GB2527346A

GB2527346A - Diffusion devices

Info

Publication number: GB2527346A
Application number: GB1410946.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Litten-Brown; Dean Charles Chapman
Original assignee: Robert McBride Ltd
Current assignee: Robert McBride Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-19
Filing date: 2014-06-19
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: GB201410946D0

Abstract

A wax melting device for melting a fragranced wax comprises a stand adapted to support a heater 2 for melting wax, and an open-topped receptacle assembly 4 having a lower region in which the wax is melted. The receptacle assembly issupported on the stand such that its under-surface is positioned to be heated by the heater. The lower region 3 of the receptacle assembly in which the wax is melted is configured to be displaceable towards the top of the receptacle assembly from a wax collection position to a wax ejection position by the application of pressure to the under-surface of the lower region. A method of providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere is also claimed. A dosage pouch for providing a dose of fragrance-impregnated wax to a wax melting device is also claimed, the pouch comprises a block of fragrance-impregnated wax (16, Fig. 6) wrapped in a wax-impervious and flexible material (17, Fig. 6). The material is configured to unfurl upon melting of the wax block to form an open-topped wax receptacle for collection of melted wax. A wax melting device comprising the dosage pouch is also claimed.

Description

Diffusion Devices

Field of the invention

This invention relates to diffuser devices designed to release fragrance from a wax matrix through the warming and melting of the wax.

Devices for melting fragrance-impregnated wax are well known and are generically known as "wax melters". Usually they are ceramic in construction and comprise a base portion in which a source of heat is contained and a bowl-shaped upper portion which is designed to receive the impregnated wax, or "wax melt'.

In some constructions the base portion and upper bowl are separate components while in other devices the bowl and base portion are constructed from a single piece.

In their simplest form heat is provided by a candle in the base portion, most commonly a tea-light candle due to their relative cheapness, small but consistent size and generally uniform burning properties which makes sourcing refill candles by the user easy. Devices heated by tea-light candles tend to be of the one-piece construction and are usually composed of ceramic.

Other heating devices have been utilised more recently including ncandescent light bulbs, resistors and PTC (positive temperature coefficient) thermistors. In all cases it is generally required that the device be electrically powered from the domestic mains electricty supply as conventional batteries would not have sufficient capacity to run the device for more than a few hours and would thus be expensive to continually replace every time the device was used.

Devices which are electrically heated in this way generally tend to be of two-piece construction with the bowl portion detachable from the base portion for safe removal of wax. Generally the bowl portion is not physically attached to the base portion but simply rests on top.

Such devices operate by the user activating the heat source whether it be from a candle flame, light bulb, electrical heater or any other form of heat generation and then placing a cube or other shape of fragrance-impregnated wax into the bowl portion.

Over time, the wax melts and the fragrance is warmed promoting evaporation into the air.

A typical impregnated wax device will impart fragrance for around four to eight hours of continual use. Given that the wax is non-volatile and is not in any way undergoing a process of combustion once the volatile fractions of the fragrance have been released then there will be a significant quantity of residue of wax and non-volatile components from the fragrance. As a typical dosage of fragrance within the wax will generally not exceed 15% of the weight of the wax melt as supplied this means that 85% of the material introduced into the melter bowl remains as residue.

It is necessary for the user to remove this wax from the bowl but this is not a convenient process. Either the user is required to pour the molten wax from the bawl into a suitable means of disposal and then wash the residual wax from the bowl or they are required to allow the wax to cool and solidify, often promoted by placing the bowl into a domestic freezer, and then prizing the solidified wax out with a suitable implement.

Neither process is convenient to the user. Both have safety risks associated either by contact with hot wax or by the risk of puncture injury while digging solid wax from the bowl.

Attempts have been made in the art to overcome this problem.

US2012138594A1 teaches an insert which is placed into the bowl of the melter prior to addition of the wax. The insert has a base and two elongated tabs which, when the wax melts, extend beyond the melt pool and which can be utilised on cooling to facilitate removal of the wax.

While this solution does facilitate wax removal the insert will impact on the aesthetic properties of the device and there is the possibility of molten wax seeping between the insert and the bowl and being left behind when the bulk wax is removed, requiring additional cleaning.

This solution also requires a separate insert which will in turn be trapped within the wax matrix so would either need to be disposable or, if reusable, require manual removal from the wax.

What is needed is a simple solution that does not impair the aesthetic appearance of the melter and is either reusable without requiring additional removal from the wax or easily disposable without impairing the aesthetics of the device.

Summary of the Invention:

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a wax melting device for melting a fragranced wax, the device comprising a stand adapted to support a heater for melting wax, and an open-topped receptacle assembly having a lower region n which the wax is melted, said receptacle assembly being supported on the stand such that its under-surface is positioned to be heated by the heater, wherein the lower region of the receptacle assembly in which the wax is melted is configured to be displaceable towards the top of the receptacle assembly from a wax collection position to a wax ejection position by the application of pressure to the under-surface of said lower region.

In some embodiments, the receptacle assembly may be removably mounted on the stand.

The receptacle assembly may comprise a vessel having rigid side walls and a basal wall providing said lower region which is displaceable relative to said side walls between its wax collection and wax ejection positions. Said basal wall may be rigid and displaceable bodily relative to said side walls. Alternatively, the basal wall may be flexible so as to be displaceable relative to said side walls.

In certain embodiments, the receptacle assembly may comprise an open-topped rigid vessel and a liner therefor, said liner being flexible in at least its basal region to provide said lower region of the assembly. In other embodiments, the receptacle assembly comprises an annular vessel with a dished upper surface and further comprises a liner which lies against said dished upper surface and has a flexible portion that extends across the centre of the annular vessel to provide said lower region of the receptacle assembly. The liner may be wholly of flexible material and/or may be removable from the vessel.

The device may be provided together with a said heater. The heater is preferably electrically operated, and may take the form of a heating plate. Alternatively, the heater may be a candle.

For convenience, fragranced wax to be melted may be provided in combination with the device of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere, the method comprising: providing the device of the first aspect of the invention; providing the receptacle assembly with a dose of fragranced wax; melting the wax to release the fragrance therein; cooling the melted wax to form a body of solidified wax; and ejecting the body of solidified wax by applying pressure to the under-surface of the lower region.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a device of the first aspect of the invention for providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a wax melting device for melting a fragranced wax, the device comprising a stand adapted to support a heater for melting wax, and an open-topped receptacle in which the wax is melted, said receptacle being supported on the stand such that its under-surface is positioned to be heated by the heater, wherein the receptacle is provided with a dosage pouch for providing a dose of fragrance-impregnated wax, the pouch comprising a block of fragrance-impregnated wax wrapped in a wax-impervious and flexible material, said material being configured to unfurl upon melting of the wax block to form a liner for the open-topped wax receptacle for collection of melted wax.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere, the method comprising: providing a device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention; melting the wax in the pouch to unfurl the material wrapping and release the fragrance impregnated in the wax; and cooling the melted wax to form a body of solidified wax collected on the liner.

The method of the fifth aspect of the present invention may further comprise the step of removing the liner having wax collected thereon from the receptacle.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention for providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a dosage pouch for providing a dose of fragrance-impregnated wax to a wax melting device, the pouch comprising a block of fragrance-impregnated wax wrapped in a wax-impervious and flexible material, said material being configured to unfurl upon melting of the wax block to form an open-topped wax receptacle for collection of melted wax.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a bowl for a melter in which at least one portion consists of a separate, movable structure which is free to move with relation to the rest of the bowl but which is sufficiently tight fitting that molten wax is not able to penetrate between the movable structure and it's channel within the bowl. Preferably the movable structure is located at the lowest point of the depression formed by the bowl.

The movable structure can be formed of any material but is preferably rigid or semi-rigid so as not to deform and allow channels along which molten wax can escape.

Within this embodiment of the invention the bowl is provided with an orifice into which the movable structure fits and is able to move in one dimension. For example, the orifce may be cut vertically through the central axis of the bowl and the movable structure forming a piece which is free to move in a vertical axis only.

It is preferable that the movable structure is in some way restricted, for example by the inclusion of a lip, from moving below the surface of the bowl so that when wax is melted in the bowl the molten wax does not force the movable structure downwards allowing wax to escape through the orifice.

In use when the fragrance has all evaporated and the residual wax cooled and solidified, the user would push on the underside of the movable portion which would in turn force the solidified wax up and free of the bowl, allowing for easy removal.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the bowl is provided with a thin, flexible portion within the area into which the wax would normally melt, preferably the lowermost portion of the bowl with a recess below to allow the user to manually deform the flexible portion.

The flexible portion could be formed from a rigid material such as metal or plastic which is affixed to an orifice in the centre of the ceramic bowl. Alternatively the entire bowl could be formed of metal or plastic with a thin section at the base of the bowl.

If a plastic is used it should be one selected for heat resstance to a temperature higher than the maximum output of the heater onto which the bowl is placed.

In use when the fragrance has all evaporated and the residual wax cooled and solidified, the user would press on the underside of the flexible portion which would temporarily deform upwards, forcing the solidified wax up and free of the bowl, allowing for easy removal.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the rigid bowl is provided with a removable, flexible liner, for example composed of thin metal foil, plastic or any other flexible material such as fabric, silicone or rubber. The liner could be shaped in such a way as to conform to the inner curved surface of the bowl, be suitably resistant to heat and chemical attack by the components of the wax and fragrance. It could also physically extend to a point above the maximum level of the melt pool formed by the wax melt.

In use when the fragrance has all evaporated and the residual wax cooled and solidified, the user would be able to remove the flexible liner and flex it in such a way as to release the wax. The liner could then be replaced and reused without the need for further cleaning.

According to a further aspect of the present invention the rigid bowl is provided with a flexible liner which is not readily removable but extends through an orifice in the centre of the bowl.

In use this would act similarly to the second aspect of the invention described above by which the user would press from the underside to remove the soUdified wax.

It is preferential but not essential for the material that forms the liner to be of a material towards which the wax demonstrates low adhesion, for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or silicone.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the wax melt is supplied with a flexible outer wrap or liner. When the wax melt is placed into the bowl and the wax reverts to a liquid state on warming, the flexible outer wrap would create a physical barrier between the wax and the bowl facilitating easy removal once the fragrance had been released and the wax subsequently cooled.

By this aspect, the wax could be provided in an essentially bowl-shaped piece with the flexible wrap on the curved underside or it could be any other shape but wrapped in an essentially bowl-shaped liner that could be folded over the top of the wax shape and sealed with wax or an adhesive that would release with heat. When placed on the warmer, as the wax melted and the liner warmed it would unfurl, creating the liner between the wax and the bowl. The liner could be composed of metal foil, thin plastic film, paper, fabric or any other suitable thin, flexible material.

Such a device would be readily disposable but would essentially serve the same function as the device having a removable, flexible liner mentioned above.

The intention is to form a flexible and/or movable portion to the bowl of the wax melter to facilitate the removal of solid residual wax following the delivery of fragrance.

Further features of the invention are defined in the appended claims and appendix.

Preferred features described above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention also represent preferred features of the other aspects of the present invention (and vice versa) subject to a technical incompatibility that would prevent such a combination of preferred features. Furthermore, it will be evident to the skilled person that advantages set out above in respect of the first aspect of the present invention are also offered by the other aspects of the present invention (and vice versa).

The embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to figures, all of which show a vertical cross-sectional view of the different embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a typical wax melter comprising a base portion 1 into which is inserted a heater plate 2 and an electrical module 3 in which the heating circuit (not shown) is located. Also not shown is the electrical flex which would link the heating circuit to the domestic mains power supply.

On top of the base portion 1 and in direct thermal contact with the heater plate 2 is a bowl portion 4 which has a curved recess S into which a portion of fragrance-impregnated wax (not shown) is placed and allowed to melt.

Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in which the bowl portion 4 has a central orifice 6 into which is located a movable portion 7 which in turn has an extended rim 8 which fits into a corresponding recess 9 in the bowl portion 4 preventing it from dropping below the surface of the bowl but allowing upward vertical movement.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the bowl portion 4 is provided with an orificeS into which is fixed a flexible insert 10.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention in which the bowl portion 4 is provided with a flexible and removable liner 11 which conforms in shape to the inner curve of the bowl.

Figures shows a fourth embodiment of the invention in which the bowl portion 4 is provided with an orifice 6 into which is inserted a flexible insert 12 comprising a bowl shape 13 that conforms to the inside curve of the rigid bowl portion 4, a thin flexible portion 14 to allow the user to push the wax out and a holding mechanism 15 that keeps the flexible insert 12 in place.

Figure 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention in which a conventional melter device as depicted in Figure 1 is supplied with a wax melt comprising wax 16 that is encased in a flexible material 17.

Figure 7 shows the same device as in figure 6 but after heat has been applied and the wax melted. The wax 16 is now separated from the bowl portion 4 by the flexible material 17.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A wax melting device for melting a fragranced wax, the device comprising a stand adapted to support a heater for melting wax, and an open-topped receptacle assembly having a lower region in which the wax is melted, said receptacle assembly being supported on the stand such that its under-surface is positioned to be heated by the heater, wherein the lower region of the receptacle assembly in which the wax is melted is configured to be displaceable towards the top of the receptacle assembly from a wax collection position to a wax ejection position by the application of pressure to the under-surface of said lower region.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle assembly is removably mounted on the stand.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the receptacle assembly comprises a vessel having rigid side walls and a basal wall providing said lower region which is displaceable relative to said side walls between its wax collection and wax ejection positions.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said basal wall is rigid and is displaceable bodily relative to said side walls.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said basal wall is flexible so as to be displaceable relative to said side walls.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the receptacle assembly comprises an open-topped rigid vessel and a liner therefor, said liner being flexible in at least its basal region to provide said lower region of the assembly.
7. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the receptacle assembly comprises an annular vessel with a dished upper surface and further comprises a liner which lies against said dished upper surface and has a flexible portion that extends across the centre of the annular vessel to provide said lower region of the receptacle assembly.
8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the liner is wholly of flexible material.
9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the liner is removable from the vessel.
10. A device as claimed in any one of claims ito 9 provided with a said heater.
ii. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the heater is electrically operated.
12. A device as claimed in claim ii wherein the electrically operated heater is a heating plate.
13. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the heater is a candle.
14. The combination of a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 and fragranced wax to be melted.
15. A method of providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere, the method comprising: providing a device according to any one of claims 10 to 13; providing the receptacle assembly with a dose of fragranced wax; melting the wax to release the fragrance therein; cooling the melted wax to form a body of solidified wax; and ejecting the body of solidified wax by applying pressure to the under-surface of the lower region.
16. The use of a device according to any one of claims i to 13, for providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere.
17. A wax melting device for melting a fragranced wax, the device comprising a stand adapted to support a heater for melting wax, and an open-topped receptacle in which the wax is melted, said receptacle being supported on the stand such that its under-surface is positioned to be heated by the heater, wherein the receptacle is provided with a dosage pouch for providing a dose of fragrance-impregnated wax, the pouch comprising a block of fragrance-impregnated wax wrapped in a wax-impervious and flexible material, said material being configured to unfurl upon melting of the wax block to form a liner for the open-topped wax receptacle for collection of melted wax.
18. A device as claimed in any claim 17 provided with a said heater.
19. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the heater is electrically operated.
20. A device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the electrically operated heater is a heating plate.
21. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the heater is a candle.
22. A method of providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere, the method comprising: providing a device according to any one of claims 18 to 21; melting the wax in the pouch to unfurl the material wrapping and release the fragrance impregnated in the wax; and cooling the melted wax to form a body of solidified wax collected on the liner.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising the step of removing the liner having wax collected thereon from the receptacle.
24. The use of a device according to any one of claims 17 to 21, for providing fragrance to the ambient atmosphere.
25. A dosage pouch for providing a dose of fragrance-impregnated wax to a wax melting device, the pouch comprising a block of fragrance-impregnated wax wrapped in a wax-impervious and flexible material, said material being configured to unfurl upon melting of the wax block to form an open-topped wax receptacle for collection of melted wax.