Abstract:
An application for a liquid sampling device includes an elongated shaft with a handle at a first end of the elongated shaft and a sample container removably affixed to a distal end. A trigger is pivotally affixed to the handle and a flapper is pivotally affixed to the elongated shaft. The flapper is urged towards an opening in the sample bottle, thereby covering the opening in the sample container in a default position and the trigger is linked to the flapper, wherein operation of the trigger results in opening of the flapper.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of water sampling and more particularly to a device and method for taking a liquid sample at a desired depth beneath the surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Before adding chemicals to recreational water such as that held in swimming pools and spas, it is important to test the water for residual amounts of specific chemicals such as chlorine and for other parameters such as hardness, ph, etc. In taking such samples, it is desired to take the sample at a depth at which there might be an average sample. Previously, one would hold a finger over a sample bottle, hold the sample bottle beneath the surface, remove the finger, letting water enter the sample bottle, recover the bottle with the finger, remove the bottle then test the water in the bottle. This method can test the water slightly below the surface, but not at a median level for most applications. Furthermore, the person taking the sample needs to bend down and they will get their hand and arm wet, something that is not pleasant when wearing long sleeve shirts, etc. 
         [0003]    Likewise, water samples are often taken in streams, rivers and lakes where it is also desirable to sample at a specific depth. In such environments, it is sometimes dangerous to insert one&#39;s hand and arm into the water to take such samples due to wildlife present in the water body (e.g., alligators, snakes, leaches and sharks). 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,023 to Kershner has a recreational pool implement that includes a water sample device. The described device includes a pole with a cavity for accepting a sample container near an insertion end. The sample end is inserted into the pool water, thereby filling the container with pool water, and then the pole is removed from the water to test the water. This patent is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent does not disclose a remote control flapper that keeps water out of the container until the container is at the desired sample depth. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a device that will take a liquid sample at a desired depth without requiring the user to insert a body part into the liquid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, a liquid sampling device is disclosed including an elongated shaft with a handle at a first end and a sample container removably affixed to a distal end. A trigger is pivotally affixed to the handle and a flapper is pivotally affixed to the elongated shaft. The flapper is urged towards an opening in the sample bottle, thereby covering the opening in the sample container in a default position and the trigger is linked to the flapper, wherein operation of the trigger results in opening of the flapper. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of obtaining a liquid sample is disclosed including providing a liquid sampling device having an elongated shaft with a handle at a first end and a sample container removably affixed to a distal end. A trigger is pivotally affixed to the handle and a flapper is pivotally affixed to the elongated shaft and urged towards an opening in the sample bottle, thereby covering the opening in the sample container. A linkage between the trigger and the flapper provides remote control of the flapper and operation of the trigger results in opening of the flapper. The method continues with inserting the distal end of the liquid sampling device to a desired depth into the liquid then squeezing the trigger, thereby opening the flapper and allowing the liquid to enter the sample container. The trigger is then released, thereby sealing the sample container and the distal end of the liquid sampling device is removed from the liquid whereas the liquid in the sample container is available for testing. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a liquid sampling device is disclosed including an elongated shaft with a handle at a first end and a sample container removably affixed to a distal end. A device for selectively sealing the sample container is affixed to the elongated shaft is urged towards an opening in the sample bottle, thereby covering the opening in the sample container until a device for remotely opening the device for selectively sealing the sample container is operated. The device for remotely opening the device for selectively sealing the sample container is affixed to the handle and is linked to the device for selectively sealing the sample container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a system of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up plan view of the remote container of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a retainer of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective detail view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cutaway view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the lid holding apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  illustrates a flow chart of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of a system of the present invention is shown. The remote water sampling device  10  includes an elongated shaft  16  having a handle end and a sample end. At the handle end is a handle  12  and a trigger  14 . At the sample end is a remote controlled sample container  40  that is opened to take a sample remotely by the trigger  14 . The remote controlled sample container  40  has a container portion  42  that is held to the elongated shaft  16  by a retainer  48  and an end cap  50 . There are many known sizes and shapes of containers, many of which are equally applicable to the present invention, along with many alternative methods of holding the containers to the elongated shaft. 
         [0023]    In the exemplary remote controlled sample container  40 , a flapper  44  covers the container  42  and is hingedly affixed to the elongated shaft  16  by a hinge pin  46  or other hinge device. In this embodiment, a flexible shaft (not visible) passes within the elongated shaft  16  and couples with the flapper  44  at one end through a pin  47 . The opposing end of the flexible shaft interfaces with the trigger  14  (as will be shown) to permit remote open/close operations of the flapper  44 . In some embodiments, the flapper is not coated and provides a simple seal whereby air pressure prevents water leakage until the flapper  44  is opened. In some embodiments, the flapper  44  is coated with a resilient material  41  (See  FIG. 8 ) such as soft rubber to provide a better water seal. In some embodiments, marks or gradients are printed or engraved on an outside surface of the elongated shaft providing a way to know the depth of the sample container  42  before the trigger  14  is pulled to accept the sample. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, an auxiliary lid  20  is held to the elongated shaft  16  by a spring clip  18 . The auxiliary lid  20  is used to seal the sample container  42  when the sample container  42  is removed from the retainer  48  and end cap  50 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a close-up plan view of the remote container of the present invention is shown. In this the remote controlled sample container  40  is shown in detail, held to the elongated shaft  16  by the retainer  48  and end cap  50 . The flapper  44  is coupled to the elongated shaft  16  by a hinge  46  (or other hinged mechanism) and is urged closed by a spring  49 . Although a torsion spring  49  is shown, any suitable spring is anticipated. The flapper  44  is coupled to the trigger  14  by a flexible shaft  22  that links to the flapper  44  by a pin  47  or other attachment mechanism as known in the industry. The flapper  44  rotates to an open position under tension of the flexible shaft  22  and restores to the closed position by force of the spring  49  when the tension of the flexible shaft  22  abates. In the example shown, the flexible shaft  22  passes through a hollow portion of the elongated shaft  16 ; while in other embodiments, the flexible shaft  22  passes outside the elongated shaft  16 . In some embodiments, a rigid shaft (not shown) interfaces the trigger  14  with the flapper  44 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of the remote controlled sample container along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention is shown. The container portion  42  is held to the elongated shaft  16  by retainer  48 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of the end cap of the present invention is shown. The typical end cap  50  is fastened to the elongated shaft  16  with fasteners  52  such as screws or rivets or fastened by any means known in the industry. Although not required in all embodiments, the end cap  50  holds the bottom of the container portion  42  so that the flapper  44  firmly closes against the lip of the container portion  42 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective detail view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention is shown. In this exemplary view of the remote controlled flapper  44 , the flapper  44  interfaces with the trigger  14  by a flexible shaft (or wire)  22  that connects to the flapper  44  by a pin  47  or other means as known in the industry. The flapper  44  rotatably interfaces with the elongated shaft  16  by a hinge pin  46  or any other known hinge device as known in the industry. In this embodiment, a torsion spring  49  pushes against the outer wall of the elongated shaft  16  and against the flapper  44 , thereby urging the flapper  44  towards the container portion  42  until the flapper  44  is pulled into an open position by the flexible shaft  22 . In some embodiments, ridges  45  are formed in the flapper  44  for holding the pin  47  and hinge pin  46 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a top view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention is shown. This view shows the flapper  44  and ridges  45  as discussed with  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a front view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention is shown. In this view, the flapper  44  is shown with ridges  45  and a cutout area which accommodates the elongated shaft  16   
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a side view of the remote container cover flap of the present invention is shown. The flapper  44  has holes in the ridges  45  for the hinge pin  46  and pin  47 . In some embodiments, part of the surface of the flapper  44  is coated with a resilient material  41  such as rubber to provide a better water seal against the container  42 . This coating of resilient material  41  covers an area at least in position where the opening of the container  42  interfaces with the flapper  44 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cutaway view of the apparatus of the present invention is shown. In this view, the trigger mechanism is visible. The trigger  14  is hingedly coupled to the handle  12  by a pivot  30  (e.g., a hinge pin). The trigger  14  is coupled to the flexible shaft  22  by a connection  32 , although in other embodiments, other types of connections are anticipated as known in the industry. To open the flapper  44 , the trigger  14  is pulled towards the handle  12 , thereby pulling on the flexible shaft  22  and pulling the flapper  44  open. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, an auxiliary lid  20  is held to the elongated shaft  16  by a spring clip  18 . The auxiliary lid  20  is used to seal the sample container  42  when the sample container  42  is removed from the retainer  48  and end cap  50 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a perspective view of the lid holding apparatus of the present invention is shown. In some embodiments, an auxiliary lid  20  (not shown in  FIG. 10 ) is held to the elongated shaft  16  by a spring clip  18 . A lid retainer  21  helps hold the auxiliary lid  20  in place under the spring clip  18 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a flow chart of the present invention is shown. The process starts with placing an empty sample container  42  into the holder  48 / 50  of the present invention  60  then holding the trigger end of the water sampling apparatus and inserting the sample container  42  into the liquid to a desired depth  62 . Once at the desired depth, the trigger  14  is squeezed allowing the liquid from the desired depth to enter  64  the sample container  42 . The trigger is then released, thereby sealing  66  the sample container  42  and the sample container  42  is removed from the sample liquid  68 , thereby allowing tests to be performed on the liquid. 
         [0036]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0037]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.