Method and apparatus for loosely retaining instruments in a washing system rack assembly
First Claim
1. A washer including a washing chamber having jets for spraying a washing and rinsing liquid into the washing chamber, an instrument basket positioned within the washing chamber for retaining instruments or equipment to be washed, the washer further comprising:
- an instrument holder associated with the instrument basket for loosely holding an instrument, the instrument holder including;
a tube body having a cavity for receiving an end portion of the instrument; and
a retainer cap removably retained on the tube body, the retainer cap having a resilient end wall covering an open end portion of the tube body cavity, the end wall having a central aperture therein which resiliently yields to the instrument end portion when inserted in the cavity and which retains the instrument end portion sufficiently loosely that washing and rinsing liquids flow freely between the instrument end portion and the retainer cap end wall during a washing and rinsing operation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of spray arms (26, 28) are rotatably supported in a washing chamber (14) for spraying a washing and rinsing fluid. An instrument basket (32) is positioned within the washing chamber for retaining instruments or equipment (44) to be washed. An instrument holder (38) associated with the instrument basket loosely holds an instrument (44). The instrument holder includes a tube body (74) having a cavity (80) for receiving an end portion of the instrument (44) and a flange (86) positioned on an external surface of the tube body (74). A retainer cap (76) has an outer wall (116) biased resiliently outwardly over the flange (86) and resilient end wall (118) covering an open end portion of the cavity (80). The end wall has a central aperture (120) which resiliently yields to the end portion of the instrument (44) when inserted in the cavity (80) and which loosely retains the end portion of the instrument in the cavity (80) during a washing and rinsing operation. The end wall (118) also includes at least one slit (122) which defines a number of flap portions (124) which resiliently yield to the instrument when inserted in the cavity (80) and which loosely retain the end portion in the cavity during a washing and rinsing operation. The washer (10) also includes a second instrument basket (42) removably positioned within the instrument basket (32). The second instrument basket (42) includes a second instrument holder (40) similar to the first instrument holder (38).
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A washer including a washing chamber having jets for spraying a washing and rinsing liquid into the washing chamber, an instrument basket positioned within the washing chamber for retaining instruments or equipment to be washed, the washer further comprising:
an instrument holder associated with the instrument basket for loosely holding an instrument, the instrument holder including; a tube body having a cavity for receiving an end portion of the instrument; and a retainer cap removably retained on the tube body, the retainer cap having a resilient end wall covering an open end portion of the tube body cavity, the end wall having a central aperture therein which resiliently yields to the instrument end portion when inserted in the cavity and which retains the instrument end portion sufficiently loosely that washing and rinsing liquids flow freely between the instrument end portion and the retainer cap end wall during a washing and rinsing operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An instrument basket comprising:
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a frame; a tube body for discharging washing and rinsing fluid; a fluid manifold associated with the frame for supplying the washing and rinsing fluid to the tube body; the tube body including a cavity for receiving at least a portion of an instrument therein and a flange positioned on an exterior surface of the tube body; and a retainer cap having an outer wall biased resiliently outwardly over the flange, and an end wall having a central aperture therein which resiliently yields to the instrument inserted in the cavity and which loosely retains the instrument during a washing and rinsing operation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An instrument holder for use with an instrument basket positioned within a washing chamber of a washing device, the washing device including a plurality of nozzles for spraying instruments retained in the instrument basket with washing and rinsing liquid, the instrument holder comprising:
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a tube body having a cavity defined therein, and a flange positioned on an external surface of the tube body; and a retainer cap having an outer wall frictionally engaged with the flange, and an end wall covering an open end portion of the cavity, the end wall having an aperture therein which resiliently yields to an instrument inserted in the cavity and which loosely retains the instrument in the cavity during a washing and rinsing operation. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of washing an instrument in a washing device having an instrument basket positioned within a washing chamber, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a retainer cap over an open end of a tube body, the retainer cap having an end wall covering the open end of a cavity defined in the tube body, and having an aperture through the end wall; resiliently deforming the end wall with an instrument so as to position at least a portion of the instrument in the cavity; and discharging a cleaning and rinsing liquid into the cavity so as to direct a first portion of the liquid through a bore in the instrument and direct a second portion of the liquid between the end wall and the instrument.
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Specification