Patents by Inventor Bradley P. Varhol

Bradley P. Varhol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6276220
    Abstract: Embodiments of a multipurpose groundwater sampler device are shown and described, each having a sample tube part of which forms a sample chamber, a top portion having a handle, a novel inlet portion, a sediment trap, novel valve means and a means to join the assembly together. The novel inlet portion is of a size and shape that facilitates rapid filling of the sample chamber and facilitates the collection of layers of fluid which can be measured in the sample chamber to directly represent the in situ thickness of a stratified layer. The novel valve means also facilitates fast filling and incorporates a sediment trap, which keeps sediments from interfering with the valve workings. The multipurpose groundwater sampler device of the present invention is adapted to be provided with an extension tube of the same inside opening as the sample chamber to extend the wide inlet a greater distance from the valve means for collecting thick layers of stratified liquids at their in situ thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Bradley P Varhol
  • Patent number: 6196074
    Abstract: Embodiments of a diffusion sampler device and method of use are shown and described, each having a semi-permeable membrane, a top portion having a handle, a nozzle portion, a plug portion, and means to join the assembly together. The diffusion sampler of the present invention is adapted to be provided with a mesh to protect the membrane against abrasion and, further, to accommodate and principally carry the weight of the diffusion sampler and its contents. A novel valve means is also disclosed for use with the diffusion sampler of the present invention. The valve means will carry the specimen from the membrane into a sampling vial or container with a smooth, nearly laminar flow. The diffusion sampler may be provided with attachment means to accommodate such weights and tethers as may be required during use of the device. A separate fill kit is optionally provided for convenience and accuracy in the sampling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Bradley P. Varhol