Pipette controller

Claim 2

A pipette controller for facilitating a user's control of a pipette while pipetting liquids comprising: a casing having an inverted "L" shape forming a handle and a neck, at least one thumb wheel attached to the handle and adapted for rotational action, a mechanical train engaged to the thumb wheel for converting the rotational action of the thumb wheel to translational action, a bellows attached to the casing and engaged to the mechanical train, expandable and collapsible by the translational action of the mechanical train, an air tube attached to the bellows for guiding air to and from the bellows, a pipette connector attached both to the neck and to the the air tube, for connecting the pipette to the pipette controller, for positioning the pipette proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle, and for communicating air between the air tube and the pipette, whereby the user operates the thumb wheel of the pipette controller to control liquids within the pipette connected to the pipette controller while the pipette is held proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle of the pipette controller in easy view of the user.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the handle of the casing has a back side which is opposite the direction of the neck and wherein the attachment of the thumb wheel to the handle exposes the thumb wheel on the back side of the handle for operation by the user.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the thumb wheel includes a coaxial pinion and the mechanical train includes a rack engaged to the coaxial pinion and attached to the bellows.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein the thumb wheel includes a first thumb wheel with a large coaxial pinion and a second thumb wheel with a small coaxial pinion, the large thumb wheel and the small thumb wheel each engaged to the rack.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein the engagement between the bellows and the mechanical train includes means for fastening the bellows to the mechanical train.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 further comprising means for urging the bellows to expand, the urging means connected to both the bellows and to the casing and wherein the engagement between the bellows and the mechanical train includes mere abutment.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 further comprising a snub connected to the casing and acting upon the mechanical train for preventing frictionless action.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 1 wherein the pipette connector is disposable and detachable from the neck and from the air tube.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 wherein the air tube is disposable and detachable from the pipette connector and from the bellows.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 1 wherein the bellows is disposable and detachable from the handle and from the mechanical train.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 1 further including a stabilizer clip attachable both to the handle and to the pipette for steadying the tip of the pipette during use.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 1 wherein the neck includes a swivel fitting for positioning the pipette connector within a range of angular rotation, thereby enabling the pipette connector to position the connected pipette into a corresponding range of positions which includes positions in addition to the position which is proximate and substantially parallel to the handle.

Claim 14

A pipette controller for facilitating a user's control of a pipette while pipetting liquids to be used with a bellows, an air tube, and a pipette connector; the bellows connected to the air tube, the air tube connected to the pipette connector, and the pipette connector connected to the pipette; the air tube for guiding air between the bellows and the pipette connector, the pipette connector for guiding air between the air tube and the pipette and for positioning the pipette; the pipette controller comprising: a casing having an inverted "L" shape forming a handle and a neck, the handle adapted to receive and connect to the bellows, the neck adapted to receive and connect to the pipette connector and enabling the pipette connector to position the pipette proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle, a thumb wheel attached to the handle and adapted for rotational action, and a mechanical train engaged to the thumb wheel for converting the rotational action of the thumb wheel to translational action, the mechanical train adapted to engage the bellows for expanding and collapsing the bellows by the translational action, whereby the user operates the thumb wheel of the pipette controller to control liquids within the pipette while the pipette is held proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle of the pipette controller in easy view of the user.

Claim 15

A pipette controller for facilitating a user's control of a pipette while pipetting liquids to be used with a bellows, an air tube, and a pipette connector; the bellows connected to the air tube, the air tube connected to the pipette connector, and the pipette connector connected to the pipette; the air tube for guiding air between the bellows and the pipette connector, the pipette connector for guiding air between the air tube and the pipette and for positioning the pipette; the pipette controller comprising: a casing having an inverted "L" shape forming a handle and a neck, the handle adapted to receive and connect to the bellows, the neck adapted to receive and connect to the pipette connector and enabling the pipette connector to position the pipette proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle, a thumb wheel attached to the handle and adapted for rotational action, and a mechanical train engaged to the thumb wheel for converting the rotational action of the thumb wheel to translational action, the mechanical train adapted to engage the bellows for expanding and collapsing the bellows by the translational action, whereby the user operates the thumb wheel of the pipette controller to control liquids within the pipette while the pipette is held proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle of the pipette controller in easy view of the user.

Claim 16

A pipette controller for facilitating a user's control of a pipette while pipetting liquids to be used with a bellows and a pipette connector; the bellows connected to the pipette connector, and the pipette connector connected to the pipette; the pipette connector for guiding air between the bellows and the pipette and for positioning the pipette; the pipette controller comprising: a casing having an inverted "L" shape forming a handle and a neck, the handle adapted to receive and connect to the bellows, the neck adapted to receive and connect to the pipette connector and enabling the pipette connector to position the pipette proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle, a thumb wheel attached to the handle and adapted for rotational action, and a mechanical train engaged to the thumb wheel for converting the rotational action of the thumb wheel to translational action, the mechanical train adapted to engage the bellows for expanding and collapsing the bellows by the translational action, whereby the user operates the thumb wheel of the pipette controller to control liquids within the pipette while the pipette is held proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle of the pipette controller in easy view of the user.

Claim 17

A pipette controller for facilitating a user's control of a pipette while pipetting liquids to be used with a bellows and a pipette connector; the bellows connected to the pipette connector, and the pipette connector connected to the pipette; the pipette connector for guiding air between the bellows and the pipette and for positioning the pipette; the pipette controller comprising: a casing having an inverted "L" shape forming a handle and a neck, the handle adapted to receive and connect to the bellows, the neck adapted to receive and connect to the pipette connector and enabling the pipette connector to position the pipette proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle, a thumb wheel attached to the handle and adapted for rotational action, and a mechanical train engaged to the thumb wheel for converting the rotational action of the thumb wheel to translational action, the mechanical train adapted to engage the bellows for expanding and collapsing the bellows by the translational action, whereby the user operates the thumb wheel of the pipette controller to control liquids within the pipette while the pipette is held proximate to and substantially parallel to the handle of the pipette controller in easy view of the user.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 1 wherein the bellows is an accordion type bellows.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 1 wherein the bellows is a piston/cylinder type bellows.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 1 further including a brace connected to the casing and extending beyond the pipette connector for steadying the tip of the pipette during use.