US3243049A

US3243049A - Tray assembly

Info

Publication number: US3243049A
Application number: US398814A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Edward B Seligmann; William H Berkeley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-09-23
Filing date: 1964-09-23
Publication date: 1966-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-29

Description

March 9, 9 E. B. SELIGMANN, JR., ETAL 3,243,049

TRAY ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVENTORS. fwmep 5. JfZ/GMAA MJE. 4 W/u/AM H. fizzxa 0 BY l? i ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,243,049 TRAY ASSEMBLY Edward B. Seligmann, J12, Frederick, and William H. Berkeley, Silver Spring, Md, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,814 12 Claims. (Cl. 211-126) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to applicants of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a tray assembly and relates more particularly to a direct contact tray assembly for use in shelf-type freeze dryers or the like.

As conducive to a better understanding of the instant inventive concept, the following background material should be considered. In a freeze dryer or other conventional structures of a similar character, there are frequently provided a plurality of spaced shelves on which sample bottles are to be stored while the contents thereof are subjected to various heat-transfer processes. It is conventional to support the articles to be processed on a tray, particularly when a large number of articles such as serum bottles or the like are to be utilized, the entire tray resting on the shelf during treatment. In freeze dryers or the like, the shelves normally include coils either integral therewith or secured therebeneath for carrying refrigerating or heating fluids. In order for eflicient and uniform operation of the dryer or the like, it is important that there be good thermal conductivity from the shelf to the material being treated. Unduly thick trays used in the past have greatly reduced the heattransfer whether it be from the shelf to the material or vice versa thereby deleteriously affecting the efiiciency of the procedure. On the other hand, if the gauge of the metal utilized in the tray was too thin, warpage has occured rendering uniformity of results impossible and frequently causing a complete loss of the samples being processed.

It is obvious that the best arrangement would be to support the articles directly on the shelves rather than interposing a tray therebetween. However, such a procedure is clearly ineflicient particularly when large numbers of sample bottles or the like must be handled. Also, structures such as freeze dryers or the like are frequently subjected to vibrations from compressors, pumps or the similar equipment which have a tendency to shake the sample bottles and sometimes either tip them over, breaking the bottles or spilling the contents.

Thus, it can be seen that it would be most helpful if a device were available which could securely carry large numbers of articles to and from the shelves of a freeze dryer or the like without necessitating the interposition of a tray between the articles and the shelf during the processing treatment, It is a primary object of this invention to provide such a device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tray assembly which is free from all of the foregoing and other disadvantages.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a tray assembly comprising a bottomless frame adapted to at least loosely support articles on the shelf of a freeze dryer or the like to prevent undesirable vibration effects, with a removable tray member defining a bottom for the frame to facilitate carrying the articles to and from the shelf.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described wherein the frame is adjustable to support different sizes and different num- Patented Mar. 29, 1966 bers of articles either securely enough to fixably hold them in position, or loosely enough to allow them to slip slightly after the bottom tray member has been removed whereby they may rest directly on the shelf for better thermal conductivity.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tray assembly wherein the elements forming the same may be of sufliciently heavy gauge to insure the safe and secure support thereby of the articles to be treated, while precluding the possibility of warpage whereby complete uniformity of results may be realized.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a tray assembly comprising a bottomless article-supporting frame and a tray member particularly adapted for being slidingly received beneath the frame, including a bevelled leading edge to raise, during the assembly procedure, articles such as serum bottles or the like, which have been resting in direct contact with a shelf for good thermal conductivity throughout the processing treatment.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a tray assembly which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assembly, utilize and maintain.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and as shown in the accompanying drawing where- FIGURE 1 is an isometric exploded view of a tray assembly in accordance with the instant inventive concept;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of a tray assembly in assembled relationship, a plurality of serum bottles or the like being shown supported thereby; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a tray assembly in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprises basically a bottomless frame 12 and a tray member 14, the frame 12 being adapted to at least steady one or more articles carried by the tray assembly 10, and the tray member 14 being slidably receivable beneath the frame 12 to carry the frame and any articles supported thereby in a manner and for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The frame 12 includes adjustable supporting means for engaging different sizes and different numbers of articles and is formed basically of a substantially rigid U-shaped stationary frame member 16 and a locking bar 18, movably carried thereby. The stationary frame member 16 includes a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially parallel, legs 20 and a connecting element 22 extending substantially perpendicularly between the legs 20 at one end of the same. Portions of each leg define longitudinally extending guideways 24 which slidably receive follower members in the form of the terminal ends of screw means 26 threadably carried by right-angular members 28 defined by the end portions of the locking bar 18 and extending away from the connecting element 22 of the stationary frame member 16 so as not to interfere with the articles 30 to be carried thereby in a manner now to be described.

The screw means 26 are preferably manually adjustable and the terminal ends of the same are engageable against the portions of the legs 20 defining the guideways 24 to secure the locking bar 18 in an adjusted relationship. The locking bar 13 in cooperation with the stationary tray member 16 together define an adjustable peripheral supporting means for engaging the articles 30 either loosely to merely steady the same against vibrational movement or relatively tightly to clamp the same in position. If the articles are sample or serum bottles such as shown illustratively at 30, they may be stacked in any desired relationship between the stationary frame member 16 and the clamping bar 18 depending upon their number and size. As shown, for example, in FIGURE 3, two partially filled transverse rows of articles 30 may be readily carried by the frame 12. Alternatively, the articles 30 may be stacked along one of the legs 20 in an obvious manner (not shown). One or more apertures 32 may be defined in th connecting member 22 to facilitate viewing at least the front row of articles 30 through the connecting members 22. If desired, expanded metal or other similar material may be utilized for the formation of the connecting member 22.

A pivotally supported -U-shaped handle 34 may be carried by the front of the connecting member 22 to facilitate engaging the frame 12 or pulling the same completely onto the tray member 14 as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Similarly, identification means (not shown) in the form of a label or the like may be carried by the connecting member 22 adjacent the handle 34.

An offset strengthening flange 36 may also be integrally formed with the connecting member 22, if desired.

The tray member 14 includes a bottom element 38 dimensioned to extend entirely beneath the frame 12, with upstanding side members 40 carried by opposite sides of the bottom element 38, and an upstanding front member 42 extending between the side members 40 at one end of the bottom element 38, the side members 49 and the front member 42 closely engaging the legs 20 and the connecting member 22, respectively, of the stationary frame 16 in the assembled relationship shown particularly in FIGURE 3 to provide a good support for the frame 12. An elongated opening 44 may be provided in the front member 42 of the tray member 14 to facilitate engaging the handle 34 of the frame 12 as seen particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4 whereby the frame 12 may be pulled completely onto the tray member 14 during the assembly procedure. This opening 4-4 also serves to facilitate viewing the identification means mentioned before when the tray is assembled.

The opposite end of the bottom element 38 is bevelled as shown at 46 to facilitate sliding the tray member 14 beneath the frame 12.

The use and operation of the tray assembly of the instant invention will now be apparent. T he assembly is formed by sliding the tray member 14 beneath the frame 12, insuring a good sealing of the frame on the tray member by pulling the handle 34 through the opening 44. The articles to be processed are then positioned in any desired manner between the stationary frame member 16 and the locking bar 18, the locking bar being adjusted by loosening the screw means 26 and sliding the terminal end of the same in the guideways 24 until the articles 30 are engaged in suporting relationship. The screw means 26 are then tightened to secure the locking bar in adjusted relationship. The entire assembly 10 is then carried to the processing apparatus, such as the freeze dryer, and placed on the shelf. The tray member 14 is then slid from beneath the frame 12 whereby the articles 39, if only loosely supported, may drop down into direct contact with the shelf for perfect thermal conductivity.

After treatment of the articles, they may be readily removed in a secure manner by sliding the tray member 14 beneath the frame 12, the bevelled end 46 gently lifting the articles 30 if they have been allowed to rest directly on the shelf and the locking bar 18 precluding tipping of the same. The articles 30 are then properly supported on the bottom element 38 of the tray member 14 for transporting the tray assembly 10 to a desired location.

While the device of the instant invention may be formed of any desired material, it has been found that stainless steel of a sufficiently heavy gauge is particularly adapted to provide the necessary strength while resisting corrosion which may be caused by steam sterilization or contact with various chemical materials during the processing treatment.

Likewise, while the device has been illustrated as substantially rectangular in form, it will be obvious to those with ordinary skill in the art that various other shapes may be provided depending upon the structure in which the assembly is to be utilized.

Further, although the device has been particularly designed for use in freeze dryers, it is well adapted for many other similar processes, such as direct heating of articles in a shelf-type oven or on a separate planar heating surface or the like.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved tray assembly which satisfies all of the objects of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A tray assembly comprising a bottomless article-sup porting frame and a removable tray member slidably received beneath said frame to carry the same and any articles supported thereby, said frame including a substantially rigid stationary frame member, including a pair of parallel, spaced legs each having two ends and connecting means extending between said legs at one end of the same, and a locking bar having oppositely disposed end portions juxtaposed to said legs and means slidingly securing said end portions of said locking bar to said legs whereby said legs, said connecting means, and said locking bar together to define an adjustable peripheral supporting means for engaging articles to be carried by said tray assembly.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame and said tray member are formed of stainless steel.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said stationary frame member is substantially U-shaped including a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially parallel, legs each having two ends, and a connecting element extending substantially perpendicularly between said legs at one end of the same, said locking bar extending between said legs substantially parallel to said connecting element and having end portions slidably carried by said legs intermediate the ends of said legs.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said legs includes portions defining a longitudinally extending guideway, said end portions of said locking bar including follower members slida-bly received in said guideways.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said end portions of said locking bar define right-angular members extending away from said connecting means of said stationary frame member, said follower members being carried by said right-angular members and having terminal ends received in said guideways.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said follower members are screw means threadably carried by said rightangular members, said terminal ends being securable against said portions of said legs defining said guideways to secure said locking bar in an adjusted relationship.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said connecting means of said stationary frame member includes portions 5 defining at least one aperture for viewing therethrough articles supported by said frame.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tray member includes a bottom element dimensioned to extend entirely beneath said frame, upstanding side members carried by opposite sides of said bottom element and closely engaging said legs of said stationary frame member in assembled relationship, and an upstanding front member extending between said side members at one end of said bottom element and closely engaging said connecting element of said stationary frame member in assembled relationship.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the other end of said bottom element is bevelled to facilitate sliding said tray member beneath said frame.

10. The structure of claim 9 further including a handle pivotally secured to said connecting means of said stationary frame member, said front member of said tray member including portions defining an opening dimensioned to receive said handle therethrough.

11. The structure of claim 10 further including identification means carried by said connecting means and viewable throu-gh said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,640 12/1889 Hirsch 2l77 839,253 12/1906 Armstrong 2l77 1,281,943 10/1918 Gonsalves 249131 1,688,003 10/1928 Darby 312140.3 1,995,335 3/1935 Wilke 312-140 2,937,742 5/ 1960 Michiel 20644.12 3,067,903 12/1962 Jones 220-22 CLAUDE A. LE. ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

12. A TRAY ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TRAY MEMBER AND A BOTTOMLESS ARTICLE-SUPPORTING FRAME SLIDINGLY RECEIVED ON SAID TRAY MEMBER, SAID FRAME INCLUDING MEANS FOR AT LEAST LOOSELY ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE ARTICLE TO SUPPORT THE SAME IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, AND SAID TRAY MEMBER INCLUDING A BOTTOM PORTION WITH AT LEAST A PARTIALLY UNOBSTRUCTED PERIPHERAL EDGE DEFINING MEANS FOR SLIDING BENEATH SAID FRAME.