Closure device for containers

• US 7,387,216 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James C. Smith
• Original Assignee: James C. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smalley; James N
• Application Number:
  US10/623,933
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 220/229, 220/254.3, 220/259.1, 220/698, 220/702, 215/235, 215/DIG.3, 604/415, 401/122
• US Class Current: 220/254.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0615 Loss of fluid by dripping
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/105 The closure having a part fitting over the rim of the container or spout and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0842 consisting of a strap of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/03 Medical

Abstract

A wiping cap closure device used for removing the non-calibrated residue fluid attached to the outside surface of a pipette tip during the fluid transfer from a container. The wiping cap is constructed using a conical shaped resilient wiper section extending to a conical tip. The conical shaped wiper section is configured to include at least one helical formed slot extending from said conical tip forming at least one wiping finger. The wiping finger is resiliently held against the outside surface of the pipette tip inserted therethrough during the fluid transfer. The wiping finger provides squeegee like means to remove all of the non-calibrated residue fluid inadvertently attached to the outside surface of the tip as the pipette tip is withdrawn from the container leaving the non-calibrated residue fluid within the container for further evaluations or tests.

Claims

1. A pipetting apparatus for transferring an internal calibrated volume of fluid having a wiping cap device for removing all non-calibrated residue fluid attached to the smooth conical shaped outside surface of a pipette tip during fluid transfer from a container, the wiping cap device comprising:

a tubular member having an open end;

a wiping cap including a base and a cup shaped member, said wiping cap coupled to said open end of said tubular member, said cup shaped member comprising a conical resilient wiper section extending to a conical tip, said wiper section getting smaller in the direction away from said open end to create a substantial closure at the conical tip of said wiper section and being configured to include at least one helically formed slot extending from said substantial closure forming a wiper finger, said wiper finger rotating substantially more than one revolution and being adapted to be unobstructed and resiliently held in complete circumferential contact against said outside surface of said pipette tip inserted therethrough including squeegee like means to remove all said residue fluid attached to said smooth outside surface when said pipette tip is withdrawn axially through said wiper finger whereby said outside surface has said residue fluid removed and leaving said internal calibrated fluid within said pipette tip for fluid transfer; and

said wiping cap including means for securing said wiping cap to said tubular member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said wiping cap to said tubular member includes threads formed on the outer wall of said tubular member and mating threads formed on a threaded skirt attached to and depending from the periphery of said base of said wiping cap.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said wiping cap between said base and said wiper section of said cup shaped member includes a frustum section adapted for mating with said tubular member so as to form a seal therebetween.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said wiping cap is configured to receive a locking cap within said cup shaped member so as to form a seal therebetween and sandwich said wiping cap between said locking cap and said tubular member.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said locking cap is fastened to said wiping cap by hinged means, said locking cap includes a top portion providing engageable access into said wiping cap.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said wiping cap and said locking cap are each coupled to said tubular member by means of a flexible member.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said pipette tip has an inside cavity and said inside cavity is filled with a calibrated fluid sample.

7. A sealable wiping device comprising:

a tubular member having an open end;

a wiping cap including a cup shaped member configured to occlude the open end of said tubular member when said wiping cap is positioned in said open end, said cup shaped member comprising a conical resilient wiper section extending to a conical tip, said conical shape of said wiper section getting smaller in diameter in the direction away from said open end to create a substantial closure at the conical tip of said wiper section and being configured to include at least one helically formed slot extending from said substantial closure forming a wiper finger, said wiper finger rotating substantially more than one revolution and being adapted to be unobstructed and resiliently held in complete circumferential contact against the smooth conical outside surface of a pipette tip inserted therethrough, said wiper finger including squeegee like means to remove all non-calibrated residue fluid attached to said smooth outside surface of said pipette tip when said pipette tip is withdrawn axially through said wiper finger; and

a locking cap configured to be received into said cup shaped member of said wiping cap so as to form a seal therebetween.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said locking cap is configured to sandwich said wiping cap between said locking cap and said tubular member.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said wiping cap and said locking cap are each coupled to said tubular member by means of a flexible hinged member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said locking cap and said wiping cap are in the sealed locked position within said open end of said tubular member, each said flexible hinged member being configured such that when said locking cap and said wiping cap are locked together, significant movement of said locking cap and said wiping cap is away from said open end of said tubular member, said movement is precluded without deformation of said flexible hinged member of said wiper cap or said locking cap.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said tubular member, said wiping cap and said locking cap are created as a one-piece injection molded part.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said hinges are attached to said tubular member at locations spaced 180 degrees from one another.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein said wiping cap is fixed to said tubular member by fastening means selected from the group consisting of mechanical threads, press or snap fit.

14. The device of claim 7 wherein said locking cap is hingedly secured to said wiping cap including means for releasably locking said locking cap and said wiping cap together when said caps are positioned over said open end of said tubular member.

15. The device of claim 7 wherein said locking cap includes a top section engageable with a portion of said cup shaped member, said top section providing access into said wiper cap.

16. The device of claim 7 wherein said locking cap and said wiping cap are coupled together by a flexible member.

17. The device of claim 7 wherein said pipette tip has an inside cavity and said inside cavity is filled with a calibrated fluid sample.