EP3191141A1

EP3191141A1 - Air freshener device

Info

Publication number: EP3191141A1
Application number: EP15749893.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marian Besleaga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-23
Filing date: 2015-02-05
Publication date: 2017-07-19
Also published as: RO130838A2; WO2015199566A1

Abstract

The invention refers to an air freshener device intended to refresh and flavour the air in the vehicles, and in other enclosed spaces, of relatively low volume, equipped with means for controlled evaporation of the odoriferous liquid substance. Also, the device is intended to display high definition and high fidelity printed images, for advertising and educational purposes. The freshener device is composed of a flat active element (1), made of cardboard impregnated with a odoriferous substance that evaporates gradually, on the two sides of which semi-permeable covers (2 and 3) are applied to reduce evaporation of the odoriferous substance. These are made of plastic, transparent and colourless film and display at least one high fidelity and high definition image (a and b) "mirror" printed on the rear. In one embodiment, the freshener device is provided with at least one perforated area (e), with micro-perforations (f) to produce enhanced evaporation of the odoriferous substance in this area.

Description

AIR FRESHENER DEVICE

The invention refers to an air f eshener device intended for freshening and changin the air fragrance form the cabin of vehicles, but also from other smaller size living spaces, offices etc.

Simple scent devices are known, commonly marketed and used, especially in cars, (PCT/US2014/044130) and consist of flat shaped absorbent paper, impregnated with a liquid fragrance that, via free volatilization, at the temperature in the respective space, release a pleasant fragrance. The flat sides of the impregnated cardboard display advertising or just decorative prints and the device is provided with a hole through which passes a wire hanging from the interior rear-view mirror or any other suitable place.

The main minus of this device is that, after the unpacking and exposure to the atmosphere from the car cabin (or a similar space), the fragrance freely evaporates from both flat opposite surfaces of the device, having no technical means of adjustment or control of the evaporation process, which leads to depletion of the active substance and relatively rapid disuse of the device.

Another disadvantage is represented by the fact that the images printed on the flat sides lack attractiveness for users, firstly due to the simplicity of the subject represented, but also because of the lower quality of the image itself, as a result of the printing process used (serigraphic process), imposed by the extremely porous surface of the absorbent cardboard used for printing. It is known that printing on dull materials and especially porous surfaces (such as blotting paper), is accompanied by an unwanted diffusion of inks, which does not allow the net display of the details, leads to low quality and considerably limits printing of more complex subjects with a higher definition.

The technical problem solved by this invention is to provide an air freshener device equipped with technical means that ensure the control of the active substance evaporation rate and, in the same time, enable the execution of high quality printing.

The freshener device, according to the invention, solves the technical problem mentioned, in that on the two flat sides of the active element are applied some semipermeable covers which attenuate the evaporation of the odorous substances incorporated in the active element; semipermeable covers are made in a transparent, colourless plastic film and display, on the back, at least one "mirror" printed image, having high fidelity and high definition images printed by offset or flexographic process, with odourless inks and that are seen through the transparent foil of the semipermeable cover, which are applied on the active element by hot or cold rolling, or lamination. In one structural version, on the two sides of the active elements are

l applied covers that, in addition to an image field, contain at least one perforated area, with micro-perforations that generate an increase of the odorous substance evaporation process in this area, while a slower evaporation takes place by the specific permeability of covers bearing image fields, as mentioned.

The invention provides the following advantages:

- increasing the lifetime of the scent device (reaching up to 20...25 days), due to the fact that from factory, it is provided with means for controlling the evaporation process, reducing or decreasing the evaporation rate of the volatile substance incorporated in the device;

- The freshener device becomes more attractive, gains new instructive educational values, unused until now, due to the fact that various subjects and themes (scientific, artistic, etc.) can be used for printing of both sides of the device; thus, the scent device, rationally manufactured, may become a new mean of dissemination of knowledge in various fields, taking into account the large series production of such a product;

- The significant increase of the printed images quality which, now, according to the present invention, are printed on a glossy surface (ultra - vellum), with no porosity or roughness, represented by colourless and transparent plastic film and, therefore, are obtained high fidelity and high definition images, quality specific to photographs, stamps and picture cards, so that, similarly, the depleted scent devices stimulate the desire to be collected and stored by the user;

- increasing resistance to touching and wear in time of the printed images on semipermeable covers, after printing on the back of the transparent foil material of the covers; this aspect is more relevant when the user wants to collect and preserve intact the depleted freshener devices, disused and recovered.

This is a way of making the invention, in connection with Fig. 1...4, which represents:

- Fig. 1, front view of the freshener device, with partial sections and breaks respectively;

- Fig. 2, perspective, expanded view, showing the layered composition of the freshener device in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3, front view, similar to that of Fig. 1, freshener device , in another constructive version;

- Fig. 4, partial section at a much larger scale, according to A-A drawing, via the freshener device of Fig. 3

The air freshener device, according to the investment, has a flat shape, known and currently used for similar products. Although Fig. 1 shows a rectangular shape, the freshener device can reproduce any geometrical shape or stylized, silhouette of flowers, plants, trees or various objects.

As shown in Fig. 2, the freshener device exhibits a layered structure, consisting of an active element 1 and two semi-permeable covers 2 and 3, one for each flat side of the active element 1. The active element 1 is made of a rigid absorbent cardboard, with a thickness of about 1.5 mm, impregnated with an odorous known substance. The two semi-permeable covers 2 and 3 are made of transparent, colourless and flexible plastic film, for example, polypropylene or polyester, having a thickness of 12...15 microns. Semi-permeable covers 2 and 3 display on the back images a and b "mirror" printed, visible, on each side the final product, through transparency of the plastic film. Printing is made by ways ensuring a high definition image, comparable to that obtained by photographic reproduction, recommending the use of offset printing flexographic machines etc., with special, odourless inks, which cannot alter the properties of the odorous substance, inks known. Images a and b, on the two sides of the scent device can be identical or different; in this latter case the images can complement each other, to optimally define a common topic (for instance, for promotional purposes, may display the front and the back of a car). The high quality of these images ennobles the scent device, which becomes more attractive and, therefore, acquires new functions: the educational function and that of publicity means, as shown below.

The two semi-permeable covers 2 and 3, after their printing and complete drying, are applied on the active element sides 1 by cold rolling, hot rolling and lamination, common processes in the polygraphic technique.

Returning to Fig. 1, we can note in the upper side, in the set of the scent device appears a hole c through which is passed a textile or elastic wire 4, used for hanging.

The freshener device assembly is inserted in a bag 5, of transparent plastic material, hermetically sealed and mechanically protecting the product; also, the bag 5 prevents volatilization of the odoriferous substance from the active element 1, until its opening by the user.

The freshener device described above is used and works similarly to other known state of the art products, showing however, some important differences and a number of advantages.

Thus, full or partial coverage of the active element sides 1 (impregnated with an odoriferous substance) using the two semi-permeable covers 2 and 3, creates the possibility of reducing the rate of volatilization of the odoriferous substance and, thus increasing the life of the product. Also, by choosing the plastic used for semi-permeable covers 2 and 3, different evaporation rates can be obtained and, thus, different times of active substance depletion (different useful lives).

In addition, the use of the two covers 2 and 3 in plastic film, ensures, as shown above, printing high quality and high fidelity images (showing the smallest details), which widens the intended use of the scent device. Thus, we can approach a high range of topics, educational etc., such as series of images / reproductions of flower species belonging to a certain class, or portraits of celebrities and historical figures etc. After use (no need of air freshening and fragrance release in a given space), the residual "product" (currently considered waste) can be recycled, kept in time and classified for its educative function and artistic value of the images, similarly with the philatelic activity. Lastly, by choosing the appropriate theme and subjects of the images printed on covers 2 and 3, the scent device, according to this invention, becomes a significant means of advertising, highly attractive due to a multitude and diversity of users /clients considered by the manufacturers, such as car manufacturers and not only, for instance sports clubs; the scent device can be customized and offered as promotional item.

We remind that, compared to similar, known scent devices, i.e. which have active surfaces fully uncovered and uncontrolled evaporation, based on the above described invention, the process of evaporation of the active substance can be easily controlled by the manufacturer, i.e. the rate of evaporation of the odoriferous substance can be decreased by using the two semipermeable covers 2 and 3.

This invention allows the activation (acceleration) of the evaporation process, on one or two sides of the active element 1, impregnated with odoriferous substance, using the structural version shown below, with reference to Fig. 3 and 4.

In this version, the freshener device has a layered structure similar to the one specified above, composed of the active element 1 (impregnated with odoriferous substance) on which sides are applied, via the said procedures, some covers 6 and 7.

These are made in the same plastic material (transparent, colourless and flexible) as semipermeable covers 2 and 3 and display at least one field - image d, printed on a narrower range than the covers 2 and 3.

On the free surface, at least one perforated area e is made, intended for faster evaporation of the odorous substance absorbed by the structure of the active element 1. The area perforated e consists of multiple micro-perforations f, with diameters below 0.5 mm, arranged at a pitch of approx. 2 mm, performed by laser or mechanical process, both known. The selective micro- perforation operation of covers 6 and 7 is made after printing and, obviously prior being applied on the active element 1. In this way, on the same surface of evaporation of the active element 1, as in the case of using semi-permeable covers 2 and 3, occurs the intensification of the volatilization process, easily controlled "a priori", by suitably dimensioning the size of the perforated area and of micro-perforations f, or the diameter and density thereof.

Claims

1. Air freshener device, composed of a flat active element, made of absorbing cardboard, impregnated with a substance or mixture of more scent liquids which progressively evaporate at ambient temperature, characterized in that, on the two flat sides of the active element (1) are applied semi-permeable covers (2 and 3) which attenuate evaporation of scent substances incorporated in the active element (1); semi-permeable covers (2 and 3) are made in transparent, colourless plastic film and shows, on the back, at least one 'mirror' printed image (a and b), of high fidelity and definition, images printed using offset or flexographic process, with odourless ink and seen through transparence of the semipermeable film covers ( 2 and 3 ) applied on the active element (1) by hot or cold rolling or lamination.

2. Air freshener device, according to the claim 1, characterized in that, in a structural version, on the two sides of the active element (1) are applied covers (6 and 7) which, in addition to an image field (d), contain at least one perforated area ( e ), provided with micro- perforations ( f ) which determine intensification of the odoriferous substance evaporation in this are ensuring a slower evaporation, at the same time and via own permeability of the covers ( 6 and 7 ), bearing mentioned the image fields ( d ).