Two-part, Wall-mountable Electrochemical Dispenser

• US 20120187217A1
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M&R Consultanting Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: M&R Consultanting Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Maget, Henri, Johansson, Mark, Dikeman, James, Houk, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick

Abstract

“A Two-part, Wall-mountable Electrochemical Dispenser. The dispenser assembly consists of a disposable fluid storage reservoir and a non-disposable dispenser. The dispenser holds an electrochemical gas generator, its associated electronics, and a power source. The generator can be set for fluid delivery rates of between 1 mL/day and 50 mL/day. The system has a battery-determined operational life of about 2 years, assuming rates of up to 2 mL/day and 2 C-size batteries. The fluid storage reservoir is formed by two plastic shells separated by a plastic diaphragm. Gas produced by the generator acts on the diaphragm thereby displacing fluid that is then captured by an evaporation pad from which it can readily emanate into the environment. The reservoir can be removed and discarded after depletion of the liquid, and then replaced by another filled assembly. As needed, the refill holds an anti-theft coded card that prohibits the re-use of the refill.”

Claims

1. A liquid emitter combination comprising:

a reusable gas generator subassembly for generating gaseous material; and

a disposable liquid emitter subassembly associated with said gas generator such that emission of said gaseous material by said gas generator subassembly will cause said disposable liquid emitter subassembly to emit liquid contained within a chamber formed therein, said disposable liquid emitter subassembly comprising a housing separated into two individual chambers by a pliable sheet passing therethrough.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein one said chamber is a liquid chamber and one said chamber is a gas chamber, said gas chamber being in fluid communication with said reusable gas generator subassembly.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said disposable liquid emitter subassembly housing further comprises:

a plurality of outwardly-facing prongs dispersed about the outside of said housing; and

an absorbant pad attached to said prongs.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said housing of said disposable liquid emitter subassembly defines a perimeter edge between said two individual chambers, and said liquid emitter subassembly further comprises:

a fluid exit port element extending from said perimeter edge, said fluid exit port element defining an internal bore in fluid communication with said liquid chamber; and

wherein said gas chamber is not in fluid communication with said fluid exit port.

5. The combination of claim 4, further comprising a gas intake nipple element extending from an outer wall of said housing, said gas intake nipple defined by an internal bore, said internal bore in fluid communication with said gas chamber and said reusable gas generator subassembly.

6. The combination of claim 5, further comprising:

a key receptacle located within said reusable gas generator subassembly;

a key device located within said disposable liquid emitter subassembly; and

whereby when said liquid emitter subassembly is combined with said gas generator subassembly, said key device will mate with said key receptacle such that information stored on said key device is accessible to said gas generator subassembly.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said liquid emitter subassembly housing is formed in a flattened disc shape having said gas intake nipple extending from said gas chamber in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction that said fluid exit port extends from said housing.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said absorbant pad is defined by an aperture formed therethrough, and from which said gas intake nipple protrudes when said absorbant pad is attached to said prongs.

9. The combination of claim 8, further comprising a second said liquid emitter subassembly further comprising a break-away element attached to a distal end defined by said fluid exit port, said break-away element creating a liquid-tight seal of said fluid exit port internal bore.

10. A method for continuously dispensing fluid at a low volumetric flowrate comprising the steps of:

first dispensing a fluid through a small orifice, said first dispensing being executed by a device comprising;

a reusable gas generator subassembly for generating gaseous material, said reusable gas generator comprising a key receptacle formed therein; and

a disposable liquid emitter subassembly associated with said reusable gas generator such that emission of said gaseous material by said gas generator subassembly will cause said disposable liquid emitter subassembly to emit liquid contained within a chamber formed therein through a fluid exit nozzle, said disposable liquid emitter subassembly comprising a housing separated into two individual chambers by a pliable sheet passing therethrough;

ceasing said operation of said reusable gas generator subassembly;

detaching said liquid emitter subassembly from said reusable gas generator;

installing a replacement said liquid emitter subassembly, said replacement said liquid emitter subassembly further comprising a key device, said key device mating with said key receptacle, said replacement liquid emitter subassembly containing dispensable fluid therein; and

second dispensing a fluid through said fluid exit nozzle, said second dispensing being executed by said replacement liquid emitter subassembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said installing step is followed by a verification step, said verification step comprising said gas generator subassembly analyzing data read from said key element to determine that said replacement said liquid emitter is suitable for said second dispensing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein housings of said disposable liquid emitters of said first dispensing and second dispensing steps further comprise an absorbant pad attached to an outer surface defined by said housing, said absorbant pad passing over said fluid exit nozzle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said housings of said disposable liquid emitters of said first dispensing and second dispensing steps further define a perimeter edge between said two individual chambers, and each said liquid emitter subassembly further comprises:

said fluid exit nozzle extending from said perimeter edge, said fluid exit nozzle defining an internal bore in fluid communication with said liquid chamber; and

wherein said gas chamber is not in fluid communication with said fluid exit port.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said housings of said disposable liquid emitters of said first dispensing and second dispensing steps further define a gas intake nipple element extending from an outer wall of each said housing, said gas intake nipples defined by an internal bore, said internal bore in fluid communication with said gas chamber and said reusable gas generator subassembly.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a break-away step after said installing step and prior to said second dispensing step, said break-away step comprising breaking off a breakaway element from said fluid exit nozzle.

16. An evaporative dispenser device, comprising:

a reusable gas generator subassembly for generating gaseous material; and

a disposable liquid emitter subassembly associated with said gas generator such that emission of said gaseous material by said gas generator subassembly will cause said disposable liquid emitter subassembly to emit liquid onto an absorbent pad for evaporation into the environment surrounding said dispenser device, said liquid contained within a chamber formed within said liquid emitter subassembly, said disposable liquid emitter subassembly comprising a housing separated into two individual chambers by a pliable sheet passing therethrough, said housing further comprising a plurality of prongs extending therefrom to which said absorbant pad is attached.