Abstract:
An apparatus and method is provided to obtain a sample of a liquid at a distance. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a telescoping support member, a retaining bracket, a syringe, and a control means that is used to obtain and release a sample of pool water. The sample contained within the syringe is emptied into any type of container to test for chemical parameters such as salinity, free available chlorine, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a hook on the end of the support shaft that can be used to pick up a variety of items.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The field of the invention is a device which allows sampling of fluids at a remote distance from the operator. The invention also relates to the collection of samples from swimming pools.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Swimming pool water needs to be checked on a regular basis to measure various chemical parameters such as salinity, free available chlorine, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. For an accurate and representative sample, the water should be taken between twelve and eighteen inches below the surface of the surface of the pool. Obtaining a sample at a predetermined depth from the water&#39;s surface can be a difficult. The invention provides a remedy for problems occurring in obtaining such a sample.  
         [0003]     Devices for sampling fluids are shown in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,490 to Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,253 to Nienow, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,775 to Ellis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,023 to Kershner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,494 to Seeney and U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,648 to Valbuena.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of the invention in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows apparatus  100 . Apparatus  100  includes support shaft  20 . In the preferred embodiment, support shaft  20  is a pole between about 10 inches and about 48 inches long composed of three separate pieces: outer tube  21 , offset cam  24 , and inner tube  22 . In the preferred embodiment, outer tube  21 , offset cam  24  and inner tube  22  are composed of anodized aluminum but can be composed of other metallic materials or other nonmetallic materials such as polyvinyl chloride. Also contained on support shaft  20  is measuring gauge  43 . Measuring gauge  43  allows the depth of apparatus  100  in the water to be determined. In the preferred embodiment, measuring gauge  43  is on inner tube  22 . It is approximately 20 inches long with increments of a half an inch. In other embodiments, the measuring gauge covers a predetermined distance on inner tube  21  and is any color different than the color of inner tube  21 . Of course other lengths and measuring units can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. In another embodiment, the support shaft is composed of a single piece whose cross section is tubular or rectangular. In yet another embodiment, other low cost materials such as wood can be used for the support shaft.  
         [0008]     Offset cam  24  is a circular disk pivotally set on pin  23  in order to induce, when inner tube  22  is rotated, a rising and falling motion of inner tube  22 . Offset cam  24  is connected to inner tube  22  by pin  23 . When inner tube  22  is rotated with respect to outer tube  21 , offset cam  24  is unbound from the inside of outer tube  21 . Once offset cam  24  is unbound, the length of support shaft  20  can be adjusted by moving inner tube  22  along its axis. To fix the length of support shaft  20 , inner tube  22  is rotated about its axis until offset cam  24  binds against the inside of outer tube  21 .  
         [0009]     Retaining bracket  45  attaches piston and chamber arrangement  30  to support shaft  20 . In the preferred embodiment, retaining bracket  45  is composed of two elongated stanchions  55  and  56  and base  57 . Retaining bracket  45  is connected to inner tube  22  by a screw and a nut fastened to base  57 . Each stanchion comprises a semicircular clamp which partly surrounds piston and chamber arrangement  30 . In the preferred embodiment, retaining bracket  45  is composed of anodized aluminum or steel but can also be other materials such as plastic. Of course other means of rigid connection with suffice. The inner portion of each stanchion is covered with rubber to increase the friction between each stanchion and piston and chamber arrangement  30 . In other embodiment retaining bracket  45  is Velcro with corresponding pieces connected to the chamber. Piston and chamber arrangement  30  may be removed from retaining bracket  45  by applying a force radially outward from inner tube  22 .  
         [0010]     Chamber and piston arrangement  30  obtains, contains and releases fluid samples. Chamber and piston arrangement  30  comprises chamber  36  and piston  32 . In the preferred embodiment chamber and piston arrangement  30  is composed of polypropylene but can also be composed of different materials. In the preferred embodiment, the material is translucent to allow the presence of a sample in the chamber to be seen. Of course chamber and piston arrangement  30  can be a variety of colors, opaque or can be decorative without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0011]     Chamber  36  includes piston stop ring  60 , chamber body  62  and nozzle  31 . Piston stop ring  60  forms an annular ring that engages stop  37  to limit the travel of piston  32  within chamber  36  and to ensure that a set volume of a sample is obtained inside piston and chamber arrangement  30 .  FIG. 2  illustrates piston stop ring  60  of chamber  36  engaging stop  37 .  
         [0012]     Chamber body  62  is a cylinder with a volume of 50 cc. In other embodiments, chamber body  62  can have volumes from about 25 cc to about 150 cc. Nozzle  31  is a cylinder that forms a passage between chamber body  62  and the outside world. The diameter of nozzle  31  can vary but must be small enough to allow the sample to easily enter into and remain in chamber  36  through surface tension of the fluid in the sample. In the preferred embodiment, nozzle  31  has a diameter of about 0.5 centimeters. In other embodiments, nozzle  31  is removable.  
         [0013]     Piston  32  comprises seal  35 , piston body  38 , stop  37  and connecting ring  33 . Piston  32  resides within chamber  36  and is sized to slide easily within the chamber. Seal  35  is located at the distal end of piston  32 . In the preferred embodiment, seal  35  is composed of neoprene. Seal  35  engages the interior surface of chamber  32 . The tolerance of seal  35  is low enough to prevent fluid from leaking out of chamber  32  but small enough to allow piston  32  to be moved in chamber  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of seal  35  is approximately 3.2 centimeters with a tolerance of about +/−0.2 mm.  
         [0014]     Stop  37  limits the movement of piston  32  inside chamber  36  by preventing piston  32  from separating from cylinder  36 . In the preferred embodiment, stop  37  is composed of the same material as piston  32 . In the preferred embodiment, stop  37  is approximately 2 centimeters in diameter. In other embodiments, the diameter of stop  37  can vary.  
         [0015]     Connecting ring  33  is a circular connector on the proximate end of piston  32 . Connecting ring  33  is composed on the same material as piston  32 . In the preferred embodiment, control means  40  is attached to connecting ring  33  by a knot. In another embodiment, control means  40  is permanently attached to connecting ring  33  by a suitable adhesive or heat welding. Connecting ring  33  can vary in size and shape.  
         [0016]     Control means  40  is a nylon cord, with a diameter of approximately one centimeter and a length approximately equal to support shaft  20 . In other embodiments, control means  40  can be composed of other materials such as rope or chain. Control means  40  can also be rigid, such as a shaft. Control means  40  comprises distal end  41 , body  46 , knot  47  and proximal end  42 . Proximal end  42  is threaded through holder  44 . Holder  44  is attached to support shaft  20  by a screw. In other embodiments, holder  44  is attached to support shaft  20  by a suitable adhesive or heat welding. In the preferred embodiment holder  44  is a metallic eyelet. Knot  47  is tied in control means  40  after the eyelet on the proximal end of control means  40 . Knot  47  prevents control means  40  from escaping holder  44  during use and further prevents loss of chamber and piston arrangement  30  during deployment of the sample. In an alternate embodiment, neither holder  44  or knot  47  is present.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows apparatus  100  is use. In operation, chamber and piston arrangement  30  is submerged in liquid  400  to a predetermined depth. Measuring gauge  43  allows apparatus  100  to be placed at the predetermined depth. In the preferred embodiment the liquid is pool water and the predetermined depth is about 18 inches below the surface of the water. Of course in other embodiments, the liquid and depth can be different.  
         [0018]     The length of apparatus  100  can be changed. To change the length of apparatus  100 , inner tube  22  is rotated with respect to outer tube  21  allowing cam  24  to be disengaged from the inside of outer tube  21 . Once cam  24  is disengaged, inner tube  22  can slide axially with respect to outer tube  21  resulting in the change in length of apparatus  100 . The length of apparatus  100  is fixed by rotating inner tube  22  with respect to outer tube  21  about its axis to bind cam  24  against the inside of outer tube  21 .  
         [0019]     Once piston and chamber arrangement  30  is placed immersed liquid  400 , a sample can be obtained inside the chamber. To obtain a sample, control means  40  is pulled away from piston  32  until piston stop ring  60  engages stop  37 . The movement of piston  32  causes a sample to be obtained in chamber  36 .  
         [0020]     Once a sample has been collected, piston and chamber arrangement  30  may be removed from retaining bracket  45 . The sample may then be exhausted through nozzle  31  by compressing the proximate end of piston  32  towards the distal end of chamber  36 , forcing the sample through nozzle  31 .  
         [0021]     In the preferred embodiment, the sample is exhausted into a container for testing. Once the sample is in the container, it can be tested for various chemical parameters such as salinity, free available chlorine, pH, total alkalinity or calcium hardness.  
         [0022]     This invention is susceptible to considerable variation in its practice. Accordingly, this invention is not limited to the specific exemplifications set forth herein above. Rather, this invention is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, including the equivalents thereof available as a matter of law.  
         [0023]     The patentees do not intend to dedicate any disclosed embodiments to the public, and to the extent any disclosed modifications or alterations may not literally fall within the scope of the claims, they are considered to be part of the invention under the doctrine of equivalents.