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. 18, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1996
David Borenstein, Miami, FL (US);
Kyriakos Christou, Miami Lakes, FL (US);
Nicholas Parker, Sunrise, FL (US);
John K Sieh, Miami, FL (US);
Coulter International Corp., Miami, FL (US);
Abstract
A cassette for supporting a plurality of cylindrically-shaped containers (e.g., test tubes) of randomly varying diameters in spaced parallel relationship includes a frame supporting a plurality of tube centering assemblies in side-by-side relationship. Each tube-centering assembly comprises a housing defining a through opening for receiving a container, and a pair of cooperating collar members slidably mounted on the housing for movement towards and away from each other. Each of the collar members has an arcuate surface adapted to contact a side wall of a received container during the sliding movement thereof. A spring is provided to bias the collar members towards each other and towards engagement with the side wall of a received container, whereby the collar members cooperate in supporting a received container therebetween.