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US5056427A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sealing of cavity on reagent tray

Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1990-03-14
•
Granted: 1991-10-15
•
Expires: 2010-03-14
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Abstract

Abstract A thermal reaction apparatus for sealing liquid within cavities includes a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid. The cavities have openings arranged at varying levels in thickness direction of the tray. A planar sealing member is disposed on the tray to cover the openings and is comprised of a pair of flexible sheets and viscous fluid filled between the flexible sheets. A pressure plate is disposed on the planar sealing member for applying thereto pressure effective to locally flow the viscous fluid to enable the sealing member to seal the varying levels of the cavity openings to thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities. Alternatively, the elastic sealing member is comprised of an elastic sheet and projections arranged in registration with the respective cavities, and the pressure plate is disposed in contact with the projections for applying there to pressure effective to deform locally the sealing member through the projections to enable the sealing member to fittably seal the cavity openings. Or, the pressure plate may have projections, instead of the sealing member, in contact with the planar sealing member in registration to the respective cavities.

Inventors

  • 👤 Munechika Sakabe
  • 👤 Osamu Segawa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 08:16
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/508; B01L3/5085; B01L3/50851; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/16; B01L3/50853; B01L7/00; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/06; B01L2200/0689; B01L2200/14; B01L2200/142

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for sealing liquid within cavities, comprising: a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid; the cavities having openings arranged at varying levels in the thickness direction of the tray; an elastic sealing member disposed on the tray to cover the openings, the sealing member having thereon projections arranged in registration with the respective cavities; and a pressure plate disposed on the sealing member in contact with the projections for applying thereto pressure effective to deform locally the sealing member through the projections to enable the sealing member to fittably seal the varying levels of the cavity openings the thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for sealing liquid within cavities, comprising: a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid; the cavities having openings arranged at varying levels in the thickness direction of the tray; an elastic sealing member disposed on the tray to cover the openings, the sealing member having thereon projections arranged in registration with the respective cavities; and a pressure plate disposed on the sealing member in contact with the projections for applying thereto pressure effective to deform locally the sealing member through the projections to enable the sealing member to fittably seal the varying levels of the cavity openings the thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 117 words
An apparatus for sealing liquid cavities, comprising: a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid, the cavities having openings arranged at varying levels in the thickness direction of the tray; a planar sealing member composed of elastic material and disposed on the tray to cover the openings; and a pressure plate disposed on the planar sealing member and having projections in contact with the planar sealing member in registration with the respective cavities for applying to the sealing member pressure effective to deform locally the elastic sealing member through the projections to enable the sealing member to fittably seal the varying levels of the cavity openings to thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 117 words
An apparatus for sealing liquid cavities, comprising: a tray having cavities for storing therein liquid, the cavities having openings arranged at varying levels in the thickness direction of the tray; a planar sealing member composed of elastic material and disposed on the tray to cover the openings; and a pressure plate disposed on the planar sealing member and having projections in contact with the planar sealing member in registration with the respective cavities for applying to the sealing member pressure effective to deform locally the elastic sealing member through the projections to enable the sealing member to fittably seal the varying levels of the cavity openings to thereby prevent evaporation of the liquid stored in the cavities.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2356225A Cited
US2519661A Cited
US2691935A Cited
US4156589A Cited
US4734155A Cited
US4826593A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-14 1995-04-15 1995-10-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-14 1999-04-15 1999-10-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-14 2003-04-15 2003-10-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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