Centrifugally loaded self-sealing integral one-piece cap/closure

A capping assembly for a centrifuge container of the type including a receptacle and a canister, with said canister having a closed end and an open end with a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and said receptacle having an opening and a neck, surrounding said opening, with said neck including a plurality of threads, said assembly comprising:

• a lid having a circular cover portion, an annular peripheral member, surrounding said cover portion and extending transverse thereto, and a plurality of arcuate ribs extending across said cover portion, between opposed areas of said peripheral member, said peripheral member having a circumference and including a threaded region engaging said plurality of threads so as to position said opening between said opposed areas and said threaded region, with said lid seating proximate to said open end forming an interference fit with said cylindrical wall and each of said plurality of ribs flexing, under centrifugal load, so as to expand said opposed areas outwardly away from said plurality of threads, thereby increasing said circumference.

A capping assembly for a centrifuge container of the type including a receptacle and a canister, said canister having a closed end and an open end with a cylindrical wall extending therebetween and said receptacle having an opening and a neck, surrounding said opening, with said neck including a plurality of threads, said assembly comprising:

• a lid having a cover portion, and an annular peripheral member including a sealing surface, said annular peripheral member fitting within said open end, with said sealing surface pressing said cylindrical wall with a predetermined amount of force, forming a fluid-tight and air-tight seal;
• means, attached to said cover portion, for amplifying said force in response to centrifugal loading of said lid said amplifying means including a plurality of arcuate ribs.