Dynamically engineered sampling kits for liquid samples

Abstract

A fluid sampling kit includes a sampling container with a hollow interior, an inlet valve on the sampling container responsive to being depressed to establish a fluid flow path through the inlet valve and into the interior of the sampling container and a handle assembly coupled to the sampling container. The handle assembly includes an elongated tubular support defining a functional end and an operator end. A rod member extends within the tubular member and translates longitudinally in a first direction to thereby engage and depress the button on the inlet valve and translates longitudinally in a second direction to thereby release the button. An actuator is supported at the operator end of the tubular support. The actuator is operably coupled to the rod member to selectively translate the rod member in the first and second directions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid sampling kit, comprising:
 a sampling container defining a hollow interior therein;   an inlet valve supported on the sampling container, the inlet valve including a button thereon responsive to being depressed to establish a fluid flow path through the inlet valve and into the interior of the sampling container, the button further being responsive to being released to seal the fluid flow path; and   a handle assembly coupled to the sampling container, the handle assembly comprising:
 an elongated tubular support defining a functional end extending from the sampling container and an operator end opposite the functional end; 
 a rod member extending within the tubular member, the rod member longitudinally translatable in a first direction to thereby engage and depress the button on the inlet valve and longitudinally translatable in a second direction to thereby release the button; and 
 an actuator supported at the operator end of the tubular support, the actuator operably coupled to the rod member to selectively translate the rod member in the first and second directions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling container includes a hollow body and a removable lid selectively sealed with the hollow body. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 2 , wherein the lid defines an aperture therein and wherein the inlet valve is sealingly received within the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet valve includes a first plate and a second plate spaced from the first plate, the first plate being disposed within the aperture and the second plate supporting the button thereon, and wherein the fluid flow path through the inlet valve is defined between the first and second plates. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet valve includes a filter media disposed within the fluid flow path defined between the first and second plates. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective cage supported around at least a portion of the sampling container. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more hand grips coupled to the elongated tubular support adjacent the at the operator end of the elongated tubular support. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling container includes a window formed of a transparent or translucent material through which a volume of a liquid sample may be observed by an operator. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 1 , wherein the sampling container includes at least one sealed port fluidly coupled to the interior, the at least one sealed port operable to receive a gas gage or a gas valve therein. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sealed port includes at least one sealed port on a hollow body of the sampling container and at least one sealed port on a removable lid coupled to the hollow body. 
     
     
         11 . A method for collecting a fluid sample, the method comprising:
 coupling a handle assembly to a sampling container such that an elongated tubular support of the handle assembly extends from the sampling container and an operator end of the tubular support is remote from the sampling container;   inserting the sampling container into a confined space while grasping the operator end of the tubular support remotely from the sampling container;   manipulating an actuator supported at the operator end of the tubular support to translate a rod member within the tubular support in a first direction toward an inlet vale on the sampling container;   engaging and depressing a button on the inlet valve with the rod member to thereby establish a fluid flow path into an interior of the sampling container through the inlet valve; and   flowing the fluid sample through the fluid flow path into the interior of the sampling container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein flowing the fluid sample through the fluid flow path includes flowing the fluid sample between first and second spaced plates of the inlet valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising flowing the fluid sample through a filter media disposed between the first and second plates. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising releasing the actuator to thereby translate the rod member in a second direction away from the inlet valve such that the rod member disengages the button and the inlet valve closes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising withdrawing the sampling container from the confined space and thereafter removing the handle assembly from the sampling container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising installing a gas valve on the sampling container to monitor a gas pressure within the interior with the fluid sample therein. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising installing a protective cage around the sampling container prior to inserting the sampling container into the confined space. 
     
     
         18 . A fluid sampling kit, comprising:
 a sampling container defining a hollow interior therein;   an inlet valve supported on the sampling container, the inlet valve including a button thereon responsive to being depressed to establish a fluid flow path through the inlet valve and into the interior of the sampling container;   a protective cage supported around the sampling container; and   a handle assembly coupled to the protective cage, the handle assembly comprising:
 an elongated tubular support defining a functional end adjacent the sampling container and an operator end opposite the functional end; 
 a rod member extending within the tubular member, the rod member longitudinally translatable within the tubular support to thereby engage and depress the button on the inlet valve; and 
 an actuator supported at the operator end of the tubular support, the actuator operably coupled to the rod member to selectively translate the rod member in the first and second directions. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a hand grip adjacent the actuator on the operator end of the tubular support. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid sampling kit of  claim 18 , wherein the inlet valve includes first and second plates spaced from one another and wherein a filter media is disposed between the first and second plates.