US 6,132,684 A · Sample tube holder

Abstract

A tube holder for resilient plastic test tubes, and corresponding method for using the same, comprising a plurality of plates, each of which has openings that are substantially aligned with the openings in the other plates. One of the plates is moveable in a lateral direction with respect to the other plates so that when the tubes are inserted in the openings and the plate is moved in the lateral direction, the walls of the moveable plate forming the openings exert force against their corresponding tubes to press the tubes against the walls of the other plates that form the openings in those plates to thus secure the tubes in the openings. The moveable plate can be also be released from applying the force against the tubes to allow the tubes to move essentially freely in the openings. Because the bottoms of the tubes are unobstructed, the tubes can be inserted directly into openings of another device corresponding to the openings in the plates.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for holding a plurality of containers, comprising:

a first member, having a first surface and a plurality of first walls defining a plurality of first openings which extend through the first member transversely of the first surface;
a second member, mechanically coupled to the first member and having a second surface facing in a direction toward the first surface of the first member, and a plurality of second walls defining a plurality of second openings which extend through the second member transversely of the second surface, the first and second openings being substantially aligned with each other to form a plurality of first and second opening pairs, each of the first and second opening pairs being configured to receive one of the plurality of containers;
a third member, configured to move along a moving direction, which is substantially lateral of the first and second surfaces, between a container engaging position and a container disengaging position;
and
a driving member, configured to locate the third member in the container engaging position, such that when the containers are received in the first and second opening pairs, the third member is configured to apply an engaging force against the containers to urge the containers toward the first and second walls of their corresponding first and second opening pairs to substantially maintain the containers at corresponding fixed positions in their corresponding first and second opening pairs, said driving member further being configured to locate the third member in the container disengaging position, such that when the containers are received in the first and second opening pairs, the third member is configured to release the engaging force from the containers.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,013 words

Summary1,245 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a sample tube holder into which a plurality of sample tubes can be inserted, and a corresponding method for using the same.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a test tube in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating insertion of tubes into the openings of the test tube holder;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the test tube holder shown in FIG. 1;

Detailed description5,318 words

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a test tube holder 100 for holding a plurality of containers or, in particular, plastic test tubes or sample tubes, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, test tube holder 100 includes an upper plate 102, a lower plate 104 and a middle plate 106. The upper plate 102, lower plate 104, and middle plate 106 can be made of metal such as aluminum, stainless steel or any other suitable material. Preferably, the middle plate 106 has a thickness greater than the thickness of each of the upper and lower plates 102 and 104. For instance, the thickness of middle plate 106 can be twice the thickness of the upper plate 102 and bottom plate 104. For reasons explained below, the middle plate 106 is shorter than the upper and lower plates 102 and 104.

#As further illustrated, upper plate 102 has a plurality of tube openings 108 disposed therein which are formed by walls 109. In this embodiment, the tube openings 108 are arranged in 12 rows of 8 openings each, or, in other words, the upper plate 102 has a 12.times.8 array tube openings 108.

#In a similar manner, lower plate 104 includes a plurality of aligned tube openings 110 formed by walls 111. The tube openings 110 are arranged in a manner identical or essentially identical to that in which the tube openings 108 are arranged in the upper plate 102. Hence, the lower plate 104 has an array of 12.times.8 tube openings 110 which are aligned with the openings 108. It is noted that the number of tube openings 108 and 110 in the upper and lower plates 102 and 104, respectively, can be any number, as long as upper plate 102 and lower plate 104 have an equal amount of tube openings. Also, each of the tube openings 108 and 110 are the same or substantially the same diameter. Although the tube openings 108 and 110 are shown as being round, the tube openings 108 and 110 can have any shape suitable to accommodate the tube or container that is to be inserted therein.

Facts

Application

08/961,668Filed 31 Oct 1997

Granted

17 Oct 2000

Term ended

31 Oct 2017

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification2 codes

B01L 9/06
Supporting devices; Holding devices: test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
B01L
Chemical or physical laboratory apparatus for general use

Description7,013 words

Summary1,245 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a sample tube holder into which a plurality of sample tubes can be inserted, and a corresponding method for using the same.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings12 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a test tube in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating insertion of tubes into the openings of the test tube holder;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the test tube holder shown in FIG. 1;

Detailed description5,318 words

Sample tube holder

Life of this patent

Sample tube holder

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description7,013 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,013 words