U.S. patent application number 14/017398 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for expandable sample tray and storage system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANOFI. The applicant listed for this patent is SANOFI. Invention is credited to Linda SZYCH.
Application Number | 20140069914 14/017398 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50232185 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140069914 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SZYCH; Linda |
March 13, 2014 |
EXPANDABLE SAMPLE TRAY AND STORAGE SYSTEM
Abstract
Described is a sample tray comprising a first sidewall, a first
rearwall section coupled to the first sidewall, a first base
section coupled to the first sidewall, the first base section
disposed approximately perpendicular to the first sidewall, a
second sidewall, a second rearwall section coupled to the second
sidewall, and a second base section coupled to the second sidewall,
the second base section disposed approximately perpendicular to the
second sidewall. The first rearwall section is telescopically
coupled to the second rearwall section, and the first base section
is telescopically coupled to the second base section.
Inventors: |
SZYCH; Linda; (Lebanon,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANOFI |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SANOFI
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
50232185 |
Appl. No.: |
14/017398 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61697541 |
Sep 6, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/068 20130101;
B65D 21/086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/8 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/06 20060101
B65D021/06; B65D 21/08 20060101 B65D021/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 9, 2013 |
FR |
1356744 |
Claims
1. A sample tray comprising: a first sidewall; a first rearwall
section coupled to the first sidewall; a first base section coupled
to the first sidewall, the first base section disposed
approximately perpendicular to the first sidewall; a second
sidewall; a second rearwall section coupled to the second sidewall;
a second base section coupled to the second sidewall, the second
base section disposed approximately perpendicular to the second
sidewall, wherein the first rearwall section is telescopically
coupled to the second rearwall section, and wherein the first base
section is telescopically coupled to the second base section.
2. The sample tray according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall
includes at least one notch.
3. The sample tray according to claim 1, wherein the second
sidewall includes at least one latch.
4. The sample tray according to claim 1, wherein the first rearwall
section includes a first engagement mechanism engaging a second
engagement mechanism on the second rearwall section.
5. The sample tray according to claim 4, wherein the first
engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism each
include at least one of a guide, a rail, a channel and a
recess.
6. The sample tray according to claim 1, wherein the first base
section includes a first engagement mechanism engaging a second
engagement mechanism on the second base section.
7. The sample tray according to claim 6, wherein the first
engagement mechanism and the second engagement mechanism each
include at least one of a guide, a rail, a channel and a
recess.
8. The sample tray according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
the first base and the second base includes a label.
9. A storage system comprising: a first sample tray comprising: a
first sidewall having at least one of a first notch and a first
latch; a first rearwall section coupled to the first sidewall; a
first base section coupled to the first sidewall, the first base
section disposed approximately perpendicular to the first sidewall;
a second sidewall; a second rearwall section coupled to the second
sidewall; and a second base section coupled to the second sidewall,
the second base section disposed approximately perpendicular to the
second sidewall, a second sample tray adapted to engage the first
sample tray, the second sample tray comprising: a third sidewall
having at least one of a second notch and a second latch adapted to
engage at least one of the first notch and the first latch; a third
rearwall section coupled to the third sidewall; a third base
section coupled to the third sidewall, the third base section
disposed approximately perpendicular to the third sidewall; a
fourth sidewall; a fourth rearwall section coupled to the fourth
sidewall; and a fourth base section coupled to the fourth sidewall,
the fourth base section disposed approximately perpendicular to the
fourth sidewall.
10. The storage system according to claim 9, wherein the wherein
the first rearwall section is telescopically coupled to the second
rearwall section, the first base section is telescopically coupled
to the second base section, the third rearwall section is
telescopically coupled to the fourth rearwall section, and the
third base section is telescopically coupled to the fourth base
section.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Healthcare providers typically provide sample medicaments,
delivery devices, literature, etc. for patients and physicians.
However, physicians' office facilities are generally ill-equipped
to store the samples in an easily accessible and organized
manner.
[0002] Therefore, there exists a need for an expandable sample tray
and storage system to provide a scalable means for organizing
samples.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In an exemplary embodiment, a sample tray according to the
present invention comprises a first sidewall, a first rearwall
section coupled to the first sidewall, and a first base section
coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the first base section
disposed approximately perpendicular to the first sidewall, in
combination with a second sidewall, a second rearwall section
coupled to the second sidewall, and a second base section coupled
to the second sidewall, wherein the second base section disposed
approximately perpendicular to the second sidewall. The first
rearwall section is telescopically coupled to the second rearwall
section, and the first base section is telescopically coupled to
the second base section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an expandable sample
tray according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0005] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an expandable sample
tray 100 according to the present invention. The tray 100 may be
sized and shaped to contain boxes, blister packs, medicament
delivery devices, test strips, literature, or any other item which
might be provided by a healthcare provider to a patient or a
physician.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the tray 100 comprises a base
105, a first sidewall 110, a second sidewall 115, and a rear wall
120. Disposed on the first sidewall 110 is a notch 125. The notch
125 may have at least one recess portion 130. Disposed on the
second sidewall 115 is a latch 135. The latch 135 may have at least
one flange portion 140 adapted to releasably engage the at least
one recess portion 130 on an adjacent tray. Thus, the notch 125 and
the latch 135 provide a mechanism to releasably link adjacent
trays. While the notch 125 and the latch 135 are shown in the
exemplary embodiments on a top portion of the sidewalls 110 and
115, those of skill in the art will understand that the notch 125
and/or the latch 135 may be disposed on any area of the sidewalls,
the base or the rear wall to allow flexibility when configuring
multiple adjacent trays. Further, any number of notches and latches
may be utilized. For example, multiple notches may be disposed on
the first sidewall 110 and multiple latches may be disposed on the
second sidewall 115, which could provide a stronger connection with
an adjacent tray. Still further, a given sidewall may have both at
least one notch and at least one latch for securing to an adjacent
tray.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the tray 100 has a first
configuration C1 having a first storage volume V1. The base 105 and
the rear wall 120 may comprise telescoping sections which allow the
tray 100 to achieve a second configuration C2 having a second
storage volume V2. In an exemplary embodiment, the rearwall 120
comprises a first rearwall section 121 which is slidably disposed
in a slot 122 in a second rearwall section 123. The first and
second rearwall sections 121, 123 may include complementary guides,
rails, channels, recesses, etc. or any other engagement mechanism
for allowing the rearwall sections to slide relative to each other
and remain engaged. Additionally, one or more abutments or stops
may be disposed one the engagement mechanism to prevent the
rearwall sections from becoming disengaged (e.g., when shifting
from the first configuration C1 to the second configuration
C2).
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the base 105 comprises a first
base section 106 which is slidably disposed in a slot 107 in a
second base section 108. The first and second base sections 106,
108 may include complementary guides, rails, channels, recesses,
etc. or any other engagement mechanism for allowing the base
sections to slide relative to each other and remain engaged.
Additionally, one or more abutments or stops may be disposed one
the engagement mechanism to prevent the base sections from becoming
disengaged (e.g., when shifting from the first configuration C1 to
the second configuration C2).
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the tray 100 includes a label
145 which provides one or more indicia identifying the sample in
the tray 100. For example, the indicia may include text, graphics,
images, etc.
[0010] Those of skill in the art will understand that modifications
(additions and/or removals) of various components of the
apparatuses, methods and/or systems and embodiments described
herein may be made without departing from the full scope and spirit
of the present invention, which encompass such modifications and
any and all equivalents thereof
* * * * *