Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-10-30
Reifsnyder, David A. (Department: 1723)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing liquid or solid sample
C210S360100, C494S016000, C081S003550
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309603
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method which enables a technician to hold a microcentrifuge tube in one hand, and to open and close the cap without requiring a second hand. The present invention also relates to a single apparatus and method which will open and close a plurality of different size tube caps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Microcentrifuge tubes are commonly used for a wide variety of tests which require only small amounts of test fluid. Microcentrifuge tubes typically have a hinged snap cap such as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. Due to its very small size, grasping a microcentrifuge tube, and opening or closing its tightly-fitting snap cap, is difficult, especially for a technician having larger than average hands.
During research or testing, a technician typically opens and closes each microcentrifuge tube several times per experiment to add or subtract fluid from the microcentrifuge tube. It is also common for a laboratory or research technician to handle hundreds of microcentrifuge tubes each day. The cumulative effect of repeatedly opening and closing the snap cap of hundreds of microcentrifuge tubes in a single day is often fatigue or injury to the technician. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus for opening and closing the cap of a microcentrifuge tube to reduce fatigue or injury to the technician.
Microcentrifuge tubes are provided in a plurality of sizes, each of which has a different size cap. It is common for a technician to handle concurrently a wide range of different size microcentrifuge tubes. Therefore, it would also be desirable to provide a single apparatus which will open and close a plurality of different size microcentrifuge tubes.
During testing or experimentation, a technician routinely opens a microcentrifuge tube, meters fluid to or from the tube using a pipette gun, and then closes the tube for subsequent centrifuging. To manually open the snap cap of a microcentrifuge tube, a technician must grasp the tube with a first hand and prye open the cap with a second hand. To meter fluid to or from the microcentrifuge tube, the technician holds the tube in a first hand and holds the pipette gun in a second hand. Each time the tube is opened or closed using the above-described two-hand manual operation, the technician must set the pipette gun down on the laboratory bench. The cumulative effect of the added step of repeatedly picking up and setting down the pipette gun in order to open and then close hundreds of microcentrifuge tubes in a single day further adds to the fatigue or injury to the technician. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus which enables a technician to hold the microcentrifuge tube in one hand, and to open and close the cap of the tube without requiring a second hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for opening and closing the cap of a microcentrifuge tube to reduce fatigue or injury to the technician. The apparatus will open and close a plurality of different size microcentrifuge tubes. The apparatus enables a technician to hold the microcentrifuge tube in one hand, and to open and close the cap of the tube without requiring a second hand.
A first embodiment of the invention enables a technician to open and close a cap having a diameter D. The single-hand apparatus of the present invention has an elongate base having first and second end surfaces. A plurality of side surfaces extend intermediate the end surfaces. The base preferably comprises an elongate bar having a square cross section.
The base may also have a two-part construction. In this embodiment, the two base is split into two pivotally-connected halves.
A first cylindrical bore is located proximate the first end surface and extends through the base transverse to the lengthwise axis. The first cylindrical bore has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the upright support rod of a laboratory stand. The base also includes a threaded bore extending from the first end surface to the first cylindrical bore. The threaded bore is constructed to receive a thumb screw which tightens onto the support rod. If it is desired to mount the opener on a horizontally-extending support rod, the opener may include a second cylindrical bore extending through the base transverse to the first bore and the lengthwise axis.
A notch is formed in the base proximate the second end surface. The notch has a horizontal surface extending a distance “Y” generally-parallel to the lengthwise axis, and a vertical surface extending a distance “X” generally-parallel to the end surfaces.
A race is formed in the horizontal notch surface and extends from the second end surface a distance “Z” which is greater than “Y”. The race has a uniform width “WR
1
” slightly larger than the diameter of the cap of the micro-centrifuge tube.
A pocket is contiguously formed with the end of the race proximate the intersection of the horizontal and vertical notch surfaces. The pocket has a length “LP
1
” which is equal to “Z” minus “Y” and a width “WP”. The pocket length “LP
1
” is approximately equal to or greater than the length of the cap lip.
The present invention also provides a single-hand apparatus for opening two different size caps. The opener has an elongate base, means on the first end for mounting the base on a laboratory ring stand, first means on the second end for releasably holding the first size cap without holding the tube, and second means on the second end for releasably holding the second size cap without holding the tube.
The first holding means comprises a notch in the base proximate the second end surface. The notch has a horizontal surface extending a distance “Y” generally-parallel to the lengthwise axis, and a vertical surface extending a distance “X” generally-parallel to the end surfaces. A first race is formed in the horizontal notch surface and extends from the second end surface a distance “Z
1
” which is greater than “Y”. The first race has a width “WR
1
” slightly larger than the diameter D
1
of the first size cap.
A first pocket is contiguously formed with the race proximate the intersection of the horizontal and vertical notch surfaces. The pocket has a length “LP
1
” which is equal to “Z” minus “Y” and a width “WP”. The first pocket length “LP
1
” is approximately equal to or greater than the length of the lip of the first size cap.
The second holding means comprises a second race formed in the first race. The second race extends from the second end surface a distance “Z
2
” which is less than “Y”. The second race has a width “WR
1
” slightly larger than the diameter D
2
of the second size cap. A groove extends lengthwise down the center of the second race.
A second pocket is contiguously formed with the end of the second race intermediate the horizontal notch surface. The second pocket has a length “LP
2
” which is approximately equal to or greater than the length of the lip of the second size cap.
The present invention also provides a single-hand apparatus for opening any size cap within a specified size range. In this embodiment, a notch is formed in the base proximate the second end surface. The notch has a horizontal surface extending a distance “Y” generally-parallel to the lengthwise axis, and a vertical surface extending a distance “X” generally-parallel to the end surfaces.
A single race is formed in the horizontal notch surface. The single race extends and converges in width from the second end surface to the vertical notch surface. The race has a planar bottom surface and side walls generally perpendicular to the bottom surface. One of the race side walls extends parallel to the lengthwise axis. The other race sidewall extends transverse to the lengthwise axis.
An undercut grove is formed in one of the side walls of the race. The undercut groove extends from the second end surface to the vertical notch surface.
The undercut groove is formed in the transverse extending race sidewall. The undercut groove is coplanar with the bottom surface of the race. T
Drummond Scientific Company
Earley John F. A.
Harding Earley Follmer & Frailey
Konieczny Joseph M.
Reifsnyder David A.
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