Automatic intermittent vapor dispenser

• US 4,166,087 A
• Filed: 02/04/1975
• Issued: 08/28/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transamerica Business Credit Corporation (Aegon Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cline-Buckner Incorporated
• Inventors: Cline, Lee S., John, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US05/547,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 239/6, 239/54, 239/56, 239/60, 239/41-43, 261/24, 261/26, 261/49, 261/95, 261/102, 261/30, 261/DIG. 17, 43/129, 128/186, 128/187, 21/108, 21/109, 21/117, 21/121, 21/124, 21/122, 307/293
• US Class Current: 261/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/24 using sterilising media
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/50 by odorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/28 Modifications for introducing a time delay before switching modifications to provide a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action H03K17/296
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/17 Odorizers

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved vapor dispenser and method that may be used for vapor-treating the air of a given area; the air-treating vapors containing such diverse elements as medicants, decongestants, inhalants, repellants, insecticides, bactericides, deodorants, and the like. The disclosed vapor dispenser may be described as a "semistatic" type, since it uses a static vapor generator that does not require a propellant, and uses automatic intermittent air movement for dispensing the accumulated vapors into the area to be treated by the vapors. Thus, the disclosed semistatic vapor dispenser continually provides the desired vapor concentration.

An improved static vapor generator is also disclosed, the improvement permitting the static vapor generator to produce vapors at a more uniform rate during its entire lifetime.

Claims

1. A static vapor generator comprising;

(A) a vapor producing gel body comprising

a gelling agent;

a coacting liquid system;

a material portion of the liquids forming said liquid system being adapted for air treatment;

(B) means for improving the uniformity of the vaporization rate of said vapor generator;

said vaporization rate improving means comprising a syneresis pad whose exposed area increases as the exposed area of said gel body decreases;

whereby the overall exposed area of said gel body and said syneresis pad tends to remain constant;

(C) said gel body being positioned in contact with said syneresis pad;

whereby liquid squeezed out of said gel body is absorbed by said syneresis pad.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said liquid system comprises at least one element selected from the class consisting of deodorants, bactericides, decongestants, inhalants, aromatics, insecticides, repellants, medicants, and pharmaceuticals.

3. A semistatic vapor dispenser comprising:

static vapor generator means, adapted to generate vapors in a continuous manner, for providing an accumulation of vapors during a first given time interval;

air circulating means, comprising a motor and fan, for dispensing said accumulated vapors in the form of vapor-laden air into a given space during a second given time interval;

means for minimizing recirculation of said vapor-laden air through said vapor dispenser;

said recirculation minimizing means comprising a set of intake louvers having their open slots directed upwardly, and a set of exhaust louvers having their open slots directed downwardly; and

means, comprising electronic circuitry for deactivating said air-moving means during said first given time interval, and for activating said air-moving means during said second given time interval;

said static vapor generator means comprising a gel body positioned in a receptacle that substantially confines the bottom and sides of the body;

said gel body being positioned in contact with a syneresis pad;

whereby liquid squeezed out of said gel body by syneresis is absorbed by said syneresis pad.

4. A vapor dispenser comprising:

static vapor generator means for providing an accumulation of vapors during a first given time interval;

air-moving means for dispensing said accumulated vapors into a given space during a second given time interval; and

automatic means for intermittently deactivating and activating said air-moving means for said first and second time intervals to provide a plurality of dispensing cycles per hour of operation;

said static vapor generator means comprising a gel body in a receptacle that substantially confines the bottom and sides of the body;

said gel body comprising;

a gelling agent;

a coacting liquid system;

a material portion of the liquids forming said liquid system being adapted for air treatment;

means for improving the uniformity of the vaporization rate of said static vapor generator;

said vaporization rate improving means comprising a syneresis pad whose exposed area increases as the exposed area of said gel body decreases;

whereby the overall exposed area of said gel body and said syneresis pad tends to remain constant.