A gravity flow liquid disinfectant dispensing reservoir comprised of a tapered base and a neck portion that extends centrally from the reservoir. An aperture located on the bottom of the reservoir facilitates the dispensing of liquid (i.e., disinfectant) from the reservoir into a holding tank. In another embodiment, a closed system for dispensing a liquid disinfectant into a tank containing liquid (effluent) and controlled via vacuum. The gravity flow device introduces disinfectant to the tank as the water level rises, giving the ultimate amount of contact time for treatment of effluent. Utilizing gravity and vacuum controlled dispensing of disinfectant dispenses disinfectant continuously and automatically in real time and provides for maximum contact time for minimal pathogen survival.

A pouch or pocket may act as a container and may be used to securely hold objects (e.g., cell phone, keys, wallet, etc.) during athletic activity (e.g., running). The pouch may be a standalone item or integrally formed as part of other items. The pouch may hold the object to be stored in place within the pouch or pocket. The pouch may provide some cushioning or impact force attenuation to protect the object being held within the pouch or pocket. Additionally, the pouch may be attached to a garment, such as running clothes. The pouch includes an outer envelope sealable by a closure and a one-way valve with foam layers located inside the pouch. After the object is placed in the pouch, the closure is closed, and the air within the pouch is expelled via the one-way valve by compressing the foam layers from the outside.

Provided is a wine stopper capable of being vacuumized, the wine stopper comprising a base capable of covering an outer side of a wine bottle, and a shell enclosing a cavity with the base. A boss capable of being clamped in a bottle opening is arranged on one side, away from the shell, of the base. The wine stopper further comprises a power source arranged in the cavity and a vacuum pump capable of creating a vacuum in the wine bottle, a through hole capable of communicating the vacuum pump with the interior of the bottle is provided in the boss, a measurement assembly capable of measuring a vacuum degree of the interior of the wine bottle is arranged in the cavity, and the measurement assembly is electrically connected with the vacuum pump.

A method and apparatus can be used for vacuum skin packaging of a product. The product can be arranged on a support comprising providing a film sheet above said support with said product being arranged between the support and the film sheet. The film sheet can be air tightly fixed to the support. The wall of the support can be perforated to form at least one through hole. At least a portion of air from within the support underneath said film sheet can be removed through the at least one hole. A packaged product is obtainable using the method and apparatus.

An evacuated bottle system including a bottle defining a hollow interior, the bottle having a neck with a rim defining an opening; a cap assembly supported on the bottle, the cap assembly including a funnel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being insertable within the interior of the bottle and the second portion engaging a portion of the bottle to support the funnel above the rim, the funnel defining a bore that fluidly communicates with the hollow interior of the bottle; a self-sealing membrane that covers the bore formed by the funnel to selectively seal the hollow interior of the bottle; a cap attachable to the bottle, the cap including a cover portion that extends at least partially over the self-sealing membrane to restrain movement thereof, the cover portion being axially spaced from the self-sealing membrane to define a gap that permits axial movement of the self-sealing membrane to selectively open the bottle to fluid communication outside of the bottle.

A cap assembly including a self-sealing membrane that overlaps an opening to an interior of a container. The cap assembly further includes a cap having a cover portion that includes an annular wall that defines a central opening, and at least one evacuating opening located radially outward of the central opening. The cover portion defines a gap above the self-sealing membrane. The gap is configured to allow the self-sealing membrane to be at least partially displaced from the opening to allow fluid communication between the interior of the container and an outside atmosphere when a suction is applied to the cap.

A displacement device for moving a truncated cone at a base of a container from an as-blown position to a displaced position. The base includes a deep base ring between a standing surface and the truncated cone. The displacement device includes a collar sized and shaped to be received within the deep base ring. A plunger includes a head at an end of a shaft extending through the collar. The head is sized and shaped to be received within the receptacle of the collar. The plunger is movable from a retracted position, at which the head is seated within the receptacle, to an extended position at which the head extends out from within the receptacle to allow the head to contact the truncated cone and move the truncated cone from the as-blown position to the displaced position.

A gravity flow liquid disinfectant dispensing reservoir comprised of a tapered base and a neck portion that extends centrally from the reservoir. An aperture located on the bottom of the reservoir facilitates the dispensing of liquid (i.e., disinfectant) from the reservoir into a holding tank. In another embodiment, a closed system for dispensing a liquid disinfectant into a tank containing liquid (effluent) and controlled via vacuum. The gravity flow device introduces disinfectant to the tank as the water level rises, giving the ultimate amount of contact time for treatment of effluent. Utilizing gravity and vacuum controlled dispensing of disinfectant dispenses disinfectant continuously in real time and provides for maximum contact time for minimal pathogen survival.

A system, apparatus, and method of storing food including a storage container having a base; a resilient liner nesting in the base, and a lid that interlockingly engages with the liner and/or base to close off access to foodstuffs retained in a compartment defined by the liner. A valve assembly in the lid is actuated by a pump to evacuate air from the liner's compartment and create a vacuum or near-vacuum condition therein. Apertures defined in the wall of the base allow air to flow into a compartment of the base as the resilient liner shrinks around the food. The closed storage container may be placed in a freezer to freeze the food therein. For defrosting, the base of the closed storage container is placed in a volume of water, some of which flows through the apertures in the base's wall and comes into direct contact with the liner.