Container with film sparger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069654-A1
Application number	US-202016953066-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface. The bag has a bottom end wall that includes a first sparger and a second sparger. The first sparger and the second sparger each have a flexible first sheet overlying a flexible second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet being secured together so as to form a sparging area bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, at least a portion of the first sheet overlying the sparging area being gas permeable so that gas can pass from the sparging area, through the first sheet, and into the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A container assembly comprising:
a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet, the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet each comprising a flexible, polymeric film; a first weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path and a first sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first gas transfer path being constricted relative to the first sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, the first sparging area being formed at the second end of the first gas transfer path and communicating with the first gas transfer path; and a plurality of perforations extending through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the plurality of perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

2 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sidewall and first polymeric sheet from a single continuous sheet.

3 . The container assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein first polymeric sheet has an interior surface that comprises a portion of the interior surface bounding the chamber.

4 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second polymeric sheets are each comprised of a multi-layer film.

5 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first gas transfer path is elongated while the first sparging area is substantially circular.

6 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein no perforations extend through the portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first gas transfer path.

7 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a first gas line coupled with the first end of the first gas transfer path.

8 . The container assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first gas line is welded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet.

9 . The container assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first weld line extends to a perimeter edge of the second polymeric sheet.

10 . A container assembly comprising:
a rigid support housing bounding a compartment, the support housing having a floor and a sidewall upstanding from the floor; a flexible bag disposed within the compartment of the support housing so as to rest on the floor, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a bottom end wall comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet, the first sheet having an interior surface that comprises a portion of the interior surface bounding the chamber, the second polymeric sheet having an exterior surface that directly rests on the floor of the support housing, the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet each comprising a flexible, polymeric film; a first weld line directly welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path and a first sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first gas transfer path being constricted relative to the first sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, and the first sparging area being formed at the second end of the first gas transfer path and communicating with the first gas transfer path; and a plurality of perforations extending through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the plurality of perforations and into the chamber of the bag.

11 . The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
an opening formed on the sidewall of the support housing; and a first gas line passing through the opening formed on the sidewall of the support housing and being coupled with the first end of the first gas transfer path.

12 . The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first and second polymeric sheets are each comprised of a multi-layer film.

13 . The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first gas transfer path is elongated while the first sparging area is substantially circular.

14 . The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , wherein no perforations extend through the portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first gas transfer path.

15 . The container assembly as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a first gas line welded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and being coupled to the first gas transfer path.

16 . A method for forming a container assembly having a sparger, the method comprising:
overlying one of a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet on the other, the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet each comprising a flexible, polymeric film; and forming a first weld line directly between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line bounding a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path and a first sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first gas transfer path being constricted relative to the first sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, the first sparging area being formed at the second end of the first gas transfer path and communicating with the first gas transfer path, a plurality of perforations extending through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area.

17 . The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first weld line extends to a perimeter edge of the first polymeric sheet or the second polymeric sheet.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Goodwin Michael E
• Jones Nephi D
• West Derik R

Classifications

• B01F23/231266

  being in the form of rings or annular elements · CPC title

• B01F23/23124 Primary

  consisting of flexible porous or perforated material, e.g. fabric · CPC title

• B01F23/231151

  the bubbling devices being fixed or anchored in the bottom · CPC title

• B01F23/231262

  having disc shape · CPC title

• B01F35/513

  Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers · CPC title