Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A pipette tip rack (10) comprising a container (12) having a bottom (14) and a side wall (15) connected to and extending from said bottom (14) and terminating in a top portion (16), a tray (22) including means (24) for holding at least one pipette tip (26, 28) thereinm said tray (22) being supported by means (90) on said container (12) such that at least a portion of each pipette tip (26, 28) lies within said container (12), a cover (30) which is supported by the container (12) adjacent the tray (22) and together with the container 12 forms an enclosure (32), and means (34) for venting said enclosure (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A pipette tip rack (10) comprising a container (12) having a bottom (14) and a side wall (15) connected to and extending from said bottom (14) and terminating in a top portion (16), a tray (22) including means (24) for holding at least one pipette tip (26, 28) thereinm said tray (22) being supported by means (90) on said container (12) such that at least a portion of each pipette tip (26, 28) lies within said container (12), a cover (30) which is supported by the container (12) adjacent the tray (22) and together with the container 12 forms an enclosure (32), and means (34) for venting said enclosure (32).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim in which the top portion (16) of the container side wall (15) is capable of contacting the cover (30) and the means (34) for venting the enclosure (32) includes means (36) for separating the cover (30) from the top portion (16) and forming a gap (38) therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 2 in which the means (36) for separating the cover (30) from the top portion (16) includes at least one element (40, 42, 44) connected to the cover (30) which can bear on the relevant side wall (15) and thereby form the gap (38) between the top portion (16) of that side wall (15) and the cover (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 2 or 3 in which the means (36) for separating the cover (30) from the top portion (16) includes at least one element connected to the container (12) which can bear on the cover (30) and thereby form the gap (38) between the top portion (16) and the cover (30).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 3 in which the container top portion (16) includes a surface (18) and the cover (30) is capable of being positioned on the container (12) in a first position in which each cover element (40, 42, 44) is supported by said surface (18) to form the gap (38) or in a second position such that the cover (30) engages the container top portion (16) and each cover element (40, 42, 44) is free of support by the surface (18) thereby substantially eliminating the said gap (38) between the container top portion (16) and the cover (30).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 2 which includes means (82) for sliding the cover (76) in relation to the container top portion (72) and thereby separating the cover (76) from the container top portion (72).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 1 in which the means (34) for venting the enclosure (32) comprises an opening (56, 58, 60) through the container (30).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 1 or 7 in which the means (34) for venting the enclosure (32) comprises an opening (64) through the cover (30).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 7 in which the means (34) for venting the enclosure (32) further comprises a roof (62), extending from the exterior of the container (12) adjacent the opening (58) through the container (12).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pipette tip rack according to any preceding claim in which the tray (22) supported by the container (12) forms a first chamber (92) between one side thereof and the container bottom (14) and a second chamber (96) between the other side thereof and the cover (30), and in which means (100) for connecting the first chamber (92) to the second chamber (96) are provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 10 in which the means (24) for holding each pipette tip (26, 28) comprises an opening (102) through the tray (22) and the means (100) for connecting the first and second chambers (92, 96) includes a shoulder (104, 106, 108, 110) connected to the said other side of the tray (22) which shoulder (104, 106, 108, 110) engages the pipette tip (26, 28) to form a space or passageway (103) between the exterior of the pipette tip (26, 28) and the portion of the tray (22) surrounding the opening (102) through the tray (22).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 10 in which the means (24) for holding each pipette tip (120) comprises an opening through the tray (22) and the means (100) for connecting the first chamber (92) with said second chamber (96) includes a protuberance (122, 124, 126, 128) extending from the tray (22) into the opening (102) therethrough, said protuberance contacting the exterior of the pipette tip (120) to form a space or passage (130) between the exterior of the pipette tip (120) and the tray (22).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 10, 11 or 12 in which the means (100) for connecting the first and second chambers (92, 96) includes an opening or vent (136, 138, 140, 142) formed by mitering at least one corner of the tray (22).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pipette tip rack according to any preceding claim in which the cover (30) includes a raised portion (52) and the bottom (14) of the container (12) includes a depression (54) which is sized to fit the raised portion (52) of the cover (30) during stacking of such racks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pipette tip rack according to any preceding claim in which the tray (22) is removable from the container (12).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pipette tip rack according to claim 1 in which the means (34) for venting the enclosure (32) includes a valve (144) in the cover (30).