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US6013230A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multi-functional holder article and method of using same

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-04-02
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2018-04-02
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method for collecting a biological fluid specimen. The apparatus includes a holder article for a specimen container, wherein the holder article contains a ring which is removably engagable with a specimen container, a connector continuous with the ring, and a grasping portion continuous with the connector, the grasping portion having opposed lateral side portions which are continuous and contiguous along their entire length with one another. The grasping portion is movable along a longitudinal axis such that the lateral side portions are approachable one to another, with each side portion on an opposed side of a plane coaxial with the longitudinal axis. The connector includes a specimen collection area.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael A. Kuchar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 19:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0045; A61B10/007; B; B01; B01L; B01L9/00; B01L9/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
A holder article for a specimen container of the type having an upper circumferential opening, said article comprising: a ring having a width dimension and an interior diametral dimension and a proximate portion, said ring removably engagable with a specimen container; a connector continuous with said ring, said connector having a width dimension; and a grasping portion continuous with said connector, said grasping portion having a length dimensions opposed lateral side portions continuous and contiguous one with another along the entirety of said length dimension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 85 words
A holder article for a specimen container of the type having an upper circumferential opening, said article comprising: a ring having a width dimension and an interior diametral dimension and a proximate portion, said ring removably engagable with a specimen container; a connector continuous with said ring, said connector having a width dimension; and a grasping portion continuous with said connector, said grasping portion having a length dimensions opposed lateral side portions continuous and contiguous one with another along the entirety of said length dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said proximate portion of said ring is contiguous with said connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said grasping portion is movable along a longitudinal axis thereof such that said lateral side portions are approachable one to another, each said portion on opposed sides of a plane coaxial with said longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said proximate portion of said ring is contiguous with said connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The article of claim 4 wherein said connector width dimension is greater than said ring interior diametral dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said connector is substantially non-coplanar with said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a specimen collection area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said ring has a raised edge defining said interior diametral dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The article of claim 8 wherein said edge is configured for threaded engagement with a specimen cup.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said ring has a downward flange continuous with the width dimension of said ring.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of using a holder for a specimen cup to contain an errant specimen sample, said method comprising: providing a holder having a ring removably engagable with a cup, a connector continuous with said ring, and a grasping portion continuous with said connector, said grasping portion having opposed lateral side portions; positioning said lateral side portions such that said grasping portion provides a conduit along a line defining a longitudinal axis of said grasping portion; and directing an errant specimen sample along said conduit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 85 words
A method of using a holder for a specimen cup to contain an errant specimen sample, said method comprising: providing a holder having a ring removably engagable with a cup, a connector continuous with said ring, and a grasping portion continuous with said connector, said grasping portion having opposed lateral side portions; positioning said lateral side portions such that said grasping portion provides a conduit along a line defining a longitudinal axis of said grasping portion; and directing an errant specimen sample along said conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said lateral side portions are moved one toward another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said grasping portion has a width dimension greater than said connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said connector further includes a specimen collection area and said conduit is directed toward said collection area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said ring has a raised edge defining an interior diametral dimension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said ring has a downward flange continuous with a width dimension of said ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 57 words
In a holder article of the type for use with a specimen container, said article having a ring removably engagable with a specimen container and a grasping portion connected to said ring, an improvement comprising a connector continuous with both said ring and said grasping portion and configured with said ring to provide a specimen collection area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 57 words
In a holder article of the type for use with a specimen container, said article having a ring removably engagable with a specimen container and a grasping portion connected to said ring, an improvement comprising a connector continuous with both said ring and said grasping portion and configured with said ring to provide a specimen collection area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 48 words
The holder article of claim 17 further including a grasping portion having opposed lateral side portions, said side portions positioned such that said grasping portion provides a conduit along a line defining a longitudinal axis of said grasping portion and said conduit is directed toward said collection area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 29 words
The holder article of claim 18 wherein said side portions are approachable one to another, each said portion on opposed sides of a plane coaxial with said longitudinal axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 19 words
The holder article of claim 18 wherein said ring is configured to conduct a specimen from said collection area.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-01-10 2003-07-12 2004-01-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-01-10 2007-07-12 2008-01-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-01-10 2011-07-12 2012-01-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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