GB2194148A - Air freshener - Google Patents

Abstract

An air freshener comprises a body of porous material (1), the body having a chamber (2) into which perfume can be filled, and a wick (3) extending from the chamber into the said body. In use, the perfume is filled into chamber (2) of the air freshener only when the air freshener is to be activated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Air freshener The present invention relates to an air freshener, in particular in the form of a porous mould which can absorb perfume.

Air fresheners are known which are in the form of plaster casts into which perfume is incorporated at the moulding stage. Such fresheners have the serious disadvantage that the perfume will start to evaporate from the day of manufacture and so the shelf-life is severely limited. Even if the fresheners are sealed, some perfume always escapes and so the air freshening property deteriorates even before the freshener is sold.

According to the invention there is provided an air freshener comprising a body of porous material, the body having a chamber into which perfume can be filled, and a wick extending from the cavity and into the said body.

In use, the air freshener may be sold together with a supply of perfume which the customer will pour into the cavity when the air freshener is to be activated. The perfume will be fed into the porous body by the wick and will then evaporate gradually into the atmosphere. Because the perfume is not absorbed into the porous body until the user actually wishes to freshen the air, there is no waste. Of course, once the initial reservoir of perfume in the body has run out, a new supply can be formed in to re-activate the air freshener. Thus, the air fresheners can be reusable rather than disposable as they conventionally are.

preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is cross-section through an air freshener in the form of a wall plaque; Figure 2 is cross-section through the air freshener of Fig. 1 taken along a line perpendicular to that of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through an air freshener in the form of a free-standing statuette.

Fig. 1 shows an air freshener comprising a body 1 of porous material, for example plaster. The body 1 has a chamber 2 into which perfume can be filled. A wick 3 extends from the chamber 2 into the body 1.

The body 1 in this embodiment is circular, as can be clearly seen from Fig. 2. However, the wall plaque could be oval, square, rectangular or any other desired shape.

The chamber 2 is crescent-shaped and is formed at the base of a flat plastic backing disc 4. Extending upwardly from the chamber 2 along the diameter of the disc 4 is a filling tube 5 which emerges on the opposite side of the disc at 6. The disc is shaped to match the shape of the body 1 and prevents the perfume from evaporating out of the back of the air freshener and into the wall.

The wick 3 of porous or fibrous material extends from the bottom of the chamber 2 up into the body 1. The disc 4 and wick 3 are pressed into the body 1 at the moulding stage, before the plaster has set. The chamber has a hinged cover 7 to prevent plaster from entering into the chamber at this stage.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the air freshener of the invention. The statuette may be of any ornamental shape. Fig. 3 shows the body 1', the chamber 2' and the wick 3'. The chamber 2' is at the base of the body 1' and a filling tube 5' extends to one side. The wick 3' is supported on a column 8 which keeps the wick in an upright position when the chamber and wick assembly are inserted into the body at the moulding stage.

In use, with either the embodiment of Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 the user fills the chamber 2, 2' with a supply of perfume from a small vial through the filling tube 5, 5' to activate the air freshener. The perfume then soaks up through the wick 3,3' and is absorbed into the plaster body 1, 1' from where it gradually evaporates into the atmosphere.

The wick size can vary, as can the density of the wick material, to adjust the rate of flow of the perfume into the plaster. Also the density of the plaster can be varied according to the desired release period of the perfume, e.g.

from 7 to 120 days. The density can be changed by placing the plaster in a controlled vacuum chamber during moulding/setting.

The body of the air freshener may also be made of materials such as chalk, clay, gypsum, sand and lime compounds which are porous and can be moulded. The perfume may be compounds formed of essential oils and/or aromatic chemicals.

As used herein, the term "wick" means any member which can act to draw perfume from the chamber and into the porous body, preferably by capillary action.

1. An air freshener comprising a body of porous material, the body having a chamber into which perfume can be filled, and a wick extending from the chamber into the said body.

2. An air freshener according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is an impervious chamber which is moulded into the body and has a filling tube.

3. An air freshener acording to claim 2, which is in the form of a wall plaque and wherein the chamber is formed on the inside of a backing plate which covers a substantial portion of the rear of the wall plaque.

4. An air freshener according to claim 1 or 2, which is in the form of a statuette, with the chamber being formed at the base.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Air freshener The present invention relates to an air freshener, in particular in the form of a porous mould which can absorb perfume. Air fresheners are known which are in the form of plaster casts into which perfume is incorporated at the moulding stage. Such fresheners have the serious disadvantage that the perfume will start to evaporate from the day of manufacture and so the shelf-life is severely limited. Even if the fresheners are sealed, some perfume always escapes and so the air freshening property deteriorates even before the freshener is sold. According to the invention there is provided an air freshener comprising a body of porous material, the body having a chamber into which perfume can be filled, and a wick extending from the cavity and into the said body. In use, the air freshener may be sold together with a supply of perfume which the customer will pour into the cavity when the air freshener is to be activated. The perfume will be fed into the porous body by the wick and will then evaporate gradually into the atmosphere. Because the perfume is not absorbed into the porous body until the user actually wishes to freshen the air, there is no waste. Of course, once the initial reservoir of perfume in the body has run out, a new supply can be formed in to re-activate the air freshener. Thus, the air fresheners can be reusable rather than disposable as they conventionally are. preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is cross-section through an air freshener in the form of a wall plaque; Figure 2 is cross-section through the air freshener of Fig. 1 taken along a line perpendicular to that of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through an air freshener in the form of a free-standing statuette. Fig. 1 shows an air freshener comprising a body 1 of porous material, for example plaster. The body 1 has a chamber 2 into which perfume can be filled. A wick 3 extends from the chamber 2 into the body 1. The body 1 in this embodiment is circular, as can be clearly seen from Fig. 2. However, the wall plaque could be oval, square, rectangular or any other desired shape. The chamber 2 is crescent-shaped and is formed at the base of a flat plastic backing disc 4. Extending upwardly from the chamber 2 along the diameter of the disc 4 is a filling tube 5 which emerges on the opposite side of the disc at 6. The disc is shaped to match the shape of the body 1 and prevents the perfume from evaporating out of the back of the air freshener and into the wall. The wick 3 of porous or fibrous material extends from the bottom of the chamber 2 up into the body 1. The disc 4 and wick 3 are pressed into the body 1 at the moulding stage, before the plaster has set. The chamber has a hinged cover 7 to prevent plaster from entering into the chamber at this stage. Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the air freshener of the invention. The statuette may be of any ornamental shape. Fig. 3 shows the body 1', the chamber 2' and the wick 3'. The chamber 2' is at the base of the body 1' and a filling tube 5' extends to one side. The wick 3' is supported on a column 8 which keeps the wick in an upright position when the chamber and wick assembly are inserted into the body at the moulding stage. In use, with either the embodiment of Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 the user fills the chamber 2, 2' with a supply of perfume from a small vial through the filling tube 5, 5' to activate the air freshener. The perfume then soaks up through the wick 3,3' and is absorbed into the plaster body 1, 1' from where it gradually evaporates into the atmosphere. The wick size can vary, as can the density of the wick material, to adjust the rate of flow of the perfume into the plaster. Also the density of the plaster can be varied according to the desired release period of the perfume, e.g. from 7 to 120 days. The density can be changed by placing the plaster in a controlled vacuum chamber during moulding/setting. The body of the air freshener may also be made of materials such as chalk, clay, gypsum, sand and lime compounds which are porous and can be moulded. The perfume may be compounds formed of essential oils and/or aromatic chemicals. As used herein, the term "wick" means any member which can act to draw perfume from the chamber and into the porous body, preferably by capillary action. CLAIMS

1. An air freshener comprising a body of porous material, the body having a chamber into which perfume can be filled, and a wick extending from the chamber into the said body.

2. An air freshener according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is an impervious chamber which is moulded into the body and has a filling tube.

3. An air freshener acording to claim 2, which is in the form of a wall plaque and wherein the chamber is formed on the inside of a backing plate which covers a substantial portion of the rear of the wall plaque.

4. An air freshener according to claim 1 or 2, which is in the form of a statuette, with the chamber being formed at the base.

5. An air freshener according to any preceding claim, further comprising a separate supply of perfume.

6. An air freshener substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.