Patents by Inventor Patrick L. Nolan

Patrick L. Nolan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11000012
    Abstract: A collapsible scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scent material. The training wheel includes a support base configured to be positioned on a support surface and a rotatable carousel including a top plate and a plurality of support arms extending radially outward from the top plate. Each support arm has a first end rotatably connected to the top plate and a second end configured to be coupled to a scent receptacle. The training wheel also includes a hub assembly detachably mechanically coupling the rotatable carousel to the support base, wherein the hub assembly is configured to permit the carousel to rotate relative to the base. The connection between the first ends of each support arm and the top plate permits each of the support arms to rotate relative to the top plate between an open position and a collapsed storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan
  • Patent number: 10709108
    Abstract: An automated scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scents. The automated scent training wheel comprises a rotatable carousel and a plurality of scent receptacles coupled to the rotatable carousel, where the scent receptacles are each configured to hold scent source material therein. The automated scent training wheel also comprises a plurality of sensing systems each disposed at one of the plurality of scent receptacles, wherein each sensing system is configured to automatically detect investigation of the associated scent receptacle by an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick L. Nolan, Simon Prins
  • Patent number: 10660311
    Abstract: A scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scents. The device includes a base, a rotatable carousel, and a spinner hub assembly that mechanically couples the carousel to the support base. The spinner hub assembly is configured to permit the carousel to rotate relative to the support base and to selectively lock the rotatable carousel in a selected position relative to base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20200128791
    Abstract: A collapsible scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scent material. The training wheel includes a support base configured to be positioned on a support surface and a rotatable carousel including a top plate and a plurality of support arms extending radially outward from the top plate. Each support arm has a first end rotatably connected to the top plate and a second end configured to be coupled to a scent receptacle. The training wheel also includes a hub assembly detachably mechanically coupling the rotatable carousel to the support base, wherein the hub assembly is configured to permit the carousel to rotate relative to the base. The connection between the first ends of each support arm and the top plate permits each of the support arms to rotate relative to the top plate between an open position and a collapsed storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20190008119
    Abstract: An automated scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scents. The automated scent training wheel comprises a rotatable carousel and a plurality of scent receptacles coupled to the rotatable carousel, where the scent receptacles are each configured to hold scent source material therein. The automated scent training wheel also comprises a plurality of sensing systems each disposed at one of the plurality of scent receptacles, wherein each sensing system is configured to automatically detect investigation of the associated scent receptacle by an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick L. Nolan, Simon Prins
  • Publication number: 20190000039
    Abstract: An automated scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scents. The automated scent training wheel comprises a rotatable carousel and a plurality of scent receptacles coupled to the rotatable carousel, where the scent receptacles are each configured to hold scent source material therein. The automated scent training wheel also comprises a plurality of sensing systems each disposed at one of the plurality of scent receptacles, wherein each sensing system is configured to automatically detect investigation of the associated scent receptacle by an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick L. Nolan, Simon Prins
  • Publication number: 20180310524
    Abstract: A scent training wheel for training animals to detect and respond to target scents. The device includes a base, a rotatable carousel, and a spinner hub assembly that mechanically couples the carousel to the support base. The spinner hub assembly is configured to permit the carousel to rotate relative to the support base and to selectively lock the rotatable carousel in a selected position relative to base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan
  • Patent number: 9545081
    Abstract: A device for training animals such as rats, dogs, etc. to recognize and associate target odors/scents with food. The training device, sometimes referred to herein as an odor or scent training device, includes a feeding dish/pan that is configured to have food positioned therein. The scent training device creates a scent curtain of a target scent above the food so that the animal's nose and head first penetrate the scent curtain before the animal can eat the food. As such, each time the animal reaches for more food in the feeding dish, an association between the reward of food and the target scent is strengthened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan
  • Publication number: 20150114301
    Abstract: Presented herein is a device for training animals such as rats, dogs, etc. to recognize and associate target odors/scents with food. The training device, sometimes referred to herein as an odor or scent training device, includes a feeding dish/pan that is configured to have food positioned therein. The scent training device creates a scent curtain of a target scent above the food so that the animal's nose and head first penetrate the scent curtain before the animal can eat the food. As such, each time the animal reaches for more food in the feeding dish, an association between the reward of food and the target scent is strengthened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick L. Nolan