Test tube holder

• US 6,274,092 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IDS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teruaki Itoh
• Inventors: Itoh, Teruaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US09/352,652
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/102, 422/104, 422/63, 422/65, 422/66, 436/43, 436/47, 206/199, 206/201, 206/443, 211/60.1, 211/74, 211/77
• US Class Current: 422/562
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack

Abstract

A test tube holder according to the present invention includes a holder body having a cylindrical body having a cylindrical hollow formed to a given depth from the top to the bottom along the axis of the holder body and designed to hold a test tube, a tightening ring mounting small-diameter section formed on the outer surface and near the top of the cylindrical body, and an engagement section formed on the outer surface and near the bottom of the cylindrical body and engaged with a guide rail for conveyance. The test tube holder also includes a plurality of slits cut in the cylindrical body to a given depth from the top to the bottom in parallel with the axis of the holder body, a plurality of flat springs one end of each of which is inserted into and supported by a corresponding one of the plurality of slits and the other end of each of which is provided with a displacement force so as to approach the axis of the cylindrical body, and a tightening ring fitted on an outer surface of the small-diameter section of the cylindrical body so as to compress and hold the one end of each of the plurality of flat springs by narrowing a space between the slits into which the flat springs are inserted.

Claims

1. A test tube holder comprising:

a holder body including;

a cylindrical body having a cylindrical hollow formed to a given depth from a top to a bottom along an axis of the holder body and designed to hold a test tube,

a tightening ring mounting small-diameter section formed on an outer surface and near the top of the cylindrical body, and

an engagement section formed on the outer surface and near the bottom of the cylindrical body and engaged with a guide rail for conveyance;

a plurality of slits cut in the cylindrical body to a given depth from the top to the bottom in parallel with the axis of the holder body;

a plurality of flat springs one end of each of which is inserted into and supported by a corresponding one of the plurality of slits and another end of each of which is provided with a displacement force so as to approach the axis of the holder body; and

a tightening ring fitted on an outer surface of the small-diameter section of the cylindrical body so as to compress and hold the one end of each of the plurality of flat springs by narrowing a space between the slits into which the flat springs are inserted.

2. A test tube holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of flat springs includes:

an elongated flat spring body curved with a curvature approximate to that of an inner surface of the holder body;

a support member formed on at least part of one side edge of the flat spring body and inserted into and supported by a corresponding one of the slits;

a bar-shaped contact section formed on another side edge of the flat spring body and contacting an outer surface of the test tube at a given pressure in a longitudinal direction thereof; and

a test tube inserting guide section connected to an end portion of the contact section and having an inclined plane which is inclined gradually in a direction away from the axis of the holder body.

3. A test tube holder according to claim 2, wherein the flat spring body, the support member, the contact section and the test tube inserting guide section are formed integrally as one component by processing a single elastic member.