Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
TUBE RACK TOOL
[0001]
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to tube rack
tools for
dislodging a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes, and more specifically
for synchronously
dislodging a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes, and methods for using
the same.
2. Background and Relevant Art
[0003] A microtiter plate is a flat plate with multiple "wells" used
as small test tubes or used
to receive tubes therein. The microtiter plate has become a standard tool in
analytical research and
clinical diagnostic testing laboratories. A microtiter plate typically has 6,
24, 96, 384, 1536, 6144, or
24576 sample wells arranged in a 2:3 rectangular matrix. Some microtiter
plates have even been
manufactured with 3456 or even 9600 wells, although 96 wells, provided in an 8
x 12 arrangement is
the most common.
[0004] Depending on the size, each well typically holds somewhere between a
few nanoliters
to several hundred milliliters of liquid or an equivalent amount of a solid
sample, such as a dry
powder. Accordingly, some plates have wells with closed bottoms. In certain
embodiments, plates
may be provided as racks to support glass or plastic tube or tube strip
inserts. In such embodiments,
the wells can alternatively have open bottoms. Illustrative wells can be
circular (including cylindrical
or conical) or square in cross-section. Pipettes (e.g., multi-channel
pipettes) have been developed to
pipette measured liquids into an entire row of wells at a time. PCR devices
and other instruments for
a wide variety of laboratory applications have been developed to receive
microtiter plates of standard
sizes and to process samples contained in the wells therein. A number of
companies have even
developed robots specifically configured to handle microtiter plates.
[0005] Microtiter plates often are provided with wells formed in the plate.
The most common
manufacturing process is injection molding, used typically for
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polystyrene, polypropylene and cyclo-olefin. However, microplates may be made
from a variety of polymers, as is appropriate to withstand a wide temperature
range
and provide chemical resistance.
[0006] More
recently, plates have become available that include a rack and a
plurality of strips or individual tubes, a common configuration being twelve
strips of
eight tubes (or eight strips of twelve tubes). Such an arrangement may make it
easier
to use a portion of a plate or to prepare smaller groups of reactions within a
single
plate. Often, the spacing of the tubes results in standard spacing of wells of
a 96-well
microtiter plate, and the rack and tubes, once assembled, are compatible with
the
myriad tools and instrumentation that have been developed for use with
microtiter
plates.
[0007] One
example of a rack and tubes is the Loborack-96 (Micronic North
America, McMurray, PA). The Loborack-96 can hold, for example, 96 individual
tubes (for example, 0.50m1 or 0.75m1 tubes), eight strips of twelve tubes, or
twelve
strips of eight tubes, in a 96-well configuration. Each tube may be
individually
capped, or each strip may be capped with a strip of eight or twelve caps,
respectively.
While the tubes are disposable and are intended as single-use items, the rack
is
reusable. However, it can be difficult to remove the tubes from the rack
manually,
and tubes often open as they are removed, potentially contaminating the tube
contents
or spilling hazardous or contaminating materials While Micronic sells a tool
for
removing one tube at a time, a tool that removes rows of tubes or all tubes
quickly and
easily is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] In one
aspect of the present disclosure, a tube rack tool is provided, the
tube rack tool comprising a base for receiving a rack of tubes (the rack of
tubes
illustratively comprising a rack and a plurality of tubes disposed in the
rack), the base
having a surface for engaging the tubes, wherein pressure on the rack
dislodges a
plurality of tubes from the rack. For instance, in some embodiments, the
plurality of
tubes can be simultaneously, concurrently, synchronously, and/or immediately
sequentially (e.g., instantaneously) dislodged from the rack. In at least
one
embodiment, the rack of tubes can be positioned atop the surface such that the
surface
engages a bottom (e.g., closed end) of the plurality of tubes, optionally
without
engaging at least a portion of the rack such that a substantially or at least
partially
downward force (e.g., pressure) on the rack dislodges the plurality of tubes
from the
=
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rack. In certain embodiments, the tube rack tool may further comprise a top
piece configured
to provide the force on at least a portion of the rack. Various surface and/or
other
configurations are provided for the tube rack tool.
[0009] In another aspect, a tube rack tool is provided comprising a
top piece for
receiving a rack of tubes therein, and a base having a surface for engaging a
plurality of the
tubes in the rack of tubes, wherein pressure on the top piece (e.g., in the
direction of the
surface) dislodges the plurality of tubes from the rack.
[0010] In yet another aspect, a method of removing a plurality of
tubes from a rack of
tubes having a rack and a set of tubes is provided, the method comprising
placing the rack of
tubes into a base, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of the
tubes in the rack
of tubes, and providing pressure on the rack to dislodge the plurality of
tubes from the rack.
[0010a] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of
removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and a set of
tubes, the method
comprising: placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having a surface
for engaging the
plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes; placing a top piece over the rack
of tubes; and
providing pressure on the rack to dislodge the plurality of tubes from the
rack, wherein the
providing pressure step includes applying pressure to the top piece to provide
pressure on the
rack, thereby dislodging the plurality of tubes.
[0010b] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
method of removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and
a set of tubes,
the method comprising: placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having
a surface for
engaging the plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes; and providing
pressure on the rack to
dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack, wherein the surface is curved
and the providing
pressure step includes rocking the rack, thereby dislodging substantially all
of the set of tubes.
10010c] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
method of removing a plurality of tubes from a rack of tubes having a rack and
a set of tubes,
the method comprising: placing the rack of tubes into a base, the base having
a surface for
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3a
engaging the plurality of the tubes in the rack of tubes; and providing
pressure on the rack to
dislodge the plurality of tubes from the rack, wherein the plurality of tubes
is a row of tubes,
the surface is shaped to remove the row of tubes, and the applying pressure
step dislodges the
row of tubes.
[0010d] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a tube
removal system, comprising: a rack of tubes comprising a microtiter plate
having a plurality
of wells and a plurality of tubes disposed in the wells, the microtiter plate
having an upper
surface portion disposed about the plurality of wells, the plurality of wells
comprising
openings in the upper surface portion; and a tube rack tool configured to
receive the rack of
tubes, the tube rack tool comprising: a base having a receiving area sized for
receiving the
rack of tubes, the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes
disposed in the
wells of the microtiter plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the
receiving area; and a top
piece configured for retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the
surface while
providing pressure on the microtiter plate, the top piece having one or more
legs configured to
engage the upper surface portion of the microtiter plate such that pressure
applied to the top
piece in the direction of the surface dislodges the plurality of tubes from
the microtiter plate.
[0010e1 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a tube
removal system, comprising: a rack of tubes comprising: a microtiter plate
having a plurality
of wells, an upper surface portion disposed about the plurality of wells, the
plurality of wells
comprising openings in the upper surface portion, and a skirt disposed about
the plurality of
wells, the skirt extending from the upper surface portion; and a plurality of
tubes disposed in
the wells; and a tube rack tool configured to receive the rack of tubes, the
tube rack tool
comprising: a base having a receiving area sized for receiving the rack of
tubes, the base
having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes disposed in the wells of
the microtiter
plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the receiving area; and a top
piece configured for
retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the surface of the base,
wherein the top piece is
configured to engage the upper surface portion of the microtiter plate without
engaging a top
surface of the plurality of tubes when the plurality of tubes are disposed in
the wells.
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[0010f] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a tube
removal system, comprising: a rack of tubes comprising: a microtiter plate
having
a plurality of wells, an upper surface portion disposed about the plurality of
wells, the
plurality of wells comprising openings in the upper surface portion, and a
skirt disposed about
the plurality of wells, the skirt extending from the upper surface portion;
and a plurality of
tubes disposed in the wells; and a tube rack tool configured to receive the
rack of tubes, the
tube rack tool comprising: a base having a receiving area sized for receiving
the rack of tubes,
the base having a surface for engaging the plurality of tubes disposed in the
wells of the
microtiter plate when the rack of tubes is disposed in the receiving area; and
a top piece
configured for retaining the rack of tubes in engagement with the surface of
the base, wherein
the surface of the base is smaller than an area defined by the skirt and is
configured to receive
the rack of tubes without engaging the skirt.
[0010g] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a tube
rack tool, comprising: a base having a curved support surface and a wall
disposed about the
support surface with a space between the wall and the support surface; and a
top piece having
a top portion and two legs extending from opposing sides of the top portion,
the top piece
being configured such that a portion of the at least one leg fits in the space
between the wall
and the support surface, wherein the wall at least partially bounds a
receiving area of the base,
the support surface being disposed in the receiving area, a first of the two
legs being
configured to fit in the space between the wall and a first side of the
support surface, and a
second of the two legs being configured to fit in the space between the wall
and a second side
of the support surface.
[0011] Additional features and advantages of the embodiments of the
present
disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows or may be
learned by the practice
of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be
realized and
obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out
in the
appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from
the
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following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice
of such
embodiments as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and
other
advantages and features of the present disclosure can be obtained, a more
particular
description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by
reference to specific
embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that
these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not
therefore to be
considered to be limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described and
explained with
additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a base for an illustrative
tube rack tool.
[0014] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a top piece for use with the
base of Fig. 1.
[0015] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a rack of tubes
inserted between the
base of Fig. 1 and the top piece of Fig. 2.
[0016] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rack of tubes inserted between
the base of
Fig. 1 and the top piece of Fig. 2.
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100171 Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, except that pressure has been exerted
on the top
piece and some of the tubes are being removed from the rack.
[0018] Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 1, except showing a base for a different
illustrative
tube rack tool.
[0019] Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 2, except showing a top piece for an
alternate
illustrative tube rack tool.
[0020] Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 5 except showing a base and top piece
for an
alternate illustrative tube rack tool.
[0021] Fig. 9 is atop view of the base and top piece of Fig. 8.
[0022] Fig. 10 shows a row of tubes with caps, and a top piece positioned
to apply
pressure to the caps.
[0023] Fig. 11 is similar to Fig. 10, except that the caps are in process
of being
seated by pressure from the top piece.
[0024] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a row of tubes with caps, and
an
inverted base positioned to apply pressure to the caps.
[0025] Fig. 13 is similar to Fig. 12, except that the caps are in process
of being
seated by pressure from the inverted base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Before describing example implementations in detail, it is to be
understood
that this disclosure is not limited to parameters of the particularly
exemplified
systems, methods, apparatus, products, processes, compositions, and/or kits,
which
may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used
herein is
only for the purpose of describing particular implementations of the present
disclosure, and is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the
disclosure and/or
invention in any manner. Thus, while the present disclosure will be described
in
detail with reference to specific configurations, the descriptions are
illustrative only
and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention.
For
instance, certain implementations may include fewer or additional components
than
those illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described in the written
description. Furthermore, various modifications can be made to the illustrated
configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined
by the claims. Thus, while various aspects, embodiments, and/or
implementations of
the disclosure are described and/or disclosed herein, other aspects,
implementations,
and embodiments are also contemplated.
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[0027] Unless
defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein
have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art to
which the present disclosure pertains. While a number of methods and materials
similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of
the
5 present disclosure, only certain exemplary materials and methods are
described
herein.
[0028] Various
aspects of the present disclosure, including devices, systems,
methods, etc., may be illustrated with reference to one or more exemplary
implementations. As used herein, the term "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance, or illustration," and should not necessarily be construed
as
preferred or advantageous over other implementations disclosed herein. In
addition,
reference to an "implementation" of the present disclosure or invention
includes a
specific reference to one or more embodiments thereof, and vice versa, and is
intended to provide illustrative examples without limiting the scope of the
invention,
which is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the following
description.
[0029] It will
be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims,
the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the
content
clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a "tile' includes
one, two,
or more tiles. Similarly, reference to a plurality of referents should be
interpreted as
comprising a single referent and/or a plurality of referents unless the
content and/or
context clearly dictate otherwise. Thus, reference to "tiles" does not
necessarily
require a plurality of such tiles. Instead, it will be appreciated that
independent of
conjugation; one or more tiles are contemplated herein.
[0030] As used
throughout this application the words "can" and "may" are used in
a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the
mandatory
sense (i.e., meaning must).
Additionally, the terms "including," "having,"
"involving," "containing," "characterized by," variants thereof (e.g.,
"includes,"
"has," and "involves," "contains," etc.), and similar terms as used herein,
including
the claims, shall be inclusive and/or open-ended, shall have the same meaning
as the
word "comprising" and variants thereof (e.g., "comprise" and "comprises"), and
do
not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps, illustratively.
[0031] As used
herein, directional and/or arbitrary terms, such as "top,' "bottom,"
"left," "right," "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "internal,"
"external," "interior," "exterior," "proximal," "distal" and the like can be
used solely
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to indicate relative directions and/or orientations and may not be otherwise
intended
to limit the scope of the disclosure, including the specification, drawings,
and/or
claims.
[0032] Various aspects of the present disclosure can be illustrated by
describing
components that are bound, coupled, attached, connected, and/or joined
together. As
used herein, the terms "bound," "coupled", "attached", "connected," and/or
"joined"
are used to indicate either a direct association between two components or,
where
appropriate, an indirect association with one another through intervening or
intermediate components. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being
"directly bound," "directly coupled", "directly attached", "directly
connected," and/or
"directly joined" to another component, no intervening elements are present or
contemplated.
[0033] It is also understood that various implementations described
herein can be
utilized in combination with any other implementation described or disclosed,
without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, products,
members,
elements, devices, apparatus, systems, methods, processes, compositions,
and/or kits
according to certain implementations of the present disclosure can include,
incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties, features, components, members,
elements, steps, and/or the like described in other implementations (including
systems, methods, apparatus, and/or the like) disclosed herein without
departing from
the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, reference to a specific feature in
relation to
one implementation should not be construed as being limited to applications
only
within said implementation.
[0034] It will also be appreciated that where multiple possibilities of
values or a
range a values (e.g., less than, greater than, at least, or up to a certain
value, or
between two recited values) is disclosed or recited, any specific value or
range of
values falling within the disclosed range of values is likewise disclosed and
contemplated herein.
[0035] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and
are not
meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. To
facilitate
understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to
designate
like elements common to the figures. Furthermore, where possible, like
numbering of
elements have been used in various figures. Furthermore, alternative
configurations
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of a particular element may each include separate letters appended to the
element
number.
[0036] Fig. 1 shows a base 10 of an illustrative tube rack tool 8 (see
Fig. 3)
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The base has a support
surface
12, and four walls 15, 16, 17, 18, which surround a rack-receiving area 11 for
receiving a rack of tubes. In the illustrative embodiment, support surface 12
is curved
along an axis extending in the direction from wall 18 to wall 17. In some
embodiments, support surface 12 can (also or alternatively) be curved along an
axis
extending in the direction from wall 16 to wall 15. As discussed further
below,
however, support surface 12 need not have a curved configuration in certain
embodiments. Also in the illustrative embodiment, two spacings 13, 14 are
provided
between support surface 12 and walls 17, 18, respectively. Spacings 13, 14
comprise
openings through base 10, although optionally openings 13, 14 may be provided
with
bottoms to result in recesses. Opposing recesses 20 are also disposed between
support
surface 12 and walls 15, 16, respectively. It is understood that walls 15, 16,
17, and
18, as well as spacings 13, 14, and recesses 20 are provided to aid in
placement and
retention of a rack (of tubes) within rack-receiving area 11, and that any or
all of these
walls, spacings, and/or recesses are optional and may be omitted. Similarly,
the walls
need not entirely surround the rack-receiving area 11 in some embodiments.
[0037] Fig. 2 shows a top piece 50 that may be used with base 10 (e.g., to
form
the tube rack tool 8 of Fig. 3). Top piece 50 has a top 52, and two legs 60,
61
extending downward from top 50. Legs 60, 61 are spaced to receive a rack of
tubes
therebetween. In alternative embodiments, top piece 50 can have a single leg
or more
than two legs extending downward therefrom. For example, a single leg can
extend
(entirely or partially) about top piece 50 and/or extend downward therefrom.
Alternatively, three or four legs can be disposed at corners of top piece 50.
[0038] Inthe illustrative embodiment depicted, leg 60 is provided with
leg
extensions 63, 64, and leg 61 is provided with leg extension 65 (and a second
leg
extension not shown in Fig. 2). As best seen with leg extension 63, the leg
extensions
project inward from each leg (e.g., toward the opposing leg). The leg
extensions may
be provided to aid in containing and/or properly positioning the rack of tubes
between
legs 60, 61, and/or restrain the rack of tubes from slipping sideways out of
top piece
50. As discussed in further detail below, the leg extensions may also aid in
properly
positioning the rack of tubes about support surface 12 of base 10 (Fig. 1).
Optionally,
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instead of or in addition to the leg extensions, top piece 50 may be provided
with side
walls extending between legs 60 and 61 to contain the rack of tubes.
100391 Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a tube removal tool assembly 40
comprising a rack of tubes 78 including rack 80 and ninety-six tubes 82 being
inserted
between base 10 and top piece 50. It is understood that while illustrative
rack 80
includes space for ninety-six tubes, any other number or arrangement of a rack
and
tubes may be used. Moreover, while illustrative rack of tubes 78 is full, the
illustrative embodiments may be used with a partially full rack of tubes. As
discussed
above, walls 15, 16, 17, 18 of base 10 are sized to receive rack of tubes 78
therein,
to thereby supporting rack of tubes 78 on support surface 12. As top piece
50 is placed
over rack of tubes 78, legs 60, 61 of top piece 50 extend down at least
partially around
tubes 82, fit inside walls 15, 16, 17, 18, and assist with maintaining the
orientation of
rack 80 and tubes 82 relative to base 10 and/or support surface 12 thereof.
100401 In this illustrative example, rack 80 is provided with twelve rows
85 of
eight tubes 82, although it is understood that other configurations are within
the scope
of this disclosure. Each tube 82 has an open top portion 88 and a closed
opposing
bottom portion 90 (see Fig. 4) inserted into its respective well 84 in rack
80. Wells 84
comprise openings in a surface portion 81 of rack 80, and each tube 82 or a
bottom
portion 90 thereof (see Fig. 4) extends below surface portion 81. As best seen
in the
cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, a skirt 89 functions as a stand for rack 80,
extending
below any bottom 90 of tubes 82. Thus, when rack 80 is placed on a lab bench
or
other flat surface, tubes 82 are spaced apart from that surface, to prevent
tubes 82
from inadvertently dislodging from rack 80.
100411 It is understood that while only two walls of skirt 89 are visible
in Fig. 3,
rack 80 may have a skirt 89 having two, three, or four walls, or may have feet
or other
bottom projections to function to keep tubes 82 elevated. Tubes 82, may be of
any
configuration, illustratively with flat bottoms, rounded bottoms, or conical
bottoms.
Tubes 82 may snap into rack 80, or may be held in place by pressure. While not
shown in Figs. 3-5, tubes 82 may be provided with caps, illustratively which
may be
screw caps, press fit caps, strip caps, or film adhered to or heat-sealed to
tubes 82.
For instance, in at least one embodiment, as shown in Figs. 10-11, tubes 82
can have
sealing cap(s) 83 disposed thereon and/or attached thereto (e.g., sealing the
upper
open portions 88 thereof). Other configurations are also contemplated within
the
scope of this disclosure.
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100421 Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a tube removal tool
assembly 40,
including rack of tubes 78 inserted into base 10, and top piece 50 fitted on
top of rack
of tubes 78, with legs 60, 61 engaging rack 80 at upper surface portion 81.
Because
of the curvature of support surface 12, only a portion of the rows 85 of tubes
82 are in
contact with support surface 12 In this illustrative embodiment, ends 86, 87
of rack
80 are cantilevered over openings 13, 14 Shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a recess 20
between support surface 12 and wall 15 allows skirt 89 of rack 80 to extend
below
support surface 12. A similar recess (not shown) may be provided between
support
surface 12 and wall 16. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, support
surface 12
of base 10 engages a plurality of tubes 82 (or bottom portion(s) thereof) but
does not
engage and/or contact at least a portion of skirt 89 of rack 80.
100431 Downward pressure (e.g., from above) on top piece 50 causes one or
more
rows 85 of tubes 82 (or bottom portion(s) thereof) to engage support surface
12 of
base 10, which in turn causes one or more (rows 85 of) tubes 82 to begin to
dislodge
from rack 80, as shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly, a plurality of tubes 82 (e.g.,
at least
one row 85) can be simultaneously, concurrently, and/or synchronously dislodge
from
the rack. In an illustrative embodiment, a back-and-forth rocking motion about
or
along the curvature of support surface 12, as indicated by arrows X-X, causes
additional rows 85 of tubes 82 to engage support surface 12 of base 10, which
in turn
causes the additional rows 85 of tubes 82 to dislodge from rack 80. As
pressure is
placed more directly over leg 60, pressure is placed more directly over
cantilevered
end 86, which may deflect toward opening 13 (e.g., without engaging support
surface
12 of base 10), thereby releasing the row 85 closest to end 86. As top piece
50 is
rocked in the other direction and pressure is placed more directly over leg
61, pressure
is placed more directly over cantilevered end 87, which may deflect toward
opening
14 (e.g., without engaging support surface 12 of base 10), thereby releasing
the row
85 closest to end 87. Continued back-and-forth motion causes all tubes 82 to
loosen
from rack 80, ultimately dislodging all tubes 82 from rack 80. Accordingly, a
plurality of tubes 82 and/or rows 85 of tubes 82 can be simultaneously,
concurrently,
synchronously, and/or immediately sequentially (e.g., instantaneously)
dislodged
from the rack 80. The rack 80 and tubes 82 may then be removed from base 10
and
top piece 50.
100441 In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3-5, support surface
12 is
curved. While the illustrative curvature is an arc of a circle having a radius
of
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approximately 20 inches, it is understood that this is illustrative only, and
that other
curvatures would be operational, illustratively having a radius of 15 inches
to 25
inches, 10 inches to 30 inches, or 7 inches to 40 inches. While circular
curvatures are
used in certain embodiments herein, it is understood that other shapes are
within the
5 scope of this disclosure, including parabolic, and curved in two
dimensions. In one
illustrative embodiment, support surface 12 may be planar, provided that
support
surface 12 is smaller than skirt 89. It is understood that flatter support
surfaces can
dislodge more tubes at once but may require more pressure, while more curved
support surfaces may dislodge fewer tubes at once, but may also require less
pressure.
10 Furthermore, curvature in one direction can dislodge tubes by rows,
while curvature
in both directions may allow dislodging of a single tube or a small group of
tubes.
100451 It is understood that in some embodiments top piece 50 may be
optional,
and insertion of rack 80 into base 10 may allow for removal of tubes 82 by
manual
pressure directly on ends 86, 87 of rack 80 or on skirt 89 (e.g., pressure on
surface 81
in the direction of support surface 12). For instance, in at least one
embodiment,
pressure can be applied to surface 81, illustratively by one or more fingers
or hands of
an operator or any suitable pressure applicator.
100461 Returning to Fig. 2, in this illustrative embodiment, a top
portion 52 of top
piece 50 is provided with an opening 53. As best shown in Figs. 10-11, top
portion 52
is also provided with curved edge 55, shaped for pressing on tube caps 83
(e.g., to seal
opening 88 with cap 83), and configured for capping a row 85 of tubes 82 with
a
(downward) force and/or a rocking motion, as indicated by arrows Y-Y in Fig.
11. It
is also noted that curved edge 55 can be shaped and/or configured for seating
(a row
85 of) tubes 82 into rack 80 (not shown) with a (pressing) force or the
rocking motion
indicated by arrows Y-Y in Fig. 11. Opening 53 optionally may be provided with
grips 54 for comfortably holding top piece 50 during this capping operation.
100471 Alternatively, base 10 may be inverted and support surface 12
positioned
over (row 85 of) tubes 82 as depicted in Figure 12. A similar rocking motion,
indicated by arrows Y-Y in Fig. 13, and/or (downward) force can be applied for
pressing on tube caps 83 (e.g., to seal opening 88 with cap 83). It is also
noted that
inverted base 10 and/or support surface 12 thereof may be used for seating
part or all
of the tubes 82 of a rack of tubes 78 into rack 80 (see Fig. 3), or for
capping one or
more tubes 82 or part or all of one or more rows 85 of tubes 82 in a rack of
tubes 78
by placing pressure on base 10 (e.g., using rocking motion Y-Y).
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[0048] Figs. 6-7 show a base 110 and top piece 150 of an alternative
embodiment
of a tube removal tool 140, wherein like reference numerals indicate similar
components or components having similar functions. The base 110 has a support
surface 112, and two walls 115, 116, which define a space for receiving a rack
of
tubes. Unlike the base 10 of Fig. 1, in this illustrative embodiment, support
surface
112 is much narrower and is configured to contact a single row of tubes 85. It
is
understood that support surface 112 may be provided with any shape to contact
any
number of tubes or rows of tubes. For instance, support surface 112 can be
curved
along an axis extending in the direction from wall 116 to wall 115.
[0049] Fig. 7 shows a top piece 150 that may be used with base 110, to form
a
tube rack tool 140, as shown in Fig. 8. Top piece 150 has a top portion 152,
and four
legs 158, 159, 160, 161 extending downward from top 150. Legs 158, 159, 160,
161
are spaced to receive a rack of tubes 78 therebetween. It is understood that
four legs
is illustrative only, and that any or all of the legs may be omitted. An
embodiment
having leg extensions, as in Fig. 2, is also contemplated. It is understood
that top
piece 150 is not limited to use with base 110, and that the various top pieces
described
herein may be used with any compatible base, as desired for a specific
application.
Furthermore, various top pieces described herein may be used without a base.
For
instance, in at least one embodiment, a rack of tubes can be received by or
within a
portion of a top piece (e.g., between legs thereof) and a plurality of tubes
dislodged
from the rack by pressing on the (bottom of) the tubes (e.g., with a hand or
other
device, apparatus, or element).
[0050] In this illustrative example, only two walls 115, 116 are provided
on base
110. The omission of the side walls allows rack 80 and top piece 150 to be
moved
linearly along base 110. A number of guides 128 are also provided. Lining up
rack
80 or top piece 150 with one of the guides 128 will position a specific row of
tubes 85
over support surface member 112. As illustratively shown in Figs. 8-9, lining
up top
piece 150 even with the second guide 128 positions the fifth row of tubes 85
from that
end of top piece 150 over support surface member 112. As best seen in Fig. 8,
the
row of tubes 85 that is positioned over support surface member 112 is
dislodged upon
pressure on rack 80 by top piece 150 in the direction of support surface
member 112.
As with other embodiments, it is understood that top piece 150 is optional,
and
pressure may be applied by hand or by other means directly to rack 80 to apply
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pressure to rack 80 to dislodge any tubes 82 that are positioned over support
surface
member 112.
[0051] It is
understood that guides 128 may be provided with markings to indicate
which row of tubes 85 would be removed when top piece 150 or rack 80 is
aligned
with each guide. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, support surface
member
112 can be moveable within base 110 For instance, support surface 112 can be
disposed on or connected to a movement mechanism configured to permit support
surface 112 to be positioned and/or secured at a plurality of positions within
base 110.
The movement mechanism can comprise a plurality of slots configured to receive
a
(detachable) support surface member 112, a rail or slide member configured to
permit
movement of support surface member 112 thereon, or any other means for moving
support surface member 112 and/or changing the position thereof with base 110.
[0052] Various
alterations and/or modifications of the inventive features
illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles illustrated
herein,
which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of
this
disclosure, can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from
the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims, and are to be
considered
within the scope of this disclosure. Thus, while various aspects and
embodiments
have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated.
While
a number of methods and components similar or equivalent to those described
herein
can be used to practice embodiments of the present disclosure, only certain
components and methods are described herein.
[0053] It will
also be appreciated that systems, processes, and/or products
according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include,
incorporate,
or otherwise comprise properties features (e.g., components, members,
elements,
parts, and/or portions) described in other embodiments disclosed and/or
described
herein. Accordingly, the various features of certain embodiments can be
compatible
with, combined with, included in, and/or incorporated into other embodiments
of the
present disclosure. Thus,
disclosure of certain features relative to a specific
embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting
application
or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment. Rather, it will be
appreciated
that other embodiments can also include said features without necessarily
departing
from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, unless a feature is
described as
requiring another feature in combination therewith, any feature herein may be
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combined with any other feature of a same or different embodiment disclosed
herein.
Furthermore, various well-known aspects of illustrative systems, processes,
products,
and the like are not described herein in particular detail in order to avoid
obscuring
aspects of the example embodiments. Such aspects are, however, also
contemplated
herein.
[0054] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms
without
departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described
embodiments are
to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The
scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by
the
foregoing description. While certain embodiments and details have been
included
herein and in the attached disclosure for purposes of illustrating embodiments
of the
present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various changes in
the methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be made without departing from
the
scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. All changes
which
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced
within their scope.
