Patent EP0136125A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0136125A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reagent container
Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1984-09-07
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2004-09-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a method for orienting a reagent container (10) in a rack (24) so that the label (38) on the container always points towards the user is provided. The container (10) has an external surface at least a portion of which has an asymmetric perimeter which has mirror symmetry about at most one axis, said perimeter lying in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the container. The rack (24) has an aperture having essentially the same asymmetric perimeter as the container and a size which permits the container to be received in the aperture in only one orientation. In certain preferred embodiments, the asymmetric perimeter is D-shaped, the container has a cavity (22) with inwardly sloping sides and the container includes an integral sight glass (32) by which its contents can be viewed.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Buchholz
- 👤 Robert S. Potts
- 👤 Henry J. Rahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:13
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L9/00; B01L9/06; B01L3/00; B01L3/54; B01L3/545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A container which comprises a body having an internal surface and an external surface, said surfaces being joined at a rim which forms the opening of the container, a portion of the internal surface defining a cavity for holding the contents of the container and a portion of the external surface having an asymmetric perimeter which has mirror symmetry about at most one axis, said perimeter lying in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A container which comprises a body having an internal surface and an external surface, said surfaces being joined at a rim which forms the opening of the container, a portion of the internal surface defining a cavity for holding the contents of the container and a portion of the external surface having an asymmetric perimeter which has mirror symmetry about at most one axis, said perimeter lying in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of Claim 1 wherein the asymmetric portion of the external surface of the container is D-shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The container of Claim 1 wherein the cavity has inwardly sloping sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of Claim 1 wherein the body includes an internal wall which forms the cavity and an external wall having the asymmetric perimeter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A series of containers according to Claim 4 wherein all of the containers have external walls of the same size and shape and at least one of the containers has an internal wall which defines a smaller cavity than the cavity of at least one of the other containers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container of Claim 4 wherein the spacing between the internal and external walls of the container is reduced at one or more locations to permit viewing of the contents of the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of Claim 6 wherein the internal and external walls are joined at the one or more locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The container of Claim 4 wherein the external wall includes an outwardly extending rib.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A holder for a container in accordance with any of claims 1-8 which has an external surface which includes a portion having an asymmetric perimeter which has mirror symmetry about at most one axis, said perimeter lying in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the container, comprising a body having an aperture for receiving the container, said aperture having (1) a perimeter of essentially the same shape as the perimeter of the asymmetric portion of the external surface of the container, and (2) a size such that the container cannot be rotated through more than about 90° when the asymmetric portion of the external surface of the container is received in the aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The holder of Claim 9 wherein the aperture is D-shaped.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The holder of Claim 9 wherein the body includes a plurality of apertures all of the same size and shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The holder of Claim 9 wherein the asymmetric portion of the external surface of the container includes an outwardly extending rib and the walls of the aperture include a plurality of inwardly-directed, yieldable protuberance for engaging the rib.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.