Meniscus reducing member
First Claim
1. A vessel comprising:
- a) a closed bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall to an open top portion for retaining a volume of liquid within the vessel, the sidewall comprising an interior surface;
b) a physical surface feature overlying at least a portion of the interior surface to engage a free surface of a liquid in the vessel, the physical surface feature including a first inner surface, a second inner surface below the first inner surface when the liquid is contained in the vessel, and a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, the third surface intersecting both the first and second inner surfaces, the first inner surface, second inner surface and third surface configured to physically alter a receding contact angle between the liquid and the physical surface featurec) a step edge defined by the intersection of the second inner surface and the third inner surface, the step edge configured to engage the free surface of the liquid in the vessel; and
d) a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating material applied to the first inner surface, wherein the second inner surface is substantially free from the coating material, and wherein when the free surface of the liquid contacts the first inner surface it is repelled from the first inner surface toward the step edge, and whereby the receding contact angle formed between the liquid and the first inner surface of the physical surface feature is between about 75 degrees and 110 degrees.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A meniscus reducing member for use in a vessel for containing a liquid may include a physical surface feature overlying at least a portion of an interior surface of the vessel. The physical surface feature may have first and second inner surfaces that are generally parallel and at least a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces. The first inner surface, second inner surface and third surfaces may be configured to physically alter a receding contact angle between the liquid and the physical surface feature. A coating material may be applied to at least one of the surfaces of the physical surface feature to chemically alter the receding contact angle between the liquid and the coated surface whereby the receding contact angle formed between the liquid and the meniscus reducing member is between about 75 degrees and 110 degrees.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vessel comprising:
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a) a closed bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall to an open top portion for retaining a volume of liquid within the vessel, the sidewall comprising an interior surface; b) a physical surface feature overlying at least a portion of the interior surface to engage a free surface of a liquid in the vessel, the physical surface feature including a first inner surface, a second inner surface below the first inner surface when the liquid is contained in the vessel, and a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, the third surface intersecting both the first and second inner surfaces, the first inner surface, second inner surface and third surface configured to physically alter a receding contact angle between the liquid and the physical surface feature c) a step edge defined by the intersection of the second inner surface and the third inner surface, the step edge configured to engage the free surface of the liquid in the vessel; and d) a hydrophobic or superhydrophobic coating material applied to the first inner surface, wherein the second inner surface is substantially free from the coating material, and wherein when the free surface of the liquid contacts the first inner surface it is repelled from the first inner surface toward the step edge, and whereby the receding contact angle formed between the liquid and the first inner surface of the physical surface feature is between about 75 degrees and 110 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification