AMPOULE FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPERSION OF VOLATILE LIQUIDS

• US 20110072711A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Woodruff, Keith F., Shah, Shreya J., Varanyak, Linda A., Black, Bruce C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/123
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2033 using a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2044 Holders or dispensers for liquid insecticide, e.g. using wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an ampoule for the storage and dispersion of a volatile liquid comprised of (a) an outer shell composed of an impermeable material and defining at least one opening; (b) a porous diffusion member defining an internal reservoir positioned inside said outer shell; (c) a volatile liquid contained within such internal reservoir; and (d) a film member adhered to said outer shell and covering said at least one opening; wherein said film member is disposed such that an air space is present between said porous diffusion member and said film member; and wherein said porous diffusion member is configured such that molecules of the volatile liquid can only enter into said air space via diffusion through said porous diffusion member. Such ampoules are particularly suited for the storage and dispersion of organic chemicals useful as bed bug attractants, especially where such attractants are formulated in a highly volatile liquid, such as a C₈-C₁₂ alkane. In another aspect, this invention is directed to a device adapted to receive one or more of such ampoules. In one preferred embodiment, such device is a bed bug capturing device.

Claims

1. An ampoule for the storage and dispersion of a volatile liquid comprised of:

a) an outer shell composed of an impermeable material and defining at least one opening;

b) a porous diffusion member defining an internal reservoir positioned inside said outer shell;

c) a volatile liquid contained within such internal reservoir; and

d) a film member adhered to said outer shell and covering said at least one opening;

wherein said film member is disposed such that an air space is present between said porous diffusion member and said film member; and

wherein said porous diffusion member is configured such that molecules of the volatile liquid can only enter into said air space via diffusion through said porous diffusion member.

2. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of perfumes, air fresheners, aroma therapy components, pesticides, repellants and pharmaceuticals.

3. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the volatile liquid comprises a bed bug attractant.

4. The ampoule of claim 3 wherein the attractant is dissolved in a C₈-C₁₂ alkane.

5. The ampoule of claim 3 wherein the attractant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of hexenal, octenal and butyric acid.

6. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the outer shell is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.

7. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the film member is composed of aluminum.

8. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the porous diffusion member is composed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

9. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the outer shell has a flange around its upper rim.

10. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the film member is permeable to the volatile liquid once it has volitalized.

11. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the film member contains one or more preformed apertures which are covered by a removeable cover portion.

12. The ampoule of claim 1 wherein the porous diffusion member is planar in cross section.

13. A device adapted to receive at least one ampoule of claim 1.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein such device is a bed bug capturing device.