Expanding cam lock for sealing slab gels in an electrophoresis apparatus

Abstract

An expanding cam lock for use with an electrophoresis system is disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, the expanding cam lock includes a base plate with a first surface adapted to engage the first buffer core assembly and a follower plate having second surface adapted to engage the second buffer core assembly, buffer dam or buffer displacement dam. The base plate and the follower plate are slidably coupled together and are designed for insertion between the first buffer core assembly and the second buffer core assembly, buffer dam or buffer displacement dam in the electrophoresis container. A cam is positioned between and moveably coupled with the base plate and the follower plate. The cam is movable from a first position to a second position to urge the first and second surfaces to secure the gel cassette to the first and second buffer core assemblies.

1 - 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . An expanding cam lock for sealing at least one electrophoresis gel cassette in an electrophoresis apparatus, the expanding cam lock comprising:
 a base plate having a first surface adapted to engage a first buffer core assembly comprising at least one electrophoresis gel cassette;   a follower plate having second surface adapted to engage a second buffer core assembly comprising at least one electrophoresis gel cassette;   a cam positioned between and moveably coupled with the base plate and the follower plate;   wherein, the base plate and the follower plate are slideably coupled together and configured for insertion between the first buffer core assembly and the second buffer assembly in the electrophoresis apparatus, and the cam being movable from a first position to a second position to urge the first surface toward the electrophoresis gel cassette of the first buffer core assembly and the second surface toward the electrophoresis gel cassette of the second buffer core assembly thereby sealing the electrophoresis gel cassettes to the first and second buffer core assemblies within the electrophoresis apparatus.   
     
     
         111 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the cam is pivotally coupled to the base plate and is configured to slideably engage the follower plate. 
     
     
         112 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 111 , wherein the cam includes axle pins pivotally coupling the cam to the base plate. 
     
     
         113 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the can is configured to lock the base plate and follower plate into engagement with the electrophoresis gel cassettes of the buffer cores when the cam is in the second position. 
     
     
         114 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the cam includes a push bar configured to engage the base plate to prevent further urging of the first surface toward the buffer core assembly and the second surface toward the partition assembly. 
     
     
         115 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the cam includes a handle to pivot the cam relative to the base plate and follower plate. 
     
     
         116 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the cam further has a curved end that slidingly engages the follower plate. 
     
     
         117 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the first and second surfaces include push tabs adapted to facilitate urging of the first surface toward the buffer core assembly and the second surface toward the partition assembly. 
     
     
         118 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 110 , wherein the base plate includes first side panels on a reverse side opposing the first surface and the follower plate includes second side panels on a reverse side opposing the second surface, the first and second side panels being coupled together. 
     
     
         119 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 118 , wherein the first side panels include slots and the second side panels include lever arms with locking portions configured to slideably engage the slots. 
     
     
         120 . The expanding cam lock of  claim 119 , wherein least one of the base plate, the follower plate and the cam is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene acrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polystyrene, acrylic, acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, Acetel and copolymers thereof.