US 12,337,082 B2
Odor emission system, device and method
William T. Gressick, Charlottesville, VA (US); Brian R. Clark, Charlottesville, VA (US); and Clifford Schultz, Perkins, OK (US)
Assigned to Barron Associates, Inc., Charlottesville, VA (US)
Filed by Barron Associates, Inc., Charlottesville, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,839.
Application 18/096,839 is a continuation of application No. 16/861,455, filed on Apr. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,583,604.
Prior Publication US 2023/0147091 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. A61L 9/03 (2006.01); A01K 5/02 (2006.01); A01K 15/02 (2006.01); F17C 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 9/035 (2013.01) [A01K 5/0275 (2013.01); A01K 15/02 (2013.01); A61L 9/032 (2013.01); F17C 13/04 (2013.01); A61L 2209/11 (2013.01); A61L 2209/134 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
at least one odor-emitting device comprising:
a housing defining an odor channel;
at least one tray secured within the housing, wherein the at least one tray comprises a first odor tray and a second odor tray;
a fan secured within the housing;
a microcontroller secured within the housing, wherein the microcontroller is operable to trigger the fan;
a valve actuator secured within the housing;
a valve secured within the housing; and
a gear arrangement secured between the valve actuator and the valve;
wherein the valve comprises first and second valve sleeves, wherein the first valve sleeve houses a first valve cylinder formed with a first pair of fluid slots, wherein the first pair of fluid slots are formed as gaps in an outer surface of the first valve cylinder, wherein the first valve cylinder is rotatable by the valve actuator and gear arrangement so as to selectively position a first one or both of the first pair of fluid slots at a position in between a full fluid communication position with the first odor tray and a blocked fluid communication position with the first odor tray, and
wherein the second valve sleeve houses a second valve cylinder formed with a second pair of fluid slots, wherein the second pair of fluid slots are formed as gaps in an outer surface of the second valve cylinder, and wherein the second valve cylinder is rotatable by the valve actuator and gear arrangement so as to selectively position a first one or both of the second pair of fluid slots at a position in between a full fluid communication position with the second odor tray and a blocked fluid communication position with the second odor tray;
at least one reward dispenser; and
a central control unit in communication with the at least one odor-emitting device and the at least one reward dispenser, wherein the central control unit comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive an instruction to move the valve of the at least one odor-emitting device;
communicate a first signal to the odor-emitting device microcontroller to trigger the valve actuator to move the valve;
receive an instruction to operate the fan of the at least one odor-emitting device; and
communicate a second signal to the odor-emitting device microcontroller to trigger the fan.