Mobile scent tester

• US 20120247182A1
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curion LLC
• Original Assignee: Q Research Solutions, Inc. (Curion Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Nelson, Patti Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/23.34
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0001 by organoleptic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0021 involving the use of a carrier gas for transport to the sensor

Abstract

A self-contained mobile apparatus which replicates the evaluation of scents, fragrances, aromas and odors in controlled and home environments. The apparatus simulates various stages of the consumer experience and has adjustable settings for dosing, air flow, and room size. The scented compound sample is placed within a cabinet having an enclosed sample chamber which is connected to an upward facing sample tube. An air fan is mounted within the sample chamber which circulates and controls sample air flow upward to a testing station wherein the sample air flow is tested for the identification and the concentration of the scent contained therein. A return air chamber and filter are mounted below the testing station. The filtered return air is controlled downward by a return air blower to provide an exhaust out through the bottom of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A self-contained mobile apparatus which replicates the evaluation and testing of scents, fragrances, aromas and odors in controlled and home environments for objectively and scientifically analyzing the identity, composition, profiling and preferences of consumers for scents contained within a standardized test sample, which comprises:

a cabinet having a security shield within its front to enclose and protect the operating mechanisms therein;

a sample test chamber to receive the test sample is enclosed within the cabinet and is extended upward through a sample air tube mounted through the top of the sample test chamber so that sample air flow from within the test chamber is circulated upward by a sample air fan mounted within the sample test chamber, which sample air flow moves through the sample air tube and out a sample air exit mounted through the top of the cabinet;

a testing station forming part of the top of the cabinet and encircling the sample air exit to receive positive sample air flow from the top of the sample air exit, and with a bloom guard partially encircling the front of the sample air exit to enclose and direct the sample air flow towards the operator at the rear of the cabinet, who performs tests thereon for identity, concentration and acceptance of the scent within the sample air flow;

a return air chamber connected below the testing station which receives return air flow through perforations within the testing station;

a filter cartridge enclosed within the return air chamber for scrubbing and filtering the return air flow and directing it downward; and

a return air blower mounted within the return air tube which suctions the return air flow down from the testing station, through the return air chamber and filter cartridge, thence out through a return air exhaust mounted at the bottom of the return air tube and extending out through the bottom of the cabinet, so that the operation of the scent tester is not adversely influenced by filtered return air flow.

2. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the cabinet has lockable casters mounted on the bottom of the cabinet so as to ease transport of the scent tester within a test room and to different inside or outside locations.

3. The scent tester of claim 1, which is fabricated of stainless steel or other material inert to scent so as to prevent contamination of the test sample and distortion of the testing of the test sample.

4. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the uniform air flow at the testing station is closely controlled by the tester monitoring the sample air flow fan and the return air flow blower speed indicators and speed adjustment knobs to enable the tester to adjust and control the speed of the sample air fan and the speed of the return air blower

5. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the sample air flow is closely controlled in the range of 0-3, cfm, preferably 2.0 cfm.

6. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the return air flow is closely controlled in the range of 0-70 cfm, preferably 40 cfm.

7. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein electrical power receptacles are mounted on the cabinet so that the tester can connect and energize test equipment for scientific testing of the test sample.

8. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the sample air exit is connected to scientific test equipment such as a spectrophotometer, a pH meter and electronic sensors in order to scientifically test the sample air flow.

9. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein a small test chamber in the form of a tubular elbow is removeably connected to the bottom of the sample air tube and within the sample test chamber so as to receive smaller and non-standard test samples within the small test chamber.

10. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the operating systems are connected to function indicator lights to enable the tester to monitor the operation of the scent tester.

11. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the return air flows of multiple scent testers in a single test room are effectively filtered and scrubbed by their return air filter cartridges so that multiple scent testers can be simultaneously operated within the single test room without cross contamination of the sample air flows of each scent tester or adversely affecting the test results from each scent tester.

12. The scent tester of claim 1, wherein the return air filter cartridge contains activated carbon pellets of about 4 mm.