IE59756B1

IE59756B1 - Air freshener dispenser

Info

Publication number: IE59756B1
Application number: IE271086A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Renuzit Company
Priority date: 1985-10-15
Filing date: 1986-10-14
Publication date: 1994-03-23
Also published as: KR870003796A; GB2181649B; IE862710L; JPS6294169A; AU581788B2; KR950000064B1; SG82491G; GB8624571D0; AU6369386A; HK99591A; CA1274491A; GB2181649A; NZ217830A

Abstract

An air freshener dispenser of the type containing in a reservoir a liquid fragrance composition comprising a necked container (12), a wick (16) provided in the neck, an emanator pad holder (20) retaining within a containment enclosure an absorbent remanator pad (22) in contact with the wick, and a cover member (24) including at least one fragrance-diffusion aperture (93), the emanator pad holder including means defining at least one fragrance diffusion channel (82), the emanator pad being detachably rotatable within the cover member, whereby rotation of the cover member brings the diffusion aperture and the diffusion channel into registry.

Description

Th* present invention relate® to air freshen·? dispensers oi the type containing in · reservoir a liquid fragrance composition that is carried to en «senator pad by wick scans Sor adbsequent diffusion from the pad to the atmosphere. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air freshener dispenser having a rotatable cover member overlaying an eaanator pad holding means, said cover means being . rotatable with respect to the pad holding means to open and close at least one fragrance-diffusion aperture in said cover means, Most specifically, the air freshener dispenser of the present invention includes means to retain the eaanator pad holding means within the cover means, and means to detachably secure the eaanator pad holding mans to the reservoir.

Fragrance diffusers including wick means to convey a volatile fragrance composition from a reservoir to the atmosphere directly or to an eaanator pad for subsequent diffusion to the etaosphere aw known. Thus, U.S. 1,332,659 to Bates illustrates an evaporiaeter comprising a reservoir, a cylindrical, hollow shaft extending upwardly of the reservoir, and a perforated disk normal to the shaft, there being a wick within the ehaft, the strands of the wick being spread across the disk, *nd a cover placeable over the disk. U.S. 4,477,41« ©o Muraaoto et al. discloses a vickless evaporative container, the liquid in tha reservoir being drawn up through a feed pipe rather than a wick. In the vaporising device of ©upuy, U.S. 2,393,960, the reservoir has a vide-aouth orifice in Which is inserted pad holding Mans, the pad thus held being in contact vith a wick extending into the reservoir, λ cove* is superposed over the pad holding insert, apertures in the cover cooperating vith apertures in the pad holdinginsert to provide adjustability of the air diffusion passages defined by the asseably.

U.S. 1,377,909 to Moulin discloses a container, a wick extending upwardly from the container through a holed-stopper, absorbent Material in contact with the top of the wick, and an apertured cover affixed to an upstanding skirt of the container.

It is an object off the present invention to provide an adjustable r air freshener dispenser of the vick type.

It is a further object of the present invention that the air freshener dispenser include eaanetor or absorbent pad holding aeans X'etained within the cover Member for said unit.

It ί» another object of th· present invention that th· «senator pad holding Means be attachable to th* neck of th* container» Tat another object ef the present Invention is to provide adjustability of the diffusion rate ©f fragrance composition wicked t© the esanator pad by rotational sovesent of the cover sesber relative to the location of the «senator pad holding seen» when saas are connected to the neck of the container in operational position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are described is greater detail below,, with reference to the accoa10 panying drawings, A sussary ©f the invention follows.

The present invention., in a first aspect thereof provides an air freshener dispenser comprising a container having an opening; * viek depending into th* container; aa emanator pad; «senator pad holding means detachably connected to the container and retaining the «senator pad in contact with th® wick, said pad holding means including at least a?.· fragrance diffusion channel and at least one upwardly extending aid® wall «ember: a cover member having a top and a substantially cylindrical aid® wall and including at laast on* fragrance diffusion aperture registrable with said fragrance diffusion channel, and retention ««an® comprising a first sating surface associated with the pad holding means and a second mating surface associated with th* ecwer member, said mating surfaces in operative position detachably retaining th* cover m®ab®r on th* pad holding naans detachably connected to th* container, the first eating surface being inoperative in cooperation with said cover member substantially cylindrical side wall to detachably retain said cover meaber on the pad holding scans, said cover aeaber being rotatable in said detachably retained position with respect to said pad holding Beans, th® pad holding aesns being nonrotatable with respect to th® container by th® torguing fore® for rotating the cover meaber on th® pad holding aean«, whereby rotation of the cowar member enables said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least one fragrance diffusion channel to be brought int© registry.

The invention also provides, in a second aspect thereof, an air freshener dispenser comprising a container having an opening; a wick depending into th* container; an eaanator a pad; emanetor pad holding Keane detachably connected to the container and retaining the «eanator pad in contact vith the wick, «aid pad holding means including a planar base portion having a central aperture through which eaid wick extends, et least one aide wall member including a plurality of fragrance diffusion channels, said planar baa*, portion having a plurality of radial spokelike portion® between the central aperture and the periphery of 'the base portion defining air circulation aperture* therein? a cover member having a top and a substantially cylindrical aide wall and including a plurality of fragrance diffusion apertures equal in number to the fragrance diffusion channels and registrable with said fragrance diffusion channels, and retention means operative to detachably retain the cover member on the pad holding mean®, said cover member being rotatable in eaid detachably retained position with respect to % said said holding mean®, the pad holding mean® being nonrotatable with respect to the container by the torquing force for rotating the cover member on the pad holding means, whereby rotation of the cover member enable® said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least one fragrance diffusion channel to be brought into registry. (Β brief Dsseaimoy -flf-j£BS_B&&wiyss Tig. 1 ie aa exploded perspective view of the air freshener dispenser of the present invention.

Fig. 3 i« · partially broken away front view of the eover seaher 5 of the air freshener dispenser shown in Tig» 1.

Tig. 3 is * cross-sectional view of the eaanator pad holder across lines 3-3 of Tig. 4.

Tig. 4 is a top plan view of the esanator pad holder, a portion of which is broken away. rig. j is * vertical half-section cross-sectional view of the air freshener dispenser in its operational node, the eaanator pad oaitted for clarity.

Fig. < is a partial vertical half-section cross-sectional view of the air freshener dispenser in its nonuse sode, the cover, eaanator pad, and eaanator pad holder having been omitted for clarity.

Referring to Mg. 1, an exploded perspective view of the dispenser 10 of the present invention, the air freshener dispenser 10 comprises a container 12 for containing a volatile liquid fragrance composition,® neck insert Member 14, a wick Id, a closure cap 18, an 5 «sianator pad bold*? 20, an eaanator or absorbent pad 22, and a cover Member 24.

She container 12 ha® a body 31 and a neck 32, the container 12 being a reservoir for the volatile air fragrance composition. The ' neck 32 includes threads 33, and below the threads a peripheral flange 34 shown herein as an octagonal flange. One or more land surfaces 37 ®.re also Included, the lands 37 fractionally engaging the cover member 24. The container ean be fabricated by injection blow molding using a suitabl* plastic Material, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthlate. A suitable capacity off tha container is about 3-4 fluid ounces. Th® fragrance composition typically comprises a fragrance, an emulsifier, a volatile solvent, for example, isopropyl alcohol, optionally a colorant, and deionised water.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, and more specifically in the assembly Fig. 5, the insert member 14 is adapted for friction fit within the bore of the neck 32 ot the container 12. The insert member 14 com9 pri**s an annular top portion 42 from which depend* an outer annular skirt 41, eaid skirt 41 fristionally engaging the interior side wall of the n«ek 32. The top 42 of th® insert member 14 includes an annular peripheral flange 43 that seats on the top edge of the neck 32. a vent hole 45 is also provided in the top 42. Also downwardly depending of the annular top portion 42 is a circular hollow shaft 44 that receives the vick 16. The wick 16 extends through the cylindrical shaft 44» the bottom end of vhich typically abuts the base 3o of the container. The wick 16 extends above the top 42 of the insert member 14 a predetermined distance. The vick preferably comprises an interior core «6 of an absorbent vicking material and an outer sheath 47 of a plastic material that prevents the strands of the absorbent Material 46 from unravelling. Suitable materials include natural and synthetic fibers that are capable &t being formed into a vick, for exanple, Scribrod* Manufactured by Baumgartner Papers S.A.

The outer sheath 47 can be any vet~strength polymer capable of retaining the inner fibers, end may be permeable or aonpes*eabl®. in the preferred embodiment, the absorbent fibers are polyestere and th® outer sheath is a polyester film. The neck insert may be made » for 2θ exanple, of low-density polyethylene.

The closure cap 18 illustrated in nonuse assembly with the device in Pig. s5e as well as in Fig. 1, comprises a cylindrical body 51, the interior side wall of which is provided with threads 55 suitable for mating assembly with the threads 33 ©n the container neck 32, The closure cap 18 further includes an exterior upwardly extending skirt *Trade Mark forming with the cap body 51 an ©ut«r shoulder S4. Xnterior of the skirt 52 and *xt«nding upwardly of the cap body 51 1« * dose member 53, th® dome member being of suitable height to receive that portion of the wick 16 extending above the top 42 of the neck insert 14.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, during nonuse the cap 13 is secured to the neck of the container 32 by means of the complementary threads 33 and 55 on the neck 32 and on the interior surface of the cap body 51, respectively. That portion of the wick 16 extending above the top 42 of the insert nember 14 is received in the done neaber 53. Suitable headspace is provided in done neaber 53 so that the top of the wick does not cone in contact with the top of the doae aeaber 53. When sealed by th® cap 10, tbe volatile fragrance composition cannot diffuse ot otherwise escape fro» th* container 12. A circular sealing boss 56 is depend ingly Interiorly provided on the top ©f the cap body SI to provide a positive seal when the cap 18 is tightened about the neck 32 of the container 12.

The eaanator pad holder 20 is next described with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4e and 5. 'The pad holder 20 comprises a base portion designated generally by numeral §1. The base portion 61 comprises a raised annular central portion 63 defining a large central aperture 80 and a plurality of spokelike portions 62 extending radially outwardly from the central portion 63 to the periphery of the emanator pad holder, the radial spokelike portions defining therebetween air circulation apertures Bl. The pad bolder 20 further comprises a peripheral skirt portion 71 that depends downwardly from the outermost periphery ©f the epokelike portion· «2, th® skirt portion 71 including proximate it* bottom an exterior peripheral boss 72, the purpose of which is hereinafter described. Sxtending upwardly fro» the skirt portion 71 is a plurality si side wall segments 64, said side wall segments 64 being in radial alignment with and extending partially over the apertures SI, and forming therebetween a plurality of channel® B2, eaid channels 62 being is radial alignment with the spokelike portions &2 of the base portion 61. Annular support portions 76 are provided between the central portion 63 and the interior edge 75 of the air circulation apertures 61.

The uppermost portion 65 of the side wall segments 64 is arcuately disposed towards the interior ot th® pad holder 20 and terminates in annular arcuate edges 66. The side walls 77 of the wall segments M including the arcuate portion 65 are tapered so that the bottom of th® side wall segment 64 is somewhat circuaferentially wider than the arcuate edge 66.

Depending from the central portion 63 is a hollow cylindrical shaft 68, which includes an interiorly provided circular protrusion 70, whose purpose is hereinafter described. Between th® shaft 68 and the skirt 71 ar® a plurality of radial ribs 78 depending from th® spokelike portions 62 of the base portion 61. The side wall segments also Inciud® ribs 69 projecting inwardly therefrom. Th® rib 69 provides additional strength to the side wall segments 64 and prevents «se from warping or incurring other deformation. The ribs 69 further· , more secure pad 22 vithin the pad holder. The central portion S3 of the base portion 61 further includes an interior annular lia 73 that slopes downwardly towards th® large aperture S0«, eaid lip 73 including a plurality of slots ©4, whose purpose is hereinafter described.

The emanator pad 22 ic a eoars* material, e.g., a diecut felt material, provided preferably as two pads one above th® other. The emanator pad may b® inserted into the pad holder 20 by outwardly bending one of the side wall segments 64, vhich have sufficient flexibility and resiliency to allow such insertion. The pad holder may be mad* for example from polypropylene or high density polyethylene by conventional molding methods. The emanator pad may be made from woven or nonwoven materials capable of transporting liquids by capillary action, and preferably is a mixture of cotton, synthetic, and wood pulp fibers,' plus a wet~strength binder.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the cover member 24 comprises a •lightly frustoconical body 91 including a top 92, there being a plurality of spaced apart air circulation apertures 93 through tha body ®1· Each cf the apertures 93 may comprise a plurality of vertical slot* 93a. Ref erring to Fig. 2,„ a partially broken-sway front view of the cover member 2«, an interior circular flange 95 depends· from the top 92 of the cover member 24, and λά exterior circular flange 96 also depends from the top 92 of th® ewer member 24, maid exterior flange further including at least one stop member 97.

Referring to Fig. 5, the pad holder 20 (including the pads 22, not shown) is detachably retained within the cover member as follows: the , emanator pad holder 20 is adopted for coincident placement proximate the top of the cover member 24. Thus, side vail segments 64 are essentially arcuately radially identical with the body 91 of the cover member. By urging the pad holder 20 towards the top 92», the arcuate edges 66 of the wall segments 64 engage the interior flange 95, as most easily understood by review of Fig. 5. The flexible and resilient side vail segments '54 flex outwardly slightly to achieve this Bating. Similarly, peripheral boss 72 on th® skirt 71 engages complementary boss 93 on the interior of the body 91 of the cover member 24. The emanator pad holder 20 is thereby rotatably engaged within the cover member 24. The circular flange 96 provides a rotation surface for the arcuate portion 65 of the side wall segment 64, with the stop member 97 being adapted to restrict rotation of the eaanator pad holder 20 when the apertures 93 are in registry with the channels 82 or when the side wall segments 64 fully close th® apertures 93. Th* eaanator pad holder 20 (including the *»enafor pads 22) Is secured within the cover aeaber 2« during Manufacture, and is intended to reaain integrally assembled during shipnent and use.

As Indicated above, during shipment (or during nonuse) th® closure cap 13 is connected to the neck 32 of the container 12. Paring this shipping or nonuse node, the lower edge of the shaft 68 rests loosely on shoulder 54 of the closure cap in 18, the upstanding skirt 52 being received into the shaft 68, with the circular projection 70 providing additional frictional engagement.

To use the device, the consuaer sinply reaoves the cover aeaher-eaanator pad bolder assembly, then reaoves the closure cap 13, and finally replaces eaid seseably. Th* shaft 58 receives the neck 32 of the container 12, and the coapleaentary Bating surfaces 34 and 70 *r» engaged. Furtherxore, the circular lip 73 of the central base portion 63 flexes upwardly slightly, and compressively engages the top 42 of the insert aeaher 14. The lip 73 is not especially resilient, but flexes in view ni the flex slots 8« provided therein. The wick IS, In view of this; connection between the container 12 and the pad holder 20s is in abutment vith the eaanator pad 22, and the fragrance conposition nay be wicked frost the container 12 to the eaanator pad 22.

The consumer xav adjustably regulate the rate of diffusion of the fragrance material fro* th* emaaator pad to th* atmospher* by rotafcionally opeaiag or closing the cover member 24 te vary the «is® of the air circulation passages defined by th* aperture® §>3 and the ehaasal» *2. ©ISfusIca I» anfeaaced fey th* prevision of th* updraft grooves 3E and the aperture® »1, which provide a path for air flow to the vapor apae* afeav* the asaanator pad holder 2®,. Air contact with the feott©» of the entire eaanetor pad ia established by having the •sanator pad rest ea the raised central portion 63 of the base portion ¢1, thereby establishing aa annular channel normal to the vertical axis ef the device 2®. Th* torquing fore* necessary to rotat* the cover Member 2* about the emanate? pad 2©-c©ntain*r 12 assembly is less; than that required te rotate the caanator pad 2d about the •aanator pad-cont*in*r asseably. !Bow*v*r, the «senator pad holder-cover asseably may rotate a* os* unit when the «top means abut a side wall segment ¢4. Thi* may fee prevented fey including a atop member ©a the interior surface of th* «haft 6® that cooperates with flange 34, thereby limiting rotation.

It is to be understood that the air freshener device of the present invention has been described above' purely by way of example, and that various modifications of detail can be made therein provided that they do not entail a departure from the scope of the claims appended below.

Claims

1. lg CLAIMS

1. An air freshener dispenser comprising a container having an opening; a vick depending into the container; an emanator pad; emanator pad holding means detachably connected to the container ano retaining the emanator pad in contact with the 5 wick, said pad holding Mean# including at least one fragrance diffusion channel and at least one upwardly extending side wall member; a cover member having a top and α substantially cylindri cal side wall and including at least one fragrance diffusion aperture registrable with said fragrance diffusion channel, and 10 retention means comprising a first mating surface associated with the pad holding means and a second mating surface associated with the cover member, said mating surfaces in operative position detachably retaining the cover member on the pad holding means detachably connected to the container, the first 15 mating surface being inoperative in cooperation with said cover member substantially cylindrical side wall to detachably retain said cover member on the pad holding means, said cover member being rotatable in said detachably retained position with respect· to said, pad holding means, the pad holding means being 20 nonrotatable with respect to the container by the torquing force for rotating the cover member on the pad holding means, whereby rotation of the cover member enables said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least one fragrance diffusion channel to be brought into registry.

2. Th* dispenser of Claim 1, wherein th* second mating surface is a circular flange depending from the top of the cover member, and wherein the uppermost portion of the pad holding means side wall member curves inwardly towards the center of the 5 pad holding means and terminates in an arcuate edge, said arcuate edge being said first mating surface, said uppermost pcrcion of the side wall aeaber being outwardly flax«sd when said arcuate edge is in mating relationship with said flange.

3. The dispenser of Claim 1, wherein the pad holding means 10 includes a planar base portion from which said side wall member upwardly extends and a peripheral skirt depending from said planar base portion, ths ekiht having a peripheral boss proximate its bottom edge, said boss being, the first mating surface, and wherein the second mating surface is a peripheral 15 boss on the interior surface of the substantially cylindrical side wall of the cover aeaber, said first mating surface overlying said second mating surface in operative position.

4. The dispenser of Claim 2, wherein the pad holding means includes a planar base portion from which said side wall member 20 upwardly extends. Ϊ8

5. Th» dispense? of Claim 3, vherein the uppermost portion of the pad balding means side wall member curves inwardly towards the sente? of th® pad holding means.

6. The dispenser of Claim 4 or 5, wherein the base portion 5 of the pad holding means includes a central aperture through which the wick extends, the base portion further including a plurality of radial cpokelike portions between the central aperture and th® periphery of the base portion means, thereby defining air circulation apertures in said base portion. 10

7.-The dispenser of Claia 6, vherein there is a plurality'of pad holding means side wall members extending upwardly from the base portion, the number of fragrance diffusion apertures in the cover member being of the same number as said plural nutbsr of side wall members. ]_5

8. The dispenser of C-lais Ί, wherein the pad holding means includes © hollow cylindrical shaft depending frcm proximate the periphery of the central aperture in the planar base, and wherein the container includes a neck, the shaft being detachably connected to the neck.

9. The dispenser of Claim 7, wherein the base portion includes a raised area. io.· The dispenser of Claim- 7, further including emanator pad securing ribs radially extending from said side wall members towards said central aperture. 11. Tha air freshener dispenser of Clair 1, further comprising closure means removably attachable to the container to seal the container opening during periods of nonuse. 12. The air freshener dispenser of Claia 1, wherein the container has at least one updraft groove to establish a fluid pathway from between proximate the bottom of the container to proximate th© top of the container. 13. Kn air freshener dispenser comprising a container having an opening; a wick depending into the container; an emanator pad; emanator pad holding means detachably connected to the container and retaining the emanator pad in contact with the wick, said pad holding means including & planar base portion having a central aperture through which said wick extends, at least one side wall member including a plurality of fragrance diffusion channels, said planar bass portion having a plurality of radial spokelike portions between the central aperture and th® periphery of the have portion defining air circulation apertures therein; a ewer member having a top and a substantially cylindrical aide wall and including a plurality of fragrance diffusion apertures equal in number to the fragrance diffusion channels and registrable with said fragrance diffusion channels, and retention means operative tc detachably retain the cover aeaber on the pad holding means, said cover aeaber being rotatable in said detachably retained position with respect to said said holding means, the pad holding means being nonrotatable with respect to the container by the torquing force for rotating the cover member on the pad holding means, whereby rotation of the cover member enables said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least on® fragrance diffusion channel to be brought into registry’. is. The dispenser of Claim 13, wherein said retention means comprise a first mating surface associated with the pad holding Beans and a second mating surface associated with the cover member, tbs first bating surface being inoperative in cooperation with said 'cover member substantially cylindrical side wall to detachably retain said cover member on the pad holding means. 15. The dispenser of Claia 14, wherein the second asking surface is a circular flange depending froa the top of the cover aeaber, and wherein there is a plurality of pad holding means sid© wall »,«sabers, the uppermost portions of the side wall 5 xenhers curving inwardly towards the center of the pad holding means and terminating in an arcuate edge, said arcuate edge being ©aid first sating surface, said uppermost portion of the side wall members being outwardly flexed when in mating relationship with said flange.

10. IS. The dispenser of Claim 14, wherein the pad holding means further includes a peripheral. skirt depending froa said planar base portion, the skirt proximate its bottom edge having a peripheral boss which is the .first acting surface, and wherein the second mating surface is a peripheral boss on the interior

11. 15 surface of the substantially cylindrical side wall of the cover member.

12. 17. The dispenser of Claim IS, wherein the uppermost portion cf the pad holding means side wall member curves inwardly towards the center of the pad holding means. 2q 13. The dispenser of Claia 17, wherein .there is a plurality of pad holding means side wall members extending upwardly from the be.** portion, the number of fragrance diffusion aperturniG in the cover »«sb'Sr being of the siase auaber iss ji&id plural number of ®ide wel-l member».

13. 19. The fiimpenaer of Claias IS or 18, wherein th® pad 5 holding moans includes a hollow cylindrical shaft depending from proximate the periphery of the central aperture in the planar base, and wherein th® container includes a neck, the shaft being detachably connected to the neck.

14. 20. The dispenser of Claim 19, wherein the base portion 10 includes a raised area.

15. 21. The dispenser of Claim 19, further including eaanator pad securing ribs radially extending fro® said side wall members towards said central aperture.

16. 22. An air freshener dispenser ss claimed in claim 1 or 15 13, substantially as described with reference to any Figure or Figures of the accompanying drawings. F.R. KELLY & CO.