary embodiment, the path from inside the bottle from a location below a bottom most portion of the bung to a location outside the container can be a path that is described by less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment lines contiguous with one another having lengths of less than, greater than or equal to 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, or 50 mm, or any value or rage of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments, or one line of any one of those lengths (as would be the case in the embodiment of figure 16 for example). [00229] In an exemplary embodiment, the smallest angles between two contiguous lines could be an angle that is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, or 175 degrees or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. And to be clear, the values need not be the same (angles or lengths) for various portions of the contiguous line arrangement. These values are presented here for purposes of textual economy. [00230] Consistent with the embodiment of figure 23, the path of gas flow extends between the bung body and the bottle and between the bottle and a cup shaped body (e.g., the cap of FIG. 23) that envelops the gas permeable component (whether or not the gas permeable component is on the inside of the neck or on the outside of the neck of the bottle). And note that this does not exclude the path extending through the cup shaped body. This has just not been enumerated in this path. To be clear, the just detailed portions need not be contiguous with one another because it has not been specified as such. In an exemplary embodiment, the path extends between the bung body and the bottle through the gas permeable component, and between the bottle and a cup shaped body that envelops the gas permeable component in that order. [00231] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a sealingly engageable closure for a bottle, comprising a gas permeable component configured to permit gas to vent from an interior of the bottle and a bung body, wherein the bung body has at least one thread located on an outside thereof, which thread is configured to thread into the bottle to secure the bung body to the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the bung body maintains a location of the gas permeable component. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component could be interference fitted onto the bung body to retain the gas permeable component. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is located in a recess in the bung body, such as that detailed above with respect to figure 24. It is noted that some embodiments include a flange / ring 2360 on the top of the bung body, as seen in FIG.23, which flange traps the gas permeable component between the bung body and the bottle when the bung body is screwed into the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the flange clamps the gas permeable component. That is, the flange extending about one end of the bung body clamps on one side of the gas permeable component to the gas permeable component to the bottle on another side opposite the one side of the gas permeable component when the bung body screwed into the bottle. [00232] When this closure is utilized with a bottle to establish a container, the gas permeable component is trapped between the bung body and the neck of the bottle if the bottle has a neck in at least some exemplary embodiments. The clamping forces can correspond to any of the clamping forces as detailed herein which are not repeated but instead referred to by reference herein in the interest of textual economy. Consistent with the teachings above, the permeable component of this body is located on an outside of the bung body. Consistent with the teachings above, the permeable component is a ring that extends completely about the bung body and is located completely outside the bottle. But note that the permeable material need not so extend about the bung body. The ring could be a material that is compressible in a manner similar to that of the gas permeable material, or could be more compressible than the gas permeable material or less compressible than the gas permeable material, and could have a hole therethrough (normal to a longitudinal axis of the ring) extending from outside the ring to inside the ring in which is located a material permeable to gas. The ring could establish a gas tight seal where gas can only escape through the gas permeable material. There could be one or two or three or four or five or six or seven or eight or more holes in the ring in which gas permeable material is located to establish the venting according to some exemplary embodiments. [00233] And note that in some embodiments, the gas permeable material need not necessarily be compressive. It could be the ring of the non-permeable material that is compressive, and this compresses around the gas permeable material. [00234] In an embodiment, there is a container that includes a bottle and a bung body, which bung body is attached to the bottle (interference fitted, welded, and/or screwed, all by way of example). In this exemplary embodiment, the container is configured to vent gas from the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT interior of the bottle (e.g., from a location below the bung or at a location parallel with the bung) to outside of the container by a path that at least one of (i) is tortuous or (ii) extends between an outer circumference of the bung body and the bottle when the bung body is connected to the bottle. In some embodiments, the path extends through mating thread(s) of the bung and the bottle and/or over mating thread(s) of the bung and the bottle. With respect to the former, there are gaps between portions of the thread in a manner consistent with the embodiment of figure 2 above. With respect to the latter, the thread portions could be sized and dimensioned so that there is always a gap along the thread(s) somewhere while still providing contact at other locations, which gap permits a path for gas to vent. [00235] Some embodiments include a cap on the container, which cap is screwed onto the bottle, such as the neck of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the path extends through and/or over mating thread(s) of the bottle and the cap. In some embodiments, before the path extends through the mating thread(s) of the bottle and the cap, the path extends through the gas permeable component. Again, consistent with the embodiments above, the bottle can contain hydrogen peroxide. [00236] Figure 26 presents another exemplary embodiment of an assembly 2699 according to an exemplary embodiment, and figure 27 depicts a cross-sectional view, again with some of the back lines removed, of the assembly taken through section 27 – 27. This assembly can include a cup body 2634 which includes vent ports 1560, and also includes by way of example a dust barrier 2610. In this exemplary embodiment, like reference numbers have been used where such corresponds to a feature disclosed above. But it is noted that variations of this embodiment can exist as well. In this embodiment, the cup body 2634 can correspond to the cup bodies detailed above except that here, the cup body does not include a frangible seal. Instead, there is a through opening / through passage 2777. This creates a through opening in the base of the cup body 2634. This enables passage of a socap body, such as the dispensing tube noted above, without having to pierce or break a component of the cup body. Still, consistent with the embodiments above, there is a gas permeable component 1530 which must be pierced to reach the inside of the bottle. This exemplary embodiment includes orifices 1560, but in other embodiments, these orifices are not present. More on this below. [00237] In this exemplary embodiment, the most narrow portion of the opening 2777 has a diameter of D31, which can be less than, greater than, and/or equal to 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 millimeters, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT increments. Note that the area above the frangible seals / portions detailed above can correspond to these values as well in some embodiments, albeit such is not a through opening in the base. That is, in the interest of textual economy, the dimensions of the area above the frangible component such as the area immediately above the frangible seal, bounded by the vertical walls, can have the dimensions D31 just detailed. Corollary to this is that in some exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the frangible seal can be D31. [00238] The embodiment shown in figure 27 has chamfers on side walls that establish the opening for the through passage 2777. This can have utilitarian value with respect to guiding the dispensing tube into the interior of the cup body and otherwise to the gas permeable component for piercing. Note that embodiments above that include the frangible seal can also use the chamfered features as well. Corollary to this is that in some embodiments, there are no chamfered futures in the embodiment of figure 27. [00239] Consistent with the teachings above, the embodiment of figure 27 includes the vents orifices 1560. In an exemplary embodiment, there are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment vent orifices. In an exemplary embodiment, the interiors of the vent orifices are arrayed at least outside a circular area having dimension D32, which circular area is centered in at least some exemplary embodiments about the longitudinal axis 1616, as is also the case with respect to the through opening 2777, although in other embodiments, this need not be the case. In an exemplary embodiment, the dimension D32 is less than, greater than and/or equal to 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, or 35 millimeters, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. [00240] As noted above, embodiments include the dust barrier 2610. The dust barrier can include a generally circular barrier portion 2720, which extends completely over the through opening from one side to the other as shown, and also a pull tab 2750 attached to the generally circular barrier portion 2720. In an exemplary embodiment, the pull tab 2750 renders removal of the dust barrier 2610 from the cup body easier than that which might otherwise be the case as it provides an area for, for example, a thumb and a forefinger to grip the dust barrier in a complete manner. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier 2610 is adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the cup body establishing the through opening 2777. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier 2610 is welded, albeit in a weak manner, to the cup body. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier is crimped on to the body of the cup. Any device,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT system and/or method that will enable a dust body to be provided can be utilized in at least some exemplary embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust body has a thickness of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, or 2 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 millimeter increments. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the only component or the only structure above the gas permeable component in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 1616 or parallel to and lying on that axis has one of the after mentioned thicknesses. That is, the only socap material above the gas permeable component has one of those thicknesses / there is only one of those values of socap material above the gas permeable component 1530. In an embodiment, the dust barrier has opposite properties of the permeable material with respect to self supporting as disclosed herein and the barrier can have the same properties of the permeable material with respect to self supporting as disclosed herein (both can be non-self supporting and both can be self supporting – this is disclosure in the form of textual economy) [00241] The diameter of the portion 2720 can be any of the values of D32 detailed above in the interest of textual economy, where it is noted that while the embodiment of figure 27 shows that the dust barrier extends over the vent orifices, in other embodiments the dust barrier would be flush with the vent orifices and in other embodiments, would be interior of the noted circle outside of which are located the vent orifices. Accordingly, the values of the diameter of the body 2720 when they correspond to the numbers enumerated above for D32 are presented in terms of textual economy and may not necessarily be the value D32 that establishes the diameter of the circle outside of which the orifices are located. And while the embodiment depicted in figure 27 shows the body 2720 proud of the cup body 2634, in an alternate embodiment, the body 2720 could extend into the opening 2777. In this regard, the body 2720 may not be flat or straight as shown in figure 27 when installed on to the cup body, but instead could form a bowl shaped body, where an underside of that body could be bonded to the chamfered portions of the cup 2634. Note also that in some embodiments, the body 2720 could be in contact with the gas permeable component 1530, in some embodiments, could be adhesively bonded to at least a portion of that gas permeable component. [00242] Briefly, in the interests of full disclosure, in an exemplary embodiment, the base of the cup body 2634 has a thickness D33 of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 millimeters, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments. And again, consistent with the fact that any one or more of the features disclosed with respect to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT one embodiment can be applicable to any one or more other embodiments herein, all in the interest of textual economy, unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such, the value D33 can be applicable to the embodiments of, for example, figure 17. And note that the values D33 can also correspond to the thickness of the sidewall of the cup 2634, in the interests of textual economy, and they need not be the same as the base. [00243] In any event, embodiments of the arrangement of figure 27 can have any one or more of the features associated with puncturing, etc., of the embodiment of figure 16 detailed above which will not be repeated here but referred to by reference in the interest of textual economy. That said, in an embodiment, the gas permeable component and thus the assembly are pierceable (or a portion is collapsible, such as the gas permeable component – any disclosure of piercing corresponds to an alternate embodiment of collapsing in the interests of textual economy) by a downward force of less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, or 30 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 N increments applied by a rod with a circular cross-section of 2 mm diameter with a 1 mm radius hemispherical end and/or with a 3 mm diameter and a 1.5 mm radius end or a 1.5 mm diameter with a 0.75 mm radius end all ends with a polished smooth surface. But this is for test purposes to evaluate the resulting product. In practice, consistent with the teachings above, the dispensing tube has a sharpened point. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the gas permeable component and thus the assembly are pierceable by a downward force of less than, greater than, and/or equal to, in some embodiments, of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.56, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 25 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 N increments applied by a rod with a circular cross-section of 2 mm diameter with an end that is completely cut back from one side to the other at a 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 degree angle, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments applied against the assembly. And note that in some embodiments, the dust barrier is pierceable as well, and these just noted values can correspond to the values needed to pierce both the dust barrier and the gas permeable component. Still, embodiments include scenarios of use of the container where the dust barrier is removed prior to piercing. [00244] In view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an assembly for stealing a bottle, comprising a generally cylindrical inverted cup body as noted above, any gas permeable component, again as noted above. In this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is inside the inverted cup body, as seen in figure 27 and the gas permeable
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT component includes a gas permeable material having a thickness of at less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. Embodiments that utilize a block material could have, for example, a thickness of at least 1 mm. And note that these features are not limited to the embodiment of figure 27. Still, in the embodiment of figure 27, as shown, it is contemplated that the gas permeable material of the gas permeable component is self-supporting, as opposed to a membrane for example. Still further, in an exemplary embodiment, the permeable component includes a permeable material that is a disk as opposed to a membrane. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable material can be subjected to a bending test by clamping the material on one side over a span of no more than 10% of the overall maximum diameter of the material with a flat surfaces parallel to one another and oriented horizontally and otherwise normal to the direction of gravity where the remainder of the material is not supported by any structure, where, at sea level at 1 atm and 70°F with no lateral accelerations and the only acceleration being due to the direction of gravity the gas permeable material deforms downward by no more than 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the overall maximum diameter of the material. Thus, for example, in an exemplary embodiment, a membrane subjected to such a test would deform more than 1% of the overall maximum diameter of that material. [00245] Continuing with the concept of some of the dimensions of the portions of the container, in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component could have a maximum diameter (whether that is where the gas permeable component is strictly gas permeable material or of the total assembly of the gas permeable component) of less than, greater than and/or equal to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. And note that in some exemplary embodiments, the gas permeable component and/or the gas permeable material of the gas permeable component is rotationally symmetric. Embodiments are contemplated where the gas permeable component has a circular outer cross-section and/or the gas permeable material of the component has a circular outer cross-section. [00246] As seen in the embodiment of figure 27, along with other embodiments, the gas permeable component is located inside the cup body. Note that this does not mean that the gas
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT permeable component needs to contact the cup body or even that there is nothing between the gas permeable component and the cup body. This simply means that the cup has an interior volume, which is open on one side (actually open at the base as well owing to the vents, etc.) but the gas permeable component is located in the extrapolated internal volume which stops at the outer boundaries of the openings relative to the interior of the cup. Also, at least some exemplary embodiments are such that the gas permeable component spans the entire inside diameter of the cup body, while in other embodiments, the gas permeable component spans a substantial amount of the interior diameter of the cup body (which would include the entire amount). In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component spans at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100 percent, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the interior diameter of the cup body. [00247] As noted above, in at least some exemplary embodiments, there are one or more orifices in the base of the cup body. That said, in some embodiments, these orifices can be located on the side wall of the cup body in alternate embodiments. In at least some exemplary embodiments, there is at least one orifice that is off center of the centerline (longitudinal axis) of the cup body, and these orifices are for venting consistent with the teachings above. [00248] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is pierceable to enter from an outside of the assembly to an inside of the assembly, and thus from an outside of the cup body to an inside of the cup body, wherein the cup body has an opening so that upon the aforementioned piercing, the only component of the assembly that is pierced is the gas permeable component. (Note that simply moving through an open space is not piercing.) This would be the embodiment of figure 27, at least after the dust barrier is removed. And in this regard, note that in some exemplary embodiments, the assembly is configured so that the dust barrier is pierced along with the permeable material. That is, the dust barrier is not removed. With respect to the embodiments where the dust barrier is removed, the assembly is configured so that the cup body has an opening at a centerline of the cup body, as shown in figure 27, to enable piercing of the gas permeable component, wherein upon piercing, the only component of the assembly that is pierced is the gas permeable component. This is the case whether or not the assembly is attached to a container. And thus the only component of the container that is pierced (or collapsed) is the gas permeable component. And this differs from some of the other embodiments in that there is the frangible seal at the centerline. But note that this does
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT not mean that the bottle is not pierced at another location. Consistent with the embodiments detailed above, another dispensing tube pierces the bottle away from the neck of the bottle. [00249] It is briefly noted that some other exemplary embodiments include the arrangement of figure 27 except that there is no dust barrier. In this regard, we refer to the shipping and storage scenarios detailed above, where the container is shipped and/or stored accordingly, with or without the dust barrier depending on the scenario. [00250] Again referring to an assembly for sealing a bottle that comprises a generally cylindrical inverted cup body, and a gas permeable component, where the cup body has a through opening in the base of the cup body, such as at the centerline thereof (although embodiments include openings that are offset from the centerline thereof which openings are utilized to receive the dispensing tube / to permit piercing of the gas permeable component at that location, just as embodiments also include a frangible seal located offset from the centerline etc.), There is a dust barrier located over the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier is impermeable to gas and/or to liquid. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier is permeable to gas and/or liquid. In an embodiment, the dust barrier is permeable to gas and not permeable to liquid. In an exemplary embodiment, the dust barrier includes a pull tab as seen above, and in some embodiments the dust barrier is a circular membrane. The dust barrier can be a silicone and/or rubber dust barrier and in some embodiments, the dust barrier can be a male plug that fits into the opening. As seen, in some embodiments, the dust barrier does not completely cover at least one of the at least one orifices of the cup body. In some embodiments, the dust barrier covers all of the orifices in their entirety and the opening. In an exemplary embodiment, no part of the dust barrier covers any part of any of the orifices. [00251] In an embodiment there is an assembly for closing and opening of the bottle, which includes the inverted cup body and the gas permeable component wherein the cup body has a through opening in the base of the cup body. The through opening could be one of the vent ports detailed above or could be the through opening through which the dispensing tube is inserted. The gas permeable component is the only barrier for the assembly into the bottle when the assembly closes the bottle. In the embodiment where the through opening for the dispensing tube is covered by the dust barrier, there would be thus two through openings, one of which would be the vent orifice, which would not be at least fully covered by the dust barrier, and that would meet the just detailed feature regarding the gas permeable component being the only barrier. Conversely, if the dust barrier covered all the openings, including the vent
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT openings, the gas permeable component would not be the only barrier for the assembly. Note that this does not mean that the barrier is a seal. [00252] In an exemplary embodiment, there is a container that includes the just detailed assembly in the preceding paragraph, which also includes a bottle, where the assembly closes the bottle. Hydrogen peroxide is located in the bottle, or some other liquid, and it is closed in the bottle by the assembly. In this exemplary embodiment, a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container from a location outside the container to a location inside the container passes only the gas permeable component. This is seen in the embodiment of figure 27. In an exemplary embodiment, such as where the container has been in storage, this line has passed only through the gas permeable component for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 months, or any value or range of values therebetween in one month increments or this has been the case for any of the storage temporal periods detailed herein. In an embodiment, the aforementioned line is less than, greater than, or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 mm increments. [00253] In an exemplary embodiment, as noted above, the gas permeable material of the gas permeable component is a self-supporting structure. In an embodiment, the gas permeable material is not a membrane. In this regard, membranes as contemplated herein can be components that require a support frame for example, such as the support structure of the embodiment of figure 11, to support the membrane. Reference is made to the above examples of clamping the material on one side and evaluating the deflection. In any event, in a more general sense, there is an assembly having the cup body and the gas permeable material, wherein the gas permeable material is directly supported by the cup body and only directly supported by the cup body and/or the bung body. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, this would exclude the embodiment of figure 11, where the gas permeable material is indirectly supported by the bung body. It is not directly supported by the bung body. The support structure is directly supported by the bung body. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup body is a monolithic structure, in a manner concomitant with the disclosure above the bung body. [00254] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable material has a thickness to lateral diameter ratio of less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6 or 0.7, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 increments.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00255] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component is only pierceable and/or only collapsible by a downward force of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 N increments applied by a rod with a circular cross section of 2 mm in diameter with a 1 mm radius hemispherical end with a polished smooth surface and/or with any of the testing devices detailed above with respect to puncturing the frangible seal and/or the gas permeable component (or collapsing such). This can be the case at least after the container is assembled utilizing the assembly (e.g., the assembly is connected to the bottle), as is the case with the combination puncturing of gas permeable component and frangible seal detailed above. [00256] Embodiments include an assembly for closing an opening of a bottle, again having the inverted cup body, and the gas permeable component. In this exemplary embodiment, the assembly also includes a frangible component, which frangible component is different from those detailed above. In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in figure 28, with reference numerals having the same values as those detailed above for similar/same components, there is a frangible and/or collapsible component 2828, and the gas permeable component 1530 and/or the permeable material thereof is located above the frangible component and below a base of the cup body. While the embodiment of figure 28 presents an embodiment without a bung, where the frangible component is a distinct component and not part of another component, in other embodiments, the frangible component can be part of the bung. This is seen in FIG.28A, where the gas permeable component 230 is located higher than that shown in the embodiment of FIG.10, and thus is located above the frangible component 18 and below the base of the cup body (here, cap 34). Note that the entire gas permeable component is not above the frangible component, and in other embodiments it is entirely above the frangible component 18. And briefly, it is noted that in the presentation of figure 28A, the dimensions D2, D1, D3, and D7 are now measured from the bottom of the gas permeable component 230 (the values presented above can correspond at least in part to the values for these elements in the interest of textual economy (and thus would be smaller and/or larger variously as applicable and D8 would equal D7), and the height / thickness of element 230 can be scaled accordingly using the collective of the values). [00257] The embodiment of FIG.28A also shows dimension D55, which is the distance of the top of the frangible seal / component 18 from the top of the bung body, wherein D55 can be less than, greater than and/or equal 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28, or 30 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [00258] In view of the above, it can be seen that in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component can be located closer to an end of the bung or otherwise a top portion of the bung than the frangible component, and of course vice versa in other embodiments as presented above. And consistent with the embodiment of figure 28A, frangible component is a frangible seal of the bung in an exemplary embodiment. But as mentioned above and as will be described momentarily in greater detail below, in other embodiments, the frangible component is a separate monolithic component completely different from the bung body. [00259] To provide the most specific detail possible, it is noted that with respect to location on a centerline of the assembly that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, at least a portion of the gas permeable component is located above at least a portion of the frangible component and/or at least a portion of the base of the cup body is located above at least a portion of the gas permeable component. In an exemplary embodiment, the entirety of the gas permeable component is located above at least a portion of the frangible component and/or vice versa, and/or the entirety of the base of the cup body is located above the entirety of the gas permeable component. [00260] Referring to the embodiment of figure 28, as seen, in an exemplary embodiment, the component is a disk shaped element 2828. The embodiment of figure 28 will be described in terms of an arrangement where the dispensing tube 122 pierces / separates the material of component 2828. That is, portions of the material of the component 2828 separate from one another. But note that in other embodiments, the material of component 2828 can instead or in addition to this collapse into the neck 11 / become dislodged to be moved, at least in part, into the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, the dispensing tube 122 pushes the component 2828 into the neck 11 to make room for the dispensing tube or otherwise for the dispensing tube to gain access to the interior of the bottle. Any disclosure herein of piercing of the component 2828 corresponds to an alternate disclosure of collapsing the component 2828 / dislodging the component 2828, and vice versa unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such, all in the interest of textual economy. Sometimes below, the component 2828 will be referred to as a frangible component, but this corresponds to a disclosure of a frangible and/or a collapsible component (and a dislodgeable component). And note that embodiments include only a frangible component and only a collapsible component and only a dislodgeable
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT component (note that collapsing is also dislodging if it dislodges the component from its normal at rest position). [00261] In this exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 includes through holes 2860, which are aligned radially with vent orifices 1560. In this exemplary embodiment, the through holes have the same diameters as the diameters of the orifices 1560, although in other embodiments, the diameters can be different. And note that while the embodiments depicted herein present through holes and orifices that are circular in cross-section lying on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis, in other embodiments, they can have oval-shaped or rectangular (e.g., square or nonsquare) shapes or triangular shapes or octagon shape cross-sections, etc. Note also, that the through holes can have cross-sections that are elongate racetracks or pills shapes, etc. Any shape cross-section of the through holes that can have utilitarian value can utilize at least some exemplary embodiments. Moreover, it is noted that while the embodiment shown in the figures utilize vent holes that have cylindrical inner surfaces, other embodiments can utilize vent holes that have conical inner surfaces or step inner surfaces or complex inner surfaces, etc. In this exemplary embodiment, because the through holes are aligned with the orifices 1560, or otherwise because the outer diameters of the through holes overlap in the radial direction a sufficient amount even if they are not necessarily aligned, gas can travel from inside the neck of the bottle into the holes 2860, and then through the gas permeable component 1530, and then through the orifice 1560 and thus out of the container. Still, in an embodiment, at least one of the at least one through hole of the frangible and/or collapsible component is radially aligned with at least one of the at least one through hole of the base of the cup body. As seen in figure 28, the gas permeable material of the gas permeable component radially overlaps with the at least one of the at least one through a hole of the frangible and/or collapsible component that is radially aligned with the at least one of the at least one through a hole of the base of the cup body. [00262] It is briefly noted that while the openings 1560 and 2860 are presented as being radially aligned and even coaxial with one another, in some exemplary embodiments, they are not aligned radially with one another and/or angularly with one another (angularly about the axis 1616 – in the embodiment shown, the openings are angularly aligned as well). This can be the case if the material 2930 can permit the gas to move in a tortuous path or otherwise in an angular direction to reach an opening that is not aligned with the opening into which the gas entered to escape from the container. In this regard, the number and/or overall area of the openings of the various components can be sized and dimensioned to take into account
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT resistance to gas movement from inside the container to outside the container owing to the fact that the openings are not aligned. In an embodiment, element 2930 is a sintered disk. In an embodiment, element 2930 is a piece of sintered PTFE by way of example, and is otherwise porous enough to enable outgassing. The porosities can be any of those detailed herein providing that such is enabled. In an embodiment, disk 2930 is sintered to the cup and/or to the neck. In an embodiment, a piece of sintered material is used to close the bottle, and this can be done without a cup body. Here, this can be seen by way of example in FIG.18P, which shows sintered disk 18301 attached to neck 1811. In this exemplary embodiment, the disk 18301 is sintered to the bottle or glued thereto, or welded thereto, all by way of example. That said, in an embodiment, there could be utilitarian value to having a mini-cup placed about the arrangement to hold the disk 18301 in place, such as seen by way of example in FIG. 18Q. Here, there is ring 18309 that has inward flanges that hold the disk 18301 against the outside of the neck 1811 at the opening. This compresses or otherwise clamps the disk 18301 and provides a sufficient force downward to establish a vapor seal between the neck and the disk. In an embodiment, the ring is metal or a polymer. The ring can be snap fitted to the neck or welded or glued or screwed thereto. Note that this can be utilized as the only feature that holds the disk 18301 to the neck, or can be utilized to reinforce or otherwise provide a redundancy to the arrangement that holds the disk to the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, the ring has a longitudinal distance of less than greater than and/or equal to 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mm or any values or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments and can have a distance from one side inboard of less than greater than and/or equal to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mm or any values or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments (and this could be the case all around – this is in reference to the cross-section). [00263] In an embodiment, the disk 18301A can be interference fitted into the neck and can, in an embodiment, be located in a collar 18302 as seen in FIG. 18R that provides an interface between the disk and the neck. This can be a material that permits bonding or joining to the material of the neck on the one hand, and utilitarian connection between the collar and the disk 18301A, where the materials are not readily bondable to each other, but where the interface between 18301A and 18302 can provide for the sealing arrangement to prevent gas from escaping therebetween, by way of example. [00264] And briefly with respect to diameters and locations, embodiment of figure 28 has the vent orifices 1560 located in board of the inner diameter of the neck 11, whereas the embodiment of figure 27 has the outermost portions of the vent orifices located outboard of the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT inner diameter of the neck 11 (relative to the state where the assembly is located on the neck to close the bottle). Again, as noted above, embodiments can be mixed and matched herein providing that the art enables such, and thus the features of figure 27 regarding the location of the orifices can be utilized in the embodiment of figure 28, and vice versa. [00265] The frangible and/or collapsible component can be a disk of HDPE (HDPE can be the material of the bottle and/or the cup, etc.). This can be made out of a sheet of HDPE. This can be considered a HDPE pierceable interface, and is configured to be pierced by the dispensing tube concomitant with the teachings above. In an exemplary embodiment, any one or more of the above features associated with the frangible seal by itself and/or in combination with the gas permeable component can correspond to the embodiment of figure 28 with respect to the frangible and/or collapsible component itself and/or in combination with the gas permeable component 1530 by reference in the interests of textual economy. The outer diameter of the frangible and/or collapsible component 2860 can have any of the diameters detailed above associated with the gas permeable component, and will not be repeated here in the interest of textual economy, and note that they need not be the same, again this is textual economy. In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 has a thickness of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 millimeters, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments. Dimensions of the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 can have any of the dimensions detailed above with respect to the frangible seal 18 unless otherwise noted provided that the art enables such presented by reference herein in the interest of textual economy. [00266] In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 has four through orifices for venting purposes, and these orifices are aligned with the orifices 1560 of the cup body. In an embodiment, the frangible / collapsible component can be compatible with the current existing heritage disinfection machines vis-à-vis the frangibility and/or the collapsibility. That is, for example, in an embodiment, with respect to a heritage disinfecting machine, when the dispensing tube pierces the container, the force associated therewith will be a force that results in a utilitarian occurrence associated with the container, such as, for example, the collapsing and/or the franging / breaking / splitting / separation of a portion thereof of the component 2828 in a manner that enables the container to be utilized in accordance with the teachings detailed herein, such as, for example, to enable the disinfection machine to extract liquid solution contained in the container for disinfection purposes, which
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT extraction occurs as a result of the flow of the liquid through the dispensing tube that was utilized to pierce the container, all by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In an exemplary embodiment, design features / characteristics / performance capabilities, etc., of heritage / legacy disinfecting machines or otherwise disinfectant machines already in use or otherwise already located at healthcare facilities or medical supply management and supply facilities, or at other locations, are ascertained / determined, such as by way of example only and not by way limitation, by way of reverse engineering and/or acquisition of original design specs, and/or source control drawings / specs and/or specification control drawings and/or performance specifications, etc., for example, and based on this data that is obtained, features of the container are established or otherwise determined so as to provide backward compatibility with these legacy disinfectant machines. [00267] By way of example only and not by way limitation, in an exemplary embodiment, a force imparted by the dispensing tube, or more accurately, imparted by the disinfecting machine onto the dispensing tube when the dispensing tube is moved to interface with the container, is determined, or a range of expected forces are determined, based on maximum forces and/or average forces (mean, median and/or mode) imparted by the disinfecting machine, and one or more design features of the container are developed accordingly. For example, a thickness of the frangible portion of the closure, by way of example, can be established so as to ensure that the existing dispensing tubes can puncture or otherwise frange the pertinent portions of the closure with the forces and/or speed of movement imparted onto the dispensing tubes that would be the case with respect to existing dispensing machines, and thus these machines need not necessarily be modified or otherwise adjusted to increase puncture force (or decrease puncture force for that matter), or otherwise to increase or decrease the pertinent forces that exist in the current machines. That is, in an exemplary embodiment, the utilization of the containers in accordance with the teachings detailed herein is “transparent” to the user of the disinfectant machine when utilizing the containers detailed herein. [00268] In an exemplary embodiment, instead of the thickness being controlled, the strength of the material can be the design constraint. Alternatively and/or in addition to this, the width or span of the frangible component or components to be pierced or component to be collapsed, or franged, etc., is what is controlled. In this regard, even the strongest materials can be subject to failure if “not enough” of that material is applied in a given design. A cinderblock may easily support the weight of a human but very well could crumble underneath the weight of an elephant. Alternatively and/or in addition to this, the number of plies of the frangible
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT component can be modified or otherwise subjected to design parameters that will enable heritage disinfecting machines to utilize the containers according to the teachings detailed herein. That is, in some embodiments, the frangible seal could be established by two or more layers of the same or different material, which may or may not be monolithic with the rest of the closure. For example, FIG. 40B shows an exemplary embodiment where there are two frangible seals 4029 in the forms of PTFE disks that are interference fitted into the center of the closure above the seal 40251. This can provide redundancy to the self-closing seal 40251 for storage purposes, while permitting outgassing of vapor in accordance with teachings herein. This concept can be applied to other embodiments as well, such as those that do not utilize the self-closing seal. This is seen in FIG. 40C for example, where the closure body is injection molded about sintered PTFE disks 4029A, so as to “embed” those disks into the body. Here, the material of the body is molded about the disks, which are premade, and when the polymer material cools / sets, the disks are “fixed” into the body / relative to the body. Note that this concept can be utilized for the self-closing seal for example (molding about the self-closing seal) and other components that are co-located with the closure, or the bottle for that matter – in an embodiment, the bottle is molded about the closure, or the PTFE sintered disk, or any of the other components. [00269] As seen in FIG.40C, the disks are of varied thickness, width, etc. This can permit ease of varying the puncture force by adding more or less disks and/or by varying the thickness and spacing of the disks (if the disks are spaced away from each other, there is no “reinforcing” of proximate disks – a disk further on the inside will not buttress the disk closer to the outside). And note by varying the width, it can enable the disk to more easily or less easily “pop out” or “collapse” from the closure body. The “deeper” into the closure that the disks extend, the more cantilever reinforcement is present, and thus the more force that is required to dislodge the disk. Note also that the disks can be of varied material. These can be sintered PTFE disks, (in which case the vent component 230 could be dispensed with), or these could be non-porous / non vapor passing components, such as metal plates or plastic plates. Using different disk dimensions and/or material, or otherwise having different material properties (same material can have different strengths / flexibility) can enable flexible designs to have different “puncture forces.” [00270] In any event, returning to the general concept, by example only and not by way of limitation, the frangible seal 18, whether a single piece or layered piece or composite component, the frangible component 1570, the sintered PTFE disk 18541, disk 18301, gas
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT permeable component (and thus vapor permeable component) 1530, collapsible component 2860, component 2828, cup 2034, seal 4025, element 4325, seal 49421, etc., are designed, sized, dimensioned, constructed and have material strengths and/or lack thereof so as to be compatible with heritage dispensing machines by design selection / variation of properties when making the container / designing the container. [00271] Embodiments accordingly include methods of reverse engineering or otherwise obtaining data associated with heritage disinfecting machines in reverse engineering containers for use there with. By way of example only and not by way limitation, the method can include obtaining the maximum force (mean, median and/or mode across designs, or otherwise the outright maximum for any given machine, and/or based on wear / fatigue, where such reduces the force that can otherwise bey imparted, which data can be obtained by empirical and/or theoretical and/or calculative evaluations) that can be imparted onto the dispensing tube to allow the dispensing tube to move forward, and thus into the container, where above this force, the dispensing tube would not move forward, or more accurately, the components supporting the dispensing tube would not move forward, because of the variable nature associated with the tip of the dispensing tube. Then, a design percentage is applied, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, 75%, or 50% or 35% or any value or range of values therebetween all by way of example only and not by way limitation, and the frangible component / puncturable component, etc., is designed to be punctured by a dispensing tube of current design or otherwise dispensing tube that would be utilized with the heritage machines to which is applied that percentage modified force (e.g., if the maximum force is X, design the container to be pieced by a dispensing tube applied with a force of 0.5X. Thus, this can ensure that the disinfectant machine need not be operated at the maximum output force to obtain operational compatibility with the containers according to the teachings detailed herein. Also, this can provide a level of redundancy to accommodate imperfectly position containers and/or machines that are not operating per design constraints or standards, and/or otherwise dispensing tubes that are not as “sharp” or otherwise have been blunted over time, and thus would likely require increased force to obtain the access to the interior of the container in accordance with the teachings detailed herein. Note that “wear” on the tubes can be taken into account, owing to the possibility that the tubes will not be as sharp as they once were, thus requiring additional force for puncturing beyond that which was the original design puncture force. [00272] Note also in at least some exemplary embodiments, it could be that additional or retrofit puncture tubes in other parts can be utilized in otherwise provided in a kit along with or
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT otherwise separate from the containers detailed herein. By way of example only and not by way limitation, if it is found that the existing machines are of sufficient age or otherwise of sufficient cycling that components have been worn, it can be utilitarian to provide replacement parts, such as, for example, replacement dispensing tubes that have a sharper end relative to that which is the case with now dulled tubes. That said, it could be that it is not possible to achieve immediate backwards compatibility without some form of modification to existing disinfecting machines. Accordingly, it could be that new and sharper and/or less blunt dispensing tubes can be utilized, or more narrow tubes for that matter, where the sharpness and/or the bluntness of the tubes of existing machines corresponds to that of the original design, but a more sharp and or a less blunt tube can permit backwards compatibility with the existing maximum force profiles and/or capabilities of the existing disinfecting machines. That is, by providing a more sharp dispensing tube, relative to that which corresponds to the existing designs or machines after use, it could be that the containers are easier to puncture utilizing the same output force relative to that which would otherwise be the case, thus providing backwards compatibility achieved by making a change to a wear replaceable part, such as the dispensing tube, which would likely be replaceable owing to the fact that the component is a component that is likely to experience wear over the lifetime of the machine. This concept can be applied to other portions of the machine by way of example only and not by way limitation, where other features of the existing dispensing machines could be slightly modified in a manner that is relatively simple and otherwise innocuous so as to provide the backwards compatibility that will enable the containers according to the teachings detailed herein to be utilized. [00273] Still, in an exemplary embodiment, a generally straightforward way of implementing the backwards compatibility concept is to adjust (control) the thickness of any one or more of the aforementioned components. In an exemplary embodiment, there is utilitarian value with respect to keeping the same material properties as a design constraint, and the same outer diameters or otherwise surface area and shapes as a design constraint, which has the utilitarian value of ensuring that the dimensional features of the container meets the dimensional features of the legacy disinfectant machines at interface locations. In essence, the “weakness” of the area to be pierced or otherwise broken can be controlled, etc., by dimensioning the amount of material utilized; here, the thickness of the material at the location of piercing, by way of example and not by way of limitation. [00274] And note that these concepts can also be applicable to the bottle body as well, which, as noted above, is also pierced by components of the disinfecting machine. In this regard, as
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT noted above with respect to figure 6, there is a horizontal tube 122 that pierces the sidewall of the bottle. Here, the strength of the bottle material can be design varied by varying the thickness for example, so as to ensure that the heritage or legacy disinfecting machines can also pierced the side of the bottle in accordance with the teachings above. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottles are sized and dimensioned and designed and otherwise configured so as to ensure that the existing machines can drive the horizontal tube 122 through the bottle so that orifice 123 can reach the inside of the bottle. In an embodiment, the thickness can be universal with respect to the bottle, or at least the main body, or at least the cylindrical portion of the bottle body, or can be local to the area where the tube will pierce the bottle, and thus, by way of example only and not by way limitation, there could be an area or band about the circumference of the bottle at or around the area where the horizontal tube will pierce the bottle (so that the bottle need not require a specific orientation with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis when the bottle is in the disinfectant machine – that is, in some embodiments, whatever rotational angle the container is placed in the machine will enable the heritage machines to pierce the side of the bottle, while in other embodiments this may not necessarily be the case, and thus it could be that the bottle must be placed in the machine at a certain angle so that the horizontal tube will align with the area of weakness for example). [00275] Note that embodiments can have a bottle with a frangible portion on the side of the bottle. This could be a weakened section that extends the entire 360 degrees about the bottle, or could be an area of weakness, where the bottle is configured so that it can only be placed into the disinfectant machine in one orientation vis-à-vis rotation about the longitudinal axis of the container to ensure that the weakened portion of the bottle is aligned with the horizontal tube. [00276] Again, in an exemplary embodiment, at least some of the teachings detailed herein corresponds to adapters that adapt a container for use with existing disinfection machines. In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component can have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, or more through holes or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment. The idea is that the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 provides a vent disk that spans the opening of the neck as shown in figure 28. In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 is bonded to the gas permeable component and/or the neck 11. In other embodiments, there is no bond between one or both of those components. And this brings up another point, that in some embodiments, the gas permeable component and/or the gas permeable material is bonded to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the cup and/or to the neck depending on the embodiment while in other embodiments it is not so bonded to one or both of those components. And note that the component(s) that are franged / pierced / broken / splintered / separated, etc., are sized and dimensioned and otherwise designed to be compatible with existing disinfecting machine apparatuses. This is with respect to the neck of the bottle and/or the closure and/or the overall dimensions of the bottle. Note that the designs can be set so that the existing forces and/or velocities of the dispensing tube in existing disinfection / disinfecting machines can pierce / frange, etc., the container without any modification or even adjustment to the existing machines. In this regard, it could be that the existing machines are adjustable, and adjustments may be needed, but the idea is that the machines will not need any new parts or otherwise need to be modified in a manner that is not readily ascertainable with existing parts present with the existing machines. By way of example, characteristics such as thickness of the pierced / franged components can be the same as existing bottles that are used with the machines, by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus, embodiments include containers designed to have working principles (e.g., break or pierce force and/or velocity) to within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30% of that which is required for existing containers. [00277] In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2820 is fixed to the inverted cup 2834, such as by way of example, by an interference fit or by bonding, etc. In other embodiments, it is slip fit or is not fixed to the inside the cup body. In some embodiments, the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 is not fixed to the cup body. Note that this still renders an assembly that includes the cup body and the gas permeable component and the frangible and/or collapsible component, even if all of the components are not fixed to one another. And note that the assembly can include other components, such as the bottle. [00278] In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible component is a disk formed from a frangible / collapsible sheet. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, a sheet of PDFE can be obtained, and a disk can be laser cut therefrom to form the frangible and/or collapsible component. As seen in figure 28, the gas permeable component is located between the frangible and/or collapsible component and a base of the cup body. [00279] In the interests of textual economy, any of the above noted values associated with the forces required to pierce and/or collapse the gas permeable component and/or the frangible seal can correspond to the forces required to pierce and/or collapse the component 2828 alone or in combination with the gas permeable component and thus these will not be repeated here.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00280] Note also that embodiments include a component 2828 and/or a component 1530 that resists breaking and/or piercing, and instead collapses or otherwise becomes dislodged. In an exemplary embodiment, any of the above-noted testing procedures can be implemented where there is no through piercing (the “needle” might go in part of the component, but not all the way from one side to the other) at the aforementioned values but the component becomes sufficiently dislodged so that an opening through the formally closed opening is established. In an exemplary embodiment, a center of mass of the given component is moved respect to location along the longitudinal axis at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments and/or the component is rotated by at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 degrees, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments without a through piercing. [00281] Figure 29 presents another exemplary embodiment of an assembly that includes a cup body 2834 having a through hole through the center line thereof as seen, consistent with the embodiments above that have such an arrangement, along with a gas permeable component 2930 that includes a through hole 2977 through the gas permeable material thereof. Note that the through hole 2977 does not make the material gas permeable. The material is thus identified as being gas permeable. In this embodiment, the gas permeable component 2930 is not pierced and otherwise does not collapse when the dispensing tube is inserted into the container. In this exemplary embodiment, it is the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 that is pierced or collapsed, and that is the only component that is pierced or collapsed. In an exemplary embodiment, the through hole in the gas permeable component/material has the dimension D41, which can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 millimeters, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. In an exemplary embodiment, the value of the diameter of the through hole 2977 can be the same as the value of the through hole 2777 through the base of the cup, while in other embodiments, the value can be larger than the through hole 2777 through the base of the cup and in other embodiments, the value can be smaller than the through hole through the base of the cup. As seen, there is no radial overlap between the through holes 2860 of the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 and the through hole 2977. This as opposed to the through hole 2777 and the through hole 2977. [00282] In an exemplary embodiment, the through holes 2977 and 2777 are concentric. This is consistent with the embodiments shown where the through holes 1560 are concentric with the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT through holes 2860. In other embodiments, the through holes of the different components are not concentric with one another, and in some embodiments, some are concentric and some are not concentric. [00283] Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component includes a through hole located over the frangible and/or collapsible component. In an exemplary embodiment, the through hole of the gas permeable component completely radially overlaps with a solid portion of the frangible and/or collapsible component / a portion of the frangible and/or collapsible component that does not have a through hole, as shown in figure 29. [00284] Figure 31 shows an exemplary embodiment that includes a removable plug 3131 that is located in the through holes 2977 and 2777, which plug includes the pull tab 2750 to aid in the removal thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the plug 3131 is a silicone plug and/or a rubber plug (it can be silicone rubber) and establishes an interference fit with one or both of the through holes (here, the interference fit is established with the through hole 2977). In an exemplary embodiment, the plug 3131 is sized and dimensioned to extend downward below the bottom most portion of the gas permeable component 2930, while in other embodiments, such as that shown in figure 31, the plug 3131 does not extend past the bottom, and in fact does not even extend to the bottom of the gas permeable component 2930. In an exemplary embodiment, the plug 3131 is both gas impermeable and liquid impermeable, at least with respect to the liquid that is located in the bottle during use of the bottle or otherwise the use of the container. [00285] Still with reference to the embodiment of figure 29, embodiments include the assembly that includes the cup body and the gas permeable component, wherein the cup body has at least one orifice (e.g., element 1560), in the inverted bottom thereof, which orifice is barriered by the gas permeable component. Also as seen, the gas permeable component has an opening, opening 2977, which opening is radially nonoverlapping with the orifice. Note also that the frangible and/or collapsible component 2828 also has an opening 2860 that is radially nonoverlapping with the opening of the gas permeable component. This is opposed to, for example, openings 2777 and 2977, which radially overlap and also are concentric with one another (openings can be non-concentric but still overlap). Indeed, as seen, the body 2930 also includes an opening 2777 that is laterally aligned with the opening 2977 of the permeable component. As seen in the embodiment of figure 29, the opening 2977 of the gas permeable component is located at a lateral center of the gas permeable component 2930. In other embodiments, this is not the case.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00286] The embodiment of figure 31 shows a plug at 3131 closing the opening in the body of the cup 2834. This also shows the opening and the gas permeable component being closed by the plug. In this exemplary embodiment, as in some of the embodiments above, a collapsible and/or frangible barrier and a base of the cup sandwich the gas permeable component. That is, the gas permeable component is sandwiched between the collapsible and/or frangible barrier and the base of the cup. [00287] Figure 31 presents an embodiment that includes a crush portion 3113 that is monolithic with the remainder of the body of the cup 3134. In an exemplary embodiment, this is a crush rib seal that abuts the HDPE sheet at the opening of the container. As seen, it has a reduced thickness section relative to the wall of the cup 3134, where the top portion thereof establishes the opening of the container. But note that in some embodiments, this crush rib seal can be part of another component of the container, such as, for example, the cup, and can be a separate component entirely, such as that seen in FIG.32 (more on this in a moment). [00288] In an exemplary embodiment, this crush rib component provides for reduced tolerancing of the overall components and otherwise provides for an improved seal between the container and the assembly for closing the container relative to that which would otherwise be the case. Also, owing to the plastic deformation and/or elastic deformation features of the crush rib component, greater clamping force on the gas permeable component and/or the collapsible component can be achieved relative to that which would otherwise be the case. Conversely, a more controlled clamp force can be achieved. By way of example, for a less than, greater than, and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 degree, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 degree increments turn of the cup with respect to screwing the cup onto the bottle, the clamping force is increased and/or decreased by at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, or 75% relative to that which would be the case if the crush rib or deformable component was not there and there is only a uniform neck end of the bottle, as in the embodiment of figure 29 for example and/or otherwise with a wall of the neck at the end and/or at a location within 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments of the end having a uniform thickness / thickness at the end that is within 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the average thickness of the wall of the neck. [00289] In an embodiment, the thickness of the portion 3113 is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.95, 1, 1.2, 1.5 or 1.75 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments. In an embodiment, the thickness of the portion 3113 is 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of the average thickness of the wall of the neck. In an embodiment, a height of the portion 3113 is greater than, less than and/or equal to 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1, 1.2, 1.5 or 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. [00290] In an exemplary embodiment, the height of element 3113 is reduced by at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments by a downward force thereon evenly distributed about the circumference of element 3113 (element 3113 is rotationally symmetric and continuous about axis 1616, although in other embodiments, this is not the case) of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, or 70 Newtons, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.25 Newton increments. [00291] Figure 32 presents an embodiment that includes a crush portion 3213. In an exemplary embodiment, this is a crush T that abuts the HDPE sheet at the opening of the container. As seen, it has a T-shaped cross-section, where the top portion thereof establishes the opening of the container. Here, it is a separate component entirely from the neck, and press fit into a circumferential groove and/or bonded to the neck. But note that in some embodiments, this crush rib seal can be part of another component of the container, such as, for example, the cup, and/or can be part of the neck (monolithic therewith), as seen in FIG.30, with portion 3013. [00292] As noted above, in some embodiments, upon sealing engagement with the bottle, if the design of the container is not in accordance with the teachings herein, the cap (cup) can effectively impede gas flow through the passageway 219 by blocking the vent egress though the body of the closure. In an embodiment, the cap can include a plurality of spacer protrusions peripherally disposed about its inner surface to define a plurality of gas passageways. Because the spacer protrusions abut against the edge of the body of the closure, an exit path can be provided for any escaping gas. In this regard, figure 35 shows an exemplary arrangement where there is a cup 3435 screwed onto neck 11 (although in other embodiments, the features associated with this embodiment can be applicable to those of the snap coupling arrangements detailed above, providing that the art enables such, unless otherwise noted). Here, there are spacer protrusions 4035 as shown that are physically attached to the cup 3435, and in this
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT embodiment, are part of the structure of the cup, in that these are monolithic with the remainder of the cup 3435. Figure 35 shows a cross-section of the neck and the closure assembly 21435 and the body 24135 of the closure assembly, as well as a cross-section of the cup 3435. Here, in this embodiment, the cross-section is taken so that the cross-section does not go through the spacer protrusions 4035. Conversely, the cross-section of figure 36 does go through two spacer portions. (FIG.35 is a cross-section on the longitudinal axis, and FIG.36 is also on that axis, except that cross-section is offset by a sufficient number of degrees so that the cross-section goes through the spacer protrusions 4035 as shown.) Note that in the figures, the back portions of the components are not shown, concomitant with the standard practice utilizing this application unless otherwise noted. If this is not the case, there would be, in some embodiments, one or two or more protrusions between the two protrusions shown in figure 35 and figure 36 because the cross-section would show the backdrop. In this exemplary embodiment, in contrast to some of the embodiments disclosed above, there are no protrusions to accommodate gas flow on the closure 21435. [00293] That said, in an alternate embodiment, there can be some protrusions on the closure, and consistent with the teachings above, these protrusions can be monolithic with the body 24135 of the closure by way of example only. This may not be ideal for embodiments where the cup is screwed on to the neck, but this could be a utilitarian arrangement where the cup is snap coupled onto the neck, or otherwise in embodiments where the cup does not have to be rotated, and thus the protrusions of the neck would not necessarily interfere with the protrusions on the cup, at least if the cup and the neck were properly aligned. And in this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, there could be an alignment groove or the like and an alignment protrusion or the like on the cup and on the neck, as applicable, to ensure that the cap is properly aligned vis-à-vis rotation about the longitudinal axis with the neck so that the protrusions do not interfere when the cup is placed onto the neck. [00294] In this exemplary embodiment, there are less than, greater than, and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment protrusions that are part of the cup 3435. [00295] In an exemplary embodiment, the height of the protrusions, dimension D351, is 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, or 4 mm, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments, where the height is measured from the base of the protrusion, here, the base of the cup 3435, to the top of the protrusion. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment where, for
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT example, the height of the protrusion is 1.25 mm, in an exemplary embodiment, this would provide a gap that has a height of 1.25 mm for gas to flow therethrough, such as represented by way of example only by arrow 11135 in figure 35. In an exemplary embodiment, the spacing between protrusions as measured on a circular path that is the closest and or furthest from the longitudinal axis or otherwise the maximum spacing is less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 mm, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments. [00296] FIG. 37 shows another exemplary embodiment that enables gas flow when the cap is placed onto the neck 11. Here, there is an exemplary cup 3735 that is screwed onto the neck 11, where the base of the cup is a contoured base owing to a portion 4037 which is raised (lower with respect to the frame of reference of figure 37) relative to the remainder of the base as shown. In this exemplary embodiment, this enables gas flow (conceptually represented by the arrow 11135 as shown through a gap located on one side of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the portion 4037 extends about the longitudinal axis over at least and/or equal to and/or no more than 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, or 359 degrees, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. In an embodiment, there can be two or three or four or five or six or seven or eight or nine or 10 or more separate portions that are equally spaced relative to one another or are not equally spaced relative to one another. In an embodiment, the number portions 4037 corresponds to the noted number above for the embodiments of figure 35 by way of example only and not by way limitation. Any protrusion arrangement that can enable the teachings detailed herein, such as those associated with enabling gas flow or otherwise permitting outgassing to be executed, can utilize at least some exemplary embodiments providing that the art enable such. [00297] FIG. 37A shows an exemplary embodiment where a portion of the thread has been removed and in place there is a space represented by curve 24835. In this exemplary embodiment, there is thread material behind and in front of the location shown in figure 37A (again, this is a cross-section where the backdrop material has been removed). This can be done by machining or otherwise cutting a portion of the thread off of the neck of the bottle. This can provide a path for gas to flow between the cup body and the neck to reach ambient atmosphere, by way of example only and not by way of limitation.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00298] Briefly, with respect to gas / vapor transfer out of the container, FIG.37B shows cross- sections of the cup 3734 and the neck 11 of the bottle from a different angle about the longitudinal axis of the container from that shown in FIG. 37A. This shows that the cross- section of the male thread and the female thread have “moved down” relative to that of FIG. 37A, owing to the different angle (concomitant with how the thread wraps around the axis). Also, the cup 3437 is in the process of being screwed onto the neck (it is not all the way on). The angle of the cup is different from the angle of the neck relative to that which is the case in FIG.37A. Here, it can be seen that the female thread is “open” at the bottom (the female thread does not angle back at the bottom. This permits the gas / vapor to escape by moving per arrow 11135, and then “snaking” along the gap between the male and female thread of the neck and cup respectively, down to the bottom of the cup, where the opening permits the gas to ultimately leave the neck-cup area and thus outgas to the environment. Alternatively and/or in addition to this, the male thread can “dive” into the neck or otherwise become smaller in a given diameter to provide a path for the gas to exit. [00299] In view of the above, it can be seen that in some embodiments, there is a container, comprising a generally cylindrical inverted cup body, such as body 3435 of FIG.35 by way of example, or body 3437 of FIG. 37 again by way of example. The container further has a gas permeable component, such as any of those detailed herein providing that such can be used with this embodiment. The container also includes a bottle having an opening, such as bottle 2 by way of example, or any bottle that has a neck with an opening in accordance to any of the teachings herein and variations thereof. [00300] In an embodiment, the generally cylindrical inverted cup body includes or has attached thereto at least one protrusion that abuts the bottle and/or abuts a component that has a portion that extends into the opening, such as by way of example, any closure according to the teachings herein that can be used with this embodiment. In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion prevents the cup body from gas tight closure on the bottle and/or on the component that extends into the opening. That is, in this embodiment, but for the protrusions, the cup body could be for example screwed on to the neck of the bottle so that the base of the cup body could contact the top surface of the neck and/or the closure body and create a gas tight closure so that the vapor could not vent out of the container or otherwise so that venting would be frustrated beyond that which would be the case with the use of the protrusions. [00301] Corollary to this is that in at least some exemplary embodiments, the neck of the bottle and/or the closure does not have any protrusion components that contact the cup body, or at
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT least the base of the cup body. This is thus different from the arrangement of figure 2 detailed above, where the closure body includes the protrusions. Accordingly, in an embodiment, there is a container wherein the bottle and, if present, the component that has a portion that extends into the opening does not include protrusions that abut the inverted cup body. Also, in an embodiment, there is a container wherein the bottle and, if present, the component that has a portion that extends into the opening does not include protrusions that abut a base of the inverted cup body. [00302] In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion includes at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, or more protrusions with respective spaces between respective protrusions of the number of protrusions, which spaces provide a route for gas to travel from one side of the space to the other side of the space. In an embodiment, the container includes the component that has the portion that extends into the opening. [00303] In an embodiment of this embodiment, the component is a sealingly engageable closure for the bottle that includes a vent component including a material permeable to gas such that gas is vented from the interior of said bottle and includes a body supporting the vent component. In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion directly abuts a portion of the body, which portion of the body is located outside the opening of the bottle. In an embodiment, there is an open space immediately adjacent to the at least one protrusion, which open space is between a base of the cup body and the body, wherein gas vented through the vent component travels from one side of the space to the other side of the space. This is shown conceptually by way of example in FIG.37 with respect to arrow 11135. In an embodiment, there are two or more protrusions or any of the number of protrusions detailed herein by way of example and there are respective open spaces between respective protrusions. In this embodiment, the open spaces are between a base of the cup body and the body (closure body), wherein gas vented through the vent component travels from one side of the spaces to the other side of the spaces. The protrusions directly abut a portion of the body. Note that any disclosure herein of abutting the closure body corresponds to an alternate disclosure where the protrusions abut the neck or otherwise the bottle. [00304] In an embodiment, there are at there are at least two protrusions with respective open spaces between respective protrusions of the at least two protrusion and the protrusions extend from a base of the cup body and the at least two protrusions directly abut the portion of the body.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00305] In an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a generally cylindrical inverted cup body a gas permeable component a bottle having an opening, wherein the generally cylindrical inverted cup body includes or has attached thereto at least one portion that abuts the bottle and/or abuts a component that has a portion that extends into the opening, which at least one protrusion prevents the cup body from gas tight closure on the bottle and/or on the component that extends into the opening. In an embodiment, the at least one portion subtends an angle that is at least, equal to and/or no more than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240,250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 345, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358 and/or 359 degrees or any value or any range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments about a longitudinal axis of the cup body. [00306] In an embodiment, with respect to a radial location about the longitudinal axis, there is a space between one radial side of the portion and an opposite radial side of the portion that subtends at least, equal to and/or no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240,250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 345, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, or more degrees, or any value or any range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments about a longitudinal axis of the cup body. Thus, in an embodiment, there is the portion 4037 as seen above in FIG.37 for example that can extend, in some embodiments, the vast majority of the way about the longitudinal axis, leaving a channel through which gas can escape represented by arrow 11135 for example. [00307] In an embodiment, the portion is monolithic with the inverted cup body. In an embodiment, the at least one portion abuts the bottle. [00308] In an exemplary embodiment, a funnel is molded into or otherwise is part of the structure of the bottle, and this can, in some embodiments, provide utilitarian value with respect to improving the usage of the H2O2 in the bottle relative to that which might otherwise be the case. An exemplary embodiment of this is seen in figure 38, which utilizes at least some of the features detailed above associated with the embodiment of figure 20 for purposes of explanation by way of example only and not by way of limitation. It is to be understood that alternate embodiments can utilize other teachings detailed herein concomitant with the teachings detailed herein that various features of various embodiments can be combined providing that the art enables such.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00309] More specifically, figure 38 shows an exemplary neck 1138 of an exemplary bottle, which has a funnel portion that parallels, at least in some exemplary embodiments, to the funnel of the closure body 241 detailed above by way of example only and not by way of limitation. As seen, the upper walls of the neck 1138 extend inward towards the longitudinal axis of the bottle with height, and that means when the bottle is positioned in the disinfecting assembly machine, (which means that the orientation figure 38 is upside down), the hydrogen peroxide that is in the bottle, will thus be pulled by gravity into the funnel area. The idea is that by restricting the cross-sectional area and thus the local volume of the bottle at the neck portion, less hydrogen peroxide solution will be located at the lower portions of the bottle than that which would otherwise be the case. This can have utilitarian value with respect to the fact that the orifice of the hollow dispensing tube will be located above the bottom most portion of the opening of the bottle when the bottle is inverted. This is because of tolerance buildups and/or conservative design features to ensure that the orifice is always located inside the bottle completely during use. Accordingly, depending on the level of the orifice, there will be a certain amount of hydrogen peroxide solution that will not be able to be withdrawn from the bottle because gravity will retain that solution below the bottom most portion of the orifice of the hollow dispensing tube. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, because the area/volume inside the bottle (neck) below the above-noted bottom most portion of the orifice is reduced, there will be less waste of hydrogen peroxide solution relative to that which would otherwise be the case, all other things being equal. [00310] In an exemplary embodiment, with respect to the lowermost portion where hydrogen peroxide is stored or otherwise contained after the bottle is inverted as it would be for dispensing and/or otherwise the bottom most portion of the opening, a distance above that of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1415, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 mm will have no more than 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, 2500, 2750, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, or 8000 mm3, or any value or range of values therebetween in 5 mm3 increments of hydrogen peroxide solution with and/or without the tube piercing the container and/or a volume associated with the just noted base distances is such inside the bottle (or inside the neck, depending on where the neck ends) with or without the tube piercing. In an embodiment, the above noted volumes can be, at least some of them, the amounts of solution present when the container is loaded into the disinfection apparatus machine and the container is pierced by the hollow dispensing tube in those ranges prior to withdrawing more than 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50% of the solution from the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT container. In an embodiment, upon the point where no more solution can be removed from the container because the level of the solution is below the orifice of the tube, there is no more than 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, or 2000 mm3, or any value or range of values therebetween in 10 mm3 increments of hydrogen peroxide solution remaining in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the above-noted distances are measured from the lowermost surface (with respect to the orientation figure 38) of component 1530 and/or the uppermost portion of support 1838S, which supports the component 1530 and otherwise helps trap the component between the neck 1138 and the cup 2034 by way of example. And in this regard, support 1838S is monolithic with the remainder of the neck 1138 as shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the support 1838S, D381, can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, or 10 mm, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. And while this embodiment shows the support 1138S extending outward in a cantilevered beam manner (it is a ring in 3 dimensions), in an alternate embodiment, this can be more of a block portion of the neck as shown in figure 38A, with support 1838SA. Note also that rib supports can be used below 1838S in an alternate embodiment to provide additional support therefore. [00311] Note that the above noted volumes are volumes bounded by the body of the bottle or otherwise the neck of the bottle (where the bottle body has a neck that is monolithic with the remainder of the bottle body). This as opposed to a volume established by the closure body 241 for example, which is not part of the bottle body. As seen herein, the neck need not be a cylindrical portion / need not have an interior surface that is cylindrical. Instead, the interior of the neck can taper as seen above, as the neck can have the funnel shape (the funnel shape is formed by the wall of the neck that is monolithic with the rest of the bottle body). [00312] In view of the above, in an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle body having an opening, such as a bottle having neck 1138 and opening 1838. In this embodiment, there is a closure component closing the opening of the bottle body, such as an assembly including the cup body 2034. In this exemplary embodiment, the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube. This can be in accordance with any of the teachings herein. Also, the bottle body has an interior exposed to the fluid in the container having a funnel shape inside the interior of the bottle and the closure component extends axially so that the closure component overlaps with at least a portion of the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT funnel shape in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. This is seen for example in FIG.38, and is distinguished from the bottle 2 of FIG.2 above. In an embodiment, the closure component overlaps the entire funnel shape. In this embodiment, the closure component includes a cup body having a base 2034A and a sidewall 2034B, which sidewall overlaps the entire funnel shape, as seen in FIG.38A, where sidewall 2034B extends below the bottom of the funnel shape as can be seen. In an embodiment, only a portion of the funnel shape is overlapped by the closure component in general, and in an exemplary embodiment, by the sidewall in particular. In an embodiment, the funnel shape extends a distance D77 as shown, where D77 can be, in some embodiments, less than or equal to or greater than 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, or 33 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. FIG. 38A shows another embodiment, where the tapering begins a distance D381 from a top (bottom when the bottle is inverted for dispensing) of the bottle / from the opening of the bottle / neck. [00313] In an embodiment, D95 is less than, greater than and/or equal to 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, or 12 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments, where D95 is the most narrow portion of the funnel shape as can be seen. In an embodiment, where the funnel shape is symmetric about the longitudinal axis 1616, the funnel shape can be represented by a radius value r38, where r38 can vary from, for example, is less than, greater than, and/or equal to 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, or 20 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments. In an embodiment, r38 changes linearly with location along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 1616. That said, in an embodiment, the shape of the funnel can change geometrically with location. Any change in shape that can enable funneling can be used in some embodiments. [00314] And note that the values for D95 noted above can be the widths of the area above the frangible seal 18 noted above, for the purposes of textual economy. [00315] In an embodiment, the closure component includes a cup body having a base and a sidewall, which sidewall overlaps at least 80 percent of the funnel shape with respect to location in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the container. In the embodiment of FIG.38A, 100% of the funnel shape is covered. In an embodiment, at least and/or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the funnel shape with respect to location in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the container is overlapped by the cup body.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00316] In an embodiment, a first portion of an outside of the bottle body at least generally tracks a portion of the funnel shape. This is seen in FIG.38. In an embodiment, the outside of the bottle body at least generally (including exactly) tracks, with respect to the direction of the longitudinal axis, at least and/or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the funnel shape. In an embodiment, the wall thickness where the funnel shape is present varies by no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 or 20% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments for, with respect to the direction of the longitudinal axis, at least and/or equal to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the funnel shape. [00317] In the embodiment, the closure component is screwed onto the bottle body via a thread arrangement. In an embodiment, the first portion noted immediately above is located, with respect to location in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the container, between at least a portion of the thread arrangement and the opening of the bottle body. [00318] In an embodiment, a first portion of an outside of the bottle body at least generally tracks a portion of the funnel shape, the closure component is screwed onto the bottle body via a thread arrangement and the first portion is located, with respect to location in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the container, between all of the thread arrangement that provide gripping force to hold the closure component to the bottle body and the opening of the bottle body, as seen in FIG. 38B. (Note that there could be thread that does not provide gripping force. For example, the male thread could wrap up onto the conical shape of the outside of the bottle, but because that is away from the female thread of the cap 2034, that does not provide gripping force.) In an embodiment, distance D3883 is the distance from the top of the bottle to the topmost portion of the thread that grips, where D3883 can be, in some embodiments, less than, greater than, and/or equal to 3, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, or 46 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments. In an embodiment, D3883 can be to the bottommost portion of the thread (the end of the helix) or can be the topmost portion of the thread (the end of the helix) or can be the middle portion of the thread (the middle of the helix). [00319] In an embodiment, the end of the tapered portion of the funnel shape extends directly to the opening as seen in FIG.38B. In an embodiment, the tapered portion of the funnel shape has a portion that is within 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 14, or 15 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments of the opening. In an embodiment, the bottle body has a cylindrical shape that is adjacent to the funnel shape. In an embodiment, the bottle body is at least 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5 or 5 times or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments as wide at a location 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 60 mm (downward with respect to the frame of refence of FIG.38B) or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 mm from an end of the tapering of the funnel shape than a widest portion of the tapering of the funnel shape. [00320] In an embodiment, the bottle body has a cylindrical shape at least a portion of which is within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or 60 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 mm from a tapered portion of the funnel shape, the cylindrical shape being on an opposite side of the funnel shape from the opening. [00321] Various slopes of the funnel shape can be used. In an embodiment, a slope of the funnel shape, for a rise of at least and/or equal to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 mm (the vertical direction of FIG.38B) is 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments (e.g., between 3 and 1) when the container is positioned so that the opening is facing upward. In an embodiment, a slope of the funnel shape, for a rise of at least and/or equal to any of those just listed, is less than 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, or 1.5, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments and greater than 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, or 2.5 (as applicable depending on the top value), or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments when the container is positioned so that the opening is facing upward. [00322] In an embodiment, the bottle body has an outer diameter that is at least 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or 5 times, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 increments an inner diameter of the opening on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis (the support 1838S extends away from the opening as seen). [00323] In an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle body having an opening and a closure component closing the opening of the bottle body, wherein the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube. In this exemplary embodiment, the bottle body (as opposed to, for example, the closure body 241 which is not part of the bottle body – the bottle body is a monolithic body separate from a monolithic body of the closure body) has an interior exposed to the fluid in the container
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT having a first interior cross-sectional area lying on a first plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the bottle body that is no greater than and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, or 65%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a second cross- sectional area also lying on the first plane of an outermost portion of the container, wherein the first plane is within 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37 mm of the opening of the bottle and/or the top of the container. This can be because, in an exemplary embodiment, the closure component (cup body) has an outer diameter that is, for example, 30 mm in outside diameter, and a local cross-section through the taper has an inner diameter of 15 mm for example. [00324] In an embodiment, the first interior cross-sectional area is no greater than and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, or 65% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a third cross-sectional area also lying on the first plane of an outermost portion of the bottle body. [00325] In an embodiment, cross-sectional areas of the interior of the bottle body on planes normal to the longitudinal axis can represent in a finite numerical manner the taper of the conical shape. Thus, in an embodiment, there are 30 planes normal to the longitudinal axis each variously 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments (the planes need not be the same distance, but they can be the same distance) and respective cross-sectional areas of the bottle body on the respective planes are no greater than and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, or 65%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments of a second cross-sectional area also lying on the first plane of an outermost portion of the container, where the percentages change in a decremental manner with planes closer to the opening for the planes that pass through the taper. [00326] In an embodiment, the bottle body establishes a funnel shape inside the interior of the bottle that has at least a portion within 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, or 0.5 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm increments of the opening of the bottle body. In an embodiment, the bottle body has an outer diameter that is at least 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or 5 times an inner diameter of the opening on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis. [00327] FIG. 39 presents another exemplary embodiment, where the support includes a horizontal portion 1838SH and a vertical portion 1838SV, which collectively forms an annular basin for the component 1530A, which can correspond to component 1530 detailed above,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT albeit with a smaller diameter to accommodate the vertical portions 1838SV as shown. This can have utilitarian value with respect to holding the component 1530A during assembly of the container and otherwise keeping the component 1530A centered relative to the bottle during assembly or after assembly, which can have utilitarian value where, for example, the clamping force may not be sufficient to hold the component 1530A laterally as desired. [00328] And again, concomitant with the statements herein about combining features from one embodiment with features of another embodiment, the just noted volume features and/or the just noted integrated funnel features can be applicable to any one or more of the embodiments detailed herein providing that the art enables such unless otherwise noted. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the above noted volume values can be applicable to, for example, the embodiment of figure 10 and/or the above support platform features can be applicable to the embodiments of figure 20 irrespective of whether or not the funneling feature is utilized again all by way of example and not by way limitation. [00329] Note that any of the teachings associated with the embodiment of figures 35 and 36 can be applicable to the teachings the number of protrusions being those on the bottle instead of the cup. [00330] FIG. 40 shows an exemplary embodiment of a resealable seal. In this exemplary embodiment, there is a seal 4025 in the closure 1440 and, in this embodiment, the seal is monolithic with the body 4140 of the closure 1440. In this exemplary embodiment, the seal 4025 is configured so that when the tube of the disinfection machine is extended into the bottle and the seal is separated, the seal will seal around the tube a sufficient amount to ensure that there is not an unacceptable amount of leakage, which can include no leakage, out of the container while the tube extends into the container through the seal. In this exemplary embodiment, upon removal of the tube from the container, the seal 4025 re-seals itself in a manner at least effectively corresponding to the seal that existed prior to the insertion of the tube into the container. In an embodiment, the seal that results after the tube is removed is at least 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments as good as that which was the case prior to the insertion of the tube in a scenario where the bottle is 50% full upon removal. In an embodiment, the seal can achieve any one or more of the aft aforementioned outgassing features before and/or after tube insertion. In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 4025 provides for the outgassing arrangements detailed above before and/or after the tube is inserted into the seal.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00331] In an embodiment, seal 4025 establishes a slit where the material of the seal on either side of the slit meets each other and establishes the seal, but because the material is separated from each other, the tube can extend through the slit by separating the material away from each other owing to the force of the tube being forced to the slit. Embodiments can provide venting and/or quicker equalization of pressure inside the container by way of example. [00332] In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 4025 or variations thereof functions and/or has the same structure as an outlet of a honey squeeze bottle. In an embodiment, the seal is a self- sealing seal. [00333] In the embodiment shown in figure 40, the seal 4025 is made of the same material and otherwise is monolithic with the material of the body 4140 of the closure 1440. In another embodiment, the seal 4025 can be made of a separate material or a separate component that is attached to the body as shown in figure 40A. Here, there is a disk body 40251 as shown that establishes the seal 4025. The disk body 40251 is sandwiched between two annular plans portions of the body 4140A of the closure 1440A. In an exemplary embodiment, the disk body 40251 can be of a different material than the body of the closure. In an exemplary embodiment, this could be a material that establishes a septum for a liquid pharmaceutical vial for filling of a hypodermic syringe by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the two flanges of the body 4140A can instead be a snap ring or the like that is placed over the ring body 40251 when that body is placed on top of the bottom flange of the body 4140A so as to trap the disk body in/on the closure 1440A for use. In an embodiment, the closure 1440 or 1440A can be assembled with the seal prior to insertion into the bottle, where flange 6040 prevents further insertion of the closure into the neck of the bottle. [00334] Figure 41 shows another exemplary embodiment of the resealable seal, where there is a closure body 4141 as shown, that has a self-closing seal 4125 in the base 7040 of the body 4141, where the body 4141 is screwed into the neck 1140 as a result of the male thread 4044 extending about the outer wall of the body 4141 which interfaces with female thread inside the neck 1140 as shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the seal 4125 is monolithic with the remainder of the body 4141, although in another embodiment, the seal can be a separate component and be made of different material or otherwise be a separate structure in a manner concomitant with the teachings detailed above by way of example only and not by way limitation. Figure 43 presents another exemplary embodiment where there is a modified body 4340 of an exemplary closure 1443 as shown. The body has a through hole in which seal 4325 is located. This seal can correspond to the seal shown in figure 44 by way of example. This
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT can be interference fitted into the through hole through the center of the body 4340 and can be secure therein as a result of the elastic and/or plastic deformation of the ribs of the outside of the seal. The seal has an orifice that is resealable at the top center as indicated in figure 43. [00335] In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 4325 can be a syringe bottle adapter corresponding to a StaySafe ™ or SealSafe ™ and/or Adapta-Cap ™ device (bottle closure / dispensing adapters, etc.) by way of example only and not by way of limitation, or can be a modified version thereof that accepts the tube of the disinfection machine. That is, the seal 4325 can be a commercial off-the-shelf seal or can be a seal that is made especially for the container, which seal parallels the functionality and/or the general structure of the just noted commercially available seals. [00336] In an exemplary embodiment, the self-closing seal doubles as a vent. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the self-closing seal does not achieve the vent properties detailed herein. [00337] In view of the above, it can be seen that in an exemplary embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle having an opening, such as the bottle 2 detailed above, and a sealingly engageable closure closing the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure can correspond to the closure 1440 and/or 1440A detailed above by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In this exemplary embodiment, the bottle contains a solution that is a certain percentage of hydrogen peroxide. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle is at least 80, 95, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments full of the solution, and in an exemplary embodiment, the solution is at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments hydrogen peroxide. In this embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure can include a resealable seal, consistent with the embodiments detailed above. [00338] In an exemplary embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure enables vapor to escape from an interior of the bottle. In some embodiments, this is owing to the resealable seal, which enables the vapor to move from inside the bottle through the resealable seal so that the vapor can travel out of the bottle. That said, in an alternate embodiment, there can be a separate vent component that enables the vapor to escape consistent with the teachings detailed above. That is, the sealingly engageable closure can have a resealable seal and another component that enables vapor to escape in accordance with the teachings detailed herein. Consistent with the teachings detailed above, the sealingly engageable closure can include a body, wherein the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT resealable seal is a monolithic part of the body. Conversely, in an alternate embodiment, the sealingly engageable closure can include a body, which body supports a separate component that corresponds to the resealable seal. As seen in the figures, in some embodiments, the resealable seal is located outside of the bottle, while in other embodiments, the resealable seal is located inside a volume of the bottle or at least a portion of the resealable seal is located inside a volume of the bottle. [00339] In some embodiments, the sealingly engageable closure is a monolithic component, and the sealingly engageable closure is the only solid portion of the container inside the volume of the bottle. [00340] FIG. 45 presents conceptually another exemplary embodiment of a portion of a container configured to manage offgassing of hydrogen peroxide in a solution thereof. Here, there is bottle, 452, which can include any one or more of the features detailed above with respect to the other bottles herein. In an exemplary embodiment, this bottle 452 differs from the other bottles detailed above in that there is a portion thereof that is configured to accommodate the offgassing. Here, there is a portion 4521 as shown in figure 45, which is “indented” relative to the overall outer profile of bottle 452, where figure 45 shows a cross- section of the bottle 452 lying on the longitudinal axis and parallel thereto by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 is monolithic with the remainder of the bottle. In such an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 is thus monolithic and otherwise part of the overall bottle body that establishes bottle 452. Conversely, in an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 is a separate structure that is attached to the remainder of the bottle body, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, by crimping or by welding (heat welding or ultrasonic welding for example), or by an adhesive, etc. Any device, system, and/or method that can enable the attachment of portion 4521 the remainder the bottle body can utilize at least some exemplary embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 has U-shaped portions at the top and the bottom that “grip” or otherwise fit around the ends of the top and bottom bottle portions and thus form a channel for those portions. In an exemplary embodiment, that channel can be filled with adhesive or otherwise provided with an adhesive therein, which adhesive will bond the various elements together and establish a liquid and/or gas tight seal (note all bonding or joining or connecting or attaching detailed herein corresponds to a disclosure of a gas tight and/or liquid tight seal and/or the lack thereof unless otherwise noted providing that the art enable such).
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00341] In an exemplary embodiment, there is no vent component of the completed container that utilizes the bottle 452. In an exemplary embodiment, the cup body has no through holes and no passages for transfer of gas from inside the bottle to outside the bottle and this is also case with respect to the bottle body, or at least the neck portion of the bottle. There can be a closure body in the neck in accordance with the teachings detailed herein. But this closure body can also be such that there is no passage for a vent component, and thus the closure apparatus thereof has no vent component. And note that in an exemplary embodiment, there can be no cup body that is utilized on the container. Consistent with the teachings above, there can only be the closure body or the closure apparatus if there are other parts attached to the closure body, which closes the bottle 452, all by way of example only and not by way limitation. [00342] FIG. 18L shows an exemplary embodiment where the container is lidless / capless. Here, there is the closure body 241 in accordance with the teachings above, by way of example. Here, the vent component 230 is interference fitted into the passage, and trapped therein by bushing 181818, which is interference fitted into the passage. The bushing 181818 is sized and dimensioned to retain vent component 230 in the passageway over the expected pressures inside the bottle that would be experienced during use thereof, including shipping and including mishandling in some embodiments. In this regard, the bushing 181818 is sized and dimensioned to take into account the fact that the vent component 230 could flex or otherwise deform when subjected to forces in the upward direction for example. The point is that the arrangement of figure 18L is configured to be robust enough that the cup or cap or lid is otherwise not needed and otherwise is not present in the completed container that contains the solution/the container that is packaged and shipped and otherwise stored. It is briefly noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the bushing is made of a metal while in other embodiments the bushing is made of a polymer. [00343] It is briefly noted that in an embodiment, a sticker or the like can be placed over the end of the container. This is shown by way of example in FIG.18L1, where sticker 18741 is shown spanning the “opening” at the end of the container. This can provide dust protection and otherwise a modicum of protection to the “interior” of the container. In an embodiment, the sticker is perforated or otherwise can permit outgassing / venting (at, in an embodiment, performance features that are less stringent than the vent component). This “sticker” can be used in any embodiment that is applicable. As seen, the sticker can be designed to have a “handle” that permits ease of removal. That said, the sticker could be limited to the border and
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT can be punctured for example by the dispensing tube. Indeed, the sticker could be instead an insert, such as that seen in FIG. 18L2, where insert 18571 can be punctured and can have outventing features to enable the teachings herein. [00344] This embodiment has the closure body 241 welded to the neck 1811X of the bottle at location 180118 as shown in accordance with the teachings herein. As seen in this embodiment, there are no threads on the outside of the neck 1811X. This is because in this embodiment, there is no lid or cap. That is, the only closure component is the closure body 241 and the vent component (held here with bushing 181818). FIG.18M shows an exemplary ventless embodiment. Here, there is body 18241A after welding to neck 1811X as shown. There is no vent in this embodiment, and thus no passage for the vent, concomitant with some of the embodiments detailed further below by way of example. The point is, that in the exemplary embodiment of figure 18M, there is no lid or no cap or otherwise no additional components establishing a liquid and/or gas seal at the neck and/or other than the bottle which includes neck 1811X and the closure body. In an exemplary embodiment, the body 241 can be utilized, and the passageway can be plugged with a solid component that is not a vent component or otherwise a component that prevents vapor from traveling through the passageway to the outside, all by way of example only and not by way of limitation. [00345] And with regard to portion 4521, in an exemplary embodiment, such as where the portion is monolithic with the remainder of the bottle body, the portion 4521 is a portion that is weaker structurally than the other portions, or at least the portions immediately adjacent thereto, which can enable that portion to flex or otherwise more easily plastically and/or elastically deform. In this exemplary embodiment, the deformation is a deformation that increases the enclosed volume of the bottle 452 after the bottle was sealed with the closures detailed herein. In this exemplary embodiment of figure 45, as can be seen, the bottle expands in the longitudinal direction, thus allowing the top to rise away from the bottom in this exemplary embodiment. Here, the portion 4521 deforms outward as shown. This results in an increase in the volume of the sealed bottle while the bottle remains sealed. And as noted above, here, the resulting container that utilizes bottle 452 and the cup associated therewith to close the container, etc., results in a container that is both liquid and gas tight. In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 is only weak at certain locations, or alternatively or in addition to this, portions of the main bottle body and/or portions of portion 4521 are weak only at certain locations. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, with respect to the cross- section shown in figure 45, there could be three “hinge points” or “hinge locations” that enable
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the change in status shown in figure 45 from the status on the left side to the status on the right to accommodate the increase in pressure inside the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the locations at the top and bottom of portion 4521 and or the accompanying portions of the bottle at those locations can be weakened relative to the wall of the bottle and or the portion 4521 before and after those locations. The hinges could be living hinges of the material – parts that are monolithic of the remainder of material but are sized and dimensioned to achieve the teachings herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the “point” of portion 4521 can also be weakened at that location. This will enable portion 4521 alone or in combination with a portion of the wall of the bottle body to deform plastically and/or elastically in a manner that will accommodate the pressure increase as a result of offgassing by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, the wall portions establishing portion 4521 will remain for the most part linear, or otherwise will keep their pre offgassing shape if not linear while those portions “hinge” about the hinge locations so as to allow the interior of the bottle to expand. While this embodiment has presented three different hinge points, in an exemplary embodiment, there could be more hinge points by way of example, or fewer depending on if a composite arrangement is utilized. [00346] Still, in an exemplary embodiment, the entire portion 4521 could be a portion that is made of the same material as the remainder of the bottle body, but is just more readily deformed relative to the remainder of the body. [00347] In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 is a section of PDFE bottle wall. Or otherwise can be a section of bottle wall made of the same material as the remainder of the bottle wall. Portion 4521 can be a section of the wall that has been treated somehow, such as by a chemical or by radiation exposure (heat or ultraviolet by way of example, etc.), to enable the deformation thereof that results from the offgassing. In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4521 and or at least a portion thereof has a rigidity and/or a structural strength that is at least 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments less than the rigidity and/or structural strength of the bottle body wall at a location within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 mm, or any value or range of values there between in 0.1 mm increments, thus causing the bottle body to deform at the desired location. [00348] In an embodiment, portion 4521 could be a “collapsed” ring of plastic material or some other utilitarian polymer material that has been joined in a utilitarian manner to the remainder of the bottle, in the collapsed state. This collapsed state can be achieved by plastically deforming the ring into the state that is collapsed prior to the joining action. That said, the ring
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT could be collapsed after the joining action such as prior to filling the bottle with the solution. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the bottle is made in accordance with a bottle that has no portion 4521, and then, the bottle is “jigged” in a utilitarian manner such that there is support immediately before and after the location where portion 4521 will be located, and then the bottle body is deformed permanently to achieve the portion 4521 in state shown on the left side of figure 45. In an exemplary embodiment, a relatively hot constricting ring could be placed in between two cylindrical jigs that are holding the bottle on either side of portion 4521, and this hot constricting ring can constrict around the bottle to “push” the bottle wall inward as shown on the left side of figure 45. The deformation of the wall by the hot constricting ring will also “weaken” the wall at the location of the portion 4521, which weakening will cause the “reverse deformation” at least in part shown on the right side of figure 45 that results in the pressure increase from the offgassing. [00349] As noted above, the offgassing results in a pressure increase, and in this exemplary embodiment, because there is no vent component, but for the portion 4521, there would be no way to manage the pressure increase other than to tolerate the pressure increase until the container bursts or otherwise the pressure is relieved at the time of dispensing valve puncturing of the container. But in an embodiment, this bottle 452 can be practiced with a vent component such as any of those detailed herein or otherwise a vent component / passageway that would be modification thereof, to address the fact that the amount of gas to be vented could be less, at least with respect to a given temporal period, than that which would otherwise be the case without portion 4521. That is, for example, any venting component can be utilized to accommodate relatively long term offgassing / increase in internal pressure associated therewith over a long period of time, where the portion 4521 accommodates the “immediate” pressure rise that results, which pressure rise could otherwise rupture the bottle or otherwise cause deformation of the bottle in a manner that is not utilitarian, or otherwise create problems when the container is pierced by the dispensing tube as a result of the relatively high pressure inside the container. [00350] And this can have utilitarian value with respect to having the bottle return to its original size or otherwise the size that was the case prior to the offgassing so that the bottle is of sufficient size to fit into the disinfection apparatus machine detailed herein. That said, in an exemplary embodiment, the disinfection apparatus machine is configured to accommodate bottles of varying size with respect to the longitudinal direction at least. This could be by way of example as a result of the holder of the bottle at the top of the bottom that moves along a
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT track and otherwise maintains a certain pressure on the bottle (certain pressure on the outside, which pressure places the overall bottle into compression a certain amount, and here, the holder(s) are movable because after puncturing at some point, the bottle might contract because of the lowering of the pressure as the hydrogen peroxide solution and/or vapor is removed from the container). [00351] But there can also be utilitarian value with respect to a bottle that keeps or otherwise maintains for the most part its global shape and only changes at local portions that do not affect the overall handling of the container, with respect to packaging and/or with respect to placement of the container into the disinfection machine. FIG. 46 shows another exemplary embodiment of a bottle 462, which also includes a portion 4621, which can correspond in structure to any of those detailed above, but where the operation of portion 4621 is to contract or otherwise “shrivel up” upon the increase in pressure inside the bottle. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, the top of the bottle does not move relative to the bottom of the bottle, but instead, the portion 4621 is deformed outward relative to that which is the case shown by way of example only and not by way limitation on the left side of figure 46 before the offgassing. This can have utilitarian value with respect to retaining a bottle having the overall outer dimensions that are unchanged even though the local dimensions of the bottle on the outside have changed owing to the offgassing. Here, the portion 4621 can be a flexible portion that operates on a principal akin to a balloon that expands with increase in pressure or the like. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, a slightly negative pressure could be created in the container so as to “suck in” portion 4621 inward, and then as the pressure increases owing to the offgassing, the deformation of portion 4621 is relaxed so that the middle thereof expands outward as shown in figure 46 on the right side. In an exemplary embodiment, portion 4621 can be formed by a U-shaped ring at the top and bottom thereof, where the wall body can fit into the arms of the U, and joined thereto. A flexible material, such as a rubber material (some relatively flexible material that is compatible with the hydrogen peroxide solution) can be joined to those rings at the bottom and top respectively, and this flexible material can be drawn inward as shown on the left side of figure 46. And while the embodiment above is focused on the utilization of a negative pressure to draw the flexible portion inward, in an exemplary embodiment, a contraction ring can be utilized that pushes the portion 4621 inward, or more accurately, flexes the portion 4621 inward so as to reduce the volume of the bottle relative to that which would exist in the relaxed state. Then, the solution is provided into the bottle and then the container is established sealing the solution therein in a gas tight and/or liquid tight
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT manner, and thus maintaining the inward deformed position of portion 4621. Then, as the offgassing occurs, the pressure increases and the deformation is relaxed to a result that can be by way of example only and not by way limitation, as shown in figure 46. [00352] And note that in at least some exemplary embodiments, there can be utilitarian value with respect to ensuring that gas does not enter into the container from the outside after the container is sealed or otherwise after the substance is filled into the container. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there could be one way check valves in the passageway for the vent component(s) or at other locations to ensure that any outgassing from the bottle prevents ingassing or otherwise limits ingassing to a utilitarian manner that still provides for the pressure management arrangement associated with portions 4521 and/or 4621 to be implemented in a utilitarian manner or to assure that any other pressure management arrangement has utilitarian implementation. [00353] Embodiments can also include a deformable portion or otherwise an expandable portion such as an accordion arrangement. This can have utilitarian value with respect to both of the embodiments of figure 45 and figure 46. In an exemplary embodiment, the accordion portion could expand upwards or more accurately, enable the top of the bottle to expand upwards, and/or could enable the side of the bottle to expand outward, at least from its inward location. In this regard, an accordion structure does not just expand and contract in one direction, such as the longitudinal direction with respect to the bottle. There is expansion and contraction laterally as well, by way of example. An embodiment could be such that the lateral expansion and/or contraction is permitted and the longitudinal expansion and/or contraction is prevented. In an exemplary embodiment, there could be an internal trapeze or hooking and line system that prevents lateral expansion, at least beyond a certain limit and/or prevents lateral contraction, at least beyond a certain limit. FIG. 47 shows such an exemplary arrangement, where the closure body 47241 supports a hook arrangement 47101 that hooks through loop 47201 that is located at the bottom of the bottle as shown. In an exemplary embodiment, this is established after the bottle is filled with solution, and because of the relatively thin nature of the hook arrangement 47101, which can be a rod of a polymer material bent as shown to have a look at the bottom, little volume is taken up thereby. In this exemplary embodiment, upon a pressure buildup inside the container as a result of offgassing, there might be some de minimis amount of longitudinal expansion, but upon sufficient tensioning of the hook arrangement 47101 with the loop 47201 located at the bottom of the bottle, which can be a monolithic component thereof or can be attached thereto, further longitudinal expansion will not exist, if
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT any longitudinal expansion exists at all. In an exemplary embodiment, additional expansion of the expandable portion will be in the lateral direction, thus maintaining the longitudinal dimensions of the bottle. And while this embodiment is focused on components that are completely inside the volume of the bottle, in an alternate embodiment, the rod of 47101 could extend to the bottom of the bottle and then tension could be applied thereto and then the hole through which the rod extends can be sealed, such as by the use of ultrasonic welding or by the use of an adhesive or by sealing material, etc. There could be a hollow portion at the bottom or more accurately, an indented portion at the bottom of the bottle to accommodate the space that would be utilized to provide the fixed end of the rod 47101 to keep the system in sufficient tension to achieve the longitudinal stability upon the increase in pressure. [00354] Embodiments also include utilizing the above concepts with respect to an enclosed container that has a variable volume to account for outgassing, which volume is part of the cup assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in figure 46A, there is a cup 34G that has a through hole through the side wall of the cup in which an insert 4601 is located. Insert 4601 can include a polymer thick walled cylinder 4602 that is non-porous and otherwise forms a gas impervious / vapor impervious body, aside from the through hole that permits gas to travel from one side of the cylinder to the other side of the cylinder as shown with respect to the arrows 2350. In an exemplary embodiment, the cylinder 4602 can be ultrasonically welded or adhesively bonded into the hole through the cup sidewall, or otherwise interference fitted therein, in a manner that establishes a gas tight seal between the bore through the side wall and the outer circumference of the cylinder. The through hole through the cylinder, as noted above, enables gas to travel from one side of the cylinder to the other. In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible and expandable membrane 4603 is gas tightly attached to the outer surface of the cylinder 4602 completely about the through bore, by adhesive and/or staking or by some other gas-tight interface. As gas travels through vent component 2330 and then down the side of the neck of the bottle and the inside of the cup body, the gas, which cannot escape out of the cup because in this embodiment, the threads establish a gas tight seal (and/or there is an O ring / gasket at the bottom – more on this below) as opposed to some other embodiments detailed herein, can only escape through the through bore through the cylinder 4602, and thus as the gas continues to travel therethrough, the gas expands the membrane 4603, as seen in figure 46B. Here, the expanded membrane 4603 accommodates the outgassing while trapping the outgassed vapor in the overall container. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be multiple inserts 4601 arrayed about the outer circumference of the cup 34. Note also that the membrane
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT can expand more than that shown in figure 46B in at least some exemplary embodiments so as to accommodate considerably more outgassing than that represented by way of example in figure 46B. Also, interiors of the membrane 4603 can be tethered to portions of the cup (sidewalls outside) so that the membrane will expand upwards and downwards but with limited left-right expansion. [00355] Note that in an embodiment, the cup body can “flex” to permit outventing / outgassing. That is, in an embodiment, the threads can be gas tight, and then buildup of pressure to a design value can cause the cap to expand elastically (likely outward away from the neck, but potentially downward to provide space between the threads, etc.) by an amount that permits outventing, and then when the pressure is reduced owing to the outventing, the “seal” is returned owing to the fact that the expansion is elastic (as opposed to plastic, although in an embodiment, plastic deformation can be used). [00356] In an embodiment, there are breaks in the thread to permit outgassing between the cup and the neck, while in other embodiments, there are not breaks in the thread and outgassing is achieved by other mechanisms, such as those detailed herein. Note that the thread could instead oscillate sufficiently to provide space for the outgassing / outventing. Mere imperfection / sloppy threading can be used to provide “room” for the outgassing. [00357] Figure 46C shows another exemplary embodiment that accommodates outgassing without allowing the vapor to escape from the overall container. Here, the vapor travels a path between the outside of the neck and the inside of the cup in a manner concomitant with the teachings herein where the gas can escape out the “bottom” of the cup. Here, there is a ring gasket 4699 or otherwise an O-ring, that extends about the outside of the neck of the bottle in a gas tight manner below the bottommost extension of the cup 34. This establishes a pathway from the bottom of the cup to the outside of the cup in the lateral direction between the bottom surfaces of the cup and the top surfaces of the ring gasket 4699. Vapor travels downward between the neck and the cup and then outward to the left and right with respect to the orientation of figure 46C between the bottom portion of the cup and the top portion of the gasket. About the lower portion of the cup and the upper portion of the gasket on the outside thereof is located an assembly 4611 which includes an O ring 4612 having a passage therethrough as shown. Here, vapor extends through the passage to the area enclosed by the membrane, which membrane expands to accommodate the outflow of gas in the manner consistent with the teachings detailed above with respect to FIG. 46A and 46B. In an embodiment, the assembly 4611 includes an O ring made out of a polymer that is interference
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT fitted over the outside of the cup and over the outside of the gasket so as to form a gas tight seal between that O ring and the respective surfaces of the cup and the gasket. This provides only one direction for the vapor to flow, and that is to the passage and into the enclosed volume established by the membrane. The assembly 4611 can extend over the gasket in an exemplary embodiment and can be slip fit and/or interference fitted over the cup and over the gasket in an exemplary embodiment. FIG.46D shows another exemplary embodiment where the assembly 4612 is an O ring having a varied contour that gas tightly contact the neck of the bottle at the bottom, but has an inner clearance at the top as shown so as to provide a passageway for the vapor to travel to the membrane. The assembly 4612 can be part of an assembly that includes the cup 34 and is attached to the cup and moves with the cup on and off the bottle (the assembly 4612 can be adhesively bonded or welded to the lower portion of the cup 34 in an exemplary embodiment). In an embodiment, adhesive that forms a gas-tight seal can be used at the interfaces of the cup and the neck with the assembly 4612, which adhesive can be broken easily enough to remove the cup. FIG.46E shows another exemplary embodiment of the concept of preventing vapor from escaping the container. Here, There is a cup 34N, and the membrane 4603 is directly attached to the cup body as shown, and there is a passageway within the cup body that extends from the area of the female thread in the cup body downward to the bottom of the so as to enable the passage of vapor from the inside of the cup to the bottom of the cup, and thus into the volume bounded by the membrane. In this exemplary embodiment, the membrane can be adhesively bonded or ultrasonically welded or crimped or otherwise attached in a gas tight manner to the bottom of the cup body. This will ensure that the vapor does not escape from the volume established by the membrane. As shown, there is an O ring 4664 located between the interior side walls of the cup body and the neck of the bottle which establishes a gas tight seal which prevents the vapor from bypassing the passageway that leads to the volume enclosed by the membrane. In an embodiment, the membrane can extend all the way about the neck or otherwise is concentric with the sidewalls of the cup body. [00358] In an exemplary embodiment, the teachings detailed herein can accommodate outgassing that would result in an increase in pressure inside the container of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 psi, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 psi increments (from for example 14.7 psi). Granted, this does not mean that the container would withstand such. That means that the equivalent would happen if the container did not have the teachings herein (this could be tested by building a steel container of equivalent size and dimensions and testing the pressure increase that would
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT occur, or this could be tested by placing the container in a female cavity that matches the outside and which cavity reinforces the structure so that there is only material compression as a result of the increased pressure). This can be without the utilization of the vent component deal detailed herein or therewith. [00359] In an embodiment, the teachings herein can accommodate outgassing that results in an increase in pressure inside the container of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29 psi, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 psi increments (from for example 14.7 psi) for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, 200, 300, 350, or 400 seconds or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 second increments or for 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500 days, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in increments. This can be without the utilization of the vent component deal detailed herein. [00360] In an embodiment, the noted expansion feature is configured to enable the internal volume of the container to expand by less than, greater than, and/or equal to 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25%, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments. [00361] While the embodiments detailed above have focused on the deformable portions as being made of a polymer, in an alternate embodiment, these can be made out of metal for example. A flexible spring steel can be utilized. Indeed, in an exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned U rings can be attached to a flexible piece of metal, such as any spring metal that can have utilitarian value (steel may not necessarily be utilized), and the metal could have the flexible hinges detailed above, or the metal could have the flexible hinges (living hinges) detailed above by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, oil canning can be utilized, where the metal of the deformable portion (or polymer portion for that matter) is in a first position at a first pressure, and then upon a second pressure being achieved inside the container (of course this is all relative to the outside pressure, where in this exemplary embodiment, the outside pressure is considered to be maintained at sea level atmosphere at the given temperatures detailed herein), the deformable component oil cans outward or upward to create the additional volume. In an exemplary embodiment, this can actually cause a reduction in the pressure of the interior of the container, if only for a limited amount of time or other works for a certain amount of time until the outgassing continues to build. And corollary to this is that in an exemplary embodiment, a negative pressure can be initially achieved in the container. More on this below. The point is that in an exemplary embodiment, various pressure
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT management techniques can be utilized, such as by way of example, implementing an arrangement that can reduce the pressure relative to that which existed prior to a given trigger, such as can be the case with respect to the oil canning or the “snap out” arrangements that cause a sudden increase in the internal volume relative to that which existed prior to the action. In view of the above, in an embodiment, there is a container comprising a bottle having an opening, whether that bottle is a single monolithic component or a multi-part bottle, and a closure component closing the opening of the bottle (this could be the cup arrangement and/or the closure body or closure apparatus). In this embodiment, consistent with the teachings herein, the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube. In this embodiment, the container is configured so that an internal volume thereof will expand when the closure component closes the opening. In an embodiment, the expansion is any one or more of those detailed above. In this exemplary embodiment, the container is configured to expand the internal volume of the container by at least 5%, 10, 15, or 20% or more while the internal volume is gas sealed relative to an ambient environment and remain so for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 48, 60, 72, 96, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, or more hours, or longer, or any of the timeframes detailed herein. Again, in some embodiments, the container is configured to expand longitudinally and/or laterally and/or only longitudinally and/or laterally. In an embodiment, any expansion is only local (and thus the lateral expansion could be only local expansion, as opposed to a global change in the lateral direction). In an embodiment, the container is a ventless container, while in other embodiments, it is a vented container, wherein the venting reduces the pressure therein at a rate that is less than and/or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 psi over less than, greater than, and/or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 days, or weeks, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 hour increments. [00362] In an embodiment, the container is a container filled with the solutions detailed herein. The container can be configured to store the solutions for any of the timeframes herein with the container sealed to both gas and liquid transfer in and out. [00363] In an embodiment, the container is configured to prevent outgassing at a pressure of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 psi over ambient pressure over greater than and/or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 days, or weeks, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 hour increments. In an embodiment, the container is configured to prevent an amount of vapor that if condensed at 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F and 1 atm, plus or minus 5% would be
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT no more than 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45 0.5, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 mm increments for a timeframe of greater than and/or equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 days, or weeks, or months, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 hour increments. [00364] In an embodiment, the bottle is configured with a deformable portion that enables the expansion of the volume. This deformable portion can be monolithic with the material that makes up at least 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the bottle by weight or can be a separate component from such. [00365] In an embodiment, there is a container including a bottle having an opening, the bottle being made of a polymer, such as PDFE. The bottle can be made of HDPE. In an embodiment, the material that makes up at least 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% of the bottle by weight or can be the polymer. The container also includes a closure component closing the opening of the bottle. In this embodiment, the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube. Here, the container is a ventless container. In this embodiment, the container has an internal volume of less than, greater than and/or equal to 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 liters, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 ml increments and is at least and/or equal to and/or no more than 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 96.5, 97, 97.5, 98, 98.5, 99, 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5, 99.6, 99.7, 99.8, or 99.9%, or more, or any value range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments full of a solution that contains at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50% or more hydrogen peroxide, the remainder effectively water. In this embodiment, the container is configured to remain gas sealed for at least 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 days, or more of the storage conditions detailed herein. [00366] It is briefly noted that the embodiments just detailed associated with the lower fill values can be for an embodiment that is slightly different than the deformable portions just detailed. This will be described in greater detail below, but briefly, in this exemplary embodiment, there is utilitarian value with respect to placing more of the solution in the container relative to less, including placing as much material in the container as possible while enabling the teachings detailed herein.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00367] As noted above, the teachings detailed herein are directed to storing or otherwise maintaining the solution in the container, and here, in a sealed environment. The container is configured to maintain an internal pressure of the container within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15%, or any value or range of values therebetween (e.g., from the pressure at closure / sealing) during the aforementioned temporal period(s) a solution temperature of 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F, 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F ambient temperature and 1 atmosphere plus or minus 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1% ambient pressure at the time that the container is closed to the end of the temporal period. [00368] In an embodiment, the bottle and/or the entire container empty), has a mass of less than equal to and/or greater and/or no more than 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800, 900, or 1000, or more grams, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 gram increments. This bottle could be monolithic or could be made of multiple parts as noted above. [00369] In an embodiment, the bottle includes a portion configured to deform to accommodate offgassing of hydrogen from the solution, which portion maintains the pressure within any one or more of the aforementioned pressure ranges. In an embodiment, the bottle is made entirely of polymer material, such as PDFE or HDPE. In an embodiment, the bottle is at least and/or equal to and/or no more than 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments monolithic by weight and/or made of the polymer by weight. [00370] In an embodiment, a bottom 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments and/or a top 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments by distance along the longitudinal axis is monolithic and/or made entirely of a polymer material. In an embodiment, a bottom 1/3rd and/or a top 1/3rd of the bottle (by longitudinal distance) is made entirely of a polymer material and/or is monolithic. In an embodiment, a wall thickness of the bottom 1/3rd and/or top 1/3rd and/or of the noted bottom and/or top percentages of the bottle is no thicker than 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, or 4 mm, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 mm increments over a contiguous area of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, or 30 mm2, or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 mm2 increments. In an embodiment, the aforementioned values are mm square (10 mm2 would be 10 mm by 10 mm, as opposed to for example 5 mm by 20 mm).
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00371] In an embodiment, there is a container that has one or more of the features herein, that is configured to maintain global dimensions for any one or more of the timeframes herein (reference to any refers to any one or more in the interests of textual economy) within 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or 5%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01% increments. The global dimensions would be for example, the maximum longitudinal distance and the maximum lateral distance by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, the general outer profile does not change, even though the local profile does change. [00372] Embodiments have focused on a container that has dimensions that change to accommodate offgassing and thus alleviate or otherwise negate a pressure buildup inside the container. Other embodiments utilize existing space within the container to limit the deleterious effects of offgassing. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved by only placing a limited amount of solution in the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the container is not completely full. In this exemplary embodiment, upon ceiling or otherwise closing the container, enough space (space without liquid) is left in the container to accommodate the offgassing. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved according to any one or more of the just noted field conditions detailed above that enable such in combination with the remainder of the container according to the given design, all in the interest of textual economy. That said, in the interests of completeness, in an embodiment, the interior volume of the container can, in some instances, at the time of ceiling or otherwise closure, be less than and/or equal to 30, 25, 20, 15, or 10% or less or any value or range arise therebetween in 1% increments full of solution. In an exemplary embodiment, any one or more of the design features associated with pressure management and/or storage can be achieved utilizing this arrangement. [00373] Accordingly, in an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle having an opening, the bottle being made of a polymer and a closure component closing the opening of the bottle, wherein the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube, the container is a ventless container, and the container a solution that contains at least 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90% hydrogen peroxide. Here, the container is not pierced (the seal / closure at the time of production / filling is intact and undisturbed and unmodified). In an embodiment, the container has an internal volume of any of those disclosed herein and the container is configured to remain gas sealed for any one or more of the temporal periods / conditions herein.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00374] In an embodiment, the container is configured to remain dimensionally stable during the at least 180 days at a solution temperature of 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F, 70 degrees F ambient temperature plus or minus 2 degrees F and 1 atmospheric ambient pressure plus or minus 5% at the time that the container is closed to the end of the temporal period(s) detailed herein. In an embodiment, the container is configured to maintain an internal pressure of the container within 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1% or any value or range of values therebetween during the temporal period at a solution temperature of 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F, 70 degrees F ambient temperature plus or minus 2 degrees F and 1 atmospheric ambient pressure plus or minus 5% at the time that the container is closed to the end of the temporal period(s) herein. [00375] In an embodiment, the container is configured so that no outer dimension and/or no inner dimension changes by more than 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1%, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments during the temporal period at a solution temperature of 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F, 70 degrees F ambient temperature plus or minus 2 degrees F and 1 atmospheric ambient pressure plus or minus 5% at the time that the container is closed to the end of the temporal period(s). [00376] In an embodiment, the container is configured so that no outer dimension and/or no inner dimension changes by more than 2% during the given temporal period at a solution temperature of 70 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees F, 70 degrees F ambient temperature plus or minus 2 degrees F and 1 atmospheric ambient pressure plus or minus 5% at the time that the container is closed to the end of the temporal period. [00377] As noted above, embodiments include packages that contain the containers herein with the solutions therein. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a package that comprises a sealed shipping box, and, sealed therein, a container according to any of the teachings detailed herein. In this exemplary embodiment, the internal volume of the container is no more than a certain percentage full of solution, such as by way of example, any of the values for filling of the solution in the container detailed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, there are less than, greater than, and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, or more, or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment containers having the fill values detailed herein, and the fill values need not be the same for each container all by way of example.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00378] In an embodiment, a portion of the bottle is made to be porous to gas. In an embodiment, the portion is porous to the vapor produced by the solution in the bottle. In an embodiment, the portion is made of a sintered material. (In an embodiment, another portion of the container is made of sintered material, such as sintered PTFE.) In an embodiment, the portion is made of sintered PTFE. In an embodiment, the portion is made of a hydrophobic material that allows the vapor to pass therethrough. In an embodiment, at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100% of the bottle by weight is made in accordance to any one or more of these material constructs. [00379] In an embodiment, a portion of the bottle is made in accordance to any one or more of these material constructs. FIG. 48 shows an exemplary embodiment where an upper portion and a lower portion of the bottle 482 is made of PDFE or HDPE and a band of the bottle 4821 is made of the sintered material. In an exemplary embodiment, the band of material extends completely about the perimeter of the bottle at the location thereof. In an embodiment, the band of material joins the bottom portion to the top portion. In an embodiment, the band material has a height that has a sufficient distance where the expected vapor past the rate for that resulting area is sufficient to enable the teachings detailed herein with respect to pressure management. While the embodiment depicted in figure 48 shows the band 4821 located at about mid-height of the bottle 482, in an alternate embodiment, the band 4821 can be located higher, such as for example, above the surface of the liquid solution contained in the bottle when the bottle is upright in the orientation shown in figure 48. [00380] In the embodiment shown in figure 48, the band 4821 is molded or sintered over the ends of two pre-existing portions of the bottle 482, and the band 4821 extends 360° about the bottle 482. But in an alternate embodiment, there could be a through hole, which could be rectangular and are accurate, which does not extend completely about the bottle, where this hole is filled with the guest permeable material detailed herein. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, element 4821 subtends an angle that is less than, greater than and/or equal to 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 150, 175, 210, 240, 300 degrees or more or less or any value or range of values therebetween in 1° increments. [00381] While the embodiments for the most part presented herein have the band 4821 and/or the deformable components 4521 and 4621 establishing the structure of the respective bottles tween the bottom portion and the top portion or otherwise connecting portions of the bottle together, in an alternate embodiment, there can be through holes or range about outer periphery of the bottle, and these filled holes can have the deformable materials and/or the sintered
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT materials therein, establishing the fluid seal but enabling vapor pressure management according to the teachings detailed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be two or three or four or five or six or more through holes, which can be circular, arrayed at the same height for example equally spaced for example about the outside of the bottle, and then the band 4821 can be sintered over top of those holes, liquid sealing the holes and permitting vapor to travel therethrough to the outside. And in an exemplary embodiment, there can be tens or hundreds of holes or even thousands holes, where the material is sintered over all of those holes. In an exemplary embodiment, the sintered material can form a cylindrical sleeve about the outside of the polymer body of the bottle, thus preventing liquid from escaping from the container when the container is closed but permitting vapor to escape there from through the holes and through the sintered material. [00382] In view of the above, in an embodiment, there is a container, comprising a bottle having an opening, and a closure component closing the opening of the bottle, wherein the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the opening into an interior of the bottle so that a fluid therein can be removed via the dispensing tube, and the container is configured to permit outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container through porous material of the bottle. (Porous distinguishes from holes that are made by drilling or forming for example – porosity is a material porosity is a property after forming as opposed to machining.) In this embodiment, at least a portion of the bottle is made of a sintered material, such as by way of example any of the values detailed herein for the porous material. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the bottle is made of a hydrophobic material. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the bottle is made of a hydrophobic material permeable to vapor produced by the solution. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the bottle is made of a material permeable to vapor produced by the solution and impermeable to liquid of the solution. In an embodiment, at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments by weight of the bottle is made of any of the just detailed materials and/or has any of the just detailed features and/or functionalities, and or is made of a material permeable to vapor produced by the solution and impermeable to liquid of the solution. [00383] In an embodiment, the body 18241A is made of sintered PTFE. In embodiments where welding or an adhesive joint cannot be established, the body 18241A can be interference fitted and/or screwed into the neck, and, “locked” in place by plastically deforming one or both components (e.g., by a crimp) providing that a gas-tight seal is established between the outside
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT of the body and the inside of the neck, by way of example. FIG.18N shows another example of the sintered technology being used to advance the art. Here, there is a sintered PTFE disk 18541 that is fitted into a through passage in body 18241B, and can fit into grooves of the passageway as shown, so as to hold the disk in place during storage and/or during piercing by the dispensing tube. In an embodiment, the disk 18541 is configured to “pop” into the container / collapse into the container when the dispensing tube is driven forward, by way of example only and not by way of example. [00384] Figure 52 presents another exemplary embodiment where there are ports in the cup body in which are located sintered PTFE bodies which allow vapor to escape therethrough. In an exemplary embodiment, cylindrical through holes are located on the base portion of the cup body, and the sintered PTFE bodies, which can be disk shaped or solid cylindrical bodies, can be interference fitted and/or press fitted into those passageways, or the cup body can be molded about the PTFE bodies so as to secure the bodies in the cup body. The nature of the sintered PTFE bodies enable vapor that has passed through the vent 230 to then escape the container into the ambient environment. In this embodiment, two sintered bodies are shown, but in other embodiments, only one or more than two such as three or four or five or six or more can be utilized. And while this embodiment shows the sintered bodies as arrayed symmetrically, in another exemplary embodiment, this may not necessarily be the case. In an exemplary embodiment, the sintered bodies can be located in the sidewalls of the cup in addition to this or instead of this arrangement shown in figure 52. Note also that an O ring 4664 is shown located at the lower portion of the cup so as to establish a vapor tight seal between the outside of the neck and the inside of the cup so that all outgassing must occur through the sintered bodies 5202. [00385] Figure 53 presents another exemplary embodiment that utilizes a cup assembly that includes a sintered portion. Here, the entire base of the cup is a sintered body 5302. In this regard, by way of example only, a disk of sintered material can be fabricated whereupon a hollow cylinder corresponding to the sidewalls of the cup can be attached thereto, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, adhesive bonding or a welding technique, etc. The sintered body 5302 enables outgassing in a manner concomitant with the bodies 5202 located in the ports detailed above with respect to figure 52, albeit here, there is more sintered material and thus more area for the outgassing of vapor. And while this embodiment presents the sintered material as being the base that essentially supports the cylindrical sidewall of the cup, in an alternate embodiment, the sintered material can instead be press fitted or interference
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT fit into the cylinder establishing the sidewalls of the cup as shown in figure 54 for an alternative method of manufacturing or otherwise an alternative arrangement of a cup assembly that has the sintered PTFE or other arrangement that allows for outgassing. More particularly, figure 54 shows a sintered disc 5402 press fitted into the hollow cylinder that establishes the sidewalls of the cup body. Here, for all intents and purposes, it is the hollow cylinders of the cup body that support the sintered material in the cup assembly that is established. The sintered material can be a disk of PTFE that enables the outgassing as detailed herein. [00386] Note further that in at least some exemplary embodiments can be practiced where both the sintered material of the cup assembly and the frangible seal are pierced by the dispensing tube. This could require the overall length of the bottle to be shortened relative to that which would otherwise be the case so as to accommodate the cup body being maintained on the bottle when placed into the disinfecting machine, at least with respect to the legacy disinfecting machines that are already in existence of otherwise being utilized for the purposes of disinfecting medical devices. Also, the neck and/or cup body could be reduced in lateral diameter so as to permit the container to be placed into the legacy disinfecting machines without modification to those machines. Indeed, that can also be the case with respect to the other embodiments that dispense with the cup or otherwise have a closure that changes the overall length of the container relative to that which is the case for older versions of the container so as to provide for backward compatibility with the existing legacy machines. [00387] FIG.49 shows an exemplary of a container that is refillable by way of example. Briefly, it is noted that this exemplary embodiment presents an includes a closure 49494 that has the resealable seal 49241 according to the exemplary teachings herein, such as by way of example the honey squeeze bottle seal. As seen, the closure 49494 includes ribs along the sidewall thereof that interface with the inside of the neck to establish a gas tight seal between the sidewall and the inside of the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, a bonding agent can be utilized to further enhance the seal or additional ceiling material can be placed in between the ribs by way of example only. This embodiment includes a multicomponent bottle, with a bottle includes a main body 4902 and an end body 4904 as shown (this could be the same material as the rest of the bottle or be a different material – any of the materials herein can be used). These components are monolithic components, and can be formed by vacuum molding or injection molding or blow molding by way of example only and not by way of limitation, consistent with the embodiments detailed elsewhere providing that the art enable such. In an exemplary embodiment, these two components are also sonically welded at the flange portions on the
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT outer circumference thereof. Figure 49 and figure 50 show cross-sections where, in a deviation from the standards applied above, backdrop and back lines are also shown. [00388] In this exemplary embodiment, end body 4904 includes a sub-body 4910 that establishes a through passage from one side of the end body 4904 the other side of the end body (and thus into the bottle). In an exemplary embodiment, there is a component 4920 located in the through passage as shown. In an exemplary embodiment, this can serve as a plug that liquid and/or gas tightly seals the through passageway. That said, in an exemplary embodiment, component 4920 permits gas to exit and/or enter the interior of the container through the through passageway established by sub- body 4910. In an exemplary embodiment, component 4920 is screwed into the through passageway. The component 4920 has the male screw thread (actually, two here, one for each disk 4922) and the sub- body 4910 as the female screw thread. Reference 4930 points to the male-female thread engagement. In this exemplary embodiment, there is a gap 4924 and a gap 4926 between the component 4920 and the through passageway, which permits gas and in some embodiments liquid, to pass from inside the container to outside the container when the component 4920 is fully seated in the through passageway. Still, in an exemplary embodiment, these gaps are not present. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle of component 4920 is knurled so as to provide sufficient friction for the component 4920 to be finger screwed into the through passage. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be wrench flats on the handle alternatively and/or in addition to the knurling. In an exemplary embodiment, component 4920 is a machined from a block of PDFE and/or is a molded piece of PDFE or another suitable polymer. That said, it can be made from / machined from a suitable metal. Indeed, the bottle can be made of a metal. The bung and/or closure can be made of metal, or at least portions thereof (the frangible portion could be a polymer insert). The cup could be made of metal. This can be utilitarian with respect to devices that are intended to be reused / have a longer use life (temporally and/or executionally). In an exemplary embodiment, this can be a sintered piece of PTFE by way of example only and not by way limitation. In an exemplary embodiment, the container is shipped and stored in the orientation shown in figure 49, such as, for example, in embodiments where the gaps 4926 and 4924 are present, and care is taken to ensure that the shipping container is always positioned so that the sub- body 4910 is at the top and otherwise the through passage faces upwards. [00389] Still, in an exemplary embodiment, the container of figure 49 is not meant for shipping and storage purposes per se, but instead is meant for utilization. In this regard, the idea is that instead of or in addition to shipping and storing a container that has the solutions detailed herein
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT in a container that is configured for essentially immediate insertion into the disinfection device machines upon removal from the packaging, the container of figure 49 is utilized as a refillable container as opposed to a shipping and storage container. For example, it could be that after the depletion of the containers detailed herein that are configured for shipping and storage and use in the disinfection machine, in an exemplary embodiment, upon depletion or otherwise upon a determination that the container is no longer utilitarian with respect to the amount of solution therein or otherwise extracting such, the container is removed from the machine, and the container according to the embodiment of figure 49 is put into the machine in its place, where that container has been filled (it is not accurate to say that it is been refilled at this time because the container has been shipped without any substance therein) to whatever level desirable with the solution prior to placement of the container into the disinfection machine, where this could be done 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 60 minutes or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 10 second increments prior to the action of placement of the container into the disinfection machine. In this regard, it would not be a insurmountable issue that the gaps 4924 and 4926 are present, because with careful handling of the container, in version of the container can be prevented or otherwise avoided or otherwise significant tilting of the container can be prevented or otherwise avoided (tilting an inversion relative to the orientation present in figure 49, where closure 49494 is closest to the ground and a longitudinal axis of the container is parallel to the direction of gravity. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be a holder that can be utilized with the container of figure 49 to keep the container upright during filling and/or during a waiting period before placing the now filled container into the disinfection machine. That said, as can be seen, in an embodiment, the bottom of the closure 49494 can be sufficiently flat so that the container can be stably placed on a flat surface, such as a table while waiting for installation into the disinfection machine. [00390] And note that in an exemplary embodiment, the disinfection machine can be configured to enable the container to be filled while the container is located in the disinfection machine. An exemplary embodiment, the machine could have sufficient room to snake a filling tube or the like to the through passageway so that the container can be filled with solution, and also there can be sufficient room in the disinfection machine to place the component 4920 above the sub- body 4910 and then into the through passage all by way of example. [00391] Corollary to this is that in an exemplary embodiment, it could be that there is another container that has any one or more the features detailed herein in which the solution is stored
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT until it is transferred from that container to the container according to the embodiment of figure 49 by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, this container could be a more generic size container that could have the venting and the like or the other pressure management systems, but do not have the intricate disinfection machine interface at the opening, such as for example, the frangible seal, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the storage container could be configured to store two or three or four or five or six or seven or eight or nine or 10 or 11 or 12, or 13 or 14 or more volumes of solution than the container of figure 49 can take when full by way of example. Hence some of the larger volume detailed herein by way of example. In an exemplary embodiment, there can be a separate machine that mixes a pure hydrogen peroxide solution with distilled water to the percentage is desired, and this machine then dispenses the now mixed solution into the container of figure 49 by way of example. [00392] In an exemplary embodiment, component 4920 in combination with the through passage enables the container to be refilled and otherwise be reusable. In an exemplary embodiment, upon depletion or otherwise upon use of the solution contained in the container, the container can be removed from the disinfection machine (or not in the case of a machine that is configured to permit the component 4920 to be removed and then replaced while the container is in the machine, and configured to enable the substance to be placed into the container) and then refilled, by removing component 4920 from the through passageway and then placing new solution into the container, and then replacing component 4920 or placing a new component 4920 (the component could be a disposable component) in the through passageway and thus sealing the opening that is established by the through passageway (or not sealing in the event that the gaps 4924 and 4926 are present). [00393] In an exemplary embodiment, the container figure 49 is configured to be utilized 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, or 30 times or more or any value or range of values therebetween in one increment, where each use entails piercing the container with the dispensing tube and removing at least some of the solution from the container. [00394] The embodiment of figure 49 relies on the use of the resealable seal in the closure component 49494. Conversely, in an embodiment, a replaceable frangible component can be used. Here, FIG.51 shows an exemplary container that includes a removable cup body 5134 and a removable and replaceable frangible seal 5156. In this exemplary embodiment, cup body 5134 can be unscrewed from the bottle, and the punctured frangible component 5156 can be removed and a new replacement frangible component 5156 can be placed where the pierced component previously was located. In this exemplary embodiment, a spacer 5159 is provided
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT in the neck of the bottle, which spacer provides a funnel shape in this exemplary embodiment, the utility of which is described above by way of example. This spacer 5159 can be made of PDFE by injection molding and/or machining a block of such material, or could be metal for example. In an embodiment, this can be interference fitted into the neck or slip fitted into the neck. Spacer 5159 could be replaceable as well. In an exemplary embodiment, the now empty or effectively empty container is removed from the disinfection machine, and then the cup body 5134 (which could be made of a polymer or made of metal) is removed from the bottle, and then the punctured frangible component 5156 is removed from the bottle (the pierced component could fall out with removal of the cup in some embodiments, and could be pried out with a special tool configured to extend through the puncture and then provide a force on the inside surface thereof when the tool is pulled away from the bottle, etc.). Then, a new non- punctured frangible component 5156 can be placed where the old one was located, and then the cup body 5134 can be screwed onto the bottle, thus trapping the frangible component 5156 between the cup body and the spacer 5159. Then, the bottle can be refilled in accordance with the teachings above, and then placed into the disinfection machine anew, and used as a source of solution for the disinfection process. [00395] In view of the above, there is a container, comprising a bottle having a first opening and a closure component 49494 closing the opening of the bottle (in an embodiment, the resealable portion could be an insert into the body establishing the cup – the cup could be metal or polymer and be a separate component from the resealable seal). The opening is at the bottom in the embodiment of FIG. 49 as depicted. Concomitant with the teachings herein, a solution of at least 25% hydrogen peroxide is contained in the container (or any percentage detailed herein) in any amounts detailed herein. The container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the first opening into an interior of the bottle so that the solution can be removed via the dispensing tube. In this embodiment, at least one of: the container is configured to permit outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container at a location opposite the first opening relative to a longitudinal axis of the container; or the container is configured to permit the container to be filled and/or refilled at a location opposite the first opening relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. [00396] With respect to the embodiment where the container is configured to permit outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container at a location opposite the first opening relative to a longitudinal axis of the container, such is accomplished by the gaps 2926 and 2924.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT Here, there is no vent component that blocks liquid from moving out of the container at least when the container is inverted from the position of figure 49. Instead, there is an open path that is blocked by nothing, albeit a path that meanders owing to the different locations of the gaps. Thus, in an embodiment, the container is configured to permit outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container at a location opposite the first opening relative to a longitudinal axis of the container and the outgassing is through structural gaps in the container forming a continuous and temporally stable path from inside the container to outside the container without a valve. [00397] [00398] In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, if the container is at least 95% full of solution, and the container is inverted so that gravity pulls the fluid therein downward towards the passageway through sub body 4910, and there is no vacuum established, a rate of flow out of the container will be at least 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 ml or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 ml increments per 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 or 5 minutes, or gravity and atmosphere conditions are standard sealevel conditions or otherwise the conditions are those detailed herein. This is contrasted to, for example, the amount of liquid that would leave the container if the embodiments detailed above with the vent component or inverted so that gravity pulls the solution towards the vent component, where the rate of liquid movement out of the container would be no more than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01% or less or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.001% increments than one or more of the just noted rates, all other things being equal. This could also be the case with respect to the seal 49241 of figure 49 and the position as shown. [00399] In this regard, the outgassing path is not blocked unlike some of the other embodiments detailed herein. [00400] Also as noted above, in an exemplary embodiment, the container is configured to permit the container to be filled and/or refilled at a location opposite the first opening relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, such as by way of example, upon removal of the component 4920 from the through passage. That said, in some embodiments, the component 4920 is not used. In an embodiment, the opening at the top of the container can be smaller than that shown in could be provided with a simple dust cover for example, which would permit outgassing but would not stop any fluid for example from leaving the container of the container was inverted, at least not without holding the dust cover on to the container. The point is that in some embodiments, providing that the container is not inverted, it could be that the refilled port is
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT not truly blocked by any component designed to limit the flow of liquid out of the container. Some exemplary features of flow limitations are described below. [00401] As seen in the embodiment of FIG.49, the container is configured to permit outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container at a location opposite the first opening relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. In an embodiment, the container is configured to permit the outgassing of vapor of the solution contained in the container at a location away from the first opening but not necessarily opposite the first opening. In an exemplary embodiment, the outgassing could occur through a through hole in the side of the sub body 4910 that extends from outside the container to the through passageway. In this exemplary embodiment, component 4920 could be a component that completely seals the through passageway. This provides an alternate path for gas to escape. In an exemplary embodiment, there is only gap 4924, and this through hole expense a location between the two disks established by the component 4920, where the top disk provides a fluid seal and a gas seal. Accordingly, in an embodiment, vapor travels through gap 4924, and then between the two disks to the through hole extending from the through passageway to the outside of the container. [00402] In an exemplary embodiment, the component 4920 is a barrier component configured to at least limit sloshing of the substance contained in the container out of the container. This is opposed to a barrier component that always blocks all fluid flow out of the container, as would be the case in an embodiment where the gaps are not present in the component 4920 and/or elsewhere (in an embodiment, the gaps could be established by structure of the bottle, such as where for example, the bottle has the male threads, and a portion of the thread or threads is cut off to establish a gap or gaps). But note that the fact that the component at least limits sloshing does not mean that the component does not block the fluid entirely. The “at least” means the component could be either of these embodiments. Thus, in an embodiment, the container is configured to permit the container to be filled and/or refilled at a location opposite the first opening relative to the longitudinal axis of the container; and the container has an opening at the location opposite the first opening in which a barrier component is located to limit sloshing of the substance out of the component but permit solution in the liquid form to flow from the container. And also, in an embodiment, the container is configured to permit the container to be filled and/or refilled at a location opposite the first opening relative to the longitudinal axis of the container; and the container has an opening at the location opposite the first opening in which a barrier component is located to prevent solution in the liquid form from flowing from the container.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00403] And while the embodiments have focused on a single gap in a single disk, in other embodiments, there are two or three or four or five or six or more gaps in each disk, and the number of gaps in a given disk need not be the same as that of another given disk. [00404] Embodiments disclosed herein a relatively large through passageway for refilling as seen in the embodiments of figure 49 and figure 50. In an exemplary embodiment, where the container has the refillable embodiment located at the top of the container or otherwise opposite the bottom opening of the container with respect to the frame of reference of figure 49, the first opening of the bottle has a diameter that is within 125% to 75% of a diameter of an opening in the container at the location. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening in the container at the location opposite the opening closed by the closure body has a diameter that is less than, greater than and/or equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475 or 500% or more or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments of the diameter of the first opening, or otherwise the opening that is closed by the closure 49241. [00405] In view of the above, there is a container, comprising a bottle having a first opening and a closure component closing the opening of the bottle, wherein a solution of at least 25% hydrogen peroxide is contained in the container (or any percentage detailed herein) in any amounts detailed herein. In this exemplary embodiment, again, the container is configured to be pierced by a dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the first opening into an interior of the bottle so that the solution can be removed via the dispensing tube, and the container is configured to be reused. In an embodiment, such as the embodiment of figure 51, the container includes a seal component at least partially sealing the first opening and the seal component is a frangible component. As detailed above, the seal component can be replaceable. In this embodiment, the container includes a seal component at least partially sealing the first opening and the seal component is configured to be pierced by the dispensing tube so that the dispensing tube passes through the first opening into an interior of the bottle so that the solution can be removed via the dispensing tube. Again, this seal can be replaceable. Note that this seal can partially or completely seal the opening (there could be gaps on the side, but the compression between the closure component and the vent component establishes a seal at the face thereof, and the closure component and/or the vent component establishes the remainder of the seal, all byway of example). [00406] Thus, in an embodiment, there is a kit, comprising a container according to any one or more of the teachings herein, which container includes a seal component at least partially
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT sealing the first opening, and at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 or more extra seal components. This could come in a pouch for example or a box, in which there is the container, with or without solution therein, and the aforementioned number of replaceable seals. [00407] And while the embodiments just described have focused on a replaceable seal component 5156, in other embodiments, any one or more of solution therein, that further includes the components detailed herein can be replaceable providing that the art enable such, unless otherwise noted. Accordingly, in an embodiment, there is a kit according to any one or more of the containers herein, with or without solution therein, which further includes at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 or more extra component(s). This could come in a pouch for example or a box, in which there is the container, with or without solution therein, and the aforementioned number of replaceable seals which can be individually packaged in a wax or paper or cellophane packaging, or in a tube collectively or collectively wrapped, etc. [00408] In an embodiment, the vent component / material / filter can have any one or more of the features below, although embodiments will typically utilize the hydrophobic arrangements:
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT
[00409] In an embodiment the membrane / vent component is made of 100% pure PTFE free of PFOA. In an embodiment, the vent component filters particles of size greater than and/or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 or 0.01 or smaller microns or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 micron increments. The membrane can use depth filtration while resisting fluid ingress. In an embodiment, these PTEF vent components are PTFE sintered products. The vent component can have utilitarian air flow rages, water entry pressure (WEP), operating temperature, etc. Again, in an embodiment, the vent component / material is hydrophobic. In an embodiment, the vent material is a Porex Virtek ® PTFE Hydrophobic membrane having one or more of the following features:
[00410] Note that any of the vent materials herein / components can have any one or more of the features above providing that such enables the teachings herein and such has utility. [00411] In an embodiment, there is a polyethylene membrane vent / filter that filters particle sizes down to at least for example, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1 or less microns. In an embodiment, the material / arrangement is highly hydrophobic, has chemical resistance and cleanliness. The
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT material can be UPE and compatible with gamma irradiation sterilization. The material can have pore sizes greater than and/or equal to and/or less than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 or 0.01 or smaller microns or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 increments. In an embodiment, the material can have, for example, a pore size of any of the values noted above, a thickness of 20 to 500 microns or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 micron increments, and/or can have a typical clean air flow of 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, 0.25, 0.275, 0.3, 0.325, 0.35, 0.375, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65 or 0.7 or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 increments L/min*cm
2 at 70mBar, estimated assuming linear relationship between volumetric flow and differential pressure. In an embodiment, a typical clean water flow will not exceed 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06 or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 increments mL/min*cm
2 at 690mBar, at least for a properly wetted membrane filter In an embodiment, the material can have a clean water flow of mL/min*cm
2 at 690mBar of less than, greater than and/or equal to 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, or 1 or less or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.05 increments. In an embodiment, the IPA bubble point (bar) can be less than, greater than and/or equal to 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6 or 0.5 or less or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.005 increments. [00412] Any of the above-noted features associated with one of the embodiments of the crush components/deformable component can be applicable to any other by way of textual economy, unless otherwise noted, providing that the art enables such. [00413] In view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a container that includes a bottle in a cup body and also the gas permeable component. In this exemplary embodiment, the container includes a portion configured to be affirmatively deformed upon the cup body closing an opening of the bottle body. This is opposed to, for example, incidental deformation, which could be the case with respect to the thread of the cup body and/or the neck of the bottle, which could be deformed in a de minimis amount incidentally. As seen, the deformable portion can be at least one of part of the bottle body or the cup body. That is, it can be a monolithic portion with the remainder of the bottle body or the cup body. In an exemplary embodiment, the deformable portion can be a separate component from the bottle body or the cup body. That is, it is not monolithic with the remainder of the bodies. In an exemplary embodiment, the portion is a crush rib. In an embodiment, the portion is, with respect to the axial direction of
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT the container, between the main wall of a neck of the bottle and a base of the cup body. The portion can be monolithic with the main wall of a neck of the bottle, or be a separate component. The portion can form the outlet of the bottle. [00414] Consistent with the embodiments of figure 31, the container includes the frangible and/or collapsible barrier. In an exemplary embodiment, the frangible and/or collapsible barrier is between the portion configured to be affirmatively deformed and the gas permeable component. The frangible and/or collapsible barrier is between the portion configured to be affirmatively deformed and the base of the cup as seen. [00415] In an embodiment, the affirmatively deformable portion establishes a seal between the bottle and the component that is in direct contact with the affirmatively performable portion, which in the embodiment figure 31, is the frangible and/or collapsible barrier. [00416] In an embodiment, the portion is plastically deformed. Here, the cup has been screwed onto the neck a sufficient amount so that the deformation of the deformable portion transitions from elastic deformation to plastic deformation. That said, in an embodiment, the portion is only elastically deformed. In an embodiment, the portion is deformed by less than, greater than and/or equal to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.19, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments relative to that which would be the case in the absence of the cup body and the gas permeable component closing the bottle body. [00417] Various dimensions are presented above, such as the diameter of the interior of the neck. Any such dimensions recited herein correspond to a disclosure, which may or may not be mutually exclusive with what is stated herein, where the dimensions are variously parallel and normal to the longitudinal axes as would be understood based on the description. While many embodiments are described in terms of the cross-section on a plane normal to a longitudinal axis, in an embodiment, these features exist on planes that are angled to that plane and also lying on and parallel to that axes that are present within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 degree increments or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 degree increments from that plane. In an embodiment, any one or more features disclosed herein are rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axis unless otherwise noted providing that the art enables such. [00418] Figure 34 presents an exemplary flowchart for an exemplary method, method 3400, which includes the method action 3410, which includes the action of providing an oxidizing
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT fluid or some other fluid in another exemplary embodiment, into a bottle through an opening of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a bottle 2 according to that disclosed above can be obtained, and the oxidizing fluid can be poured or pumped under pressure through the opening to fill the interior of the bottle to a desired amount of liquid. In an exemplary embodiment, there is only the bottle 2, and the bottle 2 is upright, with the opening facing upwards away from the direction of gravity, although in other embodiments, this may not be the case, such as where for example a receptacle that seals the opening is used during the filling of the bottle. Method 3400 further includes method action 3420, which includes the action of placing an embryonic closure over and/or in the opening of the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the embryonic closure can correspond to the bung body of figure 10. The bung body could be snap fitted or screwed or interference fitted, etc., into the neck of the bottle, and this can be done manually or could be done utilizing an automated process such as robotic or semi robotic devices on an assembly line. In an exemplary embodiment, the embryonic enclosure is moved in a direction of gravity into the opening and/or onto the opening during the action of final placement of the embryonic enclosure relative to the bottle. In an exemplary embodiment, the closure is embryonic because it is not completed, and in this regard, in this exemplary embodiment, the gas permeable component 230 is not located in the vent passageway. Accordingly, the vent passageway is completely unobstructed so that the air or otherwise the gas located in the bottle above the layer of the liquid can vent outside the bottle owing to the increase in pressure as a result of the placement of the embryonic closure in place relative to that which would otherwise be the case if the gas permeable component was located in the passageway. In an exemplary embodiment, this can permit higher downward forces to be utilized during placement of the embryonic closure on/in the bottle relative to that which would otherwise be the case, while avoiding damage (e.g., damage to the gas permeable component) or otherwise resulting in a less than ideal placement of the embryonic closure owing to pressure buildup. [00419] Method 2400 further includes method action 2430, which includes the action of placing a gas permeable component in and/or on the embryonic closure, fully closing the opening of the bottle. [00420] In an exemplary embodiment, an internal pressure buildup in the bottle as a result of using the embryonic closure instead of a completed closure is less than and/or equal to 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments relative to
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT that which would otherwise be the case if they completed closure was utilized. In an exemplary embodiment, the time to place the embryonic closure onto and/or into the bottle is less than and/or equal to 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3 or 0.2 seconds or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1 second increments from the time that the embryonic closure becomes parallel with the top of the bottle to the time that it is fully seated, where there is a constant movement downward of the embryonic closure during that time period. [00421] In an exemplary embodiment, it could be that the bottle is completely full, 100%, of liquid. That is, the liquid is up to the top opening. The liquid that is displaced by the embryonic closure could be displaced through the vent passageway because it is not closed by the gas permeable component. [00422] In an exemplary embodiment, upon fully seating the gas permeable component in and/or on the embryonic closure, fully closing the opening of the bottle, and internal volume of the fully closed bottle is at least 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments liquid. [00423] In at least some exemplary embodiments, gas permeable component is the last portion of a resulting container added to fully close the opening of the bottle, even though in an exemplary embodiment, the method can further comprise placing a cap onto the container after the container is fully closed. [00424] As noted above, embodiments include manufacturing components of the container or otherwise placing the gas permeable component into and/or on the bottle by moving the gas permeable component in the direction of gravity. In an exemplary embodiment, within any one or more of the aforementioned time periods, the direction of movement of the gas permeable component includes a vertical component that makes up at least 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween of the movement vectors of the gas permeable component. In an exemplary embodiment, instead of and/or in addition to the just detailed temporal periods, this is the case when the gas permeable component is within 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 mm or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 mm increments of the bottle and/or of the bung body, etc. [00425] It is further noted that any disclosure of a device and/or system detailed herein also corresponds to a disclosure of otherwise providing that device and/or system and/or utilizing that device and/or system.
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT [00426] It is also noted that any disclosure herein of any process of manufacturing other providing a device corresponds to a disclosure of a device and/or system that results there from. Is also noted that any disclosure herein of any device and/or system corresponds to a disclosure of a method of producing or otherwise providing or otherwise making such. [00427] Any embodiment or any feature disclosed herein can be combined with any one or more or other embodiments and/or other features disclosed herein, unless explicitly indicated and/or unless the art does not enable such. Any embodiment or any feature disclosed herein can be explicitly excluded from use with any one or more other embodiments and/or other features disclosed herein, unless explicitly indicated that such is combined and/or unless the art does not enable such exclusion. [00428] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[00409] In an embodiment the membrane / vent component is made of 100% pure PTFE free of PFOA. In an embodiment, the vent component filters particles of size greater than and/or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.09, 0.08, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05,
Attorney Docket No.354-001PCT 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 or 0.01 or smaller microns or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.01 micron increments. The membrane can use depth filtration while resisting fluid ingress. In an embodiment, these PTEF vent components are PTFE sintered products. The vent component can have utilitarian air flow rages, water entry pressure (WEP), operating temperature, etc. Again, in an embodiment, the vent component / material is hydrophobic. In an embodiment, the vent material is a Porex Virtek ® PTFE Hydrophobic membrane having one or more of the following features: