Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-30
2004-05-04
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants
C424S400000, C424S486000, C514S772100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06730311
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to air fresheners, such as picture frame assemblies and air filtration devices, for the delivery of immediate and sustained release fragrance agents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Odor modification is the intentional change of an odor by the addition of a more agreeable odor. Air fresheners are typical odor modifiers because they employ volatile fragrance agents for odor control by altering a malodor to a more pleasant character or to an acceptable level. Air fresheners were initially used in bathrooms and kitchens and consequently have tended to be more functional than attractive. Air fresheners are now used in bedrooms and living rooms and consumers who wish to use air fresheners in these areas of the home may be reluctant to place an unattractive, functional container in these areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,745 (Valentino) discloses an illuminated picture frame apparatus. The apparatus includes potpourris mounted within the apparatus. Illumination of the apparatus effects heating of the potpourri to direct a scented fragrance about the apparatus.
Polymeric matrices for delivering fragrances or other active agents are known in the art but suffer from the shortcomings of toxicity, cloudiness, instability, and the fractionation of the active components during delivery. Polyurethane/urea elastomers are generally prepared by first reacting an aromatic isocyanate with a polyol to form a prepolymer and then chain extending the prepolymer with an aromatic diamine to form the elastomer. Conventional polymeric matrices for delivering actives generally intermix an active agent into a finished polyurethane/urea elastomer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,099 (Mueller et al.) discloses a non-uniform substantially water-insoluble inter-penetrating polymer blend composition comprising a water-swellable first polymer substrate interpenetrated in a gradient substantially normal to the substrate surface by a less permeable condensation second polymer to form a diffusion rate controlling membrane therein. The water-swellable first polymer may be cellulose or a homopolymer or copolymer containing vinyl alcohol, acrylamide, hydroxyalkylacrylate or methacrylate, vinylpyrrolidone, or hydroxyalkylvinyl ether, maleate, or fumarate or a polyethyleneoxide diol containing polycondensate. The less permeable condensation second polymer may be an aliphatic or aromatic polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polyurea, or polyimine. The compositions are said to be useful as polymers with reduced permeabilities for water and organic solvents and therefore for the controlled delivery of active ingredients such as fragrances and bio-affecting agents into air or aqueous environments, or in membrane separation processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,761 (Rutherford) discloses a composition for laundering textiles which comprises a detergent composition and a particulate fragrance-bearing polymer comprising a water-soluble normally solid polymer, a water-insoluble normally solid polymer, and a perfume composition. A portion of the perfume composition is incorporated in the water-soluble polymer and a portion is incorporated in the water-insoluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer and the water-insoluble polymer are physically associated with each other such that one is in the form of discrete entities in a matrix of the other. The matrix substantially comprises the surface of the particle. The water-soluble polymer may be a water-soluble polyurethane and the water-insoluble polymer may be a thermoplastic polyurethane. The composition is made by incorporating a perfume composition into a water-soluble polymer, incorporating an olfactory composition into a water-insoluble polymer, intermixing the water-soluble polymer and the water-insoluble polymer under high-shear to provide discrete entities of one polymer in a matrix of the other polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,851 (Yamamoto '851) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,350 (Yamamoto '350) disclose a method for preparing a composition having a perfume encapsulated in a matrix of polymer. The method comprises adding an acid catalyst for sol-gel methods to an aqueous mixture of alkoxides of metal, silicon, or phosphorus, and a perfume to hydrolyze the alkoxides. A base catalyst for sol-gel methods is added to the reaction mixture to condense the hydrolysate to form a polymer and thereby encapsulate the perfume in the matrix of the polymer. The base catalyst is N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, tributylamine, tri-n-propylamine, tri-pentyl amine, tri-propargyl amine, N,N,N-trimethylethylenediamine, or tri-n-hexylamine,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,392 (Yamamoto '392) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,622 (Yamamoto '622) disclose a method for preparing a composition comprising a perfume encapsulated in a matrix of conjugated polymer. The composition is prepared by adding an acid catalyst for sol-gel methods to a reaction mixture comprising water, an alkoxide selected from metal alkoxides, phosphorus alkoxides, and tetraethoxysilane, a silane coupling agent, and a perfume substance, to hydrolyze the alkoxide and the silane coupling agent, to thereby form a hydrolysate. A base catalyst for sol-gel methods is added to the reaction mixture to condense the hydrolysate to form a conjugated polymer, thereby encapsulating the perfume substance in the matrix of the conjugated polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,161 (Yamamoto '161) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,744 (Yamamoto '744) disclose a method for preparing a composition comprising a perfume encapsulated in a matrix of conjugated polymer. The method comprises adding an acid catalyst for sol-gel methods to a reaction mixture comprising water, an alkoxide selected from the group consisting of metal alkoxides, phosphorus alkoxides, and tetraethoxysilane, a silane coupling agent, and a perfume substance to hydrolyze the alkoxide, and the silane coupling agent to forming a hydrolysate. An organic monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, dimethyl formamide, acrylonitrile, styrene, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and ethyl methacrylate, is added to the reaction mixture. A base catalyst for sol-gel methods is then added to the reaction mixture followed by irradiating the reaction mixture so that condensation of the hydrolysate occurs with the polymerization of the organic monomer and the hydrolysate of the silane coupling agent to form a conjugated polymer, thereby encapsulating the perfume substance in the matrix of the conjugated polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,182 (Ross) discloses a fragrance-releasing, image-displaying article comprising a substrate having deposited thereon a printed image and a fragrance-containing coating composition. The composition comprises an unencapsulated fragrance oil having dissolved therein a sustained-release agent selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate proprionate, and ethyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,420 (Bootman et al. '420) discloses a fragrance-laden pouch for sampling fragrances. The pouch comprises (a) a bottom barrier film member; (b) a top barrier film member joined to the bottom barrier film member to form an enclosure; (c) a fragrance-laden polymer contained within the enclosure in contact with the top and bottom barrier film members; and (d) means for separating the top barrier film member from the bottom barrier film member to permit release of fragrance from the enclosure. The polymer is a modified cellulosic selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and the sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,683 (Bootman et al. '683) discloses a gel comprising a multi-component scented mixture disposed in a polymer matrix comprising the polymerization product of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The monomers are selected such that the gel has sufficient mechanical integrity to retain its shape under ambient conditions, releases the components o
Kinney James F.
Maleeny Robert T.
Fubara Blessing
Muccino Richard R.
Page Thurman K.
Scented Technologies, LLC
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