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US3955423A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid sampling method

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-27
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Granted: 1976-05-11
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Expires: 1994-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract An improved method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container employing an elongated cylindrical tube, sized for insertion into the specimen container, and having a hollow neck formed at one end of the tube. A thin, flexible circular disc projects from the neck for slidable sealing engagement with the internal cylindrical wall of the specimen container. A shoulder is formed on the neck adjacent to the circular disc for engaging and supporting at least a portion of the disc to maintain the seal during insertion and release it during withdrawal of the tube. A removable sample measuring cup on the other end of the tube provides control of an air vent in the tube and instantaneous and easy transfer of the collected sample. The container also desirably includes a filter disposed in said neck aperture to limit the fluid flow from the tube.

Inventors

  • 👤 Philip Ohringer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 16:20
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5021; B01D; B01D33/00; B01D33/01; B01D33/015; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/49; G01N33/491; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/2575

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; inverting the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of said tube opposite to the collected sample to deposit the measured sample in said cup; installing said sample measuring cup on said tube prior to the inverting step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 136 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; inverting the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of said tube opposite to the collected sample to deposit the measured sample in said cup; installing said sample measuring cup on said tube prior to the inverting step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said sample measuring cup with the measured sample therein is subsequently detached from said collection tube.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 174 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; inverting the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of said tube opposite to the collected sample to deposit the measured sample in said cup; said sample measuring cup is installed prior to the insertion step on said opposite end of said collection tube in a position wherein the wall of the cup does not seal an air vent provided in said collection tube in the vicinity and spaced from the end opposite the aperture end.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 174 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; inverting the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of said tube opposite to the collected sample to deposit the measured sample in said cup; said sample measuring cup is installed prior to the insertion step on said opposite end of said collection tube in a position wherein the wall of the cup does not seal an air vent provided in said collection tube in the vicinity and spaced from the end opposite the aperture end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said collection tube is withdrawn from said specimen container after the collection of said liquid sample, and a sealing cap is installed on said apertured end of said collection tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the collection tube is inverted after the sealing cap is installed to deposit the collected sample in said sample measuring cup detachably secured to the end opposite the aperture end of the tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said collection tube includes a filter inserted in the aperture formed in one end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said collection tube includes a shoulder formed adjacent to the flexible circular disc so that the shoulder supports the disc when the collection tube in inserted into the specimen container.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of; inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container, said tube including a sample measuring cup disposed on the end opposite to the collected sample; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; installing a sealing cap on the apertured end of the tube; and pushing the sample measuring cup further onto said collection tube to seal an air vent in the tube.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 141 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end of the collection tube, and a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture comprising the steps of; inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container, said tube including a sample measuring cup disposed on the end opposite to the collected sample; collecting a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; withdrawing the tube from the container with the collected specimen; installing a sealing cap on the apertured end of the tube; and pushing the sample measuring cup further onto said collection tube to seal an air vent in the tube.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 137 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end, a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture and a shoulder formed adjacent to the disc comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; measuring the collection of a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; inverting the container and the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of the tube opposite the aperture end so that the collected sample will be deposited in said cup; installing said sample measuring cup on said tube prior to the inverting step.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 137 words
A method for isolating a liquid sample from a specimen container using a collection tube having a diameter smaller than the container and including an aperture formed at one end, a flexible circular disc formed adjacent to the aperture and a shoulder formed adjacent to the disc comprising the steps of: inserting the collection tube into the specimen container so that the flexible disc forms a seal against the walls of the container; measuring the collection of a predetermined amount of liquid sample flowing through the aperture into the collection tube; inverting the container and the tube with a sample measuring cup installed on the end of the tube opposite the aperture end so that the collected sample will be deposited in said cup; installing said sample measuring cup on said tube prior to the inverting step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said collection tube includes a filter inserted in the aperture formed in one end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said collection tube includes a shoulder formed adjacent to the flexible circular disc so that the shoulder supports the disc when the collection tube is inserted into the specimen container.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3481477A Cited
US3512940A Cited
US3586064A Cited
US3693804A Cited
US3661265A Cited
US3799342A Cited
US3837376A Cited
US3832141A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-05-11 1979-11-10 1980-05-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-05-11 1983-11-10 1984-05-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-05-11 1987-11-10 1988-05-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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