GB2091546A - Deodorant device for use in vacuum cleaners - Google Patents

Abstract

An article 10 for use in a vacuum cleaner comprises a pad 12 of absorbent material impregnated with a perfume, disinfectant, or the like having affixed thereto a piece 14 of double-sided sticky tape, for temporarily securing the article within the air flow path in the vacuum cleaner. The article 10 may be releasably mounted on a barrier sheet 16. In a modification, the article may comprise a perforated container 22, which houses a pad 24, and a piece 26 of double-sided sticky tape. Instead of using double-sided sticky tape, pieces of adhesive magnetic tape may be used to affix the article. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Odour enhancement for vacuum cleaners The invention relates to odour-enhancement of exhaust air from, or waste collection means of, vacuum cleaners.

We have found that vacuum cleaners whether of cylinder or so-called "upright" or other types have a tendency to produce or give off a stale or malodorous exhaust or smell. That may be due to picking up malodorous matter or simply to build up of waste in its collection means. The latter is true even for disposable waste containers, such as paper bags, and applies also to permanent housings therefor. Stale or malodorous states of such housings, or reusable collection means, becomes apparent at emptying, at least after a time, or periodically if fumigated, scented, or "freshened" at intervals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of reducing the impact of such effects or correcting same.

To that end, we now propose, an article and its replaceable installation or use in a vacuum cleaner, that article comprising first means for storing, or acting as, an agent that counteracts staleness or malodorousness in or down stream of a passing air stream, and second means for temporarily affixing the article within the air flow path of a vacuum cleaner.

The said agent or first means itself, may have absorption properties but, as a stored agent, is preferably gradually released into the passing air stream as a pleasant scent such as used in conventional so-called "air-fresheners" often available as aerosol or exposed wick-type devices.

Disinfectant or biocidal properties may be provided additionally or alternatively.

In one embodiment, we envisage a small pad of porous absorbent material impregnated with a perfume and having affixed thereto a piece of double-sided sticky tape. One side of that piece of tape will be adhered directly to the absorbent pad, preferably before impregnation by the perfume if the latter could adversely affect adherence, and the other side is conveniently covered by a pealable barrier layer, perhaps, and advantageously with several pads on a single sheet from which they are peeled individually as and when required.

In another embodiment, a quantity of absorbent material of fibrous, porous or other suitable structure, even a pad as aforesaid, is housed in a perforate or otherwise porous container to which a said piece of tape is applied. Suitable containers may resemble what is used for so-called "teabags".

It will be appreciated that a modification hereof may involve the application to a said pad or container merely of a layer of adhesive that may be pressure sensitive and/or covered by a barrier as aforesaid.

We have found that some such substances can affect adherence adversely, even being solvents for some adhesives, and now further propose that temporary affixing be by way of magnetic means usually, but not necessarily alone as the affixing agency.

In particular, we have found it advantageous to associate the magnetic means with a said permeable container, preferably as a piece of adhesive magnetic tape applied to the inside of the container. Another piece of such adhesive magnetic tape complete with strippable barrier tape will be provided for application by users to convenient positions of their vacuum cleaners, at least where such positions are on non-magnetic metal, but preferably in all cases.

Suitable magnetic tape is available commercially (from 3Ms) and has an overall thickness of about 34 thousands of an inch. Pieces of such tape measuring about one inch by one-half inch are satisfactory.

Three particular embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 A and 1 B are plan and section views of a first embodiment; Figures 2A and 2B are plan and section views of a second embodiment; and Figure 3 is a side or sectional view of a third embodiment.

In Figures 1 A and 1 B an article 10 is shown comprising a pad 12 of absorbent material, specifically thin felt about 0.32 cm (9") thick, that has affixed thereto over at least a substantial part, specifically shown as about half of one major surface, a piece 14 of double-sided sticky tape. It will be apparent that thicknesses in Figure 1 B are exaggerated for clarity, and are not to scale.

Convenient sizes for the pad 1 2 and piece of tape 14, as shown, are about 4.45 cm (1 41') square and about 2.54 cm (1") square respectively.

The article 10 is readily affixed to the interior of a vacuum cleaner either directly to its body within its air flow path or, and preferably, to a filter gauze or exhaust grille. The latter preference makes best use of our disclosure of the piece of tape 14 being of less size than the absorbent pad 12, in that air flow past the pad will encounter directly substantial edge portions thereof. However, the piece of tape 14 should occupy a sufficient area of the pad, for the particular adhesive used, to ensure that the article 10, or its pad 12 is not readily susceptible of detachment simply by the air-flow.

In general, for conventional double-sided sticky tapes, it is preferred that the piece of tape 14 occupy a minimum of about one half of the area of the pad 12.

Whilst sizes of 4.45 cm ( Wall) square for the pad 12 and 2.54 cm (1") square for the piece of tape 14 have been indicated as suitable, it will be appreciated that other shapes and sizes could be used if appropriate and effective.

It will be noted that the pad 12 and piece of tape 14 are shown associated with a barrier sheet 16 (see Figure 1 B) on the otherwise exposed surface of the piece of tape 14. That sheet 1 6 should be less adherent to the piece of tape 14 than the latter is to the pad 12, and may be coextensive with the piece of tape 16, but is preferably larger to facilitate its removal. Several articles 10 can be associated (as a combined article) with the same barrier sheet 16, which then acts as a convenient carrier therefor.

In Figures 2A and 2B an article 20 is shown comprising a container 22 of finely perforate form, say as used for tea bags, housing a pad 24 similar to that referenced 12 in Figures 1 A and 1 B.

Alternatively, the contents of the container 22 may be of a stuffing or filling type less well defined of itself than a pad, but nonetheless capable of storing and gradually releasing a perfume, disinfectant or other desired substance for slowrelease into a passing air stream. To the container 22 is affixed a piece 26 of double-sided sticky tape for the same purpose as in Figures 1 A and 1 B, witness barrier sheet 28 in Figure 2B.

It will no doubt be appreciated that embodiments like that of Figures 1 A and 1 B are usually best impregnated after affixing of their pads 12 to the;r tape pieces 14, whereas embodiments like that of Figures 2A and 2B most readily lend themselves to impregnation of the contents 24 of their containers 22 before such affixation, usually before enclosure in the containers.

It will be of substantial advantage if the adhesive at least on the side of the tape 1 4, 26 unadjacent to the pad 12 or container 22, is of, or at least partially of, a pressure sensitive type, the more readily to affix it within a vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 shows an article 30, where a permeable container 32 for a perfumed pad 34 has a piece 36 of magnetic tape adhered thereto at its interior prior to insertion of the pad 34, and a further piece of magnetic tape 38, complete with adhesive layer 38A and peelable barrier tape 38B, is provided for affixing at the desired location of the vacuum cleaner. Then, the container 32 will be held onto such location by magnetic attraction of the pieces of magnetic tape 36 and 38. It will be apparent that there could be advantage by ease of use if the free piece of tape 38 was of larger size than the piece 36 inside the container 32.

As an alternative that avoids having a layer of adhesive between the magnetic tape within the container 32 and what it must cooperate with, usually another piece 38 of magnetic tape, we find that it is practical to adhere a piece of tape directly to the pad 34 while the latter is dry, i.e. before it is impregnated with perfume or other desired substance.

Finally, we point out that whilst the articles hereof are not intended for use within dust bags (of vacuum cleaners) themselves, no harm can arise if they become detached and enter such bags, whether of the disposable type or not.

Normally, of course, the articles will be located so that they cannot enter the dust bag even if they become detached.

Claims (20)

1. An article for replaceable installation or use in a vacuum cleaner, that article comprising first means for storing, or acting as, an agent that counteracts staleness or malodorousness in or downstream of a passing air stream, and second means for temporarily affixing the article within the airflow path of a vacuum cleaner.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means when acting as the agent has absorption properties.

3. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agent when stored in the first means has absorption properties.

4. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means when acting as the agent is gradually released into the passing air stream as a pleasant scent.

5. An article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the agent when stored in the first means is gradually released into the passing air stream as a pleasant scent.

6. An article as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the scent is as used in conventional so-called "airfresheners" often available as aerosol or exposed wick-type devices.

7. An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein disinfectant or biocidal properties are provided additionally or alternatively.

8. An article as claimed in claims 1, 2, 4, 6 or 7 comprising a small pad of porous absorbent material impregnated with a perfume and having affixed thereto said temporarily affixing means.

9. An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein said temporarily affixing means comprises a piece of double-sided sticky tape.

10. An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein one side of that piece of tape will be adhered directly to the absorbent pad, before impregnation by the perfume if the latter could adversely affect adherence, and the other side of that piece of tape is covered by a peelable barrier layer.

11. An article as claimed in claim 10, wherein several pads are on a single sheet from which they are peeled individually as and when required.

12. An article as claimed in claim 1,3,5,6 or 7, wherein a quantity of absorbent material of fibrous, porous or other suitable structure, even a pad, is housed in a perforate or otherwise porous container to which said temporarily affixing means is applied.

13. An article as claimed in claim 12, wherein said temporarily affixing means comprises a piece of double-sided sticky tape.

14. An article as claimed in claim 12, wherein said container resembles a so-called "tea-bag".

15. An article as claimed in claim 8 or 12, wherein a said pad or container has applied thereto a layer of adhesive that is pressure sensitive and/or covered by a barrier layer.

16. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temporarily affixing means is by way of magnetic means usually, but not necessarily alone as the affixing agency.

17. An article as claimed in claim 12 or 16.

wherein said magnetic means comprises a piece of adhesive magnetic tape applied to the inside of a said permeable container.

18. An article as claimed in claim 17, wherein another piece of said adhesive magnetic tape complete with strippable barrier tape is provided for application by users to positions of their vacuum cleaners, at least where such positions are on non-magnetic metal.

19. An article as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein said magnetic tape has an overall thickness of about 86 thousands of a centimetre (34 thousands of an inch), and pieces of said magnetic tape measure about 2.54 cm by 1.27 cm (one inch by one-half inch).

20. An article substantially as herein described with references to and as illustrated in Figures 1 A and 1 B or Figures 2A and 2B or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.