Petri Dish Locking Mechanism for Secure Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Petri dishes lack a means to securely stack and interlock without external connections, requiring external tools like tape or disposable transport systems, which complicates handling and sterilization, and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A Petri dish design featuring axisymmetric members with protrusions on the peripheral walls that allow interlocking, enabling stacks to be formed without external connections, where the protrusions facilitate a relative rotary movement and engagement, ensuring secure interdependence between dishes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external connection means (tape, adhesive tape, disposable transport tools) are used to secure and transport Petri dishes, then the dishes can be handled and transported, but the sanitary quality control becomes complex, additional costs are incurred, and the handling process becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are integrated directly into the Petri dish structure itself, merging the function of the dish with the function of the connection mechanism. The protrusions on the peripheral walls of the receptacle and lid form an integrated locking system that eliminates the need for separate external connection tools like tape or disposable transport devices, thereby simplifying sterilization control and reducing additional costs
Solution Approach 2:
The Petri dish structure itself provides the locking functionality through its own components (protrusions on receptacle and lid), making the dish self-sufficient for stacking and securing. The dish does not require external assistance for handling and transportation, as the integrated locking means enable autonomous stacking and securing of multiple dishes
2Productivity
If Petri dishes are stacked without locking means, then the stacking function is possible, but the dishes cannot be securely retained and require external securing means
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are segmented into discrete protrusions located at specific positions on the peripheral walls of the receptacle and lid. These segmented protrusions engage with corresponding features on adjacent dishes to provide reliable retention while maintaining the stacking capability. The segmentation allows for precise positioning and secure engagement without requiring complex continuous locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The locking protrusions are nested within the overall dish structure, with the protrusions on the receptacle and lid forming an interlocking pattern that allows multiple dishes to be securely stacked. The nested design enables the locking features to be integrated into the dish geometry itself, providing secure retention while maintaining compact stacking configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A Petri dish has members including a receptacle and an additional lid, both having an axisymmetric shape and which are delimited by a bottom wall and at least one peripheral wall, the receptacle and lid bearing complementary lock sections so that when a stack is formed by superposing at least two dishes, borne by a first component of a first dish which can engage with the lock section of the second component of the second dish, thus making them rigidly connected to one another. These lock sections cooperate by relative rotational movement of one dish with respect to the other, the lock sections being borne by the peripheral walls and including protrusions.