A strengthened glass container or vessel such as, but not limited to, vials for holding pharmaceutical products or vaccines in a hermetic and/or sterile state. The strengthened glass container undergoes a strengthening process that produces compression at the surface and tension within the container wall. The strengthening process is designed such that the tension within the wall is great enough to ensure catastrophic failure of the container, thus rendering the product unusable, should sterility be compromised by a through-wall crack. The tension is greater than a threshold central tension, above which catastrophic failure of the container is guaranteed, thus eliminating any potential for violation of pharmaceutical integrity.

A process for making a functionalized hollow body includes: providing a hollow body including a wall which at least partially surrounds an interior volume of the hollow body, the wall including a layer of glass and having a wall surface with a surface region; at least partially superimposing the layer of glass in the surface region with a functionalizing composition precursor on a side of the layer of glass which faces away from the interior volume, the functionalizing composition precursor including one or more siloxanes; and at least partially contacting the functionalizing composition precursor with a plasma, thereby obtaining the functionalized hollow body including a functionalizing composition which at least partially superimposes the layer of glass in the surface region on the side of the layer of glass which faces away from the interior volume.

A process for making a functionalized hollow body includes: providing a hollow body including a wall which at least partially surrounds an interior volume of the hollow body, the wall including a layer of glass and having a wall surface with a surface region; at least partially superimposing the layer of glass in the surface region with a functionalizing composition precursor on a side of the layer of glass which faces away from the interior volume, the functionalizing composition precursor including one or more siloxanes; and at least partially contacting the functionalizing composition precursor with a plasma, thereby obtaining the functionalized hollow body including a functionalizing composition which at least partially superimposes the layer of glass in the surface region on the side of the layer of glass which faces away from the interior volume.

In a fabricating method for a quartz vial having a body part for containing a substance, a bottom part closing a lower end of the body part, a cylindrical neck part disposed at an upper end of the body part, a cylindrical mouth part disposed above the neck part and having an outer diameter larger than that of the neck part, and a tapered portion connecting the mouth part and the neck part to each other, outer peripheral surfaces of the tapered portion and the neck part are formed by shaving, and the body part that is separately fabricated is welded to the neck part. Thus, quartz vials having a predetermined shape can be mass-fabricated.

In a fabricating method for a quartz vial having a body part for containing a substance, a bottom part closing a lower end of the body part, a cylindrical neck part disposed at an upper end of the body part, a cylindrical mouth part disposed above the neck part and having an outer diameter larger than that of the neck part, and a tapered portion connecting the mouth part and the neck part to each other, outer peripheral surfaces of the tapered portion and the neck part are formed by shaving, and the body part that is separately fabricated is welded to the neck part. Thus, quartz vials having a predetermined shape can be mass-fabricated.

A rigid container that may be used to store items. The container includes a first bowl and a second bowl. The first and second bowls both include center portions and at least one sidewall. The sidewalls are disposed about the peripheries of their respective center portions and oriented perpendicular to it. The sidewall(s) of the first bowl define an exterior profile and the sidewall(s) of the second bowl define an interior profile. The exterior profile and the interior profile are identical in shape but the interior profile is slightly larger so that the second bowl can be received over the first bowl.

A rigid container that may be used to store items. The container includes a first bowl and a second bowl. The first and second bowls both include center portions and at least one sidewall. The sidewalls are disposed about the peripheries of their respective center portions and oriented perpendicular to it. The sidewall(s) of the first bowl define an exterior profile and the sidewall(s) of the second bowl define an interior profile. The exterior profile and the interior profile are identical in shape but the interior profile is slightly larger so that the second bowl can be received over the first bowl.

Described herein are embodiments of a yarn-carrying and dispensing apparatus. The embodiments described allow knitters to easily transport, carry and use balls of yarn for knitting and other knitting materials. The embodiments prevent the ball of yarn from rolling away or getting tangled or intertwined. The embodiments also easily and smoothly dispense the yarn, making the knitting more efficient and easier for the knitter. The embodiments provide additional elements to accommodate a knitter: (i) a ruler allowing, for example, to measure a knitting sampler; (ii) a needle gauge and needle openings, allowing, for example, to measure the size of a needle; and (3) an insert allowing, for example, to hold one or more balls of yarn.

Described herein are embodiments of a yarn-carrying and dispensing apparatus. The embodiments described allow knitters to easily transport, carry and use balls of yarn for knitting and other knitting materials. The embodiments prevent the ball of yarn from rolling away or getting tangled or intertwined. The embodiments also easily and smoothly dispense the yarn, making the knitting more efficient and easier for the knitter. The embodiments provide additional elements to accommodate a knitter: (i) a ruler allowing, for example, to measure a knitting sampler; (ii) a needle gauge and needle openings, allowing, for example, to measure the size of a needle; and (3) an insert allowing, for example, to hold one or more balls of yarn.