US4080170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alcohol retainer cartridge and method for using same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-09-20
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Granted: 1978-03-21
•
Expires: 1996-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An alcohol retainer cartridge and method for using same are disclosed herein comprising calcium sulfate as an adsorbent for alcohol. The cartridge includes calcium sulfate contained within a tube between pieces of filter paper. At one end of the tube is a disc having a central aperture smaller than the interior of the tube, the disc resting against an inwardly extending lip of the tube. A spring clip bearing against the interior wall of the tube retains the filter paper at the other end. A sample of the alcohol in a person's breath is obtained by passing an amount of the person's breath, preferably about 52 milliliters, through the calcium sulfate, preferably in the amount of about 0.5 grams. The alcohol is adsorbed by the calcium sulfate and may be subsequently assayed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Borkenstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; G01N31/22; G01N31/223; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/90; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/20; Y10T436/203332; Y10T436/204165; Y10T436/25; Y10T436/25375; Y10T436/255; Y10T436/25875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
The combination which comprises: a device for the analysis of the alcohol content of breath, said device including means for obtaining a sample of a person's breath; and means for collecting the alcohol present in the breath sample, said collecting means including an elongated tube connected to said breath analysis device and having a first end and a second end, calcium sulfate contained within said tube between the first and second ends and means for retaining said calcium sulfate within said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination which comprises: a device for the analysis of the alcohol content of breath, said device including means for obtaining a sample of a person's breath; and means for collecting the alcohol present in the breath sample, said collecting means including an elongated tube connected to said breath analysis device and having a first end and a second end, calcium sulfate contained within said tube between the first and second ends and means for retaining said calcium sulfate within said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said retaining means includes a first portion of finely-porous material located adjacent the first end of said tube, a second portion of finely-porous material located adjacent the second end of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1 which further includes means for limiting the flow of a gas through said calcium sulfate, said flow limiting means being positioned at one end of said calcium sulfate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said retaining means includes a spring clip bearing against opposite portions of the interior of said tube and located adjacent the first end of said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the amount of calcium sulfate is from about 0.25 grams to about 1 gram.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the amount of calcium sulfate is about 0.5 grams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said retaining means includes a disc located within said tube adjacent the second end, said disc including a passageway substantially smaller in area than the interior of said tube, said tube including an inwardly-extending projection against which said disc rests.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 7 which further includes means for limiting the flow of a gas through said calcium sulfate, said flow limiting means being positioned at one end of said calcium sulfate, said flow limiting means including said disc and the passageway therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 8 in which said flow limiting means and said retaining means include a first portion of finely-porous material located adjacent the first end of said tube, said flow limiting means and said retaining means further comprising a second portion of finely-porous material located adjacent the second end of said tube between said calcium sulfate and said disc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 9 in which said retaining means includes a spring clip bearing against opposite portions of the interior of said tube and located adjacent the first end of said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a breath analysis device for determining the amount of alcohol in a person's breath, the improvement comprising the use of calcium sulfate to adsorb the alcohol in the breath sample for later evaluation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a breath analysis device for determining the amount of alcohol in a person's breath, the improvement comprising the use of calcium sulfate to adsorb the alcohol in the breath sample for later evaluation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The improvement of claim 11 in which the breath analysis device includes a chamber in which the sample of a person's breath is collected, and which further comprises: an alcohol retainer cartridge connected to said chamber, said cartridge including an elongated tube having a first end and a second end, calcium sulfate contained within said tube between the first and second ends, and means for retaining said calcium sulfate within said tube, said breath analysis device further including means for flowing the breath sample from said chamber through said cartridge.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
28 words
A method for obtaining a sample of the amount of alcohol in a person's breath which comprises flowing a known amount of the person's breath through calcium sulfate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
28 words
A method for obtaining a sample of the amount of alcohol in a person's breath which comprises flowing a known amount of the person's breath through calcium sulfate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 13 and also comprising the step of providing an elongated tube in which calcium sulfate is contained, said flowing comprising flowing the person's breath through the elongated tube in which said calcium sulfate is contained.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 in which the known amount of the person's breath expressed in milliliters is about one hundred times the amount of calcium sulfate expressed in grams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 in which the known amount of the person's breath is about 50 milliliters and the amount of calcium sulfate is from about 0.1 grams to about 5 grams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 in which the amount of calcium sulfate is from about 0.25 grams to about 1 gram.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 in which the amount of calcium sulfate is about 0.5 grams.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-20 | 1981-09-19 | 1982-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-20 | 1985-09-19 | 1986-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-20 | 1989-09-19 | 1990-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |