Simmer plate dispenser for volatile active materials

• US 20010012495A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Furner, Paul E., Schwarz, Ralph G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,780,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/126
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2088 using a burner or a flame as heat source
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/12 using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/24 Carriers for wicks

Abstract

The present invention relates to dispensers for active materials, which dispensers employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a simmer plate and to the body of a solid fuel containing the active material, so as to more rapidly liquify the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to volatilize the active material. The heat conductive elements and simmer plate are configured so as to engage said solid fuel, and to cause the flow of liquified fuel to the wick. The fuel may comprise various active ingredients, such as fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal and medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and the like, and may be provided in various forms.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a volatile active material, said dispenser comprising, in combination, a fuel element comprising a solid fuel containing said volatile active material, a wick at which said fuel may be burned to produce heat, a heat conductive container for said fuel element whereby said heat may be transported so as to melt said solid fuel, wherein said container is configured so as to cause the flow of melted fuel to said wick.

2. The dispenser of

claim 1

, wherein said volatile active material is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof.

3. The dispenser of

claim 1

, wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of gels and solid waxes.

4. The dispenser of

claim 3

, wherein said fuel is candle wax, and said container is a concave simmer plate.

5. The dispenser of

claim 1

, wherein said heat conductive container is a simmer plate, further comprising a heat conductive element chosen from the group consisting of lobes, fins, wick holders, and combinations thereof.

6. The dispenser of

claim 5

, wherein said heat conductive element cooperatively engages said fuel element.

7. The dispenser of

claim 6

, wherein said fuel element comprises a fuel selected from the group consisting of paraffin, beeswax, montan wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, stearic acid, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty esters, and combustible gels, and said volatile active material is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof.

8. A simmer plate dispenser for active materials, said dispenser comprising, in combination, a meltable solid fuel comprising a volatile active material, a consumable wick, a heat conductive base upon which said fuel rests, and heat conductive elements by which heat is conducted to said base from a flame upon said wick, whereby a pool of heated liquid fuel is created from which said active material volatilizes, wherein said heat conductive base is configured so as to cause the flow of said heated liquid fuel to said wick for combustion, said base and said elements are configured so as to cooperatively engage said fuel, and said active material is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof.

9. The dispenser of

claim 8

, wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of gels and solid waxes.

10. The dispenser of

claim 8

, wherein said heat conductive element is selected from the group consisting of lobes, fins, wick holders, and combinations thereof.

11. The dispenser of

claim 10

, wherein said heat conductive element is a lobe, and said volatile active is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, insect repellants, herbal substances, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions.

12. The dispenser of

claim 10

, wherein said heat conductive element is a wick holder with fins, and said volatile active is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, insect repellants, herbal substances, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions.

13. A simmer plate dispenser for dispersing an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof, said dispenser comprising a replaceable fuel containing said ingredient and a wick, and a dispensing device comprising a heat conductive simmer plate, and a heat conductive element to collect heat from a flame at said wick and conduct said heat to said simmer plate to thereby melt said fuel containing said active ingredient and form a pool of liquid fuel on the surface of said simmer plate, wherein said dispensing device is configured to position and engage said fuel on said simmer plate for rapid melting, said simmer plate is shaped so as to cause said pool of liquid fuel to flow to said wick, said active ingredient is selected so as to evaporate from said pool of liquid fuel, and the temperature of said pool of liquid fuel exceeds a temperature of about 180°

F. at a point about 10 mm from said wick, and about 160°

F. at a point about 20 mm from said wick.

14. A simmer plate dispenser as set forth in

claim 13

, wherein said heat conductive element is selected from the group consisting of lobes, fins, wick holders, and combinations thereof.

15. The dispenser of

claim 14

, wherein said heat conductive element is a lobe, and said active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, insect repellants, herbal substances, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions.

16. The dispenser of

claim 14

, wherein said heat conductive element is a wick holder with fins, and said active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, insect repellants, herbal substances, mood enhancers, and aroma therapy compositions.

17. A solid replacement element for a dispenser of volatile active materials, said element comprising a solid fuel, a consumable wick, and a volatile active ingredient selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof.

18. The replacement element of

claim 17

, wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of gels and candle waxes.

19. The replacement element of

claim 17

, wherein said element is configured to cooperatively engage said dispenser.

20. The replacement element of

claim 19

, wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of paraffin, beeswax, montan wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, stearic acid, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty esters, and combustible gels.

21. A dispensing device for dispersing a volatile active material, said device comprising a heat conductive container for a replaceable fuel element comprising a combustible wick and said volatile active material, said container configured so as to engage and melt said solid fuel element and to cause the flow of melted fuel to said wick.

22. A dispensing device as set forth in

claim 21

, wherein said container comprises a concave simmer plate constructed of a heat conductive material selected from the group consisting of brass, aluminum, steel, copper, stainless steel, silver, tin, bronze, zinc, iron, clad materials, heat conductive polymers, ceramics, glass, and combinations thereof.

23. A dispensing device as set forth in

claim 22

, wherein said simmer plate further comprises a heat conductive element selected from the group consisting of lobes, fins, wick holders, and combinations thereof.