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:
Dec. 19, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 03, 1997
Qi-Feng Ma, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Fred Astani, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Phenomenex, Inc., Torrance, CA (US);
Abstract
A cartridge holder includes a holder body having a cavity along a longitudinal axis of the holder body. A floating screw has a longitudinal axis and a hole through the length of the floating screw. The floating screw is adapted to engage with the cavity in such a way that the floating screw is movable relative to the holder body along the longitudinal axis of the holder body. But rotary movement of the floating screw around the longitudinal axis of the holder body is confined by a restriction of the cavity. An outlet unit having a stem with a central hole and a length greater than that of the floating screw is adapted to be movably inserted into the hole of the floating screw, so that a first end of the outlet unit extends out of the hole and a second end of the outlet unit is engaged with the cavity. An end cap is provided to engage with the cavity. In use a cartridge is placed inside the cavity of the holder body between the end cap and the outlet unit. The floating screw can be screwed onto the endfitting by turning the holder body and, in the meantime, the outlet unit is pushed toward the endfitting so that a zero dead volume connection is achieved. Thus, the cartridge holder fits to all brands of column endfittings by self-adjusting the configuration of its connection unit. The cartridge holder also can be modified to connect a tubing directly to an endfitting.