IP Library Granted Patent US 12,594,549
Granted Patent B2
US 12,594,549 · App. 18/361,663 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Plunger rod and method for producing such a plunger rod

Inventors: Jens Wilmer (Ahrensburg, DE); Jörg Sattler (Hamburg, DE); Jianzhao Lue (Norderstedt, DE)
Assignee: Eppendorf SE
B01L3/0224
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,594,549
App. No.
18/361,663
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a plunger rod ( 10 ) for a liquid transfer device ( 100 ), the plunger rod ( 10 ) being of two- or multipart construction. The plunger rod ( 10 ) has a first plunger rod component ( 12 ), in operative connection with an actuating device ( 110 ) of the liquid transfer device ( 100 ), and a second plunger rod component ( 14 ). The plunger rod ( 10 ) comprises a sealing seat ( 16 ) for receiving a sealing element ( 18 ) for the plunger rod ( 10 ), wherein a parting line ( 20 ) between the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is configured so the sealing seat ( 16 ) is free of parting line flash ( 22 ). The invention includes a method for producing a plunger rod ( 10 ) and a liquid transfer device ( 100 ), in particular a pipette ( 102, 104, 106 ) and/or a multichannel bottom part ( 108 ) for a pipette ( 102, 104 ), with such a plunger rod ( 10 ).

Claims (17)

1 . A plunger rod ( 10 ) for a liquid transfer device ( 100 ), wherein the plunger rod ( 10 ) is of two or multipart construction and has a first plunger rod component ( 12 ), which can be brought into operative connection with an actuating device ( 110 ) of the liquid transfer device ( 100 ), and a second plunger rod component ( 14 ), as well as a sealing seat ( 16 ) for receiving a sealing element ( 18 ) for the plunger rod ( 10 ), wherein a parting line ( 20 ) between the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is configured such that the sealing seat ( 16 ) is free of parting line flash ( 22 ), wherein the sealing seat ( 16 ) is configured to receive the sealing element ( 18 ) between the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and the second plunger rod component ( 14 ).

2 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is arranged or configured concentrically to the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

3 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) forms a first limit stop ( 24 ) for the sealing element ( 18 ) received in the sealing seat ( 16 ) and the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) forms a second limit stop ( 26 ) for the sealing element ( 18 ) received in the sealing seat ( 16 ).

4 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) has, at its end ( 28 ) remote from the sealing seat ( 16 ), a fastening mechanism ( 30 ) for a plunger actuator ( 112 ) of a pipette ( 102 ) or a multichannel bottom part ( 108 ) for a pipette ( 102 ).

5 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is configured as a plunger tip ( 32 ), which is arranged as an axial extension of the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

6 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is configured as a cover ( 34 ) or dish ( 36 ) which is connected interlockingly or force-lockingly with the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

7 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) has a shaft ( 38 ), wherein a recess ( 40 ) is formed in the shaft ( 38 ) for form-locking connection of the cover ( 34 ) or dish ( 36 ) by way of a latching connection ( 42 ).

8 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the dish ( 34 ) or the cover ( 36 ) has a central opening ( 44 ), wherein at least one latching lug ( 46 ) is formed at the central opening ( 44 ) for latching into the recess ( 40 ) in the shaft ( 38 ) of the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

9 . The plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) are made from the same plastics material.

10 . A method for producing the plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the following method steps:

producing the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) of the plunger rod ( 10 ) in a first injection molding process,

producing the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) of the plunger rod ( 10 ) in a second injection molding process,

connecting the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) of the plunger rod ( 10 ) with the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) of the plunger rod ( 10 ), wherein the sealing seat ( 16 ) for receiving the sealing element ( 18 ) for the plunger rod ( 10 ) is located away from a mold parting line ( 58 ) of an injection mold ( 54 , 56 ) for producing the plunger rod ( 10 ).

11 . The method for producing the plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the plunger rod ( 10 ) is produced using a two-component injection molding method, in which in a first injection molding process the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is produced and this second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is molded around in sections in a second injection molding process by the first plunger rod component ( 12 ), such that the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is concentric to the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and extends in the axial direction as an extension of the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

12 . The method for producing the plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is inserted as an insert into the injection mold ( 56 ) for the second injection molding process to produce the first plunger rod component ( 12 ).

13 . The method for producing the plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the second plunger rod component ( 14 ) is pulled, by way of a central opening ( 44 ) in the second plunger rod component ( 14 ), onto the first plunger rod component ( 12 ) and connected force-lockingly or interlockingly therewith.

14 . A liquid transfer device ( 100 ) for drawing up and subsequently delivering a liquid with the plunger rod ( 10 ) according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2023
From: WILMER, JENS; SATTLER, JÖRG; LUE, JIANZHAO
To: EPPENDORF SE
Reel/Frame 064573/0091 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 22193005 · Aug 30, 2022 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240066517A1 · Feb 29, 2024
References Cited (20)
US 5364596A · Magnussen, Jr. et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5511433A · Sabloewski et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 10507463B2 · Wilth et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 12290805B2 · Wilth · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20080006100A1 · Wilmer · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20220001377A1 · Wilth et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220016618A1 · Kunsch et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 114682318A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
DE 102006031460B4 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 0455043A2 · 1991 [cited by applicant]
EP 2633915B1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 3932557A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
JP H04227859A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP 200812533A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017523029A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019524306A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021169199A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 2022018092A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report of 22193005.0, Feb. 13, 2023, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action for JP Application No. 2023-138911 dated Oct. 28. 2024, with machine translation, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]