CA1058566A - Specimen container - Google Patents

Specimen container

Info

Publication number
CA1058566A
CA1058566A CA268,028A CA268028A CA1058566A CA 1058566 A CA1058566 A CA 1058566A CA 268028 A CA268028 A CA 268028A CA 1058566 A CA1058566 A CA 1058566A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
container body
cap
neck
container
annular
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA268,028A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John D. Mull
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Starplex Inc
Original Assignee
Starplex Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Starplex Inc filed Critical Starplex Inc
Priority to CA268,028A priority Critical patent/CA1058566A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1058566A publication Critical patent/CA1058566A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A speciman container primarily for medical use is described and comprises a tubular container body and a cap for the body. The body defines a cavity to receive a specimen and includes an annular neck which defines an opening providing axis to said cavity and which has an outer end portion including an end edge surrounding said opening. The cap is fitted to the neck of the container body and closes the opening and comprises a circular top having an inner surface formed with an annular groove arranged to closely receive the outer end portion of said neck, and an annular skirt which projects outwardly from the inner surface of the top and extends around the neck of the container body. The skirt and neck have co-operatinq screw threads for removably retaining the cap on the container body and the cap further comprises an annular seal member formed integrally with the inner surface of the circular top and arranged to fit inside the opening of the container body. The annular seal member is in the form of a relatively thin, resilient lip disposed inwardly of said groove in said top and having a flat outer surface which is co-extensive with an inner wall of said groove and which lies in continuous surface-to-surface contact with the inner surface of said neck of the container body, thereby sealing said opening in the container body. The lip is outwardly inclined toward the skirt of the cap when the cap is separate from the container body so as to be progressively deflected inwardly by contact with the neck of container body as the cap is screwed on to said body, whereby the seal member is urged against the annular neck portion of the container body under preload when the cap is in its fully tightened position.

Description

~D5856G
This invention relates to specimen containers, primarily for medical use.
In the course of a medical treatment, it is often necessary for a patient to provid~ a specimen of a body fluid (eg. blood) for analysis. The specimen is normally placed in a first container for storage and transportation to the laboratory at which it is to be analyzed. In the laboratory, the specimen is transferred to a second container for the actual analysis to be per-foxmed. ~ccordingly, two containers are required for each specimen~ The requirement for two containers amounts to a significant cost factor, particularly where a high volume of specimens are to be analyæed. Also, a signi-ficant labour cost is involved in transferring specimens from a first container into a second container.
An object of the present invention is to provide a specimen container comprising a container body and cap having an improved sealing arrangement between the cap and body.
According to the invention, the container body defines a cavity to receive a specimen and includes an annular neck which defines an opening providing axis to said cavity and which has an outer end portion including an end edge surrounding said opening. The cap is fitted to the neck of the container body and closes the opening and comprises a circular top having an inner surface formed with an annular groove arranged to closely receive the outer end portion of said neck, and an annular skirt which projects outwardly from the inner surface of the top and extends around the neck of the container body~
The skirt and neck have co-operating screw threads for
- 2 - ~1~
, ~ ., ~OS~35~6 removably retaining the cap on the container body and the cap further comprises an annular seal member formed integrally with the inner surface of the circular top and arranged to fit inside the opening of the container body.
The annular seal member is in the form of a relatively thin, resilient lip disposed inwardly of said groove in said top and having a flat outer surace which is co-extensive with an inner wall of said groove and which lies in continuous surace-to-surface contact with the inner surface of said neck of the container body, thereby sealing said opening in the container body. The lip is outwardly inclined toward the skirt of the cap when the cap is separate from the container body so as to be pro-gressive~y deflected inwardly by contact with the neck of container body as the cap is screwed on:to said body, whereby the seal member is urged against the annular neck portion of the container body under preload when the cap is in its fully tightened position.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a number of embodiments of the invention by way of example. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the container of Fig. 1 in the assembled con-dition; and, Fig. 3 is a side view, partly broken away of a container according to an alternative embodiment.

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Referring first to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the container comprises a body 20 and a cap 22, each of which is a one-piece plastic molding. Body 20 is molded in a transparent material while the cap 22 is opaque and suitably coloured. If appropriate, the cap 22 may be colour-coded or provided with a label to indicate the in-tended use of the container. A self-adhesivP label will norma~ly be provided on the container body, for example, as indicated at 24 and will be designed so that it can be readily marked in use to indicate the source of the specimen in the container and, if appropriate, analytical results.
In any event, the container body is of hollow, cylindrical form and defines an internal cavity 26 to receive a specimen. The body includes, adjacent its upper end, an annular neck portion 28 which defines an opening 30 pro-viding access to the cavity 26.
- Container body 20 is self-standing in a generally upright position with the opening 30 uppermost. Thus, the body has a relatively thin, hollow cylindrical wall 32 which extends about a longitudinal axis A-A and which definés, at the bottom of the container an annular end surface 34 dis-posed in a plane normal to axis A-A. This surface allows the container body to be self-standing. At the upper end of the container, wall 32 terminates in a similar annular end surface 36 also disposed in a plane normal to axis A-A.
Container body 20 also includes a bottom end wall 38 which is spaced inwardly from the lower end of the body represented by the annular edge 34. As can best be seen in Fig. 2, end wall 3Y is molded integrally with the side wall 32 and is shaped to define an inner surface 40 of down-~OSI!3566 wardly extending conical shape, whereby the cavity in thecontainer body has a conically shaped lower end portion.
Cap 22 includes a circular top 42 which has an inner surface 44 and which is arranged to fit over and close the opening 30 in the container body 20. r~he cap also in-cludes an annular skirt 46 which projec~s outwardly from the top 42 around surface 44 and which extends around the neck portion 28 of the container body when the cap and container are fitted together~ Co-operatiny screw threads 48 and 50 are provided on the external surface of the neck portion 28 and on the inner surface of the skirt 46 of the cap 22 respectively and serve to removably retain the cap on the container body. Removal and replacement of the cap is, of course, effected by turning it in the appropriate direction with respect to the body so as to cause the screw threads 48 and 50 to disengage or engagè as the case may be.
Cap 22 further includes an annular seal member 52 formed integrally with the inner surface 44 of the top 42 of the cap. Seal member 52 is arranged to fit inside the opening 30 in the container body in surface-to-surface con-tact with the neck portion 28 of the body so as to seal the container body cavity. It will be seen that the seal member is in the nature of an annular lip and is of out-wardly tapered, generally triangular shape in cross-section.
As a result of this cross-section, the lip has a certain degree of inherent flexibility, which makes for a high degree of sealing efficiency between the seal member and the con-tainer body. Sealing efficiency is also assisted by the fact that the seal member is angled slightly towards the skirt ~,~58566 46 of the cap in its unstressed condition. Part of the cap 22 has been broken away in Fig. 1 to show part of the seal member in this eondition. When the cap is screwed onto the container body, the seal member is deflected slightly to the position in which ik is shown in Fig. 2 and is accord-ingly applied against the container body under a slight pre-load. As can also be seen in Fig. 1, an annular groove 54 is provided around the seal member 52 to receive the upper marginal portion of the eontainer body when the cap is in its fully tightened position. This portion of the container body enters into and "nests" wlth the cap to further enhance sealing efficiency. Fig. 1 also shows that the external surface of the skirt 46 of the cap is ribbed as indicated at 56 to faeilitate gripping of the cap when it is being tightened.

, The specimen container shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed primarily for medical use. A specimen i~ intro-duced into the open container body in the same fashion as would be the case using a conventional eontainer. The con-20 ~ tainer is then sealed by fitting the capp 22 and the sealedcontainer can be stored or transported as appropriate. When the specimen is to be analyzed, the container can be opened by removing the cap and the specimen dealt with accordingly.
Frequently, analysis of specimens requires that the specimens be placed in a centrifuge. As a result of the conical shape of the lower end portion of the container body cavity 26, the container body (with or without the cap 22) can be placed directly in a centrifuge and rotated as appropriate.
Fig. 3 of the drawings shows a specimen container according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
The container of Fig. 3 is essentially similar to the con-10585~6 `

tainer shown in Figs. 1 and 2 (although of somewhat different proportions) except in that it has a flat bottom end wall.
Primed reference numerals have been used in Fig. 3 to denote parts which correspond with the previous figures.
The container of Fig. 3 comprises a container body 20' and a cap 22'. The container body is of hollow cylindrical shape and defines a cavity 26' and an opening 30' providing access to the cavity. The container body has a bottom end wall 38' which is flat and on which the container stands.
The cap 22' of the container is essentially the same as the cap shown in Fig~. 1 and 2. It includes a cir-cular top 42' having an inner surface 44', and a skirt 46' disposed around a neck portion 28' of the container body.
Co-operating scr~w threads 48' and 50 ' are provided on the container body and cap skirt respectively. An annular seal member 52' is formed integrally with the inner sur-face of the top of the cap and fits inside the neck portion of the container, all as described in connection with the previous figures.
It will of course be appreciated that the specimen container shown in Fig. 3 is intended merely for use in the storage and/or transportation of specimens and could not be used in a centrifuge in the manner referred to in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. This form of container would be used where the specimen is not required to be centrifuged and/or cannot conveniently be placed in a con-tainer of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be appreciated that the preceding des-cription relat~s to specific embodiments and that many modifications are possible within the broad scope of the ~S8S 6~

invention. For example, the proportions of the container may vary. In fact, it i5 contemplated that both the con-taine~ of Figs. 1 and 2 and that of Fig. 3 will be made available in a range of different sizes in ordex to cater for different applications. The cross-sectional shape of the container could be other than circular in a case in which a screw-on cap is not required. Also, in some cases, the container may include auxiliary elements such as spoons, stirring devices and the like fitted to the lid of the con-tainer end depending into the cavity in the`body portion.
Also, it is to be noted that a container of thegeneral form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 having a conical bottom end wall need not essentially be provided with a cap. The container could have a plain upper end portion to receive a stopper, bung or other closure means. Where a cap is provided, it may be fitted to the container body other than by screw threads. For example, a snap-on cap could be used.
Finally, it is to be noted that while the pre-ceding description refers to specimen containers for medical use, there is no limitation in this. For example, a con-tainer o the form provided by the invention could be used for containing non-medical chemical specimens.

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A specimen container comprising:
a body defining a cavity to receive a specimen and including an annular neck which defines an opening providing access to said cavity, and which has an outer end portion including an end edge surrounding said opening; and, a cap fitted to the neck of the container body and closing said opening, the cap comprising a circular top having an inner surface formed with an annular groove arranged to closely receive the outer end portion of said neck, and an annular skirt which projects outwardly from said inner surface of the top and extends around said neck of the container body, said skirt and neck having co-operating screw threads for removably retaining the cap on the container body, and the cap further comprising an annu-lar seal member formed integrally with the inner surface of said circular top and arranged to fit inside the said open-ing of the container body, said annular seal member being in the form of a relatively thin, resilient lip disposed inwardly of said groove in said top and having a flat outer surface which is co-extensive with an inner wall of said groove and which lies in continuous surface-to-surface con-tact with the inner surface of said neck of the container body, thereby sealing said opening in the container body, said lip being outwardly inclined toward the skirt of the cap when the cap is separate from the container body so as to be progressively deflected inwardly by contact with the neck of the container body as the cap is screwed onto said body, whereby the seal member is urged against the annular neck portion of the container body under pre-load when the cap is in its fully tightened position.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container body is self-standing in a generally upright position with said opening uppermost, and includes a bottom end wall shaped to define an inner surface of downwardly extending conical shape, whereby said cavity in the container body has a conically shaped lower end portion.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container body is of hollow cylindrical shape and includes a side wall defining a bottom end edge of annular shape on which the container is supported in its said self-standing generally upright position.
CA268,028A 1976-12-16 1976-12-16 Specimen container Expired CA1058566A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA268,028A CA1058566A (en) 1976-12-16 1976-12-16 Specimen container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA268,028A CA1058566A (en) 1976-12-16 1976-12-16 Specimen container

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1058566A true CA1058566A (en) 1979-07-17

Family

ID=4107515

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA268,028A Expired CA1058566A (en) 1976-12-16 1976-12-16 Specimen container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1058566A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4658960A (en) * 1985-10-07 1987-04-21 Iwasa Nob T Color coding cassette
US4744461A (en) * 1987-02-20 1988-05-17 Uvex Winter Optical, Inc. Carrying case for eyeglasses
WO1989007554A1 (en) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-24 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blown plastic container
US5004109A (en) * 1988-02-19 1991-04-02 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blown plastic container having an integral single thickness skirt of bi-axially oriented PET
US5066081A (en) * 1988-02-19 1991-11-19 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blow-molded bottle with bi-axially stretched skirt
US5122325A (en) * 1988-02-19 1992-06-16 Broadway Companies, Inc. Method of blow molding a plastic container having an integrated single thickness skirt of bi-axially oriented PET

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4658960A (en) * 1985-10-07 1987-04-21 Iwasa Nob T Color coding cassette
US4744461A (en) * 1987-02-20 1988-05-17 Uvex Winter Optical, Inc. Carrying case for eyeglasses
WO1989007554A1 (en) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-24 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blown plastic container
US4861260A (en) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-29 Broadway Companies, Inc. Apparatus for forming a blown plastic container
US4952134A (en) * 1988-02-19 1990-08-28 Broadway Companies, Inc. Apparatus for forming a blow-molded bottle with bi-axially stretched skirt
US5004109A (en) * 1988-02-19 1991-04-02 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blown plastic container having an integral single thickness skirt of bi-axially oriented PET
US5066081A (en) * 1988-02-19 1991-11-19 Broadway Companies, Inc. Blow-molded bottle with bi-axially stretched skirt
US5122325A (en) * 1988-02-19 1992-06-16 Broadway Companies, Inc. Method of blow molding a plastic container having an integrated single thickness skirt of bi-axially oriented PET

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