US 5,398,837 AGranted

Cell culture flask and closure

OwnerAlberto Degrassiinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A cell culture flask having a hinged closure including a closure top which covers the flask opening and a locking arrangement to hold the closure top in the closed position. A finger tab is provided which extends radially from the closure top for manipulating the hinged closure to engage or release the locking arrangement, which may be snap-type or bayonet-type, and to move the closure top between the closed and fully open positions solely by one finger when the flask is held by the remaining four fingers and within the palm of one hand providing access to inside the flask for a pipette or the like held in the other hand through the flask opening. An elongated portion of the finger tab extends radially when the closure top is in the closed position and presents a radial extension which provides leverage to allow movement by one finger to pivot the hinged closure and to move it axially, to engage or release the locking arrangement, and to move it between the closed and fully open positions.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A cell culture flask comprising:

a container having a neck, the neck having an axis and an opening in an opening plane transverse to the axis providing access to inside the container for a pipette through the neck opening,
a hinged closure having a top which covers the neck opening, and a flange which depends from the top outside the neck opening when the closure top is in a closed position, the flange having a locking lug which projects laterally from the flange,
closure hinge means and locking means secured to the neck including:
a hinge member supporting the closure top for pivotal movement from the closed position to a fully open position at which it and the flange are located away from an axial projection of the neck opening,
a locking element outside the neck which locks the closure top in the closed position after the closure flange is moved axially onto the neck by engaging and resisting movement of the locking lug, and
means for manipulating the closure to engage or release the locking means and for moving the closure top between the closed and fully open positions solely by one finger when the flask is held by the remaining four fingers and within the palm of one hand including:
a finger tab which has an elongated portion which extends radially relative to the neck axis from the closure top at a location adjacent the hinge member in a direction generally parallel to the opening plane, when the closure top is in the closed position, and in a direction generally perpendicular to the opening plane, when the closure top is in the fully open position,
the elongated portion of the finger tab presenting an extension spaced radially from the closure top which allows the one finger of the one hand to move the closure top, when locked in the closed position, solely via force produced by the one finger, applied to the finger tab, and transmitted through the finger tab to the closure top in first and second stages, a first-stage wherein the finger tab which extends from the closure top provides leverage to overcome resistance by the locking element to movement of the locking lug as the closure top is moved responsive to the force applied by the one finger in a direction which releases the locking lug from engagement by the locking element, and a second stage wherein the closure top is pivoted toward the fully open position.

5 more elements

A cell culture flask having a neck, the neck having an axis and an opening, and a hinged closure supported on the neck, the hinged closure including a closure top which covers the flask opening and a locking arrangement, the locking arrangement including a locking element outside the flask neck which cooperates with a locking lug on the closure top to hold the closure top in a closed position after it is moved axially onto the flask neck, a finger tab for manipulating the hinged closure to engage or release the locking arrangement and to move the closure top between the closed and fully open positions solely by one finger when the flask is held by the remaining four fingers and within the palm of one hand, the finger tab having an elongated portion extending from the closure top radially relative to the neck axis and presenting an extension radially spaced from the closure top, when the closure top is in the closed position, which allows the one finger of the one hand to move the closure top, when locked in the closed position, solely via force produced by the one finger, applied to the finger tab, and transmitted through the finger tab to the closure top in first and second stages, a first stage wherein the elongated portion of the finger tab which extends radially from the closure top provides leverage to overcome resistance by the locking element to movement as the closure top is moved responsive to the force applied by the one finger in a direction which releases the locking element, and a second stage wherein the closure top is pivoted toward the fully open position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/045,538Filed 9 Apr 1993
Priority: IT TV93A001715 Feb 1993
Granted: 21 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B65D 55/16
Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for: devices preventing loss of removable closure members
B65D 51/04
Loosely-engaging lids or covers for jars, cans or like containers for liquids without means for effecting sealing of container: hinged
B65D 51/243
Combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes: combined with an opening device
B65D
Containers for storage or transport of articles or materials