U.S. patent number 3,744,665 [Application Number 05/152,686] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for combination vial and test tube rack.
Invention is credited to Victor T. Spoto.
United States Patent |
3,744,665 |
Spoto |
July 10, 1973 |
COMBINATION VIAL AND TEST TUBE RACK
Abstract
A portable multipurpose box-type compartmental rack for
chemistry assaying in industrial laboratories embodying
self-contained facilities for orderly racking bottle-type vials and
test tubes. It is used for housing controls, standards and reagents
and lends itself for use in an incubated water bath, when
necessary. The loaded rack can stand upright in an upside-down
position when used outside of a water bath. The compartments and
selectively applicable and removable covering panels provide a rack
which can accommodate up to four different size vials. Then, too,
this rack when properly used constitutes a holder for test tubes
and, to achieve this result, the bottom of each compartment is
provided with concave centrally apertured seating depressions.
Inventors: |
Spoto; Victor T. (Miami,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
22543965 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/152,686 |
Filed: |
June 14, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/519; 211/76;
220/DIG.6; 220/516; 217/19; 220/514 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L
9/06 (20130101); Y10S 220/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01L
9/00 (20060101); B01L 9/06 (20060101); B65d
001/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/20,21,22,22.2,116,DIG.6 ;217/18,19,21,56 ;211/74,76 ;23/292
;294/87.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,522,057 |
|
Apr 1968 |
|
FR |
|
709,473 |
|
Jun 1966 |
|
IT |
|
986,243 |
|
Mar 1965 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lowrance; George E.
Assistant Examiner: Marcus; Stephen
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A portable, invertible, multipurpose rack for orderly and
systematically racking a plurality of solution containing and
mixing bottle-type vials of different sizes ranging, for example,
from 5 ml. to 50 ml. volume vials, comprising a box embodying a
flat self-standing bottom wall, longitudinal side walls having
coplanar upper lengthwise edges, and transverse end walls having
like spaced parallel extensions having upper coplanar edges, said
extensions constituting a pair of support legs when said rack is
inverted and turned upside-down for a predetermined procedural
chemistry assaying purpose, the receptacle portion of said box
having interiorly fixed interconnected partitions defining rows of
individual open top vial receiving and positioning compartments, a
readily applicable and removable first panel having notched ends
with are retentively but releasably connected with coacting
portions of the respectively cooperable end wall extensions and
providing longitudinal flanges resting atop and also overhanging
said longitudinal side walls, said first panel having holes therein
which are distributively aligned with the respectively cooperable
compartments and which permit the usual stopper-closed neck
portions of said vials to project through and beyond said holes,
and readily accessible retaining latches pivotally mounted on upper
portions of said side walls, said latches being manually actuable
and retentively but releasably engageable with coacting portions of
said flanges in a manner to prevent (1) displacement of said first
panel from its functioning position and (2) displacement of the
vials from their pocketing compartments.
2. The rack defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein that
portion of the bottom wall which is aligned with each compartment
is provided with an oriented and coordinating concave well-like
depression which is centrally apertured for circulation of bath
water, that is, when the vial loaded rack is immersed in a
prescribed time-controlled water bath.
3. The rack defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein that
portion of the bottom wall which is aligned with each compartment
is provided with an oriented and coordinating concave well-like
depression which is centrally apertured for circulation of bath
water, that is, when the vial-loaded-rack is immersed in a
prescribed time-controlled water bath, and wherein the interior
surface of said bottom wall is provided with upstanding ring-like
ribs concentrically encircling the respective depressions and
serving as positioning holders for bottom portions of said
vials.
4. The rack defined in and according to claim 1, and, in
combination, a second panel constituting a retaining slab, said
extensions having selectively usable keeper slots through which end
portions of said second panel are adapted to be inserted and
passed, said second panel when properly located in selected slots
serving to overlie the stopper-equipped necks of vials of different
sizes (small, large and in-between) in a manner to prevent
displacement of those vials which are accommodatingly racked when
the rack is inverted and thus turned upside-down.
5. The rack defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein said
second panel is provided at one transverse end portion with
limit-stop abutment means and at the other transverse end with a
keeper hole and an applicable and removable T-shaped keeper for
retentive but releasable cooperation with said keeper slots, said
slots being paired, horizontally disposed, and vertically
spaced.
6. The rack defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the
interior surface of that portion of said bottom wall which is
aligned with each compartment is provided with a coordinating
concave well-like depression, said depression being apertured for
circulatory passage of bath water when, for example, the loaded
rack is immersed in a prescribed time-controlled bath water.
7. The rack defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the
interior surface of that portion of the bottom wall aligned with
each compartment is provided with an oriented concave well-like
depression apertured for passage of bath water, and wherein said
interior surface is provided with integral upstanding ring-like
ribs concentrically encircling the respective depressions.
8. A portable, invertible, multipurpose rack for systematically
racking a plurality of solution containing and mixing bottle-type
vials of different sizes comprising a box embodying a flat
self-standing bottom wall, marginally attached longitudinal side
walls having coplanar upper lengthwise edges, and transverse end
walls disposed between and connecting the end portions of said side
walls, said end walls having spaced parallel correspondingly
constructed upstanding extensions providing a pair of complemental
support legs for said box when it is intentionally turned upside
down, said extensions having paired, horizontally disposed,
vertically spaced and cooperatively aligned selectively usable
keeper slots, the receptacle portion of said box having coacting
interconnected partitions defining individual open-top receiving
and positioning compartments, a readily applicable and removable
first horizontal panel having transverse ends abutting and
releasably but retentively connected with respectively cooperable
transverse end walls and having longitudinal edge positions resting
and removably seated atop the coordinating lengthwise edges of said
longitudinal side walls, said first panel having holes
distributively aligned with the respectively cooperable
compartments, said holes permitting the usual stopper-closed neck
portions of said vials to project upwardly through and beyond the
holes, readily accessible retainers mounted on exterior surfaces of
said side walls and normally serving to retain said first panel in
its serviceable and functioning position, and a complemental second
panel constituting a retaining slab and having opposite end
portions passing through adjacent slots of a selected pair of said
slots, said second panel being adapted to overlie the
stopper-equipped necks of vials of different sizes in a manner to
prevent displacement of already racked vials when said rack has
been intentionally turned upside down.
9. The rack defined in and according to claim 8 and wherein said
second panel is provided at one transverse end portion with
limit-stop abutment means and is provided at an opposite end with
readily applicable and removable keeper means cooperable with an
adjacent exterior surface of the coacting extension whereby to
retain said second panel in operating positions relative to the
slotted extensions.
Description
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in
portable box-type compartmental and cellular article racks and has
to do, more particularly, with a multipurpose vial and test tube
rack which has been expressly constructed for expedient chemistry
assaying in industrial laboratories and which, because of its
unique construction, saves valuable time, space and labor and
insures more efficacious mixing consistency of the contained
solutions.
Under prevailing practice, vials used for controls, standards,
reagents and the like are sequentially lined up and pipettes
drained into them to provide a predetermined amount after which
they are inverted one by one. A time clock is then set. At the end
of the alloted time these vials are then returned to their initial
upright positions and the clock is reset. They are then manually
mixed one by one until all of the contents are in solution.
An object of the present invention is to simplify the currently
followed tedious and exasperating steps. Where, for example, prior
racks can accommodate and house vials of one size only, the
innovation herein revealed can be acceptably used with requisite
nicety to house 5 ml., 10 ml., 25 ml., and 50 ml. volume vials and
also serves to rack test tubes.
The reader, if conversant with the over-all problem and state of
the art to which the invention relates is aware that portable
boxes, receivers and carriers for racking containers of various
types and wherein the receptacle portion is partitioned to provide
individual compartments for individual articles are known. For
example it can be assumed, broadly stated, that the thermometer
rack covered in U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,891, granted to Mary A. Burt,
et al., is exemplary but non-analogous art. Secondly, the Leo Katz
U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,337, which relates to containers for food and
drink and which is used for carrying and cooling of articles for
transporting, is of general reference value. Also, and because it
is somewhat closer as a citation, the reader may refer to the
article carrier of Jack Worthington, U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,648,
wherein the bottom wall is provided with apertured well-like bottle
seats. However, it is not the purpose here to analyze and explicity
compare the present invention with the prior reference patents but
merely to call attention to those mentioned for background
purposes.
Briefly, the concept herein disclosed with a view toward acceptably
solving the problem pertains, generally stated, to a portable
invertible multipurpose rack characterized by coordinating and
oriented facilities for orderly and accessibly confining a
plurality of readily insertable and removable solution-mixing vials
(containers, test tubes or the like) and comprising an open-top
box-like receiver. The receptacle portion of the receiver is
provided with marginally encompassed interconnected partitions
which are arranged in coordinating relationship to define
individual open-top article receiving and positioning cells or
compartments. These compartments function to accommodate a
plurality of containers which are individually pocketed in their
respectively cooperable compartments. Readily applicable and
removable retainer means is cooperable with and functions for
maintaing the containers in given (normally upright) positions.
This retainer means also permits the rack to be bodily vials and
thus turned upside-down. The containers when thus turned
upside-down are effectually supported when used in incubated water
bath, or alternatively, used outside of the water bath. The
compartments are of a size that they lend themselves to feasible
use for retentively racking vials of different sizes which are used
for controls, standards, reagents and the like.
More specifically, the compartments are of a predetermined size in
plan and depth that they lend themselves to practical and safe use
for retentively racking vials of different sizes such as for
example 5 ml., 10 ml., 25 ml., and 50 ml. volume vials and, in
addition, function to rack test tubes of varying sizes.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a combination vial and test tube rack
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention and which is shown as made of transparent material with
certain component parts showing through other connecting components
and wherein the vials have been omitted for clearness of
presentation.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail section showing the small
neck-equipped or bottle-like vials (5 ml.) with the
stopper-equipped necks extending up through the holes in the first
panel and with the second panel covering the stoppers to permit
inversion (not shown), taken on the plane of the section line 2--2
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2A is a view at the right similar to FIG. 2 and which shows
basically the same parts with the first or bottom panel omitted and
with the second retaining panel fitted into a slot provided
therefor.
FIG. 3 is a view taken approximately on the plane of the vertical
section line 3--3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the
indicating arrows.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the notched panel
elevated and the cooperating retaining latch in an open
position.
And FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation similar
to FIG. 3 and showing how the rack can be used to assemble and
support test tubes.
With reference now to the views, singly and collectively, the
aforementioned box or box-like receiver, is denoted by the numeral
6. This receiver is preferably made of transparent plastic material
and comprises a flat self-standing horizontal bottom wall 8, a pair
of opposed parallel upstanding longitudinal side walls 10 and a
pair of complemental transverse end walls 12. The upper free edges
(FIG. 4) of the side walls are denoted at 14. It is significant to
note that the upper half portion of each end wall is provided with
an upstanding extension which is denoted at 16. These extensions
have their upper terminal edges 18 disposed in a common plane as
perhaps best brought out in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Each extension is
provided with a plurality of horizontal vertically spaced
correspondingly performing slots. The lowermost slot is denoted at
20 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5), the uppermost slot at 22 and the intervening
slot at 24. The receptacle portion of the box or receiver is
provided with interconnected longitudinal and transverse partitions
26 and 28 respectively which coact in defining the individual
compartments for the insertable and removable containers. The upper
edges of the partitions are flush with each other and also with the
upper edges 14 of the side walls 10.
Passing over the function of the slotted extensions 16 at this
point, attention is now directed to what is here designated as a
first horizontal optionally usable panel 30. This panel is
generally rectangular in plan and has notched transverse end
portions 32. The notched end portions define projecting
longitudinal flanges 34. These notched end portions are guidingly
fitted over the extensions or end walls 16 and the flanges 34 rest
on the upper edges 14 of the side walls 10. Panel 30 is provided
with openings or holes 36 which are lined up with the individual
compartments and these holes serve to accommodatingly receive the
stopper-closed neck portions of the containers. For example in FIG.
2 the small 5 ml. containers are referred to as vials and are
denoted at 38. It follows that the neck portions 40 are lined up
with and extend into the holes or openings 36, the stoppers being
denoted at 42. The substantially flat bottom portions of these
small vials are retained in place on the interior surface of the
bottom wall 8. In this connection it will be seen that the bottom
wall at the lower portion of each compartment is provided with
circular concave depressions 44 each of which has an orifice 46
centrally therein. These concave depressions provide seats for the
lower convex ends of optionally usable test tubes 48 as shown for
example in FIG. 5. Each depression 44 has its marginal portion
surrounded by an upstanding ring-like rib 48 which provides a
seating retainer for the bottom portion of the vial as shown at the
left in FIG. 2. Thus, the apertured depressions and accompanying
rings provide proper seating and retaining facilities for the
insertable and removable containers. In this presentation it will
be seen in FIG. 2 that the various sized vials (four sizes
illustrated) are properly accommodated and for best results it has
been found that the first panel 30 should be held down in the
position shown and this is accomplished by using substantially
U-shaped retaining latches such as are denoted at 50 in FIG. 4. The
latches are pivotally mounted at 52 and positioned so that the jaw
portions swing up over the flanges 34 as best shown in FIG. 3. Thus
by latching down the plate 30 this plate assists in properly
positioning and retaining the small 5 ml. vials as illustrated at
the left in FIG. 2. Panel 30 can be and is used in conjunction with
5 ml. and 10 ml. vials but is not intended to be used for 25 ml. or
50 ml. vials. When, however, it is desired to provide support for
the test tubes 48 a second pane (not detailed) but illustrated at
54 in FIG. 5 can be brought into play. The use of the rack for
supporting test tubes is significant but incidental compared with
the use of a single multipurpose rack for the vials of different
sizes, that is, in diameter and height.
Referring again to the slots 20, 22 and 24 it will be seen that
these slots serve to accommodate the insertable and removable
second horizontal panel which is denoted for example at 56 in FIG.
2 in particular. This panel has right hand end portions 58 and left
hand end portions 60. The right hand end portions protrude beyond
the slotted extension and are provided with attached ribs 62 which
constitute limit stop abutments and which facilitate in inserting
the left hand end portions 60 through the slots, passing the panel
over the stopper-equipped vials (FIG. 2A) and then passing the left
hand ends through the slots provided therefor and securing the same
removably in place. To the ends desired, each end portion 60 is
provided with a keeper hole 64 to accommodate an insertable and
removable T-shaped keeper or retainer 66.
It is believed that by taking into account the use of the first
apertured panels 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and the optional use of the
second insertable and removable panel 56 it will be clear that the
rack serves primarily for the purpose of housing controls,
standards, reagents and test tubes and for the purpose of using the
rack in incubated water baths when necessary for use in an
industrial laboratory.
The insertable and removable and sliding panel 56 is sometimes
referred to as a sliding slab and of course prevents the vials from
floating to the surface when immersed in a water bath. When used
outside of a water bath, as it would be most commonly used, the
entire rack is inverted and the slab prevents the vials from
falling out. Prior art adaptations cannot be inverted without loss
of the containers plus the fact that the rack cannot ordinarily
stand upright in an upside-down position when used outside of a
water bath. It follows that the extended slotted portions 16 of the
end walls serve as supporting legs when the rack is in the
upside-down position.
It is submitted that a careful consideration of the views of the
drawings, singly and collectively will enable the reader to
understand the simplicity of construction of the overall rack and
the self-contained features which enable the user to accomplish the
improved result desired. Accordingly, a more extended description
is deemed to be unnecessary.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *