Container with insert

• US 9,745,101 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSP Technologies North America LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSP Technologies Incorporated (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Freedman, Jonathan R., Abrams, William S., Belfance, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castriotta, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/357,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20140319149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 221102, 221 97, 221 34, 220 2386, 220 2387, 220528, 220505, 220527, 220908, 206223
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2209/00 Provisions for used articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00083 oval
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00527 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00842 outside of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/267 the absorber being in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0888 with provision for used articles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A vial and insert assembly includes a vial having an interior and an opening leading to the interior. The assembly further includes an insert configured to fit within the interior. The insert includes a first receptacle for housing a plurality of unused products and a second receptacle for housing a plurality of used products.

Claims

1. A vial and insert assembly, comprising:

a vial having an interior and an opening leading to the interior; and

an insert configured to fit within the interior, the insert having a first receptacle for housing a plurality of unused elongate strips and a second receptacle for housing a plurality of used elongate strips, said unused and used elongate strips having a width and a thickness, the second receptacle being defined by an interior region of the insert, at least a portion of the second receptacle extending beneath the first receptacle, the insert including an outer surface, the outer surface having an uppermost surface, the uppermost surface substantially enclosing the second receptacle and having an opening in the form of a slot to accept one of the strips at a time, said opening having a width equal to the width of the used elongate strips plus minimal clearance, and said opening having a thickness equal to the thickness of the elongate strips plus minimal clearance, wherein the opening is in communication with the interior region.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first receptacle comprises two first receptacles, the second receptacle including a first portion extends in a horizontal direction beneath the two first receptacles, the second receptacle also including a second portion that extends upward from a substantially central location along a length of the first portion and between the two first receptacles.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vial further comprises a cap that removably affixes over the opening to move the vial between an opened position and a closed position, and wherein the cap and vial are configured to engage in a moisture tight seal.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the cap is connected to the vial by a hinge.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the vial comprises a side wall that is tubular and has a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vial further includes a desiccant liner.

7. A vial and insert assembly, comprising:

a vial having an interior and an opening leading to the interior; and

an insert configured to fit within the interior, the insert having a first receptacle for housing a plurality of unused elongate strips and a second receptacle for housing a plurality of used elongate strips, said unused and used elongate strips having a length, a width and a thickness, the second receptacle being defined by an interior region of the insert, at least a portion of the second receptacle extending beneath the first receptacle, the insert including an outer surface, the outer surface having an uppermost surface, the uppermost surface substantially enclosing the second receptacle and having an opening in the form of a slot to accept one of the strips at a time, said opening having a width equal to the width of the used elongate strips plus minimal clearance, and said opening having a thickness equal to the thickness of the elongate strips plus minimal clearance, wherein the opening is in communication with the interior region, said interior region of the second receptacle having a vertical height extending from the uppermost surface to a bottom wall of the second receptacle, wherein the vertical height is greater than the length of the used elongate strips.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first receptacle comprises two first receptacles, the second receptacle including a first portion that extends in a horizontal direction beneath the two first receptacles, the second receptacle also including a second portion that extends upward from a substantially central location along a length of the first portion and between the two first receptacles.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the vial further comprises a cap that removably affixes over the opening to move the vial between an opened position and a closed position, and wherein the cap and vial are configured to engage in a moisture tight seal.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cap is connected to the vial by a hinge.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the vial comprises a side wall that is tubular and has a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the vial further includes a desiccant liner.