Vial with non-round seal

Abstract

A moisture-tight, re-sealable container ( 10, 80, 120, 202, 214 ) is disclosed having a lid ( 18, 128 ) and body ( 12, 112 ). The lid and body have a non-round seal ( 50, 78 ) that is substantially moisture tight when the lid is seated on the body, admitting less than 1000 micrograms per day of water to a package. A reinforcement ( 22 or 162 ) stiffens or reinforces at least a portion of the seal against inward deflection along an axis ( 42 ) defined by the minor diameter when the lid is seated on the body. Optionally the reinforcement is at least one spline ( 162 ) subdividing the reservoir. A method of making dispensers ( 10, 80, 120, 202, 214 ) for objects ( 122, 124 ) of varying length to customize particular dispensers to dispense such objects of a particular length is also disclosed.

1 . A moisture-tight, re-sealable container comprising:
 a. a body having a generally tubular sidewall with first and second axially opposed ends, a base, and a dispensing opening axially spaced from the base and at least adjacent to the second end;   b. an interior space disposed generally within the sidewall and at least generally between the base and the dispensing opening;   c. the generally tubular sidewall having a cross-section having a major diameter and a minor diameter, wherein the ratio between the major diameter and the minor diameter of the sidewall cross-section is a value between 1.1:1 and 10:1, inclusive;   d. a non-round body sealing surface located on the body and disposed about the dispensing opening, the body sealing surface having a major diameter and a minor diameter, wherein the ratio between the major diameter and the minor diameter of the body sealing surface is a value between 1.1:1 and 10:1, inclusive;   e. a lid configured to seat on the body;   f. a lid sealing surface located on the lid;   g. the body sealing surface and the lid sealing surface being configured to mate to form a seal between the lid and the body when the lid is seated on the body;   h. the lid and lid sealing surface at least substantially closing the dispensing opening and isolating the interior space from ambient conditions; and   i. an insert communicating with the interior space of the container and reinforcing at least a portion of the body sealing surface against inward deflection along an axis defined by the minor diameter when the lid is seated on the body;   
       the container having a moisture ingress rate of 100-1000 micrograms per day, at 80% relative humidity and 22.2° C. 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , in which the interior space is defined at least in part by an interior surface made of a desiccant material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , in which the interior space is defined at least in part by a reinforcement stiffening the container against deflection along the minor axis. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , in which the reinforcement is an insert assembled with the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , in which the insert is secured to the container by an interference fit between the insert and the inner wall of the container 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , in which the insert is made of a desiccant material. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , in which the insert is disposed within the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 4 , in which the insert is a liner generally following the inner wall of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , in which the body is at least generally oval in cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the major diameter and the minor diameter of the cross-section of the sidewall is a value between 1.5:1 and 3:1, inclusive. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the major diameter and the minor diameter of the cross-section of the body sealing surface is a value between 1.5:1 and 3:1, inclusive. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser for strips of material, comprising:
 a generally tubular body having an interior surface and first and second axially opposed ends, at least one of the ends defining a dispensing opening;   a first platform extending laterally within the interior surface and positioned at the first end or between the first and second ends of the body;   a second platform extending laterally within the interior surface, positioned between and spaced axially from the first platform and the dispensing opening, and defining a reservoir between the second platform and the dispensing opening and a region between the first and second platforms;   at least one spline extending axially and laterally within the reservoir and subdividing the reservoir into plural axially extending reservoirs communicating with the dispensing opening.   
     
     
         13 . A method of making dispensers for objects of varying length to customize particular dispensers to dispense such objects of a particular length, the method comprising:
 providing a first injection mold cavity adapted to form a generally tubular body having an interior surface; first and second axially opposed ends, at least one of the ends defining a dispensing opening; and a first platform extending laterally within the interior surface and positioned between the axially opposed ends of the body;   providing a second injection mold cavity adapted to form an insert sized and configured to fit within the generally tubular body, the insert having a second platform configured to be positioned between and spaced axially from the first platform and the dispensing opening when the insert is assembled with the body, defining a reservoir between the second platform and the dispensing opening and a region between the first and second platforms;   modifying at least one of the first and second injection mold cavities to place the first and second platforms of the tubular body and the insert in relative axial positions adapted to support objects of a specific length on the second platform at a predetermined position relative to the dispensing opening.