Sterilizer container
First Claim
1. A sterilizer container comprising:
- a base portion having a floor and walls, thereby defining an open-topped receptacle;
an intermediate cover including means to engage the periphery of the walls of said base portion in sealing relationship therewith before, during and after the container is subjected to sterilization, said intermediate cover forming with said base portion an interior chamber, and said intermediate cover including means to permit fluid communication therethrough;
an outer solid cover dimensioned to overlie said intermediate cover in spaced relationship therefrom;
filter means associated with said intermediate cover for preventing passage of microbial contamination into said interior chamber through said fluid communication means in said intermediate cover before, during, and after the container is subjected to sterilization;
means supporting said outer cover in spaced relationship to said intermediate cover, to form a space therebetween, and in spaced relationship to said base portion engaging means; and
means at the periphery of said outer cover forming with said base portion engaging means a flow passage therebetween, wherein said flow passage and the space between said intermediate cover and said outer cover define a tortuous path for the passage of an exteriorly generated sterilizing fluid to the upstream side of said filter means, the interior chamber being in fluid communication with said tortuous path through said filter means and said fluid communication means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sterilizer container comprising a lower base portion, cover, and an intermediate cover which is installed in a sealing manner on the inwardly drawn edge of the lower base portion. The cover includes an overlapping flange. A flow passage, leading to a tortuous path, is defined by the overlapping flange of the cover and the inwardly drawn edge of the lower base portion. The exchange of fluent media between the interior and the exterior of the container takes place through the flow passage and the tortuous path. The intermediate cover is connected with the cover in a detachable manner and has perforations in its middle segment which are covered by a filter. This filter is pushed against the peripheral segment of the intermediate cover by means of a sealing ring which is supported by the cover. The intermediate cover can be provided with valves effective in two directions in place of perforations whereby an equalization of pressure is possible. In this case, the filter is omitted.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A sterilizer container comprising:
a base portion having a floor and walls, thereby defining an open-topped receptacle;
an intermediate cover including means to engage the periphery of the walls of said base portion in sealing relationship therewith before, during and after the container is subjected to sterilization, said intermediate cover forming with said base portion an interior chamber, and said intermediate cover including means to permit fluid communication therethrough;
an outer solid cover dimensioned to overlie said intermediate cover in spaced relationship therefrom;
filter means associated with said intermediate cover for preventing passage of microbial contamination into said interior chamber through said fluid communication means in said intermediate cover before, during, and after the container is subjected to sterilization;
means supporting said outer cover in spaced relationship to said intermediate cover, to form a space therebetween, and in spaced relationship to said base portion engaging means; and
means at the periphery of said outer cover forming with said base portion engaging means a flow passage therebetween, wherein said flow passage and the space between said intermediate cover and said outer cover define a tortuous path for the passage of an exteriorly generated sterilizing fluid to the upstream side of said filter means, the interior chamber being in fluid communication with said tortuous path through said filter means and said fluid communication means.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A sterilizer container comprising:
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a base portion having a floor and walls, thereby defining an open-topped receptacle; an intermediate cover including means to engage the periphery of the walls of said base portion in sealing relationship therewith before, during, and after the container is subjected to sterilization, said intermediate cover forming with said base portion an interior chamber; an outer solid cover dimensioned to overlie said intermediate cover in spaced relationship therefrom; valve means within said intermediate cover for selectively permitting the passage of fluids through said intermediate cover and into and out of said interior chamber before, during, and after the container is subjected to sterilization; means supporting said outer cover in spaced relationship to said intermediate cover, to form a space therebetween, and in spaced relationship to said base portion engaging means; and means at the periphery of said outer cover forming with said base portion engaging means a flow passage therebetween, wherein said flow passage and the space between said intermediate cover and said outer cover define a tortuous path for the passage of an exteriorly generated sterilizing fluid to the upstream side of said valve means, the interior chamber being in fluid communication with said tortuous path through said valve means.
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Specification