Containers or packages

Claim 1

A PACKAGE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BAG-LIKE CONTAINER MADE OF AIR- AND WATER-IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, AND MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER TO BE MAINTAINED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE CONDITION IN WHICH IT WAS DEPOSITED IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AT ONE END AN ELONGATED MOUTH CLOSED BY AN AIR STERILIZING FILTER CONSISTING OF AN ELONGATED FLAT-SIDED STRIP OF AIR-FILTERING WATER-REPELLANT SPONGE-LIKE MATERIAL WHICH IS OF A HOMOGENOUS TEXTURE AND WHICH HAS BEEN PRE-TREATED, PRIOR TO INCORPORATING IN THE CONTAINER, WITH A STERILIZING MEDIUM WHICH WILL BE LETHAL TO THE GROWTH OF ANY VIABLE MATTER INTERCEPTED IN THE FILTERING MATERIAL, SAID STRIP OF MATERIAL BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN WIDTH WITH FLAT PARALLEL FACES AND BEING BONDED BY ITS SIDE PORTIONS TO THE CONTAINER AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MOUTH, WITH THE LOWER SURFACE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND WITH ANOTHER SURFACE EXPOSED TO THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE SO THAT THE ONLY INGRESS OF AIR INTO THE CONTAINER IS THROUGH THE FILTERING MATERIAL.