Container for Vials

Abstract

A container for holding vials for use with automated analysis devices has a bottom and four sidewalls. The sidewalls extend perpendicularly to the bottom. Two of the sidewalls are oppositely disposed from one another and have corrugations formed by crests and troughs. The corrugations are arranged such that the crests on one sidewall align with the troughs on the opposite sidewall. Each trough has three angularly oriented panels and is sized to receive and support a vial through contact with only two of the three panels. A cover is also provided. The cover has a top and four sidewalls which extend perpendicularly to the top. Two of the top's sidewalls are oppositely disposed from one another and have corrugations which match and align with the corrugations of the container. A skirt is attached to the sidewalls of the cover and forms a perimeter which receives the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding a plurality of vials in a plurality of adjacent rows, said container comprising:
 a bottom for supporting said vials;   first and second oppositely disposed sidewalls attached to said bottom and extending perpendicularly thereto, each of said sidewalls having corrugations formed of a plurality of alternating crests and troughs, each of said troughs comprising a first trough panel, a second trough panel and a third trough panel, each of said trough panels extending perpendicularly to said bottom and oriented angularly with respect to one another, each of said troughs being sized to receive and support one of said vials between said first trough panel and said third trough panel, for each of said troughs, said first and third trough panels are arranged on opposite sides of said second trough panel;   third and fourth oppositely disposed sidewalls attached to said bottom and extending perpendicularly thereto, said third and fourth sidewalls being in spaced relation to one another and extending between said first and second sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said troughs of said first sidewall are aligned with said crests of said second sidewall, whereby each one of said rows extend between one of said troughs of said first sidewall and one of said crests of said second sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each of said troughs, said first and third trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 100° to about 140° with respect to said second trough panel. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each of said troughs, said first and third trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 115° to about 125° with respect to said second trough panel. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each of said troughs, said first and third trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle of about 120° with respect to said second trough panel. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said crests comprises a first crest panel, a second crest panel and a third crest panel extending perpendicularly to said bottom and oriented angularly with respect to one another, for each of said crests, said first and third crest panels are arranged on opposite sides of said second crest panel. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein, for each of said crests, said first and third crest panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 100° to about 140° with respect to said second crest panel. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein, for each of said crests, said first crest and third panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 115° to about 125° with respect to said second crest panel. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein, for each of said crests, said first and third crest panels are oriented at an orientation angle of about 120° with respect to said second crest panel. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover, said cover comprising:
 a top positionable overlying and in spaced relation to said bottom;   first and second oppositely disposed cover sidewalls attached to said top and extending perpendicularly thereto, each of said cover sidewalls having corrugations formed of a plurality of alternating crests and troughs, each of said troughs of said cover comprising a first cover trough panel, a second cover trough panel and a third cover trough panel, each of said cover trough panels extending perpendicularly to said top and being oriented angularly with respect to one another, each of said troughs of said cover being the same size as said troughs of said container, for each of said troughs of said cover, said first and third cover trough panels are arranged on opposite sides of said second cover trough panel, said troughs of said cover aligning with said troughs of said container when said top is positioned in overlying spaced relation with said bottom;   third and fourth oppositely disposed cover sidewalls attached to said top and extending perpendicularly thereto, said third and fourth cover sidewalls being in spaced relation to one another and extending between said first and second cover sidewalls.   
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein said troughs of said first cover sidewall are aligned with said crests of said second cover sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 10 , further comprising a skirt attached to said cover sidewalls and extending perpendicularly to said top, said skirt forming a perimeter having an inwardly facing surface sized to receive said container when said top is positioned in overlying spaced relation with said bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein, for each of said troughs of said cover, said first and third cover trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 100° to about 140° with respect to said second cover trough panel. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein, for each of said troughs of said cover, said first and third cover trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 115° to about 125° with respect to said second cover trough panel. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein, for each of said troughs of said cover, said first and third cover trough panels are oriented at an orientation angle of about 120° with respect to said second cover trough panel. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said crests of said cover comprises a first cover crest panel, a second cover crest panel and a third cover crest panel extending perpendicularly to said top and oriented angularly with respect to one another, for each of said crests of said cover, said first and third cover crest panels are arranged on opposite sides of said second cover crest panel. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 16 , wherein, for each of said crests of said cover, said first and third cover crest panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 100° to about 140° with respect to said second cover crest panel. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 16 , wherein, for each of said crests of said cover, said first and third cover crest panels are oriented at an orientation angle from about 115° to about 125° with respect to said second cover crest panel. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 16 , wherein, for each of said crests of said cover, said first and third cover crest panels are oriented at an orientation angle of about 120° with respect to said second cover crest panel. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vials supported on said bottom and arranged in a plurality of rows.