Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With means to vibrate or jiggle discharge – By electric transducer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-09-25
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With means to vibrate or jiggle discharge
By electric transducer
C239S102100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293474
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to means for the distribution of a liquid active material, such as a perfume, air freshener, insecticide formulation, or other material, in the form of fine particles or droplets, as in a fine spray, by means of a piezoelectric device. In particular, the invention is directed to a piezoelectric liquid delivery system for the production of droplets of liquid, or liquid suspension, by means of an electomechanical or electroacoustical actuator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a battery operated dispenser utilizing an orifice plate in communication with a piezoelectric element. By proper selection of the means for transfer of the liquid from its container to the orifice plate, an improved method for dispensing such liquids is achieved.
BACKGROUND ART
The distribution of liquids by formation of a fine spray, or atomization, is well known. One method for such distribution is to atomize a liquid by means of the acoustic vibration generated by an ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrator. An example of such a method is shown in Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,418, which discloses an aerosol dispenser including a nozzle chamber for holding fluid to be dispensed, and a diaphragm forming at least a portion of the chamber. An aerosol dispensing nozzle is disposed therein, with a restrictive passage for introducing liquid from the reservoir to the nozzle. A pulse generator in combination with a low voltage power source is used to drive a piezoelectric bender, which drives fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle to create an aerosol spray.
Another atomizer spraying device is shown by Humberstone et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,179, which teaches a liquid droplet production apparatus comprising a membrane which is vibrated by an actuator which has a composite thin-walled structure, and is arranged to operate in a bending mode. Liquid is supplied directly to a surface of the membrane and sprayed therefrom in fine droplets upon vibration of the membrane.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,297,734 and 5,657,926, of Toda, teach ultrasonic atomizing devices comprising piezoelectric vibrators with a vibrating plate connected thereto. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,734, the vibrating plate is described as having a large number of minute holes therein for passage of the liquid, and as being in physical contact with a liquid keeper such as a sponge.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,093, Eck teaches the use of a wick of elastically resilient material which presses against the vibrating atomizer element, and covibrates with a more or less damped vibration amplitude. A wick tube surrounds the wick almost to the point of contact with the vibrating element.
Ivri et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,550, teach apparatus for the delivery of therapeutic liquids, including a vibratable non-planar member having tapered apertures, to which liquid is delivered by squeezing a liquid reservoir to deposit it directly on the surface, such that all of the liquid adheres to the vibratable member by surface tension. A piezoelectric element is bonded to a vibratory cantilever beam to provide oscillation to the carrier plate in contact with the non-planar member so as to nebulize the liquid in contact therewith.
Japanese Patent Publication 06320083A discloses an ultrasonic atomizer wherein a strong liquid storing material (e.g. a sponge) delivers liquid to a perforated diaphragm which is oscillated in response to piezoelectric vibration. The contact pressure of the liquid storing material against the diaphragm is kept constant by a spring tensioning device.
While a number of additional patents disclose means for the dispersion of liquids by ultrasonic atomization, or for timed intervals of dispersion, they have achieved only moderate success. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,122, 3,615,041, 4,479,609, 4,533,082, and 4,790,479. The disclosures of these patents, and of all other publications referred to herein, are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
However, such atomizers and/or dispensers fail to provide a system by which liquid to be dispersed is supplied to the vibratory mechanism/surface without resulting in damping of the piezoelectric vibrational frequency. Moreover, the prior art has failed to provide an easily portable, battery operated, continuous-action dispenser employing an orifice plate in mechanical connection with a piezoelectric element, capable of long periods of use with little or no variation in the delivery rate. Thus, a need exists for improved atomizers or dispensers for use in distribution of active fluids such as fragrances and insecticides, having improved means for supply of the fluid to be dispensed to the vibrating orifice surface.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly efficient, consistent, and reliable dispenser for liquid active materials, employing an orifice plate in mechanical connection with a piezoelectric element. By liquid active materials, it is meant to include such liquids as perfumes, air fresheners, household cleaning materials, disinfectants, repellants, insecticides, aroma therapy formulations, medicinals, therapeutic liquids, or other liquids or liquid suspensions which benefit from atomization for use. These compositions may be aqueous, or comprise various solvents. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the piezoelectric liquid delivery system is easily portable, battery operated, and conveniently refillable with the same, or a different, liquid active.
It is a further object to provide a piezoelectric pump capable of operating efficiently for months, on low voltage batteries, while maintaining consistency of delivery throughout the period. Included in such object is to provide a piezoelectric atomizer capable for use with such electrical sources as 9 volt batteries, conventional dry cells such as “A”, “AA”, “AAA”, “C”, and “D” cells, button cells, watch batteries, and solar cells or solar power. The preferred energy sources for utilization in combination with the present invention are “AA” and “AAA” cells.
In still another object, it is desired to provide a liquid delivery system capable of atomizing fragrance oil or insecticide formulation linearly over time, while maintaining the same character/composition on the last day as was delivered on the first, i.e. with no component change or separation with time, and with no variation in volume of liquid dispersed per activation of the system. The electronics of such a unit are preferably programmable, and may be used to set a precise delivery rate (e.g., in milligrams per hour, or mg/hr.), or may allow the consumer to adjust intensity or effectiveness to a desired level for personal preference, efficacy, or for room size.
Another object of this invention is to provide small droplets of pure fragrance or insecticide formulation which are propelled intermittently from the unit to form a small “cloud” or “puff,” which droplets quickly diffuse and move throughout a large area on air currents present in said area. It is found that the small size of such particles, and the correspondingly large ratio of surface area to mass, result in these droplets evaporating quickly and uniformly. In preferred embodiments, the delivery system operates with a linear delivery rate for several months on a single 1.5 volt “AA” size battery, delivering uniform volumes of essentially equally sized droplets of the liquid for the entire period.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by an atomizer for fragrances, insecticide formulations, and other liquids such as set forth previously, wherein the atomization system includes a chamber for the liquid to be dispensed, means to supply the liquid from said chamber to an orifice plate for dispersal of the liquid, a piezoelectric element, an energy source, and circuitry to drive and control the piezoelectric element. The fragrance or insecticide formulation is supplied to the back side of the orifice plate through a capillary feed system that delivers the liquid to the orifice plate, but does not exert s
Helf Thomas A.
Martens, III Edward J.
Tomkins David A.
Hwu Davis
S. C. Johnson & Son Inc.
Scherbel David A.
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