1. A method for calibrating a microarrayer print head with respect to a microarrayer component, the print head including a spotting member having a first end and a tip defining an elongate axis therebetween, the calibration permitting the spotting member to produce a function with the microarrayer component selected from the group consisting of blotting, spotting, drawing a biological sample from a source plate and spotting member cleaning, the method comprising:
(a) guiding the print head to a first location in which the spotting member is spaced apart from the component so that the spotting member axis is transverse to the component;
(b) calibrating the first location as a microarrayer first position;
(c) guiding the print head along the axis to a second location proximate to the component wherein in the second location the spotting member is capable of producing the function with the second component selected from the group consisting of spotting member blotting, spotting, drawing a sample from a source plate and spotting member cleaning; and
(d) calibrating the second location as a microarrayer second position.
2. The method of claims 1, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a plate defining a plurality of fluid flow channel members formed through the plate, each channel member defining an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the spotting member comprises a first pin received in the print head and (i) in the first position the spotting member axis is transverse to the center of a first channel member inlet so that the tip is proximate to the center of the inlet.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein a second pin is received in the print head and laterally spaced apart from the first pin so that the second pin axis is transverse to the center of the inlet of a second channel member of the plate.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first pin is received in a first position on the printhead, and a second pin is received in a last position on the print head.
6. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a vacuum manifold and the tip of the spotting member in the first position is spaced about 100 micrometers apart from the vacuum manifold.
7. The method of any claims 1 to 3, wherein the microarrayer component comprises a source plate selected from the group consisting of a 1536-well source plate, a 384-well source plate, and a 96-well source plate, and the tip of the spotting member in the first position is spaced about 2 millimeter apart from the source place.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spotting member is in contact with the microarrayer component when the print head is in the second position.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a first end and a second end defining a component axis therebetween and the spotting member axis is coaxial with the microarrayer component axis.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of spotting members are received in the print head and in the first position the spotting member is received in the last position on the print head.
11. The method of claim 2 wherein the first spotting member is received in a first position on the print head and a second spotting member is received in a last position on the print head.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the microarrayer component is selected from the group consisting of a vacuum manifold, a 1536-well source plate, a 384-well source plate, a 96-well source plate, a blot slide, and a microarray slide.
13. The method of any of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, wherein the print head is guided by a processor.
14. The method of claims 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, wherein the print head is guided by a joystick means.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the function is dispensing.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the dispensing function is blotting.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the dispensing function is spotting.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the function is holding.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the holding function is drawing a biological sample from a source plate.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the holding function is spotting member cleaning.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame made of structural foam, the seat frame having a main body portion having a forward portion, a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion;
a first wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;
a cushion supported on the seat frame, the cushion being softer than the seat frame; and
a trim material disposed over the cushion.
2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second wire attachment bracket spaced laterally from the first wire attachment bracket, the second wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan.
3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the front attachment tabs are securable within mounting ports in a vehicle floor pan via a snap fit, and each of the rear attachment tabs comprising a closed-loop portion securable to a vehicle floor pan via bolts.
4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the seat frame has a third groove portion, spaced laterally from the first and second groove portions, to receive at least a portion of the connecting portion of the second wire attachment bracket.
5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the forward portion of the seat frame has apertures to receive the front attachment tabs and the rear attachment tabs each comprise a closed loop opening.
6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the structural foam is made of expanded polyolefin.
7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the structural foam is made of EPP and the cushion is made of polyurethane foam.
8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body portion of the seat frame has at least one recess disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the recess extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion, the cushion extending from a forward portion to a rearward portion, the forward portion of the cushion being supported on the forward portion of the seat frame to the rearward portion of the cushion being supported on the rearward portion of the seat frame.
9. A vehicle seat frame component securable to a vehicle floor pan, the seat frame component comprising:
a seat frame made of structural foam, the seat fame having a main body portion having a forward portion, and a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion, the main body portion of the seat frame having an opening disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the opening extending between an upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion, the opening having a width of 10 to 30 cm; and
a first wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan.
10. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 further comprising a second wire attachment bracket spaced laterally from the first wire attachment bracket, the second wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, the seat frame being supportable on the vehicle floor pan.
11. The vehicle seat flame component of claim 10 wherein the front attachment tabs are detachably securable within mounting ports in a vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tabs are detachably securable to a vehicle floor pan.
12. The vehicle seat flame component of claim 10 wherein the seat flame has a third groove portion to receive at least a portion of the connecting portion of the second wire attachment bracket, the third groove portion being spaced laterally from the first and second groove portions, and the opening being disposed between the first and second groove portions and the third groove portion.
13. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 wherein the forward portion of the seat frame has an aperture to receive the front attachment tab.
14. The vehicle seat frame component of claim 9 wherein the structural foam is made of expanded polyolefin and the first wire attachment bracket has a yield strength of 275 to 475 MPa.
15. A method of making a vehicle seat assembly, said method comprising:
providing a seat frame made of structural foam and having a main body portion, a forward portion, a rearward portion, an upper surface and a bottom surface, the upper surface having a first groove portion on the forward portion and a second groove portion, spaced from the first groove portion, on the rearward portion;
securing an attachment bracket to the seat frame, the attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs, the connecting portion of the attachment bracket being received within the first and second groove portions, the front attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab being securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;
supporting a foam cushion on the seat frame; and disposing a trim material over the cushion and the seat frame.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an vehicle floor pan and securing the attachment tabs of the attachment bracket to the floor pan.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the attachment tabs are secured to the floor pan via an interference fit.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the main body portion of the seat frame has at least one recess disposed between the forward portion and the rearward portion of the main body portion of the seat frame, the recess extending between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the main body portion.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the groove has a first portion disposed on the forward portion of the main body portion in front of the recess and a second portion disposed on the rearward portion of the main body portion behind the recess.
20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the recess is 10 to 30 cm wide.