Spring biased test tube holder

Claim 2

A test tube holder comprising an elongated tubular adapter member having a longitudinal axis and an interior receiving space for accommodating a test tube with a predetermined diameter, said receiving space being radially oversized relative to the predetermined diameter of said test tube to provide radial clearance between the test tube and the adapter member, flexible biasing means on said adapter member normally extending a predetermined radial amount into said receiving space toward said longitudinal axis and being deflectable away from said longitudinal axis by said test tube upon insertion of said test tube into said receiving space such that said biasing means can resiliently engage said test tube to exert a predetermined biasing force on said test tube to maintain said test tube in said adapter member.

Claim 3

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adapter member includes an elongated curved wall defining said receiving space, said elongated curved wall having an open end for insertion of said test tube into said receiving space.

Claim 4

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said biasing means includes a spring and said curved wall includes a spring clearance opening to accommodate deflective movement of said spring.

Claim 5

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adapter member has an open end portion leading to said interior receiving space, and said interior receiving space is of a predetermined longitudinal extent that is of a lesser magnitude than the longitudinal extent of said test tube to enable said test tube to extend beyond the open end portion of said tubular member.

Claim 6

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said adapter member has a base end portion opposite said open end portion, and an intermediate base portion between said open end portion and said base end, said intermediate base end and said open end defining the longitudinal extent of said interior receiving space.

Claim 7

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said adapter member is formed with said intermediate base end at selectable distances from said open end to accommodate test tubes of selectable longitudinal extents.

Claim 8

A test tube holder comprising, (a) an elongated tubular member, elongated along a longitudinal axis, said tubular member having a first wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a first latch member formed on said first wall portion, (b) a pivot member supported on said elongated tubular member to permit relative pivotal movement between said pivot member and said tubular member about said longitudinal axis, said pivot member having a second wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a second latch member formed on said second wall portion such that said first and second latch members are relatively movable toward and away from each other in a radial direction with reference to said longitudinal axis when there is said relative pivotal movement between said pivot member and said tubular member in opposite radial directions about said longitudinal axis, (c) an elongated adapter member for accommodating a test tube, said adapter member being insertable in and removable from said tubular member, and including a test tube receptacle portion for accommodating a test tube, (d) flexible biasing means on said adapter member normally extending radially into said receptacle portion toward said longitudinal axis and being deflectable away from said longitudinal axis such that insertion of said test tube into the receptacle portion of said adapter member enables said biasing means to resiliently engage said test tube to exert a predetermined biasing force on said test tube to maintain said test tube in said adapter member.

Claim 9

A test tube holder comprising, (a) an elongated tubular member, elongated along a longitudinal axis, said tubular member having a first wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a first latch member formed on said first wall portion, (b) a pivot member supported on said elongated tubular member to permit relative pivotal movement between said pivot member and said tubular member about said longitudinal axis, said pivot member having a second wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a second latch member formed on said second wall portion such that said first and second latch members are relatively movable toward and away from each other in a radial direction with reference to said longitudinal axis when there is said relative pivotal movement between said pivot member and said tubular member in opposite radial directions about said longitudinal axis, (c) an elongated adapter member for accommodating a test tube, said adapter member being insertable in and removable from said tubular member, and including a test tube receptacle portion for accommodating a test tube, (d) flexible biasing means on said adapter member normally extending radially into said receptacle portion toward said longitudinal axis and being deflectable away from said longitudinal axis such that insertion of said test tube into the receptacle portion of said adapter member enables said biasing means to resiliently engage said test tube to exert a predetermined biasing force on said test tube to maintain said test tube in said adapter member.

Claim 10

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adapter member and said tubular member are provided with engaging means to locate said adapter member in a predetermined radial orientation with respect to said tubular member when said adapter member is inserted in said tubular member.

Claim 11

A test tube holder as claimed in claim 7 further including detent means for maintaining said adapter member inseparable from said tubular member when a test tube is present in the receptacle portion of said adapter member and permitting separation of said adapter member and said tubular member when said adapter member is without a test tube.

Claim 12

A test tube holder comprising, (a) an elongated tubular member, elongated along a longitudinal axis, said tubular member having a first wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a first latch member formed on said first wall portion, (b) an elongated adapter member being insertable in and removable from said tubular member and including a test tube receptacle portion for accommodating said test tube, (c) said adapter member and said tubular member including detent means for detenting said adapter member in said tubular member, said detent means being in a first detent condition when said adapter member is inserted in said tubular member and said adapter member is without said test tube, said first detent condition permitting separation of said adapter member from said tubular member, said detent means being movable to a second detent condition upon insertion of said test tube into said adapter member after said adapter member is inserted in said tubular member, said second detent condition rendering said adapter member inseparable from said tubular member while said test tube is present in said adapter member.

Claim 13

A test tube holder comprising, (a) an elongated tubular member, elongated along a longitudinal axis, said tubular member having a first wall portion extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis and a first latch member formed on said first wall portion, (b) an elongated adapter member being insertable in and removable from said tubular member and including a test tube receptacle portion for accommodating said test tube, (c) said adapter member and said tubular member including detent means for detenting said adapter member in said tubular member, said detent means being in a first detent condition when said adapter member is inserted in said tubular member and said adapter member is without said test tube, said first detent condition permitting separation of said adapter member from said tubular member, said detent means being movable to a second detent condition upon insertion of said test tube into said adapter member after said adapter member is inserted in said tubular member, said second detent condition rendering said adapter member inseparable from said tubular member while said test tube is present in said adapter member.