U.S. patent application number 13/766143 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for holder for cylindrical or conical containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to GLP SYSTEMS GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is GLP SYSTEMS GMBH. Invention is credited to Robert Hecht.
Application Number | 20130206783 13/766143 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45971670 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130206783 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hecht; Robert |
August 15, 2013 |
HOLDER FOR CYLINDRICAL OR CONICAL CONTAINERS
Abstract
A holder for cylindrical or conical containers includes holding
fingers distributed around a vertical central axis. Each finger has
a base attached in a connecting region to a base area and includes
a first finger segment extending from the base to an area at
maximum distance from the base area. The outer area of the finger
is tiltable away from the axis away from a base position about a
first hinge in the connecting region. A second finger segment
extends outwardly from the first finger segment and from a second
hinge formed in the outer area to a free end. In the base position,
these second finger segments extend at an angle relative to the
axis so that the free ends are closer to the axis than the outer
areas. The free ends of the second finger segments are displaced
outward, away from the axis via the second hinges.
Inventors: |
Hecht; Robert; (Seehausen,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GLP SYSTEMS GMBH; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GLP SYSTEMS GMBH
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
45971670 |
Appl. No.: |
13/766143 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/737 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 9/06 20130101; B65D
25/00 20130101; B01L 2200/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/737 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/00 20060101
B65D025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2012 |
DE |
20 2012 100 510.7 |
Claims
1. A holder for cylindrical or conical containers, in particular
sample containers for material samples that are to be analyzed,
especially medical specimens, having at least three holding fingers
(2), the respective bases (3) of which are attached in a connecting
region to a base area (4), which are distributed around an
essentially vertical central axis (6) extending with an initial
finger segment (7) from the base to an area (8) at maximum distance
from the base area (4), characterized in that the holding fingers
(2) each form a first hinge (5) in the connecting region, around
which the outer area (8) of these fingers can be tilted away from
the central axis (6) from a base position in which they are angled
towards the central axis (6), and that the holding fingers (2) each
feature a second finger segment (10), wherein these second finger
segments (10) each start at the respective first finger segment
(7), extending from a second hinge (9) formed in the outer area (8)
to a free end (11), wherein in the base position, these finger
segments (10) each extend at an angle relative to the central axis
(6) in such a way that the free ends (11) are closer to the central
axis (6) than the outer areas (8), and that the free ends (11) of
the second finger segments (10) can be displaced outward, away from
the central axis (6), via the second hinges (9).
2. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the
holding fingers (2) are each formed as a single piece.
3. The holder according to claim 2, characterized in that the
holding fingers (2) are formed as a single piece with the base area
(4).
4. The holder according to one of the preceding claims
characterized in that the first (5) and/or the second hinge (9) is
a film hinge.
5. The holder according to one of the preceding claims
characterized in that the first (7) and second finger segments (10)
feature a degree of flexibility.
6. The holder according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by holding fingers (2) made of plastic.
7. The holder according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the second finger segments (10) extending
from the second hinge (9) initially extend in a first subsection
(12) at a steep angle from the central axis (6) and then transition
to a second subsection (13) in in a transition area (14) extending
at an angle towards the central axis (6).
8. The holder according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by four holding fingers (2), which are disposed
equidistantly at 90.degree. intervals around the central axis
(6).
9. The holder according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a cup-shaped supporting surface (16) formed
centrally between the holding fingers (2).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to a holder for cylindrical or conical
containers, in particular sample containers for material samples
that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, having at
least three holding fingers, the respective bases of which are
attached in a connecting region with a base area, which are
distributed around an essentially vertical central axis, extending
with an initial finger segment from the base to an area at the
maximum distance from the base area.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] Such holders are known from prior art. Thus, for example,
the document WO 2006/113854 A2 describes a sample carrier, which
features a corresponding holder on a holder plate. In the sample
holders described there, a total of four holding fingers are formed
that originate from a base and extend such that they curve inward,
the material thickness of which tapers from the base to a distal
free end. A material sample held in a test tube or, in other words,
a cylindrical container or a slightly conical sample container, for
example, is placed in the holding fingers, wherein a uniform
pressure and holding force is exerted on the sample container by
the holding fingers on four sides that are at right angles to, or
opposite one another, respectively.
[0005] Such holders for cylindrical or conical containers have
proven to be successful since they are easy to manufacture and
exert sufficient holding force on the containers being held, and
especially because they orient them in a desired direction,
typically in a vertical direction, thereby allowing the container
to be easily inserted into and removed from the holder.
[0006] There are limits in some applications with these kinds of
sample holders known from prior art having holding fingers that
extend from their respective base and the base area, with which the
respective base is connected in a simple extension away from the
base area to a free end disposed at a maximum distance from that
base, however. In particular, such holders cannot accommodate
containers that are arbitrarily formed, having different diameters
or radii, and typically, appropriate holders are designed for
specific container types or only allow a narrow range of deviation
from the container diameter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The objective of the present invention is to remedy this
situation. The invention is intended as a further improvement on a
holder for cylindrical or conical containers known from prior art
in order to allow containers of differing shapes and in particular,
with different diameters, to be reliably and securely
accommodated.
[0008] This objective is accomplished according to the invention by
a holder for cylindrical or conical containers.
[0009] As is the case with holders known from prior art, the
inventive holder for cylindrical or conical containers, wherein
containers particularly refer to sample containers for material
samples that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, has
at least three holding fingers, the respective bases of which are
attached in a connecting region with a base area, and which fingers
are distributed around an essentially vertical central axis,
extending with an initial finger segment from the base to an area
at the maximum distance from the base area. Unlike the prior art,
for example in accordance with the document WO 2006/113854 A2, in
which the first finger segments are rigidly connected to the base
area in the connecting region with especially thick material, the
holding fingers according to the invention each feature a first
hinge there. The outer areas of these fingers can be tilted away
from the central axis at this hinge from a base position in which
they are angled relative to the central axis. In addition, the
holding fingers according to the invention each feature a second
finger segment, which extends from the first finger segment via a
second hinge formed in the outer area to a free end. Here, the
second finger segments are angled in the base position with respect
to the central axis such that their free ends lie closer to the
central axis than the outer areas and such that the second finger
segments can each be displaced outward, away from the central axis
via the second hinges.
[0010] This inventive design makes it possible to accommodate
various containers with different diameters having a greater range
of diameters. Starting from a smallest radius, which is determined
by the positions in which the free ends of the second finger
segments are resting in the base position, and which actually must
exceed this distance slightly, an ever increasing radius can be
selected, which is determined by the outward displacement of the
second finger segments by flexibly bending along the hinge in the
outer area and by the outer displacement of the first finger
segments by flexibly bending along the hinge in the area at the
base of the holding fingers. Due to the design, having two op
posing finger segments that extend outward from the base and inward
again from the outer area and the two hinges, the individual
fingers can extend to a wide bend or displacement angle, and
therefore even sample containers of a very large diameter can be
accommodated. At the same time, the pressing force is established
by two hinges wherein excessive force from the free ends in contact
with a container at least initially in the receiving position is
not excessively great, especially since, in the case of a
comparably degree of force as a result of force from the hinges at
the base, a portion of this force is absorbed by a deformation or
bending of the hinges in the outer areas. Thus cylindrical or
conical containers, having a wide range of diameters accommodated
by a holder according to the invention, can not only be picked up
and held, they are also held gently and without excessive
force.
[0011] The holding fingers are advantageously formed as a single
piece. In particular, the holding fingers can also be formed of a
single piece with the base area as well.
[0012] In the event that the holding fingers alone, or the holding
fingers with the base area are formed as a single piece, it is
preferred that at least the first or the second hinge, or
advantageously both hinges be film hinges or film hinge hinges.
This can be achieved, for example, by thinning the material
accordingly in the area of the hinges or through the appropriate
alignment.
[0013] In addition to the hinges, which exert a certain degree of
pressure and holding force, when a cylindrical or conical container
is placed in the holder according to the invention, the finger
segments themselves (first and second finger segments) can also
exhibit a certain degree of flexibility, which likewise the holding
fingers displacing flexibly and applying sufficient force to the
container to hold it.
[0014] Plastic is a particularly suitable material for the holding
fingers, wherein the plastic can be selected based on the desired
properties such as flexibility, spring action in the finger
segments, spring action in the hinges and so forth.
[0015] In the case of containers with a large diameter, in order to
prevent the second finger segment from lying entirely flat against
the outer wall of the container and thereby causing the second
hinge to exert a high degree of pressure and too much clamping
force on this container, the second finger segments are
advantageously subdivided into two subsections, of which, starting
at the second hinge, an initial section extends at a steep angle
relative to the central axis, and in which this section is then
followed by a second subsection at a lesser angle relative to the
central axis in a transition area. If needed, an additional hinge
may be formed in this transition, which is not required for the
realization of the invention, however. This transition area is
advantageously located at approximately a third of the longitudinal
extension of the second finger segment starting from the outer area
to the free ends.
[0016] The holding fingers are advantageously distributed in a
uniform angular distribution around the central axis. In
particular, a set of four holding fingers have proven of value that
maintain intervals of 90.degree. distributed at the same distance
around the central axis.
[0017] The holder according to the invention also advantageously
features a supporting surface in the middle, between the holding
fingers, on which a container e that is held in the holder can be
placed with a container base it contains. In particular, this
supporting surface can be cup-shaped or, in other words, formed
convexly, in order to securely support the base of tubular
containers, which base typically has a spherical form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Further advantages and features of the invention will become
apparent from the following descriptions based on the accompanying
figures. These include:
[0019] FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a
holder according to the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 another three-dimensional view of the inventive
holder in FIG. 1 from a slightly different perspective;
[0021] FIG. 3 a longitudinal section through the inventive holder
according to FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIG. 4 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a
holder according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first possible embodiment of the
inventive holder for cylindrical or conical containers based on
three different views. A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The
representations in the figures are purely schematic and are not in
any way to scale. Identical elements have been provided with the
same reference numbers.
[0024] A holder for containers, in particular sample containers,
according to a first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and is
generally designated as 1. The holder 1 features a total of four
holding fingers 2. These fingers 2 are connected with a base area 4
by their respective base 3. The holding fingers 2 form a first
hinge 5 (see FIG. 3) in this transition area. The four holding
fingers 2 are arranged at the same distance around a central axis 6
(see FIG. 3) and are each placed at a 90.degree. from one another
around this central axis 6. Each holding finger 2 features a first
finger segment 7 (see FIG. 3), which extends outward from the base
3 and from the base area 4 to an outer area 8. Here, as shown in
the figures, the first finger segment 7 in the base position is at
an angle relative to the central axis 6, namely in such a way that
the outer area is pointed towards this central axis. The central
axis 6 is thereby disposed such that it is essentially vertical. In
the outer area, the holding fingers 2 are deflected and transition
to a second finger segment 10 via a second hinge 9. This second
finger segment 10 extends inward in the direction of the base area
4 to a free end 11. In terms of level, it lies above the base area
4. The second finger segments 10 are likewise angled relative to
the central axis 6 in such a way that the free ends 11 in the base
position lie at the central axis 6, as can be seen in the
figures.
[0025] The second finger segments 10 are further subdivided into a
first subsection 12, which is immediately connected to the outer
area 8 and the second hinge 9, and in which the second finger
segment 10 runs at a steep angle relative to the central axis 6,
and a second subsection 13, in which the second finger segment 10
continues in a straight line to the free end at a lesser angle
relative to the central axis 6. The first subsection 12 and the
second subsection 13 are connected to one another or transition
into one another in a transition area 14.
[0026] An hinge may, but need not be formed in this transition area
14. No hinge is formed in the embodiment shown.
[0027] In the embodiment shown, the holding fingers 2 are formed
out of plastic as a single piece with the base area 4. The hinges
of the first hinge 5 and second hinge 9 are designed as film hinge
joints. Here, the plastic material of the holding fingers and the
material thickness of those fingers have been selected such that
there is a certain innate degree of elasticity and flexibility in
the area of the first and second finger segments.
[0028] In a raised, pedestal-like section 15, which extends between
the holding fingers 2 from the base area 4, a cup-shaped, convex
support 16 for accommodating a container base is formed, designed
in particular to accommodate a curved bottom of a tubular
container, especially sample containers.
[0029] Looking at the figures, in particular FIG. 3, it is clear
that due to the two provided hinges 3 and 9 and the two finger
segments, the first finger segment 7 and second finger segment 10,
connected via these hinges, each of the holding fingers 2 can be
deflected from the shown base position, in which the free ends 11
lie very close together, far outward and away from the central axis
6. Thus the holding fingers 2 can accommodate containers having
widely varying diameters starting with containers having a very
small diameter that only slightly exceeds the distance between the
free ends 11 of two opposing holding fingers 2, all the way to
diameters that nearly equal the distance between the bases 3 of two
opposing holding fingers 2 in the sample holder according to the
invention, wherein a secure hold can be assured for all such
containers having widely varying diameters on the one hand, and on
the other hand the application of excessive force can also be
prevented.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a holder 20 according to
the invention. This holder 20 does not differ from the basic
structure and mode of action of the holder 1 according to FIGS. 1
to 3. It also features holding fingers 2, that are each placed at a
90.degree. to one another around this central axis and that are
each arranged at the same distance, having first hinges 5 in the
area of their base where they are connected to a base area 4. In
holder 20 as well, the holding fingers 2 each have a first finger
segment 7, which, like the first finger segment 7 of the holder 1
in the embodiment described above, extends at an angle to the
central axis to an outer area 8 and transitions there to a second
finger segment 10 via an hinge 9, wherein said second segment then
extends inward in the direction of the base area 4 to a free end
11. The second finger segments 10 are again each subdivided into a
first subsection 12 and a second subsection 13, wherein the first
subsection 12 is angled more sharply relative to the central axis
than the second subsection 13, and is pointing towards said axis,
which second subsection 13 extends at a lesser angle towards the
central axis and continues to a free end 11.
[0031] Unlike the embodiment of the holder 1 according to FIGS. 1
to 3, which is designed to be installed on a surface, for example
on the top of a sample holder for the transport of samples on a
conveyor track, the holder 20 is designed to be installed on a
surface from below, around an available opening in the surface. For
this reason, it features four retaining bars 21 between the holding
fingers 2, likewise at 90.degree. angles to one another, displaced
outward in terms of their distance from the central axis, which
feature a catch 23 at their outer ends 22 in the form of locking
hooks, as shown in the figure above, for fixing and locking the
locking retainers in the surface. In this way, individual holders
20 can be removed from an assembly comprising a number of such
holders 20 and exchanged if such a holder becomes damaged or is
otherwise rendered unusable.
[0032] Preferably tubular sample containers, especially those used
for medical specimens, such as blood or urine samples, are
accommodated in the holders according to the invention. Here, the
sample holders according to the invention can be disposed on
different objects and at different locations, for example on
conveyances or sample holders that are suited for moving along
conveyor tracks in an automated analysis laboratory, but also in
tray-like receptacles for accommodating a variety of containers,
especially sample containers.
LIST OF REFERENCE DRAWINGS
[0033] 1 holder
[0034] 2 holding finger
[0035] 3 base
[0036] 4 base area
[0037] 5 first hinge
[0038] 6 central axis
[0039] 7 first finger segment
[0040] 8 outer area
[0041] 9 second hinge
[0042] 10 second finger segment
[0043] 11 free end
[0044] 12 first subsection
[0045] 13 second subsection
[0046] 14 transition area
[0047] 15 raised, pedestal-like section
[0048] 16 support
[0049] 20 holder
[0050] 21 retaining bar
[0051] 22 outer end
[0052] 23 catch
* * * * *