Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an opening means for use in an elongated container to release a fluid enclosed within the elongated container. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A variety of opening means exist for opening a container. Most opening means are in the form of a screw-on cap or a snap-on cap. Some opening means are in the form of a frangible seal or a score line on the container that will allow the contents of the container to be released upon fracturing of the frangible seal or the container at the score line. All of these opening means are either attached to the container externally, such as the screw-on cap and the snap-on cap, or are formed as part of the container, such as the frangible seal and the score line on the container. None of the opening means are designed to be enclosed within the container to seal a fluid in the container and yet still allow the release of the fluid easily and reliably and also allow re-closing of the opening. The availability of an effective and easy to use opening means is particularly lacking for a small elongated container with a small cross-sectional area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a sliding piston opening means fully enclosed within an elongated container to release the fluid sealed within the elongated container. The sliding piston opening means is operated by squeezing the elongated container at or near the sliding piston. Once the sliding piston opening means is opened, the fluid sealed within the elongated container is released for application. Before the content of the container is depleted, the sliding piston opening means is used to re-close the opening thereby re-sealing the fluid remaining within the container. When the sliding piston opening means is used as an opening means for a specimen collector, the sliding piston opening means may be first opened to allow retrieval of the specimen and then closed to seal-in the collected specimen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view the preferred embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  shows an enlarged view of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 4  shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the sliding piston opening means in the open position. 
         FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 6  in the open position. 
         FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  shows an enlarged end view of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . 
         FIG. 10  shows an enlarged view of the sliding piston opening means in the open position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  shows an enlarged end view of the sliding piston opening means in the open position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 12  in the open position. 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 16  shows an enlarged view of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
         FIG. 17  shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 18  shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 19  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 20  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 21  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 22  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 23  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 24  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 25  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 26  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 27  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 28  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 29  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 30  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 31  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 32  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 33  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 34  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 35  shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in the closed position. 
         FIG. 36  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 35  in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show the preferred embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In the preferred embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises of a section of a tube  1  with an opening  2  such as a slit through part of its length with an elliptical shaped piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  between its two ends approximately that of the inside diameter of the tube  1  disposed within the tube  1 . An  0 -ring may be disposed at the sealing diameter  4  to provide the sealing function. The sliding piston opening means is affixed inside a compressible elongated tubular housing  5  with a sealed end  6  and an open end  7  and with approximately the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the sliding piston opening means. Alternatively, the section of tube  1  of the sliding piston opening means and the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  may be formed as a single unit with the section of tube  1  being in the form of a reduced diameter within the compressible elongated tubular housing. One or both ends of the elongated tubular housing  5  may optionally be covered with an applicator. A fluid  8  is enclosed within the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  near the sealed end  6 . The sliding piston opening means separates the fluid  8  from the open end  7  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  thereby sealing the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 . The sliding piston opening means is operated by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  at or near the sliding piston  3 . 
     In the closed position, the sliding piston  3  is located near the end of the tube  1  without the opening  2  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . With pressure from the fingertip pressing on the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  at or near the end of the sliding piston  3  near the end of the tube  1  without the opening  2 , the sliding piston  3  will be urged toward the end of the tube  1  with the opening  2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the sealing circumference  4  of the sliding piston  3  is urged past the opening  2 , a fluid flow path is exposed to allow the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  to be released through the sliding piston opening means and out of the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 . When pressure is applied to the fluid  8  in the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 , the fluid  8  will be urged out of the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 . The sliding piston  3  may be urged back to its closed position by pressure from the fingertip from the other end of the sliding piston  3 . 
     When the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  has a small cross-section such that the fluid  8  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  8  to reliably release the fluid  8  from the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 . The surface tension disrupting member is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing  5  and may be affixed to the sealed end  6  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  5 . 
       FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11  show another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston  9  is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The sliding piston  9  has a generally elliptical shape with a through opening  10  through its length which will allow fluid  11  to flow from one end of the sliding piston  9  to the other end of the sliding piston  9 . The sliding piston  9  is inserted at a restrictive opening  12  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  13  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The restrictive opening  12  will compress the sliding piston  9  to a circular profile as shown in  FIG. 9  thereby closing the opening  10  through the sliding piston  9 . This will seal a fluid  11  within the elongated tubular housing  13  between the sliding piston opening means and the sealed end  14  of the elongated tubular housing  13 . When pressure is applied to either end of the sliding piston  9 , the sliding piston  9  will be urged to move away from the restrictive opening  12  as shown in  FIG. 7 . When the sliding piston  9  is released from the restrictive opening  12 , the sliding piston  9  will expand to its original elliptical shape thereby expanding the opening  10  through its length as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  to allow passage of the fluid  11  in the elongated tubular housing  13 . The expanded sliding piston  9 , with its elliptical shape will remain captured in the elongated tubular housing  13  due to the interference fit between its elliptical profile and the elongated tubular housing&#39;s circular profile. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises a section of a tube  1  with an opening  2  such as a slit through part of its length with an elliptical shaped piston  15  with a sealing diameter  16  between its two ends approximately that of the inside diameter of the tube  1  disposed within the tube  1 . An applicator tip  17  such as a cotton swab or a foam material is affixed to one end of the sliding piston  15 . An O-ring may be disposed at the sealing diameter  16  to provide the sealing function. The sliding piston opening means is affixed near an open end  18  of a compressible elongated tubular housing  19  with a sealed end  20  and an open end  18  and with approximately the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the sliding piston opening means. A fluid  8  is enclosed within the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  near the sealed end  20 . The sliding piston opening means separates the fluid  8  from the open end  18  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  thereby sealing the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  19 . The sliding piston opening means is operated by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  at or near the sliding piston  15 . 
     In the closed position, the elliptical shaped piston  15  with the applicator tip  17  is enclosed near the end  18  of the elongated tubular housing  19 . With pressure from the fingertip pressing on the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  at or near the end of the elliptical shaped piston  15  near the end of the tube  1  without the opening  2 , the sliding piston  15  will be urged toward the open end  18  of the elongated tubular housing  19 . The applicator tip  17  will protrude from within the elongated tubular housing  19  and a fluid flow path is exposed to allow the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  to be released through the sliding piston opening means and out of the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  to the applicator tip  17 . When pressure is applied to the fluid  8  in the compressible elongated tubular housing  19  by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  19 , the fluid  8  will be urged out of the compressible elongated tubular housing  19 . 
       FIGS. 14 ,  15 , and  16  show another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises of a first short tubular section  21  and a second short tubular section  22  with an opening  23  such as a slit through the second short tubular section  22  with an elliptical shaped piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  between its two ends approximately that of the inside diameter of the short tubular sections  21 ,  22  disposed with its sealing diameter  4  positioned within the first short tubular section  21 . An O-ring may be disposed at the sealing diameter  4  to provide the sealing function. The sliding piston opening means is affixed inside a compressible elongated tubular housing  24  with a sealed end  25  and an open end  26  and with approximately the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the sliding piston opening means. A fluid  8  is enclosed within the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  near the sealed end  25 . The sliding piston opening means separates the fluid  8  from the open end  26  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  thereby sealing the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  24 . The sliding piston opening means is operated by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  at or near the sliding piston opening means. 
     In the closed position, the elliptical shaped piston  3  is disposed with its sealing diameter  4  inside the first short tubular section  21  as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . With pressure from the fingertip pressing on the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  at or near the first short tubular section  21 , the sliding piston  3  will be urged toward the second short tubular section  22  with the opening  23 . When the sealing circumference  4  of the sliding piston  3  is urged past the end of the first short tubular section  21 , a fluid flow path is exposed to allow the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  to be released through the sliding piston opening means and out of the compressible elongated tubular housing  24 . The elliptical shaped piston  3  may be immediately captured by the second short tubular section  22  after its sealing diameter  4  is urged past the end of the first short tubular section  21 . The elliptical shaped piston  3  may also be retained in the area between the first and second short tubular sections  21 ,  22  without being captured by either section when the first and second short tubular sections  21 ,  22  are disposed further apart than the length of the elliptical shaped piston  3 . 
     When the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  has a small cross-section such that the fluid  8  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  8  to reliably release the fluid  8  from the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  24 . The surface tension disrupting member is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing  24  and may be affixed to the sealed end  25  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  24 . 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  show another alternative embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this alternative embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises of a section of a tube  1  with an opening  2  such as a slit through part of its length with a piston  27  with two ends that are generally in an elliptical shape as shown in  FIG. 17  and with a sealing diameter  28  between the two ends that is approximately that of the inside diameter of the tube  1  disposed with the sealing diameter  28  inside the tube  1  away from the end with the opening  2 . As in previously disclosed embodiments, the sliding piston opening means is affixed inside a compressible elongated tubular housing with a sealed end and an open end and with approximately the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the sliding piston opening means. A fluid is enclosed within the compressible elongated tubular housing near the sealed end. The sliding piston opening means separates the fluid from the open end of the compressible elongated tubular housing thereby sealing the fluid within the compressible elongated tubular housing. The sliding piston opening means is operated by squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing at or near the sliding piston opening means. 
     In the closed position, the sealing diameters  28 ,  30  of the pistons  27 ,  29  are located near the end of the tube  1  without the opening  2 . With pressure from the fingertip pressing on the compressible elongated tubular housing at or near the sliding piston opening means, the pistons  27 ,  29  will be urged toward the end of the tube  1  with the opening  2 . When the sealing circumferences  28 ,  30  of the pistons  27 ,  29  are urged past the opening  2 , a fluid flow path is exposed to allow the fluid  8  within the compressible elongated tubular housing to be released through the sliding piston opening means and out of the compressible elongated tubular housing. 
     When the compressible elongated tubular housing has a small cross-section such that the fluid within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid to reliably release the fluid from the compressible elongated tubular housing even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing. The surface tension disrupting member is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing and may be affixed to the sealed end of the compressible elongated tubular housing. 
       FIG. 19  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 18  is affixed within an elongated tubular housing  31  with two open ends. A fluid  8  is sealed within the elongated tubular housing  31  between the sliding piston opening means and a viscous substance  32  such as silicone. When the sliding piston opening means is opened, the fluid  8  will be released from the elongated tubular housing  31  by gravity through the end that is directed downward. An applicator tip  33  such as a cotton swab, a sponge, or a brush may be affixed to the desired open end of the elongated tubular housing  31 . 
       FIG. 20  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, a sliding piston opening means as shown in  FIG. 18  is affixed within an elongated tubular housing  31  near each of its two open ends. A fluid  8  is sealed within the elongated tubular housing  31  between the two sliding piston opening means. When both of the sliding piston opening means are opened, the fluid  8  will be released from the elongated tubular housing  31  by gravity through the end that is directed downward. An applicator tip  33  such as a cotton swab, a sponge, or a brush may be affixed to the desired open end of the elongated tubular housing  31 . 
       FIG. 21  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means wherein the compressible elongated tubular housing  34  with a sealed end  35  and an open end  36  has a restrictive opening  37  between its two ends  35 ,  36 . A sliding piston  38  is disposed at the restrictive opening  37  to seal a fluid  8  within the elongated tubular housing  34 . Upon squeezing of the elongated tubular housing  34  at or near the sliding piston  38  the sliding piston  38  will move from its position at the restrictive opening  37  to a position away from the restrictive opening  37  thereby exposing a fluid flow path from the fluid  8  to the open end  36  of the elongated tubular housing  34 . An applicator tip  39  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip may be affixed to the open end  36  of the elongated tubular housing  34 .  FIG. 22  shows another variation of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 21 . In this embodiment, the sliding piston  40  has an elongated extension with a sealing diameter  41  at one end and an elliptical terminal at the other end. The sealing diameter  41  is disposed within the restrictive opening  37  in the elongated tubular housing  34  to seal a fluid  8  within the elongated tubular housing  34 . The elliptical terminal enables the moving of the sliding piston  40  from a location away from the restrictive opening  37 . 
       FIG. 23  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means in a compressible elongated tubular housing  42  with an open end  43  and a sealed end  44 . An opening  45  such as a slit, a v-shaped cut, or a hole is formed near the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42 . A sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated tubular housing  42  is disposed near the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42  between the fluid  8  and the opening  45  near the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42 . When the sliding piston  3  is urged by finger pressure towards the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42  and pass the opening  45  near the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42  a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the elongated tubular housing  42 . The open end  43  and the opening  45  near the open end  43  of the elongated tubular housing  42  is covered by an applicator tip  46  such as a cotton swab or foam tip. The fluid  8  is released from the elongated tubular housing  42  into the applicator tip  46  for application. 
     When the elongated tubular housing  42  has a small cross-section such that the fluid  8  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member  47  may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  8  to reliably release the fluid  8  from the compressible elongated tubular housing  42  even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  42 . The surface tension disrupting member  47  is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing  42  and may be affixed to the sealed end  44  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  42 . 
       FIG. 24  shows another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 23 . In this embodiment, the structure of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 23  without the applicator tip  46  is disposed within a second elongated tubular housing  48  with a sealed end  49  and an open end  50 . An applicator tip  51  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip is affixed inside the open end  50  of the second elongated tubular housing  48  and extends outside of the open end  50  of the second elongated tubular housing  48 . When the sliding piston opening means is opened the fluid  8  will be released into the second elongated tubular housing  48  and into the applicator tip  51 . The first elongated tubular housing  42  and the second elongated tubular housing  48  may also be formed as a single unit whereby a single elongated tubular housing with a smaller inside diameter near the sealed end and a larger inside diameter near the open end is formed. 
       FIG. 25  shows yet another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 24 . In this embodiment, the open end  52  of the second elongated tubular housing  53  has a reduced diameter to allow a smaller applicator tip  54  to be affixed to the open end  52 . 
       FIG. 26  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, a sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of the inside diameter of a first elongated tubular housing  55  is disposed near an open end  56  of the first elongated tubular housing  55  with an open end  56  and a sealed end  57 . The sliding piston  3  seals a fluid  8  inside the first elongated tubular housing  55  near the sealed end  57  of the first elongated tubular housing  55 . The first elongated tubular housing  55  is disposed within a second elongated tubular housing  58  with an open end  59  and a sealed end  60 . The sealed end  57  of the first elongated tubular housing  55  is disposed near the sealed end  60  of the second elongated tubular housing  58 . The open end  59  of the second elongated tubular housing  58  is covered with an applicator tip  61  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip. When the sliding piston  3  is urged by finger pressure pass the open end  56  of first elongated tubular housing  55 , a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the first elongated tubular housing  55 . The fluid  8  will be released from the elongated tubular housings  55 ,  58  into the applicator tip  61  for application. 
     When the elongated tubular housing has a small cross-section such that the fluid  8  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  8  to reliably release the fluid  8  from the compressible elongated tubular housing  55  even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  55 . The surface tension disrupting member is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing  55  and may be affixed to the sealed end  57  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  55 . 
       FIG. 27  shows another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 26 . In this embodiment, an applicator tip  62  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip is affixed inside the open end  59  of the second elongated tubular housing  58  and extends outside of the open end  59  of the second elongated tubular housing  58 . When the sliding piston opening means is opened the fluid  8  will be released into the second elongated tubular housing  58  and into the applicator tip  62 . The first elongated tubular housing  55  and the second elongated tubular housing  58  may also be formed as a single unit whereby a single elongated tubular housing with a smaller inside diameter near the sealed end and a larger inside diameter near the open end is formed. 
       FIG. 28  shows another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 27 . In this embodiment, the applicator in  FIG. 27  is replaced with a swab applicator comprising an elongated hollow tube  63  with an applicator tip  64  affixed to one end. The outside diameter of the elongated hollow tube  63  is approximately that of the inside diameter of the open end of the elongated tubular housing. The swab applicator is inserted and affixed with the end opposite the applicator tip  64  inside the open end of the elongated tubular housing. In this embodiment, a rigid elongated hollow tube  63  may be used with the applicator tip  64  to provide a more rigid handle. 
       FIG. 29  shows yet another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 26 . In this embodiment, the open end  65  of the second elongated tubular housing  66  has a reduced diameter to allow a smaller applicator tip  67  to be affixed to the open end  65 . The first elongated tubular housing  55  and the second elongated tubular housing  66  may also be formed as a single unit whereby a single elongated tubular housing with a smaller inside diameter near the sealed end and a larger inside diameter near the open end with the open end of the single elongated tubular housing formed with a reduced diameter. 
       FIG. 30  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, a sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of a restriction  68  inside an elongated tubular housing  69  is disposed at the restriction  68  in the elongated tubular housing  69 . The elongated tubular housing  69  has an open end  70  and a sealed end  71 . The sliding piston  3  seals a fluid  8  inside the elongated tubular housing  69  near the sealed end  71  of the elongated tubular housing  69 . The open end  70  of the elongated tubular housing  69  is covered with an applicator tip  72  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip. When the sliding piston  3  is urged by finger pressure away from the restriction  68  inside the elongated tubular housing  69 , a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the elongated tubular housing  69 . The fluid  8  will be released from the elongated tubular housing  69  into the applicator tip  72  for application. 
     When the elongated tubular housing  69  has a small cross-section such that the fluid  8  within it cannot be reliably released simply by opening the sliding piston opening means due to its surface tension, a surface tension disrupting member may be utilized to increase the capillary action and to overcome the surface tension of the fluid  8  to reliably release the fluid  8  from the compressible elongated tubular housing  69  even without squeezing the compressible elongated tubular housing  69 . The surface tension disrupting member is an elongated member inserted in the compressible elongated tubular housing  69  and may be affixed to the sealed end  71  of the compressible elongated tubular housing  69 . 
       FIG. 31  shows another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 30 . In this embodiment, an applicator tip  73  such as a cotton swab or a foam tip is affixed inside the open end  70  of the elongated tubular housing  69  and extends outside of the open end  70  of the elongated tubular housing  69 . When the sliding piston opening means is opened the fluid  8  will be released into the applicator tip  73 . 
       FIG. 32  shows yet another variation of the embodiment of the sliding piston opening means shown in  FIG. 30 . In this embodiment, the open end  74  of the elongated tubular housing  75  has a reduced diameter to allow a smaller applicator tip  76  to be affixed to the open end  74 . 
       FIG. 33  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means comprising a first elongated tubular housing  77  with a sealed end  78 . An opening  79  such as a slit or a hole is formed near an end of the first elongated tubular housing  77 . A sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of the inside diameter of the first elongated tubular housing  77  is disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing  77  between the fluid  8  and the opening  79 . When the sliding piston  3  is urged by finger pressure past the opening  79  in the first elongated tubular housing  77  a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the first elongated housing  77 . The first elongated tubular housing  77  is disposed inside a second elongated tubular housing  80  with a sealed end  81  and an open end  82 . The open end  82  of the second elongated tubular housing  80  is covered by an applicator tip  83  such as a cotton swab or foam tip. The fluid  8  is released from the elongated tubular housing  77  into the applicator tip  83  for application. 
       FIG. 34  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises of an elongated tube  84  with an opening  85  such as a slit or a hole through the wall of the elongated tube  84  disposed near one end of the elongated tube  84 . A sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated tube  84  is disposed in the elongated tube  84 . The elongated tube  84  is affixed to an open end  86  of an elongated tubular housing  87  with a sealed end  88  and an open end  86 . A fluid  8  is disposed inside the elongated tubular housing  87  near the sealed end  88 . The elongated tube  84  is affixed to the open end  86  such that the sliding piston  3  is disposed between the fluid  8  in the elongated tubular housing  87  and the opening  85  in the elongated tube  84 . The elongated tube  84  and the sliding piston  3  will seal the open end  86  of the elongated tubular housing  87  and the fluid  8  therein. 
     When the sliding piston  3  is urged past the opening  85  in the elongated tube  84  a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the elongated tubular housing  87 . The opening  85  in the elongated tube  84  is covered by an applicator tip  89  such as a cotton swab or foam tip. The fluid  8  is released from the elongated tubular housing  87  into the applicator tip  89  for application. 
       FIG. 35  shows another embodiment of the sliding piston opening means. In this embodiment, the sliding piston opening means comprises of an elongated tube  90  with two open ends and with two openings  91 ,  92  such as a slit or a hole through the wall of the elongated tube  90 . A sliding piston  3  with a sealing diameter  4  approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated tube  90  is disposed in the elongated tube  90  at a position not between the two openings  91 ,  92 . The elongated tube  90  is affixed to an open end  93  of an elongated tubular housing  94  with a sealed end  95  and an open end  93 . A fluid  8  is disposed in side the elongated tubular housing  94  near the sealed end  95 . The elongated tube  90  is affixed to the open end  93  such that the sliding piston  3  is disposed between the fluid  8  in the elongated tubular housing  94  and the openings  91 ,  92  in the elongated tube  90 . The elongated tube  90  and the sliding piston  3  are affix to and seal the open end  93  of the elongated tubular housing  94  and the fluid  8  therein by two sealing surfaces  96 ,  97  position between the elongated tubular housing  94  and the elongated tube  90  at a locations not between the two openings  91 ,  92  in the elongated tube  90 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 36 , when the sliding piston  3  is urged past the first opening  91  in the elongated tube  90  a fluid flow path is exposed for release of the fluid  8  enclosed in the elongated tubular housing  94 . The fluid  8  will flow into the elongated tube  90  and out of the first opening  91  into the space between the walls of the elongated tubular housing  94  and the elongated tube  90 . The fluid flow will then reenter the elongated tube  90  through the second opening  92  and out through the open end of the elongated tube  90 . The open end of the elongated tube  90  is covered by an applicator tip  98  such as a cotton swab or foam tip. The fluid  8  is released from the elongated tubular housing  94  into the applicator tip  98  for application. 
     The previously disclosed embodiments of the sliding piston opening means may also be used as specimen collectors if the elongated tubular housing does not contain a fluid  8  initially. This is accomplished by first opening the sliding piston opening means. A pressure is then applied to the compressible elongated tubular housing by squeezing the elongated tubular housing to force most of the air out of the elongated tubular housing. The open end of the elongated tubular housing is then submerged in the specimen to be collected and the pressure on the elongated tubular housing is released to allow the elongated tubular housing to expand thereby creating a partial vacuum inside the elongated tubular housing to enable retrieval of the specimen into the elongated tubular housing. The sliding piston opening means is then closed to seal-in the collected specimen. The collected specimen may then be stored or transported to another location for further testing. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Technology Category: b