FR2993782A1 - DEVICE, CARTRIDGE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ODOR DIFFUSION - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (6), a cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65), a system and an odor dispensing method for a user (9). The device (6) comprises a housing (13) provided with a perforated cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) for the retention of odorous balls (41), a fan (27) for air entrainment through cartridge and actuating means (26) of the fan. The actuating means comprise a circuit (28) for controlling the fan (27) for a predetermined time, the housing comprising a face (14) provided with an air outlet slit (16) issuing from the cartridge. an end (17) and a recess (21) for introducing a finger (22) of the user (9) located opposite another end, the recess (21) comprising a pan ( 24, 25) inclined relative to the surface forming and / or provided with an activation key of the actuating means (26).

Description

The present invention relates to an odor expander device for a user, of the type comprising a housing provided with a perforated cartridge for retaining odorous balls, a fan of air entrainment through the cartridge and means for actuating the fan. It also relates to a cartridge that can be used with such a device as well as a system and an odor diffusion method. It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of advertising, where it is sought to make a consumer aware of the purchase of a product by induction of olfactory impressions, and in particular in the field of advertising. Point of Sale Advertising (POS). It is known to use odor diffusers 20 of the type mentioned above, especially as odor diffusers. Such devices thus allow the diffusion of odor to the township, which may not be to the taste of all users of the environment. They are de facto suitable for use in a promotional operation for the enhancement and / or to advertise products in a dedicated manner. During these promotional campaigns the consumer must indeed be targeted and his nose solicited (to capture his attention and hope for a positive commercial impact) in relation to a specific message. 2 2993782 The impact is all the more effective if there is a persistence of the odor. But persistence too long may cause a disgusting effect on the user.

The devices of the prior art also have the disadvantage of poor control of the radius of action, which may be too important. There is a risk of overlaying different odors at the expense of identifying the product being promoted or soliciting people who are not concerned or who do not wish to be. Finally, these devices are poorly adapted to their use in light and fragile structures such as those used in PLV. In conclusion, the devices of the prior art do not make it possible to ensure a good compromise between speed of delivery of the odor and circumscribed radius of action thereof. The present invention aims to provide a device, a cartridge, a system and a method that better than those previously known to the requirements of the practice, particularly in that it allows a targeted distribution of the commercial message conveyed by the smell, and that of efficient and eco-friendly way without nuisance. The device is easy to use, adaptable to different implantation situations, especially in light and / or ephemeral displays, and with great autonomy for a reduced cost. For this purpose, the invention proposes in particular an odor diffuser device for a user, of the type described above, characterized in that the actuating means 2993782 comprise a fan control circuit for a predetermined time, and in that the housing comprises a front face provided with an air outlet slot coming from the cartridge at one end and a recess for introducing a finger of the user located opposite a another end, the recess comprising a slanted portion relative to the front face forming and / or provided with an activation key of said actuating means.

Thanks to the means of actuating the fan for a determined time, combined with the exit slot, it is possible to control the odor zone enveloping the user and to adapt it to the odor and / or the effect research.

The presence of the insertion recess of a finger having an inclined face, also allows a user to control the device when it is located opposite in the bubble or zone of action of the diffuser to obtain the desired effect.

This is also possible without risk of tipping if the support is fragile. Indeed, the actuation being effected by pressure on the inclined face, there is no risk of causing or repelling the support in the direction of the pressure, and thus destabilizing the support. In advantageous embodiments, one and / or the other of the following provisions is also used: the pan of the recess is inclined at an angle of between 20 ° and 60 ° with respect to the surface of the case, for example 30 °; the exit slot has a length of between 3 cm and 12 cm, for example of the order of 7 cm, 2993782 and a width of between 3 and 7 mm, for example 4 mm; the fan has a flow rate of between 150 and 250 l / min; The cartridge is removable; the cartridge comprises an inlet wall having at least one perforated part, of distribution of the flow of incoming air coming from the fan into the odorous balls, and an outlet wall provided with a perforated discharge discharge band; distributed air, placed opposite the air outlet slot; the cartridge has a quarter-cylindrical or oval cross section having a perforated inlet wall; -the inlet wall has a recess whose bottom is at least partly sloping from the periphery of said wall to form the perforated portion; The inlet wall is formed by a perforated plane perpendicular to the outlet wall; the cartridge comprises two lateral lugs forming a retention box for the odorous balls, perforated on their upper external face, said beads being separated from each other by a central channel, blowing the air coming from the fan, suitable for generating the suction of the air by said perforated faces, and said lugs comprising perforated parts on their lateral internal edges, evacuation of the air after passing through said odorous balls, and also by driving the blowing air ; 2993782 -the front face of the housing with a slot is flat. The invention also relates to a cartridge that can be used with the device as described above. Advantageously, the cartridge is rechargeable. The invention further relates to a system comprising at least one device as described above. Advantageously, the system is characterized in that it comprises a vertical support terminal of the device, the face of the housing of said device being arranged vertically therein to form a display at a point of sale directly accessible to the user opposite him. . The invention further relates to a method of diffusing an odor to a user in a targeted manner using a device as described above. The invention also proposes an odor diffusion process, characterized in that, starting from an odor diffuser comprising a vertical casing provided with a perforated perforated-perfume cartridge, a fan is triggered. 25d'air air through the cartridge for a predetermined time, by pressing a finger on an activation key disposed according to an inclined portion of a recess of the housing and diffuses the odor during said time determined through an air outlet slot from the cartridge located at a predetermined height relative to the user. Advantageously, the air is drawn through the cartridge by injecting air between two parts of the cartridge. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of particular embodiments given below by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the drawings which accompany it in which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mode of realization of a system according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal technical block of the device of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the constituent elements of the device of FIG. Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 6A show respectively a rear view and a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of the device of Fig. 2 showing the path of the through air flow. Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention. Figures 8 and 8A show in rear perspective, from below, and before, above, a third embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention. Figure 1 schematically shows a system 1 comprising a display rack 2 for PLV. The display 2 is for example formed by a light cardboard structure, tubular having a facial wall 3, substantially flat. The wall 3 comprising for example an advertisement 45 of a product (eg chocolate) or a perfume. The tubular display is for example from a height of between 1.6 m and 1.9 m of ellipsoidal cross section and rests vertically on 101st soil by its base 5. The system 1 comprises a device 6 odor diffuser (molecules 7 ). The device 6 is for example fixed in an opening 8 of the display 2 and is accessible by a user 9 located opposite from the outside. It is placed at a height between 1.3 m and 1.5 m, ie at a distance from the nose 10 of an average user 9 of about 25 cm in elevation. When the device 6 is put into operation by the user 9, air currents (arrows 11) loaded with odor 7 are expelled. These are diffused in the form of a bubble 12, 12 '(in phantom in the figure), facing the device going to widen and diminish in intensity of odor during the determined time of a few seconds for example between 3 seconds and 10 seconds, for example 6 seconds. By bubble is meant a zone forming a substantially spherical or ellipsoidal volume extending from the device, concentrating sufficiently high odorous particles to be perceived almost immediately by the user.

The device 6 will also be described more specifically with reference to Figure 2 which shows it in perspective. The device 6 comprises a casing 13 of plastics material, of generally parallelepipedal shape, for example 12 cm × 12 cm × 3 cm. The housing 13 comprises a front face 14, for example square, provided with a peripheral edge 15 allowing for example its attachment to a support. In this embodiment, the front face 14 is flat but can also be curved. It comprises a slot 16 of air outlet at one of its ends 17 said upper end. The slot is rectangular. It is parallel to the upper edge 18 of the front face, for example at a distance thereof of between 10 mm and 20 mm, for example 15 mm. The slot is also at a distance from this time to the lower edge 19 of the front face 2014, between 50 mm and 150 mm for example 100 min. The slot is of a length of between 30 mm and 120 mm, for example 90 mm and width between 3 mm and 7 mm, for example 5 mm. It passes through the thickness of the front face 14 flaring to form a chamfer along its entire periphery forwards. The angle thus formed (see Figure 3) is for example between 50 and 45 ° for example 30 °. The face 14 also comprises a recess 21 for introducing a finger 22 (see FIG. 1) of the user 9, having a rectangular opening centered with respect to the width of the front face, located at the opposite end. compared to the slot, in the lower part. The lower edge 23 of the rectangular opening is parallel to the lower edge 19 of the front face 514 at a distance of between 10 mm and 20 mm, for example 13 mm thereof. The recess 21 has dimensions adapted for a human finger. For example, the rectangular opening is between 20 mm and 40 mm, for example 28 mm by 33 mm. The recess comprises four sides which form with the rectangular opening a pentahedron. At least two of the sections 24 and 25 of this pentahedron are inclined with respect to the front surface, to form respectively a lower inclined face 24 and an upper face 25. With reference to FIG. 3, the upper inclined face 25 forms an angle α relative to to the normal at the front face and the lower inclined plane 2024 forms an angle a2 with respect to the same normal plane (ie an angle of 90 ° - a2 with respect to the front face). The angles α1 and α2 are in the range 30 ° to 70 ° (that is, the angles, with respect to the front face 14 itself, are in the range 20 ° to 60 °). The lower inclined plane 24 is searable by a few millimeters or a few tenths of a millimeter by a single pressure, because of its flexibility and / or because it is articulated with its junctions with the rest of the housing and / or recess sections. 21.

In other words, this flexibility gives it a degree of freedom sufficient to be sinking and / or movable downwards, by pressing the finger of the user to act on means 26 of fan operation 27. The means 26 comprise a mechanical interface 28 of the electric button type with return to the initial position after biasing or any other means such as a piezoelectric sensor. Advantageously, this mechanical interface generates a noise, for example of rattling, when it is actuated. In the embodiment more particularly described here, the casing is injection molded of plastic material, the lower inclined pan being of smaller thickness than the rest of the walls of the casing, to present the flexibility allowing this spring effect (design) . The device 6 comprises, in addition to the housing 13, a cartridge 29 which will be detailed with reference to FIGS. 6 and 6A. FIG. 4 shows a partial rear view of the housing 13, open on the side of the front face 14, which is for example removable and / or interchangeable. This allows a great flexibility of use, the front panels can be changed to change the length and / or the width of the slot 16 in particular. Once assembled all the constituent elements of the device, the housing is for example of a thickness between 30 mm and 45 mm, for example 35 mm 2993782 More precisely the periphery of the front face comprises for example means 30 of snap-fasteners known in themselves to be fastened at least partially removably on the technical block 531 and / or the rear part of the casing of FIG. 2. The block 31 is compartmentalized and comprises a first parallelepipedal housing 32 for retaining and fixing the fan or turbine 27, sucking the air through its center 27 'and rejecting 33 in the upper part of the block through a hole 34, for example rectangular made in the upper side of the housing 32. The technical block 31 also comprises a second housing 35 provided with two cells 36 holding 15piles (not shown) connected to the fan by connectors 37 for power supply thereof. An electronic element (not shown) connected to the actuating means 26 makes it possible to create at least 20 an electrical pulse for starting and stopping the power supply after a time delay. As shown in the figure, the technical block is open towards the rear 38, on the side to cooperate with a wall or cape 38 rear of the housing. It can be detached from the front face 14 and be replaced, it can also be changed and / or repositioned on an identical technical block. This allows an adaptation of the front face to the conditions of use including providing a range of faces with slots of different shapes and / or dimensions.

The rear wall 38 forming the bottom is rectangular in shape and comprises three orthogonal flaps on its periphery which therefore collaborate with the front face to maintain the technical block in place.

Other similar technical blocks may be used such as that which will now be described with reference to Figure 5. The bottom or rear wall 38 further comprises an air intake port 39. The orifice is circular and comprises annular sections delimited by at least one cross-member 40 for stiffening. It is positioned so as to face the suction inlet 27 'of the fan 1527. A rib 39' on the periphery of the orifice channels the path of air from the outside of the housing to to the suction inlet of the fan encircling said inlet. The rear wall further comprises an access opening to the power supply means, with removable cover C, in a manner known per se. According to the invention described here, the device 6 further comprises a cartridge 29 for retaining odorous bumps 41 (see FIG. 3), mounted at the outlet 33 of the fan 27, for example by snapping onto the technical block. The cartridge 29 is covered by a lid 42 of corresponding shape. This lid 42 provides access to the cartridge, for example removable and thus replace it once worn and / or change odor. 13 2993782 The cover also makes the inside of the case even more airtight and / or odor-resistant. Finally, as indicated above, FIG. 5 shows actuating means 26, which include delay means 5 comprising an electronic element 43 (known per se) such as a programmable timer circuit. Thus the actuating means will be able to trigger an electrical pulse which activates the command means for controlling the running and stopping of the fan for a predetermined time, for example between 2 s and 10 s, advantageously between 4 s and 6 s . Concerning the cooperation between the fan and the cartridge 151, it is noted that the air outlet of the fan is directed upwards, facing the opening 34 of corresponding dimensions located for example in the upper wall 44 of the block technique 31 described in Figure 204. The edges of the air outlet mouth of the fan and the opening of the upper wall are also designed to be joined. In FIG. 4, the upper wall 44 of the technical block 31 also comprises, on the upper face, two straight ribs 45 parallel to each other in the transverse direction of the block. These ribs are spaced from the width of the cartridges and guide them during their insertion, the insertion then being done by sliding. In another embodiment, the ribs comprise a longitudinal groove collaborating with at least one lateral lug (not shown) of the cartridges, allowing their insertion and retention in place. The pressure exerted by the ribs allows retention of the cartridge against the upper wall of the block and thus contributes to sealing the flow of air during its passage from the fan to the cartridge, limiting losses. Three embodiments of the embodiment of a cartridge will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 7, the cartridges 50 and 51 are substantially identical, of quarter-cylinder cross-section or 15d '. oval. They comprise two rectangular, perpendicular, plane walls 53, 54 and 55 and a curved wall 56. The curved wall of the cartridges makes it possible to guide the flow. More specifically, the cartridges 50 and 51 have a first air inlet wall 53, 54 and a second air outlet wall 55 perpendicular to the first walls. The inlet wall 53, 54 is perforated at 57 ', respectively 57, and distributes the air flow F2 inside the cartridge. The inlet wall may be flat 53 or comprise (wall 54) a cell 58. The cell 58 is inwardly depression 30 of the cartridge, that is to say that the inlet wall 54 has a recess 58 whose bottom 59 is at least partly sloping from the periphery 60 of said cell to form the perforated portion.

In Figure 6 the cell forms a pentahedron three sides 61, 62, 63 adjacent two by two are perforated. The sloping portion follows an angle A with respect to the plane of the inlet face between 3 ° and 45 °, preferably between 100 and 350 for example 30 °. The cell makes it possible to diffuse the flow of air on the lateral parts of the cartridge which would otherwise be only slightly traversed by it. Thus, both the efficiency in terms of odorous power and the longevity of the cartridge are increased. The openings are constituted by rectangular slots 64 in the width direction of the walls, of width between 0.5 mm and 4 mm for example 2 mm, and spaced a distance in the same range of values, the widths of the slots being arranged to allow good retention of the balls, without penalizing the flow rate by creating too high a loss of load. The openings of the inlet walls are of a length at least equal to that of the opening 34 and preferably greater than 8 / 10th of the width of the inlet wall. The openings 64 'of the exit walls are the end thereof and may encroach on the end of the curved portion. More specifically, the output of the cartridge is effected by a band or slot of length and width substantially equal to those of the exit slot 16 of the front face 14, and has orifices 69 'of output for example between 5 and 30 rectangular openings 1 mm to 3 mm apart, spaced a distance equivalent to the width of 0.5 mm to 2mm. The surface ratio between the input apertures strips and the outlet apertures is greater than 2, advantageously greater than 5, and still more preferably greater than 8 or 10. This surface ratio generates a greater speed of expulsion at the output of the cartridge. FIGS. 8 and 8A show another embodiment of cartridge 65. The cartridge comprises two separate reservoirs 66, 67 for retaining odorous balls, symmetrical with respect to a central transverse plane 68. ear shape that is to say globally quarter sphere. The lugs consist of three orthogonal walls, the first of which 66 'coincides with a portion of the inlet wall and of a curved wall 71. The curved wall 71 has a curved outer surface 72 and a substantially perpendicular internal lateral face 73. at the surface 72. The curved wall 71 is perforated, the openings 74 having dimensions similar to those described above and forms lines of one or more slots, for example two, parallel. The ears are separated from each other by a central channel 75 for blowing air between the ears. During the passage of a main air flow FO from the fan, it will create a suction at the outlet of the channel 75 thus generating secondary flows fo nasant on the upper face 72 of the ears. These secondary flows fo will pass through the cartridge and be driven by the main stream 5 to exit through the openings of the inner side face 73 (flux fo '). This arrangement allows a surprisingly fast and powerful ejection of the odor by venturi effect, and / or injector. Note that in this embodiment the lid is then perforated by openings corresponding to those of the upper face 74 of the cartridge. In all embodiments, the cartridges 15 can either be dismountable as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet wall then being disconnectable from the remainder of the cartridge, or having a pivoting lateral door for refilling in odorous balls. In this way the cartridges are refillable. The operation of a device according to the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The device 6, placed vertically in a vertical support terminal 2, for example a POS display, is directly accessible by the user vis-à-vis the actuating means 24, 26 of the housing. This can be fixed on the display by any means, in particular by gluing the front surface of the case face onto the display stand. The front panel may have been pre-glued for this purpose. 18 2993782 Once the display rack has been put in place, a user will be able to introduce a finger into the insertion recess of the casing and actuate the means for actuating the ventilator by means of the activation button with pan inclined with respect to the face . The tilting of the pan creates a normal component to the pressing of the activation key which thereby squeezes the display to the floor, thus counteracting its movement and preventing it from being snapped off under pressure. When a user 9 presses a finger 22 on the actuating means 26, located in the recess 21, the pan 24 forming a spring-loaded tab 25 pushes the button 28 which engages the control means 43 which themselves operating the fan 27 for a predetermined time. The fan draws air outside the housing (arrow Fi) and near its rear wall by its opening opposite the suction inlet of the fan. The turbulence of the inlet flow is limited by the peripheral continuous rib 39 'of the rear wall which forms a suction cylinder. The fan 27 then sets the air in motion and ejects it through its outlet mouth towards the cartridge inlet face (arrow F2). The power of the fan is adapted to the conditions of use but for a good compromise 30elle rotates at a speed between 6500 and 7000 rpm for a flow rate of the order of 150 1.min 'to 250 1.min-1 (5.2 to 9 cubic feet per minute, preferably 6.2 to 6.6 cubic feet per minute).

The entry face of the cartridge is perforated and distributes the air flow in it (arrows fl). The air collides with the scented beads and smells on them.

These are known in themselves and are obtained for example by known impregnation processes including polymers, implemented by perfume companies such as Fleurarôme.

The pressure created inside the cartridge expels the air through the outlet of the cartridge (arrow f2) which is opposite the slot of the front face 14 joined with it. The air thus ejected is then oriented by the flared shape of the slot according to the angle. It should be noted that with the invention, the fan will immediately put the flow of air in motion and for a determined time (by example 6 seconds).

The user is then, thanks to the device according to the invention, almost instantly immersed in the odoriferous bubble 12, 12 ', delimiting an area for an adaptable period of time, optimizing its sensory experience.

As is obvious and as it follows from the foregoing, the present invention is not limited to the more specifically described embodiments. On the contrary, it encompasses all the variants and in particular those in which the slot is not rectangular but in a curved shape and / or where the system comprises a small support terminal for countertop PVL and / or the inclined section is provided with a articulated tongue forming the activation key of the actuating means.

Claims (2)

REVENDICATIONS1. L Odor diffuser device (6) for a user (9), comprising a housing (13) provided with a perforated bead retention cartridge (41, 50, 51, 65), a fan (27) for driving air through the cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) and means for actuating (26) the fan (27), characterized in that the actuating means (26) comprise a fan control circuit (27) for a predetermined time, and in that the housing (13) comprises a front face (14) provided with an air outlet slot (16) issuing from the cartridge ( 29, 50, 51, 65) at one end (17) and a recess (21) for introducing a finger (22) of the user (9) situated opposite another end, recess (21) having a flange (24, 25) inclined relative to the front face (14) forming and / or provided with an activation key of said actuating means (26). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pan (24, 25) of the recess 25 (21) is inclined at an angle (a1, a2) of between 20 ° and 60 ° relative to the surface. of the housing (13). I Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exit slot (16) is of length between 3 30cm and 12 cm and width of between 3 and 7 mm. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the 2993782 fan (27) has a flow rate between 150 and 250 l / min. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) is removable. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) comprises an inlet wall (53,54,66 ') having at least one part 10ajourée (64) , distribution of the incoming air flow from the fan (27) in the odorous balls (41), and an outlet wall (55, 56, 71) provided with a perforated band for evacuating the distributed air flow , placed opposite the slot (16) output of 151 'air. 7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) has a cross section in a quarter cylinder or oval having a wall (53, 54) of perforated entry. 8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the inlet wall (54) has a recess (58) whose bottom (59) is at least partly sloping from the periphery (60) of said wall 251 to form the openwork part. 9. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the inlet wall (53) is formed by a perforated plane perpendicular to the outlet wall (55). 10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cartridge (65) comprises two lugs (66, 67) side housing retaining beads (41) odorous, perforated on their outer upper surface (72), said lugs being separated from each other by a central channel (75) for blowing air from the fan (27), suitable for generating the suction of the air by said faces ( 72), and said lugs comprising perforated portions (73) on their lateral internal edges, for evacuation of air after passing through said odorous balls, and also by driving 101 'air blowing. 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front face of the housing provided with a slot is flat. 12. Cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) for device 15 according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it is rechargeable. 13. Odor diffuser system comprising at least one device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a vertical support terminal (2) of the device, the face (14) of the housing (13). ) of said device (6) being arranged vertically to form a display at point of sale directly accessible to the user (9) vis-à-vis. Method for diffusing an odor to a user (6) in a targeted manner, characterized in that, from an odor diffuser (6) comprising a vertical housing (13) provided with a cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) perforation retaining beads (41) deodorant, is triggered a fan (27) for driving air through the cartridge for a predetermined time, by pressing a finger (22). ) on an activation key arranged in a pan (24, 25) inclined by a recess (21) of the housing and diffusing the odor during said determined time through an exit slot (16). the air coming from the cartridge located at a height determined by 5reference to the user (9). 15. The method of claim 14, characterized in that the air is conveyed through the cartridge (29, 50, 51, 65) by injecting air between two parts of the cartridge.