Sample carrier having releasable locking mechanism

A sample carrier comprising:

• a frame comprising a base and a support wall joined to the base;
• one or more sample tube receiving structures positioned above the base and adjacent the support wall, each sample tube receiving structure comprising a bottom member adapted to receive a plurality of sample tubes and a top member in fixed relationship above the bottom member, the top member having a plurality of aligned apertures, each aperture being sized to receive a sample tube therethrough;
• one or more hinges joining each sample tube receiving structure to the frame and permitting the sample tube receiving structures to pivot relative to the support wall;
• one or more springs, each spring extending outwardly from a side wall of the support wall adjacent one of the sample tube receiving structures;
• and
• means for releasably locking the sample tube receiving structures relative to the support wall.

A sample carrier comprising:

• a frame comprising:
• a base;
• a support wall joined to the base;
• and
• a top wall joined to the support wall;
• one or more sample tube receiving structures positioned above the base and adjacent the support wall, each sample tube receiving structure comprising a bottom member adapted to receive a plurality of sample tubes and a top member in fixed relationship above the bottom member, the top member having a plurality of aligned apertures, each aperture being sized to receive a sample tube therethrough, wherein the sample tube receiving structures are pivotally connected to the frame, and wherein the support wall and the sample tube receiving structures include means for releasably locking the sample tube receiving structures relative to the support wall;
• one or more springs, each spring extending outwardly from a side wall of the support wall adjacent one of the sample tube receiving structures;
• a latch comprising:
• a handle;
• one or more first registration elements corresponding to and engaged by one or more second registration elements present in or contained on a top surface of the support wall positioned below and spaced-apart from the top wall, wherein the first and second registration elements are constructed and arranged to permit downward movement of the handle, and wherein the top wall has a slot positioned above the top surface of the support wall and through which at least a portion of the handle extends when the top wall is joined to the support wall;
• and
• a transverse structure interposed between and connecting the handle and the first registration elements, wherein the transverse structure and opposed inner walls of the support wall are constructed and arranged so that the transverse structure is in sliding engagement with the support wall;
• and
• one or more clasps extending from surfaces of the sample tube receiving structures opposed to the support wall, each clasp being constructed and arranged to operatively engage the transverse structure, so that the latch is forced downward as the sample tube receiving structures are pivoted inward toward the support wall, wherein the clasps and the transverse structure assume an interlocking relationship when the sample tube receiving structures obtain substantially parallel orientations relative to the support wall.

A sample carrier comprising:

• a frame comprising:
• a base;
• a support wall joined to the base;
• and
• a top wall joined to the support wall;
• a latch comprising:
• a handle;
• one or more first registration elements corresponding to and engaged by one or more second registration elements present in or contained on a top surface of the support wall positioned below and spaced-apart from the top wall, wherein the first and second registration elements are constructed and arranged to permit downward movement of the handle, and wherein the top wall has a slot positioned above the top surface of the support wall and through which at least a portion of the handle extends when the top wall is joined to the support wall;
• and
• a transverse structure interposed between and connecting the handle and the first registration elements, wherein the transverse structure and opposed inner walls of the support wall are constructed and arranged so that the transverse structure is in sliding engagement with the support wall;
• one or more sample tube receiving structures positioned above the base and adjacent the support wall, each sample tube receiving structure comprising:
• a bottom member adapted to receive a plurality of sample tubes;
• a top member positioned in fixed relationship above the bottom member, the top member having a plurality of aligned apertures, each aperture being adapted to receive a sample tube therethrough;
• a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve at least partially circumscribing one of the apertures and depending from a bottom surface of the top member to the top surface of the bottom member, wherein each sleeve is dimensioned to receive a sample tube therein;
• and
• one or more clasps extending from surfaces of the sample tube receiving structures opposed to the support wall, each clasp being constructed and arranged to operatively engage the transverse structure, so that the latch is forced downward as the sample tube receiving structures are pivoted inward toward the support wall, wherein the clasps and the transverse structure assume an interlocking relationship when the sample tube receiving structures obtain substantially parallel orientations relative to the support wall;
• one or more hinges joining each sample tube receiving structure to the frame, thereby permitting the sample tube receiving structures to pivot relative to the support wall;
• and
• one or more springs, each spring extending outwardly from a side wall of the support wall adjacent one of the sample tube receiving structures and juxtaposed with an opening formed in the corresponding sleeve, wherein the opening of each sleeve is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of one of the springs therethrough, such that the springs are biased against sample tubes present in the sample tube receiving structures when the sample tube receiving structures are locked in substantially parallel orientations relative to the support wall.

A method for obtaining at least a portion of a test sample from a sample tube, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) inserting a sample tube into a sample carrier adapted to receive the sample tube therein;
• b) applying a retaining force against the sample tube after the inserting step to substantially immobilize the sample tube in the sample carrier;
• and
• c) withdrawing at least a portion of a test sample from the sample tube, where the sample tube remains in the sample carrier during the withdrawing step.