Apparatus and Method for Containment and Concentration of Volatile Esters

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed and pertain to a lid for use with a container having a rim and an opening where volatile esters from an aromatic compound are dispersing into the environment and for enhancing the identification of the volatile esters. The lid is comprised of a generally planar laterally stabilized gas restrictive material for decreasing the dispersion rate of the volatile esters, resulting in increased concentration of the volatile esters within the container and enhancing the identification of the volatile esters emitted from the aromatic compound. The lid includes a surface for coupling to the rim in a manner that laterally stabilizes the lid so that it remains sufficiently fixed to the rim during agitation of the container. The surface also permits the lid to be removed from the rim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration showing a lid for containing volatile esters dispersing from an aromatic compound held above a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustration showing the lid attached to the rim of the container;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustration showing a lid with internal lateral stabilization features and a container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the lid element disclosed previously in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustration showing a lid with external lateral stabilization features and a container in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the lid disclosed previously in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration showing a non-porous lid above a container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration showing a porous lid covering above a container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of volatile ester identification training in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a container having a rim and an opening where volatile esters from an aromatic compound are dispersing into the environment and for enhancing the identification of said volatile esters, the apparatus comprising: a generally planar laterally stabilized gas restrictive lid for decreasing the dispersion rate of the volatile esters, resulting in increased concentration of the volatile esters within the container and enhancing the identification of the volatile esters, said lid having a surface for coupling to the rim.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a first lateral stabilization element for laterally stabilizing the lid onto the container, said lateral stabilization element including a protrusion that extends from a surface of said Lid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first lateral stabilization element includes an outer edge for coupling to an inner surface of the container

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a second lateral stabilization element.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first lateral stabilization element includes an inner edge for coupling to an outer surface of the container.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein lateral stabilization is provided by static friction at a contact interface between said surface and the rim.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is configured to have one or more holes allowing passage of volatile esters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is solid and obstructs passage of volatile esters.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is configured to have an approximately circular shape with a diameter between 40 and 120 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is comprised of vinyl sheeting having a thickness of 4 to 60 mils achieving lateral stability by virtue of the coefficient of static friction at the contact interface between said surface and said rim.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is comprised of material that includes plastic.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lid is clear and contains markings to improve the visibility and thus usability of said lid.

13. A method for improving the accuracy of volatile ester identification comprising: providing a container containing an aromatic compound and having an opening from which volatile esters are dispersing and a rim;placing a generally planar gas restrictive laterally stabilized lid having a high coefficient of static friction over an opening in container to restrict volatile ester dispersion;swirling container to agitate aromatic compound and promote volatile ester formation inside the container;waiting a brief period of time to allow concentration of volatile esters to increase further;removing the lid element from the opening of the container;analyzing the volatile esters of increased concentration as they begin to disperse; andwherein said volatile esters of increased concentration are more accurately identified.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein lateral stabilization is provided by the mechanical interference between a flange like feature extending below the bottom surface of the lid element and the body of the container.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein lateral stabilization is provided by a high coefficient of static friction measured at the contact interface between said lid and the rim.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said lid contains one or more holes allowing passage of volatile esters.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said the lid is solid and significantly obstructs passage of volatile esters.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said lid is circular and has a diameter between 40 and 120 mm.

19. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said lid is comprised of vinyl sheeting having a thickness of 4 to 60 mils and achieves lateral stability at a contact interface between the rim and said lid due to the coefficient of static friction.

20. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the container is any one of a beverage container or wine glass.

21. A method of volatile ester identification training, comprising: identifying a volatile ester by coupling a first lid to said container so that volatile esters, which are dispersing from an aromatic compound held in said container, concentrate within said container and by smelling said volatile esters in said container after de-coupling said first lid from said container;identifying said volatile ester again by coupling a second lid to said container so that volatile esters dispersing from the aromatic compound concentrate within said container and by smelling said volatile esters in said container after de-coupling said second lid from said container; andwherein said second lid is less effective than said first lid in containing said volatile esters from said container.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: providing said first lid and said second lid to a user engaged in volatile ester identification training, wherein said first lid has less porosity than said second lid.