Liquid Sample Collection Method Using a Leak Proof, Air Tight Plastic Container Device

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of collecting a liquid sample using a leak proof, air tight plastic container device. The method comprises placing the sample in the container device, the device comprised of a container, a lid, a lid groove containing a gasket therein which covers and tightens over the rim of the container, a lid flange, and a thin hook in the container containing a second gasket compressed by the lid flange when the lid is closed over the container; and sealing the sample in the container device by engaging the internal screw threads of the lid with the external screw threads of the container and rotating the lid until resistance to rotation is encountered. The method further comprises transporting the sample to a site for analysis, whereby no leakage of the liquid sample and no air seepage into or out of the container occur during transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of collecting a liquid sample using a leak proof, air tight plastic container device, said method comprising:
 (a) placing a liquid sample in a leak proof, air tight plastic container device, said device comprising:
 a container comprised of a circumferential side wall, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface and an upper rim, said inner surface defining an interior opening therein for holding a liquid sample, said side wall projecting downwardly from said upper rim, an L-shaped hook continuous with and protruding from the inner surface of the circumferential side wall and located downwardly from said upper rim, said hook having an upper surface containing a container gasket which fits atop the entire upper surface of the hook; a plurality of external screw threads projecting downwardly from the upper rim on the outer surface of the circumferential side wall, and a bottom; a lid comprised of an outer side and an inner side and a peripheral edge, a plurality of indentations projecting downwardly from the outer side of the peripheral edge, a plurality of internal screw threads on the peripheral edge of the inner side, an annular groove on the inner side of the lid adjacent to the peripheral edge having a lid gasket therein, and an annular, straight lid flange on the inner side adjacent to the annular groove, said lid configured to rotatably screw on to the outside of the container by engagement of the internal screw threads of the lid with the external screw threads of the container and to close the opening of the container by rotation of the lid in a screw-type fashion until resistance to the rotation is encountered, wherein the lid gasket in the annular groove is configured to mate with and be compressed atop the upper rim of the container to form a tight seal, wherein the annular straight lid flange is configured to insert into and atop the entire upper surface of the hook so that the container gasket therein is compressed under the annular straight lid flange to form a second, separate tight seal, wherein when the container gasket is compressed, the straight lid flange, the upper surface of the container hook and the container gasket all have substantially the same width; and 
   (b) sealing the liquid sample in the container device by engaging the internal screw threads of the lid with the external screw threads of the container and rotating the lid in a screw-type fashion until resistance to the rotation is encountered.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the lid is rotatably screwed on to the outside of the container, the two separate seals prevent any leakage of the liquid sample from the interior of the container and any air seepage into or out of the interior of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the volume capacity of the contents of the container ranges from 500 ml down to 40 ml. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lid gasket and the container gasket have the same diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container gasket has a smaller diameter than the lid gasket. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transporting the liquid sample to a site for analysis, wherein no leakage of the liquid sample and no air seepage into or out of the container device occur during the transport.