GB2462274A

GB2462274A - Fragrance Composer

Info

Publication number: GB2462274A
Application number: GB0813913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Laming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-30
Filing date: 2008-07-30
Publication date: 2010-02-03
Also published as: GB0813913D0

Abstract

A fragrance blending device comprises: a plurality of docking ports 14 each arranged to receive, though not requiring, a reservoir 12 containing a fragrance component 34; a mixing zone 20 having a plurality of inlets and an outlet; conveying means 22 for conveying fragrance components in a diluted form from at least one reservoir to the mixing zone; control means 16 for controlling the relative quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; display means 18 and 32 for displaying the relative quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; wherein each docking port comprises means to prevent connected reservoirs from being disconnected from the device without first being sealed. Preferably, compensation means are provided, whereby the airflow is automatically adjusted to compensate for the number of reservoirs 12 installed.

Description

FRAGRANCE COMPOSER

The present invention relates to a fragrance blending device, and more particularly to a fragrance blending device for the creation of a continuously adjustable composite fragrance or aroma The development and prototyping of new fragrances and aromas is a complex and expensive process. The high cost is partly due to the actual cost of the equipment used for blending and testing the fragrances, and partly due to the number of man-hours required to select combinations of the components and adjusting the ratios or relative proportions of each component to achieve the desired result.

Traditionally, this trial and error' process has been done by blending many different combinations of fragrances in a liquid form and individually testing each combination.

This method has several disadvantages: first, a large volume of liquid fragrance components is required to make multiple combinations; second, it is very difficult to control the effects of cross-contamination between individual samples, particularly when multiple blends of similar fragrance components are produced; third, the liquid mixes often need to breath' i.e. be mixed with air in order to correctly sample the olfactory result.

Further, in the development of fragrance blends is it desirable to be able to interchange fragrance components quickly, simply, and with minimum contamination of the blending device and the sunounding environment. Such a feature would be even more advantageous if the interchanging could be carried out during the blending process and while the blending device is in operation. Even when the fragrance components are interchanged when the blending device is turned off, there is still a need to be able to easily remove the fragrance components from the device whilst minimising the amount of spurious fragrance emitted in the removal and insertion process.

What is needed is a device which allows for the rapid prototyping of blended fragrances. suitable for both professional and amateur use and which overcomes at least some of the problems identified above.

WO 1999/001793 discloses a scent delivery system which provides scented air directly to a user's nose and allows for the rapid change at the user's nose of the scented air.

This system mixes one or more scents by forcing air through one or more scent containers and then mixing the scented air streams before delivery directly to the user's nose through a mask or other nasal interface.

Such a system is suitable for the delivery of different predefined scents using a set combination of fragrance components, but it is not readily adaptable for prototyping new fragrance blends for a variety of reasons. Since the system is designed for reproduction of predetermined blends of fragrances it does not include means for accurately recording the intensities of each component which enables the user to record and accurately reproduce the blended fragrance either on the same device, or on other devices. Also, the choice of fragrance/scent components must be preselected to recreate the predefined blends, so there is no means to interchange the components, particularly during operation of the system and therefore it does not address the problems faced with such a process.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a fragrance blending device, having advantages over known such devices.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fragrance blending device comprising: a plurality of docking ports each arranged to receive a reservoir containing a fragrance component; a mixing zone having a plurality of inlets and an outlet; conveying means for conveying fragrance components in a diluted form from at least one reservoir to the mixing zone; control means for controlling the quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; display means for displaying the relative quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; and wherein each docking port comprises means to prevent connected reservoirs from being disconnected from the device without first being sealed.

It will be appreciated from the following that the present invention allows for the rapid prototyping and development of fragrance blends by presenting the blend in a diluted form to the user so that they are able to dynamically adjust the composition and then accurately record the quantities of each fragrance component for repeatable reproduction. The invention advantageously prevents the removal of connected reservoirs containing fragrance without first sealing the reservoir, thereby minimising the amount of spurious fragrance released. This is particularly advantageous when reservoirs are added, removed, or interchanged during operation of the device because it is important to prevent contamination of the fragrance blend being sampled by the user.

Preferably the fragrance blending device further comprises isolating means, for example an isolation gate, for automatically isolating a docking port from the mixing zone when no reservoir is attached to the docking port.

This firther reduces the risk of contamination of the fragrance blend by restricting the conveying means for the docking port. Automating this process in this way removes the possibility of human error since otherwise the user might simply forget to isolate the docking port, and reduces the complexity of using the device.

The conveying means preferably comprises a carrier medium, the caffier medium arranged to collect the fragrance component from each docked reservoir and convey it, in a suitably diluted form, to the mixing zone. Preferably, the carrier medium is a flow of air from an airflow source.

By using forced air to convey the fragrance components to the mixing zone it advantageously means that the fragrance components may already be in a diluted form suitable for mixing and sampling before reaching the mixing zone. This form is easier to mix than fragrance components in liquid form and careful anangement of the entry angle of the plurality of conveying means into the mixing zone will result in the automatic blending of the fragrance components without the need for further blending apparatus.

The invention preferably includes means for automatically adjusting the total airflow to the mixing zone depending on the number of reservoirs docked with the device so as to maintain a substantially constant fragrance concentration in the mixing zone.

It is advantageous to automatically adjust the airflow of the conveying means to take into account the removal or addition of one or more fragrance reservoirs. This is because an aim of the present invention is to provide the user with a blended fragrance that is suitable for direct nasal sampling from the output of the mixing zone. If the airflow was not automatically adjusted according to the number of fragrance components attached then a blend of many fragrance components could be excessively strong and a blend of only a few fragrance components could be excessively weak.

There is preferably provided means for positively holding attached reservoirs in position, for example a sprung ball latch. Not only does a means for holding attached reservoirs in position prevent the reservoirs from becoming detached unintentionally, but it can also be used as part of the mechanism for ensuring that the reservoirs are sealed before they are released.

The mixing zone preferably comprises a static mixer. A static mixer having a low surface area is advantageous over other types of mixers, for example a packed bed mixer, in this invention because a low surface areastatic mixer is less susceptible to fragrance contamination.

The display means preferably comprises a visible dosing scale. This allows the user to inspect the proportional quantities of each fragrance component for the purpose of recordal or reproduction of previously recorded fragrance blend. A user may also use a dosing scale to set up an approximate fragrance blend before operating the device and then fine tune' the blend when the conveying means is activated.

In one embodiment there is provided means for controlling the temperature of at least part of the device. This is advantageous in situations when the accuracy of the fragrance blend is particularly important because variations in temperature may affect the properties of certain fragrances. An example is of perfume on skin, at or near body temperature.

The invention may include a plurality of reservoirs specifically designed to attach to the docking ports. The specially designed reservoirs preferably comprise a click-seal top and a rigid wick which extends through the click-seal lid, wherein the length of the wick external to the reservoir is covered by a sliding cover arranged to positively engage the click seal top.

The specially designed reservoirs interface with the docking ports and are affanged to connect with the control means in a manner that permits opening and sealing of the reservoir so that it can be ensured that a connected reservoir cannot be disconnected from the blending device without first being sealed.

When such a reservoir is used the control means preferably comprises a drive wheel and a sprung idler which is affanged to engage the sliding cover of the reservoir. This allows for the accurate control of the relative quantity of fragrance component which is exposed to the conveying means and also provides means for opening and sealing of the reservoir.

Each of the reservoirs may be coloured or shaded or otherwise differentiated according to a property of the fragrance contained therein. This would be particularly helpful for amateur users so that they can identify which fragrances have similar or complementary properties and so that they are able to more easily produce desirable blended fragrances.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in whick Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a fragrance blending device accoiding to an emboditnesit of the present invention; Figs. 2a-2e are illustrations of a sealed reservoir and varying states of opening Fig. 3 is an illustration of a bgrance blending device suitable for use with reservoirs as show in Figs. 2a-2e; and Figs. 4a-4c are illustrations of a docking port and concentration control device of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 illustrates the main components of the composer, or fragrance blending device including multiple removable fragrance/aroma carriers or reservoirs 12 comprising a wick 28 and a sliding cover 30 covering the external length of the wick 28. Each reservoir 12 is detachably connected to a docking port 14. it is not necessary for all reservoirsl2tobeconnectedtoalidocHngportsl4inorderforthedeviceloto operate. Each docking port 14 has an associated dilution control device 16 and a measuring device 18 and 32 which enables the recording of the dilution device 16 settings. Each docking port is fed with air via the conduits of manifold 19. Air is suppliedviaaninletltomanifoldl9bywayofanairpump6.Eachdodcinpportl4is connected to a mixer 20 via the conduits of manifold 46. The conduits may be automatically opened or closed by gates 42, by the presence or absence of a reservoir 12. The mixer 20 has an output port 24 which can convey the blended fragrance to one or more desired locations.

A user attaches as few or as many reservoirs 12, containing a fragrance/aroma element, to be used as a component of the blend, to each available docking port 14, which automatically opens or closes its gate 42, depending on the presence or absence of a reservoir. Air or other caffier enters the device via manifold 19 through intake 6 and is dosed with fragrance, to an amount controlled by the dilution device 16, which exposes a lesser or greater surface area of the fragrance wick 28, and a greater or lesser surface area of the sliding cover 30. Each airstream meets in manifold 46 and all are combined in mixer 20. The user then directs the combined output via port 24 so that the blended fragrance which will be expelled from the output port 24 passes the nose of the user for sampling the diluted and blended fragrance. Note the example of the last docking port 14 having no reservoir 12 installed. In this case, its gate 42 is automatically closed, and the air which would have entered manifold 46 now vents via docking port 14 as stream B, which serves to maintain a constant airflow over all other wicks 28, regardless of the installation or removal of any other reservoirs 12, and to maintain a true proportional relationship between their contributions to the total combined fragrance, and to reduce the possibility of residual odours from that branch from entering the mixer.

Figs. 2a-2e illustrate a reservoir 12 particularly suitable for use with the device of the present invention. The reservoir 12 includes a click-seal top 26 and a rigid wick 28 which extends through the click-seal lid 26. The length of the wick 28 external to the reservoir 12 is covered by a sliding cover 30 which engages the click seal top 26, and has a marker line 32 extending round its circumference. The reservoir 12 contains a fragrance/aroma 34 which, in this example, is in liquid form. The wick 28 absorbs the fragrance 34 until it is saturated throughout its length. Preferably a wick 28 is used though which the absorbed fragrance is substantially evenly distributed.

In Fig 2a the sliding cover 30 is shown fully engaged with the click-seal top 26 so that the reservoir 12 is sealed. In this configuration the reservoir 12 can be transported or stored without any fragrance escaping. By pulling upwardly on the sliding cover 30 with a predetermined minimum force (Fdetach), the sliding cover 30 can be unclipped from the click-seal top 26 to expose the part of the rigid wick 28. Figs 2b to 2e illustrate the reservoir 12 of Fig 2a, where in each successive figure the sliding cover is raised higher, exposing more of the rigid wick 28. The more wick 28 that is exposed, the greater the surface area of the 28 that is exposed to the air meaning that more fragrance is dispersed into the air. Precise control of the raising and lowering of the sliding cover 30 enables accurate control over the quantity of fragrance dispersed into the air. When the reservoir 12 is to be resealed a second predetermined minimum force (Fseai) is required to re-engage the sliding cover 30 with the click-seal top 26.

Fig. 3 illustrates a particular embodiment of the fragrance blending device 10 of the present invention which is affanged to be used with the reservoir of Figs 2a-2e. The fragrance blending device 10 in this example has six docking ports 14 to which five reservoirs 12 are attached, each containing a fragrance, leaving one docking port 14 empty. Above each of the docking ports 14 is a control knob 17 for controlling the relative dilution of the fragrance. Above each control knob 17 is an associated display 18, preferably a calibrated display, which enables a user to accurately inspect the dilution of each fragrance component, relative to the dilution of the other attached fragrance components. An output port 24 is located at the top of the device 10 which is connected to a mixer (not shown).

Figs. 4a-4c is an illustration of one of the six docking ports 14 with its coffesponding control device 16 and display 18 and 32, suitable for the blending device 10 of Fig. 3.

The docking port 14 includes a reservoir aperture 36 for loading a reservoir 12 (of Fig. 2a) and a sprung ball latch 37 for holding the reservoir 12 in position once loaded. At the end of the docking port 14 distal the reservoir aperture 36 is a conduit of manifold 19 having two holes 43 therethrough which are sized to allow the sliding cover 30 of the reservoir 12 to pass through. The manifold 19 receives a carrier gas. Manifold 46 is connected to a mixing zone 20. The dilution control device 16 includes a drive wheel 38 and a sprung idler 40 which is affanged to resistively engage the sliding cover 30 of the reservoir 12 when inserted. The control knob 17, which is accessible to a user, is connected to the friction wheel 38 so that rotation of the control knob 17 rotates the drive wheel 38. The display 18 and 32 is provided to give a visible relative dosing scale which can easily read by the user. An isolation gate 42 positioned between the sliding cover holes 43 and the conduit 46 blocks the conduit 46 when no reservoir 12 is attached.

In use, a continuous carner gas, typically air, passes into a conduit of manifold 19 in the direction of aow A. The airflow can be pumped in by any known means, for example by a fan or bellows. When no reservoir 12 is attached, as illustrated in Fig 4a, the airflow is prevented from passing into conduit 46 by the isolation gate 42 and is instead directed through the docking port 14 and vents out of the blending device 10 in the direction of Affow B. Fig. 4b illustrates the docking port of Fig 4a after a reservoir 12 has been inserted through the reservoir aperture 36. The reservoir 12 is positioned in the docking bay 14 so that it is not possible for the user to grasp the reservoir 12 from the reservoir aperture 36 during use, once it has been inserted. During the insertion process, the sliding cover 30 passes through the holes 43 and engages the drive wheel 38 and the sprung idler 40. The click-seal top 26 abuts a seal 48 on the outside of a conduit of manifold 19 to form a substantially air-tight seal.

During the insertion process, the isolation gate 42 is automatically moved so as to unblock the appropriate conduit in manifold 46 and allow the airflow to flow from the conduit of inlet manifold 19, past the sliding cover 30 and out into the mixer 20 through the outlet manifold 46. This automatic movement is achieved by extending a rod 50 fixed to the isolation gate 42 into the docking bay 14. As the reservoir 12 is pushed into the docking bay 14 it engages the rod 50 and pushes the isolation gate 42 out of the appropriate conduit of manifold 46.

The sprung ball latch 37 prevents the reservoir 12 from being released from the docking bay 14 by providing a resistive force (Fspring) to the movement of the reservoir 12 through the aperture 36. This resistive force (Fspring) is greater than the force required to engage the sliding cover 30 with the click-seal top 26 (Fseai).

Fig. 4c illustrates the docking port of Fig 4b when the device 10 is in use. The friction wheel 38 and the sprung idler 40 resistively engage the sliding cover 30. By turning the control knob 17 the user can raise and lower the sliding cover 30, thereby exposing more or less of the wick 28 to the airflow. The user can accurately determine how much of the wick is exposed by inspecting where the marker line 32 is positioned in relation to the visible dosing scale 18.

When the user chooses to remove the reservoir 12 from the device 10 the control knob 17 must be turned so as to lower the sliding cover 30 down to engagement with the click-seal top 26. The force required to engage the seal (Fseai) is less than the force required to eject the reservoir 12 (Fspring). This ensures that the when the user turns the control knob 17 with the intention of ejecting the reservoir 12, the reservoir 12 is always sealed prior to ejection through the reservoir aperture 36. This means that it is not possible to remove the reservoir 12 from the device 10 without first sealing the reservoir 12 and hence minimising the stray fragrance in the air which could contaminate the device or the user's sense of smell.

Further, the isolation gate 42 and actuator 50 is biased so that when the reservoir 12 is ejected the gate 42 automatically returns to its original position blocking the appropriate conduit of manifold 46. This means that each docking bay 14 is automatically isolated from the mixing zone if no reservoir 12 is attached. This advantageously means that no unwanted airflow or fragrance components from unused docking bays 14 can contaminate the blended fragrance.

By delivering the blended fragrance in a continuous airflow it is possible for the user to sample the fragrance in a diluted form which more accurately represents its olfactory properties when compared to a concentrated solution. The continuous delivery of the fragrance also enables the user to make dynamic adjustments to the blend to fine tune' the fragrance, without needing to remake a new sample every time a minor adjustment to the composition is desired.

The individual control and adjustment of the relative quantity of each fragrance component in the fragrance blending device can be seen as analogous to the flexibility and control of a graphic equaliser for sound, but instead of audible frequency components, the fragrance blending device enables control over the relative intensities of fragrance notes'.

Although the fragrance device is specifically designed to minimise spurious fragrance components, it is envisaged that the mixing zone and/or conduits or parts thereof could be disposable to reduce residual fragrance contamination, or may be detachable to allow periodic cleaning.

In practice, the fragrance blending device 10 may include any number of docking ports 14 depending on the scale and complexity of the user's requirements. It is desirable to provide means for automatically adjusting the total airflow to the mixing zone depending on the number of reservoirs attached to the device. For example, if the device has the capacity for ten reservoirs but only one was connected then the single fragrance would be excessively diluted. Conversely, if the airflow were chosen to be suitable for one fragrance component, yet up to ten were then installed in the device, the concentration of the aromas in the airflow would be excessive. Thus it is desirable that when a reservoir is removed from the device, the airflow is automatically reduced to take into account the removal. Conversely, when a fragrance is installed, the airflow is automatically increased to take into account the addition.

It may be desirable to colour or shade or otherwise differentiate the reservoirs depending on the fragrance contained therein. This would be particularly helpful for amateur users so that they can identify which fragrances have similar or complementary aromas.

In professional applications it may be desirable to provide a means for calibrating the fragrance blending device to ensure accurate results when blending and recording the component intensities. It is also envisaged that in particularly demanding applications the blending device may be equipped with a temperature control device and/or a mass flow rate control to further improve the consistency and reproducibility of the results.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fragrance blending device comprising: a plurality of docking ports each arranged to receive a reservoir containing a fragrance component; a mixing zone having a plurality of inlets and an outlet; conveying means for conveying fragrance components in a diluted form from at least one reservoir to the mixing zone; control means for controlling the quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; display means for displaying the relative quantity of each fragrance component conveyed to the mixing zone; and wherein each docking port comprises means to prevent connected reservoirs from being disconnected from the device without first being sealed.
2. A fragrance blending device as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising isolating means for automatically isolating a docking port from the mixing zone when no reservoir is attached to the docking port.
3. A fragrance blending device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the isolating means comprises an isolation gate.
4. A fragrance blending device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conveying means comprises a canier medium, the canier medium ananged to collect the fragrance component from each docked reservoir and convey it to the mixing zone.
5. A fragrance blending device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the carrier medium is a flow of air from an airflow source.
6. A fragrance blending device as claimed in Claim 5, further comprising means for automatically adjusting the total airflow to the mixing zone depending on the number of reservoirs docked with the device so as to maintain a substantially constant fragrance concentration in the mixing zone.
7. A fragrance blending device as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for positively holding attached reservoirs in position.
8. A fragrance blending device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the means for positively holding attached reservoirs in position comprises a sprung ball latch.
9. A fragrance blending device according to any preceding claim, wherein the mixing zone comprises a static mixer.
10. A fragrance blending device according to any preceding claim, wherein the display means comprises a visible dosing scale
11. A fragrance blending device according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for controlling the temperature of at least part of the device.
12. A fragrance blending device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of reservoirs.
13. A fragrance blending device according to Claim 12, wherein each one of the plurality of reservoirs comprises a click-seal top and a rigid wick which extends through the click-seal lid, wherein the length of the wick external to the reservoir is covered by a sliding cover arranged to positively engage the click seal top.
14. A fragrance blending device according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means comprises a drive wheel and a sprung idler which is ananged to engage the sliding cover of the reservoir.
15. A fragrance blending device according any of claims 12 to 14, wherein each reservoir is coloured or shaded or otherwise differentiated, according to a property of the fragrance contained therein.
16. A fragrance blending device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.