Adjustable Test Tube Holder With Rotating Support Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laboratory settings require a flexible test tube holder that can accommodate test tubes of different sizes, types, and quantities, as experiments often necessitate the use of varying test tubes, but existing solutions lack the adaptability to support multiple types simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A configurable test tube holder with a base and adjustable support members that can rotate to different positions, allowing for the accommodation of multiple test tube types by altering the distance of apertures from the base, enabling storage of various test tube sizes and types in a single holder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a test tube holder is designed to accommodate multiple types of test tubes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate different test tube typesVSAvoidstructural complexity of holder

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into multiple independent support members, each capable of being individually adjusted. This segmentation allows each support member to be configured for different test tube types without affecting the entire holder structure, thereby improving adaptability while keeping the adjustment mechanism simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support members are designed to be rotatable and adjustable between different positions, transforming a static holder into a dynamic one. This allows the holder to adapt its configuration based on the specific test tube storage needs, enabling multiple test tube types to be accommodated using a relatively simple rotational mechanism rather than complex reconfigurable structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If support members are made adjustable to different positions, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfigurability for different test tube sizesVSAvoidsimplicity of adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are equipped with detent mechanisms or positioning features that pre-establish stable positions for different test tube types. This allows users to easily snap the support members into the correct position without requiring precise manual adjustment, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving versatile configuration capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the holder accommodates various test tube types, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of time in adjusting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to store multiple test tube typesVSAvoidtime required for reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are pre-configured with multiple predetermined positions that correspond to common test tube types. This preliminary preparation of positions allows users to quickly select and adjust to the appropriate configuration without performing complex adjustments, thereby reducing the time loss while maintaining high adaptability for different test tube types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20170282185A1Adjustable test tube holder

Publication Date: 2017.10.05 HEATHROW SCIENTIFIC LLC

AI summary

A test tube holder is configurable to support a combination of a first test tube type and a second test tube type. The test tube holder has a base and a plurality of independently adjustable support members, each coupled to and rotatable with respect to the base between a first position, where the support member is configured to support the first test tube type, and a second position, where the first support member is configured to support the second test tube type.