United States Patent
`
`72 Inventor
`
`21 Appl No
`22 Filed
`45 Patented
`73 Assignee
`
`Stanford L Adler
`Monsey NY
`75613
`Sept 25 1970
`Dec 7 1971
`Justin J Shapiro
`Berkeley Calif
`
`54 TEST TUBE ROCKER AND ROTATOR
`10 Claims 9 Drawing Figs
`52 US Cl
`
`51 Int CI
`50 Field of Search
`
`25956
`25957 25975 25981
`BOlf 1100
`2595457
`73 75 81 72 31041 156
`
`W3625485
`
`56
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`31944
`2345130
`3480259
`111969
`Primary ExaminerEdward L Roberts
`AttorneyHerman L Gordon
`
`Latham
`
`Schletz
`
`25954
`25956 X
`
`ABSTRACT A rotating or rocking rack device for test tubes
`or vials The rack device consists of a support on which a shaft
`is rotatably mounted the shaft having clips for supporting test
`tubes or vials A bidirectional motor is mounted on the sup
`port and is connected directly to the shaft The shaft has an
`arm which can be adjusted to engage the housing of the motor
`causing the motor to oscillate the shaft or it can be adjusted to
`rotate the shaft con
`clear the housing whereby the motor will
`tinuously in one direction
`
`3
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`41
`1
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`r
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`35
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`28
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`22
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`2
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`28
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`3
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`443
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`3
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`r
`6
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`11
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`7111 7
`2
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`BioRad Exhibit 2006
`IPR201700054
`Page 1 of 5
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`PATENTED DEC
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`71971
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`3625485
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`SHEET
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`1 OF 2
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`41
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`Lt
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`40 V
`40
`OP0
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`En
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`172
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`114
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`28
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`33
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`3
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`33
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`II
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`F163
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`6
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`11
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`fi
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`33
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`I
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`36
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`11
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`I
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`6 F1G4
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`046
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`INVENTOR
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`rr41AFoico
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`4oL FR
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`BY
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`ATTORNEY
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`BioRad Exhibit 2006
`IPR201700054
`Page 2 of 5
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`PATENTED DEC
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`71971
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`3625485
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`SHEET 2 OF 2
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`FIE
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`5PRECTIOAM
`5 YAOIROAOvslifora R
`I
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`7
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`is
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`FIB 8
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`2
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`2
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`135
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`INVENTOR
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`5 r4APoizo L IDLER
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`BY
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`11114t 4x97
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`ATTORNEY
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`BioRad Exhibit 2006
`IPR201700054
`Page 3 of 5
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`

`

`3625485
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`2
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`10
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`its
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`will
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`30
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`35
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`lel
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`view taken
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`detail view taken sub
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`1
`TEST TUBE ROCKER AND ROTATOR
`rigidly locked thereto by a knurled locknut 27 as shown in
`FIG 7
`This invention relates to test tube racks and more particu
`tube racks which rock or rotate test
`tubes sup
`Removably clamped on square shaft 21 are a plurality of
`larly to test
`test tube clips 28 said clips being arranged in oppos
`ported thereon
`resilient
`ing pairs and being retained on the shaft 21 by generally C
`A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and im 5
`shaped square resilient clamps 29 of flat resilient strap metal
`tubes said
`proved rotating or rocking rack device for test
`or the like As shown in 6 each clip 28 has opposed arcuate
`device being simple in construction being compact
`in size
`wings 3030 with a rectangular
`having a large capacity and being easily adjustable to provide
`31 therebetween
`channel
`receiving an arm of the associated clamp 29 The clips 28 have
`different modes of rocking action or of rotating action
`A further object of the invention is to provide an improved
`inclined brace struts 3232 engaging the flat surfaces
`integral
`test tube rack device including means to rock or rotate test
`of shaft 21 on opposite sides of the channels 31 to hold the
`tubes or vials carried thereon the rack device being inexpen
`clips 2828 on opposite sides of shaft 21 with their axes paral
`ie
`sive to manufacture being durable
`in construction being
`readily submersible in a liquid bath and being adapted to sup
`The pairs of clips 2828 may be clamped to pairs of opposite
`port test tubes or vials of a wide range of sizes and to hold the 15
`sides of the square shaft 21 in alternating
`relationship along
`the length of shaft 21 as shown in FIG I Each clip is adapted
`test tubes or vials securely while they are rocked or rotated
`either in the atmosphere or in a liquid bath
`tube or vial 33 for rotation or
`to clampingly
`support a test
`A still
`is to provide an im
`further object of the invention
`to the shaft 21 as
`rocking movement
`in a plane perpendicular
`proved rocking or rotating support device for test tubes or vi A shown in FIG 1
`by a bidirectional
`driven
`device being
`als the support
`Each test
`tube or vial 33 is provided with a stopper 34 to
`synchronous motor which changes its direction whenever
`prevent spilling of the contents thereof during the rocking or
`rotation is impeded the device including simple and easily
`rotating motion of the tube or vial
`manipulated means for adjusting the amplitude of its rocking
`through the end portion of shaft 21
`Threadedly
`engaged
`rotational action as
`a continuous
`action or for providing
`thereto and adjacent wall 14 is a rod 35 bent
`25 perpendicularly
`its top end as shown at 36 to define a
`at right angles at
`length to overly the top wall 38
`horizontal arm 37 of sufficient
`of housing 16 when the arm is in a position substantially paral
`to shaft 21 for example as shown in FIGS 1 and 8 Arm 37
`s provided at its end with a rubber bumper cap 39 to provide
`isimpact against housing 16 in a manner presently to be
`described Rod 35 is provided with a winged locknut
`40
`clampingly engageable with shaft 21 to lock rod 35 rigidly to
`the shaft in an adjusted position relative thereto
`Rod 35 is adjustable to provide three possible modes of
`operation of the device as follows
`1 With arm 37 overlying wall 38 and locked parallel
`to
`shaft 21 and extended only a short distance beyond the radial
`distance of wall 38 to the axis of shaft 21 the bumper 39 will
`40 engage
`top wall 38 at opposite ends of a relatively small angle
`of excursion of the test tubes or vials carried by the shaft 21
`for example as illustrated in FIG 2
`2 With arm 37 overlying wall 38 and locked parallel
`to
`shaft 21 and extended so that bumper 39 is beyond the radial
`distance of the top corners of housing 16 to the axis of shaft
`21 the bumper will clear said top corners and will engage the
`front and rear walls of housing 16 at the opposite ends
`vertical
`of a relatively large angle of excursion of the test tubes or vials
`carried by shaft 21 for example as shown in FIG 3 This
`angle will be of the order of 270° whereas in Case 1 the angle
`of excursion is limited to about 90° or less depending upon
`the adjustment of rod 35
`3 With rod 35 locked in a position such that arm 37 and
`bumper 39 clear housing 16 for example with arm 37 in a
`to shaft 21 as in FIG 4 the shaft 21 and
`plane perpendicular
`the test tubes or vials carried thereby can rotate continuously
`in one direction
`The bidirectional synchronous motor 17 is of a conven
`in US
`60 tional type for example of the type described in detail
`Pat No 3253169 to A W Haydon et al This type of motor
`
`required
`and advantages of
`the invention
`Further objects
`from the following description and claims
`become apparent
`and from the accompanying drawings wherein
`FIG 1
`view of an improved test tube
`is a side elevational
`rack device constructed in accordance with the present
`inven
`tion set to provide relatively short excursion rocking action
`FIG 2 is an end elevational view of the test tube rack device
`of FIG I
`FIG 3 is an end elevational view of the rack device of FIGS
`1 and 2 set to provide relatively wideangle rocking action
`FIG 4 is an end elevational view of the rack device of FIGS
`1 and 2 set
`rotational action
`to provide continuous
`FIG 5 is 5enlarged transverse crosssectional
`substantially on the line 55 of FIG 1
`FIG 6 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line
`66 of FIG 5
`FIG 7 is an enlarged crosssectional
`stantially on the line 77 of FIG 1
`FIG 8 is an enlarged fragmentary
`taken substantially on the line 88 of FIG 2
`FIG 9 is a transverse crosssectional
`tially on the line 99 of FIG 8
`Referring to the drawings 11 generally designates an im
`rack device according to the 50
`tube supporting
`proved test
`invention The device 11 comprises a generally U
`present
`shaped main supporting member 12 of rigid sheet material or
`other suitable material such as sheet metal molded plastic or
`13 and upstanding vertical
`the like having a bottom wall
`transverse end walls 14 and 15 Secured to the end wall 14 is a 55
`in which
`is mounted
`housing 16
`a
`generally
`rectangular
`bidirectional synchronous motor 17 the motor being secured
`against the right transverse vertical wall 18 of the housing 16
`as viewed in FIG 8 and being thus secured adjacent end wall
`14 of member 12
`Motor 17 has an output shaft 19 which is formed at its end
`and will automatically
`tongue 20 Shaft 19 extends through registering
`with a flat
`responsive to a moderate rebound upon encountering an ob
`apertures provided therefor in walls 18 and 14 as shown in
`stacle to its rotation Thus a sufficient
`rebound will develop
`FIG 8
`shaft keyed to 65 when the bumper 39 engages either the top wall 38 in the first
`Designated at 21 is a square supporting
`mode above described or the vertical
`motor shaft 19 and journaled to upstanding right end wall 15
`front or rear wall of
`housing 17 in the second mode above described to cause the
`Thus at its left end as viewed in FIG 1 the shaft 21 is formed
`motor to reverse its direction of rotation Such a rebound will
`with an axially extending slot 22 and with an axial end bore 23
`also develop if bumper 39 is omitted but
`the use of the
`extending for part of the length of said slot The cylindrical
`portion of shaft 19 is received in said bore 23 and the tongue 70 bumper
`to A W
`is desirable to reduce noise
`received in the right end of slot 22 provid
`As above mentioned in the above identified patent
`20 is nonrotatably
`operation of the motor is
`between motor shaft 19 and square
`if unidirectional
`Haydon
`ing a driving connection
`desired a mechanical no back device may be employed but
`shaft 21 The right end of shaft 21 has an axial pivot bore 24
`invention As
`which rotatably receives the reduced pivot stud element 25 of
`there is no requirement
`for this in the present
`a pivot shaft 26 threadedly engaged in upstanding wall 15 and 75 examples of this type of motor equipped with noback
`
`crosssectional
`
`view
`
`view taken substan
`
`will
`
`start
`
`in either direction
`
`reverse
`
`et al
`
`BioRad Exhibit 2006
`IPR201700054
`Page 4 of 5
`
`

`

`3625485
`
`4
`
`3
`devices reference is made to US Pat No 3473058 to R P
`Landgraf et al US Pat No 3501658 to E R Morley US
`Pat No 3225874 to L A Woolley
`and US Pat No
`3462668 to C R Tompson In the case of the bidirectional
`synchronous motor 17 employed in the device of the present
`invention the noback device is omitted
`In operation with the arm 37 set as in FIG 2 Case 1 the
`
`test tubes or vials 33 will
`rock through relatively small angles
`of excursion of the order of 90° or less depending upon the
`adjusted position of rod 35 With the arm 37 set as in FIG 3
`Case 2 the test tubes or vials 33 will
`rock through relatively
`wide angles of excursion of the order of 270° With the arm
`37 set as in FIG 4 the test tubes or vials 33 will
`rotate con
`in one direction namely the starting direction of
`
`tinuously
`motor 17
`The motor 17 may be provided with a control switch 41
`conveniently mounted on the top wall 38 of housing 16 as
`shown in FIG 1
`The device 11 may be employed either
`in the horizontal
`position thereof shown in FIG 1 or in an inclined or vertical
`position with the shaft 21 carrying the test tubes or vials 33 im
`mersed in a liquid bath for temperature control
`As will be readily apparent different types or sizes of clips
`28 may be easily substituted as required by detaching shaft
`21 from support 12 by backing off pivot shaft 26 from the
`shaft 21 sufficiently
`to allow said shaft 21 to be disengaged
`from motor shaft 19 The original clips may be slid off the
`shaft 21 and may easily be replaced by the desired substitute
`clips after which the shaft 21 may be reinstalled in the opera
`tive position thereof shown in FIG 1
`abutment
`types of adjustable
`Obviously other
`suitable
`members may be employed in place of the screw adjusted
`abutment arm 37 within the spirit of the present invention
`The shaft 21 may be replaced by a stirring rod with blades
`in a beaker
`the device 11 supported vertically and reagent
`placed on the wall member
`15 may be mixed by the stirring
`rod
`Likewise dialysis bags of membrane may be attached to the
`clips 28 the device 11 immersed in the dialyzing reagent and
`by movement of the bags
`in the bags accelerated
`dialysis
`through the dialyzing reagent The clips employed may be
`suitably designed to simultaneously hold and close the dialysis
`membrane bags
`While a specific embodiment of an improved rocking or
`rotating support device for test tubes or vials or other con
`tainers used in a laboratory has been disclosed in the foregoing
`description it will be understood that various modifications
`within the spirit of the invention may occur
`to those skilled in
`is intended that no limitations be placed
`the art Therefore it
`except as defined by the scope of the ap
`on the invention
`
`pended claims
`What is claimed is
`1 An agitating rack device for containers comprising sup
`port means shaft means rotatably mounted on said support
`to said shaft means a
`5 means means to secure containers
`bidirectional motor mounted on said support means said
`motor being of a type which automatically
`reverses responsive
`an obstacle means drivingly coupling
`to encountering
`said
`motor to said shaft means and abutment means on the shaft
`10 means engageable with the support means during rotation of
`said shaft means to cause reversal of said motor and reversal
`of the direction of rotation of said shaft means
`2 The rack device of claim 1 and means to at times adjust
`said abutment means to a nonengaging position with respect
`15 to said support means whereby to allow continuous
`rotation
`in one direction of said shaft means
`3 The rack device of claim 2 and wherein said abutment
`means comprises rotatably adjustable rod means mounted on
`said shaft means said rod means being provided with a projec
`20 tion spaced from the shaft means and being engageable with
`said support means during rotation of the shaft means
`4 The rack device of claim 3 and wherein said rod means is
`threadedly engaged with said shaft means and is provided with
`to clamp it rigidly to said shaft means
`a locknut
`5 The rack device of claim 4 and wherein said projection
`the end of said rod
`a laterally extending arm at
`
`25
`
`said
`
`comprises
`means
`6 The rack device of claim 5 and wherein said support
`means includes
`said motor
`a housing surrounding
`laterally extending arm being engageable with portions of said
`housing to cause said motor to reverse its direction
`7 The rack device of claim 1 and wherein said shaft means
`comprises a square shaft and said container securing means
`comprises spring clips secured to the sides of said square shaft
`8 The rack device of claim 7 and wherein the spring clips
`are arranged in pairs secured to opposite sides of said square
`shaft
`9 The rack device of claim 8 and wherein said pairs of
`spring clips are secured to alternate pairs of opposite sides of
`40 the square shaft along the length of said square shaft
`10 The rack device of claim 6 and wherein said support
`means comprises a generally Ushaped rigid member having a
`bottom wall and upstanding end walls said motor and housing
`being mounted on one of said end walls said shaft means corn
`45 prising a square shaft drivingly coupled at one end to said mo
`tor means on the other end wall pivotally supporting the other
`end of said square shaft said container supporting means
`comprising pairs of spring clips secured to alternate pairs of
`opposite sides of the square shaft along the length of said
`5 square shaft
`
`313
`
`35
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`55
`
`60
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`65
`
`70
`
`75
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`BioRad Exhibit 2006
`IPR201700054
`Page 5 of 5
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