Fragrance delivery device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of perfuming agents, and more particularly, to devices and related consumer products for diffusing a liquid fragrance composition into a surrounding space by evaporation.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 384,866, filed on November 23, 2022, and European Application No. 23171479.1, filed on May 4, 2023. The entire contents of these applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of fragrances, and more specifically, to a device for dispensing a liquid fragrance composition into an ambient space and related consumer products. Background Art

[0004] Air care devices, typically air freshener devices, for dispensing liquid fragrance compositions into an ambient space are well known. Air fresheners are commercially available in many different forms, such as reed or wick diffusers, plug-in devices, aerosols or sprays. The fragrance composition of such air fresheners may be a fragrance oil, a mixture of several fragrance oils with or without a suitable solvent, or a colloidal solution, such as a microemulsion. However, despite their certain benefits, such as freshening the air or masking or eliminating odors, conventional liquid air fresheners generally have some disadvantages and limitations.

[0005] For example, the performance of air fresheners may be unsatisfactory due to limited or even unacceptable fragrance performance, which is often related to low evaporation rate, short product life, mediocre appearance, limited shapes and forms, inconsistent fragrance release, inconsistent scent quality and / or the need for active power sources (such as heaters, batteries or electricity) and the use of generic, non-premium materials.

[0006] WO2020058373 discloses a device comprising a main body and at least one active composition, wherein the active composition is selected from an active composition comprising wax, an active composition comprising a hydrogel, an active composition comprising an oleogel, an active composition comprising an organic gel, or a mixture thereof. However, the patent does not disclose the use of a liquid fragrance composition.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a simple yet effective fragrance delivery device that alleviates one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages of emitting a liquid fragrance composition into a surrounding space by evaporation. Summary of the invention

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus comprising:

[0009] a) comprising a main body of porous material,

[0010] wherein the main body has a volume and at least one surface,

[0011] wherein the volume includes at least one network of a plurality of fluidly connected channels

[0012] wherein the at least one network of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end

[0013] wherein the at least one first end and the at least one second end are spaced apart by a distance

[0014] wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to at least one surface

[0015] wherein each individual channel of the plurality of channels has a cross-section

[0016] wherein the distance and the cross-section of each of the plurality of channels define a surface, and

[0017] b) at least one reservoir containing a liquid fragrance composition fluidly connected to the body portion

[0018] wherein the fluid connection is configured to draw the liquid fragrance composition into the porous material of the body portion

[0019] wherein the porous material of the body portion is configured to absorb the liquid fragrance composition, and

[0020] wherein the surface of the body portion is configured to dissipate the liquid fragrance composition by evaporation

[0021] In a second form, the present disclosure relates to a method of dissipating a liquid fragrance composition into the surrounding space by evaporation, comprising placing the device described herein into a desired space and allowing the liquid fragrance composition to evaporate from the device

[0022] In a third form, the present invention relates to a kit comprising:

[0023] a) a body portion including a porous material

[0024] wherein the body portion has a volume and at least one surface

[0025] wherein the volume includes at least one network of a plurality of fluidly connected channels

[0026] wherein the at least one network of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end

[0027] wherein the at least one first end and the at least one second end are spaced apart by a distance

[0028] wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to at least one surface

[0029] Each individual channel of the plurality of channels has a cross-section,

[0030] wherein the distance and the cross-section of each channel of the plurality of channels define a surface, and

[0031] b) at least one container containing a liquid fragrance composition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 Embodiments of the device in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure are shown.

[0033] Figure 2 Another embodiment of the device in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] Figure 3 Yet another embodiment of the device in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0035] Figure 4 The mass loss (in grams per day) of two comparative stents is shown.

[0036] Figure 5 The weight loss (in grams per day) of two exemplary stents in accordance with the present disclosure over time is shown.

[0037] Figure 6 The weight loss (in grams per day) of two additional exemplary stents in accordance with the present disclosure over time is shown.

[0038] Figure 7 The amount of mass loss (in grams per day) of an exemplary stent under various conditions is shown.

[0039] Figure 8 The amount of mass loss (in grams per day) of another exemplary stent under various conditions is shown.

[0040] Figure 9 The amount of mass loss (in grams per day) of yet another exemplary stent under various conditions is shown.

[0041] Figure 10 An exemplary device having a dual reservoir and a dual helix stent is shown.

[0042] Figure 11 Two views of a fragrance delivery device having a central reservoir that can be refilled using any dispensing device are shown.

[0043] Figure 12 An exemplary fragrance delivery device having a single reservoir is shown.

[0044] Figure 13 Another exemplary fragrance delivery device having a single reservoir is shown.

[0045] Figure 14 An exemplary fragrance delivery device made of ceramic material is shown.

[0046] Figure 15 Another exemplary fragrance delivery device made of ceramic material is shown.

[0047] Figure 16 The relationship between the average daily mass loss rate and time of an exemplary fragrance device and various control devices is shown.

[0048] Figure 17 Three variants of a holder having a triply periodic minimal surface geometry with a connected wick are shown.

[0049] Figure 18 A variant of a holder having a triply periodic minimal surface geometry with a connected wick and a reservoir is shown.

[0050] Figure 19 The relationship between the average daily mass loss rate and time of an exemplary fragrance device having a holder and a connected wick with shell printing and normal printing is shown. Detailed Description

[0051] The following detailed description sets forth various configurations and embodiments provided herein. This specification should be read from the perspective of a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Accordingly, information well known to those of ordinary skill is not necessarily included. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill that the various configurations and embodiments provided herein may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0052] Unless otherwise specified herein, the following terms and phrases have the meanings set forth below. The present disclosure may use other terms and phrases not expressly defined herein. These other terms and phrases have the meanings that would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the context of the present disclosure. In some cases, a term or phrase may be defined in either the singular or the plural form. In such cases, unless otherwise expressly stated, any singular term may include its plural counterpart and vice versa. All technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as would be commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this specification pertains, unless otherwise defined.

[0053] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the terms "a", "an", or "the" each mean "one or more" or "at least one".

[0054] Although the compositions and methods are described in terms of "comprising", "containing", or "including" various components or steps, the compositions and methods may also "consist essentially of" or "consist of" the various components, materials, and steps. As used herein, the term "consist essentially of" shall be interpreted to include the listed components, materials, or steps, as well as such additional components, materials, or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel properties of the composition or method. In some embodiments, a composition "consisting essentially of" the components or materials according to the embodiments of the present disclosure does not include any additional components or materials that alter the basic and novel properties of the composition.

[0055] It should be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to cover all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of "1 to 10" is intended to cover all sub-ranges (including 1 and 10) between the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10; that is, the minimum value is equal to or greater than 1 and the maximum value is equal to or less than 10. Since the disclosed numerical ranges are continuous, they cover all values between the minimum and maximum values. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the various numerical ranges recited in this application are approximations.

[0056] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "about" or "approximately" refer to an acceptable error for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the terms "about" or "approximately" refer to within 1, 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the terms "about" or "approximately" refer to within 50%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

[0057] In the present disclosure, various publications may be incorporated by reference. If the meaning of any language in a publication incorporated by reference conflicts with the meaning of the language of the present disclosure, then the meaning of the language of the present disclosure shall control, unless otherwise stated.

[0058] As used herein, "or" shall be given its broadest reasonable interpretation and is not limited to an either-or construction. Thus, the phrase "comprising A or B" means that A may be present without B, or B may be present without A, or both A and B may be present. In addition, for example, if A defines a class that may include multiple members, such as A1 and A2, then one or more members of the class may be present simultaneously.

[0059] As used herein, "for example", "such as", "including", or "comprising" are intended to introduce examples that further clarify a more general subject. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, such examples are only used to assist in understanding the embodiments shown in the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure in any way. These phrases also do not indicate any form of preference for the disclosed embodiments.

[0060] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device comprising:

[0061] a) a body portion including a porous material,

[0062] wherein the body portion has a volume and at least one surface,

[0063] wherein the volume includes at least one network composed of a plurality of fluidly connected channels,

[0064] wherein the at least one network composed of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end,

[0065] wherein the at least one first end and the at least one second end are spaced apart by a certain distance,

[0066] wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to the at least one surface,

[0067] wherein each individual channel among the plurality of channels has a cross-section,

[0068] wherein the distance and the cross-section of each channel among the plurality of channels define a surface, and

[0069] b) at least one reservoir containing a liquid fragrance composition fluidly connected to the body portion;

[0070] wherein the fluid connection is configured to draw the liquid fragrance composition into the porous material of the body portion,

[0071] wherein the porous material of the body portion is configured to absorb the liquid fragrance composition, and

[0072] wherein the surface of the body portion is configured to dissipate the liquid fragrance composition by evaporation.

[0073] In some embodiments, at least one of the first end or the second end is open. In some embodiments, each channel among the plurality of channels has one or more branches.

[0074] The main body part of the device can have any cross-sectional shape, such as an irregular shape, square, rectangle, circle, ellipse, rhombus, semi-circle, trapezoid, etc. Thus, in some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the main body part is selected from the following shapes: irregular shape, square, rectangle, circle, ellipse, rhombus, semi-circle, and trapezoid.

[0075] Without being limited by any particular theory, the surface provides a main body part with a structure that has porosity, surface area, and volume and can be configured to emit a liquid fragrance composition.

[0076] The porosity used herein includes macroporosity and microporosity. The terms "macroporosity", "macropore", or "macropores" refer to pores with an open pore diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm, typically greater than or equal to 5 mm, and more typically greater than or equal to 10 mm. Without being limited by any particular theory, such porosity allows air to penetrate deeply into the center of the object, making it easier for fragrance compounds to evaporate. As described herein, macropores are defined by the surface geometry of the main body part of the device and are not affected by the manufacturing method.

[0077] On the other hand, terms such as "micropore", "micropore", or "micropores" refer to pores with an open pore diameter less than 1 mm. Different from macropores, micropores result from the manufacturing method employed. For example, when using the powder bed fusion method (such as sintering or multi-jet fusion) in additive manufacturing, the selection of the particle size of the powder used may generate micropores of a specific size.

[0078] There are three different types of porosity used herein: total porosity, closed porosity, and open porosity. Total porosity is the sum of the open porosity and closed porosity in a material. Closed porosity is defined as the ratio of the volume of pores not connected to the outside air to the envelope volume. In this article, the envelope volume represents the total volume based on the external dimensions of the object (i.e., like "shrink wrapping"). Closed pores are not suitable for the transportation or migration of liquid fragrance oils or fragrance compositions. Open porosity is an index that measures the ratio of the volume of open pores and pores connected to the outside air to the envelope volume of the object. These pores are connected to the outside air and can enable the migration of liquids between the inside and the surface of the structure.

[0079] The macropores are defined by a surface that can be a triply periodic minimal surface geometry or an analogue thereof. These surfaces represent the roots of a formula that uses periodic functions (such as sin, cos, tan) or hyperbolic functions (such as sinh, cosh, tanh) in three directions (x, y, and z). These surfaces typically form many connected and undulating surfaces, thereby forming an intertwined maze. Interestingly, these surfaces also form an aesthetically pleasing and "organic" appearance. Examples of triply periodic minimal surface geometries applicable to the present disclosure can be found, for example, in Gyroid and Gyroid-Like Surfaces: Rudolf, M., & Scherer, J. (2013), SI Publishing (Ed.), Double-Gyroid-Structured Functional Materials (pp. 7-19). Additional examples of triply periodic minimal surfaces geometries applicable for use in accordance with aspects presented herein are disclosed in S. Andersson K. Larsson M. Larsson M. Jacob. (1999). Biomathematics, Mathematics of Biostructures and Biodynamics. Elsevier Science.

[0080] In some embodiments, the triply periodic minimal surface geometry is selected from: helical geometry, Lidinoid geometry, Schwarz D "diamond" geometry, or Schwarz P "primitive" structure geometry.

[0081] In some embodiments, the surface is defined by a triply periodic minimal surface geometry that is defined according to Formula 1:

[0082]

[0083] Changing the numerical value of T may change the porosity, surface area, and / or volume of the main body portion. For example, when T = 0, the main body portion is precisely divided into two independent interpenetrating single helical volumes (both 50%). Each of these two independent interpenetrating single helical volumes contains an independent network of a plurality of hollow channels (referred to herein as "Volume A" and "Volume B"). When the value of T is between 0 and 1.413, the volume of Volume A increases, while the volume of Volume B decreases. Similarly, when the value of T is between 0 and -1.413, the opposite is true, the volume of Volume B increases, while the volume of Volume A decreases. When the absolute value of T is between 1.413 and 1.5, the surface is no longer connected. When the absolute value of T exceeds 1.5, there is no real solution to Formula 1.

[0084] In one embodiment, the value of T is selected from the values between 0 and 1.43.

[0085] In another embodiment, the value of T is selected from the values between 0 and -1.43.

[0086] In one embodiment, at least one surface is defined by a triply periodic minimal surface geometry, which is defined according to Formula 2:

[0087] F(x,y,z)=(A1 sin(B1x + C1)+D1)·(A2 cos(B2y + C2)+D2)+(A3 sin(B3y + C3)+D3)·(A4

[0088] cos(B4z + C4)+D4)+(A5 sin(B5z + C5)+D5)·(A6 cos(B6x + C6)+D6)=T Formula 2

[0089] where A is the amplitude; B is the frequency, C is the phase shift, D is the vertical shift, and where at least one of A, B, C, or D can vary in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0090] Taking Formula 2 as an example, the basic sine wave y = sin(x) can be modified as follows: y = A*sin(Bx + C)+D, where A - D respectively represent the parameters for changing the amplitude, frequency, phase shift, and vertical shift. By changing these variables in one or all of the trigonometric functions in Formula 2 (or a similar formula), different geometries can be obtained.

[0091] In one embodiment, at least one surface is defined by a triply periodic minimal surface geometry, which is defined according to Formula 3:

[0092]

[0093] The surface can be defined by combining multiple formulas that define the triply periodic minimal surface geometry. For example, as disclosed in Venkatesh, V., Reddy, K.A.K., & Sreekanth, E. (2014). Design of Mathematically Defined Heterogeneous Porous Scaffold Architecture for Tissue Engineering, 10(24), 1169–1174. For example, the triply periodic minimal surface geometry can be defined by combining Formula 1 and 3, resulting in Formula 4:

[0094]

[0095] Wherein the range of μ is from 0 to 1. In one embodiment, μ is 0.5.

[0096] In one embodiment, the surface is defined by a triply periodic minimal surface geometry created by generative design and / or field-driven design. As used herein, generative design refers to the use of computational methods to generate a triply periodic minimal surface geometry that meets desired parameters (such as performance or spatial requirements, materials, manufacturing methods, cost constraints, etc.). As used herein, field-driven design refers to varying the triply periodic minimal surface geometry according to one or more fields. Here, a field is a distribution of points in three-dimensional space, each point being assigned a value, and can be defined by points (such as in a radially varying field), planes, implicit models, or simulation data (such as computational fluid dynamics data). Then, the triply periodic minimal surface geometry is varied spatially according to one or more fields. For example, 3D computational fluid dynamics data (commonly used to simulate airflows such as laminar flow, turbulent flow, convection, etc.) can be used to generate an air velocity field, where each point in the field represents an air velocity. Then, this air velocity field is used to create a triply periodic minimal surface geometry that has a larger surface area in regions of low air velocity and a smaller surface area in regions of high air velocity, thereby providing desired effects such as making the liquid fragrance composition evaporate more evenly and uniformly. Software suitable for generative design and / or field-driven design includes, but is not limited to, AutoCAD (Autodesk) or nTopology (nTopology Inc.).

[0097] Triply periodic surfaces such as those described herein have many advantages when used for dispensing liquid fragrance compositions. Triply periodic surfaces have desirable features such as bifurcations, trifurcations, quadfurcations, or even multi-furcations (branches). Without being bound by any particular theory, we envision that when a molecule evaporates from the inner surface, the molecule can "find" the exit of the maze through countless paths. When a molecule moves within an object, it encounters many "decision points" where it can either be directed directly to the outside air or sometimes even deeper into the geometry. This randomization of path lengths can serve as a means to further "mix" the fragrance and help linearize the properties and / or intensity of the fragrance. Such triply periodic surfaces have excellent mechanical strength and have been shown to have a relatively low pressure drop when flowing through the entire object, which allows air to easily pass through the object despite the large surface area. Another advantage of this geometry is preventing clogging or blockage. There are a very large number of paths for liquid flow, so a blockage / constriction in one channel can allow many other channels to continue to flow.

[0098] The cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels varies in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion. In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels at the center of the main body portion is larger than the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels at the periphery of the main body portion.

[0099] In another embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels at the edge of the main body portion is larger than the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels at the center of the main body portion. Without being limited by any particular theory, the variation in the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels may change the evaporation rate of the liquid fragrance composition.

[0100] Without being limited by any particular theory, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion, thereby creating a main body portion with a radial porosity gradient. In this case, the term "porosity gradient" refers to the variation in the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0101] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing the frequency parameter in any one of Formulas 1 to 4 in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0102] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing the amplitude parameter in any one of Formulas 1 to 4 in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0103] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing the phase shift parameter in any one of Formulas 1 to 4 in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0104] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing the vertical displacement parameter in any one of Formulas 1 to 4 in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0105] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing μ in Formula 4 according to the distance in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion, where μ ranges from 0 to 1.

[0106] In one embodiment, the cross-section of each individual channel among the multiple channels can be changed by changing μ in Formula 4 and introducing a porosity gradient in at least one of the x, y, or z directions of the main body portion.

[0107] In some embodiments, the cross-section of each individual channel among the plurality of channels is at least 1 mm, typically at least 5 mm, and more typically at least 10 mm.

[0108] In one embodiment, the body portion includes two networks each composed of a plurality of fluidly connected channels. In one embodiment, the first and second networks are not interconnected.

[0109] In some embodiments, the body portion contains three networks each composed of a plurality of fluidly connected channels. In one embodiment, the first, second, and third networks are not interconnected.

[0110] The device can be configured to be compact, having a small footprint while having a high surface area. Thus, in some embodiments, the surface area to volume ratio of the device is at least 1 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 2 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 3 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 4 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 5 cm 2 :cm 3 . In some embodiments, the surface area to volume ratio of the device is at least 6 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 7 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 8 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 9 cm 2 :cm 3 , or at least 10 cm 2 :cm 3 .

[0111] In some embodiments, a random line drawn through the center of the device intersects the at least one surface an average of at least 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, or more. In some embodiments, a random line drawn through the center of the device intersects the at least one surface an average of at least 5 times, 10 times, 20 times, or more.

[0112] As described herein, the open porosity is an indicator that measures the ratio of the volume of open pores and voids that communicate with the external air to the total envelope volume of the object. These pores communicate with the external air and allow fluids to migrate between the interior and the surface of the structure. The open porosity can be measured by any method known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a helium pycnometer can be used. After applying pressure, helium gas will penetrate into the open pores of the material. Thus, it can "see" the closed porosity and volume of the material itself. By comparing it with the envelope volume, the open porosity can be determined. Another exemplary method can be the use of mercury intrusion porosimetry, which is based on pressing mercury into a porous structure under controlled pressure to measure the open pore volume as well as the pore size and size distribution.

[0113] In some embodiments, the body portion has an open porosity of 0.01 to 0.9.

[0114] In some embodiments, the body portion includes a plurality of pores with a size less than 1,000 μm.

[0115] The body portion is made of a porous material (usually a microporous material). Porous materials suitable for the body portion include but are not limited to: porous ceramic materials, plastics, molded ceramics, fiberglass, clay, activated carbon, cellulose, wood materials (such as wood pulp and wood fibers), and any combination thereof.

[0116] Plastics suitable for the present disclosure can be thermoplastic materials and / or thermosetting materials. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, thermoplastic materials are materials that become flexible or plastic at a certain high temperature and solidify upon cooling, while thermosetting materials are materials obtained by irreversibly hardening ("curing") a soft solid or viscous liquid prepolymer. Plastics suitable for the present disclosure include but are not limited to: acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polystyrene, polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamides (such as polyphthalamide and nylon), polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate); polypropylene, polyacrylate, polysulfone, polyurethane, polyetherimide, polyesterimide, polyaryletherketone, such as polyetheretherketone and polyetherketoneketone; and any combination or copolymer thereof.

[0117] In one embodiment, the body portion includes nylon, polypropylene, or a combination thereof.

[0118] The porous material may also include support materials that are removed during a post-treatment process, including but not limited to water-soluble materials such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); separating materials, and waxes.

[0119] The porous material may also include biodegradable materials such as bioplastics. Exemplary bioplastics include, but are not limited to, starch-based plastics, cellulose-based plastics, protein-based plastics, aliphatic polyesters (such as polylactic acid, polyamide-11), bio-derived polyethylene, and the like.

[0120] The porous material may include other suitable materials selected from those disclosed in Wohler, T. (2016). Wohlers Report 2016 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing State of the Industry. Annual Worldwide Progress Report. Wohlers Associates, Inc.

[0121] In one embodiment, the porous material is selected from the group consisting of plastics, metals, ultraviolet curable polymers, and mixtures thereof.

[0122] The body portion can be formed by any suitable method, which can be easily selected by those skilled in the art. Methods for forming the body portion include, but are not limited to, casting, additive manufacturing (“3D printing”), injection molding, and the like.

[0123] Those skilled in the art should understand that objects manufactured by additive manufacturing methods are typically created in 3D modeling or CAD software, such as ShapeJS (Shapeways), Blender (Blender Foundation), AutoCAD (Autodesk), Solidworks (Dassault Systèmes), nTopology (nTopology, Inc.), and the like. Then, the generated geometry is manufactured accordingly.

[0124] Exemplary additive manufacturing methods suitable for the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, extrusion such as fused deposition modeling; resin curing processes such as direct laser writing stereolithography, digital light processing (DLP), continuous liquid interface production (CLIP), and continuous digital light manufacturing; powder bed fusion such as selective laser sintering, binder jetting, material jetting, and multi-jet fusion; and the like.

[0125] In one embodiment, the body portion and / or the core are formed by powder bed fusion, typically using selective laser sintering or multi-jet fusion. In one embodiment, the body portion and / or the core are formed by shell printing. As used herein, "shell printing" (also referred to as "skin-coring") refers to a powder bed fusion technique in which only a thin layer of skin is 3D printed to encapsulate the unfused powder inside the object. Without being bound by any particular theory, shell printing can increase open porosity. When shell printing is used, the unfused powder inside should not be inaccessible to the liquid fragrance composition. Thus, in some embodiments, the body portion and / or the core each comprise one or more inlet holes that are large enough to allow the liquid to enter but small enough to keep the powder within the geometry. In one embodiment, the diameter of the inlet holes is less than 1 mm, typically between 0.01 and 1 mm, more typically between 0.1 and 1 mm.

[0126] The structure of the body portion can be defined by at least one solid surface. In some embodiments, the structure of the body portion can be defined by at least one perforated surface. Examples of perforated surfaces include, but are not limited to, wireframes, checkerboard shapes, fibers, trabecular structures, and the like.

[0127] The device of the present disclosure includes at least one reservoir containing a liquid fragrance composition that is in fluid communication with the body portion.

[0128] As used herein, a reservoir can be any space or void capable of containing a liquid fragrance composition. The space or void serving as the reservoir can be provided by a container or can be a space or void inside the body portion of the device. The container serving as the reservoir can be made of a liquid-impermeable material, such as glass or plastic, and typically includes an opening through which the liquid fragrance composition is in fluid communication with the body portion. In one embodiment, the body portion is located outside the reservoir and the liquid fragrance composition is drawn into the body portion of the device through the fluid connection.

[0129] In another embodiment, the body portion is partially immersed in the liquid fragrance composition within the reservoir. In this embodiment, the body portion is in direct contact with the liquid fragrance composition, which is drawn into the body portion and dissipated by evaporation.

[0130] In some embodiments, the reservoir is a space or void inside the main body portion of the device. In such embodiments, the main body portion is in direct contact with the liquid fragrance composition, the liquid fragrance composition is drawn into the main body portion, and the liquid fragrance composition is dissipated from the main body portion by evaporation. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the internal space or void is surrounded by a low porosity region that is fluidly connected to a high porosity region. The low porosity region acts as a "well" but is at least partially permeable to the liquid fragrance composition. In some embodiments, a coating can be provided at the bottom of the main body portion of the device to prevent leakage.

[0131] In some embodiments, the reservoir is provided by a liquid permeable container (e.g., a container made of a porous material) located inside the main body portion of the device. In such an embodiment, the main body portion is in fluid contact with the liquid fragrance composition through the wall of the liquid permeable container inside it. The liquid fragrance composition is drawn into the main body portion and dissipated therefrom by evaporation. In some embodiments, a coating can be provided at the bottom of the main body portion of the device to prevent leakage.

[0132] In some embodiments, the device according to the present disclosure includes two or more reservoirs, typically two reservoirs. In such embodiments, the device includes two or more liquid fragrance compositions, and each reservoir contains one liquid fragrance composition. In one embodiment, the two or more liquid fragrance compositions are the same. In another embodiment, the two or more liquid fragrance compositions are different.

[0133] As used herein, the term "liquid fragrance composition" refers to a liquid that is at least partially volatile (i.e., evaporable) and capable of imparting a fragrance or other benefits to the surrounding space.

[0134] The liquid fragrance composition is a low viscosity liquid at room temperature (25 °C). Thus, in one embodiment, the viscosity of the liquid fragrance composition is about 0.1 to about 10,000 mPa·s. In one embodiment, the viscosity of the liquid fragrance composition is about 0.1 to about 1,000 mPa·s. In one embodiment, the viscosity of the liquid fragrance composition is about 0.1 to about 100 mPa·s.

[0135] The liquid fragrance composition should have sufficient wettability between the fragrance liquid and the porous material used for the main body portion of the device. In some cases, the porous material used in the device can be surface treated or selected to improve the wetting angle, thereby achieving faster or more complete wetting. Those skilled in the art can use a sessile drop tensiometer to measure the wetting angle between the fragrance liquid and the porous material and adjust the formulation accordingly as needed.

[0136] In one embodiment, the density of the liquid fragrance composition is from about 0.7 to about 1.3 g / mL. In one embodiment, the surface tension of the liquid fragrance composition is from about 10 to about 70 mN / m.

[0137] The liquid fragrance composition may comprise from 40% to 100% by weight of a perfume, typically comprising chemicals or essential oils. In one embodiment, the liquid fragrance composition comprises from 60% to 100% by weight of a perfume. The remainder of these formulations may comprise solvents, dyes, colorants, antioxidants, UV inhibitors, bittering agents, etc., which are generally known to those skilled in the art.

[0138] In some embodiments, the liquid fragrance composition is a perfume. The perfume can use any ingredients or mixtures of ingredients currently used in the perfume industry, i.e., ingredients capable of imparting a fragrance effect. However, more commonly, the perfume is a more or less complex mixture composed of natural or synthetic ingredients. The nature and type of the ingredients need not be detailed herein. In any case, these descriptions are not exhaustive, and those skilled in the art can select them based on their common knowledge, intended use or application, and the desired sensory effects. Generally speaking, these perfume ingredients belong to multiple chemical classes, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, acetates, nitriles, terpenes, nitrogen- or sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds, and natural or synthetic essential oils. In any case, many of these ingredients are listed in references such as S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, 1969, Montclair, N.J., USA or its latest version, or other works of a similar nature, as well as a large number of patent documents in the field of perfumes.

[0139] In some embodiments, the fragrance effect may also include providing sensory and / or emotional benefits, or the fragrance effect may be configured to prevent users from becoming accustomed to the perfume. The sensory and / or emotional benefits can be provided by adding other ingredients to the liquid fragrance composition. For example, by way of illustration, the fragrance composition may also comprise a cooling compound that imparts a cooling sensation to the user.

[0140] Although the fragrance effects that can be achieved by the disclosed devices have been specifically mentioned above, the same principles also apply to similar devices for emitting deodorizing or disinfecting vapors, provided that the perfume is replaced with a deodorizing ingredient, an antibacterial agent, an insecticide, a repellent, or an insect attractant. The term "disinfecting vapor" as used herein refers to the vapors of those substances that can enhance the acceptability of the air around the observer, and also refers to those substances that can have an attracting or repelling effect on certain insect species (such as houseflies or mosquitoes), or substances having bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity. Mixtures of these substances can also be used.

[0141] The liquid fragrance composition may also contain optional ingredients such as solvents, thickeners, antioxidants, dyes, bittering agents, and UV inhibitors.

[0142] In some embodiments, the liquid fragrance composition further comprises one or more solvents. The one or more solvents can be used to provide a single-phase liquid and / or regulate the rate at which the liquid fragrance composition evaporates into the surrounding air. The solvents can be isoparaffins, paraffins, hydrocarbons, diols, diol ethers, diol ether esters, esters, or ketones.

[0143] Examples of commercially available solvents suitable for the present disclosure include those sold under the trade names J, K, L, M, P, or V (isoparaffin; source: Exxon Chemical), or 15 (paraffin; source: Exxon Chemical), D40, D180 / 200, D220 / 230, D60, D70, D80, D100, D110, or D120 (de-aromatized hydrocarbons; source: Exxon Chemical), DPM, TPM, PnB, DPnB, TPnB, PnP, or DPnP (ethylene glycol ethers; source: Dow Chemical Company), EB, EEH, DM, DE, DP, or DB (ethylene glycol ethers; source: Eastman Chemical Company), or PGDA (ethylene glycol ether ester; source: Dow Chemical Company) or acetates, acetates, acetates, Eastman EEP (all ethylene glycol ether esters; source: Eastman Chemical Company).

[0144] Other solvents suitable for the present disclosure include dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, ethylene glycol diacetate, isopropyl myristate, diethyl phthalate, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, methyl n-amyl ketone, or diisobutyl ketone.

[0145] The total amount of solvent present in the liquid fragrance composition can be between 0.0% and 80% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 30% and 70%.

[0146] The liquid fragrance composition may optionally contain a thickening agent, provided that its viscosity is not so high that the fragrance composition cannot be inhaled into the main body or causes blockage. Useful thickening agent components include, but are not limited to, ethyl cellulose (commercially available from Hercules Inc.), fumed silica (commercially available from Degussa), and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (commercially available from Shell).

[0147] In some embodiments, the total amount of thickening agent present in the liquid fragrance composition can be between 0.0% and 10% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 1% and 4%.

[0148] Non-limiting examples of useful antioxidant components include sterically hindered amines, i.e., derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, such as those known under the trade names (from BASF AG) or (from: Ciba Speciality Chemicals), and alkylated hydroxyarene derivatives, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

[0149] In some embodiments, the total amount of antioxidant present in the liquid fragrance composition can be between 0.0% and 10% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 1% and 4%.

[0150] The liquid fragrance composition may contain other optional components, such as dyes. Suitable dyes can be oil-soluble and can be found in the Colour Index International published by The Society of Dyers and Colourist. Non-limiting examples of suitable dyes include derivatives of anthraquinone, methylene, azo, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, azine, aminoketone, spirooxazine, thioxanthene, phthalocyanine, perylene, benzopyran, or purpurin compounds. Commercially available examples of such dyes are known under the following trade names: RSB, Violet FBL, Green GSB, Blue 2B or RS (both anthraquinone derivatives; source: Clariant Huningue SA), DB (anthraquinone; source: Morton International Ltd.), 3G (methylene; source: Clariant Huningue SA), RLS (azo metal complex; source: Clariant Huningue SA), SEG (monoazo; source: Morton International Ltd.), (monoazo; source: Hoechst AG), (diazo; source: Hoechst AG), 807 (phthalocyanine; source: BASF AG), (perylene; source: BASF AG).

[0151] In some embodiments, the total amount of dye present in the liquid fragrance composition can be between 0.0% and 0.5% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 0.005% and 0.05%.

[0152] It may be necessary to add a bittering agent to make the product unpalatable, thereby reducing the likelihood of the liquid fragrance composition being accidentally ingested, especially by young children. Non-limiting examples of bittering agents include isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl n-butyl ketone, or denatonium salts, such as denatonium benzoate, which is sold under the trade name Bitrex TM (source: Mac Farlan Smith Ltd.).

[0153] The amount of bittering agent added to the liquid fragrance composition can be from 0.0% to 5% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition. For Bitrex TM , the amount of bittering agent added to the liquid fragrance composition can be between 0.0% and 0.1% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 0.001% and 0.05%.

[0154] Non-limiting examples of useful UV inhibitor components include benzophenone, diphenylacrylate, or cinnamate esters, such as those sold under the trade name (source: BASF AG).

[0155] In some embodiments, the total amount of UV inhibitor present in the active composition can be between 0.0% and 0.5% of the total weight of the liquid fragrance composition, or between 0.01% and 0.4%.

[0156] The device according to the present invention may further include a wick. In some embodiments, at least one container for containing the liquid fragrance composition is fluidly connected to the main body portion through at least one wick.

[0157] The at least one wick is made of any material known to those skilled in the art that can passively move a liquid against gravity. The migration of the liquid (such as the liquid fragrance composition) can occur by capillary action, wicking, and / or absorption. In one embodiment, the at least one wick is made of a porous material (usually a microporous material).

[0158] Suitable porous materials for constructing at least one wick include, but are not limited to, paper, porous ceramic materials, plastics, plastic fibers, plastic foams, molded ceramics, fiberglass, clay, activated carbon, cellulose, wood materials (such as wood pulp and wood fibers), and any combination thereof.

[0159] Plastics, plastic fibers, and plastic foams include, but are not limited to, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polystyrene, polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamides (such as polyphthalamide and nylon); polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate); polypropylene, polyacrylate, polysulfone, polyurethane, polyetherimide, polyesterimide, and polyaryletherketones (such as polyetheretherketone and polyetherketoneketone); and any combination or copolymer thereof.

[0160] It is contemplated that the liquid fragrance composition is compatible with the materials used in the device such that the fragrance does not dissolve or swell, typically plastic materials. If the plastic swells, it may cause undesirable blockages. Thus, in some embodiments, the fragrance does not dissolve or swell the plastic material.

[0161] For example, Hansen solubility parameters can be advantageously used to predict the compatibility between the fragrance and the plastic and formulate the fragrance composition to ensure good compatibility.

[0162] The wick can be externally added or integrated, i.e., built-in as part of the main body during the production process. If the wick is integrated as part of the main body during the production process, it can be fixed or manufactured with a hinge or other mechanical design such that the wick can move into the reservoir, and thus into the liquid fragrance composition, without assembly. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Exemplary devices are shown in which the wick is integrated as part of the main body during the production process. Figure 3 Exemplary devices are shown with externally added wicks.

[0163] The porous material (typically a microporous material) for the wick can be the same as or different from the porous material for the main body. In some embodiments, the porous material (typically a microporous material) for the wick is the same as the porous material for the main body.

[0164] The wick can have any shape suitable for the devices of the present disclosure. The wick can have a constant cross-section, such as cylindrical, or a cross-section that varies with the liquid level in the corresponding reservoir.

[0165] Methods known to those skilled in the art can be used to appropriately design the size of the wick so that it does not become a bottleneck for complete evaporation. For example, the maximum flow rate of the wick can be modeled, which is related to the cross-sectional area A of the wick as follows:

[0166]

[0167] where Qmax represents the maximum flow rate, A represents the cross-sectional area, K represents the permeability coefficient, μ represents the dynamic viscosity of the liquid, ε represents the porosity, γ represents the surface tension of the liquid, θ represents the contact angle, H represents the height of the wicked liquid, Rb represents the average bead radius, ρ represents the liquid density, and g represents the acceleration due to gravity.

[0168] Therefore, it may be necessary to use a non-cylindrical wick with a restricted cross-section, especially if the wick can be slightly lowered / raised to expose a higher or lower surface area at the liquid meniscus (see Beyhaghi, S., Geoffroy, S., Prat, M. and Pillai, K.M. (2014), Wicking and evaporation of liquids in porous wicks: A simple analytical approach to optimization of wick design. AIChE J., 60:1930 - 1940. https: / / doi.org / 10.1002 / aic.14353).

[0169] In some embodiments, the device according to the present disclosure includes two or more reservoirs, typically two reservoirs. In such embodiments, the device includes two or more liquid fragrance compositions, and each reservoir contains one liquid fragrance composition. Thus, in some embodiments, the device may include two or more wicks for fluidly connecting the liquid fragrance compositions in each reservoir to the main body portion.

[0170] In some embodiments, the triple-periodic surface of the device described herein can form a double or triple (or more) helical structure, thus enabling a compact device, where multiple wicks are connected to individually intertwined dispensing surfaces, and all wicks release fragrance individually (rate and characteristics) without the liquids affecting each other. It is even conceivable that if one or two fragrances are added with different colorants, an interesting visual effect and an aesthetic color contrast effect can be obtained when the colorants are drawn into the porous main body portion.

[0171] For example, the first liquid fragrance composition may have a first olfactory note, while the second liquid fragrance composition may have a second olfactory note different from the first olfactory note. In some embodiments, the device may be configured to release the first liquid fragrance composition at a rate different from that of the second liquid fragrance composition. In some embodiments, the device may be configured to release the first liquid fragrance composition and the second liquid fragrance composition at a rate such that the perception of a particular olfactory note remains consistent over time.

[0172] In another exemplary embodiment, the device may contain a liquid fragrance composition comprising fragrance ingredients in container A and a liquid fragrance composition comprising a malodor eliminator in container B. These two ingredients may be chemically incompatible with each other, but can be released simultaneously by the device without contacting each other. The malodor eliminator may be light blue to match the "clean" effect, while the fragrance may be purple to create a "floral" effect, thus enhancing the floral scent.

[0173] Without being limited to any particular theory, the device may be configured to release the first liquid fragrance composition at a rate different from that of the second liquid fragrance composition by providing a structure in volume A with an increased surface area compared to volume B. Alternatively, the device may release the first liquid fragrance composition at a rate different from that of the second liquid fragrance composition by providing a structure in volume A with a reduced pore size compared to volume B. Alternatively, the device may release the first liquid fragrance composition at a rate different from that of the second liquid fragrance composition by providing a structure in volume A with an increased surface area to volume ratio compared to volume B.

[0174] Although the devices of the present disclosure can easily dispense liquid fragrance compositions in a passive manner, external devices can be used to increase the evaporation rate. In one embodiment, the device further includes means for increasing the evaporation rate, typically a heating element, a fan, a pump, a rotating bracket, an oscillating bracket, or a translating bracket.

[0175] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method of dispensing a liquid fragrance composition into the surrounding space, including placing the device described herein into a desired space and allowing the liquid fragrance composition to evaporate from the device.

[0176] Placing the device described herein into a desired space and allowing the liquid fragrance composition to evaporate from the device can be achieved by any method known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0177] External devices can be used to increase the evaporation rate. In one embodiment, the method further includes using a device to increase the evaporation rate, which is typically a heating element, a fan, a pump, a rotating bracket, an oscillating bracket, or a translating bracket.

[0178] The device is particularly suitable for generating natural convection within a large pore. By differentially heating the device, for example, placing it on a windowsill where it is exposed to sunlight, natural convection can be further accelerated. Since sunlight heats the surface of the main body of the device at different rates, natural convection induces air flow within the device, thereby accelerating evaporation.

[0179] The features of the device described herein are applicable to the method with necessary modifications.

[0180] In a third form, the present invention relates to a kit comprising:

[0181] a) a main body portion including a porous material,

[0182] wherein the main body portion has a volume and at least one surface,

[0183] wherein the volume includes at least one network composed of a plurality of fluidly connected channels,

[0184] wherein the at least one network composed of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end,

[0185] wherein the at least one first end and the at least one second end are spaced apart by a certain distance,

[0186] wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to the at least one surface,

[0187] wherein each individual channel among the plurality of channels has a cross-section,

[0188] wherein the distance and the cross-section of each channel among the plurality of channels define a surface, and

[0189] b) at least one reservoir containing a liquid fragrance composition.

[0190] In one embodiment, the kit further includes at least one wick configured to fluidly connect the at least one reservoir to the main body portion.

[0191] In some embodiments, the reservoir is used to contain and protect the liquid fragrance from evaporation, spillage, and oxidation / reaction before use. Typically, the reservoir is closed before use (i.e., equipped with a tamper-proof seal and a lid). When the consumer opens the seal and the lid, inserts the wick into the liquid fragrance composition, thereby activating the device, the reservoir and the liquid fragrance composition are fluidly connected to the main body portion, and the reservoir only contains the liquid, preventing it from evaporating and spilling too quickly.

[0192] The features of the device described herein can be applied to the kit just described with necessary modifications.

[0193] The devices, kits, methods, and processes according to the present disclosure are further illustrated by the following non-limiting embodiments.

[0194] Example 1. Mass Loss of a Device without a Reservoir

[0195] The stent is designed with a gyroscopic geometry defined by an implicit function:

[0196] sin(x)*cos(y)+sin(y)*cos(z)+sin(z)*cos(x) = 0

[0197] and is produced using powder bed fusion 3D printing technology.

[0198] Two different stents were evaluated - one made of polypropylene (Stent A) and the other made of nylon (Stent B). Fragrance oil was added to both stents using a pipette until they were completely saturated. All relevant materials were pre-weighed to accurately measure the final mass loss of the fragrance oil. The measured masses before and after adding the fragrance oil are summarized in Table 1 below.

[0199] Table 1.

[0200] Sample Mass, grams Support A (polypropylene), unsaturated 12.42 Oil-saturated support A 13.04 Support B (nylon), unsaturated 12.48 Oil-saturated support B 13.50

[0201] The saturated stents dissipated the fragrance composition by evaporation. The mass of the saturated stents was measured over a period of up to 30 days. Figure 4 The mass loss (in grams per day) of Stent A and Stent B is shown. Both stents were quickly saturated with oil. As Figure 4 shown, the weight loss rate of both structures peaked on the first day, then gradually decreased, and stabilized on the fourth day as the consumption of the fragrance oil was reasonable. This example shows that the stent can release the fragrance at a good rate, but the good fragrance release effect cannot be sustained.

[0202] Example 2. Mass Loss of an Exemplary Device with a Printed Core and Reservoir

[0203] The stent of this example was fabricated following the steps described in Example 1, except that the helical stent was connected to a cylinder, which served as an integrated core.

[0204] Two exemplary stents were fabricated - one made of nylon (Stent C) and the other made of polypropylene (Stent D). Each stent integrated a 3D printed core and was equipped with a reservoir. The reservoir was filled with fragrance oil, and the core portion of the corresponding stent was inserted into the reservoir. All relevant materials were pre-weighed to accurately measure the mass loss of the fragrance oil at the end of the evaluation. The measured masses of all materials for each exemplary device are summarized in Tables 2 and 3 below.

[0205] Table 2.

[0206] Sample Mass, grams Support C (nylon) with printed core 24.66 Glass jar without lid 51.12 Lid 3.09 Fragrance oil 23.00

[0207] Table 3.

[0208] Sample Mass, grams Support D (polypropylene) with printed core 21.88 Glass jar without lid 52.46 Lid 3.04 Fragrance oil 23.01

[0209] Leave the holder stationary for several days to allow the fragrance oil to fully transfer to the surface of the holder. Evaporate the fragrance composition from the saturated holder and measure the mass of the saturated holder over a period of up to 30 days. Figure 5 Shows the mass loss (in grams per day) of Holder C and Holder D over time. Since the holders did not reach saturation until day 7, the data up to day 7 was not used. As Figure 5 shown, the fragrance loss rate of both holders remained substantially constant.

[0210] Example 3. Mass Loss of Exemplary Devices with an External Core and Reservoir

[0211] Two exemplary holders were fabricated - one made of nylon (Holder E) and the other made of polypropylene (Holder F). Each holder had an external core and a reservoir. The external core used was made of polyester fiber wrapped in paper and was representative of the cores used in commercially available air fresheners. The reservoir was filled with fragrance oil and the core portion of the respective holder was inserted into the reservoir. All relevant materials were pre-weighed so that the mass loss of the fragrance oil could be accurately measured at the end of the evaluation. The measured masses of all materials for each exemplary device are summarized in Tables 4 and 5 below.

[0212] Table 4

[0213] Sample Mass, grams Support E (nylon) 13.08 Core 0.83 Glass jar without lid 50.74 Lid 3.1 Fragrance oil 23.02

[0214] Table 5.

[0215] Sample Mass, grams Support F (polypropylene) 15.33 Core 0.83 Glass jar without lid 52.29 Lid 3.15 Fragrance oil 23.00

[0216] Leave the holder stationary for several days to allow the fragrance oil to fully transfer to the surface of the holder. Evaporate the fragrance composition from the saturated holder and measure the mass of the saturated holder over a period of up to 30 days. Figure 6 Shows the mass loss (in grams per day) of Holder E and Holder F over time. Since the holders did not reach saturation until day 7, the data up to day 7 was not used.

[0217] Example 4. Mass Loss of Exemplary Devices with Printed Cores and Reservoirs under Different Conditions

[0218] The stent C (nylon stent with a printed core) in Example 2 was placed under different conditions for testing: stationary state, placed on a rotating disk, and placed under a fan, so as to evaluate the fragrance loss. The stent C was placed at a fixed position on the rotating disk platform, and the mass loss was regularly recorded under the following conditions at regular intervals over several days: stationary state, rotating disk state, and fan state. The stent was pre-weighed to finally accurately determine the mass loss result of the fragrance oil. The fan speed was set at 1700 RPM (60 CFM), the rotating disk speed was set at 7.5 rpm, and the edge of the device was placed at the edge of the disk (22 cm from the center).

[0219] Figure 7 The mass loss amounts (in grams per day) under different conditions are shown. As Figure 7 shown, the mass loss varies with the different environments where the stent is located. The fragrance loss is the lowest in the stationary state, followed by the rotating disk, and the fragrance loss is the highest under the fan state.

[0220] Example 5. Mass Loss of an Exemplary Device with an External Core and a Reservoir under Different Conditions

[0221] The stent E (nylon stent with an external core) in Example 3 was placed under different conditions for testing: stationary state, placed on a rotating disk, and placed under a fan, so as to evaluate the fragrance loss. The stent E was placed at a fixed position on the rotating disk platform, and the mass loss was regularly recorded under the following conditions at regular intervals over several days: stationary state, rotating disk state, and fan state. The stent was pre-weighed to accurately determine the final mass loss result of the fragrance oil. The fan speed was set at 1700 RPM (60 CFM), the rotating disk speed was set at 7.5 rpm, and the edge of the device was placed at the edge of the disk (22 cm from the center).

[0222] Figure 8 The mass loss amounts (in grams per day) under different conditions are shown. As Figure 8 shown, the mass loss varies with the different environments where the stent is located. The fragrance loss is the lowest in the stationary state, followed by the rotating disk, and the fragrance loss is the highest under the fan state.

[0223] Example 6. Mass Loss of Another Exemplary Device with an External Core and a Reservoir under Different Conditions

[0224] The bracket F in Example 3 (a polypropylene bracket with an external core) was placed under different conditions for testing: at rest, on a rotating disc, and under a fan, in order to evaluate the fragrance loss. The bracket F was placed at a fixed position on the rotating disc platform, and the mass loss was regularly recorded at different times over several days under the following conditions: at rest, on the rotating disc, and under the fan. The bracket was pre-weighed to ultimately accurately determine the mass loss result of the fragrance oil. The fan speed was set at 1700 RPM (60 CFM), and the rotating disc speed was set at 7.5 rpm. The edge of the device was placed on the edge of the disc (22 cm from the center).

[0225] Figure 9 The mass loss under different conditions (in grams per day) is shown. As Figure 9 shown, the mass loss varies with the environment in which the bracket is located. The fragrance loss is the lowest at rest, followed by on the rotating disc, and the highest under the fan.

[0226] Example 7. Exemplary device with a dual reservoir and a dual helix bracket

[0227] A dual-release fragrance delivery device was fabricated, which has a dual helix structure (“Sample A1”), where two reservoirs are connected to an intertwined dispensing surface through separate cores. The fragrance oil is a fruity / floral fragrance, with green and yellow added to show the migration of the fragrance into the intertwined structure. The bracket structure can accommodate approximately 2.7 wt% of the fragrance when fully saturated. Figure 10 An exemplary device with a dual reservoir and a dual helix bracket is shown.

[0228] Example 8. Exemplary device with an embedded reservoir

[0229] A fragrance release device with an embedded reservoir (“Sample B”) was fabricated, using a field-driven design with a radially varying pore size. As Figure 11 a and Figure 11 b show, the fragrance release device has a central reservoir that can be refilled using any dispensing device (such as a pipette). The central cavity is dense enough to hold the liquid, while having sufficient porosity to allow the fragrance oil to radially penetrate and diffuse. It is an aesthetically pleasing and high-performance air freshener that can be easily refilled after use.

[0230] Example 9. Exemplary devices each with a single reservoir

[0231] A fragrance release device with a single reservoir (“Sample C1”) consists of a commercially available air freshener bottle and a central core filled with yellow fragrance oil. According to the present disclosure, the holder is designed to fit perfectly with the core and the glass reservoir, thus ensuring fluid connection between the two. It can be clearly seen from the color change that the liquid can easily move towards the object surface. The holder can accommodate approximately 2 wt% of the fragrance oil when fully saturated. Figure 12 An exemplary fragrance release device with a single reservoir is shown.

[0232] Another fragrance release device with a single reservoir (“Sample D1”) is similarly constructed, including a central core and a reservoir, but uses a holder different from the present disclosure. Figure 13 Another exemplary fragrance release device with a single reservoir is shown.

[0233] Example 10. Exemplary devices with ceramic holders

[0234] Fragrance release devices with ceramic holders (“Sample E1” and “Sample E2”) were constructed. The holder was connected to the fragrance reservoir using a traditional core. The ceramic holder has a high porosity and can accommodate approximately 31 - 35% of its own weight of fragrance. Figure 14 Exemplary fragrance release device Sample E1 is shown, Figure 15 Exemplary fragrance release device Sample E2 is shown.

[0235] Example 11. Mass loss experiments of exemplary devices

[0236] Mass loss studies were conducted on the exemplary fragrance devices described in Examples 7 to 10. The exemplary fragrance devices described in Examples 7 to 10 were placed in a dedicated room where the temperature and humidity were controlled, with the temperature maintained at approximately 21.5 °C and the relative humidity at 50%. The weight loss was monitored over a period of time. Samples A0, C0, and D0 (corresponding to Samples A1, C1, and D1 respectively, but without the holders of the present disclosure) were used as controls. A market reed air freshener was also used as a control. Figure 16 Shows the variation of the average daily mass loss rate of the exemplary fragrance devices and the control devices over time.

[0237] As Figure 16As shown, the performance of the control samples without scaffolds (ending with "0") is relatively poor. The performance of Sample B is good, but it is quickly depleted and must be refilled after one week to restore its initial mass loss rate at time = 10 days. The performance of other scaffolds in certain forms according to the present invention significantly improves the performance of their control samples (compare A1 with A0; C1 with C0; D1 with D0). The performance of some of these samples is comparable to the market standards of reed air fresheners, but some are even significantly better than these, such as Samples D1, E1, and E2. The samples with the best performance are the highly porous ceramic device Samples E1 and E2, whose performance easily exceeds that of the market control samples by 2 to 3 times in about 1 to 5 weeks.

[0238] Example 12. Shell SLS 3D Printing and Comparison with Conventional SLS 3D Printing

[0239] Three scaffold variants with triply periodic minimal surface geometry and a connecting core were produced. These three variants differ in the core part. In the first variant ("Sample F1"), the core part is a porous core. In the second variant ("Sample F2"), the core part is a porous core with compacted powder. In the third variant ("Sample F3"), the core part is a porous core with large channels. These variants were fabricated using shell and conventional SLS 3D printing. Figure 17 Three scaffold variants with triply periodic minimal surface geometry and a connecting core are shown. Figure 18 A scaffold variant with triply periodic minimal surface geometry, a connecting core, and a reservoir is shown.

[0240] The shell-printed scaffolds and the conventionally printed scaffolds (with a connecting core) were placed in a bottle containing the fragrance, and the core part was used to deliver the fragrance oil to the emitting surface. The weight loss was monitored in a dedicated room where the room temperature and humidity were controlled at about 21.5 °C and the relative humidity was maintained at 50%. The weight loss was monitored over time. Figure 19 Shows the variation of the average daily mass loss rate of an exemplary fragrance device with a shell-printed scaffold, a conventionally printed scaffold, and a connecting core over time.

[0241] The results show that this shell-printing technique can improve performance because the performance of all fragrance release devices with shell-printed variants is better than that of the conventionally printed devices, and the mass loss rate is almost doubled.

[0242] The specific details of the specific implementation describe the subject matter of the present disclosure. Unless these details are included in the appended claims, these details should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0243] Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments described herein are well-suited to achieve the above objects and advantages as well as those inherent therein. The specific embodiments disclosed above are for reference only, as the exemplary embodiments described herein can be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners, which will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who have benefited from the teachings herein. Moreover, no limitation is imposed on the construction or design details shown herein other than as set forth in the following claims. Thus, it is evident that the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed above can be changed, combined, or modified, and all such variations are considered to be within the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The exemplary embodiments of the exemplary disclosure described herein can be suitably practiced in the absence of any element not specifically disclosed herein and / or any optional element disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a) a body portion comprising a porous material, wherein the body portion has a volume and at least one surface, wherein the volume comprises at least one network of a plurality of fluidly connected channels, wherein the at least one network of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end, wherein the at least one first end and at least one second end are spaced apart by a distance, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to the at least one surface, wherein each individual channel of the plurality of channels has a cross-section, wherein the distance and the cross-section of each channel of the plurality of channels define a surface, and b) at least one reservoir comprising a liquid fragrance composition fluidly connected to the body portion; wherein the fluid connection is configured to draw the liquid fragrance composition into the porous material of the body portion, wherein the porous material of the body portion is configured to absorb the liquid fragrance composition, and wherein the surface of the body portion is configured to dissipate the liquid fragrance composition by evaporation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, Each individual channel of the plurality of channels has one or more branches.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The surface comprises a triply periodic minimal surface geometry.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The triply periodic minimal surface geometry is selected from the group consisting of: helicoid geometry, gyroid geometry, Schwarz D "diamond" geometry, or Schwarz P "primitive" structure geometry.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The surface is defined according to Formula 1: F(x,y,z) = sin(x)·cos(y) + sin(y)·cos(z) + sin(z)·cos(x) = T Formula 1.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein, The value of T is selected from the values between 0 and 1.

43.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein The value of T is selected from the values between 0 and -1.

43.

8. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels is variable.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels at the center of the body portion is greater than the cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels at the periphery of the body portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels at the periphery of the body portion is greater than the cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels at the center of the body portion.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, The cross-section of each individual channel of the plurality of channels is at least 1 mm, typically at least 5 mm, more typically at least 10 mm.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The cross-sectional shape of the body portion is selected from the group consisting of an irregular shape, a square, a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, a rhombus, a semi-circle, and a trapezoid.

13. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein The body portion comprises two networks of a plurality of fluidly connected channels.

14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, The body portion has an open porosity of 0.01 to 0.

9.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The body portion comprises a plurality of pores having a size less than 1,000 μm.

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The body portion comprises porous porcelain material, plastic, molded ceramic, fiberglass, clay, activated carbon, cellulose, wood material, and any combination thereof.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein, The body portion comprises nylon, polypropylene, or a combination thereof.

18. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The at least one reservoir comprising the liquid fragrance composition is fluidly connected to the body portion through at least one wick.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, The at least one wick comprises a porous material.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, The liquid fragrance composition has a density of from about 0.7 to about 1.3 g / mL.

21. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein, The liquid fragrance composition has a surface tension of from about 10 to about 70 mN / m.

22. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein The liquid fragrance composition has a viscosity of from about 0.1 to about 10,000 mPa·s.

23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22, further comprising means for increasing evaporation, typically a heating element, a fan, a pump, a rotating support, an oscillating support or a translating support.

24. A method of dispensing a liquid fragrance composition into the surrounding space, comprising placing the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 23 into the desired space and causing the liquid fragrance composition to evaporate from the apparatus.

25. A kit, comprising: a) a body portion including a porous material, wherein the body portion has a volume and at least one surface, wherein the volume includes at least one network of a plurality of fluidly connected channels, wherein the at least one network of fluidly connected channels has at least one first end and at least one second end, wherein the at least one first end and the at least one second end are spaced apart, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end is fluidly connected to the at least one surface, wherein each individual channel of the plurality of channels has a cross-section, wherein the distance and the cross-section of each channel of the plurality of channels define a surface, and b) at least one reservoir containing a liquid fragrance composition.

26. The kit according to claim 25, further comprising at least one wick configured to fluidly connect the at least one reservoir to the body portion.

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