Mixing bag or vessel having a fluid-agitating element
AssigneeATMI Packaging, Inc.
InventorAlexandre N. Terentiev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vessel in which a fluid is received and agitated by using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by a non-contact coupling with a motive device external to the vessel. In one aspect, the vessel is a bag including a first receiver for receiving and holding a fluid-agitating element at a home location. The first receiver may be in the form of an inwardly-projecting post having an oversized portion for capturing the fluid-agitating element, but various other forms are disclosed. In another aspect, the vessel or bag further includes a second receiver for receiving a portion of an external structure, such as a motive device, and aligning the vessel relative thereto. Related methods are also disclosed.
Claims24
An apparatus for use in agitating a fluid in connection with a motive device, comprising:
- a fluid-agitating element adapted to move by way of a non-contact coupling with the motive device;
- and
- a collapsible vessel having an interior compartment for receiving the fluid-agitating element, said vessel including a first portion connected to a second portion thicker than the first portion, said second portion being arranged for engaging the fluid-gitating element within the interior compartment of the vessel;
- wherein the collapsible vessel comprises a sealed bag formed of plastic film forming the first portion and connected to a rigid plastic material forming the second portion.
An apparatus for use in agitating a fluid in connection with a motive device, comprising:
- a fluid-agitating element adapted to move by way of a non-contact coupling with the motive device;
- and
- a collapsible vessel having an interior compartment for receiving the fluid-agitating element, said vessel including a first portion connected to a second portion thicker than the first portion, said second portion being arranged for engaging the fluid-agitating element within the interior compartment of the vessel;
- wherein the collapsible vessel includes a sidewall having no predetermined shape and capable of assuming a particular shape based on the presence of the fluid in the interior compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.