Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Patent
1990-12-13
1993-04-06
Housel, James C.
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
7386411, 215306, 220339, 220375, 220732, 222570, B01L 300
Patent
active
052001539
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to containers having an outlet for the expulsion of fluid, for use for example in the preparation of assay samples.
Inexpensive disposable containers are known which typically comprise a tubular vessel of plastics material having a flexible wall, and a cap for sealing the tubular vessel. The cap releasably engages the tubular vessel, and has an outlet through which fluid may be dispensed. The fluid may be expelled under positive pressure by squeezing the flexible wall of the tubular vessel. These containers may also have a filter positioned in the cap to filter particulate or amorphous material as the fluid is expelled.
However, the cap, once removed by a technician using such a container, is easily mislaid. This may lead to contamination of the contents of the container. Also, when the container contains fluid, to prevent the contents spilling it is necessary that the container is stored in such a way as to prevent it being knocked over or to prevent the fluid in any way escaping from the container, for example by storing it in a rack.
The invention provides a vessel closable by a releasably engageable cap having a nozzle through which liquid contents in the vessel may be expelled, wherein the cap is attached to the vessel by hinge means and wherein the hinge means provides means for supporting the vessel when the vessel is capped.
Preferably, the hinge means provides for supporting the capped end of the vessel when the vessel is resting on a surface, and more particularly for supporting the capped end of the vessel at an elevation above that of the surface.
Preferably the vessel including the cap and hinge means is constructed integrally of resiliently flexible moisture-impervious material, such as plastics material. Preferably, the material is temperature-resistant so that the vessel may be used during the preparation of an assay sample involving extraction at elevated temperature.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge means comprises a pair of strips of material, each pair member being attached to both the vessel body and the cap at positions diametrically opposed to the positions at which the other pair member is attached thereto. Ideally, during closure of the vessel the hinge means folds back upon itself and projects laterally from the vessel, the apex or apices of the fold providing one or more potential points of contact with a surface, such as a laboratory bench top, upon which the capped vessel may be placed.
By providing a container comprising a vessel and a cap attached to the vessel by hinge means, the invention has the advantage that there is no need for the cap to be held by the operator or put down whilst filling the vessel, thereby minimising the risk of either losing the cap or contaminating the sample. The hinge also acts as a stand or support for the container when closed. This can be achieved, for example, if the hinge means is sufficiently long such that when the cap is engaged by the vessel, the hinge means folds back on itself and projects from the vessel.
The folded hinge means provides at least one contact point remote from the container by which the capped end of the container may rest above a horizontal surface. As a result, the closed container will not roll about on the horizontal surface. The necessity of placing the container in a rack when fluid contents are present in the vessel is therefore removed.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 shows a longtudinal cross section of a container according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows in section part of the container shown in FIG. 1 when in the closed state.
FIG. 3 shows a profile of the container of FIG. 2 when closed.
FIG. 4 shows an elevation from the direction IV shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 shows an end elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention in the open state.
FIG. 6 shows a profile of the container of FIG. 5 in the closed state.
The container of FIG. 1 comprises
REFERENCES:
patent: 4215700 (1980-08-01), Crouther et al.
patent: 4625899 (1986-12-01), Stull
patent: 4713219 (1987-12-01), Gerken et al.
Carr Anthony H.
Darnell Paul R.
Davidson Ian W.
Housel James C.
Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
Wallenhorst Maureen M.
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