Snow globe air freshener and method of manufacture

Details Snow globe air freshener and method of manufacture Snow globe air freshener and method of manufacture

1998-10-15

2001-01-09

Warden, Jill (Department: 1744)

Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser

Physical type apparatus

Including gas generating means

C422S004000, C422S123000, C239S060000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06171560

ABSTRACT:

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to air fresheners and in particular to a new and useful decorative air freshener and method for manufacturing the air freshener.
Display articles containing solid objects in a translucent material are known. Snow globes are commonly sold as souvenirs. These snow globes usually have a scene, or object, contained in a spherical enclosure of clear glass or plastic mounted on a flat-bottomed base. The object is surrounded by water or other non-volatile clear liquid. It is also common to have a plurality of small white “flakes” of material in the enclosure, so that when the globe is shaken, the flakes are mixed in the liquid and give the appearance of snow falling on the scene in the enclosure.
Other types of display articles include U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,176, which discloses a jar containing a gel and an object movably suspended within the gel. The gel is a transparent liquid composed of a nontoxic inorganic clay colloidal dispersion in water. In one embodiment disclosed, the jar simulates a fishbowl, with a plastic fish suspended in the gel. A second embodiment includes a gravel base in the bottom of the jar with the gel. While the patent teaches an object suspended in a gel above a gravel base, it is for display purposes only and does not suggest using one or more substances having air freshening properties to support the solid object.
An enclosure with one flat viewing surface in the side is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,728. The enclosure may be made of glass or plastic and contain a figure and a liquid surrounding the figure. The liquid may contain glitter or particles resembling snow flakes. A picture or hologram is applied to the flat surface of the enclosure. Although the display article includes glitter suspended in a liquid, it is also intended solely as a decorative article. The container has only one display face and it is not an air freshener.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,889 teaches a globe holding a flowable solid material and solid objects, such as sand and sea shells, which can be shaken to create new decorative scenes. The solid material and solid objects are inserted through a cap opening which is sealed closed to prevent the flowable solid from spilling out of the globe.
Air fresheners formed from volatile liquids which evaporate naturally are also known in the art. For example, an air freshener sold by Bath & Body Works, Inc. has a botanical object supported between layers of an air freshener gel. The air freshener is formed by pouring one layer of gel in liquid form into a container, placing the botanical object partly in the first layer and then pouring a second layer of the gel in liquid form to fill the container and surround the botanical object. The two layers are the same phase and appear to be one continuous translucent layer.
However, the prior art known to the inventor does not teach an air freshener of substantially the same composition in two phases having display articles supported on one phase and surrounded by the second phase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air freshener having decorative properties similar to a snow globe.
It is a further object to provide an air freshener having the appearance of two different substances made from substantially the same components to create a decorative scene with a solid object.
Accordingly, a snow globe air freshener is provided having a first phase of an air freshener composition forming an opaque base gel in a clear container and a second phase of the composition above the first phase forming a translucent or transparent top gel. A solid object may be supported by the base gel in the container and surrounded by the top gel. Small pieces or flakes of a glitter material may be suspended in one or both of the top and base gels as well. Each of the top gel and base gel are volatile with air freshening qualities and evaporate when the container is open.
In a method for making the snow globe air freshener, the base gel is formed from several components mixed together, heated during mixing, poured into a suitable container and cooled to form a cloudy, relatively solid gel. While the base gel is still soft, solid decorative objects can be inserted into the base gel. The clear top gel is composed from a mixture of substantially the same components as the base gel. The top gel is mixed, heated and cooled while the base gel and solid object are cooled further. The top gel is poured into the container down the sides of the container, and upon filling, the entire container is chilled to finish the snow globe. Glitter material may be added to the base gel and/or the top gel.
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 specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4146566 (1979-03-01), Gaiser
patent: 4198375 (1980-04-01), Rogers
patent: 5187889 (1993-02-01), Kraselsky et al.
patent: 5406728 (1995-04-01), Willitts, Jr.
patent: 5603176 (1997-02-01), Eddins et al.
patent: 5679334 (1997-10-01), Semoff et al.
patent: 5876678 (1999-03-01), Harrell et al.

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