Patent Publication Number: US-11661249-B2

Title: Multi piece fitment for a fluid container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/013,907 filed Apr. 22, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to a containment system for containing a fluid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a fitment for attaching a liner within a container and providing a fluid path from the liner to an outside of the containment system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some manufacturing processes utilize fluid chemicals. The fluid chemicals may include, for example, acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, dopants, inorganic solutions, organic solutions, pharmaceuticals, or the like. In using such chemicals, glass bottles may be utilized to properly contain the chemicals during storage, transport, and ultimately during the manufacturing process itself. Glass bottles are typically used for containers, as they can provide ultraviolet (UV) protection and chemically resistant wetted surfaces for storage and transport of the fluid chemicals. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure relates generally to a containment system for containing a fluid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a fitment for attaching a liner within a container and providing a fluid path from the liner to an outside of the containment system. 
     Glass bottles are currently used for many manufacturing chemicals. Plastic bottles may offer lower cost over glass bottles. Plastic bottles provide better resistance to shattering and are safer and less difficult to clean up following a drop or other handling incident. Plastic bottles may, through use of materials such as fluoropolymers, also provide reduced contamination of some sensitive chemicals when compared to glass. 
     Plastics having suitable manufacturing properties for use in bottles, such as stretch-blow-moldable plastics, tend to be reactive with many chemicals used in manufacturing processes. Plastics suitable for containing these chemicals, such as, but not limited to fluoropolymers, are difficult or expensive to manufacture into bottles, and may lack other important properties such as, but not limited to, blocking ultraviolet (UV) radiation. 
     Embodiments of this disclosure include fitments that allow attachment of a bag within a plastic bottle (e.g., a bag-in-bottle), to allow the wetted surfaces of the container to be made of non-reactive materials, while allowing outer surfaces to use materials having desirable manufacturing properties, and other properties such as UV protection. 
     In an embodiment, a fitment for a fluid containment system includes a liner fitment having a liner joining surface configured to be joined to a liner and defining a liner fitment aperture, and the liner fitment is joined to a retainer. The retainer defines an aperture suitable for receiving the liner fitment. The liner fitment is held in the aperture by a load-bearing feature formed by an outer surface of the liner fitment and surface of the retainer. 
     In an embodiment, the liner joining surface is disposed on an annular flange. In an embodiment, the liner joining surface is disposed on one or more curved surfaces extending from a first end point to a second end point. 
     In an embodiment, the retainer includes one or more vent holes, allowing fluid communication from a first side of the retainer to a second side of the retainer, the second side of the retainer being opposite the first side of the retainer. 
     In an embodiment, the liner fitment is made of a fluoropolymer. In an embodiment, the retainer is made of a UV-blocking material. 
     In an embodiment, the retainer includes a polymer that is ultrasonically weldable to a stretch-blow moldable polymer. 
     In an embodiment, an O-ring is located between the liner fitment and the retainer. In an embodiment, an annular groove is located on an outer surface of the liner fitment, and the O-ring is located within the annular groove. 
     In an embodiment, a fluid containment system includes a liner, a container, surrounding the liner, and a fitment. The fitment includes a liner fitment having a liner joining surface joined to the liner and defining a liner fitment aperture. The retainer defines an aperture suitable for receiving the liner fitment. The liner fitment is held in the aperture by a load-bearing feature formed by an outer surface of the liner fitment and surface of the retainer. 
     In an embodiment, the liner is joined to the liner joining surface of the fitment by a weld. In an embodiment, the container is joined to the retainer by a weld. 
     In an embodiment, the container includes a UV-blocking material. In an embodiment, the container comprises a stretch blow-moldable polymer. In an embodiment, the liner comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a containment system includes welding a liner to a fitment at a liner joining surface, placing the liner and the fitment inside a container, pressurizing the liner, and joining the fitment to the container at a container joining surface. In an embodiment, joining the fitment to the container is ultrasonic welding of the container and fitment. In an embodiment, the liner is pressurized when joining the fitment to the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following description of various illustrative embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a cross-sectional view of an end of a fluid containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 B  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the section view of  FIG.  1 A , according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 C  shows a side view of a containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 A  shows a section view of a fluid containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 B  shows a section view of a fluid containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 C  shows a section view of a load bearing feature of fluid containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2 D  shows a section view of a load bearing feature of a fluid containment system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3 A  shows a perspective view of a liner fitment, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3 B  shows a section view of a liner fitment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A . 
         FIG.  4 A  shows a perspective view of a liner fitment, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4 B  shows a section view of a liner fitment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  4 C  shows a bottom view of a liner fitment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4 A . 
         FIG.  5 A  shows a perspective view of a retainer, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5 B  shows a section view of a retainer according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6 A  shows a liner and liner fitment, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6 B  shows a liner according, to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a container, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  8    shows a section view of a fitment, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  9 A  is an isometric view of a closure ring according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  9 B  is a cross-sectional view of the closure ring of  FIG.  9 A  taken along line  9 B- 9 B. 
         FIG.  10 A  is a side view of a fluid containment system including a closure ring, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  10 B  is a close-up, cross-sectional view taken along line  10 B- 10 B of a top portion of the fluid containment system shown in  FIG.  10 A . 
         FIG.  10 C  is a cross-sectional view of the fluid containment system taken along line  10 C- 10 C shown in  FIG.  10 A . 
     
    
    
     While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular illustrative embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to a containment system for containing a fluid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a fitment for attaching a liner within a container and providing a fluid path from the liner to an outside of the containment system. 
     Some manufacturing processes utilize fluid chemicals. The fluid chemicals may include, for example, acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, dopants, inorganic solutions, organic solutions, pharmaceuticals, or the like. In using such chemicals, a fluid containment system may be utilized to properly contain the chemicals during storage, transport, and ultimately during the manufacturing process itself. 
     A fluid includes, but is not limited to, a substance that flows or deforms when a shear stress is applied. A fluid can include, for example, a liquid. 
       FIG.  1 A  shows a section view of an end of a fluid containment system  100 , according to an embodiment. Fluid containment system  100  includes container  102 , retainer  104 , and liner fitment  106 . 
     Fluid containment system  100  is a system for containing chemicals such as, for example, acids, solvents, bases, photoresists, dopants, inorganic solutions, organic solutions, pharmaceuticals, or the like. 
     Container  102  is a hollow container capable of holding a fluid located within a liner (not shown), such as the liner described below and shown in  FIG.  6   . Container  102  may be made of one or more polymers. Container  102  may be made of, for example, a stretch-blow moldable polymer. Examples of materials that may be used in container  102  include polyethylene (PE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene terepthate) glycol (PETG), polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalic acid (PCTA), polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol (PCTG), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), poly(ethylene napthalate) (PEN), poly(ether ketone) (PEEK), cyclic olefin polymers, cyclic olefin copolymers, or the like, and copolymers including those materials. 
     Container  102  may be a bottle. In an embodiment, container  102  is a bottle having an internal volume of between at or about 1 and at or about 20 liters. Only an end of container  102  is shown in  FIG.  1 A . The entirety of container  102  is shown in  FIG.  1 C  and described below. 
     Container  102  may be made of a UV-blocking material, for example by inclusion of additives, pigments, or the like in the material used for the container  102 . Container  102  may be made of a material selected for resistance to shattering due to, for example, fluid containment system  100  being dropped during handling. In an embodiment, container  102  is an outer layer of containment system  100 , and a liner is located inside of container  102 . In an embodiment, container  102  has an opening  144  ( FIG.  1 C ) at an end of the container  102 , and a fitment is located at the opening  144 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   , the fitment located at opening  144  is a fitment including the retainer  104  and the liner fitment  106 . In an embodiment, the liner fitment  106  is joined to the bottle at the opening  144 . In an embodiment, the liner fitment  106  extends through the opening  144 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 A , retainer  104  and liner fitment  106  are joined to one another. As shown in  FIG.  1 A , retainer  104  is joined to liner fitment  106  by the interface of protrusions  108  from an outer surface  110  ( FIG.  1 B ) of liner fitment  106  with recesses or openings  112  on an inner surface  114  of the retainer  104 . In an embodiment, retainer  104  and liner fitment  106  may be joined by friction, such as being sized to be press-fit to one another, or by friction at an O-ring  116  (visible in  FIG.  1 B ) disposed in an O-ring groove, such as O-ring groove  118  disposed on the outer surface  110  of liner fitment  106 . In an embodiment, adhesive may be used to join retainer  104  to liner fitment  106 . In an embodiment, welding, such as ultrasonic welding, may be used to join retainer  104  to liner fitment  106 . O-ring  116  may be made of a material that is softer than the retainer  104  or the liner fitment  106 . O-ring  116  may be made of a material selected based on cleanliness and reduction of particle generation from friction between the O-ring  116  and the retainer  104  and/or liner fitment  106 . 
     Retainer  104  may be made of a material capable of being joined to container  102  via, for example, ultrasonic welding, heating, or the like. Capability of being joined may depend on the method of joining, the compatibility of materials, and similarity among the melting points of materials used for container  102  and retainer  104 . Retainer  104  may include additives or coatings, such as stabilizers, colorants, or UV-blocking or absorbing materials. 
     Examples of materials used in retainer  104  may include, for example, PE, PET, PEN, and/or PEEK. 
     Retainer  104  includes a container joining surface  120 , configured to be joined to container  102  at a corresponding joining surface  120   a . Retainer  104  may include openings  112 , having a width, height, and depth capable of receiving protrusions  108  from the liner fitment  106  to secure the liner fitment  106  and the retainer  104  together. Retainer  104  defines an aperture, through which liner fitment  106  may pass. An example of this aperture is shown in  FIG.  5    and described below. In an embodiment, an O-ring groove is disposed on retainer  104  on an inner surface facing the retainer aperture. In an embodiment, retainer  104  has threads  122 . In an embodiment, threads  122  are located at an end of the retainer  104  that is outside the container  102  when the fluid containment system  100  is assembled. In an embodiment, retainer  104  is configured to be joined to container  102  via a snap-fit. 
     Liner fitment  106  is made of one or more materials capable of being joined to a liner used with containment system  100 . The liner and liner fitment  106  may be joined by, for example, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, or the like. The joining of liner and liner fitment  106  may form a fluid-impermeable seal between the liner and liner fitment  106  such that a fluid within the liner can only escape via a liner fitment aperture  146  in the liner fitment  106 . 
     A material selected for liner fitment  106  may be selected in part based on the reactivity of the material with a chemical to be stored in the fluid containment system  100 . In an embodiment, a liner used with containment system  100  is poly (tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), and the liner fitment  106  is a perfluoroalkoxy alkane polymer (PFA). 
     Liner fitment  106  defines the liner fitment aperture  146  having diameter  124  and passing through the entire liner fitment  106 . The liner fitment aperture  146  allows fluid communication from a first end  126  of the liner fitment  106 , disposed outside of container  102 , and a second end  128  of the liner fitment  106 , disposed inside the container  102  when the containment system  100  is assembled. Liner fitment  106  includes a liner joining surface  130 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 A , the liner joining surface  130  is disposed on a flange  132  extending from the liner fitment  106 . In an embodiment, the liner joining surface  130  is joined to a liner via ultrasonic welding. In an embodiment, the liner joining surface  130  is joined to a liner via a heat seal or a heat weld. 
     The liner (not shown) may be joined to liner fitment  106  at liner joining surface  130  such that fluid within container  102  is held within the liner, the liner and the liner fitment  106  providing wetted surfaces having appropriate and/or desired properties, such as resistance to or compatibility with the fluid to be stored in the fluid containment system  100 . Other factors for material selection for the liner may include chemical compatibility with the chemical to be stored, cleanliness of the material (i.e. reduced material loss during storage or handling), ease of cleaning the liners, purity of the material, or other such concerns regarding potential interactions between the liner and a chemical to be stored. 
       FIG.  1 B  shows an enlarged portion of the section view of  FIG.  1 A .  FIG.  1 B  shows the joint between retainer  104  and container  102 , according to an embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 B , retainer  104  includes container joining surface  120 , and the container  102  has a corresponding joining surface  120   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 B , container  102  has a shear joint  134  which functions as an energy director located at an inner circumferential portion of corresponding joining surface  120   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 B , shear joint  134  and container joining surface  120  are configured to be ultrasonically welded together. Embodiments may include joining surfaces  120  and corresponding joining surfaces  120   a  configured to be joined via other ultrasonic welding joint structures, such as step joint or tongue and groove ultrasonic welds, or the like. Embodiments may include joining surfaces  120  and corresponding joining surfaces  120   a  configured to be joined through other methods of joining such as heat welds, mechanical connections such as via snaps or threads, adhesives, or the like. 
     In  FIG.  1 B , the retainer  104  and liner fitment  106  are joined to one another via the interface between opening  112  of retainer  104  and protrusion  108  from the liner fitment  106 . The protrusion  108  from liner fitment  106  has a sloping side  136  over which retainer  104  can be slid, and an engagement face  138 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1 B , the engagement face  138  is parallel to a side of the opening  112  of retainer  104 . Engagement face  138  of protrusion  108  engages with a side of an opening  112  in retainer  104  to secure liner fitment  106  to the retainer  104 . 
     Also in  FIG.  1 B , O-ring  116  can be seen in O-ring groove  118 . O-ring  116  may be made of a polymer, such as an elastic polymer, for example rubber or the like. O-ring  116  may provide a seal between retainer  104  and liner fitment  106 . In an embodiment, O-ring  116  is used to provide friction between retainer  104  and liner fitment  106  joined to one another. 
       FIG.  1 C  shows the entire fluid containment system  100 , including the entirety of container  102 . As shown in  FIG.  1 C , container  102  may be, for example, a bottle, and the portion shown in  FIG.  1 A  may be a neck  142  of that bottle. The container  102  may have an opening  144  at the end at which the retainer  104  and liner fitment  106  are connected. The container  102  may include features such as depressed portions  140  shown in  FIG.  1 C , raised portions, textured portions, handles, or other such features. Surface features such as depressed portions  140  may be added, for example, to improve aesthetics, handling, bottle strength, or suitable combinations thereof. 
       FIG.  2 A  shows a section view of an end of a fluid containment system  200 , according to an embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 A , the fluid containment system  200  includes container  102  and retainer  104 , along with all of the features of those elements as shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  and described above, as well as liner fitment  202 . 
     Liner fitment  202  includes the O-ring groove  118 , as in liner fitment  106  described above. Liner fitment  202  defines an aperture  210  extending from a first end of liner fitment  202  to a second end of liner fitment  202 . Liner fitment  202  may be made of the same materials as liner fitment  106  described above. In liner fitment  202 , liner joining surface  204  is located on first end point  206 , second end point  208 , and one or more curved surfaces (not shown) extending from the first end point  206  to the second end point  208 . Curved surfaces such as those on which liner joining surface  204  may be disposed are visible in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 C  and are described below. 
     In another embodiment, the retainer may include one or more load-bearing features to engage the liner fitment and create a seal between the liner fitment and the retainer.  FIG.  2 B  depicts one particular embodiment of the fluid containment system  200  with a container  102  having a retainer  104  secured in an opening  144  of the container  102 . A liner fitment  202  is secured in the retainer  104  by pressing the top edge  212  of the liner fitment  202  through the aperture  214  of the retainer  104  until a load bearing feature  216  of the liner fitment  202  passes a load-bearing feature  148  on the retainer  104 . The mating of load-bearing features  148 ,  216  seats the liner fitment  202  securely within the retainer  104 . The retainer  104 , the liner fitment  202  or both are molded polymers that may be resilient enough to allow movement of the liner fitment  202  through the retainer  104  into the seating alignment. Once the liner fitment  202  is seated, it may not be easily retracted from the retainer  104 . 
     One of ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of this disclosure will recognize that the load bearing features of the retainer and the liner fitment may be placed at various locations to secure the liner fitment in the retainer.  FIGS.  2 C and  2 D  are non-limiting examples of two potential load-bearing features. In  FIG.  2 C , a load-bearing feature  148  of the retainer  104  and a load-bearing feature  216  of the liner fitment  202  are positioned at location below the top edge  212  of liner fitment  202 .  FIG.  2 D  depicts an alternative location for a load-bearing feature. In  FIG.  2 D , the load-bearing feature includes an annular surface  218  on an end of the liner fitment  202 . The annular surface  218  extends beyond the aperture  214  of the retainer  104  to form a seat at an upper edge  150  of the retainer. The load-bearing features described may be used singularly or in combination, such as illustrated in  FIG.  2 B , to matingly engage the retainer  104  and liner fitment. Additionally, other sealing options, such as an O-ring, may be employed to enhance the seal between the retainer and the fitment liner. 
     Liner fitment  202  may include protrusions such as protrusions  108  shown on liner fitment  106  in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B ; however, these are not visible in the section view of  FIG.  2   . Such protrusions may engage retainer  104  to fix liner fitment  202  to retainer  104 . Such protrusions are also visible in the example liner fitment  400  shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 C . 
       FIG.  3 A  shows a perspective view of a liner fitment  300 , according to an embodiment. Liner fitment  300  defines liner fitment aperture  302 , which extends through a length direction  304  (visible in  FIG.  3 B ) of the liner fitment  300 . Liner fitment  300  includes flange  306 . Liner joining surface  308  is disposed on a surface of flange  306 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , projections  310  are disposed on outer surface  312  of the liner fitment  300 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , an O-ring groove  314  is also disposed on outer surface  312  of the liner fitment  300 . 
     Liner fitment aperture  302  is an opening extending in the length direction  304  of liner fitment  300 . When a liner (not shown) is attached to the liner fitment aperture  302  at the liner joining surface  308 , the liner fitment aperture  302  allows fluid communication into and out of the liner, and provides the wetted surface between the inside of the liner and outside of a fluid containment system including the liner fitment  300 . In an embodiment, the wetted surface provided by liner fitment  300  is one or more polymers that are non-reactive with a chemical to be stored in a fluid containment system including the liner fitment  300 , such as fluoropolymers, including homopolymers and copolymers of fluoropolymers. In an embodiment, the liner fitment  300  is made entirely of one or more polymers that are non-reactive with a chemical to be stored in a fluid containment system including the liner fitment  300 , such as fluoropolymers, including homopolymers and copolymers of fluoropolymers. 
     Flange  306  extends from liner fitment  300 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , flange  306  is an annular projection from an end of the liner fitment  300 . In an embodiment, flange  306  is continuous. In embodiments where the flange is discontinuous, part or all of the width of the flange may include the discontinuities. In an embodiment where the flange is discontinuous, the flange includes one or more openings through the flange. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , the liner joining surface  308  is disposed on an upper surface of the flange  306 . The liner joining surface  308  is a surface configured to be joined to a liner. The connection between the liner and liner joining surface  308  may be fluid-impermeable and may be via, for example, a weld such as an ultrasonic weld or a heat weld. In an embodiment, the material at liner joining surface  308  is the same material as used in the liner to be used with liner fitment  300 . 
       FIG.  3 B  shows a section view of liner fitment  300  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A . In the section view of  FIG.  3 B , the length direction  304  of the liner fitment, is visible. Liner fitment aperture  302  extends the entire length of liner fitment  300  in this length direction  304 . The liner fitment  300  has a first end inner diameter  316  and a first end outer diameter  318 . In an embodiment, the first end inner diameter  316  is selected to allow insertion of a tube into a liner attached to liner fitment  300  to allow fluid to be extracted from the liner via the tube. In an embodiment, an inner diameter of a retainer to be used with the liner fitment  300  is selected to be greater than the first end outer diameter  318  of liner fitment  300 . 
       FIG.  4 A  shows a perspective view of a liner fitment  400 , according to an embodiment. Liner fitment  400  defines a liner fitment aperture  402 . Liner fitment aperture  402  is an opening in liner fitment  400  extending in a length direction  404  (shown in  FIG.  4 B ) of the liner fitment  400 . 
     Liner fitment  400  includes liner joining surface  410 . Liner joining surface  410  is configured to allow the liner fitment  400  to be joined to a liner. The liner may be joined to the liner joining surface  410  via a fluid-impermeable seal by, for example, an ultrasonic weld or heat sealing. The liner joining surface  410  may be configured to be joined to the liner by, for example, ultrasonic welding. In an embodiment, the material at the liner joining surfaces  410  or for the entire liner fitment  400  is selected based on compatibility with chemicals to be stored within the liner. For example, in an embodiment, liner fitment  400  is made of PFA when the liner fitment  400  is to be used with a liner made of PTFE. 
     Liner fitment  400  has outer surface  412 . On outer surface  412 , an O-ring groove  414  may be disposed. O-ring groove  414  is an annular groove in outer surface  412  having a depth and width to receive an O-ring and, in some embodiments, to allow a portion of the O-ring to protrude past outer surface  412  such that it may contact a retainer used with liner fitment  400 , for example to form a seal between the liner fitment  400  and the retainer used with the liner fitment  400 . The seal formed via the O-ring may be a fluid-impermeable seal. The O-ring may be made of a polymer, for example an elastic polymer such as rubber. The O-ring may be the same as or similar to the O-ring  116  shown in  FIG.  1 B  and described above. 
     Protrusions  416  may extend from outer surface  412  of liner fitment  400 . The protrusions  416  may be configured to engage with recesses on a retainer to be used with the liner fitment  400 . 
       FIG.  4 B  shows a section view of liner fitment  400  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4 A . In the sectional view, the length direction  404  of the liner fitment  400 , along which liner fitment aperture  402  extends, is visible. In the sectional view, an inner diameter  418  of the liner fitment  400  is visible, and defines the diameter of the liner fitment aperture  402  at an end of the liner fitment  400 . The liner fitment  400  also has an outer diameter  420  at that end. A thickness of the liner fitment  400  at the end is half of a difference between the inner diameter  418  and the outer diameter  420  of the liner fitment. The thickness of the liner fitment  400  may vary along the length direction  404  of the liner fitment  400 . A retainer to be used with liner fitment  400  will have an aperture that has a diameter at least about that of outer diameter  420  of the liner fitment, such that the liner fitment  400  can be inserted into the aperture of the retainer. In an embodiment, the retainer will have an aperture having a diameter selected to be approximately equal or slightly smaller than outer diameter  420  of the liner fitment, such that the retainer may be press-fit with the liner fitment  400  when assembled. 
       FIG.  4 C  shows a bottom view of liner fitment  400  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4 A . In  FIG.  4 C , protrusions  416  are visible. Both surfaces  422  extending from first end point  406  to second endpoint  408  are shown in  FIG.  4 C . Liner joining surface  410  is disposed on each of surfaces  422  and at first and second end points  406 ,  408 . Liner fitment aperture  402  extends through the entirety of the liner fitment  400 . As shown in  FIG.  4 C , in a bottom or top view of the liner fitment  400 , the surfaces  422  and end points  406 ,  408 , form a regular diagonal, where an angle formed between the surfaces  422  at end points  406  and  408  equal one another, and the surfaces  422  have equal lengths and curvatures. 
       FIG.  5 A  shows a perspective view of a retainer  500 , according to an embodiment. Retainer  500  defines a retainer aperture  502  along a length direction  504  ( FIG.  5 B ) of the retainer  500 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 A , retainer  500  includes multiple openings (shown in  FIG.  5 B  as  506 ) configured to receive projections from a liner fitment such as projections  310  of liner fitment  300  shown in  FIG.  3 A  or projections  416  of liner fitment  400  shown in  FIG.  4 A . Retainer  500  may include a container joining surface (shown in  FIG.  5 B  as  508 ). In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the container joining surface  508  is located on a retainer flange  510 . 
     Retainer aperture  502  is an opening defined by retainer  500 . Retainer aperture  502  has an inner diameter  512  that is about the same size or larger than an outer diameter of a liner fitment such as outer diameter  318  of liner fitment  300  or outer diameter  420  of liner fitment  400  that is used with retainer  500 . This allows the liner fitment  300  or  400  to be inserted into retainer aperture  502 . In an embodiment, liner fitment  300  or  400  may project through the retainer  500  such that the liner fitment  300  or  400  provides the entire wetted surface from the liner to outside the fluid containment system, for example, fluid containment system  100  or fluid containment system  200  when the fluid containment systems  100 ,  200  are assembled. 
     Retainer  500  includes threads  514  on an outer surface of the retainer  500 . Threads  514  may be used, for example, to attach a cap enclosing a containment system including retainer  500 . In an embodiment, retainer  500  may not include threads  514  at an end. In an embodiment, another connector such as a lip for engaging a cap may be present on retainer  500 . In an embodiment, retainer  500  may include features configured to engage with a cap to form a snap fit between the retainer and the cap. 
     Retainer flange  510  extends outwards from retainer  500 . Retainer flange  510  may be an annular flange, surrounding the entirety of retainer  500 . Retainer flange  510  may include one or more vent holes. The vent holes may allow fluid communication between an outside of a fluid containment system including the retainer  500  and a space between a liner joined to a liner fitment and a container joined to the container joining surface  508 . In an embodiment, the vent holes are used to pressurize the space between the container and the liner when dispensing a chemical stored in the liner of the fluid containment system. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , retainer flange  510  is continuous. In an embodiment, the retainer flange  510  includes one or more discontinuities in some or all of the retainer flange  510  as it extends away from retainer  500 . In an embodiment the discontinuities form vent holes at the edges of retainer flange  510  and gaps in the container joining surface  508  corresponding to the discontinuities in the flange  510 . In an embodiment, the vent holes allow air to escape or enter the container in response to changes in volume for the liner. 
       FIG.  5 B  shows a section view of retainer  500  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 A . In the view of  FIG.  5 B , openings  506  described above are visible, as is container joining surface  508 .  FIG.  5 B  shows the length direction  504  of retainer  500 , along which retainer aperture  502  extends. 
     Container joining surface  508  may be located on flange  510  of retainer  500 . Container joining surface  508  may be a surface configured to be joined to a container, such as container  102  shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 C  and described above. In an embodiment, container joining surface  508  is positioned to be welded to the container. In an embodiment, container joining surface  508  is a flat surface that is configured to contact an energy director on a corresponding joining surface of a container upon ultrasonic welding. 
     In an embodiment, container joining surface  508  is a position for adhesive to be used to join the retainer  500  to a container. In an embodiment, container joining surface  508  may be configured to be mechanically joined to the container, for example via threads, snaps, an interference fit, or the like. Container joining surface  508  may be continuous, for example extending around an entire circumference of flange  510  where flange  510  is an annular flange. In an embodiment, container joining surface  508  is discontinuous to form vent holes allowing fluid communication between a space outside the containment system and a space between a container and a liner of the containment system. 
     Openings  506  are openings in retainer  500  having a height  516 , width (not visible in the section view of  FIG.  5 B ), orientation, and depth  518  are configured to receive protrusions on a liner fitment used with the retainer, such as protrusions  310  of liner fitment  300  or protrusions  416  of liner fitment  400  described above. The openings  506  of the retainer  500  and the protrusions  310  of liner fitment  300  or protrusions  416  of liner fitment  400  described above combine to provide a snap fit joining liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400  to retainer  500 . 
       FIG.  6 A  shows a liner  600 , according to an embodiment. The liner  600  in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  6    can be used with liner fitment  300 , as described above and shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     Liner  600  contains a fluid when the fluid is stored in a fluid containment system including the liner  600 , such as fluid containment system  100  or fluid containment system  200 . Liner  600  is formed of a top sheet and a bottom sheet. The top sheet, bottom sheet, and liner fitment  300  are joined using a joining method that results in a fluid-impermeable seal, such as a weld, for example an ultrasonic weld or heat seal. 
     The liner fitment  300  can be placed such that the flange  306 , on which liner joining surface  308  is disposed, is located between the bottom sheet and the top sheet, with the liner fitment  300  protruding through an opening  602  in the top sheet. Opening  602  has a diameter  608  that is larger than a diameter of the liner fitment  300  at an end of the liner fitment aperture  302 , but smaller than the smallest diameter of flange  306  of the liner fitment  300 . In an embodiment, liner fitment  300  protrudes out of the liner  600 . In an embodiment, a seal can be formed preventing fluids from escaping liner  600  except through liner fitment aperture  302  of liner fitment  300 . 
     Liner  600  may be closed by joining the edges  604  of the top sheet and the bottom sheet to form a seal around the edges  604 , and allowing fluid to be stored in a space  606  between the top sheet and bottom sheet and between the sealed edges  604 . 
     In an embodiment, liner  600  is joined to a liner fitment such as liner fitment  400  having joining surfaces located on curved surfaces between two end points instead of on a flange. When liner  600  is used with a liner fitment such as liner fitment  400 , the bottom sheet, top sheet, and the liner fitment  400  are arranged such that an edge of each of the bottom sheet and the top sheet each contact a curved surface  422  on which a liner joining surface  410  of the liner fitment  400  is disposed. Edges  604  of the top sheet and bottom sheet are joined to one another and to the liner joining surfaces  410 . When liner  600  is used with a liner fitment such as liner fitment  400 , opening  602  may be omitted from the sheets used to form the liner  600 . When liner  600  is used with a liner fitment such as liner fitment  400 , the top and bottom sheets and the liner fitment  400  may be joined to one another during one joining process such as ultrasonic welding or heat welding. 
     Liner  600  may be made of a polymer. Liner  600  may be made of a polymer that is impermeable to the fluid to be contained by the containment system including liner  600 . Liner  600  may be made of a flexible polymer such that the liner may be expanded when pressurized. In an embodiment, liner  600  is made of a polymer selected based on chemical resistance or compatibility with the fluid to be contained by the containment system including liner  600 . In an embodiment, liner  600  is made of a fluoropolymer, which may be a homopolymer or a copolymer of a fluoropolymer. In an embodiment, liner  600  is PTFE. In an embodiment, a liner fitment such as liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400  is made of a material selected to be ultrasonically weldable to the liner  600 , such as PFA when the liner  600  is PTFE. In an embodiment, the liner may be, for example, polyolefins, or any other polymer suitable for containing chemicals to be used with a containment system including the liner, based on, for example, chemical compatibility, purity, and cleanliness of the liner material. 
       FIG.  6 B  shows a liner  610  according to an embodiment. The liner  610  is configured to be used with a fitment as shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C . Liner  610  has neck  612 . When the edges  614  of the layers of liner  610  are joined, to form the liner, the edge at an end  616  of the neck  612  is not joined and allows fluid flow between the outside of the liner and space  618  between the joined layers of the liner. When liner  610  is used with liner fitment  400 , the inner surfaces  620  of the neck  612  are joined to the liner joining surface  410  by a heat seal or an ultrasonic weld. 
       FIG.  7    is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a containment system  700 , according to an embodiment. The liner is joined to at least a portion of the fitment  702 . Optionally, the fitment is fully assembled  704 . The liner and fitment are placed within a container  706 . The liner is pressurized  708 . The fitment is joined to the container  710 . 
     The liner is joined to at least a portion of the fitment  702 . In an embodiment, the liner is joined to the entire fitment, such as an assembled fitment as shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  2    or a fitment  800  as shown in  FIG.  8   . In an embodiment, the liner is joined to only a portion of a fitment, such as liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400  shown in  FIGS.  3 A- 3 B and  4 A- 4 C , respectively, prior to their assembly with a retainer such as retainer  500  ( FIG.  5 A- 5 B ). The liner may be liner  600  as described above. The liner may be joined to the fitment or portion of a fitment  702  by, for example, ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, adhesives, or the like. In an embodiment, the liner is assembled as it is joined to the portion of the fitment. 
     Optionally, where the liner is joined to only a portion of a fitment in  702 , the fitment may be assembled  704 . The fitment is assembled by joining the components, such as a retainer (e.g., retainer  500 ) and a liner fitment such as liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400 . The components may include the liner fitment such as liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400  and a retainer such as retainer  500 . The liner fitment and the retainer may be joined by, for example, mechanical interference such as snaps or threads, friction such as press-fitting or an O-ring disposed between the liner fitment and retainer, or by adhesives. 
     The liner and fitment are placed within a container  706 . The liner is placed entirely within a container such as container  102  used in containment system  100  described above and shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . The fitment is surrounded by a perimeter of an aperture of the container. In an embodiment, the container joining surface, such as container joining surface  120  is placed in contact with a corresponding joining surface  120   a.    
     The liner is pressurized  708 . Pressurizing the liner may be accomplished via, for example, a gas tube providing gas to a liner fitment aperture such as liner fitment aperture  302 . Pressurizing the liner may be performed while the container, liner, and fitment are inside an ultrasonic welding device, for example by providing a gas source such as a gas tube, apertures in a bell of the ultrasonic welding device, or the like. Pressurizing the liner  708  expands the liner inside the container. In an embodiment where the fitment is joined to the container by an airtight seal, pressurizing the liner may be performed prior to joining the fitment to the container  710 . 
     The fitment is joined to the container  710 . The fitment and the container may be joined by ultrasonic welding, heat sealing, adhesives, or the like. In embodiments, the fitment and container may be joined by mechanical interference such as snaps or threads, friction such as press-fitting or an O-ring disposed between the liner fitment and retainer, or by adhesives. Joining the fitment to the container  710  may be performed while the liner is pressurized. In an embodiment, the liner is pressurized  708 , and then pressure is maintained while joining the fitment to the container  710 . In an embodiment, the liner is pressurized  708  while the container and fitment are in an ultrasonic welding device used to join the fitment to the container  710 . In an embodiment, the gas source used to pressurize the liner  708  continues to be in use to maintain pressure in the liner as the ultrasonic welding device is used to form an ultrasonic weld joining the fitment to the container. 
       FIG.  8    shows a fitment  800 , according to an embodiment. Fitment  800  defines an aperture  802  extending in a length direction  804  of the fitment  800 . Fitment  800  may include a container joining surface  808 , and a liner joining surface  810 . In an embodiment, container joining surface  808  is located on a flange  806  extending outwards from the fitment  800 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , liner joining surface  810  is located on first end point  812  and second end point  814 , and on surfaces (not visible in the section view of  FIG.  8   ) extending from the first end point  812  to the second end point  814 , as in the liner joining surface  410  described above and shown in  FIG.  4   . In an embodiment, liner joining surface  810  may be located on a flange, similar to liner joining surface  308  and flange  306  described above and shown in  FIG.  3   . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , fitment  800  is a unitary fitment, formed of a one-piece construction including both liner joining surface  810  and container joining surface  808 , instead of a separate retainer and liner fitment. A unitary fitment may be made of a material weldable to both a container and a liner. A unitary fitment may be used for containment systems used to contain chemicals that are not particularly sensitive to the cleanliness or reactivity of the liner and fitment materials. 
     In an embodiment, one or more vent holes may be formed in fitment  800 , for example in the flange  806 . The vent holes may allow fluid communication between an outside of a fluid containment system including the fitment  800  and a space between a liner joined to the liner joining surface  810  and a container joined to the container joining surface  808  of the fitment  800 , for example to pressurize that space when dispensing a chemical stored in the liner of the fluid containment system. The vent holes may allow air to enter or leave a space between a liner and a container joined by the fitment  800 , for example in response to changes in the volume of the liner. 
     Fitment  800  may be made of one or more polymers having suitable joining characteristics relative to a container and a liner, chemical resistance or compatibility, and/or other properties required by an application for a fluid containment system, such as UV blocking and the like. In an embodiment, a coating such as a fluoropolymer which may be a homopolymer or a copolymer of a fluoropolymer, such as PFA or the like, may be applied to the wetted surfaces of the fitment  800  such as an inner surface of the fitment  800  defining aperture  802  of the fitment  800 . In an embodiment, the entire fitment  800  is made of a fluoropolymer which may be a homopolymer or a copolymer of a fluoropolymer, for example PFA. In an embodiment, the fitment  800  is coated with a surface treatment, such as a UV-absorbing coating, or other coatings to improve cleanliness and/or chemical compatibility. 
     The fitment  800  may be used in a fluid containment system, for example, where a fitment material provides all of the needed properties for an application the fluid containment system is to be used for. For example, if a fluid containment system is to be used for storage of a chemical for which UV protection is not important, and a fluoropolymer, which may be a homopolymer or a copolymer of a fluoropolymer, can be successfully joined to the container  102 , the unitary fitment  800  may be used in place of systems having separate retainers such as retainer  500  and separate liner fitments such as liner fitment  300  or liner fitment  400 . The fitment  800  can include threads  816  for receiving a cap or the like. 
     In some embodiments, a fluid containment system, as described herein can include a closure ring.  FIGS.  9 A- 9 B  show various views of a closure ring  900 , and  FIGS.  10 A- 10 C  show various views of a fluid containment system  1000  including the closure ring  900  coupled with a fluid container  1004 . Fluid container  1004  includes a neck  1002  to which a retainer  1006  and a fitment  1008 , as described herein according to the various embodiments, are connected. 
     The closure ring  900  is cylindrical and includes an aperture  904  that is sized such that the closure ring  900  can be received over the neck  1002  of the fluid container  1004  including retainer  1006  and liner fitment  1008 . Closure ring  900  includes a plurality of internal threads  908  provided on an inner surface  910 . Internal threads  908  are configured to threadably engage external threads  1010  provided on an external surface  1012  of the neck  1002  of the fluid container  1004 . For example, as shown in  FIGS.  10 A- 10 C , closure ring  900  is received over the retainer  1006  and fitment  1008  and is threadably engaged with threads  1010  provided on the outer surface  1012  of the neck  1002  of the container  1004 . When the closure ring  900  is threaded onto the neck  1002  of the container  1004 , closure ring  900  applies a downward pressure to the retainer  1006  which aids in retention of the liner fitment  1008  and retainer  1006  in the neck  1002  of the fluid container  1004 . 
     Closure ring  900  also include a plurality of tines  912  extending away from the inner surface  910  in a direction towards a center of the closure ring  900 . In some embodiments, as best viewed in  FIG.  9 B , the tines  912  are located at a bottom end  914  of the closure ring  900 . As shown in  FIG.  10 C , tines  912  interact with protrusions  1014  provided on an external surface  1020  of the neck  1002  of the fluid container  1004  to which the closure ring  900  is coupled. According to various embodiments, the neck  1002  includes at least two protrusions spaced an equal distance apart about an outer circumference of the neck  1002  of the fluid container  1004 . The interaction between tines  912  and protrusions  914  define a ratcheting system, which helps secure closure ring  900  to the fluid container  1004 . In addition, once secure, protrusions  914  provide an anti-rotational function which prevents closure ring  900  from being removed from the fluid container  1004 . If removed, protrusions  914  will deform indicating that the fluid containment system  1000  has been tampered with or improperly opened. 
     The terminology used in this specification is intended to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms as well, unless clearly indicated otherwise. The terms “comprises” and “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components. 
     Having thus described several illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that yet other embodiments may be made and used within the scope of the claims hereto attached. Numerous advantages of the disclosure covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is, in many respect, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure&#39;s scope is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.