KR20140058293A - Liner retainer for liner-based storage and dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liner retainer for a liner-based assembly. In some embodiments, the liner-based assembly includes an overpack; A liner having a neck; And a retainer ring lockable around the liner neck, the liner being disposed within an overpack, the retainer ring including an opening at a closed point of the stop edge of the retainer.

Description

[0001] LINER RETAINER FOR LINER BASED STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEM [0002]

The present invention relates to a new and advantageous liner retainer for a liner-based storage and dispensing system. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for minimizing the risk of damage to the liner during insertion or removal of the liner for the overpack and / or during positioning, adjusting or removing the retainer relative to the liner feature of the liner retainer. More particularly, the liner retainer of the present invention may be a curved (generally rectangular) shape that forms a generally pie-shaped area or cut-out in the resting rim of the retainer, which prevents or limits damage to the liner in some embodiments curved edges.

A container system can be used in many industries to store, ship, and / or dispense any viscosity material. For example, many methods of preparation require the use of ultra high purity liquids such as acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, slurries, cleaning compounds, dopants, inorganic, organic, metal organic and biological solutions, pharmaceuticals and radioactive chemicals do. Such applications require that the number and size of particles in ultra-high purity liquid be minimized. Particularly, since ultra-high purity liquid is used in many aspects of microelectronic manufacturing processes, semiconductor manufacturers have established strict particle concentration specifications for process chemicals or chemical-handling facilities. This specification is necessary because, when the liquid used during the manufacturing process contains high levels of particles or bubbles, particles or bubbles can be deposited on the solid surface of the silicon. Which again can lead to product failure and reduced quality and reliability.

Typically, the transport and dispensing system includes several types of containers and / or liner, a lid that can be used to seal and protect the contents of the storage system when the contents are not dispensed, and a connector (e.g., connector. Also, in some embodiments, one or more retaining elements may be used to help align and / or maintain the liner properly within the overpack, for example, or to maintain the liner in a stable position within the overpack. Some known retainers are typically cylindrical and are configured to open at a hinge point in a clam shell manner such that the retainer is positioned, for example, around the fitment or neck of the liner. After positioning, the retainer can be closed around the neck of the liner. In some cases, the wall of the liner can be sandwiched between the two closed ends of the retainer when the retainer is located at the neck or abutment of the liner and / or when the retainer is closed, which can either tear or tear the wall of the liner, It can cause damage to the liner, including weakening. As described above, the contents of the liner may be substantially lost or totally lost when contaminated with ambient air (which may result in loss of valuable materials, time, money and / or vendor / customer favor) ) Fluids, powders, and the like. Thus, for many applications, it is important and / or critical that the contents stored in the liner are not exposed to contaminants.

There is therefore a need for a liner retainer for liner-based storage and dispensing systems that improves the traditional liner used in liner-based storage and dispensing systems in one or more ways and overcomes or reduces the effects of the disadvantages described above.

The invention relates in one embodiment to a retainer for a liner-based assembly. The liner-based assembly includes a liner disposed in an overpack and an overpack, and the liner includes a liner neck. The liner-based assembly further includes a retainer ring that is removably lockable around the liner neck, the retainer ring including an opening at a closed point in the stop edge of the retainer.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a retainer ring for locking around a neck portion of a liner-based assembly, said retainer ring including two portions connected by a hinge, each portion having a hinge end and a closed end, The closed end of each of the two portions is curved so as to create an opening in the retainer ring when the retainer ring is in the closed position.

While a number of embodiments are disclosed, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize another embodiment of the invention from the following detailed description that illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the invention may be varied in various ways and apparent without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Although the subject matter concludes with claims specifically addressing the subject matter deemed to constitute the various embodiments of the present invention and clearly seeking patent office claims, the present invention is better understood from the following detailed description .
1 is a perspective view of a liner retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a cut-away view of a liner-based transport and dispensing system including a liner retainer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2B is a perspective view of a liner-based transport and dispensing system, including a liner retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
3A is a cross-sectional view of a liner retainer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the liner retainer of Figure 3A.
4 is a rear view of the liner retainer of Fig. 3A.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the liner retainer of Figure 3A.

The present invention relates to a new and advantageous liner retainer for liner-based storage, transportation and distribution systems. One embodiment of a liner retainer of the present invention in the form of a retainer ring 100 is shown in Fig. In general, the neck portion of the liner in an assembly based on the liner is fixed to an overpack of the liner-based assembly so that the liner can be moved to the desired position, particularly the vertical position The retainer ring 100 can be used. The retainer ring 100 can include two halves 102 and 104 connected by a hinge having a hinge end 106 and a closed end 108 respectively and the two halves 102 and 104, The portion is opened and closed in a clamshell fashion to be positioned around the neck portion of the liner to be submerged. In some embodiments, the closed end 108 may be secured by a locking mechanism after the retainer ring is positioned about the abutment of the liner. The locking mechanism may be any suitable mechanical device that allows the user to lock the closed end and loosen the closed end if desired, including, for example, a latch, buckle, clasp, clip or any other suitable locking mechanism . Advantageously, the closed end 108 of each of the two halves 102, 104 includes an arced or curved region, forming a relatively open area 120, The pinching area where the liner neck or other portion of the liner can be engaged while closing the two-part closed end 108 or inserting the liner into the overpack with the retainer attached to the overpack, Remove it.

2A is a cut-away view of one exemplary container system 200 in which a liner retainer of the present invention may be used. The container system 200 shown in Figure 2A is an example only and is provided only to illustrate use examples of liner retainers of various embodiments of the present invention. In general, the container system can be a liner-based transport and dispensing system 200 and includes a substantially rigid overpack 202, a liner 204 for storing the contents of the container system therein, and a liner 204 And a liner retainer or retainer ring 100 for retaining the overpack 202 in place. Additional embodiments may include a lid 240 and / or closure 242, 242a for sealing the system 200, and / or a liner 240 operatively connected to the liner entrance for releasing the contents of the liner for use in subsequent processing A dispensing connector for dispensing fluid. In some embodiments, the lid and distribution connector may be provided as a single component providing multiple functions, and in some cases as an integral component. In another embodiment, the lid and the dispensing connector can be coupled together and can be operated in tandem to provide multiple functions without the need to remove the lid.

The overpack 202 may include an overpack wall, an inner cavity, and an inlet. The overpack 202 may be comprised of any suitable material or combination of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic, nylon, EVOH, polyolefin, or other natural or synthetic polymers. . (PE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), poly (butylene 2,6- ), Medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) and / or polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene And perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), may be used to produce the overpack 202. The overpack 202 may be a < RTI ID = 0.0 > The overpack 202 may also be comprised of one or more metals and / or glasses. The overpack 202 may be any suitable shape or shape, such as but not limited to bottles, cans, drums, and the like.

As described above, the transport and dispensing system 200 may include a liner 204 that may be disposed within the overpack 202. The liner 204 may include a liner wall, an inner cavity 210 and an inlet. The inlet of the liner 204 may include a junction 214, which can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2B. The abutment 214 may be made of a different material than the rest of the liner 204 and may be more rigid and / or more resilient and / or less flexible than the rest of the liner. The abutment 214 may be a complementary screw, snap-fit or friction-splicing means, bayonet means, or any other suitable mechanical or mechanical device for engaging, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art Or distribution connector tube for sealing and / or dispensing, by any suitable means, such as, but not limited to, a combination of any of the above. In some embodiments, the lid and / or dispense connector may be coupled to the inlet of the overpack 202, or alternatively or additionally to the inlet of the overpack.

In some embodiments, the liner 204 may be a substantially flexible collapsible liner. Certain advantages associated with embodiments of the present invention when used with flexible liner can be specifically realized because there is a greater likelihood that the retainer ring will cause damage to the liner wall that is more flexible than the more rigid liner wall. The flexible liner may take any suitable or preferred shape, including, for example, a two-dimensional pillow-shaped liner or a three-dimensional tubular liner with top and bottom connected. However, in other embodiments, the liner may be a somewhat rigid but still collapsible, e.g., rigid, collapsible liner, or a rigid liner. The use of the retainer ring of the present invention may still be advantageous over known retainer rings that may tend to scrape / scratch, press / push or otherwise weaken the wall of the liner when the retainer ring is closed around the junction of the liner. The liner 204 may be fabricated using any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, the materials or combination of materials listed above with respect to the overpack 202. However, the overpack 202 and liner 204 need not be made from the same material. In some embodiments, the material or materials selected and the thickness of the material or materials can determine the stiffness of the liner 204. The liner 204 may have more than one layer and may have any desired thickness. The liner 204 may have a thickness of, for example, from about 0.05 mm to about 3 mm, or any other suitable thickness.

The liner 204 may be formed to include any desired shape that appeals to the user and / or assists folding of the liner. In some embodiments, the liner 204 may have dimensions and shapes such that it is substantially conformal with the interior of the overpack 202. As such, the liner 202 may have a relatively extreme simplicity of design with a generally smooth outer surface, or the liner may include, for example, indentations and / or protrusions It can have a relatively complicated design. In some embodiments, the liner wall may include a generally textured surface to minimize leaching and / or adhesion. For example, in some embodiments, the surface may comprise a plurality of ridges, scales, or protrusions, each of which may have an appropriate size, for example, but not limited to, about 0.5 to 100 μm. The texturing portions can be spaced apart from each other by any suitable distance. In some embodiments, texturing may include, for example, a lattice or framework configuration. Examples of some suitable texturing parts are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 334,006 entitled "Fluid Processing Component Having Textured Surface to Reduce Adhesion and Related Methods ", filed May 12, (Incorporated herein by reference). The liner 204 may have a relatively thin liner wall compared to the thickness of the overpack wall. In some embodiments, the liner 202 is configured such that the liner wall is easily collapsed by vacuum through the inlet 212 or by pressure between the liner wall and the overpack wall (herein referred to as the annular space between them) It can be flexible. The liner may, or may, include preforms, folds, and / or panels that may assist folding of the liner in some manner in some embodiments. Moreover, the liner can also have features that can help prevent or eliminate choke-off.

The liner 204 may be disposed within the overpack with a shape that is different from, but complementary to, the shape of the overpack 202 when expanded or filled in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the liner 204 may be removably attached to the interior of the overpack wall. The liner 204 may provide a barrier wall, e.g., a gas barrier wall, for movement of the working gas from the annular space between the liner wall and the overpack wall. Thus, the liner 204 can generally ensure and / or maintain the purity of the contents in the liner.

In some embodiments, the liner 204 may be composed of a material that can help assure or maintain a sterile environment for the contents disposed in the liner, particularly if sterilization of the contents of the liner is to be substantially maintained. For example, in some embodiments, the liner may be comprised of TK8 (TK8) manufactured by ATMI of Danbury, Conn. Or any other suitable material. As indicated above, in some embodiments, the liner 204 may comprise multiple layers. The multiple layers may comprise one or more different polymers or other suitable materials. In some embodiments, the thickness, fold and / or composition of the liner and / or the layer of the liner is related to a conventional liner or package such as, for example, a bond tear, a pin hole, a gas entrainment and / Limiting or eliminating typical weaknesses or problems can allow safe and substantially uncontaminated shipping of the contents of the liner-based system of the present invention. Similarly, or in addition, the liner 204 may also be configured to form a liner that is substantially isomorphic to the shape of the overpack when the liner is filled, thereby reducing the amount of movement of the contents during shipping, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > uncontaminated < / RTI >

The overpack 202 and liner 204 may each be manufactured using any suitable manufacturing process, such as, but not limited to, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, extrusion, etc., Or may be a combination of a plurality of components. In some embodiments, the overpack 202 and liner 204 may be blow molded in a collapsible manner, also referred to herein as co-blow molding. Examples of methods of using a liner-based system and co-blow molding technique are described in International Patent Application No. PCT / US11 / 55560, filed October 10, 2011, entitled "Combined Blown- Methods for their preparation "(herein incorporated by reference). In some embodiments, the liner can be blow molded into an overpack that has already been made, whereby the overpack can serve as a mold for the liner and can also be referred to as "double blow molding. &Quot; In such embodiments, an overpack can be made by any suitable method.

The liner-based transport and dispensing system described herein may be formed into any suitable shape, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, triangular or pyramidal, cylindrical, or any other suitable polygonal or other shape . A dispenser with a different shape can improve packing density during storage and / or transportation and reduce the overall transportation cost. In addition, dispensers having different shapes, such as providing an indicator of the contents provided in the dispenser, or revealing the purpose or uses for which the contents should be used, can be used to distinguish the dispensers from one another. In another embodiment, the dispenser described herein may be formed into any suitable shape to "retrofit " the dispenser to an existing dispensing assembly or dispensing system.

Examples of some types of materials that can be stored, transported, and / or dispensed using embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, slurries, detergents, cleaning compounds, dopants, (E. G., Fullerenes, inorganic nanoparticles, sol-gels), metal organic materials, TEOS and biological solutions, DNA and RNA solvents and reagents, pharmaceuticals, printable electronic and organic materials, And other ceramics), and ultra-high purity liquids such as radioactive chemicals; Pesticides / fertilizers; Paint / polish / solvent / coating-material etc; glue; Strong washing liquid; Lubricants for use in, for example, the automotive or aircraft industry; Food products such as, but not limited to, seasonings, cooking oils and soft drinks; Reagents or other materials for use in biomedical or research industries; Dangerous substances used in the military, for example; Polyurethane; pesticide; Industrial chemicals; Chemicals for cosmetics; Petroleum and lubricants; Sealant; Health and oral hygiene products and toiletries; Or any other material that can be dispensed, e.g., by pressure distribution. Materials that may be used with embodiments of the present invention may have any viscosity, including high viscosity fluids and low viscosity fluids. The skilled artisan will appreciate the advantages of the disclosed embodiments and will therefore appreciate the suitability of the disclosed embodiments for the transport and distribution of various industries and diverse products. In some embodiments, the storage, transport and dispensing systems are related to the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar panels; Industries involving the application of adhesives and polyamides; Photolithographic industries; Or any other hazardous substance delivery application. However, the various embodiments disclosed herein may be used in any suitable industry or application.

The liner-based system of the present invention may have up to about 200 liters in some embodiments. Alternatively, the liner-based system can hold up to about 20 liters. Alternatively, the liner-based system can hold up to about 1 to 5 liters or less. It will be appreciated that the cited container size is only exemplary and that the system based on the liner of the present invention can be readily adapted for use with a wide variety of sizes and shapes of transport and dispensing vessels.

In some embodiments, the entire liner-based system of the present invention can be used once and then discarded. In other embodiments, for example, the overpack can be reused, while the liner and / or any closure or connector can only be used once. In another embodiment, the closure and / or a portion of the connection tube may be formed for a single use, while the closure and / or other portions of the connection tube may be formed for repeated use.

Other examples and embodiments of types of liners and overpacks that may be used are disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT / US11 / 55558, filed October 10, 2011, entitled "a substantially rigid collapsible liner, / Or a liner for replacing a glass bottle, and an improved flexible liner "); International Patent Application No. PCT / US11 / 55560, filed October 10, 2011 (entitled " Combined blow molded liner and overpack and method of making same "); International Patent Application No. PCT / US11 / 64141, filed on December 9, 2011, entitled "A substantially cylindrical liner for use in a pressure distribution system and method of making" U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 703,996, entitled "Liner-Based Transport and Distribution System" filed on September 21, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 468,832 filed Mar. 29, 2011 (entitled "Dispenser Based on Liner") and International Patent Application PCT / US2011 / 061764, filed November 22, 2011; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 525,540 (entitled "Liner-Based Distribution System") filed on August 19, 2011 and related International Patent Application PCT / US2011 / 061771 filed on November 22, 2011 ; U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 149,844, entitled "Fluid Storage and Distribution System and Method ", filed May 31, 2000; U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 915,996, entitled "Fluid Storage and Distribution System and Method ", filed June 5, 2006; International Patent Application No. PCT / US10 / 51786, entitled "Material Storage and Dispensing System and Method with a Degassing Assembly ", filed October 7, 2010; International Patent Application No. PCT / US10 / 41629; U.S. Patent No. 7,335,721; U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 912,629; U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 302,287; International Patent Application No. PCT / US08 / 85264; U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 745,605, filed February 15, 2011; U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled "Liner-Based Transport and Distribution System " filed February 29, 2012; And U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 561,493, filed on November 18, 2011, entitled "Liner-Based Closing Portion / Connector for Transport and Distribution Containers ", each of which is incorporated herein by reference, Quot; The overpack 202 and liner 204 for use with the transportation and dispensing system of the present invention may include a flexible liner, a rigid collapsible liner, a two-dimensional liner, a three-dimensional liner, a welded liner, a molded liner, A liner including a gusseted liner and / or a non-reinforced liner, and / or a liner having a fold and / or a method of restricting or removing an occlusion, and a liner including, for example, ATMI, Inc (Including but not limited to) commercially available liners under the trade designation NOWPAK®, any of the embodiments, features and / or enhancements disclosed in any of the above-mentioned applications. Various features of the dispensing system described in the embodiments described herein may be used with one or more other features described in connection with other embodiments.

The retainer ring 100 shown in FIG. 2 may be formed to conform to the liner neck or entrance and circumference, more specifically to the abutment 214 of the liner 204. In some embodiments, the retainer ring 100 can be manually positioned in this position. The retainer ring 100 may be joined to the neck or abutment 214 of the liner by any suitable method, for example, by snap bonding, complementary threads, or any other suitable method. In another embodiment, the retainer ring 100 may be located around the neck or abutment 214 of the liner 204, but may not be engaged in a fixed manner to the liner, Move freely around neck or abutment.

In some embodiments, the basic functionality of the retainer ring 100 is that the liner neck, inlet, and / or abutment 214 are located at a substantially desired vertical position relative to the overpack inlet and / And to ensure that it remains in a coherent position in the location. In some cases, it may be desirable, for example, to maintain the liner junction 214 in a substantially fixed vertical position with respect to the overpac entrance, since such location completely fills the contents in the liner 204 Which may aid in dispensing and the contents of the liner may not be exposed to impurities or may help minimize impurities and / or minimize bubbling in the contents. The retainer ring 100 may further include features that help prevent rotation of the liner if desired.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3A, the retainer ring 100 of the present invention may, in one embodiment, be substantially cylindrical in shape to be substantially complementary to the junction of the liner 214 and the overpack 202 in the liner. In particular, in one embodiment, the retainer ring 100 may include a substantially cylindrical upper ring 302 and a substantially cylindrical lower ring 304. The cylindrical upper ring 302 may have an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the abutment 212 of the liner 202 and is complementary thereto. The cylindrical lower ring 304 may have an outer diameter that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet of the overpack 202 and is complementary thereto. In this regard, the retainer ring 100 typically secures the liner abutment 214 within the cylindrical upper ring 302 and may itself be secured within the inlet of the overpack 202 by the cylindrical lower ring 304 have. The cylindrical upper ring 302 may further include an annular upper protrusion 308. The abutment 214 of the liner 204 may be configured to have a portion with a larger diameter than fit within the cylindrical top ring 302 and be designed to be supported by or on the upper projection 308. In this regard, the liner 204 does not slip outwardly and downwardly from the retainer ring 100, nor into the interior of the overpack. Likewise, the cylindrical top ring 302 can be connected to the cylindrical bottom ring 304 by a substantially vertical surface 330. The radially extending surface 310 projects radially from the bottom of the vertical surface 330 by a slight distance x as shown more visibly in Figure 3B to form an annular bottom protrusion 312 have. The bottom protrusion 312 is positioned at the top of the inlet of the overpack 202 when the cylindrical bottom ring 404 is positioned within the inlet of the overpack 202 so that the retainer ring 100 is in a substantially fixed vertical position relative to the overpack As shown in Fig.

The retainer ring 100 of the present invention has two half portions divided by a receiving slot 314 on one side of the retainer ring and a hinge portion including the hinge 402 on the opposite side shown in Figure 4 102, and 104, respectively. Each half portion 102,104 may include a hinge end 106 connected to one another via a hinge 402 and a closed end 108 adjacent the receiving slot 314. [ Closed end 108 may be releasably locked through a locking mechanism including, but not limited to, a latch, clip, clamp, or any other suitable locking mechanism. In other embodiments, the closed end 108 may not be locked by the locking mechanism. The hinge 402 may be any suitable means for coupling the two halves 102, 104 at the hinge end 106. In one embodiment, the hinge 402 is made of the same or substantially the same material as the rest of the retainer ring 100, but is generally somewhat flexible, so that the two halves 102, And may be an active hinge that increases and decreases the size of the receiving slot 314, respectively, by opening and closing them at their closed ends 108 in a manner that facilitates the opening and closing of the receiving slot 314. 2, the two halves 102, 104 are far enough away to allow the neck or abutment 214 of the liner 204 to be at the closed end 108 thereof. After placing the liner neck or abutment 214 within the interior of the two halves 102, 104 that open through the receiving slot 314, the two halves are clam-shelled in their original closed position So that the joints can be secured therein by reducing the receiving slots to such an extent that the liner joints 214 can not slide out of the cylindrical top ring 302 (which conforms to the exterior of the joint). In embodiments of the retainer ring including the locking mechanism, the closed end 108 can be locked. Until the annular bottom protrusion 312 is placed on top of the overpack inlet so that the retainer ring and the attached liner are supported by the liner inlet or abutment 214 at a substantially fixed vertical position relative to the inlet of the overpack, The retainer ring 204 and the attached retainer ring 100 may first be placed through the inlet of the overpack 202 from the cylindrical bottom ring. In some embodiments, the cylindrical lower ring may be tapered inwardly as shown in FIG. 4 to form a lead-in portion 460, which facilitates the work of locating the retainer ring Can be made.

As described above, if a conventional retainer ring is used to open and close the retainer ring around the neck portion of the liner, a portion of the liner wall may accidentally fall on the closed end of the retainer, resulting in damage to the liner. Typically, the conventional liner has a receiving slot with a constant and small width, so that by the bottom edge of the cylindrical lower ring at the closed end of the half portion 102, 140 of the retainer the lower end of the receiving slot 314 Lt; / RTI > Since these edges of conventional retainer rings can be sharp or pointed, they do not require extra care and time-consuming efforts to ensure that no portion of the liner is seated in the receiving slot when closing the retainer around the junction of the liner Which can cause considerable damage.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a smooth arc or curved edge at the bottom edge 316 of the cylindrical lower ring 304 closest to the bottom of the receiving slot 314 so that the edge at each bottom edge 316 is softened Thereby also overcoming or limiting the risk of damage to the liner during closure of the retainer. 3A, the curved bottom edge 316 may, generally, but not necessarily, form a pie-shaped opening 318 at the bottom of the receiving slot 314. The bottom edge 316 of the cylindrical lower ring 304 has an opening large enough to provide a softened edge at the bottom of the receiving slot 314 and to allow the liner wall to slide out of the receiving slot without being caught 318 < / RTI > (which may vary depending on the thickness of the liner in many embodiments). In a specific embodiment, the bottom of the opening 318 may have a width w1 that is at least two times, three times, and four times the width w2 of the receiving slot that is not adjacent to the bottom edge 316 of the curved bottom. In this regard, the bottom edge of the curvilinear shape has two half portions 102,104 at the closed end 108 adjacent the receiving slot, where the wall of the liner can easily fit and / To reduce or eliminate the effect of any small, tight space present between them.

In some embodiments, the openings 318 may be substantially pyriformed, while in other embodiments the openings may have other geometric shapes, such as generally rectangular, square, or any other shape, depending on the curved shape of the bottom edge 316. For example, instead of rounding down to raise the square edge, it creates a square or oval shape when in the closed position by extending the curve up before making it round to the stop edge.

In a further embodiment, the retainer ring 100 includes one or more tabs 320 extending radially from the retainer ring, such as, but not limited to, cylindrical top ring 302 or any other suitable location, . ≪ / RTI > The radially extending tabs 320 may extend by any suitable distance from the cylindrical top ring 302 or other suitable portion of the retainer ring 100 and may be manually or by using a tool adapted to grip the tab , And can be used to relatively easily pull the retainer ring with the liner attached outside the inlet of the overpack 202. In this regard, tab 320 may act as a handle.

In another embodiment, in embodiments in which the retainer ring 100 is formed for use in a liner-based system, particularly for indirect pressure distribution, the retainer ring 100 may be formed from a material, such as, but not limited to, And may include one or more exhaust holes 322 located at any suitable location. The exhaust holes 322 may cause gas to be introduced into the annular space between the liner and the overpack to create pressure on the walls of the liner and to collapse the walls of the liner so that the contents of the liner may be more easily dispensed. Thus, the exhaust holes 322 may be useful, for example, during indirect pressure distribution and pressure assisted pump distribution.

The retainer ring 100 and any portion thereof is not limited to any suitable material or combination of materials, such as any of the materials or combinations of materials listed above with respect to the overpack 202 and liner 204 (Not shown). Likewise, the retainer ring 100 can be manufactured using any suitable manufacturing process, including, but not limited to, any type of molding, including injection molding, cast molding, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, And may each be manufactured as a single component or may be a combination of a plurality of components.

Various embodiments of the storage and dispensing systems described herein may be utilized in any suitable dispensing process. For example, various embodiments of the inverted dispensing method disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0973707 (entitled " Device for Supplying Fluid "), which is incorporated herein by reference, Various embodiments of the storage and dispensing systems described herein may be used for pressure dispensing processes, pump dispensing, and pressure-assisted pump dispensing, including. Similarly, in a conventional manual or automatic swelling method, various embodiments of the storage and dispensing systems described herein may be utilized.

Generally, in use, a system based on the liner of the present invention can be first prepared for charging and / or transported to a charging station. Prior to filling, the retainer ring may be secured around the abutment of the liner, and then the liner may be positioned within the overpack. In another embodiment, the liner may first be placed in the overpack, and then the retainer ring may be secured at or around the junction of the liner and the overpack. After properly formed, the liner-based system can be subsequently filled with the desired components and delivered to the end user. The liner may be filled with an ultra-high purity liquid such as, for example, an acid, a solvent, a base, a photoresist, a dopant, an inorganic, an organic or biological solution, a medicament or a radioactive chemical, or may contain the ultra-high purity liquid. However, it is contemplated that the liner may be filled with any other suitable material, such as, but not limited to, materials already listed.

The liner may be filled up to the top of the liner in some embodiments to leave no additional space for the upper space gas, while in other embodiments, it may leave a relatively small amount of space on the top of the liner. "Upper space" refers to the amount of gas, such as air, remaining on top of the liner after the liner has been filled with the desired component. It may be advantageous to limit or substantially eliminate the top space in the filled liner, which may limit or substantially eliminate the risk of the top space gas contaminating the contents of the liner when, for example, the liner- Because. Therefore, in some embodiments, any upper space gas or a significant amount of upper space gas may be removed prior to sealing of the liner, during sealing, or after sealing.

After filling the liner, the liner can be sealed and / or locked / locked or the lid closed in any suitable manner to maintain the component in the liner and minimize or substantially eliminate exposure of the component to contaminants outside the liner. The contents may be sealed under pressure, if desired, and further enclosed in bags and / or boxes to prepare for transport. In some embodiments, some or any top space may be removed after the lid or connector is secured to the liner. In this embodiment, an annular space between the liner and the overpack is pressed to compress the liner wall inward, as described further in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 561,493, which is incorporated herein by reference, May be removed from the liner, e.g., into the holding area within the lid and / or connector. However, any suitable method of removing the top space is contemplated and is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

The end user may then store and / or distribute the contents of the container. When it is desired to dispense the contents of the liner, the lid can be removed and the dispensing connector can be operatively connected to the junction of the liner. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the lid and distribution connector may be provided as a single component providing a plurality of functions, and in some cases as an integral component, thereby eliminating the need for removal of such a lid. In another embodiment, the lid and connector are joined together and cooperatively activated to provide multiple functions without the need to remove the lid.

In the foregoing description, various embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the main structure of the invention and its practical application and to enable a person skilled in the art to utilize the invention with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated for the various embodiments. All such variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted according to the extent to which they are fairly and legally legally entitled.

Claims (7)

A liner-based assembly comprising an overpack, a liner disposed within the overpack and including a liner neck, and a retainer ring removably lockable about the liner neck, assembly, wherein the retainer ring includes an opening at a closing point of a resting rim of the retainer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the opening of the retainer ring is substantially triangular. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the retainer ring further comprises a hinge.  A retainer ring for locking around a neck portion of an assembly based on a liner, comprising two portions connected by a hinge, each portion having a hinge end and a closed end, wherein the closed end of each of the two portions is curved, The retainer ring, which is formed by the opening in the retainer ring when in the closed position. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the opening is substantially triangular. 5. The method of claim 4,
And the opening is substantially square. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the opening is substantially oval.

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