Specimen container

• US 9,211,969 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US12/709,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: D94/35, 215/247, 215/344, 215/345, 215/343, 215/346, 215/341, 215/224, 215/216, 215/44, 215/43, 215/330, 215/316, 220/803, 220/289, 220/296, 220/213, 220/780, 220/802, 220/790, 220/783, 220/801, 220/796, 534/88, 534/87, 534/86, 534/85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 comprising substantially flat cone sides in cross-section 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;

the lid comprises a container engaging side, wherein the conical shape extends from the outer wall towards the container engaging side; and

when the conical shape is pushed outward from the container in response to pressure, the conical shape pushes the outer wall inward against an outer surface of the container to increase integrity of a seal therebetween.

2. The specimen container system of claim 1, 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.

3. The specimen container system of claim 1, 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.

4. The specimen container system of claim 1, wherein the point projects from the outer wall toward the container engaging side.

5. The specimen container system of claim 1, wherein the point is medially disposed along the central surface.

6. The specimen container system of claim 1, further comprising a bridge coupling the central surface to the outer wall.

7. The specimen container system of claim 6, wherein the bridge comprises a step and a container lip edge receiving recess disposed on the container engaging side between the outer wall and the central surface.

8. The specimen container system of claim 1, further comprising an inclined plane defining a thread disposed along an interior of the outer wall.

9. The specimen container system of claim 8, wherein the inclined plane is configured to engage a dual thread of the container.

10. The specimen container system of claim 1, further comprising a container receiving well disposed at a base of the outer wall.

11. The specimen container system of claim 1, further comprising an audible lock actuation protrusion extending from an interior of the outer wall.

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

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

14. The specimen container system of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat cone sides of the conical shape extend from the outer wall at between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees.

15. The specimen container system of claim 1, the 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 a 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 specimen container system 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 specimen container system of claim 16, wherein the cantilevered audible lock projection is disposed adjacent to the lid engagement stop.