IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,150,375
Granted Patent B2
US 7,150,375 · App. 10/675,451 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Apparatus and method for storing slides in an angular arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,150,375
App. No.
10/675,451
Granted
Dec 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method for storing slides in an angular, offset or fanning arrangement. The apparatus includes a base member and two support members. At least one of the base member, the first support member, and the second support member is arranged at an angle. With this configuration, the plurality of slides are angularly stacked on the base member and between the first and second support members. A bottom slide of the plurality of slides is dispensed through a slot defined between one of the lateral support members and the base member. The fanning arrangement can be a vertical fanning arrangement, a horizontal fanning arrangement, or a combination thereof.

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus for storing a plurality of slides in an angular arrangement, the apparatus comprising:

a base member for providing vertical support to the plurality of slides, a top surface of the base member being substantially parallel to a horizontal;

a first support member arranged at a first angle relative to the horizontal; and

a second support member arranged at a second angle different from the first angle relative to the horizontal,

the plurality of slides being angularly stacked in a fanning arrangement relative to the horizontal on the base member and between the first and second support members so that at least the two bottom slides of the plurality of slides are offset and the edges of adjacent slides do not overlap each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first angle being different than the second angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first support member being fixed at the first angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the second support member being fixed at the second angle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the first support member being adjustable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the second support member being adjustable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , a bottom slide of the plurality of slides being dispensed through a slot defined between one of the support members and the base member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein only the bottom slide of the plurality of slides is dispensed through the slot.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the plurality of angularly stacked slides having a fanning arrangement.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a friction reducing member that contacts one or more slides.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is an angle of a surface of the first support member that contacts the slides, and the first angle is greater than 90 degrees relative to the horizontal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second angle is an angle of a surface of the second support member that contacts the slides, and the second angle is less than 90 degrees relative to the horizontal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a gap exists between each slide in the angularly stacked plurality of slides.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein no slide lies flatly upon another slide in the angularly stacked plurality of slides.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a higher slide in the plurality of slides is arranged at an angle that is steeper than the angle at which a lower slide in the plurality of slides is arranged.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fanning arrangement results in a series of angled gaps defined by one of the support members and adjacent slides.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fanning arrangement results in a series of generally triangular gaps defined by one of the support members and adjacent slides.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first support member extends upwardly from the base, and the second support member extends downwardly towards the base, wherein the slot is defined between the base and the bottom of the second support member.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second support member supports each slide of the plurality of slides except the bottom slide, wherein the bottom slide is dispensed through the slot.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each slide is stacked at a different angle.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second angles are angles other than 90 degrees relative to the horizontal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first angle is greater than 90 degrees and the second angle is less than 90 degrees.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC., ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-BY-CONVERSION TO CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075566/0039 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 25, 2010
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; R2 TECHNOLOGY, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS III, INC.; CYTYC PRENATAL PRODUCTS CORP.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024944/0315 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: CYTYC CORPORATION
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 021301/0879 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2007
From: CYTYC CORPORATION
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
Reel/Frame 020018/0529 →