FRAGRANCE DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20100221143A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Inventors: Broncano Atencia, Toni, Sorribes, Silvia, Güell, Francisco
• Granted Patent: US 8,603,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/035 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/24 incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/04 for sequential operation or multiple outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/105 by capillary action, e.g. using wicks

Abstract

The invention provides a fragrance delivery system comprising: a control unit for controlling a release mechanism to release at least one selected fragrance, said control unit comprising a selection unit for selecting said selected fragrance from at least two fragrances and controlling said release mechanism to release said selected fragrance, and a switching element for switching said release mechanism between an first state and an second state or vice versa, in which first state said release mechanism releases said selected fragrance at a higher rate than in said second state. The invention further provides a kit of parts comprising said device and a at least two fragrance reservoirs filled with a fragrance chemical. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a control unit for controlling a release mechanism to release a selected one of at least two fragrances in a fragrance delivery system, which control unit comprises a selection unit for selecting said selected fragrance and controlling said release mechanism to release said selected fragrance, and a switching element for switching said release mechanism between an active state and an inactive state or vice versa, and to the use of the present fragrance delivery system to deliver a fragrance to a space which is at least periodically occupied by an individual.

Claims

1. A fragrance delivery system, comprising:

a control unit configured to control a release mechanism to release at least one selected fragrance, said control unit comprising a selection unit configured to select said selected fragrance from at least two fragrances and controlling said release mechanism to release said selected fragrance, and a switching element configured to switch said release mechanism between a first state and a second state or vice versa, wherein in said first state said release mechanism releases said selected fragrance at a higher rate than in said second state.

2. A delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a timer configured to measure a period of time for which said release mechanism is in said first state and/or second state,

a memory element in which at least one desired value of a period of the first and/or second state may be stored, and

a comparator configured to compare the measured period with said desired value and output a switching signal to said switching element,

wherein said switching element is arranged to change said release mechanism between said first state and said second state in response to said switching signal.

3. A delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said selection unit is arranged to periodically select, in response to a selection signal, instead of a presently selected fragrance another fragrance, and wherein the delivery system further comprises a timer configured to measure a period of time during which said presently selected fragrance has been released, and a comparator configured to compare said measured period with a predetermined value representing a desired period and output said selection signal to the selection unit.

4. A delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the desired period of time is in the range of from 25 to 45 minutes.

5. A delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said switching element is arranged to switch said release mechanism between said first state and said second slate during a first period of time, and to switch said release mechanism between said first state and said second state during a second period of time, wherein in the second period of time the ratio of the duration of the first state relative to the duration of the second state is lower than in the first period of time.

6. A delivery system according to claim 5, wherein said first period has a longer duration than said second period.

7. A delivery system according to claim 5, wherein during the second period of time said release mechanism is in the second state only.

8. A delivery system according to claim 5, wherein said first period and said second period follow in an alternating manner.

9. A delivery system according to claim 5, wherein in the second state said release mechanism releases said selected fragrance at a rate below a threshold at which an individual notices said fragrance, such as a rate of substantially zero.

10. A delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said selection unit is arranged to periodically select said selected fragrance.

11. A delivery system according to claim 10, wherein said selection unit is arranged to select a selected fragrance when a second period expires.

12. A delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises an electro-thermal transducer, said transducer being electrically connectable to an electrical power source and configured to be coupled thermally to a fragrance chemical, the transducer further configured to convert electrical energy from said power source to thermal energy applied to said selected fragrance.

13. A delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising a holder for holding at least two fragrance reservoirs.

14. A delivery system according to claim 13 further comprising a release mechanism engageable on said fragrance reservoirs, configured to release a selected one of at least two fragrances from said fragrance reservoir.

15. A delivery system according to claim 2, wherein a period of time of said first state is in the range of from 100 to 200 seconds.

16. A delivery system according to claim 2, wherein a period of time of said second state is in the range of from 20 to 100 seconds.

17. A kit of parts comprising a delivery system according to claim 1 and at least two fragrance reservoirs filled with a fragrance chemical.

18. A kit of parts according to claim 17, wherein the release mechanism comprises a release mechanism provided for each of the at least two fragrance reservoirs configured to release the fragrance contained in the fragrance reservoir.

19. A kit of parts according to claim 17, wherein the at least two fragrance reservoirs are part of a fragrance cartridge.

20. A kit of parts according to claim 17, wherein the at least two fragrances complement each other.

22. A method comprising the use of a fragrance delivery system according to claim 1 to deliver a fragrance to a space which is at least periodically occupied by an individual.

21. A method comprising the use of a control unit to control a release mechanism to release a selected one of at least two fragrances in a fragrance delivery system, which control unit comprises a selection unit configured to select said selected fragrance and control said release mechanism to release said selected fragrance, and a switching element configured to switch said release mechanism between an active state and an inactive state or vice versa.