Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2001-08-14
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C422S063000, C422S065000, C422S066000, C422S091000, C422S105000, C436S047000, C206S443000, C211S060100, C211S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274092
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a test tube holder for use in carrying a test tube in which a specimen such as blood is put from point A to point B in order to sample or dispense the specimen.
Conventionally a so-called cylindrical rack has been used a lot as the above test tube holder. The cylindrical rack has a hollow for receiving and holding a test tube along the axis of a columnar substrate made of synthetic resin.
A ring-shaped engagement groove is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical rack. When the rack is conveyed by a conveyor belt, the groove is engaged with guide rails of the conveyor belt.
The above conventional conveyor cylindrical rack or the test tube holder is so designed that the size of the hollow conforms to that of a specific test tube. For this reason, the conventional holder cannot be applied to test tubes whose sizes (especially outside diameters) are different from that of the specific test tube.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a general-purpose test tube holder which is applicable to a plurality of test tubes having different outside diameters.
To attain the above object, the test tube holder according to the present invention has the following features in constitution. The other features will be clarified in the Description of the Invention.
A test tube holder comprising:
a holder body including:
a cylindrical body having a cylindrical hollow formed to a given depth from a top to a bottom along an axis of the holder body and designed to hold a test tube,
a tightening ring mounting small-diameter section formed on an outer surface and near the top of the cylindrical body, and
an engagement section formed on the outer surface and near the bottom of the cylindrical body and engaged with a guide rail for conveyance;
a plurality of slits cut in the cylindrical body to a given depth from the top toward the bottom in parallel with the axis of the holder body;
a plurality of flat springs one end of each of which is inserted into and supported by a corresponding one of the plurality of slits and the other end of each of which is provided with a displacement force so as to approach the axis of the holder body; and
a tightening ring fitted on an outer surface of the small-diameter section of the cylindrical body so as to compress and hold the one end of each of the plurality of flat springs by narrowing a space between the slits into which the flat springs are inserted.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
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Handy Dwayne K
Volpe and Koenig P.C.
Warden Jill
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