GB2292083A

GB2292083A - Enhancement of air-modifier gel performance

Info

Publication number: GB2292083A
Application number: GB9416104A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Clifford Foxlee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-10
Filing date: 1994-08-10
Publication date: 1996-02-14
Also published as: GB9416104D0

Abstract

A means of increasing the effectiveness of gels containing air-modifying substances by placing them in contact with a wall of porous material such that the liquid substances held in the gel are taken up, transmitted through the wall and evaporate into the air. Modification of the properties of the porous wall offers the opportunity to change the rate of evaporation of the volatile substances. Figure 1 shows a stearate gel containing perfume held in a spiral-wound cardboard tube. <IMAGE>

Description

Enhancement of Air-Modifier. E Performarcc This invention relates to enabling better performance of air-modifier gels.

Gel is a well-known medium for holding volatile materials which modify the atmosphere,generally perfume, but also odour neutralisers and insecticides or insect repellents. Gels may be formed from a variety of gelling agents, often in combination with water: at low concentrations of volatile materials able to modify the air they might be carageenen gels ( eg. up to 10% perfume) while over a wider range ( eg. 1-99X perfume) they might be stearate gels.

Gels of both these and formed from other gelling agents perform by evaporation of volatile Substances from the gel surface, and because this is often not rapid, their effectiveness is limited.

The present invention is to place the gel in contact with a wall of porous material which is in contact with the air on the other side.

Liquid materials held in the gel are taken up by the porous material are transmitted through the wall and evaporate into the air. The rate of evaporation is increased and thus the effectiveness of the product enhanced. There is opportunity to increase or reduce the rate of evaporation by modifying the structure of the wall, changing the surface area of either wall, eg. by roughening it, or by heating the wall.

Two examples will show how the invention works, by reference to the attached diagrams: Figure 1 shows how a stearate gel containing perfume may be contained in a spiral-wound cardboard tube. This has the advantage that the tube construction may be such that it collapses as the bulk of the gel reduces, so following the gel contour and also giving a signal to eventual exhaustion of the gel.

Figure 2 shows how a stearate gel may be held in a terracotta bowl, glazed on the inside in order that perfume oils which may be damaging to furnishings will not pass through, but having a porous terracotta plate placed in contact with the gel. Volatile materials evaporate from the top surface of the plate, which continually exerts a downward pressure upon the gel.

Claims

1.A means of enhancing the performance of air-modifier gel performance by pacing it in contact with a wall of porous material, which is in contact with the air on the other side.

2. Any container for air-modifier gels which is made of porous material and is in contact with the gel on one side and air on the other.

3. Use of a porous wall in contact with a gel containing volatile material on one side and with air on the other, in which the rate of evaporation of the volatile material is controlled by modifying the structure of the wall, changing the surface area of either surface, or by heating the wall.