# US 2020/0391925 A1 · Evacuated bottle system

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- Number: US 2020/0391925 A1
- Document ID: US20200391925A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/005,768
- Filed: 2020-08-28
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-19
- Assignees: Cornerstone Cm, Inc.
- Applicants: Cornerstone Cm, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael G. MARANTIS; JOSHUA W. HUBBARD; JONATHAN P. RICHARDS; RICHARD A. PONTON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200391925A1

## CPC

- B65D 81/2038: {with means for establishing or improving vacuum}
- A61J 1/14: Details; Accessories therefor (A61J7/00 takes precedence; openers B65D, B67B7/00)
- A61J 1/1406: {Septums, pierceable membranes}
- A61J 1/1412: {Containers with closing means, e.g. caps}
- A61J 1/1418: {Threaded type}
- A61J 1/2068: {Venting means}
- A61M 1/60: {Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69)}
- A61M 1/604: {Bag or liner in a rigid container, with suction applied to both}
- A61M 1/64: {Containers with integrated suction means (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69)}
- A61M 1/66: {Pre-evacuated rigid containers, e.g. Redon bottles}
- B65B 3/006: {Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules}
- B65B 7/2828: {inserting and rotating screw stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/06)}
- B65B 31/00: Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B 31/027: {closed by a stopper}
- B65B 31/047: {the nozzles co-operating with a check valve in the opening of the container or wrapper}
- B65B 55/10: by liquids or gases
- B65D 81/20: under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas {(B65D81/28 takes precedence; containers with pressurising means for maintaining ball pressure A63B39/025)}
- B67C 11/02: without discharge valves
- B67C 2011/20: {comprising closures, e.g. stoppers, caps or lids}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS

## Abstract

An evacuated bottle system including a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck with a rim defining an opening; a cap assembly supported on the bottle, the cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being insertable within the interior of the bottle and the second portion engaging a portion of the bottle to support the funnel above the rim, the funnel defining a bore that fluidly communicates with the hollow interior of the bottle; a self-sealing membrane that covers the bore formed by the funnel to selectively seal the hollow interior of the bottle; a cap attachable to the bottle, the cap including a cover portion that extends at least partially over the self-sealing membrane to restrain movement thereof, the cover portion being axially spaced from the self-sealing membrane to define a gap that permits axial movement of the self-sealing membrane to selectively open the bottle to fluid communication outside of the bottle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cap assembly configured to be coupled to a neck of a bottle, the cap assembly comprising:
a self-sealing membrane having a first portion configured to be insertably received within the neck of the bottle and a second portion extending radially outward relative to the first portion and configured to cover a mouth of the bottle when the first portion is inserted in the neck; and
a cap that is configured to fit over the self-sealing membrane, and includes a cover portion that defines a gap above the self-sealing membrane to allow the first portion of the self-sealing membrane to be at least partially displaced from the neck of the bottle when a suction is applied to the cap, wherein
the cap assembly is configured to selectively allow fluid communication between the interior of the bottle and an outside atmosphere when the suction is applied to the cap.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion includes an annular wall that defines a central opening, and at least one evacuating opening is located radially outward of the central opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover portion defines three evacuating openings circumferentially spaced from each other and located on a common circle that overlies a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the funnel configured to be insertable within the neck of the bottle and the second portion configured to engage a portion of the bottle to support the funnel above a rim of the bottle, the second portion of the funnel includes a floor that extends radially outward relative to the first portion of the funnel and a second wall extending axially outward from the floor wherein
the first portion of the self-sealing membrane is insertably received within the first portion of the funnel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The cap assembly of claim 4, wherein a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane contacts the second wall of the funnel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The cap assembly of claim 4, wherein the cap further comprises a cap wall, an end of the cap wall extending axially inward of the second portion of the funnel, the cap wall defining an internal thread on an interior surface thereof.

### Claim 7

A cap assembly configured to removeably attach to a bottle, comprising:
a self-sealing membrane configured to be inserted into a neck of the bottle and cover a mouth of the bottle while inserted into the neck to selectively seal the interior of the bottle; and
a cap including a cover portion that extends at least partially over the self-sealing membrane, the cover portion being axially spaced from the self-sealing membrane to define a gap that permits axial displacement of the self-sealing membrane within the neck of the bottle to selectively open the bottle to fluid communication outside of the bottle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the self-sealing membrane is provided on a serum stopper, and the serum stopper includes:
a first portion configured to be insertably received within the neck of the bottle; and
a second portion extending radially outward relative to the first portion and residing over the mouth of the bottle while the first portion is inside the neck of the bottle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The cap assembly of claim 8, further comprising a tapered transition between the second portion of the serum stopper and the first portion of the serum stopper.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The cap assembly of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper includes a pair of legs spaced from each other by a gap.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the cover portion includes a central opening and a plurality of evacuating openings spaced radially outward from the central opening.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the cover portion defines at least one evacuating opening, the at least one evacuating opening being located over at least a portion of a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the cover portion defines three evacuating openings located over at least a portion of a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane, the three evacuating openings are circumferentially spaced from each other and located on a common circle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the cap includes a wall extending axially inward relative to the cover portion and configured to overlay a portion of the neck, wherein the wall is configured to attach to the neck by threads formed thereon.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The cap assembly of claim 7, further comprising the bottle to which the cap assembly can removeably attach, wherein the bottle is constructed of a shatter resistant material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the shatter resistant material is plastic or a medical grade plastic.

### Claim 17

A cap assembly, comprising:
a serum stopper configured to be positioned within a neck of a bottle, the serum stopper having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the serum stopper sized to fit within the neck of the bottle, and the second portion of the serum stopper having a self-sealing membrane; and
a cap having a cap wall sized to receive the serum stopper, wherein the cap includes a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, the cover portion being axially spaced from the serum stopper to define a gap that permits axial displacement of the serum stopper within the neck of the bottle to selectively open the bottle to fluid communication outside of the bottle, and wherein the cover portion defines an evacuating opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The cap assembly of claim 17, further comprising the bottle having an opening on the neck, wherein the cap assembly removeably attaches to a threading on the neck of the bottle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The cap assembly of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper includes a pair of legs.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The cap assembly of claim 19, wherein at least one of the pair of legs includes at least one outward projection.