Sterilized urine specimen container

A urine specimen collecting unit including a cup and a separate lid selectivey sealed to the cup. The cup is of a generally conical configuration tapering from a closed base to a larger diameter open upper end. The lid includes a central depression received within the open end of an associated cup, a rim surrounding the depression for engagement with the upper edge of the cup, and a skirt depending peripherally from the rim below the depression and configured for locking engagement with the cup. The lid depression is configured to receive the closed base end of a superimposed cup. A tapered spout communicates through the rim and projects upwardly therefrom to lie adjacent the outer surface of a superimposed cup and within the confines of an imaginary cylinder surrounding the rim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is concerned with sterilized urine specimen containers which 
are used to receive urine samples and contain the samples for transport to 
appropriate testing facilities whereat determinations are made as to the 
presence of bacteria, the quality of the urine, and the like. 
While many procedures are known for the taking, preserving, transporting 
and dispensing of urine specimens, the most common procedure is to utilize 
a cup with a lid which is provided within a sealed bag with the entire 
unit sterilized. 
When a urine sample is to be obtained, the sealed bag is opened, the lid 
removed from the cup, the patient cleansed with a napkin prepared with a 
cleaning material, and the urine deposited into the cup, after which the 
cup is again closed with the lid. The cup is then put on a tray and 
transported to the laboratory or testing facility. At the laboratory, the 
cup is opened and the contents poured into a petri dish or the like for 
testing purposes. It is also possible to test the urine chemically by 
introducing a testing strip into the cup. This strip can subsequently be 
computer analyzed. 
The above described system has several disadvantages. For example, when 
initially opening the cup, the lid will normally be placed on some surface 
during the filling of the cup. This in turn gives rise to the possibility 
of contamination of the lid and subsequent contamination of the urine upon 
replacement of the lid. In an attempt to avoid this problem, provision is 
normally made for a pre-sterilized paper base upon which the lid can be 
placed. 
Problems also arise with regard to the transport of the cups to the 
laboratory in that the conventional cups are normally loosely contained on 
a tray with little or no means for stabilizing the cups and preventing 
accidental opening thereof and possible damage to or contamination of the 
specimens. 
Further problems arise in the laboratory itself in that it has previously 
been necessary to open the cup, by a removal of the lid itself, for a 
pouring out of the urine into the examination or testing plates. This in 
turn gives rise to the possibility of further contamination of the urine, 
possibly by bacteria on the edges of the cup or in the air of the 
laboratory, thus giving rise to inaccurate test results. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention detailed herein is specifically proposed to avoid the 
problems and disadvantages with the known systems through unique 
improvements in a cup and lid construction and relationship. 
The cup is to be of a generally conical configuration tapering from a 
closed base end to a larger diameter open upper end. The lid includes a 
depending peripheral skirt which locks about and seals the open upper end 
of the cup. The lid, immediately inward of the skirt, includes an annular 
rim which in turn surrounds a central depression. The depth of the 
depression is less than that of the skirt whereby, upon the placing of the 
lid on a flat surface, only the lower edge of the skirt touches the 
surface, the depression being elevated relative thereto. In this manner, 
no portion of the lid which is exposed to the contents of the cup will 
normally come in contact with any surface. Thus, a source of substantial 
contamination is avoided. The depression has a slightly inclined 
peripheral wall and conforms to the base end portion of the cup whereby 
the lidded cups are specifically adapted for stable stacking. 
Of particular significance is the provision of an integral spout rising 
from the rim and communicating with the interior of the lid, this in turn 
places the spout in direct communication with the interior of an 
associated cup. The spout is slightly transversely elongated and includes 
tapered side walls inwardly offset, respectively, from the depression wall 
and the lid skirt. The inner tapered wall of the skirt generally follows 
the taper of the wall of the depression and, being offset therefrom, lies 
adjacent the outer surface of a stacked cup without interference with the 
stacking thereof. The outer tapered wall of the spout, inwardly offset 
from the skirt, clearly positions the entire spout within the confines of 
an imaginary cylinder defined by the skirts of stacked lidded cups. 
The upper end of the spout is sealed and selectively severable for a 
pouring of the contents of the cup, or otherwise providing access thereto. 
The severing of the upper portion of the spout is facilitated by a 
peripheral ledge or step. The spout is in turn provided with a cap or 
cover closely conforming thereto and, preferably at all times other than 
during the actual accessing of the urine through the spout, providing a 
seal therefor. In this manner, the upper portion of the spout, 
particularly those areas which are to be severed and through which the 
urine is to be accessed, either by pouring or the introduction of a test 
strip, are protected from possible contamination. The relatively thin 
nature of the cover, as well as the close conformance thereof to the 
spout, do not in any way detract from the stackability of the lidded cups. 
The particular configuration and orientation of the spout, as well as the 
relationship between the cups and lid depressions, provide a unique 
stackability for the containers and significantly contribute to a compact 
grouping of the containers on a support tray or the like. 
As one means of transporting stacked containers, it is contemplated that 
the tray incorporate multiple openings configured to receive the lower 
portions of the tapered cups therethrough, thus providing a highly stable 
engagement of the lower cup of each stack with the superimposed cups 
engaged within depressions of the cups immediately therebelow. 
Removal of the individual lids can be facilitated by the provision of a 
projecting tab at one point about the peripheral skirt of each lid. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention are considered to reside 
in the details of construction and manner of use of the invention as more 
fully hereinafter described and claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is 
used to generally designate the urine specimen collecting unit of the 
present invention. This unit comprises a cup 12 and an associated lid 14. 
The cup 12 may be formed of an appropriate plastic or synthetic resinous 
material, glass or paper, and is of a generally conical configuration with 
the wall 16 tapering smoothly from a closed base end 18 to a larger 
diameter open upper end 20. The upper end 20 is surrounded by a slight 
outwardly projecting locking bead or flange 22. 
The lid 14 includes a relatively wide flat rim 24 surrounded by a depending 
peripheral skirt 26 which is adapted for snug reception about the open 
upper end portion of the cup 16. The skirt in turn includes an inwardly 
projecting bead 28 adapted to engage immediately below the cup bead 22 for 
a releasable interlocking of the lid to the cup with the under surface of 
the rim 24 seating directly on the upper end 20 of the cup. It is 
contemplated that the lid be of an appropriate plastic, such as 
polyethylene or polypropylene, incorporating a sufficient degree of 
resiliency so as to enable a snap mounting and removal of the lid. This 
mounting and removal of the lid can be facilitated by a laterally 
projecting tab 30 extending from the lower edge 32 of the skirt 26 at one 
point thereabout. 
The lid 14 also includes a central depression 34 immediately inward of the 
rim 24 and defined by a flat bottom panel 36 and a tapered or inclined 
peripheral wall 38. The size and configuration of the depression 34, 
including the taper of the peripheral wall 38 thereof, conforms to the 
lower portion of the associated cup 12 whereby a stable stacking of the 
lid-closed cups is possible. The depth of the depression 34 is less than 
the height of the skirt 26. In this manner, the skirt 26 will maintain the 
bottom surface of the depression out of contact with a tabletop or the 
like on which the lid might be placed when removed from the cup. 
Each lid 14 includes a spout 40 projecting upwardly from the rim 24 and 
communicating with the interior of the lid, and hence with the interior of 
an associated cup. The spout 40 is transversely elongated, so as to 
facilitate the introduction of testing paper strips, and the like, and 
includes opposed upwardly tapering sides 42 and 44. The side 42 is 
slightly inwardly offset relative to the depression wall 38 and tapers or 
inclines at approximately the same angle as that of the depression wall 38 
to lie immediately outward of a stacked cup without interference with the 
stacking thereof. The spout wall 44 is inwardly offset from the outer edge 
of the rim 24 and the skirt 26 depending therefrom. This wall 44 is 
inclined at approximately the same angle as the inclination of the wall 
42, providing a symmetrically configured spout lying entirely within the 
lateral confines of the rim 24 and hence within an imaginary cylinder 
surrounding the rims of stacked units. Such an imaginary cylinder can be 
considered to be defined by the vertically aligned skirts and will be 
apparent from the illustration of the stacked containers in FIG. 2. The 
upper end 46 of the spout is integrally formed therewith and sealed. When 
access through the spout is desired, either for a pouring of the contents 
of the cup or for the introduction of test devices, the upper portion of 
the spout is to be severed by appropriate sterile means, such as scissors. 
This severing of the upper portion of the spout 40 is facilitated by the 
provision of a ledge or step 48 upon which the severing implement can rest 
during the severing operation. 
The spout 40 is in turn covered and protected by a removable cover or cap 
50 which is tapered to closely conform to the spout for snug sealing 
reception thereover. This cap, while effectively sealing and protecting 
the spout, both before and subsequent to the opening thereof, mounts in a 
manner which in no way interferes with the stacking of the units. This is 
insured by the slight offsetting of the spout wall 42 from the peripheral 
walls 38 of the depression 34. It will be recognized that the cover 50 
protects the sterilized spout prior to the severing thereof. In this 
manner, utilizing a sterile severing implement, contamination at the point 
of severing is avoided. The severed edge, being free of contamination, 
will not in turn contaminate the urine poured therethrough. A replacement 
of the cover 50 will insure the continued freedom from external 
contamination. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred form of carrying tray wherein circular 
apertures are provided which receive and stabilize the tapered cups. With 
a positive stabilization of the cups by the tray, and in light of the 
stacking capability of the units through the lid depressions, a positive 
transport of multiple filled containers is possible without the normally 
encountered danger of spillage or damage. 
In use, the patient or nurse receives the unit, preferably sealed within a 
bag to maintain sterilization. The user opens the bag and removes the 
closed-lid cup. The lid is then removed and normally placed on a flat 
surface, at this point, it is significant that the skirt 26 is of a 
greater height than the depth of the depression 34. In this manner, the 
lid is solely supported on the lower edge 32 of the skirt 26 with the 
intermediate portion of the lid, including the depression 34, maintained 
out of contact with the supporting surface, a potential source of 
contamination. Urine is then introduced into the cup and the lid 
remounted. At that point, appropriate identifying information can be 
written on the lid and cup and the whole unit placed within the supporting 
tray, either directly within the cup receiving openings or stacked on 
previously placed cups. The cooperative relationship between the lower 
portion of each cup and the depression of a subjacent lid insures a proper 
stable stacking of the cups with the spouts positioned within the confines 
of the outermost limits of the cup lids to allow for a compact grouping of 
the units. 
The tray supported units can then be transported to the laboratory or 
testing facility where, under appropriate conditions, within a clean area, 
and usually under a laminar flow of sterile air, the cover or cap 50 is 
removed and the spout of the lid severed, as by sterilized scissors or the 
like positioned by the shoulder or step 48. The urine specimen can then be 
poured from the spout into an appropriate testing dish or the like. 
Alternatively, a strip of test paper can be introduced into the elongated 
spout. It will be appreciated that the provision of the cover or cap 50 is 
significant in avoiding contamination to the spout on the outer surface in 
the area of severing which could otherwise contaminate the discharging 
urine or a test strip as it is being introduced. It will also be 
recognized that the sterility of the spout can be maintained by a 
remounting of the cap should it be desirable to retain a portion of the 
specimen within the container. 
From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that a unique specimen 
container has been defined. The container comprises a cup and lid 
combination which particularly adapts the container for the grouping and 
stacking of multiple containers, as well as for the maintenance of the 
sterility of the contents, both during storage and during subsequent 
dispensing or accessing of the contents for testing purposes. Significant 
advantages of the container or unit of the invention can be attributed to 
the construction and orientation of the lid spout and the relationship 
thereof to both the outer periphery of the lid and a centrally defined cup 
receiving depression.