GB2621157A

GB2621157A - Collapsible diffuser reed

Info

Publication number: GB2621157A
Application number: GB2211352.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tonkinson Reece
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-08-04
Filing date: 2022-08-04
Publication date: 2024-02-07
Also published as: GB202211352D0

Abstract

A collapsible diffuser wherein two reed tubes pull apart with a cotton string inside them. The two reed tubes 2A, 5A are organic and biodegradable permeable bamboo reed tube sections joined together forming a single reed 1A, wherein the top tube section 2A and bottom tube section 5A are equally sized tubes. Through the centre of each tube is a hole 8 which an absorbent cotton twine string 3A is fed through and wherein the cotton twine string 3A is secured by a small pin 7 through a machined hole 6. The cotton string 3A may be in the form of rope and can carry the fragranced oil in an ascending manner like a wick. The two reed tubes 2A, 5A are joined together by a single round hollow copper insert 4A which fits into the top of the bottom reed tube 5A and the bottom of the top reed tube 2A. The two reed tubes 2A, 5A can also be connected by magnetic connectors. There may be two or more venting holes (10, fig. 7) or a slit (12, fig. 8) in the side of the top reed tube 2A to allow fragrance from an oil to pass through.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION OF

REECE TON KINSON

FOR

COLLAPSIBLE DIFFUSER REED

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to reed diffusers for adding fragrance to rooms. Background The use of reed diffusers as a way of adding pleasant fragrances to rooms is widely popular and consists of a vessel, usually a bottle with a narrowed neck opening into which reeds are inserted as a small group. Inside the vessel is a fragrance which is commonly a solution or oil which is soaked up through the reeds to provide an evaporating fragrance.

These are provided in many different shapes and sizes and range in price from very inexpensive to expensive depending on the quality and brand type.

The reeds are slender and typically made of fibre reeds, rattan wood or synthetic polyamide. The latter is better for evaporation and therefore tends to be used with alcohol-free compositions in order to make up for their slower evaporation rate. It is also possible to adapt bamboo skewers to create a type of diffuser reed; more commonly found in homemade examples.

In a commercial aspect the packaging of the reeds equates to a larger box or container being used due to their length, this reduces the number of boxes which can be shipped together owing to the space required to transport them. If the reed is made as a collapsible item, its size, when collapsed would be reduced and therefore the size of the box required to ship them is smaller.

This results in the number of boxes packed together for shipping being increased and more boxes are able to be packed together, in the same area as the larger boxes would require. Therefore; more reeds are shipped for the same cost as before.

This size advantage, due to the reeds being collapsible further extends to the shipping cost of one or more boxes directly to a consumers home. The box is smaller and therefore less costly to post to the customer.

Further to this, the smaller box using the collapsible reeds is advantageously less costly to make, further reducing costs at manufacture and increasing potential profits at the sale point.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a diffuser reed which is totally biodegradable and able to deconstruct and collapse reducing its storage capacity needs by 50%, to be reassembled by the user easily and directly from the box for use. The present invention aims to provide an improved diffuser reed which is derived of two hollow bamboo tubes with a natural charcoal finish having a connector tube to hold them together and a string made from a cotton twine inserted all of the way through both connected tubes with a slight protrusion of the string from the bottom tube, in use.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible reed diffuser which is an organic and biodegradable incense reed, designed to fold into a smaller profile to reduce packaging size and costs whilst still defusing incense as efficiently as a standard reed stick when constructed.

This is preferably provided by two hollow permeable bamboo reed sections which are equally sized tubes, making it easy and inexpensive to produce, additionally offering strength and permeability of the perfume oil, allowing better diffusion. There are various options available for colour and finish, with black being the preferred effect. There are options of natural black food colouring, though the bamboo would have to be sanded first so it could be stained. Another innovative option to add texture to the bamboo is to coat it in starch/potato glue, roll it in charcoal powder or grains and then finish with a sugar glue finish which sets Matt. This is the desired effect.

Through the centre of each tube is a hole which passes completely though to the ends. These tubes connect together to form a single reed tube which is preferably facilitated by a single round hollow copper insert which fits into the bottom tube opening at the top. The copper insert passes into the bottom tubes opening by half of its length, leaving the remaining half to insert into the bottom tubes opening at its top, allowing the two halves to be tightly slotted together. The assembled reed which is both the top and bottom tube assembled together is preferably 200mm in length.

An absorbent cotton twine string is fed through the combined hollow tube reed body to ensure liquid can travel up the reed, ascending and passing the connecting point, this absorbs and defuses incense into the air. The cotton thread is comprised like rope, winding vertically upwards to effectively carry the oil as if in an old candle wick. Note the 'rope' will not be finished in anything such as paraffin and will instead be finished raw so as to be totally dry. Alternatively, jute or hemp fibres could be used, though in testing these fibres had a pungent odour and performed less consistently.

A small pin secures the internally inserted string to the top reed tube, this is inserted through a small machined hole in the side of the top read tube and its point is pressed into the string holding it in place. On assembling the reed; the user removes the folded reed from the compact packaging. They then secure the two halves together ensuring the string protrudes slightly from the bottom. The string is already inserted between the two hollow tubes on arrival from the packaging, as shown in Figure 1. The user then places the reeds in the incense within the vessel, to allow liquid to diffuse ascending up the string and out the permeable bamboo body.

This invention is totally biodegradable which includes the glues and lacquers, the use of potato starch glue being very beneficial as a compound glue. Additionally, a sugar glue which is used in baking can also be used as both a glue and lacquer. An alternative to the bamboo body of the top and bottom tubes would be hay tubes. These abundant herbaceous grass fibres offer an effective alternative solution that could be produced as a composite material made of a water-based resin or glue. The use of wooden dowels as tubes is also an option, providing a light weight tube which will provide an alternative to the bamboo but would benefit from the addition of venting to aid the release of the scent through the body, as shown in the accompanying Figures. These are represented as small round holes located in the body of the tube or as a single 'slit' up the tube, as shown. This outer hard layer of semi permeable or fully permeable natural material is combined with the inner centralised cotton or jute twine/cord undisturbed in form to allow maximum scent distribution. A magnetic ring on the bottom of the top tube end and also on the bottom tube upper end joins to combine two separate tubes, whilst central thread holds the two components together.

Further use of other materials include seaweed to wrap the top and bottom tubes this provides an alternative to the black bamboo finish, this seaweed can also be glazed or painted using a natural solution, starch glue coated with activated charcoal is a further coating option and maintains the biodegradable theme.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important; therefore; that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a Cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible diffuser reed which has all the advantages of the prior art diffuser reeds and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible diffuser reed which may be easily and efficiently-manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible diffuser reed which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible diffuser reed which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new arid improved collapsible diffuser reed which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the collapsible diffuser reed being assembled.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of collapsible diffuser reed.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the collapsible diffuser reed fully assembled.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the collapsible diffuser reed fully disassembled into its components.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of the collapsible diffuser reed being inserted into the incense vessel.

Figure 6 shows an end view of the top hollow reed with the string shown in the centre hole.

Figure 7 shows a dimensiona view of the coHapsible diffuser reed with a venting Holes.

Figure 8 shows a dimensional view of the co:laps ble diffuser reed with venting slit.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the collapsible diffuser reed is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the reed 1, which has two hollow permeable bamboo reed tube sections a top tube section 2 and a bottom tube section 5 which are equally sized tubes.

Through the centre of each tube is a hole (8 in Figure 2) which passes completely though to the ends. These tubes connect together to form a single reed tube which is facilitated by a single round hollow copper insert 4 which fits into the bottom reed tube 5 opening at the top. The copper insert 4 passes into the bottom reed tubes opening by half of its length, leaving the remaining half to insert into the top reed tubes opening at its bottom, allowing the two halves 2 and 5 to be tightly slotted together. The assembled reed which is both the top and bottom reed stube assembled together is preferably 200mm in length, although this can vary.

An absorbent cotton twine string 3 is fed through the combined hollow tube reed body to ensure scented liquid incense can travel up the reed and pass the connecting point, this absorbs and defuses incense into the air. The cotton thread 3 is comprised like rope, winding vertically upwards to effectively carry the oil cognate to a candle wick.

Figure 2 shows the reed 1A has a small pin 7 which secures the internally inserted cotton twine string 3A to the top reed tube 2A, this is inserted through a small machined hole 6 in the side of the top read tube 2A and its point is pressed into the cotton twine string 3A holding it in place. The bottom reed tube 5A is also shown separated from the top reed tube with the aforementioned copper insert 4A disposed in its end opening, with the cotton twine string 3A passing through both top 2A and bottom 5A sections via the through hole 8, as shown.

When fitted together via the copper insert 4B, the top reed tube 2B and the bottom reed tube 5B form the single reed 1B, as shown in Figure 3. The inserted cotton twine string 3B passes through the internally appointed hole 8B and further protrudes slightly from the bottom as described being slightly longer in length to the two tubes, for absorption of the liquid in the vessel, to be shown. The small pin 7B is shown fully inserted through a small machined hole 6B in the side of the top read tube 2B and its point is pressed into the cotton twine string 3B holding it in place for use.

Figure 4 shows all of the components of the reed 1C when separated, having the bottom reed tube 4C with hole 8C. The copper insert 4C which joins the two reed tube sections together is shown above the hole 8C into which it is inserted by half of its length and held in place using a suitable adhesive.

The cotton twine string 3C is shown in its full length with the top reed tube 2C adjacent having the hole 8C through its centre.

The machined hole 6C located to its lower side is shown with its corresponding small pin 7C, as previously described.

The reed 1D is placed in the vessel following its assembly into the vessel containing the liquid scent or incense, in the known way, as shown in Figure 5.

An end view of the top reed tube is shown in Figure 6 with the top reed tube 2E having the hole SE through its centre and the cotton twine string 3E located through the centre.

Venting holes 10 are a further example of the reed 1F, providing additional escape for the fragrance from the internally scent soaked cotton twine string.

This option also provides connection of the two top and bottom reed tubes using a magnetic connector 11, where two halves of a magnetic fitting lock together when they touch, forming the full reed, 1F.

Further venting is provided in the reed 1G by a vertically opposed venting slit option 12, as shown in Figure 8 thereto.

Claims

Claims 1) A collapsible diffuser reed comprising; a single reed constructed by two organic and biodegradable hollow permeable bamboo reed tube sections joined together, having a top tube section and a bottom tube section which are equally sized tubes, through the centre of each tube is a hole which passes completely though to the opposing ends which joining together is facilitated by a single round hollow copper insert which fits into the bottom reed tube opening at the top, leaving the remaining half to insert into the top reed tubes opening at its bottom, in use, absorbent cotton twine string is fed through the combined hollow tube and secured by a small pin through a machined hole, to ensure scented liquid incense can travel up the reed and pass the connecting point, this absorbs and defuses incense into the air, further facilitated by venting in the upper tube.
2) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 1 wherein the copper insert passes into the bottom reed tubes opening by half of its own length.
3) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two reed tubes can be connected by magnetic connectors located on the connecting ends of each tube.
4) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cotton thread is comprised in the form of rope, winding vertically upwards to effectively carry the fragranced oil in an ascending manner.
5) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 1 wherein a small pin which secures the internally inserted cotton twine string to the top reed tube is inserted through a small machined hole in the side of the top read tube and its point is pressed into the cotton twine string holding it in place 6) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cotton twine string in use, further protrudes from the bottom of the bottom reed tube, being slightly longer in length to the two tubes, for ascending absorption of the liquid from the vessel.7) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 6 wherein fragrance from the oil in the cotton string passes through at least two or more venting holes located in the side of the top reed tube.8) A collapsible diffuser reed as claimed in claim 7 wherein fragrance from the oil in the cotton string passes through an elongated vertical slit in the side of the top reed tube.9) A collapsible diffuser reed wherein the two reed tubes pull apart with the cotton string inside them, to fold into a smaller profile, to reduce the size of packaging needed to hold a number of them.