Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02204862 1998-10-22
CULTURE PLATE WITH SPLASH GUARD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to culture plates and, more
particularly, to culture plates which have an element for
preventing splashing of liquids contained therein.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
The use of culture plates, traditionally known as
Petri dishes or culture dishes, in growing or culturing
bacteria, eucaryotic cells, or other organisms is well
known. A typical culture plate is a clear plastic structure
including a cylindrical, open-topped base and a
complementary or mating lid configured to sit on and close
off the base. Prior art patents in this field include U.S.
Patent Nos. 3,248,302; 3,677,904; 3,751,341; 4,299,921;
4,743,556; 4,801,548 and 5,021,351.
A number of culture plates are often used at one
time in a batch operation. Some culture plates contain
multiple wells in one device. Each culture plate will carry
a desired liquid growth medium. The plates are placed on a
larger tray, and the tray is moved into and out of an
incubator, typically by hand. During this handling, the
tray may stick in the incubator rack or may bump into the
side or rear walls of the incubator and exert a jarring
force on the culture plates carried by the tray. This
jarring force on a tray, or even normal handling of a tray,
may cause movement of the liquid media within each culture
plate and result in the liquid media sloshing onto the lid
or base sidewall and splashing over the top edge of the base
sidewall. When liquid thus travels to the outer, non-
sterile areas of the culture plate, a path is formed which
permits bacteria growth to travel to the inside areas of the
culture plate and to contaminate the contents therein.
Clearly such contamination of an otherwise sterile culture
plate is unacceptable in practice. Alternatively, media
from inside the plate can splash out
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of the plate, down the outside sidewall and into the
incubator environment. Such media leakage provides
nutrients for bacteria or fungi to replicate outside the
culture plate and further contaminate the otherwise clean
environment inside an incubator.
Individual culture plates are also handled by a
user and movement of an individual culture plate can
result in the splashing of the liquid media and the same
contamination problem discussed above. In addition, if
the culture plate is growing or includes a pathogenic or
radioactive material, or the like, it is highly
- undesirable for this material to splash out of the
culture plate and onto the user handling the culture
plate or into the incubator environment.
15Therefore, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a culture plate in which flows of
liquid over the top of the base sidewall are eliminated
or greatly reduced for all but extreme movement of the
culture plate. It is another object of the present
invention to provide such a fluid flow prevention feature
in either a specially designed culture plate or in a
modification to existing culture plates. It is a further
object of the present invention to provide such a culture
plate or modification in an arrangement which is
reliable, easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, I have developed a culture plate
which includes a splash guard. I have also developed a
splash guard which can be inserted within or attached to
the base of a standard culture plate. The culture plate
includes at least a base, preferably cylindrical in
configuration, having a bottom wall and a sidewall
exten~;ng upwardly from the bottom wall and attached
thereto. The culture plate can also include a lid having
a top wall and a skirt extending downwardly from the top
wall and attached thereto. The lid is configured to fit
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'
over and sit on a top edge of the base sidewall and cover an
inner area enclosed by the base. The splash guard is
attached to either the base or the lid and extends partially
inward into the inner area of the base. The splash guard is
configured to direct liquid flows away from the top edge of
the base sidewall and back into the base.
The splash guard can include a baffle attached to
an inner surface of the base sidewall, such as an annular,
ring-shaped element attached along an outer edge to the base
sidewall. The baffle can extend inwardly and downwardly at
an angle to the base sidewall, and can include an outer edge
which is spaced from the bottom wall and sidewall of the
base. Similar baffles can be attached to an inner surface
of the lid top wall.
The baffle can also be removably attached to the
base sidewall, such as in an insert-type of member. The
splash guard can also include a support bracket configured
to hang on the top edge of the base sidewall, with the~0 baffle attached along an outer edge to the support bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base of a
culture plate in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the culture plate base
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a section taken along lines III-III in
FIG. 2, additionally including a lid being positioned on the
base;
FIG. 4 is a section through the culture plate base
shown in FIG. 1 and showing the operation of the splash
guard;
FIG. 5 is a section through another embodiment of
a culture plate in accordance with the present invention
showing a lid being positioned on a base;
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FIG. 6 is a section through the culture plate
shown in FIG. 5 with the lid positioned on the base;
FIG. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of a
culture plate base in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a section taken along lines VIII-VIII
in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a top view, partially broken away, of
another embodiment of a culture plate base in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. lO is a section taken along lines X-X in
FIG. 9;
FIG. ll is a top view, partially broken away,
of another embodiment of a culture plate base in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a section taken along lines XII-XII
in FIG. ll;
FIG. 13 is a section taken through another
embodiment of a culture plate base in accordance with the
present invention and showing a splash guard being
inserted into the base;
FIG. 14 is a section taken through another
embodiment of a culture plate base in accordance with the
present invention and showing a splash guard being
inserted into the base;
FIG. 15 is a section taken through another
embodiment of a culture plate base in accordance with the
present invention and showing a splash guard being
inserted into the base;
FIG. 16 is a section taken through another
embodiment of a culture plate base in accordance with the
present invention and showing a splash guard being
inserted into the base;
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FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of one
side of another embodiment of a culture plate base in
accordance with the present invention and showing a
splash guard inserted into the base;
FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view of one
side of another embodiment of a culture plate base in
accordance with the present invention and showing a
splash guard inserted into the base;
FIG. l9 is an enlarged sectional view of one
side of another embodiment of a culture plate base in
accordance with the present invention and showing a
splash guard inserted into the base;
FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view of one
side of another embodiment of a culture plate base in
accordance with the present invention and showing a
splash guard inserted into the base;
FIG. 2l is a top view of another embodiment of
a culture plate base in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 22 is a section taken along lines XXII-
XXII in FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of one embodiment
of a splash guard insert in accordance with the present
invention being inserted into a stAn~Ard culture plate
base;
FIG. 24 is a section taken through the culture
plate base shown in FIG. 23, with the splash guard insert
in place;
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of another
embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance with
the present invention being inserted into a stAn~Ard
culture plate base;
FIG. 26 is a section taken through the culture
plate base shown in FIG. 25, with the splash guard insert
in place;
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FIG. 27 is a perspective view of another
embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance with
the present invention being inserted into a st~n~rd
culture plate base;
FIG. 28 is a section taken through the culture
plate base shown in FIG. 27, with the splash guard insert
in place;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a splash guard
attachment in accordance with the present invention being
attached to a standard culture plate base;
FIG. 30 is a section taken through the culture
plate base shown in FIG. 29, with the splash guard
attachment in place;
FIG. 3l is an enlarged sectional view of one
side of the culture plate base with attached splash guard
shown.in FIG. 30;
FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view, similar
to FIG. 3l, of one side of another embodiment of a
culture plate base with another embodiment of a splash
guard attachment in accordance with the present invention
attached thereto;
FIG. 33 is a section taken through another
embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance with
the present invention being inserted into a standard
2S culture plate base;
FIG. 34 is an enlarged sectional view of an
outer portion of the splash guard insert shown in FIG.
33;
FIG. 35 is a section through another embodiment
of a splash guard insert in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 36 is an enlarged sectional view of an
outer portion of the splash guard insert shown in FIG.
35;
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FIG. 37 is a section through an outer portion of
another embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 38 is a section through an outer portion of
another embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 39 is a section through an outer portion of
another embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance
with the present invention; and
FIG. 40 is a section through an outer portion of
another embodiment of a splash guard insert in accordance
with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present application is directed to a culture
plate which includes an open-topped base and a complementary
or mating lid. In accordance with the present invention, a
splash guard is provided on one of the lid or the base. The
splash guard extends partially inward into an inner area
enclosed by the base and is configured to direct fluid flows
away from a top edge of the base sidewall and back into the
base. The splash guard can be embodied in many different
versions and the figures herein show the various embodiments
currently contemplated. The splash guard can be provided in
the form of a baffle which is integral to the base sidewall
fixedly attached to the base sidewall, removably attached to
the base sidewall, or attached to a support bracket which
hangs on the base sidewall. In addition, the splash guard
can be provided as a baffle which is attached to an inner
surface of the lid top wall. The splash guard can also be
provided as an insert for the base of a standard culture
plate. Various modifications and variations are shown
throughout the figures, but it is to be understood that one
or more of these variations can be used in combinations not
specifically shown in the figures. Moreover, while the
figures show single well
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culture plates, many of the splash guard modifications
can also be incorporated into each well of a multiple
well culture plate. In addition, some of the embodiments
may be more appropriately manufactured in accordance with
certain available techniques and materials rather than
other available tech~;ques and materials.
A first embodiment of a culture plate 2
including a splash guard in accordance with the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The culture plate
includes an open-topped, cylindrical base 4 having a
circular bottom wall 6 and a sidewall 8 extending
upwardly around an outer peripheral edge of the bottom
wall 6 and attached thereto. The culture plate 2 also
includes a cylindrical lid 10 including a circular top
wall 12 and a skirt 14 extending downwardly from the top
wall 12 along its outer peripheral edge and attached
thereto. This embodiment shows the bottom wall 6 and
sidewall 8 of the base 4 formed as an integral unit, and
likewise shows the top wall 12 and skirt 14 of the lid 10
formed as an integral unit. The inner or lower surface
of the bottom wall 6 of the base 4 can include a circular
stacking ring 16 and, likewise, the outer or upper
surface of the top wall 12 of the base 4 can include a
circular stacking ring 18. The outer diameter of the
stacking ring 16 on the base 4 is slightly smaller than
the inner diameter of the stacking ring 18 on the lid 10,
however, an opposite arrangement can also be provided.
The stacking rings 16, 18 cooperate with each other such
that when similar culture plates 2 are stacked, the
stacking rings 16, 18 nest within each other and keep the
culture plates 2 from sliding horizontally. The lower or
inner surface of the lid top wall 12 can include a
plurality of small, separate standoffs 20 which are
aligned with the top edge 22 of the base sidewall 8 and
contact the base sidewall 8 when the lid 10 is positioned
onto the base 4. The standoffs 20 keep the lid 10 from
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tightly sealing the inner area enclosed by the base 4 and
allow gas flows into and out of the base 4 when the lid
lO is positioned thereon.
In accordance with the present invention, the
base 4 of the culture plate 2 includes a splash guard in
the form of an annular, ring-shaped baffle 24 which is
connected along its outer edge to an inner surface of the
base sidewall 8. In this embodiment, the baffle 24 has
G~_cd flat surfaces and is connected along its outer
edge to the base sidewall 8 near the top edge 22 thereof.
The baffle 24 extends or slopes inwardly and downwardly
into the interior or inner area of the base 4 and
terminates in an inner edge 26 which is spaced from the
bottom wall 6 and the sidewall 8 of the base 4. The
baffle 24 has a sufficient width to direct liquid flows
away from the top edge 22 of the base sidewall 8 and back
into the base 4, yet is not too wide to ~c~u~y otherwise
needed areas of the base 4 for the liquid media used
during normal operation. The baffle 24 preferably
extends from the base sidewall 8 at an angle of about
45 , although angles in the range of 30 -75- can be used,
and angles in the range of up to and including 90 will
work satisfactorily. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
1-3, the baffle 24 has a plurality of perforated areas 28
which can be torn and removed from the baffle 24 to
provide open areas therein for pouring liquids out of the
base 4. Although these perforated areas 28 are not, for
clarity sake, shown in any of the embodiments in the
remaining figures, it is to be understood that such
perforated areas 28 can be included in any of the splash
guards discussed hereinafter.
The operation of the splash guard included in
the culture plate 2 shown in FIGS. 1-3, as well as the
operation of the splash guard of the present invention in
general, is shown in connection with FIG. 4. Shown here
is the base 4 of the culture plate 2 with a quantity of
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1 0
growth media in the form of a liquid 30 contained
therein. If the base 4 iS maintained in its normal or
inten~ position, with the base bottom wall 6
substantially horizontal, then the liquid 30 will remain
totally enc~C~l within the base 4. The liquid 30 should
be well below the inner edge 26 of the baffle 24 when the
base 4 iS in this position. If a base 4 without a splash
guard were tilted or bumped, then the liquid 30 could
slosh about and splash or flow over the top edge 22 of
the base sidewall 8 and contaminate the contents of the
base 4. In accordance with the present invention, the
splash guard, here shown as the angled baffle 24
discussed above, will intercept the flows of the liquid
travelling along the inner surface of the base
sidewall 8 and will direct these liquid flows back into
the base 4, thus preventing liquid flows over the top
edge 22 of the base sidewall 8. This is illustrated
clearly in FIG. 4 which shows the base 4 tilted and the
liquid 30 flows exten~l;ng along the inner surface of the
base sidewall 8 and contacting an inner surface of the
angled baffle 24.
The embodiment of the culture plate 32 shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 includes the splash guard attached to the
lid 10. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3,
the culture plate 32 includes a base 4 with a bottom wall
6 and a sidewall 8 and a lid 10 with a top wall 12 and a
skirt 14. In this embodiment, the splash guard is a
flat, angled baffle 34, similar to the baffle 24 shown in
FIGS. 1-4, and has a mounting flange 36 integral
therewith and extending about the outer edge of the
baffle 34. The baffle 34 is attached to the inner
surface of the lid top wall 12 by the mounting flange 36.
When the lid lO is positioned on the base 4, as shown in
FIG. 6, the baffle 34 extends partially inwardly and
downwardly into the inner area of the base 4 at an angle
to the lid lO and the base sidewall 8 and has an outer
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edge 38 which is spaced from the bottom wall 6 and sidewall
8 of the base 4. Similar to the baffle 24 shown in FIGS. 1-
3, the baffle 34 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 directs flows of
liquid in the base 4 away from the top edge 22 of the base
sidewall 8 and back in to the base 4, in the same manner as
was discussed above in connection with FIG. 4.
The remaining figures show various other
embodiments of a splash guard in the form of a baffle which
is either formed integral with, is attached to, or is
positioned within a culture plate base. The base may be the
standard base discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-6,
or may be modified or specifically formed to accept and hold
the splash guard, or may be formed or manufactured initially
to define the splash guard.
The embodiments of a culture plate base with a
splash guard in accordance with the present invention shown
in FIGS. 7-12 are examples of bases which are formed
initially to include a splash guard. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sidewall 8 of the base 4 is
formed as a separate element from its bottom 6. The
sidewall 8 and the bottom 6 are joined together by known
techniques to form the complete base 4. In this embodiment,
the angled baffle 24 is formed integral with the sidewall 8
and the connection between the sidewall 8 and the baffle 24
is a curved transition region 40 therebetween. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the entire base 4,
including the sidewall 8, bottom 6 and splash guard, is
formed as one integral unit. In this embodiment, the splash
guard includes a flat top baffle 42 extending outwardly near
the top edge 22 of the sidewall 8 at about a 90~ angle. The
splash guard also includes a flat bottom baffle 44 extending
outwardly from the sidewall 8, also at about a 90~ angle,
and located beneath and spaced from the top baffle 42 and
located above and spaced from the bottom wall 6 of the base
4.
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1 2
It is preferred that the top baffle 42 be somewhat wider
than the bottom baffle 44 as shown. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the top baffle 46 and bottom
baffle 48, ext~n~ing at about 90~ to the base sidewall 8,
are formed by curved, molded areas in the sidewall 8.
Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the
top baffle 46 is wider than the bottom baffle 48, both
baffles 46, 48 extend at about 90~ to the upright
sidewall 8, and the bottom baffle 48 is spaced from both
the top baffle 46 and from the bottom wall 6 of the
base 4.
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13-16, the
splash guard is an annular, ring-shaped baffle which is
inserted into a modified culture plate base. In the FIG.
13 and FIG. 14 embodiments, the sidewall 8 of the base 4
has a circumferential notch 50 cut therein and extending
- along the inner surface of the sidewall 8. The notch 50
extends parallel to and spaced above the bottom wall 6
and spaced below and parallel to the top edge 22 of the
base sidewall 8. The baffle is snapped into the notch 50
in the sidewall 8, with its outer edge fully within the
notch 50, to hold the baffle in place within the base 4.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the baffle 52 is
substantially flat and extends at about a 90~ angle to
the sidewall 8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the
baffle 54 is angled downwardly and inwardly toward the
bottom wall 6 of the base 4. In the FIG. 15 and FIG. 16
embodiments, the base 4 has a circumferential notch
molded into the sidewall 8 to receive the baffle. In the
FIG. 15 embodiment, the notch 56 extends substantially
parallel to and spaced from the bottom wall 6 and top
edge 22 of the base 4. The baffle 58 includes a flat
mounting flange 60 extending along an outer edge which
snaps into the notch 56 to hold the baffle 58 within the
base 4. The FIG. 16 embodiment is similar to the FIG. 15
embodiment, except that the notch 62 and the mounting
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.
flange 64 on the baffle 66 are each angled outward and
downward for a more secure fit of the baffle 66 within the
base 4.
FIGS. 17-19 show several embodiments of a splash
guard insert which can be positioned within and attached to
the interior of a specially designed culture plate base.
The design of the base and splash guard insert are
complementary and function to hold the insert in place
within the base. In each of these embodiments, the splash
guard insert includes a downwardly and inwardly angled flat
baffle similar to that disclosed above, and a downwardly
oriented support leg attached to the baffle along its outer
edge. In the FIG. 17 embodiment, the splash guard insert
includes an elongated baffle 70 attached to a shorter
support leg 72 which contacts the inner surface of the
sidewall 8. The outer surface of the support leg 72
includes a circumferential locking recess 74, which mates
with a complementary circumferential locking ridge 76
extending along the inner surface of the sidewall 8 of the
base 4. The FIG. 17 embodiment also shows a similar locking
ridge 77 along the inner surface of the sidewall 8 and
positioned immediately above and contacting an upper edge 78
of the support leg 72 where the baffle 70 is attached
thereto. The FIG. 17 embodiment also shows the baffle 70
extending at about a 45~ angle to the support leg 72 and
having a length substantially longer than that of the
support leg 72. The FIG. 18 embodiment shows a
substantially shorter baffle 80, extending at about a 60~
angle to the support leg 82. In addition, the support leg
82 has no locking recess, but is surrounded on its upper and
lower edges by locking ridges 84 and 86 on the inner surface
of the sidewall 8 of the base 4. In each of the FIG. 17 and
FIG. 18 embodiments, the lower edge of the support leg and
the outer edge of the baffle are spaced above the bottom
wall 6 of the base 4, and the upper edge of the
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1 4
support leg is spaced below the upper edge 22 of the
base. In the FIG. l9 embodiment, the baffle 88 extends
from the support leg 90 at about a 45~ angle and the
support leg 90 extends down to and sits on the upper
surface of the bottom wall 6 of the base 4. A locking
ridge 92 iS provided immediately above the top edge of
the support leg 90 and below the top edge 22 of the base
4 to hold the splash guard insert securely in place
within the base 4. The baffle 88 in the FIG. l9
embodiment is substantially shorter than the baffle 70 in
the FIG. 17 embodiment, but it likewise has an outer edge
that is spaced from the bottom wall 6.
The FIG. 20 embodiment of a splash guard insert
is similar in many aspects to the splash guard inserts
shown in FIGS. 17-l9. The splash guard insert includes a
baffle 94 attached to a support leg 96 which contacts the
inner surface of the base sidewall 8. The baffle 94 is
curved, but likewise extends inwardly and downwardly and
functions like the baffles discussed above. The splash
guard in FIG. 20 also includes a support arm 98 which
extends upwardly from an outer edge of the baffle 94 and
is offset slightly outward from the support leg 96
located therebeneath. The sidewall 8 has a narrow offset
lO0 extending beneath its top edge 22, which forms a
support shoulder 102 for the splash guard insert. The
support arm 98 of the splash guard insert sits in the
shoulder 102, with the support arm 98 adjacent and
contacting an upper portion of the sidewall 8 and with
the support leg 96 adjacent and contacting a lower
portion of the sidewall 8. The lower edge of the support
leg 96 iS preferably spaced above the base bottom wall 6
as shown.
FIGS. 21 and 22 show a culture plate base 4
having a flat, helical or a spiral-shaped baffle 104
35 positioned therein. This baffle 104 extends
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substantially from the bottom wall 6, along and attached
to the inner surface of the sidewall 8 and to the top
edge 22 of the sidewall 8.
FIGS. 23-28 show splash guards which can be
inserted into the base of a st~dArd culture plate
without modification to the base. In the e_bodiment
shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the splash guard insert is
similar to that shown in FIG. 19 above. The splash guard
insert is a ring-ch~pe~ structure including an angled
baffle 106 and a support leg 108 connected thereto which
extends downwardly to and sits upon the upper surface of
the bottom wall 6 when the splash guard is positioned
within the base 4. While this splash guard could be
formed as a solid ring-shaped element, it can also be
formed, as shown, of an elongated, extruded member which
is bent to form the ring shape. This is shown more
clearly in FIG. 23 which shows the splash guard being
inserted into the culture plate base 4. Due to the
inherent tendency of an extruded member to regain its
initial shape, the extruded splash guard insert formed
into a circular shape will exert force against the inner
surface of the sidewall 8 and remain securely in place.
Reference number 110 in FIG. 24 shows where the ends of
the extruded member abut each other when the splash guard
insert is in place within the base 4.
The splash guard embodiment shown in FIGS. 25
and 26 is also an insert for a standard culture plate
base 4. This splash guard includes a continuous, angled
baffle 112 with a plurality of spaced, separate support
legs 114 ext~n~ing downwardly from and attached to the
baffle 112. The support legs 114 are preferably spaced
evenly about the baffle 112 and in sufficient numhers to
hold the baffle 112 above the bottom wall 6 of the base
4. In the area of the support legs, this splash guard
has much the same cross-sectional shape as that shown in
FIG. 24. However, the FIGS. 25 and 26 splash guard is
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~ 6
lighter and uses less material since the support legs 114
are positioned only in several locations along the baffle
112, rather than the continuous, wall-like support leg
108 shown in the FIGS. 23 and 24 embodiment.
The splash guard insert shown in FIGS. 27 and
28 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24,
with an angled baffle 116 attached to a downwardly
oriented support leg 118. In addition, the splash guard
shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 can be a solid member or can be
an extruded member which is bent into a circular shape as
shown in FIG. 27. However, unlike the FIGS. 23 and 24
embodiment, the support leg 118 in the FIGS. 27 and 28
embodiment extends downwardly along only a portion of the
base sidewall 8. The support leg 118 stops short of and
is spaced above the bottom wall 8 as shown in FIG. 28.
In this embodiment, the tension of the bent, extruded
splash guard exerted against the inner surface of the
sidewall 8 should be sufficient to hold the splash guard
insert in place. However, it would be preferred that
this splash guard be securely affixed to the inner
surface of the sidewall 8 by adhesives or the like,
particularly if the splash guard insert is formed
initially in a ring shape.
FIGS. 29-32 show a splash guard which is
attached to the base 4 of a standard culture plate by
hanging the splash guard on the sidewall 8 along its top
edge 22. This splash guard includes an inverted U-shaped
support bracket 120 which is configured to straddle the
top edge 22 and securely contact both the inner and outer
surfaces of the base sidewall 8. The support bracket 120
includes an inner member 122 and outer member 124 joined
by top member 126. An angled baffle 128 is attached
along its outer edge to the inner member 122 of the
support bracket 120. A ring-shaped gasket or seal or
adhesive member 130 can be positioned between the top
edge 22 of the sidewall 8 and the support bracket 120,
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beneath the top member 126, to hold the splash guard in
place. The gasket 130 can be die cut or the like and made
from silicone, close cell urethane or other foams. The
baffle 128 can be connected to the lower edge of the inner
member 122 of the support bracket 120 as shown in FIGS. 29-
31 or can be connected to a middle area of the inner member
122 of the support bracket 120 as shown in FIG. 32. The
FIG. 32 embodiment has a longer length of the inner member
122 contacting the sidewall 8 and may provide a more stable
and secure fit than the FIGS. 29-31 embodiment. As shown in
FIG. 32, if the top edge 22 of the sidewall 8 of the base 4
has a flange 132 or the like, the support bracket 120 can be
configured to accommodate this element. The hang-on splash
guard shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 is formed as an extruded
member similar to the splash guard insert shown in FIGS. 23,
24, 27 and 28. While an extruded construction is preferred,
the hang-on splash guard can also be formed as a solid,
ring-shaped element.
FIGS. 33-36 show another arrangement for a splash
guard which can be inserted into the base of a standard
culture plate. In this arrangement, an annular, ring-shaped
baffle, such as one similar to that shown in FIG. 15, is
provided with a frictional engagement member along its outer
peripheral edge. Through the use of this frictional
engagement member, the baffle can be positioned within the
base at any desired height and held in place without the
need for special modifications to the sidewall 8 of the base
4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, a double
gasket 140 is provided along the outer peripheral edge of a
mounting flange 142 attached to the baffle 144. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, an O-ring 146 is
provided along the outer peripheral edge of a mounting
flange 148 attached to the baffle 150. By merely pushing
the splash guard into the base 4, as shown in FIG. 33, the
frictional
CA 02204862 1997-0~-08
WO96/15219 PCT~S95/14384
1 ~
engagement member (double gasket 140 or O-ring 146 or the
like) contacts the inner surface of the sidewall 8 and
holds the splash guard (baffle and mounting flange)
securely in place. The double gasket 140 or O-ring 146
can be made from a urethane or silicone material.
FIGS. 37-40 show additional modifications which
can be made to the splash guard of the present invention,
whether included in a baffle integral, an insert,
or a hang-on arrangement. Corrugations or other
irregularities can be provided on the inner, liquid
facing surfaces of the splash guard to diffuse and break
up fluid flows therealong. These features provide a
damping action which slows the fluid flows and helps
ensure that the fluids remain within the base. For
clarity sake, FIGS. 37-40 show a splash guard including a
baffle 160 and a support leg 162 attached thereto. FIG.
37 shows rounded corrugations 164 provided on an inner
surface of the baffle 160 along its entire length. FIG.
38 shows rounded corrugations 166 provided along the
inner surface of the support leg 162 along its entire
length. FIG. 39 shows rounded corrugations 168 provided
along a portion of the inner surface of the baffle 160
near its inner edge. FIG. 40 shows an arrangement
similar to that in FIG. 39, but with a pointed
corrugation 170 on the baffle 160, rather than rounded
corrugations. The corrugations or other surface
irregularities can be provided on one or both of the
baffle 160 and support leg 162, along all or a portion of
the length of their inner surfaces.
The culture plate bases and lids and the
various splash guards shown in the drawings and described
above may be made of various available materials and
utilizing various available manufacturing technlques. As
one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, some
materials and/or manufacturing techniques may be more
appropriate for a particular design. One or more of the
CA 02204862 1997-0~-08
wog6/1s21s PCT~S95/14384
~ o
following materials should prove to be satisfactory:
nylon, polycarbonates, crystal polystyrene, polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol
(PETG), copolyesters, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-
density polyethylene (HDPE) and urethanes. In addition,one or more of the following manufacturing tech~igues may
be appropriate: blow molding, injection molding,
compression molding, vacuum/thermo forming and extrusion.
Post manufacturing and assembly operations may include
me~h~n;cal assembly, spin welding, sonic welding, spot
sonic welding, adhesive bonding and spot adhesive
bonding. The extrusion process is appropriate for the
splash guard inserts shown in FIGS. 17-32 and 37-40, but
not for the other elements in these or other figures.
Injection molding and compression molding are the
preferred techn;ques for manufacturing the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 9-10 and the base shown in FIGS. 13-14.
Blow molding is the preferred terh~ique for manufacturing
the emhoAiment shown in FIGS. 11-12. Compression molding
may not be appropriate for forming the base shown in
FIGS. 1-4. Blow molding may not be appropriate for
manufacturing the splash guards shown in FIGS. 15-30.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-10 and the base shown in
FIGS. 13-14 are preferably made from polysLy~ene. The
embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-12 is preferably made from
PET, PETG or PVC. The stAn~Ard culture plate bases are
typically made from polystyrene, PET, PETG or PVC, but
this is not particularly crucial. Otherwise, any of the
manufacturing t~hn;ques and/or materials may be
employed.
Having described above the presently preferred
embodiments of the present invention, it is to be
understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied
within the scope of the appended claims.
