US3572952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Float cuvette
Assignee: American Optical Corp
•
Filing: 1968-02-20
•
Granted: 1971-03-30
•
Expires: 1988-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A novel cuvette assembly consisting of the combination of a hollow transparent cuvette element containing a float in which the float is so shaped as to control the path of a fluid sample entering the cuvette and cause it to wash the interior of the cuvette. As the float rises in the cuvette, it carries with it the initial wash portion of the sample preventing mixing with the test portion of the sample entering the cuvette.
Inventors
- 👤 Erik W Anthon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/15; G01N21/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A novel cuvette assembly having a light path therethrough for spectrophotometric measurements of a liquid sample, said cuvette comprising the combination of: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion and a top portion with an inlet passage in the bottom portion to admit a test liquid into the transparent vessel; b. a second passage in fluid communication with said vessel through the top portion; and c. a float element movably positioned in said hollow vessel, said float element comprising a base portion conforming in shape and substantially in diameter to the inner surface of said hollow vessel, said float element normally being positioned when no liquid is in the transparent vessel so as to interrupt the light path through said transparent vessel, said flOat element also including an upper portion of crosssectional area smaller than that of said base portion, said base portion having a passageway therethrough to permit test liquid to flow from below to above said base portion, said float element being of a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of any test liquid to be tested in the transparent vessel, whereby test liquid entering said transparent vessel causes said float element to rise until it impinges on and seals off said second passage, thus exposing a light path through said vessel suitable for spectrophotometric measurements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A novel cuvette assembly having a light path therethrough for spectrophotometric measurements of a liquid sample, said cuvette comprising the combination of: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion and a top portion with an inlet passage in the bottom portion to admit a test liquid into the transparent vessel; b. a second passage in fluid communication with said vessel through the top portion; and c. a float element movably positioned in said hollow vessel, said float element comprising a base portion conforming in shape and substantially in diameter to the inner surface of said hollow vessel, said float element normally being positioned when no liquid is in the transparent vessel so as to interrupt the light path through said transparent vessel, said flOat element also including an upper portion of crosssectional area smaller than that of said base portion, said base portion having a passageway therethrough to permit test liquid to flow from below to above said base portion, said float element being of a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of any test liquid to be tested in the transparent vessel, whereby test liquid entering said transparent vessel causes said float element to rise until it impinges on and seals off said second passage, thus exposing a light path through said vessel suitable for spectrophotometric measurements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
142 words
A cuvette assembly having a light path therethrough for photometric measurements of liquid samples including: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion with an inlet passage therethrough and a top portion with a second passage therethrough, said passages communicating with the interior of said vessel; b. a float element disposed within said hollow vessel and configured so as to substantially define with the interior surface of said vessel a plurality of liquid chambers, including a cuvette rinse chamber and a sample test chamber, said float element being movable within said vessel and being of a specific gravity which is less than that of any liquid to be tested so as to be capable of floating on any such liquid; and c. said liquid chambers being in restricted mutual communication through said float element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A cuvette assembly having a light path therethrough for photometric measurements of liquid samples including: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion with an inlet passage therethrough and a top portion with a second passage therethrough, said passages communicating with the interior of said vessel; b. a float element disposed within said hollow vessel and configured so as to substantially define with the interior surface of said vessel a plurality of liquid chambers, including a cuvette rinse chamber and a sample test chamber, said float element being movable within said vessel and being of a specific gravity which is less than that of any liquid to be tested so as to be capable of floating on any such liquid; and c. said liquid chambers being in restricted mutual communication through said float element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
A cuvette having a light path therethrough for consecutive sampling of liquids to be tested as by a photometer, said cuvette comprising: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion with an inlet passage therethrough and a top portion with a second passage therethrough, said passages communicating with the interior of said vessel; b. a combined float and separator element disposed within said vessel and configured so as to define with the interior surface of said vessel a plurality of liquid chambers including a cuvette rinse chamber and a sample test chamber, said chambers being in restricted mutual communication through said float and separator element, said float and separator element being of a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of any liquid to be tested; and c. means to motivate liquid sample into said liquid inlet passage and said chambers, whereby said combined float and separator element is caused to float within said vessel, such floating action effecting the rinsing of cuvette interior surface within said cuvette rinse chamber and the collecting of sample substantially free of cross-contamination in said sample test chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
A cuvette having a light path therethrough for consecutive sampling of liquids to be tested as by a photometer, said cuvette comprising: a. a hollow transparent vessel through which the light path extends and having a bottom portion with an inlet passage therethrough and a top portion with a second passage therethrough, said passages communicating with the interior of said vessel; b. a combined float and separator element disposed within said vessel and configured so as to define with the interior surface of said vessel a plurality of liquid chambers including a cuvette rinse chamber and a sample test chamber, said chambers being in restricted mutual communication through said float and separator element, said float and separator element being of a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of any liquid to be tested; and c. means to motivate liquid sample into said liquid inlet passage and said chambers, whereby said combined float and separator element is caused to float within said vessel, such floating action effecting the rinsing of cuvette interior surface within said cuvette rinse chamber and the collecting of sample substantially free of cross-contamination in said sample test chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2003474A
Cited
US2262807A
Cited
US2413352A
Cited
US2581588A
Cited
US2970561A
Cited
US3225645A
Cited
US3302613A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |