Hermetically sealed test strip container

Abstract

A test strip container comprising a housing defining a cavity having a dispensing wall, a housing inlet, and a dispensing outlet is presented. The container may also comprise a lid mounted movably on the housing to define a primed position and an unprimed position therebetween. A cartridge may be provided within the cavity and holding a plurality of test strips. The cartridge may have a plunger entrance seal and a strip exit seal. A biasing member may be disposed within the cartridge urging the plurality of test strips towards the dispensing wall to be aligned with the dispensing outlet. A plunger may be provided, and oriented to open the plunger entrance seal through the housing inlet when the lid is in the primed position, and to urge a single test strip from the plurality of test strips through the strip exit seal of the cartridge and the dispensing outlet of the housing when the lid is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position.

1 . A test strip container comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity having a dispensing wall, a housing inlet, and a dispensing outlet;   a lid mounted movably on the housing to define a primed position and an unprimed position therebetween;   a cartridge provided within the cavity and holding a plurality of test strips, the cartridge having a plunger entrance seal and a strip exit seal;   a biasing member disposed within the cartridge urging the plurality of test strips towards the dispensing wall to be aligned with the dispensing outlet; and   a plunger oriented to open the plunger entrance seal through the housing inlet when the lid is in the primed position, and to urge a single test strip from the plurality of test strips through the strip exit seal of the cartridge and the dispensing outlet of the housing when the lid is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position.   
     
     
         2 . The test strip container of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing inlet seal provided on the plunger, wherein the housing inlet seal interacts with the housing inlet when the container is in the unprimed position to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         3 . The test strip container of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing outlet seal member, the dispensing outlet seal member being cooperative with the dispensing outlet to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         4 . The test strip container of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger entrance seal is spring-biased to automatically reseal upon plunger exit. 
     
     
         5 . The test strip container of  claim 1 , wherein the strip exit seal is spring-biased to automatically reseal upon strip exit. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is mounted slidably on the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A test strip container comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity;   a lid mounted movably on the housing to define a primed position and an unprimed position therebetween;   a slidable seal positioned on the lid and providing a hermetic seal to a volume defined by the cavity of the housing and the lid;   a cartridge provided within the cavity and holding a plurality of test strips, the cartridge having a dispensing wall and a dispensing outlet;   a biasing member positioned in the cartridge urging the plurality of test strips towards the dispensing wall; and   a plunger oriented to enter the cartridge and urge a single test strip from the plurality of test strips through the dispensing outlet when the lid is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the lid is slidably mounted on the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a dispensing outlet seal member, the dispensing outlet seal member cooperative with the dispensing outlet to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring positioned in the cavity, the spring being cooperative with the plunger to urge the plunger towards the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring, the torsion spring comprising a plunger leg and a biasing leg, wherein the plunger leg urges the plunger towards the dispensing outlet, and the biasing leg urges the biasing member towards the dispensing wall. 
     
     
         12 . A test strip container comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity with a housing inlet and a dispensing outlet;   a sliding member mounted movably on the housing and providing a primed position and an unprimed position;   a cartridge provided within the cavity and having a dispensing wall, the cartridge holding a plurality of test strips;   a biasing member disposed within the cavity and urging the plurality of test strips toward the dispensing wall; and   a plunger operatively connected to the sliding member and positioned to enter the cartridge through the housing inlet when the sliding member is in the primed position and to urge a single test strip from the plurality of test strips through the dispensing outlet when the sliding member is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , further comprising a dispensing outlet seal member, wherein the dispensing outlet seal member is cooperative with the dispensing outlet to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger further comprises an actuation shaft and a strip carrier, the strip carrier comprising a lifting notch, wherein the lifting notch of the strip carrier remains below the bottom of the cartridge when the container is in the primed position, and the lifting notch of the strip carrier is disposed above the bottom of the cartridge by a distance sufficient to urge a single test strip through the dispensing outlet when the sliding member is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a housing inlet seal is provided on the plunger, wherein the housing inlet seal cooperates with housing inlet to form a hermetic seal when the container is in the unprimed position. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the housing further comprises a spring, the spring positioned to bias the plunger towards the unprimed position. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring, the torsion spring comprising a plunger leg and a biasing leg, wherein the plunger leg urges the plunger towards the dispensing outlet, and the biasing leg urges the biasing member towards the dispensing wall. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the sliding member is slidably mounted on the exterior walls of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . A test strip container comprising:
 a housing accommodating a plurality of test strips therein, the housing defining a cavity having a dispensing wall with a dispensing outlet;   a biasing member provided within the cavity and urging the plurality of test strips towards the dispensing wall;   a lever actuator provided to the housing and having a primed position and an unprimed position; and   a lever providing within the housing and having an actuation side and a lifting side, the lever actuator being connected to the lever on the actuation side, wherein the lever on the lifting side urges a single test strip from the plurality of test strips through the dispensing outlet when the lever actuator is transitioned from the primed position to the unprimed position.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , further comprising a dispensing outlet seal member, the dispensing outlet seal member being cooperative with the dispensing outlet to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 19 , further comprising an actuator spring, the actuator spring being cooperative with the lever actuator to return the lever actuator from the unprimed position to the primed position. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the lever provides a slot in which the plurality of test strips are accommodated therein.