Holder for cylindrical or conical containers

Abstract

A holder for cylindrical or conical containers includes holding fingers distributed around a vertical central axis. Each finger has a base attached in a connecting region to a base area and includes a first finger segment extending from the base to an area at maximum distance from the base area. The outer area of the finger is tiltable away from the axis away from a base position about a first hinge in the connecting region. A second finger segment extends outwardly from the first finger segment and from a second hinge formed in the outer area to a free end. In the base position, these second finger segments extend at an angle relative to the axis so that the free ends are closer to the axis than the outer areas. The free ends of the second finger segments are displaced outward, away from the axis via the second hinges.

1 . A holder for cylindrical or conical containers, in particular sample containers for material samples that are to be analyzed, especially medical specimens, having at least three holding fingers ( 2 ), the respective bases ( 3 ) of which are attached in a connecting region to a base area ( 4 ), which are distributed around an essentially vertical central axis ( 6 ) extending with an initial finger segment ( 7 ) from the base to an area ( 8 ) at maximum distance from the base area ( 4 ), characterized in that the holding fingers ( 2 ) each form a first hinge ( 5 ) in the connecting region, around which the outer area ( 8 ) of these fingers can be tilted away from the central axis ( 6 ) from a base position in which they are angled towards the central axis ( 6 ), and that the holding fingers ( 2 ) each feature a second finger segment ( 10 ), wherein these second finger segments ( 10 ) each start at the respective first finger segment ( 7 ), extending from a second hinge ( 9 ) formed in the outer area ( 8 ) to a free end ( 11 ), wherein in the base position, these finger segments ( 10 ) each extend at an angle relative to the central axis ( 6 ) in such a way that the free ends ( 11 ) are closer to the central axis ( 6 ) than the outer areas ( 8 ), and that the free ends ( 11 ) of the second finger segments ( 10 ) can be displaced outward, away from the central axis ( 6 ), via the second hinges ( 9 ). 
     
     
         2 . The holder according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding fingers ( 2 ) are each formed as a single piece. 
     
     
         3 . The holder according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the holding fingers ( 2 ) are formed as a single piece with the base area ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first ( 5 ) and/or the second hinge ( 9 ) is a film hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first ( 7 ) and second finger segments ( 10 ) feature a degree of flexibility. 
     
     
         6 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by holding fingers ( 2 ) made of plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second finger segments ( 10 ) extending from the second hinge ( 9 ) initially extend in a first subsection ( 12 ) at a steep angle from the central axis ( 6 ) and then transition to a second subsection ( 13 ) in in a transition area ( 14 ) extending at an angle towards the central axis ( 6 ). 
     
     
         8 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by four holding fingers ( 2 ), which are disposed equidistantly at 90° intervals around the central axis ( 6 ). 
     
     
         9 . The holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cup-shaped supporting surface ( 16 ) formed centrally between the holding fingers ( 2 ).