Abstract:
A structure and method for molding crushed or chipped ice to hold a number of sample containers comprised of spikes in the shape of a desired container, a flat surface to level the crushed or chipped ice, and a handle for easy removal from ice. Pressing into and then removing the invention from crushed or chipped ice results in an imprint of the spikes and flat surface. The pits formed in the ice by the spikes can be used to hold sample containers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to the fields of biology and chemistry where a number of sample containers need to be kept on ice in an organized fashion. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In the field of biological or chemical sciences there is often a need to maintain the temperature of a sample close to 0° C. To accomplish this, containers of various shapes and sizes (e.g. test tubes, beakers, etc.) which contain the samples are manually forced into crushed or chipped ice. The chipped or crushed ice stably keeps the temperature of a sample just above freezing for long periods of time. However, in the process of forcing a container into crushed ice, several undesired things can happen. First, loose pieces of ice can be dislodged and fall into open containers. Second, containers tend to enter the ice on an axis which is not perfectly vertical, potentially causing spillage and taking up more space than necessary. Third, large numbers of samples are difficult to organize, which can cause confusion about sample identity and mistakes. Fourth, very small containers, which can be as small as a single piece of crushed ice, are easily buried. 
         [0005]    Alternative methods for keeping samples close to the freezing point have been developed. These include frozen, fluid filled or solid blocks, fashioned with slots or holes that accept containers of specific sizes. This method has several drawbacks. First, the total number of samples held is pre-determined by the number of available positions (i.e. it is possible to run out of space). Second, once the block has warmed it must be cooled in a freezer, which may take several hours. Third, the frozen block needs to be of significant size in order not to warm too rapidly. This uses up valuable space in a freezer. 
         [0006]    Another alternative method for keeping samples organized and cold involves a thin flat piece of foamed plastic which contains holes and is laid on top of a bed of crushed ice. Containers are pushed through the holes into the crushed ice on the other side. This method has one of the previous drawbacks: it predetermines the number of samples which can be held at one time. Another drawback is that the container is held by the foam, so the container could be held above the ice, rather than in it, causing inadequate cooling. Finally, removing a tube from the foam sheet requires the use of two hands. One hand is used to pull out the tube and the other to hold the foam sheet down so as not to dislodge all remaining tubes from the ice. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of this invention to keep biological or chemical samples cooled in crushed or chipped ice while at the same time minimizing effort and maintaining sample organization. 
         [0008]    The structure of this invention is a mold with a hard flat surface, to which are attached multiple vertical spikes arranged in a grid pattern. Each spike has the approximate shape and size of the containers which will hold samples (for example, with the shape of a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube). The spiked side of the mold is then driven down into a container of crushed or chipped ice, forcing the ice to take the shape of the mold. At the same time, the hard flat surface to which the spikes are attached forces loose pieces of ice to form a flat uniform surface. A handle on the top of mold can then be used to remove it from the ice. The result is that the surface of the crushed ice is molded into a flat surface containing pits, into which sample containers fit perfectly. 
         [0009]    This overcomes the problems of using crushed ice alone as described earlier. First, after being molded, the crushed ice does not have any loose pieces which can fall into open containers. Second, the invention optimizes space by making a uniform pattern of pits for sample containers to sit in. Third, the uniform pattern of pits facilitates organization of sample containers. And lastly, with a uniform flat surface between the pits, small containers are not easily buried. 
         [0010]    This invention also overcomes the disadvantages of using frozen blocks and foam covers. First, there is no limit to the number of samples held. The invention can be used in multiple places in a single container of crushed ice, creating multiple zones of organized pits for samples. Second, the invention does not ever have to be frozen. This saves freezer space by eliminating the need for frozen blocks. Third, crushed ice is normally always available, and there is no need to wait for a sample block to refreeze after thawing. Fourth, a container sitting in a molded pit is completely in contact with ice, ensuring even cooling. And finally, the containers sitting in the molded ice pits can be easily placed and removed with one hand. 
         [0011]    The preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes spikes of the shape and size of a standard 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube, however, the invention is not limited by any particular shape or size. Any shaped or sized spikes can be obviously substituted, as well as any shaped or sized flat surface. The number of spikes contained on the flat surface can be obviously changed to accommodate the need for a greater or lesser number of pits. The grid pattern created in the ice by the mold can obviously be modified to any kind of pattern. The design of the invention is so simple that it can be made from a wide range of material (e.g. plastic or metal). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the invention from the side and slightly above. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the invention from below and on an angle. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the invention from above and on an angle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the invention from directly below. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the invention from directly above. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of this invention showing the handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and the spikes  14 . The invention would be used by firmly pressing the spikes  14  into crushed or chipped ice until the ice reaches the flat surface  12 . The invention would then be removed by grasping the handle  10  and pulling the invention out of the ice. The pits made in the ice by the spikes  14  will be the approximate the size of the spikes  14 . In this embodiment the spikes  14  would make a pit approximately the size of a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The grid pattern of the spikes  14  would form a grid of pits in the crushed ice. In this embodiment spikes  14  are lined in a four by four grid pattern, totaling sixteen spikes  14 . When the flat surface  12  reaches the crushed ice it will force the surface of the ice to flatten. Upon removal of the invention from the ice, the ice surface would be flat. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as in  FIG. 1 , however, the view is from the side and above. The handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is seen from below and slightly rotated. The flat surface  12  and spikes  14  can be seen with this view. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is from above and slightly rotated. The handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is from directly beneath the invention. The flat surface  12  and the spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, the view is from directly above the invention. The handle  10  and flat surface  12  can be seen. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0025]    This invention relates to the fields of biology and chemistry where a number of sample containers need to be kept on ice in an organized fashion. 
         [0026]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0027]    In the field of biological or chemical sciences there is often a need to maintain the temperature of a sample close to 0° C. To accomplish this, containers of various shapes and sizes (e.g. test tubes, beakers, etc.) which contain the samples are manually forced into crushed or chipped ice. The chipped or crushed ice stably keeps the temperature of a sample just above freezing for long periods of time. However, in the process of forcing a container into crushed ice, several undesired things can happen. First, loose pieces of ice can be dislodged and fall into open containers. Second, containers tend to enter the ice on an axis which is not perfectly vertical, potentially causing spillage and taking up more space than necessary. Third, large numbers of samples are difficult to organize, which can cause confusion about sample identity and mistakes. Fourth, very small containers, which can be as small as a single piece of crushed ice, are easily buried. 
         [0028]    Alternative methods for keeping samples close to the freezing point have been developed. These include frozen, fluid filled or solid blocks, fashioned with slots or holes that accept containers of specific sizes. This method has several drawbacks. First, the total number of samples held is pre-determined by the number of available positions (i.e. it is possible to run out of space). Second, once the block has warmed it must be cooled in a freezer, which may take several hours. Third, the frozen block needs to be of significant size in order not to warm too rapidly. This uses up valuable space in a freezer. 
         [0029]    Another alternative method for keeping samples organized and cold involves a thin flat piece of foamed plastic which contains holes and is laid on top of a bed of crushed ice. Containers are pushed through the holes into the crushed ice on the other side. This method has one of the previous drawbacks: it predetermines the number of samples which can be held at one time. Another drawback is that the container is held by the foam, so the container could be held above the ice, rather than in it, causing inadequate cooling. Finally, removing a tube from the foam sheet requires the use of two hands. One hand is used to pull out the tube and the other to hold the foam sheet down so as not to dislodge all remaining tubes from the ice. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    It is the object of this invention to keep biological or chemical samples cooled in crushed or chipped ice while at the same time minimizing effort and maintaining sample organization. 
         [0031]    The structure of this invention is a mold with a hard flat surface, to which are attached multiple vertical spikes arranged in a grid pattern. Each spike has the approximate shape and size of the containers which will hold samples (for example, with the shape of a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube). The spiked side of the mold is then driven down into a container of crushed or chipped ice, forcing the ice to take the shape of the mold. At the same time, the hard flat surface to which the spikes are attached forces loose pieces of ice to form a flat uniform surface. 
         [0032]    A handle on the top of mold can then be used to remove it from the ice. The result is that the surface of the crushed ice is molded into a flat surface containing pits, into which sample containers fit perfectly. 
         [0033]    This overcomes the problems of using crushed ice alone as described earlier. First, after being molded, the crushed ice does not have any loose pieces which can fall into open containers. Second, the invention optimizes space by making a uniform pattern of pits for sample containers to sit in. Third, the uniform pattern of pits facilitates organization of sample containers. And lastly, with a uniform flat surface between the pits, small containers are not easily buried. 
         [0034]    This invention also overcomes the disadvantages of using frozen blocks and foam covers. First, there is no limit to the number of samples held. The invention can be used in multiple places in a single container of crushed ice, creating multiple zones of organized pits for samples. Second, the invention does not ever have to be frozen. This saves freezer space by eliminating the need for frozen blocks. Third, crushed ice is normally always available, and there is no need to wait for a sample block to refreeze after thawing. Fourth, a container sitting in a molded pit is completely in contact with ice, ensuring even cooling. And finally, the containers sitting in the molded ice pits can be easily placed and removed with one hand. 
         [0035]    The preferred embodiment of this invention utilizes spikes of the shape and size of a standard 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube, however, the invention is not limited by any particular shape or size. Any shaped or sized spikes can be obviously substituted, as well as any shaped or sized flat surface. The number of spikes contained on the flat surface can be obviously changed to accommodate the need for a greater or lesser number of pits. The grid pattern created in the ice by the mold can obviously be modified to any kind of pattern. The design of the invention is so simple that it can be made from a wide range of material (e.g. plastic or metal). 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the invention. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the invention from the side and slightly above. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the invention from below and on an angle. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the invention from above and on an angle. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the invention from directly below. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of the invention from directly above. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of this invention showing the handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and the spikes  14 . The invention would be used by firmly pressing the spikes  14  into crushed or chipped ice until the ice reaches the flat surface  12 . The invention would then be removed by grasping the handle  10  and pulling the invention out of the ice. The pits made in the ice by the spikes  14  will be the approximate the size of the spikes  14 . In this embodiment the spikes  14  would make a pit approximately the size of a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The grid pattern of the spikes  14  would form a grid of pits in the crushed ice. In this embodiment spikes  14  are lined in a four by four grid pattern, totaling sixteen spikes  14 . When the flat surface  12  reaches the crushed ice it will force the surface of the ice to flatten. Upon removal of the invention from the ice, the ice surface would be flat. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as in  FIG. 1 , however, the view is from the side and above. The handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is seen from below and slightly rotated. The flat surface  12  and spikes  14  can be seen with this view. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is from above and slightly rotated. The handle  10 , the flat surface  12 , and spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, this view is from directly beneath the invention. The flat surface  12  and the spikes  14  can be seen. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates the same preferred embodiment as seen in  FIG. 1 , however, the view is from directly above the invention. The handle  10  and flat surface  12  can be seen.