Modular test tube rack

• US 6,640,981 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3088081 Canada, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 3088081 Canada, Inc.
• Inventors: Lafond, André, Bertin, Yanick
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHOA H
• Application Number:
  US09/929,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 211/74, 211/194, 211/60.1, 422/99, 422/104, 422/102, 206/443, 206/446, D24/230
• US Class Current: 211/74
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/02 Identification, exchange or storage of information
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders

Abstract

A modular test tube rack for assembly with similarly constructed racks comprise a flat rectangular body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from its top wall to its bottom wall and adapt to receive tubes therein. A pair of handles vertically extend at opposite end walls of the body, each handle having a lower portion adapted to tightly engage an extension on each end wall and a hand gripping upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom edge configured to anchor with the top edge of the handle of an underposed similarly constructed rack to thereby enable a stacking of two more of these racks. In one embodiment, the body displays a second series of wells extending from the bottom wall to the top wall whereby the body, when in a second position reversed relative to the first position, may also receive test tubes, the handles being reversably mountable to the end wall extension to still enable a stacking of racks in the second position.

Claims

1. A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising:

a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls;

said body displaying, in a first position, a first series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein;

each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension;

a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls;

each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body;

said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks.

2. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said body displays, a second series of wells extending from said bottom wall in a direction towards said top wall whereby, when said body is inverted to a second position inversed relative to said first position, it may receive other test tubes therein;

said handles being reversibly mountable to said extensions so as to enable a stacking of racks when said body is in said second position.

3. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 2, wherein said wells of said second series have a size smaller than that of said wells of the first series;

said wells of said second series being located in said body adjacent said wells of said first series.

4. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 3, wherein said wells of said first and second series are respectively arranged in rows and columns in said top wall and in said bottom wall;

the number of wells extending from said top wall differing from the number of wells extending from said bottom wall.

5. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 2, further comprising a cover having a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls;

said side walls and end walls of said cover having lower edges adapted to rest on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said first position and on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said second position.

6. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 5, wherein said top wall of said cover displays at least one protuberance having a shape adapted to be received in a correspondingly located well entrance in said bottom wall of said body so as to allow a stack formation of covered racks.

7. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 5, wherein said cover is made of transparent material.

8. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said opposite side walls of said body displays dowel receiving slots;

further comprising dowels in said slots so as to form an array of juxtaposed dowel interconnected racks.

9. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 8, wherein said dowels are made of plastic material.

10. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said body and said handles are made of plastic material.

11. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said side walls of said body display an information receiving area.

12. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said wells include two areas of different inner diameters.

13. A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising:

a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls;

said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein;

each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension;

a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls;

each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body;

said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks;

a cover having a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls;

said side walls and end walls of said cover having lower edges adapted to rest on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said first position and on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said second position;

wherein said body displays, a second series of wells extending from said bottom wall to said top wall whereby, when said body is inverted to a second position inversed relative to said first position, it may receive other test tubes therein;

said handles being reversibly mountable to said extensions so as to enable a stacking of racks when said body is in said second position, said top wall of said cover displays at least one protuberance having a shape adapted to be received in a correspondingly located well entrance in said bottom wall of said body so as to allow a stack formation of covered racks; and

said cover comprises a pair of said protuberances at diagonally opposite corners of said top wall of said cover.

14. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13, wherein said cover is made of transparent material.

15. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13, wherein said opposite side walls of said body displays dowel receiving slots;

further comprising dowels in said slots so as to form an array of jaxtaposed dowel interconnected racks.

16. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13, wherein said side walls of said body display an information receiving area.

17. A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13, wherein said walls include two areas of different inner diameters.

18. A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising:

a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls;

said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein;

each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension;

a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls;

each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body;

said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks, wherein said extension of said end wall has a rectangular shape and wherein said lower portion of said handles displays a rectangular shaped opening to receive said rectangular extension of said end wall of said rack.