Storage container for biosensor test elements

• US 9,914,126 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Chan, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinerth, Gideon
• Application Number:
  US13/305,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20130134159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 220837, 220501, 220528, 220 2389, 220656, 220657, 220659, 220628, 220629, 220630, 220636, 220 2387, 206569, 206305, 206449, 206204, 422555, 422 681, 422547, 422560, 422554, 422563, 422549-550, 422565, 211207, 248670, 248449, 248132, 248161, 248157, 248419
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/022 Variable spacings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0858 Side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A component for a storage container configured to receive vertically oriented articles. The component includes a tubular sidewall extending longitudinally from a base, and at least one spacer portion extending from an underside of the base and configured for engagement with an interior surface of a corresponding storage container. The component also includes at least one pair of retainer elements extending laterally from an inner surface of the tubular sidewall and inwardly into an interior region of the component, and with the retainer elements being oppositely oriented and configured to retain a vertically oriented article therebetween by frictional engagement with opposite longitudinal edges of the article, and wherein an insertion force for resilient deflection of the retainer elements during insertion of the article is less than a removal force for resilient deflection of the retainer elements during removal of the article.

Claims

1. A component for a storage container configured to receive vertically oriented articles, the component comprising:

a tubular sidewall extending longitudinally from a base, said tubular sidewall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said base comprising a support surface and an underside;

an interior region defined by said inner surface of said tubular sidewall and said support surface of said base, said interior region extending along a longitudinal axis and having a height dimension, a width dimension, and a length dimension;

at least one spacer portion extending from said underside of said base and configured for engagement with an interior surface of a corresponding storage container;

at least one pair of retainer elements extending laterally from a portion of said inner surface of said tubular sidewall and inwardly into said interior region, said retainer elements of said at least one pair being oppositely oriented and configured to retain a vertically oriented article therebetween by frictional engagement with opposite longitudinal edges of said article;

wherein each of said retainer elements comprises a tip portion sized and shaped to engage a corresponding one of said longitudinal edges of said article, said at least one pair of retainer elements sized and shaped for resilient deflection during insertion and during removal of said article therebetween, said retainer elements of said at least one pair being spaced apart sufficiently to removably receive said article therebetween having a nominal width between said opposite longitudinal edges, said retainer elements of said at least one pair being adjustable relative to one another to define a variable separation distance or angular orientation therebetween for engagement with a different vertically oriented article defining a different nominal width between opposite longitudinal edges thereof; and

wherein an insertion force for resilient deflection of said retainer elements during said insertion of said article is less than a removal force for resilient deflection of said retainer elements during said removal of said article; and

wherein the component comprises an insert removably positioned within an inner chamber of a storage container; and

wherein said spacer portion extending from said underside of said base has an adjustable height dimension and is positioned in abutment against an adjacent portion of said storage container to position said insert at a select height within said inner chamber of said storage container; and

wherein said spacer portion includes at least one removable tab that is selectively removable from a remainder of said spacer portion to vary said adjustable height dimension and correspondingly adjust said select height of said insert within said inner chamber of said storage container.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein said spacer portion includes a plurality of said removable tabs, one or more of said removable tabs being selectively removable from a remainder of said spacer portion to vary said adjustable height dimension and correspondingly adjust said select height of said insert within said inner chamber of said storage container.

3. The component of claim 1, wherein said at least one removable tab is attached to a remainder of said spacer portion by an interface region configured to allow selective removal of said at least one removable tab from said remainder of said spacer portion.

4. The component of claim 3, wherein said interface region comprises a region of reduced strength defining a fracture initiator zone configured to facilitate a fracture along said region of reduced strength to allow for selective removal of said at least one removable tab from said remainder of said spacer portion.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein said spacer portion includes a plurality of said removable tabs, one or more of said removable tabs being selectively removable from said spacer portion along said fracture initiator zone to allow for selective removal of one or more of said plurality of removable tabs to vary said adjustable height dimension and correspondingly adjust said select height of said insert within said inner chamber of said storage container.

6. The component of claim 3, wherein said interface region is defined by a localized reduced thickness of said spacer portion.

7. The component of claim 6, wherein said localized reduced thickness of said spacer portion is defined by one or more grooves extending along a length of said spacer portion.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein said at least one spacer portion comprises a strut extending axially from said underside of said base and defining a strut height defining said adjustable height dimension;

and

wherein said strut has a distal end positioned in abutment against a bottom wall of said storage container to position said insert at said select height within said inner chamber of said storage container.

9. The component of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of raised ribs extending laterally from said outer surface of said tubular sidewall and generally along said longitudinal axis, said plurality of raised ribs configured for retentional engagement with an interior surface of said storage container to retain the component within an inner chamber of said storage container.