# US 9,517,922 B2 · Evacuated bottle system

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- Number: US 9,517,922 B2
- Document ID: US9517922B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/540,477
- Filed: 2014-11-13
- Published: 2016-05-19
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-13
- 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/US9517922B2

## 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}
- 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)}
- B65B 31/00: Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- 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 providing a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck defining an opening that provides fluid communication with the interior; providing a cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a self serum stopper having a self sealing membrane that extends radially outward to overlie at least a portion of the floor of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening; assembling the cap assembly with the bottle by inserting the first portion of the funnel into the neck of the bottle; supporting the funnel on the neck of the bottle at the shoulder; inserting the serum stopper within the funnel where the self-sealing membrane covers at least a portion of the floor to seal the first bore of the funnel from the second bore; applying the cap over the funnel and attaching the cap to the bottle, wherein the cover portion extends radially inward over a portion of the self-sealing membrane and defines a gap axially outward of the self-sealing membrane; applying a pressure differential relative to the interior of the bottle to create a suction at the evacuating opening to draw the self-sealing membrane axially outward within the gap a distance effective to provide fluid communication between the first bore of the funnel and the second bore the funnel; maintaining the suction until a selected pressure is achieved within the interior of the bottle; and withdrawing the suction, wherein the selected pressure within the bottle draws the self-sealing membrane against the floor of the funnel to reseal the interior of the bottle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for pressurizing a bottle comprising:
assembling a cap assembly comprising a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a serum stopper having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the serum stopper sized to fit within the first bore of the funnel, and the second portion of the serum stopper having a self-sealing membrane that extends radially outward to overlie at least a portion of the floor of the funnel, the second portion of the serum stopper sitting on top of the floor and within an interior of the second bore of the funnel when the first portion of the serum stopper is inserted within the first bore of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening;
assembling the cap assembly with the bottle by inserting the first portion of the funnel into a neck of the bottle; supporting the funnel on the neck of the bottle at the shoulder; inserting the serum stopper within the funnel where the self-sealing membrane covers at least a portion of the floor to seal the first bore of the funnel from the second bore; applying the cap over the funnel and attaching the cap to the bottle, wherein the cover portion extends radially inward over a portion of the self-sealing membrane and defines a gap axially outward of the self-sealing membrane;
applying a pressure differential relative to an interior of the bottle to create a suction at the evacuating opening to draw the self-sealing membrane axially outward within the gap a distance effective to provide fluid communication between the first bore of the funnel and the second bore of the funnel;
maintaining the suction until a selected pressure is achieved within the interior of the bottle; and
withdrawing the suction, wherein the selected pressure within the bottle draws the self-sealing membrane against the floor of the funnel to reseal the interior of the bottle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a pressure differential includes placing the bottle with the cap assembly attached in a chamber having a pressure lower than a pressure within the bottle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a pressure differential includes attaching a pressure device to the cap assembly, wherein the pressure device is placed in fluid communication with the cap assembly and a vacuum source; activating the vacuum source to apply the suction through the pressure device; and evacuating a fluid from the bottle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the pressure device includes a head defining at least one port adapted to receive at least a portion of the cap assembly therein.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the cap assembly includes inserting the first portion of the serum stopper into the first bore of the funnel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper includes a tapered end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first portion of serum stopper includes a pair of legs spaced from each other by a gap, wherein the step of applying a pressure differential exposes the gap to create the fluid communication between the evacuation opening and the interior of the bottle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a tubular member having an end; inserting the end through the self-sealing membrane into the first bore of the funnel to access the selected pressure within the bottle and form a portable suction device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting a seal between the shoulder of the funnel and the neck of the bottle, wherein the cap fits over the seal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the cap with the bottle includes threading the cap onto a thread on the neck of the bottle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising sanitizing the bottle at least before assembling the cap assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the step of sanitizing includes gamma gas sanitization.

### Claim 13

A system for evacuating a bottle comprising:
an assembly station wherein a cap assembly is attached to the bottle, the cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a serum stopper having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the serum stopper sized to fit within the first bore of the funnel, and the second portion of the serum stopper having a self-sealing membrane that extends radially outward to cover at least a portion of the floor, the second portion of the serum stopper sitting on top of the floor and within an interior of the second bore of the funnel when the first portion of the serum stopper is inserted within the first bore of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, wherein the cover portion defines a gap over the self-sealing membrane, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening located at least partially radially outward of a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane; and
an evacuation station including a head having a port adapted to fluidly communicate with the evacuating opening, the head being in selective fluid communication with a vacuum source to apply a suction to the evacuating opening causing the self-sealing membrane to be displaced upward from the floor into the gap to allow fluid communication between the port and the bottle to draw fluid from the bottle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper extends axially inward from the self-sealing membrane into the first bore of the funnel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper includes at least one projection extending radially outward to engage an interior surface of the first portion of the funnel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the serum stopper includes a pair of legs defining a leg gap therebetween, wherein upon applying the suction, the leg gap permits fluid flow from the bottle while the legs remain in the first bore of the funnel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the wall of the cap defines an internal thread adapted to mate with an external thread on the bottle.

### Claim 18

A system for evacuating a bottle comprising:
a cap assembly attached to the bottle at a neck, the cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion extends radially outward from the first portion to form a floor on an interior thereof and a shoulder on an exterior thereof, the first portion defining a first bore and the second portion defining a second bore fluidly connected to the first bore; a serum stopper having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the serum stopper sized to fit within the first bore of the funnel, and the second portion of the serum stopper having a self-sealing membrane that extends radially outward to cover at least a portion of the floor, the second portion of the serum stopper sitting on top of the floor and within an interior of the second bore of the funnel when the first portion of the serum stopper is inserted within the first bore of the funnel; and a cap having a cap wall sized to fit over the funnel and a cover portion extending radially inward from the cap wall, wherein the cover portion defines a gap over the self-sealing membrane, the cover portion defining at least one evacuating opening located at least partially radially outward of a perimeter of the self-sealing membrane; wherein
the cap defines an internal thread that mates with an external thread on the neck of the bottle, the cap wall extends sufficiently to allow a clearance to accommodate an O-ring seal between the funnel and the neck; and
a pressure device that is configured to mate with a portion of the cap assembly.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18 wherein the floor extends inward of the first bore to form a third bore having a smaller lateral dimension than the first bore and the second bore.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18 wherein the floor extends inward of the first bore to form a lip above the first bore.