Patent US5565148A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5565148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for selectively providing a multiplicity of aromas
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1995-03-16
•
Granted: 1996-10-15
•
Expires: 2015-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for delivering one or more aromas at selected times includes a housing with a receptacle and an aroma delivery device detachably received in the receptacle. The aroma delivery device includes a carrier having a plurality of aroma-bearing elements that are selectively communicated with an air passageway for providing one or more aromas as desired. The device is especially useful for providing a realistic sensory experience in an interactive or non-interactive use, and may be used in such diverse settings as the entertainment industry, the educational training field or a medical arena.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel B. Pendergrass, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L9/00; A61L9/015; A61L9/04; A61L9/12; A61L9/125; A61L9/122; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/65; Y10S261/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for delivering a multiplicity of aromas comprising: a housing having an air passageway and a receptacle interposed in said passageway; a source of pressurized air for directing air through said passageway; an aroma delivery device releasably received in said receptacle, said device including a carrier having a plurality of separate chambers and a plurality of aroma-bearing elements each received in a respective one of said chambers, each of said elements including a reservoir containing a volatile material and diffusion rate-controlling structure at least partially covering said reservoir; means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway, said means including a controller for changing the selection of said chambers when desired, said device including at least one cover for precluding volatile material from escaping from chambers not in communication with said passageway; and an interactive program, said controller being responsive to electronic signals provided by said interactive program in order to enable the selection of said chambers to be determined by the user's responses to said program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for delivering a multiplicity of aromas comprising: a housing having an air passageway and a receptacle interposed in said passageway; a source of pressurized air for directing air through said passageway; an aroma delivery device releasably received in said receptacle, said device including a carrier having a plurality of separate chambers and a plurality of aroma-bearing elements each received in a respective one of said chambers, each of said elements including a reservoir containing a volatile material and diffusion rate-controlling structure at least partially covering said reservoir; means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway, said means including a controller for changing the selection of said chambers when desired, said device including at least one cover for precluding volatile material from escaping from chambers not in communication with said passageway; and an interactive program, said controller being responsive to electronic signals provided by said interactive program in order to enable the selection of said chambers to be determined by the user's responses to said program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is programmable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway includes means for moving said carrier relative to said housing, and wherein said carrier has a generally cylindrical shape with a central axis, and wherein said elements are arranged in a circular array about said central axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway includes an air valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway includes an air pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway includes means for moving said carrier relative to said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for moving said carrier relative to said housing includes a stepmotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating a selected one or more of said chambers with said passageway includes at least one cover movable relative to said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 and including a stepmotor for incrementally moving said carrier relative to said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
An aroma delivery device comprising: a carrier having a plurality of separate chambers; a plurality of aroma-bearing elements each received in a respective one of said chambers, each of said elements including a reservoir containing a volatile material and diffusion rate-controlling structure at least partially covering said reservoir; and at least one cover connected to said carrier for selectively opening one or more of said chambers, said at least one cover being resiliently biased toward a closed position over one or more of said chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
An aroma delivery device comprising: a carrier having a plurality of separate chambers; a plurality of aroma-bearing elements each received in a respective one of said chambers, each of said elements including a reservoir containing a volatile material and diffusion rate-controlling structure at least partially covering said reservoir; and at least one cover connected to said carrier for selectively opening one or more of said chambers, said at least one cover being resiliently biased toward a closed position over one or more of said chambers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said elements are arranged in a generally linear array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 10, wherein each chamber has an outlet end that is closed by a respective cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said cover comprises a flexible sheet of material and an adhesive for releasably connecting said sheet of material to said carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said carrier has a central axis, and wherein said chambers are arranged in a circular array about said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 14, wherein said carrier has a generally cylindrical shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3410488A
Cited
US3711023A
Cited
US4157787A
Cited
USRE32513E
Cited
US4629604A
Cited
US4642945A
Cited
US4790527A
Cited
US4752065A
Cited
US4838344A
Cited
US4919197A
Cited
US4771344A
Cited
US5023020A
Cited
US4879849A
Cited
US4826245A
Cited
US4955945A
Cited
US5026152A
Cited
US5259062A
Cited
US5192247A
Cited
US5167877A
Cited
US5301457A
Cited
US5395047A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-04-15 | 2000-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-15 | 2004-04-15 | 2004-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-15 | 2008-04-15 | 2008-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |