U.S. patent application number 10/802296 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for breath alcohol measuring device with improved mouthpiece.
Invention is credited to Chrzan, Rigobert, Rekow, Jens, Stock, Burkhard.
Application Number | 20040204655 10/802296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29762198 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040204655 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stock, Burkhard ; et
al. |
October 14, 2004 |
Breath alcohol measuring device with improved mouthpiece
Abstract
A breath alcohol measuring device (7) is provided with features
for superior handling especially of the replaceable mouthpiece (1).
A direct physical contact between the test subject being tested and
the measuring device is practically ruled out by the combination.
The mouthpiece (1) of the breath alcohol measuring device (7) has a
trapezoidal cross section, which is complementary to a
corresponding negative shape in a holder (6) of the breath alcohol
measuring device (7) for the flush mounting of the mouthpiece
(1).
Inventors: |
Stock, Burkhard; (Lubeck,
DE) ; Rekow, Jens; (Lubeck, DE) ; Chrzan,
Rigobert; (Bad Oldesloe, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCGLEW & TUTTLE, PC
1 SCARBOROUGH STATION PLAZA
SCARBOROUGH
NY
10510-0827
US
|
Family ID: |
29762198 |
Appl. No.: |
10/802296 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/532 ;
600/529 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/4972 20130101;
A61B 5/097 20130101; G01N 2001/2223 20130101; G01N 1/2202 20130101;
G01N 1/24 20130101; G01N 2001/2244 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/532 ;
600/529 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 10, 2003 |
DE |
103 16 333.6 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A breath alcohol measuring device, comprising: a holder; and a
mouthpiece designed as a pressure tube with a hole for sampling
breathing gas for an alcohol sensor, the mouthpiece having a
trapezoidal cross section, which is complementary to a
corresponding negative shape in said holder for a flush mounting of
said mouthpiece.
2. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the trapezoidal cross section of the mouthpiece is
equilateral, and said hole for taking a breath sample is located in
a shorter of two parallel sides of the cross section of the
mouthpiece.
3. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the alcohol measuring device has a parallelepipedic form
and said mouthpiece is received in said holder extending in
parallel to one of two shorter end faces of the parallelepipedic
breath alcohol measuring device.
4. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 2,
wherein said mouthpiece has a stop extending outside in a
circumferential direction of the trapezoidal cross section over at
least some sections of said trapezoidal cross section, said stop
setting a position of said mouthpiece in the longitudinal direction
in relation to said holder for alignment of an extending suction
channel for sampling breathing gas to said hole.
5. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said mouthpiece has a positioning pin, which is arranged
outside said holder when the mouthpiece is mounted in said
holder.
6. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 4,
wherein the alcohol sensor includes an electrochemical alcohol
sensor in flow connection with said suction channel and a pump,
wherein the breathing gas is sampled by means of a sampling stroke
of said pump, said pump being arranged downstream of said
electrochemical alcohol sensor with the breathing gas being drawn
through said electrochemical alcohol sensor.
7. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 2,
wherein said holder and said mouthpiece are symmetrical in relation
to the breath alcohol measuring device whereby said mouthpiece can
be mounted in said holder without a preferred direction in two
different positions forming an angle of 180.degree. with each
other.
8. A breath alcohol measuring device, comprising: a sensor housing
with a suction channel; a holder connected to said sensor housing,
said holder having a receiving portion; and a mouthpiece with a
breathing gas passage with a hole for sampling breathing gas, the
mouthpiece including a portion with surfaces defining a trapezoidal
cross section, said receiving portion of said holder being
complementary to some of said surfaces defining the trapezoidal
cross section for a flush mounting of said mouthpiece to said
holder.
9. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 8,
wherein the trapezoidal cross section of the mouthpiece is
equilateral, and said hole for taking a breath sample is located in
a shorter of two parallel sides of the cross section of the
mouthpiece.
10. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 8,
wherein said sensor housing has a parallelepipedic form and said
mouthpiece is received in said holder extending in parallel to one
of two shorter end faces of the parallelepipedic sensor
housing.
11. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 9,
wherein said mouthpiece has a stop extending radially outwardly of
the trapezoidal cross section over at least some sections of said
trapezoidal cross section, said stop setting a position of said
mouthpiece in a longitudinal direction in relation to said holder
for alignment of an extending suction channel for sampling
breathing gas to said hole.
12. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 9,
wherein said mouthpiece has a positioning pin, which is arranged
outside said holder when the mouthpiece is mounted in said
holder.
13. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the alcohol sensor includes an electrochemical alcohol
sensor in said sensor housing and in flow connection with said
suction channel and includes a pump in said sensor housing, wherein
the breathing gas is sampled by means of a sampling stroke of said
pump, said pump being arranged downstream of said electrochemical
alcohol sensor with the breathing gas being drawn through said
electrochemical alcohol sensor.
14. A breath alcohol measuring device in accordance with claim 9,
wherein said holder and said mouthpiece are symmetrical in relation
to said sensor housing whereby said mouthpiece can be mounted in
said holder without a preferred direction in two different
positions forming an angle of 180.degree. with each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to a breath alcohol measuring
device with a mouthpiece designed as a pressure tube with a hole
for sampling breathing gas for an alcohol sensor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A breath alcohol measuring device of this type has become
known from DE 195 45 794 C2, in which the breathing gas flow within
the mouthpiece is split into a main gas stream flowing directly to
the environment and a measuring gas stream. The measuring gas
stream is sent through the sampling system of the device and set
due to the design embodiment of the device in terms of the flow
volume to a value that corresponds to that delivered by prior-art
calibrating devices, so that calibration of the sampling system is
possible under real flow conditions. The drawback of this prior-art
measuring device is the lack of hygiene and the condensation of the
breathing gas stream during the direct flow of the split measuring
gas stream through the sampling system.
[0003] Another breath alcohol measuring device of this type is
disclosed in EP 0 153 883 A2, in which it is especially difficult
to attach the mouthpiece with circular cross section to the
measuring device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The basic problem that the present invention addresses is
that the mouthpiece must be changed for each test subject in breath
alcohol measuring devices for hygienic reasons. This operation
should be as simple and rapid as possible, because it is often
necessary to test many test subjects with one measuring device in a
short time, especially at night under unfavorable light conditions
in the case of use by the police. The mouthpiece must have a
reliable connection with the measuring device during the
measurement so that it will not separate during the measurement.
Furthermore, it should be ensured for hygienic reasons that the
exhaled breathing gas is fed in the mouthpiece only and does not
come into contact with the interior of the measuring device. The
test subject should have direct contact with the replaceable
mouthpiece only during the release of the breathing gas sample and
the test subject should not touch the measuring device with lips of
the test subject.
[0005] Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a
breath alcohol measuring device that is substantially improved in
terms of its handling and especially the replaceable mouthpiece. At
the same time, the direct physical contact between the test subject
being tested as well as the exhaled breathing gas sample and the
breath alcohol measuring device shall be practically ruled out with
the present invention.
[0006] According to the invention, a breath alcohol measuring
device is provided with a mouthpiece designed as a pressure tube
with a hole for sampling breathing gas for an alcohol sensor. The
mouthpiece has a trapezoidal cross section, which is complementary
to a corresponding negative shape in the holder of the breath
alcohol measuring device. This allows for a flush mounting of the
mouthpiece.
[0007] The handling of the breath alcohol measuring device in terms
of the replacement and the mounting of the replaceable mouthpiece
in the measuring device is substantially simplified by means of the
present invention, which can be attributed especially to the
trapezoidal cross section of the mouthpiece with the fitting
negative shape of the complementary holder at the measuring
device.
[0008] An especially preferred embodiment of the present invention
is characterized in that the trapezoidal cross section of the
mouthpiece is equilateral, and the hole in the mouthpiece for
breathing gas sampling is located in the shorter of the two
parallel sides of the cross section of the mouthpiece. Another
preferred embodiment is characterized in that the mouthpiece has a
stop, which extends over at least some sections circumferentially
in the circumferential direction of the cross section and which
sets the correct position of the mouthpiece in the longitudinal
direction relative to the holder, so that the suction channel of
the measuring device extends exactly through the hole of the
mouthpiece for taking a breathing gas sample.
[0009] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be
explained in greater detail below on the basis of the figures. The
various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming
a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained
by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and
descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention
is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a breath alcohol measuring
device according to the invention; and
[0011] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line A-B
of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows the
view of a breath alcohol measuring device 7. Similar such measuring
devices are available commercially especially under the trademark
Alcotest.RTM.. The replaceable mouthpiece 1 is inserted into the
holder 6 and is made of, e.g., a plastic such as polyethylene. The
mouthpiece 1 has a hole 10, through which the suction channel 8
extends into the breathing gas stream (breath stream) blown in from
the left as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. The pump 9 is
actuated such that it delivers a breathing gas sample from the
breathing gas stream into the measuring device and consequently
into the alcohol sensor 5 by means of a sampling stroke when the
test subject has blown a sufficient volume of breathing gas through
the mouthpiece 1. The blow-in opening of the mouthpiece 1 is
expanded in a circular pattern in order to make possible a good
closure with the lips. The mouthpiece 1 also has a trapezoidal
cross section as can be seen in FIG. 2. The trapezoidal cross
section of the mouthpiece 1 is complementary to a corresponding
negative shape in the holder 6 of the breath alcohol measuring
device 7. The trapezoidal cross section of the mouthpiece 1 is
preferably equilateral, and the hole 10 for sampling breathing gas
is located in the shorter of the two parallel sides of the cross
section as can be seen in FIG. 2.
[0013] A blow-out opening 2 with a diameter of about 4 mm to 5 mm
is located at the outlet-side end of the mouthpiece 1, which is the
right-hand end in FIG. 1.
[0014] As a result, the breathing gas stream generates a dynamic
pressure, which is detected by means of the pressure sensor 11. The
measured pressure corresponds to a certain breathing gas volume
flow, from which the breathing gas volume released is determined by
time integration.
[0015] The mouthpiece 1 has the cross section described at least in
the area of the holder 6. The upper parallel side (parallel to the
lower side) has a length of about 9 mm. The lower parallel side
(parallel to the upper side) has a length of about 4 mm. The height
of the trapezoid is about 10 mm. The holder 6 is designed as a
negative shape to the shape of the mouthpiece 1. The mouthpiece can
be guided securely on the three lateral surfaces that are
complementary to the holder 6 and it is as a result firmly seated
in the holder 6. Furthermore, the trapezoidal cross-sectional shape
of the mouthpiece 1 facilitates the attachment to the holder 6, so
that the suction channel 8 extends through the hole 10 as desired.
The orientation of the mouthpiece 1 in relation to the measuring
device is thus defined unambiguously. Furthermore, an external stop
3 extending circumferentially over at least some sections is
present, in particular, in the circumferential direction of the
cross section of the mouthpiece 1 for the lateral position of the
mouthpiece 1 in the holder 6, so that the mouthpiece 1 fits the
holder 6 in a completely fitting manner only when the suction
channel 8 extends through the hole 10. The stop 3 thus defines the
correct lateral position of the mouthpiece 1 in relation to the
holder 6. The positioning pin 4, which is optionally present, is
used, on the one hand, as an aid for the correct orientation of the
mouthpiece 1 for being received in the holder 6, especially also
when the mouthpiece 1 is still packaged, e.g., in a transport film.
The positioning pin 4 is especially useful in the case of
unfavorable light conditions during use for measurement and because
the mouthpiece 1 still has to be partially packaged in the contact
area for hygienic reasons during the attachment to the holder 6 by
the user. In addition, the positioning pin 4 acts as a spacer for
the test subject, so that contact between the measuring device and
the test subject's lips is prevented from occurring.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece 1 and
the holder 6 are symmetrical in relation to the breath alcohol
measuring device 7, so that the mouthpiece 1 can be received in the
holder 6 in two different positions differing from each other by
180.degree., and an additional improvement of the handling of the
mouthpiece 1 is thus made possible.
[0017] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
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