A squeeze container has a flexible and resilient sidewall and a top mouth closed by a cap through which a measuring tube extends into the container to terminate adjacent the container bottom wa1. A normally-closed check valve is fitted to the tube bottom end to allow liquid in the container to enter the tube in a measured quantity when the side wall is squeezed and for retaining the measured quantity of liquid when the tube sidewall is released. The measured liquid in the tube is discharged when the container is inverted and squeezed. After liquid discharge, outside air is admitted within the container to nearly re-establish atmospheric pressure, either through the measuring tube or through a check valve located at the cap. In the first case, the measuring tube check valve is not hermetic when closed, so as to permit air entrance at a slow rate. The measuring tube valve may simply be a stretchable membrane fitted across the tube lower end and having through openings which open only when the membrane is stretched. The cap valve may be in the form of an annular membrane sealed to the container top mouth around its periphery and having a sliding fit with and around the tube. Outside air can enter the container between the membrane and the tube when the container is under partial vacuum. Instead of a check valve, the cap can be provided with an elastic, fluid-tight membrane which stretches to decrease the differential pressure existing across the same.
A sipper tube cap assembly is provided having a cap with a flat surface and a curved wall. A circumferential flange is formed by the flat surface and further defines an opening in the cap. A stopper, having a hole formed therein, is positioned in said cap by said circumferential flange to retain the stopper within the cap. Finally, a sipper tube is provided which is positioned within the hole in the stopper, to extend through the opening.
A sipper tube cap assembly is provided having a cap with a flat surface and a curved wall. A circumferential flange is formed by the flat surface and further defines an opening in the cap. A stopper, having a hole formed therein, is positioned in said cap by said circumferential flange to retain the stopper within the cap. Finally, a sipper tube is provided which is positioned within the hole in the stopper, to extend through the opening.
A cell culture apparatus comprises a rotor releasably housing a plurality of cell culture vessels/roller bottles. The apparatus provides for rotation of the rotor at a controlled speed about a substantially horizontal axis and for the rotational axis of the rotor and the bottles housed therein to be tilted to a substantially vertical position in order to allow fluid to be supplied or drain therefrom. Each vessel is provided with a cap equipped with a fluid supply/drain connection arranged at the lowest point of the cap when the vessel is vertically inverted (as shown in FIG. 1). The supply/drain connection of each bottle cap is connected to a manifold that allows the supply or extraction of fluid via a sealable external connection. Venting of the gas space within the bottle during fluid transfer is provided by a snorkel tube passing upwards through the fluid, and formed as an internal extension of the bottle cap. The snorkel tube is provided with a micro-porous filter, venting to atmosphere. During cell incubation stages, the assembly of vessels is rotated about a horizontal axis in the known manner.
A squeeze dispenser for liquids, preferably relatively highly viscous liquids, is provided with a flexible holder (1) with an outflow opening (2) via which a liquid can be pressed out of the holder, and with a sealing element (3) arranged over this outflow opening. In this sealing element, a first valve (12) is arranged via which, when the holder is squeezed, liquid can be pressed out of the holder, as well as a second valve (18) for admitting air into the holder when the holder is no longer squeezed.
A device for controllably retaining a liquid to prevent spillage when the bottle is tilted or inverted for positioning the bottle to discharge the container's liquid contents into the intended orifice. The hydraulically operated plug forms an air tight seal with the smooth inner surface of the neck of the container, permitting the container to be inverted and positioned over the intended receptacle without releasing any fluid. Upon squeezing the flexible container, the lid is forced from the container by the hydraulic pressure exerted on the inner surface of the lid, permitting the liquid to pour freely from the container into the intended receptacle. A tether attaching the plug to an exterior location on the container allows the plug to fall clear of the stream of flow while preventing the plug from becoming lost.
