Locking microcentrifuge tube

Claim 1

A locking microcentrifuge tube assembly comprising: A. a hollow tubular body, tapered to a close at one end and including means defining an aperture comprising a thickened collar at the opposite end, the collar being provided with multiple axially exterior peripheral projections extending from the collar away from the body, each said projection encompassing between thirty and one hundred fifty degrees of arc; B. a cap portion, including a lower plug portion which is flared outwardly from its attachment point to the top of the cap so that the extreme end of the plug portion has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tubular body; the plug portion being formed from a resilient material capable of non-destructive deformation so that a friction fit seal is formed when the plug portion is forcibly introduced into the tubular body; the cap portion further including multiple depressions formed therein, each said depression being adapted to mate with a respective one of said projections of the collar to form a tight mesh therewith, the mesh occurring with a greater degree of interconnection than is present in the friction fit seal between the plug portion of the cap and the tubular body; thereby providing a locking microcentrifuge tube with two modes of sealing, the specific mode being a function only of how firmly the plug portion is introduced into the tubular body, with either mode achievable through one-hand manipulation of the tube; and C. a flexible hinge connecting the cap portion and the tubular body portion such that the cap portion may be readily disengaged from the tubular body portion yet not totally detached from the assembly.