Patent ID: 8234843

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a polymer container comprising a container body, a closure configured for capping the body, at least one of the closure and body having a through-going hole opening at inner and outer ends thereof into respective inner and outer surfaces of the at least one of the closure and body, and a hydrophobic air permeable membrane secured to the inner surface and closing the inner end of the hole; filling the container with a hot liquid; applying the closure to the filled container; allowing the filled container and the liquid to cool, wherein air can pass through the membrane during cooling to permit equalization between pressure on an interior of the container and ambient pressure; and applying an air tight seal that completely covers the hole to close the outer end of the hole, after the container and the liquid have cooled and the pressure on the interior of the container has equalized with ambient pressure, to prevent further migration of air across the membrane.