Patent US3153773A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US6640981B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Modular test tube rack

Assignee: 3088081 Canada Inc
•
Filing: 2001-08-14
•
Granted: 2003-11-04
•
Expires: 2021-08-14
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A modular test tube rack for assembly with similarly constructed racks comprise a flat rectangular body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from its top wall to its bottom wall and adapt to receive tubes therein. A pair of handles vertically extend at opposite end walls of the body, each handle having a lower portion adapted to tightly engage an extension on each end wall and a hand gripping upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom edge configured to anchor with the top edge of the handle of an underposed similarly constructed rack to thereby enable a stacking of two more of these racks. In one embodiment, the body displays a second series of wells extending from the bottom wall to the top wall whereby the body, when in a second position reversed relative to the first position, may also receive test tubes, the handles being reversably mountable to the end wall extension to still enable a stacking of racks in the second position.

Inventors

  • 👤 André Lafond
  • 👤 Yanick Bertin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 18:59
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L9/00; B01L9/06; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/02; B01L2200/025; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/02; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 152 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a first series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 152 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a first series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 79 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1 , wherein said body displays, a second series of wells extending from said bottom wall in a direction towards said top wall whereby, when said body is inverted to a second position inversed relative to said first position, it may receive other test tubes therein; said handles being reversibly mountable to said extensions so as to enable a stacking of racks when said body is in said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 2 , wherein said wells of said second series have a size smaller than that of said wells of the first series; said wells of said second series being located in said body adjacent said wells of said first series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 56 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 3 , wherein said wells of said first and second series are respectively arranged in rows and columns in said top wall and in said bottom wall; the number of wells extending from said top wall differing from the number of wells extending from said bottom wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 76 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 2 , further comprising a cover having a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said side walls and end walls of said cover having lower edges adapted to rest on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said first position and on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 5 , wherein said top wall of said cover displays at least one protuberance having a shape adapted to be received in a correspondingly located well entrance in said bottom wall of said body so as to allow a stack formation of covered racks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 5 , wherein said cover is made of transparent material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1 , wherein said opposite side walls of said body displays dowel receiving slots; further comprising dowels in said slots so as to form an array of juxtaposed dowel interconnected racks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 8 , wherein said dowels are made of plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1 , wherein said body and said handles are made of plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1 , wherein said side walls of said body display an information receiving area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 1 , wherein said wells include two areas of different inner diameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 340 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks; a cover having a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said side walls and end walls of said cover having lower edges adapted to rest on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said first position and on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said second position; wherein said body displays, a second series of wells extending from said bottom wall to said top wall whereby, when said body is inverted to a second position inversed relative to said first position, it may receive other test tubes therein; said handles being reversibly mountable to said extensions so as to enable a stacking of racks when said body is in said second position, said top wall of said cover displays at least one protuberance having a shape adapted to be received in a correspondingly located well entrance in said bottom wall of said body so as to allow a stack formation of covered racks; and said cover comprises a pair of said protuberances at diagonally opposite corners of said top wall of said cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 340 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks; a cover having a top wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said side walls and end walls of said cover having lower edges adapted to rest on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said first position and on corresponding edges of said side walls and end walls of said body in said second position; wherein said body displays, a second series of wells extending from said bottom wall to said top wall whereby, when said body is inverted to a second position inversed relative to said first position, it may receive other test tubes therein; said handles being reversibly mountable to said extensions so as to enable a stacking of racks when said body is in said second position, said top wall of said cover displays at least one protuberance having a shape adapted to be received in a correspondingly located well entrance in said bottom wall of said body so as to allow a stack formation of covered racks; and said cover comprises a pair of said protuberances at diagonally opposite corners of said top wall of said cover.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13 , wherein said cover is made of transparent material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 40 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13 , wherein said opposite side walls of said body displays dowel receiving slots; further comprising dowels in said slots so as to form an array of jaxtaposed dowel interconnected racks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13 , wherein said side walls of said body display an information receiving area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
A modular test tube rack as defined in claim 13 , wherein said walls include two areas of different inner diameters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 187 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks, wherein said extension of said end wall has a rectangular shape and wherein said lower portion of said handles displays a rectangular shaped opening to receive said rectangular extension of said end wall of said rack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 187 words
A modular test tube rack for stacking assembly with similarly constructed racks comprising: a flat rectangular body having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite side walls and opposite end walls; said body displaying, in a first position, a series of wells extending from said top wall in a direction towards said bottom wall and adapted to receive tubes therein; each said end wall displaying a handle engaging extension; a pair of handles respectively mounted at said opposite end walls; each said handle having a lower portion engaging with said extension of said end wall and a hand gripping upper portion displaying a top edge extending above said top wall of said body; said lower portion of said handles having a bottom edge so shaped as to anchor with the top edge of an underposed similarly constructed rack thereby enabling a vertically spaced stacking of two or more of said racks, wherein said extension of said end wall has a rectangular shape and wherein said lower portion of said handles displays a rectangular shaped opening to receive said rectangular extension of said end wall of said rack.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-11-03 2007-05-05 2007-11-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-11-03 2011-05-05 2011-11-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-11-03 2015-05-05 2015-11-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag