Slide dispenser for a reagent cannister
First Claim
1. A slide dispenser for a cannister, comprising:
- a housing, said housing defining a compartment for the containment of a plurality of slides,a slide dispensing opening in said housing, anda one piece, hemispherically shaped, collapsible, spring boot in said compartment for biasing said slides toward said slide dispensing opening, said spring boot including a slide biasing portion, a slide engaging extension extending from said slide biasing portion and a light and humidity sealing portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-piece slide dispenser includes a housing defining an internal compartment for the storage of a plurality of reagent slides or similar items. The housing includes a dispensing opening and a loading opening. A finger or similar structure at least partially obstructs the dispensing opening to prevent inadvertant falling out of the reagent slides. A one-piece, multiple function, resilient spring boot including a biasing portion and a light and humidity sealing portion is also provided. Once reagent slides are loaded through the loading opening into the internal compartment, the spring boot is mounted in the compartment to engage the slides biasing them toward the dispensing opening. The biasing portion of the spring boot can be hemispherical or of a similar configuration allowing this portion to fold into itself. The biasing portion also includes an extension extending from the hemisphere to engage the slides. The sealing portion of the spring boot includes a lip or edge that can be secured on the housing around the loading opening. In an alternative embodiment, the lip or edge of the spring boot engages the inner peripherial surface of the housing adjacent the loading opening and the loading opening is closed by a cap.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A slide dispenser for a cannister, comprising:
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a housing, said housing defining a compartment for the containment of a plurality of slides, a slide dispensing opening in said housing, and a one piece, hemispherically shaped, collapsible, spring boot in said compartment for biasing said slides toward said slide dispensing opening, said spring boot including a slide biasing portion, a slide engaging extension extending from said slide biasing portion and a light and humidity sealing portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for dispensing reagent slides or the like, comprising:
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a housing, a compartment within said housing for holding a plurality of reagent slides or the like, a first opening in said housing for distribution or loading of said reagent slides or the like, and a one-piece, collapsible spring member positioned in said compartment including a first portion with a hemispherical body and a tubular extension extending from said body engaging and biasing said reagent slides or the like toward said first opening and a second portion sealing said second opening. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A one-piece biasing and sealing spring member for a reagent slide dispenser, comprising:
a hollow, unitary resilient body, said body including a chamber portion of a hemispherically shaped configuration allowing said body to fold into said chamber portion, a slide engagement portion extending from said chamber portion, and lip portion means for mechanically sealing said dispenser from light and humidity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
Specification