Patent Abstract:
A compact and portable scent transfer device. The device comprises a housing, a motor/fan combination, a sterile pad holder connected to the housing and a sterile pad removably coupled to the sterile pad holder. A number of embodiments having these features are disclosed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for collecting scents from a scene and enabling trained dogs to sniff the collected scent and then hunt for criminals or missing persons. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Design Pat. No. 397,051, issued on Aug. 18, 1998, discloses a scent evidence device which includes a pad holder, the function of the device being to collect scent from a crime scene on a pad and thereafter make the pad available to a trained dog to hunt for criminals or missing persons. 
         [0005]    Although the patented device works satisfactorily, it is relatively large and requires an electric motor to generate a vacuum. 
         [0006]    Copending application Ser. No. 11/545,941, filed Oct. 12, 2006, discloses a scent transfer device which is more compact than the prior art design and wherein an electric motor is not utilized to generate the required vacuum. 
         [0007]    The device comprises an air inflator having a gas cartridge, the inflator being coupled to an air amplifier. A holder having a sterile pad positioned therein is secured to the air amplifier. When gas from the cartridge is expelled into the air amplifier, a vacuum is created at the end of the air amplifier where the pad holder is attached, enabling a user, when the pad holder is positioned near an area to be examined, to collect the scent on the pad. The pad can then be removed and stored in an evidence bag. The use of gas cartridges eliminates the necessity of using air to create the vacuum which could contaminate the pad and also enables the generated vacuum to be precisely metered each time the device is used. 
         [0008]    Although the device set forth in the &#39;941 application performs well, it is desired to provide a scent transfer unit that is compact and portable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a compact and portable scent transfer device. The device comprises a housing, similar to that of a portable electric drill, a motor/fan combination, a sterile pad nozzle component holder connected to the housing, a sterile pad nozzle having a sterile member pad therein coupled to nozzle component holder and a nozzle coupled to the nozzle member. An exhaust port is formed in the device housing. The housing is fabricated in a manner such that it can be connected to a conventional rechargeable battery. 
         [0010]    In an alternate embodiment, a disposable capsule, or cartridge is mounted to the housing in place of the sterile pad nozzle and component holder, the capsule having removable caps on both ends. A sterile pad is secured within the capsule. The capsule is inserted into the front of the housing and secured therein during the collection process. One end of the capsule is punctured when inserted into the housing, indicating usage and avoiding possible re-use and/or cross-contamination. The capsule can also be mounted to one end of an extension, the other end inserted into the collection end of the housing. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the scent transfer device of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a scent transfer pad utilized in the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 8-9  illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a rear view of the device shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the components forming the scent transfer unit  10  according to the teachings of the present invention is illustrated. 
         [0027]    In particular, unit  10  comprises battery pack  12 , a housing  14 , preferably fabricated from plastic, a variable speed trigger  16 , an exhaust port  18  with an optional nozzle  20  for use as a blower to remove debris and dust from an item, a sterile pad nozzle holder  22 , a swivel nozzle holder  24  and swivel nozzle  26 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the main components of the present invention. 
         [0029]    A motor  30  is positioned within the upper portion of housing  14  as illustrated, shaft  32  of motor  30  being coupled to fan  34  and apertured finger protector screen  37 . Sterile pad holder  22  is removably mounted within the inner surface  36  of housing  14 . Sterile pad holder  22  includes an apertured frame member  37  that supports a sterile pad  38 . Swivel nozzle  24  includes a neck portion  40 ; flexible swivel nozzle  26  is hard pressed to fit snugly over neck portion  40 . Pad holder  22  is a separate component that can be removed from housing  14 . Sterile pad  38  is inserted into pad holder  22  and held in place by a clip. Swivel nozzle holder  24  snaps onto pad holder  22  using clip  60 . 
         [0030]    In operation, device  10 , charged by battery pack  12 , is positioned in a manner such that nozzle  26  is adjacent an item to be examined for scent. A user then engages trigger  16  such that current is supplied to motor  30 . Shaft  32  of motor  30  then rotates which in turn rotates fan  34 . The air generated by the rotation of fan  34  is such that a vacuum is created, drawing air with scent contained therein, through nozzle  26 , pad  38 , frame member  36  and through exhaust port  18 . Pad holder  22  is then removed from housing  14 , nozzle holder  24  is removed from pad holder  22  and the hold-down clip holding pad  38  against apertured frame member  36  is opened and pad  38  is removed and placed in a sterilized evidence bag. 
         [0031]    Pad holder  22  comprises an upper head portion  39  that has a square shaped housing portion having sides  41 ,  42 ,  43 , and  44  and base portion  46  having a plurality of apertures  48  formed therein. It should be noted that other pad holder shapes can be utilized, such as rectangular shapes. A sterile pad  38 , when the unit  10  is ready for operation, is secured within housing portion adjacent base portion  46  by a metal clip (not shown). The details of the metal clip and how it secures pad  38  against apertured housing  36  is disclosed in application Ser. No. 11/545,941, the teachings of which necessary for an understanding of the present invention being incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrates how sterile pad nozzle component holder  22  is secured and aligned with housing  14 , recessed openings  50  on the interior surface of housing  14  engaging the edges of projections  52  formed on component holder  22 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of apertured housing  36  and  FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing scent pad  38 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8 and 9  discloses another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a cartridge, or capsule,  70  is used to collect scent in lieu of component holder  22 . Single use capsule  70  is fabricated from sterile glass or plastic that is disposable. Removable caps are placed on both ends that are removed when collecting the scent sample and re-sealed thereafter for laboratory testing. A circular sterile pad is secured within capsule  70  and the capsule is inserted into end  72  of housing  74  and secured in place. One end of the capsule is punctured when inserted into housing  74  to indicate usage and avoiding possible reuse/cross contamination. 
         [0035]    The pre-packaged cartridge  70  is pressed into the drill gun housing  74  and held in place via an o-ring or other compression device. The drill gun housing contains a stainless steel device the pieces the seal  79  of cartridge  70  when it is inserted into the front of housing  74  of the other end of cartridge  70  has a protective seal  79 . When cartridge  70  is inserted into housing  14 , seal  79  is pierced. The use removes seal  77  which enables human scent to flow into cartridge  70 . The scent pad within cartridge  70  is then removed for lab testing. After the scent is tested, cartridge  70  is removed from housing  74  and the two ends thereof are then capped. The appropriate information on the testing event can be entered onto cartridge label  80 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  illustrates a modification to the scent transfer unit shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In particular, a hollow extension tube  76  is positioned between capsule  70  and end  72  of housing  74  to distance the scent intake location from the exhaust port (not shown in the figure) to minimize contamination of motor  30  and impeller, or fan,  34  within the housing  74 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 
         [0038]    In particular, a scent transfer unit  100  comprising an elongated, cylindrically shaped housing portion  102  and a cone shaped portion  104  screwable onto portion  102  is illustrated, portions  102  and  104  in combination having a flash light shape. A pad holder  106 , identical to pad holder  22  shown in  FIG. 1 , is sized to be inserted into the opening formed in the front portion of cone shaped portion  104  and positioned against a circular abutment  108  formed in the interior surface of portion  104  as shown in  FIG. 13 . Pad holder  106  includes a metal clip  110  having ends  112  and  114  extending through holes formed in the sides  116  and  118  of holder  106 , surface  122  having a plurality of openings, or apertures,  124  formed therein. A motor rotary speed control dial  126  and an on/off switch  128  are formed on cylindrical portion  102  as illustrated. Cone shaped portion  104  has a plurality of venting apertures  130  formed around the circumference. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , within housing  102  are three “C” or “D” type batteries  130  and  132  (only two batteries are illustrated), electronic motor speed control module  134  and motor  136 , motor  136  extending partially within opening  138  formed within portion  104 . Shaft  140  of motor  136  is coupled to and drives fan  142 , fan  142  creating a vacuum when activated. A spring  144  applies tension to the batteries when battery end cap  146  is screwed onto the end of housing  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 14  shows more details of vacuum fan  142 , fan  142  comprising a plurality (eight in the embodiment illustrated) fan blades mounted to hub  148 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 15  is a rear plan view of device  100  showing end cap  146 , cone shaped portion  104 , pad holder  106  and clips  110 . 
         [0042]    Scent pad holder  106  is similar to the one set forth in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/545,941 referred to hereinabove. It is Teflon coated and has clip spring  110  that holds the sterile 2″×2″ pad (or other sized pads) that may be required. Scent pad holder  106  press fits into the end of the housing  104  so that it can easily be removed for cleaning (alcohol is the preferred cleaning agent). Housing  104  is screwed onto housing  102 . 
         [0043]    The user un-clips the sterile pad holder clip  110  from scent pad holder  106  and it hinges out of the way so that the user could place the sterile pad  120  on the screen surface  122 . Clip  110  is then snapped back into place to keep the sterile pad  120  from falling out. 
         [0044]    In operation, a user pushes the on button switch  128  to energize scent transfer unit  100 , the front of the unit being placed adjacent the area where the scent to be collected is located. The user then adjusts dial  126  to control the speed of motor  136  which in turn controls the amount of vacuum generated. The scent then picked up by unit  100  is collected on pad  120 , clip  110  is hinged out of the way and pad  120  removed from pad holder  106 . Pad  120  can then be deposited in a sterile evidence container for future examination. 
         [0045]    While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6