Device for disinfecting medical instruments

Claim 1

A device for disinfecting medical instruments comprising: a tub with a rectangular bottom, a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of end walls shorter than the sidewalls, said tub receiving a disinfecting fluid and having a perpheral flange with an upwardly extending edge; a perforated basket having a rectangular bottom, a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of end walls shorter than the sidewalls said basket having a peripheral flange with an upturned edge, said basket being dimensioned to fit within said tub and to receive said instruments therein; a lid having a peripheral rim; and means for supporting the perforated basket in said tub above a fluid level therein, said means for supporting comprising at least four coacting pairs of projections with each pair including an inwardly directed projection on an inner surface of the sidewall of said tub and an external projection on an outer surface of the sidewall of the basket, said tub having an internal length greater than the external length of said basket by at least the width of said projection, said basket being movable in said tub from a first position with one end wall of the basket engaging one end wall of the tub and the projections of each pair being aligned and arranged with each other to hold the basket above a fluid level in the tub to allow the instruments to be drained and a second position with the other end wall of the basket engaging the opposite end wall of the tub and the projections of each pair being out of alignment and engagement with each other to allow the basket with the instruments to be immersed in the fluid of the tub with the flange of the basket resting on the flange of the tub, said lid closing said tub with the rim received on the flange of the tub and surrounding the upturned edge of the flange of the basket.

Claim 2

A device for disinfecting medical instruments comprising: a tub with a rectangular bottom, a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of end walls shorter than the sidewalls, said tub receiving a disinfecting fluid and having a perpheral flange with an upwardly extending edge; a perforated basket having a rectangular bottom, a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of end walls shorter than the sidewalls said basket having a peripheral flange with an upturned edge, said basket being dimensioned to fit within said tub and to receive said instruments therein; a lid having a peripheral rim; and means for supporting the perforated basket in said tub above a fluid level therein, said means for supporting comprising at least four coacting pairs of projections with each pair including an inwardly directed projection on an inner surface of the sidewall of said tub and an external projection on an outer surface of the sidewall of the basket, said tub having an internal length greater than the external length of said basket by at least the width of said projection, said basket being movable in said tub from a first position with one end wall of the basket engaging one end wall of the tub and the projections of each pair being aligned and arranged with each other to hold the basket above a fluid level in the tub to allow the instruments to be drained and a second position with the other end wall of the basket engaging the opposite end wall of the tub and the projections of each pair being out of alignment and engagement with each other to allow the basket with the instruments to be immersed in the fluid of the tub with the flange of the basket resting on the flange of the tub, said lid closing said tub with the rim received on the flange of the tub and surrounding the upturned edge of the flange of the basket.