U.S. patent application number 12/513970 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for biochemical container.
This patent application is currently assigned to SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshihiro Abe, Masao Ikeda, Tomokazu Nakayama, Hayao Tanaka.
Application Number | 20100044390 12/513970 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39491817 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100044390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka; Hayao ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
BIOCHEMICAL CONTAINER
Abstract
A biochemical container is provided, which can open a cover
member shutting a container member and can release a tightly sealed
condition, without a need for displacing the outer edge section of
the cover member. In the present invention, an opening in an end of
a container member 110 is openably and closably shut by a cover
member 120. When an assisting-opening member 140 is pressed from
the outside in such shut condition, the stress is changed to the
opening direction by the changing-direction mechanism 150 to exert
over the cover member 120. Consequently, the tightly sealed
condition of the cover member 120 that shuts the container member
110 can be released.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Hayao; (Akita,
JP) ; Abe; Yoshihiro; (Akita, JP) ; Ikeda;
Masao; (Akita, JP) ; Nakayama; Tomokazu;
(Akita, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL
1130 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 1130
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39491817 |
Appl. No.: |
12/513970 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 5, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/001350 |
371 Date: |
May 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/837 ;
220/840 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 2200/141 20130101;
B01L 2300/043 20130101; B01L 3/50825 20130101; B65D 47/0842
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/837 ;
220/840 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16; B65D 43/26 20060101 B65D043/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2006 |
JP |
2006-331075 |
Claims
1. A biochemical container, comprising a container member having an
opening in one end, and a cover member openably and closably shut
the opening of said container member, said biochemical container
comprising: a hinge mechanism, pivotably supporting said cover
member in a position for shutting, and in a position for opening,
said opening of said container member; an assisting-opening member,
having one end connected to an outer surface of one of said
container member and said cover member and the other end facing an
outer surface of the other of the members, so that said
assisting-opening member being elastically bent; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a stress
acting along a direction exerting over said assisting-opening
member from the outside to a stress acting along an opening
direction over said cover member.
2. A biochemical container, comprising a container member having an
opening in one end, and a cover member openably and closably shut
the opening of said container member, said biochemical container
comprising: a hinge mechanism, pivotably supporting said cover
member in a position for shutting, and in a position for opening,
said opening of said container member; an assisting-opening member,
having one end connected to an outer surface of one of said
container member and said cover member and the other end facing an
outer surface of the other of the members, so that said
assisting-opening member being elastically bend; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a
displacement toward an inside of at least a part of said
assisting-opening member to a displacement toward an opening
direction of at least a part of said cover member.
3. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
assisting-opening member is formed to have a geometry, in which one
end is connected to an outer surface of said cover member and the
other end faces an outer surface of said container member in a shut
condition, and wherein said changing-direction mechanism has: a
slope formed in a position facing the other end of said
assisting-opening member in an outer surface of said container
member, and wherein said slope is slanted so as to be further away
from said other end of said assisting-opening member as proceeding
toward a direction of opening of said cover member.
4. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
assisting-opening member is formed to have a geometry, in which one
end is connected to an outer surface of said cover member and the
other end faces an outer surface of said container member in a shut
condition, and wherein said changing-direction mechanism has: a
convex section formed in a position facing the other end of said
assisting-opening member in an outer surface of said container
member; and a slope formed in a surface of said other end of said
assisting-opening member in the side of said convex section, and
wherein said slope is slanted so as to be closer to said convex
section as proceeding toward a direction of opening of said cover
member.
5. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
assisting-opening member is formed to have a geometry, in which one
end is connected to an outer surface of said container member and
the other end faces an outer surface of said cover member in a shut
condition, and wherein said changing-direction mechanism has a
slope formed in a position facing the other end of said
assisting-opening member in an outer surface of said cover member,
and wherein said slope is slanted so as to be closer to said other
end of said assisting-opening member as proceeding toward a
direction of opening of said cover member.
6. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured that one end is connected to
an outer surface of said container member and the other end faces
an outer surface of said cover member in a shut condition, and
wherein said changing-direction mechanism has: a convex section
formed in a position facing the other end of said assisting-opening
member in an outer surface of said cover member, and a slope formed
in a surface of the other end of said assisting-opening member in
the side of said convex section, and wherein said slope is slanted
so as to be further away from said convex section as proceeding
toward a direction of opening of said cover member.
7. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
hinge mechanism is elastically biased toward a direction for
opening said cover member.
8. (canceled)
9. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
container member comprises a container body having an opening in
one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface of
one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured that one end is connected to
an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members.
10. (canceled)
11. A cover unit, capable of being mounted to said container body
of the biochemical container as set forth in claim 9, comprising:
said cover member; a frame-like member mounted over an outer
surface of one end of said container body; a hinge mechanism,
connected to said frame-like member, and pivotably supporting said
cover member; an assisting-opening member, configured that one end
is connected to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member
and said cover member and the other end faces an outer surface of
the other of the members, so that said assisting-opening member
being elastically bend; and a changing-direction mechanism, being
capable of changing a stress acting along a direction exerting over
said assisting-opening member from the outside to a stress acting
along an opening direction over said cover member.
12. The cover unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said
assisting-opening member is being capable of changing a
displacement toward an inside of at least a part of said
assisting-opening member to a displacement toward an opening
direction of at least a part of said cover member.
13. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
hinge mechanism is elastically biased toward a direction for
opening said cover member.
14. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 13, wherein
said hinge mechanism elastically supports said opened cover member
in a position being pivotably moved in substantially perpendicular
direction from the opening of said container member.
15. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
container member comprises a container body having an opening in
one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface of
one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members.
16. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 13, wherein
said container member comprises a container body having an opening
in one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface
of one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members.
17. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 14, wherein
said container member comprises a container body having an opening
in one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface
of one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members, and wherein said cover member is detachably engaged with
the opening of said container body.
18. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said
hinge mechanism is elastically biased toward a direction for
opening said cover member.
19. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 18, wherein
said hinge mechanism elastically supports said opened cover in a
position being pivotably moved in substantially perpendicular
direction from the opening of said container member.
20. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said
container member comprises a container body having an opening in
one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface of
one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members.
21. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 18, wherein
said container member comprises a container body having an opening
in one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface
of one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one of said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members.
22. The biochemical container as set forth in claim 19, wherein
said container member comprises a container body having an opening
in one end, and a frame-like member mounted over an outer surface
of one end of said container body, wherein said hinge mechanism is
connected to said frame-like member, and wherein said
assisting-opening member is configured so that one end is connected
to an outer surface of one said frame-like member and said cover
member and the other end faces an outer surface of the other of the
members, and wherein said cover member is detachably engaged with
the opening of said container body.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a biochemical container
utilized for storage of biochemical substances, and particularly
relates to a biochemical container, which is configured to openably
and closably shut an opening in one end of a container member with
a cover member.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Biochemical containers are utilized for storages of
biochemical substances in the fields of biochemical experiments and
the like. Such biochemical container composed of, for example, a
vertically long cylindrical container member having an opening in
upper end, and a disk-shaped cover member, which openably and
closably shuts the opening of the container member.
[0003] Typical biochemical containers are designed to have a size,
which allows being held in one hand. For example, such a
biochemical container is formed to the structure that the container
member and the cover member are connected with a screw structures.
However, it is difficult in such type of the biochemical containers
to open and close the cover member while holding the container
member in one hand operation.
[0004] A biochemical container product that provides a solution for
such problem is configured that the circumference section in the
upper end of the container member is connected with the
circumference section of the cover member in one end thereof by a
hinge mechanism. When such type of chemical container is opened and
closed, for example, the container member is held in one hand in an
orientation that the center axis is vertically oriented, and a
section of the cover member in the side opposite to the side of the
hinge mechanism is vertically moved with the thumb.
[0005] Currently, various proposals are made for container
configurations, which are applicable to the biochemical containers
as described above (for example, see patent literatures 1 to
4).
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2003-292,004
[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2000-313,453
[0006] [Patent Literature 3] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
H07-315,402 [Patent Literature 4] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open
No. H02-144,552
[0007] In the biochemical containers as described above, it is
necessary to ensure tightly shutting and sealing the opening of the
container member with the cover member. Consequently, it is not
easy to open up the cover member in the shut condition from the
container member only in one hand operation. Moreover, when the
circumference section of the cover member is displaced in upward
direction with the thumb finger to be opened in the condition of
holding the container member in the same one hand, the cover member
is rapidly opened when the tightly sealed condition is released. In
such occasion, biochemical substances may be splashed from the
container member to pollute the fingers, and in turn, it is
concerned that the polluted fingers may possibly pollute the
biochemical containers and the biochemical substances.
[0008] Further, even in the condition that the finger is not
polluted, when the container member is held in one hand and the
cover member is opened in the other hand, or when the circumference
section of the cover member is displaced in upward direction with
the thumb to be opened as described above, stains on the surfaces
of the fingers drop in the container when the finger passes upward
of the opened container, and such droplet may cause contaminations
in the biochemical substance in the container.
[0009] For example, in a container disclosed in the above-listed
Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-292,004), a
cover member is biased toward the opening direction by means of a
hinge mechanism, and is maintained in a shut condition by means of
a lock mechanism. Consequently, the cover member can be easily
opened by simply releasing the lock mechanism with a finger.
[0010] However, in the biochemical container, the container member
is required to be tightly shut with the cover member with
certainty. Consequently, it is difficult to open the cover member
only with an elastic force of the hinge mechanism as described
above. In order to open the tightly sealed cover member with an
elastic force of the hinge mechanism, the hinge mechanism is
required to have considerably stronger elastic force.
[0011] In this case, the hinge mechanism must have a dedicated flat
spring or the like, requiring complicated structure. Further, since
the cover member rapidly opens when the tightly sealed condition is
released, the probability will increase that the biochemical
substance be splashed to pollute the fingers and the
peripheries.
[0012] The present invention is made on the basis of the problems
as described above, and is directed to provide a biochemical
container, which is configured to allow releasing the tightly
sealed condition of the container member without a need for
displacing the circumference section of the cover member directly
with a finger.
[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a biochemical container, comprising a container member
having an opening in one end, and a cover member openably and
closably shut the opening of the container member, the biochemical
container comprising: a hinge mechanism, pivotably supporting the
cover member in a position for shutting, and in a position for
opening, the opening of the container member; an assisting-opening
member, having one end connected to an outer surface of one of the
container member and the cover member and the other end facing an
outer surface of the other of the members, so that the
assisting-opening member being elastically bend; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a stress
acting along a direction exerting over the assisting-opening member
from the outside to a stress acting along an opening direction over
the cover member.
[0014] Therefore, in the above-described aspect of the biochemical
container of the present invention, the opening in one end of the
container member is openably and closably shut with the cover
member. When the assisting-opening member is pressed from the
outside in such shut condition, the stress is changed into a stress
towards the opening direction by the changing-direction mechanism
to exert over the cover member. Consequently, the tightly sealed
condition of the container member can be released.
[0015] According to next aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a biochemical container, comprising a container member
having an opening in one end, and a cover member openably and
closably shut the opening of the container member, the biochemical
container comprising: a hinge mechanism, pivotably supporting the
cover member in a position for shutting, and in a position for
opening, the opening of the container member; an assisting-opening
member, having one end connected to an outer surface of one of the
container member and the cover member and the other end facing an
outer surface of the other of the members, so that the
assisting-opening member being elastically bend; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a
displacement toward an inside of at least a part of the
assisting-opening member to a displacement toward an opening
direction of at least a part of the cover member.
[0016] Therefore, in the above-described aspect of the biochemical
container of the present invention, the opening in one end of the
container member is openably and closably shut with the cover
member. When the assisting-opening member is pressed from the
outside in such shut condition to cause a displacement, such
displacement is changed into another displacement towards the
opening direction by the changing-direction mechanism to exert over
the cover member. Consequently, the tightly sealed condition of the
container member can be released.
[0017] According to further aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a cover unit, capable of being mounted to the container
body of the biochemical container according to the present
invention, comprising: the cover member; a frame-like member
mounted over an outer surface of one end of the container body; a
hinge mechanism, connected to the frame-like member, and pivotably
supporting the cover member; an assisting-opening member,
configured that one end is connected to an outer surface of one of
the frame-like member and the cover member and the other end faces
an outer surface of the other of the members, so that the
assisting-opening member being elastically bend; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a stress
acting along a direction exerting over the assisting-opening member
from the outside to a stress acting along an opening direction over
the cover member.
[0018] According to yet other aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a cover unit, capable of being mounted to the
container body of the biochemical container according to the
present invention, comprising: the cover member; a frame-like
member mounted over an outer surface of one end of the container
body; a hinge mechanism, connected to the frame-like member, and
pivotably supporting the cover member; an assisting-opening member,
configured that one end is connected to an outer surface of one of
the frame-like member and the cover member and the other end faces
an outer surface of the other of the members, so that the
assisting-opening member being elastically bend; and a
changing-direction mechanism, being capable of changing a
displacement toward an inside of at least a part of the
assisting-opening member to a displacement toward an opening
direction of at least a part of the cover member.
[0019] In addition to above, various constituents of the present
invention are not required to be individually independent
constituents, and a plurality of constituents may form an
integrated member, a single constituent may be composed of a
plurality of members, a certain constituent may form a part of
other constituent, a part of a certain constituent may overlap a
part of other constituent, and so on.
[0020] In the biochemical container of the present invention, when
the assisting-opening member is pressed from the outside in the
condition that the opening in one end of the container member is
openably and closably shut with the cover member, the stress is
changed into a stress towards the opening direction by the
changing-direction mechanism to exert over the cover member.
Consequently, the tightly sealed condition of the cover member that
provides the shut condition of the container member can be
released. Therefore, it is not necessary to cause a displacement of
an edge of the cover member toward the upper direction directly
with the fingers, for the purpose of opening the cover member that
provides the shut condition of the container member. Consequently,
a pollution of the fingers with a biochemical substance stored in
the container member, a pollution of a biochemical substance stored
in the container member with droplets from the finger surfaces in
the operation for opening the cover member, and the like, can be
prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following
description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical side sectional view,
illustrating a structure of a biochemical container of an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, illustrating an outer
appearance of the biochemical container;
[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of the biochemical container;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in a modified
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in another modified
embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in further modified
embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other modified
embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other modified
embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional view
of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other modified
embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional
view of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other
modified embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional
view of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other
modified embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional
view of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other
modified embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a perspective view, illustrating a main part of a
biochemical container of yet other modified embodiments; and
[0035] FIG. 14 is an enlarged schematic vertical side sectional
view of a main part of a biochemical container in yet other
modified embodiment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0036] An embodiment of the present invention will be described as
follows in reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. Further, in the present
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the directions of the frontward and
the backward, the rightward and the leftward, and the upward and
the downward will be defined for the description. However, this is
to provide a convenient definition for easily describing the
relations of the constituents, and it is not intended to limit the
direction or the orientation in the manufacture or in the use of
the product according to the present invention.
[0037] A biochemical container 100 of the present embodiment
comprises a container member 110 having an opening in one end, a
cover member 120 openably and closably shut the opening of the
container member 110, a hinge mechanism 130, pivotably supporting
the cover member 120 in a position for shutting, and in a position
for opening, the opening of the container member 110, an
assisting-opening member 140, having one end connected to an outer
surface of one of the container member 110 and the cover member 120
and the other end facing an outer surface of the other of the
members, so that the assisting-opening member 140 is elastically
bend, and a changing-direction mechanism 150, being capable of
changing a stress acting along a direction exerting over the
assisting-opening member 140 from the outside to a stress acting
along an opening direction over the cover member 120 and being
capable of changing a displacement toward an inside of at least a
part of the assisting-opening member 140 to a displacement toward
an opening direction of at least a part of the cover member
120.
[0038] More specifically, the container member 110 comprises a
cylindrical container main body 111 having an opening in the upper
end that serves an end. An independent cover unit 160 is mounted on
the upper end of the container main body 111.
[0039] Such cover unit 160 comprises an annular frame-like member
161 mounted to an outer surface in an end of the container main
body 111, and the annular frame-like member 161 is fixed on a part
of the container member 110. The hinge mechanism 130 is connected
to such frame-like member 161.
[0040] Here, in addition to the above-mentioned cover member 120,
an assisting-opening member 140 and a changing-direction mechanism
150 are also mounted to the cover unit 160. In addition to above,
the cover unit 160 is mounted to the container main body 111 with,
for example, a screw structures (not shown).
[0041] The cover member 120 is formed to be disk-shaped, and the
lower surface thereof is provided with an annular section 121,
which seals the upper end opening of the container main body 111
from the inside. The assisting-opening member 140 is formed in
longitudinal direction by the plate which is long and narrow.
[0042] The upper end of the assisting-opening member 140 is
connected to a front section of the outer surface of the cover
member 120, the bottom end thereof faces the front section of the
outer surface of the frame-like member 161 in the shut condition of
the cover member 120. The assisting-opening member 140 is formed to
have a thinner upper end section that is connected to the cover
member 120.
[0043] Consequently, when the assisting-opening member 140 is
pressed from the front direction, the bottom end thereof is
elastically displaced backward as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The
bottom end section 141 of the assisting-opening member 140 is
formed to be semicylindrical.
[0044] On the other hand, a semicylindrical convex section 162 is
formed in the front surface of the frame-like member 161. Then, the
bottom end section 141 of the assisting-opening member 140 is
located at a height, which is higher than a height of a convex
section 162 of the frame-like member 161 by a distance of equal to
or smaller than a radius of the semicylindrical geometry.
[0045] Consequently, the rear half section of the peripheral
surface of the bottom end section 141 of the assisting-opening
member 140 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the convex
section 162 of the frame-like member 161, functioning as a slope
displacing in the rear direction that is equivalent to the inside,
in the upper side that is equivalent to the opening direction of
the cover member 120.
[0046] On the other hand, the upper half section of the peripheral
surface of the convex section 162 of the frame-like member 161 is
in contact with the peripheral surface of the bottom end section
141 of the assisting-opening member 140, functioning as a slope
displacing in the rear direction that is equivalent to the inside,
in the upper side that is equivalent to the opening direction of
the cover member 120.
[0047] Then, the bottom end section 141 and the convex section 162
that function as described above achieve the changing-direction
mechanism 150, which changes a stress along a direction acting over
the assisting-opening member 140 from the front side into a stress
acting over the cover member 120 from the upper side.
[0048] In the biochemical container 100 of the present embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 3, an overall height "a" of the annular section
121 of the cover member 120, which provides a tight seal for the
container main body 111 of the container member 110, and a distance
"b" for relative displacement between the bottom end section 141
and the convex section 162 caused when the assisting-opening member
140 is pressed, satisfies the following relation: a<b.
[0049] Further, the hinge mechanism 130 is elastically biasing the
cover member 120 in the direction for opening the cover member 120,
and elastically retains the opened cover member 120 in the position
arriving by pivoting to be substantially perpendicular from the
opening of the container member 110 as shown in FIG. 1 (c).
[0050] Here, the condition of the cover member 120 retained to be
substantially perpendicular may be, for example, a condition that
the cover member 120 in the opened condition does not intercept an
access of a pipette or the like (not shown) to the container main
body 111 and a condition that the cover member 120 in the opened
condition does not collide with a cover member 120 of adjacent
other biochemical containers 100, even if a plurality of
biochemical containers 100 are stood in a stand or the like in
close-packed manner, and more specifically, may be within a range
of from 70 degrees to 120 degrees.
[0051] Besides, the hinge mechanism 130, which is capable of
elastically biasing the cover member 120 for the opening direction
as described above to elastically retain thereof at a certain angle
is conventionally known, and for example, is disclosed in the
above-mentioned Patent Literatures 1 and 2 (Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2003-292,004 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
2000-313,453).
[0052] Further, in the biochemical container 100 of the present
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a semicircular convex section 122
is formed downwardly from side to side of the circumference section
of the cover member 120. Thus, in the frame-like member 161, the
semicircular concave section 164 corresponding to the convex
section 122 as described above is formed from side to side of the
outer surface.
[0053] In the above-described configuration, the biochemical
container 100 of the present embodiment is held in one hand,
similarly as in the conventional biochemical container (not shown).
However, as shown in FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 2 (a), when the cover
member 120 shutting the container member 110 is opened, the
assisting-opening member 140 is pressed with the thumb (not
shown).
[0054] This causes the lower half section of the bottom end section
141 of the elastically bent assisting-opening member 140 being
pressed against the upper half section of the convex section 162 of
the container member 110, resulting in the bottom end section 141
of the assisting-opening member 140 being displaced upward above
the convex section 162 of the container member 110, as shown in
FIG. 1 (b) and FIG. 3 (b).
[0055] This allows the cover member 120 displaced upward together
with the assisting-opening member 140.
Since the distance b of this displacement is larger than an overall
height "a" of the annular section 121 of the cover member 120, the
tightly sealed condition of the container member 110 sealed by the
cover member 120 is released.
[0056] Then, the cover member 120 is opened upward by the elastic
biasing of the hinge mechanism 130, and is elastically retained in
the condition of being opened substantially perpendicularly from
the opening of the container member 110 as shown in FIG. 1 (b) and
FIG. 2 (b).
[0057] In the biochemical container 100 of the present embodiment,
the tightly sealed condition of the cover member 120 against the
container member 110 can be released by pressing the
assisting-opening member 140 with the finger as described
above.
[0058] Therefore, it is not necessary to cause an upward
displacement of an edge of the cover member 120 directly with the
fingers, for the purpose of opening the cover member 120 that
provides the shut condition of the container member 110.
Consequently, a pollution of the fingers with a biochemical
substance (not shown) stored in the container member 110, a
pollution of a biochemical substance stored in the container member
110 with droplets (not shown) from the finger surfaces in the
operation for opening the cover member 120, a generation of a
pollution cause by a contact of the finger with the upper edge
section of the container member 110, when the finger cause an
upward displacement of the circumference section of the cover
member 120, and the like, can be prevented.
[0059] In particular, since the assisting-opening member 140 formed
downward from the circumference section of the cover member 120 is
located on the outer surface of the container member 110 in the
biochemical container 100 of the present embodiment, a contact of
the finger with the upper edge section of the container member 110
can be effectively prevented.
[0060] Further, since the cover member 120 is elastically biased
toward the opening direction by the hinge mechanism 130, the cover
member 120 in the condition that the tightly sealed condition for
the container member 110 is released as described above can be
automatically opened.
[0061] In addition to above, even if the cover member 120 is not
completely opened with an elastic force of the hinge mechanism 130,
the cover member 120 can still be opened by displacing the
assisting-opening member 140 located on the outer surface of the
container member 110 upward with the finger.
[0062] For example, when the circumference section of the cover
member is displaced upward by the finger in one hand that also
holds the container member for the purpose of opening the cover
member in the conventional biochemical container (not shown), the
finger is easily brought into contact with the upper edge section
of the container member, and such contact may possibly cause a
pollution in the container member and the biochemical
substance.
[0063] To the contrary, in the biochemical container 100 of the
present embodiment, since the cover member 120 can be opened by
displacing the assisting-opening member 140 toward the upper
direction with the finger as described above, a generation of a
pollution due to a contact of the finger with the upper edge
section of the container member 110 can be more effectively
prevented.
[0064] Moreover, the hinge mechanism 130 elastically retains the
opened cover member 120 in the position arriving by pivoting to be
substantially perpendicular from the opening of the container
member 110. Thus, the cover member 120 in the opened condition does
not intercept an access of a pipette or the like (not shown) to the
container main body 111 and the cover member 120 in the opened
condition does not collide with a cover member 120 of adjacent
other biochemical containers 100, even if a plurality of
biochemical containers 100 are stood in a stand or the like in
close-packed manner.
[0065] Further, the changing-direction mechanism 150 for changing a
direction of a stress as described above is composed of the bottom
end section 141 of the assisting-opening member 140 and the convex
section 162 of the container member 110. Thus, and adequately
working changing-direction mechanism 150 can be achieved with a
simple structure.
[0066] Moreover, an overall height "a" of the annular section 121
of the cover member 120, which provides a tight seal for the
container main body 111 of the container member 110, is smaller
than a distance "b" as a bump generated between the bottom end
section 141 of the assisting-opening member 140 and the convex
section 162 of the container member 110. Thus, the tight seal
between the container member 110 and the cover member 120 can be
released with certainty by the changing-direction mechanism 150
composed of the bottom end section 141 and the convex section
162.
[0067] Further, the container main body 111 and the cover unit 160
are provided as separate parts. Thus, the most suitable materials
can be individually selected for forming the container main body
111, which requires resistance for biochemical substances and the
like, and for forming the cover unit 160, which requires better
sealability by the annular section 121 or better elasticity of the
hinge mechanism 130.
[0068] Typical materials preferable for the container main body 111
include, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly 4-methyl
1-pentene, polystyrene, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate,
polybutylene terephthalate and the like. Besides, typical materials
preferable for the cover unit 160 include, for example,
polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, and the like.
[0069] Moreover, the cover member 120 is detachably engaged with
the opening of the container main body 111. Thus, even if the
container main body 111 and the cover unit 160 are the separate
parts as described above, the container main body 111 can be
certainly sealed by the cover member 120.
[0070] In addition to above, it is not intended to limit the
present invention to the present embodiment, and various
modifications are also permitted without departing from the scope
and the spirit of the invention. For example, the above-described
embodiment illustrates that the semicylindrical bottom end section
141 of the assisting-opening member 140 is in contact with the
semicylindrical convex section 162 of the frame-like member
161.
[0071] Nevertheless, as shown in FIG. 4, for a biochemical
container 300, a semicylindrical convex section 311 may
alternatively be formed in a bottom end of rear surface of an
assisting-opening member 310, and the convex section 311 may be in
contact with the semicylindrical convex section 162 of the
frame-like member 161.
[0072] In addition, it is exemplified in the above-described
configuration that the lower half section of the semicylindrical
bottom end section 141 of the bottom end of rear surface of the
assisting-opening member 140 connected to the cover member 120 at
the upper end is in contact with the upper half section of the
semicylindrical convex section 162 of the front surface of the
container member 110 to achieve the changing-direction mechanism
150.
[0073] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, for a biochemical
container 200, a changing-direction mechanism 204 may be achieved
by forming a slope 201 displaced backward in the upside in a front
surface of a container member 202, and facing a bottom end of an
assisting-opening member 203 to the slope 201.
[0074] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, for a biochemical
container 210, a changing-direction mechanism 215 may be achieved
by forming a slope 211 displaced backward in the upside in a bottom
end of rear surface of an assisting-opening member 212, and facing
a convex section 214 of a front surface of a container member 213
to the slope 211.
[0075] Further alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, for a biochemical
container 220, a changing-direction mechanism 225 may be achieved
by forming a slope 221 displaced forward in the upside in a front
surface of a cover member 222, and facing an upper end of an
assisting-opening member 224 that is connected to a container
member 223 at the bottom end to the slope 221 of the cover member
222.
[0076] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, for a biochemical
container 230, a changing-direction mechanism 236 may be achieved
by forming a slope 231 displaced forward in the upside in an upper
end of an assisting-opening member 233 that is connected to a
container member 232 at a bottom end, and facing a convex section
235 of a front surface of a cover member 234 to the slope 231.
[0077] In addition to above, angles of the slopes 201, 211, 221 and
231 as described above may be suitably controlled to adjust a rate
of changing pressurizing stress and displacement to downward stress
and displacement.
[0078] The above-described embodiment also illustrates that the
container main body 111 and the cover unit 160 are formed as
separate parts. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, for a
biochemical container 240, a container member 241, a cover member
242 and a hinge mechanism 243 may be formed integrally. In addition
to above, materials preferably usable in such embodiments include,
for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene and
the like.
[0079] The above-described embodiment also illustrates that the
cover member 120 of the cover unit 160 tightly seals the container
main body 111. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, for a
biochemical container 250, a cover member 254 may tightly seal a
frame-like member 253 of a cover unit 252 installed in a container
main body 251.
[0080] Further, the above-described embodiment illustrates that a
distance "b" created by the changing-direction mechanism 150 is
larger than an overall height "a" of the annular section 121 of the
cover member 120, which provides a tight seal for the container
main body 111 of the container member 110 so that the cover member
120 is completely opened by the changing-direction mechanism
150.
[0081] Even in this configuration, the cover member 120 may not
completely shut the container main body 111. If such situation, the
above-described overall height "a" may be selected to be larger
than the distance "b" of the displacement (not shown).
[0082] Although the cover member 120 cannot be completely opened by
the changing-direction mechanism in such configuration, the tightly
sealed condition can be released. Consequently, for example, the
cover member 120 in the condition that the tightly sealed condition
is released may be just displaced with the finger to achieve simple
and safe opening.
[0083] Even in such case, the cover member 120 can also be opened
by displacing the assisting-opening member 140 located on the outer
surface of the container member 110 upward with a finger, and thus
a generation of a pollution due to a contact of the finger with the
upper edge section of the container member 110 can be more
effectively prevented.
[0084] Here, the condition of releasing the tightly sealed
condition means that the condition of the entire peripheral surface
of the annular section 121 of cover member 120 being in close
contact with the internal circumference surface of the container
main body 111 is released. More specifically, it may be sufficient
to indicate a change of the condition that the lower surface of the
cover member 120 is in contact with the upper surface of the
container main body 111 to the condition that these are spaced
apart at a predetermined distance.
[0085] Further, when the cover member 120 in the condition that the
tight seal is released by the changing-direction mechanism 150 is
opened with a finger as described above, for example, as shown in
FIG. 2, the convex section 122 is formed from side to side of the
cover member 120, the convex section 122 may be held with the thumb
and the middle fingers of a hand that is also employed for holding
the container member 110 (not shown).
[0086] Even if the cover member 120 is not completely opened by the
changing-direction mechanism as described above in such case, the
cover member 120 can be easily opened. Moreover, since the finger
used for opening the cover member 120 is covered by the convex
section 122, a pollution of such finger with a biochemical
substance can be effectively prevented.
[0087] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, for a biochemical
container 260, a robust cylindrical engaging section 263 may be
formed in an upper section of an annular section 262 of a cover
member 261, and a multiple-layered seal-like sealing section 264
may be formed in the lower section thereof.
[0088] In such case, the presence of the sealing section 264
ensures a sealability of the cover member 261. Besides, the overall
height "a" of the engaging section 263 is selected to be smaller
than the distance "b" of the displacement by the changing-direction
mechanism 150, so that an engaging presented by the engaging
section 263 can be easily released by the changing-direction
mechanism 150. Consequently, the cover member 261 can be completely
opened by the changing-direction mechanism 150, otherwise ensuring
the tight sealing of the cover member 261.
[0089] Further, as shown in FIG. 12, for a biochemical container
270, a concave section 273 having a triangle cross-sectional
geometry may be formed in a peripheral surface of a bottom end of
an annular section 272 of a cover member 271, and a convex section
274, which engages with such concave section 273, may be formed
inner circumference surface of a container member 275.
[0090] In such case, the presence of the annular section 272 having
sufficient overall height ensures a sealability of the cover member
271. Besides, a displacement "c" required for releasing the engage
of the concave section 273 with the convex section 274 is selected
to be smaller than the distance "b" of the displacement by the
changing-direction mechanism 150, so that an engaging of the
concave section 273 with the convex section 274 can be easily
released by the changing-direction mechanism 150. Consequently, the
cover member 271 can be completely opened by the changing-direction
mechanism 150, otherwise ensuring the tight sealing of the cover
member 271.
[0091] Further, the above-described embodiment illustrates that the
changing-direction mechanism 150 is located in the side opposite to
the hinge mechanism 130, so that an end of the cover member 120 is
displaced by a single changing-direction mechanism 150 to open
thereof.
[0092] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, for a biochemical
container 280, a pair of changing-direction mechanisms 150 may be
formed from side to side. In such case, for example, a pair of
assisting-opening members 140 are pressed from both sides with the
thumb and the first finger in the condition that the container main
body 111 is held in one hand, so that the right and the left edges
of the cover member 120 are simultaneously displaced in the upward
direction by a pair of changing-direction mechanisms 150 to open
thereof.
[0093] In this case, similarly as the convex section 122 shown in
FIG. 2, the assisting-opening member 140 of the cover member 120
can be held with a finger of another hand. Therefore, a pollution
of the finger that opens the cover member 120 with a biochemical
substance can be prevented by utilizing the assisting-opening
member 140 as a cover.
[0094] Consequently, a pollution of the biochemical container 280
or the biochemical substance by the polluted finger, or a pollution
of the biochemical substance within the container member 110 with
droplets from the finger surface in the opening operation for the
cover member 120, can be prevented.
[0095] Further, the above-described embodiment illustrates that the
bottom end section 141 of the assisting-opening member 140
connected to the cover member 120 is in contact with the upper half
section of the convex section 162 of the container member 110 to
cause a displacement to achieve the changing-direction mechanism
150.
[0096] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, for a biochemical
container 290, an end of an assisting-opening member 291 curved
outward to form an arc-like shape may be connected to one of a
cover member 292 and a container main body 293, and the other end
may be engaged with a convex section 294 of the other thereof to
achieve a changing-direction mechanism 295.
[0097] In such case, since the assisting-opening member 291 bent to
form an arc-like shape is elongated by being pressed from the
outside as shown in FIG. 14 (b), the cover member 292 can be
separated from the container main body 293 by such elongation to
open thereof.
[0098] In addition to above, it is needless to point out that the
embodiment and a plurality of modified embodiments described above
may be combined unless the concept of these is conflicted.
* * * * *