Ergonomic Pipette Handle With Adjustable Lower Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pipettes require excessive grip force, especially when placing the pipette tip, due to a lack of adequate support for the hand, leading to user discomfort and fatigue.

Innovation Solution

The pipette features a lower support protrusion at the handle's lower edge, which is adjustable in height and rotation, providing additional grip stability and reducing the need for excessive grip force, combined with a finger support and optional connecting support section for improved ergonomics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional pipette handles are used with basic finger support, then the structure remains simple, but the hand slides downwardly requiring excessive grip force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip force requirementVSAvoidhandle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle structure is segmented into multiple functional zones: upper finger support, middle lower support, and lower support. Each segment provides specific ergonomic functionality, with the lower support being a distinct protrusion that prevents hand sliding without requiring excessive grip force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lower support protrudes radially from the handle surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a third-dimensional contact point for the hand. This radial protrusion provides additional support in the downward direction without increasing the handle's longitudinal or radial dimensions significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lower support is made adjustable and rotary, then hand positioning comfort is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand positioning adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lower support transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable one. It can be positioned at different heights along the handle and rotated to different angular positions, allowing adaptation to various hand sizes and gripping preferences while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lower support's position parameters (height and angle) are made variable. The support can be adjusted to different vertical positions along the handle and rotated to different angular orientations, enabling optimization of ergonomic fit for different users without fundamentally changing the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the lower support protrudes 3-8 mm from the handle surface, then grip stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip stabilityVSAvoidprotrusion dimension control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The lower support provides localized ergonomic enhancement at a specific position on the handle. The protrusion is concentrated in a small radial region (3-8 mm from surface) rather than uniformly increasing the handle dimensions, providing targeted grip stability improvement with minimal impact on overall manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2452753B1Support pipette
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC OY
  • EP2452753B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2452753B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2452753B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A support pipette including at least one cylinder with an upper end and a lower end, each cylinder having a movable piston, and an elongate handle (1) with an upper part and a lower part, at which handle the pipette can be manually gripped, wherein the lower part (13.1; 13.2; 13.3) of the handle (1) includes a sideways protruding lower support (10.1; 10.2; 10.3; 10.4; 10.5).