DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A VOLATILE SUBSTANCE

• US 20110290908A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firmenich SA
• Original Assignee: Firmenich SA
• Inventors: Tranzeat, Lyse, Robinson, Guy Edmund, O'Leary, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/44
• 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 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/15 Supporting means, e.g. stands, hooks, holes for hanging
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/04 using substances evaporated in the air without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of perfumery and more precisely it concerns a device, and the consumer articles associated therewith, for dispensing an active composition into the surrounding space. The device includes an assembly containing a reservoir holding the active liquid to be diffused into the surroundings and a wick-/emitting member structure composed of a wick member and an emitting/diffusion member, the latter having an evaporative surface to be directly exposed to the surrounding space when the device is activated, the assembly being housed in a casing or carried by a supporting frame, the device further including a pivoting member fixed on the casing or on the supporting frame to allow a swinging motion of the assembly and thus forced evaporation of the active volatile whenever desired.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing an active liquid volatile substance into the surrounding atmosphere, provided with means for forced ventilation of an evaporation surface impregnated with said volatile substance, said device comprising a housing or a supporting frame and an assembly of:

a) a reservoir containing the active volatile substance and having an upper part equipped with an opening optionally covered with a cap;

b) at least one emanating member carrying said evaporation surface and formed of a material capable of being impregnated with said active volatile substance upon activation of the device and of allowing evaporation thereof into the device'"'"'s surroundings;

c) at least one wick member formed of, or carrying, a porous material part capable of being impregnated with said active volatile substance, said wick member being adapted to be lodged in the device through the opening of the reservoir'"'"'s upper part in a position allowing it to be impregnated with the volatile substance and to be in contact with the emanating member;

wherein, upon activation of the device, the emanating member and the wick member are lodged in the device in a position allowing the wick member to be in contact with the active volatile substance and to cause the emanating member to be impregnated therewith, the means for forced ventilation of the evaporation surface comprising a pivot fixed to the housing or supporting frame, the assembly being arranged on the pivot in a manner allowing a swinging movement thereof around the pivoting axis for a period of time, so as to cause forced ventilation of said evaporation surface of the emanating member, the swinging movement of the assembly being triggered by manual, mechanical or electronically powered displacement of one or more assembly components.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the entire surface of the emanating member is impregnated with volatile substance soon after activation of the device, and the maximum amount of volatile substance absorbed in the wick and emanating members is less than about 20% by weight of the initial amount of volatile substance in the device.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the maximum amount of volatile substance absorbed in the wick and emanating members is comprised between 5% and 15% by weight, and most preferably between 8% and 13% by weight, of the initial total weight of liquid contained in the device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wick member and the emanating member are parts of a single piece forming a wick/emanating structure.

5. The device according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of wick/emanating pieces.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing or supporting frame comprises holes or vents to allow diffusion of the active volatile into the device'"'"'s surroundings upon its activation.

7. The device according to claim 6, comprising activation means accessible from the exterior of the housing or frame to allow manual activation of the assembly'"'"'s swinging movement.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the activation means consists of a lever which is part of a moulded component also serving as a cap for the reservoir.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pivot is lodged in said moulded component also serving as the reservoir'"'"'s cap.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing or supporting frame carries a solar panel and means allowing connections thereof to a printed circuit board susceptible of generating an electric current on a solenoid arranged in a manner allowing engagement with a magnet.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the active volatile substance is a liquid comprising a perfume, a deodorizing substance, an insecticide substance, an insect repellent or attracting substance, or an antibacterial or bacteriostatic agent.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the active volatile liquid is a non-aqueous perfuming composition, at least 60% of the total weight of which is formed of ingredients having a vapour pressure comprised between 4 Pa and 270 Pa.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the emanating or evaporative surface of the emanating member has a surface area of one of between 50 cm² and 400 cm², between 75 cm² and 100 cm², or between 100 cm² and 200 cm².

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the emanating member has a surface area comprised between 100 cm² and 200 cm², and the surface area to the mass of liquid absorbed by the wick/emanating assembly is a ratio of one of between 20 cm²/g and 200 cm²/g, between 30 cm²/g and 150 cm²/g, or between 40 cm²/g and 100 cm²/g.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the emanating member has a surface area comprised between 100 cm² and 200 cm², and the ratio of that surface area to the mass of liquid absorbed by the wick/emanating assembly is between 40 cm²/g and 100 cm²/g.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the emitting part is formed of filter paper having a thickness comprised between 0.18 and 0.45 mm, or of sintered plastic having a thickness of 1.50 mm.

17. The device according to claim 1, in the form of a room, cupboard or car freshener or deodorant, a closet freshener, a mothproofer, an insecticide or an insect repellent device, or a combination thereof, possibly packaged in unassembled form.