Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An array of slide assemblies comprising: (a) a plurality of vertically-extending slides, each having a vertically-extending face and a lower edge, (b) a plurality of vertically-extending cover members, each having a vertically-extending face and a lower edge, each face of a vertically-extending slide being spaced by a first distance less than 0.5 mm from a face of an adjacent vertically-extending cover member, each slide and adjacent cover member together comprising a slide assembly, and (c) engagement means for holding the slide assemblies of vertically-extending slides and vertically-extending cover members adjacent to their upper ends in a fixed array with the lower edge of each slide extending horizontally and being spaced from a substantially parallel horizontally-extending lower edge of the adjacent cover member of the same slide assembly by the first distance, the space between the adjacent horizontally-extending lower edges of a slide assembly being open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An array of slide assemblies comprising: (a) a plurality of vertically-extending slides, each having a vertically-extending face and a lower edge, (b) a plurality of vertically-extending cover members, each having a vertically-extending face and a lower edge, each face of a vertically-extending slide being spaced by a first distance less than 0.5 mm from a face of an adjacent vertically-extending cover member, each slide and adjacent cover member together comprising a slide assembly, and (c) engagement means for holding the slide assemblies of vertically-extending slides and vertically-extending cover members adjacent to their upper ends in a fixed array with the lower edge of each slide extending horizontally and being spaced from a substantially parallel horizontally-extending lower edge of the adjacent cover member of the same slide assembly by the first distance, the space between the adjacent horizontally-extending lower edges of a slide assembly being open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The array of claim 1 wherein the first distance is between about 50 and about 500 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The array of claim 1 wherein a coating on an upper portion of the substantially parallel face of the cover member of each slide assembly contacts an upper portion of the vertically-extending face of the slide of that slide assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The array of claim 1 wherein a first coating is provided on an upper portion of the substantially parallel face of the cover member of each slide assembly, a second coating is provided on an upper portion of the vertically-extending face of the slide of that slide assembly and each first coating is in contact with the adjacent second coating to define the first distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 1 wherein the first distance is about 100 to about 250 miccrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The array of claim 5 wherein the first distance is about 150 to about 200 micrometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The array of claim 1 wherein the engagement means comprises a plurality of downwardly opening slots and wherein a horizontal upper end of each slide assembly is inserted in one of the downwardly opening slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The array of claim 7 wherein a first plurality of the downwardly opening slots are arranged in a horizontal row in the engagement means, and a first plurality of slide assemblies are inserted in the first plurality of slots, each lower edge of each slide and cover member of the first plurality of slide assemblies extending horizontally parallel to each other lower edge of the first plurality of slide assemblies and being arranged in a row extending horizontally normal to each lower edge of the first plurality of slide assemblies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
The array of claim 8 wherein the engagement means further comprises a second plurality of the downwardly opening slots, each lower edge of each slide and cover member of the second plurality of slide assemblies extending horizontally parallel to each other lower edge of the second plurality of slide assemblies and being arranged in a row extending horizontally normal to each lower edge of the second plurality of slide assemblies and extending horizontally parallel to the row of the first plurality of slide assemblies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The array of claim 1 wherein a shim of the thickness of the first distance is between the upper end of each vertically-extending slide and the upper end of each vertically-extending cover member of a slide assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The array of claim 10 wherein the shim is sandwiched between the slide and the cover member of a slide assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The array of claim 10 wherein the shim of each slide assembly is attached to the cover member of that slide assembly.