# US 8,540,689 B2 · NuChain NuPurposing container conditioning method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,689 B2 - Document ID: US8540689B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/068,243 - Filed: 2011-05-06 - Published: 2011-11-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-14 - Assignees: Medindica-Pak, Inc. - Applicants: Jack W. Romano; Adam L. Smith - Inventors: Jack W. Romano; Adam L. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540689B2 ## CPC - 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)} - A61J 1/20: Arrangements for transferring {or mixing} fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe - A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - 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)} - 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 ## Abstract NuChain supply chain and disposal chain apparatus are created by NuPurposing containers, conditioning and transforming such containers from fluent material delivery containers into waste collection containers. Novel structural features of the waste collection systems allows bottle docking for the ingress of collection material into fluent material distribution containers as well as operation as a canister waste ingress collection system. The application of counter opposing forces on a canister and a lid operates in sealing and the unsealing and assembly and disassembly. A reduced pressure configured to be drawn away from said container inducing ingress of air into said container by a source of reduced pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A supply chain method comprising, a) egressing a material from a container, b) inserting a multi-plug port into an opening of said container, said container configured inside a housing having a space therein, said housing configured to retain a portion of said container inside a vacuum draw path, c) drawing vacuum flow through at least one centrally located vacuum ingress plug port and at least two peripherally located vacuum egress plug ports and away from said container and said housing along said path, d) applying a container cap for removal of said plug from said container, whereby application of a vacuum source to the plurality of plug ports causes transfer of fluent material toward said container along at least a portion of said path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1 wherein said plug is at least partially threaded to at least partially engage corresponding threads of said cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1 wherein said plug is configured to provide a seal with said cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1 wherein said plug provides a seal with said container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method of claim 1 wherein a portion of a container cap is positioned to engage a portion of a plug, said engagement is applied to separate a plug and a container. ### Claim 6 A supply chain method comprising, a) egressing a material from a container having a material therein, b) enclosing said container inside an outer housing having a space therein, wherein said outer housing is configured to egress a vacuum draw force away from said container along a draw path, c) providing a multi-port plug, said plug being disposed within said container neck, at least one vacuum force being applied to said container, said force configured to be drawn through at least one centrally located vacuum ingress plug port and through at least two peripherally located egress plug ports, whereby application of at least one of said vacuum forces to a plurality of said plug ports causes transfer of fluent material toward said container along a portion of at least one draw path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method of claim 6 wherein said plug is at least partially threaded to at least partially engage corresponding threads on a container cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A method of claim 6 wherein said plug is configured to provide a seal with a container cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A method of claim 6 wherein said plug provides a seal with said container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A method of claims 6 wherein a portion of said cap is positioned to engage a portion of said plug, said engagement is applied to separate a plug and a container. ### Claim 11 A supply chain method comprising, a) egressing a material from a container, b) retaining said container inside a housing, said housing having a space therein, at least one vacuum draw source is configured to be connected to said housing, said housing is configured to receive at least one a vacuum draw force from at least one vacuum draw path, c) applying a multi-port plug to said container neck, said plug is configured to ingress at least one vacuum force into said container, application of at least one vacuum draw source ingresses said force into said container through at least one centrally located vacuum ingress plug port and egresses draw forces out of at least two peripherally located vacuum egress plug ports, whereby causing transfer of material toward said container along at least a portion of a vacuum draw path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method of claim 11 comprising, a) providing a plug with at least a partial thread to engage a container cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method of claim 11 wherein said plug is at least partially threaded to at least partially engage corresponding threads of a container cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method of claim 11 wherein said plug provides a seal with said container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method of claim 11 wherein a portion of said cap is positioned to engage a portion of said plug, said engagement is applied to separate a plug and a container. ### Claim 16 A supply chain method comprising, a) egressing a material from a container, b) providing said container inside an outer housing, a portion of said container to be configured to be retained inside a portion of a vacuum draw path, said path configured to connect a space inside said outer housing to a source of vacuum draw forces, c) applying a multi-port plug to an opening in said container, said multi-port plug is configured to provide at least one vacuum force ingress into said container via a centrally located vacuum ingress plug port and egresses said force out of said container via at least two peripherally located vacuum egress plug ports, whereby application of at least one of said draw forces causes transfer of fluent materials towards said container via a plurality of said plug ports. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 wherein said plug is at least partially threaded to at least partially engage corresponding threads on a container cap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 wherein said multi-port plug is configured to provide a seal with said cap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 wherein said multi-port plug provides a seal with said container. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A method of claims 16 comprising, a) Providing a container cap having threads that correspond with a multi-port plug. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 comprising, a) providing a multi-port plug having threads that correspond with a container cap. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 comprising, a) engaging at least a portion of a cap thread with at least a portion of a plug thread such that said engagement is applied to remove said plug from an opening in a container. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A method of claim 16 comprising, a) engaging at least a portion of a multi-port plug thread with at least a portion of a container cap thread such that said engagement is applied to remove said plug from an opening of a container. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A method of claims 16 wherein a portion of said cap is position to engage a portion of said plug, said engagement is applied to separate a plug and a container.