Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Process – Treating hollow article
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-04-10
Gravini, Stephen (Department: 3744)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Process
Treating hollow article
C034S107000, C034S239000, C034S106000, C034S442000, C211S071010, C211S085290
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212793
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for drying and storing laboratory containers such as beakers, flasks, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
In laboratory applications, the introduction of contaminants onto inner surfaces of containers (e.g., beakers, flasks, etc.) during drying and storing of the containers is a problem. Contaminants include liquids and solids on countertop surfaces and particulates in the air. For example, integrated circuits being prepared for scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis are dipped in a mixture of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and water (H
2
O). A plastic beaker is typically used to hold the HF—H
2
O mixture. The beaker has a flat bottom surface and an opening in an upper portion surrounded by a lip. After use, the beaker is washed and rinsed. When the beaker is allowed to air dry by placing it right side up on a countertop surface such that the bottom rests on the surface, particulates in the surrounding air may fall into the beaker and cling to the inner surfaces. When the beaker is allowed to air dry by placing it upside down on the countertop surface such that the lip rests on the surface, liquids and solids on the surface may cling to the lip. Inverting the beaker and placing it over a vertical arm of a conventional drying rack allows substances on the surface of the arm to cling to the inner surfaces of the beaker.
Conventional shelves and available drying and storage racks do not significantly reduce the contamination problem. It would thus be desirable to have an apparatus and method for drying and storing laboratory containers which significantly reduce the introduction of contaminants into the containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problems outlined above are in large part solved by an apparatus and method for drying and storing laboratory containers which significantly reduce the introduction of contaminants into the containers. A laboratory container system in accordance with the present invention includes one or more containers and a rack for holding the containers in an inverted position. Each container has a base portion, a column portion, and a receptacle portion. The receptacle portion includes an upper portion having an opening surrounded by a lip. The column portion is connected between the base portion and a bottom portion of the receptacle portion. Each container may be one of several different types of laboratory containers, including various forms of beakers and flasks.
In one embodiment, the rack includes first and second flat members separated by several spacers. The spacers form channels within the rack into which the base portions of the containers are inserted. The first flat member has substantially parallel front and back surfaces, and has several slots extending from the front surface toward the back surface. Each slot has a pair of substantially parallel sides essentially forming elongated members. The sides of each slot are spaced apart to allow passage of the column portion of a container therebetween. The rack may be mounted such that the flat members are substantially horizontal.
A lateral (i.e., cross sectional) dimension of the base portion of each container is greater than a lateral dimension of the column portion. During use of the laboratory container system, a container is inverted, and the column portion of the container is inserted between the sides of a slot in the rack. The spacing between the sides of the slot is not sufficient to allow the base portion to pass therebetween. As a result, the base portion of the container contacts an upper portion of both sides of the slot, and the container is suspended from the rack by the base portion in an inverted position. This inverted orientation of the container significantly reduces the introduction of contaminants into the receptacle portion.
An apparatus for drying and storing laboratory containers in accordance with the present invention includes one or more base members, a corresponding number of means for attaching the base members to the laboratory containers (e.g., suction cups), and the rack described above for holding the base members in an inverted position. Each container may be a commercially available laboratory container, including various forms of beakers and flasks. Each container has an opening in an upper portion surrounded by a lip. A suction cup may be connected to a base member and used to removably attach the base member to a bottom surface of a container.
The sides of each slot of the first flat member (i.e., the elongated members) are spaced apart to allow passage of the suction cups therebetween. A lateral dimension of each base members is greater than a lateral dimension of the corresponding suction cup. During use of the apparatus, the bottom surface of a container is removably attached to a base member using the suction cup connected thereto. The container and the attached base member are inverted, and the suction cup is inserted between the sides of a slot in the rack. The spacing between the sides of the slot is not sufficient to allow the base member to pass therebetween. As a result, the base member contacts an upper portion of both sides of the slot, and the container is suspended from the rack in an inverted position.
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patent: 5740928 (1998-04-01), Dale et al.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Conley & Rose & Tayon P.C.
Daffer Kevin L.
Gravini Stephen
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