Container lid
AssigneeFEI Company
InventorsNestor Hernandez Rodriguez, Mathijs Petrus Wilhelmus van den Boogaard, Martijn Roger La Grange, Ross David Savage
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for container lids, suitable for use in reliable automated handling and transport of lamella carriers used for transmission electron microscopy samples, or similar light or thin objects. A lid is for use with a container having one or more cavities that can be accessible through a top surface of a container. The lid can comprise a rigid member having a planar surface. Affixed to the rigid member are a first means for constraining motion of the planar surface to one-degree of freedom movement over the top surface, and a second means for restricting motion, within the cavity, of a lamella carrier contained within the cavity.
Claims20
A lid for one or more cavities, the one or more cavities accessible through a top surface of a container for transporting electron microscope samples, the lid comprising:
- a rigid member having a planar surface;
- one or more protrusions extending from the planar surface into a corresponding cavity when the lid is in a closed position, the one or more protrusions being dimensioned relative to the cavity to define a clearance with an object disposed within the cavity and configured to restrict motion of the object by direct mechanical engagement with the object;
- and
- one or more surfaces configured to abut one or more portions of the container to constrain motion of the planar surface to sliding over the top surface.
A lid for a container, comprising:
- a rigid member slidably retained over a surface of the container;
- one or more flanges affixed to the rigid member and engaged with the container, wherein the one or more flanges restrict relative motion of the lid and the container to one sliding direction;
- and one or more protrusions affixed to the rigid member and extending, when the lid is in a closed position, from the rigid member into respective cavities within the container, the one or more protrusions dimensioned relative to the cavity to define a clearance with an object disposed within the cavity and configured to restrict motion of the object by direct mechanical engagement with the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.