GB2327349A

GB2327349A - Fragrance vaporising device

Info

Publication number: GB2327349A
Application number: GB9715204A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Munden
Original assignee: Body Shop International PLC
Current assignee: Body Shop International PLC
Priority date: 1997-07-18
Filing date: 1997-07-18
Publication date: 1999-01-27
Also published as: GB9715204D0

Abstract

A fragrance vaporising device 1 comprises a bowl 4 adapted to receive a fragrant composition, a heating device such as a candle 6 and a porous means 8 within the bowl for absorbing/adsorbing the fragrant composition. The porous means 8 is either a silicate, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, fullers earth, pumice or chalk and is either granular or a pre-formed insert. Preferably the means is pre-impregnated with a fragrant composition. The composition may be a fragrant oil. In use, the absorption/adsorption of the fragrant oil into the porous means reduces the possibility of the oil catching fire or spitting.

Description

Fragrance Vaporising Device The invention relates to a fragrance vaporising device for vaporising fragrant oils, such as those sold under the Aroma Jar trade mark.

Such devices are often containers such as terracotta pots having a heat source, typically a lower chamber for receiving a candle and an upper bowl, which is typically glazed or enamelled. Other types are known which are made of metal and/or where an electric heating device is used.

A very simple type comprises simply a bowl and a metal tripod. In use, a few drops of fragrant oil are poured on the bowl and the candle is lit. The candle then slowly vaporises the fragrant oil which perfumes the room where the container is located. The instructions for these containers advise that only a few drops of oil are used and that the candle be allowed to burn for only about ten minutes.

Alternatively an aqueous solution of a fragrance oil may be used.

However, it has been discovered that if excess oil is placed in the bowl and/or the candle is allowed to burn for much longer than ten minutes that the oil can be heated to above critical temperature when it will catch fire. Also, when the oil reaches its boiling point, it has a tendency to spit, especially if excess oil is present. The spitting oil will then fall onto the structure on which the container has been places and will probably damage its surface.

Both of these hazardous situations are clearly undesirable.

The present invention seeks to provide a container which minimizes these potential hazards.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fragrance vaporising device for vaporising a fragrant composition, which device comprises a heating device and a bowl, which bowl is adapted to receive a fragrant composition and to be heated by the heating device and means in the bowl for ad- or absorbing the fragrant composition.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a use of means in a bowl of a fragrance vaporising device for vaporising a fragrant composition for ad- or absorbing said fragrant composition.

Preferably the means is porous, such as a silicate, diatomous earth, fullers earth, bentonite, pumice or chalk and preferably it is granular. Preferably the heating device is a candle, such as a tea light. In a preferred embodiment the means comprises an insert, in particular a preformed and/or one-piece insert, which may be pre-impregnated with fragrance, which insert is further adapted to fit in the bowl of the device.

By placing the means in the bowl and pouring the oil over it, the length of time which the candle can be allowed to burn for is surprisingly greatly increased. The oil diffuses in and amongst the means and, in a preferred embodiment, also into the means. This diffusing action prevents the spitting of the oil by preventing any significant local superheating due to the increased surface area of the oil. By increasing the heat capacity of the bowl contents the possibility of the oil reaching its critical temperature and catching fire is greatly reduced.

A particularly preferred embodiment comprises a pre-formed insert which may be in one-piece and/or pre-impregnated with a fragrance. Such a pre-formed insert which could be formed from a bonded granular composition is particularly advantageous in that it is simple to manufacture, transport and is suitable to be attractively packaged. The insert, when exhausted, could either be recharged by the consumer or returned for recycling.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, which shows a container.

The drawing shows a terracotta container 1 comprising a chamber 2 formed by a side wall 3 of the main body of the container and a bowl 4 located above the chamber 2 which forms the top of the container. The wall 3 has a large opening 5 of substantially circular cross-section, which opening permits a tea light type candle 6 to be placed in the chamber 2 inside the container 1 below the bowl 4. The wall 3 is provided with further openings 7 which assist the flow of air to the candle 6 and also provide a pleasing aesthetic effect enabling the candle to be seen and act as a light source.

The bowl 4 is generally parabolic and has a depth approximately equal to its radius. The surface of the bowl 4 is glazed or enamelled to prevent ingress of the fragrant oil into the body of the container and, if an aqueous solution is used, water ingress.

The bowl 4 is filled to about two-thirds its depth with a granular material 8. In use, the fragrant oil is poured over the granules. The oil diffuses in and amongst the granules. It is thought that the surface area of the oil is thereby increased, which consequently reduces the likelihood of any localised superheating which might cause spitting.

The granules will also increase the heat capacity of the oil as the granules themselves will be heated by the candle. The rate of heating of the oil will be reduced and so it will take longer for the oil to reach its critical temperature.

Advantageously, if the candle is selected so as to not be able to supply enough energy to the oil to heat it to its critical temperature, the risk of fire can be avoided.

If silicate granules or granules of another highly porous material are used, the oil is absorbed into the granules and will be released more slowly still to the atmosphere. In tests it has been determined that if a standard tea light is used, it is possible for the tea light to burn through all its wax without the oil achieving its critical temperature or spitting.

In an alternative embodiment, the granules 8 are bonded to one another to form an insert. Although the means for abor adsorbing the fragrance as particularly described is a granular silicate, it would also be possible to use diatomous earth, fullers earth, bentonite, pumice or chalk.

The means also need not be granular, but could be a single piece, especially if an insert is to be produced.

Claims

1. A fragrance vaporising device for vaporising a fragrant composition, which device comprises a heating device and a bowl, which bowl is adapted to receive a fragrant composition and to be heated by the heating device and means in the bowl for ad- or absorbing the fragrant composition.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the said means is porous.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the said means comprises a silicate, diatomous earth, fullers earth, bentonite, pumice or chalk.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the fragrant composition is an oil or a water soluble oil.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the means is granular.

6. A device according to any one of Claims I to 5, wherein the means comprises a pre-formed insert.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means is pre-impregnated with fragrance.

8. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating device is a candle.

9. Use of means in a bowl of a fragrance vaporising device for vaporising a fragrant composition for ad- or absorbing said fragrant composition.

10. Use according to Claim 9, wherein the means is porous.

11. Use according to Claim 10, wherein the means is a silicate, diatomous earth, fullers earth, bentonite, pumice or chalk.

12. Use according to Claim 9, wherein the means comprises a pre-formed insert.

13. Use according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, wherein the means is pre-impregnated with fragrance.

14. A device substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.