WO2013156804A1

WO2013156804A1 - Scent dispenser product

Info

Publication number: WO2013156804A1
Application number: PCT/HU2012/000027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gábor DEÁK
Original assignee: La Paloma Bt.
Priority date: 2012-04-16
Filing date: 2012-04-16
Publication date: 2013-10-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a scent dispenser product containing a fragrance container body placed on a base plate and surrounded with a scent retaining protective cover. The invention is characterized in that the product is fitted with a part (11) allowing the detection of the contained fragrance without opening, which consists of an opening (6) suitable for releasing scent samples on the cover (3), the transmitting cross-section (7) of which is smaller than 1% of the surface of the body (2) containing the fragrance, and is preferably 0.1% thereof. ˙

Description

Scent dispenser product

The subject of the invention is a scent dispenser product, consisting of a preferably aesthetically designed body containing perfume essence placed on base plate, and protected by a scent, retaining protective cover.

It is common knowledge that people use various cosmetic and air freshener products to refresh themselves, or rooms, public places, and the passenger compartments of vehicles. In addition, there are numerous materials used as antiperspirants with deodorant effect. Odorants usually emit powerful artificial scents in order to suppress unpleasant scents in various spaces in a durable manner. However, different people find such artificial scents to be pleasant at different degrees. Some people find certain scents to be pleasant or tolerable, while others may consider such scents to be repellent, or intolerable, in contrast to the more advantageous opinion of others. For this reason, it is certainly recommended to confirm that one finds the scent of an air freshener to be purchased pleasant indeed. Doing so has not always been necessary, as soaps, scent dispenser blocks etc. used to be packaged in scent transmitting non-hermetic paper materials, so that the customers could experience the respective scents before purchasing any item.

We refer to the description of the utility model "Vaporizer body, especially for the aromatisation of passenger compartments of vehicles and/or for aroma therapy" (registration number: HU U793). The utility model describes a scent dispenser made of semi-porcelain ceramics, which is fitted with a micro-porous layer filled with natural or artificial aroma.

Though not approved, it is also common practice that customers remove the cap of deodorants placed on the self-service shelves of shops, and take a sample of the product by releasing some material in order to evaluate its scent before purchasing. This practice clearly demonstrates the need for suitable openings on the packaging of such materials, which regulate and enable the release of small samples without the need to open the packaging itself. For this reason, several solutions were developed for designing the releasing valves of bottles and flasks containing odorant liquids, which are generally capable of dispensing regulated portions of the material. Such a solution is described in the utility model "Bottle closing device" (file number: HU-U0400278).

The Hungarian utility model "Safety bottle closing device" (file number: HU U9900146) seeks primarily to meet safety requirements. In certain cases - such as leaving power gas filled bottles exposed to sunlight - extremely high pressure may be achieved in such bottles.

A German patent description (number DE 44 013 226) describes a valve structure specifically suitable to dispense portions of liquids. See the drawing. There are other known valve solutions, which are not related to the dispensing of liquid materials, but are used to close the bottle temporarily, for example during transportation. Such a solution is described in the German description No. DE 44 17 569. However, this solution does not allow the taking of samples from the scent of the product.

A creatively designed, simple liquid soap container is described in the German utility model No. DE 202 00 031. Upon applying pressure to the external flexible walls of the container holding the liquid, a rod - forming part of the valve located at the end of the product - is moved, thereby allowing the release and use of the liquid soap. When used for releasing scents, the scent of the liquid soap may be detected at the dispenser cap.

Patent description No. DE 10 2004 004 468 describes a closing and dispensing device operated by applying pressure to the side of the bottle and suitable to release exactly measured portions of the contained material. This product is suitable for releasing regulated portions of cosmetics and medicines. A Canadian patent description No. CA 2,105,194 describes a simple device used to advertise fragrant scent samples. It contains a scented bar placed in a decorative box, which may be removed from the box after opening.

A state of the art solution described in an American publication document No. US 2009/0050506 may be used to package fragrances and cosmetic products in microcapsules in a continuous, belt-like manner. However, the fragrance contained in the hermetically sealed plastic belt may be tasted after opening the product only. The products are not equipped with any opening used to take samples before opening the packaging.

The scent dispenser described in an American patent description (number: US 2003/235522) releases fragrant particles upon applying pressure to the lower part of a handle placed to the hand-held scent dispenser product. The device releases liquid, odorant material through a scent releasing pipe without any power gas. In comparison,, the solution according to our invention allows the detection of solid odorant materials, or odorant materials fixed on a carrier, before opening the device.

We believe that the closest solution to our invention is the "Scent dispensing packet"' description provided in the American patent document No. US 6,736,335. The packet containing the fragrance allows the opening of the packet by applying quick manual pressure, and the periodic release and careful use of the fragrance. However, the already opened package cannot be re-sealed for sale. The invention does not allow the fragrance to be tested prior purchase.

The purpose of the invention is to enable the user to determine the scent of the product by subjective detection prior to purchasing and opening the fragrance product without any power gas. Another objective of the solution is to be simple, and suitable for mass production.

The invention is based on the recognition that if the fragrance product is closed in a flexible, preferably plastic package fitted with a small opening and with a pressable protrusion, and the airspace surrounding the body containing the fragrance is connected to the protrusion, and the airspace of the protrusion is connected to the small opening, we can reach our purposes. By applying pressure to the protrusion, we can release a small amount of the fragrance. Upon selection and purchase, the closing cover may be removed, and the product may be used as intended.

The characteristics of Claim 1 represent the most general form of implementation of the invention. Claims 2 to 4 describe the advantageous forms of implementation of the scent dispenser product.

The scent dispenser product according to the invention is described in detail on the drawings, where

Figure 1 shows the front view of the scent dispenser product under protective cover,

Figure 2 shows the side view of the scent dispenser product under protective cover.

Figure 1 clearly shows the complete scent dispenser 1, packaged for sale, which may be hanged in shops using the off cut 9. The fragrant material actually releasing the fragrance is an aesthetically designed, leaf shaped body 2, which is surrounded and hermetically sealed by a base plate 4 and a cover 3 prior purchasing and using. This is important to retain the fragrant material of the body 2 as long as possible prior using. The body 2 may contain the fragrant material in any known manner, for example by soaking, closed in micro-porous body etc.

The invention does not include the implementation of the body. However, numerous artificial and natural scents may be used as fragrance. Thus, consumers may face problems when trying to select a scent they find pleasant, if the product is hermetically sealed. The purpose of the invention is to ensure that it be fitted with a part 11 that allows the contained fragrance to be detected and tested before purchasing and using the product. For this reason, the cover 3 is fitted with a small opening 6, the cross-section 7 of which is smaller than 1% of the surface of the fragrance emitting body 2, but is preferably 0.1% of the size thereof. The opening 6 should be as small as possible, in order to minimise the quantity of fragrance lost before using the product. Customers cannot take a sample sufficient to detect and test the fragrance only through this small opening 6 by taking the scent dispenser in their hands. For this reason, the flexible plastic cover is fitted with a protrusion 5, and by applying pressure thereto, sufficient quantity of the fragrance may be released through the opening 6 for detection and testing. The small opening may be a whole or a slit.

See also the side view on Figure 2. The protrusion 5 is preferably connected to the opening 6 through the airway 8/a. On Figure 1, the location of the airway 8/a is indicated with a dotted line. The airways 8 consist of gaps of spaces left in the flexible cover 3 or under the protective cover. Airway 8/a is located between the outgoing opening 6 and the protrusion 5, while airway 8/b consists of the gap of space between the protrusion 5 and the body 2 filled with the fragrant material. It is advantageous to implement the opening 6 as a slit, instead of a hole. This is because it is easier to produce a slit, than a hole, on the reasonably thin and flexible cover 3 subsequently, after storage, but prior to delivery. This may be implemented, for example, by using thin rotating cutter plates. The surface of the cover 3 affixed to the base plate 4 to produce hermetic sealing is indicated with shade lines on Figure 1. The opener 10 is located on a bottom corner of the complete scent dispenser 1. The cover 3 may be easily removed from the base plate 4 by using the opener, and the body 2 - presented as a leaf on Figure 1 - may be removed for use. Figure 2 clearly shows that a reasonably small airspace can be found within the scent dispenser 1 before use, which is filled with the wet steam of the fragrance, preventing further evaporation from the body 2.

The advantage of the invention is that it enables the users to determine the scent of the product by subjective detection prior to purchasing and use the fragrance product. This is important, as one may find certain scents pleasant, which others find repelling. Furthermore, the solution is simple, suitable for mass production, and may be implemented at low cost. Taking samples from the fragrance hardly results in any loss of fragrance, and the possibility of cutting the slit subsequently allows long storage periods.

Claims

1. Scent dispenser product containing a fragrance container body placed on a base plate and surrounded with a scent retaining protective cover, characterized in that the product is fitted with a part (1 1) allowing the detection of the contained fragrance without opening, which consists of an opening (6) suitable for releasing scent samples on the cover (3), the transmitting cross-section (7) of which is smaller than 1% of the surface of the body (2) containing the fragrance, and is preferably 0.1 % thereof.

2. The scent dispenser product according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (3) is fitted with a pressable and flexible protrusion (5) and/or fold.

3. Any of the scent dispenser products according to claim 1 to 2, characterized in that in the cover (3) and under it there are airways (8a, 8b) transmitting the fragrance sample.

4. Any of the scent dispenser products according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the base plate (4) and the cover (3) is made of plastic, and is fitted with an opener (10) facilitating easy removal.