Abstract:
A body fluid collection and assay device that allows for the collection, testing, diagnostics, evaluation, analysis of the fluid within the device. The assaying device includes a handle that allows the device to be used as a collection device, cup holding mechanism and allows easier transportation of multiple cups by a single person. The assaying device further incorporates an angled base that allows the cup to sit on a table or shelf in a reclined orientation allowing for easier viewing of the assaying strip(s). The collection container incorporates a front viewing window that allows the results of the testing to be viewed through. The collection container device further allows for a screw-down lid that can be placed onto the container to keep the fluid within the cup from spilling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a fluid collection cup for testing fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fluid collection cup designed for the collection of urine for testing for the presence of drugs or other abnormality in the urine. Even more specifically the collection cup incorporates an angled base, viewing window and a handle, to aid in the collection and viewing of the diagnostic media.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Drug testing has become a standard method of screening candidates for employment. One of the easiest and most common methods is to require the candidate to supply a urine sample. The urine sample can be used to determine the presence or absence of a variety of drugs including THC, AMP, methamphetamines, morphine, cocaine, PCP, amphetamine, marijuana, opiates and others. The testing is performed by collecting a urine sample and placing one or more assaying strips into the urine sample to perform the test. This can be performed in a physician&#39;s office, police station, employment office, company or nearly any location. Patents have been issue on collection and or drug testing cups to perform this function  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,895 issued to Cipkowski, U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,268 issued to Lee et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,805,837, 6,805,838 both issued to Tydings and U.S. published application 2002/0085953 by Parker disclose fluid testing cups. The collection or sample testing cups disclosed in these patents all describe an essentially round tapered cup with the ability to accept an analysis test strip. None of these patents disclose a handle incorporated into the side of the collection cup. These patents further do not disclose that at least one side of the collection cup is angled back to allow easier viewing and evaluation of the results of the sample being tested. The sides of all the documents disclosed further provide that the cup is round in shape and while the evaluation of the testing can be viewed through the side of the cup and there is no flat window that allows easier viewing of the testing. Some of these patents disclosed that the test strip(s) are placed in an arched fashion around the inside of the cup to reduce the parallax effect created by a curved window.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,438 issued to Minue, and published application US2002/169395 by Huang discloses a collection cup with an integrated handle. Neither of these applications discloses that the analysis of the fluid within the cup can be tested within the cup, and both require that the fluid that is collected be transferred in to another container for analysis. The sides of these cups are round in shape, and while the evaluation of the testing can be viewed through the side of the cup, if they were transparent, there is no flat window that allows easier viewing of the testing.  
         [0005]     What is needed is a collection cup that has an integrated handle, retaining mechanism for a test strip, a flat viewing window, and that the viewing window is tilted back for easier viewing. The proposed urine collection and drug testing cup provides this solution by providing a collection cup with an integrated handle, viewing window, and angled base to ease viewing.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the urine collection and drug testing cup to provide a cup with an integrated handle that allows simpler collection of the sample. This handle allows a person to collect the sample with less potential for splatter from the urine stream. The handle also provides an easier method of holding and transporting the sample. A tapered cup can be dropped if a person opens their grip and the cup slides through their fingers. If a user places a finger through the hole in the handle of the cup, it reduces the possibility that the cup will be dropped if the user loosens their grip.  
         [0007]     It is another object of the urine collection and drug testing cup to provide a flat window portion on the cup that eliminates the parallax effect that can result from viewing through a curved window. The window provides a flat transparent surface to inspect and evaluate the results of the urine testing.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the urine collection and drug testing cup to provide the cup with an angled base such that the viewing window exists in a tipped back orientation. This tipped back orientation allows the test strip to be viewed while the cup is sitting on a desk or table that exists at a location that is below the eye level of the person evaluating the test. The angled base with the window provides a tremendous advantage over round cups with tapered sides.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the urine collection and drug testing cup to provide a holding mechanism for a test or assaying strip to be placed within the cup. The test strip is placed into the cup when the holder that brings it into a viewing orientation for the flat window.  
         [0010]     It is still another object of the urine collection and drug testing cup to provide a handle, window, test strip holder, and angled base with provisions for a screw-down or snap on lid that allows the cup to be sealed to prevent spilling if the cup is knocked or tipped over.  
         [0011]     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the cup with a lid and testing strip.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a side sectional view of the cup showing the internal details and the angled base.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the cup looking down into the cup.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the cup showing the front window.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the collection cup or container  10  with a lid  200  and testing or assaying strip  100 . In general terms the cup or container is essentially a cylindrical shaped cup starting from the bottom  25  of the cup and sides  20  generally tapering upwards to the upper lip of the cup  28 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 2  the unique profile of the container can be seen in the side sectional view. Referring back to  FIG. 1  the cup rests on the bottom  25  and a essentially flat window portion  40  exists such that the angle formed between the bottom  25  of the container and the window portion of the container  40  forms an acute angle that allows the window  40  to lean back allowing easier viewing of the inside of the container. In the preferred embodiment the acute angle is between 89 and 75 degrees, more preferred at about 85 to 80 degrees and prototypes have been made at 82.5 degrees. The entire cup is made from a transparent or semi-transparent material that allows viewing through the window portion  40  of the container. Materials that satisfy these requirements include but are not limited to plastic, glass, resin, ABS, PVC, acrylic, polyurethane, and polypropylene. In the preferred embodiment the container  40  is made from transparent PVC. The method of fabricating the container includes but is not limited to molding, casting, machining, extruding, drawing or forming process. In the preferred embodiment the fabrication method is injection molding. The window portion of the container  40  may include markings to identify the amount of liquid or urine that is inside the container.  
         [0017]     The markings  12  and  14  may provide an indicator for a minimum fluid level  12  and a maximum fluid level  14 . As an example of using the collection cup a person is provided the cup an instructed to collect some urine for the test. The person can hold the handle  30  and deposit a sample of urine into the container with less chance of urinating on their hand that can exist using a collection cup without a handle. After the urine is collected, some of the urine can be poured out of the container to achieve the desired quantity of urine to perform the testing. A test strip, assaying strip or strips  100  are placed into the container in the area between the window  40  and protrusion(s)  70 . A gap  75  exists between or on the sides of the protrusion to allow the urine under test to pass between the collection area and the testing area of the container. A raised area  77  can exist in the bottom of the container to hold the test strip out of the pool of urine. The protrusions keep the strip in close proximity to the window allow the strip to be evaluated by a doctor, technician or other personnel empowered to evaluate the information provided from the test strip.  
         [0018]     The test strip  100  includes one or more diagnostic indicators  120  for the presence or drugs or other anomalies in the urine. In operation the bottom of the strip  105  is placed into the container and the container can be tipped to allow the absorption area(s)  130  of the strips to absorb sufficient quantities of urine to perform the testing and provide an indicator on one or more panels  120 . The strips  100  usually contain an indicator  120  for each type of drug  110  or anomaly that is being tested. The testing may include a thermal indicator and a list of drugs including but not limited to THC, AMP, methamphetamines, morphine, cocaine, PCP, amphetamine, marijuana, and opiates. After the sample can be discarded or the sample can be saved by placing a lid  200  onto the container  100 .  
         [0019]     The lid can incorporate a variety of closing mechanisms including but not limited to a snap down lid or a screw down lid. In the preferred embodiment the lid is closed with a screw down type lid  200 . The screw down lid has serrations or other similar features  210  that exist around the exterior of the lid to aid in gripping the lid for opening and closing the lid onto the container to prevent spilling the contents. The lid may further include a recess on the top of the lid  220  and may further include an area to write the name  222  and or date  224  of the testing for future reference. While the name and date is shown on the lid, the marking can alternately be placed on the side of the container  20  or the test strip  100 . When the lid is screwed onto the container it is threaded on the screw features integrated into the container  60 . The threaded feature  60  allows the lid to be easily locked down onto the container until the lid locks on the top of the container or onto a raised ridge  65  on the container.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a side sectional view of the cup showing the internal details and the angled base. The unique features of the collection cup or container  10  are more easily viewed in this figure where the bottom of the container  25  is shown in a horizontal orientation and the window  40  is shown tipped back at an angle  45  making the viewing of the contents of the container easier when viewed from a position above the container. The outside surface of the collection cup  20  is shown with minimum  17  and maximum level markings  19  placed on the side of the container. While these markings are shown for reference their actual location on the container may vary based upon testing requirements of the assaying strip. It can further be seen from this figure that the inside bottom of the container  23  is lower that the inside bottom where the assaying strip  100  is placed  77 . This difference is intended to keep the assaying strip out of the pool of urine after the testing is complete. The screw down ridge(s)  60  is shown extending from the lip of the upper portion of the container and the bottoming ridge  65  can also be seen in this view. The positioning protrusion(s)  70  are shown behind the face  40  of the viewing window with the assaying strip  100  being held in position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the cup looking down into the cup  10 . This view represents what a cup would look like when placed flat on a table, and a portion of the window  40  can be seen when looking down at the container. One handle  30  is shown extending from the side  20  of the cup, but other embodiments are contemplated that provide for handles to be located on two or three sides of the container. The internal protrusion(s)  70  that locate the assaying or test strip within the container are shown with the separation  75  that allows urine to pass into the test area and moisten the assaying strip that can rest on the bottom  77  of the container.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of the cup  10  showing the front window. This view shows the container as it would appear with the bottom  25  sitting flat on a table, desk or counter. The front window  40  is tipped slightly back to allow easier viewing of the assay strip  100  when viewed from an elevated position above the table, desk or counter. The assaying strip is shown as it will appear when viewed through the window  40 . A line indicating a minimum fill marking  12  and a maximum fill marking  14  can be seen on the front of the container. While these markings are shown, they may be optionally placed on the container to provide a filling reference and may alternately include text that identifies the markings as such. The handle  30  is shown extending from the side  20  of the cup, where it is attached or connected at two points. This two point connection to the cup allows an opening  35  to exist between the two connection points. The opening makes the container easier to carry and reduces the possibility that the container will be dropped if a person loosens their grip on the outside of the container. The engagement threads  60  are shown to provide for a screw down lid to be secured onto the top of the container. A bottoming lip  65  may further provide a sealing point for the container and may also provide a gripping point for a user.  
         [0023]     Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a urine collection and drug testing cup has been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.