Evaporation closure

• US 5,289,930 A
• Filed: 11/19/1991
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dade Behring Marburg GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Syntec Incorporated (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Inouye, Kenneth K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caretto, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US07/794,751
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 215/235, 215/236, 215/237, 215/238, 215/239, 215/240, 215/242, 220/263, 220/264, 220/335, 220/337, 220/338, 220/341, 220/254, 206/223, 222/545, 222/556, 222/562, 222/563, 222/517
• US Class Current: 215/235
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0405 manipulating closing or opening means, e.g. stoppers, screw caps, lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers

Abstract

An evaporation closure is disclosed. One embodiment of the closure includes a cap, made of pliable material, which in turn includes a top wall having an opening, a skirt downwardly depending from the top wall and having a threadless internal wall adapted to slip on and sealingly engage a container, and biasing means integral with the skirt; and an elongated arm, which in turn includes a means for sealing the opening, pivotally attached to the cap for movement between a first position wherein the sealing means seals the opening and a second position wherein the sealing means does not seal the opening, the arm being biased toward the first position by the biasing means. Such a closure is useful for minimizing evaporation from containers, particularly automated clinical analyzer reagent bottles.

A kit including in packaged combination component parts of the evaporation closure is also disclosed. Such a kit is useful for conveniently assembling the evaporation closures of the present invention.

Claims

1. A closure comprising:

a cap made of pliable material comprising (a) a top wall having an opening, (b) a skirt, downwardly depending from said top wall, said skirt made of pliable material and having a threadless internal wall to slip on and sealingly engage a container, and (c) a discrete first hinge portion integral with said top wall;

an elongated arm comprising sealing means for sealing said opening and a discrete second hinge portion integral with said elongated arm, said discrete second hinge portion pivotally mated with said discrete first hinge portion and rotatable relative thereto for movement of said elongated arm between a first position, wherein said sealing means seal said opening and a second position, wherein said sealing means does not seal said opening

biasing means having a width and integral with said skirt for biasing said arm toward said first position; and

a vial locating tab separate from said hinge portions and disposed between and integral with said biasing means and said skirt, said vial locating tab having a width less than an outside diameter of said skirt and less than the width of said biasing means.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein said threadless internal wall has an inverted circumferential ledge having a first diameter at said top wall and a second diameter greater than said first diameter away from said top wall.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a washer.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein said elongated arm comprises:

a washer mounting extension, attached to said elongated arm, and

a sealing washer attached to said washer mounting extension wherein said sealing washer seals said opening when said lever is in said first position and does not seal said opening when said lever is in second position.

5. The closure of claim 1 wherein said pliable material is a poly(elastomer).

6. A kit for conveniently assembling a closure which kit comprises in packaged combination:

(a) a cap made of pliable material, comprising a top wall having an opening, a skirt having an outside diameter and downwardly depending form said top wall and having an threadless internal wall to slip on and sealingly engage a container, said top wall having a discrete first hinge portion, and biasing means having a

(b) an elongated arm comprising sealing means for sealing said opening and a discrete second hinge portion integral with said elongated arm, said discrete second hinge portion pivotally mated with said discrete first hinge portion and rotatable relative thereto for movement of said elongated arm between a first position, wherein said sealing means seals said opening and a second position, wherein said sealing means does not seal said opening, said elongated arm being biased toward said first position by said biasing means;

a vial locating tab separate from said hinge portions and disposed between and integral with said biasing means and said skirt, said vial locating tab having a width less than an outside diameter of said skirt and less than the width of said biasing means.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein said threadless internal wall has an inverted circumferential ledge having a fist diameter at said top wall and a second diameter greater than said first diameter away from said top wall.

8. The kit of claim 6 wherein said sealing means comprises a washer mounting extension, attached to said elongated arm and adapted to receive a sealing washer.

9. The kit of claim 8 which further comprises in packaged combination a sealing washer, adapted to be attached to said washer mounting extension.

10. The kit of claim 6 wherein said elongated arm comprises:

a washer mounting extension attached to said elongated arm and adapted to receive a sealing washer.

11. The kit of claim 10 which further comprises in packaged combination a sealing washer adapted to be attached to said washer mounting extension wherein said sealing washer seals said opening when said lever is in said first position and does not seal said opening when said lever is in said second position.

12. The closure of claim 6 wherein said pliable material is a poly(elastomer).