TRANSPORTER

Abstract

A specimen transporter includes a reusable carrier having an openable top with a disposable rack insertable into the carrier. The rack includes a plurality of openings for supporting a plurality of specimen bottles in an upright spaced apart relationship. The rack is foldable for storage in a collapsed form. At least one compartment is disposed between a sidewalls and the rack and at least one ice pack is disposable within the compartment for cooling the specimen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transporter in accordance with the present invention generally showing a reusable carrier, with a disposable rack inserted therein along with a plurality of specimen bottles and an ice pack;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rack shown in part in FIG. 1 in an unfolded position having a top, bottom with openings therein for supporting the specimen bottles, legs for supporting the rack in a spaced apart relationship with a carrier bottom and upstanding ends for facilitating griping thereof;

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate folded and partially folded configurations of the rack;

FIG. 6 illustrates a stack of folded racks in a compact configuration for reduced storage space;

FIG. 7 illustrates an iris configuration of tabs for stabilizing specimen bottles within corresponding openings; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the transporter shown in FIG. 1 showing compartments for receiving ice packs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a specimen transporter 10 in accordance with the present invention which includes a reusable carrier which may have dimensions of approximately 12 inches long by 8 inches wide with a bottom 14, upstanding sidewalls 16, and an openable top 18.

The sidewalls 16 have sufficient height for receiving a disposable rack 24 which includes a rack top 26 having a plurality of top openings 30 for supporting a plurality of specimen bottles 34, for example 50 to 70, in an upright spaced apart relationship, see FIG. 2.

The rack 24 is preferably formed from an absorbent cardboard material and, as shown in FIGS. 3-5 is foldable along folded lines 36 for storage in a collapsed form, see FIG. 6. In this manner, a plurality of racks may be folded and stored in a compact manner, i.e. a stack, for later individual erection and insertion into the carrier 12 in a serial manner.

The rack may include an absorbent bottom 40 in order to absorb any inadvertent leakage of specimen to prevent a contamination of an adjacent specimen bottle 34.

In order to both stabilize and maintain a generally vertical, or upright, orientation of the bottles 34 in the rack 24, the rack bottom 40 may also include a plurality of bottom openings 42 which are aligned with corresponding top openings 30, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Independent stabilization of the rack 24 without the bottles 34 is provided by tape 44, as shown in FIG. 7.

To further stabilize and hold the specimen bottles 34 within the rack 24, the top openings 30 may include irises 46 having an outside perimeter 48 defining each top opening 30 with separatable tabs 50 extending from the perimeter 48 to a top opening center 54.

Upon insertion of a specimen bottle, the tabs 50 are separated and exert a uniform radially inward force on each of the bottles 34.

With reference to FIGS. 2-6, the racks 24 may be provided with upstanding ends 58, 60 which include finger openings 64, 66 to facilitate the placement and removal of the rack 24 in the carrier 12.

The top 18 is fitted with a handle 68 to enable easy transport of the transporter 10.

The top 18 may be hinged 70 to a sidewall 16 of the carrier 12 and clasps 72, 74 are provided for removably locking and sealing of the top 18 to the sidewalls 16. Alternatively, additional clasps (not shown) may be used to enable removal of the top 18 from the sidewalls 16.

With reference to FIGS. 2-8, the rack 24 may include legs 78 for supporting the rack bottom 38 in a spaced apartment with the carrier bottom 14.

With reference to FIG. 8, the carrier 12 includes compartments 84, 86 and the transporter 10 further includes ice packs 90, 92 insertable into the compartments 84, 86 for providing a cooling biocompatible environment within the transporter 10 for the specimen bottles 34.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific transporter in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A specimen transporter comprising: a reusable carrier having a bottom, upstanding sidewalls, and an openable top;a disposable rack insertable in the carrier and having a top with a plurality of top opening for supporting a plurality of specimen bottles in an upright spaced apart relationship, the rack being foldable for storage in a collapsed form;at least one compartment disposed between one of the sidewalls and the rack; andat least one ice pack disposable within the compartment.

2. The transporter according to claim 1 wherein the rack includes an absorbent bottom.

3. The transporter according to claim 2 wherein the rack formed from a cardboard material.

4. The transporter according to claim 3 wherein the rack is foldable to a flat collapsed form.

5. The transporter according to claim 4 wherein the rack includes two opposing upstanding ends for facilitating insertion and removal from the carrier.

6. The transporter according to claim 5 wherein the upstanding end includes finger openings for gripping the upstanding ends.

7. The transporter according to claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of top opening includes an iris with separtatable tabs for stabilizing a corresponding specimen bottle therein.

8. The transporter according to claim 2 wherein the each bottom includes a plurality of bottom opening for supporting the plurality of specimen bottles, each bottom opening being aligned with a corresponding top opening.

9. The transporter according to claim 8 wherein the carrier bottom includes at least one depending member for supporting the rack bottom in a spaced apart relationship with the carrier bottom.

10. A specimen transporter comprising: a reusable carrier having a bottom, upstanding sidewalls, and an openable top;a plurality of disposable rack insertable in the carrier and each having a top with a plurality of top opening for supporting a plurality of specimen billets in an upright spaced apart relationship, the rack being foldable for storage in a collapsed form;at least one compartment disposed between one of the sidewalls and the rack; andat least one reusable ice pack disposable within the compartment.

11. The transporter according to claim 10 wherein each rack includes an absorbent bottom.

12. The transporter according to claim 11 wherein each rack if formed from a cardboard material.

13. The transporter according to claim 12 wherein each rack is foldable to a flat collapsed form.

14. The transporter according to claim 13 wherein each rack includes two opposing upstanding ends for facilitating insertion and removal from the carrier.

15. The transporter according to claim 14 wherein the upstanding ends include finger openings for gripping the upstanding ends.

16. The transporter according to claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of top opening includes an iris with separtatable tabs for stabilizing a corresponding specimen bottle therein.

17. The transporter according to claim 11 wherein each rack bottom includes a plurality of bottom opening for supporting the plurality of specimen bottles, each bottom opening being aligned with a corresponding top opening.

18. The transporter according to claim 17 wherein the each includes legs for supporting the rack bottom in a spaced apart relationship with the carrier bottom.