Modular freezer rack
A rack for providing a lower cost solution for manufacturing and shipping is disclosed. The rack, suitable for use in freezer or cooling components comprises a top element, a bottom element and side elements between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein three of said elements are joined together at corresponding edges with a flexible hinge mechanism, a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism; and a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge.
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Storage of biological samples often requires the use of a refrigerator and/or freezer unit. Such samples are commonly sealed in plastic micro-tubes (such as Cryovial brand from Simport Plastiques Ltee, Beloeil, Quebec, Canada), which are small vessels, each of which typically holds a total volume of 1 to 3 milliliters, and has a separate sealing screw cap. These tubes are commonly organized in standard 81-place (9×9 configuration) or 100-place (10×10 configuration) storage boxes or trays. The boxes and the tube holder frame can be made from cardboard (inexpensive, but not very durable), or plastic (such as polypropylene, or polycarbonate, typically with drain holes for liquid nitrogen storage). These boxes are available in different heights (typically 2 inches high or 3 inches high) to accommodate the most popular sized sample tubes. Another popular method stores samples in 96-well or 384-well microtiter plates with sealing lids, or small tubes that are configured into a 96-place pattern and have the same standard footprint dimensions of microtiter plates.
Microtube storage boxes (i.e., trays) and storage microplates are typically organized in a laboratory refrigerator or freezer using a stainless steel rack having properly sized openings (shelf spaces) to hold the boxes (or plates). Current freezer racks are typically made of a stainless steel material having a number of shelves for holding specimen trays. The freezer racks are typically sized to accommodate known freezer compartment sizes such that one or more freezer racks may be placed within freezer compartment. The racks are sized such that a maximum amount of space within the freezer compartment is occupied, and a maximum number of storage boxes, trays or plates can be accommodated.
However, conventional freezer racks are bulky items as their construction requires that the racks be manufactured according to the desired size. This bulkiness further complicates the shipping of the racks as the shipping materials must accommodate the fully constructed freezer rack. In addition, the racks are constructed with the knowledge that the rack is suitable for a slide-in up-right freezer unit or a drop-in (chest style) freezer unit, and are constructed with shelf spaces for specific height boxes. Hence, there is currently a need for a lightweight and modular freezer rack that may be shipped in a disassembled, flat packaged form, assembled on-site and suitable for different sizes and types of freezer units, and can be used for various height boxes (such as common 2 inch and 3 inch high boxes).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA rack for providing a lower cost solution for manufacturing and shipping is disclosed. The rack, suitable for use in freezer or cooling components comprises a top element, a bottom element and side elements between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein four of said elements are joined together at three shared edges with a flexible hinge mechanism, a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism; and a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge.
It is to be understood that these drawings are solely for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. It will be appreciated that the same reference numerals, possibly supplemented with reference characters, where appropriate, have been used throughout to identify corresponding parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONEach of top member (or element) 110, first side member 120, bottom member 130 and second side member 140 is a known material thickness. Between each member 110, 120, 130, and 140 the material thickness is substantially reduced so as to produce a region in which the member may be brought into substantially vertical orientation. Areas 145 are referred to in the art as a flexible hinge or “living hinge.” The use of a continuous, foldable, hinged material is advantageous as it allows for the flat shipment of the freezer rack in accordance with the principles of the invention. A hinge member 145 is also incorporated along a back edge of each of side members 120 and 140 to attach back surface 150.1, 150.2.
Along an edge adjacent to the living hinge of each of top member 110, first side member 120, bottom member 130 and second side member 140 is a plurality of locking or joining mechanisms 160 that lock respective ones of the members in substantially vertical orientation when the members are folded along the corresponding hinge. Also shown are catching mechanisms 172.1 on top member 110 and matching mechanism 172.2 on a top portion of back surface 150.1. Similar locking mechanisms 176.1 are shown on bottom member 130 and matching mechanism 176.2 on a bottom portion of back surface 150.1. Locking or catching mechanism 172.1, 172.2 and 176.1, 176.2 retain back surface 150.1 in substantially vertical orientation with top and bottom members 110, 130, respectively. Similar locking mechanisms 170.1, 170.2 and 174.1, 174.2 are shown on back surface 150.2. In one aspect of the invention, catching mechanism 172.2,176.2, 170.2 and 174.2, may represent protrusions that engage corresponding catching mechanism 172.1, 176.1, 170.1, and 174.2, that are formed on back edges of top and bottom elements 110, 130 respectively. Catching mechanism 172.1, for example, may represent a pincer mechanism that engages corresponding protrusion 172.2 to create a snap-fit engagement or joining means. It would be recognized that catching mechanism 172.2 may represent a pincer mechanism and catching mechanism 172.1 may represent a protrusion that engages pincer mechanism 172.2.
Indentures or indents 190 are positioned along a front, first, edge of each of first side member 120 and second side member 140. Indentures 190 provide regions for joining together a plurality of freezer racks 100 when in a folded state, as will be explained with regard to
Although the present invention has been illustrated with respect to a two shelf and a three shelf configuration, it would be recognized that more shelves may be incorporated into the freezer rack 100 by the proper placement of the protrusions 410.
Alternatively, an inner circumference of retaining ring 900 may include a screw thread that may be screwed-onto a screw thread that may be incorporated onto arms 822.1, 822.2, in the absence of lips 824.1, 824. 2. In another embodiment, a cotter pin attachment may be used to retain strap connector 800 in place. In this embodiment, arms 822.1, 822.2, may include a hole that allows for the insertion of a cotter pin. In another embodiment, a spring washer may be used to retain strap connector 800 in place. The-spring washer may be placed over arms 822.1, 822.2 to retain the arms of strap connector 800 tightly against the sides of adjacent freezer racks.
While there has been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A rack comprising:
- a top element, a bottom element and side elements between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein four of said elements are joined together at three shared edges with a flexible hinge mechanism.
- a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism; and
- a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge.
2. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said catching mechanism is positioned along edges of each of said top element and said bottom element.
3. The rack according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a retaining mechanism positioned along said top end and said bottom of each back edge of each of said top and bottom element, said retaining mechanism corresponding to said snap fit retaining mechanism on said back element.
4. The rack according to claim 1, wherein a first edge of each of said side elements includes at least one notch element.
5. The rack according to claim 4, wherein each of said back elements includes a raised area, said raised area corresponding to said notch element on said first edge.
6. The rack according to claim 1, wherein each of said side elements includes a plurality of protrusions extending from an outer surface of said side element to an inner surface of said side element.
7. The rack according to claim 1, wherein said joining mechanism further including:
- a leg element extending diagonally from a top of said connector mechanism, wherein a free end of said leg element contacts an adjacent element surface when said elements are positioned substantially perpendicular.
8. The rack according to claim 7, wherein said leg element is oriented toward a front edge of said side element.
9. The rack according to claim 6, wherein said raised area include a plurality of slots corresponding to said protrusions extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of said side element.
10. A rack comprising:
- a plurality of rack members joined together, wherein said joining mechanism comprises a strap connector extending from a front edge of adjacent ones of said plurality of rack members to a back edge of said adjacent ones of said plurality of rack members, said back edge including a recessed area for capturing an open end of said strap connector with a retaining mechanism.
11. The rack according to claim 10, wherein each of said racks comprises:
- a top element, a bottom element and side element between said top and bottom elements, linearly arranged, wherein three four of said elements are joined together at 3 shared edges with a flexible hinge mechanism,
- a joining mechanism including a catching mechanism and a connecting mechanism, said joining mechanism retaining adjacent ones of said elements in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, each of said elements including at least one of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism and adjacent ones of said elements contain alternate ones of said catching mechanism and said connecting mechanism;
- a back element linearly attached with a flexible hinge mechanism along an edge of each of said side elements, wherein said back element includes a snap fit retaining mechanism along a top end and a bottom end of each edge, wherein
- a front edge of each of said racks including at least one notch element for capturing said strap connector.
12. The rack according to claim 10, wherein a first end of said strap connector includes a snap fit protrusion.
13. The rack according to claim 12, wherein said retaining mechanism is represents a locking ring engaging said snap fit protrusion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 26, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 30, 2010
Applicant: Labnet International, Inc. (Woodbridge, NJ)
Inventor: Michael D. Rosenblum (Hoboken, NJ)
Application Number: 12/459,109
International Classification: A47B 47/00 (20060101); A47B 96/02 (20060101); A47B 96/00 (20060101);