Fermentation vessels and closures therefor
OwnerKuldeep Vermainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure device for fermentation test tubes or flasks (vessels) comprises a cylindrical cap which is either molded integrally with the vessel as one piece or is molded separately and is snugly fitted over the neck of the vessel, in a fashion which not only allows for free gaseous flow between the contents of the vessel and the ambient atmosphere but also facilitates easy access to the contents of the vessel without having to detach the closure from the vessel. Particular features of the cover permit manipulation with the fingers of the hand holding the vessel. Embodiments disclosed include those adapted to function selectively in aerobic or anaerobic procedures.
Claims13
A closure for a fermentation vessel having an upper open end neck portion, comprising:
- (a) a base member adapted to releasably attach to said neck portion in air-tight relation and having a planar wall portion shaped to cover the open end of the neck portion of said fermentation vessel, a retaining portion extending downwardly from said wall portion and shaped to releasably grasp said neck portion member in an air-tight relation, a nesting portion extending upwardly from said wall portion and shaped to permit nesting of components of a filtration-vent assembly therein and said wall portion having one or more first vent openings permitting passage of gas therethrough;
- and
- (b) a filtration-vent assembly shaped and adapted to rest and to be positionable on said base member wall portion and to nest within said nesting portion, said assembly comprising a pair of upper and lower planar wall members and between said wall members a planar gas pervious filter member, each said wall member having one or more second vent openings comparable in number, size and position to said wall portion first vent openings and aligned with an equal one or more vent openings in the other wall member, means operative to fix said wall and filter members relative to each other such that said wall and filter members can be moved together, said assembly being positionable on said wall portion such that said wall portion vent openings and said wall member vent openings may be sufficiently aligned to permit an aerobic operation within said vessel or misaligned to prevent such aerobic operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.