Patent ID: 9643133
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B01F,C12M

Claim:
1. A container assembly comprising: a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface, the bag having a top end wall, a bottom end wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween, the bottom end wall being comprised of a first polymeric sheet overlying a second polymeric sheet, the first and second polymeric sheets each being comprised of a flexible film, the first polymeric sheet having an interior surface that forms a portion of the interior surface of the flexible bag that bounds the chamber and the second polymeric sheet having an exterior surface that forms a portion of the exterior surface of the flexible bag; a first weld line welding the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet, the first weld line forming a perimeter of a first sparger pathway formed between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, the first sparger pathway comprising a first gas transfer path and a first sparging area that are both bounded between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and both have a perimeter formed by the first weld line, the first gas transfer path being constricted relative to the first sparging area and extending from a first end to an opposing second end, and the first sparging area being formed at the second end of the first gas transfer path and communicating with the first gas transfer path; and a plurality of first perforations being formed through a portion of the first polymeric sheet that overlies the first sparging area so that gas can pass from the first sparging area, through the first perforations and into the chamber of the bag, wherein the flexible bag including the sheets of the bottom end wall thereof are sufficiently flexible so that the flexible bag including the sheets of the bottom end wall thereof can be rolled up without damage.