US 11,746,373 B2
Processing vial and cap
Byron J. Knight, San Diego, CA (US); David A. Buse, San Diego, CA (US); Norbert D. Hagen, Carlsbad, CA (US); David Opalsky, San Diego, CA (US); Tyler Moore, Campbell, CA (US); Anita Prasad, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Bruce Richardson, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/847,096.
Application 17/668,775 is a division of application No. 17/036,730, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,279,967, issued on Mar. 22, 2022.
Application 17/847,096 is a continuation of application No. 17/668,775, filed on Feb. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,434,521.
Application 17/036,730 is a continuation of application No. 17/033,395, filed on Sep. 25, 2020.
Application 17/033,395 is a continuation of application No. 16/829,230, filed on Mar. 25, 2020, granted, now 10,889,851, issued on Jan. 12, 2021.
Application 16/829,230 is a continuation of application No. 15/675,206, filed on Aug. 11, 2017, granted, now 10,711,297, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 15/675,206 is a continuation of application No. 14/213,900, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, granted, now 9,732,374, issued on Aug. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/784,994, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0315990 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6806 (2018.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01)
CPC C12Q 1/6806 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50825 (2013.01); B01L 3/565 (2013.01); B01L 7/5255 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01); B01L 3/527 (2013.01); B01L 2200/026 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0689 (2013.01); B01L 2300/046 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0418 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0436 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A processing vial and a cap configured for interlocking engagement with the processing vial, wherein the processing vial comprises:
an open upper end;
a locking collar surrounding the open upper end with lateral through holes formed through the locking collar; and
a latch hook located above each through hole; and wherein the cap comprises:
a lower portion configured for insertion into the open upper end of the processing vial and configured to provide a sealing engagement between an outer surface of the lower portion of the cap and an inner surface of the opening of the processing vial;
an upper portion having an open end configured for engagement by a receptacle transport mechanism; and
a latch collar extending about the lower portion of the cap, wherein the latch collar is configured to snap in beneath the latch hooks of the processing vial when the lower portion of the cap is inserted into the open upper end of the processing vial to lock the cap to the processing vial.