Test tube rack

Claim 2

A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING A REMOVABLE COVER OVER A PLURALITY OF OPEN ENDED TUBES OF A TEST TUBE RACK, THE COVER INCLUDING A RESILIENT LINER ON THE LOWER FACE THEREOF, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION:VERTICAL SECURING MEANS HAVING ONE END MOUNTED TO A BOTTOM WALL OF SAID RACK AND HAVING AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF A PORTION PROTRUDING SAID COVER; ACTUATOR MEANS HAVING AN UPPER PORITION DISPOSED ABOVE SAID COVER AND A LOWER PORTION SLIDABLY MOUNTED THROUGH SAID COVER; LEVER MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO ONE END THEREOF TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS, THE OTHER END THEREOF DEFINING ENGAGEMENT MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID PROTRUDING PORTION OF SAID SECURING MEANS; PIVOT MEANS ON SAID LEVER MEANS IN CONTACTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER FACE OF SAID COVER, AND BEING SLIDABLE THEREON WHEREBY, UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS, SAID LEVER MEANS ARE MOVED TO SAID PROTRUDING PORTION OF SAID SECURING MEANS AND SAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS TIGHTLY SECURE SAID PROTRUDING PORTION TO PROVIDE A SEALING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE LINER AND THE TUBES, THE RESILIENCY IN SAID LINER ALLOWING FOR HEIGHT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE TUBES.

Claim 3

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 1, said actuator means being centrally located on said cover and including a pair of said lever means in securing engagement with a pair of said securing means symmetrically disposed on each side of said actuator means.

Claim 4

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising means mounted on said bottom wall of said rack for adjusting the relative position of said securing means with respect to said cover.

Claim 5

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 3, further comprising spring means disposed between said bottom wall of said rack and said securing means for upwardly urging said securing means when adjusted.

Claim 6

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said protruding portion of said securing means above said cover includes a mouth-shaped opening sufficiently large to receive said engagement means and said pivot means therein.

Claim 7

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said pivot means include a pin extending transversely of said lever means and a roller mounted on said pin.

Claim 8

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said actuator means include at least one slot to receive therein the end of said lever means which is pivotally attached thereto, said slot providing easy access of the other end of said lever means to said mouth-shaped opening of said protruding portion of said securing means.

Claim 9

A locking mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of said pivot means and the pivot axis of said end of said lever means pivotally attached to said actuator means are in substantially horizontal plane when said lever means are in a locking engagement with said protruding portion; said engagement of said lever means including a pin extending transversely and horizontally in said lever means, the pivot axis of said pin being slightly offset with respect to a vertical plane passing through said pivot axis of said pivot means, the offset being an inclination toward said actuator means.

Claim 10

A test tube rack comprising, in combination: a bottom shelf having a series of depressions adapted to receive therein the lower end of test tubes; a horizontal tube support extending above from said bottom shelf and having a series of openings to receive therethrough the test tubes; vertical support means attached to said bottom shelf for supporting said horizontal support; a removable cover adapted to be in covering arrangement over the open ends of the test tubes; a resilient liner fixed to the lower face of said cover and adapted to contact the open ends of the test tubes; vertical securing means having one end fixed to said bottom shelf and having at the opposite thereof a portioN protruding said cover; cover actuator means having an upper portion disposed above said cover and a lower portion slidably mounted through said cover; lever means pivotally attached at one end thereof to the upper portion of said actuator means, the other end thereof defining engagement means for engaging said protruding portion of said securing means; pivot means on said lever means in contacting engagement with the upper face of said cover and being slidable thereon whereby, upon downward movement of said actuator means, said lever means are moved to said protruding portion of said securing means and said engagement means tightly secure said protruding portion to provide a sealing engagement between the liner and the tubes, the resiliency in said liner allowing for height differential between the ends of the tubes.

Claim 11

A test tube rack comprising, in combination: a bottom shelf having a series of depressions adapted to receive therein the lower end of test tubes; a horizontal tube support extending above from said bottom shelf and having a series of openings to receive therethrough the test tubes; vertical support means attached to said bottom shelf for supporting said horizontal support; a removable cover adapted to be in covering arrangement over the open ends of the test tubes; a resilient liner fixed to the lower face of said cover and adapted to contact the open ends of the test tubes; vertical securing means having one end fixed to said bottom shelf and having at the opposite thereof a portioN protruding said cover; cover actuator means having an upper portion disposed above said cover and a lower portion slidably mounted through said cover; lever means pivotally attached at one end thereof to the upper portion of said actuator means, the other end thereof defining engagement means for engaging said protruding portion of said securing means; pivot means on said lever means in contacting engagement with the upper face of said cover and being slidable thereon whereby, upon downward movement of said actuator means, said lever means are moved to said protruding portion of said securing means and said engagement means tightly secure said protruding portion to provide a sealing engagement between the liner and the tubes, the resiliency in said liner allowing for height differential between the ends of the tubes.

Claim 12

A test tube rack as defined in claim 9, further comprising resilient means in said depressions in said bottom shelf to provide resiliency at the opposite end of the tubes when engaged between the liner and the bottom shelf.

Claim 13

A test tube rack as defined in claim 9, wherein said depressions include orifices therein for discharging waste contents collected in said depressions.

Claim 14

A test tube rack as defined in claim 9, wherein means are provided on the bottom shelf for adjusting the vertical height of said securing means relative to said cover; means being provided beneath said bottom shelf for indicating the adjustment made on said securing means.