The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 1991
Filed:
May. 26, 1989
John A Quenin, Rochester, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
There are described apparatus for collecting used test elements containing possibly hazardous liquids, and a method of collecting them. The apparatus features a container, and preferably a stacking station used with the container. The container can comprise a variety of configurations, and includes side walls, first and second end walls, access means in one of the side walls near the first end wall defining an aperture to allow test elements to feed into the container, and biasing means for biasing a test element against the first end wall or against a test element adjacent to the first end wall. A highly preferred form of the container is one in which one of the noted side walls is constructed to be a leaf spring. As to the method of collecting, it comprises the steps of a) inserting the first used test element into the container adjacent one end and under the biasing means so that a portion of the first element projects from the container; b) inserting the next used test element into the container under the first test element by inserting it under the projecting portion and pushing the first test element against the biasing means; and c) inserting successive used test elements into the container so that they each enter under the last one in, until the container is full.