Abstract
An apparatus for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips into a single line or a rectangular array using a tip collar that will provide structural rigidity to the plurality of pipette tips. The tips are manufactured with vertical ribs and the tip collar is manufactured to achieve a friction fit with the vertical ribs of the tips, thereby producing a tip and collar assembly that is easier to manufacture, lower in cost, and more convenient for the operator.
Claims
1. I claim a tip collar for assembling together a plurality of pipette tips in a single line configuration or a rectangular array configuration each having a shoulder flange comprising: a plurality of axially placed holes in a single line or a rectangular array on said tip collar adaptable to receive said plurality of pipette tips in a single line or rectangular array; wherein said tip collar allows said plurality of pipette tips to rigidly rest therein by forming an assembly set of pipette tips,
2. I claim the tip collar and tip assembly are connected by an upward lifting force exerted on a shoulder flange of each of said plurality of pipette tips or by an upward lifting force exerted on the bottom edge of the tip collar.
3. I claim a design of pipette tips molded with vertical ribs.
4. I claim the tip collar holes that accept the pipette tips are of a dimension such that the tips will be held in position by friction after being loaded into the holes. The tips will remain in position even if the tip and collar assembly is inverted.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and expanded view of one embodiment of the invention which is a single pipette tip with vertical ribs and top-located sealing flange.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 1 where a single line of tips is shown before and after having been loaded into tip collar.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 1 where an array of tips is shown before and after having been loaded into tip collar.
[0023] FIG. 4. is a side elevation and cutaway close-up of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view and expanded view of a second embodiment of the invention which is a single pipette tip with vertical ribs and mid-located sealing flange.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5 where a single line of tips is shown before and after having been loaded into tip collar.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5 where an array of tips is shown before and after having been loaded into tip collar.
[0027] FIG. 8. is a side elevation and cutaway close-up of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] FIG. 1 gives a perspective view and close-up view of one embodiment of the current invention. The pipette tip 1 has a series of vertical ribs 2 molded into its upper part. In this embodiment of the current invention the sealing flange 3 is molded into the very top of the pipette tip 1.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 1. The tips 1 are shown before and after having been loaded into the collar 4. In the first embodiment of the current invention the tips 1 are loaded into the collar 4 from the top. In this version of the first embodiment the tips 1 are organized into a single line. The collar 4 is manufactured with a series of holes 5 that accept the tips 1. During the packaging process the tips 1 are placed downward into the holes 5 of collar 4. The flange 3 will be positioned directly against the top of the collar 4 thus locking all of the tips 1 into position in a consistent pattern. The top edge of the flange 3 is therefore positioned in a consistent and reliable pattern to provide optimal sealing of the tip to a sealing mat when it is loaded into the pipettor.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 1. The tips 1 are shown before and after having been loaded into the collar 4. In the first embodiment of the current invention the tips 1 are loaded into the collar 4 from the top. In this version of the first embodiment the tips 1 are organized into a rectangular array. The collar 4 is manufactured with a series of holes 5 that accept the tips 1. During the packaging process the tips 1 are placed downward into the holes 5 of the collar 4. The flange 3 will be positioned directly against the top of the collar 4 thus locking all of the tips 1 into position in a consistent pattern. The top edge of the flange 3 is therefore positioned in a consistent and reliable pattern to provide optimal sealing of the tip to a sealing mat when it is loaded into the pipettor.
[0031] FIG.4 shows a cutaway side view and close-up of the same embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 2. This embodiment of the invention is intended to apply to any pattern of tips that are loaded in to the tip collar, either as a single line of tips or a rectangular array of tips. The cutaway view shows the tips 1 installed into the collar 4 by inserting them from the top. The bottom edge of the flange 3 is positioned against the top edge of the collar 4. This provides the proper positioning and alignment of the flanges 3 at the top of the collar 4 to provide the proper seal when loaded into the pipettor. The vertical flanges 2 of the tips 1 are pressed against the interior surface of the holes 5 by friction. The manufacturing tolerances of the vertical ribs 2 and the hole 5 diameters allow a consistent fit that will hold the tips 1 in position within the collar 4 even if the assembly is inverted.
[0032] FIG. 5 gives a perspective view and close-up view of a second embodiment of the current invention. The pipette tip 1 has a series of vertical ribs 2 molded into its upper part. In this embodiment of the current invention the sealing flange 3 is a short downward distance from the very top of the pipette tip 1.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5. The tips 1 are shown before and after having been loaded into the collar 4. In this second embodiment of the current invention the tips 1 are loaded into the collar 4 from the bottom. In this version of the second embodiment the tips 1 are organized into a single line. The collar 4 is manufactured with a series of holes 5 that accept the tips 1. During the packaging process the tips 1 are placed upward into the holes 5 of collar 4. The flange 3 will be positioned directly against the bottom of the collar 4 thus locking all of the tips 1 into position in a consistent pattern. The top edges of the tips 1 are therefore positioned slightly protruding above hole 5 in a consistent and reliable pattern to provide optimal sealing of the tip to a sealing mat when it is loaded into the pipettor.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5. The tips 1 are shown before and after having been loaded into the collar 4. In this second embodiment of the current invention the tips 1 are loaded into the collar 4 from the bottom. In this version of the second embodiment the tips 1 are organized into a rectangular array. The collar 4 is manufactured with a series of holes 5 that accept the tips 1. During the packaging process the tips 1 are placed upward into the holes 5 of the collar 4. The flange 3 will be positioned directly against the bottom of the collar 4 thus locking all of the tips 1 into position in a consistent pattern. The top edges of the tips 1 are therefore positioned in a consistent and reliable pattern to provide optimal sealing of the tip to a sealing mat when it is loaded into the pipettor.
[0035] FIG.8 shows a cutaway side view and close-up of the second embodiment of the current invention as shown in FIG. 5. This embodiment of the invention is intended to apply to any pattern of tips that are loaded into the tip collar, either as a single line of tips or a rectangular array of tips. The cutaway view shows the tips 1 installed into the collar 4 by inserting them from the bottom. The top edge of the flange 3 is positioned against the bottom edge of the collar 4. This provides the proper positioning and alignment of the top edges of the tips 1 at the top of the collar 4 to provide the proper seal when loaded into the pipettor. The vertical flanges 2 of the tips 1 are pressed against the interior surface of the holes 5 by friction. The manufacturing tolerances of the vertical ribs 2 and the hole 5 diameters allow a consistent fit that will hold the tips 1 in position within the collar 4 even if the assembly is inverted.
[0036] The invention is an entirely new and novel way to manufacture a unitary entity consisting of a collar and pipette tips that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.
[0037] An advantage of the invention compared to the current art is that the pipette tips are held in the collar in a consistently-aligned pattern. By keeping the pipette tips in perfect vertical alignment in this manner, the pipetting results (precision and accuracy) will be better compared to an arrangement where some or all of the tips are not in alignment. In addition, the chance of breakage of the tips is reduced when they are held in perfect alignment.
[0038] Another advantage of the invention is that the pipette tips are held firmly in place within the collar. During shipping and handling the tips will not shift or move from their positions in the holes in the collars. A major advantage of this design over the prior art is that id the user inadvertently or intentionally inverts the position of the tip collar from horizontal, the tips will remain in place, unlike prior art designs where the tips will move or fall out of the collar. This is more convenient for the operator and also prevents the chance for contamination of the tips due to manual handling after they have fallen out of the collar.
