Container for diffusing volatile substances

Abstract

A container for diffusing volatile substances, comprising: a transparent container body (1) for a material impregnated with a volatile substance, provided with an opening (2); a permeable membrane (3) which closes the opening (2) of the container body (1); and a barrier layer (4) removably connected to the permeable membrane (3); wherein the permeable membrane (3) is sealed to the container body (1) in a sealing zone (6), the permeable membrane (3) being transparent within the sealing zone (6). It allows to provide a container for diffusing volatile substances, with an improved or high performance membrane, so that at a glance it can be seen that the sealing of the container is correct.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a container for dispersing volatile substances. Background Technology

[0002] For many years, it has been known to use standard polyolefin monolithic films (usually polyethylene or polypropylene) to release or diffuse volatile substances, such as aromas.

[0003] The diffusion of volatile substances is achieved using containers typically made by thermoforming, which are sealed with a membrane to allow the volatile substances to pass through while preventing the liquid from passing through. A barrier layer is applied to this membrane to prevent the volatile substances from diffusing during storage, and this layer must be removed by the user before first use.

[0004] Due to the limitations of these diffusers in terms of the evaporation quality and intensity of volatile substances, many alternatives have emerged, which have more complex structures: microporous layers, or multilayers with nonwoven fabric, in which the seals may become capillaries if not carefully considered.

[0005] In fact, while standard monolithic systems cannot pass volatile substances through seals because the length of the passage is too long, this length is no longer an obstacle for porous structures.

[0006] Therefore, it is important that the seal not only ensures the adhesion of the membrane to the thermoformed container, but also ensures that the porous microstructure of the membrane is eliminated in this area.

[0007] In standard diffusers, the bonding of the membrane to the container is largely about achieving good adhesion between two materials with more complex structures. However, this is insufficient because all capillary action needs to be eliminated so that no volatile substances are left behind before the top barrier layer is removed. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a container for the diffusion of volatile substances having an improved or high-performance membrane, so that the seal of the container is immediately apparent.

[0009] The container for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention overcomes this disadvantage and exhibits other advantages described below.

[0010] A container for dispersing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises: A transparent container body for impregnating materials containing volatile substances and having an opening; A thermoplastic permeable membrane that seals the opening of the container body; and A barrier layer, removably attached to the permeable membrane; The permeable membrane is sealed to the container body within the sealing area. The permeable membrane is transparent within the sealing area but opaque outside the sealing area.

[0011] A permeable membrane is a single-layer or multi-layer membrane, wherein one or more layers are composed of a material with a certain porosity. This includes microporous membranes themselves, as well as fibrous nonwoven materials.

[0012] It should be noted that the permeable membrane is transparent within the sealed area because there are no pores between the membrane and the container body in this area, resulting in a high seal quality. Furthermore, the membrane is opaque when it is not sealed or impregnated with a material containing volatile substances.

[0013] Permeable membranes are made of thermoplastic materials that melt when heated.

[0014] Therefore, the permeable membrane includes pores and is opaque when not heated; its opacity is due to light diffraction caused by the presence of pores. When the thermoplastic material melts during the sealing process, heating the sealing area destroys the pores, and the permeable membrane becomes transparent without pores.

[0015] In this way, it is easy to see whether the container is properly sealed, because if it is properly sealed, the barrier layer can be fully seen through the permeable membrane in the sealed area, while if it is not properly sealed, the barrier layer cannot be clearly or distinctly seen through the permeable membrane in the sealed area.

[0016] Preferably, in the sealed area, the transmittance of the permeable membrane is greater than 70%, ideally greater than 90%, and the diffraction angle is less than 30°.

[0017] Preferably, the sealing area is the region of the permeable membrane and the outer edge of the container.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the permeable membrane and / or barrier layer includes an embossed pattern in the sealing area, making it easy to see whether the seal is correct.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the barrier layer may include a pattern printed in the sealing area, which also makes it easy to see whether the seal is correct.

[0020] Advantageously, the permeable membrane is a microporous membrane, for example made of polyolefin, and the barrier layer is made of aluminum. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To better understand the disclosed content, some accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example only, the actual implementation of the embodiments.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional front view of the container according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a plan view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 This is a plan view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the container for diffusing volatile substances includes: a transparent container body 1 for containing a material impregnated with volatile substances (not shown in the figure).

[0024] The container body 1 includes an opening 2 sealed by a permeable membrane 3 and a barrier layer 4.

[0025] The permeable membrane 3 allows volatile substances to diffuse through it, but prevents possible liquid leakage from inside the container body 1.

[0026] On the other hand, the barrier layer 4 prevents volatile substances from diffusing into the environment, and therefore must be removed before first use. For this purpose, the barrier layer 4 is removably connected to the permeable membrane 3.

[0027] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the permeable membrane 3 may be made of microporous polyolefin, while the barrier layer 4 may be made of aluminum.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the container body 1 includes an outer edge 5 surrounding the opening 2, which is where the permeable membrane 3 and the barrier layer 4 are attached to the container body 1.

[0029] On the other hand, the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1 are sealed together in the sealing area 6, which is preferably the outer edge contact area between the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1.

[0030] A seal is formed between the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1, with no pores between them in the sealing area 6, so that the permeable membrane 3 is transparent within the sealing area 6 and opaque outside the sealing area 6. Therefore, the barrier layer 4 can be seen through the permeable membrane 3 within the sealing area 6.

[0031] Advantageously, the light transmittance of the permeable membrane 3 within the sealed area 6 is greater than 70% and / or the diffraction angle of the permeable membrane 3 is less than 30°.

[0032] If the seal is correct, the permeable membrane 3 will be transparent within the sealed area 6. This correct seal can be easily verified because if it is incorrect, the barrier layer 4 will not be clearly visible within the sealed area 6.

[0033] To facilitate verification that the seal is correct, the permeable membrane 3 and / or the barrier layer 4 may include raised patterns 7 in the sealing area 6, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0034] In addition, the barrier layer 4 may include a pattern 8 printed in the sealing area 6, such as parallel lines, which makes it easier to see whether the seal is correct.

[0035] Thus, before first use, the manufacturer or user can check whether the container for dispersing volatile substances according to the invention is properly sealed, and for its use, he / she only needs to remove the barrier layer 4. It is especially important for the manufacturer to check that the process is correct and that defective containers that might reach the consumer partially empty are not shipped.

[0036] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been referenced, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed containers for dispersing volatile substances can be varied and modified, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technical equivalents without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container for dispersing volatile substances, comprising: A transparent container body (1) is used to impregnate a material containing volatile substances and is provided with an opening (2). A porous permeable membrane (3), made of thermoplastic material, seals the opening (2) of the container body (1), allowing volatile substances to diffuse through the membrane but preventing liquid from escaping from the container body (1); and A barrier layer (4) is removably connected to the permeable membrane (3), the barrier layer (4) being used to prevent the volatile substances from diffusing into the environment; The feature is that the permeable membrane (3) is sealed to the container body (1) in a sealing area (6), wherein the sealing area (6) is the region at the outer edge of the permeable membrane (3) and the transparent container body (1). When the permeable membrane (3) is sealed to the container body (1), and there are no pores between the permeable membrane (3) and the container body (1) in the sealed area (6), the permeable membrane (3) is transparent within the sealed area (6); and The permeable membrane (3) is opaque outside the sealed area (6), and when the permeable membrane (3) is not sealed or impregnated with a material containing the volatile substance, the permeable membrane (3) is also opaque inside the sealed area (6) due to the presence of pores that cause light diffraction.

2. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein, The light transmittance of the permeable membrane (3) within the sealed area (6) is greater than 70% and / or the diffraction angle of the permeable membrane (3) is less than 30°.

3. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The permeable membrane (3) and / or the barrier layer (4) include raised patterns (7) in the sealing area (6).

4. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The barrier layer (4) includes a pattern (8) printed on the sealing area (6) and / or the permeable membrane (3).

5. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

6. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

7. The container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein, The permeable membrane (3) is made of polyolefin.

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