1. A system for controlling pressure in a fluid reservoir, the system comprising:
a housing structure having an opening and an interior volume through which a portion of a base assembly may be inserted and received;
a pierceable member having a hollow interior volume, a first end and a second end, the pierceable member arranged in the interior volume of the housing structure, for movement relative to the housing structure from a first position to a second position, the pierceable member arranged to receive a force from the portion of a base assembly to move the pierceable member from the first position to the second position, when the portion of the base assembly is inserted through the opening and received within the interior volume of the housing; and
a hollow needle arranged to be connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir, the hollow needle having a longitudinal dimension and a piercing end arranged within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, the piercing end of the hollow needle piercing through the first end of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is moved from the first position to the second position;
the interior volume of the pierceable member configured to receive fluid from the hollow needle in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir before the hollow needle pierces through the first end of the pierceable member.
2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pierceable member has an inner surface surrounding the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member, the inner surface of the pierceable member extending along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle and bowing outward to define a concave curvature along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle.
3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hollow needle has a first opening arranged within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, such that fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the first position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle and retained within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the second position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle to a location outside of the interior volume of the pierceable member.
5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pierceable member includes a membrane wall that expands to increase the size of the hollow interior volume, in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the membrane wall comprises an elastic material.
7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the membrane wall inhibits passage of fluid out from the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
8. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the membrane wall uses a hydrophobic or hydrophilic material to allow for pressure equalization across the membrane wall.
9. A system
as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing structure includes a chamber that is outside of the hollow volume of the pierceable member, but in fluid flow communication with the hollow volume of the pierceable member, for receiving fluid from the hollow volume of the pierceable member, upon a the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member receiving a volume of fluid that is greater than the hollow volume of the pierceable member.
10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the chamber of the housing structure is arranged to receive fluid from the hollow volume of the pierceable member, upon a volume of fluid expelled from the first opening of the hollow needle into the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member exceeding the hollow volume of the pierceable member.
11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the pierceable member has an inner surface surrounding the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member, the inner surface of the pierceable member extending along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle and bowing outward to define a concave curvature along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle.
12. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the hollow needle has a first opening arranged within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, such that fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the first position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle and retained within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the second position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle to a location outside of the interior volume of the pierceable member.
14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the interior volume of the pierceable member is expandable to increase the size of the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member, in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
15. A method for controlling pressure in a fluid reservoir, the method comprising:
providing a housing structure having an opening and an interior volume through which a portion of a base assembly may be inserted and received;
supporting a pierceable member in the interior volume of the housing structure for movement relative to the housing structure from a first position to a second position, the pierceable member having a hollow interior volume, a first end and a second end, wherein supporting the pierceable member includes arranging
the pierceable member to receive a force from the portion of a base assembly to move the pierceable member from the first position to the second position, when the portion of the base assembly is inserted through the opening and received within the interior volume of the housing;
arranging a hollow needle to be connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir, the hollow needle having a longitudinal dimension and a piercing end, wherein arranging the hollow needle further includes arranging the piercing end of the hollow needle within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position;
piercing through the first end of the pierceable member with the piercing end of the hollow needle when the pierceable member is moved from the first position to the second position; and
receiving fluid in the interior volume of the pierceable member from the hollow needle, in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir before the hollow needle pierces through the first end of the pierceable member.
16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pierceable member has an inner surface surrounding the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member, the method further comprising bowing outward the inner surface of the pierceable member that extends along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle to define a concave curvature along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle.
17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising arranging a first opening in the hollow needle within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, such that fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the first position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle and retained within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
18. A method as recited in claim 17, arranging the first opening in the hollow needle in a location outside of the interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the second position so that fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the second position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle to the location outside of the interior volume of the pierceable member.
19. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing the pierceable member with a membrane wall that expands to increase the size of the hollow interior volume, in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the membrane wall comprises an elastic material.
21. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising using hydrophobic or hydrophilic material for the membrane wall to allow for pressure equalization across the membrane wall.
22. A method
as recited in claim 15, further comprising providing a chamber in the housing structure, the chamber being outside of the hollow volume of the pierceable member, but in fluid flow communication with the hollow volume of the pierceable member, for receiving fluid from the hollow volume of the pierceable member, upon a the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member receiving a volume of fluid that is greater than the hollow volume of the pierceable member.
23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising arranging the chamber of the housing structure to receive fluid from the hollow volume of the pierceable member, upon a volume of fluid expelled from the first opening of the hollow needle into the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member exceeding the hollow volume of the pierceable member.
24. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising providing the pierceable member with an inner surface surrounding the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member, the inner surface of the pierceable member extending along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle and bowing outward to define a concave curvature along the longitudinal dimension of the hollow needle.
25. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising arranging a first opening of the hollow needle within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, such that fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the first position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle and retained within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein fluid flowing through the hollow needle from the reservoir when the pierceable member is in the second position is expelled through the first opening of the hollow needle to a location outside of the interior volume of the pierceable member.
27. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising expanding the interior volume of the pierceable member in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim:
1. A method of preparing a polymerizate comprising the step of polymerizing a cationically polymerizable organic composition by exposing to actinic radiation said polymerizable composition, said polymerizable composition comprising:
(a) at least one first polyfunctional thiirane having at least two functional groups represented by the following general formula,
6
wherein X is selected from the group consisting of S and O, the number of functional groups wherein X is S constituting at least 50 percent of the total number of such functional groups present in said first polyfunctional thiirane, and R8, R9 and R10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C10 alkyl; and
(b) at least one actinic radiation activated cationic polymerization initiator.
2. The method of claim l,wherein said first polyfunctional thiirane has backbone structure selected from the group consisting of linear or branched aliphatic backbone structure, cycloaliphatic backbone structure, heterocyclic backbone structure, aromatic backbone structure and combinations thereof, each backbone structure optionally having linkages selected from the group consisting of oxide linkages, sulfide linkages, disulfide linkages, sulfone linkages, ketone linkages, ester linkages, amino linkages, amide linkages, urethane linkages, thiourethane linkages, thiocarbamate linkages, dithiourethane linkages, urea linkages, thiourea linkages and combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein R8, R9 and R10 are each hydrogen, and said first polyfunctional thiirane optionally has backbone linkages selected from the group consisting of oxide, sulfide and combinations thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said actinic radiation activated cationic polymerization initiator is an onium salt.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said onium salt is represented by the following general formula,
(R4aR5bR6cR7dZ)m(MYn)m
wherein (R4aR5bR6cR7dZ)m is an onium cation complex of said onium salt; Z is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, P, As, Sb, Bi, O, I, Br, Cl and NN; R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic groups, cycloaliphatic groups and aromatic groups; a, b, c and d are each independently an integer from 0 to 3, provided that the sum of abcd is equal to the valence of Z; (MYn)m is a halide anion complex of said onium salt; M is selected from the group consisting of B, P, As, Sb, Fe, Sn, Bi, Al, Ca, In, Ti, Zn, Sc, V, Cr, Mn and Co; Y is a halide; n is equal to the valence of M; and m is the charge of the onium cation complex and the halide anion complex.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said onium cation complex is selected from the group consisting of diphenyliodonium, 4-methoxydiphenyliodonium, bis(4-methylphenyl)iodonium, bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium, bis(dodecylphenyl)-iodonium, triphenylsulfonium and diphenyl-4-thiophenoxy-phenylsulfonium; and said halide anion complex is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, hexafluoroantimonate, hexafluoroarsenate and hexacloroantimonate.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a monofunctional thiirane having a single thiirane group.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said monofunctional thiirane is selected from the group consisting of ethylene sulfide, 1,2-propylene sulfide, 1-halo-2,3-propylene sulfide, thioglycidyl esters of monocarboxylic acids, thioglycidyl ethers, C5-C12 cycloalkylene sulfides and mixtures thereof.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a second polyfunctional thiirane having at least one fused ring epithio group, said second polyfunctional thiirane being different than said first polyfunctional thiirane (a).
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said second polyfunctional thiirane is selected from the group consisting of 7-thiabicyclo4.1.0hept-3-ylmethyl 7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane-3-carboxylic acid ester, 4-methyl-7-thiacibyclo4.1.0hept-3-ylmethyl 4-methyl-7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane-3-carboxylic acid ester, 3-(epithioethyl)-7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane, 2-(epithioethyl)-7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane, 3-(2,3-epithiopropyl)-7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane, 1-methyl-4-(2-methylthiiranyl)-7-thiabicyclo4.1.0heptane, 4,8-dithiatricyclo5.1.0.03,5octane, 3,8-dithiatricyclo5.1.0.02,4octane, 3-oxa-6,9-dithiatetracyclo6.1.0.02,4.05,7nonane, 3,6,9-trithiatetracyclo6.1.0.02,4.05,7nonane, 5,10-dithiatricyclo7.1.0.04,6decane and mixtures thereof.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a polythiol having at least two thiol groups.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said polythiol is selected from the group consisting of 2,2-thiodiethanethiol, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercaptoacetate), trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolpropane tris(2-mercaptoacetate), 4-mercaptomethyl-3,6-dithia-1,8-octanedithiol, 4-tert-butyl-1,2-benzenedithiol, 4,4-thiodibenzenethiol, benzenedithiol, ethylene glycol di(2-mercaptoacetate), ethylene glycol di(3-mercaptopropionate), poly(ethylene glycol) di(2-mercaptoacetate), poly(ethylene glycol) di(3-mercaptopropionate), a polythiol monomer represented by the following general formula,
7
a polythiol monomer represented by the following general formula,
8
wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each selected independently for each general formula from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkylene, cyclic alkylene, phenylene and C1-C9 alkyl substituted phenylene, and mixtures of such polythiol monomers.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a cyclic anhydride monomer.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said cyclic anhydride monomer is selected from the group consisting of phthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydromethylphthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, chlorendic anhydride, methyl-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, endo-bicyclo2.2.2oct-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride and mixtures thereof.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a cationically polymerizable monomer selected from the group consisting of (i) epoxide monomers having at least one epoxide group, (ii) ethylenically unsaturated cationically polymerizable monomers having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, and (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii).
16. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises:
(c) at least one second polyfunctional thiirane having at least one fused ring epithio group, said second polyfunctional thiirane being different than said first polyfunctional thiirane (a); and
(d) at least one polythiol having at least two thiol groups.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a monofunctional thiirane having a single thiirane group.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said cationically polymerizable organic composition further comprises a cationically polymerizable monomer selected from the group consisting of (i) epoxide monomers having at least one epoxide group, (ii) ethylenically unsaturated cationically polymerizable monomers having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, and (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii).
19. The method of claim 1 wherein R8, R9 and R10 are each hydrogen, and said first polyfunctional thiirane is selected from polyfunctional thiiranes represented by the following general formulas:
9
and mixtures of at least two of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xi);
wherein X is selected from the group consisting of S and O, the number of functional groups wherein X is S constituting at least 50 percent of the total number of such functional groups present in said polyfunctional thiirane; and R1, R2 and R3 are each selected independently for each general formula from the group consisting of linear or branched chain alkylene, cyclic alkylene, phenylene and C1-C9 alkyl substituted phenylene.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each selected independently for each structure from the group consisting of linear or branched chain alkylene.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each selected independently from the group consisting of methylene and ethylene.
22. The polymerizate of claim 1.
23. The polymerizate of claim 16.
24. The polymerizate of claim 18.
25. A photochromic article comprising:
(a) the polymerizate of claim 1; and
(b) a photochromic amount of an organic photochromic substance.
26. The photochromic article of claim 25 wherein the organic photochromic substance is selected from the group consisting of spiro(indoline)naphthoxazines, spiro(indoline)benzoxazines, benzopyrans, naphthopyrans, chromenes, organo-metal dithizonates, fulgides and fulgimides and mixtures of such organic photochromic substances.
27. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymerizate has a refractive index of at least 1.6 and an Abbe number of at least 27.
28. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymerizate has a refractive index of at least 1.6 and an Abbe number of at least 29.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein said polymerizate has a 15 second Barcol hardness of at least 1.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein said polymerizate has a 15 second Barcol hardness of at least 1.