Patent ID: 6136275
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
A closure for sealing an open end of a specimen collection container from the environment comprising:a generally spherical-shaped ball including an axle permitting rotative movement of said ball thereabout between an open position and a closed position, said ball further including an environment-contacting surface, an opposed liquid-contacting surface and a passageway extending therethrough, said passageway being aligned with said open end of said collection container when said ball is in said open position, said environment-contacting surface being exposed to the environment and said liquid-contacting surface being exposed to an interior region of said collection container when said ball is in said closed position, anda socket mountable on said open end of said collection container, said socket including a ball receiving internal surface for accommodating said rotative movement of said ball between said open position and said closed position,said environment-contacting surface and said liquid-contacting surface of said ball being in non-contacting relation with said ball-receiving internal surface of said socket when said ball is in said open position,whereby contaminants are not transferred between the environment and the interior region of said collection container.