Cryogenic storage rack including rotatable shelves, and associated storage systems and methods
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10542744-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A storage rack for storing and retrieving products to be maintained at a desired cryogenic temperature is provided. The storage rack includes an elongate mounting bar carrying a plurality of shelves, and an elongate stop bar that extends generally parallel to the mounting bar. The shelves are independently rotatable relative to the mounting bar towards and away from the stop bar, thereby enabling alignment of all of the shelves when the storage rack is to be stored, and also enabling easy access to each of the individual shelves. A handle projects upwardly and horizontally in a curved configuration from the stop bar and the mounting bar to provide a gripping surface for moving the storage rack. The shelves receive cylindrical vial containers with threadably removable lids to make retrieval and replacement of sample vials quick to perform, thereby avoiding temperature-induced damage to other samples in the storage rack.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a cryogenic storage rack and a cryogenic storage system for retaining products in a cryogenic environment. The rack includes a framework with an elongate mounting bar and an elongate stop bar coupled to one another, with the stop bar spaced apart from and extending generally parallel to the mounting bar. A handle is coupled to at least one of the stop bar and the mounting bar to enable movement of the storage rack as a whole.
A plurality of shelves are each pivotally coupled to the mounting bar so that the shelves are individually and independently rotatable relative to an axis through the mounting bar. The stop bar provides a limit on rotation of each shelf in both directions, defining end positions by shelf contact with opposite sides of the stop bar, while allowing each shelf to rotate into a multitude of different positions between the end positions. Rotating all of the plurality of shelves into contact with one side of the stop bar causes the plurality of shelves to be aligned for storage.
Each shelf includes a bottom wall and a side wall collectively defining a container receptacle. The receptacles are sized for cylindrical vial containers, with lid functionality associated with a lid element provided by bottom walls of adjacent shelves and a fixed lid plate for the uppermost shelf, secured by clearance gaps. Opposing top cutouts in the side wall allow finger grasp and lifting of a cylindrical vial container from its receptacle, and a curved handle with an enlarged gripping area is used to move the rack in and out of cryogenic tanks.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims: a storage rack claim and a storage system claim. Both independent claims share a common inventive framework of an elongate mounting bar, an elongate stop bar, a movable handle, and pivotally mounted independently rotatable shelves whose rotation is limited by the stop bar to produce an aligned storage configuration.
Aligned storage configuration via stop-bar limited shelf rotation
A plurality of shelves pivotally coupled to an elongate mounting bar are individually and independently rotatable towards and away from contact with an elongate stop bar, where the stop bar limits rotation in both directions to end positions defined by shelf contact with opposite sides of the stop bar, and rotating all shelves into contact with one side of the stop bar aligns the shelves for storage.
Framework with parallel mounting and stop bars and movement handle
A framework including an elongate mounting bar and an elongate stop bar coupled to one another and extending generally parallel to each other, together with a handle coupled to at least one of the stop bar and the mounting bar, the handle configured to enable movement of the storage rack as a whole.
Cryogenic storage system with outer sleeve insertion and rack placement
A cryogenic storage system comprising an outer sleeve element sized to be received in a cryogenic chamber and a storage rack configured to be inserted into the outer sleeve element during placement in the cryogenic chamber, where the storage rack comprises the framework with parallel mounting and stop bars, the handle for movement, and the pivotally coupled shelves limited by the stop bar to provide alignment for storage.
Across both independent claims, the key claim coverage centers on independently rotatable shelves constrained by a stop bar to create an aligned storage configuration, implemented in a parallel mounting bar and stop bar framework with a movement handle, and extended in the system claim by integration with an outer sleeve element sized for insertion into a cryogenic chamber.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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