Volatile material-containing article

• US 7,160,515 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Bush, Stephan Gary, Murdell, Rachel
• Primary Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/447,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 422/123, 422/124, 422/125, 422/5, 422/4, 261/26, 261/30, 261/104, 261/142, 239/57, 239/60, 229/160.2, 229/80.5, 229/123.1
• US Class Current: 422/123
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2033 using a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2072 combined with a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/02 using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/035 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/04 using substances evaporated in the air without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/042 with the help of a macromolecular compound as a carrier or diluent A61L9/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/048 air treating gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/125 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0042 with ventilating means for adding the substances
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/005 with heating means for adding the substances
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0064 adding more than one substance
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0007 Adding substances other than water to the air, e.g. perfume, oxygen

Abstract

Volatile material-containing articles of manufacture are disclosed.

Claims

1. A multiple volatile material-containing article of manufacture comprising multiple volatile compositions therein or thereon, wherein the volatile compositions comprise volatile materials, and said volatile compositions are at least partially sealed when the article of manufacture is not in use, wherein said at least partially sealed article of manufacture is configured to retain about 50% or more by weight of the volatile material in the volatile compositions over a 3 month period.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 having a single opening region therein which is configured for the emission of one of said volatile compositions at a given time.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2 further comprising a locking mechanism which prevents said volatile compositions from moving into alignment with said opening region.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said article is removable from a dispensing device.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said article is reusable after it has been removed from a dispensing device.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said article comprises a holder with individual receptacles for volatile compositions, wherein at least two of said receptacles contain different volatile compositions, and said receptacles separate said volatile compositions so that said volatile compositions are not in contact with each other.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 comprising a removable sealing material that covers said at least two receptacles, wherein said removable sealing material is configured so that it can be at least partially removed from said at least two receptacles at the same time.

4. A volatile material-containing article having a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, said article comprising:

a shell having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

a multiple compartment volatile material-containing component inside said shell,

wherein said shell has an opening region in its upper surface for emitting volatile materials and at least one opening in its lower surface for inserting an element of a diffusing device into said shell,

wherein said article comprises at least one stabilizing region beginning at a distance about 2.8 cm from the transverse centerline.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the at least one opening in the lower surface of the shell comprises a first opening that is generally centrally located.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said first opening is at least about 1.3 cm wide.

7. The article of claim 5 wherein the shell has an outer periphery, and the at least one opening in the lower surface of the shell further comprises a second opening that is in an area tat is between about 0.25 inches and about 2 inches inward from the outer periphery of the shell.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the article has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, and said first and second openings lie along the longitudinal axis of the article and the lower surface of said article further comprises a third opening that is located at an angle between about 45°

and about 55°

relative to the transverse centerline of the article as measured from the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse centerlines.