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:
Nov. 26, 1996
Filed:
Feb. 13, 1996
Frederic L Clark, Plano, TX (US);
Kendall B Hendrick, Southlake, TX (US);
Richard R Martin, Irving, TX (US);
Larry W Moore, Plano, TX (US);
William J Raymoure, Lake Blluff, IL (US);
Paul R Schrier, Carrollton, TX (US);
Edna S Walker, Chicago, IL (US);
Donny R Walker, Coppell, TX (US);
Gary E Winter, Hanover Park, IL (US);
Kevin M Cloonan, Round Lake, IL (US);
David A Yost, Poolesville, MD (US);
John M Clemens, Wadsworth, IL (US);
William J Kanewske, III, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Douglas D McDowell, Wildwood, IL (US);
Carl M Oleksak, Fort Worth, TX (US);
William D Rumbaugh, Carrollton, TX (US);
B Jane Smith, Vernon Hills, IL (US);
James A Vaught, Euless, TX (US);
Apparao Tayi, Grayslake, IL (US);
Robert A Wohlford, Irving, TX (US);
James E Mitchell, Lake Barrington, IL (US);
Robert B Hance, Evanston, IL (US);
Peter A Lagocki, Park Ridge, IL (US);
Richard A Merriam, Dallas, TX (US);
Charles D Pennington, Lake Zurich, IL (US);
Linda S Schmidt, Mundelein, IL (US);
Adrian M Spronk, Lindenhurst, IL (US);
Richard L Vickstrom, Algonquin, IL (US);
William E Watkins, III, Cedar Hill, TX (US);
Gilbert Clift, Mesquite, TX (US);
Alyn K Stanton, Barrington, IL (US);
David B Hills, Plano, TX (US);
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a method for opening and closing a cap pivotally mounted on a container for storing reagents for use in an automated analytical instrument. The cap has one end for sealing the container and a tab extending from the other end for pivoting the cap. The method comprises the steps of positioning a closed container adjacent an actuating device mounted on the analytical system. The method further comprises the steps of projecting the actuating device against the top of the tab to pivotally open the cap to a position sufficiently vertical for aspirating reagent from the container, and retracting the actuating device from the cap to a position above the pivotal mounting thereof. The method comprises the final step of causing relative motion between the cap and the actuating device so that the actuating device drags along the top of the cap pivotally closing the cap to provide a sufficient seal on the container preventing evaporation of the reagent therefrom.