Transformable slide storage apparatus and method

Abstract

Transformable slide storage apparatus and method of transforming a shape of a slide storage apparatus. A slide storage apparatus includes a plurality of trays, a plurality of linking members and a plurality of connectors. The trays are configured to hold slides, and the connectors secure the linking members to the trays. At least one linking member extends between adjacent trays. The linked trays can be moved between stacked and flat configurations. The slides remain horizontal and parallel to each other in both the stacked and flat configurations.

1 . A storage apparatus for storing a plurality of slides, comprising: 
 a plurality of trays, each tray being configured to hold a slide;    a plurality of linking members; and    a plurality of connectors,    a connector securing a linking member to a tray, at least one linking member extending between adjacent trays, the linked trays being moveable between a stacked configuration and a flat configuration, all of the slides being arranged horizontally and parallel to each other in both the stacked and flat configurations.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the trays having the same size.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the trays having the same shape.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including about 2-20 trays.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a front surface or a rear surface of a tray defining an aperture, a slide being placed into a tray through the aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , all of the slides in trays facing the same direction in both the stacked configuration and the flat configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , all of the slides being arranged in the trays so that a top surface of a slide has a biological specimen.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the linking members being metal or plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , opposite ends of a tray being connected to two different linking members.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , a linking member extending between a front end of a first tray and a rear end of a second tray, the first tray being adjacent to the second tray.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a top tray or a bottom tray of the plurality of trays being connected to a single linking member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a middle tray of the plurality of trays being connected to at least two linking members.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , a number of linking members being less than a number of trays.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the number of linking members being one less than the number of trays.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , all of the linking members remaining substantially parallel to each other during movement of the plurality of trays between the stacked and flat configurations.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , all of the linking members being arranged at about the same angle in the stacked configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the connector comprising a hinge.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the connector rotatably connecting a linking member to a tray.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , none of the slides being arranged vertically or on edge in the stacked configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , none of the slides being arranged vertically or on edge in the flat configuration.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , all of the slides remaining substantially parallel to each other when being moved between the stacked and flat configurations.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the linking members being substantially in-line when the plurality of trays are arranged in the flat configuration.  
     
     
         23 . A storage apparatus for storing a plurality of slides, comprising: 
 a plurality of trays, each tray being configured to hold a slide;    a plurality of linking members; and    a plurality of connectors,    a connector securing a linking member to a tray, at least one linking member extending between adjacent trays, the linked trays being moveable between a stacked configuration and a flat configuration, all of the slides being arranged horizontally and parallel to each other and facing the same direction in both the stacked and flat configurations so that none of the slides are arranged vertically or on edge.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , a front surface or a rear surface of a tray defining an aperture, a slide being placed into a tray through the aperture.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , all of the slides being arranged in trays so that a top surface of the slide includes a biological specimen.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , opposite ends of a tray being connected to two different linking members.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , a linking member extending between a front end of a first tray and a rear end of a second tray, the first tray being adjacent to the second tray.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a top tray or a bottom tray of the plurality of trays is connected to a single linking member.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , a middle tray of the plurality of trays being connected to at least two linking members.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , a number of linking members being less than a number of trays.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , the number of linking members being one less than the number of trays.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , the linking members remaining substantially parallel to each other during movement of the plurality of trays between the stacked and flat configurations.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , all of the linking members being arranged at about the same angle.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , the connector comprising a hinge.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the slides remain substantially parallel to each other when being moved between the stacked and flat configurations.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , the linking members being substantially in-line when the plurality of trays are arranged in the flat configuration.  
     
     
         37 . A method of transforming a shape of a slide storage apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of trays that are configured to hold a specimen slide, the method, comprising: 
 rotatably connecting linking members to a plurality of trays, at least one linking member extending between adjacent trays;    arranging one or more slides within respective trays so that none of the slides are arranged vertically or on edge;    moving the linked trays between a stacked configuration and a flat configuration, the stacked configuration being substantially perpendicular to the flat configuration, the slides remaining substantially horizontal and parallel to each other in both the stacked and flat configurations and during movement between the stacked and flat configurations.