Sensory Evaluation Device

• US 20070248495A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Fritter, Charles, Gupta, Rajesh, Day, Heather, Patel, Naymesh
• Application Number:
  US11/379,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20070248495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/88
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0152 Litter

Abstract

A sensory evaluation device, and methods of using the same, for the evaluation of the efficacy of odor-absorbing compositions, particularly animal litters. The sensory evaluation device includes a first chamber containing one odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter coupled to a second chamber containing a second odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter. Each odor-absorbing composition is dosed with an odor-emitting substance, preferably colored such that the dosing is visible. Each chamber contains a vapor-permeable barrier, which is capable of communication with the ambient environment. The vapor-permeable barriers are protected from the ambient environment by vapor-permeable barrier protectors, which are removably coupled to the vapor-permeable barriers. More than one sensory evaluation device may be comparatively used by a single user at one time.

Claims

1. A sensory evaluation device for the evaluation of animal litter comprising:

at least one chamber closed off from the ambient environment and containing at least one odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter;

at least one odor-emitting substance in direct communication with the at least one odor-absorbing composition;

at least one vapor-permeable barrier separating the at least one chamber and the ambient environment; and

at least one vapor-permeable barrier protector removably coupled to the at least one vapor-permeable barrier protecting the at least one vapor-permeable barrier and the at least one chamber from the ambient environment until removed.

2. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 further comprising:

at least a second chamber closed off from the ambient environment and containing at least one additional odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter, wherein the at least a second chamber is connected to the at least one chamber, but not in communication with the at least one chamber;

at least a second odor-emitting substance placed in direct communication with the at least one additional odor-absorbing composition;

at least a second vapor-permeable barrier in communication with the at least one additional chamber and the ambient environment; and

at least a second protector removably coupled to the at least a second vapor-permeable barrier protecting the at least a second vapor-permeable barrier and the at least one additional chamber from the ambient environment until removed.

3. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one odor-absorbing composition is a cat litter.

4. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the animal litter is a clay-based, a silica gel-based, an organic material-based animal litter or mixtures thereof.

5. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one odor-emitting substance is selected from the group consisting of garlic oil, ammonia, onion powder, coffee, fish oil, sesame oil, vinegar, cat excrement and combinations thereof.

6. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one odor-emitting substance is dyed a color that allows visual confirmation that the at least one odor-emitting substance is in communication with the at least one odor-absorbing composition.

7. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one vapor-permeable barrier is selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal foil, paper, nonwoven material, glass and combinations thereof.

8. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one vapor-permeable barrier is perforated to the extent that it is permeable to vapors, but not solids greater than 500 μ

m.

9. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one protector is removably coupled to the at least one vapor-permeable barrier by means selected from the group consisting of adhesive, static cling, crimping, screwing, snapping and combinations thereof.

10. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one chamber and the at least one removable vapor-permeable barrier protector are configured as a jar and a lid.

11. The sensory evaluation device recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one vapor-permeable membrane and the at least one removable protector are configured as sheet-like layers.

12. A method of using a sensory evaluation device to evaluate the effectiveness of animal litter comprising:

storing a sensory evaluation device having at least one chamber closed off from the ambient environment and containing at least one odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter;

at least one odor-emitting substance in direct communication with the at least one odor-absorbing composition; and

at least one chamber protector removably coupled to the at least one chamber protecting the at least one chamber from the ambient environment until removed;

removing the at least one chamber protector from the at least one chamber to bring the contents of the at least one chamber in communication with the ambient environment; and

allowing a person to sniff the contents of the at least one chamber.

13. The method recited in claim 12 further comprising the steps:

storing at least a second sensory evaluation device having at least a second chamber closed off from the ambient environment and containing at least one odor-absorbing composition suitable for use as an animal litter;

at least one odor-emitting substance in direct communication with the at least one odor-absorbing composition; and

at least a second chamber protector removably coupled to the at least a second chamber protecting the at least a second chamber from the ambient environment until removed;

removing the at least a second chamber protector to bring the contents of the at least a second chamber in communication with the ambient environment; and

allowing a user to sniff the contents of the at least a second chamber.

14. The method recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of:

comparing the odor emitted from the at least one sensory evaluation device to the odor emitted from the at least a second sensory evaluation device.

15. The method of using the sensory device recited in claim 12 wherein the device is presented to a consumer in a retail store.

16. The method of using the sensory evaluation device recited in claim 12 wherein the device is presented to a consumer via the mail.

17. The method of using the sensory evaluation device recited in claim 12 wherein the animal litter is a clay-based, a silica gel-based, an organic material-based cat litter and combinations thereof.

18. The method of using the sensory evaluation device recited in claim 12 wherein the at least one odor-emitting substance is selected from the group consisting of garlic oil, ammonia, onion powder, coffee, fish oil, sesame oil, vinegar, cat excrement and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of using the sensory evaluation device recited in claim 12 wherein the at least one odor-emitting substance is dyed a color that allows visual confirmation that the at least one odor-emitting substance is in communication with the at least one odor-absorbing composition.