Interface between a collector and a package

• US 20040035186A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Preventure Security Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Preventure Security Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, William C., Ige, Leighton
• Application Number:
  US10/406,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/31.03
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2214 by sorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/024 passengers or luggage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2285 Details of probe structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0057 for warfare agents or explosives properties of explosives G01N33/227

Abstract

The present invention is a novel collection device that allows constituents of air to collect on a test strip included within the collection device. Specifically, the collector allows a removable test strip to be inserted in the collector while an air sample passes therethrough. Thereafter, the test strip is removed from the collector and analyzed to determine the constituents of air that passed through the test strip and collector. When using the collector to inspect for trace amounts of explosives within a package, the collector is connected to a package-collector interface because the shape of the package-collector interface corresponds to that of the collector. An air sample is extracted from the interior of the package and through both the interface and the collector, including the test strip. As the air is extracted, the constituents of air collect on the test strip. After collecting the constituents, the test strip is removed from the collector and inserted into a testing unit capable of detecting trace amounts of explosives. The testing unit subsequently analyzes the constituents and determines whether any of them are explosive.

Claims

1. A system for collecting constituents of air from within the interior of a package, said system comprising:

(a) a collection device comprising

(i) a slotted plate comprising a first side, a second side, a slot between said first and second sides, and a passageway through said slotted plate, wherein said passageway is perpendicular to said slot;

(ii) a test strip located within said slot, said test strip comprising an aperture and a porous layer overlapping at least a portion of said aperture, wherein at least a portion of said porous layer is aligned with said passageway; and

(iii) a collection-device tube extending from said second side of said slotted plate and aligned with at least a portion of said passageway; and

(b) an interface between said collection device and a package, said interface comprising

(i) an interface tube having a top end and a bottom end, said interface tube matingly engaging said collection-device tube;

(ii) a brim extending from said top end of said interface tube; and

(iii) a plurality of securing members extending from said bottom end of said interface tube.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of securing members comprises two securing members diametrically opposed from to another.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of securing members comprises four securing members, thereby creating two pairs of securing members, wherein said securing members within each of said pairs are diametrically opposed from to another.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface further comprises an abutment extending inwardly from the interior of said interface tube at said bottom end of said interface tube, said abutment including an opening thereby allowing air to pass therethrough.

5. An interface between a collection device and a package, said interface comprising

(a) a tube having a top end, a bottom end and an interior shape, wherein said interior shape of said interface tube corresponds to an exterior shape of a portion of a collection device;

(b) a brim extending from said top end of said interface tube; and

(c) a plurality of securing members extending from said bottom end of said interface tube.

6. The interface of claim 5 wherein said plurality of securing members comprises two securing members diametrically opposed from to another.

7. The interface of claim 5 wherein said plurality of securing members comprises four securing members, thereby creating two pairs of securing members, wherein said securing members within each of said pairs are diametrically opposed from to another.

8. The interface of claim 5 wherein said interface further comprises an abutment extending inwardly from the interior of said interface tube at said bottom end of said interface tube, said abutment including an opening thereby allowing air to pass therethrough.

9. A method of collecting constituents of air from within the interior of a package, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a collection device into an interface within a package, wherein said interface comprises an interface tube having an inside end and an outside end, wherein said inside end is within said package and said outside end is outside said package, said collection device comprising;

(i) a slotted plate comprising a first side, a second side, a slot between said first and second sides, and a passageway through said slotted plate, wherein said passageway is perpendicular to said slot;

(ii) a test strip located within said slot, said test strip comprising an aperture and a porous layer overlapping at least a portion of said aperture;

(iii) a collection-device tube extending from said second side of said slotted plate and aligned with at least a portion of said passageway, said collection-device tube matingly engaging said interface tube when said collection-device tube is inserted into said interface; and

(b) extracting air from the interior of the piece of baggage through said interface tube and through at least a portion of said porous layer of said test strip, thereby allowing said porous layer to collect constituents of air as the air passes therethrough.

10. A method of testing the air within the interior of a piece of a package, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a collection device into an interface within a package, wherein said interface comprises an interface tube having an inside end and an outside end, wherein said inside end is within said package and said outside end is outside said package, said collection device comprising;

(i) a slotted plate comprising a first side, a second side, a slot between said first and second sides, and a passageway through said slotted plate, wherein said passageway is perpendicular to said slot;

(ii) a test strip located within said slot, said test strip comprising an aperture and a porous layer overlapping at least a portion of said aperture;

(iii) a collection-device tube extending from said second side of said slotted plate and aligned with at least a portion of said passageway, said collection-device tube matingly engaging said interface tube when said collection-device tube is inserted into said interface; and

(b) extracting air from the interior of the piece of baggage through said interface tube and through at least a portion of said porous layer of the test strip, thereby allowing said porous layer to collect constituents of air as the air passes therethrough;

(c) removing said test strip from said slot within said collection device; and

(d) analyzing the constituents by placing the test strip into a testing unit and operating said testing unit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said testing unit is capable of detecting a trace amount of an explosive and said step of analyzing the constituents comprises analyzing the constituents to determine whether the constituents include a trace amount of an explosive.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said testing unit is capable of detecting a trace amount of a narcotic and said step of analyzing the constituents comprises analyzing the constituents to determine whether the constituents include a trace amount of a narcotic.