Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Including sample preparation – Gaseous sample or with change of physical state
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2003-01-28
Warden, Jill (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Including sample preparation
Gaseous sample or with change of physical state
C436S174000, C436S176000, C436S178000, C073S023340, C073S023410, C073S023420, C073S863230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511852
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
My invention covers apparatus for collecting (for purposes of subsequent analysis) a volatile composition of matter which is releasably bonded to a pliable porous substrate such as a towel, as well as a process for using such apparatus.
The properties of a pliable substrate (including physical, chemical and microbiological properties) affect the behavior of the substrate with respect to chemicals, particularly volatile chemicals, either naturally present in or on the substrate in a substance applied thereto and so affect the chemicals present in a headspace above the substrate. Conversely, the chemicals entrapped in the interstices of a porous substrate or on the surface of the porous substrate have an effect upon the properties of the substrate, for example, if the substrate is a towel and the towel contains a fragrance, the concentration of that fragrance and the nature of the fragrance in the particular substrate will affect the ultimate aroma in the headspace above the substrate after the substrate is utilized, washed and dried.
Considerably complicated techniques exist in the prior art for collection(for purposes of subsequent analysis) of volatile materials contained within a substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,729 discloses a method of characterizing a substrate which comprises applying a test formulation to said substrate, subsequently collecting volatile chemicals in a headspace above the substrate, determining a profile of the volatile chemicals so emanated and using said profile to characterize the substrate. Specific examples of substrates in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,729 are skin, wood, hair, clothing, carpets, plastics, surfaces, ceramic tiles, wool, fabric or perfumed products.
Noting the complexity of the methods and techniques of U.S. Pat. No 5,891,729, it is apparent that a need exists for a more standardized and simplified technique for collection(for purposes of subsequent analysis) of a volatile composition of matter releasably bonded to a pliable porous substrate such as a towel.
Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,835 issued on Apr. 6, 1999 discloses a cleaner impregnated towel comprising a flexible porous substrate and impregnated into the substrate a cleaner formulation comprising d-limonene, dibasic acid ester, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, secondary alcohol ethoxylate, sodium lauryl sulfate, polysorbate 80, a salt of a coconut oil, fatty acid ester of isethionic acid, glycerine, ethyl alcohol, an antimicrobial preservative and, optionally, water. Although the composition impregnated into the substrate is known initially, after the substrate is utilized, there is no teaching of a method for collecting (for purposes of subsequent analysis) the components impregnated into the substrate after initial use or after repeated use of the substrate, nor is there any teaching in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,891,835 or 5,891,729 of apparatus or processes for a simplified technique for collecting (for purposes of subsequent analysis) the contents of such substrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention is directed to apparatus which will effect collection (for purposes of subsequent analysis) of compounds from the headspace over dry cloth as well as moist cloth and other substrates. The compounds are releasably bonded to the surface and/or in the interstices of the porous substrate.
More specifically, my invention is directed to apparatus and a process for collecting for purposes of subsequent analysis a volatile composition such as a perfumery composition located on the surface and/or in the interstices of a planar pliable porous substrate such as a towel section.
In practicing my invention, a planar surface of the substrate which contains the volatile composition is initially juxtaposed adjacent a solid wall (e.g., glass frit) porous to a nonreactive carrier gas such as air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide and fully and tightly covers the porous section of the wall. The carrier gas is passed through the porous section of the wall and then through the pliable porous substrate section which is adjacent the wall, after which the carrier gas will contain each component of the volatile composition. The composition-carrier gas mixture is then passed through a trapping substance (e.g., TENAX® [a polyphenylene oxide]) which entraps the molecules of each component of the volatile composition. The volatile composition can then be analyzed (e.g., using GLC, NMR and mass spectral techniques) after removing the trapping substance containing the entrapped components from the apparatus.
Thus, my invention is directed to apparatus for collecting for purposes of subsequent analysis a volatile substance such as a perfumery material releasably bonded to a substantially planar pliable porous substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface. The substrate is porous to the passage of a carrier gas therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces of the planar pliable porous substrate. The apparatus consists essentially of:
(a) hollow enclosure means (which can be cylindrically shaped or elliptical-cylindrically shaped) consisting of:
i. hollow outer enclosure means circumventing a first void space and consisting essentially of a base supporting a substantially cylindrical gas impermeable wall having exit port means therethrough;
ii. entirely surrounded by said hollow outer enclosure means, substantially cylindrically-shaped inner enclosure means situated within said first void space and circumventing a second void space, and having two spaced-apart oppositely situated end sections and a central section juxtaposed to and communicating with each of said oppositely-situated end sections, said central section being substantially parallel to the wall of said outer enclosure means, said central section having an outer surface and an inner surface, and said central section consisting of a cylindrically-shaped gas-permeable hollow frit structure for both (A) supporting the pliable porous substrate whereby, when in use, said porous substrate fully covers said laminar gas-permeable central section in an all-encompassing manner and (B) enabling carrier gas to flow from within said inner enclosure means second void space to the void space located between the outer enclosure means and the inner enclosure means, in a direction substantially perpendicular to and through said porous substrate, each of the two end sections being impervious to the flow of gas therethrough and one of the end sections having an entry port means communicating from without said hollow enclosure means to the second void space within said inner enclosure means;
(b) analyte collection means located downstream from said hollow enclosure means and communicating with the exit port means thereof, consisting essentially of tube trapping means whereby analyte mixture components emitted from said pliable porous substrate during gas flow therethrough are entrapped in said tube trapping means;
(c) upstream from said hollow enclosure means or down-stream from said analyte collection means, inert gas flow effecting means for effecting the flow of inert gas sequentially (I) through said entry port means; (II) through the porous pliable substrate means located on said hollow frit structure; (III) through said exit port means; and (IV) through said analyte collection means.
My invention is also directed to a process for collecting (for purposes of subsequent analysis a volatile substance (such as a fragrance composition or an insect-repelling composition) releasably bonded to a substantially planar pliable porous substrate (for example, a cloth or a towel fabricated from cotton or polyester) having an inner surface and an outer surface comprising the steps of:
(a) providing the apparatus as set forth, supra;
(b) providing said porous substrate;
(c) wrapping in an all-encompassing manner said porous substrate around said central section of said inner enclosure means of said apparatus whereby the inner surface of said porous substrate is removably adhered to and intimately adjacent to th
Gakh Yelena
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Liberman Arthur L.
Warden Jill
LandOfFree
Apparatus for collecting a volatile composition of matter... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for collecting a volatile composition of matter..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for collecting a volatile composition of matter... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3040155