CA2245333A1 - Incubator and sealing system therefor - Google Patents
Incubator and sealing system therefor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2245333A1 CA2245333A1 CA 2245333 CA2245333A CA2245333A1 CA 2245333 A1 CA2245333 A1 CA 2245333A1 CA 2245333 CA2245333 CA 2245333 CA 2245333 A CA2245333 A CA 2245333A CA 2245333 A1 CA2245333 A1 CA 2245333A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- opening
- wall
- gasket
- clip
- shaped
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B7/00—Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows
- E06B7/16—Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings
- E06B7/22—Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings by means of elastic edgings, e.g. elastic rubber tubes; by means of resilient edgings, e.g. felt or plush strips, resilient metal strips
- E06B7/23—Plastic, sponge rubber, or like strips or tubes
- E06B7/2305—Plastic, sponge rubber, or like strips or tubes with an integrally formed part for fixing the edging
- E06B7/2307—Plastic, sponge rubber, or like strips or tubes with an integrally formed part for fixing the edging with a single sealing-line or -plane between the wing and the part co-operating with the wing
- E06B7/2309—Plastic, sponge rubber, or like strips or tubes with an integrally formed part for fixing the edging with a single sealing-line or -plane between the wing and the part co-operating with the wing with a hollow sealing part
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)
- Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
Abstract
A sealing system is provided for a housing defining a storage chamber having an opening formed in a wall structure with interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces and closable by a door. The sealing system includes a flexible gasket having a sealing portion and a U-shaped attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge, and a clip disposed about the attachment portion of the gasket and over the opening-defining edge, the clip removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall. The gasket has a substantially D-shaped sealing portion disposed between the door and the exterior surface and having a channel opening toward the center of the opening of the storage chamber.
Description
Backqround of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to storage chambers, such as controlled environmental chambers or incubators, and sealing systems therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art Gaskets for COZ incubators have been previously provided. These gaskets surround the opening of a storage chamber and provide a seal between the chamber and a door mounted for closing the opening to allow the chamber to maintain the proper environmental conditions, such as the proper temperature, COZ and humidity levels.
In use, these gaskets often have items spilled on them and get contaminated. The gaskets then need to be removed to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in an autoclave, or the like. Prior gaskets were adhered to the frame about the opening by a silicone adhesive, or the like. This connection made the removal of the gasket from the incubator a difficult and time-consuming task, often causing damage to the gasket requiring replacement thereof.
Additionally, in use, condensation sometimes builds up in the storage chamber and falls onto the gasket along the bottom portion of the opening. When the door is opened, the condensation often drops off the gasket onto the surface supporting the incubator.
Summary of the Invention It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved controlled environmental chamber and a sealing system therefor which avoid the disadvantages of prior storage chambers and sealing systems while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system which is of relatively simple and economical construction.
A further feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system of the type set forth, which includes a gasket, which can easily be removed, cleaned and reinstalled.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system of the type set forth, which aids in containment of condensation.
Still another feature is the provisions of incubator incorporating a sealing system of the type set forth.
Certain of these and other features of the invention may be attained by providing a sealing system for a housing defining a storage chamber having an opening formed in a wall structure with interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces. The sealing system includes a flexible gasket having a sealing portion and an attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge, and a clip disposed about the attachment portion of the gasket and over the opening edge, the clip removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawinss For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the COZ
incubator of the present invention with the door open;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the sealing system in a normal rest condition;
FIG. 3 is a is an exploded sectional view of the sealing system of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of the COZ incubator and sealing system of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 when the transparent door of the incubator is closed and the gasket is compressed.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, incubator 10, such as a COZ incubator, is illustrated. The incubator 10 includes a housing 11 defining a storage chamber 12 therein for maintaining the contents thereof under certain controlled environmental conditions, such as certain humidity and COZ
atmospheric conditions, all in a known manner. The housing 11 includes a plurality of shelves 14 for holding the contents. The housing 11 has a generally box-like wall structure including a front wall 16 having a bottom portion 16A, a top portion 16B and side portions 16C, 16D (FIG. 1).
The front wall 16 has interior and exterior surfaces 18 and connected by an opening-defining edge 22 which defines a 20 substantially rectangular opening 24 (FIGS. 1 and 5) having a center. As seen in FIGS. 2-5, each of the front wall 16 and opening-defining edge 22 has a thickness.
The incubator 10 also includes a sealing system 26.
The sealing system 26 includes a one-piece, flexible and resilient gasket 28, which may be formed from rubber, silicone rubber, or the like, and four substantially U-shaped, flexible and resilient clips 30, which may be formed of a suitable plastic, or the like.
The gasket 28 has a length substantially equal to the perimeter of opening 24 and includes a substantially U-shaped attachment portion 32 having first and second substantially parallel attachment legs 34, 36 respectively having thicknesses. Attachment portion 32 also includes an end wall 38 connecting the legs 34, 36.
In use, these gaskets often have items spilled on them and get contaminated. The gaskets then need to be removed to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected in an autoclave, or the like. Prior gaskets were adhered to the frame about the opening by a silicone adhesive, or the like. This connection made the removal of the gasket from the incubator a difficult and time-consuming task, often causing damage to the gasket requiring replacement thereof.
Additionally, in use, condensation sometimes builds up in the storage chamber and falls onto the gasket along the bottom portion of the opening. When the door is opened, the condensation often drops off the gasket onto the surface supporting the incubator.
Summary of the Invention It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved controlled environmental chamber and a sealing system therefor which avoid the disadvantages of prior storage chambers and sealing systems while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system which is of relatively simple and economical construction.
A further feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system of the type set forth, which includes a gasket, which can easily be removed, cleaned and reinstalled.
A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a sealing system of the type set forth, which aids in containment of condensation.
Still another feature is the provisions of incubator incorporating a sealing system of the type set forth.
Certain of these and other features of the invention may be attained by providing a sealing system for a housing defining a storage chamber having an opening formed in a wall structure with interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces. The sealing system includes a flexible gasket having a sealing portion and an attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge, and a clip disposed about the attachment portion of the gasket and over the opening edge, the clip removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawinss For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the COZ
incubator of the present invention with the door open;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the sealing system in a normal rest condition;
FIG. 3 is a is an exploded sectional view of the sealing system of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of the COZ incubator and sealing system of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 when the transparent door of the incubator is closed and the gasket is compressed.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, incubator 10, such as a COZ incubator, is illustrated. The incubator 10 includes a housing 11 defining a storage chamber 12 therein for maintaining the contents thereof under certain controlled environmental conditions, such as certain humidity and COZ
atmospheric conditions, all in a known manner. The housing 11 includes a plurality of shelves 14 for holding the contents. The housing 11 has a generally box-like wall structure including a front wall 16 having a bottom portion 16A, a top portion 16B and side portions 16C, 16D (FIG. 1).
The front wall 16 has interior and exterior surfaces 18 and connected by an opening-defining edge 22 which defines a 20 substantially rectangular opening 24 (FIGS. 1 and 5) having a center. As seen in FIGS. 2-5, each of the front wall 16 and opening-defining edge 22 has a thickness.
The incubator 10 also includes a sealing system 26.
The sealing system 26 includes a one-piece, flexible and resilient gasket 28, which may be formed from rubber, silicone rubber, or the like, and four substantially U-shaped, flexible and resilient clips 30, which may be formed of a suitable plastic, or the like.
The gasket 28 has a length substantially equal to the perimeter of opening 24 and includes a substantially U-shaped attachment portion 32 having first and second substantially parallel attachment legs 34, 36 respectively having thicknesses. Attachment portion 32 also includes an end wall 38 connecting the legs 34, 36.
The gasket 28 also includes a substantially D-shaped, compressible, hollow sealing portion 40 which includes a sealing wall 42 connected to an arcuate-shaped portion 44.
The sealing portion 40 also includes a flange 46 projecting from the arcuate-shaped portion 44. As discussed further below, the arcuate-shaped portion 44 and flange 46 form a channel 48 that opens toward the center of the opening 24.
As best seen in FIG. 3, a channel 50 is also formed between the spaced-apart sealing wall 42 and the second attachment leg 36.
Each of the clips 30 includes first and second clip legs 52, 54 respectively terminating at free ends 56, 58.
The clips 30 are made of a flexible and resilient material, and has a normal, at-rest condition shown in solid line in FIG. 3 with the free ends 56 and 58 inclined toward each other. Each of the clips 30 also has an engaged condition, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. When a clip 30 is in its normal condition, the distance between the free ends 56, 58 of its first and second clip legs 52, 54 is less than the combined thickness of the first and second attachment portions 32, 34 of the gasket 28 and the opening edge 22.
The gasket 28 is removeably attached to the housing 11 as follows. As seen in FIG. 2, the attachment portion 32 is placed and disposed on the wall 16 so that the first attachment leg 34 and second attachment leg 36 respectively face the interior surface 18 and exterior surface 20 of wall 16 and the top wall 38 is disposed over opening edge 22.
The four clips 30 are each pushed over the end wall 38 at one of the four sides of the opening 24 causing the respective free ends 56 and 58 of a clip 30 to be spread a greater distance apart from each other and the first clip leg 52 to face attachment leg 34 and the second clip leg 54 to be disposed in channel 50 between attachment leg 36 and sealing wall 42, thereby placing the clips 30 in their respective engaged condition. The resilient nature of the clips 30 causes the first and second clip legs 52, 54 to be biased toward one another and maintain the gasket 128 on the wall 16.
If the gasket 28 becomes contaminated, the clips 30 are simply removed from over the gasket 28 and the attachment portion 32 of the gasket 28 is removed from the wall 16 5 allowing the gasket 28 to be cleaned.
The incubator 10 also includes a transparent inner door 60 hingedly coupled to wall 16 and an outer door 62 also hingedly coupled to the wall 16. When, as seen in FIG. 5, transparent door 60 is closed in a known manner, the D-shaped sealing portion 40 of gasket 28 is compressed and a seal is formed between the wall 16 and door to aid in maintaining a constant environmental condition in storage chamber 12.
When the transparent door 60 is opened and the D-shaped sealing portion 40 is uncompressed (FIG. 2), any condensation that may have formed in the storage chamber 12 in use and fallen onto the portion of the gasket 28 overlying the bottom portion 16A of the wall 16 may be contained in channel 48 of the gasket 28, thereby preventing the condensation from falling onto a user or a surface supporting the incubator 10.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
The sealing portion 40 also includes a flange 46 projecting from the arcuate-shaped portion 44. As discussed further below, the arcuate-shaped portion 44 and flange 46 form a channel 48 that opens toward the center of the opening 24.
As best seen in FIG. 3, a channel 50 is also formed between the spaced-apart sealing wall 42 and the second attachment leg 36.
Each of the clips 30 includes first and second clip legs 52, 54 respectively terminating at free ends 56, 58.
The clips 30 are made of a flexible and resilient material, and has a normal, at-rest condition shown in solid line in FIG. 3 with the free ends 56 and 58 inclined toward each other. Each of the clips 30 also has an engaged condition, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. When a clip 30 is in its normal condition, the distance between the free ends 56, 58 of its first and second clip legs 52, 54 is less than the combined thickness of the first and second attachment portions 32, 34 of the gasket 28 and the opening edge 22.
The gasket 28 is removeably attached to the housing 11 as follows. As seen in FIG. 2, the attachment portion 32 is placed and disposed on the wall 16 so that the first attachment leg 34 and second attachment leg 36 respectively face the interior surface 18 and exterior surface 20 of wall 16 and the top wall 38 is disposed over opening edge 22.
The four clips 30 are each pushed over the end wall 38 at one of the four sides of the opening 24 causing the respective free ends 56 and 58 of a clip 30 to be spread a greater distance apart from each other and the first clip leg 52 to face attachment leg 34 and the second clip leg 54 to be disposed in channel 50 between attachment leg 36 and sealing wall 42, thereby placing the clips 30 in their respective engaged condition. The resilient nature of the clips 30 causes the first and second clip legs 52, 54 to be biased toward one another and maintain the gasket 128 on the wall 16.
If the gasket 28 becomes contaminated, the clips 30 are simply removed from over the gasket 28 and the attachment portion 32 of the gasket 28 is removed from the wall 16 5 allowing the gasket 28 to be cleaned.
The incubator 10 also includes a transparent inner door 60 hingedly coupled to wall 16 and an outer door 62 also hingedly coupled to the wall 16. When, as seen in FIG. 5, transparent door 60 is closed in a known manner, the D-shaped sealing portion 40 of gasket 28 is compressed and a seal is formed between the wall 16 and door to aid in maintaining a constant environmental condition in storage chamber 12.
When the transparent door 60 is opened and the D-shaped sealing portion 40 is uncompressed (FIG. 2), any condensation that may have formed in the storage chamber 12 in use and fallen onto the portion of the gasket 28 overlying the bottom portion 16A of the wall 16 may be contained in channel 48 of the gasket 28, thereby preventing the condensation from falling onto a user or a surface supporting the incubator 10.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
Claims (12)
1. A sealing system for housing defining a storage chamber having an opening formed in a wall structure with interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces, the sealing system comprising:
a flexible gasket having a sealing portion and an attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge;
and a clip disposed about the attachment portion of the gasket and over the opening edge, the clip removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall.
a flexible gasket having a sealing portion and an attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge;
and a clip disposed about the attachment portion of the gasket and over the opening edge, the clip removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the clip has normal and engaged conditions, is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section and has first and second clip legs resiliently biased toward one another and respectively disposed over the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the attachment portion is substantially U-shaped and has first and second attachment legs respectively disposed on the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second attachment portions and the opening-defining edge each has a thickness and the first and second clip legs respectively have first and second free ends, wherein when the clip is in its normal condition the first and second free ends are separated by a distance less than the combined thickness of the first and second attachment legs and the opening-defining edge.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sealing portion is substantially D-shaped in transverse cross section and includes a sealing wall spaced apart from the second attachment leg wherein the second clip leg is disposed between the second attachment leg and the sealing wall.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the D-shaped portion forms a channel.
7 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the gasket is removeably maintained on the wall by a plurality of clips.
8. An incubator comprising:
a housing having a wall structure defining a storage chamber therein;
the wall structure having interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces and defining an opening into the storage chamber having a center;
a door connected to the wall structure for closing the opening; and a gasket having a substantially U-shaped attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge and a substantially D-shaped sealing portion disposed between the door and the exterior surface and having a channel opening toward the center of the opening.
a housing having a wall structure defining a storage chamber therein;
the wall structure having interior and exterior surfaces and an opening-defining edge connecting the surfaces and defining an opening into the storage chamber having a center;
a door connected to the wall structure for closing the opening; and a gasket having a substantially U-shaped attachment portion disposed over the opening-defining edge and a substantially D-shaped sealing portion disposed between the door and the exterior surface and having a channel opening toward the center of the opening.
9. The incubator of claim 8, wherein the D-shaped sealing portion includes an arcuate portion and a flange projecting therefrom and cooperating therewith to form the channel.
10. The incubator of claim 8, wherein the D-shaped sealing portion is compressible.
11. The incubator of claim 8, and further comprising, a clip disposed over the attachment portion for removeably maintaining the gasket on the wall.
12. The incubator of claim 11, wherein the gasket is removeably maintained on the wall by a plurality of clips.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US6262598A | 1998-04-20 | 1998-04-20 | |
| US09/062,625 | 1998-04-20 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2245333A1 true CA2245333A1 (en) | 1999-10-20 |
Family
ID=22043733
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2245333 Abandoned CA2245333A1 (en) | 1998-04-20 | 1998-08-19 | Incubator and sealing system therefor |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0952295A3 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2245333A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2830467B1 (en) * | 2001-10-08 | 2004-02-06 | Jouan Sa | ENHANCED ENCLOSURE AND ASSEMBLY AND CONSTRUCTION METHOD THEREOF |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB649137A (en) * | 1948-01-30 | 1951-01-17 | Thomas John Robert Bright | Improvements in draught excluding strips, beadings, mouldings and the like |
| GB885596A (en) * | 1959-11-16 | 1961-12-28 | Ft Products Ltd | Improvements relating to fasteners |
| FR2332409A1 (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1977-06-17 | Draftex Dev Ag | Profiled strip for sealing door or window opening - with corner section applied by low-temp. pressing |
| US5792427A (en) * | 1996-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | Forma Scientific, Inc. | Controlled atmosphere incubator |
-
1998
- 1998-08-14 EP EP98115362A patent/EP0952295A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-08-19 CA CA 2245333 patent/CA2245333A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0952295A3 (en) | 2001-08-01 |
| EP0952295A2 (en) | 1999-10-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |