Patent Number: 061817724
Section: claims

1. A one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure for protectively housing an X-ray cassette therein, the grid structure comprising: (a) a flat top panel forming a base for the grid structure;  (b) the flat top panel having a size adapted to support the X-ray cassette;  (c) the flat top panel having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side;  (d) the first side including a first U-shaped member;  (e) the second side including a second U-shaped member;  (f) the third side including a third U-shaped member;  (g) the one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure having at least one open corner; and  (h) the first U-shaped member, the second U-shaped member, and the third-shaped member cooperating with the flat panel in order to provide a support for an X-ray cassette.  (a) the first U-shaped member being formed with a first elongated member and a first bottom edge in combination with the top panel;  (b) the second U-shaped member being formed with a second elongated member and a second bottom edge in combination with the top panel; and  (c) the third U-shaped member being formed with a third elongated member and a third bottom edge in combination with the top panel.  (a) a first open corner being between the first U-shaped member and the second U-shaped member; and  (b) a second open corner being between the second U-shaped member and the third U-shaped member.  (a) a third open corner being oppositely disposed from the first open corner; and  (b) a fourth open corner being oppositely disposed from the second open corner.  (a) a vinyl cover being secured to the top panel;  (b) the vinyl cover having a securing means on the top panel; and  (c) the securing means being at least one means selected from the group consisting of bonding, gluing, and molding the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum.  (a) a vinyl cover being secured to the top panel;  (b) the vinyl cover having a securing means on the top panel; and  (c) the securing means being at least one means selected from the group consisting of bonding, gluing, and molding the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum.  (a) the first U-shaped member being formed with a first elongated member and a first bottom edge in combination with the top panel;  (b) the second U-shaped member being formed with a second elongated member and a second bottom edge in combination with the top panel; and  (c) the third U-shaped member being formed with a third elongated member and a third bottom edge in combination with the top panel.  (a) a first open corner being between the first U-shaped member and the second U-shaped member;  (b) a second open corner being between the second U-shaped member and the third U-shaped member;  (c) a third open corner being oppositely disposed from the first open corner; and  (d) a fourth open corner being oppositely disposed from the second open corner.  (a) a top piece receiving a lower piece;  (b) the top piece being solid;  (c) the lower piece having a central opening; and  (d) the grid structure being adapted to receive the X-ray cassette between the top piece and the lower piece.  (a) the two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure having open corners;  (b) the open corners providing for protection of the X-ray cassette and ease of assembly of the anti-scatter grid structure.  (a) the top piece having four edges;  (b) the top piece having four flanges, one flange at each of the four edges; and  (c) each member of the four flanges being separate one from the other in order to provide the open corners.  (a) the lower piece having four borders;  (b) the lower piece having four flaps, one flap at each of the four borders; and  (c) each of the four flaps corresponding to one of the four flanges in an assembled mode.  (a) a vinyl cover being secured to the top piece;  (b) the vinyl cover having a securing means on the top panel; and  (c) the securing means being at least one means selected from the group consisting of bonding, gluing, and molding the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum.  (a) a vinyl cover being secured to the top piece;  (b) the vinyl cover having a securing means on the top panel; and  (c) the securing means being at least one means selected from the group consisting of bonding, gluing, and molding the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum.  (a) the two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure having open corners;  (b) the open corners providing for protection of the X-ray cassette and ease of assembly of the anti-scatter grid structure.  (a) the top piece having four edges;  (b) the top piece having four flanges, one flange at each of the four edges; and  (c) each member of the four flanges being separate one from the other in order to provide the open corners.  (a) the lower piece having four borders;  (b) the lower piece having four flaps, one flap at each of the four borders; and  (c) each of the four flaps corresponding to one of the four flanges in an assembled mode. 2. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 1 further comprising: 3. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 2 further comprising: 4. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 3 further comprising: 5. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 4 further comprising the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum. 6. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 4 further comprising: 7. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 1 further comprising: 8. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 7 further comprising: 9. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 8 further comprising: 10. The one-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 9 further comprising the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum. 11. A two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure for protectively housing an X-ray cassette therein, the grid structure comprising: 12. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 11 further comprising: 13. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 12 further comprising: 14. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 13 further comprising: 15. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 14 further comprising the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum. 16. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 14 further comprising: 17. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 11 further comprising: 18. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 17 further comprising: 19. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 18 further comprising: 20. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 19 further comprising: 21. The two-piece, protective anti-scatter grid structure of claim 20 further comprising the grid structure being formed of bendable aluminum.