Container assembly and method for making assembly
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsJudith Reichenbach, Jay White, Dimitrios Manoussakis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method of assembling a container including an inner tube contained within an outer tube. The method includes providing an outer tube, providing a spacing element adjacent the open top of the outer tube and inserting an inner tube within the outer tube. The spacing element provides for venting of air from between the inner and outer tubes through the top of the container during assembly thereof.
Claims25
A method of assembling a container comprising an inner tube contained within an outer tube, the method comprising:
- providing an outer tube having a closed bottom, an open top and a side wall extending therebetween, said side wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface;
- providing a spacing element adjacent the open top of the outer tube, said spacing element including a central opening extending therethrough and at least one extending member extending within the open top of the outer tube;
- and
- inserting an inner tube within the outer tube through the central opening of the spacing element, said inner tube having a closed bottom, an open top and a side wall extending therebetween, said side wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of said inner tube having an external diameter which is smaller than an internal diameter of the outer tube to form an annular gap therebetween;
- wherein at least as portion of the spacing element extends between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube during assembly to allow for venting of air from the annular gap to atmospheric pressure during insertion of the inner tube within the outer tube.
A container assembly comprising:
- an outer tube having a closed bottom, an open top and a side wall extending therebetween, said side wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface;
- an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and having a closed bottom, an open top and a side wall extending therebetween, the side wall of the inner tube being shorter than the side wall of the outer tube and flared outwardly adjacent the open top of the inner tube for sealing and supporting engagement with the side wall of the outer tube;
- and
- an annular gap extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube in equilibrium with atmospheric pressure at the time of assembly,
- wherein the annular gap is vented to atmospheric pressure during assembly of the container by imparting an interference engagement between the inner tube and the outer tube adjacent the open top of the outer tube.
A spacer element for venting of air between an inner tubular member inserted within an outer tubular member, the spacer element comprising a rim portion forming a central opening therethrough and adapted for placement at an open top of the outer tubular member, and at least one depending portion adapted to extend between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member during insertion of the inner tubular member through the central opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.