Incubator stand and incubator docking system
Inventors
Butler, Stephen James • Wilkins, Stephen Mark Joseph
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10967379-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
An incubator stand for holding a plurality of incubators in a stacked arrangement, the incubator stand comprising: a stand base; a shaft element upstanding from the stand base; and a plurality of incubator bases rotatably received on the shaft element, each incubator base forming a support for or forming part of an incubator. A stop element is also provided which prevents or limits angular displacement of each incubator base, so that each incubator base can be pivoted out from a stack of said incubator bases to in use access an incubator associated therewith without causing the stack to topple. An incubator docking system and incubator system for transferring incubators between different environmental conditions are also provided.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an incubator stand for holding a plurality of incubators in a stacked arrangement. The stand includes a stand base and a shaft upstanding from the stand base, and a plurality of incubator bases are rotatably received on the shaft, each incubator base forming a support for or forming part of an incubator. Each incubator base is a caddy for releasably receiving an incubator thereon.
A stop is coupled to the shaft and is configured to limit angular displacement of each incubator base about the shaft, so that each incubator base can be pivoted out from a stack of said incubator bases to access an in use incubator associated therewith without causing the stack to topple. The stop defines a maximum angular displacement, and each incubator base has a maximum width less than a maximum width of the stand base.
Each caddy includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with a fluid-supply conduit extending from the stand base. The fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port are fluid-tightly releasably engagable with corresponding incubator ports on the incubator from the caddy, and a fluid shut-off valve at or adjacent to the fluid inlet port and/or fluid outlet port is operated by a closure activation element on release of the incubator from the caddy.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim. It covers a stacked incubator stand with rotatable caddies on an upstanding shaft, a pivot-limiting stop to prevent toppling during access, and releasable fluid-tight fluid connections with a shut-off valve actuated on release; dependent claims further add electrical wiring/connectors and locking/pivot constraints.
Stacked incubator stand with rotatable caddies on an upstanding shaft
An incubator stand for holding a plurality of incubators in a stacked arrangement, including a stand base, an upstanding shaft, and a plurality of incubator bases rotatably received on the shaft, each incubator base forming a support for or forming part of an incubator.
Stop limiting angular displacement for pivoting without toppling
A stop coupled to the shaft and configured to limit angular displacement of each incubator base about the shaft, so that each incubator base can be pivoted out from a stack to access an in use incubator associated therewith without causing the stack to topple.
Fluid-supply conduit with fluid-tight releasable engagement to incubator ports
A fluid-supply conduit extending from the stand base, wherein each incubator base is a caddy for releasably receiving an incubator thereon, and each caddy includes a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the fluid-supply conduit, the inlet and outlet ports being fluid-tightly releasably engagable with corresponding incubator ports on said incubator from the caddy.
Closure-activated fluid shut-off valve on incubator release
A fluid shut-off valve at or adjacent to the fluid inlet port and/or fluid outlet port, and a closure activation element which operates the fluid shut-off valve on release of the said incubator from the caddy.
Electrical-wiring loom with releasable electrical connectors to each caddy and incubator
The stand includes an electrical-wiring loom extending from the stand base, and each caddy has at least one electrical connector releasably engageable with a corresponding incubator connector.
Automatically latchable hooked arm locking element
A releasable locking element includes at least one hooked arm automatically latchable with a receiver on the incubator.
Constrained stop angular displacement by maximum angular limit
The stop defines a maximum angular displacement of each incubator base of no more than 90 degrees.
Constrained stop angular displacement by maximum width constraint
Each incubator base has a maximum width less than a maximum width of the stand base, and the stop prevents angular displacement beyond the stand base maximum width.
Secondary conduits to each incubator base
Secondary conduits extend from the fluid-supply conduit to fluidly connect each incubator base with the fluid-supply conduit.
Overall, the claim set focuses on maintaining a stable stacked incubator arrangement while enabling access by pivoting a selected rotatable caddy out of the stack without toppling, combined with fluid-tightly releasable fluid connections that include a closure activation element to operate a fluid shut-off valve on incubator release, and further structural refinements for electrical connection, locking, and pivot constraints.
Stated Advantages
Enable access to an in use incubator by pivoting an incubator base out from a stack without causing the stack to topple.
Provide fluid-tightly releasable engagement between caddy fluid inlet/outlet ports and corresponding incubator ports.
Operate a fluid shut-off valve on release of the incubator from the caddy using a closure activation element.
Documented Applications
Providing access to an in-use incubator in a stacked arrangement.
Transferring or using an incubator with different environmental conditions, including benchtop and fume hood environments, by decoupling and re-coupling with docking systems.
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