WO1991009676A1

WO1991009676A1 - Laboratory bench system

Info

Publication number: WO1991009676A1
Application number: PCT/GB1990/001972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Lavery
Original assignee: Safe Bench Systems Limited
Priority date: 1989-12-21
Filing date: 1990-12-18
Publication date: 1991-07-11
Also published as: GB8928949D0; AU6950391A

Abstract

A laboratory bench system (10) comprises a base member (12) with raised edge portions (24, 26, 28, 30) surrounding a safe working area (13). At least one edge portion (24, 26, 28) is profiled along its length to receive at any location therealong a support member (18) carrying an upstanding rod (19) to which laboratory equipment may be attached for use in or to shield the working area (13). Member (18) includes a shaped carrier (36) which mates with the profile shape of the edge portion (24, 26, 28) to interengage therewith in a physically stable manner. A screw fastener (44) is also provided to clamp carrier (36) to base member (12) at a desired location.

Description

LABORATORY BENCH SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a laboratory bench system and particularly, but not exclusively, to such a system capable of use with dangerous substances in a laboratory.

Safety is very important in a laboratory. When working on an open bench in a laboratory, some procedures should be kept in a confined area, for example, the use of radioactive isotopes, dangerous chemicals, and the handling of blood and plasma samples. Such work is sometimes carried out within plastic or metal spillage trays which may have a disposable lining therein, but such linings are inconvenient and expensive. Furthermore, these trays are often too small in area and have right angled corners and sides which make them difficult to clean.

Retort stands, having a base and an upstanding elongate rod, are often used to support laboratory apparatus above the spillage tray, the apparatus being fastened to the rod. If the rod is overloaded, or incorrectly loaded, the stand becomes unstable. Also the base is sometimes placed within the spillage tray and this is particularly dangerous in the event of chemical or radioactive spillage into the tray when the chemicals come into contact with the base, so that the base has to be carefully cleaned before it can be used again with safety.

Many laboratory benches do not meet the required standards of the Radiation Protection Regulations. Such benches have to be covered with protective paper which is often left in place for a long time and becomes dirty and contaminated. It is very inconvenient to keep clearing the bench of equipment so that new paper may be applied to the bench. In addition, the disposal of the contaminated paper may also be a problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laboratory bench system which obviates, or mitigates, at least one of the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a laboratory bench system comprising an imperforate base member capable of being placed on a laboratory bench, the base member having a peripheral boundary which defines a safe working area in which laboratory equipment may be disposed, said peripheral boundary including along its length at least one raised edge portion, and at least one support member for supporting laboratory apparatus in close proximity to said working area, said support member having carrier means and an elongate upstanding rod carried by said carrier means, said carrier means being shaped to interengage with said raised edge portion at any selected location along the length of the raised edge portion, said carrier means also having fastening means whereby said support member may be releasably fastened to said base member at said location.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an imperforate base member for use in the aforesaid laboratory bench system, said base member having a peripheral boundary which defines a safe working area in which laboratory equipment may be disposed, said peripheral boundary including along its length at least one raised edge portion for receiving interengaging carrier means of a support member at any location along the length of the raised edge portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a support member for use in the aforesaid laboratory bench system and for supporting laboratory apparatus in close proximity to the working area of a base member, said support member having carrier means and an elongate upstanding rod carried by said carrier means, said carrier means being shaped to interengage with a raised edge portion of said base member at any selected location along the length of said raised edge portion, the carrier means also having fastening means whereby said support member may be releasably fastened to said base member at said selected location.

Preferably said working area is recessed. Conveniently said base member is generally rectangular, three edges being raised edge portions to which a support member may be releasably fastened.

Preferably said raised edge portions have a constant transverse profile so that a support member may be fastened to the base member in any selected location along the raised edge portions. Clamp means may be coupled to said rod so that laboratory apparatus may be suspended above said working area.

Alternatively, the rods of a plurality of support members may provide a support structure on which a screen may be erected around said working area. Conveniently said screen provides protection from radioactive substances and from splashes of chemicals which may be disposed in said working area.

Preferably also said carrier means has a generally inverted 'ϋ' shape which engages and surrounds said raised edge portion.

Conveniently said fastening means is provided by at least one locking screw which passes through an aperture in said inverted 'U' shaped carrier means and which engages said raised edge portion to secure said support member to said raised edge portion.

Preferably said base member comprises foot or feet means so that the undersurface of the base member is supported above the bench surface defining a space between the base member and the bench surface.

Preferably also said at least one screw is received in said space, said screw abutting the undersurface of said base member so that said support member is secured to said raised edge portion.

Preferably said inverted U-shaped carrier means also includes adjustment means whereby the spacing of the legs of the U-shape may be adjusted.

Conveniently said system also comprises a moveable acrylic laboratory screen having a foot portion which may be received in the space between the base member platform and the bench surface.

Embodiments of the laboratory bench system will now be described. The description is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a laboratory bench system in accordance with, an embodiment of the present invention, the system having a base member and support members;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of part of the base member shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 2-2 and drawn to a different scale;

Fig. 3 is also a sectional view of part of the base member shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 3-3 and drawn to a different scale;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the base member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic and part sectional view illustrating the interengagement capability of the base member and support members shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of the support member shown in Fig. 5, taken in the direction of arrow A;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of support member which may be fastened to the base member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of part of the support member shown in Fig. 7, taken in the direction of arrow B; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative base member with two support members which provide a laboratory bench system in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of part of the base member shown in Fig. 9, drawn to a different scale.

Reference is firstly made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which shows a laboratory bench system generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The system 10 comprises a chemical-resistant plastic base member 12 which is capable of being placed on a laboratory bench 11 (see Fig. 4) . The base member 12 defines a recessed working area 13 in which laboratory equipment may be disposed, for example beakers 14 and 16. The system 10 also comprises support members 18 (three of which are shown) which may be releasably fastened to the base member 12 as will be described later in detail. Each support member 18 has an elongate upstanding rod 19 whereby laboratory equipment may be suspended over the working area 13. The rods 19 may be used, alternatively, to provide a support structure for a laboratory screen 22 or to provide scaffolding for laboratory equipment.

The base member 12 is imperforate and has a peripheral boundary which defines the recessed working area 13. This peripheral boundary is made up of three raised edges 24, 26 and 28, the cross-sectional profile of which is shown in Fig. 2, and a smaller front edge 30, the cross-sectional profile of which is shown in Fig. 3. All corners of the base member 12 are rounded and the edges 24,26,28,30 cause the member 12 to be tray-like, thereby having a capacity to hold a quantity of liquid. The support members 18 may be releasably fastened in any position along the length of edges 24,26 and 28.

The base member 12 has an undersurface 31 to which feet 32 are secured, as shown in Fig. 4. One foot 32 is provided at each corner of the base member 12, and another foot 32, is provided at the centre of the base member 12. These feet 32 define a space 34 between undersurface 31 and bench 11.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a support member 18 which consists of rod 19 conveniently of circular cross-section (and which for example may be made of stainless steel or aluminium) and a generally inverted 'U' shaped carrier portion 36 which for example may be made of carbon fibre or mild steel coated to avoid oxidation for example with epoxy or polyester paint or PVC. The rod 19 is received in aperture 38 of carrier portion 36 and is secured to flange 39 of carrier portion 36, for example by a headed bolt. The carrier portion 36 has an inside leg 40 which carries the flange 39, and an outside leg 42. These legs 40,42 are welded together and are shaped to mate in abutting engagement with any of the raised edges 24,26 or 28. Leg 42 is longer than leg 40 and carries two locking screws 44. When the carrier portion 36 engages edge 28 and legs 40 and 42 abut the inside and outside faces of edge 28 respectively, locking screws 44 are rotated so that these screws 44 are received in space 34 and abut the undersurface 31. Therefore the carrier portion 36 is securely fastened to edge 28.

Fig. 1 shows three support members 18, one of which is fastened to edge 28 and two of which are fastened to edge 26. The support member 18 attached to edge 28 has a clamp 46 attached to the rod 19. The clamp 46 extends over the working area 13, and suspends a device such as a test tube or a pH meter electrode 20 in or over a beaker 16 on area 13. The rods 19 of the support members 18 fastened to edge 26 provide a support structure for a screen 22 which is fastened thereto by spring clips (not shown) . If a number of such support members are provided around the edges 24,26,28 of the base member 12, screening may be erected round three sides of the base member 12. The screen 22 may be made of acrylic or polycarbonate or other materials such as lead impregnated glass and provides protection from radioactive substances and splashes from chemicals disposed in the working area 13.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a support member 18A, similar to that hereinbefore described and like numerals refer to like parts with the suffix 'A' added. The support member 18A may be fastened to any of edges 24,26 and 28 in the same manner to that hereinbefore described. However, carrier portion 36A has an upper part 50 which provides leg 42A and which is separable from a lower part 52 which provides leg 40A. Part 52 is generally recumbent U-shaped, the upper leg having an aperture 53 for tightly receiving the rod 19 and the lower leg being secured to the end of the rod 19 by a headed bolt. Part 50 at its upper end is provided with a slightly elongated aperture 57 through which the rod 19 passes and parts 50,52 are secured together by screw 56 engaging a threaded socket 60 secured to part 50. Screw 56 traverses a slotted hole 58 in part 50. Therefore, the distance between the legs 40A,42A may be adjusted within the limits imposed by the slots. With this arrangement the support member 18A is adjustable so that its carrier portion 36A is a tight fit on edge 28, bearing in mind that if base member 12 is vacuum formed edge 28 may be slightly imperfect in shape in comparison with that provided by injection moulding. When base member 12 is vacuum formed it is preferably in two parts subsequently welded together, namely a first part defining the upper surface of the member 12 with its shaped edges and a second part defining the undersurface of the member 12 with its feet. Polypropylene is a suitable material for vacuum forming.

Figs. 9 and 10 show an alternative base member 62 which is made of a chemical resistance plastic and has three raised edges 64,66,68 and a smaller front edge 70, similar to that herebefore described. The base member 62 has an undersurface 72 and integral feet 74, one at each corner of the base member 62 and one in the centre of the base member 62. These feet 74 define a space 76 between the bench 11 and the undersurface 72.

Support members 18,18A may be coupled to base member 62 in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described. Furthermore, a moveable standard laboratory shield 78 may be disposed adjacent the base member. The shield 78 has a foot portion 80 which is received in space 76 so that the shield cannot be toppled over. It will be understood that this shield 78 may also be used with the base member 12 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Thus, an operator can work on the flat surface area 13 of the base member rather than on the foot portion 80 of the shield as has been the practice hitherto and any spillage from the working area 13 does not contaminate the shield 78.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiments hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the present invention. The base member can be made of any suitable chemical-resistant material and may be of any suitable peripheral shape, for example square. All edges of the base member may be raised edges to which support members may be fastened. The base member may be supported above the bench surface by a single large foot or pedestal. Alternatively, the undersurface of the base member may abut the bench surface and the raised edges may have channels along their length for receiving the locking screws of the support members. The raised edges may have any suitable cross-sectional profile provided that the carrier portion of the support member is shaped to interengage with the raised edge.

An advantage associated with the present invention is that the laboratory bench system provides a safe working area in which dangerous or radioactive chemicals may be used. The base member is readily decontaminated after spillage of radioactive isotopes. In the event of spillage the base member will contain a substantial volume of liquid (for example four litres) . There is no need for a disposable lining. Furthermore, the base member has no tight right angled corners which are difficult to clean. The support members provide a stable support structure which takes up a minimal amount of bench space and onto the structure may be added standard laboratory fixings and scaffolding. The system allows the simple use of shields which may be moved in accordance with the requirements of the user. The system is suitable for use in laboratories. Hospitals, Universities, Schools and various industrial areas.

Claims

1. A laboratory bench system comprising an imperforate base member (12) capable of being placed on a laboratory bench (11), the base member (12) having a peripheral boundary which defines a safe working area (13) in which laboratory equipment may be disposed, said peripheral boundary including along its length at least one raised edge portion (24,26,28), and at least one support member (18) for supporting laboratory apparatus in close proximity to said working area (13), said support member (18) having carrier means (36) and an elongate upstanding rod (19) carried by said carrier means (36), said carrier means (36) being shaped to interengage with said raised edge portion (24,26,28) at any selected location along the length of the raised edge portion (24,26,28), said carrier means (36) also having fastening means (44) whereby said support member (18) may be releasably fastened to said base member (12) at said location.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said raised edge portions (24,26,28) have a constant transverse profile along their lengths so that a support member (18) may be fastened to the base member (12) in any selected location along the raised edge portions.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said carrier means (36) has a generally inverted 'U X-I shape which engages and surrounds said raised edge portion (24,26,28).

4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said fastening means (44) is provided by at least one locking screw which passes through an aperture in said inverted 'U' shaped carrier means (36) and which engages said raised edge portion (24,26,28) to secure said support member (18) to said raised edge portion (24,26,28) .

5. A system as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said inverted U-shaped carrier means (36) also includes adjustment means (56) whereby the spacing of the legs of the U-shape may be adjusted.

6. An imperforate base member for use in the system of Claim 1, said base member (12) having a peripheral boundary which defines a safe working area (13) in which laboratory equipment may be disposed, said peripheral boundary including along its length at least one raised edge portion (24,26,28) for receiving interengaging carrier means (36) of a support member (18) at any location along the length of the raised edge portion (24,26,28).

7. A support member for use in the system of Claim 1, said support member (18) having carrier means (36) and an elongate upstanding rod (19) carried by said carrier means (36) , said carrier means (36) being shaped to interengage with a raised edge portion (24,26,28) of said base member (12) at any selected location along the length of said raised edge portion (24,26,28), the carrier means (36) also having fastening means (44) whereby said support member (36) may be releasably fastened to said base member (12) at said selected location.