Patent ID: 6899228

Claim:
A panel ( 1 ) for receiving cassettes ( 2 ) and/or specimen slides ( 3 ) for histological or cytological preparations, each cassette and specimen slide having a longitudinal extent ( 15 ) and a diagonal extent ( 16 ), the panel comprising: a pair of longitudinal sides ( 4 ), a first narrow side ( 5 ), and a second narrow side ( 6 ), the pair of longitudinal sides ( 4 ) and the first and second narrow sides ( 5 and 6 ) forming a rectangular configuration; a base ( 7 ) connecting the pair of longitudinal sides ( 4 ) and the first and second narrow sides ( 5 and 6 ) to one another, the base ( 7 ) supporting received cassettes and/or specimen slides; a pair of peripheral side walls ( 8 ) one along each of the pair of longitudinal sides ( 4 ), and a peripheral side wall ( 8 ) along the first narrow side ( 5 ), wherein the pair of peripheral side walls ( 8 ) include a plurality of lug and groove members ( 18 ) each defining a lug ( 9 ) and a groove ( 10 ) adjacent the lug ( 9 ); and a triggering tab ( 12 ) on the second narrow side ( 6 ) of the panel ( 1 ); whereby several of the panels can be stacked one above another by fitting the lugs ( 9 ) of one panel into the grooves ( 10 ) of another panel.