Disposable aspirator

Claim 2

A vacuum operated fluid collection container comprising in combination a receptacle and a unitary mating lid; said receptacle comprising adjacent its open end an abutment extending substantially normal to the receptacle sidewall from the inner surface thereof, wall means extending approximately orthogonally from said abutment; said mating lid comprising peripheral sealing ring means defining a wall complimentary to said receptacle wall means for surface-to-surface contact therewith when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle, a lid abutment at the inner end of said lid wall for engaging said receptacle abutment when said lid is operatively installed upon said receptacle and vacuum applied thereto to prevent said lid from being drawn down into said receptacle, a plurality of stiffening ribs extending inwardly from said sealing ring means, a diaphragm passing through said ribs and intersecting said sealing ring means along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said lid abutment whereby, when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle and vacuum is applied to said container, said abutments are drawn into firm engagement and said diaphragm deflects downwardly to press said lid wall into sealing engagement with said receptacle wall means.

Claim 3

A fluid collection container according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle wall means forms an outwardly turned bead along its outer periphery and said lid comprises an annular recess for mating with said bead, a skirt depending from said annular recess defining an outwardly flared cam surface for facilitating the mating of said annular recess with said bead when said lid is mounted on said receptacle.

Claim 4

A fluid collection container according to claim 1 wherein said stiffening ribs extenD radially inward from said sealing ring means and intersect at the center of said lid.

Claim 5

A fluid collection container according to claim 1 wherein said stiffening ribs are characterized by a height normal to the nominal plane of said lid substantially in excess of their width parallel to the nominal plane of said lid and wherein said diaphragm passes through said ribs along a zone approximately midway their height.

Claim 6

A fluid collection container according to claim 4 further comprising at least two tubular passages, each formed integrally with and extending through one said stiffening ribs.

Claim 7

A fluid collection container according to claim 1 further comprising at least two tubular passages, each formed integrally with and extending through a stiffening rib.

Claim 8

A fluid collection container according to claim 6 wherein one of said passages comprises means for connecting the container interior to a vacuum source and another passage comprises a fluid inlet having an inwardly extending spout closely adjacent the inner surface of said receptacle sidewall for directing incoming fluid against said inner surface to reduce any tendency of the fluid to splash or foam.

Claim 9

A fluid collection container according to claim 1 wherein said wall means flares slightly outward from said receptacle abutment and lid wall is similarly flared to mate in surface-to-surface contact with said wall means when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle.

Claim 10

A vacuum operated fluid collection container comprising in combination a receptacle and a unitary mating lid; said receptacle comprising an abutment extending substantially normal to the receptacle sidewall from the inner surface thereof, sealing wall means in a slightly outwardly tapered configuration extending from said abutment and forming an outwardly turned bead along its periphery; said mating lid comprising peripheral sealing ring means defining a lid wall complimentary to said sealing wall means for engaging the inner surface of said sealing wall means in surface-to-surface contact when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle, a lid abutment at the inner end of said lid wall for engaging said receptacle abutment when said lid is operatively installed upon said receptacle and vacuum is applied thereto to prevent said lid from being drawn down into said receptacle, an annular recess for mating with said bead, a skirt depending from said annular recess defining an outwardly flared cam surface for facilitating the mating of said annular recess with said bead, a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending inwardly from said sealing ring means and intersecting a common point in the center of said lid, said stiffening ribs being characterized by a height normal to the nominal plane of said lid substantially in excess of the width parallel to the nominal plane of the lid, a diaphragm passing through said ribs along a plane substantially parallel to and above the plane of said lid abutment, and at least two tubular passages each formed integrally with and extending through one of said stiffening ribs, one of said passages comprising means for connecting the container interior to a vacuum source and another passage comprising a fluid inlet having an inwardly extending spout closely adjacent the inner surface of said receptacle sidewall for directing incoming fluid against said inner receptacle surface to reduce any tendency of the fluid to splash or foam, whereby when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle and vacuum is applied to said container, said abutments are drawn into sealing engagement and said diaphragm deflects downwardly to press said lid wall into sealing engagement with said receptacle wall means.

Claim 11

A vacuum operated fluid collection container comprising in combination a receptacle and a unitary mating lid; said receptacle comprising an abutment extending substantially normal to the receptacle sidewall from the inner surface thereof, sealing wall means in a slightly outwardly tapered configuration extending from said abutment and forming an outwardly turned bead along its periphery; said mating lid comprising peripheral sealing ring means defining a lid wall complimentary to said sealing wall means for engaging the inner surface of said sealing wall means in surface-to-surface contact when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle, a lid abutment at the inner end of said lid wall for engaging said receptacle abutment when said lid is operatively installed upon said receptacle and vacuum is applied thereto to prevent said lid from being drawn down into said receptacle, an annular recess for mating with said bead, a skirt depending from said annular recess defining an outwardly flared cam surface for facilitating the mating of said annular recess with said bead, a plurality of radial stiffening ribs extending inwardly from said sealing ring means and intersecting a common point in the center of said lid, said stiffening ribs being characterized by a height normal to the nominal plane of said lid substantially in excess of the width parallel to the nominal plane of the lid, a diaphragm passing through said ribs along a plane substantially parallel to and above the plane of said lid abutment, and at least two tubular passages each formed integrally with and extending through one of said stiffening ribs, one of said passages comprising means for connecting the container interior to a vacuum source and another passage comprising a fluid inlet having an inwardly extending spout closely adjacent the inner surface of said receptacle sidewall for directing incoming fluid against said inner receptacle surface to reduce any tendency of the fluid to splash or foam, whereby when said lid is operatively mounted upon said receptacle and vacuum is applied to said container, said abutments are drawn into sealing engagement and said diaphragm deflects downwardly to press said lid wall into sealing engagement with said receptacle wall means.