A container that seals in a volume of material is provided. The container may be routinely opened, closed and material may be removed or added. A removable plate and a base define a maximum volume available for material when the container is sealed. A screen may be disposed between the plate and the base. The screen may optionally be comprised within the base, adhered to the base, or removable from the base. Features for enabling manipulation of the plate and/or screen are optionally provided.

A flow selector configured for selectively or optionally regulating flow of liquid from a container is disclosed.

A dispensing system (100) includes a pour cap (102) which may be connected with the neck of a container (900). The cap base includes a main deck (108), a dispensing spout (110) and a venting tube (112). A flow regulator is mounted on the underside of the main deck such that the flow regulator restricts flow through the opening of the dispensing spout. In some embodiments, the flow regulator is a hinged spring-loaded baffle plate (116). In some embodiments, the flow regulator is a gravity ball valve (316). A visual timing device (200) may be advantageously located on the pour cap (102) so that the timing device is easily visible to a user during operation or use of the dispensing system. The constant flow rate provided by the flow regulator allows the timing device to more precisely measure each pour regardless of how much fluid is in the bottle.

A preferred low-profile liquid container lid assembly enables a user to outfit particularized liquid containers for enabling lid-based liquid-pooling or compartmentalization and heat transfer from lid-pooled or lid-compartmentalized liquid prior to liquid egression from a lid-outfitted liquid container prior to liquid consumption. All embodiments provide liquid re-directing or damming structures that operate to control the delivery of hot liquid for promoting heat loss from re-directed liquid flows. Certain structures cooperate with existing art to minimize leakage problems associated therewith. Other structures operate to particularly shape parceled liquid volumes for effecting rapid heat transfers therefrom. Still other structures harness material-philic properties of liquids for further effecting rapid heat transfers and liquid directional control mechanisms. Combinations of the various structural features here noted are also contemplated throughout the following specifications.

A composite container lid includes an inner plug 1 with a flow-out port and an upper lid 3 detachably attached to a container mouth portion 80, wherein: the inner plug 1 includes an upper lid engaging cylinder 5, a container mouth portion-securing member 7 having a circumferential wall 9 that surrounds the upper lid engaging cylinder 5, and linking pieces 11 that link the inner surface of the circumferential wall 9 to the upper lid engaging cylinder 5 so as to form a flow-out port 13; the upper lid engaging cylinder 5 is provided, on the upper end portion of the outer surface thereof, with a circumferential protuberance 5a for temporary engagement; engaging pieces 37 are formed on the inner surface of a top plate 31 of the upper lid 3, the engaging pieces 37 having an undercut 37a for temporarily engaging with the circumferential protuberance 5a that temporary engages with the upper lid engaging cylinder; and a sound-suppressing protrusion 50 is provided in a region surrounded by the engaging pieces 37.

Particulate aerogel material kit for grip enhancement, and related systems and methods, are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to interfaces comprising human skin, a layer of particulate aerogel material, and a solid surface. Methods of creating such interfaces, packaging the particulate aerogel material, and applications thereof (including kits for grip enhancement) are also described.

A bottle cap with a flip top is provided that allows easier access to contents of a bottle than conventional twist-off caps. The bottle cap can be made from plastic materials including PET, HDPE, LDPE, or polypropylene. The cap includes a hole through its top surface, and a flip top that conforms to the shape of the hole and can be attached to the cap body by a flexible hinge. The perimeters of the flip top and the opening are provided with a plurality of ridges that interlock to form a mechanical seal when the flip top is pressed down. The area-to-perimeter ratio of the cap opening can be less than about 3/16 inches, to provide a seal that resists internal pressure from carbonated beverages. The cap can be affixed to a bottle using screw threads, an interlocking clamp, or adhesives. Tamper-resistant seals can also be provided on the cap.

A cap for a container including a dispensing opening operable to be selectively sealed and a housing configured for sealing engagement with a container opening, said housing defining a passage along a longitudinal axis thereof, the passage having a plurality of ribs disposed in the passage defining a plurality of channels which, when the container is in a sufficiently tilted state, cause liquid in the container to exit through the dispensing opening, wherein at least one channel is a liquid-flow channel through which liquid flows out of the dispensing opening when unsealed.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods provided herein are useful for dispensing a fluid, such as a thixotropic fluid. In some embodiments, a bottle having a closure cap includes a flip top, a base, and a disk, where the base and disk define a mixing chamber configured to facilitate mixing of any serum or liquid separated from the fluid back therein. In some configurations, the base has a central opening through which the fluid exits and an internal shaft with a non-planar end surface opposite the central opening. In some configurations, the non-planar end surface and the disk define channels between the mixing chamber and the internal shaft. In some embodiments, the disk includes a central opening, a plurality of partial annular openings through a planar surface of the disk, and projections extending into the mixing chamber.

A dispensing system (100) includes a pour cap (102) which may be connected with the neck of a container (900). The cap base includes a main deck (108), a dispensing spout (110) and a venting tube (112). A flow regulator is mounted on the underside of the main deck such that the flow regulator restricts flow through the opening of the dispensing spout. In some embodiments, the flow regulator is a hinged spring-loaded baffle plate (116). In some embodiments, the flow regulator is a gravity ball valve (316). A visual timing device (200) may be advantageously located on the pour cap (102) so that the timing device is easily visible to a user during operation or use of the dispensing system. The constant flow rate provided by the flow regulator allows the timing device to more precisely measure each pour regardless of how much fluid is in the bottle.