U.S. patent application number 15/614210 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-21 for liquid sample collection method using a leak proof, air tight plastic container device.
The applicant listed for this patent is IGU Holdings, LLC. Invention is credited to Albert R. Bruno, Alex V. Strahan.
Application Number | 20170266658 15/614210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57450841 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170266658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bruno; Albert R. ; et
al. |
September 21, 2017 |
Liquid Sample Collection Method Using a Leak Proof, Air Tight
Plastic Container Device
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of collecting a liquid
sample using a leak proof, air tight plastic container device. The
method comprises placing the sample in the container device, the
device comprised of a container, a lid, a lid groove containing a
gasket therein which covers and tightens over the rim of the
container, a lid flange, and a thin hook in the container
containing a second gasket compressed by the lid flange when the
lid is closed over the container; and sealing the sample in the
container device by engaging the internal screw threads of the lid
with the external screw threads of the container and rotating the
lid until resistance to rotation is encountered. The method further
comprises transporting the sample to a site for analysis, whereby
no leakage of the liquid sample and no air seepage into or out of
the container occur during transport.
Inventors: |
Bruno; Albert R.; (McKees
Rocks, PA) ; Strahan; Alex V.; (McKees Rocks,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IGU Holdings, LLC |
Cheyenne |
WY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57450841 |
Appl. No.: |
15/614210 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14732709 |
Jun 6, 2015 |
9687849 |
|
|
15614210 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 3/508 20130101;
B65D 2543/00472 20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B01L 2300/12
20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D
1/16 20130101; B65D 2543/00583 20130101; B01L 3/50825 20130101;
B01L 2200/0689 20130101; G01N 1/10 20130101; B65D 43/0225 20130101;
B01L 2200/185 20130101; B65D 43/02 20130101; B01L 2300/042
20130101; B65D 2543/00518 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B01L 3/00 20060101
B01L003/00; G01N 1/10 20060101 G01N001/10; B65D 1/16 20060101
B65D001/16; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02 |
Claims
1. A method of collecting a liquid sample using a leak proof, air
tight plastic container device, said method comprising: (a) placing
a liquid sample in a leak proof, air tight plastic container
device, said device comprising: a container comprised of a
circumferential side wall, said side wall having an inner surface
and an outer surface and an upper rim, said inner surface defining
an interior opening therein for holding a liquid sample, said side
wall projecting downwardly from said upper rim, an L-shaped hook
continuous with and protruding from the inner surface of the
circumferential side wall and located downwardly from said upper
rim, said hook having an upper surface containing a container
gasket which fits atop the entire upper surface of the hook; a
plurality of external screw threads projecting downwardly from the
upper rim on the outer surface of the circumferential side wall,
and a bottom; a lid comprised of an outer side and an inner side
and a peripheral edge, a plurality of indentations projecting
downwardly from the outer side of the peripheral edge, a plurality
of internal screw threads on the peripheral edge of the inner side,
an annular groove on the inner side of the lid adjacent to the
peripheral edge having a lid gasket therein, and an annular,
straight lid flange on the inner side adjacent to the annular
groove, said lid configured to rotatably screw on to the outside of
the container by engagement of the internal screw threads of the
lid with the external screw threads of the container and to close
the opening of the container by rotation of the lid in a screw-type
fashion until resistance to the rotation is encountered, wherein
the lid gasket in the annular groove is configured to mate with and
be compressed atop the upper rim of the container to form a tight
seal, wherein the annular straight lid flange is configured to
insert into and atop the entire upper surface of the hook so that
the container gasket therein is compressed under the annular
straight lid flange to form a second, separate tight seal, wherein
when the container gasket is compressed, the straight lid flange,
the upper surface of the container hook and the container gasket
all have substantially the same width; and (b) sealing the liquid
sample in the container device by engaging the internal screw
threads of the lid with the external screw threads of the container
and rotating the lid in a screw-type fashion until resistance to
the rotation is encountered.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the lid is rotatably screwed
on to the outside of the container, the two separate seals prevent
any leakage of the liquid sample from the interior of the container
and any air seepage into or out of the interior of the
container.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume capacity of the
contents of the container ranges from 500 ml down to 40 ml.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lid gasket and the container
gasket have the same diameter.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the container gasket has a
smaller diameter than the lid gasket.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the
liquid sample to a site for analysis, wherein no leakage of the
liquid sample and no air seepage into or out of the container
device occur during the transport.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
14/732,709, filed Jun. 6, 2015, which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to medical laboratory
equipment and, in particular, to an improved, leak proof, air
tight, cost-effective liquid specimen plastic container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Body fluids, such as urine, routinely are taken from
individuals by medical personnel for laboratory analysis. The
typical specimen is collected at one location, such as a medical
doctor's office or hospital, and then transported to a clinical
laboratory site where the specimen is subjected to analysis. The
specimen usually is collected in a plastic container that is
shipped in the same container. The laboratory site may be quite
distant from the collection site and the specimen container often
is forwarded by mail, including air mail. To maintain the integrity
of the sample it is necessary that the specimen container be leak
proof and air tight to prevent fluid loss and possible air
contamination during handling while in transport, especially when
subjected to reduced atmospheric pressure that may occur during air
transport.
[0004] Conventional plastic specimen containers with removable lids
for medical purposes are not completely leak proof and air tight.
Plastic specimen containers which purport to be leak proof and/or
air tight usually include intricate sealant design features which
can be costly to manufacture, or require sealant materials placed
over external areas of the container where the container and its
lid engage, without which complete fluid retention and
air-tightness in the container cannot be ensured. Complete sealant
properties are especially necessary when the plastic container is
stored for an extended period of time, where it is likely that the
plastic container will undergo slight deformations in shape due to
temperature and pressure changes, resulting in fluid leakage as
well as slow air seepage into and out of the container.
[0005] A need exists, therefore, for an improved plastic container
for collection and transport of medical specimens which is
completely leak proof and air tight for extended periods of time
and under varying temperatures and atmospheric pressure without the
need for costly manufacturing sealant design features or additional
external sealant materials.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention fulfills this need by providing an
improved, cost-effective, plastic medical specimen container device
that is completely leak proof and air tight for extended periods of
time and environmental conditions, such as mechanical stressors and
varying temperature and atmospheric pressure.
[0007] In particular, the present invention provides a leak proof,
air tight, plastic specimen container device comprising a container
and a lid. The container is comprised of a circumferential sidewall
having an inner surface and an outer surface, an upper rim of the
side wall, and a bottom. Projecting into the interior of the
container from the inner surface of the circumferential side wall
located downwardly from the upper rim is a hook. The hook contains
a gasket therein. A plurality of external screw threads projects
downwardly from the upper rim on the outer surface of the
circumferential side wall. The lid comprises an outer side and an
inner side and a peripheral edge. A plurality of indentations
project downwardly from the outer side of the peripheral edge, and
a plurality of internal screw threads project downwardly from the
peripheral edge of the inner side. Located on the inner side of the
lid adjacent to the peripheral edge is an annular groove having a
lid gasket therein. Adjacent to the annular groove is an annular
flange on the inner side adjacent to the annular groove.
[0008] The lid of the container device is configured to rotatably
screw on to the outside of the container by engagement of the
internal screw threads of the lid with the external screw threads
of the container. The lid flange is configured to insert into the
hook when the lid is rotatably screwed on to the container. When
the lid is closed on the container, the container gasket is
compressed by the lid flange and the lid gasket is compressed by
the upper rim of the container. The compression of the lid gasket
and the container gasket completely seals the lid onto the
container to prevent any leakage of the liquid sample from the
interior of the container and any air seepage into or out of the
interior of the container.
[0009] The volume capacity of the liquid contents of the container
device may be, without limitation, 500 ml down to 40 ml, with all
sizes in-between decreased from 500 ml in 20 ml increments.
[0010] The present invention also provides a method of collecting a
liquid sample comprising placing the liquid sample in the leak
proof, air tight, plastic specimen container device described
above, and sealing the liquid sample in the container by engaging
the internal screw threads of the lid with the external screw
threads of the container, and rotating the lid in a screw-type
fashion until resistance to the rotation is encountered. The method
further comprises ensuring leak proof, air tight transport of the
liquid sample during transport from the site of specimen collection
to a different site for laboratory analysis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A fuller understanding of the invention can be gained from
the following description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to
identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate
views, which illustrate some, but not the only and exclusive,
examples of embodiments of the invention and, as such, the figures
disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than
limiting. In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of the plastic specimen container
device shown with the lid in a closed position on the container in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view taken along line 2-2
of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of section 3 encircled in FIG.
2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front view of the plastic specimen container
device shown with the lid in a partially opened position on the
container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view taken along line 5-5
of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of section 6 encircled in FIG.
5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the inner surface of the lid of the
plastic specimen container device in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;
and
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of section 9 encircled in FIG.
8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, the invention comprises an
improved, leak proof, air tight, cost-effective, plastic container
device 10 for collecting and transporting liquid specimens for
laboratory analysis.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the leak proof, air tight, plastic
container device 10 includes a generally circular container 12 and
a generally circular lid 14 that closes over and seals the
container 12 (closed container shown in FIGS. 1-3; open container
shown in FIGS. 4-6). The container 12 comprises an interior for
holding a liquid sample, the interior bounded by a circumferential
side wall 44, which has an outer surface 16, an inner surface 18,
and a base 30. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the upper end of the
side wall 44 terminates in an upper rim or edge 20 that is
continuous with the outer surface 16 and the inner surface 18 of
the container 12. Projecting downwardly from the upper rim 20 on
the outer surface 16 of the container 12 are a plurality of annular
external screw threads 22 oriented generally perpendicular to the
side wall 44 of the container 12 (best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6).
Continuous with the inner surface 18 of the upper rim 20 is a hook
34 located downwardly from the upper rim 20 for receiving a gasket
therein (best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6). In an embodiment, the hook 34
is generally L-shaped hook.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the lid 14 includes an outer side
24 and an inner side 26. The periphery of the lid 14 projects
downwardly from the outer side 24 of the lid 14 to form a shoulder
which contains a plurality of indentations 28 oriented generally
perpendicular to the outer side 24 of the lid 14. In use, the
plurality of indentations 28 facilitates gripping the lid 14 when
opening and closing the container 12. As shown in FIG. 8, adjacent
to the periphery of the lid 14 on the inner side 26 is an annular
groove 38 which protrudes slightly on the outer surface 24 of the
lid 14 to form an annular bulge 46 (best seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9).
As shown in FIG. 9, the groove 38 is a configured to receive a lid
gasket 40 therein. Adjacent to the annular groove 38 is an annular
flange 42. When the lid 14 is closed over the container 12, the lid
gasket 40 in the annular groove 38 sits atop, completely covers,
and is compressed upon the upper rim 20 of the container 12 to form
a tight seal. The annular flange 42 inserts into the hook 34 in the
container 12 which contains the container gasket 36 (best seen in
FIGS. 3 and 6). Projecting downwardly from the periphery of the lid
14 on the inner side 26 are a plurality of annular internal screw
threads 32 oriented generally perpendicular to the inner side 26
and the outer side 24 of the lid 14 (best seen in FIGS. 6, 8 and
9). The internal screw threads 32 of the lid 14 are configured to
be complementary to and engage the external screw threads 22 of the
container 12 so that the lid 14 rotatably closes on to the
container 12 when moved in a direction parallel to the engaged
screw threads. When resistance is encountered to rotation of the
lid 14 on to the container 14, the container is effectively leak
proof and air tight with the contents of the container 14 being
completely sealed therein.
[0024] In an embodiment, the plastic container device 10 of the
invention has a liquid capacity of 120 ml having the following
dimensions: diameter of the lid 14 ranges from about 4.0 cm to
about 8.0 cm; length of the lid screw threads 32 and the container
screw threads 22 range from about 1.0 cm to about 2.0 cm; length of
the container 12 from the bottom 30 of the container 12 to the
bottom of the container screw threads 22 ranges from about 5.0 cm
to about 8.0 cm; thickness of the container 12 from the inner side
wall 16 to the outer side wall 18 ranges from about 0.5 mm to about
2.0 mm; length of the hook 34 from the upper rim 20 of the
container 12 to the bottom of the hook ranges from about 1.0 cm to
about 2.0 cm; outer width of the hook 34 ranges from about 2.0 mm
to about 6.0 mm; diameter of the concave portion of the hook 34
ranges from about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm; length of the lid flange
42 ranges from about 0.5 cm to about 1.5 cm; width of the lid
flange 42 ranges from about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm; and width of
the container gasket 36 and the lid gasket 40 ranges from about 1.0
mm to about 3.0 mm.
[0025] In another embodiment, the plastic container device 10 has a
liquid capacity of 120 ml with the following dimensions: diameter
of the lid 14 is about 6.0 cm; length of the lid screw threads 32
and the container screw threads 22 is about 1.5 cm; length of the
container 12 from the bottom 30 of the container 12 to the bottom
of the container screw threads 22 is about 7.0 cm; thickness of the
container 12 from the outer side wall 16 to the inner side wall 18
is about 1.3 mm; length of hook 34 from the upper rim 20 of the
container 12 to the bottom of the hook is about 1.5 cm; outer width
of the hook 34 is about 4.0 mm; diameter of the concave portion of
the hook 34 is about 2.0 mm; length of the lid flange 42 is about
1.0 cm; width of the lid flange 42 is about 2.0 mm; and width of
the container gasket 36 and the lid gasket 40 is about 2.0 mm.
[0026] In other embodiments of the invention, the volume capacity
of the plastic container device 10 may be 500 ml, 480 ml, 460 ml,
440 ml, 420 ml, 400 ml, 380, 360 ml, 340 ml, 320 ml, 300 ml, 280 ml
260 ml, 240 ml, 220 ml, 200 ml, 180 ml, 160 ml, 140 ml, 100 ml, 80
ml, 60 ml or 40 ml, with dimensions for each volume capacity
plastic container device increased or reduced proportionate to the
dimensions disclosed above for the 120 ml plastic container device
10.
[0027] Suitable materials for manufacturing the container 12 and
lid 14 include polymeric materials, which include, without
limitation, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene glycol, or any
other suitable plastic material that has strength and
durability.
[0028] Container and lid gaskets 36, 40 for use in the invention
may be made from any suitable material, such as elastomers commonly
used to manufacture gaskets, which includes, without limitation,
rubber gaskets configured as O-rings. The shape of the gaskets 36,
40 may be, without limitation, rectangular, circular, D-shaped, or
X-shaped. In an embodiment, the gaskets 36, 40 are rectangular. In
an embodiment, the size of the two gaskets 36, 40 is identical. In
another embodiment, the size of the two gaskets 36, 40 is
different, with the container gasket 36 having a smaller size than
the lid gasket 40. In all embodiments, the container gasket 36 and
the lid gasket 40 used in the invention have a shape that provides
for complete contact with their mating surfaces, i.e., the upper
rim 20 and the lid flange 42, respectively.
[0029] During use, after a liquid sample is collected in the
interior of the container 12, the lid 14 is closed over the
container 12 by engagement of the complementary screw threads 22,
32 and rotatable movement of the lid 14. In use, when the lid 14 is
being closed over the container 12, first the lid gasket 40 in the
annular groove 38 mates with, and is compressed upon, the upper rim
20 of the container 12 to form a tight seal. Then, the annular
flange 42 inserts into the hook 34 in the container 12 which
contains the container gasket 36, which is compressed by the flange
42 to form a second tight seal. The lid flange 42 is configured to
fit tightly in the hook 34 of the container 12 due to the lid
flange 42 having a width that is substantially the same as the
inner width of the hook 34. Further, the container gasket 36 used
in the invention has a width that is substantially the same as the
inner width of the container hook 34.
[0030] Importantly, therefore, when the lid 14 is closed over the
container 12, the lid gasket 40 and the container gasket 36 form
two independent, internal, tight seals so that the contents of the
container is completely leak-proof and air tight. Further, in the
event that the plastic container 12 and/or lid 14 is deformed in
shape due to temperature or pressure changes in the environment, or
because the plastic container 12 is stored for an extended period
of time, because the gaskets 36, 40 are tightly compressed in their
respective locations, the integrity of the leak proof and air tight
seal is maintained, even from gradual air seepage into or out of
the container 12, which typically occurs over time. The important
advantage of the present invention, therefore, is the ability to
completely seal the liquid contents of the container 12 from any
leakage out, and from any air seepage into and/or out, of the
container 12 for extended periods of time, due to the two internal,
independent seals, and from environmental conditions, such as
mechanical stressors, rigors encountered during transportation,
especially air transport, and fluctuations in temperature and
atmospheric pressure.
[0031] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to embodiments described above, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in
form and detail may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *