US3886047A - Culture chamber - Google Patents
Culture chamber Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3886047A US3886047A US412343A US41234373A US3886047A US 3886047 A US3886047 A US 3886047A US 412343 A US412343 A US 412343A US 41234373 A US41234373 A US 41234373A US 3886047 A US3886047 A US 3886047A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- base
- edge
- culture
- annular
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 210000004907 gland Anatomy 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003670 easy-to-clean Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M25/00—Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings
- C12M25/06—Plates; Walls; Drawers; Multilayer plates
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
- C12M23/02—Form or structure of the vessel
- C12M23/10—Petri dish
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
- C12M23/22—Transparent or translucent parts
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
- C12M23/38—Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
- C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
- C12M23/46—Means for fastening
Definitions
- An improved culture box is designed as a chamber with a circularly shaped base and lid with smoothly rounded concave interior surfaces for easy cleaning and added strength under pressure differentials.
- the base and lid are secured together by a single locking ring arranged to telescope over the lid and surround in overlapping relationship the engaged opposed portions of the base and lid. A slight rotation of the ring serves to lock cooperating portions on the base and lid together.
- clay culture boxes are generally of square or rectangular shape and usually include a door which may be opened or separated for inserting cultures for growth under a controlled environment.
- the door must be hermetically sealed so that a controlled atmosphere can be provided. Normally, this atmosphere is brought in and circulated through suitable inlet and outlet tubes in the box.
- the door and box are transparent so that the culture may be observed.
- the interior of the box has corners which are very difficult to clean. Moreover, the corners do not define as efficient a passage for circulating desired gases making up the controlled atmosphere.
- the boxand door are normally fastened together by multiple clamps which require several hand motions to release or fasten.
- the seal normally used is of the surface seal type so that a fairly secure clamping is necessary. Even under these conditions, leaks can develop between the interior and the exterior of the box as a consequence of deformation of the box material.
- the box and door structure must be made of relatively heavy material. As a consequence, the present day boxes are bulky and heavy.
- the present invention contemplates a vastly improved structural design for a culture box in the form of a culture chamber wherein the foregoing problems are substantially overcome.
- the culture chamber comprises circularly shaped base and lid members having concave lower and upper interiors respectively for positioning in opposed relationship to define a smoothly contoured closed interior.
- a single locking ring making up a third element of the assembly is arranged to telescope over the lid to assume a position surrounding in overlapping relationship the engaged opposed portions of the base and lid.
- Cooperating means on the base and lid op-' posed portions and the ring provide a separable securvides for easy cleaning as well as excellent circulation of a controlled atmosphere. This same feature also permits thinner walled sections to be used since the rounded configuration can withstand greater pressure differentials.
- the top of the lid and the bottom of the base are provided with intercoupling arcuate sections enabling a locking of the chambers in a stacked array to be realized so that a stable static stacking results and further, such stack may be agitated without coming apart.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a culture chamber in assembled, sealed relationship in accord with the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the basic members making up the chamber of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the locking structure looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a culture support which may be received within the culture chamber of the present invention.
- the culture chamber comprises a circularly shaped base 10, a circularly shaped lid 11, and a locking ring 12.
- the base may be provided with inlet and outlet gas tubes 13 and 14 as shown.
- the lid 11 is provided on its top with circumferentially spaced arcuate top coupling sections 15, l6, l7 and 18.
- Each of these sections includes an exterior bead such as indicated at 15 for the section 15. Where four sections are provided, their arcuate extent is preferably about thirty degrees and by circumferentially spacing them at equal intervals, the space between adjacent sections will cover about sixty degrees
- the bottom of the base 10, in turn, is similarly provided with circumferentially spaced arcuate bottom coupling sections 19, 20, 21 and 22.
- Each of these sections includes an interior groove such as indicated at 19' for the section 19.
- the arrangement is such that the top sections of one culture chamber may be interdigitated with the bottom sections of another chamber stacked on top of the one chamber and then by a relative rotation, the grooves on the bottom sections receive the beads on the top sections, thereby locking the stacked chambers together.
- the locking ring 12 is arranged to telescope over the lid 11 as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG. 2.
- the lid itself includes inclined guide surfaces 23 for facilitating the radial positioning of the ring 12 in a manner to surround the opposed engaged portions of the base and lid when in assembled relationships.
- its upper annular base edge designated includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips 24. These lips are arranged to cooperate with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending pockets formed on the locking ring 12. Each of the pockets has associated with it a slot 26 formed in an adjacent portion of the ring.
- the sloping guide surfaces 23 on the lid terminate on the lower annular edge of the lid designated II in a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips such as indicated at 27.
- the arrangement is such that the lips 24 in the base and the lips 27 in the lid may receive the pockets of the ring and then by a rotation of the ring, the slots 26 slide over the lips 24 and 27 to thereby effect a thorough locking of the base and lid together.
- Hermetic sealing of the base and lid is effected by an O-ring 28 of the gland type in that it is interposed between the opposed annular base edge 10 and annular lid edge 11'.
- the lip 24 of the base and lip 27 of the lid are shown locked in the slot 26 formed in the locking ring I2.
- the O-ring 28 is sandwiched between opposed walls forming part of the base and lid annular edges so that it can roll with minor changes in the vertical positioning of the lid. Further. the sealing becomes more positive with increased interior pressure.
- FIG. 3 there is shown a culture support in the form of a flat perforated disc 29.
- This culture support in turn may be properly positioned at a desired level as by a support preferably formed with arcuate leg segments such as indicated at 31. These arcuate leg segments fall on a circle of a given diameter corresponding to an annular step 10" formed in the base in a concentric relationship.
- the step 10 is smoothly rounded as are other interior portions.
- the disc 29 may be made integral with the support 30 and several such supports may be stacked in the culture chamber by making the upper edge of the support with a circular step corresponding to 10". Proper atmospheric circulation obtains because of the spacing between the arcuate legs.
- the upper interior corners of the lid and lower interior corners of the base are smoothly rounded as indicated at 32 and 33.
- the upper interior surface of the lid and lower interior surface of the base are of general concave configura tion as indicated at 34 and 35.
- FIG. 5 illustrates more clearly the support 30 and culture support disc 29 as well as the arcuate arrangement of the legs 31.
- the manner in which a culture is supported within the culture chamber does not really form a part of the present invention, except insofar as the provision of the annular step 10" described in FIG. 3 which facilitates proper central indexing of a suitable culture support.
- suitable culture receptacles may be positioned on the culture support disc 29.
- several culture supports may be stacked on the base.
- the lid 11 is then placed over the base 10 with the annular lid edge 11' in opposed engaged relationship with the annular base edge 10' and the lips 27 in alignment with the lips 24 of the base.
- the locking ring 12 is simply telescoped over the top of the lid 11 and circumferentially positioned so that the various pockets receive the lips 27 and 24. Thereafter the locking ring 12 is rotated to cause the slots 26 to receive the lips 27 and 24 so that a thorough locking of the base and lid together results.
- a controlled atmosphere may then be circulated throughout the interior of the culture chamber at a desired temperature and pressure by means of the tubes 13 and 14 described in FIG. 1.
- Disassembly of the chamber is easily accomplished by simply rotating the locking ring 12 in a reverse direction in a manner to align the pockets 25 with the lips 27 and 24. Thereafter, with the lips removed from the slots the locking ring 12 can readily be lifted over the top of the lid 11 and the lid then separated.
- the lid is simply molded as an integral unit with the various top sections 15, bead l5 and the guiding surfaces 23 and lips 27, all integrally formed as a part of the mold.
- the lid base and culture support are formed of a transparent material so that the culture growth can be observed.
- the base 10 can be molded as an integral unit. As a consequence. there are only three basic members making up the entire culture chamber which members are easy to handle, assemble, and disassemble.
- a culture chamber comprising, in combination:
- a. a circularly shaped base having a smoothly rounded concave lower interior and upper annular base edge;
- a circularly shaped lid having a smoothly rounded concave upper interior and lower annular lid edge dimensioned to seat on said base edge;
- a locking ring arranged to telescope over the top of said lid to circumferentially surround in overlapping relationship the upper annular base edge and lower annular lid edge, said upper annular base edge including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips and the lower annular lid edge including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips, said locking ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets and associated slots, the pockets extending radially outwardly from the ring and the slots being formed in adjacent portions of the ring so that the pockets receive the opposed lips, rotation of the locking ring causing the slots to receive circumferentially the lips to thereby lock the base and lid together by means of the locking ring.
- a chamber according to claim 1 including an O- ring of the gland type between the opposed base edge and lid edge to provide an hermetic seal between the base and lid.
- a chamber according to claim 1 in which said lid includes on its top, circumferentially spaced arcuate top coupling sections, each section including an exterior bead, and in which said base includes on its bottom circumferentially spaced arcuate bottom coupling sections, each section including an internal groove whereby a plurality of culture chambers may be stacked one on top of the other and coupled together by interdigitating the top and bottom coupling sections and then effecting a relative rotation of the chambers to cause the grooves to receive the beads.
Abstract
An improved culture box is designed as a chamber with a circularly shaped base and lid with smoothly rounded concave interior surfaces for easy cleaning and added strength under pressure differentials. The base and lid are secured together by a single locking ring arranged to telescope over the lid and surround in overlapping relationship the engaged opposed portions of the base and lid. A slight rotation of the ring serves to lock cooperating portions on the base and lid together.
Description
United States Patent [191 Billups, Jr.
[4 1 May 27, 1975 CULTURE CHAMBER [75] Inventor: James Otis Billups, Jr., Del Mar,
Calif.
[73] Assignee: Billups-Rothenberg, lnc., Del Mar,
Calif.
[22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 412,343
[52] U.S. Cl. 195/139; 220/55 AN [51] Int. Cl ..Cl2b1/00 [58] Field of Search 195/139, 127; 206/503, 206/508, 509, 512; 220/55 AN, 40 R, 40 S; 215/206 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3.248.302 4/1966 Mackin l95/l39 Primary Examiner-Alvin E. Tanenholtz Assistant Examiner-C. A. Fan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pastoriza & Kelly [57] ABSTRACT An improved culture box is designed as a chamber with a circularly shaped base and lid with smoothly rounded concave interior surfaces for easy cleaning and added strength under pressure differentials. The base and lid are secured together by a single locking ring arranged to telescope over the lid and surround in overlapping relationship the engaged opposed portions of the base and lid. A slight rotation of the ring serves to lock cooperating portions on the base and lid together.
5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAYZ'IIWS SHEET FIGZ) i-- AEEEBQQQQIQA CULTURE CHAMBER This invention relates to an improved structural arrangement for a culture box as used in biological laboratories for culture growth under controlled atmospheres.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present clay culture boxes are generally of square or rectangular shape and usually include a door which may be opened or separated for inserting cultures for growth under a controlled environment. Usually, the door must be hermetically sealed so that a controlled atmosphere can be provided. Normally, this atmosphere is brought in and circulated through suitable inlet and outlet tubes in the box. Generally, the door and box are transparent so that the culture may be observed.
Some of the annoying problems encountered with prior art culture boxes such as described above include the following:
First, because of the generally square or rectangular configuration, the interior of the box has corners which are very difficult to clean. Moreover, the corners do not define as efficient a passage for circulating desired gases making up the controlled atmosphere.
Second, the boxand door are normally fastened together by multiple clamps which require several hand motions to release or fasten. The seal normally used is of the surface seal type so that a fairly secure clamping is necessary. Even under these conditions, leaks can develop between the interior and the exterior of the box as a consequence of deformation of the box material.
Third, it is not feasible to stack in a static manner the present day culture boxes, and thus it is not possible to agitate them more than one at a time. Any attempt to agitate two boxes one stacked on top of the other could easily result in the upper box sliding from the lower box.
Fourth, because of the types of clamps for surface sealing, the box and door structure must be made of relatively heavy material. As a consequence, the present day boxes are bulky and heavy.
Fifth, present day culture boxes cannot withstand large pressure differentials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing considerations in mind, the present invention contemplates a vastly improved structural design for a culture box in the form of a culture chamber wherein the foregoing problems are substantially overcome.
More particularly, the culture chamber comprises circularly shaped base and lid members having concave lower and upper interiors respectively for positioning in opposed relationship to define a smoothly contoured closed interior. A single locking ring making up a third element of the assembly is arranged to telescope over the lid to assume a position surrounding in overlapping relationship the engaged opposed portions of the base and lid. Cooperating means on the base and lid op-' posed portions and the ring provide a separable securvides for easy cleaning as well as excellent circulation of a controlled atmosphere. This same feature also permits thinner walled sections to be used since the rounded configuration can withstand greater pressure differentials.
In addition to the foregoing, the top of the lid and the bottom of the base are provided with intercoupling arcuate sections enabling a locking of the chambers in a stacked array to be realized so that a stable static stacking results and further, such stack may be agitated without coming apart.
Finally, accurate and reliable hermetic sealing is realized by utilizing a gland type of O-ring arrangement rather than simply a surface pressure seal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a culture chamber in assembled, sealed relationship in accord with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the basic members making up the chamber of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the locking structure looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 3; and,
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a culture support which may be received within the culture chamber of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the culture chamber comprises a circularly shaped base 10, a circularly shaped lid 11, and a locking ring 12. The base may be provided with inlet and outlet gas tubes 13 and 14 as shown.
In order that the newly-designed culture chambers of this invention may be easily stacked, and simultaneously agitated, the lid 11 is provided on its top with circumferentially spaced arcuate top coupling sections 15, l6, l7 and 18. Each of these sections includes an exterior bead such as indicated at 15 for the section 15. Where four sections are provided, their arcuate extent is preferably about thirty degrees and by circumferentially spacing them at equal intervals, the space between adjacent sections will cover about sixty degrees The bottom of the base 10, in turn, is similarly provided with circumferentially spaced arcuate bottom coupling sections 19, 20, 21 and 22. Each of these sections includes an interior groove such as indicated at 19' for the section 19. The arrangement is such that the top sections of one culture chamber may be interdigitated with the bottom sections of another chamber stacked on top of the one chamber and then by a relative rotation, the grooves on the bottom sections receive the beads on the top sections, thereby locking the stacked chambers together.
Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2, further details of the culture chamber will become evident. As shown, the locking ring 12 is arranged to telescope over the lid 11 as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG. 2. The lid itself includes inclined guide surfaces 23 for facilitating the radial positioning of the ring 12 in a manner to surround the opposed engaged portions of the base and lid when in assembled relationships.
Referring. for example, to the base 10, it will be noted that its upper annular base edge designated includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips 24. These lips are arranged to cooperate with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending pockets formed on the locking ring 12. Each of the pockets has associated with it a slot 26 formed in an adjacent portion of the ring. In conjunction with the foregoing, the sloping guide surfaces 23 on the lid terminate on the lower annular edge of the lid designated II in a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips such as indicated at 27. The arrangement is such that the lips 24 in the base and the lips 27 in the lid may receive the pockets of the ring and then by a rotation of the ring, the slots 26 slide over the lips 24 and 27 to thereby effect a thorough locking of the base and lid together.
Hermetic sealing of the base and lid is effected by an O-ring 28 of the gland type in that it is interposed between the opposed annular base edge 10 and annular lid edge 11'.
The foregoing as well as a better understanding of the locking ring operation will be had by now referring to the enlarged cross section of FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lip 24 of the base and lip 27 of the lid are shown locked in the slot 26 formed in the locking ring I2. It will also be noted that the O-ring 28 is sandwiched between opposed walls forming part of the base and lid annular edges so that it can roll with minor changes in the vertical positioning of the lid. Further. the sealing becomes more positive with increased interior pressure.
In FIG. 3, as well as FIG. 2, there is shown a culture support in the form of a flat perforated disc 29. This culture support in turn may be properly positioned at a desired level as by a support preferably formed with arcuate leg segments such as indicated at 31. These arcuate leg segments fall on a circle of a given diameter corresponding to an annular step 10" formed in the base in a concentric relationship. Thus, it is assured that the support 30 will be indexed to a center position in the base. The step 10 is smoothly rounded as are other interior portions. If desired, the disc 29 may be made integral with the support 30 and several such supports may be stacked in the culture chamber by making the upper edge of the support with a circular step corresponding to 10". Proper atmospheric circulation obtains because of the spacing between the arcuate legs.
As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the upper interior corners of the lid and lower interior corners of the base are smoothly rounded as indicated at 32 and 33. Moreover, the upper interior surface of the lid and lower interior surface of the base are of general concave configura tion as indicated at 34 and 35. By providing smoothly rounded interior surfaces the box is not only easy to clean but reduces resistance to gas flow and the inherent deformation resistance is greatly increased because of the curvature thereby permitting thinner walled sections to be used.
In the fragmentary perspective view of FIG. 4, the relationship between the pocket 25 and associated slot 26 formed in the locking ring 12 with the lips 24 and 27 on the base 10 and the lid 11, respectively will be clear. Thus, as indicated by the dashed lines, when the ring 12 is lowered over the assembled base and lid, the locking ring 12 will be guided by the sloping guide surfaces 23 into proper radial position and then the ring can be circumferentially rotated so that the pockets 25 will slide over the lips 27 and 24. Thereafter, a simple rotation of the locking ring moves the slot 26 over the lips 27 and 24 so that a thorough locking takes place. It should be noted in FIG. 4 that the entrance of the pocket 25 is slightly wider, this effect being accomplished by sloping slightly one of the sides of the pocket as shown. Making the pocket entrance slightly wider facilitates positioning the locking ring over the lips 27 and 24.
FIG. 5 illustrates more clearly the support 30 and culture support disc 29 as well as the arcuate arrangement of the legs 31. The manner in which a culture is supported within the culture chamber does not really form a part of the present invention, except insofar as the provision of the annular step 10" described in FIG. 3 which facilitates proper central indexing of a suitable culture support.
OPERATION In operation, and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the locking ring 12 removed and the lid I] lifted from the base 10, suitable culture receptacles may be positioned on the culture support disc 29. As mentioned heretofore, several culture supports may be stacked on the base. The lid 11 is then placed over the base 10 with the annular lid edge 11' in opposed engaged relationship with the annular base edge 10' and the lips 27 in alignment with the lips 24 of the base.
Thereafter, the locking ring 12 is simply telescoped over the top of the lid 11 and circumferentially positioned so that the various pockets receive the lips 27 and 24. Thereafter the locking ring 12 is rotated to cause the slots 26 to receive the lips 27 and 24 so that a thorough locking of the base and lid together results.
A controlled atmosphere may then be circulated throughout the interior of the culture chamber at a desired temperature and pressure by means of the tubes 13 and 14 described in FIG. 1.
Disassembly of the chamber is easily accomplished by simply rotating the locking ring 12 in a reverse direction in a manner to align the pockets 25 with the lips 27 and 24. Thereafter, with the lips removed from the slots the locking ring 12 can readily be lifted over the top of the lid 11 and the lid then separated.
As already mentioned, in the event it is desired to agitate the culture within the chamber, several culture chambers may be simultaneously agitated as a consequence of the unique locking sections on the top and bottom of the various chambers.
In its preferred design, the lid is simply molded as an integral unit with the various top sections 15, bead l5 and the guiding surfaces 23 and lips 27, all integrally formed as a part of the mold. Thus, there are no seams as in prior culture boxes. Preferably the lid base and culture support are formed of a transparent material so that the culture growth can be observed.
Similarly, the base 10 can be molded as an integral unit. As a consequence. there are only three basic members making up the entire culture chamber which members are easy to handle, assemble, and disassemble.
From the foregoing, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved culture chamber design which overcomes many of the problems associated with prior culture boxes.
What is claimed is:
1. A culture chamber comprising, in combination:
a. a circularly shaped base having a smoothly rounded concave lower interior and upper annular base edge;
b. a circularly shaped lid having a smoothly rounded concave upper interior and lower annular lid edge dimensioned to seat on said base edge; and
c. a locking ring arranged to telescope over the top of said lid to circumferentially surround in overlapping relationship the upper annular base edge and lower annular lid edge, said upper annular base edge including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips and the lower annular lid edge including a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending lips, said locking ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets and associated slots, the pockets extending radially outwardly from the ring and the slots being formed in adjacent portions of the ring so that the pockets receive the opposed lips, rotation of the locking ring causing the slots to receive circumferentially the lips to thereby lock the base and lid together by means of the locking ring.
2. A chamber according to claim 1, including an O- ring of the gland type between the opposed base edge and lid edge to provide an hermetic seal between the base and lid.
3. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said lid includes on its top, circumferentially spaced arcuate top coupling sections, each section including an exterior bead, and in which said base includes on its bottom circumferentially spaced arcuate bottom coupling sections, each section including an internal groove whereby a plurality of culture chambers may be stacked one on top of the other and coupled together by interdigitating the top and bottom coupling sections and then effecting a relative rotation of the chambers to cause the grooves to receive the beads.
4. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said base includes an annular smoothly-rounded step in its concave lower interior surface for indexing to a central position a culture support.
5. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said lid and base are transparent.
Claims (5)
1. A CULTURE CHAMBER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A. A CIRCULARLY SHAPED BASE HAVING A SMOOTHLY ROUNDED CONCAVE LOWER INTERIOR AND UPPER ANNULAR BASE EDGE; B. A CIRCULARLY SHAPED LID HAVING A SMOOTHLY ROUNDED CONCAVE UPPER INTERIOR AND LOWER ANNULAR LID EDGE DIMENSIONED TO SEAT ON SAID BASE EDGE; AND C. A LOCKING RING ARRANGED TO TELESCOPE OVER THE TOP OF SAID LID TO CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SURROUND IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP THE UPPER ANNULAR BASE EDGE AND LOWER ANNULAR LID EDGE, SAID UPPER ANNULAR BASE EDGE INCLUDING A PLURALITY
2. A chamber according to claim 1, including an O-ring of the gland type between the opposed base edge and lid edge to provide an hermetic seal between the base and lid.
3. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said lid includes on its top, circumferentially spaced arcuate top coupling sections, each section including an exterior bead, and in which said base includes on its bottom circumferentially spaced arcuate bottom coupling sections, each section including an internal groove whereby a plurality of culture chambers may be stacked one on top of the other and coupled together by interdigitating the top and bottom coupling sections and then effecting a relative rotation of the chambers To cause the grooves to receive the beads.
4. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said base includes an annular smoothly-rounded step in its concave lower interior surface for indexing to a central position a culture support.
5. A chamber according to claim 1, in which said lid and base are transparent.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US412343A US3886047A (en) | 1973-11-02 | 1973-11-02 | Culture chamber |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US412343A US3886047A (en) | 1973-11-02 | 1973-11-02 | Culture chamber |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3886047A true US3886047A (en) | 1975-05-27 |
Family
ID=23632631
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US412343A Expired - Lifetime US3886047A (en) | 1973-11-02 | 1973-11-02 | Culture chamber |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3886047A (en) |
Cited By (30)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4003135A (en) * | 1975-06-13 | 1977-01-18 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Specimen holder and technique employed to effect a continuous maximum concentration gradient in critical point drying |
US4012288A (en) * | 1975-10-06 | 1977-03-15 | Data Packaging Corporation | Tissue culture cluster dish |
US4030980A (en) * | 1975-05-15 | 1977-06-21 | Corning Glass Works | Apparatus and method for identification of selected clinical yeast |
US4301252A (en) * | 1980-04-04 | 1981-11-17 | Baker Fraser L | Controlled environment incubator for light microscopy |
WO1982000834A1 (en) * | 1980-09-10 | 1982-03-18 | L Brown | Antibiotic testing vessel |
WO1988000235A1 (en) * | 1986-06-24 | 1988-01-14 | Bartal Arie H | Apparatus for enhancing cell growth, preservation and transport |
US4820384A (en) * | 1987-05-18 | 1989-04-11 | Pechacek Raymond E | Remotely operable vessel cover positioner |
US4824788A (en) * | 1987-11-09 | 1989-04-25 | Ferre Penelope J | Humidity chamber for immunoperoxidase staining |
US5221019A (en) * | 1991-11-07 | 1993-06-22 | Hahn & Clay | Remotely operable vessel cover positioner |
US5290072A (en) * | 1991-11-07 | 1994-03-01 | Pechacek Raymond E | Quick-acting pipe connector assembly |
US5352414A (en) * | 1992-12-30 | 1994-10-04 | Rothenberg Barry E | Incubator unit and filter system |
WO1997036992A1 (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 1997-10-09 | Corning Costar Corporation | Culture dish |
EP0848057A1 (en) * | 1996-11-12 | 1998-06-17 | TAPPITAL Srl | Airtight slide for double culture media |
EP0952210A1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-10-27 | Millipore S.A. | Cartridge as well as air analysis method and apparatus using it |
US6043049A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2000-03-28 | Millipore S.A. | Method for detecting micro-organisms and cartridge suitable for implementing it |
US6493964B1 (en) * | 2000-05-25 | 2002-12-17 | Tousimis Research Corp. | Supercritical point drying apparatus for semiconductor device manufacturing and bio-medical sample processing |
US6593136B1 (en) * | 2000-03-20 | 2003-07-15 | Geo-Centers, Inc. | Culturing cells in a chamber in a stack of chambers |
EP1528100A1 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2005-05-04 | PML Microbiologicals, Inc. | Lockable contact plate |
US20080314903A1 (en) * | 2004-09-09 | 2008-12-25 | Olcon Engineering Ab | Gas-Tight Transport Container for Detonation-Dangerous Material |
US20130095009A1 (en) * | 2010-06-22 | 2013-04-18 | Aes Chemunex | Petri dish including locking means for forming a stack |
US20140158223A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Barry E. Rothenberg | Incubator Chamber |
EP2710110B1 (en) * | 2011-05-16 | 2015-08-12 | Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Limited | Bioreactor chamber |
EP2862922A4 (en) * | 2012-06-19 | 2016-03-02 | Hitachi Ltd | Cell culturing vessel, and cell culturing method and automated cell culturing device using same |
US20160130051A1 (en) * | 2014-01-07 | 2016-05-12 | Su-Ho LEE | Quadruple Sealing Structure for Can Cover |
US20160243344A1 (en) * | 2015-02-19 | 2016-08-25 | Janssen Biotech, Inc. | Cell encapsulation loading device |
DE102015113590A1 (en) * | 2015-08-17 | 2017-02-23 | Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG | Adapter device for receiving body of different sizes |
USD814127S1 (en) * | 2016-09-06 | 2018-03-27 | Jong-Yoon Bae | Incubator |
WO2018055153A1 (en) | 2016-09-23 | 2018-03-29 | Xcell Medical Solutions, S.L. | Cell therapy with polarized macrophages for tissue regeneration |
US10189612B2 (en) * | 2017-04-05 | 2019-01-29 | U.S. Merchants Financial Group, Inc. | Bin and lid locking bands and methods of using the same |
US20200361667A1 (en) * | 2019-05-17 | 2020-11-19 | Idexx Laboratories Inc. | Devices and methods facilitating sample testing |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3248302A (en) * | 1963-04-23 | 1966-04-26 | Melba H Mackin | Petri dishes |
-
1973
- 1973-11-02 US US412343A patent/US3886047A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3248302A (en) * | 1963-04-23 | 1966-04-26 | Melba H Mackin | Petri dishes |
Cited By (46)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4030980A (en) * | 1975-05-15 | 1977-06-21 | Corning Glass Works | Apparatus and method for identification of selected clinical yeast |
US4003135A (en) * | 1975-06-13 | 1977-01-18 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Specimen holder and technique employed to effect a continuous maximum concentration gradient in critical point drying |
US4012288A (en) * | 1975-10-06 | 1977-03-15 | Data Packaging Corporation | Tissue culture cluster dish |
US4301252A (en) * | 1980-04-04 | 1981-11-17 | Baker Fraser L | Controlled environment incubator for light microscopy |
WO1982000834A1 (en) * | 1980-09-10 | 1982-03-18 | L Brown | Antibiotic testing vessel |
US4326028A (en) * | 1980-09-10 | 1982-04-20 | Brown Lewis R | Antibiotic testing vessel |
WO1988000235A1 (en) * | 1986-06-24 | 1988-01-14 | Bartal Arie H | Apparatus for enhancing cell growth, preservation and transport |
US4734373A (en) * | 1986-06-24 | 1988-03-29 | Bartal Arie H | Apparatus for enhancing cell growth, preservation and transport |
US4820384A (en) * | 1987-05-18 | 1989-04-11 | Pechacek Raymond E | Remotely operable vessel cover positioner |
US4824788A (en) * | 1987-11-09 | 1989-04-25 | Ferre Penelope J | Humidity chamber for immunoperoxidase staining |
US5221019A (en) * | 1991-11-07 | 1993-06-22 | Hahn & Clay | Remotely operable vessel cover positioner |
US5290072A (en) * | 1991-11-07 | 1994-03-01 | Pechacek Raymond E | Quick-acting pipe connector assembly |
US5352414A (en) * | 1992-12-30 | 1994-10-04 | Rothenberg Barry E | Incubator unit and filter system |
WO1997036992A1 (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 1997-10-09 | Corning Costar Corporation | Culture dish |
US5856176A (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 1999-01-05 | Corning Incorporated | Culture dish |
EP0848057A1 (en) * | 1996-11-12 | 1998-06-17 | TAPPITAL Srl | Airtight slide for double culture media |
EP0952210A1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-10-27 | Millipore S.A. | Cartridge as well as air analysis method and apparatus using it |
FR2777904A1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-10-29 | Millipore Sa | CASSETTE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING AIR USING THE SAME |
US6040153A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2000-03-21 | Millipore Corporation | Cartridge as well as air analysis method and apparatus using it |
US6043049A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2000-03-28 | Millipore S.A. | Method for detecting micro-organisms and cartridge suitable for implementing it |
US6593136B1 (en) * | 2000-03-20 | 2003-07-15 | Geo-Centers, Inc. | Culturing cells in a chamber in a stack of chambers |
US6857200B1 (en) | 2000-05-25 | 2005-02-22 | Tousimis Research Corporation | Supercritical point drying apparatus for semiconductor device manufacturing and bio-medical sample processing |
US6493964B1 (en) * | 2000-05-25 | 2002-12-17 | Tousimis Research Corp. | Supercritical point drying apparatus for semiconductor device manufacturing and bio-medical sample processing |
EP1528100A1 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2005-05-04 | PML Microbiologicals, Inc. | Lockable contact plate |
US20080314903A1 (en) * | 2004-09-09 | 2008-12-25 | Olcon Engineering Ab | Gas-Tight Transport Container for Detonation-Dangerous Material |
US8365938B2 (en) * | 2004-09-09 | 2013-02-05 | Dynasafe International Ab | Gas-tight transport container for detonation-dangerous material |
US9127247B2 (en) * | 2010-06-22 | 2015-09-08 | Aes Chemunex | Petri dish including locking means for forming a stack |
US20130095009A1 (en) * | 2010-06-22 | 2013-04-18 | Aes Chemunex | Petri dish including locking means for forming a stack |
EP2710110B1 (en) * | 2011-05-16 | 2015-08-12 | Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Limited | Bioreactor chamber |
EP2862922A4 (en) * | 2012-06-19 | 2016-03-02 | Hitachi Ltd | Cell culturing vessel, and cell culturing method and automated cell culturing device using same |
US9315769B2 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2016-04-19 | Billups-Rothenberg, Inc. | Incubator chamber |
US20140158223A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-12 | Barry E. Rothenberg | Incubator Chamber |
US10138455B2 (en) | 2012-12-11 | 2018-11-27 | Billups-Rothenberg, Inc. | Incubator chamber |
US9926117B2 (en) * | 2014-01-07 | 2018-03-27 | Su-Ho LEE | Quadruple sealing structure for can cover |
US20160130051A1 (en) * | 2014-01-07 | 2016-05-12 | Su-Ho LEE | Quadruple Sealing Structure for Can Cover |
US20160243344A1 (en) * | 2015-02-19 | 2016-08-25 | Janssen Biotech, Inc. | Cell encapsulation loading device |
US9889281B2 (en) * | 2015-02-19 | 2018-02-13 | Janssen Biotech, Inc. | Cell encapsulation loading device |
DE102015113590A1 (en) * | 2015-08-17 | 2017-02-23 | Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG | Adapter device for receiving body of different sizes |
USD814127S1 (en) * | 2016-09-06 | 2018-03-27 | Jong-Yoon Bae | Incubator |
WO2018055153A1 (en) | 2016-09-23 | 2018-03-29 | Xcell Medical Solutions, S.L. | Cell therapy with polarized macrophages for tissue regeneration |
US10724004B2 (en) | 2016-09-23 | 2020-07-28 | Xcell Medical Solutions, S.L. | Cell therapy with polarized macrophages for tissue regeneration |
US10189612B2 (en) * | 2017-04-05 | 2019-01-29 | U.S. Merchants Financial Group, Inc. | Bin and lid locking bands and methods of using the same |
US11040804B2 (en) | 2017-04-05 | 2021-06-22 | U.S. Merchants Financial Group, Inc. | Bin and lid locking bands and methods of using the same |
US20200361667A1 (en) * | 2019-05-17 | 2020-11-19 | Idexx Laboratories Inc. | Devices and methods facilitating sample testing |
WO2020236552A1 (en) * | 2019-05-17 | 2020-11-26 | Idexx Laboratories, Inc. | Devices and methods facilitating sample testing |
CN113840904A (en) * | 2019-05-17 | 2021-12-24 | Idexx实验室公司 | Apparatus and method for facilitating sample testing |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3886047A (en) | Culture chamber | |
US3158553A (en) | Petri dish | |
US3183624A (en) | Floral arranger | |
US4673651A (en) | Multi-cell tray | |
US3537956A (en) | Petrie dish | |
KR100444651B1 (en) | Wafer enclosure with door | |
JPS6244890B2 (en) | ||
US4817799A (en) | Disk package | |
US4495289A (en) | Tissue culture cluster dish | |
US4349632A (en) | Tissue culture cluster dish | |
SE7415499L (en) | ||
CN101005994A (en) | Air expelling valve for compression bag and the compression bag possessing same | |
AU2018203721B2 (en) | Drain valve with rotatable angled outlet | |
GB1390657A (en) | Rotary drum filtering apparatus and unitary drainage elements therefor | |
US20200130904A1 (en) | Beverage container lid assembly | |
US5360541A (en) | Modular device for the ease of use and installation of filtration textiles | |
US5414556A (en) | Securing and locking assembly for live cell chambers | |
US2340024A (en) | Sterilizer container | |
US8753588B2 (en) | Support and stand-off ribs for underdrain for multi-well device | |
US3958517A (en) | Table | |
US3101154A (en) | Modular container and retaining means | |
EP1035201B1 (en) | Growth container | |
KR910016961A (en) | Apparatus for transferring disc-shaped processing member into and out of vacuum chamber | |
FI73364B (en) | The condenser. | |
CN218858958U (en) | Tray and shelf comprising same |