| Recognition of scents in fragrances -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Recognition of scents in fragrancesUSPTO Application #: 20060046241Title: Recognition of scents in fragrances Abstract: Educational/diversionary apparatus is arranged to present a user with various different scents and data thereon in order to aid scent recognition and enable a user to decide upon a combination of scent types which would be desirable to him/her. The apparatus takes the forms of a kit having a number of different scents and data carrying means, such as a CD Rom, which holds data on the nature, geographical origin and/or source of each of the said scents, wherein the data held on the data carrying means includes a map showing a number of geographical regions and cross-referencing means for cross-referencing each region with an associated scent. The selection of a region by the user can thus result in an associated scent being identified and data on that scent being presented to the user. The data on the carrier preferably comprises a computer program having instructions for causing a computer to display an image of the map and to provide means for selecting an area on the map. The apparatus may also be arranged to cause the computer to accept inputs from the user representative of the relative desirabilities of scents in the kit, and means for generating a display representative of said desirabilities. (end of abstract) Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Jean-Pierre Graziano Houri, Shibani Mohindra, Philippe Durand, Isabelle Pupier Stefanesco USPTO Applicaton #: 20060046241 - Class: 434365000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Education And Demonstration, Means For Demonstrating Apparatus, Product, Or Surface Configuration, Or For Displaying Education Material Or Student's Work The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060046241. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/480,592, filed Dec. 12, 2003, and a national phase filing based on PCT/GB02/02700, filed Jun. 14, 2002 and claims priority benefit of GB Appln. No. 0114807.1, filed Jun. 16, 2001. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to educational apparatus for presenting a user with scents and information thereon. Such apparatus may additionally or alternatively provide a user with a profile indicative of the fragrance families which that person is likely to prefer. The invention is particularly applicable to the recognition of scents in perfumes for personal use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A wide range of different perfumes are used as ingredients for many commercially available products, especially toiletries. Where a perfume is dominated by a scent originating from any single, readily identifiable source (for example a citrus fruit such as lemon), many users can normally easily recognise the scent. [0004] However, many perfumes comprise a complex blend of various different ingredients, some of which produce very subtle scents. Few people are able, without special training, to identify individual scents in such perfumes, and therefore find it difficult to associate perfumes with the varied and (sometimes) rather obscure descriptions often provided on the packaging of the perfumes. Consequently, many people tend to select a new perfume on a "trial and error" basis. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] According to the invention, there is provided educational and/or diversionary apparatus for presenting a user with scents and data thereon, the apparatus comprising a kit containing a number of different scents and data carrying means which holds data on the nature, geographical origin and/or source of each of the scents, wherein data held on the data carrying means includes a map showing a number of geographical regions and cross referencing means for cross referencing each region with an associated scent, such that the selection of a region by the user results in the associated scent being identified. [0006] It is believed that the referencing of each scent to a respective geographical region, and the provision of information on a scent in response to the selection of such a region enable a user more readily to remember, recognise and describe the scent and its characteristics. [0007] Each scent may be associated with its region by virtue of any characteristic which is relevant to that region. Thus a scent may be associated with a particular country famous as a source for that scent, or in which that scent was first made, or with a region, such as an ocean, because the scent has similar characteristics of freshness to that of the ocean. [0008] A scent may also be associated with a given country by virtue of having been popular in that country. [0009] The data on the carrier may take the form of printed matter, but preferably comprises a computer program having instructions for causing a computer to display an image of the map and to provide means for selecting, using an input device on the computer, an area on the map, wherein the selection of any given region causes the computer to retrieve and display information on the associated scent. [0010] The program is preferably also operable to cause a computer running the program to invite the user to sample a scent (by smelling it). In this case, the program is also preferably operable to cause such a computer to record data, which is entered by the user- and which is indicative of his or her perception of the desirability of the sampled scent. The invitation may be given using an animation depicting a person or character asking the user to sample the scent. [0011] The data may, for example, be a numerical score, the higher the score the more desirable the scent. [0012] Preferably, the program, in use, cause a computer to prompt the user to enter said data and puts the computer in a condition to receive said data after having displayed instructions for the user to try the scent and having displayed information on the scent, and before allowing another region to be selected. [0013] Preferably, the program includes instructions for causing a computer to create, from said inputs, an output representative of the relative desirabilities of the previously sampled scents. [0014] The output may to advantage take the form of a graphical representation of relative desirabilities of sample scents. [0015] It is known to categorise scents into different olfactive groups, each containing scents of similar characteristics (e.g. floral, spicy, herbal etc.). Preferably, the graphical representation comprises a series of coloured elements, each corresponding to a respective group containing a scent that has been sampled. [0016] The elements may to advantage comprise concentric rings, the thickness of each of which is proportionate to the desirability of the respective scent in the group represented by that ring. [0017] Such a representation corresponds to the Lignes de force developed by Quest International to provide a graphical representation of various known types of perfume. According to the Lignes de force scheme, the thickness of any given ring corresponds to the prominence of a given category of scent in a perfume. Thus, by comparing his or her own profile, as prepared by the computer, with the recorded Lignes de force representations of various known scents, a user can more readily find a perfume which is likely to appeal to him or her. [0018] The invention therefore also lies in apparatus for providing an indication of the types of fragrances that a user is likely to prefer, the apparatus comprising a plurality of scents in different predetermined families, a data carrier on which there is provided a computer programme for causing a computer to instruct a user to sample each scent in turn, and enter data representative of the desirability of each scent and to display a graphical representation of the relative desirabilities of the families (based on said inputs). [0019] Preferably, the scents are in a liquid form, each scent being held in a respective container, and the apparatus includes substrate means for receiving a portion of scent to be smelt. [0020] Preferably, the substrate means is absorbent, and conveniently comprises a number of pieces of sheet material, for example strips of paper. Alternatively, the substrate means may comprise non-paper absorbents, for example as supplied by flacon Ltd (Tunbridge, UK) under the name "scrib-rod inners type 7446", polymer matrices or inorganic matrices (for example silica or zeolites). Continue reading... Full patent description for Recognition of scents in fragrances Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Recognition of scents in fragrances patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Recognition of scents in fragrances or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for providing product information, and computer product Next Patent Application: Story book and play set Industry Class: Education and demonstration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Recognition of scents in fragrances patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.02387 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
