Patent US4411156A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4411156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Odor testing apparatus
Assignee: GOLDEN CAT Corp A DE CORP
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Filing: 1981-02-05
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Granted: 1983-10-25
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Expires: 2001-02-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for testing small animal litter in which a plurality of compartments are employed for living quarters for the small animals, such as cats, and for a container with litter to be tested, and these animal compartments are connected by conduits to a compartment for a tester to use to sniff the odor from any one of the animal compartments. Valves are preferably provided in the conduits, and controls for the valves extend externally of the apparatus so the valves can be operated separately by an operator without interfering with individual tests. Fans in or near the top of the compartments are used to circulate air through the animal compartments while the animals are living normally therein, and a fan is provided in the tester's compartment for drawing the air from any selected one of the animal compartments into and through the tester's compartment. Drains are preferably provided in the bottom of the compartments to permit water and other liquids to drain therefrom and to facilitate cleaning of the compartments. The compartments have doors and are preferably sufficiently large that a normal adult can stand erect therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry E. Lowe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/26; A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/02; A01K1/035; G01N33/00; G01N33/0001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A structure for testing small animal litter, comprising a plurality of animal confinement compartments in which the animals live and consummate their daily functions and in which litter for animal waste is placed for use by the animals, a compartment for enclosing a person testing the odors of the litter in particular animal compartments, port means near the bottom of each animal compartment, separate air flow conduits connecting said port means with the odor tester compartment for drawing air from the lower portion of the animal compartment into the tester compartment, a valve means for controlling each of said conduits, a fan for creating a flow of air from said animal compartments through selected port means and conduits and into said tester compartment, and an access door through which a tester can enter the tester compartment without passing through an animal compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A structure for testing small animal litter, comprising a plurality of animal confinement compartments in which the animals live and consummate their daily functions and in which litter for animal waste is placed for use by the animals, a compartment for enclosing a person testing the odors of the litter in particular animal compartments, port means near the bottom of each animal compartment, separate air flow conduits connecting said port means with the odor tester compartment for drawing air from the lower portion of the animal compartment into the tester compartment, a valve means for controlling each of said conduits, a fan for creating a flow of air from said animal compartments through selected port means and conduits and into said tester compartment, and an access door through which a tester can enter the tester compartment without passing through an animal compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which an exhaust fan is provided in the upper portion of each of said animal compartments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which each of said animal compartments has a floor and drain therein for removing liquids spilled on the floor of the compartments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 2 in which each of said animal compartments has a drain therein for removing liquids spilled on the floor of the compartments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which said conduits connecting the animal compartments with the tester's compartment are positioned in the lower portion of the compartments and spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 2 in which said conduits connecting the animal compartments with the tester's compartment are positioned in the lower portion of the compartments and spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which said valve means for controlling each of said conduits has a control means extending externally of the compartment for the respective means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 6 in which said valve means for controlling each of said conduits has a control means extending externally of the compartment for the respective means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which said compartments are of a size sufficiently large to permit a normal adult to stand substantially erect, and each of said compartments has a door through which a person may enter and leave.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 1 in which said fan for creating a flow of air from said animal compartments into the tester's compartment is disposed in said tester's compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A structure for testing small animal litter as defined in claim 6 in which said fan for creating a flow of air from said animal compartments into the tester's compartment is disposed in the top of said tester's compartment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
A structure for testing odors of various materials, comprising a plurality of compartments for materials to be tested, each of said compartments having a port means in the lower portion thereof, a compartment for a person testing the odors of the material in particular compartments, separate air flow conduits communicating with said port means and connecting the odor tester's compartment with said material compartments near the bottom thereof for drawing air from the lower portion of the respective material compartment into the tester's compartment, a valve means for controlling each of said conduits, a fan for creating a flow of air from said material compartments through selected air flow conduits into said tester's compartment, and a door for access by a tester to the odor testing compartment without passing through any of said material compartments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
A structure for testing odors of various materials, comprising a plurality of compartments for materials to be tested, each of said compartments having a port means in the lower portion thereof, a compartment for a person testing the odors of the material in particular compartments, separate air flow conduits communicating with said port means and connecting the odor tester's compartment with said material compartments near the bottom thereof for drawing air from the lower portion of the respective material compartment into the tester's compartment, a valve means for controlling each of said conduits, a fan for creating a flow of air from said material compartments through selected air flow conduits into said tester's compartment, and a door for access by a tester to the odor testing compartment without passing through any of said material compartments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A structure for testing odors of various materials as defined in claim 12 in which said conduits connecting the material compartments with the tester's compartment are positioned in the lower portion of the compartments and spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure for testing odors of various materials as defined in claim 12 in which said valve means for controlling each of said conduits has a control means extending externally of the compartment for the respective means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A structure for testing odors of various materials as defined in claim 12 in which said compartments are of a size sufficiently large to permit a normal adult to stand substantially erect, and each of said compartments has a door through which a person may enter and leave.
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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) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-04-25 | 1987-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | 1991-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-24 | 1995-04-25 | 1995-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |