Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Fluid distribution – Pumping
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-05
2004-12-28
Hopkins, Robert A. (Department: 1724)
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Fluid distribution
Pumping
C261S030000, C261SDIG008, C261SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06834847
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing scents into the environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices are currently available for dispensing a single scent into a room and in automobiles. Examples of such devices include GLADE PLUG INS® plug in room fresheners manufactured by S.C. Johnson.
Devices capable of dispensing a single scent are also described in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,549,250 and 4,714,984, issued to Spector describe a night light assembly which plugs into an electrical wall outlet. The assembly, when switched on, produces low-level illumination and at the same time exudes an aromatic vapor. The night light assemblies described in these patents also include a picture on the cover thereof of an object, such as a flower, possessing a characteristic odor, to which the fragrance of the aromatic vapor is thematically related.
Devices that are only capable of dispensing a single scent suffer from the drawback that, after a relatively brief period of time, people become used to the scent and do not tend to notice it as much as when the device is first activated. In other words, “fragrance fatigue” can occur whereby a person's olfactory organ becomes “saturated” with a particular smell or fragrance and the individual becomes insensitive to the presence of the particular fragrance.
Therefore, some efforts have been directed toward developing devices capable of emitting a single scent that address the problem of fragrance fatigue. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,434 issued to Spector discloses an aroma-generating unit that is adapted to periodically discharge into the atmosphere bursts of aromatic vapor. The non-aromatic intervals between the bursts are said to have a duration sufficient to avoid densensitizing the olfactory response of those exposed to the unit. The unit makes use of replaceable cartridges having a mat impregnated with an aroma-producing liquid. The unit has an electrical heater that heats air in a confined chamber, and the heat generated causes the air to expand to create a pressure differential forcing the hot air through the mat. The cartridge is provided with a seal in the form of a detachable metal or plastic clip that fits over the holes in the sheets covering the impregnated mats so that the cartridge, when stored, is sealed to prevent the loss of liquid. The user of the unit may be provided with a stack of sealed cartridges, each of which may have mats impregnated with a different aroma-producing liquid. The user, therefore, may select a fragrance appropriate to the room or to a given occasion.
Other efforts have been made to develop devices that are capable of emitting multiple scents. A number of patents have been directed to devices that are capable of emitting multiple scents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,604 issued to Spector, while not addressing the issue of fragrance fatigue, is directed to a multi-aroma cartridge player. The multi-aroma cartridge player uses a cartridge that comprises a planar array that forms a multi-section framework. Each section of the framework comprises a pad of absorbent material which is impregnated by a liquid fragrance that are said to differ from those of the other sections of the cartridge. The absorbent materials each have a central zone that is exposed. The aroma cartridge player comprises an individual electric heater for each frame assembly containing an individual scent. The selection of the aromas to be played may be effected manually, electronically, or it may be synchronized to follow the scenes of a video tape or movie film presentation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,768 entitled “Aroma Therapy Diffuser” issued to Schwartz, et al. and assigned to Bunny Moon Enterprises of Van Nuys, Calif. describes an aroma therapy diffuser which offers the user the ability to pre-select a variety of different aromas to be introduced into an environment at pre-selected time intervals. The device includes a tray with a plurality of receptacles for receiving aromatic materials arranged along the periphery of the tray and a means for heating a selected receptacle and the material contained therein. The apparatus also includes a timer and a means for rotating the receptacles about the heating means to expose a selected receptacle to the environment for a pre-selected time period. The apparatus further includes a lid with an opening which exposes selected aromatic material so the aroma released by the heated aromatic material emanates into the environment. The remaining aromatic materials which are not exposed to the heating means are sealed to prevent evaporation.
The device described in the Schwartz, et al. patent, however, apparently contemplates that upon using the scents in the tray, the receptacles for the scents will be cleaned out, and new scents will be placed therein. This has the drawback that it is not convenient for a user to clean and replace the scents. Also, the device currently in the marketplace uses a two hour interval which allows the user's nose to become accustomed to the scent, allowing the experience to fade into the background. The device described in the Schwartz, et al. patent also provides a means for sealing the plurality of receptacles except for one receptacle so that the aromatic materials in the tray do not evaporate. However, the means for sealing the receptacle comprises a lid that remains in the device when the tray of scents is removed. This means is subject to the disadvantage that the aromatic material in the receptacles will not be sealed and will evaporate when the tray is removed. Thus, the tray cannot be removed and later used without the aromatic materials evaporating.
Another device capable of emitting multiple scents is described in PCT Publication WO 97/02076 and Canadian Patent Application 2,222,838, both entitled “Device and Process for Delivering Substances for Dispersal in the Air”. The device comprises a flat disc through which pass a number of separate radially oriented channels that receive substances intended for dispersal. Each of the channels has one inlet aperture and one outlet aperture. The channels allow the passage of a gas stream introduced via the inlet aperture. The odoriferous substances, which may be partly the same or all different, are introduced into the channels, or the odoriferous substances are introduced in gas tight reservoirs which are placed in the channels wherein each reservoir releases the individual odoriferous substance only when it is to be dispersed.
The device and cartridge described in PCT Publication WO 97/02076, however, suffers from the drawback that each odoriferous substances are also subject to evaporation after initial use because after rupture of the apertures and/or reservoir by the first use of one specific channel will allow unrestricted and uncontrolled, respectively, passage of an air stream and uncontrolled flow of the odoriferous substance from the channel.
Another device capable of emitting multiple scents is described in PCT Publication WO 00/121143 entitled “Odor Dispensing Device and Odor Dispensing Cartridge”. The odor dispensing device described in PCT Publication WO 00/121143 comprises a housing and a disc shaped dispensing cartridge adapted to move around its rotation axis and having a plurality of discrete radically arranged compartments. The cartridge has a body with compartments separated by walls. The compartments are tightly closed and opened by individual covers. The odor dispensing device is said to utilize any mechanical means, such as a fan to emit the odors. While the description of the odor dispensing device and cartridge in PCT Publication WO 00/121143 attempts to distinguish the technology therein as being more simple to manufacture than the technology in a prior publication, it is still a complicated arrangement. While PCT Publication WO 00/121143 describes the composition of the scent materials, it describes nothing about the type of scents that can be placed therein.
There are drawbacks associated with the devices described in a
Bartsch Eric Richard
Bush Stephan Gary
Farrell Michael Sean
Goodall Kevin George
Kaiser Carl Eric
Bamber Jeffrey V.
Hopkins Robert A.
Peebles Brent M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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