Universal pipette tip box

A pipette tip box assembly having a universal format capable of accommodating a wide variety of different pipette tip arrays. The footprint of the pipette tip box portion of the assembly is fixed to a standard (SBS) specification for microplates making the tip box compatible with the wide variety of hardware that is currently being used in automated microplate processes. The tip box portion of the pipette tip box incorporates an asymmetrical distribution of deck plate locking pins on the upper surface to retain pipette receiving deck plates having various arrays of openings thereon. The pipette tip box cover of the assembly utilizes an interlocking feature for mating pipette tip boxes within a stack of such boxes. This feature provides enhanced stability of large stacks of pipette tip boxes that are frequently required for automated processes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
 1. Field of Invention
 The present invention provides a pipette tip box capable of accommodating a
 variety of different pipette tip configurations.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Pipette tips are typically small, plastic, cylindrical devices that are
 utilized for aspirating and dispensing variable liquid volumes. The
 length, diameter and shape of the tips vary in accordance with an
 individual manufacturer's specifications. Due to variations in pipette tip
 size, the boxes in which the pipettes are packaged and stored also varies.
 The pipette tip industry has not, at this time, adopted standards with
 respect to the dimensions of pipette tip boxes or the bases of these boxes
 (footprints). Because of these variations, pipette tip box manufacturers
 are required to fabricate new molds in which to cast boxes that will
 accommodate the various pipette tip configurations. This would require
 each manufacturer to assume the cost involved with building molds capable
 of casting newly designed pipette tip boxes.
 What is thus desired is to provide a universal pipette tip box design that
 provides a format capable of accommodating a wide variety of different
 pipette tip configurations.
 SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
 The present invention provides a universal pipette tip box having a format
 capable of accommodating a wide variety of different pipette tip arrays.
 The interior portion of the box base possesses an open architecture that
 allows pipette tip manufacturers to package 24, 96, 384 or 1536 tips in a
 variety of physical arrangements within the box. This provides pipette tip
 manufacturers with flexibility in packing tips, and also decreases
 production expenses.
 The interior of the box base is molded into a grid-like pattern, thus
 enabling the box to have vastly enhanced physical rigidity over
 conventional box designs.
 The footprint of the box is fixed to a standard specification set for
 microplates (SBS standard). Because of compliance with standards, boxes of
 the present invention are compatible with the wide variety of hardware
 that is currently being used in automated microplate processes. This
 allows pipette tip end-users to incorporate the new tip box into their
 current procedures without purchasing additional processing equipment.
 The box bases possess an asymmetrical distribution of deck plate locking
 pins providing the end-users of the pipettes with a visual means of
 loading pipette tip boxes into automated devices in an appropriate
 orientation and eliminates any molding variations that might occur in the
 box base and deck plate. By always forcing the orientation of the deck
 plate and box base, manufacturing errors are minimized.
 The box utilizes an interlocking feature for mating pipette tip boxes
 within a stack of boxes. This feature provides enhanced stability of large
 stacks of pipette tip boxes that are frequently required for automated
 processes.
 The present invention provides a universal pipette tip box capable of
 accommodating a wide variety of different pipette tip configurations, or
 arrays, thus reducing manufacturing costs, the box also having increased
 physical rigidity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded assembly view of the novel pipette tip
 box assembly 10 of the present invention is illustrated.
 Pipette tip box 10 assembly comprises pipette tip box 12, deck plate 30 and
 cover 50. Pipette tip box 12 of assembly 10 comprises a housing 14,
 preferably molded from plastic, having a plurality of hollow, square
 shaped elongated recesses 16 extending to the bottom lip 19 of tip box 12.
 This grid-like design provides the tip box 12 with enhanced physical
 rigidity over prior art tip box designs and functions to recieve the
 bottom portion of pipettes inserted into deck plate 30. Tip box 12 is
 designed so that a number of pipette tips extending through the bottom
 surface of deck plate 30 are received in coaligned recesses in tip box 12.
 This increased rigidity is significant since it allows tip box 12 to
 withstand the high pressures that pipette tip boxes are subject to during
 various automated processes. It should be noted that although twenty four
 recesses 16 are shown, either fewer or greater number of recesses can be
 provided depending upon system requirements. In addition, the recesses can
 have different shapes, such as rectangular, circular, etc.
 The upper surface 20 of tip box 12 has a plurality of deck plate locking
 pins 22, 24, 26, 28 and 31, asymmetrically positioned therearound as
 illustrated. This feature provides the end-users of the pipettes with a
 visual means of loading pipette tip boxes into automated devices in a
 proper orientation and minimizes any molding variations that might
 otherwise occur in the tip box 12 and deck plate 30. By forcing the deck
 plate 30 and tip box 12 to be orientated in a particular direction,
 manufacturing errors are minimized. This enables high throughput
 processing since pipette tip box mishandling will be minimized.
 Pipette deck plate 30 comprises a thin, rectangular shaped plastic lid
 member having holes 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. When assembled, pin 22 of tip
 box 12 extends into hole 40 of deck plate 30, pin 24 extends into hole 42,
 pin 26 extends into hole 44, pin 28 extends into hole 46 and pin 31
 extends into hole 48. The deck plate 30 is thus friction engaged to
 pipette tip box 12 releasably securing the two members together. It should
 be noted that deck plate 30 of the same predetermined shape and dimensions
 can be designed with 96, 384 or 1536 pipette supporting holes 49,
 depending upon user requirements thus effectively making the pipette tip
 box universal in function and use. The top surface 52 of pipette tip cover
 50 has interlocking members formed thereon to allow for mating a pipette
 tip box with a stack of similar boxes. This feature provides enhanced
 stability of large stacks of pipette tip boxes that are frequently
 required for automated purposes.
 The interlocking mechanism comprises four upwardly extending posts 60,
 preferably located at the corners of top surface 52, and a pair of
 cross-shaped protrusions 62.
 FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of deck plate 30. It should be noted that
 the drawing illustrates the hole layout in a simplified format--as shown
 more clearly in FIG. 3, the hole arrangement is a series of repeating
 equal spaced holes formed in rows and columns and positioned over a recess
 16 in tip box 12. FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows a different
 pattern of holes 49 overlying recess 16.
 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the interlocking mechanisms 60 and
 62.
 FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the base of pipette tip box 12, and
 illustrates vertical extending walls 70 separating recesses 16 and
 vertically extending receiving chambers 72.
 FIG. 7 illustrates assembled pipette tip boxes 10 in a stacked array.
 Correct and stable stacking is accomplished by having the interlocking
 mechanisms of one array interact with the box placed on top of cover 50.
 In particular, posts 60 (FIG. 7) extend into corresponding chambers 72 and
 cross-shaped members 62 fit into the adjacent portion of the grid pattern
 formed on the bottom surface 78 of tip box 12.
 In operation, the user first selects a deck plate 30 having the number of
 holes corresponding to the desired number of pipettes. The selected deck
 plate 30 is then secured to the pipette box 12 via locking pins 22, 24,
 26, 28 and 31, the pipette tips then loaded into holes 49 therein and the
 cover 50 then placed over the deck plate 30. A pipette tip 80 is shown
 positioned in the deck plate 30 for illustrative purposes.
 While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred
 embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
 changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements
 thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
 In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
 situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing
 from its essential teachings.