Apparatus for and Method of Dispensing Active Materials

• US 20070012718A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolf, Jeffrey, Schramm, Heather
• Granted Patent: US 7,622,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/035 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0607 generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing active materials comprises a housing and control circuitry disposed within the housing. The control circuitry implements programming for a mode of operation in which during a first period of time a first active material is emitted, during a second period of time the first active material and a second active material are emitted, and during a third period of time the second active material is emitted, wherein during the second period of time, the first and second fragrances are altered.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing active material, comprising:

a housing; and

control circuitry disposed within the housing that implements programming for a mode of operation in which during a first period of time a first active material is emitted, during a second period of time the first active material and a second active material are emitted, and during a third period of time the second active material is emitted, wherein during the second period of time, the first and second fragrances are alternately emitted.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with first and second bottles having first and second active materials therein and first and second wicks in contact with the first and second active materials, respectively, and extending outside of the respective bottles.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including first and second piezoelectric devices that are operated by the control circuitry, wherein the first and second piezoelectric elements are in contact with the first and second wicks, respectively, to dispense the first and second fragrances therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry implements programming for a second mode of operation in which only the first active material is emitted.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry implements programming for a third mode of operation in which only the second active material is emitted.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a switch is disposed on the housing to allow selection of the first-named, second, or third modes of operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and third periods of time have durations that are the same.

8. A method of dispensing active materials, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting a first active material for a first period of time;

emitting the first active material and a second active material for a second period of time, wherein the first and second active materials are alternately emitted during the second period of time; and

emitting the second active material for third period of time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alternation of the first and second active materials during the second of time includes alternating discrete emissions of the first and second active materials followed by dwell periods.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of emitting the first and second active materials for a fourth period of time, wherein the first and second active materials are alternately emitted during the fourth period of time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time, the third period of time follows the second period of time, and the fourth period of time follows the third period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method steps performed during the first, second, third, and fourth periods of time are repeated for a fifth period of time.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second active material are alternately emitted during the second period of time such that when a burst of one of the active materials is emitted, a burst of the other of the active materials is initiated before the burst of the one of the active materials is terminated.

14. A method of dispensing active materials, the method comprising the steps of:

periodically emitting discrete bursts of a first active material for a first period of time;

periodically emitting discrete bursts of the first active material and a second active material for a second period of time; and

periodically emitting discrete bursts of the second active material for a third period of time;

wherein during the second period of time;

the first and second active materials are alternately emitted.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second active materials are alternately emitted during the second period of time in a manner such that when a burst of one of the active materials is emitted, a burst of the other of the active materials is initiated before the burst of the one of the active materials is terminated.

16. The method of claim 14, further including the step of periodically emitting both the first and second active materials for a fourth period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second active materials are alternately emitted during the fourth period of time such that when a burst of one of the active materials is emitted, a burst of the other of the active materials is initiated before the burst of the one of the active materials is terminated.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a sequence is repeated during the second period of time and the sequence includes bursting the first active material, initiating a burst of the second active material before the burst of the first active material is finished, thereby creating an overlap period, causing delivery of the first active material to enter a dwell period before the second active material is finished bursting, thereafter causing the second active material to enter a dwell period, bursting the second active material, initiating a burst of the first active material before the burst of the second active material is concluded, causing the second active material to enter a dwell period before the burst of the first active material is terminated, and thereafter causing the first active material to enter a dwell period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a sequence is repeated during the fourth period of time and the sequence includes bursting the second active material, initiating a burst of the first active material before the burst of the second active material is finished, thereby creating an overlap period, causing the second active material to enter a dwell period before the first active material is finished bursting, causing delivery of the first active material to enter a dwell period, bursting the first active material, initiating a burst of the second active material before the burst of the first active material is concluded, causing the first active material to enter a dwell period before the burst of the second active material is terminated, and thereafter causing the second active material to enter a dwell period.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time and the third period of time follows the first period of time.