Container top and a method of protecting a container top septum

Abstract

A container top having an integral cover, for example, an integral dust cover, is provided. The container top includes a cap having a cylindrical skirt with a top, a bottom, a first outside diameter at the top of the skirt, a second outside diameter at the bottom of the skirt, and an inside surface adapted to engage a container; and a ring mounted to the top of the cylindrical skirt, the ring having an opening; and a cover removably mounted to the cap and occluding the opening in the ring. The container top may include a septum positioned in the opening, for example, a septum that can be pierced with a syringe. The container cap may be used in a wide range of industries, for example, the medical, pharmaceutical, the general scientific community, or in any industry where liquid or gaseous samples are handled.

1 . A container top comprising:
 a cap comprising:
 a cylindrical skirt having a top, a bottom, a first outside diameter at the top of the skirt, a second outside diameter at the bottom of the skirt, and an inside surface adapted to engage a container; and 
 a ring mounted to the top of the cylindrical skirt, the ring having an opening; and 
   a cover removably mounted to the cap and occluding the opening in the ring, the cover having substantially no structure extending beyond the first outside diameter of the skirt.   
   
   
       2 . The container top as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container top further comprises a septum positioned in the cap to occlude the opening in the ring. 
   
   
       3 . The container top as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a first annular retaining structure and the cover comprises a second annular retaining structure adapted to engage the first annular retaining structure to retain the cover on the cap. 
   
   
       4 . The container top as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first annular retaining structure on the ring comprises an annular recess and the second annular retaining structure on the cover comprises an annular projection adapted to engage the annular recess. 
   
   
       5 . The container top as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the ring comprises an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and wherein the annular recess on the ring is positioned on one of the insider diameter and the outside diameter of the ring. 
   
   
       6 . The container top as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the annular recess is positioned on the outside diameter of the ring. 
   
   
       7 . The container top as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first annular retaining structure on the ring comprises an annular projection and the second annular retaining structure on the cover comprises an annular recess adapted to engage the annular projection on the ring. 
   
   
       8 . The container top as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the ring comprises an inside diameter and an outside diameter, and wherein the annular projection on the ring is positioned on one of the insider diameter and the outside diameter of the ring. 
   
   
       9 . The container top as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the annular projection is positioned on the outside diameter of the ring. 
   
   
       10 . The container top as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second outside diameter of the skirt is greater than the first outside diameter of the skirt. 
   
   
       11 . The container top as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first annular retaining structure and the second annular retaining structure comprise the only means of engagement between the cap and the cover. 
   
   
       12 . A method of protecting a cap septum comprising:
 providing a cap comprising:
 a cylindrical skirt having top, a bottom, a first outside diameter at the top of the skirt, and a second outside diameter at the bottom of the skirt; and 
 a ring mounted to the top of the cylindrical skirt, the ring having an opening; 
 inserting a septum into the cap wherein the septum occludes the opening; 
 mounting the cap with the septum on a container wherein at least some of the septum is exposed through the opening in the ring; and 
 mounting a removable cover on the cap to protect the septum while providing no structure extending beyond the first outside diameter of the skirt. 
   
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the cap further comprises a first annular retaining structure and the cover comprises a second annular retaining structure, and wherein mounting the removable cover on the cap comprise engaging the first annular retaining structure with the second annular retaining structure. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first annular retaining structure on the cap comprises a annular recess and the second annular retaining structure on the cover comprises an annular projection, and wherein engaging the first annular retaining structure with the second annular retaining structure comprises engaging the annular recess and the annular projection. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first annular retaining structure on the cap comprises an annular projection and the second annular retaining structure on the cover comprises an annular recess, and wherein engaging the first annular retaining structure with the second annular retaining structure comprises engaging the annular projection and annular recess. 
   
   
       16 . A container top comprising:
 a cap having:
 a cylindrical skirt having a top, a bottom, a first outside diameter at the top of the skirt, a second outside diameter at the bottom of the skirt, and an inside surface adapted to engage a container; and 
 a ring mounted to the top of the cylindrical skirt, the ring having an opening and a first annular retaining structure; and 
   a cover removably mounted to the cap and occluding the opening in the ring, the cover having a second annular retaining structure adapted to engage the first annular retaining structure of the ring to retain the cover on the cap.   
   
   
       17 . The container top as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the container top further comprises a septum positioned in the cap to occlude the opening in the ring. 
   
   
       18 . The container top as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first annular retaining structure comprises one of an annular recess and an annular projection. 
   
   
       19 . The container top as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first annular retaining structure on the ring comprises an annular recess and the second annular retaining structure on the cover comprises an annular projection. 
   
   
       20 . The container top as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the cover comprises substantially no structure extending beyond the first outside diameter of the skirt.