DEVICE FOR SINGULATING AND DISPENSING RIGID AND SEMI-RIGID STRIPS
A container device for storing, singulating and dispensing rigid and semi-rigid strips such as diagnostic test strips. A plurality of strips is contained and protected within a transparent container having an internal capture element for capturing and positioning a single strip adjacent a narrow normally-closed dispensing aperture. The aperture is exposed by rotating a spring-loaded container top cap to an open position. A detachable container base cap contains a desiccant and is replaceable. An optional stand stores the device in an upright position, and incorporates a tool to facilitate removal of the base cap for replenishing the container's contents or replacing the desiccant. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can be incorporated for electronic inventory control. The device can also be used as an integrated test strip container/single strip dispensing means for an automated analyte meter module.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/931,616 filed on Feb. 7, 2011 and to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 9,341,613, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to containers for protecting and dispensing one at a time, rigid and semi-rigid strips such as diagnostic test strips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRigid and semi-rigid strips, such as test strips are used extensively in chemical analysis and medicine. For example, test strips are used to check for chemical concentrations or contaminants in water chemistry. In medicine, diagnostic test strips are used to measure analyte concentrations in biological fluids. Diagnostic test strips are commonly used by diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels.
Such test strips are moisture sensitive and need to be protected from contaminants and maintained at appropriate humidity levels. They are usually stored in moisture resistant, polymer vials containing some sort of desiccant located in the cap or co-molded in the vial itself. Ideally, to avoid contamination, test strips should not be handled or touched before use.
Some diabetics have to check their blood glucose levels multiple times a day. The test strips are slippery and only a few millimeters in width and length. Due to the disease, diabetics may have diminished feel and eyesight. It is difficult for even those with good dexterity and eyesight to quickly extract a single test strip from a small vial that may contain up to 50 strips. The usual method requires inserting a finger into the vial to attempt sliding out a single strip, or tilting or shaking the vial to allow the test strips to slide half way out so a single test strip may be grasped and removed. These methods often lead to several test strips being touched and possibly contaminated by skin oils, etc. The test strips are also likely to fall out of the vial, damaging them or exposing them to dust and other contaminants. If returned to the vial, the contaminated strips could cross-contaminate the remaining strips. Also, the time required to manually grasp and remove a single test strip can allow the infiltration of airborne contaminants and moist ambient air into the open mouth of the usual vial container. This can degrade the reagent in the strips, compromising the quality of future tests. Such containers also commonly contain a desiccant, and the inadvertent intake of moisture can reduce its effective life.
Several complex test strip dispensers have been created to try to overcome some of the disadvantages associated with the simple test strip vials described above (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,414 to Schreiber et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,266 to Bonner et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,074 to Charlton et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,917 to McAleer et al.) However, due to the complexity of these and other designs, the high cost of manufacture and assembly can put these devices out of the reach of the average user. Some more recent devices have been developed to try to reduce the number of required components, thereby lowering manufacturing costs (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,358 to Hagen et al; U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,728 to Otake; U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,853 to West et al; U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,292 to Lancesseur et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,670,562 to Sacherer).
However, these devices suffer from certain disadvantages. Although the number of parts has been reduced, several are still mechanically complex and require considerable assembly of small parts. Most fail to maintain a constant moisture-free environment. Specifically, every time the caps and bases are separated to dispense a test strip, moisture and possible airborne contaminants are allowed, to some degree, to contact the test strips within. When the caps are replaced, the moisture inside the dispenser is sealed in and remains until the desiccant, if present, adsorbs it. These devices also fail to provide a means of monitoring the condition of the desiccant. If re-useable, most fail to describe the desiccant's eventual replacement. It is also difficult to determine the number of strips remaining inside the devices. And most provide no visual confirmation that a test strip has actually been selected until the cap is removed. Those that are reusable don't appear to be easily reloaded by the end user, or reloaded without touching and exposing the strips to outside contamination.
As a result, there continues to be a need for a simple, inexpensive device to singulate and dispense one at a time, rigid and semi-rigid strips such as test strips which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, which maintain the integrity of their contents, are simple to reload, and have provision for an easily replaced desiccant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, reusable container device to singulate and dispense one at a time, rigid and semi-rigid strips such as test strips. A further object is to provide such a device to store and protect the integrity of a plurality of strips from outside moisture and contaminants, and which is transparent, thereby allowing the user to easily view the position, orientation and number of the strips contained within, to confirm the capture of a single strip to be dispensed, and to view the condition of a replaceable desiccant. After the strips are loaded they are not touched or exposed to outside contaminants until they are actually dispensed for use, one at a time.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a device with a transparent container, an internal integrally molded planar capture element, and in the preferred embodiment, a partially rotatable spring-loaded cap having a narrow aperture through which the strips are conveniently dispensed one at a time. The container of the preferred embodiment has a removable base cap by which the container's contents may be replenished, and/or the desiccant can be replaced.
The device of the invention does not differ significantly in size from a conventional test strip storage vial, and therefore may be conveniently stored in a standard diabetes test kit.
The invention is described in several embodiments. In each embodiment the device singulates the test strips by singulating, through rotation along its longitudinal axis, at least one test strip on the planar surface of the capture element. When the dispenser is tilted top cap down, the singulated test strip is then guided along the planar surface by the capture ridge toward and then through the devices aligned apertures. The apertures are typically 97% smaller than the open mouth of the conventional test strip vial. This, plus short open times greatly reduce the potential for the infiltration of airborne contaminants and moist ambient air into the container. This maintains the relative humidity inside the container at a more constant state, better preserving the integrity of the contents.
In one embodiment, the device is comprised of three molded parts, is easily assembled and other than the partially rotating top cap, has no moving parts. The transparent storage container allows the user to hold the dispenser in a generally horizontal position and, with visual cues, manipulate the dispenser to capture and confirm that a single test strip is on the capture element. The top cap is then rotated to align the inner and outer apertures. In use, the dispenser is tilted, top cap down to dispense the test strip by gravity through the aligned apertures. The top cap is then rotated back to the closed, sealed position.
In another embodiment, the capture element and its proximal disk shaped top with its associated apertures is molded in one piece as an insert. This insert is contained within a transparent storage tube. The addition of the partially rotating top cap and the removable base cap forms the dispenser. In yet another embodiment, the partially rotatable top cap of the container incorporates a spring which, when the cap is opened to dispense a strip, biases the cap back to the closed, sealed position.
In still other embodiments, the capture element and its proximal disk shaped top with its associated apertures is molded in one piece as an insert for the conventional vial or a conventional vial molded in a transparent polymer. Various vial closures could be used.
In each of the disclosed embodiments, a desiccant may be provided within the container, preferably one which provides a visual indication to the user which can be observed through the transparent walls of the containers. Additionally, the addition of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or Bluetooth device allows electronic scanning and reading of information about the product, such as its manufacturer, date of manufacture and inventory information. The device can also be used as an integrated test strip container/single strip dispensing means for an automated analyte meter module.
In the described embodiments with a base cap, a stand is provided which is opaque and protects the contents of the transparent container from light, UV radiation and the like. A recess in the base of the stand is usable as a tool to assist in the removal of the dispenser's base cap.
As described below, each embodiment of the present invention describes devices which are reusable, have minimal components, contain, protect and maintain the integrity of a plurality of rigid and semi-rigid strips such as test strips, and dispenses the strips one at a time. The invention is suitable for dispensing all types of test strips, for example electrochemical, colorimetric and photometric type test strips.
The dimensions of the exemplary test strips referenced herein are provided with diabetes test kits, and are 6 mm wide by 32 mm long by 0.4 mm thick. They are described by way of example only, and the invention may be used with any rigid or semi-rigid strips of uniform shape without departing from the invention. In the present example, the dispenser in the form of a cylinder is 26 mm in diameter by 40 mm in height.
Conventional test strip vials are typically sized to hold up to 50 test strips. Thus the container of the present invention is similarly sized so that it may be conveniently stored in a standard kit with the accompanying glucose meter and lancet. The subject devices can also be sized to hold and dispense more test strips, but at the sacrifice of portability.
The device of the invention is easily reloaded by the user, as will be apparent from the descriptions below. It may also incorporate a removable base cap that may optionally contain a desiccant for maintaining the integrity of the container contents. The desiccant can be granular, polymer entrained or, preferably, a color-indicating polymer-entrained type. The desiccant might be co-molded or press fit into the base cap at time of manufacture. A color indicating polymer entrained desiccant is easily visible through the transparent storage container and its condition monitored by the user until replacement is indicated.
First Exemplary Embodiment FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 3AThe top of the storage container 2 is shown with the rotation bearing surface 7, dual inner apertures 8, the outer aperture sealing pad 9, the open rotation stop 10, and closed rotation stop lug 11. Also seen is one of the two top cap status indexes 12. The bottom cap 3 is shown with its optional desiccant 13, and the bottom cap convex sealing ridge 14.
The material of the top cap 1 is preferably selected from the following group of moldable polymeric materials consisting of polyethylenes (PE); polypropylenes (PP); polystyrenes (PS); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers (ABS) and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN); polymethyl methacrylates (PMMA); polyvinyl chlorides (PVC); polycarbonates (PC); inherently conductive polymer (ICP) alloys and inherently dissipative polymer (IDP) alloys. The material of the container body 2 and bottom cap 3 are preferably selected from the same materials.
The top cap's internal locking rib 17 snaps over the transparent storage container's external locking rib 18. This forms an annular locking snap fit between the top cap 1 and the transparent storage container 2. Other than snapping on the base cap, this is the only assembly required on this first embodiment of the dispenser. The devices are cylindrical in shape to allow the use of the partially rotatable top cap. A snap-on top cap without apertures would allow the shape of the dispenser to take on various shapes, for example elliptical or oval, etc. The partially rotating cap is the preferred design because the top cap, with its small apertures, stays on the container reducing the chance of contaminants entering the dispenser, or the possible loss of the cap itself.
The top cap 1 seals the top of the transparent storage container 2 when the closed indicator 5 is aligned with its status index 12. This rotates the top cap 1 into the closed position. With this rotation, the device's outer and inner apertures 4, 8 are offset, the inner aperture seal pad 16 moves over the inner apertures 8 and, through tight frictional contact and elastic deformation, forms a substantially air-tight and moisture-tight seal. At the same time, the outer apertures 4 move over the outer aperture seal pad 9 and, through minimal contact and deformation, form an outer aperture dust seal. This keeps dust and other foreign particles out of the cavity formed between the top cap 1 and the top of the storage container 2. Because the quality of the seal between the inner apertures 8 and the inner aperture seal pad 16 takes priority over the seal between the outer apertures 4 and the outer aperture seal pad 9, the thickness of the inner aperture seal pad 16 is greater than the outer aperture seal pad 9. The leading edges of the sealing pads 9, 16 and the raised inner apertures are chamfered to facilitate the above movement. Since the contact area between the sealing pads and apertures is small, and because of the self lubricating properties of the materials, sufficient sealing pressure can be applied with relatively little torque. Positive aperture alignment and aperture offset are provided by the open rotation stop 10, the closed rotation stop lug 11 and the rotation stop pin 15 that moves between these two elements. Top cap position status is determined by viewing the position of the closed 5 and open 6 indicators relative to the top cap status index 12. The two indexes are molded on the outside of the storage container near the proximal end. This allows viewing the top cap status in the natural line of sight when a single test strip has been captured within. The user then rotates the dispenser through visual cues to capture a single test strip on the capture element as will be described in detail below.
Of the several moldable polymeric materials adapted for use with the storage container 2 of the present invention specified above, transparent acrylic is preferred for its combination of optical clarity, low UV transmission rate, low water absorption characteristics, strength and cost. It allows the user to view the number, placement and orientation of the test strips within.
Inside the container 2 is an integral capture element 19 internally disposed perpendicular to the inside wall of the container along its longitudinal axis. The capture element has two planar surfaces 20, two capture ridges 21, two ramps 22, and a leading edge 23. There are two associated apertures 8 at the proximal end of the capture element. The dimensions of the above mentioned capture element's features are dictated by the size of the test strips to be dispensed. As mentioned above, the dimensions of the test strips for the exemplary embodiment of the subject device are 6 mm wide×32 mm long×0.4 mm thick. This dictates a planar surface 20 width of 6.3 mm, a planar surface 20 length of 28 mm, a capture ridge 21 height of 0.3 mm, and an associated aperture 8 size of 0.5 mm high×6.4 mm wide. These dimensions allow only one test strip to be singulated and captured on the planar surface 20 of the capture element 19, and to be dispensed through the associated aperture 8. The dimensions stated above for the capture element details were selected to allow a single test strip to easily drop onto the planar surface 20 without a second strip becoming wedged perpendicular between the edge of the first strip and the container wall. These dimensions are the preferred dimensions for the above mentioned test strip size, and could be changed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The distal end of the capture element 19 is angled and beveled to reduce the chance of test strip hang up on its cross-section while the dispenser is being loaded. The primary purpose of the capture element 19 is to insure that only one test strip is oriented and then captured for dispensation. When more than one test strip rests on the planar surface 20, the weight and friction of the additional strips can prevent the first strip from sliding freely through the apertures.
Depending upon user manipulation, the capture element also divides, separates, guides, singulates, and reorients the test strips within. When engaged by the plurality of test strips 38 through rotation, the leading edge 23 divides and separates at least one test strip from the plurality of test strips. The surface of the ramp 22 then guides the test strip(s) up onto the planar surface 20 of the capture element. When the dispenser is rotated in the opposite direction, the capture ridge 21 allows all but one of the strips to slide off of the capture element 19. The top cap is rotated to the open position and tilted down. The captured and singulated test strip is then guided along the capture ridge 21 on the planar surface 20 and is dispensed, by gravity, through its associated aperture 8. The capture element 19 also reorients the plurality of test strips, if needed, when the dispenser is rotated at least 360°.
The capture element 19 is two-sided. That is, each side of the capture element is a mirror image of the other. This allows the dispenser to be used with the top cap to the right or left based on user preference. Its preferred details and features give the capture element its distinctive arrow-shaped cross-section. The cross-section could be in the shape of half an arrow with one aperture, “L”-shaped with one aperture, “T”-shaped with dual apertures, and so forth without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The distal end of the transparent storage container 2 has an internal groove 24 to receive the external convex rib 14 on the base cap 3. The groove 24 and rib 14 form intimate contact between the base cap 3 and the inside of the container 2 to form a substantially air- and water-tight seal. These types of seals are well known to those skilled in the art and, for conciseness, will not be detailed here. The base cap 3 material, like the top cap, is also selected from the group of moldable polymeric materials referred to above, and may also contain a desiccant, preferably a color-indicating polymer-entrained desiccant 13. The purpose of the desiccant is to maintain the humidity inside the dispenser at appropriate levels. The condition of the desiccant 13, if present, can be viewed and monitored through the transparent wall of the storage container 2. This base cap with desiccant could be easily replaced, only when needed, by the user. The base cap 3 needs only to be removed to allow the reloading of the dispenser, or to replace the desiccant. This ensures that the test strips are not touched or contaminated by airborne contaminants such as dust, oils from the skin, and the like, until they are actually dispensed for use, one at a time.
With reference to
The stand is described as optional as the dispenser is designed to be carried in the standard case with the meter and lancet in place of the original test strip storage vial. The case would protect the test strips contained in the dispenser from any possible UV radiation exposure. If the dispenser were not carried in the case, the dispenser could be placed in the stand 35 after use.
As a further feature of the invention, for the purpose of dissipating static electric charges which might otherwise cause the test strips 38 to cling to each other or to the inner elements of the container 2 and internal capture element 19, at least one of the body, top end, capture element and bottom end is made of a material selected from the group comprising inherently conductive polymer (ICP) alloys and inherently dissipative polymer (IDP) alloys. Also, the capture element 19 can be made of a conductive metal such as steel, magnesium, titanium, aluminum, brass and alloys thereof.
Second Exemplary Embodiment FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 6AUnique to the insert 25 are two molded-in status indexes 27. These indexes 27 are located near the edge of the bottom surface of the insert 25. They are seen through the transparent wall of the storage tube 26 when the dispenser is assembled.
The insert 25 material is preferably selected from the group of moldable polymeric materials previously identified. It could also be molded in a preferred acrylic polymer of a dark color. This provides a contrasting background for the white test strips and makes it easier for a user with limited eyesight to confirm test strip capture on the capture element 19. As in the container of the first embodiment, the insert 25 may also be molded with different dimensions based on the size of the particular strip to be contained and dispensed.
The storage tube 26 is shown with its internal insert locking seat 28. The insert 25 can be installed in the locking seat 28 by means such as snap-fit, press-fit, ultrasonic weld, spin weld, bonding or screwing to create a storage container from the two parts with a mostly air- and moisture-proof seal. The storage tube also has an external locking rib 29. This rib interfaces with the top cap's internal locking rib 17 to form an annular locking snap fit between the top cap 1 and the storage tube 26.
The storage tube 26 material is also preferably selected from the group of moldable polymeric materials previously described. Preferably, it is molded in a transparent acrylic polymer. As in the first embodiment, this allows the user to visually manipulate the dispenser to singulate and capture a single test strip on the capture element, see the number of test strips remaining, and determine the condition of the desiccant, if provided, in the base cap.
Referring to
The spring 31 in this example, is molded from the preferred polymer Delrin®, an acetal polymer. Its flexural strength, recovery from deformation, and resistance to fatigue would insure long service life. Its low coefficient of friction, combined with the small contact surface of the spring engagement pin 34, allows smooth operation with little felt resistance. When the assembled dispenser is in the closed position, the spring engagement pin 34 is in light contact with the spring 31. When a captured test strip is ready to be dispensed, the top cap is rotated to the open position, flexing and loading the spring 31. After the test strip is dispensed, the top cap is released, allowing the spring to return the top cap to the closed, sealed position.
The above details of this third embodiment could be applied to the top cap and top surface of the storage container of the first embodiment and the insert of the fourth embodiment as well.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment FIGS. 13, 13ATo use this embodiment the user would first snap off the top cap 39. The vial would then be tilted top cap down at approximately a 45° angle and slowly rotated until a test strip, singulated by the capture element 19 is dispensed for use. The top cap 39 is then snapped back onto the insert to re-seal the assembly. The cap 39 is shown as being detached from the vial 42. The cap of course could remain attached to the vial by a live polymer strap hinge or other attachment means. It is to be understood that the snap-on design of the fourth and fifth embodiments described above is for example only. The inserts could easily be adapted to any vial cap/closure shape or design such as oval, triangular, square, rectangular, screw on, etc.
If the above mentioned conventional opaque vials were molded in a transparent polymeric material, they would be used in the same manner as the first, second and third embodiments described above.
This embodiment includes an optional self-adhesive RFID (radio frequency identification) tag 43 attached to the outer surface of the vial 42 to enable electronic scanning and reading of information about the container and its product, such as the manufacturer and date of manufacture, for inventory control.
Sixth Exemplary Embodiment FIGS. 15, 15ATo use this embodiment the user would rotate the device as described below to capture a test strip on the capture element 19. The user would then rotate the meter 45 while holding the container 2 to align the containers aperture with the meter's aperture. The device would then be tilted meter end down to guide the test strip through the meter where it contacts the strip stop/end cap 46. This positions the test strip in the appropriate position in the meter for use. The meter is rotated back to offset the apertures, sealing the container. This action also moves the meter's internal contacts onto the test strip, gripping and holding the strip and activates the meter. The test strip stop/end cap is removed and the test is conducted as usual. After the test is completed, the test strip is simply grasped and removed, turning off the meter. The test strip stop/end cap is replaced and the device is ready for its next use.
Methods of Using the DispenserWith reference to
In
As the number of test strips diminishes through use, the user, through visual cues, rotates the dispenser an increasing number of degrees in both directions to effect the test strip capture sequence described above. After the number of test strips in the dispenser drops to around 15, a second method of test strip capture can be used.
Referring to
In
In
In
It should be noted that the number of degrees referenced above are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be limiting. The actual amount of rotation varies, and is determined by the user based on visually observing the number of test strips remaining, their current orientation, and their position relative to the capture element. It should also be noted that the above methods can be accomplished with the top cap to the user's right or left by utilizing either surface of the capture element.
As a commercial product, the dispenser of the present invention may be supplied with either a single supply of dispensable strips pre-loaded by a manufacturer for single use, or as a re-usable container in which the dispensable strips and desiccant may be replenished by the manufacturer or end user, allowing multiple uses.
It is evident from the above description that the above described invention provides a simple, reusable device that singulates and dispenses strips such as test strips one at a time. It has a number of advantages, including, but not limited to, improved contamination and moisture control, inexpensive manufacture through simple assembly with minimal parts, easy reloading and desiccant replacement, and simple, visually controlled use.
Claims
1. A device that separates and dispenses a single test strip from a plurality of substantially uniform test strips, each of the test strips having a strip length, a strip width, a strip thickness, a first strip surface disposed about a first face of the test strip defined by the strip length and the strip width, and a second strip surface disposed about a second face of the test strip defined by the strip length and the strip thickness, the device for use in a hollow cylindrical container having an open end, a closed bottom end, a height that is greater than the strip length, and a wall having an inner surface, the device comprising:
- a disk member having a first side, a second side, a disk surface disposed about a circumference of the disk, and a first slot having a slot width and a slot length substantially corresponding to the strip thickness and the strip width, the slot sized to allow only the single test strip therethrough,
- a first slot surface disposed on an inner surface of the first slot corresponding to the slot width;
- a second slot surface disposed on an inner surface of the first slot corresponding to the slot length;
- a capture member disposed on the second side of the disk member and extending substantially perpendicular therefrom, the capture member having a first planar surface that is coincident with the first slot surface and a first ridge surface that projects from the first planar surface and that is coincident with the second slot surface, and wherein the disk member is insertable in the container so that the inner surface of the wall of the container circumscribes the disk surface with the first side being proximate the open end and the second side being proximate the bottom end.
2. The device according to claim 1,
- wherein the capture member further comprises a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface disposed apart by a capture member thickness, and a second ridge surface that projects from the second planar surface,
- wherein the disk member comprises a second slot, the second slot having a third slot surface disposed on an inner surface of the second slot that corresponds to a width of the second slot, and a fourth slot surface disposed on an inner surface of the second slot that corresponds to a length of the second slot,
- wherein the third slot surface is coincident with the second ridge surface and the fourth slot surface is coincident with the second planar surface.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first ridge surface projects from the first planar surface by a distance that is less than a combined thickness of the single test strip and a second test strip.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first planar surface has a width that is less than a combined width of the single test strip and a second test strip.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the capture member has a length that is greater than the strip length.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first ridge surface projects from the first planar surface by a distance that is less than a combined thickness of the single test strip and a second test strip, wherein the first planar surface has a width that is less than a combined width of the single test strip and a second test strip, and wherein the capture member has a length that is greater than the strip length.
7. An apparatus for storing and dispensing a single test strip from a plurality of substantially uniform test strips, the apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical container having an open end, a closed bottom end, a height, and a wall having an inner surface; and
- a device that has a disk member having a rectangular aperture through the disk member and a capture member adjacent to and projecting perpendicular from the rectangular aperture, the capture member having a first surface and a second surface perpendicular to the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are coincident with two perpendicular surfaces of the rectangular aperture, the device operable to separate a single strip from the plurality of strips, guide the single strip along the second surface, and dispense only the single test strip through the rectangular aperture,
- wherein the disk member has a circumferential surface disposed adjacent the surface of the inner wall, and
- wherein the capture member is disposed between the bottom end of the container and the disk member so that the single test strip is dispensed therefrom.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a desiccant disposed in the container between the disk member and the bottom end, wherein the desiccant is at least one desiccant type selected from the group consisting of: a granular type, a polymer entrained type, and a color-indicating polymer-entrained type.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the desiccant is a color-indicating polymer-entrained type, and wherein the container has a portion that is transparent.
10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bottom end is a removable base cap.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the desiccant is co-molded or press fit into said base cap.
12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the container has a low UV transmission rate.
13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the device and the container are an integral unit.
14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wall is transparent.
15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the disk member is fixed in rotational alignment with the container.
16. Use of the apparatus according to claim 7.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2016
Inventor: KEVIN G. SAWA (HANOVER PARK, IL)
Application Number: 15/155,364