Cap assembly and container used therewith

1. A container assembly, comprising:

a container having at least one panel and at least one seal sealing the at least one panel to define a cavity;

a fitment having a base flange welded to the at least one panel of the container, comprising a body having a first end and a second end, the second end extending away from the container, wherein the fitment provides fluid communication with the cavity;

a cap assembly releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment, the cap assembly comprising:

a base having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough, the upper surface including a shoulder to define a valley therewithin, the lower surface including an outer retaining rim and an inner retaining rim substantially concentrically positioned relative to the outer retaining rim, the outer retaining rim and the inner retaining rim defining a channel structurally configured to retain the second end of the fitment through an interference fit therebetween, the opening including a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base, the lower annular rim defines an elongated passage below the lower surface of the base spaced apart from the inner retaining rim and substantially concentric thereto, and structurally configured to receive and retain a probe;

a cover associated with the base and positioned within the valley of the shoulder and over the opening to, in turn, cover the opening of the base thereby precluding ingress into the elongated passage of the lower annular rim; and

a frangible cover integrally molded with the cap extending across the lower annular rim.

2. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the frangible cover further comprises:

a frangible cover body having a central region and an outer perimeter, wherein the central region includes a central thickness and the outer perimeter includes a outer perimeter thickness, the central thickness is greater than the outer perimeter thickness.

3. The container assembly of claim 2 wherein the central thickness is at least twice that of the outer perimeter thickness.

4. The container assembly of claim 2 wherein the frangible cover body includes a diameter, the body tapers from the central thickness to the outer perimeter thickness predominantly within an outer third of the diameter of the body.

5. The container assembly of claim 4 wherein the tapers from the central thickness to the outer perimeter thickness predominantly within an outer eighth of the diameter of the body.

6. The container assembly of claim 5 wherein the frangible cover is formed by one of directing material through a porous mold and coining.

7. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover comprises:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface;

an arm extending from the body; and

a hinge attached to each of the body and the cap assembly to permit hinged engagement of the cover to the cap assembly.

8. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap assembly is configured for maintaining the hermetic seal after exposure to superheated steam of a temperature of at least 280° F. for a predetermined period of time adequate to achieve sterilization.

9. A cap assembly releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment, the cap assembly comprising:

a base having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough, the upper surface including a shoulder to define a valley therewithin, the lower surface including an outer retaining rim and an inner retaining rim substantially concentrically positioned relative to the outer retaining rim, the outer retaining rim and the inner retaining rim defining a channel structurally configured to retain the second end of the fitment through an interference fit therebetween, the opening including a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base, the lower annular rim defines an elongated passage below the lower surface of the base spaced apart from the inner retaining rim and substantially concentric thereto, and structurally configured to receive and retain a probe;

a cover associated with the base and positioned within the valley of the shoulder and over the opening to, in turn, cover the opening of the base thereby precluding ingress into the elongated passage of the lower annular rim, and

a frangible cover integrally molded with the cap extending across the lower annular rim.

10. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein the frangible cover further comprises:

a frangible cover body having a central region and an outer perimeter, wherein the central region includes a central thickness and the outer perimeter includes a outer perimeter thickness, the central thickness is greater than the outer perimeter thickness.

11. The container assembly of claim 10 wherein the central thickness is at least twice that of the outer perimeter thickness.

12. The container assembly of claim 10 wherein the frangible cover body includes a diameter, the body tapers from the central thickness to the outer perimeter thickness predominantly within an outer third of the diameter of the body.

13. The container assembly of claim 12 wherein the tapers from the central thickness to the outer perimeter thickness predominantly within an outer eighth of the diameter of the body.

14. The container assembly of claim 13 wherein the frangible cover is formed by one of directing material through a porous mold and coining.

15. The cap assembly of claim 9 wherein the cover comprises:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface;

an arm extending from the body; and

a hinge attached to each of the body and the cap assembly to permit hinged engagement of the cover to the cap assembly.

16. The cap assembly of claim 9 wherein the cap assembly is configured for maintaining the hermetic seal after exposure to superheated steam of a temperature of at least 280° F. for a predetermined period of time adequate to achieve sterilization.

17. A method of utilizing a container assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a container assembly filled with a flowable material comprising:

a container having at least one panel and at least one seal sealing the at least one panel to define a cavity;

a fitment having a base flange welded to the at least one panel of the container, comprising a body having a first end and a second end, the second end extending away from the container, wherein the fitment provides fluid communication with the cavity;

a cap assembly releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment, the cap assembly comprising:

a base having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough, the upper surface including a shoulder to define a valley therewithin, the lower surface including an outer retaining rim and an inner retaining rim substantially concentrically positioned relative to the outer retaining rim, the outer retaining rim and the inner retaining rim defining a channel structurally configured to retain the second end of the fitment through an interference fit therebetween, the opening including a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base, the lower annular rim defines an elongated passage below the lower surface of the base spaced apart from the inner retaining rim and substantially concentric thereto, and structurally configured to receive and retain a probe;

a cover associated with the base and positioned within the valley of the shoulder and over the opening to, in turn, cover the opening of the base thereby precluding ingress into the elongate passage of the lower annular rim; and

a frangible cover integrally molded with the cap extending across the lower annular rim;

positioning the cover in a second open orientation relative to the opening of the base;

forcing a probe through the opening of the base;

piercing the frangible cover of the cap; and

dispensing the flowable material from within the cavity through the probe.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of piercing the frangible cover further comprises the step of separating the frangible cover from the cap in a single piece.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing a gamma irradiated container assembly filled with a flowable material.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of providing a container assembly filled with a flowable material, wherein the container was sterilized with steam at a temperature in excess of 280° F.