IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0041072
(2013-09-30)
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등록번호 |
US-9140482
(2015-09-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Popovitch, Lou Spencer
- Bruchs, Christopher Enright
- Mangan, Dan Joseph
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
36 |
초록
▼
A storage basket is configured to hold multiple product units such as blood bags within the cabinet of a freezer. The storage basket includes first and second spaced-apart sidewalls and a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and coupled to these sidewalls. The inclined shelves include a p
A storage basket is configured to hold multiple product units such as blood bags within the cabinet of a freezer. The storage basket includes first and second spaced-apart sidewalls and a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and coupled to these sidewalls. The inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures that defined storage receptacles for product units as well as additional flow apertures to ensure minimal hindrance of cooling air flow within the freezer. The storage basket also includes handles that enable easy grasping and movement of multiple product units at once into and out of the freezer. As a result, the amount of time needed to cool product units down to a desired temperature with the freezer is reduced and the storage density within the freezer is increased.
대표청구항
▼
1. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and s
1. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and second spaced-apart sidewalls;a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, the plurality of inclined shelves being configured to support the multiple product units thereon and being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane; andat least one handle for permitting manual grasping of the storage basket during movement of the storage basket into and out of the freezer,wherein the plurality of inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures configured to enable the cooling air flow in the cabinet to move around and through the storage basket and around the multiple product units when the storage basket is located in the freezer, andwherein each of the plurality of inclined shelves further comprises:an inclined shelf surface that is generally planar and is configured to support the multiple product units thereon, the inclined shelf surface defining a front edge and a rear edge;a front wall that is generally planar and extends upwardly from adjacent the front edge of the inclined shelf surface and positioned to prevent the multiple product units from sliding off of the inclined shelf surface; anda rear wall that is generally planar and extends downwardly from adjacent the rear edge of the inclined shelf surface. 2. The storage basket of claim 1, wherein the at least one handle includes first and second handles positioned proximate to the first and second sidewalls, respectively. 3. The storage basket of claim 2, wherein the first and second handles extend upwardly from the respective first and second sidewalls and also extend inwardly from the respective first and second sidewalls so as to overlie at least one of the plurality of inclined shelves. 4. The storage basket of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sidewalls includes positioning slots configured to be located adjacent the front wall and the rear wall of each of the plurality of inclined shelves, and each of the plurality of inclined shelves further comprises: positioning tabs projecting outwardly from the front wall and from the rear wall, the positioning tabs being inserted into the positioning slots in the first and second sidewalls when the plurality of inclined shelves is operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls. 5. The storage basket of claim 4, wherein the first and second sidewalls and the plurality of inclined shelves are formed from punched sheets of metal, and wherein the positioning tabs on the plurality of inclined shelves are fastened to the first and second sidewalls at the positioning slots to fix the plurality of inclined shelves in position relative to the first and second sidewalls. 6. The storage basket of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air flow apertures includes a first plurality of air flow apertures and a second plurality of air flow apertures defining at least one of a shape or size that is different than the first plurality of air flow apertures, such that the first plurality of air flow apertures are sized to indicate receptacle locations that receive an individual unit of the multiple product units. 7. The storage basket of claim 6, wherein each individual unit comprises a bag for receiving fluid samples, and further wherein the first plurality of air flow apertures are each shaped to receive a projecting portion of a respective bag such that, when fluid inside the bag freezes, and the projecting portion in the shape of the first plurality of air flow apertures becomes visible on the bag when flipped over, thereby visually confirming the frozen state of fluid inside the bag. 8. The storage basket of claim 6, wherein each of the receptacle locations defined by the first plurality of air flow apertures is separated from other receptacle locations by one or more of the second plurality of air flow apertures, thereby ensuring that the cooling air flow passes between and around all sides of each of the multiple product units positioned on the storage basket. 9. The storage basket of claim 1, wherein the storage basket is configured to be placed within a freezer defining a total cabinet width, and wherein the plurality of inclined shelves is dimensioned with a basket width substantially equal to the total cabinet width. 10. The storage basket of claim 1, wherein the storage basket is configured to be placed within a freezer defining a total cabinet width, and wherein the plurality of inclined shelves is dimensioned with a basket width smaller than the total cabinet width so that multiple storage baskets may be used side-by-side. 11. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and second spaced-apart sidewalls;a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, the plurality of inclined shelves being configured to support the multiple product units thereon and being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane; andat least one handle for permitting manual grasping of the storage basket during movement of the storage basket into and out of the freezer,wherein the plurality of inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures configured to enable the cooling air flow in the cabinet to move around and through the storage basket and around the multiple product units when the storage basket is located in the freezer,wherein each of the plurality of inclined shelves further comprises:an inclined shelf surface configured to support the multiple product units thereon, the inclined shelf surface defining a front edge and a rear edge;a front wall extending upwardly from adjacent the front edge of the inclined shelf surface and positioned to prevent the multiple product units from sliding off of the inclined shelf surface; anda rear wall extending downwardly from adjacent the rear edge of the inclined shelf surface, andwherein the plurality of inclined shelves includes a first inclined shelf and a second inclined shelf positioned rearward of the first inclined shelf, and wherein the rear wall of the first inclined shelf is in abutting contact with the front wall of the second inclined shelf when the first and second inclined shelves are operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls. 12. The storage basket of claim 11, wherein the rear wall of the first inclined shelf rides over the front wall of the second inclined shelf when the first and second inclined shelves are operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, thereby positioning the rear wall of the first inclined shelf rearward of the front wall of the second inclined shelf. 13. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and second spaced-apart sidewalls;a plurality of inclined shelves extending between and operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, the plurality of inclined shelves being configured to support the multiple product units thereon and being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane; andat least one handle for permitting manual grasping of the storage basket during movement of the storage basket into and out of the freezer,wherein the plurality of inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures configured to enable the cooling air flow in the cabinet to move around and through the storage basket and around the multiple product units when the storage basket is located in the freezer, andwherein the plurality of inclined shelves includes a first inclined shelf and a second inclined shelf, each further comprising:an inclined shelf surface configured to support the multiple product units thereon, the inclined shelf surface defining a front edge and a rear edge; anda front wall extending upwardly from adjacent the front edge of the inclined shelf surface and positioned to prevent the multiple product units from sliding off of the inclined shelf surface,wherein the first and second inclined shelves are at least partially nested by positioning the front wall and the front edge of the second inclined shelf underneath the inclined shelf surface of the first inclined shelf and forward from the rear edge of the first inclined shelf, thereby positioning at least a portion of the multiple product units located on the second inclined shelf directly underneath at least a portion of the multiple product units located on the first inclined shelf. 14. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and second spaced-apart sidewalls; anda plurality of inclined shelves extending between and operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, the plurality of inclined shelves including an inclined shelf surface that is generally planar, is configured to support the multiple product units thereon, and is oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane;wherein the plurality of inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures configured to enable the cooling air flow in the cabinet to move around and through the storage basket and around the multiple product units when the storage basket is located in the freezer, and wherein the plurality of air flow apertures includes a first plurality of air flow apertures and a second plurality of air flow apertures defining at least one of a shape or size that is different than the first plurality of air flow apertures, such that the first plurality of air flow apertures are sized to indicate receptacle locations that receive an individual unit of the multiple product units, and the generally planar inclined shelf surface includes apertures from both the first plurality of air flow apertures and the second plurality of air flow apertures. 15. The storage basket of claim 14, wherein each individual unit comprises a bag for receiving fluid samples, and further wherein the first plurality of air flow apertures are each shaped to receive a projecting portion of a respective bag such that, when fluid inside the bag freezes, and the projecting portion in the shape of the first plurality of air flow apertures becomes visible on the bag when flipped over, thereby visually confirming the frozen state of fluid inside the bag. 16. The storage basket of claim 14, wherein the first and second pluralities of air flow apertures are arranged on the plurality of inclined shelves such that when the multiple product units are placed onto the first plurality of air flow apertures and when the storage basket is placed into the freezer, the second plurality of air flow apertures remains uncovered by the multiple product units to enable the cooling air flow to freely flow around all sides of the multiple product units. 17. A storage basket for holding multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the storage basket comprising: first and second spaced-apart sidewalls; anda plurality of inclined shelves extending between and operatively coupled to the first and second sidewalls, the plurality of inclined shelves being configured to support the multiple product units thereon and being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane;wherein the plurality of inclined shelves include a plurality of air flow apertures configured to enable the cooling air flow in the cabinet to move around and through the storage basket and around the multiple product units when the storage basket is located in the freezer, and wherein the plurality of air flow apertures includes a first plurality of air flow apertures and a second plurality of air flow apertures defining at least one of a shape or size that is different than the first plurality of air flow apertures, such that the first plurality of air flow apertures are sized to indicate receptacle locations that receive an individual unit of the multiple product units, andwherein each of the receptacle locations defined by the first plurality of air flow apertures is separated from other receptacle locations by one or more of the second plurality of air flow apertures, thereby ensuring that the cooling air flow passes between each of the multiple product units positioned on the storage basket. 18. A method of storing multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the method comprising: positioning multiple product units onto a plurality of inclined shelves of a storage basket, the storage basket also including first and second sidewalls and at least one handle for permitting manual grasping of the storage basket;moving the storage basket into the cabinet of the freezer and onto one of the plurality of supporting shelves such that all of the multiple product units on the storage basket are simultaneously inserted into the freezer, the plurality of inclined shelves being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane; andclosing a door that provides access into the cabinet after moving the storage basket onto the corresponding supporting shelf, thereby enabling the cooling air flow to rapidly cool the multiple product units by flowing through the plurality of supporting shelves and by flowing through a plurality of air flow apertures provided in the storage basket,wherein the plurality of air flow apertures in the storage basket includes first and second pluralities of air flow apertures, the first plurality of air flow apertures defining receptacle locations for receiving individual bags containing fluid samples, and the method further comprises:laying the bags containing fluid samples onto the receptacle locations such that a projecting portion of the bags extends into the first plurality of air flow apertures; andflipping the bags over to determine if the projecting portion of the bags remains visible, which indicates that fluid inside the bags is frozen. 19. A method of storing multiple product units inside a freezer, the freezer including a cabinet communicating with a cooling air flow and having a plurality of supporting shelves configured to enable the cooling air flow to move within the cabinet, the method comprising: positioning multiple product units onto a plurality of inclined shelves of a storage basket, the storage basket also including first and second sidewalls and at least one handle for permitting manual grasping of the storage basket;moving the storage basket into the cabinet of the freezer and onto one of the plurality of supporting shelves such that all of the multiple product units on the storage basket are simultaneously inserted into the freezer, the plurality of inclined shelves being oriented at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane; andclosing a door that provides access into the cabinet after moving the storage basket onto the corresponding supporting shelf, thereby enabling the cooling air flow to rapidly cool the multiple product units by flowing through the plurality of supporting shelves and by flowing through a plurality of air flow apertures provided in the storage basket,wherein the plurality of air flow apertures in the storage basket includes first and second pluralities of air flow apertures, the second plurality of air flow apertures defining at least one of a shape or size that is different than the first plurality of air flow apertures, the first plurality of air flow apertures defining receptacle locations separated from one another by one or more of the second plurality of air flow apertures, and the method further comprises:placing the multiple product units containing fluid samples onto the receptacle locations, thereby exposing top and bottom sides of the multiple product units to the cooling air flow when the storage basket is placed into the freezer; andleaving the second plurality of air flow apertures uncovered by the multiple product units to enable the cooling air flow to freely flow through the plurality of inclined shelves and around all sides of the multiple product units when the storage basket is placed into the freezer. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: assembling the storage basket from the first and second sidewalls and the plurality of inclined shelves by performing the following steps: aligning positioning tabs projecting from front and rear walls of the plurality of inclined shelves with positioning slots formed in the first and second sidewalls;inserting the positioning tabs through the positioning slots in the first and second sidewalls; andfixing the positioning tabs to the first and second sidewalls at the positioning slots to couple the plurality of inclined shelves into position so as to extend between the first and second sidewalls.
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