US4730729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container for endoscopes and spare parts
Assignee: RIWOPLAN MEDIZIN-TECHNISCHE EINRICHTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT A GERMAN CORP
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Filing: 1985-10-02
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Granted: 1988-03-15
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Expires: 2005-10-02
Abstract
Abstract The container for dispatching, disinfecting, sterilizing and storing a variety of instruments such as endoscopes and parts therefore is so constructed that selectible bearing elements comprising pads may be utilized releasably and exchangeably in the container tray and/or lid, which fixedly support one or more side-by-side instruments in the container. By fitting bearing elements of different sizes a wide variety of different instruments can be accommodated.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Monch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/121; A61B50/00; A61B50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A container for storing, dispatching and sterilizing medical instruments comprising an elongated tray having lateral side walls; a lid fitting over and closing said tray; releasable clamps for securing said lid to said tray; a plurality of substantially inverted U-shape bearing elements being releasably secured in said tray at spaced intervals along its length, each of said elements having a pair of resilient side-arms with formations thereon engaging corresponding formations in said lateral side walls of the tray; a groove formed in an upper surface of each bearing element facing said lid and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container, each groove accommodating a pad of resilient material to bear against said instrument; and a complementary bearing element in said lid, opposite each bearing element in said tray, each of the bearing elements in the lid having a transverse groove therein accommodating a pad of resilient material cooperating with the pad of the opposite bearing element of the tray to hold said instrument, the bearing elements of at least said tray being interchangeable with other such elements of different dimensions to enable different instruments to be accommodated in said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A container for storing, dispatching and sterilizing medical instruments comprising an elongated tray having lateral side walls; a lid fitting over and closing said tray; releasable clamps for securing said lid to said tray; a plurality of substantially inverted U-shape bearing elements being releasably secured in said tray at spaced intervals along its length, each of said elements having a pair of resilient side-arms with formations thereon engaging corresponding formations in said lateral side walls of the tray; a groove formed in an upper surface of each bearing element facing said lid and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container, each groove accommodating a pad of resilient material to bear against said instrument; and a complementary bearing element in said lid, opposite each bearing element in said tray, each of the bearing elements in the lid having a transverse groove therein accommodating a pad of resilient material cooperating with the pad of the opposite bearing element of the tray to hold said instrument, the bearing elements of at least said tray being interchangeable with other such elements of different dimensions to enable different instruments to be accommodated in said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein the formation on each of the elements comprises a lateral projection on each of the side-arms of the element and said formation on the lateral side walls comprises a recess for each projection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container according to claim 2, wherein each recess is a hollow extension molded in the side wall of the tray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 2, wherein each recess is a slot formed in the side wall of the tray.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein each formation of the tray is an inward projection and each formation of the side-arms is a recess for receiving the inward projection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein the complementary bearing elements of the lid are removable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A rigid container for dispatching, sterilizing and storing of medical instruments, said container containing an elongated tray having side walls; a lid being connected to the tray; and said tray and lid being provided with projecting opposing and interchangeable supports between which the instruments are placed and fixed, the supports for at least the tray being directed transverse to the elongated direction of the tray and comprising resilient U-shaped bearing elements having a pair of resilient side-arms, said side-arms and side walls of the tray having coacting pairs of laterally extending projections and recesses for releasably mounting the bearing element in the tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A rigid container for dispatching, sterilizing and storing of medical instruments, said container containing an elongated tray having side walls; a lid being connected to the tray; and said tray and lid being provided with projecting opposing and interchangeable supports between which the instruments are placed and fixed, the supports for at least the tray being directed transverse to the elongated direction of the tray and comprising resilient U-shaped bearing elements having a pair of resilient side-arms, said side-arms and side walls of the tray having coacting pairs of laterally extending projections and recesses for releasably mounting the bearing element in the tray.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein the coacting recesses are formed in the side-arms of the bearing elements and the lateral projections are inwardly extending projections on the side walls of the tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein the bearing supports of the lid are rigidly secured therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein the bearing elements in the lid are also removably mounted therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein the projections are outwardly extending projections on the side-arms of the bearing elements and the recesses are on the side walls of the lid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rigid container according to claim 11, wherein the recesses are molded into the side walls of the tray.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-15 | 1991-09-14 | 1992-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-15 | 1995-09-14 | 1996-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-15 | 1999-09-14 | 2000-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |