GB2423930A

GB2423930A - Emanation or fragrancing device

Info

Publication number: GB2423930A
Application number: GB0505013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Robert Hammond; Philip Shearsmith
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-03-11
Filing date: 2005-03-11
Publication date: 2006-09-13
Also published as: WO2006095131A1; GB0505013D0

Abstract

An emanation device 10 comprising first and second emanation chambers 12, 16 containing blocks of fragrance 14, 18 and an air driver, such as a fan 22. The fan is operable to drive air in first and second directions so that when the when the air is driven in the first direction it flows through the first emanation chamber 12 and when the air is driven in a second direction it flows though the second emanation chamber 16. The fan 22 is reversible, allowing rotation in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions to thereby cause a flow air of air from left to right or from right to left. In one embodiment only one of the fragrances is dispensed at a given time governed by the rotation of the fan. In an alternative embodiment, the fan rotates to force air from the intermediate chamber 20 into the first chamber 12.Air is drawn though the opening 26a and 26b though valves 28a and 28b.Air is forced across the fragrance 14 and out of opening 24. The second chamber is effectively sealed by valves 30 and 32 so that a concentrated fragrance will build up in the air held therein. The fan has a timer which periodically reverses the direction of the fan causing air to be drawn into the first chamber though opening 24 which passes into the second chamber by causing the opening of valve 30. The air passes over the fragrance 18 and exits via valve 32. This air movement causes the heavily fragranced air to be expelled from the second chamber, thus acting as a boost function for the device.

Description

I

Device This invention relates to an emanation device and partiCularlYi but not exclusively, to a fragrancing or emanation device incorporating a fan.

Existing fragrancing devices have been produced which incorporate a source of fragrance material, such as a bottle of fragrancing liquid or a fragrance held in a gel form. The fragrance is distributed by evaporation from a block of a gel, or by being transported along a wick and into 5rrounding atmosphere. Circulation in the 5rrounding atmosPhere serves to distribute the fragrance around a room in which the fragrancing device is placed.

Distribution of the fragrancing material can be accelerated by providing a fan close to the fragrancing material or the above_mentioned wick to increase a flow of air around the wick of fragrancing material to thereby distribute the fragrancing material more quickly.

So called ambient emanation, without the use of fan, or fan assisted emanation results in a constant supply of fragrance into the room. When a constant level of fragrance is achieved, a user can become habituated to a fragrance, which thereby loses its effectiveness.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned jadVantage.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an emanation or fragrancing device which overcomes a user habituation.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an emanation device, the emanation device comprising first and second emanation chambers and an air driver operable to drive air in first and second directions, wherein the first emanation chamber is adapted to allow air to flow therethrOUgh when the air driver drives air in the first direction; and wherein the second emanation chamber is adapted to allow air to flow therethrOUgh when the air driver drives air in the second io direction.

A selection of which of the two emanation chambers to use may be advantageously made by controlling a driving direction of the air driver. The first and second directions may be away from one another, preferably in opposite directions, preferably in substantially coaxial opposite directions.

The first and second emanation chambers may be adapted to allow air to flow exclusively through the second emanation chamber, and not through the first emanation chamber, when the air driver drives air in the second direction.

The first and second emanation chambers may be adapted to allow air to flow exclusively through the first emanation chamber, and not through the second emanation chamber, when the air driver drives air in the first direction.

The air driver may communicate with the first emanation chamber by a first opening. The first opening may incorporate a first valve, which may be a one-way valve.

The first valve is preferably adapted to allow air to flow from the air driver to the first chamber. preferably, the first valve is adapted to deter or prevent a flow of air from the first chamber to the air driver.

The air driver may communicate with the second emanation chamber by a second opening. The second opening may incorporate a second valve, which may be a one-way valve.

The second valve is preferably adapted to allow air to flow from the air driver to the second chamber.

Preferably, the second valve is adapted to deter or prevent a flow of air from the second chamber to the air driver.

The air driver may be a fan, which is preferably adapted to drive air in the first direction by rotating in a first sense. The air driver is preferably adapted to drive air in the second direction by rotating in a second, opposite, sense.

The air driver may be located in a third chamber, which may be located between, or adjacent to, the first and second emanation chambers. The third chamber may include at least one air inlet, which preferably communicates with a surrounding atmosphere. The or each air inlet is preferably a one-way inlet, which is adapted to deter or prevent the exit of air from the third chamber.

The third chamber preferably communicates with the first emanation chamber by the first opening. The third chamber preferably communicates with the second emanation chamber by the second opening.

In one embodiment air may flow freely between the first emanation chamber and the third chamber, with no valve being present between the two. In said embodiment, the first emanation chamber may comprise a further opening, which communicates with the surrounding air. In said embodiment the third chamber is preferably adapted to allow the ingress of air into the third chamber when the air driver drives air in the first direction and the first emanation chamber is preferably adapted to allow a flow of air from the third chamber into the first emanation chamber and out in to the surrounding air. In said embodiment when the air driver drives air in the first direction the second emanation chamber is preferably adapted to deter and/or prevent the entry of air into/out of the second emanation chamber, preferably by means of the second valve and/or a second exit valve of the second emanation chamber. In said embodiment the first and second emanation chambers are adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the second direction, the first emanation chamber allows air to enter the first emanation chamber, to move through the third chamber, into the second emanation chamber and out into the surrounding air, preferably via the second exit valve.

In an alternative embodiment the third chamber is preferably adapted such that when the air driver drives air in either of the first or second directions the ingress of air from the surrounding air into the third chamber is allowed. In said alternative embodiment the second emanation chamber is preferably adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the first direction the entry and/or exit of air into the second emanation chamber is substantially deterred or prevented, preferably by means of the second valve and/or the second exit valve.

In said alternative embodiment the first emanation chamber is preferably adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the second direction the entry and/or exit of air into/out of the first emanation chamber is substantially deterred and/or prevented preferably by means of the first valve and/or a first exit valve.

The valves may be flap valves.

The first and/or second emanation chambers may incorporate a material for emanation, which may be a gel material.

The first emanation chamber may include an emanation wick, which may be supplied with material for emanation by an emanation material container. The second emanation chamber may include an emanation wick.

The invention extends to an emanation device supplied with a spare emanation material element and/or a spare emanation material container.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of causing emanation of a material from an emanation device comprises driving air with an air driver into one of first and second emanation chambers to thereby cause an air flow through the selected first or second emanation chamber, which air flow causes emanation of material from within the selected first or second emanation chamber into a surrounding atmosphere.

preferably, causing the air driver to drive air into the first emanation chamber results in air being prevented or deterred from passing through the second emanation chamber.

Causing the air driver to drive air into the second emanation chamber may cause air to be drawn into the first emanation chamber and then into the second emanation chamber.

Causing the air driver to drive air into the second emanation chamber may result in air being prevented or deterred from passing through the first emanation chamber.

Driving air in the first and second directions may be achieved by rotating the air driver in opposite directions.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional partial side view of a fragrancing device incorporating two fragrance chambers; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional partial side view of the fragrancing device in a first mode of operation; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional partial side view of the fragrancing device in a second mode of operation; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional partial side view of an alternative embodiment of fragrancing device in a first mode of operation; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional partial side view of the alternative embodiment in a second mode of operation; and Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

In Figure 1, a fragrancing device 10 comprises a first chamber 12 in which a block of fragrancing material 14 is located. A second chamber 16 also incorporates a block of is fragrance material 18. Between the first and second chambers 12 and 16 there is an intermediate chamber 20 which incorporates a fan 22, a rotational axis of which extends between the first and second chambers 12 and 16.

The blocks of fragrance material 14, 18 may be in the form of a gel, such as carageeflan gel. Alternatively, the blocks of fragrance material may be replaced by wicks 15, 17 (see Figure 6) which are fed from a container of fragrance material 19 below the first and second chambers 12 and 16.

The first chamber 12 has an opening 24 that is open to the surroundings of the fragrancing device 10. Air can also communicate freely between the first chamber 12 and the intermediate chamber 20 in which the fan 22 is located.

The intermediate chamber communicates with the outside air via openings 26a and 26b, each of which has a one way flap or valve 28a,b which only allows air to enter the intermediate chamber 20 from the surroundings of the fragrancing device 10, but does not allow air to exit the openings 26a,b. The valves 28a,b are formed by flexible membranes which are biased towards a closed position, but are shown in Figure 1 in an open configuration for clarity.

Between the intermediate chamber 20 and the second chamber 16 there is a one way flexible valve 30 which allows air to pass from the intermediate chamber 20 towards the second chamber 16, but does not allow movement of air from the second chamber 16 to the intermediate chamber 20.

Air is allowed to exit the second chamber 16 via the flexible membrane/valve 32 located on a side wall of the second chamber 16.

The fan 22 is reversible, having modes which allow rotation in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions to thereby cause a flow of air from left to right as shown in Figure 1 and from right to left, depending on the direction of rotation of the fan 22.

As mentioned above, the fragrance material 14, 18 may be of a gel type in which a solid block is located as shown in each of the first and second chambers 12, 16.

Alternatively, the elements 14 and 18 may be the upper extensions of the wicks 15 and 17 supplied by the container 19 beneath the first and second chambers 12, 16.

In any event, air passing over the fragrance material sections 14, 18 (or wicks) serves to cause emanation of the fragrance into the surrounding air.

The fragrance device 10 has three modes of operation.

In a first mode of operation the fan 22 does not turn and air is allowed to circulate through the opening 24 in the first chamber 12 and around the fragrance material 14 and back out through the opening 24 into the surrounding air.

This is an unassisted mode of operation and allows for slow release of fragrance.

A second mode of operation is shown schematically in Figure 2. In that mode of operation the fan 22 rotates to force air from the intermediate chamber 20 into the first chamber 12. Air is drawn in through the openings 26a and 26b through the valves 28a and 28b. Air is then forced across the fragrance material 14 and out of the opening 24 into the surrounding air. In this mode of operation the second chamber 16 is effectively sealed from the movement of the air because the valve 30 is kept in a closed configuration by the rotation of the fan 22 in the direction shown schematically in Figure 2. Also, the valve 32 is biased to a closed position keeping the second chamber 16 closed.

The third mode of operation is shown schematically in Figure 3. It should be borne in mind that when the valve and 32 are closed concentrated fragrance will build up in the air held in the second chamber 16. In the third mode of operation air carrying a heavy concentration of fragrance is forced out of the second chamber 16. In the third mode of operation the fan 22 turns in the opposite direction to the second mode of operation, thereby causing air to be drawn into the first chamber 12 via the opening 24, passed the fan 22 and into the second chauiber 16 by causing opening of the valve 30. The air then passes across the fragrance material 18 and exits the second chamber 16 via the valve 32. This movement of air causes the heavily fragranced air held within the second chamber 1.6 to be expelled. Also, air that is drawn through the fragrancing device 10 passes across the fragrance material 14 in the first chamber 12 and also the fragrance material 18 in the second chamber 16. Thus, the air is heavily fragranced compared to the second mode of operation described above.

The fan 22 has a timer device (not shown) which is arranged to periodically, at timings that may be chosen by a user, reverse the direction of rotation of the fan 22 so that the third mode of operation is periodically activated, instead of a more usual activation in the second mode of operation. Alternatively, the first mode of operation, i.e. passive emanation of the fragrance material, may be the usual operating mode, with two levels of boost being available, the first boost being from the second mode of operation and the second, more intense boost being from the third mode of operation. As an alternative, a user may be able to select by means of a boost button either of the second or third modes of operation. For example, if the second mode of operation is the usual mode, then the boost button may be provided to reverse the direction of rotation of the fan 22 to thereby activate the third mode of operation.

The fragrance material, either in the form of the blocks 14 and 18 shown in the figures or in the form of a fragrance container 19 with wicks 15, 17 extending into the first and second chairtbers 12 and 16, may be replaced by materials other than fragrances, such as decongestants, for example which may be released in a bedroom at night.

Alternatively, bactericidal or sanitising materials may be dispersed by the device 10. The latter materials may be dispersed in a suitable location such as a bathroom or a kitchen.

The reference to the fragrance material in the form of blocks 14 and 18 has not specified whether those materials are the same or are different fragrance materials. If the materials are the same, then the effect of the second chamber 16 is to provide an additional amount of fragrance material in the surrounding air when the third mode of operation is activated. In the event that the fragrance materials 14 and 18 are not the same as each other, then the materials may have an additive effect, i. e. in the third mode of operation the air bearing the two materials would be mixed together and then passed into the surroundings of the fragrancing device 10. Similar considerations would also apply in the event that decongestants, bactericidal materials or sanitising materials of different types or mixtures thereof were held in the first and second chambers 12 and 16.

A second embodiment of fragrancing device 40 is shown in Figure 4. The second chamber 16, valves 28a and 28b, valve 30 and valve 32, as well as fragrancing material block 18 are all as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and have the same functions. Furthermore the intermediate chamber 20 and its fan 22 are the same as shown in relation to the first embodiment in Figures 1 to 3. However, the first chamber 42 is formed as a mirror image to the second chamber 16. Thus, a valve 32' acts as an exit valve from the first chamber 42 and a valve 30' acts as an entry valve for air moving into the first chamber 42. similarly there are entry valves 28a' and 28b' in the intermediate chamber 20 on opposite sides to the valves 28a and 28b.

The second embodiment of fragrancing device 40 functions by allowing only one of the fragrances from the fragrance blocks 14, 18 to be dispensed at a given time. The dispensing of a particular one of the fragrances is governed by the rotation of the fan 22. Thus, when the fan rotates in a first direction, as shown in Figure 5, air is drawn into the intermediate chamber 20 via the entry valves 28a' and 28b', through the intermediate chamber 20, through the valve 30, over the fragrance block 18 and out of the valve 32 into the surrounding atmosphere. In that way the fragrance material 18 in the second chamber 16 is dispersed into the surrounding atmosphere. Alternatively, if the fan 22 is rotated in the opposite direction, then air is drawn into the valves 28a and 28b, through the intermediate chamber 20, through the valve 30' into the first chamber 42 around the fragrance material block 14 and out of the valve 32'.

It will thus be appreciated that depending on the rotation of the fan one of the fragrance materials is sent into the surrounding atmosphere. A switch may be provided (not shown) to allow a user to select the direction of rotation of the fan and thereby select which of the fragrances should be used. For example, the different types of fragrances that could be used could be an invigorating fragrance in the first chamber 42 and a relaxing fragrance in the second chamber 16. Other combinations of fragrances in the first chamber 42 and the second chamber 16 can of course be envisaged.

A timer circuit may be used to control the rotation of the fan 22, so that at certain times of the day a particular type of fragrance may be emitted. Thus, a relaxing fragrance may be emanated from the device in the evening, whereas a fresher fragrance may be emanated earlier in the day.

The rotation of the fan 22 may also be coupled to a motion detecting switch, such as an infra red switch which could cause rotation of the fan 22, either in this second embodiment, or in the first embodiments upon detection of movement.

Alternatively or additionally, a light sensor may be incorporated into the fragrance device 10/40, which light sensor may activate the fan 22 when light is detected.

Alternatively, when a change of light conditions, for example from light to dark or dark to light, the sense of rotation of the fan 22 may be reversed, to ensure that, for example, a decongestant is emanated from the device 40 at night, and another material is emanated when there is ambient light. The light sensor may, for example, be a cadmium suiphide photoresistor.

It will be possible to provide a fragrancing device which is activated by a photosensing device alone.

The fragrancing devices, and other emanation devices described herein have the advantage of providing excellent boost characteristics where the same material is held in each of the first and second chambers. Furthermore, the advantage of being able to provide with one device one of two different materials for emanation depending on the rotation of the fan is also advantageous.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. An emanation device comprising first and second emanation

chambers and an air driver operable to drive air in first and second directions, wherein the first emanation chamber is adapted to allow air to flow therethrough when the air driver drives air in the first direction, and wherein the second emanation chamber is adapted to allow air to flow therethrough when the air driver drives air in the second direction.
2. An emanation device as claimed in claim 1, in which a selection of which of the two emanation chambers to use is made by controlling a driving direction of the air driver.
3. An emanation device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the first and second directions are opposite directions.
4. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second emanation chambers are adapted to allow air to flow exclusively through the first emanation chamber, and not through the second emanation chamber, when the air driver drives air in the first direction.
5. An emanation device as claimed in claim 6, in which the air driver communicates with the first emanation chamber by a first opening incorporating a first valve adapted to allow air to flow from the air driver to the first chamber.
6. An emanation device as claimed in claim 5, in which the first valve is adapted to deter or prevent a flow of air from the first chamber to the air driver.
7. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second emanation chambers are adapted to allow air to flow exclusively through the second emanation chamber, and not through the first emanation chamber, when the air driver drives air in the second direction.
8. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the air driver communicates with the second emanation chamber by a second opening incorporating a second valve adapted to allow air to flow from the air driver to the second chamber.
9. An emanation device as claimed in claim 8, in which the second valve is adapted to deter or prevent a flow of air from the second chamber to the air driver.
10. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the air driver is a fan adapted to drive air in the first direction by rotating in a first sense and adapted to drive air in the second direction by rotating in a second, opposite, sense.
11. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the air driver is located in a third chamber located between, or adjacent to, the first and second emanation chambers.
12. An emanation device as claimed in claim 11, in which the third chamber includes at least one air inlet that communicates with a surrounding atmosphere.
13. An emanation device as claimed in claim 12, in which the or each air inlet is a one-way inlet adapted to deter or prevent the exit of air from the third chamber.
14. An emanation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first emanation chamber and the third chamber are adapted to allow air may flow freely between the two.
15. An emanation device as claimed in claim 14, in which the first emanation chamber comprises a further opening, which communicates with the surrounding air.
16. An emanation device as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, in which the third chamber is adapted to allow the ingress of air into the third chamber when the air driver drives air in the first direction and the first emanation chamber is adapted to allow a flow of air from the third chamber into the first emanation chamber and out in to the surrounding air.
17. An emanation device as claimed in claim 16, in which the second emanation chamber is adapted to deter and/or prevent the entry of air into/out of the second emanation chamber when the air driver drives air in the first direction.
18. An emanation device as claimed in claim 17, in which the first and second emanation chambers are adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the second direction, the first emanation chamber allows air to enter the first emanation chamber, to move through the third chamber, into the second emanation chamber and out into the surrounding air.
19. An emanation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the third chamber is adapted such that when the air driver drives air in either of the first or second directions the ingress of air from the surrounding air into the third chamber is allowed.
20. An emanation device as claimed in claim 19, in which the second emanation chamber is adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the first direction the entry and/or exit of air into the second emanation chamber is substantially deterred or prevented.
21. An emanation device as claimed in claim 20, in which the first emanation chamber is adapted such that when the air driver drives air in the second direction the entry and/or exit of air into/out of the first emanation chamber is 5bstantially deterred and/or prevented.
22. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and/or second emanation chambers incorporate a material for emanation or an emanation wick.
23. An emanation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22 supplied with a spare emanation material element and/or a spare emanation material container.
24. A method of causing emanation of a material from an emanation device comprises driving air with an air driver into one of first and second emanation chambers to thereby cause an air flow through the selected first or second emanation chamber, which air flow causes emanation of material from within the selected first or second emanation chamber into a surrounding atmosphere.
25. The method of claim 24, in which causing the air driver to drive air into the first emanation chamber results in air being prevented or deterred from passing through the second emanation chamber.
26. The method of claim 24 or claim 25, in which causing the air driver to drive air into the second emanation chamber causes air to be drawn into the first emanation chamber and then into the second emanation chamber.
27. The method of claim 24 or claim 25, in which causing the air driver to drive air into the second emanation chamber results in air being prevented or deterred from passing through the first emanation chamber.
28. The method of any one of claims 24 to 27, in which driving air in the first and second directions is achieved by rotating the air driver in opposite directions.
29. An emanation device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of causing emanation of a material from an emanation device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.