Methods, devices, compositions, and systems for improved scent delivery

• US 8,119,064 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Woo, Ricky Ah-Man, Alonso, Mario, Hecht, John Philip, Reece, Steven, Kvietok, Frank Andrej, St. Pierre, Eileen Marie, Liu, Zaiyou, Readnour, Christine Marie, Kaiser, Carl Eric, Baillely, Susan Eleanor, Agami, Sion
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M.
• Application Number:
  US12/269,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20090185950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 422/4, 422/5, 422/120, 422/123, 422/125, 239/34, 239/44, 239/56, 239/57, 261/30
• US Class Current: 422/5
• 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 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0035 characterised by the control methods for adding the substance

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions that improve the scent perception for a user. Improved scent perception is achieved by presenting alternating scents and by varying levels of output of scents, as well as by minimizing device clogging, thereby improving evaporation profiles.

Claims

1. A method of flattening a perfume-release profile from a heated-wick perfume composition-dispensing device comprising:

a) applying heat to the wick to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition, wherein the increased volatilization occurs for a period of from 17 minutes to about 72 minutes;

b) reducing the heat to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to decrease the rate of volatilization of the at least one component of the perfume composition;

c) maintaining the reduced heat for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of at least one component of the perfume composition, the time being 17 minutes to 72 minutes; and

repeating a).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time sufficient to allow for back-flow of all or a portion of the components of the perfume composition is from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the time sufficient to allow for back-flow of all or a portion of the components of the perfume composition is about 30 minutes.

2. A method of flattening a perfume-release profile from a heated-wick perfume composition-dispensing device comprising two or more perfume modules comprising at least a first and second reservoir containing a perfume composition, and at least a first and second wick in fluid communication with the perfume composition, comprising:

a1) applying heat to the first wick to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition;

b1) reducing the heat applied to the first wick to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to decrease the rate of volatilization of the at least one component of the perfume composition;

c1) maintaining the reduced heat for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of at least one component of the perfume composition, the time being about 20 minutes to about 24 hours;

a2) automatically applying heat to the second wick to increase volatilization of at least one component of the second perfume composition;

b2) reducing the heat applied to the second wick to a temperature sufficient to decrease volatilization of the at least one component of the second perfume composition;

c2) maintaining the reduced heat applied to the second wick for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of at least one component of the second perfume composition the time being about 20 minutes to about 24 hours;

repeating a1); and

repeating a2);

wherein the first and second wick have an average pore size of from 50-150 microns.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition is greater than or equal to about 40°

C.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition is greater than or equal to about 60°

C.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition is greater than or equal to about 80°

C.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wick temperature sufficient to decrease the rate of volatilization of the at least one component of the perfume composition is less than or equal to about 40°

C.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the difference between wick temperatures at a) and c) is from about 10°

C. to about 100°

C.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the difference between wick temperatures at a) and c) is from about 20°

C. to about 80°

C.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the difference between wick temperatures at a) and c) is from about 40°

C. to about 60°

C.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising, repeating b) and c).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a), b), and c), are each repeated at least two times.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein in at least one repeated heating steps, the temperature of the wick is higher than in the previous heating step.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein performance of a1) and a2) overlaps for a period of from about 0.1% to about 100% of the duration of a1).

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein the performance of a1) and a2) does not overlap.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein there is a gap between performance of a1) and a2) for a period of from about 0.1% to about 100% of the duration of a1).

18. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reduced heat is maintained for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of all of the components of the perfume composition.

19. The method according to claim 2, wherein step a1) further comprises applying a fan to the wick for enhancing release of at least one component of the perfume composition.

20. A method of flattening a perfume-release profile from a heated-wick perfume composition-dispensing device comprising two or more perfume modules comprising at least a first and second reservoir containing a perfume composition, and at least a first and second wick in fluid communication with the perfume composition, comprising:

a1) applying heat to the first wick to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to increase the rate of volatilization of at least one component of the perfume composition;

b1) reducing the heat applied to the first wick to achieve a wick temperature sufficient to decrease the rate of volatilization of the at least one component of the perfume composition;

c1) maintaining the reduced heat for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of at least one component of the perfume composition, the time being about 17 minutes to about 72 minutes;

a2) automatically applying heat to the second wick to increase volatilization of at least one component of the second perfume composition;

b2) reducing the heat applied to the second wick to a temperature sufficient to decrease volatilization of the at least one component of the second perfume composition;

c2) maintaining the reduced heat applied to the second wick for a time sufficient to allow for back-flow of at least one component of the second perfume composition the time being about 17 minutes to about 72 minutes;

repeating a1); and

repeating a2);

wherein the first and second wick have an average pore size of from 50-150 microns.