Bevel closure and device

• US 5,441,698 A
• Filed: 09/10/1993
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Diagnostics, Inc. (GlaxoSmithKline PLC)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Norell, Joyce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/119,466
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/61, 206/106, 206/823, 206/470, 206/477, 436/808
• US Class Current: 422/401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50 Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes devices for taking samples of blood A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5055 Hinged, e.g. opposable surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/20 in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit

Abstract

A closure and device for use with a closure, the closure including a first member having a beveled edge, a second member having an undercut edge, and optionally a base member to which the second member is fixed. The first member is adapted to be received with the beveled edge retained by the undercut edge. A test device may include such a closure and may also include a hinge between the first and second members. Test elements, such as a chromatographic medium and absorbent pads, may be disposed on the first member and/or the base member and may be brought into opposition by closing the first member with the closure.

Claims

1. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member;

a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

a testing element fixed to at least one of the base member or the cover member; and

,

closure means comprising a beveled edge on the cover member, the beveled edge being supplementary to the undercut edge and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edge of the fixed member in an edge-to-edge to-edge engagement, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device further includes testing elements fixed to the base member.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device further includes testing elements fixed to the cover member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover member and fixed member extend respectively between extremities defined between ends, the beveled edge on the cover member extending from about one end of the cover member to about the opposite end of the cover member, and the supplementary undercut edge extending from about one end of the fixed member to about the opposite end of the fixed member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, whereby when the beveled edge is in a closed position there is a closure force for effecting transfer of a fluid between the test elements, and wherein the beveled edge and the supplementary undercut edge are positioned in a line from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements where the fluid transfers between the test elements.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, including an extension portion of the cover member extending beyond the beveled edge, the extending portion covering a line of closure formed by the beveled edge and the undercut edge when the cover member and the fixed member are closed.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein the device further includes first testing elements fixed to the base member and second testing elements fixed to the cover member.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the first and second testing elements are opposable when the cover member is closed and retained by the closure means.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein either the first testing elements or the second testing elements include a chromatographic medium.

10. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member;

fixed members fixed to the base member, each fixed member having an undercut edge;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

a testing element fixed to at least one of the base member or the cover member; and

,

closure means comprising beveled edges on the cover member, the beveled edges being supplementary to the undercut edges and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edges of the fixed member in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, including a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, whereby when the beveled edge is in a closed position there is a closure force for effecting transfer of a fluid between the testing elements, and including a hinge between the base member and cover member, wherein at least one portion of the beveled edge and one portion of the undercut edge are positioned in a line from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements where the fluid transfers between the test elements, and another portion of the beveled edge and another portion of the undercut edge are located at a position removed from the elements where the fluid transfers between the test elements.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hinge between the base member and cover member, and wherein the fixed member and cover member respectively include corners remote from the hinge and wherein the undercut edges and the beveled edges respectively are located at the corners, and not between the respective corners.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hinge between the base member and cover member, and wherein the base member includes opposite ends directed transversely from the hinge, and includes a fixed member located at each respective end and the beveled edges are located respectively at the opposite ends, thereby to constitute closures on at least two sides of the device.

14. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hinge between the base member and cover member, and wherein the base member includes an adjacent end directed traversely from the hinge, and a side opposite the hinge and the beveled edge and the undercut edge are located respectively at the adjacent end and the opposite end, thereby to constitute closures on at least two sides of the device.

15. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member having a beveled edge;

a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge being supplementary to the beveled edge;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

closure of the cover member on the base member effecting engagement of the beveled edge with the undercut edge of the fixed member, the beveled edge being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position in an edge-to-edge engagement with the undercut edge of the fixed member; and

,

a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, the members being contact when the cover member and the base member are closed, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cove;

member, and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cover member and fixed member extend respectively between extremities defined between ends, the beveled edge on the cover member extending from about one end of the cover member to about the opposite end of the cover member, and the supplementary undercut edge extending from about one end of the fixed member to about the opposite end of the fixed member.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the beveled edge and the supplementary undercut edge are positioned in a line from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements.

18. A device as claimed in claim 15, including an extension portion of the cover member extending beyond the beveled edge, the extending portion covering a line of closure formed by the beveled edge and the undercut edge when the cover member and the fixed member are closed.

19. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member having beveled edges;

fixed members fixed to the base member, the fixed members having undercut edges, a hinge between the base member and cover member the undercut edges being supplementary to the beveled edges such that in a closed position of the cover member and base member the beveled edge and the undercut edge are in edge-to-edge engagement;

a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, the members being in contact when the cover member and the base member are closed, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure, thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, including a hinge between the base member and cover member, and wherein the base member includes opposite ends directed traversely from the hinge, and includes fixed members located at each respective end and the beveled edges and undercut edges are located respectively at the opposite ends, and including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium from a first end towards a second end of the chromatographic medium.

21. A device as claimed in claim 19, including a hinge between the base member and cover member, and wherein the base member includes an adjacent end located transversely from the hinge, and including a side opposite the hinge, and the beveled edges and the undercut edges being located respectively at the adjacent end and the opposite side and including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the test elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium from a first end towards a second end of the chromatographic medium.

22. A device as claimed in claim 19, whereby when the beveled edge is in a closed position, a closure force is applied between the cover member and the fixed member, and including a hinge between the base member and cover member and wherein at least one portion of the beveled edge and one portion of the undercut edge are positioned in a line from the hinge at least about opposite the test elements and another portion of the beveled edge and another portion of the undercut edge are located at a position removed from the elements, and wherein one of the test elements includes an elongated chromatographic medium for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium from a first end towards a second end of the chromatographic medium.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, including a window located in at least one of the base member and cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and cover member are in a closed position.

24. A device as claimed in claim 19, including a hinge between the base member and cover member wherein the fixed members and cover member respectively include corners remote from the hinge and wherein the undercut edges and the beveled edges are located at the corners and not between the respective corners, and including an elongated chromatographic medium with at least one of the elements for fluid to traverse the chromatographic medium from a first end towards a second end of the chromatographic medium.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, including a window located in at least one of the base member and cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and cover member are in a closed position.

26. A reclosable chromatographic testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member;

a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

a testing element fixed to the base member, and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements including an elongated chromatographic medium, and wherein one of the testing elements is arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring the fluid to the testing element having the chromatographic medium whereby the fluid is arranged to traverse along the chromatographic medium from a first end of the medium towards a second end of the medium; and

,

closure means comprising a beveled edge on the cover member, the beveled edge being supplementary to the undercut edge and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edge of the fixed member in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure and thereby ensure that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means whereby when the beveled edge is in the closed position, a closure force is distributed substantially uniformly between the cover member and the fixed member such that the fluid is effectively transferred between the testing elements and is enabled to effectively traverse the chromatographic medium.

27. A device as claimed in claim 26, including a window located in at least one of the base member and cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and cover member are in a closed position.

28. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the undercut angle is less than about 90 degrees relative to a base.

29. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the base member and cover member are formed from a same board material element and the hinge includes at lease one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

30. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and, the test elements are located in adjacency on the covered member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure the cover portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force is applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements substantially uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

31. A reclosable chromatographic testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member;

fixed members fixed to the base member, each fixed member having an undercut edge;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

a testing element fixed to the base member, and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements including an elongated chromatographic medium, and wherein one of the testing elements is arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring the fluid to the testing element having the chromatographic medium whereby the fluid is arranged to traverse along the chromatographic medium from a first end of the medium towards a second end of the medium; and

,

closure means comprising beveled edges on the cover member, the beveled edges being supplementary to the undercut edges and being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position with the undercut edges of the fixed members in an edge-to-edge engagement, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure and thereby ensure that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means whereby when the beveled edges are in the closed position, a closure force is distributed substantially uniformly between the cover member and the fixed members such that the fluid is effectively transferred between the testing elements and is enabled to effectively traverse the chromatographic medium.

32. A device as claimed in claim 31, including a window located in at least one of the base member and cover member, the window being aligned along the length of the chromatographic medium such that a test indication on the chromatographic medium is visible through the window when the base member and cover member are in a closed position.

33. A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the undercut angle is less than about 90 degrees relative to a base.

34. A device as claimed in claim 31, including a hinge wherein the base member and cover member are formed from a same board material element and the hinge includes at lease one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

35. A device as claimed in claim 31, including a hinge wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and, the test elements are located in adjacency on the covered member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure the cover portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force is applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements towards each other is effected uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

36. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member having a beveled edge, the beveled edge including an exposed line of engagement;

a fixed member fixed to the base member, the fixed member having an undercut edge being supplementary to the beveled edge and including an exposed line of engagement;

a hinge between the base member and cover member;

closure of the cover member on the base member effecting engagement of the beveled edge with the undercut edge, the beveled edge being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position in an edge-to-edge engagement with the undercut edge of the fixed member such that, the exposed lines of engagement of the beveled edge and the undercut edge respectively are substantially flush with the fixed member and cover member

a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member at least one of the testing elements being arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring the fluid to the testing element on the other testing element, and the beveled edge being adapted to be received and retained in a closed position in an edge-to-edge engagement with the undercut edge of the fixed member, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

37. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the undercut angle is less than about 90 degrees relative to a base.

38. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the base member and cover member are formed from a same board material element and the hinge includes at lease one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

39. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and, the test elements are located in adjacency on the covered member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure the cover portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force is applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements towards each other is effected uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.

40. A reclosable testing device, comprising:

a base member;

a cover member having beveled edges, the beveled edges including exposed lines of engagement;

fixed members fixed to the base member, the fixed members having undercut edges the undercut edges being supplementary to the beveled edges and including exposed lines of engagement;

a testing element fixed to the base member and a testing element fixed to the cover member, at least one of the testing elements being arranged for receiving fluid and for transferring the fluid to the testing element, and closure of the cover member on the base member effecting engagement of the beveled edges to be received and retained edge-to-edge contact in the closed position with the undercut edges of the fixed members and the exposed lines of engagement of the beveled edges and the undercut edges respectively being substantially flush with the fixed members and the cover member, the base member, cover member, and fixed member being formed of a sufficiently rigid material to minimize bowing on the closure thereby to ensure that a sample for testing and the testing element come into operative contact for effecting a test, and that a force is distributed substantially evenly over the cover member, and thereby further ensuring that, together with the hinge between the base member and the cover member, and with the closure means, the closure force is substantially equally distributed along the length of the closure means.

41. A device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the undercut angle is less than about 90 degrees relative to a base.

42. A device as claimed in claim 40, including a hinge wherein the base member and cover member are formed from a same board material element and the hinge includes at lease one crease formed in the board material, the board material having a thickness of about 0.024 inches.

43. A device as claimed in claim 40, including a hinge wherein the base member and the cover member are planar elements formed from a same material element having a thickness and the hinge is formed along a crease line in the material and, the test elements are located in adjacency on the covered member and the base member and the fixed member is mounted on a portion of the base member, such that in a position of closure the cover portion overlies the portion of the base member not occupied by the fixed member, and the cover member and fixed members have edges in abutment, and wherein an inward force is applied by the cover member and the base member on the test elements towards each other is effected uniformly when the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the cover member are in the edge-to-edge engagement.