Volatile article and method of use

• US 8,974,736 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Douglas S., Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEVELAND, TIMOTHY C
• Application Number:
  US12/713,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 422/5, 422/120, 422122-124, 215317-318
• US Class Current: 422/124
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2033 using a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan

Abstract

A dispenser for a volatile material may be a cover that may be selectively attached to a base to form an internal cavity between them. A method is described for providing a visual indication when an item, such as the cover, needs to be replaced. The cover has a first initial size condition. The volatile material is permitted to evaporate from the cover into the air. The cover is permitted to shrink to a second size condition to provide a visual indication that the cover needs to be replaced.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a hemispherical shell-like cover having an internal surface and at least one aperture extending through said cover, the internal surface of said hemispherical shell-like cover having a generally hemispherical shape and having an outer perimeter portion;

a base that said cover is selectively attached to, said base having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface and said cover define a cavity of said dispenser, and said outer perimeter portion of said cover and said first surface cooperate to define at least one inlet opening, said second surface configured to be mounted against a wall; and

a fan mounted on said base and positioned within said cavity, said fan including plurality of blades which are spaced farther from said first surface of the base than said perimeter of said cover is spaced from said first surface when said cover is attached to said base, so that air is drawn by said plurality of blades through said at least one inlet opening, is forced along said internal surface of said cover and is forced through said at least one aperture in the cover and said cover substantially surrounding said plurality of blades of said fan;

a mount connected to said base to an energy source for said fan;

wherein said cover is a combined material comprising a polymeric plastic comprising ethylene vinyl acetate infused with a scent, so that air is drawn by said plurality of blades through said at least one inlet opening, is forced along said internal surface of said cover and through said at least one aperture to project the scent into the area surrounding said dispenser.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least two legs are integrally formed with said base, said legs extend into said cavity and contact the internal surface of said cover.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said second surface of said base is substantially planar and bounded by a substantially circular perimeter.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a motor is located within said cavity and is supported on said base.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said fan is a polymeric plastic infused with a volatile material.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a biasing member is integrally formed with a perimeter portion of said base, said biasing member selectively securing said cover to said base.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said scent is infused entirely throughout said cover.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said scent is infused in selective portions of said cover.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said cover is infused with at least a second scent.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of apertures for ingress and egress of air.

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said base is constructed at least partially of a polymeric plastic infused with a scent.

12. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said legs have curvilinear upper surfaces that frictionally engage with said internal surface of said cover.

13. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser provides visual indication when said scent needs to be replaced due to the release of the scent, wherein the combined material

comprises between approximately 30-65% of the scent;

and

said cover configured to at least partially cover said base;

said combined material being in a first size condition upon attachment to said base; and

said combined material being in a second size condition smaller than said first size condition, which occurs after evaporation of the scent;

wherein said second size condition indicates that said cover should be removed from said base and replaced with a replacement cover.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said second size condition is approximately 80% smaller than said first size condition.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the combined material is further combined with a first color, said first color configured to change into a second color when a majority of said scent has evaporated.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the cover is configured to be removed from said base when said cover changes to said second color, and wherein said cover is further configured to be replaced with another cover after removal.

17. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said first color is throughout said combined material.

18. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said first color is in selective portions of said combined material.

19. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said second color appears throughout said combined material.

20. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said second color appears in selective portions of said combined material.

21. A dispenser comprising:

a hemispherical shell-like cover having an internal surface and at least one aperture extending through said cover, the internal surface of said hemispherical shell-like cover having an outer perimeter portion;

a base that said cover is selectively attached to, said base having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface and said cover define a cavity of said dispenser, and said outer perimeter portion of said cover and said first surface cooperate to define at least one inlet opening, said second surface configured to be mounted to a flat surface;

a fan mounted on said base and positioned within said cavity, said fan including a plurality of blades which are spaced farther from said first surface of the base than said perimeter of said cover is spaced from said first surface when said cover is attached to said base, so that air is drawn by said plurality of blades through said at least one inlet opening, is forced along said internal surface of said cover and is forced through said at least one aperture in the cover and said cover substantially surrounding said plurality of blades of said fan; and

a mount connected to said base to hold an energy source for said fan;

wherein said cover is a polymeric plastic comprising ethylene vinyl acetate infused with a scent, so that air is drawn by said plurality of blades through said at least one inlet opening, is forced along said internal surface of said cover and through said at least one aperture to project the scent into the area surrounding said dispenser, said base comprising at least a first portion which engages a first portion of said cover, said first portion of said base and said first portion of said cover being manually disengagable from one another to permit said cover and said base to be manually disengaged from one another.

22. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said first portion of said base comprises a biasing member.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said first portion comprises a hook-like member.

24. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein a motor is located within said cavity and is supported on said base.

25. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said scent is infused entirely throughout said cover.

26. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said cover is infused with at least a second scent.

27. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said fan is a polymeric plastic infused with a volatile material.

28. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of apertures for egress of air.

29. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein the cover is further combined with a first color, said first color configured to change into a second color when a majority of said scent has evaporated.