Container for storing pipette tips

Abstract

A container for storing pipette tips includes a rigid holder including a plurality of apertures each to mount a pipette tip; a base supporting the rigid holder; a lid on top of the rigid holder and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid. The base and the lid include a degradable material, whereby the base and the lid may be decomposed into structures with lesser molecular weight per structure such that the structures assimilate into a natural environment. The rigid holder is rigid such that the shape of the container maintains unchanged when the rigid holder undergoes a compressive force of 500 N vertically directed to the surface of the rigid holder over the mounted pipette tips.

Description

CONTAINER FOR STORING PIPETTE TIPSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 541,928 filed on October 2, 2023, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND1. Field

[0002] This disclosure is related to container for laboratory consumables. More specifically, aspects of this disclosure are related to a container for storing pipette tips.2. Technical background

[0003] Pipette racks are a type of container for storing pipette tips for laboratory use. Pipette racks usually include plates with lines of holes to receive and fix pipette tips. Typically, a single channel instrument mounts a pipette tip one at a time or a multichannel instrument mounts a line of pipette tips simultaneously, either manually or automatically onto the pipettes. Pipette racks may be manufactured from polypropylene (PP) resin. Used PP racks are either incinerated or end up in landfills and very few pipette racks are recycled into other second use items.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a container for storing pipette tips with more recyclable or degradable material for environmental consideration and that are able to support single or multichannel instrument mounting.SUMMARY

[0005] The present application discloses a container for storing pipette tips with more recyclable or degradable material for environmental consideration.

[0006] According to an aspect Al of the present disclosure, a container for storing pipette tips including a rigid holder comprising a plurality of apertures each to mount a pipette tip, a base supporting the rigid holder, a lid on top of the rigid holder and the base such that the rigid holderand the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid. The base and the lid comprise a degradable material, whereby the base and the lid may be decomposed into structures with lesser molecular weight per structure such that the structures assimilate into a natural environment. The rigid holder is rigid such that the shape of the container maintains unchanged when the rigid holder undergoes a compressive force of 500 N vertically directed to the surface of the rigid holder over the mounted pipette tips.

[0007] According to an aspect A2, the degradable material of aspect Al may be paper. The degradable material of aspect Al may also or alternatively include paper, fiber, or degradable polymeric material.

[0008] According to an aspect A3, the material of the rigid holder of aspect Al or A2 may be selected from the group consisting of PS (polylstyrene), PVC (Polyvinylchlorid), PC (Polycarbonate), PEA (Phenylethylamine), PAM (Polyacrylamide), PMMA (Poly(methylmethacrylate), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PTEF (Polytetrafluoroethylene), PU (Polyurethane), PE (Polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene), PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol), silicone, or glass.

[0009] According to an aspect A4, the rigid holder of any one of aspects Al -A3 couples with the base along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base.

[0010] According to an aspect A5, the container of any one of aspects A1-A4 may further comprise a second base that encloses the base and is couplable with the lid.

[0011] According to an aspect Bl, a container for storing pipette tips is provided, including a rigid holder comprising apertures each to hold a pipette tip, a base supporting the rigid holder, a lid on top of the rigid holder, and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid. The base and the lid comprise degradable material. The apertures are distributed in straight lines, and the number of apertures in each line is in a range of 1-12. The shape of the container maintains unchanged (e.g., is not plastically deformed) when a multichannel pipette applies a compressive force onto the pipette tips to mount the pipette tips in one line simultaneously, such that the pipette tips seal tightly with the multichannel pipettes. The container facilitates a tight seal of the pipette tips with the multichannel pipettes.

[0012] According to an aspect B2, the compressive force where the shape of the container of aspect B2 remains unchanged may be 500 N.

[0013] According to an aspect B3, the degradable material of aspect Bl or B2 may be paper. The degradable material may also or alternatively include paper, fiber, or degradable polymeric material.

[0014] According to an aspect B4, the material of the rigid holder of any one of aspects B1-B3 may be selected from the group consisting of PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET, PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone or glass.

[0015] According to an aspect B5, the rigid holder of any one of aspects B1-B4 couples with the base along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base.

[0016] According to an aspect B6, the container of any one of aspects B1-B5 may further include a second base that encloses the base and is couplable with the lid.

[0017] According to an aspect Cl, a container for storing pipette tips is provided, including a rigid holder comprising a plurality of apertures each to hold a pipette tip, wherein the rigid holder resists a compressive force applied by a pipette in a tip-mounting process without deformation, a base supporting the rigid holder, a lid on top of the rigid holder, and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid. The base and the lid comprise a degradable material, whereby the base and the lid may be decomposed into structures with lesser molecular weight per structure such that the structures assimilate into a natural environment. The lid is couplable with the base.

[0018] According to an aspect C2, the degradable material of aspect Cl may be paper. The degradable material may also or alternatively include paper, fiber, or degradable polymeric material.

[0019] According to an aspect C3, the material of the rigid holder of aspect Cl or C2 may be selected from the group consisting of PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET, PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone, or glass.

[0020] According to an aspect C4, the compressive force of aspect Cl is 500 N.

[0021] Additional features and advantages of the aspects disclosed herein will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the disclosed aspects as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

[0022] It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description present aspects intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the claimed aspects. The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the structures and operations thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of an exploded view of a container according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 is schematic diagram of another exploded view of the container in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is schematic diagram of an assembled view of the container in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4A is schematic front view of an exploded view of the container in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4B is schematic sectional view of the container in FIG. 4A.

[0028] FIG. 5 A is schematic front view of an assembled view of the container in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 5B is schematic sectional view of the container in FIG. 5A.

[0030] FIG. 6 is schematic diagram of an exploded view of a container in another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 7 is schematic diagram of another exploded view of the container in FIG.6.

[0032] FIG. 8 is schematic diagram of an assembled view of the container in FIG. 6.

[0033] FIG. 9A is schematic front view of an exploded view of the container in FIG. 6.

[0034] FIG. 9B is schematic sectional view of the container in FIG. 9A.

[0035] FIG. 10A is schematic front view of an assembled view of the container in FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 10B is schematic sectional view of the container in FIG. 10A.

[0037] FIG. 11 A is schematic diagram of the rigid holder in FIG. 6.

[0038] FIG. 1 IB is schematic top view of the rigid holder in FIG. 6.Notes on the reference numbers:

[0039] 100 represents a container in one aspect.

[0040] 200 represents a container in another aspect.

[0041] 101 and 201 represent holders.

[0042] 102 and 202 represent bases.

[0043] 103 and 203 represent lids.

[0044] 104 and 204 represent mounted pipette tips.

[0045] 105 represents a second base.

[0046] 206 represents an aperture.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views shown in the figures. Directional terms as used herein — for example up, down, top, bottom, out of, outside, inside, lower and upper — are made only with reference to the figures as drawn and are not intended to imply absolute orientation. In addition, whenever a group is described as comprising at least one of a group of elements and combinations thereof, it is understood that the group may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any number of those elements recited, either individually or in combination with each other. Similarly, whenever a group is described as consisting of at least one of a group of elements or combinations thereof, it is understood that the group may consist of any number of those elements recited, either individually or in combination with each other. Unless otherwise specified, a range of values, when recited, includes both the upper and lower limits of the range as well as any ranges therebetween. As used herein, the indefinite articles “a,” “an,” and the corresponding definite article “the” mean “at least one” or “one or more,” unless otherwise specified. It also is understood that the various features disclosed in the specification and the drawings can be used in any and all combinations.

[0048] As used herein, the term “deformation” refers that the shape alteration of an object is limited within 1 % strain.

[0049] As used herein, the term “shape of ...maintains unchanged” refers that the shape alteration of an object is limited within 1 %.

[0050] As used herein, the term “seal tightly” refers that pipette tip are firmly mounted onto the pipette such that their connection area is air-locked.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 1-5, a container 100 stores pipette tips 104. The container 100 includes a holder 101 with lines of apertures each to mount a pipette tip 104, a base 102 to support and fix the holder 101 by top edge, a second base 105 to receive both the holder 101 and the base 102 so that they are fully enclosed by the second base 105, and a lid 103 which couples with the second base 105. The holder 101 couples with the base 102 along the outer perimeter ofthe top edge of the base 102, such that the holder 101 is fixed tightly onto the base 102. The holder 101 is made up of a widely-used rigid material such as PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET and is sufficiently rigid to provide underlying support in a pipette tip-mounting process. The shape of the holder 101 may stay unchanged when a multi-channel pipette is used to mount 12 pipette tips in a line simultaneously that provide a vertical force of 500 N directed onto the surface of the holder 101. The base 102, the second base 105 and the lid 103 are made up of paper such that they may be recycled into second use or naturally degraded to assimilate into natural environment.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 6-10, a container 200 includes a holder 201 with lines of apertures 206 each to mount a pipette tip 204, a base 202 to support and fix the holder 201 by top edge, and a lid 203 which couples with the base 202. The holder 201 couples with the base 202 along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base 202, such that the holder 201 is fixed tightly onto the base 202. The holder 201 is made up of a widely used rigid material such as PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone, or glass and is sufficiently rigid to provide underlying support in a pipette tip mounting process. A detailed structure of the holder 201 is depicted in FIG. 11. Eight lines of apertures 206 are uniformly distributed on the surface of the holder 201 while each line contains 12 apertures 206. Each aperture 206 is sized to receive a pipette tip and fix it tightly. The shape of the holder 101 may stay unchanged when a multi-channel pipette is used to mount 12 pipette tips in a line simultaneously that provide a vertical force of 500 N directed onto the surface of the holder 202. The base 102 and the lid 103 are made up of paper such that they may be recycled into second use or naturally degraded to assimilate into natural environment.

[0053] Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are illustrative, but not limiting, and merely set forth some of the many possible aspects of the claimed disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container for storing pipette tips, comprising: a rigid holder comprising a plurality of apertures each to mount a pipette tip; a base supporting the rigid holder; a lid on top of the rigid holder and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid; wherein the base and the lid comprise a degradable material, whereby the base and the lid may be decomposed into structures with lesser molecular weight per structure such that the structures assimilate into a natural environment; wherein the rigid holder is rigid such that the shape of the container maintains unchanged when the rigid holder undergoes a compressive force of 500 N vertically directed to the surface of the rigid holder over the mounted pipette tips.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the degradable material is paper.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the material of the rigid holder is selected from the group consisting of PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET, PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone or glass.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the rigid holder couples with the base along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base.

5. The container of any one of claim 1-4, further comprises a second base that encloses the base and is couplable with the lid.

6. A container for storing pipette tips, comprising: a rigid holder comprising apertures each to hold a pipette tip; a base supporting the rigid holder; a lid on top of the rigid holder and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid; wherein the base and the lid comprise a degradable material; wherein the apertures are distributed in straight lines, wherein the number of apertures in each line is in a range of 1-12;wherein the shape of the container maintains unchanged when a multichannel pipette applies a compressive force onto the pipette tips to mount the pipette tips in one line simultaneously, such that the pipette tips seal tightly with the multichannel pipettes, whereby the container facilitates a tight seal of the pipette tips with the multichannel pipettes.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the compressive force is 500 N.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein the degradable material is paper.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the material of the rigid holder is selected from the group consisting of PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET, PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone or glass.

10. The container of claim 6, wherein the rigid holder couples with the base along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base.

11. The container of any one of claim 6-10, further comprises a second base that encloses the base and is couplable with the lid.

12. A container for storing pipette tips, comprising: a rigid holder comprising a plurality of apertures each to hold a pipette tip, wherein the rigid holder resists a compressive force applied by a pipette in a tip-mounting process without deformation; a base supporting the rigid holder; a lid on top of the rigid holder and the base such that the rigid holder and the pipette tips mounted onto the rigid holder are covered by the lid; wherein the base and the lid comprise a degradable material, whereby the base and the lid may be decomposed into structures with lesser molecular weight per structure such that the structures assimilate into a natural environment; wherein the lid is couplable with the base.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the degradable material is paper.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the material of the rigid holder is selected from the group consisting of PS, PVC, PC, PEA, PAM, PMMA, PET, PTEF, PU, PE, PP, PVA, silicone or glass.

15. The container of claim 12, wherein the compressive force is 500 N.

16. The container of claim 12, wherein the rigid holder couples with the base along the outer perimeter of the top edge of the base.

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