Specimen Container

• US 20110204058A1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medline Industries Incorporated (Medline Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maze, Jack Edward, Chua, Kenneth Su
• Granted Patent: US 9,211,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/289
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/10 Jars, e.g. for preserving foodstuffs B65D81/3837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00388 Bent or angled, i.e. central part presents two main planes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0421 and combined with integral sealing means contacting other surfaces of a container neck
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A specimen container system (800) includes a lid (100) and a container (400). The lid (100) has an annular wall (201) and a central surface (104). The central surface (104) is configured to be conically shaped by tapering from the annular wall (201) to a point (208) disposed at an inner portion of the central surface (104). The container (400) and lid (100) can also include an audible locking system where a cantilevered audible lock projection (602) extending from the container (400) engages an audible lock actuation protrusion (217) extending from the lid (100) to make a click sound when the lid (100) is seated on the container (400).

Claims

1. A lid for a container, the lid comprising:

an annular wall; and

a central surface spanning an interior of the annular wall;

wherein the central surface is configured in a conical shape tapering from the annular wall to a point disposed at an inner portion of the central surface.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a container engaging side, wherein the point projects from the annular wall towards the container engaging side.

3. The lid of claim 2, wherein the point is medially disposed along the central surface.

4. The lid of claim 2, further comprising a bridge coupling the central surface and the annular wall.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein the bridge comprises a step and a container lip edge receiving recess disposed on the container engaging side between the annular wall and the central surface.

6. The lid of claim 2, further comprising an inclined plane defining a thread disposed along an interior of the annular wall.

7. The lid of claim 6, wherein the inclined plane is configured to engage a dual thread of the container.

8. The lid of claim 6, further comprising a container receiving well disposed at a base of the annular wall.

9. The lid of claim 6, further comprising an audible lock actuation protrusion extending from the interior of the annular wall.

10. The lid of claim 1, wherein an exterior of the annular wall defines a first major face and a second major face, wherein a first perimeter of the annular wall about the first major face is less than a second perimeter of the annular wall about the second major face.

11. The lid of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of mechanical walls extending from the second major face distally along the first major face.

12. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid has a diameter configured to fit within a vacuum transportation tube.

13. The lid of claim 1, wherein the conical shape is between three millimeters and ten millimeters in height.

14. The lid of claim 1, wherein sides of the conical shape extend from the annular wall at between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees.

15. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a specimen container, the specimen container comprising:

a cylindrical side wall extending from a base;

a lid engagement stop extending outwardly from the cylindrical side wall;

an inclined plane defining a thread disposed about an outer surface of the cylindrical side wall opposite the lid engagement stop relative to the base; and

a cantilevered audible lock projection extending from the outer surface between the lid engagement stop and the inclined plane.

16. The lid of claim 15, wherein the cantilevered audible lock projection comprises a first edge extending substantially orthogonally from the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall and a second edge extending at an obtuse angle from the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall.

17. The lid of claim 15, wherein the cantilevered audible lock projection is disposed adjacent to the lid engagement stop.

18. A specimen container system, comprising:

a lid comprising a central surface spanning an interior of the lid, wherein the central surface is configured in a conical shape tapering from an outer wall of the lid to a point; and

a container;

wherein the lid comprises a container engagement mechanism and the container comprises a lid engagement mechanism.

19. The specimen container system of claim 18, wherein:

the lid comprises an audible lock actuation protrusion extending inwardly from the outer wall;

the container comprises an audible lock projection extending outwardly thereon;

wherein the audible lock projection is configured to audibly deflect when engaged by the audible lock actuation protrusion.

20. The specimen container system of claim 18, wherein the lid is configured to engage the container with a dual thread so as to form a vessel suitable for transport in a vacuum transportation tube.