Abstract:
A pipette holder for retaining a pipette at a plurality of angles relative to the holder includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion wherein the second housing portion supports the pipette. The pipette device also includes a pivot mechanism pivotally coupling the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a laboratory device, and in particular, to an adjustable pipette device for aspirating and dispensing liquids. 
         [0002]    Persons performing low-impact, repetitive tasks such as word processing sometimes report pain and/or discomfort in the hands, arms, and neck. Doctors now diagnose such debilitating pain and discomfort as carpal tunnel syndrome or other cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), or repetitive stress injury (RSI). Ergonomic disorders, such as the aforementioned, have spawned a multi-billion dollar industry intending to maximize worker productivity by providing comfortable workstations, chairs, and computer hardware, thereby minimizing fatigue and discomfort. 
         [0003]    Despite the advances of ergonomics for the office environment, in a laboratory setting, such as a medical laboratory, laboratory technicians are still subjected to repetitive operations with sub-optimal ergonomic devices, such as pipette devices. Pipetting is the act of aspirating and dispensing controlled volumes of liquid, and is one of the most frequently performed repetitive lab operations. Attempts to minimize the occurrences of RSIs in the lab have focused on training technicians in body mechanics (e.g., posture, pipetting technique, etc.), and providing an ergonomic pipette device. 
         [0004]    The design of a pipette device is as important as the manner in which it is used. Pipette manufacturers recognize the benefits of an ergonomic pipette device, as is evidenced by the number of different ergonomic devices available. For example, many devices include a contoured handgrip to allow for a relaxed hold on the device. However, a contoured handgrip is not sufficient to completely obviate the development of an RSI or CTD in awkward, confined or restricted spaces, such as pipetting at lowered benchtops or in fume hoods where arm, joint or tendon strain may occur. Healthy technicians will not only have better attendance and attitude, but will also perform better with improved pipetting accuracy and precision. Therefore, in view of the foregoing, a need exists for an adjustable ergonomic pipette device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a pipette holder for retaining a pipette at a plurality of angles relative to the holder. The pipette holder includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion supporting the pipette, and a pivot mechanism pivotally coupling the first housing portion and the second housing portion. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the pipette holder includes a housing including a first portion and a second portion and a nozzle assembly for accepting a pipette, the nozzle assembly coupled to the second portion of the housing. The pipette holder also includes a pivot mechanism for coupling the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing to permit the second portion to pivot relative to the first portion. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, the pipette holder includes a housing including a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together and a pipette retaining member located on the second portion of the housing. The pipette holder also includes an indexing system on te housing for adjusting a pivot angle of the second portion relative to the first portion. 
         [0008]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of a pipette device according to one embodiment of the invention, and including an attached pipette. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the pipette device shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating a pivot range for a barrel portion of the device relative to a handgrip portion. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the pipette device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the pipette device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first housing of the handgrip portion and illustrates an inner surface of the housing. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged side view of an upper edge of the housing shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second housing of the handgrip portion and illustrates an inner surface. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a first housing of the barrel portion and illustrates an outer surface. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  is an enlarged side view of the housing shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second housing of the barrel portion. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , one embodiment of a pipette device  10  is shown. The pipette device  10  includes a generally pistol-shaped housing  14 , although other shapes are suitable for the housing  14 . The housing  14  may be constructed of any suitable material known in the art; however, in the illustrated embodiment, the housing  14  is constructed of a plastic material molded or otherwise formed into four pieces that are secured together. In one embodiment, the housing  14  includes an external matte finish that provides a non-slip surface for improved gripping and handling of the pipette device  10 . 
         [0021]    The housing  14  includes a handgrip portion  18 , a barrel portion  22 , and a nozzle assembly  26 . The handgrip portion  18  and the barrel portion  22  are each formed from a pair of opposed housings coupled together. To those in the art, such pipette devices are referred to as pipetting aids or pipette guns. During typical use of the pipette device  10 , the barrel portion  22  is oriented substantially parallel with a horizontal work surface (e.g., table, benchtop, etc.). In this way, a device axis  34  ( FIG. 2 ) is defined through the pipette device  10 , which is generally horizontal during typical use, but may be oriented otherwise for a user&#39;s comfort. The nozzle assembly  26  is operable to releasably retain glass and plastic pipettes  36  of various sizes and volumes. Additionally, as discussed in further detail below, the barrel portion  22  may be pivoted relative to the handgrip portion  18  (e.g., towards and away from the horizontal work surface or transverse to the device axis  34 ) to reduce arm strain during pipetting. Advantageously, the handgrip portion  18  includes an ergonomic treatment to reduce hand strain and is hand-neutral (i.e., usable by both right-handed and left-handed users). 
         [0022]    Trigger buttons  38 A,  38 B project through a portion of the handgrip portion  18 . The buttons  38 A,  38 B are positioned for actuation by a user&#39;s fingers and may include an ergonomic treatment, such as a curved, concave, or contoured end surface, for reducing finger fatigue. Furthermore, the end surface of each button  38 A,  38 B may include a button-identifying portion such as an indent or protrusion that provides a user with a tactile means for telling the buttons  38 A,  38 B apart. The buttons  38 A,  38 B activate the device to aspirate and dispense fluid, respectively. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the buttons  38 A,  38 B actuate microswitches or the like on a circuit board to operate a reversible motorized pump mechanism (not shown), such as a vacuum pump or the like. The pump mechanism applies a positive or negative pressure to an attached pipette  36  via one of the variable valve assemblies  42  and connective flexible tubing (not shown) within the housing  14 . A continuous speed dial  46  accessible from the barrel portion  22  is linked to the circuit board to select the speed of the pump mechanism depending on the user&#39;s desired pipetting speed and precision. Additionally, the pump mechanism is energized by one or more batteries (not shown), which are rechargeably linked to a power jack. An LCD screen  50  in the barrel portion  22 , and positioned proximate the speed dial  46 , provides an indication of the speed setting and the battery charge of the pipette device  10 . 
         [0023]    The nozzle assembly  26  is rigidly held by and located at one end of the barrel portion  22  opposite the handgrip portion  18 . The nozzle assembly  26  includes a nozzle housing  54  having a generally frustoconcical shape and a central bore  56  therethrough. The exterior of the nozzle  54  may include gripping detents  58  that facilitate disassembly of the nozzle assembly  26  for filter replacement, cleaning, autoclaving, or the like. Although not shown, the nozzle assembly  26  includes a number of elements engaged within the nozzle housing  54  to provide a continuous positive or negative pressure path between the attached pipette  36  and the pump mechanism. It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that other known nozzle assemblies may be used with the pipette device. 
         [0024]    The pipette device  10  includes a pivot mechanism  62 , about a pivot axis  66  ( FIG. 2 ), or pivot point, to selectively pivot the barrel portion  22  relative to the handgrip portion  18  to reduce arm strain during pipetting. Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , the housing  14  of the pipette device  10  is formed from a first handgrip housing  70 , a second handgrip housing  74 , a first barrel housing  78 , and a second barrel housing  82 . The first and second handgrip housings  70 ,  74  are of substantially similar size and shape, and are coupled together with an intermediate housing  86  to define the handgrip portion  18 . Each of the handgrip housings  70 ,  74  includes an outer surface  90  and an inner surface  94 . A pivot boss  98  extends outwardly from the inner surface  94  of each handgrip housing  70 ,  74  to define the pivot axis  66  of the pipette device  10 . The pivot bosses  98  are sized and shaped to snugly fit within pivot sleeves  102  on the barrel housings  78 ,  82 . The inner surface  94  of each handgrip housing  70 ,  74  also includes a number of bosses, sleeves, extensions and recesses to mate with structure on the opposed handgrip housing  74 ,  70 . 
         [0025]    The first and second barrel housings  78 ,  82  are of substantially similar size and shape, and are coupled together with an upper housing  100  and a lower housing  104  to define the barrel portion  22 . First ends  106  of the barrel housings  78 ,  82  support the nozzle assembly  26 , and second ends  110  of the barrel housings  78 , 82  fit within a first end of the handle portion  18  for pivotally coupling the barrel portion  22  to the handle portion  18 . Each barrel housing  78 ,  82  includes an outer surface  114  and an inner surface  118 . A pivot sleeve  102  extends from the inner surface  118  of each barrel housing  78 ,  82  to further define the pivot axis  66  of the pipette device  10 . The pivot sleeves  102  are sized and shaped to snugly receive the pivot bosses  98  of the handgrip housings  70 ,  74 . The inner surface  118  of each barrel housing  78 ,  82  also includes a number of bosses, sleeves, extensions and recesses to mate with structure on the opposed barrel housing  82 ,  78 . The pivot bosses  98  and the pivot sleeves  102  define the pivot axis  66  about which the barrel portion  22  pivots transverse to the device axis  34  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0026]    The pivot bosses  98  and pivot sleeves  102  may be cylindrically, frustoconically, or otherwise shaped to permit rotation. In the illustrated embodiment, the bosses  98  of the handgrip housings  70 ,  74  include projecting extensions  126  ( FIGS. 5-6 ) to provide a more tolerant fit in the sleeves  102 . The sleeves  102  and the bosses  98  are rotatably engaged to adjustably pivot the barrel portion  22  about the pivot axis  66  and to change its angular position to the handgrip portion  18 . Although the illustrated pivot axis  66  is transverse to the device axis  34 , the pivot mechanism  62  and pivot sleeves  122  may be arranged alternatively so the axes  34 ,  66  are oriented in parallel, obliquely, or otherwise to achieve a desired pivoting of the nozzle assembly  26 . Moreover, the pipette device  10  may alternatively include, for example, a swivel, ball, joint, articulation, ball-in-socket, or other like means for providing angular adjustability in a variety of directions. Furthermore, the pipette device  10  may include a locking means to lock, clamp, or otherwise inhibit adjustment of the swivel, ball, joint, articulation, ball-in-socket, or the like to retain the barrel portion  22  in a desired position. The locking means may include, for example, a pin, screw, clamp, vise, or other fastening means known in the art. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the barrel portion  22  is pivotable throughout a range of approximately 20° relative to the device axis  34 , with five discrete resting positions spaced approximately 5° apart. The pivoting mechanism  62  of the pipette device  10  includes an indexing system  130  to hold the barrel portion  22  in one of the discrete positions relative to the handgrip portion  18 . The indexing system  130  includes indexing posts  134 A,  134 B positioned on the inner surfaces  94  of the handgrip housings  70 ,  74  and an indexing surface  138  positioned on the outer surfaces  114  of the barrel housings  78 ,  82 . The posts  134 A,  134 B engage the surface  138  to hold the barrel portion  22  in a desired position. 
         [0028]    The inner surface  94  of each handgrip housing  70 ,  74  includes a pair of indexing posts  134 A,  134 B ( FIG. 5A ) extending toward the opposed barrel housing  78 ,  82 . The indexing posts  134 A,  134 B are positioned radially outward from the pivot boss  98 , i.e., the pivot axis  66 , along an upper edge  142  of the handgrip housing  70 ,  74 .  FIG. 5A  shows an enlarged view of the upper edge  142  of the first handgrip housing  70 , and referring to  FIG. 6 , the upper edge  142  of the second handgrip housing  74  is generally a mirror image of the first handgrip housing  70 . In the illustrated embodiment, two indexing posts are shown; however, it should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in further embodiments fewer or more posts may be used. 
         [0029]    The outer surface  114  of each barrel housing  78 ,  82  includes the indexing surface  138  ( FIG. 7A ), which is recessed with respect to the outer surface  114 . The indexing surface  138  is generally arc-shaped and positioned radially outward from and centered about the pivot sleeve  102 , i.e., the pivot point  66 . The indexing surface  138  includes a plurality of ridges  146  spaced apart to define indents  150  between adjacent ridges. Each indent  150  corresponds to a resting position for the opposed indexing post  134 A,  134 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the indexing surface  138  includes two groups  146 A,  146 B of six ridges each such that each group  146 A,  146 B defines five indents  150 , i.e., resting positions. Each indexing post  134 A,  134 B operates in conjunction with one group  146 A,  146 B of ridges.  FIG. 7A  shows an enlarged view of the indexing surface  138  of the first barrel housing  78 , and referring to  FIG. 8 , the indexing surface  138  of the second barrel housing  82  is generally a mirror image of the first barrel housing  78 . It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in further embodiments fewer or more ridges and indents may be formed in the indexing surface  138  and that a single group of ridges or multiple groups of ridges may be used to form the indexing system  130 . 
         [0030]    When the pipette device housing  14  is assembled, the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B of the first handgrip housing  70  mate with the indexing surface  138  of the first barrel housing  78 , and the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B of the second handgrip housing  74  mate with the indexing surface  138  of the second barrel housing  82 . The ridges  146  associated with the first ridge group  146 A of each barrel housing  78 ,  82  slide over the first indexing post  134 A of the respective handgrip housing  70 ,  74 , and the ridges  146  associated with the second ridge group  146 B of each barrel housing  78 ,  82  slide over the second indexing post  134 B of the respective handgrip housing  78 ,  82 . The indexing system  130  operates similarly to a ratchet and pawl as the barrel portion  22  is pivoted between resting positions. It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in further embodiments, the barrel portion  22  may have a larger or smaller pivot range and may include fewer or more resting positions. In a further embodiment, the indexing posts may be located on the barrel portion  22  and the indexing surface may be located on the handgrip portion  18 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  5 A and  7 A, when the barrel portion  22  is positioned at an initial position, the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B are retained within the opposed indents  150  at an endmost position  150 A of the opposed ridge group  146 A,  146 B. To move the barrel portion  22  to another position, a user holding the handgrip portion  18  places sufficient pressure on the barrel portion  22  to overcome the frictional engagement, disengage the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B from the associated indents  150  and rotate the barrel portion  22  relative to the handgrip portion  18 . The ridges  146  slide over the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B of the associated handgrip housing  70 ,  74  until the barrel portion  22  reaches a desired angular position relative to the handgrip portion. Once the barrel portion  22  reaches the desired position, the indexing posts  134 A,  134 B frictionally engage the associated indents  150  to hold the barrel portion  22  in position. 
         [0032]    While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.