Patent ID: 7793708

Claim:
A support device for a plurality of elongated tubes, wherein the plurality of tubes are arranged in rows with spacer lanes separating adjacent rows of tubes, the support device comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending strip having a pair of opposing faces and a medial plane; and a plurality of tube engaging zones spaced along the strip and extending laterally outward away from the pair of opposing faces to engage tubes on adjacent sides of the spacer lane, wherein the tube engaging zones having outwardly facing tube receiving saddles, wherein each tube engaging zone includes symmetrical first and second tube receiving saddles extending from opposing faces of the strip, wherein a first tube receiving saddle located on one of the opposing faces and a second tube receiving saddle located on another of the opposing faces opposite the first tube receiving saddle, wherein the first tube receiving saddle having a pair of lateral extensions extending outwardly away from the medial plane and an outwardly facing arcuate surface extending between end portions of the pair of lateral extensions, wherein said outwardly facing arcuate surface being sized to contact and receive a portion of the circumference of one tube therein, wherein the second tube receiving saddle having a pair of lateral extensions extending outwardly away from the medial plane and an outwardly facing arcuate surface extending between end portions of the pair of lateral extensions, wherein said outwardly facing arcuate surface being sized to contact and receive a portion of the circumference of another tube therein, wherein the one tube being located on one side of the spacer lane and the another tube being located adjacent the one tube on an opposite side of the spacer lane, wherein the elongated strip having an intermediate section extending between adjacent tube engaging zones, wherein the intermediate section not being in contact with any adjacent elongated tubes.