Histological slides storage and dispensing container

Abstract

A storage and dispensing container for slides useful in mounting tissue samples for histological analysis, comprising a cover and a receptacle portion, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a floor and a circumscribing wall forming with the floor a receptacle cavity for holding an array of slides therein, the circumscribing wall including opposing wall portions having cut-outs therein exposing portions of faces of slides in the array of slides reposed in the receptacle cavity, wherein the receptacle portion is sized and constructed so that a user can grasp the array of slides with opposing digits contacting the portions of faces of slides in the array through the cut-outs, thereby facilitating handling of the slides.

1 . A storage and dispensing container for slides, comprising a cover and a receptacle portion, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a floor and a circumscribing wall forming with the floor a receptacle cavity for holding an array of slides therein, the circumscribing wall including opposing wall portions having cut-outs therein exposing portions of faces of slides in the array of slides reposed in the receptacle cavity, wherein the receptacle portion is sized and constructed so that a user can grasp the array of slides with opposing digits contacting said portions of faces of slides in the array through the cut-outs.  
   
   
       2 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-outs each have a same shape.  
   
   
       3 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 2 , wherein the cut-outs each have a shape selected from the group consisting of semicircular, elliptical, obloid, square, rectangular, semihexagonal, semioctagonal, and other polygonal shapes.  
   
   
       4 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 3 , wherein the cut-outs each comprise a semicircular shape.  
   
   
       5 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 4 , wherein the shape of the cut-outs includes vertical linear surfaces tangently intersecting the semicircular shape.  
   
   
       6 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-outs each have a different shape.  
   
   
       7 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-outs each have a same size.  
   
   
       8 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-outs each have a different size.  
   
   
       9 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the receptacle cavity is rectangular, and the circumscribing wall includes a front wall, back wall and side walls, wherein the cut-outs are in the front and back wall.  
   
   
       10 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 9 , wherein the cut-outs in the front wall and back wall are generally substantially aligned with one another.  
   
   
       11 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-outs are of a size, shape and location so that said user can grasp the array of slides with opposing digits contacting said portions of faces of slides in the array through the cut-outs.  
   
   
       12 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 9 , wherein the cut-outs in the front wall and back wall are in register with one another.  
   
   
       13 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle cavity has a length in a range of from about 3.5 to about 5 inches, a width in a range of from about 2 to about 4 inches and a height in a range of from about 1.2 to about 2 inches.  
   
   
       14 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle cavity of the container has a slide capacity in a range of from about 40 to about 100 slides.  
   
   
       15 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle cavity of the container has a slide capacity in a range of from about 60 to about 90 slides.  
   
   
       16 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and the receptacle portion of the container comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, ceramics, cellulosic materials, metals, composite materials, woven web materials, and non-woven web materials.  
   
   
       17 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and the receptacle portion of the container are formed of plastics.  
   
   
       18 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 17 , wherein the cover and the receptacle portion of the container comprise a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymers and resins.  
   
   
       19 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 18 , wherein the cover and receptacle portion are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidenechloride, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinylacetate.  
   
   
       20 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and receptacle portion are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulosic materials and polymers.  
   
   
       21 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and receptacle portion are formed of polyvinylchloride.  
   
   
       22 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 18 , wherein the cover and receptacle portion are fabricated by a technique selected from the group consisting of die-molding, extrusion molding, vacuum forming, solvent casting, injection molding, and roto-molding.  
   
   
       23 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21 , wherein the cover and receptacle portion are fabricated by a process comprising application of heat and/or pressure.  
   
   
       24 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , as fabricated by a process including pressure forming.  
   
   
       25 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1 , as formed by a process including thermoforming.  
   
   
       26 . The storage and dispensing container of  claim 13 , wherein the cut-outs each have a length at the top of the front or back wall that is in a range of from about 0.5 inch to about 1.5 inches.