US3797652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nested stack of sterile shielded containers
Assignee: Kendall Co
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A nested stack of sterile shielded containers wherein each container includes a hollow sterile tray to retain sterile articles therein, with the tray including, a top for access to the articles, a bottom, and at least one side wall connecting the top and the bottom. A shield including a flexible sheet covers at least a portion of the tray top and one side wall, and the sheet is sufficiently large to prevent contamination of the tray or articles during grasping of the shield by a user''s hands. Each shield, except for the one covering the uppermost tray in the stack, is partially retracted into the top of its respective tray by the nested bottom portion of the tray thereabove.
Inventors
- 👤 S Chesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/10; B65D77/20; B65D77/2024; B65D77/2028; B65D21/00; B65D21/02; B65D21/0233; B65D2577/00; B65D2577/10; B65D2577/20; B65D2577/2041; B65D2577/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A stack of nested shielded sterile trays comprising: a plurality of sterile trays, each of said trays having an open top, a bottom, and a continuous sidewall connecting the top and bottom and extending around a cavity in the tray for retaining sterile contents therein, with the perimeter around said sidewall adjacent the tray bottom being less than the perimeter adjacent the top of the trays with the bottom portion of an upper tray being received in the upper part of the cavity of a lower tray; and a plurality of shields substantially resistive to bacterial penetration with each of said shields covering a substantial portion of the top a tray for grasping and unstacking the trays without contamination by a user''s hand, and with each of said shields comprising, a flexible sheet having a bottom and side panel separated by a first fold, and having a top panel separated from the side panel by a second fold, said bottom and side panels covering at least a portion of said tray bottom and sidewall, respectively, and said top panel substantially closing said tray cavity, each said shield, except for the one covering the uppermost tray in the stack, being partially retracted into the cavity of its respective tray by the nested bottom portion of the tray thereabove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A stack of nested shielded sterile trays comprising: a plurality of sterile trays, each of said trays having an open top, a bottom, and a continuous sidewall connecting the top and bottom and extending around a cavity in the tray for retaining sterile contents therein, with the perimeter around said sidewall adjacent the tray bottom being less than the perimeter adjacent the top of the trays with the bottom portion of an upper tray being received in the upper part of the cavity of a lower tray; and a plurality of shields substantially resistive to bacterial penetration with each of said shields covering a substantial portion of the top a tray for grasping and unstacking the trays without contamination by a user''s hand, and with each of said shields comprising, a flexible sheet having a bottom and side panel separated by a first fold, and having a top panel separated from the side panel by a second fold, said bottom and side panels covering at least a portion of said tray bottom and sidewall, respectively, and said top panel substantially closing said tray cavity, each said shield, except for the one covering the uppermost tray in the stack, being partially retracted into the cavity of its respective tray by the nested bottom portion of the tray thereabove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stack of trays of claim 1 wherein said trays are generally rectangular, each of said tray sidewalls includes two pairs of opposing sides, and each of said side panels substantially covers one of said tray sides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The stack of trays of claim 2 wherein the side portions of the bottom panels extend laterally beyond the tray bottoms, and including upward folds of the extending bottom panel portions defining tabs engaging the outer surface of the tray sides adjacent said one tray side of each of the trays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stack of trays of claim 3 wherein said panel tabs are frictionally engaged between outer and inner tray side surfaces of upper and lower stacked trays, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The stack of trays of claim 1 wherein the top panels include side portions frictionally engaged between the inner sidewall surfaces of the lower trays and the exterior surfaces of the sides of the shielded upper trays nested therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The stack of trays of claim 1 including a pair of sterile forceps positioned above the top panel of a lower tray, said forceps being used to remove the sterile contents from the trays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |