Patent Publication Number: US-2002008045-A1

Title: Microscope slide container

Description:
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/211,233, which was filed on Jun. 12, 2000. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to a container for the handling, transportation and storage of microscope slides and, in particular, to a microscope slide container for removably retaining a plurality of microscope slides in fixed positions within a plurality of slide receiving projections.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Microscope slide containers or folders manufactured of various materials such as cardboard and plastic have been made for many years for the purpose of storing and indexing microscope analyzeable specimen materials supported on a glass microscope slide. In the past, various features were employed in attempts to provide the microscope slide container with advantages. An example of one such feature is a finger recess to aid in the removal of a microscope slide. Other examples include structural elements within the microscope slide receiving compartments to maintain each microscope slide in a fixed position for handling and transport with minimal disturbance of the analyzeable specimen material. With the advent of automated pick-and-place machinery, it is desirable to have a microscope slide container that is adapted for automation and is more efficient than ones requiring the sometimes cumbersome accommodation of human fingers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention is a microscope slide container. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the container comprises a back wall, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls. The side walls and end walls extend from the back wall, and the end walls extend between the side walls. The side walls have a plurality of side ribs. The back wall has a plurality of grippers, each of which include a first grip rib and a second grip rib. The first grip rib has a first grip location capable of firmly gripping one of the slides to prevent the slide from freely moving. The second grip rib has a second grip location capable of firmly gripping one of the slides to prevent the slide from freely moving. The first and second grip ribs have tapered front ends to facilitate reception of the slide between the first and second grip ribs. The first grip rib is capable of flexing away from the second grip rib, and the first grip rib is biased toward the second grip rib such that the first grip rib flexes away from the second grip rib with the application of a force. The container further includes a cover. Additionally, each of the side walls has an outer surface. The outer surface includes a rail, an orientation notch and a circular-shaped projection with a depressed center.  
       [0005] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising a back wall, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls. The side walls and end walls extend from the back wall, and the end walls extend between the side walls. The side walls have a pair of side ribs. The back wall has a first grip rib and a second grip rib. The first grip rib has a first grip location capable of firmly gripping one of the slides to prevent the slide from freely moving. The second grip rib has a second grip location capable of firmly gripping one of the slides to prevent the slide from freely moving. The first and second grip ribs have tapered front ends to facilitate reception of the slide between the first and second grip ribs. The first grip rib is capable of flexing away from the second grip rib. Additionally, the first grip rib is biased toward the second grip rib and flexes away from the second grip rib with the application of a force.  
       [0006] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising a back wall, a pair of opposing side walls and a pair of opposing end walls. The side walls and end walls extend from the back wall, and the end walls extend between the side walls. The side walls have a pair of side ribs and an outer surface. The outer surface of the side wall includes a rail projecting outward. The outer surface also includes an orientation notch and a circular shaped projection with a depressed center.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a front-elevational, partial cross-sectional view of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view along  3 - 3  of FIG. 2 of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is a top view of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view of the back wall of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 7 is a sectional front view of a microscope slide inserted into back wall of the microscope slide container of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view along  8 - 8  of FIG. 7 of the microscope slide container of the present invention; and  
     [0016]FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of a gripper of the microscope slide container of the present invention.  
     [0017] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawing and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0018] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container  10  in accordance with the invention is shown. As illustrated, the container includes a base  12  and a cover  14 . The base  12  and cover  14  define a microscope slide storage chamber  16 .  
     [0019] The base  12  includes a back wall  18 , two opposing and side walls designated generally  20  and  22 , two opposing end walls designated generally  24  and  26 . The side walls  20 ,  22  and the end walls  24 ,  26  extend around the periphery of the back wall  18  defining a generally rectangular shape with the length of the longitudinal side walls  20 ,  22  being greater than the length of the end walls  24 ,  26 . The base  12  may be constituted of any kind of material suitable for storing microscope slides such as thermoplastic or thermosetting solvent-resistant polymeric material such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).  
     [0020] Still referencing FIGS. 1 and 2, side wall  20  includes an outer surface  28  and an inner surface  30 . Side wall  22  includes an outer surface  32  and an inner surface  34 . Focusing now on FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , each of the outer surfaces  28 ,  32  include a pair of rails  36  and  38 , respectively, for interlocking consecutively stacked containers. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the rails  36  projecting from outer surface  28  are spaced farther apart from each other than the rails  38  projecting from outer surface  32  such that a series of covered containers may be vertically stacked on top of one another in a secure arrangement by inserting the closely-spaced rails  38  of one container into the complementary widely-spaced rails  36  of another container. The rails  36  provide camming surfaces for rails  38  and vice versa to create a secured stack of interlocked containers.  
     [0021] The outer surfaces  28  and  32  include a plurality of container orientation notches  40 . These notches allow for the proper orientation and insertion of the container  10  with respect to lab automation equipment. For the removal of microscope slides, the container  10  must be properly oriented to work with loading and unloading apparatuses and the notches  40  are keyed in such a way that the container  10  can be loaded into a specific machine one way. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, at locations adjacent slide count  70 - 75  and  40 - 45 , outer surface  28  does not include notches  40  that are found on outer surface  32 . Additional features for compatibility with lab automation equipment that aid in the loading and orientation of the container  10  include two circular-shaped projections  42  with depressed centers  44  and a rib  46  on each of the outer surfaces  28 ,  32 .  
     [0022] Turning now to the inside of the container  10  and with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the inner surfaces  30 ,  34  of the side walls  20 ,  22  are spaced from each other a distance that generally corresponds to the width of a standard microscope slide, approximately one inch. The inner surfaces  30 ,  34  include a plurality of integrally formed side ribs  48 . Each of the side ribs  48  include a front end  50  and back end  52 . The front ends  50  are tapered for the facilitated reception of microscope slides and are set back from the edge of the side walls  20 ,  22  by a distance of approximately ¼ inch. The length of each side rib  48  is generally the same length of a standard microscope slide, approximately three inches. The back end  52  is integral with the back wall  18 . Consecutive side ribs  48  are vertically spaced apart from each other a distance that generally corresponds to the thickness of a standard microscope slide (approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch) to restrain vertical motion of the microscope slide. The side ribs  48  are also thick enough (approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch) to adequately space the microscope slides away from each other in order to prevent disturbance and smearing of specimen materials supported on the microscope slide.  
     [0023] The cover  14  of the container  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, includes a face  54  interconnected to an encompassing rim  56 . The rim  56  is interconnected with a lip  58 . The rim  56  has a depth that corresponds to the distance with which the front ends  50  of the side ribs  48  are set back from the edge of the side walls  20 ,  22 , approximately ¼ inch. To close the container  10 , the cover  14  is inserted such that the rim  56  forms a friction fit or snap fit engagement with the side walls  20 ,  22  and end walls  24 ,  26 . The cover  14  is in place with the lip  58  resting on the edges of the side walls  20 ,  22  and end walls  24 ,  26  and with the face  54  contacting the front ends  50  of the side ribs  48 . Thus, the microscope slide storage chamber  16  is defined by the face  54 , back wall  18 , end walls  24 ,  26 , and inner surfaces  30 ,  34  of side walls  20 ,  22  wherein the length of the side ribs  48  generally corresponds to the length of a standard microscope slide, approximately three inches, and the length of back wall  18  generally corresponds to the width of a standard microscope slide, approximately one inch. One hundred standard microscope slides are stackable in approximately 9⅞ inches of ribbed container space. The overall length of the container  10  is approximately 10¾ inches. The microscope slide storage chamber  16  further contains a plurality of reinforcing walls  60  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These reinforcing walls  60  span the chamber  16  and interconnect with side walls  20 ,  22  and back wall  18 .  
     [0024] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7,  8  and  9 , the back wall  18  includes a plurality of grippers  62 . Each gripper  62  includes a first rib  64  and a second rib  66 . The first and second ribs  64 ,  66  include slide surfaces  68  and  70 , respectively, and grip locations  69 ,  71 , respectively. The first and second ribs  64 ,  66  also include front ends  72 ,  74 , respectively. The first and second ribs  64  and  66  are inclined towards each other at angle, α, as shown in FIG. 9. The front ends  72  and  74  of slide surfaces  68  and  70 , respectively, are tapered at an angle, β, as shown in FIG. 9. The tapered front ends  72  and  74  facilitate reception of the microscope slide  76  between the first and second ribs  64 ,  66  and provide a camming surface for the insertion of a microscope slide.  
     [0025] When a microscope slide is inserted into the container, the microscope slide first contacts the tapered front end  50  of the side ribs  48 . These tapered front ends  50  of the side ribs  48  direct the microscope slide between the side ribs  48 . Then, the microscope slide contacts one or more of the tapered ends  72  and  74  of the first and second ribs  64 ,  66  of a gripper  62 . Next, with slight force on the microscope slide, the first and second ribs  64 ,  66  flex slightly outwardly away from the microscope slide, thereby, spring-loading the first and second ribs  64 ,  66  to firmly grip the microscope slide at grip locations  69 ,  71 . The microscope slide is continually passed towards the back wall  18  until the microscope slide is in position. This gripping action prevents the microscope slide from sliding out of the container even when the container is inverted and the cover removed. In an alternate embodiment, the grippers  62  may be connected to either one of the side walls or one of the end walls instead of the back wall to prevent the slide from sliding out of the container.  
     [0026] While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.