Abstract: A composite buckle comprising a metal male portion that is attachable to a strap and an insertion plate having two flat surfaces, and a female portion for receiving the male portion. The female portion comprises a metal locking body that is attachable to a strap and at least two locking legs adapted to releasably lock with the insertion plate of the male portion. The male portion is inserted between the two locking legs which engage the plate on opposite surfaces of the plate. There is a plastic housing surrounding at least a portion of the metal locking body. The housing has a flexible arm adapted to separate the locking legs and release the metal locking body from the male portion. The buckle according to the invention combines the strength of a metal buckle with the light weight and attractiveness of a plastic buckle, to form a composite buckle that is suitable for a variety of uses.

Abstract: A vial structure wherein the neck of a two-compartment vial has a resilient stopper sealingly seated therein. The stopper has an upper projecting portion of smaller diameter, with the upper and lower portions being joined by an intermediate portion which defines a surrounding annular groove. A cap member surrounds the projecting portion of the stopper and is attached to the vial rim. The cap includes concentric inner and outer sleevelike skirts joined together by a top wall. The inner skirt snugly surrounds the upper stopper portion and terminates in a lower locking flange which projects into the annular groove to prevent the cap from being axially removed from the stopper. This inner skirt can be axially slidably inserted into the neck. The outer skirt is axially longer than the inner skirt and, at the lower end thereof, has a locking flange which resiliently snaps beneath the vial rim to lock the cap thereto.

Abstract: A disposable urethral catheter assembly includes a flexible bag in which a number of chambers are defined by barriers. In an upper chamber, a catheter is contained in a sterile environment. When the catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, the fluid flows into the bag through the upper chamber and into a lower sample chamber, excess fluid being collected in the upper chamber. After catheterization, a one-piece element which provides a sealable passageway through the first barrier between the upper and lower chamber can be readily closed by manipulation through the wall of the bag and thus isolate the sample in the lower chamber. The upper chamber, its contents and the catheter are separated from the sealed lower chamber and discarded. The lower sample chamber which provides a sterile environment for its contents can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis and culture.