초록 ▼

A pressure-responsive container assembly and elastically-deformable penetrable cap is provided. Embodiments of the penetrable cap of the present invention include, but are not limited to: an annular sealing portion for engaging an inner surface of a container, a substantially rigid portion extending

A pressure-responsive container assembly and elastically-deformable penetrable cap is provided. Embodiments of the penetrable cap of the present invention include, but are not limited to: an annular sealing portion for engaging an inner surface of a container, a substantially rigid portion extending radially inward from the annular sealing portion; a flexible transition portion extending radially inward from the substantially rigid portion; and a penetrable portion extending radially inward from the transition portion for closing the opening defined by the container. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may thus allow the penetrable portion to elastically deform about the transition portion to a generally convex shape so as to exert a radially outward force that may be transmitted by the substantially rigid portion to the annular sealing portion so as to reinforce a fluid-tight seal between the annular sealing portion and the inner surface of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container assembly comprising: a container defining an opening therein, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface accessible via the opening; anda penetrable cap configured to be capable of cooperating with the container to selectively close the opening, the penetrable cap

1. A container assembly comprising: a container defining an opening therein, the container comprising an outer surface and an inner surface accessible via the opening; anda penetrable cap configured to be capable of cooperating with the container to selectively close the opening, the penetrable cap comprising: an annular sealing portion extending into the container and having a radially-outward surface and a radially-inward surface, the radially-outward surface configured to sealingly engage, via abutting contact, the inner surface of the container, the radially-inward surface having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the distal edge being disposed substantially within the container;an annular substantially rigid portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion at a selected angle relative to the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion having a distal end;an annular transition portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the distal end of the annular substantially rigid portion, the transition portion being capable of flexing relative to the annular substantially rigid portion;a penetrable portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the annular transition portion, the penetrable portion being capable of elastically deforming about the annular transition portion towards the proximal edge of the annular sealing portion in response to a positive pressure generated within the container while the annular substantially rigid portion remains oriented at the selected angle relative to the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion such that the penetrable portion exerts a radially outward force that is transmitted by the annular substantially rigid portion to the radially-outward surface of the annular sealing portion so as to reinforce a seal between the radially-outward surface of the annular sealing portion and the inner surface of the container, and the penetrable portion having a thickness less than the annular substantially rigid portion to facilitate piercing by a piercing tool. 2. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a lip portion disposed about a periphery of the opening defined therein and wherein the penetrable cap further comprises a flange portion operably engaged with and extending radially outward from the proximal edge of the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion, the flange portion configured to cooperate with the lip portion of the container to selectively close the opening. 3. The container assembly according to claim 2, wherein the penetrable cap further comprises an annular restraining portion operably engaged with and extending distally from the flange portion so as to operably engage the outer surface of the container. 4. The container assembly according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the container defines a container screw thread and wherein the annular restraining portion comprises a cap screw thread configured to cooperate with the container screw thread so as to operably engage the annular restraining portion with the outer surface of the container. 5. The container assembly according to claim 3, wherein the annular restraining portion comprises a radially-outward surface defining a plurality of ridges for traction. 6. The container assembly according to claim 4, wherein the penetrable cap further comprises a sealing bead protruding from the flange portion about a circumference of the flange portion, the sealing bead comprising a substantially deformable material such that as the annular restraining portion of the penetrable cap is operably engaged with the outer surface of the container, the sealing bead deforms against the lip portion of the container to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between the flange portion of the penetrable cap and the lip portion of the container. 7. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion are integrally formed as a substantially unitary penetrable cap. 8. The container assembly according to claim 7, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion are integrally formed as a substantially unitary penetrable cap using a process selected from the group consisting of: injection molding;blow molding;casting; andcombinations thereof. 9. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion of the penetrable cap comprise materials selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate;polyvinyl chloride;high-density polyethylene;low-density polyethylene; andcombinations thereof. 10. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container is a substantially cylindrical vial. 11. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises materials selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate;polyvinyl chloride;high-density polyethylene;low-density polyethylene;medium-density polyethylene;glass; andcombinations thereof. 12. A penetrable cap adapted to be capable of cooperating with a container to selectively close an opening defined therein, the penetrable cap comprising: an annular sealing portion extending into the container and having a radially-outward surface and a radially-inward surface, the radially-outward surface adapted to sealingly engage, via abutting contact, an inner surface of the container, the radially-inward surface having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the distal edge being disposed substantially within the container;an annular substantially rigid portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion at a selected angle relative to the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion having a distal end;an annular transition portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the distal end of the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion being capable of flexing relative to the annular substantially rigid portion;a penetrable portion operably engaged with and extending radially inward from the annular transition portion, the penetrable portion being capable of elastically deforming about the annular transition portion towards the proximal edge of the annular sealing portion in response to a positive pressure generated within the container while the annular substantially rigid portion remains oriented at the selected angle relative to the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion such that the penetrable portion exerts a radially outward force that is transmitted by the annular substantially rigid portion to the radially-outward surface of the annular sealing portion so as to reinforce a seal between the radially-outward surface of the annular sealing portion and the inner surface of the container, and the penetrable portion having a thickness less than the annular rigid portion to facilitate piercing by a piercing tool. 13. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, further comprising a flange portion operably engaged with and extending radially outward from the proximal edge of the radially-inward surface of the annular sealing portion, the flange portion adapted to cooperate with a lip portion of the container disposed about a periphery of the opening defined therein. 14. The penetrable cap according to claim 13, further comprising an annular restraining portion operably engaged with and extending distally from the flange portion so as to operably engage an outer surface of the container. 15. The penetrable cap according to claim 14, wherein the annular restraining portion comprises a radially-inward surface defining a cap screw thread adapted to cooperate with a corresponding container screw thread defined in the outer surface of the container so as to operably engage the annular restraining portion with the outer surface of the container. 16. The penetrable cap according to claim 14, wherein the annular restraining portion comprises a radially-outward surface defining a plurality of ridges for traction. 17. The penetrable cap according to claim 15, further comprising a sealing bead protruding from the flange portion about a circumference of the flange portion, the sealing bead comprising a substantially deformable material such that as the annular restraining portion is operably engaged with the outer surface of the container, the sealing bead deforms against the lip portion of the container to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between the flange portion and the lip portion of the container. 18. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion are integrally formed as a substantially unitary assembly. 19. The penetrable cap according to claim 18, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion are integrally formed as a substantially unitary assembly using a process selected from the group consisting of: injection molding;blow molding;casting; andcombinations thereof. 20. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein the annular sealing portion, the annular substantially rigid portion, the annular transition portion, and the penetrable portion comprise materials selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate;polyvinyl chloride;high-density polyethylene;low-density polyethylene;medium-density polyethylene; andcombinations thereof. 21. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the penetrable portion has a thickness ranging substantially between about 0.014 inches and about 0.018 inches. 22. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein the penetrable portion has a thickness ranging substantially between about 0.014 inches and about 0.018 inches. 23. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein the penetrable portion has a substantially constant thickness along its entire length. 24. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein a thickness of the annular rigid portion and the annular transition portion gradually decreases from the annular sealing portion to the penetrable portion. 25. The penetrable cap according to claim 12, wherein the penetrable portion has a thickness less than the annular transition portion.