Container with sealed cap and venting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296531-B2
Application number	US-98309310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2010
Priority date	Jan 12, 2010
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A bulk feed adapter cap for a collection container comprises: (a) a housing defining both at least one fluid-communication opening and one or more air-release openings and (b) a membrane defining an annular, self-sealing fluid-valve for sealing said fluid-communication opening, where the fluid-valve defines at least one aperture. The bulk feed adapter cap may further comprise at least one fluid-communication cap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cap for a container comprising:
a cap housing defining a fluid-communication opening therein through which material in a container to which said cap housing is attached may be accessed;
a membrane mounted to said cap housing sealing said fluid-communication opening in a first position, said membrane being movable away from said fluid-communication opening in a second position, said membrane defines a solid plug which is received within and closes said fluid-communication opening in said first position and which is displaced from and opens said fluid communication opening in said second position, said membrane defines a plurality of apertures arranged about a perimeter of said plug.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said membrane snap-fits into said cap housing.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said plug has at least one raised member thereon in the form of a rib.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said plug is surrounded by an annular channel formed in said membrane, said annular channel providing flexibility for movement of said plug toward and away from said fluid-communication opening.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said membrane further defines a self-sealing one-way air-valve for airflow into the container through an airflow opening defined in said cap housing.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said fluid-communication opening is substantially centered in said cap housing, and wherein said air-valve is off-center in said cap housing.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein said air-flow opening is sealed via an umbrella valve seal.

8. The device of claim 1 , further including an airflow opening in said cap housing, said airflow opening communicating with a tube that has a length that terminates between the midpoint and bottom of said container.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fluid-communication opening protrudes from said cap housing.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein said fluid-communication opening is in part funnel-shaped.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein said fluid-communication opening is adapted to receive an oral syringe.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein said fluid-communication opening is adapted to receive a luer syringe.

13. A method using the cap of claim 1 , comprising:
mounting a bulk feed adapter cap on a collection container;
inserting a needleless syringe into a fluid-communication opening, displacing a fluid-valve;
inverting the collection container;
drawing on a plunger of the needleless syringe;
equalizing the internal pressure of the collection container;
returning the collection container to an upright position; and
in response, the fluid-valve resealing the fluid-communication opening.

14. An adapter cap for removal of fluid from a container comprising:
a housing defining at least one fluid-communication opening;
a member defines a biasing element in the form of a flexible annulus, said member movably mounted within said housing to close said fluid-communication opening in a first position under force from said biasing element and movable away from said fluid communication opening under influence of a force applied against said member and against a bias of said biasing element; and
a fluid channel formed in one or both of said housing and said member, said fluid channel communicating between said fluid-communication opening and an interior of the container and being opened to fluid flow in a second position; and
one or more air-release openings in said housing for allowing airflow into the container when fluid is withdrawn therefrom and wherein said one or more air-release openings are sealed via a valve.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein said one or more air-release openings are spaced from said fluid-communication opening so as to substantially prevent air becoming entrained in fluid being removed.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the valve comprises an umbrella valve at a recessed end of said one or more air-release openings.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said one or more air-release openings are surrounded by a tube that has a length that terminates between the midpoint and bottom of said container.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising said container, wherein said container is a collection container, wherein a base of said collection container contains said one or more air-release openings that are sealed via an umbrella valve seal.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said at least one fluid-communication opening protrudes from said housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said at least one fluid-communication opening is substantially funnel-shaped.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said at least one fluid-communication opening is adapted to receive an oral syringe.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said at least one fluid-communication opening is adapted to receive a luer syringe.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the housing defines a plurality of fluid communication openings.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid-communication openings is adapted to receive an oral syringe, and wherein at least one of the plurality of fluid-communication openings is adapted to receive a luer syringe.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least one fluid-communication cap is tethered to said housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least one fluid-communication cap is attached to said housing via a living hinge.

27. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a sizing cap tethered to said housing.

28. A method using the adapter cap of claim 14 , comprising:
mounting a bulk feed adapter cap on a collection container;
removing a fluid-communication cap;
inserting a needleless syringe into a fluid-communication opening;
inverting the collection container;
drawing on a plunger of the needleless syringe;
equalizing the internal pressure of the collection container; and
replacing the fluid-communication cap on the fluid-communication opening.

29. A cap for a container, comprising:
a fluid communication opening defined in a cap housing, said fluid communication opening communicating with a container interior; and
a membrane, wherein said membrane seals said fluid communication opening, said membrane having a plug portion which is surrounded by an annulus, wherein said annulus has a convex shape relative to a bottom surface of said cap housing, said annulus providing a spring-like region permitting movement of said plug portion away from said fluid communication opening under influence of a force applied against said plug portion and back toward said fluid communication opening when said force is removed, said plug portion closing said fluid communication opening in a first position and opening said fluid communication opening in a second position to permit fluid in said container interior to egress through said fluid communication opening.

30. The device of claim 29 , further comprising:
an airflow opening defined in said cap housing, said airflow opening communicating with said container interior.

31. The device of claim 30 , wherein said membrane seals said airflow opening.

32. The device of claim 31 , wherein said membrane has a second plug portion which is surrou

Assignees

• Luzbetak Mark A
• Killinger Timothy D
• Bauer Ryan
• Silver Brian H
• Medela Holding Ag

Inventors

• Luzbetak Mark A
• Killinger Timothy D
• Bauer Ryan
• Silver Brian H

Classifications

• A61J9/00

  Feeding-bottles in general · CPC title

• B65D47/0804

  integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage · CPC title

• A61J1/2075

  for external venting · CPC title

• A61J7/0053

  Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers · CPC title

• A61J1/2096

  Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents · CPC title