Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-10-09
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition
C422S091000, C073S863010, C073S864010, C073S864110, C073S864130, C073S864160, C073S864180, C436S180000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299841
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to pipettes and more particularly to a battery powered microprocessor controlled electronic pipette which is light in weight and easily operated by a user over extended periods of time.
BACKGROUND
Since the first commercial introduction of a battery powered microprocessor controlled hand-holdable and easily transportable electronic pipettes by the Rainin Instrument Co., Inc., assignee of the present invention, it has been and continues to be the desire of all electronic pipette manufacturers to provide electronic pipettes which have the functional feel and operational capabilities of manual pipettes such as the world famous PIPETMAN pipette sold exclusively in the United States by the Rainin Instrument Co. for more than 25 years. Specifically in this regard, it continues to be the goal of all electronic pipette manufacturers to develop and produce electronic pipettes that are light in weight, easily holdable and transportable by a user and operational in several modes of operation over extended periods of time without creating physical stress and strain of the hand and forearms of the pipette user. The EDP electronic pipette of the Rainin Instrument Co. introduced in 1984 and its successor models addressed each of the foregoing design criteria. Following Rainin, other companies developing and manufacturing electronic pipettes have also addressed the same criteria and over the years electronic pipettes have become somewhat lighter in weight and more user friendly. However, the desire for an electronic pipette which closely approximates in feel and operational features those of the manual pipette has never been completely achieved. Accordingly, there continues to be a need for such an electronic pipette which is satisfied by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Basically, the present invention satisfies the foregoing need by providing an electronic pipette which is light in weight, comfortably holdable in either the right or left hand of a user and which is easily operated by the user to direct microprocessor controlled operation of the pipette through different user selected modes of operation for different user selected sample volume and speeds of operation. In providing such a user friendly electronic pipette, the present invention comprises a bilaterally symmetrical design including an axially elongated hollow housing having a vertically extending longitudinal axis and vertically extending and substantially coaxial upper and lower portions. The upper portion of the housing includes a forward compartment containing a forwardly facing alpha-numeric display adjacent a top of the housing. Thus located, the display is readily viewable by a user during all modes of operation of the pipette be the user right handed or left handed. In addition to the display, the forward compartment contains a plurality of columns of forwardly facing control keys as well as a plurality of forwardly facing trigger switches below the columns of control keys. The display, columns of control keys and trigger switches are bilaterally symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. In addition, the upper portion of the housing includes a rear compartment which contains a replaceable battery for powering a microprocessor and motor contained within the housing. The lower portion of the housing comprises a vertically elongated handle which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The handle has contiguous bilaterally symmetrical and vertically extending forward and rear portions for either right or left hand gripping by a user of the pipette. The forward portion of the handle extends forward of the upper portion of the housing and extends vertically downward to a lower end of the housing. Preferably, the forward portion of the handle internally contains and shields an upper portion of a pipette tip ejector. Preferably, the pipette tip ejector has a thumb actuated push button located at a top of the forward portion of the handle and a vertically moveable tip ejector arm extending below the housing and vertically along a pipette tip mounting shaft to encircle the shaft adjacent a lower end thereof. Thus configured, the pipette tip ejector is designed to eject a pipette tip from a lower end of the mounting shaft upon downward movement of the tip ejector arm. Such downward movement is in response to a downward thumb force exerted by the pipette user on the push button while the user is gripping the handle of the pipette. The rear portion of the handle extends rearward from the forward portion and has a hook extending rearward from a back of an upper end of the handle. The hook includes a downwardly curved lower surface for engaging an upper side of an index finger (or middle finger, if desired) of the user while the user is gripping the handle with the thumb of the user free to actuate any of the bilaterally symmetrical control keys, trigger switches and push button in any sequence desired. All this the user is free to do while clearly viewing the alpha numeric display as it responds to the actuation of the control keys and trigger switches. In this regard, the hook, forward and rear portion of the handle and pipette tip ejector including push button and ejector arm are all bilaterally symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Thus arranged, the pipette of the present invention is easily and comfortably gripped by the user in either his or her left or right hand with the user's index finger under the hook at the rear of the handle. This leaves the user's thumb free to actuate as desired any of the control keys or trigger switches which regulate the various modes of operation of the electronic pipette as well as the volumes of liquid aspirated and dispensed thereby during the several modes of operation of the pipette. All this is accomplished comfortably by the user while exerting minimal thumb forces on the control keys, trigger switches and push button. Thus, the electronic pipette of the present invention is useable by the user over extended periods of time without unduly stressing the user's thumb, hand or forearm enabling accurate and repeatable operation of the pipette in all operational modes of pipette under control of the user.
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Kelly Christopher
Petrek James S.
Rainin Kenneth
Bex Kathryn
Meads Robert R.
Rainin Instrument Co. Inc.
Warden Jill
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