Soil sampling tool with volume-indicating feature

In a sampling tool for hand insertion into soil and including a barrel having (a) a proximal end with a hand-grip handle coupled thereto, (b) a barrel wall around a sampling cavity, and (c) a plunger mounted for movement in the cavity, such plunger including a head and a stem extending from the head into the proximal end, the improvement wherein:

• the head and the wall define a space therebetween;
• the head includes a resilient sealing ring thereon for sealing against the wall and closing the space;
• the barrel includes a distal cutting end having a first diameter;
• the barrel includes a cavity terminus spaced from the distal end and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, thereby providing a cavity which is slightly tapered.

In a soil-sampling tool including a barrel having (a) a distal end for insertion into soil, and (b) a plunger mounted for movement in the barrel, such plunger including a soil-contact surface spaced from the distal end by a dimension when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume, the improvement wherein:

• the tool includes a locking mechanism setting the dimension equal to a reference dimension, thereby establishing the volume of the soil sample;
• the barrel has a handle attached thereto and the handle has a sighting aperture;
• the plunger has a stem extending therefrom and the stem has a volume marker thereon;
• and
• the aperture and the marker are aligned with one another when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume substantially equal to a reference volume.

In a soil-sampling tool including a barrel having (a) a distal end for insertion into soil, and (b) a plunger mounted for movement in the barrel and including a soil-contact surface spaced from the distal end by a dimension when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume, the improvement wherein:

• the tool includes a locking mechanism setting the dimension equal to a reference dimension, thereby establishing the volume of the soil sample;
• the tool includes a cap for mounting on the barrel distal end, such cap having a sealing ring,
• and wherein:
• the barrel has an outer surface with at least one rib thereon;
• and
• the rib compresses the sealing ring as the cap is mounted on the barrel distal end, thereby venting air between the cap and the soil sample.

In a soil-sampling tool including a barrel having (a) a distal end for insertion into soil, and (b) a plunger mounted for movement in the barrel, such plunger including a soil-contact surface spaced from the distal end by a dimension when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume, the improvement wherein:

• the barrel includes a proximal end spaced from the distal end;
• the plunger includes a stem extending through the proximal end;
• the tool includes a locking mechanism setting the dimension equal to a reference dimension for establishing the volume of the soil sample, such locking mechanism including a first locking member at the proximal end and a second locking member fixed with respect to the stem and engaging the first locking member when the dimension is equal to the reference dimension;
• the engaged locking members prevent movement of the stem toward the distal end;
• the barrel includes a sampling cavity defined by the barrel distal end for receiving the soil sample therethrough, a cavity terminus and a barrel wall extending between the distal end and the terminus;
• the plunger is mounted for movement in the cavity and includes a head:
• the head and the wall define a space therebetween;
• the head includes plural resilient sealing rings thereon for sealing against the wall adjacent to the terminus and closing the space;
• the head is free of any mechanism for adjusting the compression of the sealing rings.

In a sampling tool for hand insertion into soil and including a barrel having (a) a proximal end with a hand-grip handle coupled thereto, (b) a barrel wall around a sampling cavity, and (c) a plunger mounted for movement in the cavity, such plunger including a head and a stem extending from the head into the proximal end, the improvement wherein:

• the head and the wall define a space therebetween;
• the head includes a resilient sealing ring thereon for sealing against the wall and closing the space;
• the barrel includes a distal end having a first diameter;
• the barrel includes a cavity terminus spaced from the distal end and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, thereby providing a cavity which is slightly tapered;
• the handle has a sighting aperture;
• the stem has a volume marker thereon;
• and
• the aperture and the marker are aligned with one another when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume substantially equal to a reference volume.

In a sampling tool for hand insertion into soil and including a barrel having (a) a proximal end with a hand-grip handle coupled thereto, (b) a barrel wall around a sampling cavity, and (c) a plunger mounted for movement in the cavity, such plunger including a head and a stem extending from the head into the proximal end, the improvement wherein:

• the head and the wall define a space therebetween;
• the head includes a resilient sealing ring thereon for sealing against the wall and closing the space;
• the barrel includes a distal end having a first diameter;
• the barrel includes a cavity terminus spaced from the distal end and having a second diameter less than the first diameter, thereby providing a cavity which is slightly tapered;
• and wherein:
• tool includes a cap for mounting on the barrel distal end, such cap having a sealing ring:
• the barrel has an outer surface with at least one rib thereon;
• and
• the rib compresses the sealing ring as the cap is mounted on the barrel distal end, thereby venting air between the cap and a soil sample.