GB2181649A

GB2181649A - Air freshener dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2181649A
Application number: GB08624571A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jr William J O'neil
Original assignee: Bristol Myers Co
Current assignee: Bristol Myers Co
Priority date: 1985-10-15
Filing date: 1986-10-14
Publication date: 1987-04-29
Also published as: IE862710L; JPS6294169A; CA1274491A; SG82491G; KR950000064B1; IE59756B1; GB8624571D0; HK99591A; AU6369386A; KR870003796A; GB2181649B; NZ217830A; AU581788B2

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. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Airfreshener dispenser FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to airfreshener dispensers of the type containing in a reservoir a liquid fragrance composition that is carried to an emanator pad by wick means forsubsequent 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 emanator 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 ofthe present invention includes means to retain the emanatorpad holding meanswithinthe cover means, and means to detachably secure the emanator pad holding means to the reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fragrance diffusers including wick means to convey a volatile fragrance composition from a reservoir to the atmosphere directly or to an emanator pad for subsequent diffusion to the atmosphere are known.

Thus, U.S. 1,332,659 to Bates illustrates an evaporimeter 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 shaft, the strands of the wick being spread across the disk, and a cover placeable over the disk.

U.S. 4,477,41 4to Mu ramoto et al. discloses a wickless evaporative container, the liquid in the reservoir being drawn upthrough afeed pipe ratherthan awick. lnthe vaporising device of Dupuy, U.S. 2,383,960, the reservoir has a wide-mouth orifice in which is inserted pad holding means, the pad thus held being in contact with a wick extending into the reservoir. A cover is superposed over the pad holding insert, apertures in the cover cooperating with apertures in the pad holding insert to provide adjustability ofthe air diffusion passages defined by the assembly.

U.S. 1,377,909 to Moulin discloses a container, a wickextending upwardlyfromthecontainerthrough a holed-stopper, absorbent material in contact with the top ofthewick, and an apertured cover affixedto an upstanding skirt ofthe container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an adjustable airfreshener dispenser ofthe wick type.

It is a further object ofthe present invention that the air freshener dispenser include emanator orabsorbent pad holding means retained within the cover memberforsaid unit.

It is another object ofthe present invention thatthe emanator pad holding means be attachabletothe neck of the container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide adjustability of the diffusion rate offragrance composition wicked to the emanator pad by rotational movement ofthe cover member relative to the location ofthe emanator pad holding means when same are connected to the neck ofthe container in operational position.

These and other objects and advantages ofthe present invention are described in greater detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Asummaryofthe invention follows.

The air freshener dispenser comprises a container having a neck, said container being a reservoir for a liquid fragrance-containing composition; a wick provided in the neck, the wick depending into the reservoir for contact with the fragrance-containing composition and extending upwardly above the neck; closuremeansforsealingthecontainerduring nonuse, said closure means being removable for use; emanator pad holding means detachably securable to the neck ofthe container, said holding means being superposable above the closure means in nonuse mode, and a cover member overlying the emanator pad holding means, and including meansto retain the emanator pad holding means within said cover member, said cover member being rotatable with respect to said emanator pad holding means and the emanator pad holding means being substantially nonrotatable with respect two the emanator pad holding means-container assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the air freshenerdispenserofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away front view of the cover member ofthe airfreshener dispenser shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofthe emanator pad holder across lines 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view ofthe emanator pad holder, a portion of which is broken away.

Fig. 5 is a vertical half-section cross-sectional view of the air freshener dispenser in its operational mode, theemanatorpadomittedforclarity.

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical half-section cross-sectional view ofthe airfreshenerdispenser in its nonuse mode, the cover, emanator pad, and emanator pad holder having been omitted for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, an exploded perspective view of the dispenser 10 ofthe present invention, the air freshener dispenser 10 comprises a container 12 for containing a volatile liquid fragrance composition, a neck insert member 14, a wick 16, a closure cap 18, an emanator pad holder 20, an emanator or absorbent pad 22, andacovermember24.

The container 12 has a body 31 and a neck32,the container 12 being a reservoirforthe volatile air fregrance 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 surfaces37 are also included,the lands 37 frictionally engaging the cover member 24. The container can be fabricated by injection blow molding using a suitable plastic material,forexample, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthlate. A suitable capacity of the container is about 3-4 fluid ounces. The fragrance composition typically comprises a fragrance, an emulsifier, a volatile solvent, for example, isopropylalcohol, optionally a colorant, and deionized 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 ofthe neck 32 ofthe container 12.The insert member 14comprises an annulartop portion 42 from which depends an outer annularskirt4l,saidskirt4l frictionally engaging the interior side wall ofthe neck 32. The top 42 ofthe 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 ofthe annulartop portion 42 is a circular hollow shaft44that receives the wick 16. The wick 16 extends through the cylindrical shaft 44, the bottom end of which typically abuts the base 36 ofthe container.The wick 16 extends above the top 42 ofthe insert member 14 a predetermined distance. The wick preferably comprises an interior core 46 of an absorbentwicking material and an outer sheath 47 of a plastic material that prevents the strands ofthe absorbent material 46from unravelling. Suitable materials include natural and synthetic fibers that are capable of being formed into a wick, for example, Scribrod'8' manufactured by Baumgartner Papers S.A.

The outer sheath 47 can be any wet-strength polymer capable of retaining the inner fibers, and may be permeable or nonpermeable. In the preferred embodiment, the absorbent fibers are polyester, and the outer sheath is a polyesterfilm.The neck insert may be made,forexample, of low-density polyethylene.

The closure cap 18 illustrated in nonuse assembly with thedevicein Fig. 6, as well as in Fig. 1, comprises a cylindrical body 51, the interiorsidewall of which is provided with threads 55 suitable for mating assembly with the threads 33 on the container neck 32. The closure cap 18further includes an exterior upwardly extending skirt 52 forming with the cap body 51 an outer shoulder 54. Interior of the skirt 52 and extending upwardly ofthe cap body 51 is a dome member 53, the dome member being of suitable heightto receive that portion of the scrib rod 16 extending above the top 42 ofthe neck insert 14.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, during nonusethe cap 18 is secured to the neck of the container 32 by means of the complementarythreads33and55ontheneck32and on the interior surface ofthe cap body 51, respectively.

That portion ofthe wick 16 extending above the top 42 ofthe insert member 14 is received in the dome member 53. Suitable headspace is provided in dome member sothatthe top ofthe wick does not come in contact with the top of the dome member53. When sealed by the cap 18, the volatilefragrance composition cannot diffuse or otherwise escape from the container 12. A circular sealing boss 56 is dependingly interiorly provided on the top ofthe cap body 51 to provide a positive seal when the cap 18 is tightened aboutthe neck 32 ofthe container 12.

The emanator pad holder 20 is next described with reference to Figs. 1,3,4, and 5. The pad holder 20 comprises a base portion designated generally by numeral 61. The base portion 61 comprises a raised annularcentral portion 63 defining a large central aperture 80 and a plurality ofspokelike portions 62 extending radially outwardly from the central portion 63 to the periphery ofthe emanator pad holder,the radial spokelike portions defining therebetween air circulation apertures81.The pad holder20further comprises a peripheral skirt portion 71 that depends downwardlyfromthe outermost periphery of the spokelike portions 62, the skirt portion 71 including proximate its bottom an exterior peripheral boss 72, the purpose ofwhich is hereinafter described.Extending upwardly from the skirt portion 71 is a plurality of side wall segments 64, said side wall segments 64 being in radial alignmentwith and extending partially over the apertures 81, and forming therebetween a plurality of channels 82, said channels 82 being in radial alignment with the spokelike portions 62 of the base portion 61.Annularsupport portions76 are provided between the central portion 63 and the interior edge 75 ofthe aircirculation apertures 81.

The uppermost portion 65 ofthe sidewall segments 64 is arcuately disposed towards the interiorofthe pad holder 20 and terminates in annular arcuate edges 66.

The side walls 77 ofthe wall segments 64 including the arcuate portion 65 are tapered so that the bottom of the side wall segment 64 is somewhat circumferentially 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 the shaft 68 and the skirt71 area pluralityofradial ribs 78 depending from the spokelike portions 62 ofthe base portion 61. The side wall segments 64 also include ribs 69 projecting inwardly therefrom. The rib 69 provides additional strength to the side wall segments 64 and prevents same from warping or incurring other deformation.

The ribs 69 furthermore secure pad 22 within the pad holder. The central portion 63 ofthe base portion 61 further includes an interior annular lip 73 that slopes downwardly towards the large aperture 80, said lip 73 including a plurality of slots 84, whose purpose is hereinafter described.

The emanator pad 22 is a coarse material, e.g., a diecutfelt material, provided preferably as two pads one above the other. The emanator pad may be inserted into the pad holder 20 by outwardly bending one ofthe side wall segments 64, which have sufficientflexibility and resiliency to allow such insertion. The pad holder may be made 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 comprisesaslightlyfrustoconical body91 including a top 92, there being a plurality of spaced apart air circulation apertures 93through the body 91. Each of the apertures 93 may comprise a plurality of vertical slots 93a. Referring to Fig. 2, a partially broken-away front view of the cover member 24, an interior circular flange 95 depends from the top 92 of the cover member 24, and an exterior circularflange 96 also depends from the top 92 of the cover member 24, said exteriorflange further including at least one stop member 97.

Referring to Fig. 5,the pad holder20 (including the pads 22, notshown) is detachably retained within the cover member asfoilows: the emanator pad holder20 is adapted for coincident placement proximate the top ofthe cover member 24. Thus, side wall segments 64 are essentially arcuately radially identical with the body 91 of the cover mem ber. Byurging the pad holder 20 towards the top 92, the arcuate edges 66 of the wall segments 64 engage the interiorflange 95, as most easily understood by review of Fig. 5. The flexible and resilient side wall segments 64 flex outwardly slightly to achieve this mating.Similarly, peripheral boss 72 on theskirt71 engagescom- plementary boss 98 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 circularflange 96 provides a rotation surface forthe arcuate portion 65 of the side wall segment 64, with the stop member 97 being adapted to restrict rotation ofthe emanator pad holder 20 when the apertures 93 are in registry with the channels 82 or when the side wall segments 64fully close the apertures 93. The emanator pad holder 20 (including the emanator pads 22) is secured within the cover member24during manufacture, and is intended to remain integrally assembled during shipment and use.

As indicated above, during shipment (or during nonuse)the closu re cap 18 is connected to the neck 32 ofthe container 12. During this shipping or nonuse mode, the lower edge ofthe 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 consumer simply removes the cover member-emanator pad holder assembly, then removes the closure cap 18, and finally replaces said assembly. The shaft 68 receives the neck 32 ofthe container 12, and the complementary mating surfaces 34 and 70 are engaged. Furthermore, the circular lip 73 ofthe central base portion 63 flexes upwardly slightly, and compressively engagesthetop 42 of the insert member 14. The lip 73 is not especially resilient, but flexes in view of the flex slots 84 provided therein. The wick 16, in view of the connection between the container 12 and the pad holder 20, is in abutment with the emanator pad 22, and the fragrance composition may be wicked from the container 12 to the emanator pad 22.

The consumer may adjustably regulate the rate of diffusion ofthefragrance material from the emanator pad to the atmosphere by rotationally opening or closing the cover member 24to vary the size ofthe air circulation passages defined by the apertures 93 and the channels 82. Diffusion is enhanced bythe provision ofthe updraft grooves 35 and the apertures 81, which provide a path for airflow to the vapor space above the emanator pad holder 20. Air contact with the bottom of the entire emanator pad is established by having the emanator pad rest on the raised central portion 63 ofthe base portion 61,thereby establishing an annularchannel normal to the vertical axis ofthe device 10. The torquing force necessary to rotate the cover member 24 aboutthe emanator pad 20container 12 assembly is less than that required to rotate the emanator pad 20 about the emanator pad-container assembly. However, the emanator pad holder-cover assembly may rotate as one unitwhen the stop means 97 abut a side wall segment 64. This may be prevented by including a stop member on the interior surface of the shaft 68 that cooperates with flange 34, thereby limiting rotation.

It is to be understood thatthe air freshener device of the subject invention as well as its component parts may have or include parts or equivalents not specifically recited herein without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe claims appended below.

Claims

1. An airfreshenerdispensercomprising a container having an opening; a wick depending into the containerand extending through the opening; an emanator pad; emanatorpad holding means detachably connected to the container and retaining the emanator pad in contact with the wick, said pad holding means including at least one fragrance diffusion channel and at least one upwardly extending side wall member, and a cover member including at least one fragrance diffusion aperture registrable with said fragrance diffusion channel, said cover member including retention means to which the side wall member is flexingly engaged to provide rotatable detachable retention ofthe cover memberto the pad holding means, whereby rotation ofthe cover member enables said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least one fragrance diffusion channel to be brought into registry.

2. ThedispenserofClaim 1, wherein the cover member includes a substantially cylindrical sidewall, the side wall member being received between said substantially cylindrical side wall and said retention means.

3. ThedispenserofClaim 1,whereinthecover member includes a top wall, and wherein the retention means to which the sidewall member is flexingly engaged is a first circularflange depending from said top wall.

4. ThedispenserofClaim 1 or2,whereinthetop portion ofthe side wall member curves inwardly towards the center ofthe pad holding means and terminateswithan an a rcuate edge that engages said retention means to which said sidewall member is flexingly engaged.

5. The dispenser of Claim 4, wherein the cover member includes a top wall and wherein the retention meanstowhichthesidewall memberisflexingly engaged is a first circularflange depending from said top wall.

6. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the side wall member is substantially coplanarwith the cover member proximate its top.

7. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the opening is within a neck ofthe container.

8. An airfreshenerdispensercomprising a container having a neck with an opening, said container being a reservoir for a liquid fragrance-containing composition; a wick provided in the neck opening, said wick depending into the reservoirfor contact with the fragrance-containing composition and extending upwardly above the neck; an emanator pad; emanator pad holding means detachably secured to the neck of the container and including at least one fragrance diffusion channel and at least one upwardly extending sidewall member having an arcuateterminal edge, said emanator pad holding means retaining the emanator pad in superposition above the wick and in contacttherewith, and a substantial ly cylindrical cover member having a top wall from which a first circular flange depends, the cover member including at least one fragrance diffusion aperture registrable with said fragrance diffusion channel, the cover member being detachably rotatably retained on the emanator pad holding means byflexedengagementofthe arcuate edge ofthe side wall member against the first circular flange, whereby rotation ofthe cover member enables said at least one fragrance diffusion aperture and said at least one fragrance diffusion channel to be brought into registry.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the side wall member is substantially coplanar with the cover member proximate the top wall thereof.

10. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the side wall member of the emanator pad holding means includes a top portion that curves inwardly toward the centerofthe pad holding means.

11. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the emanator pad holding means includes a hollow cylindrical shaft depending below the emanator pad held in said emanator pad holding means, said shaft having an interior protrusion proximate the bottom thereof, and wherein the neckofthe container includes at last one peripheral flange memberfor engagement with the interior protrusion, said interior protrusion and said at least one peripheral flange member detachably connecting the emanator pad holding means to the container neck.

12. The dispenser of any preceding claim, further comprising closure means removably attachable to the container to seal the container opening during periods of nonuse.

13. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein thecontainer has at leastone updraftgrooveto establish a fluid pathway from between proximatethe bottom ofthe container to proximatethetop ofthe container.

14. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the emanator pad holding means further comprises a planar base portion, there being a plurality of said emanator pad holding means side wall members extending upwardly from a base portion to define an emanator pad containment enclosure, said hollow cylindrical shaft depending downwardly from the base portion, and wherein the number offragrance diffusion apertures in the cover member is the same as said plural numberofsidewall members.

15. ThedispenserofClaim 14, wherein the base portion ofthe emanator pad holding means includes a plurality of radial spokelike portions extending outwardlyfrom the cylindrical shaft to the periphery of the emanator pad holding means, thereby defining air circulation apertures in said base portion.

16. Thedispenserofclaim 14 or 15, wherein the base portion includes a raised area to support the emanator pad.

17. ThedispenserofClaim 16, wherein the raised area is above and radially inward of the shaft.

18. The dispenser of claim 14,15,16 or 17, further including a skirt depending peripheral ly from the planar base portion, and radial support ribs normal to the spokelike members and connecting the skirt and the cylindrical shaft.

19. The dispenser of claim 14,15,16, or 18 further including emanator pad securing ribs extending into the emanator pad containment enclosure from and normal tothe emanatorpad holding means sidewall members.

20. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein each fragrance diffusion aperture comprises a plural ity of slots.

21. The dispenser of any preceding claim, further comprising an insert member in the neckto hold the wick.

22. An airfreshener dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 8, substantially as described with reference to any Figure of Figures of the accompanying drawings.