Mailer For Biological Samples

Abstract

A sample-receiving inner tube is threaded into an inner cap provided in the base of an outer tube of a mailer for biological samples and the like. Another cap is screwed over the mouth of this outer tube, with this latter cap being provided with a seat for the closed end of the inner tube. An addressed and stamped (postage previously applied) sealing strip with a longitudinal perforation is applied over the joint line between the outer tube and its cap with the perforations in line with this joint line. The outer cap is stepped so that the sealing strip does not project above its surface and to form a shoulder spaced from the junction or parting line by the width of a portion of the tape as measured to the perforations to ensure proper positioning of the strip.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hermetically sealable package which may be sent through the mail. More particularly this invention concerns a mailable vial which is suitable for sending bacteria-sensitive materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often necessary to send a hermetically sealed container through the mail. To this end it is important that the container or mailer, which may be a vial, a centrifuge tube, or the like, remain tightly sealed in order to prevent the entry of any bacteria into it or even to prevent the escape of any of its contents. Such a package is often used by doctors to mail samples requiring laboratory investigation to a laboratory, for patients to transmit fluid or solid specimens of body waste or sputum to a doctor or for transmission of specimens between laboratories.

The customary method has been to screw the cap on the vial, and then place it in a pouch bearing the necessary stamps and address label. In spite of the fact that such vials are not intended to be reused, disposal is never assured. In general such packages have not met with success acceptance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mailable container or package (mailer) for the purposes described.

Another object is to provide such a mailable container which can be used for safely transmitting bacteria-sensitive samples without contamination and without creating difficulties for postal authorities.

A further object is to provide such a container which may not be readily reused and which can be mailed with a minimum of difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects are attained according to the present invention in a mailable package comprising a pair of coaxial tubes, one within the other. The inner tube is open at one end and screwed into a seat formed in the base of the outer tube. This outer tube is sealed by a cap screwed over it and formed with a seat for the closed end of the inner tube. A paper strip formed with a central weakened region, advantageously a perforation line, is bonded to the outer tube and to the cap with the perforations overlying the joint line between cap and outer tube. This strip is advantageously made of paper and is provided with the necessary address and postage (via a postage meter) prior to gluing over the closed container. A water-insoluble glue, such as chrome glue or DeKhotinsky cement, is used to prevent reuse of the container by permanently bonding the sealing strip to the package. The cement is of such nature as to prevent pulling the strip from the package without a trace and thereby allowing reuse.

According to another feature of the invention the cap has a lip threadedly engaging the outer tube. Both tubes and the cap are basically cylindrical and coaxial with the cap having a small-diameter portion adjacent its rim. This small-diameter portion is of the same diameter as the outer tube and is smaller than the remainder of the cap by a radial distance equal to the thickness of the sealing strip. Thus the cap has a shoulder against which an edge of the strip can be seated for positioning the perforations at the parting line.

Such a tube is extremely rugged and can be quickly and easily prepared for mailing. The user need merely apply the self-addressed label/sealing-strip and postage frank and drop the package in the mail. If the package has been opened in transit, this will be immediately visible on receipt since the perforations will be ruptured. Such a package can be distributed to the public, for example, for tuberculosis sputum tests with preaddressed and postage-paid sealing strips that only need the return address of the sender.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a tube according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a mailing-label/sealing strip usable on the tube shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III--III of FIG. 1.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

The package shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises an aluminum inner tube 3 of cylindrical shape with a diameter d and with a round closed end 3a and a threaded end 3b. This tube 3 may be a conventional centrifuge tube. An aluminum outer tube 1 of a diameter D equal to slightly less than 2d is coaxial with and surrounds the tube 3. This outer tube has a closed end 1a formed with a circular recess 1b on the inside of which is provided a hard-rubber internally threaded cap 4. The end 1b of the tube 3 is screwed into the cap 4 which itself is formed with a central nipple 4a adapted to receive a probe or the like. This cap 4 is vulcanized to the interior of the tube 1 and forms a seat that makes an airtight seal with the tube 3.

The tube 1 has a threaded open end 1c which is formed as a threaded neck having a diameter D' equal to around 1.5d. This end 1c is threaded into a hard-rubber cap 2 formed with a pair of coaxial cylindrical projections 2a and 2b. The inner projection 2a snugly receives the closed end 3a of the tube 3 to cushion and hold this tube securely. The projection 2b is internally threaded to receive the threaded end 1c of the tube 1, and is formed on its outside with a step 2c subdividing it into a cylindrical region 10 having a diameter equal to diameter D and a region of slightly greater diameter D". This cap 2 can serve as a stand for the tube 3 when the tube 1 is unscrewed and removed. Step 2c forms an abutment for one longitudinal edge, positioning the perforations at the separation line.

A sealing-strip/address label 5 is provided which is made of paper and coated with an adhesive 11 that joins with a similar adhesive coating on the reduced diameter region of projection 2b and on the portion of tube 1 immediately adjacent the threaded neck 1c. This rectangular strip of paper is provided with a longitudinally weakened region in the form of perforations 6 that line up with the rim 9 of the collar 10 when the tape 5 is applied to the closed package with one of its longitudinal edges lying along the shoulder 2c. This label 5 is provided with a pair of boxes 8 and 8' for the sender's and receiver's addresses, respectively, and with a printed-postage or franked region 7. The strip 5 may also be prepared by an automatic postage meter and addressing machine. The label 5 may be so provided by the distributor. Since the difference between diameters D and D" is equal to twice the thickness t of the label 5, this label will lie flush with the cap 2 to make a very neat package.

The user need merely deposit the required sample in the inner tube 3, then screw this tube 3 into the cap 4, then screw the tube 1 into the cap 2 and apply the label 5. The package so made may be simply dropped in the mail without the need of placing it in a mailing pouch.

Claims

I claim:

1. A mailer comprising:

a tube having an open end;

a cap threadable over said end and defining a joint line with said tube;

a strip adhesively secured to said tube and said cap around said joint line and provided with a region of reduced strength juxtaposed with said line, said strip being provided with address and postage;

a second tube coaxially received within said first-mentioned tube and having an open end and a closed end, both of said tubes being cylindrical; and

a second cap provided within said first tube and threadedly receiving said open end of said second tube, said first-mentioned cap being formed with a pair of cylindrical coaxial projections, one of said projections threadedly receiving said open end of said first tube and the other of said projections snugly receiving the closed end of said second tube.

2. The package defined in claim 1 wherein said strip is permanently bonded to said tube and to said cap.

3. The package defined in claim 2 wherein said cap is generally cylindrical and formed with a shoulder defining a region of reduced diameter adjacent said joint line and a region of greater diameter.

4. The package defined in claim 3 wherein said weakened region is perforated.

5. A mailer comprising:

a tube having an open end;

a cap threadable over said end and defining a joint line with said tube;

a strip adhesively secured to said tube and said cap around said joint line and provided with a region of reduced strength juxtaposed with said line, said strip being provided with address and postage;

a second tube coaxially received within said first-mentioned tube and having an open end and a closed end, both of said tubes being cylindrical; and

a second cap provided within said first tube and threadedly receiving said open end of said second tube, said first-mentioned cap being formed with a pair of cylindrical coaxial projections, one of said projections threadedly receiving said open end of said first tube and the other of said projections snugly receiving the closed end of said second tube, said one projection being formed with a shoulder subdividing it axially into a portion of reduced diameter adjacent said joint line and covered by said strip and a region of greater diameter, the difference between said diameters being substantially equal to twice the thickness of said strip.