Methods and apparatus to agitate a liquid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789454-B2
Application number	US-201615347556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

Method and apparatus to agitate a liquid are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a carrier having a base that includes a ridge extending from the base and a collar extending from the base. The example apparatus also includes a container supported on the base, the container movable between (A) a locked positon in which the ridge fixedly engages the container to non-rotatably couple the container to the base and (B) an unlocked position in which the container is disengaged from the ridge and the container is rotatable about the collar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a carrier having a base, the base including:
a ridge extending from the base; and
a collar extending from the base; and

a container supported on the base, the container movable between (A) a locked positon in which the ridge fixedly engages the container to non-rotatably couple the container to the base and (B) an unlocked position in which the container is disengaged from the ridge and the container is rotatable about the collar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ridge extends from the base a first distance and the collar extends from the base a second distance greater than the first distance.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, in the unlocked position, the container is raised a third distance away from the base, the third distance being between the first distance and the second distance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a rim extending from a bottom of the container, and wherein the ridge is to engage the rim when the container is in the locked position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a connector extending from a bottom of the container, the connector disposed within the collar in the locked position and the unlocked position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the connector is a first connector, and wherein the base of the carrier includes an opening extending through the collar and aligned with the first connector of the container, the opening to receive a second connector to engage the first connector and move the container between the locked positon and the unlocked position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container includes a throat extending from a top of the container, the throat having a first opening to receive a pipette to aspirate or dispense a liquid from the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the carrier includes a cover disposed over the top of the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cover includes a second opening aligned with the first opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the throat is at least partially disposed in the second opening.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the throat is slidable in the second opening when the container is moved between the locked position and the unlocked position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the throat is rotatable in the second opening when the container in the unlocked position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , further including a cap to be coupled to the throat of the container, the cap extending at least partially into the second opening of the cover when the cap is coupled to the throat.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container is a first container, further including a second container non-rotatably coupled to the base.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the ridge and the collar define a first container support to retain the first container, the base further including a second container support to retain the second container.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the ridge is a first ridge, and wherein the second container support includes a second ridge to engage the second container to non-rotatably couple the second container to the base.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including a third container, the base further including a third container support to retain the third container.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container has a rounded rectangular shape.

Assignees

• Abbott Lab

Inventors

• Luoma Ii Robert Paul

Classifications

• B01L2200/025

  Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other · CPC title

• B01L2300/0861

  Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices · CPC title

• B01L3/527

  for a plurality of reagents · CPC title

• G01N35/04

  Details of the conveyor system {(G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N2035/00465

  Separating and mixing arrangements · CPC title