Sterlization container system

A sterilization container system adapted to hold at least one object while the at least one object is being sterilized by a sterilizing fluid medium, wherein said sterilization container system comprises:

• a base means;
• a lid means;
• latch means for releasably securing said lid means to said base means;
• a sterilizing chamber means defined within said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together, wherein said chamber means are for holding the at least one object to be sterilized therein;
• vent means in at least one of said lid means and said base means, wherein each said vent means is for permitting the sterilizing fluid medium to flow through said sterilizing chamber means to sterilize the at least one object which is held therein;
• a respective vent filter means for each said vent means, wherein said respective vent filter means is for preventing microorganisms from reaching the at least one object held in said chamber means through a respective said vent means, and wherein said respective vent filter means includes a respective filter means which is pervious to the sterilizing fluid medium and which is impervious to microorganisms;
• and
• a chamber seal means for providing a microorganism proof seal between said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together by said latch means;
• wherein said base means comprises:
• a base member;
• a peripheral base inner side wall means which extend upwardly from said base member and which has an upper edge;
• and
• a peripheral base outer protective side wall means having an upper edge, wherein said upper edge of said base outer protective side wall means is spaced away from said upper edge of said base inner side wall means, wherein said base outer protective side wall means is supported by said base inner side wall means;
• wherein said chamber seal means comprises a peripheral gasket carried by said lid means;
• wherein when said lid means and said base means are assembled together said gasket is constructed and arranged to seal against said upper edge of said base inner side wall means;
• wherein said lid means includes a top lid portion having lid outer protective side wall means formed thereon which extends laterally outwardly past and which is spaced laterally away from said base outer protective side wall means, and wherein a lower edge of said lid outer protective side wall means extends down past said upper edge of said base outer protective side wall means to enable said lid outer protective side wall means to protect an upper edge portion of said base outer protective side wall means;
• wherein said base outer protective side wall means extends at least substantially around said base inner side wall means to help protect said upper edge of said base inner side wall means from being contaminated when said lid means is removed from said base means;
• and
• wherein said upper edge of said outer protective side wall means is lower than said upper edge of said inner side wall means to help prevent the at least one object held in said chamber from being contaminated by touching said upper edge of said outer protective side wall means when the at least one object is removed from said base means.

A sterilization container system adapted to hold at least one object while the at least one object is being sterilized by a sterilizing fluid medium, wherein said sterilization container system comprises:

• a base means;
• a lid means;
• latch means for releasably securing said lid means to said base means;
• a sterilizing chamber means defined within said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together, wherein said chamber means are for holding the at least one object to be sterilized therein;
• vent means in at least one of said lid means and said base means, wherein each said vent means is for permitting the sterilizing fluid medium to flow through said sterilizing chamber means to sterilize the at least one object which is held therein;
• a respective vent filter means for each said vent means, wherein said respective vent filter means is for preventing microorganisms from reaching the at least one object held in said chamber means through a respective said vent means, and wherein said respective vent filter means includes a respective filter means which is pervious to the sterilizing fluid medium and which is impervious to microorganisms;
• and
• a chamber seal means for providing a microorganism proof seal between said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together by said latch means;
• wherein said respective vent filter means further comprises:
• a respective filter retainer means for releasably securing said respective filter means to a respective one of said lid means and said base means;
• filter retainer locking means for releasably securing said respective filter retainer means to said respective one of said lid means and said base means;
• at least one chamber sealing flange means on said respective one of said lid means and said base means;
• and
• at least one filter retainer sealing flange means on said respective filter retainer means;
• wherein said at least one chamber sealing flange means extends outwardly at a right angle with respect to a portion of said respective one of said lid means and said base means to which it is attached, wherein said at least one filter retainer sealing flange means extends outwardly at a right angle with respect to said respective filter retainer means, and wherein when said respective filter retainer means is secured to said respective one of said lid means and said base means, said chamber sealing flange means and said filter retainer sealing flange means extend parallel to each other;
• wherein when said respective filter retainer means is secured to said respective one of said lid means and said base means, a portion of said respective filter means is tightly sandwiched between said at least one chamber sealing flange means and said at least one filter retainer sealing flange means to provide a microorganism proof seal between said respective filter means and said at least one chamber sealing flange means on said respective one of said lid means and said base means;
• and p1 wherein said respective filter retainer means includes filter retainer vent means for permitting the sterilizing fluid medium to freely flow through said respective filter retainer means.

A sterilization container system adapted to hold at least one object while the at least one object is being sterilized by a sterilizing fluid medium, wherein said sterilization container system comprises:

• a base means;
• a lid means;
• latch means for releasably securing said lid means to said base means;
• a sterilizing chamber means defined within said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together, wherein said chamber means are for holding the at least one object to be sterilized therein;
• vent means in at least one of said lid means and said base means, wherein each said vent means is for permitting the sterilizing fluid medium to flow through said sterilizing chamber means to sterilize the at least one object which is held therein;
• a respective vent filter means for each said vent means, wherein said respective vent filter means is for preventing microorganisms from reaching the at least one object held in said chamber means through a respective said vent means, and wherein said respective vent filter means includes a respective filter means which is pervious to the sterilizing fluid medium and which is impervious to microorganisms;
• and
• a chamber seal means for providing a microorganism proof seal between said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together by said latch means;
• wherein said base means comprises:
• a base member;
• a peripheral base inner side wall means which extends upwardly from said base member and which has an upper edge;
• and
• a peripheral base outer protective side wall means formed integrally with said base inner side wall means and having an upper edge, wherein said upper edge of said base outer protective side wall means is spaced away from said upper edge of said base inner side wall means, wherein said base outer protective side wall means is supported by said base inner side wall means;
• wherein said chamber seal means comprises a peripheral gasket carried by said lid means;
• wherein when said lid means and said base means are assembled together said gasket is constructed and arranged to seal against said upper edge of said base inner side wall means;
• wherein said lid means includes a lid outer protective side wall means which extends laterally outwardly past said base outer protective side wall means, and wherein a lower edge of said lid outer protective side wall means extends down past said upper edge of said base outer protective side wall means to enable said lid outer protective side wall means to protect an upper edge portion of said base outer protective side wall means;
• and
• wherein said base outer protective side wall means extends at least substantially around said base inner side wall means to help protect said upper edge of said base inner side wall means from being contaminated when said lid means is removed from said base means.

A sterilization container system adapted to hold at least one object while the at least one object is being sterilized by a sterilizing fluid medium, wherein said sterilization container system comprises:

• a base means;
• a lid means;
• latch means for releasably securing said lid means to said base means;
• a sterilizing chamber means defined within said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means and secured together, wherein said chamber means are for holding the at least one object be sterilized therein;
• vent means in at least one of said lid means and said base means, wherein each said vent means is for permitting the sterilizing fluid medium to flow through said sterilizing chamber means to sterilize the at least one object which is held therein;
• a respective vent filter means for each said vent means, wherein said respective vent filter means is for preventing microorganisms from reaching the at least one object held in said chamber means through a respective said vent means, and wherein said respective vent filter means includes a respective filter means which is pervious to the sterilizing fluid medium and which is impervious to microorganisms;
• and
• a chamber seal means for providing a microorganism proof seal between said lid means and said base means when said lid means and said base means are secured together by said latch means;
• wherein said respective vent filter means further comprises:
• a respective filter retainer means for releasably securing said respective filter means to a respective one of said base means and said lid means;
• wherein said respective filter retainer means comprises an upper filter retainer disc and a lower filter retainer disc which are rotatably secured together by a pivot pin located at a center of each of said upper and lower filter retainer discs;
• wherein each of said filter retainer discs defines a plurality of vents constructed and arranged to permit the free passage of the sterilizing fluid medium through said filter retainer discs;
• lower filter retainer locking means for releasably securing said lower filter retainer disc to said respective one of said base means and said lid means;
• and
• upper filter retainer locking means for selectively permitting and preventing relative rotation of said upper and lower filter retainer discs with respect to each other;
• wherein when said lower filter retainer disc is secured to said respective one of said base means and said lid means, said upper filter retainer disc is constructed and arranged to be rotated with respect to said lower filter retainer disc until said upper filter retainer locking means prevents relative rotation between said upper and lower filter retainer discs at which time said vents in said upper and lower filter retainer discs are not aligned to prevent the at least one object being sterilized from passing through said vents in said filter retainer discs and putting a hole in said respective filter means.