Air scenting compositions and processes for use thereof in air scenting devices

• US 6,929,681 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scentco LLC
• Original Assignee: Scentco LLC
• Inventors: Kinney, James, Vick, Kevin, Ziser, David, Laky, Richard, Maleeny, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US10/603,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 422/123, 422/124, 962/22, 952/85, 555/24, 512/2, 512/4, 428/905, 523/102, 424/76.3, 424/76.4
• US Class Current: 95/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/012 characterised by being in a special form, e.g. gels, emulsions A61L9/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/04 using substances evaporated in the air without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions, processes and devices for use in HVAC systems to provide air freshening scent to air circulating in the system.

Claims

1. An HVAC system including:

a) an air freshening composition comprising a thermoplastic, semi-permeable polymeric gel having a fragrance material incorporated therein,

b) a filter member including an air permeable filter medium;

c) the polymeric gel containing a polymeric gelling agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated styrene/isoprene copolymers;

volatile silicones;

polyacrylic acids and mixtures thereof and being formulated to adhere directly on a surface of the filter member, the gel having sufficient viscosity at temperatures in the range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F. to prevent run off of the gel from the surface of the filter to which it is adhered and to enable effective release of scented, volatile components in the fragrance material to provide an air freshening scent to air passing through the filter by dispersing the scented, volatile components into the air over a predetermined period of time.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of the polymeric gelling agent.

3. The HVAC system of claim 2 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0.1 weight percent to 70 weight percent of the fragrance material.

4. The HVAC system of claim 3 wherein the air freshening composition contains about 0-0.1 weight percent of an aversive agent and about 0 to 50 weight percent of a surfactant.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1 wherein the air freshening composition contains about 0-50 weight percent of a co-solvent.

6. The HVAC system of claim 5 wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of diethyl phthalate;

triethyl acetate, dipropylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, diooctyl adipate and mixtures thereof.

7. The HVAC system of claim 6 wherein the air freshening composition contains about 0-5 weight percent of a material selected from the group consisting of color agents, glitter and mixtures thereof.

8. The HVAC system according to claim 1, in which the viscosity of the gel is in a range of about 2,000 centipoise to about 500,000 centipoise over a temperature range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined period of time ranges from about one day to several months.

10. A process for scenting air in a forced air HVAC system including a mechanical source for circulating ambient air comprising:

a) providing a filter member including an air permeable filter medium;

b) adhering a scented thermoplastic, semi-permeable polymeric gel composition directly onto a surface of the permeable filter medium;

the polymeric gel composition containing a polymeric gelling agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated styrene/isoprene copolymers;

volatile silicones;

polyacrylic acids and mixtures thereof and having a fragrance material incorporated therein, the polymeric gel having sufficient viscosity at temperatures in the range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F. to prevent run off of the gel from the surface of the filter to which it is adhered and to enable effective release of scented, volatile components in the fragrance material; and

c) positioning the filter member having the gel composition adhered to the surface of the filter medium in an HVAC system so that the ambient air circulated by the mechanical source contacts the gel composition on the permeable filter medium and disperses the scented, volatile components from the gel composition into the circulating ambient air.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the filter medium has an upstream facing surface and a downstream facing surface with the ambient air circulating in the HVAC system passing through the filter medium in a direction from the upstream facing surface of the filter medium to the downstream facing surface and the semi-permeable gel composition is adhered to the downstream facing surface of the filter.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the semi-permeable gel composition contains about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of the polymeric gelling agent.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0.1 weight percent to 70 weight percent of the fragrance material.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-0.1 weight percent of an aversive agent and about 0 to 50 weight percent of a surfactant.

15. The process of claim 10 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-50 weight percent of a co-solvent.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of diethyl phthalate;

triethyl acetate, dipropylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, diooctyl adipate and mixtures thereof.

17. The process of claim 10 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-5 weight percent of a coloring agent.

18. The process of claim 10 wherein the viscosity of the polymeric gel is in a range of about 2,000 centipoise to about 500,000 centipoise over a temperature range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F.

19. A device for scenting air in a forced air HVAC system including a mechanical source of air flow for circulating ambient air through the system comprising:

a filter supported in a frame within the HVAC system including an air permeable filter medium having an upstream facing surface and a downstream facing surface with the ambient air circulating in the system passing through the filter medium in a direction from the upstream facing surface of the filter medium to the downstream facing surface; and

a scented gel composition adhered directly on the downstream facing surface of the filter medium whereby the circulating air initially contacts the scented gel composition after the circulating air has passed through the filter medium and the air passes through the gel composition to scent the air circulating in the system downstream of the filter;

the gel composition comprising a thermoplastic, semi-permeable polymeric gel containing a polymeric gelling agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated styrene/isoprene copolymers;

volatile silicones;

polyacrylic acids and mixtures thereof and having a fragrance material incorporated therein, the polymeric gel having sufficient viscosity at temperatures in the range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F. to prevent run off of the gel from the surface of the filter to which it is adhered and to enable effective release of scented, volatile components in the fragrance material to provide an air freshening scent to air passing through the filter by dispersing the scented, volatile components into the air over a predetermined period of time.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the polymeric gel composition contains about 1 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of a polymeric gelling agent.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0.1 weight percent to 70 weight percent of the fragrance material.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-0.1 weight percent of an aversive agent and about 0 to 50 weight percent of a surfactant.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-50 weight percent of a co-solvent.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of diethyl phthalate;

triethyl acetate, dipropylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, diooctyl adipate and mixtures thereof.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the polymeric gel contains about 0-5 weight percent of a coloring agent.

26. The device of claim 19 wherein the viscosity of the polymeric gel is in a range of about 2,000 centipoise to about 500,000 centipoise over a temperature range of about 40°

F. to about 150°

F.