Patent ID: 7718135

Claim:
A sample holder for fixing and transporting a sample vial within a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) configuration, the sample holder comprising: an outer shell having an inner surface and a continuous inner hollow space extending in an axial direction thereof for receiving a sample vial, said outer shell having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein shoulders comprising beveled transmission surfaces are provided at said inner surface, and an upper edge is provided at said proximal end; a switching element disposed within said hollow space, said switching element having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said switching element is axially displaceable within said continuous inner hollow space of said outer shell from said outer shell upper edge towards said outer shell distal end; a clamping device cooperating with said switching element, said clamping device disposed within said hollow space of said outer shell, said clamping device comprising elastic blades having clamping fittings and a mounting ring connected to said elastic blades, wherein said clamping device is axially displaceable within said outer shell and said clamp fittings contact said beveled transmission surfaces of said outer shell; transmission pins disposed inside said hollow space of said outer shell between said distal end of said switching element and said mounting ring of said clamping device to transmit an axial displacement of said switching element to said clamping device; and spring elements disposed between said shoulders of said outer shell and said mounting ring of said clamping device to exert force on said mounting ring counteracting force exerted onto said clamping device through axial displacement of said switching element towards said distal end of said outer shell, wherein said clamping fittings of said clamping device are deflected inwardly towards a center axis of said outer shell within said inner hollow space of said outer shell by said beveled transmission surfaces of said shoulders via axial displacement of said switching element towards said proximal end of said outer shell via said counteracting force exerted by said spring, said clamping fittings of said clamping device are deflected outwardly towards said inner surface of said outer shell within said inner hollow space of said outer shell via axial displacement of said switching element towards said distal end of said outer shell.