Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – For deodorizing of – or chemical purification of – or... – Including means adding material into environmental gas
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2003-05-27
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
For deodorizing of, or chemical purification of, or...
Including means adding material into environmental gas
C422S124000, C422S125000, C422S306000, C222S183000, C222S402100, C222S402130, C239S034000, C239S043000, C239S051500, C239S053000, C239S057000, C239S289000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06569387
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATION(S)
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to dispensers for dispersible compositions, such as fragrances and insect control materials. More particularly, the invention relates to active, or instant action, dispensers which are adapted for use with a replaceable cartridge containing a dispersible of choice, but are also capable of long term passive, or continuous, release of a dispersible substance. In one embodiment, the invention is related to devices for dispensing compositions, e.g. fragrances, etc., in two ways: actively, as a burst or spray of the chosen composition, to provide an immediate and intense air treatment; and passively, as an evaporative composition, to continuously effect the atmosphere over extended time periods at a slow release rate. The dispersible compositions to be dispensed by either the active dispensing means or the passive means may include such compositions as fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and the like. It is to be understood that odor eliminators include such odor absorbers as baking soda, zeolite, and charcoal, as well as more complex chemical odor eliminators, and that insecticides and insect repellants are examples of insect control compositions, which also include insect attractants or baits.
2. Background Art
The prior art is generally aware of dispensers for dispensing materials by way of an aerosol or pump activated spray dispenser into the air as minute droplets or spray, either while the dispenser is wall mounted, sitting on a level surface such as a table top, or hand held. Such active dispensers are frequently used for fragrances, or for air-freshening compositions. Adams et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,147, incorporated herein by reference, teach a spray dispensing package comprising an outer shell and a refill cartridge that fits therein and includes a spray valve, valve stem, and a spray nozzle. The outer shell has guide surfaces to cooperate with the refill cartridge to allow the shell to slide smoothly relative thereto when pressure is applied to the top surface of the shell to activate the spray valve. The materials most commonly dispersed by active dispensers include materials selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, insecticides, and insect repellants.
In addition to such active dispensers, which require an action on the part of the consumer to result in the immediate dispensing of the dispersible composition, dispensers which operate passively, through evaporation or sublimation of vaporizable substances, without active physical participation by the consumer, are also well known. Such passive dispensers frequently comprise a porous, absorbent medium and an evaporation surface. Volatile dispersible substances frequently dispensed passively include fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, malodor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and other volatile materials easily dispersed by evaporation over an extended period of time. Such passive dispensing means, frequently utilizing a wick for liquid dispersibles, are well known in the prior art, as is the common type of dispensing device comprising a container retaining and/or supporting a body of gelatinous matter which, as it dries and shrinks, releases a dispersible composition into the atmosphere by evaporation or volatilization. Other passive products, such as impregnated plastic or ceramic substrates, or deodorant blocks, are also used to dispense air-treating vapors into the atmosphere by evaporation. Still other forms of such passive dispensers include liquid or gel cartridges which contain a dispersible substance which is time releasable through a porous covering of the cartridge, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,155 of Martin et al, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. For purposes of the present invention, active dispensers shall be those which require an action on the part of the consumer to dispense a dispersible composition, which is dispersed as a burst or spray, as a direct result of the action of the consumer, while passive dispensers shall be those which require no action by the consumer, but dispense a dispersible by evaporation, sublimation, or the like, over a period of time, at a relatively low rate of dispersement when compared to the rate of dispersement of an active dispenser.
In the prior art, a number of attempts have been made to combine the features of active and passive dispensers, to provide the ability to both enhance the atmosphere with a burst of dispersible material for immediate effect, and to provide for a longer lasting, continuous, evaporative effect. An example of such an attempt is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,473, of Harrison, which teaches a combined spray and evaporative air freshener comprising an aerosol container with a valve actuator and spray orifice so situated that spray from the aerosol is directed onto and collected by a shroud for the container. The liquid is allowed to collect in a cup, from which it slowly evaporates, or the liquid contacts an absorptive ring located within the shroud, which ring is activated by the spray to release a highly concentrated fragrance, etc. This arrangement, however, does not provide for immediate and direct release of dispersible substance into the atmosphere, unless the shroud and ring are removed from the dispenser. Another such dispenser, adapted for combined continuous and instant operation, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,027, of Kuhn, wherein a deformable container for a liquid dispersible substance is fitted with two immersion tube channels, one terminating in a spray nozzle, the other containing a wick or similar absorbent material providing for evaporation of the liquid. Also, Muoio, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,519, teaches a device for both instant and continuous dispensing of an air treatment composition. The device includes a pressurized container with a valve stem, an actuator-overcap, and an absorbent member adjacent to the walls of the overcap. By means for simultaneously spraying the air-treating liquid into the air and discharging it into the absorbent member, the device provides both simple spraying of the air freshener and recharging of a passive dispersal means (the absorbent member). Further, the device of Dearling, U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,732, may be manipulated and adjusted for simultaneous spraying into the air and recharging of a continuous dispensing means. In such prior art techniques, it has been found that formulations suitable for active dispersement, or spray usage, often were unsuitable for long term passive or continuous application, or vice versa. For example, the intensity of a dispersant may be suitable for one application method rather than the other, such as a material suitable for passive dispensing may have far too much intensity to be used as a spray. As a result, compromises were frequently necessary, which often resulted in the use of a formulation which was not fully suitable for either means of dispensing. Thus, the use of a single formulation to provide both instant and continuous effect usually resulted in compromising one or the other, or both.
These various devices of the prior art, incorporated herein by reference, have a number of practical problems and disadvantages which make them ineffective and unacceptable for use in the real world. For example, these dispensers all rely upon a single source or reservoir of dispersible material, and the continuous or passive dispensing is dependent upon the frequency and duration of use of the active dispenser. As a result, consumers generally do not accept these dispensers as being truly effective as
Furner Paul E.
Uick Heidi J.
Chorbaji Monzer R.
S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
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