Cassette for dispensing flexible tubing therefrom

Abstract

In a cassette for dispensing flexible tubing a cassette body includes a central tubular portion defining an aperture extending therethrough. An outer wall surrounds the central tubular portion and a cassette bottom extends between and connects the outer wall and the central tubular portion. The outer wall, the cassette bottom and the central tubular portion cooperate to define an interior area that surrounds the central tubular portion. A length of flexible tubing is positioned in the interior area. The cassette bottom includes first registration features and a cover is coupled to the body and at least partially overlies the interior area, the cover defining second registration features matingly engageable with the first registration features so that cassettes can be stacked one-on-top-of-the-other with the cooperation of the first and second registration features preventing successively stacked cassettes from shifting relative to one another.

1 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing, said cassette comprising:
 a cassette body having a central tubular portion defining an aperture extending therethrough, an outer wall surrounding said central tubular portion and a cassette bottom extending between and connecting said outer wall and said central tubular portion;   said outer wall, said cassette bottom and said central tubular portion cooperating to define an interior area that surrounds said central tubular portion;   a length of flexible tubing positioned in said interior area;   said cassette bottom including first registration features;   a cover coupled to said body and at least partially overlying said interior area, said cover defining second registration features matingly engageable with said first registration features so that cassettes can be stacked one-on-top-of-the-other with the cooperation of said first and second registration features minimizing the potential for successively stacked cassettes from shifting relative to one another.   
   
   
       2 . A cassette as defined by  claim 1  wherein one of said first and second registration features includes at least one outwardly projecting protuberance and the other of said first and second registration features includes at least one recess complimentarily shaped to engage said protuberance. 
   
   
       3 . A cassette as defined by  claim 2  wherein said at least one protuberance includes a plurality of protuberances and said at least one recess includes a plurality of recesses. 
   
   
       4 . A cassette as defined by  claim 3  wherein said cassette bottom and said cover are each circular and said plurality of protuberances include a plurality of raised bumps projecting outwardly from and spaced circumferentially around one of said cassette bottom and said cover, and said plurality of recesses are spaced circumferentially around the other of said cassette bottom and said cover, said recesses being complimentarily shaped to engage said bumps when successive cassettes are stacked one-on-top-of-the-other. 
   
   
       5 . A cassette as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first registration feature is defined by one or more first steps, each having a first raised portion and a corresponding first recessed portion and said second registration feature is defined by one or more second steps each having a second raised portion and a corresponding second recessed portion, and wherein said first raised portions are matingly engageable with said second recessed portions and said first recessed portions are matingly engageable with said second raised portions so that when cassettes are stacked one on top of the other, said first steps of one of said cassettes engage said second steps of another of said cassettes thereby minimizing relative movement between successively stacked cassettes. 
   
   
       6 . A cassette as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first registration features include a first undulating surface formed by said cassette bottom and said second registration features include a second undulating surface formed by said cover and wherein said first and second undulating surfaces are matingly engageable with one another so that when cassettes are stacked one on top of the other, said first undulating surface of one of said cassettes engages said second undulating surface of another of said cassettes thereby minimizing relative movement between successively stacked cassettes. 
   
   
       7 . A cassette as defined by  claim 6  further comprising a lip extending along a peripheral surface defined by said cover so that an outer periphery defined by said cassette bottom is slidably engageable with said lip when one cassette is positioned on top of another cassette. 
   
   
       8 . A cassette as defined by  claim 7  wherein said cover and said bottom are circular. 
   
   
       9 . A cassette as defined by  claim 1  wherein said cover and said cassette bottom are each substantially circular and one of said first and second registration features includes a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs and the other of said first and second registration features includes a plurality of recesses, said ribs being matingly receivable in said recesses when cassettes are successively stacked on top of one another. 
   
   
       10 . A cassette as defined by  claim 9  wherein said cassette bottom and said cover each define a peripheral edge and one of said cassette bottom and said cover defines an annular raised portion positioned internally of said peripheral edge and the other of said cassette bottom and said cover defines an annular recessed portion positioned internally of said peripheral edge and wherein said annular raised portion is slidably engageable with said annular recessed portion when cassettes are successively stacked on top of one another. 
   
   
       11 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette:
 said cassette comprising a cassette body having a central tubular portion defining an aperture extending therethrough, an outer wall surrounding said central tubular portion and a cassette bottom extending between and connecting said outer wall and said central tubular portion;   said outer wall, said cassette bottom and said central tubular portion cooperating to define an interior area that surrounds said central tubular portion;   a length of flexible tubing positioned in said interior area;   said cassette bottom including first registration features; and   a cover coupled to said body and at least partially overlying said interior area;
 said receptacle including an opening sized at least to receive said cassette; and 
   alignment features defined by said receptacle; and   wherein said first registration features and said alignment features are matingly engageable with one another to prevent said cassette from being improperly positionable in said receptacle.   
   
   
       12 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 11  wherein one of said first registration features and said alignment features includes at least one outwardly projecting protuberance and the other of said first registration features and said alignment features includes at least one recess complimentarily shaped to engage said protuberance. 
   
   
       13 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 12  wherein said at least one protuberance includes a plurality of protuberances and said at least one recess includes a plurality of recesses. 
   
   
       14 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 11  wherein said first registration feature is defined by one or more first steps, each having a first raised portion and a corresponding first recessed portion and said alignment features are defined by one or more second steps each having a second raised portion and a corresponding second recessed portion, and wherein said first raised portions are matingly engageable with said second recessed portions and said first recessed portions are matingly engageable with said second raised portions. 
   
   
       15 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 11  wherein said first registration features include a first undulating surface formed by said cassette bottom and said alignment features include a second undulating surface formed by said receptacle and wherein said first and second undulating surfaces are matingly engageable with one another. 
   
   
       16 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 11  wherein one of said first registration features and said alignment features includes a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs and the other of said first registration features and said alignment features includes a plurality of recesses, said ribs being matingly receivable in said recesses. 
   
   
       17 . A cassette for dispensing flexible tubing and a receptacle for receiving said cassette as defined by  claim 11  wherein said cassette and said receptacle each define a peripheral edge and one of said cassette bottom and said receptacle defines an annular raised area positioned internally of said peripheral edge and the other of said cassette bottom and said receptacle define an annular recessed portion positioned internally of said peripheral edge and wherein said annular raised portion is slidably engageable with said annular recessed portion.