Method of manufacture air freshening article

• US 8,007,707 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Jeffrey A., Brown, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEITBRINK, JILL LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US12/152,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 264/78, 264/273, 264/331.11, 264/331.15, 422/21
• US Class Current: 264/331.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/05 specially adapted to be released by contact with a liquid, e.g. for toilets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0001 characterised by the choice of material

Abstract

An air freshening article, such as a deodorizing urinal screen, includes a body that is formed from a fragranced plastic that includes a plastic loaded with a fragrance material. The fragrance material is included in an amount of at least 15% by weight of the fragranced plastic. A method of producing a deodorizing urinal screen includes a fragrance loading stage in which a plastic is loaded with a fragrance material to produce a fragranced plastic. The fragranced plastic includes at least 15 wt % fragrance material. In a molding stage subsequent to the fragrance loading stage, the fragranced plastic is molded into the urinal screen.

Claims

1. A method of producing an air freshening article comprising the steps of:

providing EVA having a melting point of not greater than 250°

F.;

in a fragrance loading stage, loading said EVA with from at least 15% to about 75% by weight of fragrance material to produce a fragranced EVA, said fragrance loading stage conducted at a temperatures such that said fragranced EVA is from at least 15% by weight fragrance upon completion of said fragrance loading stage; and

in a molding stage subsequent to the fragrance loading stage, molding the fragranced EVA into a urinal screen comprising a screen body sized and shaped to be disposed over a urinal drain, said molding step comprising forming openings in said screen body, said molding stage conducted at a temperature such that said urinal screen is at least 15% by weight of fragrance material.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the molding stage is conducted at a temperature not greater than about 250°

F.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the fragrance loading stage additionally comprises loading the EVA with an active ingredient comprising bacteria.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the loading of the EVA with the fragrance material comprises absorbing a fragrance oil into the EVA.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the fragrance loading stage comprises blending and heating the EVA and the fragrance material.

6. The method defined in claim 5 wherein the fragrance loading stage comprises alternating cycles of the blending and the heating.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the fragrance loading stage produces the fragranced EVA in a free-flowing form.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the fragrance loading stage is conducted at a temperature not greater than about 200°

F.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the molding stage comprises injection molding.

10. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the fragrance loading stage additionally comprises loading the EVA with an active ingredient comprising bacteria.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the loading of the EVA with the fragrance material comprises absorbing a fragrance oil into the EVA.

12. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the fragrance loading stage comprises blending and heating the plastic and the fragrance material.

13. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the fragrance loading stage comprises alternating cycles of the blending and the heating.

14. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the fragrance loading stage produces the fragranced EVA in a free-flowing form.

15. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the molding stage comprises injection molding.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fragrance loading stage includes heating said EVA to a temperature not greater than 250°

F.

17. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the molding stage is conducted at a temperature not greater than about 250°

F.

18. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the fragrance loading stage additionally comprises loading the EVA with an active ingredient comprising an enzyme.

19. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said molding of the fragranced EVA comprises molding said fragranced EVA into a generally flat, circular one piece body.

20. The method defined in claim 19, wherein the molding stage is conducted at a temperature not greater than about 250°

F.