Transport swab tube

Claim 2

A transport swab tube apparatus comprising in combination a tube container having a closed end and an open end, a cap removably attached in sealing relationship to said open end of said tube container, a tubular swab member supported by said cap having a length less than that of said tube container and having an opening at each end thereof, bibulous swab material carried by and covering the opening at one end of said swab member, a liquid storage receptacle supported by said cap, a passage communicating between said liquid storage receptacle and the other end of said swab member, and a relatively movable sealing means associated with said receptacle and said swab member, said sealing means when in a first position sealing the interior of said receptacle from said passage and when in a second position affording communication between the interior of said receptacle and said passage so that liquid can flow from said receptacle through the tubular swab member and become absorbed by said bibulous swab material, said tubular swab member being supported by said removable cap in such a manner that said bibulous swab material is positioned within said tube container and out of contact therewith when said removable cap seals said open end of said tube container.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle is provided with a vent opening and there is relatively movable second sealing means for said vent opening connected for relative movement with said first-mentioned sealing means to first and second positions, said second sealing means sealing said vent opening when in its said first position and permitting venting of said receptacle to the atmosphere when in its said second position.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is means defining a chamber in communication with the opening at said other end of said tubular swab member, said means being supported by said removable cap and supporting said tubular swab member, said receptacle being movable to first and second positions relative to said swab member, and cooperable sealing means on said receptacle and swab member, said sealing means sealing the interior of said receptacle from said chamber when said receptacle is in its first position and affording communication between the interior of said receptacle and said chamber when said receptacle is in its said second position.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said receptacle is provided with a vent opening and there is cooperable second sealing means on said receptacle and swab member sealing said vent opening when said receptacle is in its first position and permitting venting of said receptacle to the atmosphere when said receptacle is in its said second position.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable cap has a top with a skirt depending therefrom capable of mating in sealing relation with said tube container, said removable cap also having an opening in said top and a tubular extension surrounding said opening and coaxially depending from said top, said extension having a reduced diameter lower end portion telescopically supporting one end of said tubular swab member, said extension forming a chamber communicating with the opening in said end of said swab member, a closed ended extension member extending coaxially from the swab member through said chamber and out through said opening in said top of said removable cap, said swab member having a portion of reduced diameter forming an annular external shoulder, a movable tubular member coaxially positioned between said tubular extension of said removable tOp and said swab member and its extension member, said movable tubular member having an axial opening near one end thereof and having sealing means cooperable with said swab member near the opposite end thereof, said movable member being capable of axial movement to three operational positions, said movable tubular member when in a first operational position being located so that the end opening thereof surrounds and is sealed by the closed end of the swab member extension while the sealing means thereof forms a liquid-impermeable seal between the depending extension of said removable top and the larger diameter portion of the swab member, said movable tubular member when in a second operational position being moved upward so that the end opening thereof is no longer sealed but the sealing means still maintains the liquid-impermeable seal between the depending extension of the removable top and the larger diameter portion of the swab member, thereby permitting the movable tubular member to be filled with liquid through said end opening thereof, said movable tubular member then being movable to its the first operational position wherein the end opening is sealed and said movable tubular member forms a liquid storage receptacle, said movable tubular member when in a third operational position being moved upward so that the sealing means thereof is moved beyond the annular shoulder on the swab member to break the liquid-impermeable seal and allow the liquid stored in the movable tubular member to flow out of such receptacle and into the open end of said hollow tubular swab member, said movable tubular member being thereafter movable to its first operational position wherein the interior of the swab member is sealed from communication with the surrounding atmosphere.