Method and apparatus for dispersing a volatile composition

• US 6,701,663 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC), University of Southampton
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC), University of Southampton
• Inventors: Hughes, John Farrell, Fox, Rodney Thomas, Whitmore, Lindsey Faye, Harrison, Neale Mark, Knapp, Jennifer Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Kimberly S.
• Application Number:
  US09/868,125
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 431/24, 431/25, 431/321, 361/225, 361/226, 361/230-232
• US Class Current: 43/124
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• 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: A01M 1/2055 Holders or dispensers for solid, gelified or impregnated insecticide, e.g. volatile blocks or impregnated pads
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/223 by using electrocution
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation

Abstract

An apparatus and method for dispersing a volatile composition, which comprises dispersing the composition into an air stream and generating an ion wind, thereby causing the molecules of the composition to become electrically charged. The composition can be an insect repellent, an insecticide, an anti-microbial, an anti-allergenic or a room-fragrancing composition.

Claims

1. A method of dispersing a volatile insect repellent or insecticide composition into a space, which method comprises:

dispersing the volatile composition into an air stream; and

generating, as the sole agent for dispersal of the insect repellant or insecticide, an ion wind directed toward the volatile composition, said ion wind being generated by means comprising a first electrode and a second electrode spaced therefrom to define a region therebetween such that when a DC electrical potential is applied across the first and second electrodes, an electrical field is created in said region, the ion wind facilitating the dispersal of the volatile composition into the atmosphere,

thus causing molecules of the volatile composition in said air stream to become electrically charged as ionized air passes over said composition.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is dispersed an insect repellent selected from the group consisting of eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, geraniol, pine oil, citronella, neem, thyme oil, citronella, linalool, carene, myrcene, terpinene, limnolene, cymene, citronellyl formate, geranyl formate, rose oxide, 2-alkyl-N-acetyloxazolidine, N-acetyl-2-alkyl-4,4-dimethyloxazolidine, dipropylpyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate, sec-butyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidine carboxylate, methylnaphthalene and mixtures thereof.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is dispersed an insecticide selected from the group consisting of pyrethrum, a pyrethroid and mixtures thereof.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the volatile insect repellent or insecticide composition is dispersed from a slow release formulation.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the slow release formulation comprises a gel, or a wick or pad fed from a liquid reservoir, said gel, wick or pad containing the insect repellent or insecticide composition.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the slow release formulation is adapted to release the composition into an air stream over a period of at least 8 hours.