Patent ID: 7771662

Claim:
A vial for holding and processing particulate matter-containing liquid, comprising: a container having an opening at its upper end; an imperforate cover removably coupled to the container to close the opening; and a processing assembly that is separate from the container and is coupled to the cover, proximate the interface between the cover and the opening, by a releasable coupling that allows the processing assembly to be removed from the container with the cover while still coupled thereto, and is configured to allow the processing assembly to be selectively detached inwardly from the cover while the cover is on the container so that the processing assembly remains in the container when the cover is subsequently removed; wherein the releasable coupling between the cover and the processing assembly comprises mating couplers, respectively carried by the inside of the cover and an upper portion of the processing assembly, that are held together by a retention force and disengage upon application of an external force to the vial that overcomes the retention force; wherein the container has a central axis extending lengthwise of the container through the opening, and the couplers mate and disengage by relative motion in the axial direction; wherein the retention force is frictional; wherein the couplers are press-fit together; and wherein the couplers comprise closely fitting projections.