RELATEDED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 909,506, filed October 19, 1986, whose disclosure is, by reference, incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND The invention relates to devices for efficiently delivering air born fragrances to the nose. More particularly, the invention relates to devices which are held by the mouth for positioning a fragrance source proximate to the user's nares to facilitate sniffing thereof.

Fragrant materials are widely used to alter or contribute to environmental odors. For example, frankincense is used in various religious and funereal rites. In order to alter the environmental odor, sufficient fragrant material must be employed to suffuse the entire environment. If the particular environment is expansive, considerable fragrant material may be consumed before the desired affect is obtained. On the other hand, once the environment is entirely suffused, the fragrance will intrude on all persons entering the environment. Such practices can be wasteful of materials and undiscriminating with respect to persons who may wish to avoid the particular fragrance.

Similarly, perfumes are used to alter or contribute to personal odors. Typically, the perfume is applied directly onto the user's person. Although the user will perceive the odor of the perfume, the user's continued

5 perception and appreciation of the odor can be transitory or attenuated due to olfactory mechanisms . Frequently, it is the intent of the user that the odor of the perfume should be perceived and appreciated by third parties. The effect of the perfume is somewhat

10 localized and requires a degree of proximity between user and the third party before it is perceived and appreciated.

Fragrant materials can also be employed to alter the - odor of a user's mouth. Schellenbach (U _β S. Pat. No.

15 656,479) describes a quill type tooth pick for the delivery of fragrant materials to the mouth. The quill includes a cavity which is filled with the fragrant material which is delivered to the mouth when employed for picking the user's teeth. Similarly, a wooden tooth

20 pick impregnated with fragrant material for delivery to the user's mouth is described by Hellwig (U.S. Pat. No. 292,834). In both cases, the fragrant material is delivered into the user's mouth and alters or contributes to the odor of the mouth.

25 A system which achieves even greater efficiency and specificity of odor delivery is described by Etter et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,492). Etter describes the use of microencapsulated patches which are to be attached to the user's hands. Patches having different odors are

attached to either hand. When the user desires a particular odor, the appropriate patch is scratched and raised to the user's nose. The process is well localized and material efficient. However, if the user requires the continued use of his hands, sustained or continued consumption of the odor may be difficult.

What is needed is a device for efficiently delivering fragrances to an individual in a manner which is localized, sustainable, and variable. SUMMARY

The invention is a sniffing stick which facilitates the delivery and individualized consumption of fragrances. The sniffing stick includes a mouthpiece and an extended body which supports a fragrant composition. When the mouthpiece is held by a user's lips or teeth, the extended body will extend from the mouth and support the fragrant composition in a position proximate to the nares of the user's nose so as to facilitate the efficient consumption of the fragrance. An important element of the invention is the separation between the mouth piece and the fragrant composition. A number of fragrant compositions are not approved for oral comsumption and have a bitter taste. It is considered desirable to carefully exclude such fragrant compositions from introduction or entry into the oral cavity. To achieve this result, the sniffing stick employs a water imperiable mouthpiece or other means for excluding the fragrant composition from the mouth piece and the mouth. A mouthpiece will be water

imperiable if it has a composition of non-porous plastic or other non-porous or water imperiable compositions. Wooden or fibrous compositions may be rendered water imperiable by treatment and impregation with hydrophobic substances such wax. In this manner, the sniffing stick prevents the introduction of the fragrant composition into the oral cavity.

The extended body supports the fragrant composition _* If the extended body has a wooden or fibrous composition, the fragrant composition may be impregnated into the extended body. Alternatively, the fragrant composition may be impregnated into a substrate which is adherently attached to the extended body or otherwise mechanically attached or secured by the extended body. Many fragrant compositions are highly volatile. Prior to use, the individual sniffing sticks may be enclosed and packaged in order to preserve their fragrant composition and to prevent their premature release and suffusion into the environment. Sniffing sticks having a variety of scents may be assembled and packaged for easy selection by the comsumer. When the user wants to comsume a particular scent, the appropriate sniffing stick is removed from its enclosure and its mouthpiece is inserted into the user's mouth. Alternatively, the sniffing stick may include its own internal enclosure for storing the fragrant composition. Such sniffing sticks do not need to be enclosed within a sealed package until use. When such sniffing stickes are comsumed, their mouthpiece is

inserted into the user's mouth and the internal enclosure is opened so as to release the fragrant composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. la is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a tooth pick type structure. The device of Fig. l.a is described in Example 1. Fig. lb is a planar view of the device of Fig. la.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a mouthpiece and extended body with a wooden composition and substrate having a paper composition. The device of Fig. 2 is described in Example 2.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a mouthpiece and extended body with a wooden composition and substrate having a fiber composition. The device of Fig. 3 is described in Example 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a mouthpiece and extended body with a plastic composition and substrate having a paper composition. The device of Fig. 4 is described in Example 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick similar to the device of Fig. 4 except for the fact that it has a flat mouthpiece. The device of Fig. 5 is described in Example 3.

Fig. 6.a is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a cavity within its extended body

for housing the substrate. Fig. 6b is a perspective view illustrating the top side of the device of Fig. 6.a indicating the presence of holes communicating with the cavity. The device of Fig.'s 6.a and 6.b is described in Example 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a texturized mouthpiece. The device of

Fig. 7 is described in Example 3.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having an angular extended body. The device of

Fig. 8 is described in Example 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having an angular extended body. The device of

Fig. 9 is described in Example 3. Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having a substrate sli able mounted onto the extended body. The device of Fig. 10 is described in Example 4.

Fig. 11.a is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick having an extended body with a hollow cavity for housing the substrate. The substrate is rod shaped and includes a plug which can be used to seal off the cavity for enclosing the substrate therein. Fig.

11.b is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the device described in Fig. 11.a. The device.of Fig. 11 is described in Example 5.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a sniffing stick similar to the sniffing stick of Fig. 11.

However this sniffing stick includes an extended body

which is detachable from the mouthpiece; a screw cap for sealing off the cavity; a keeper ring for restraining the motion of the substrate within the cavity; and a catch on the mouthpiece to facilitate the user's grasp. The device of Fig. 12 is described in Example 5.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the device in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the device in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a second perspective view of the device in Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a second exploded view of the device in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a sectionally view of the device in Fig. 15, sectioned paralled to the longitudinal axis.

Fig. 18 is a plane end view of the device in Fig. 15 illustrating the screw cap.

Fig. 19 is a plane end view of the device in Fig. 15 illustrating the mouth piece. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a sniffing stick having a sleeve rotatably mounted within a cavity defined by the extended body. The device of Fig. 20 is described in Example 6.

Fig. 21 is an exploded view of the device in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a sectionally view of the device in Fig. 20, sectioned paralled to the longitudinal axis.

Fig. 23 is a plane end view of the exploded device in Fig. 21 illustrating the mouthpiece.

Fig. 24 is a sectional view of the extended body portion of the exploded device in Fig. 21, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis toward the mouthpiece and illustrating a cavity. Fig. 25 is a sectional view of the sleeve portion of the exploded device in Fig. 21, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis toward the twist knob.

Fig. 26 is a plane end view of the exploded device in Fig. 21 illustrating the twist knob for the rotatable sleeve.

Fig. 27 is a plane end view of the exploded device in Fig. 21 illustrating the one end of the cylindrically shaped stabstrate.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a partially exploded sniffing stick illustrated an embodiment having a cylinder rotatably mountable within a cradle embedded in the extended body. The device of Fig. 28 is described in Example 7.

Fig. 29 is a sectionally view of the device in Fig. 28, sectioned paralled to the longitudinal axis.

Fig. 30 is a plane top view of the exploded device in Fig. 21 illustrating the cradle.

Fig. 31 is an alternative perspective view of the exploded sleeve shown in Fig. 28. Fig. 32 is a perspective view of a sniffing stick having a sleeve slidable mounted on an extended body having a hollow cavity. The sleeve in Fig. 32 is in the open position. The device of Fig. 32 is described in Example 7.

Fig. 33 is an exploded view of the device in Fig. 20.

Fig. 34 is a sectional view of Fig. 32 illustrating the extended body. Fig. 35 is a sectional view of Fig. 32 illustrating the cylindrical substrate, the cavity, the a hole for allowing the fragrant composition to vent from the cavity.

Fig. 36 is a sectional view of Fig. 32 illustrating the cylindrical substrate, the cavity, the slidably mounted sleeve.

Fig. 37 is a sectional view of Fig. 32 illustrating a plug for closing off the end of the cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The sniffing stick includes a mouthpiece (1) , an extended body (2) , and a fragrant composition (3) linked to the extended body (2) , usually by means of a separate substrate (4) . The mouthpiece (1) is adapted to be inserted into the user's mouth (5) and held by either the user's lips (6) or teeth. The extended body (2) extends from the mouthpiece (1) . When the mouthpiece (1) is inserted into the user's mouth (5), the extended body (2) extends extra-labially and locates the substrate (3) containing the fragrant composition (3) to a position proximate to the user's nares (7).

There are several different methods for linking the fragrant composition (3) to the extended body (2). Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. If the extended body (2) has a wooden, fibrous, or porous

composition, the fragrant composition (3) may be impregnated directly into the extended body (2) . In this embodiment, care must be taken that the fragrant composition (3) does not invade the mouthpiece (1) . Alternatively, the fragrant composition (3) may be embedded in a paper or fibrous substrate (4) which is then adhesively or mechanically attached to the extended body (2). And finally, the fragrant composition (3) may be embedded within a substrate (4) and the substrate (4) enclosed within a sealed cavity (8) formed by the extended body (2) . In this last embodiment, the cavity (8) is opened and the substrate (4) partially removed directly prior to use. Also, this last embodiment eliminates the need to enclose the individual sniffing sticks within sealed packages during storage to prevent premature suffusion of the volatile fragrant composition (3).

Innumerable fragrant compositions (3) are known and used in the prior art. The fragrant compositions are volatile fluids which are either synthetic or extracted from natural sources. The invention is not limited to particular fragrances. However, fragrant compositions (3) which have been sucessfully employed include lemon, cinnamon, chocolate fragrance, and tube rose fragrances. The fragrant compositions must be absorbable by at least one type of substrate, i.e. wood, paper, card board, fibrous material, wick material, porous plastic, etc. Also the absorbed fragrant composition (3) must be releasable from the substrate when exposed to the open

atmosphere .

Example 1 Fig . ' s l. a and l .b illustrate a sniffing stick which has been derived from a standard wooden tooth pick . In this firs t embodiment, the first end (9 ) of the tooth pick serves as the mouthpiece ( 1) and is embedded with wax to make it impermiable to the fragrant composition ( 3) . Then the second end ( 10 ) of the tooth pick is then soaked with the fragrant composition (3) . The device is then individually packaged to prevent the premature evaporation of the fragrant composition ( 3) . When the user is ready to comsume the device , the package is unsealed and the mouthpiece ( 1) end is inserted into the user' s mouth ( 5) . To facilitate the user' s identification of the mouthpiece (1) , either the mouthpiece (1) or the opposite end of the device may be color coded ( 11) to distinguish one end from the other. Alternatively , both ends may be color coded.

Example 2 Fig.'s 2 and 3 illustrate sniffing sticks with mouthpieces (1) and extended bodies (2) having a wooden or fibrous composition and with paper or fiber substrates (4) for carrying the fragrant composition (3). The paper or fiber substrate (4) is adhesively attached to the wooden extended body (2) . In order to prevent the diffusion of the fragrant composition (3) into the mouthpiece (1) of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, the mouthpiece (1) of that device must be treated with wax or some other impermiable substance

prior to the application of the fragrant composition (3) onto the paper substrate (4). On the other hand, the fragrant composition (3) may be excluded from the mouthpiece (1) of the device of Fig. 3 in one of two ways. Firstly, like the device of Fig. 2, the mouthpiece (1) may be treated with wax or some other impermiable substance. Secondly, an impermiable barrier may be inserted between the fibrous substrate (4) and the extended body (2) . In conjunction with this second method, the wooden mouthpiece (1) of the device illustrated in Fig. 3 may be embedded with a flavor source which is separate and distinct from the fragrant composition (3) .

Example 3 Fig.'s 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate sniffing sticks having mouthpieces (1) and extended bodies (2) with a plastic composition and paper or fiberous substrates (4) for carrying the fragrant composition (3). The preferred plastic compositions for the mouthpiece (1) and extended body (2) include lucite and polyethylene.

The mouthpiece (1) and extended body (2) of the device illustrated in Fig. 4 is formed from a single plastic rod. The fragrant composition (3) is embedded in a paper substrate (4) which is wrapped around the plastic extended body (2) and adhesively attached thereto. The device illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to the device illustrated in Fig. 4 except for the fact that its mouthpiece (1) has a flat shape (12) .

The device illustrated in Fig.'s 6.a and 6.b is formed from a hollow plastic tube. The end of the tube which forms the mouthpiece (1) is closed off. The opposite end of the tube forms the extended body (2) . An annular ring (13) encircles the tube and separates the mouthpiece (1) from the extended body (2) . The hollow tube defines an interior cavity (14) which houses the substrate (4) containing the fragrant composition (3) . The substrate (4) may be composed of wick material or other fibrous material. The extended body (2) includes one or more holes which allow the fragrant composition (3) to evaporate and escape from the device.

The device illustrated in Fig. 7 has a plastic mouthpiece (1) with a texturized surface (15) . The texturization facilitates the user's bite of the mouthpiece (1) . The extended body (2) of the device has an ornamental shape. A paper substrate (4) impregnated with the fragrant composition (3) is adhesively attached to the extended body (2) . Fig.'s 8 and 9 illustrate angularly shaped devices. When the mouthpiece (1) of these devices is inserted into the user's mouth (5), the extended bodies (2) angle upward towards the user's nares (7). The substrate (4) is attached to the extended body (2) at a position which is closest to the user's nares (7). The substrate (4) illustrated in Fig. 8 has a three dimensional structure which fits snugly into a depression within the extended body (2). The substrate (4) illustrated in Fig. 9 is similar to the substrate (4) illustrated in Fig. 7.

Example 4 Fig. 10 illustrates a sniff stick with a slidably mounted substrate (4 ) . The extended body (2) takes the form of a ridged rod . The substrate ( 4) has a solid three dimensional structure ( 16 ) and defines a hole through which the substrate (4 ) can be slidably mounted onto the extended body (2) . Prior to use , the substrates (4) are stored separately in sealed containers . When the user decides to consume a fragrance , the substrate (4) is removed from its package and mounted onto the extended body (2) . After the user if finished, the substrate (4 ) can be removed and possibly replaced with a substrate (4) having an other fragrance . The substrates (4 ) have a composition which is fibrous or porous and which can be impregnated with the fragrant composition ( 3) and which can release the fragrant composition (3) when exposed to the open air.

Example 5 Fig .s 11. a, 11. b , 12 and 13 illustrate sniff sticks with cavities ( 8) incorporated into the extended body (2 ) for enclosing the substrate (4) . The extended body (2) of the device illustrated in Fig. 11 defines a hollow cavity ( 8) which houses a rod shaped substrate (4 ) . The rod shaped substrate (4 ) may be composed of porous plastic or other rigid or semi-rigid absorbant material . The rod shaped substrate (4 ) includes a plug (17) which can be wedged into the cavity ( 8 ) to seal off the cavity ( 8) when the substrate (4) is being stored therein. When in use, the plug ( 17) is unwedged from

the cavity (8) and the rod shaped substrate (4) is partially removed from the cavity (8). The substrate (4) can be returned to its cavity (8) and resealed with the plug (17) when consumption of the fragrant composition (3) is complete or between sessions of consumption.

Fig.'s 12-19 illustrate a device similar to the device of Fig. 11. However, the extended body (2) of the device illustrated in Fig.'s 12 and 13 is separable from the mouthpiece (1). Also, the extended body (2) includes a screw cap (18) for sealing off the substrate (4) within the cavity (8). The rod shaped substrate (4) of this device may include a small annular ring (19) which restricts the movement of the substrate (4) within the cavity (8) and prevents the substrate (4) from inadvertantly falling out of the cavity (8) during use. The mouthpiece (1) of this device includes a catch (20) which facilitates the user's hold on the device. Fig. 14 illustrates the use of this device. Example 6

Fig.'s 20 - 27 illustrate an embodiment of the sniffing stick having a control mechanism for controlling the release of the fragrant composition. In this embodiment, a rotatable sleeve (21) serves as the control mechanism. The rotatable sleeve (21) is mounted within a cavity (8) defined by the extended body (2). The carrier is a rod of porous plastic (4) which is housed in the cavity (8). The extended body (2) also defines a first radial hole (22) which communicates with

the cavity. A second radial hole (23) is defined by the rotatable sleeve (21) . When the rotatable sleeve (21) is rotated so as to align the first radial hole (22) with the second radial hole (23) , the fragrant composition is released from the cavity (8) .

Example 7 Fig.'s 28 - 31 illustrate an other embodiment of the control mechanism. In this embodiment, the extended body defines a cradle ^' (24) for holding a cylinder (25) . The cylinder (25) defines a cavity (8) which encases the carrier (4). A sleeve (26) is rotatably mounted on the cylinder (25) . The cylinder (25) defines a first radial hole (27) , which communicates with the cavity (8) and allows the fragrance to escape therefrom. The sleeve (26) defines a second radial hole (28). When the sleeve (2€) is rotated so that the first radial hole (27) and the second radial hole (28) are non-aligned, the fragrance will be retained within the cavity (8) and will not be released. However, when the sleeve (26) is rotated so that the first radial hole (27) is aligned with the second radial hole (28) , the fragrance will be released from the cavity (8) into the environment.

Example 8 Fig.'s 32 - 37 illustrate a further embodiment of the control mechanism. In this embodiment, a slidable sleeve (29) serves as the control mechanism. The extended body (2) defines a cavity (8) and a first radial hole (30) which communicates with the cavity. A plug (18) may be employed to close off the end of the

cavity (8). The carrier is a rod of porous plastic (4) which is housed in the cavity (8). The slidable sleeve (29) is then slidably mounted over the extended body (2). When the sleeve (29) is longitudinally translated along the extended body (2) so as to cover the radial hole (30), the fragrant composition is confined to the cavity (8) . However, when the sleeve (29) is longitudinally translated along the extended body (2) so as to uncover the radial hole (30), the fragrant composition is released from the cavity (8) .

The above examples merely illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. The limitations inherent in the above examples should not be construed as limitations on the overall invention.