Support element for a plurality of animal semen packaging straws and assembly comprising said support element

An assembly comprising a support member for a plurality of straws for packaging animal semen, each straw having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, and further comprising a freezing rack of said plurality of straws, wherein:

• the support member comprises a plate and two flanges rigidly connected to said plate, which has a width less than said predetermined length and comprising a fluted surface having a plurality of similar channels each of which is oriented in the direction of the width of the plate and each delimited by a surface having a curvature according to said predetermined diameter, said channels being disposed side by side with a predetermined pitch, said flanges being configured such that said support member can be placed on a horizontal reception surface with said fluted surface located atop the plate at a predetermined level above said reception surface, whereby each said channel can receive a straw of which an end section projects from said plate on each side, each flange comprising a central part as well as a first projecting part and a second projecting part each extending on one side of the central part, characterized in that the first projecting part comprises a first foot having a first bearing face and the second projecting part comprises a second foot having a second bearing face, said first bearing face and said second bearing face being turned upward when said support member is placed on said horizontal reception surface, said first bearing face being farther from said plate than said second bearing face in the upward direction;
• and
• the freezing rack comprises two toothed walls extending along a central free space, said support member and said freezing rack being configured such that said plate and a central part of each of the flanges of said support member can be inserted into said central free space, each toothed wall having a set of toothing at its apex comprising a succession of teeth and hollows, the sets of toothing of said toothed walls being identical, each hollow being delimited by a surface having a curvature according to said predetermined diameter, the pitch of said sets of toothing being identical to the predetermined pitch of said channels of said plate, the central free space of the freezing rack being configured to receive said plate and the central part of each of the flanges of the support member, each flange comprising, in addition to its central part, two projecting parts respectively a first projecting part and a second projecting part, extending on each side of said central part and being configured to receive the freezing rack, characterized in that said first projecting part comprises a first foot having a first bearing face and said second projecting part comprises a second foot having a second bearing face, said first bearing face and said second bearing face being turned upward when said support member is placed on said horizontal reception surface, said first bearing face being farther from said plate than said second bearing face, in the upward direction, such that the freezing rack disposed on the support member is inclined.

A support member for a plurality of straws for packaging animal semen, each straw having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, the support member comprising a plate and two flanges rigidly connected to said plate and separated from each other by said plate, which has a width less than said predetermined length and comprising a fluted surface having a plurality of similar channels each of which is oriented in the direction of the width of the plate and each delimited by a surface having a curvature according to said predetermined diameter, said channels being disposed side by side with a predetermined pitch, said flanges being configured such that said support member can be placed on a horizontal reception surface with said fluted surface located atop the plate at a predetermined level above said reception surface, whereby each said channel can receive a straw of which an end section projects from said plate on each side, each flange comprising a central part as well as a first projecting part and a second projecting part each extending on one side of the central part, characterized in that the first projecting part comprises a first foot having a first bearing face and the second projecting part comprises a second foot having a second bearing face, said first bearing face and said second bearing face being turned upward when said support member is placed on said horizontal reception surface, said first bearing face being farther from said plate than said second bearing face in the upward direction,

• wherein the first projecting part and the second projecting part of each flange are aligned with each other.

A support member for a plurality of straws for packaging animal semen, each straw having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, the support member comprising a plate and two flanges rigidly connected to said plate and separated from each other by said plate, which has a width less than said predetermined length and comprising a fluted surface having a plurality of similar channels each of which is oriented in the direction of the width of the plate and each delimited by a surface having a curvature according to said predetermined diameter, said channels being disposed side by side with a predetermined pitch, said flanges being configured such that said support member can be placed on a horizontal reception surface with said fluted surface located atop the plate at a predetermined level above said reception surface, whereby each said channel can receive a straw of which an end section projects from said plate on each side, each flange comprising a central part as well as a first projecting part and a second projecting part each extending on one side of the central part, characterized in that the first projecting part comprises a first foot having a first bearing face and the second projecting part comprises a second foot having a second bearing face, said first bearing face and said second bearing face being turned upward when said support member is placed on said horizontal reception surface, said first bearing face being farther from said plate than said second bearing face in the upward direction,

• wherein the first projecting part and the second projecting part of each flange extend in the direction of the width of the plate.

A support member for a plurality of straws for packaging animal semen, each straw having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined length, the support member comprising a plate and two flanges rigidly connected to said plate and separated from each other by said plate, which has a width less than said predetermined length and comprising a fluted surface having a plurality of similar channels each of which is oriented in the direction of the width of the plate and each delimited by a surface having a curvature according to said predetermined diameter, said channels being disposed side by side with a predetermined pitch, said flanges being configured such that said support member can be placed on a horizontal reception surface with said fluted surface located atop the plate at a predetermined level above said reception surface, whereby each said channel can receive a straw of which an end section projects from said plate on each side, each flange comprising a central part as well as a first projecting part and a second projecting part each extending on one side of the central part, characterized in that the first projecting part comprises a first foot having a first bearing face and the second projecting part comprises a second foot having a second bearing face, said first bearing face and said second bearing face being turned upward when said support member is placed on said horizontal reception surface, said first bearing face being farther from said plate than said second bearing face in the upward direction,

• wherein the first projecting part and the second projecting part extend in opposite directions from the central part of each flange.