CA2441497A1 - Container for the storage and transport of sensitive plate-like objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (10) for receiving and transporting sensitive plate-like objects (32), in particular for transporting surface-modified glass substrates (32). The container (10) comprises an upper part (12) and a lower part (14). The lower part (14} comprises two lateral sides (16, 18), two, longitudinal sides (20, 22) and a bottom- (24) which com-monly circumscribe a hollow space (26) for receiving plate-like objects (32). At each of the lateral sides (16, 18) a series of first ridges (28) is arranged perpendicularly to the bottom, forming a plurality of guide grooves (30) for the plate-like objects (32). The upper part (14) comprises an inner surface (64) which is parallel to the bottom (24) when the container (10) is closed. At the inner surface (64) at least one second protruding ridge (72) is arranged extending in parallel to both lateral sides (16, 18) along the total inner surface (64), thus limiting the mobility of the plate-like objects (32) within the guide grooves (30) (Fig. 1).

Description

Container for the storacre and trans.nort of sensitive plate-like ob-iects The invention relates to a container for the storage and trans-port of sensitive plate-like objects, in particular of so-called surface functionalised glass substrates. These are small thin glass plates, the dimensions of which are comparable to microscope object holders. However, the surface functionalised glass substrates comprise additional sensitive coatings, and they serve as a preliminary stage in the manufacture of bio-chips.
For the storage and transport of such glass substrates up to now the same containers were utilized 'that are also used f or microscope object holders. Such containers are commercially available. However, i~t has been found that the known containers are not optimally suited for the purpose mentioned above, since during the storage and transport of surface functionalised glass substrates frequently undesired impairments of sensitive surfaces have occurred. A reason for this, as has been found by the present applicant, are contaminations which occur during storage and/or transport, even when the glass substrates are packed into the known containers under carefully known clean conditions.

In addition, the containers utilized up to now do not always protect the sensitive glass substrates against damages suff i-ciently. In particular, shock impacts i~hat can occur when the container is dropped or is not treated during transport with sufficient care, have frequently led to mechanical damages, even to fracture of the glass substrates~
In view of~ this, it is an object of 'the preseht i.nventian to disclose an improved container for the storage and transport of sensitive plate-like objects which takes into account the par-ticular requirements for the handling and storage of plate-like objects, in particular glass substrates having delicate sur-faces. In particular, the risk of mechanical damage and the risk of contamination of the sensitive surfaces of the glass substrates shall be reduced. Preferably, the container shall also allow an easy manufacture and easy handling of the plate-like objects to be received therein.
These and other objects are achieved by a container having an upper part and a lower part which are connected with each other by connecting elements, wherein the lower part comprises two lateral sides, two longitudinal sides and a bottom, which com-monly enclose a cavity for receiving plate-like objects therein, wherein at each of the lateral sides a series of ffirst ridges extending perpendicularly to the bottom and defining a plurality of guide grooves for the plate-like objects is formed, wherein the upper part comprises an inner surface being parallel to the bottom when the container is closed, and wherein at least one protruding second ridge is formed at the inner surface extending in parallel to the two lateral sides across the total inner surface and thus limiting the movability of the plate-like objects within the guide grooves.
Thus, the container according to the invention comprises a container lower part having a plurality of guide grooves into which a glass substrate, or in broader terms a plate-like ob-ject, is inserted.. In this way, several adjacent, glass sub-strates~ are held 'at a distance from 'each other, thus elimiwat-ing the risk of contact friction and/or striking one upon the other. Accordingly, the guide grooves serve to reduce the risk of mechanical damages~ However, it has been found that the guide grooves are not sufficient to fully meet the demands with respect to the storage and transport of surface functionalised glass substrates. Namely, usually there remains a certain play of movement, even if the glass substrates are inserted into the grooves. Although the guide grooves preferably are only insig-nificantly broader than the thickness of the glass substrates, usually a certain small play remains. If the guide grooves were designed even smaller, it would be difficult to insert the glass substrates precisely and without damage into the guide grooves.
Now, the inventors of the present invention have found that due to the movements possible in view of the play may lead to a material abrasion within the guide grooves, caused to some extent by sharp edges of the glass substrates. As a result, smallest plastic particles may deposit onto the sensitive sur-faces of the glass substrates, this increa:~ing the undesired contamination mentioned before. Therefore, according to the invention, at the inner surface of the upper part which extends in parallel to the bottom and thereby perpendicularly to the guide grooves, at least one protruding second ridge is formed which limits the movability of the glass substrates, at. least along the guide grooves. Any movement of the glass substrates within the container is reduced thereby. Preferably, the second ridge protrudes thus far that it contacts the upper edge of the received glass substrates, when the container is closed, whereby .a movement within the guide grooves is almost com-pletely impaired, as well as any lateral movement within the guide grooves.
Also the reduced mov°ability serves to reduce the risk of me-chanical damage.
Therefore, the above object as solved completely.
According to another embodiment of the invention the container comprises at least one pair of second :ridges that are located at the inner surface of the upper part, the second ridges de-fining a press fit for receiving a first damping strip in par-a11e1 to the lateral sides, or alternatively, the container comprises a damping element is located at the bottom of the lower part, the damping element being positioned by resting against the lateral sides and against the longitudinal sides.
In this way damping material ca.n be exactly positioned either at the upper part or at the lower part or at both parts in a simple way without using any adhesive.
To this end at the upper part a press f it between two ridges is used for receiving the at least one damp:~ng strip.

If the damping material shall be included in the lower part, then a damping element is used that is exactly positioned on the bottom of the lower part by resting against the lateral sides and against the longitudinal sides. A press fit is possi-ble but not mandatory, since the damping element is located by a form fit between tze lateral and longitudinal sides end can-not fall out due to its location on the bottom.
Obviously, also both features can be combined so as to support the glass plates inserted in the container at the bottom side and at the top side by damping material.
If the damping element located at the bottom. is used, suitably it comprises two damping strips extending along the lateral sides and enclosed between the longitudinal sides, the two damping strips being connected by at least one linking strip.
According to a further development of this configuration the damping element is configured H-shaped.
This serves to ensure a form fitted positioning in a simple way.
When positioning the (first) damping strip press fitted between a pair of ridges at the upper part, preferably two pairs of ridges are provided each providing a press fit for a damping strip as described above.
Thereby a particularly uniform support of the glass plates received within the container is ensured.

Basically, the advantages mentioned above could also be reached by gluing a suitable damping strip, or in broader terms, a damping material, onto the inner surface of the upper side.
However, the preferred embodiment having a strip-shaped damping element received in press-fit offers the advantage that a con tamination of the sensitive surfaces of the glass substrates by gas evolution from the adhesive is ,avoided. Also the strip shaped desigm of ~th.e~ dampingelement minimizes the contact surface with the glass substrates, and a tight seating of the damping element is reached, even without using an adhesive.
According to another embodiment according of the invention the container is designed such that the distance between the two lateral sides between each other is larger than the height of each individual lateral side above the bottom.
These dimensions of t:he container lead to the consequence that the glass substrates, more generally the plate-like objects, are inserted into the guide grooves with their slim sides . Put ZO in other words, the glass substrates according to this develop-ment of the invention are transported in a "lying" state . This measure facilitates t:o insert the glass substrates and to re-move the glass substrates, respectively, into the container or out of the container without contamination and damage. Also this development serves to reduce the contact surface between the sensitive surfaces of the glass substrates and the first ridges which form the guide grooves, this further reducing the risk and the extent of possible damages in the region of sensi-tive surfaces.

According to a further embodiment, the damping strips comprise the material polytetrafluoroethylene.
In practical tests, this material has been found to be particu-larly suited, since it offers the desired damping characteris-tics and also does not show any significant gas evolution. In the dimensions of a few millimeters thickness this material exhibits. a certain res'ilience.. In, addition, this material is known as an anti-friction material which facilitates sliding of objects along a surface thereof, thus avoiding abrasion caused by any sharp edges. Also the risk of mechanical damage of 'the sensitive edges of the glass substratE:s in the region of the contact surfaces is small when using th:i.s material.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the upper part and the lower part are connected with each other' being separable in an indestructible way.
Put in other words, according to this e:mbodi.ment the upper part 20 can be fully separated from the lower part. Thereby, the glass substrates can be inserted particularly simply into the con-tainer or removed there from, respectively. In particular, owing to this measure also a particularly simple an damage-free filling of the containers in automatic packaging operations is possible.
According to a further embodiment, the connecting elements comprise at least a first hook-shaped part and at least a sec-ond pin-shaped part which commonly define a plug-in hinge, 30 wherein a respective one of the parts is arranged at the upper part and at the lower part.

_ The design of the connecting elements as a plug-in hinge has been found to be a particularly advantageous embodiment when considering the handling of the container in combination with sensitive glass substrates. The plug-in hinge on the one hand allows a full separation of the upper part from the lower part, this offering the advantages mentioned above. On the other hand, the container, in particular, if opened only for a short time, can simply ~be swiveled. Finally, it has beenfound in drop tests that a plug-in hinge is particularly effective to avoid an undesired opening of the container under heavy impact load.
According to a further embodiment, the a.t least one hook-shaped first part is designed so as to allow detaching from the pin-shaped second part by translational motion at an opening angle of more than 135°.
Also this embodiment of the plug-in hinge has been found td be particularly advantageous to avoid an undesired opening of the 20 container under high impact load. On the other hand, an opening angle of mare than 135°, preferably of about 145°, is well-suited to allow a simple detaching of the upper part from the lower part. All in all, this embodiment thus provides a high operating convenience for the novel container.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one hook-shaped first part is designed tapering conically toward its end sec-tion.
30 This embodiment offers the advantage that the plug-in hinge is self-centering when putting together the hook-shaped and the pin-shaped parts, thus being a self-centering plug-in hinge.
The putting together of the upper part and the lower part and thereby the closing of the container is facilitated thereby, and is also made possible using only one hand.
According to a further embodiment, the connecting elements further comprise a locking,mechanism having ,a closure lug being designed to positively engage mound a l.obking 'protrusion being arranged at a ffirst container outer side.
Such a locking mechanism has been found to be particularly effective in combination with the plug-in hinge to avoid an undesired opening of the container under .impact load. In addi-tion, such a closure lug facilitates a high operating conven-ience in combination with the plug-in hinge mentioned above.
According to a further development, a~t at least one second container outer side no suitable locking protrusion is formed, and the lower part is further designed so as to allow receiving Zfl the upper part in a position in which the closure lug rests against the second container outer side.
This particularly preferred embodiment serves to further im-prove the handling o:c the novel container. Thus, due to this embodiment it is easily possible to place the upper part onto the lower part only °'loosely". Thus, the container c:an be closed without locking it. In particular, this measure serves to ensure that an operator immediately closes the container after removal of a single glass substrate, this further reduc-30 ing undesirable contaminations of the sensitive glass sub-strates.

ZQ
With this embodiment in practical operation it is generally important to design the upper part anal the lower part with respect to each other so as to allow putting together in at least two different orientations with respect to each other.
This includes that on the one hand a respective symmetry is provided and/or that suitable recesse:~ are provided at all places, where ,protruding parts would otherwise impair putting v'together vthe upper and the lower part~.~. Such a particularly preferred reduction to practice is described below by reference to an exemplary embodiment.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the con-tainer is made of polystyrene and/or a homopolymeric plastic.
These materials have been found to be particularly advanta geous , since they tend to evolute only small amounts of gases .
Preferably only small amounts of additives are utilized at the most. The risk of undesired contamination of the sensitive surfaces of the glass substrates by chemical processes is fur that reduced.
According to a further embodiment, the first ridges are rounded at their upper sides facing away from the bottom.
This measure particularly serves to facilitate inserting of the sensitive glass substrates into the guide grooves. The risk of damage is further reduced.
It will be understood that the features mentioned above and to be explained hereinafter may not only be used in the given combination but also in other combinations or exclusively with-out going beyond the scope of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the draw-ings and will be des<:ribed hereinafter. In the drawings:
Fig. l shows a particularly preferred._embodiment of. the novel cont~airier, wherein the upper part and the lower part rest adjoining each other, shown in swung open 1p condition;
Fig. 2 shows a cutout enlargement of the first ridges and the guide grooves within the lower part of the con-tainer of ~:''ig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a lateral view of the container of Fig. 1 when placing the upper part;
Fig. 4 shows a front view of the upper part and the lower 2p part of the container of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 shows the upper part and the lower part of Fig. 1, wherein the upper part has been pivoted by 180°; and Fig. 6 shows a lateral view of the' container of Fig. 5, wherein additionally the locairion of a received glass substrate is indicated.
The subsequent description and exemplary embodiment of the 30 novel container is designated in total with reference numeral 10. The container I~ comprises an uppe r part 12 and a lower part 14, which can :be completely detached from each other as will be shown in the following. In the closed state of the container the upper part 12 rests against the lower part 14.
The glass substrate's to be received, or more generally, the plate-shaped objects, herein are inserted into the lower part 14 in a way to be explained hereinafter. The upper part 12 serves as some kind of top.
As shown in Fig, l, the lower part 14 comprises two lateral sides I6, 18, two longitudinal sides 20, 22 as well as a bottom 24. In combination the four afore-mentioned sidewalls and the bottom define a cavity 26 which serves to receive plate-shaped objects, in particular, to receive surface functionalised glass substrates. For the sake of simplicity the following descrip-tion only relates to glass substrates. However, it should be noted that the scope of application of the container 10 is not limited thereby. By contrast, the disclosed preferred container 10 can also serve to receive prior art microscope object hold-ers, to receive complete so-called biochips or to receive and store other plate-shaped ohjects, the dimensions of which cor-respond to those of prior art object ho7.ders.
At each of the two lateral sides 16, 18'. of the lower part 14 a series of first ridges 28 is provided between which guide grooves 30 are formed. According to 'the preferred exemplary embodiment currently described, the first ridges 28 are de-signed integrally with the respective lateral sides I6, 18. Put in other words, the first ridges 28 are foamed already at the lateral sides 16, 18 during manufacture of the lower part 14.

The guide grooves 3CI serve for receiving a glass substrate each, respectively, of which in Fig. T. three ones are shown exemplarily. Herein, one of the glass substrates is depicted with numeral 32.
As can be seen in Fig. 1, the distan<~e between the lateral sides 1,6, 18 is only slightly larger i~han the length of the glass substrates 32 to be received. By contrast, the depth of each guide groove 30 is small when compared to the length of ~0 the glass substrates 32, i.e. the glass substrates 32 protrude only with a somewhat smaller rim region at their front faces into the guide grooves 3Q. The smaller contact surface helps to avoid contamination and damage.
At the bottom 24 of the lower part 14 below the glass substrate 32 an H-shaped damping element 34 is located.. The damping ele-ment 34 comprises two damping strips :36, 38 which extend in parallel to the lateral sides 16, 18 across the total width of the lower part 14 and whi ch are connected with each other by a 20 linking strip. Also, the two damping strips 36, 38 extend di-rectly adjacent to the first ridges 28, so that the complete damping element 34 i~ always held in a defined position. Herein the damping element 34 is a polytetrafluoroethylene material, i.e. a strip made of Teflon.
Herein, the damping element 34 is simp:Ly placed on the bottom 24 of the lower part 14, without any particular attachment.
However, alternatively the damping element 34 could also be mechanically attached to the bottom 24,. Beyond that, a:Lso an-30 other shape different from the H-shape here preferred could be used, while the shape here disclosed offers a good compromise 7. 4 between a small contact surface to the glass substrates 32 and a simple positioning.
Reference numeral 40 designates a scale that extends at the bottom 24 of the lower part 14 roughly in the middle between the two lateral sides 16, 18 and in parallel thereto. On the scale numerical values are, depicted."numbering'° the individual support locations for glass substrates 32. Thus, ~ u.tilizing the scale 40, the number of glass substrates 32 received within the lower part 14 can be detected relatively simple. In the example shown here, the container is designed for receiving 2.5 glass substrates. Beyond that also broader .containers are provided for receiving 50, 100 or even more glass substrates, if neces-sary. However, preferably the container 10 is designed so as to receive at least 15 glass substrates, since it has been found that this is an ecanomically feasible size for such a con-tainer.
Reference numerals 42 and 44 depict two pin-shaped parts that are formed at the outer side of lateral side 16. On the other hand, at the opposing lateral side 18, a locking protrusion 46 as well as two deepenings or recesses 48, 50 are formed. The size of these deepenings 48, 50 can be: seen in the two front views of the lower part 14 in figures 4 and 5.
The upper part 12 comprises four side walls 56, 58, 60, 62 which rest flush on the two lateral sides 16, 18 and the longi-tudinal sides 20, 22 of the lower part 14 when the container 10 is closed. With reference numeral 64 the (inner) surface of the upper part 12 is depicted extending in parallel to the bottom . 24 of the lower part 14 when the container is closed. Thus, in the closed state the container 10 has a closed hypoid form.
Reference numerals 66 and 68 depict two hook-shaped parts ar-ranged at the side wall 58 protruding to the outside. The hook-shaped parts 66, 68 together with the pin-shaped parts 42, 44 form two plug-in hinges, at the lower part. 14, the function to be described hereinafter with reference to Fig: 3~: In the pre-ferred embodiment shown here the two hook-shaped parts 66, 68 10 each taper conically toward their respective end regions 69.
This simplifies puttin g together the plug-in hinges.
At the opposite side wall S6 a closure lug 70 is located pro-truding to the outside and being designed such that it can positively enclose the locking protrusion 46 located at the lateral side 18 of tyke lower part 14. 2'hus the closure lug 70 and the locking protrusion 46 form a locking mechanism for the container 10.
According to a parti~rularly preferred :Feature of the present invention at the inner- surface 64 of the upper part 12 in total four second ridges 72 extend in parallel, to the side walls 56, 58 (and thus in parallel to the lateral sides 16, 18, of the lower part). The four second ridges 72 define two pairs of ridges in total. Each pair of ridges defines a press fit for a damping strip 74, 76. Herein, the damping strips 74, 76 are made of the same material as the damping element 34 .in the container lower part 14. Alternatively, the container 10 could also be used without the damping strips 74, 76, the second ridges 72 limiting the "range of movabil,ity" of the glass sub-strates in this case.

In the preferred embodiment shown here the thickness of the damping element 34 arid the thickness of the damping strips 74, 76 is selected so that they rest against the upper and lower edges of the glass substrates 32 when the container 10 is closed. Thus, the glass substrates 32 are held within the guide grooves without play. Thereby, any undesired material abrasion is substantially avoided, in particular at the first ridges 28.
Now, with respect to the following figures, first the details of the preferred container 10 will be described. Herein, like reference numerals are used for like elements as in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 2, the preferred embodiment of the :first ridges 28 is shown in a ( partial ) top view onto the container inner side of the lateral side 16. As can be seen, the ridges 28 each have a top side 82 rounded downwardly which facilitates the insertion of the glass substrates 32 into the guide grooves 30. In addi-tion, also the risk off= damage during insE:rtion is reduced.
The ridges 28 extend downwardly up to the bottom 24 of the lower part 14. However, at the top the ridges 28 are somewhat shorter than the height H which again facilitates the insertion of the glass substrates 32. The distance of two adjacent ridges 28 from each other here is l.4 m:~n which .ZS somewhat larger than the thickness of the glass substrates 32 to be received. A
lateral play 32 witha_n the guide grooves 30 thus existent is removed based on the embodiment according to the invention in particular by means of the damping strips 36, 38 that are util-ized.

7. 7 In figures 3 and 4 the steps and motion patterns necessary for a safe closing of the container 10 are indicated by the aid of arrows. In the first step, the upper part 12 is placed with the two hook-shaped parts 66, 68 from the -top, i.e. in the direc-tion of arrow 86, onto the pin-shaped parts 42, 44 of the lower part 14. Herein, the upper part 12 is pivoted with respect to the lower part 14 by an opening angle of about 145° or more.
After placimg the ~hoak-shaped parts 66; 68 onto the pin-shaped parts 42, 44, the upper part 12 can be pivoted into the direc-tion of arrow 88 toward the lower part 14. The overall motion pattern is again shown in Fig. 4 by means of an arrow 90.
In addition, it can be seen from the representation of the container 10 in figures 3 and 4 that four protrusions 92 are provided at the lower side of the lower part 14, namely pref-erably at the four ( rounded ) corners of: the lower part 14 ~ At the respective positions of the upper side othe upper part 12 recesses 94 are provided being dimensioned such that the pro-trusions 92 can precisely engage therein. Thereby, a particu-larly stable and reliable pile stacking of several containers 10 is made possible.
In addition, it can be seen from the representation of Fig. 4 that a recess 96 is arranged at the lower part 14 below the locking protrusion 46. This recess allows an easy detaching of the closure lug 70 when it encloses the locking protrusion 46 with an opening 98 while the container 10 is closed. Thereby, the opening of the container 10 is facilitated.
In the representation of Fig. 5 the upper part 12 is pivoted by 180° with respect to the position of Fig. 4. The closure lug 70 thus is at the rear and the two hook-shaped parts 66, 68 lie in the front. The recesses 48, 50 are designed such that they can receive the protruding sections of the hook-shaped parts 66, 68, if the upper part 12 is placed onto the lower part 14 in the direction of an arrow 100. Since the lower part 14 does not have any locking protrusion mated to the locking protrusion 46 at its lateral side 16, in this way a simple closure of the container 10 is possible without locking it. Thereby', im -par-'.-ticular a short-time closing of the container 10 between indi-vidual removals of g:Lass substrates 32 :is facilitated.
Fig. 6 shows the same motion pattern as Fig. 5 from a lateral perspective. Here, in addition, a seating of a glass substrate 32 received within the lower part 14 is depicted schematically.
As can be seen, the glass substrate 32 rests against the damp ing strips 36, 38 and protrudes beyond the lateral and longitu dinal sides 16, 18, 20, 22 of the lower part 14, so that the second ridges 72 and possibly the damping strips 74, 76 come to rest against the upper edge of the glass substrate 32 when the container is closed.
As can be seen from the figures shown here, in particular from figures 1 and 6, here the container 10 has inner dimensions that are matched precisely to the size of the glass substrates 32 to be received. The container 10 shown here is designed for a standard format of glass substrates 32 being from 25 x 75.5 x 1 mm to 26 x 76 x 1,3 mm. Herein, the outer packaging dimen-sions are 90 x 80 x 30 mm, and the container 10 thus serves to receive a maximum of 25 glass substrate: 32.

_ A container 10 of the design disclosed here has successfully passed drop tests from a height of four meters, i .e. tlae con-tainer 10 does not open itself under thE: impact loads resulting there from. In addition, the glass substrates 32 can be quite simply automatically inserted and removwd while the upper part 12 is removed, this facilitating an automatic processing of glass substrates under highly clean conditions. Due to the utilization of materials free of. gas evolutions; in the present case polystyrene having a small part o,= additives, and due to the mounting of the ~'eflon strips without any adhesive, surface functionalised glass substrates may be stored within the con-tainer 10 for a storage time of up to six months without any significant subsequent contamination. Also during transport and handling of the container 10, there are no subsequent contami-nations, since any material abrasion is avoided by means of the precisely fitted storage and damping c~f the glass substrates 32.

Claims

Claims 3. A container for storage and transport of sensitive plate-like objects (32), in particular of surface functionalised glass substrates, having - an upper part (12) and a lower part (34) which are connected with each other by connecting elements (42, 44, 46, 66, 68, 70);
- wherein the lower part (14) comprises two lateral sides (16, 38), two longitudinal sides (20, 22) and a bottom (24) which commonly enclose a cavity for re-ceiving plate-like objects (32) therein;

- wherein at each of the lateral sides (16, 18) a se-ries of first ridges (28) extending perpendicularly to the bottom and defining a plurality of guide grooves (30) for the plate-like objects (32) is formed;
- wherein the upper part (12) comprises an inner sur-face (64) being parallel to the bottom when the con-tainer is closed;

- wherein at least one protruding second ridge (72) is formed at the inner surface (64) extending in paral-lel to the two lateral sides (36, 18) across the to-tal inner surface (64) and thus limiting the movabil-ity of the plate-like objects within the guide grooves.

2. The container of claim 1, characterized in that at least one pair of second ridges (72) is formed at the inner sur-face (64) of the upper part (12), the second ridges (72) defining a press fit for receiving a first damping strip ( 74 , 76 ) in parallel to the lateral s ides (16, 18), or in that a damping element ( 34 ) is located at the bottom (24) of the lower part (14), the damping element (34) being po-sitioned by resting against the lateral sides (16, 18) and against the longitudinal sides (20, 22).

3. The container of claim 2, characterized in that the damp-ing element (34) comprises two second damping strips (36, 38) extending along the lateral sides (16, 18) and having ends being enclosed by the longitudinal sides (20, 22), the two second damping strips (36, 38) being connected by at least one linking strip.

4. The container of claim 3, characterized in that the damp-ing element (34) is configured H-shaped.

5. The container of any of the preceding claims, character-ized in that the distance (L) between the two lateral sides (16, 18) between each other is larger than the height ( H ) of each individual lateral side ( 16 , 18 ) above the bottom (24).

5. The container of any of the preceding claims, character-ized in that at least one of the damping strips (74, 76) and the damping element (34) comprises the material polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. The container of any of the preceding claims, character-ized in that the upper part (12) and the lower part (14) are connected with each other being separable in an inde-structible way.

8. The container of claim 7, characterized in that the con-necting elements (42, 44, 46, 66, 68, 70) comprise at least a first hook-shaped part (66, 68) and at least a second pin-shaped part (42, 44) which commonly define a plug-in hinge, wherein a respective one of the parts is arranged at the upper part (12) and at the lower part (14).

9. The container of claim 8, characterized in that the hook-shaped first part (66, 68) is designed so as to allow de-taching from the pin-shaped second part (42, 44) by trans-lational motion at an opening angle: of more than 135°.

10. The container of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one hook-shaped first part (66, 68) is designed tapering conically toward its end section (69).

11. The container of claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the connecting elements (42, 44, 46, 66, 68, 70) further comprise a locking mechanism having a closure lug (70) be-ing designed to positively engage around a locking protru-sion being arranged at a first container outer side (18).

12. The container of claim 11, characterized in that at least one second container outer side does not include any suit-able locking protrusion, and in that the lower part (14) is further designed so as to allow receiving the upper part (12) in a position in which the closure lug (70) rests against the second container outer side.

13. The container of any of the preceding claims, character-ized in that it consists of polystyrene and/or of a ho-mopolymeric plastic.

14. The container of any of the preceding claims, character-ized in that the first ridges (28) are rounded at their upper sides ($2) facing away from the bottom.

15. Utilization of a container of any of claims 1 to 14 for storing and/or transporting surface functionalised glass substrates, biochips and/or microscope object holders.