Consumer product comprising volatile combined cartridge

Abstract

Disclosed is a consumer product comprising a volatile composite cartridge, comprising: (i) an outer package; and (ii) one or more cartridges suitable for a volatile composition dispenser packaged within the overpack, the one or more cartridges each comprising: a reservoir having an opening containing a volatile composition in liquid form; a membrane closing the opening of the reservoir, the membrane configured to allow the volatile composition to evaporate; and a sealing base closing the opening of the reservoir, wherein: the one or more cartridges are disposable cartridges for placement in a reusable housing; the one or more cartridges are configured to be placed in the reusable housing without being adhered or attached to the reusable housing such that the one or more cartridges can be removed from the reusable housing without being touched by a user; and (a) or (b) applies: (a) a membrane configured to be broken before use closes the sealing substrate; or (b) a sealing substrate closure film configured to be broken open or removed prior to use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present utility model relates to the field of consumer products, and more particularly to products including a cartridge for delivering a volatile composition. Background Art

[0002] Systems for delivering volatile substances into the atmosphere are well known in the art. Such systems include insect repellents, air fresheners, deodorants, etc., and provide various benefits, such as air freshening or deodorizing, by evaporating the volatile substances into the space.

[0003] Most volatile composition dispensers are configured for single use. Typical single-use air freshener dispenser devices are described in PCT Publications WO 98 / 16262 and WO2017 / 192639, which include an air freshener medium in a container and a button actuator that can be manually operated to break a foil covering the container, thereby starting to dispense the air freshener into the atmosphere. One problem associated with such devices is that after the volatile composition is depleted, it is not possible to refill or replenish the volatile composition and reactivate the volatile composition dispenser. Thus, the entire product is discarded, exacerbating the environmental problem of plastic waste.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a volatile composition dispenser having a reusable housing and a replaceable cartridge therein for delivering a volatile substance.

[0005] In addition, there is a need for a volatile composition dispenser that is easy to use and provides high consumer satisfaction. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] The present utility model provides the following.

[0007] 1. A consumer product, comprising:

[0008] (i) an outer package; and

[0009] (ii) one or more cartridges packaged within the outer package, the one or more cartridges being adapted for a volatile composition dispenser, each of the one or more cartridges comprising:

[0010] a reservoir containing a volatile composition in liquid form, the reservoir having an opening;

[0011] a membrane closing the opening of the reservoir, the membrane being configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition; and

[0012] a sealing substrate closing the opening of the reservoir,

[0013] wherein:

[0014] The one or more cartridges are disposable cartridges for placement in a reusable housing; and

[0015] The one or more cartridges are configured to be placed in the reusable housing without adhering or attaching to the reusable housing such that the one or more cartridges can be removed from the reusable housing without being touched by the user; and

[0016] (a) or (b) applies:

[0017] (a) The film encloses the seal substrate, and the seal substrate is configured to be broken before use; or

[0018] (b) The seal substrate encloses the film, and the seal substrate is configured to be broken or removed before use.

[0019] 2. The consumer product according to item 1 above, wherein the seal substrate encloses the film, and the seal substrate is configured to be removed before use.

[0020] 3. The consumer product according to item 1 or 2 above, wherein each of the one or more cartridges includes an outer peripheral seal area, wherein the peripheral portions of the seal substrate and the film are sealed together at the outer peripheral seal area.

[0021] 4. The consumer product according to item 3 above, wherein the film is sealed to the outer peripheral portion of the reservoir at the outer peripheral seal area.

[0022] 5. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the seal substrate includes a tab facilitating removal by the user.

[0023] 6. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the volatile composition includes a fragrance.

[0024] 7. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the one or more cartridges further include at least one secondary reservoir portion,

[0025] wherein when the cartridge is oriented for use:

[0026] at least one secondary reservoir portion is located below the reservoir under the influence of gravity; and

[0027] the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the main reservoir portion under the influence of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition.

[0028] 8. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the reservoir is the outermost layer of the one or more cartridges.

[0029] 9. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the one or more cartridges are compressible or deformable.

[0030] 10. The consumer product according to item 9 of the preceding items, wherein the film and the reservoir are each compressible or deformable.

[0031] 11. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the film has an evaporation surface area of about 20 cm 2 to about 40 cm 2 and the one or more cartridges have a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm.

[0032] 12. The consumer product according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the film forms at least 90% of the surface area of the face of the cartridge.

[0033] In such forms, the present utility model provides a consumer product that includes a cartridge for use with a reusable housing. Compared with a disposable volatile composition dispenser, by using a disposable cartridge with a reusable housing, consumers will reduce plastic waste. In addition, the cartridge is configured to be held within the housing without adhesion or attachment and can be removed from the reusable housing without the user touching it. This enables the present utility model to provide a small, compact, and portable cartridge with a large evaporation surface area of the film, which is easy to remove from the housing at the end of its life. Specifically, since there is no need to touch the cartridge by hand to remove it from the housing, the consumer can advantageously avoid touching the film, which will be wetted by the volatile composition that typically includes a large amount of organic materials that are uncomfortable to touch. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Although this specification concludes with claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the present utility model, it is believed that the present utility model will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is an illustration of a consumer product according to one configuration.

[0036] Figure 2 is an illustration of a consumer product according to one configuration.

[0037] Figure 3A and Figure 3B show a front perspective view of a cartridge according to one configuration.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a rear view of a cartridge according to one configuration.

[0039] Figures 5A to 5CShows an example of a reusable housing with which the cartridges disclosed herein can be used.

[0040] Figure 6 Shows a cartridge according to one configuration.

[0041] Figure 7 Is an illustration of the effect of compressing a cartridge according to one configuration.

[0042] Figure 8 Is an enlarged view of a cartridge according to the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0043] Various configurations will now be described to provide a thorough understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and use principles of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these configurations are shown in the drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described and shown in the drawings are non-limiting example configurations, and the scope of the various configurations of the present disclosure is defined only by the claims. Features shown or described in connection with one example configuration may be combined with features of other example configurations. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] In some configurations, the consumer product can take the form of a refill pack for a cartridge, where the refill pack does not include a reusable housing.

[0045] Outer packaging

[0046] The outer packaging can be any suitable packaging, such as rigid packaging or soft packaging. From the perspective of protecting the cartridge from accidental damage or breakage, the packaging can be rigid or semi-rigid. For example, the packaging can be formed of a plastic material or a cardboard material. In some configurations, the outer packaging can be formed of a combination of rigid and semi-rigid materials, such as a combination of a plastic material and a cardboard material.

[0047] In some configurations, the outer packaging can be formed of mostly cardboard material. For example, the outer packaging can be formed of at least 50 weight % cardboard material, such as at least 60 weight %, at least 70 weight %, at least 80 weight %, at least 90 weight %, at least 95 weight % cardboard material.

[0048] The outer packaging can take any suitable form. In some configurations, the outer packaging can take the form of a blister or clamshell packaging, which can be made of a plastic material, a cardboard material, or a combination thereof. The blister packaging can have any suitable construction, including a face-sealed blister, a fully-sealed blister, a full-card blister, and an intercept blister. In some configurations, the outer packaging can take the form of a box, such as a cardboard box.

[0049] Suitable cardboard materials for the outer packaging include corrugated cardboard (such as single-sided, single-wall, double-wall, triple-wall, and honeycomb corrugated cardboard) and paperboard. In some configurations, the cardboard material can be laminated with a plastic material.

[0050] Suitable plastic materials for the outer packaging include any transparent plastic material that can adequately protect the cartridge. Specific examples include PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but those skilled in the art will recognize that other plastics can be used.

[0051] Barrel

[0052] One or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging to form a consumer product. For simplicity, one or more cartridges may be referred to herein as a "cartridge".

[0053] The cartridge is a single-use disposable cartridge that contains a volatile composition for release into the surrounding environment and can be discarded once the volatile composition in the cartridge is depleted. The cartridge is adapted to be placed within a reusable housing such that once the volatile composition in the cartridge is depleted, the cartridge can be removed from the housing and replaced with a new cartridge. Compared to a fully disposable product (i.e., where the housing is disposable), using a single-use cartridge with a reusable housing reduces the amount of material going to landfill and also uses a smaller amount of material (e.g., plastic) during the manufacturing process.

[0054] The cartridge includes a reservoir, a membrane, and a sealing substrate. The reservoir contains the volatile composition and is enclosed by the membrane and the sealing substrate, which can enclose the reservoir in any order. Thus, the membrane can enclose the sealing substrate, or the sealing substrate can enclose the membrane.

[0055] The cartridge may include an outer peripheral seal area where the peripheral portion of the reservoir and the membrane may be sealed together. In a configuration where the seal substrate encloses the membrane, the peripheral portion of the seal substrate may be sealed to the peripheral portion of the membrane at the outer peripheral seal area, i.e., the peripheral portions of each of the reservoir, the membrane, and the seal substrate may be sealed together at the outer peripheral seal area, provided that the seal substrate may still be removed from the cartridge. This may be the case where the edges of the reservoir and the membrane are joined. Alternatively, the edge of the reservoir may extend beyond the edge of the membrane, and the seal substrate may be sealed directly to the reservoir at the peripheral area of the reservoir beyond the membrane edge. In a configuration where the membrane encloses the seal substrate and the cartridge further includes a breaking mechanism for breaking the seal substrate, the outer peripheral seal area may include only the peripheral portions of the reservoir and the membrane. In such a configuration, the cartridge may further include an inner peripheral seal area where the inner peripheral portion of the reservoir is sealed to the seal substrate. This may be achieved by providing a reservoir having an intermediate step at the inner peripheral portion (e.g., between the outer peripheral portion and the body of the reservoir), where the seal substrate may be sealed to the intermediate step of the reservoir.

[0056] The cartridges described herein advantageously allow the removal of used or spent cartridges from the housing without the user touching the cartridge, thereby avoiding contact of the user's hand with the organic components of the volatile composition throughout the cartridge life cycle. This may be achieved by providing a form of cartridge that is configured to be placed in a reusable housing without adhering or attaching to the reusable housing. For example, the housing may be opened and inverted such that the cartridge falls out of the housing. This benefit of the present utility model is particularly advantageous because the used or spent cartridge will still contain a small amount of residual volatile composition, and thus even when the cartridge reaches the end of its useful life, the membrane will still be wetted with the organic components.

[0057] For example, the cartridge may be configured to be held within the housing without adhesion and / or without attachment. As used herein, "adhesion" refers to fixing the cartridge within the housing using an adhesive, such as an adhesive tape, such as glue, tape, or Velcro. Thus, in some configurations, the cartridge does not include an adhesive on the exterior of the cartridge that is intended to releasably bond the cartridge to the housing. "Attachment" refers to any mechanism for fixing the cartridge within the housing that requires an active release or detachment step and does not allow the cartridge to simply fall out of the housing when the housing is opened and inverted. For example, "attachment" may refer to a hook or clip, a component configured to be held firmly within a slot in the housing and requiring a manual removal step to be removed from the slot, or any other attachment device for fixing the cartridge to the housing that requires a detachment or release step.

[0058] In some configurations, the cartridge can be configured to be held within the housing by means of an attachment device that can be released or disengaged, such as via a button or a slider, without touching the cartridge.

[0059] In some of the configurations described herein, the cartridge is configured to be removed from the housing without being touched by the user. As used herein, "without being touched by the user" is understood to mean that the cartridge can be removed without the user touching the cartridge, either directly or indirectly, such as by using gloves or another tool such as a stick.

[0060] In some configurations, the cartridge can include one or more secondary reservoir portions. The secondary reservoir portions are arranged such that when the cartridge is oriented for use, at least one secondary reservoir portion is located below the reservoir under the influence of gravity; and the total volume of at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the main reservoir portion under the influence of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition.

[0061] As used herein, "oriented for use" refers to the orientation in which the consumer can reasonably place the cartridge during use, such as the intended configuration of the housing in which the cartridge is to be placed. For example, if the housing includes a base, then oriented for use will refer to the orientation when the base is placed on a substantially flat surface. If the housing includes a hook, then oriented for use will refer to the orientation caused by hanging the housing on the hook.

[0062] As used herein, and assuming that the reservoir and the secondary reservoir portion are fluidly connected, when the secondary reservoir portion is "positioned below the reservoir under gravity", the secondary reservoir portion is positioned such that the liquid present in the reservoir can flow under gravity to the secondary reservoir portion. The liquid can flow directly from the main reservoir portion to the secondary reservoir portion through a connecting member (such as a hole), or via a conduit connecting the main reservoir portion and the secondary reservoir portion. When at least one secondary reservoir portion is positioned below the reservoir under gravity, the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion positioned below the reservoir under gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile substance. In the case where the secondary reservoir portion includes a portion positioned below the reservoir and a portion not positioned below the reservoir, the volume of the portion positioned below the main reservoir portion is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile substance. Thus, when the cartridge according to the present utility model contains less than 4% of the initial volume of the volatile substance and is oriented in this way, substantially all of the remaining volatile substance remains in the secondary reservoir portion and the reservoir is substantially empty. Those skilled in the art will understand that a small amount (such as droplets) of the volatile substance may remain in the reservoir. This advantageously notifies the user that the volatile composition in the cartridge has been depleted and its service life has ended. This is beneficial because the volatile composition typically includes a small amount of non-volatile substances that will be present at the end of the life and are visible in the reservoir. The user may be confused by this residual substance in the reservoir and wrongly think that the cartridge is not depleted, resulting in dissatisfaction with the performance of the cartridge for a subsequent period of time.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present utility model, when the cartridge is oriented for use, the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion positioned below the reservoir under gravity can be 4% to 30% (such as 5% to 20%, such as 7% to 15%) of the initial volume of the volatile substance.

[0064] The reservoir, the membrane, and the sealing substrate are discussed in turn below.

[0065] Storage tank

[0066] The reservoir contains a volatile composition and has an opening closed by a membrane and a sealing substrate.

[0067] The reservoir of the cartridge can generally be formed of a plastic material, which can advantageously be transparent to allow easy observation of the filling level of the volatile composition in the reservoir. Examples of suitable materials are polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0068] The reservoir can be configured to dock with the reusable housing described herein. Thus, in some configurations, the reservoir can be configured to be received by a window portion of the reusable housing such that when the housing is closed, the cartridge is held securely within the housing. Accordingly, the reservoir can have a shape configured to correspond to the window portion of the reusable housing, such that the reservoir portion can be received and fit snugly within the window portion.

[0069] In such configurations, it may be advantageous for the reservoir to be formed of a transparent material such that the fill level of the volatile composition within the reservoir can be seen from the exterior of the reusable housing (such as through the window portion).

[0070] The cartridges disclosed herein are single-use cartridges for placement within a reusable housing. Thus, the cartridges generally do not include their own housing. In other words, the reservoir of the cartridge can be the outermost layer of the cartridge. In this context, "outermost" is to be understood to mean that the cartridge does not include substantial components external to the reservoir. To avoid doubt, this does not exclude the presence of a film and a sealing substrate that enclose the reservoir opening. In some configurations, the reservoir can still include a label or packaging around the reservoir that is intended to convey information to the user. However, as described herein, the reservoir can be transparent, and in such cases, the reservoir will generally not be covered by additional labels or packaging so as not to obscure the reservoir.

[0071] The reservoir can have any suitable shape. To hold the cartridge securely and prevent the cartridge from rotating, the reservoir can correspond to the shape of the window in the housing, with the cartridge being configured to be used with that window. Thus, the reservoir can have an oval shape. The combination of the window and the reservoir, both having an oval shape, ensures that the cartridge is held securely within the window and cannot rotate within the window. Additionally, the absence of corners / vertices makes it easier to place the cartridge into or remove it from the window compared to a polygonal shape that requires specific alignment. When the oval cartridge is placed into the oval window, the curved edges of the cartridge and the window will naturally align the cartridge during insertion, thereby enhancing ease of use and the user experience. The reservoir can have any suitable size. For example, the reservoir can have a maximum dimension of from about 4.5 cm to about 5.5 cm. The reservoir can have an oval shape and an aspect ratio of from about 1.2 to about 1.8, such as from about 1.3 to about 1.6. These dimensions can be measured at the maximum distance from the membrane in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane. As the reservoir extends away from the membrane, the reservoir can include a frustum-like taper (e.g., the reservoir can have a tapered cross-section as the distance from the membrane increases). This taper improves the ease of inserting the reservoir into the housing window because, during insertion, the taper guides the cartridge into the window. The reservoir can have a variable depth, which can also increase the ease of inserting the reservoir into the housing window because the shallower end of the reservoir can be inserted first, and the inclined section of the reservoir can assist in aligning the reservoir within the window during insertion. Thus, the depth of the reservoir at the first end can be greater than the depth at the second end. In some configurations, the reservoir can include a first end section, a second end section located at the end opposite the first end section, and an inclined section therebetween. In some configurations, the inclined section can have an inclination angle of from 2° to 35°, such as from 3° to 25°, such as from 4° to 15°. The first end section and the second end section can correspond to the respective ends of the cartridge such that the inclined section extends to and / or from the first end and / or the second end. Alternatively, the first end section and / or the second end section can have a substantially uniform depth, with an inclined section therebetween. In this context, a substantially uniform depth can correspond to a maximum to minimum depth ratio of from about 1 to about 1.4, preferably from about 1 to about 1.3, more preferably from about 1 to about 1.2, where the maximum and minimum depths are measured along a line bisecting the cartridge in the longitudinal direction.

[0072] It should be noted that the depth of the reservoir can be useful, especially when the sealing substrate is removable - the removable sealing substrate will be discussed in detail below. For example, when the depth of the reservoir is sufficient, the user can grasp the sidewall of the reservoir when removing the sealing substrate. It is believed that a reservoir depth of at least 5 mm, more preferably at least 6 mm, even more preferably at least 7 mm, or most preferably at least 8 mm can provide a sufficient gripping surface when the user removes the sealing substrate. While the foregoing represents the minimum depth of a reservoir that provides a sufficient gripping surface, it is further believed that a reservoir depth value that is too high can make it challenging to hold the cartridge. For example, it is believed that the reservoir depth can be 15 mm or less, preferably about 14 mm or less, more preferably about 13 mm or less, or most preferably 12 mm or less. Of course, the minimum and maximum depths of the reservoir can be combined to produce a depth range for the reservoir.

[0073] In addition, as previously mentioned, in the case where the depth of the reservoir varies along its length and / or width, it may be preferred to have the depth of the reservoir as described above adjacent to the tab for the sealing substrate. This can improve the ease of gripping the cartridge while removing the sealing substrate. For example, if the tab is provided on one side of the cartridge, the maximum reservoir sidewall depth can be adjacent to the tab, such as on one side of the cartridge.

[0074] As described above, the reservoir includes a sidewall. The perimeter can extend outside the sidewall. The perimeter of the cartridge can include a sealing region where the membrane and the sealing substrate are attached to the reservoir. In the case where the sealing substrate is removable, an adhesive dead zone can be provided in the perimeter. To provide sufficient adhesion of the membrane and the sealing substrate, it is believed that the width of the perimeter (generally perpendicular to the sidewall) should be at least 3 mm, more preferably at least 5 mm. To facilitate the removal of the sealing substrate, it is believed that the width of the dead zone from the outer edge of the perimeter towards the sidewall can be at least 1 mm or more preferably 2 mm, even more preferably at least 2.5 mm. An adhesive dead zone greater than 2.5 mm is considered to adversely affect the adhesion of the sealing substrate and the membrane, which may result in leakage during transportation, storage, and / or use.

[0075] Film

[0076] The volatile composition is in liquid form and is configured to evaporate through the membrane. Thus, the cartridge includes a microporous membrane, which may be referred to herein as the "membrane" for simplicity. The membrane can enclose the reservoir such that the volatile composition cannot escape from the cartridge without passing through the membrane. The membrane can prevent the passage of liquid such that the volatile composition can only escape from the cartridge by evaporation through or from the membrane.

[0077] The membrane is vapor-permeable and capable of wicking liquid, yet preventing the liquid from freely flowing out of the membrane. Any suitable membrane can be used. By way of pure example, certain properties of membranes that may be advantageous are discussed below. However, the present utility model is not limited to membranes having the following properties, and any membrane known in the art that permits the evaporation of the volatile composition can be used in the present utility model.

[0078] The membrane can have any suitable volume-average pore size, such as from 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm, such as from 0.02 μm to 0.3 μm, such as from 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm, more particularly from 0.065 μm to 0.15 μm, as this can result in an improvement in the evaporation rate and in controlling the leakage or seepage of the volatile composition. In certain configurations, the membrane can have a volume-average pore size from 0.065 μm to 0.15 μm, from 0.07 μm to 0.12 μm, from 0.07 μm to 0.11 μm or from 0.08 μm to 0.1 μm.

[0079] The membrane can comprise any suitable material (e.g., formed from any suitable material), such as polyethylene, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) having a molecular weight of about 3.5 million to 7.5 million amu, although other lengths of polyethylene chains can also be used.

[0080] The membrane can have a thickness in the z-direction of about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm, alternatively between about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm, from about 0.22 mm to about 0.37 mm, e.g., from about 0.25 mm to about 0.35 mm.

[0081] The membrane can be formed from a single piece or single sheet of material. In other words, the membrane can not be laminated. Thus, the membrane can be formed from a single sheet of polyethylene having the thickness as described above.

[0082] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the surface area of the membrane can vary depending on the cartridge size preferred by the user. In some configurations, the (evaporation) surface area of the membrane can be about 2 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2 , alternatively about 10 cm 2 to about 50 cm 2 , alternatively about 10 cm 2 to about 45 cm 2 , alternatively about 10 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 , alternatively about 15 cm 2 to about 40 cm 2 , alternatively about 15 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 , alternatively about 20 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2, alternatively about 30 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 , alternatively about 35 cm 2 .

[0083] Particularly preferred membranes can have a vaporization surface area ranging from about 20 cm 2 to about 40 cm 2 , such as from about 30 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 .

[0084] The membrane can substantially form all of the surface of the cartridge (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95%). Thus, the cartridge can have a front and a back, and the membrane can form substantially all of the surface area of the front or back of the cartridge (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95%). In some configurations, the membrane can form substantially all of the projection of the cartridge onto a plane (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90% or at least 95%), where the plane is chosen to provide the largest membrane area. This advantageously allows the membrane to have the largest vaporization surface area relative to the size of the cartridge, thus improving the release of the volatile composition.

[0085] Thus, in some configurations, the membrane can have a vaporization surface area ranging from about 20 cm 2 to about 40 cm 2 , such as from about 30 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 , and substantially form the entire face of the cartridge.

[0086] In some configurations, the membrane can have a vaporization surface area ranging from about 20 cm 2 to about 40 cm 2 , such as from about 30 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 , and the cartridge can have a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm, preferably less than 9 cm. This advantageously means that the cartridge has a compact size while maintaining a large vaporization surface area.

[0087] In such configurations, the membrane has a relatively large size relative to the overall size of the cartridge. Thus, it is particularly advantageous that the cartridge is configured to be removed from the housing without being touched by the user, because otherwise it is difficult to avoid touching the membrane (which is wetted with the volatile composition) when removing the cartridge from the housing. This can be achieved by ensuring that the cartridge remains in the housing without adhesion or attachment, so that the user can simply invert the open housing to remove the cartridge, and there is no need to detach or loosen the cartridge from the housing. This benefit is provided by Figure 5CIt is shown that the figure shows how the cartridge can be positioned within the housing. When the housing is opened, it is difficult to remove the cartridge without touching the membrane. Therefore, it is advantageous that the cartridge can be removed by simply inverting the opened housing and allowing the cartridge to fall out.

[0088] The membrane can have any suitable porosity. For example, based on volume, the membrane can have a porosity of 45% to 70%, such as 45% to 65%. In some configurations, the porosity can be from 50% to 70%, such as 55% to 65%.

[0089] The membrane can have any suitable total pore volume, such as from 0.6 cm 3 / g to 2 cm 3 / g. Generally, the total pore volume can be from 0.65 cm 3 / g to 1.6 cm 3 / g, such as 0.7 cm 3 / g to 1.5 cm 3 / g. In some configurations, the total pore volume can be from 0.8 cm 3 / g to 1.4 cm 3 / g.

[0090] The membrane can have any suitable bulk density, such as from 0.3 g / cm 3 to 0.8 g / cm 3 . Typically, the bulk density can be from 0.35 g / cm 3 to 0.75 g / cm 3 , for example 0.4 g / cm 3 to 0.7 g / cm 3 . In some configurations, the bulk density can be from 0.4 g / cm 3 to 0.6 g / cm 3 .

[0091] Membranes suitable for the present utility model include polyethylene membranes having the properties described herein and are available from Microporous LLC.

[0092] The membrane can include any suitable fillers and plasticizers known in the art. Fillers can include silica powder, clay, zeolite, carbonate, charcoal, and mixtures thereof. In one configuration, the membrane can be filled with about 30% to about 80% by total weight of silica powder.

[0093] In one aspect of the present utility model, the membrane can include a dye that is sensitive to the amount of volatile composition in contact therewith to indicate end of life. Alternatively, when in contact with a fragrance or volatile composition, the membrane can become transparent to indicate that diffusion is occurring. The present utility model contemplates other means known in the art for indicating end of life.

[0094] The films described herein can advantageously provide a distinct visual change when wetted with the volatile composition and when dried, whether before use or at the end of their life. When the film does not contain a white pigment (such as TiO 2 ), this visual change may be more readily perceptible. Thus, the film can comprise less than 5 wt% of a white pigment, such as less than 1 wt% of a white pigment, less than 0.1 wt% of a white pigment, or less than 0.01 wt% of a white pigment. The film can be free of white pigment.

[0095] When the film comprises a colored dye / pigment or a black dye / pigment, the visual change when the film becomes wet may be more pronounced compared to when it is dry. Thus, the film can comprise a colored or black dye / pigment, such as activated carbon. Such a colored or black pigment / dye (such as activated carbon) can be present in any suitable amount, such as from 0.1 wt% to 5 wt%, for example from 0.3 wt% to 1 wt%.

[0096] Sealing substrate

[0097] The cartridge comprises a sealed substrate that encloses the reservoir and thus encloses the volatile composition. As long as the sealed substrate is in place and intact, this prevents the evaporation of the volatile composition. The sealed substrate can be removed or breached to allow the volatile composition to evaporate. Such removal or breach can be referred to herein as "activation" or "enabling" of the cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be activated before use, i.e., the sealed substrate is configured to be breached or removed before use. In this document, "use" means enabling the volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge, i.e., performing its function of dispensing the volatile composition by evaporation. In other words, breaching or removing the sealed substrate allows at least one liquid volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge.

[0098] Non-limiting examples of suitable sealed substrates include impermeable membranes, foils, or laminates, such as flexible (e.g., polymeric) membranes, flexible (e.g., metallic) foils, or composite materials (e.g., foil / polymer membrane laminates). The impermeable thin film, foil, or laminate adheres to the cartridge to prevent the evaporation of the volatile composition. A specific example of a suitable sealed substrate is aluminum foil.

[0099] The sealed substrate can have any suitable thickness, such as from 10 μm to 1 mm, from 15 μm to 100 μm, from 18 μm to 50 μm, or from 20 μm to 35 μm.

[0100] As described above, there are two possible configurations for the order of the sealed substrate and the film.

[0101] In some configurations, a seal substrate can be positioned between the membrane and the volatile composition to prevent the volatile composition from contacting the membrane. Thus, the cartridge can be configured such that an external force applied to the cartridge may cause the seal substrate to break, and allow the volatile composition to pass through the broken seal substrate and contact the membrane. The volatile composition can then impregnate the membrane and evaporate from the membrane. The cartridge can include a breaking mechanism, and the breaking of the seal substrate can be caused by actuation of the breaking mechanism, which can be achieved by applying a force to the cartridge in a suitable location. Suitable breaking mechanisms are described in detail in U.S. Patent Nos. 10,561,754, 10,561,755, and 10,561,756. The breaking mechanism can be actuated by a force applied by a housing configured to be used with the cartridge, such as a housing including rib elements configured to actuate the breaking mechanism when the cartridge is placed inside the housing. Alternatively, by applying pressure to the seal substrate through the membrane, a force applied to the cartridge can directly cause the seal substrate to break. Thus, the membrane may be capable of deforming such that when a force is applied to the membrane (e.g., a force applied by rib elements present on the housing as described herein), the membrane can deform towards the seal substrate in the direction of the applied force. In such configurations, the seal substrate can be formed of a substantially inelastic material, such as a metal foil. When the above-described force is applied to the membrane, the membrane deforms and contacts the seal substrate. The seal substrate cannot deform or bend sufficiently in the direction of the force and may thus be subjected to the force and break. In such configurations, it is important that when the membrane is deformed by the applied force and presses against the seal substrate, the seal substrate breaks before the membrane is damaged. In other words, the applied force causes the seal substrate to break while the membrane deforms without breaking, cracking, or tearing. Thus, in some configurations, the membrane can surround the seal substrate, and the seal substrate can be configured to break under a force applied to the seal substrate through the membrane.

[0102] In other configurations, the membrane can be positioned between the volatile composition and the seal substrate such that the volatile composition contacts the membrane but does not evaporate and leave the cartridge because the membrane is enclosed by the seal substrate. In such configurations, the cartridge can also be configured to be used with a housing that includes ribs as described above that directly break the seal substrate. However, this may result in only small holes in the seal substrate, thus limiting the rate at which the volatile composition can evaporate from the cartridge. Thus, in such configurations, the seal substrate can be provided as a removable component (such as a removable membrane, foil, or laminate) that encloses the membrane and prevents the volatile composition from evaporating until the seal substrate is removed. When this type of seal substrate is removed from the cartridge, the entire membrane can be exposed to the surrounding environment, thereby enabling an increased rate of evaporation of the volatile composition. In such cases, the seal substrate can be provided with a pull tab to allow for easy removal of the seal substrate from the cartridge before consumer use.

[0103] When a pull tab is provided on a sealed substrate to facilitate removal of the sealed substrate, the pull tab can be any suitable size. For example, the pull tab can have a length of from about 20 mm or less, preferably about 15 mm or less, or more preferably about 10 mm or less. As another example, the pull tab can have a length of from about 2 mm to about 20 mm, preferably from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or more preferably from about 5 mm to about 10 mm, specifically including all values within these ranges and any resulting ranges. Similarly, the width of the pull tab can be about 20 mm or less, preferably about 15 mm or less, or more preferably about 10 mm or less. As another example, the pull tab can have a width of from about 2 mm to about 20 mm, preferably from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or more preferably from about 5 mm to about 10 mm, specifically including all values within these ranges and any resulting ranges. The pull tab can be located at any suitable position on the sealed substrate. Preferably, the pull tab is provided adjacent to the sealed area.

[0104] When the length and / or width of the pull tab exceeds the above length and / or width, the cartridge may be difficult to package. For example, the housing and the cartridge can be packaged together or separately. When the cartridge is disposed within the housing, the housing can be in an open position or a closed position. When in the closed position, it is desirable to ensure that the pull tab is similarly disposed within the housing. In the case where the cartridge is disposed outside the housing, it may be useful to expose a portion of the pull tab to the consumer to show the facility that can be used to activate the cartridge; however, when the length and / or width exceeds the above values, it may be difficult to expose only a portion while hiding the remaining portion of the pull tab.

[0105] As described above, in some configurations, the sealed substrate can be a breakable substrate. In other configurations, the sealed substrate can be a removable sealed substrate.

[0106] When the sealed substrate breaks during closure of the housing as described herein, the film located outside the sealed substrate may be wetted by the volatile composition. Since the volatile composition typically includes various organic compounds and solvents, users generally prefer to avoid contact with the wetted film. Advantageously, using the breaking mechanism described herein allows the cartridge to be activated without the user touching the cartridge during the activation step, thereby avoiding any contact between the user's hand and the organic components of the volatile composition. Thus, in some configurations described herein, the sealed substrate is configured to break during closure of the reusable housing.

[0107] Volatile composition dispenser

[0108] The combination of a cartridge and a reusable housing may be referred to as a volatile composition dispenser. Thus, placing one of the one or more cartridges in a reusable housing generally forms a volatile composition dispenser that can be used to release a volatile composition over time.

[0109] Accordingly, a cartridge as described herein can be placed in a reusable housing to form a volatile composition dispenser. For example, a volatile composition dispenser can include (i) a reusable housing; and (ii) a cartridge as described herein held within the housing. As described in more detail below, the cartridge is generally held within the housing without adhering or attaching to the housing.

[0110] In this manner, the cartridge can be used to dispense at least one volatile composition and / or other solution or composition, such as perfume, fragrance, and / or insecticide, into the surrounding area or atmosphere. The volatile composition can include a single chemical or single material capable of entering the gas phase under atmospheric conditions, or more commonly, the volatile composition can include a mixture of chemicals and / or materials capable of entering the gas phase under atmospheric conditions.

[0111] The cartridge can be configured to dispense the volatile composition in a continuous manner without any energy input, i.e., the cartridge (and corresponding housing) can be unpowered. "Unpowered" means that the device is passive and does not require power from an external energy source. The cartridge and any associated housing do not require power from a heat source, gas source, or current source, and the volatile composition is generally not delivered through an aerosol device (e.g., the cartridge may not include components under high pressure).

[0112] The continuous emission of at least one volatile composition can continue for any suitable length of time, such as up to 20 days, 30 days, 40 days, 60 days, 90 days, shorter or longer times, or any time between 10 and 90 days. Of course, compositions with greater or lesser volatility can be provided in the cartridge to increase or decrease its service life. Additionally, the service life of the cartridge may depend on the various conditions in which the cartridge operates (i.e., temperature, pressure, water content, air flow, etc.).

[0113] Reusable housing

[0114] As described above, the cartridge is a single-use cartridge for placement in a reusable housing. For simplicity, the reusable housing may be referred to herein as "the housing" or "housing". Suitable housings that can be used with the cartridge are described below.

[0115] The housing can be an unpowered housing. A suitable housing can have a front frame and an opposing rear frame. The front frame and the rear frame can move relative to each other, thereby allowing the housing to be in a closed position and an open position. The front frame and the rear frame can be pivotally connected to each other in a clamshell arrangement (e.g., via a hinge), or can be completely separated.

[0116] The housing can generally be formed of a plastic material, such as polypropylene. Those skilled in the art will know other suitable plastics that can be used.

[0117] The front frame and the rear frame can together include a locking structure to releasably interlock the front frame and the rear frame together when closing the housing. Thus, the locking structure can releasably lock the housing in a closed state. The locking structure can be provided at a movable end of the housing (e.g., the second end), which is opposite to the first end, and the front frame and the rear frame can be connected, for example, via a hinge at the first end. Various locking structures can be used, including, for example, latches, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners, and buckles. Representative latch locking structures include through latches and pushbutton latch structures.

[0118] As described herein, the housing (e.g., the rear frame) can include one or more rib elements that can be configured to apply a compressive force on the cartridge, for example, by pressing against the cartridge when the housing is in the closed state. Typically, when the housing is in the closed state (whether by direct pressing or by one or more additional components or layers), such rib elements are configured to apply a compressive force on the membrane of the cartridge. Applying a compressive force to the cartridge can provide benefits, including (i) activating the cartridge if the cartridge includes a breaking mechanism; (ii) compressing the cartridge to increase the apparent fill level of the liquid volatile composition seen by the user; (iii) fixing the cartridge within the housing; and (iv) the cartridge applying a reaction force to the rib elements of the housing, which biases the housing towards the open state, meaning that once the locking structure is disengaged, the housing will spring open.

[0119] The housing (e.g., the front frame) can include a window portion that advantageously allows the cartridge to be seen from outside the housing, and this can allow the fill level of the volatile composition to be easily determined without opening the housing. In some configurations, the window portion can be configured to receive a portion of the cartridge, such as a reservoir. When the housing is closed, this helps to hold the cartridge firmly in place without the need for any adhesive or other means of adhesion. Using the window portion and an optional support wall portion surrounding a portion of the window portion allows the cartridge to be supported within the housing without adhesion. For example, when the cartridge is held within the housing, a portion of the cartridge can rest on the wall portion. This allows the cartridge to be supported and held firmly within the housing, but since the cartridge is not adhered to the housing, the user can quickly and easily remove the cartridge, which will be discussed in more detail herein.

[0120] The window portion can have any suitable shape. To firmly hold the cartridge and prevent the cartridge from rotating, the window can have an elliptical shape. The window can have any suitable size. For example, the window can have a maximum dimension of from about 4.5 cm to about 5.5 cm. The window can have an elliptical shape and an aspect ratio of from about 1.2 to about 1.8, such as from about 1.3 to about 1.6.

[0121] The wall portion can have any suitable shape that allows the wall portion to support the cartridge within the housing without adhesion. For example, the wall portion can include a solid (e.g., continuous) wall, or alternatively can include interrupted wall segments, or can be formed by a plurality of protrusions. Those skilled in the art will understand that any of these configurations can be used to support the cartridge within the housing.

[0122] To facilitate the dissipation of the volatile composition, the housing (e.g., the rear frame) can include one or more holes that allow the evaporated volatile composition to leave the housing. These holes can be configured as described in U.S. Patent No. 11,207,440.

[0123] As described above, the cartridge can be configured to be removed from the housing without being touched by the user. Thus, in some configurations, the housing is configured such that when the housing is in the open configuration, the cartridge placed within the housing can be removed by inverting the housing.

[0124] Thus, in some configurations, the housing can be an openable housing (e.g., having a clamshell structure), and the housing and the cartridge can be configured such that when the life of the cartridge located within the housing ends, the cartridge can be removed from the housing by the following steps:

[0125] (i) Open the housing; and

[0126] (ii) Invert the housing,

[0127] without the need for a step of detaching or separating the cartridge from the housing.

[0128] Volatile composition

[0129] The volatile composition can include, but is not limited to, substances that can be used as air fresheners, deodorants, odor neutralizing materials, odor blocking materials, odor counteracting agents, odor masking materials, aromatherapy materials, aromachology materials, insecticides, air and / or surface disinfectants, and / or combinations thereof.

[0130] As used herein, the term "volatile composition" refers to a material that can evaporate without an energy source at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. A volatile composition can be a composition consisting entirely of a single volatile substance. A volatile composition can also be a composition consisting entirely of a mixture of volatile substances (i.e., the mixture has more than one volatile component). In addition, not all of the component substances of the composition need be volatile. Any suitable volatile composition in any amount or form can be used, including liquids or emulsions.

[0131] Accordingly, a liquid suitable for use herein can also have non-volatile components, such as carrier materials (e.g., water, solvents, etc.). It should also be understood that when a liquid is described herein as "delivering", "dispensing", or "releasing", this refers to the evaporation of its volatile components and does not require the non-volatile components to be dispensed.

[0132] The volatile composition can be in the form of an aromatic oil. Most conventional fragrances are volatile essential oils. The volatile composition can be a volatile organic compound that is commonly available from fragrance suppliers. In addition, the volatile composition can be a synthetic or naturally occurring material. Examples include, but are not limited to: bergamot oil, bitter orange oil, lemon oil, citrus oil, caraway oil, cedar leaf oil, clove leaf oil, cedarwood oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, orange oil, oregano oil, petitgrain oil, white cedar oil, patchouli oil, neroli oil, pure rose oil, etc. In the case of air fresheners or aromatics, the different volatile substances can be similar, related, complementary, or distinct.

[0133] It may be desirable for the volatile composition to be in liquid form at 25°C.

[0134] Various configurations will now be described to provide a thorough understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and use principles of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these configurations are shown in the drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and shown in the drawings are non-limiting example configurations, and the scope of the various configurations of the present disclosure is defined only by the claims. Features shown or described in connection with one example configuration can be combined with the features of other example configurations. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0135] Figure 1 A consumer product 100 is shown that includes an outer package 101 and two cartridges 102.

[0136] Figure 2 A consumer product 200 is shown that includes an outer package 201 and three cartridges 202.

[0137] Figure 3A and Figure 3BTwo views of the cartridge 300 are shown. The cartridge 300 includes a reservoir 310. The membrane and the seal substrate are not visible from the views shown Figure 3A and Figure 3B . The cartridge 300 further includes two sub-reservoir portions 320. The reservoir 310 contains a volatile substance that is configured to evaporate from the reservoir 310 after performing an activation step, i.e., after the seal substrate is broken or removed. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The cartridge 300 is depicted as having a sub-reservoir portion 320 that is disposed under the reservoir 310 under the action of gravity when the cartridge 300 is oriented for use. The conduit region 330 around the reservoir 310 acts as a conduit that fluidly connects the reservoir 310 to the sub-reservoir portion 320. The reservoir 310 and the sub-reservoir portion 320 are enclosed by a microporous membrane (not shown) located on the opposite side of the cartridge 300. The microporous membrane is configured to allow the evaporation of the volatile substance in contact with the membrane. Although Figure 3A and Figure 3B the cartridge 300 shown in contains a sub-reservoir portion 320, those skilled in the art will understand that the present utility model does not require the presence of a sub-reservoir portion in the cartridges disclosed herein.

[0138] Figure 4 A rear view of the cartridge 300 according to the present utility model is shown. The cartridge 300 includes a seal substrate 340 that encloses the membrane and the reservoir (not shown). The membrane is configured to allow the evaporation of the volatile substance once the seal substrate 340 is removed from the cartridge. In Figure 4 the cartridge 300 shown, the entire rear surface of the cartridge 300 consists of the seal substrate 340, but those skilled in the art will understand that this is not a requirement for the cartridges disclosed herein.

[0139] Figure 5A An example device 500 (e.g., a volatile composition dispenser) for delivering a volatile composition is shown. The device 500 includes a reusable housing 510 having a front frame 520 and a rear frame 530. The device further includes a cartridge as disclosed herein located within the reusable housing 510. The reservoir 310 of the cartridge can be seen through the front frame 520 of the reusable housing 510, and the reservoir is depicted as being received by a window portion of the reusable housing. The rear frame 530 includes feet 560 to provide a stable base when the device 500 is placed on a surface. In Figure 5A , the other parts of the cartridge cannot be seen through the front portion 520 of the reusable housing 510.

[0140] Figure 5BA more complete view of the rear portion 530 of the reusable housing 510 is shown, which includes a plurality of holes 540 for exposing the evaporative portion (e.g., membrane) of the cartridge. The reusable housing 510 is openable such that the cartridge can be replaced once its life ends, and the rear portion 530 also includes a locking structure 550 (partially shown) for releasably closing the reusable housing.

[0141] Figure 5C The device 500 is shown in an open configuration, and a cartridge located within the housing is shown, where the membrane 340 is visible and a reservoir (not shown) is received by a window portion of the front frame 520. The locking structure 550 includes a deformable protruding button L21 and a latch member L23, and the cooperation of these two members is utilized to lock and release the device. The locking structure 550 includes a deformable protruding button L21 located at the edge of the front frame 520, and the rear frame 530 includes complementary grooves such that the housing 500 has a smooth and complete appearance when closed. The deformable protruding button L21 is attached to the latch member L23 on the inner side of the button L21, and the latch member L23 includes a latch body L233 and a strut L231 for connecting the button L21 and the latch body L233. Two semi-open notches L232 (between the button L21 and the latch body L233) are formed by the button L21, the strut L231, and the latch body L233. Two protrusions L24 extend from the inner surface of the rear frame 530 at positions corresponding to the notches L232. When the housing 500 is closed, the protrusions L24 enter the notches L232, and at the same time, the strut L231 is stuck in the gap between the protrusions L24, thereby providing a stable lock between the front frame 520 and the rear frame 530. To open the housing 500 again, the consumer can press the deformable protruding button L21 to deform the button such that the strut L231 disengages from the gap and the protrusions L24 disengage from the notches, thereby unlocking the latch structure. Figure 5C Also shown are two rib elements 570, which are configured to tightly press against the membrane 340 of the cartridge when the housing 500 is closed. Thus, when the housing 500 is closed, the rib elements will apply a compressive force to the cartridge, which provides the advantages discussed herein. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the cartridge has suitable dimensions for enclosing the housing to generate the required compressive force, thereby obtaining the advantages discussed herein.

[0142] Figure 6Depicts cartridge 630 in accordance with the present disclosure. Cartridge 630 includes a seal area 635 which, as described herein, can include a portion of a seal substrate and a portion of a membrane. To facilitate removal of the seal substrate, a pull tab 640 can be provided. Pull tab 640 can be integrally formed with the seal substrate or can be discrete and attached to the seal substrate. The cartridge can include a major axis 671 and a minor axis 672. To facilitate packaging, pull tab 640 can have a length 645 that is generally parallel to major axis 671 and a width 647 that is generally parallel to minor axis 672. The length 645 and width 647 of pull tab 640 can be any suitable values as described herein.

[0143] Figure 7 Shows an illustrative side cross-section of cartridge 701 which has a reservoir 704 containing a volatile composition. Reservoir 704 is enclosed by a membrane 703a. Cartridge 701 is not subject to any compressive force, so membrane 703a is not deformed and the reservoir has a certain fill level of volatile composition 704a. In contrast, cartridge 702 is subject to a compressive force F acting in the horizontal direction. Compressive force F deforms the membrane 703b of the cartridge, thereby reducing the horizontal thickness of reservoir 704 and resulting in an increased fill level of volatile composition 704b.

[0144] Figure 8 Shows an enlarged view of cartridge 30 in accordance with one configuration. Cartridge 30 includes a reservoir 32 having a main reservoir body 321 within which a volatile composition is stored. A seal substrate 33 is sealably attached to reservoir 32 at an inner peripheral seal area 324 and encloses the reservoir to prevent release of the volatile composition prior to activation of cartridge 30. By actuating a breakage mechanism 34 located adjacent to seal substrate 33, seal substrate 33 can be broken to release the volatile composition. One or more breakage elements 37 are disposed within breakage mechanism 34 to pierce holes in seal substrate 33. Breakage elements 37 can be pins. Cartridge 30 can include a membrane 39 located outside of cartridge 30. Membrane 39 can be sealably attached to an outer peripheral seal area 322 located at an outer peripheral seal area 323 of reservoir 32. Outer peripheral seal area 323 also includes an inner-outer peripheral seal area 324 where seal substrate 33 is sealably attached to reservoir 32. Membrane 39 can enclose reservoir 32, the volatile composition, seal substrate 33, and breakage mechanism 34. Membrane 39 can be configured to bend when pressure or an actuating force is applied to membrane 39. And membrane 39 can be configured to be porous to continuously absorb and volatilize the volatile composition.

[0145] The dimensions and values disclosed herein should not be construed as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to represent the recited value and a range functionally equivalent thereto. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to represent "about 40 mm".

[0146] Unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited, each document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent or patent application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or from which it derives benefit, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any of the disclosed or claimed subject matter of the present utility model, or that it alone, or in any combination with any one or more other references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such subject matter. Further, when any meaning or definition of a term in this utility model conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this utility model shall govern.

[0147] Although particular configurations of the present utility model have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model. Accordingly, it is intended that all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present utility model be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A consumer product comprising a cartridge of a volatile composition, characterized in that The consumer products include: (i) outer packaging; and (ii) one or more cartridges packaged in the outer package, the one or more cartridges being suitable for use in a volatile composition dispenser, the one or more cartridges each comprising: a reservoir comprising a volatile composition in liquid form, the reservoir having an opening; a membrane closing the opening of the reservoir, the membrane being configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition; and a sealing base closing the opening of the reservoir, in: The one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement in a reusable housing; and The one or more cartridges are configured to be placed in the reusable housing without being adhered or attached to the reusable housing so that the one or more cartridges can be removed from the reusable housing without being touched by a user; and (a) or (b) applies: (a) the film encloses the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to be broken before use; or (b) The sealing substrate encloses the membrane, and the sealing substrate is configured to be broken or removed before use.

2. The consumer product of claim 1, wherein the sealing substrate encloses the film and is configured to be removed prior to use.

3. A consumer product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more cartridges each include an outer peripheral sealing area, wherein the peripheral portions of the reservoir and membrane are sealed together at the outer peripheral sealing area.

4. The consumer product of claim 3, wherein a peripheral portion of the sealing substrate is sealed to a peripheral portion of the film at the outer peripheral sealing area.

5. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealed substrate includes a pull tab to facilitate removal by a user.

6. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the volatile composition comprises a fragrance.

7. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more cartridges further comprise at least one secondary reservoir portion, Wherein when the cartridge is oriented for use: at least one secondary reservoir portion is located below the reservoir under the influence of gravity; and The total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the primary reservoir portion under the action of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition.

8. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoir is the outermost layer of the one or more cartridges.

9. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more cartridges are compressible or deformable.

10. The consumer product of claim 9, wherein the membrane and the reservoir are each compressible or deformable.

11. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the film has a thickness of about 20 cm 2 To about 40cm 2 The one or more cartridges have a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm.

12. The consumer product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the film forms at least 90% of the surface area of ​​the face of the cartridge.

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