GB2552036A

GB2552036A - Room fragrancer

Info

Publication number: GB2552036A
Application number: GB1612002.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Knight Debbie; Brundon Andy; Slack Henry
Original assignee: Senti Ltd
Current assignee: Senti Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-07
Filing date: 2016-07-07
Publication date: 2018-01-10
Also published as: GB201612002D0

Abstract

There is described a room fragrancer in which a porous dispersion element (41, figure 5) is linked to a closed reservoir 2 of fragrance liquid by a conduit 10, the arrangement being such that in a first position the fragrance liquid may flow through the conduit and be exposed to a part of the dispersion element, and in a second position the fragrance liquid drains from the conduit into the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the dispersion element 41 forms part of an artificial flower head, the conduit is formed in the shape of a flower stem and the reservoir is a vase 2, closed by a closure 5 through which the conduit extends. An opening 21 is formed through the wall of the conduit 10 within the vase 2 and adjacent the closure 5, so that when the vase is briefly inverted the fragrance liquid can enter the conduit through the opening 21 and flow to the flower heads. Part of the fragrance liquid is absorbed by the dispersion elements 41. When the vase is returned to the initial position, excess fragrance liquid drains back from the flower heads into the vase.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Senti Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Church Road, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5DQ, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Debbie Knight Andy Brundon Henry Slack (56) Documents Cited:

EP 2949346 A1 FR 003019048A1 US 1644482 A JPH05132807

EP 1661588 A1 US 5077102 A (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA41G, A45D, A61L Other: EPODOC, WPI (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Beresford Crump LLP

High Holborn, London, WC1V 6BX,

United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Room fragrancer Abstract Title: ROOM FRAGRANCER (57) There is described a room fragrancer in which a porous dispersion element (41, figure 5) is linked to a closed reservoir 2 of fragrance liquid by a conduit 10, the arrangement being such that in a first position the fragrance liquid may flow through the conduit and be exposed to a part of the dispersion element, and in a second position the fragrance liquid drains from the conduit into the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the dispersion element 41 forms part of an artificial flower head, the conduit is formed in the shape of a flower stem and the reservoir is a vase 2, closed by a closure 5 through which the conduit extends. An opening 21 is formed through the wall of the conduit 10 within the vase 2 and adjacent the closure 5, so that when the vase is briefly inverted the fragrance liquid can enter the conduit through the opening 21 and flow to the flower heads. Part of the fragrance liquid is absorbed by the dispersion elements 41. When the vase is returned to the initial position, excess fragrance liquid drains back from the flower heads into the vase.

FIG. 1 • ·· • · • · · · • · • · • · · · • · ·

17 r/2.

FIG. 1

2Π

FIG.2

4/7

6/7 • ·» φ φ · #φ · φ r

»· ♦ · φ φ φ«

FIG. 5 /7

FIG. 6

ROOM FRAGRANCER

The present invention relates to room fragrancers, which are devices for dispersing a fragrance or aroma in a room or other enclosure. The invention particularly relates to passive room fragrances, which require no external power input in order to generate and disperse an aroma within a room.

Current passive room fragrancers include arrangements in which an open-topped receptacle is partially filled with a volatile fragrancing liquid, and porous wick sticks are placed with their lower ends in the liquid and their upper ends extending out of a neck of the receptacle. The fragrancing liquid is drawn up the wicks by capillary action, and evaporates from the upper ends to disperse the fragrant vapour. The wicks are usually quite short in length, up to about 10 or 15 centimetres, as capillary action can lift the fragrancing liquid up the wick and out of the receptacle. Longer wicks of up to 30cm have been proposed. The evaporation of the fragrancing liquid from the wicks is slow, due to the long distance the liquid must be drawn up the wick, and thus the throw of the device is limited. By throw is meant the furthest distance from the device at which the fragrance is perceptible.

In order to provide an effective fragrancing of a room and increase the throw of the device, the sticks are generally lifted out of the receptacle, inverted, and replaced into the receptacle once or twice each week. This results in the end of the stick which was immersed in the fragrancing liquid, and is coated with liquid, being positioned uppermost, i.e. outside the receptacle, so that fragrancing liquid can evaporate from the end of the stick while excess fragrance liquid drains down the stick.

Fragrance liquids for room fragrancers are typically compositions including up to about 90% of a solvent such as ethanol, up to about 90% water and up to about

20% of the essential oil providing the fragrance. The specific amounts of the components of the composition, particularly the essential oil, are principally determined by cost, but a larger proportion of essential oil clearly results in a more fragrant composition. Other typical ingredients for the fragrancing component include include benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, Citral, Geraniol,

Famesol, linalool, citronellol and limonene. Other solvents than ethanol are also known to those in the art. Those skilled in the art will be able to formulate fragrancing liquids having appropriate characteristics of fragrance, viscosity, density etc using suitable known ingredients in appropriate proportion. The solvents and active ingredients are aggressive liquids, and can attack some

·.·’*· plastics materials, and can stain or mark interior decorations such as polished ·;···· surfaces and furnishing fabrics.

• · • · • ··· A disadvantage of current passive room fragrance arrangements is that the • · · • 15 receptacle is unsealed, because the wick sticks have to project out of the neck of .·.··. the container. The fragrancing liquid may easily spill if the receptacle is upset, • ·· and the operation to invert the wick sticks can also lead to the fragrancing liquid contaminating the user's hands or being splashed or dripped onto nearby objects. In order to minimise the inconvenience and damage which may he caused by a spillage, the receptacles can be made small, so that only a small amount of liquid may be spilled. This however necessitates frequent refilling of the devices and this frequent handling of the devices increases the risk of spillages.

In environments such as hotels or other public buildings, where a large number of 25 room fragrancers are used, significant cost and labour is devoted to the refilling of the devices, and there is significant risk of spillage of the fragrancing liquid, particularly during the refreshing operation to invert the wick sticks. If the devices are made larger so that each device contains more fragrancing liquid, less frequent refilling is required but there is increased risk of damage should the device be overturned. Having the container open to the air has the further disadvantage that the volatile solvent in the fragrancing liquid is exposed to the air and evaporates. This leaves the essential oils in a concentrated form, from which evaporation of the fragrance is more difficult and thus limits the throw of the device. A further disadvantage is that the devices are not aesthetically attractive.

Alternative known methods of fragrancing a room include simply spraying an aerosol of the fragrancing liquid into the air, or spraying the fragrancing liquid on to a fragrancing device, from the surface of which the fragrancing liquid evaporates. Both of these methods involve dispersing a spray of the fragrancing

·.·**· liquid, which may cause damage if the liquid droplets come into contact with, for ······ example, furnishing fabrics or polished surfaces such as table tops or wall panelling.

‘k _1S .·.··. container of fragrancing liquid, to avoid spillages, and which can dispense the • ·· fragrance without the need for fragrancing liquid to be sprayed onto the device. It would be a further advantage of such a device if it were aesthetically attractive and an asset to the room decor.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a room fragrancing device comprising a closed reservoir for containing a fragrancing liquid, at least one porous dispensing element for receiving a dose of fragrancing liquid and from which the fragrancing liquid can evaporate, a delivery tube for delivering fragrancing liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing element when the fragrancing device is in a first position, and wherein fragrancing liquid can drain from the dispensing element to the reservoir when the fragrancing device is in a second position.

The porous dispensing element preferably forms part of an artificial flower head.

The flower heads may include artificial petals to simulate the appearance of a flower, such as for example an orchid. In advantageous embodiments, the closed reservoir is formed in the shape of a decorative vase. The delivery tube may be formed so as to resemble a flower stem.

The delivery tube may be formed as a main stem with a number of side branches, and the device may comprise a plurality of flower heads mounted at the ends of respective branches extending from the main stem.

Preferably, the fragrancing device is moved from the first position to the second !,·’*· position by rotating the device about a horizontal axis through at least 90°, and up ······ to 180°, so that the fragrance liquid may flow along the stem and branches to the dispensing element at each flower head. The main stem and branches are • · • ··· preferably arranged such that when the fragrancing device is in the second • · · • 15 position, fragrancing liquid within the stem and branches drains back down into ,·.··. the reservoir.

• ··

The fragrancing device may be shaped to resemble a vase with flowers extending upwardly from the top of the vase. The device will normally stand in the second position. The entire device is lifted and held inverted for a short time, to allow fragrance liquid within the vase to flow up the flower stems and be absorbed by the dispensing elements in the flowerheads. The device is then returned to the second position, so that the vase may stand on a table or other supporting surface, and excess liquid may drain back down into the vase. The liquid absorbed in the dispensing elements of the flowerheads then evaporates, fragrancing the room.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the room

	ffagrancer in the form of an artificial flower, all but one of the flowerheads having been omitted for clarity;
5	Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded view of a flowerhead; Figure 2A is an enlarged view of the bud end of a branch; Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a flower head mounted to the end of a branch;
10
• · · • · · ····	Figure 4 and Figure 4A are perspective and sectional views, respectively, of an
• • ·	alternative embodiment of the stem and mounting element;

• · • · · · • ·· · • 15	Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a room ffagrancer according to the invention in the upright (second) position in sectional view, showing the
• · · • · · • ··	ffagrancing liquid; and
20	Figure 6 illustrates the room ffagrancer of figure 5 in the inverted (first) position for re-charging the dispensing elements of the ffagrancer.
25	Referring now to Figure 1, the ffagrancing device 1 comprises a vase 2 having a flat base 3 and a neck 4 at its upper aid. The vase 2 acts as a reservoir for the ffagrancing liquid F. The vase 2 is made from a material which will not be attacked by the ffagrancing liquid, such as glass. The vase 2 is preferably at least partially transparent, so that the level of the ffagrancing liquid may be checked by visual inspection.

The neck 4 of the vase 2 is closed by a removable plug 5, which seals the opening of the vase 2. Sealing elements such as sealing rings 6 may be interposed between the plug 5 and the interior of the neck 4 to seal the plug 5 against the neck 4. Other sealing arrangements may be provided, for example by interposing a sealing ring between the downwardly-facing surface of the plug flanged and the end surface of the neck 4. The plug 5 may be held in place by the resilient frictional fit between the plug 5, or the sealing rings 6, and the neck 4. The plug 5 may be formed from metal, cork, rubber or any other suitable material, provided that it is resistant to attack by the fragrancing liquid F.

Extending through the plug 5 is a hollow stem 10, which extends downwardly from the plug 5 so that its lower end 11 of the stem 10 is adjacent to the base 3 of the vase 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end 11 is cut at an angle, similar to the cut stem of a flower. The lower end 11 may alternatively be cut horizontally, or may be curved to lie in contact with the base 3.

At a point within the vase 2 just below the plug 5, the stem 10 is formed with a lateral opening 21 communicating with the lumen of the stem 10. The purpose of this opening 21 will be described later.

The hollow stem 10 extends upwardly through the plug 5, and continues in a curvilinear form to terminate in an uppermost bud 12. A number of hollow branches 15 to 20 extend laterally from the stem 10, each branch terminating in a respective bud 15b, 16b, 17b, 18b, 19b and 20b. The lumen of the stem 10 extends from the lower end 11 to the uppermost bud 12, and is connected to the lumens of the branches 15 to 20 so that all of the buds are in fluid communication via the lumens of their respective branches with the lumen of the stem 10. The lumen of the stem 10 and the branches may be circular, from 2 mm to 5 mm in diameter. The lumen may be non-circular, and the cross-sectional area of the lumen of the stem may typically be from about 3 to about 25 mm².

The branches 15 to 20 may extend at any angle from the stem 10, but are preferably inclined from the stem slightly upwardly for purposes which will be described later.

The stem may be formed from plastics material, for example by a 3-D printing technique such as Selective Laser Sintering. Other forming techniques may be used, such as blow-moulding. The material of the stem may be any plastics material which is resistant to attack by the fragrance liquid, such as nylon or polyamide.

The branch 19 is shown with an artificial flower attached to its bud 19b, which is 10 illustrated in greater detail in Figures 2 and 2A.

• · · • · · • · · · ······ The bud 19b is shown in greater detail in Figure 2A, and comprises a hollow generally conical extension 30 extending from the end of the branch 19. The • · * ··· interior of the conical extension 30 is in communication with the lumen of the • · · • 15 branch 19. The conical extension 30 is closed at its end remote from the branch ,·.··. 19 by an end wall 31. In the end wall 31 there is a central circular opening 32, • ·· from which a number of slots 33 (in :his case four slots) extend radially. It is foreseen that the number of slots may be more or fewer than four.

Figure 2 shows the end of the branch 19 and the bud 19b, and the components of the artificial flower, in exploded view. The components of the artificial flower are a supporting element 40, a porous dispersion element 41, one or more artificial petals 42 (only one is shown here for clarity) and a retainer 43.

The supporting element 40 comprises a circular central flange 44 from which an attachment pin 45 extends axially in one direction and a retaining pin 46 extends axially in the other direction. The attachment pin 45 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the circular opening 32 of the bud 19b, and is a tight fit within the opening 32. The retainer pin 46 may be of the same or different diameter from the attachment pin 45, and is engageable by the retainer 43, as will be described below.

The dispersion element 41 is a sheet of porous capillary material with a central opening 47 which has a diameter to closely surround the attachment pin 45 of the supporting element 40. The dispersion element 41 may be of any convenient shape which provides a sufficient surface area for dispersing the fragrance liquid. Typically, the surface area of the dispersion element 41 is between 100 and 4000mm² or may be more. The dispersion element 41 may for example be circular, and may be from 20 to 200 mm in diameter. The central opening 47 in the dispersion element 41 may be about 3 mm in diameter, corresponding to the

·.·**· diameter of the attachment pin 45 of the supporting element 40. The dispersion ······ element 41 need not be circular, but can be of any shape. The dispersion element may for example be cut in leaf-like shapes or in a form which complements the • · • · · · artificial petals 42 of the flower head.

• · · • 15 ,·.··, The dispersion element 41 is formed from a porous material, such as a woven or • ·· non-woven fabric or felt, or a foam material. The dispersion element 41 may be formed from a flexible or self-supporting material, and is advantageously formed by cutting the dispersion element 41 from a sheet of non-woven fabric material or felt.

The artificial petals 42 may be formed by cutting or stamping sheets of paper or stiffened fabric to form the leaf -like structure of the petals, and a central opening 48 in each petal 42. As an alternative to paper or fabric, the artificial petals may be moulded from plastics material such as polyurethane, and may be formed with ribs extending outwardly from the centre to simulate particular floral structures. The central opening 48 is shaped and dimensioned so as to fit closely around the retainer pin 46 of the supporting element 40. The artificial petals 42 may be generally flat in form, or may be curved into a three-dimensional shape simulating the petals of a flower such as an orchid. The artificial petals 42 may be patterned,

	such as by printing or painting.
5	The retainer 43 includes a central recess 49 to receive the end of the retainer pin 46 of the supporting element 40, so as to retain the artificial petals 42 on the retainer pin 46. The retainer 43 may be shaped, coloured and patterned so as to resemble the central parts of a particular flower, such as an orchid. The recess 49,
10 • ·· • · · • · ·· • • ·	the retainer pin 46 and the central openings 48 in the petals may be of noncircular cross-section in order to produce a particular relative orientation between the retainer 43, the petals 42 and the supporting element 40. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flower head 39, showing the interaction of the parts. To assemble the flower head 39, the attachment pin 45 of the
• · • · • ··· • ·· · • 15	supporting element 40 is inserted through the central opening 47 in the dispersion element 41, and the attachment pin 45 is then inserted into the circular opening 32 in the end face 31 of the bud 19b. The supporting element 40 is pushed in so that
• ·· • · · • ··	the dispersion element 41 is closely engaged between the flange 44 of the supporting element 40 and the end face 31 of the bud 19b.
20	One or more artificial petals 42 are then assembled onto the retainer pin 46 by inserting the retainer pin 46 through the central openings 48 of the artificial petals 42. The retainer 43, which has a recess 49 in its distal end face, is then pushed
25	onto the end of the retainer pin 46, to hold the artificial petals 42 tightly between the retainer 43 and the flange 44 of the supporting element 40. The retainer pin 46 may be a friction fit in the recess 49, or may be secured by snap-fitting, adhesive, welding or any other suitable fastening technique.
30	As will be appreciated, the attachment pin 45 fills and closes the circular opening 32 in the end face 31 of the bud 19b, but the radially-extending slots 33 ensure that areas of the dispersion element 41 are exposed to the interior of the conical extension 30 of the bud 19b.

	To complete the assembly of the room fragrancer, similar flower heads 39 are assembled in a similar fashion onto all of the buds 12, 15 to 18 and 20. A quantity of the ffagrancing liquid is placed within the vase 2, and the plug 5 is
5	inserted into the neck 4 of the vase 2, preferably so that the lower end 11 of the stem 10 is within the fragrance liquid. It is not necessary for the stem to extend down as far as the fragrance liquid, but the effect is more realistic if the stem is in contact with the liquid.
10	Use of the fragrancer will now be described in relation to Figures 5 and 6, which
• · · • ft ft ft··· • ft ft	are schematic sectional views of a fragrancer 1 having only a single flower head 39. The same reference numerals as have been previously used will be used in
ft ft ft ft • ···	Figures 5 and 6 to describe corresponding parts of the device.
ft • ft · • .15	In the device as seen in Figure 5, a flower head 39 has been assembled onto a bud
ft ft ft • 4 ft • ftft	12 at the upper end of the stem 10 remote from the plug 5, and a quantity of fragrance liquid F has been dispensed into the vase 2. The plug is then fitted to the neck 4 of the vase 2, with the stem 10 extending through the plug 5 and the
20	opening 21 in the stem positioned just below the plug 5. To prepare the fragrancer for use, the entire assembly is inverted, to the position shown in Figure 6. This causes the fragrance liquid F to fall to the neck region of the vase, and to flow through the opening 21 into the lumen of the stem 10. The fragrance liquid F continues to flow to the bud 12 at the end of the stem 10, and
25	fills the conical extension 30. The dispersion element 41 is held against the end wall 31 of the bud, to prevent liquid from flowing out of the opening 32 and slots 33. The lumen of the stem 10 is preferably of a sufficiently large diameter that air within the stem may pass as bubbles up the stem and into the vase while the liquid flows down the stem to the bud 12. However, air within the stem may be vented
30	out through the dispersion elements 41.

Areas of the dispersion element 41 exposed through the slots 33 in the end wall 31 of the bud 12 are thus in contact with the fragrance liquid F, which is absorbed by the dispersion element 41 and migrates by capillary action towards the outer edges of the dispersion element 41.

After a predetermined interval, typically 1 to 10 seconds but possibly up to 30 seconds or more dependent on the closeness (pore size) of the capillary structure of the dispersion element 41 and on the viscosity and penetrating qualities of the fragrance liquid F, the device is returned to the upright position shown in Figure

·.·*’· 5, and placed in position with the base 3 of the vase 2 on a horizontal surface such ··.·.! as a table, ledge or shelf. As the fragrancer is returned to this position, any fragrance liquid in the stem 10 runs back under gravity down the stem, and out of • · * ··· the lower end 11 of the stem into the vase 2. Dependent on the geometry of the * · • 15 conical extension 30 and its inclination to the horizontal, a small amount of ,·.··. fragrance liquid may remain in the conical extension 30, after the bulk of the • ·· fragrance liquid F has returned to the vase 2. Preferably, the flowerheads 39 are angled upwardly at an angle greater than half the cone angle of the conical extension 30, so that all liquid in the conical extension 30 runs back into the vase when it is returned to the upright position shown in Figure 5.

The dispersion element 41, thus charged with a small amount of fragrance liquid, will disperse the fragrance as the liquid evaporates from the porous dispersion element 41. The central flange 44 of the supporting element 40 ensures that the fragrance liquid F does not come into contact with the material of the artificial petals 42, so that the petals 42 will not be discoloured or otherwise damaged by the fragrance liquid. The petals 42 and dispersion element 41 are preferably shaped so that they do not come into contact at in regions of the dispersion element 41 which are radially outboard of the central flange 44.

By inverting the fragrancer, liquid is delivered under gravity to the conical extension 30 of the bud 12 and is absorbed through the slots 33 by the exposed parts of the dispersion element 41, the amount of liquid absorbed depending inter alia on the length of time the dispersion element 41 is exposed to liquid within the conical extension 30. If a more concentrated ffagrancing of the room is required, the device may be held inverted for a longer period of time in order to charge the dispersion element 41 with a larger amount of ifagrancing liquid F by giving more time for the liquid to be absorbed.

If the angle of the flowerheads 39 is arranged such that a small yet predetermined ·,·’*· amount of fragrance liquid F remains in the conical extension 30 after the device ·····* is returned to the upright position, then the time for which the device remains inverted need only be sufficient time to allow liquid to occupy the conical • · * ··· extensions 30 of all of the flowerheads of the device. Returning the device to the » · « • 15 upright position causes excess fragrance liquid F to drain back into the vase 2, ,····. leaving a predetermined dose of the fragrance liquid in each bud, to be absorbed • ·· through the slots 33 into the dispersion element 41.

The vase 2 can accommodate sufficient fragrance liquid F for numerous rechargings of the dispersion elements 41, without the risk of spillage of the fragrance liquid. Recharging is affected rapidly, since the liquid is delivered to the flowerheads by flowing under gravity, rather than by being lifted to the flowerheads by capillary action.

When the fragrance liquid F in the vase 2 is exhausted, the vase 2 may be replenished by removing the plug 5 and adding a further supply of fragrance liquid to the vase 2. The plug 5 may then be replaced and the device is again made ready for use by holding the fragrancer inverted for a short period of time to deliver ffagrancing liquid to the flowerheads.

	Alternative Liquid Delivery In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the fragrance liquid may be delivered to the flowerheads by means of a pump drawing the liquid from a
5	reservoir such as the vase 2, and delivering the liquid to the dispersion element 41 of each flower head by means of a tube system running either inside the lumen of the stem and branches, or routed outside the stem and branches and delivering liquid to each flower bud. Operating the pump for a predetermined short interval will deliver liquid to the flowerheads and expose the dispersion element 41 to the
10 • ·« • · φ • ΦΦΦ *	liquid. Stopping the pump allows excess liquid to drain back down through the branches and stem back into the reservoir.
φ · • · φ φ • βφφ φ φφ φ • 15	The pump may operate directly on the liquid, or the pump may be arranged to deliver pressurised air to the headspace in the vase so as to pressurise the liquid in the vase and drive the liquid up the system of tubes to the flowerheads. As the
Φ Φ· * · φ • ·«	liquid is driven up the stem, air may be vented out of the stem through the flowerheads. The pump may be manually operated, or may be controlled by a timer in order to
20	operate at predetermined intervals, for predetermined durations. Alternative flowerhead structures Figures 4 and 4A show an alternative structure for securing the supporting
25	element 42 the flower bud 19. In this arrangement, the end wall 31 of the conical extension 30 of the flower bud 19 has a circular central opening 32, with no radial slots extending from the central opening. The attachment pin 45 of the supporting element 40 extends axially from the central flanged 44, but in this embodiment the attachment pin 45 is not of solid circular cross-section but is tubular. A
30	diametrally-opposed pair of slots are formed in the walls of the tubular attachment

··· pin 45. The supporting element 42 is attached to the bud 19 by inserting the attachment pin 45 into the central opening 32 as before, but a pathway for fragrance liquid to flow from within the conical extension 30 and be absorbed by the dispersion element 41 is provided by the hollow centre of the attachment pin

45 and the slots S.

In other alternative arrangements, the attachment pin 45 may be solid and received in a circular central opening 32 in the end wall 31, and one or more further openings may be provided in the end wall 31 to expose regions of the dispersion element 41 to fragrance liquid within the conical extension 30. In a yet

·.·**· further alternative, the attachment pin 45 may be solid but may have a cross······ sectional shape which is different from the shape of the opening 32, to provide a number of leakage paths between the edge of the opening 32 and the outer surface • · ·· of the attachment pin 45 for fragrance liquid to flow from the bud 19 into the dispersion element 41.

• ·?

In any of the embodiments described, the attachment pin 45 may be provided with barbs facing toward the central flange, so that once inserted in the flower bud the barbs resist removal of the pin.

Likewise, in any of the embodiments described, the attachment pin 45 and the central opening 32 may be provided with complementary screw-threads, enabling a threaded engagement between the supporting element 40 and the bud 19. The amount of torque applied to the supporting element will determine the pressure exerted between the flange 44 and the end surface 31, and may be used to regulate the amount of liquid absorbed by the dispersion element 41. As more pressure is applied to the porous dispensing element by the flanged 44 and the end surface 31, this region of the dispensing element 41 is compressed its pore structure is closed, so that the passage of liquid through the dispensing element 41 is restricted. The dose of fragrancing liquid applied to each flower head during inversion of the device may thus be controlled by controlling the compression of the dispensing elements 41.

In alternative embodiments, the flower buds 19 may not have conical end portions 5 to provide a large-diameter end wall 31, but may have a radially-extending flange at the end of the tubular branch, and the attachment pin 45 may engage with the lumen of the branch, so as to trap the dispersion element 41 between the flange 44 of the supporting element 40, and the flange of the branch. The attachment pin may be hollow and formed with a one or more longitudinal slots to provide a flow • · · path for the fragrance liquid from the lumen of the branch to the dispersion ·;···: element 41. The attachment pin 41 may be barbed or threaded to engage the lumen of the branch.

• · • · • · · · ···

In the illustrated embodiments, the end wall 31 of each flower bud and the central .·.··. 15 flange 44 of the supporting element 40 are substantially corresponding in size. It • · · is, however, foreseen that the flange 44 may be larger or smaller than the end wall 31 of the flower bud, provided that the flange 44 is effective to separate the artificial petals from the dispersion element and avoid contamination of the petals by the fragrance liquid.

Claims

1. A room fragrancing device comprising:

a closed reservoir for containing a fragrancing liquid;

5 at least one porous dispensing element for receiving a fragrancing liquid and from which the fragrancing liquid can evaporate;

a delivery tube for delivering fragrancing liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing element when the fragrancing device is in a first position; and wherein fragrancing liquid can drain from the dispensing element to the • · ·

•.J..* 10 reservoir when the fragrancing device is in a second position.

2. A room fragrancing device according to claim 1, wherein the porous dispensing element forms part of an artificial flower head.

3. A room fragrancing device according to claim 2, wherein the flowerhead further includes artificial petals to simulate a flower such as an orchid.

4. A room fragrancing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the delivery tube is formed so as to resemble a flower stem.

5. A room fragrancing device according to claim 4, wherein the delivery tube is formed as a main stem with a number of side branches, and the device comprises a plurality of flower heads mounted at the ends of respective branches extending from the main stem.

6. A room fragrancing device according to claim 5 wherein the main stem and branches are arranged such that when the fragrancing device is in the second position, fragrancing liquid within the stem and branches drains into the reservoir.

7.

A room fragrancing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the closed reservoir is a vase having a base and an open neck, the neck of the vase is closed by a removable and resealable closure, and the delivery tube extends through the closure.

5

8. A room ffagrancing device according to claim 7, wherein the delivery tube includes an inlet opening positioned within the vase and adjacent to the closure.

9. A room ffagrancing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is moved from the first position to the second position by rotating the • · ·

10 device about a horizontal axis through at least 90°.

• ·

10. A room ffagrancing device according to claim 9, wherein the device is * * * moved from the first position to the second position by rotating the device about a • · · • horizontal axis through an angle of up to 180°.

• ·· 15

I · · A J • ··

11. A room ffagrancing device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings

Intellectual

Property

Office

GB1612002.4

1-11

Application No: Claims searched: