US 12,084,294 B2
Receptacle transport carriers
Rolf Silbert, Del Mar, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/003,754.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,019, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/891,728, filed on Aug. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0061584 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 47/90 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/90 (2013.01) [B01L 9/00 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); G01N 35/04 (2013.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0439 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A carrier for transporting a sample receptacle, the carrier comprising:
a base having a top end defining a recess for receiving a bottom end of the sample receptacle;
an annular support coupled to the top end of the base and circumscribing the recess; and
a plurality of resilient wire fingers affixed to and extending upward from the annular support, the plurality of resilient wire fingers being configured to (i) retain the bottom end of the sample receptacle within the recess of the base and (ii) maintain the sample receptacle in a substantially upright orientation, each resilient wire finger comprising a first segment adjacent to the base, a linear second segment joined to the first segment, a linear third segment joined to the second linear segment, and a fourth segment joined to the third segment,
wherein the first and second segments of each resilient wire finger are joined by a first angled portion of the resilient wire finger, the first angled portion orienting the second segment toward a vertical axis VA of the carrier,
wherein the second and third segments of each resilient wire finger are joined by a second angled portion of the resilient wire finger, the second angled portion orienting the third segment away from the vertical axis VA of the carrier,
wherein the third segment of each resilient wire finger is configured to contact the bottom end of the receptacle as the receptacle is inserted into the carrier,
wherein the third segment and the vertical axis VA of the carrier form an angle α between 40° and 50°, and
wherein the third and fourth segments of each resilient wire finger are joined by a third angled portion of the resilient wire finger such that the fourth segment is not oriented toward the vertical axis VA of the carrier.