Patent · US Expired

Replaceable tip assembly for pipette

US4616514A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
12References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1985
Grant dateOct 14, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T403/7077
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A pipette is disclosed which includes a pipette body, a tip locking mechanism, and a disposable pipette tip. The pipette body has a plunger which reciprocates into and out of an interior air filled chamber. This air forces a measured amount of liquid into or out of the tip. After pipetting, an over-stroke of the plunger discharges a blast of air to assure discharge of all the fluid. In one embodiment, a further over-stroke unlocks a mechanism holding the shell in place and actuates tip disposal and replacement. The shell surrounding the pipette body is depressed by the plunger shaft. Fingers formed from the lower end of the shell are pushed outward by cam action with the pipette body. As the fingers spread, the tip falls free. A replacement tip is then attached. The fingers also define a funnel which guides the replacement tip on to the point where it snaps into position. The spring biased shell and fingers apply a uniform force holding the tip against a gasket at the end of the pipette body, and the shell is again locked in place.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.