Holder and rack

Abstract

The present invention provides a holder that holds, as targets, members having various diameters. A holder 10 comprises: a plate 1 that has a through hole 19; and a plurality of holding parts 2 that hold a target 9 which is passed through the through hole 19, wherein the holding parts 2 are each provided with a torsion bar 21 that extends to one vertical side from the plate 1 in the vicinity of the through hole 19 and an arm 22 that extends from the torsion bar 21 into a space to said one vertical side of the through hole 19, and the target 9 is held by a torsion-resisting force that is generated in the torsion bars 21 by the target 9 being passed through the through hole 19 such that the target 9 contacts the arms 22.

Description

Holders and racks

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder for holding cylindrical members such as test tubes and blood collection tubes or rod-shaped members such as shafts, and to a rack equipped with a plurality of holders.

[0002] Conventionally, test tube racks have been used as devices for holding test tubes (tubes for holding reagents, blood, samples, etc. used in experiments), such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. A typical conventional test tube rack has holes in shapes corresponding to the test tubes, and holds the test tubes by fitting them into the holes.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-174891 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-233664

[0004] Test tubes and blood collection tubes come in a variety of sizes depending on the application. For example, blood collection tubes with a diameter of approximately 13 mm (length under neck: approximately 50 mm) to approximately 16.5 mm (length under neck: approximately 100 mm) are commonly used. In the fields of genetic testing and regenerative medicine, narrower test tubes and blood collection tubes with a diameter of, for example, approximately 7 mm are also used. Particularly in universities and research institutions, the sizes of test tubes and blood collection tubes used vary from researcher to researcher, and as the fields of genetic testing and regenerative medicine develop, there is a growing demand for test tube racks that can accommodate test tubes of various diameters.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a holder that can hold members having various diameters as objects.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes, for example, the following aspects.

[0007] (Item 1) A holder comprising: a plate material having a through hole; and a plurality of holding portions for holding an object passed through the through hole, wherein the holding portions comprise: a torsion bar extending upward or downward from the plate material around the through hole; and an arm extending from the torsion bar into the space on the upward or downward side of the through hole, wherein the holder holds the object by a force resisting torsion generated in the torsion bar when the object is passed through the through hole so that the object comes into contact with the arm. (Item 2) The holder according to item 1, wherein, in a plan view, the tip of the arm is curved so as to approach the center of the through hole. (Item 3) The holder according to item 1 or 2, wherein the tip of the arm is provided with a slope that slopes outward from the through hole as it approaches the upward or downward side. (Item 4) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of arms extend from the torsion bar to one circumferential side of the through hole. (Item 5) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein a thick portion is provided around the through hole. (Item 6) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein a reinforcing rib is provided at a portion where the torsion bar extends from the plate material. (Item 7) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein a tip receiving portion that receives the tip of the object is provided in the space above or below the through hole. (Item 8) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the plate material and the holding portion are integrally molded. (Item 9) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the torsion bar and the arm are integrally molded. (Item 10) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of holding portions includes the torsion bar and the arm. (Item 11) The holder according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein three or more holding portions are arranged in rotational symmetry about an axis that is a straight line extending vertically from the center position of the through hole. (Item 12) A rack comprising a plurality of holders according to any one of Items 1 to 11.

[0008] According to the present invention, a holder can be provided that can hold members having various diameters as objects.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a top view of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a tip receiving portion according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is a side view showing various tip shapes of a test tube. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a usage mode of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a usage mode of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a usage mode of a holder according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a top view of a rack according to one embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a holder according to another embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an upper structure provided in a holder according to yet another embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals will denote the same or similar components, and therefore, redundant descriptions of the same or similar components will be omitted.

[0011] Hereinafter, the terms "upper" and "lower" will be used based on the situation when the holder according to the present invention is in use. Furthermore, one of the terms "upper side" and "lower side" will be used below as a term corresponding to "one of the upper and lower sides" as set forth in the claims of the present application, and the other of the terms "upper side" and "lower side" will be used below as a term corresponding to "the other of the upper and lower sides" as set forth in the claims of the present application. Below, the configuration of a holder according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described using a Cartesian coordinate system and a cylindrical coordinate system as appropriate. The Z-axis direction described below corresponds to the up-down direction, and the relationships x = rcosθ, y = rsinθ, and z = z hold between the Cartesian coordinate system (x, y, z) and the cylindrical coordinate system (r, θ, z).

[0012] [Configuration of the holder] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder according to one embodiment. Figs. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of the holder according to one embodiment. Fig. 4 is a top view of the holder according to one embodiment.

[0013] A holder 10 according to one embodiment includes an upper structure 1, a plurality of holders 2, a lower structure 3, and a tip receiving portion 4, and holds an object 9. In this embodiment, the object 9 held by the holder 10 is a test tube 9, as exemplified in Figures 7 to 9 described below.

[0014] The upper structure 1 is a generally plate-shaped structure (hereinafter also referred to as plate material 1). The upper structure 1 is provided with an engagement portion 11. The engagement portion 11 engages with a notch 31 of the lower structure 3, thereby allowing the upper structure 1 to be integrated with the lower structure 3.

[0015] The upper structure 1 is provided with through holes 19 that penetrate the upper structure 1 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). A plurality of holders 2 are provided around the through holes 19 on the upper surface 1a of the upper structure 1. Preferably, thick portions 12 are provided around the through holes 19 corresponding to the holders 2 on the lower surface 1b of the upper structure 1. Preferably, reinforcing ribs 13 are provided at portions on the lower surface 1b of the upper structure 1 where the torsion bars 21 of the holders 2 extend from the upper structure 1. As an optional configuration, the upper structure 1 is provided with holes 14 for temporarily placing sample tubes or the like during dispensing work by an operator.

[0016] The holder 2 holds the test tube 9 that is passed through the through-hole 19. The holder 2 is made of an elastically deformable material. The holder 2 is provided on the upper structure 1. The upper structure 1 and the holder 2 can be molded integrally.

[0017] The holding portion 2 includes a torsion bar 21 and an arm 22. The torsion bar 21 extends upward (either up or down) from the upper structure 1 around the through-hole 19 (more specifically, the torsion bar 21 extends in the positive axial direction (Z-axis direction) of the through-hole 19). The arm 22 extends from the torsion bar 21 into the space above (either up or down) the through-hole 19.

[0018] The space in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the through hole 19 through which the arm 22 extends will be described in more detail. In the top view of the holder 10 shown in FIG. 4 , the arm 22 extends from the torsion bar 21 to the region inside the through hole 19. Furthermore, in a side view of the holder 10, the direction in which the arm 22 extends is not limited to a strictly horizontal direction (X-axis direction or Y-axis direction) and may extend at an obliquely upward or downward angle as long as it has at least a horizontal component. Similarly, the direction in which the torsion bar 21 extends is not limited to a strictly vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the through hole 19 in a side view of the holder 10 and may extend at an obliquely upward angle as long as it has at least a vertical component (Z-axis direction) of the through hole 19.

[0019] The torsion bar 21 is a hollow or solid cylindrical or rod-shaped member. One end 21a of the torsion bar 21 is fixed to the upper structure 1, so that the torsion bar 21 functions as a torsion bar spring. The cross-sectional shape of the torsion bar 21 can be any shape, such as a circle, a polygon, or a star. The shape of the torsion bar 21 along its axial direction (Z-axis direction) can also be a rod-like shape with a constant thickness, or a cone-like shape with a thickness that changes along the way.

[0020] The arm 22 is a hollow or solid cylindrical or rod-shaped member. The planar shape of the arm 22 as viewed along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the through-hole 19 can be any shape, such as an arc shape, a straight line shape, or a truss structure. The cross-sectional shape of the arm 22 can also be any shape, such as a circle, a polygon, or a star shape. The torsion bar 21 and the arm 22 can be molded integrally.

[0021] Preferably, the arm 22 extends from the torsion bar 21 to one side (positive or negative direction) in the circumferential direction of the through hole 19 (the θ direction in a cylindrical coordinate system). This allows the arms 22 to be arranged in the same direction of extension, and the positions of the torsion bars 21 arranged around the through hole 19 can be divided approximately evenly in the circumferential direction (θ direction) of the through hole 19. This also allows the forces with which the arms 22 press the test tube 9 from the outside to the inside in the radial direction (the r direction in a cylindrical coordinate system) to be approximately uniform. Therefore, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, it becomes possible to hold test tubes 9 of different diameters with their centers aligned with the center of the through hole 19.

[0022] More preferably, the arm 22 is curved so that the tip 23 approaches the center of the through-hole 19 in a plan view. This allows the tip 23 of the arm 22 to efficiently apply a force (reaction force) that resists the torsion generated in the torsion bar 21 in the normal direction to the surface of the test tube 9. Even more preferably, the tip 23 of the arm 22 is provided with a slope that slopes outward from the through-hole 19 as it approaches the upper side (either the top or bottom side). This makes it easy to guide the center position of the test tube 9 to the center position of the through-hole 19. The shape of the slope provided on the tip 23 preferably matches the shape of the tip 9A of the test tube 9.

[0023] The lower structure 3 includes a cutout 31, a plurality of connecting protrusions 32, and a plurality of connecting notches 33. The cutouts 31 engage with the engaging portions 11 of the upper structure 1, thereby allowing the lower structure 3 to be integrated with the upper structure 1. The connecting protrusions 32 and the connecting notches 33 are arranged on opposing side surfaces of the lower structure 3. As illustrated in Figure 10 , which will be described later, the connecting protrusions 32 engage with the connecting notches 33 of another holder 10 that is arranged adjacent to it. In this way, the plurality of holders 10 are connected to form a rack 100.

[0024] The tip receiving portion 4 is provided in the space below (the other of the upper and lower sides of) the through-hole 19 and receives the tip 9A of the test tube 9. In this embodiment, the tip receiving portion 4 is provided at a corresponding position on the lower structure 3 along the up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction) of the through-hole 19. In this embodiment, the holder 2 is disposed on the upper surface 1a side of the upper structure 1, and the tip receiving portion 4 is disposed on the lower surface 1b side of the upper structure 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the upper end of the test tube 9 that is passed through the through-hole 19 is held by the holder 2. Therefore, by holding the lower tip 9A of the test tube 9 with the tip receiving portion 4, it is possible to keep the central axis of the test tube 9 vertical and in a fixed position.

[0025] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a tip receiving portion according to various embodiments. (A) is a cross-sectional view of a tip receiving portion according to one embodiment. (B) is a cross-sectional view of a tip receiving portion according to another embodiment. (C) is a cross-sectional view of a tip receiving portion according to yet another embodiment. Figure 6 is a side view showing various tip shapes of a test tube.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the tip receiving portion 4 is provided with a through hole 49. The shape of the through hole 49 in the portion (contact portion) that receives the tip 9A of the test tube 9 is conical as shown in Figure 5(A). Preferably, as shown in Figures 5(B) and 5(C), side walls 49B and 49C of the through hole 49 that correspond to the contact portion have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the tip 9A of the test tube 9.

[0027] In the tip receiving portion 4A shown in FIG. 5(A), the side wall 49A of the through hole 49 corresponding to the abutment portion is flat. In the tip receiving portion 4B shown in FIG. 5(B), the side wall 49B of the through hole 49 corresponding to the abutment portion is a convex curved surface that protrudes toward the through hole 49. The tip receiving portion 4B can guide the center of the test tube 9 to the center of the through hole 19, even if the test tube 9 has an edged tip 9A (flat bottom) as shown in FIG. 6(B). In the tip receiving portion 4C shown in FIG. 5(C), the side wall 49C of the through hole 49 corresponding to the abutment portion is a recessed, concave curved surface. The tip receiving portion 4C can guide the center of the test tube 9 to the center of the through hole 19, even if the test tube 9 has a curved tip 9A (round bottom) as shown in FIG. 6(A).

[0028] The upper structure 1, the holding portion 2, the lower structure 3, and the tip receiving portion 4 of the holder 10 are formed using, for example, a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a photocurable resin, a metal, a ceramic, or a combination thereof. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyacetal (POM), polyethylene (PE), polyamide, nylon (PA), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), vinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyarylate (PAR), polysulfone (PSF), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethersulfone (PES), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polysulfone (PSU), polyamide imide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), modified polyphenylene ether (m-PPE), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), liquid crystal resin (LCP), norbornene resin, and fluororesin. The thermosetting resin may be, for example, an epoxy resin or a phenolic resin. The thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin may be a composite resin containing fiber, inorganic filler, or the like.

[0029] [Usage Mode] Figures 7 to 9 are views illustrating usage modes of a holder according to one embodiment. Figure 7 shows a state in which a test tube 9 is inserted into through-hole 19 from the space above through-hole 19. Figure 8 shows a state in which holder 10 holds a test tube 9 with a narrow diameter, and Figure 9 shows a state in which holder 10 holds a test tube 9 with a wide diameter. In Figures 8 and 9, (A) is a top view, and (B) is a perspective view.

[0030] In one embodiment of the holder 10, the holder 2 holds the test tube 9 by a torsional force generated in the torsion bar 21 when the test tube 9 is passed through the through hole 19 so that the test tube 9 comes into contact with the arm 22.

[0031] 7 to 9 , when the test tube 9 is inserted into the through-hole 19 from the space above it, the test tube 9 pushes the arm 22 aside in the radial direction of the through-hole 19 (the direction r in the cylindrical coordinate system). One end 21a of the torsion bar 21 is fixed to the upper structure 1, and the arm 22 extends from the other end 21b. Therefore, when the arm 22 is pushed aside in the positive direction of the radial direction r, the torsion bar 21 is twisted in the positive direction of the circumferential direction θ around the axis of the torsion bar 21 via the arm 22. Because one end 21a of the torsion bar 21 is fixed to the upper structure 1, a force (reaction force) that resists this torsion is generated in the torsion bar 21 in the negative direction of the circumferential direction θ around the axis of the torsion bar 21, and the torsion bar 21 holds the test tube 9 by the force resisting this torsion.

[0032] In this embodiment, the thick portion 12 is provided around the through-hole 19 corresponding to the retaining portion 2 on the underside 1b of the upper structure 1. In addition, a reinforcing rib 13 is provided on the underside 1b of the upper structure 1 at a portion where the torsion bar 21 extends from the upper structure 1. In this embodiment, by arranging these thick portions 12 and reinforcing rib 13, one end 21a of the torsion bar 21 fixed to the upper structure 1 is reinforced. This reduces deflection of the upper structure 1 and improves the holding force and positioning accuracy of the pair of the torsion bar 21 and the arm 22.

[0033] As illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, the number of pairs (retaining portions 2) of torsion bars 21 and arms 22 is preferably three or more. In this case, the three or more retaining portions 2 are preferably arranged in rotational symmetry with respect to a line extending vertically (in the Z-axis direction) from the center of the through-hole 19. For example, if the number of retaining portions 2 is n (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 3), the retaining portions 2 are arranged approximately evenly around the through-hole 19 at angles of approximately 360° / n. This makes it possible to easily align the center positions of test tubes 9 with different diameters with the center position of the through-hole 19.

[0034] The force with which the torsion bar 21 holds the test tube 9 is not limited to the force resisting twisting described above. The force (reaction force) resisting bending of the other end 21 b of the torsion bar 21 deviating from the axial direction (Z-axis direction) generated in the torsion bar 21 when the arm 22 is pushed away in the positive direction of the radial direction r also serves as a force with which the torsion bar 21 holds the test tube 9.

[0035] As described above, in the holder 10 according to one embodiment, the holder 2 holds the test tube 9 by a force resisting torsion generated in the torsion bar 21 when the test tube 9 is passed through the through-hole 19 so that the test tube 9 contacts the arm 22. This enables the holder 10 to hold members having various diameters as objects. The holder 10 can hold test tubes and blood collection tubes having various diameters, from standard sizes with diameters of, for example, about 13 mm to about 16.5 mm, to smaller sizes with diameters of, for example, about 7 mm.

[0036] [Rack Configuration] Fig. 10 is a top view of a rack according to one embodiment. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a holder 10 according to one embodiment has a connecting protrusion 32 and a connecting notch 33 on the lower structure 3. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the connecting protrusion 32 of one holder 10 engages with the connecting notch 33 of another holder 10 arranged adjacent to it. In this way, a rack 100 is configured in which a plurality of holders 10 are connected.

[0037] 10, multiple holders 10 adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction in the figure are connected using the above-described connecting protrusions 32 and connecting notches 33. Multiple holders 10 adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction in the figure are connected by, for example, an adhesive, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, or welding.

[0038] In another embodiment, a rack 100 is constructed by arranging multiple holders 10 as illustrated in Figure 10 and fixing the arrangement of the multiple holders 10 by surrounding the outer periphery of the multiple holders 10 with a frame-shaped member not shown.

[0039] [Other Embodiments] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0040] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a holder according to another embodiment. The holder 10 includes multiple holders 2. In the above-described embodiment, each of the three holders 2 includes a pair of a torsion bar 21 and an arm 22. However, not all of the multiple holders 2 need to include a pair of a torsion bar 21 and an arm 22. In other embodiments, it is sufficient that at least one of the multiple holders 2 includes a pair of a torsion bar 21 and an arm 22. In this case, the remaining holders 2 may be plate-like members 24 (also referred to as walls 24) curved along the outer periphery of the through-hole 19 in a top view, as illustrated in FIG. 11 . The walls 24 function as holders 2. The walls 24 are positioned generally opposite the arms 22 across the through-hole 19, and cooperate with the pair of the torsion bar 21 and the arms 22 to hold the test tube 9 inserted into the through-hole 19 from the space above the through-hole 19.

[0041] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an upper structure provided with a retainer according to yet another embodiment. In the above embodiment, the torsion bar 21 of the retainer 2 extends above the through-hole 19, but as illustrated in Fig. 12, the torsion bar 21 may extend below (either above or below) the through-hole 19 (the torsion bar 21 may extend in the negative direction of the axial direction (Z-axis)). That is, in yet another embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the retainer 2 can be disposed on the lower surface 1b side of the upper structure 1. In this case, the arm 22 extends from the torsion bar 21 into the space below (either above or below) the through-hole 19.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the holder 10 holds the test tube 9, but the object 9 held by the holder 10 is not limited to a cylindrical member such as a test tube or a blood collection tube. The object 9 held by the holder 10 may be a rod-shaped member such as a shaft. As long as the object 9 passed through the through-hole 19 can be held by a force that resists the torsion generated in the torsion bar 21, the shape and size of the object 9 are not limited.

[0043] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Upper structure (plate material) 2 Holding portion 3 Lower structure 4 Tip receiving portion 9 Object (test tube) 10 Holding tool 11 Engagement portion 12 Thick portion 13 Reinforcing rib 14 Hole 19 Through hole 21 Torsion bar 22 Arm 23 Tip of arm 24 Plate-shaped member (wall) 31 Notch portion 32 Connecting protrusion 33 Connecting notch 49 Through hole 100 Rack

Claims

1. A holder comprising: a plate material having a through hole; and a plurality of holding portions for holding an object passed through the through hole, wherein the holding portions comprise a torsion bar extending to one side, above or below, from the plate material around the through hole; and an arm extending from the torsion bar into the space above or below the through hole, wherein the holder holds the object by a force resisting torsion generated in the torsion bar when the object is passed through the through hole so that the object comes into contact with the arm.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a plan view, the arm is curved such that the tip approaches the centre of the through hole.

3. A holder as described in claim 1, wherein the tip of said arm is provided with a slope that slopes outwardly from said through hole as it approaches the upper or lower side.

4. A retainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said arms extend from said torsion bar to one circumferential side of said through hole.

5. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein a thickened portion is provided around said through hole.

6. A retainer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing rib provided at a portion of said torsion bar extending from said plate material.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tip receiving portion for receiving a tip of the object is provided in the space above and below the through hole, on the other side.

8. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said plate and said holding portion are integrally formed.

9. The retainer of claim 1, wherein said torsion bar and said arm are integrally formed.

10. The retainer of claim 1, wherein at least one of a plurality of retaining portions comprises said torsion bar and said arm.

11. The holder according to claim 1, wherein three or more holding parts are arranged so as to be rotationally symmetrical about an axis of a straight line extending vertically from the center position of the through hole.

12. A rack comprising a plurality of holders according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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