The invention described herein relates to a threadless cap for a threadless bottle, the threadless cap comprising a threadless outer cap and a threadless inner cap, wherein the threadless inner cap is received in the threadless outer cap so as to define an annulus between them. When assembled, a bottle is received in the annulus with a portion of the threadless inner cap creating a plug that seals the bottle and a portion of the threadless outer cap over hanging the bottle. Both the outer cap and the inner sealingly engage the bottle using a threadless friction fit. To remove the cap from the bottle, one simply slides the cap off the bottle.

Embodiments generally relate to vial preparation methods and to vials prepared by such methods. Some embodiments relate to use of an apparatus, such as a lyophilization apparatus, to perform the methods. An illustrative vial preparation method comprises: housing a plurality of vials in a temperature-controlled environment, wherein the plurality of vials each have a volume of a substance therein and each defines an unfilled volume therein, each vial having a stopper partially inserted into an opening of the vial so that gas can transfer between the unfilled volume and an external volume; applying a vacuum to the environment to reduce pressure in the environment and in the unfilled volume of each vial to a first pressure level; venting an inert gas into the environment to raise the pressure in the environment and in the unfilled volume of each vial to a second pressure level; allowing the vials to rest in the environment at the second pressure level for a predetermined period; repeating the applying, venting and allowing at least once; and fully inserting the stopper into each opening to seal each vial after the repeating.

Drinking bottle closures include a sealing portion, an upper side that may bear indicia, and a retained magnet. The magnet may be retained in a cavity of the closure separated from the sealing portion by a seamless barrier. The sealing portion may include a frictionally retained male tapered plug or a radially compressible, gripping female cap liner to fit one or multiple bottle opening sizes. In a method of use, the cap may be retained on a magnetically attracted surface until used to close and identify a drinking bottle. The magnetically attracted surface may be a plate connected to a mount for connecting the magnetic surface to a non-magnetic surface.

Reusable drinking bottle closures, and methods and systems for storing and using the same, are provided. The drinking bottle closures include a sealing portion, an upper side that may bear indicia, and a magnet retained in fixed relation to the sealing portion and the upper side. The magnet may be retained in a cavity of the closure separated from the sealing portion by a seamless barrier, such as a unitary body comprised at least partially in the sealing portion. The sealing portion may fit one or multiple bottle opening sizes. Multiple opening sizes may be accommodated by a frictionally retained tapered plug feature for sealing insertion into a bottle opening, or an end sealing feature operating in conjunction with a separate retention feature, such as a radially compressible cap liner configured to grip bottle threads in an interference fit. The end sealing feature may be a downward-facing compressible ring or disc on a lower side of the closure. In a method of use, the cap may be retained on a magnetically attracted surface until used to close and identify a drinking bottle. The magnetically attracted surface may be part of an existing wall, fixture, or movable article, or it may be a component of a closure storage system according to the invention, such as a plate connected to a mount for connecting the magnetic surface to a non-magnetic surface, such as a pushpin, suction cup, hook-and-loop fastener patch, snap, button, fabric with a button-hole, adhesive, or hole in the surface itself.

Reusable drinking bottle closures, and methods and systems for storing and using the same, are provided. The drinking bottle closures include a sealing portion, an upper side that may bear indicia, and a magnet retained in fixed relation to the sealing portion and the upper side. The magnet may be retained in a cavity of the closure separated from the sealing portion by a seamless barrier, such as a unitary body comprised at least partially in the sealing portion. The sealing portion may fit one or multiple bottle opening sizes. Multiple opening sizes may be accommodated by a frictionally retained tapered plug feature for sealing insertion into a bottle opening, or an end sealing feature operating in conjunction with a separate retention feature, such as a radially compressible cap liner configured to grip bottle threads in an interference fit. The end sealing feature may be a downward-facing compressible ring or disc on a lower side of the closure. In a method of use, the cap may be retained on a magnetically attracted surface until used to close and identify a drinking bottle. The magnetically attracted surface may be part of an existing wall, fixture, or movable article, or it may be a component of a closure storage system according to the invention, such as a plate connected to a mount for connecting the magnetic surface to a non-magnetic surface, such as a pushpin, suction cup, hook-and-loop fastener patch, snap, button, fabric with a button-hole, adhesive, or hole in the surface itself.

The invention described herein relates to a reusable bottle, including a threadless bottle; a cap comprising an outer cap and an inner cap, wherein the inner cap is received in the outer cap and creates a vacuum seal when the cap engages a bottle, wherein the cap engages the bottle using a threadless friction fit. To remove the cap from the bottle, one simply slides the cap off the bottle.

A container for pourable foodstuffs has a base, a side wall connected to the base and surrounding a storage chamber. An elastic cuff is connected with a first end to the side wall and has a second end with an opening. The cuff width decreases from first to second end along a longitudinal container axis. The elastic cuff can be pushed into and pulled out of the storage chamber. A sealing element shaped as a stopper can be inserted into the opening for closing the container and has a shank portion matched in shape and size to the opening such that sealing abutment of a shank portion surface against surfaces of the elastic cuff adjoining the cuff opening is established in a contact region of the shank portion when the stopper is inserted. The shank portion has an end with a thickened portion thicker than the contact region.

Disclosed herein is a fluid transfer assembly for dispensing flowable material from a container, the fluid transfer assembly having a spout, a screw cap body, and an aseptic plug, wherein the aseptic plug is configured to form an aseptic seal with the screw cap body.

A system and method for automatic closure of sample vessels such as vessels with medical laboratory samples, having a plurality of identically shaped, stackable closure caps with a convex outer face and concave inner face that are stacked in a closure cap stack such that an upper closure cap in the stack bears with its convex outer face on the concave inner face of a lower closure cap lying immediately below in the stack. The system includes a closure gripper for gripping an uppermost closure cap from the stack, for transferring the gripped closure cap to the sample vessel to be closed, and for introducing the gripped closure cap into an opening of the sample vessel in order to tightly close the opening. The closure gripper has a centering piece insertable into a closure cap such that it bears on the concave inner face of the closure cap.

Provided herein are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes a sealing member having interior grooves and panels. Also provided herein are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes (i) a sealing member having a concave surface at a distal region, and (ii) a flat proximal surface. Provided also are fluid handling tubes having a cap that includes an engagement member at an edge of the cap, where the engagement member includes a surface having curvature and a taper. Also provided herein are fluid handling tubes that include a cap comprising a tube sealing member, an anterior engagement member, and one or more channels (e.g., one or more furrows or grooves) between the sealing member and the engagement member that function as a hinge or pivot. Also provided are fluid handling tubes that include (i) a cap having a sealing member that includes an annular protrusion, and (ii) a tube body having an interior surface that includes an annular recess, where the annular recess in the tube body is configured to receive the annular protrusion of the tubular sealing member of the cap.