Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~D5856G
This invention relates to specimen containers,
primarily for medical use.
In the course of a medical treatment, it is
often necessary for a patient to provid~ a specimen of a
body fluid (eg. blood) for analysis. The specimen is
normally placed in a first container for storage and
transportation to the laboratory at which it is to be
analyzed. In the laboratory, the specimen is transferred
to a second container for the actual analysis to be per-
foxmed. ~ccordingly, two containers are required for
each specimen~ The requirement for two containers amounts
to a significant cost factor, particularly where a high
volume of specimens are to be analyæed. Also, a signi-
ficant labour cost is involved in transferring specimens
from a first container into a second container.
An object of the present invention is to provide
a specimen container comprising a container body and cap
having an improved sealing arrangement between the cap
and body.
According to the invention, the container body
defines a cavity to receive a specimen and includes an
annular neck which defines an opening providing axis to
said cavity and which has an outer end portion including
an end edge surrounding said opening. The cap is fitted
to the neck of the container body and closes the opening
and comprises a circular top having an inner surface
formed with an annular groove arranged to closely receive
the outer end portion of said neck, and an annular skirt
which projects outwardly from the inner surface of the
top and extends around the neck of the container body~
The skirt and neck have co-operating screw threads for
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removably retaining the cap on the container body and the
cap further comprises an annular seal member formed
integrally with the inner surface of the circular top and
arranged to fit inside the opening of the container body.
The annular seal member is in the form of a relatively
thin, resilient lip disposed inwardly of said groove in
said top and having a flat outer surace which is co-
extensive with an inner wall of said groove and which
lies in continuous surace-to-surface contact with the
inner surface of said neck of the container body, thereby
sealing said opening in the container body. The lip is
outwardly inclined toward the skirt of the cap when the
cap is separate from the container body so as to be pro-
gressive~y deflected inwardly by contact with the neck
of container body as the cap is screwed on:to said body,
whereby the seal member is urged against the annular
neck portion of the container body under preload when
the cap is in its fully tightened position.
In order that the invention may be more clearly
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate a number of embodiments of the
invention by way of example. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a
container according to one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view
through the container of Fig. 1 in the assembled con-
dition; and,
Fig. 3 is a side view, partly broken away of
a container according to an alternative embodiment.
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Referring first to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and
2, the container comprises a body 20 and a cap 22, each of
which is a one-piece plastic molding. Body 20 is molded
in a transparent material while the cap 22 is opaque and
suitably coloured. If appropriate, the cap 22 may be
colour-coded or provided with a label to indicate the in-
tended use of the container. A self-adhesivP label will
norma~ly be provided on the container body, for example,
as indicated at 24 and will be designed so that it can be
readily marked in use to indicate the source of the specimen
in the container and, if appropriate, analytical results.
In any event, the container body is of hollow,
cylindrical form and defines an internal cavity 26 to receive
a specimen. The body includes, adjacent its upper end, an
annular neck portion 28 which defines an opening 30 pro-
viding access to the cavity 26.
- Container body 20 is self-standing in a generally
upright position with the opening 30 uppermost. Thus, the
body has a relatively thin, hollow cylindrical wall 32 which
extends about a longitudinal axis A-A and which definés, at
the bottom of the container an annular end surface 34 dis-
posed in a plane normal to axis A-A. This surface allows
the container body to be self-standing. At the upper end
of the container, wall 32 terminates in a similar annular
end surface 36 also disposed in a plane normal to axis A-A.
Container body 20 also includes a bottom end wall
38 which is spaced inwardly from the lower end of the body
represented by the annular edge 34. As can best be seen
in Fig. 2, end wall 3Y is molded integrally with the side
wall 32 and is shaped to define an inner surface 40 of down-
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wardly extending conical shape, whereby the cavity in thecontainer body has a conically shaped lower end portion.
Cap 22 includes a circular top 42 which has an
inner surface 44 and which is arranged to fit over and close
the opening 30 in the container body 20. r~he cap also in-
cludes an annular skirt 46 which projec~s outwardly from
the top 42 around surface 44 and which extends around
the neck portion 28 of the container body when the cap and
container are fitted together~ Co-operatiny screw threads
48 and 50 are provided on the external surface of the
neck portion 28 and on the inner surface of the skirt 46 of
the cap 22 respectively and serve to removably retain the
cap on the container body. Removal and replacement of the
cap is, of course, effected by turning it in the appropriate
direction with respect to the body so as to cause the screw
threads 48 and 50 to disengage or engagè as the case may
be.
Cap 22 further includes an annular seal member 52
formed integrally with the inner surface 44 of the top 42
of the cap. Seal member 52 is arranged to fit inside the
opening 30 in the container body in surface-to-surface con-
tact with the neck portion 28 of the body so as to seal
the container body cavity. It will be seen that the seal
member is in the nature of an annular lip and is of out-
wardly tapered, generally triangular shape in cross-section.
As a result of this cross-section, the lip has a certain
degree of inherent flexibility, which makes for a high degree
of sealing efficiency between the seal member and the con-
tainer body. Sealing efficiency is also assisted by the fact
that the seal member is angled slightly towards the skirt
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46 of the cap in its unstressed condition. Part of the
cap 22 has been broken away in Fig. 1 to show part of the
seal member in this eondition. When the cap is screwed onto
the container body, the seal member is deflected slightly
to the position in which ik is shown in Fig. 2 and is accord-
ingly applied against the container body under a slight
pre-load. As can also be seen in Fig. 1, an annular groove
54 is provided around the seal member 52 to receive the upper
marginal portion of the eontainer body when the cap is in
its fully tightened position. This portion of the container
body enters into and "nests" wlth the cap to further enhance
sealing efficiency. Fig. 1 also shows that the external
surface of the skirt 46 of the cap is ribbed as indicated
at 56 to faeilitate gripping of the cap when it is being
tightened.
,
The specimen container shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is
designed primarily for medical use. A specimen i~ intro-
duced into the open container body in the same fashion as
would be the case using a conventional eontainer. The con-
20 ~ tainer is then sealed by fitting the capp 22 and the sealedcontainer can be stored or transported as appropriate. When
the specimen is to be analyzed, the container can be opened
by removing the cap and the specimen dealt with accordingly.
Frequently, analysis of specimens requires that the specimens
be placed in a centrifuge. As a result of the conical shape
of the lower end portion of the container body cavity 26,
the container body (with or without the cap 22) can be placed
directly in a centrifuge and rotated as appropriate.
Fig. 3 of the drawings shows a specimen container
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
The container of Fig. 3 is essentially similar to the con-
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tainer shown in Figs. 1 and 2 (although of somewhat different
proportions) except in that it has a flat bottom end wall.
Primed reference numerals have been used in Fig. 3 to denote
parts which correspond with the previous figures.
The container of Fig. 3 comprises a container body
20' and a cap 22'. The container body is of hollow cylindrical
shape and defines a cavity 26' and an opening 30' providing
access to the cavity. The container body has a bottom end
wall 38' which is flat and on which the container stands.
The cap 22' of the container is essentially the
same as the cap shown in Fig~. 1 and 2. It includes a cir-
cular top 42' having an inner surface 44', and a skirt 46'
disposed around a neck portion 28' of the container body.
Co-operating scr~w threads 48' and 50 ' are provided on the
container body and cap skirt respectively. An annular seal
member 52' is formed integrally with the inner sur-
face of the top of the cap and fits inside the neck portion
of the container, all as described in connection with the
previous figures.
It will of course be appreciated that the specimen
container shown in Fig. 3 is intended merely for use in the
storage and/or transportation of specimens and could not be
used in a centrifuge in the manner referred to in connection
with the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. This form of container
would be used where the specimen is not required to be
centrifuged and/or cannot conveniently be placed in a con-
tainer of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be appreciated that the preceding des-
cription relat~s to specific embodiments and that many
modifications are possible within the broad scope of the
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invention. For example, the proportions of the container
may vary. In fact, it i5 contemplated that both the con-
taine~ of Figs. 1 and 2 and that of Fig. 3 will be made
available in a range of different sizes in ordex to cater
for different applications. The cross-sectional shape of
the container could be other than circular in a case in which
a screw-on cap is not required. Also, in some cases, the
container may include auxiliary elements such as spoons,
stirring devices and the like fitted to the lid of the con-
tainer end depending into the cavity in the`body portion.
Also, it is to be noted that a container of thegeneral form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 having a conical bottom
end wall need not essentially be provided with a cap. The
container could have a plain upper end portion to receive
a stopper, bung or other closure means. Where a cap is
provided, it may be fitted to the container body other than
by screw threads. For example, a snap-on cap could be used.
Finally, it is to be noted that while the pre-
ceding description refers to specimen containers for medical
use, there is no limitation in this. For example, a con-
tainer o the form provided by the invention could be used
for containing non-medical chemical specimens.
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