Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A support assembly for holding sample tubes, said assembly comprising: a tray including at least one aperture; at least one apertured and generally annular retaining device for disposition about a sample tube and in which a sample tube is insertable to be resiliently gripped and thereby retained therein, said retaining device being disposed in the tray aperture such that the retaining device and a sample tube inserted therein is freely suspended downwardly from the tray in a self-aligning substantially vertical orientation though in a manner allowing free-swinging orbital and angular movement within predetermined limits; said retaining device including a section which extends through and is dimensioned to loosely fit within the tray aperture, which section has an upper portion which overlaps the upper surface of the tray to effect retention and accommodation of the retaining device in the tray aperture and prevents same from falling through said aperture; said retaining device further including a resilient section which protrudes from the aperture below the tray, said protruding section including an enlarged shoulder portion of a diameter greater than that of the tray aperture, which shoulder portion is spaced from a lower surface of the tray and which shoulder portion defines means limiting the extent of movement of said retaining device in said aperture; said protruding section of said retaining device further including circumferentially spaced gripping portions which downwardly extend and which resiliently engage an inserted tube to adjustably retain the tube such that a vertical sliding displacement of an inserted tube relative to the retaining device and the tray can be effected upon the application of a predetermined force to the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A support assembly for holding sample tubes, said assembly comprising: a tray including at least one aperture; at least one apertured and generally annular retaining device for disposition about a sample tube and in which a sample tube is insertable to be resiliently gripped and thereby retained therein, said retaining device being disposed in the tray aperture such that the retaining device and a sample tube inserted therein is freely suspended downwardly from the tray in a self-aligning substantially vertical orientation though in a manner allowing free-swinging orbital and angular movement within predetermined limits; said retaining device including a section which extends through and is dimensioned to loosely fit within the tray aperture, which section has an upper portion which overlaps the upper surface of the tray to effect retention and accommodation of the retaining device in the tray aperture and prevents same from falling through said aperture; said retaining device further including a resilient section which protrudes from the aperture below the tray, said protruding section including an enlarged shoulder portion of a diameter greater than that of the tray aperture, which shoulder portion is spaced from a lower surface of the tray and which shoulder portion defines means limiting the extent of movement of said retaining device in said aperture; said protruding section of said retaining device further including circumferentially spaced gripping portions which downwardly extend and which resiliently engage an inserted tube to adjustably retain the tube such that a vertical sliding displacement of an inserted tube relative to the retaining device and the tray can be effected upon the application of a predetermined force to the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said section which extends into the tray aperture is in the shape of a truncated cone which enlarges upwardly, said aperture having a generally cylindrical inner wall surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as defined in claim 2, in which said upper portion of said upwardly enlarging section includes an outwardly extending flange, said flange overlapping the upper surface of the tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said aperture in said retaining device has an internal passageway of round cross-section and a diameter which, in the region of said section which extends into the tray aperture, is larger than said sample tube, and wherein said gripping portions include lips which extend radially inward and which are transversely spaced so as to contact and provide said resilient engagement with the sample tube upon insertion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
As assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said lips are respectively positioned on the extremity of each gripping portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping portions are lowermost on said retaining device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said gripping portions are radially compressible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tray assembly as defined in claim 7, in which said radially compressible gripping portions and said enlarged shoulder portions are forced into a radially compressed condition at the interface of contact with the tray aperture during insertion, whereby installation and subsequent removal is facilitated.