DEVICE EMPLOYING GAS GENERATING CELL FOR FACILITATING CONTROLLED RELEASE OF FLUID INTO AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the device comprising:
- a housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice, the fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment, the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
a gas-generating cell in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state; and
a fluid membrane disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state;
wherein the device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment. According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice. The fluid compartment contains the fluid for release to the ambient environment. The orifice compartment includes a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and contains an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state. A fluid restrictor is disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state. A gas-generating cell is in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state. A fluid membrane is disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state. The device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the device comprising:
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a housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice, the fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment, the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
a gas-generating cell in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state; and
a fluid membrane disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state;
wherein the device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the device comprising:
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a housing including a cell compartment, a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment;
the fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment and in fluid communication with the orifice compartment via an orifice;
the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
the cell compartment containing a gas-generating cell in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment and applies pressure to the fluid therein when the device is in an activated state;
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state; and
a fluid membrane disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state; and
a fluid emanator disposed adjacent the fluid exit opening to facilitate delivery of the fluid to the ambient environment;
wherein the device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening to the emanator and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening to the emanator in a controlled manner. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the device comprising:
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a housing including a cell compartment, a fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment, and an orifice compartment in fluid communication with the fluid compartment, the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
a gas-generating cell disposed within the cell compartment;
means for holding and sealing the gas generating cell within the cell compartment such that gas generated by the cell when the device is in an activated state applies pressure to the fluid in the fluid compartment;
means for protecting the gas generating cell from the fluid in the fluid reservoir;
means for preventing fluid in the fluid compartment from flowing into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
means for allowing fluid in the fluid compartment to flow into the orifice compartment and out through the fluid exit opening in the activated state; and
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
wherein the device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening to the emanator and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner.
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15. A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the device comprising:
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a device housing having a fluid activation mechanism; and
a removable cartridge removably connected to the device housing, the cartridge comprising;
a cartridge housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice, the fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment, the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
a gas-generating cell in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state; and
a fluid membrane disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state;
wherein the device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening and activating the cell via the fluid activation mechanism of the device housing to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A removable cartridge for use with a device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment, the cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice, the fluid compartment containing the fluid for release to the ambient environment, the orifice compartment including a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and containing an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state;
a fluid restrictor disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state;
a gas-generating cell in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state; and
a fluid membrane disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification