Moisture-controlled glass microscope slide package

Claim 2

A package of moisture-controlled glass microscope slides comprising: a container; a plurality of flat, thin glass microscope slides inside said container stacked in face-to-face arrangement; a moisture barrier sealed around said container; and a desiccant inside the space sealed by said moisture barrier for removing substantially all the moisture from the slides over a prolonged period of time at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides.

Claim 3

The package of claim 1 wherein said moisture barrier is hermetically sealed around said container.

Claim 4

The package of claim 2 wherein said moisture barrier comprises a plastic coated foil liner.

Claim 5

The package of claim 1 wherein said desiccant removes moisture at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides.

Claim 6

The package of claim 4 wherein said desiccant is pre-selected to controllably remove substantially all of said moisture from the glass slides inside said moisture barrier within thirty (30) days from being sealed therein.

Claim 7

The package of claims 4 or 5 wherein said desiccant is dried un-ground Montmorillonite clay.

Claim 8

A package of moisture-controlled glass articles comprising: a sealed container; a plurality of glass articles inside said sealed container in surface-to-surface contact with each other; and means for preventing moisture from entering said sealed container and for removing moisture pre-existing inside said container at the time of sealing at a controllable rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said articles to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said articles without causing visual deterioration of said articles.

Claim 9

A package of moisture-controlled glass articles comprising: a sealed container; a plurality of glass articles inside said sealed container in surface-to-surface contact with each other; and means for preventing moisture from entering said sealed container and for removing moisture pre-existing inside said container at the time of sealing at a controllable rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said articles to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said articles without causing visual deterioration of said articles.

Claim 10

The package of claim 7 wherein said means includes a desiccant.

Claim 11

A package of moisture-controlled glass microscope slides comprising: a container including a plurality of flat, thin glass microscope slides stacked in face-to-face arrangement and a desiccant for removing substantially all the moisture from the slides over a prolonged period of time, said desiccant adapted to remove moisture at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides; and moisture barrier means preventing moisture from entering said package.

Claim 12

A package of moisture-controlled glass microscope slides comprising: a container including a plurality of flat, thin glass microscope slides stacked in face-to-face arrangement and a desiccant for removing substantially all the moisture from the slides over a prolonged period of time, said desiccant adapted to remove moisture at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides; and moisture barrier means preventing moisture from entering said package.

Claim 13

The package of claim 9 wherein said moisture barrier means is hermetically sealed around said container.

Claim 14

The package of claim 9 wherein said moisture barrier means is hermetically sealed around said slides.

Claim 15

A package of moisture-controlled glass microscope slides comprising: a container; a plurality of flat, thin glass microscope slides inside said container stacked in face-to-face arrangement; a moisture barrier sealed directly around said slides; and a desiccant inside the space sealed by said moisture barrier for removing substantially all the moisture from the slides over a prolonged period of time at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides.

Claim 16

A package of moisture-controlled glass microscope slides comprising: a container; a plurality of flat, thin glass microscope slides inside said container stacked in face-to-face arrangement; a moisture barrier sealed directly around said slides; and a desiccant inside the space sealed by said moisture barrier for removing substantially all the moisture from the slides over a prolonged period of time at a rate which permits moisture on the surfaces of said slides to react with the glass in a chemical reaction which increases the surface lubricity of said slides without causing visual deterioration of said slides.