Container for releasing volatile substances

Abstract

Container for releasing volatile substances, comprising: - a container body (1) containing a liquid with volatile substances and having an opening (2); - a porous membrane (3) closing the opening (2) of the container body (1); and wherein the porous membrane (3) is transparent when the porous membrane (3) is in contact with the liquid of the container body (1) by virtue of the liquid being located in the pores of the porous membrane (3), and the porous membrane (3) is opaque when the porous membrane (3) is not in contact with the liquid of the container body (1), the pores of the porous membrane (3) diffracting light, characterized in that the porous membrane (3) comprises a message or pattern (7) which is viewed when the porous membrane (3) is transparent, the message or pattern (7) being printed on one side of the porous membrane (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for releasing volatile substances, comprising a porous membrane that becomes transparent when the porous membrane is in contact with a liquid of the container. Background of the invention

[0002] Membrane-based devices for releasing volatile substances into the atmosphere and membrane-based devices have been known for years.

[0003] These devices consist of a container, often thermoformed, sealed by the membrane to allow vapor to pass through the membrane but not the liquid. A barrier layer is applied to the top of the membrane. This barrier layer prevents the substance from escaping during storage and must be removed by the user before first use.

[0004] It is a general need for commercial products to have a clear end of life to inform the user that the product has reached its end of life and that a new device must be used.

[0005] The membranes are generally transparent, allowing liquid to be seen. However, a stronger end-of-life indication is welcome anyway. In other cases, a porous element is present in the container behind the membrane to act as a wick, supplying liquid to the membrane surface and then experiencing maximum evaporation. In such cases, the porous element will conceal the liquid, and the end-of-life indication is lost. Description of the invention

[0006] Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a container for releasing volatile substances which makes it possible to indicate to the user in a very simple manner that the release of the volatile substances has been exhausted.

[0007] With the container for releasing volatile substances according to the present invention, it is possible to solve the disadvantages while providing other advantages which will be described below.

[0008] The container for releasing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises the following: - a container body containing a liquid with volatile substances and having an opening; - a porous membrane closing the opening of the container body; and wherein the porous membrane is transparent when the porous membrane is in contact with the liquid of the container body.

[0009] The porous membrane is opaque when the porous membrane is in a dry state, that is, when the porous membrane is not in contact with a liquid, because the pores diffract light.

[0010] The material of the porous membrane is oleophilic or has an oleophilic treatment, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or UHMPWPE.

[0011] Furthermore, the membrane has more than 50% (weight) capacity to absorb oil, fragrance or volatile substances.

[0012] The transparency of the porous membrane is achieved when the liquid is contained within the pores of the membrane. The porous membrane is not transparent, for example, it is opaque, when the porous membrane is not in contact with the liquid in the container body.

[0013] The container according to the present invention may further comprise a barrier layer releasably connected to the porous membrane.

[0014] The container for releasing volatile substances according to the present invention includes a message or pattern that is viewed when the porous membrane is transparent.

[0015] The message or pattern is printed on one side of the porous membrane.

[0016] Advantageously, the container body is transparent.

[0017] Preferably, the container body comprises a residual liquid region, such as a cavity or a porous element. Short description of the drawings

[0018] To better understand the above explanation and for the sole purpose of providing an example, some non-limiting drawings are included which schematically illustrate a practical embodiment. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view of the container of the invention according to a first embodiment, with the pattern printed on the substrate; Fig. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation view of the container of the invention, with a printed support placed between the barrier layer and the porous membrane; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the container according to the invention, with a printed support placed between the container body and the porous membrane; Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the container according to the present invention, wherein the complete pattern can be viewed since the container is filled with liquid; Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the container according to the present invention, wherein the pattern can be fully viewed since the container is filled with liquid; Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the container according to the present invention, wherein the pattern can be partially viewed since the container is partially free of liquid; Fig. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation view of the container according to the present invention according to the first embodiment, showing a cavity as a residual liquid portion; and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation view of the container according to the present invention according to the first embodiment, showing a porous member as a residual liquid portion. Description of a preferred embodiment

[0019] The container for releasing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises the following: - a container body 1, which is preferably transparent and has an opening 2 containing a liquid with the volatile substances; - a porous membrane 3 which becomes transparent when the porous membrane is in contact with the liquid containing the volatile substances arranged in the container body; and - optionally a barrier layer 4 which is detachably connected to the porous membrane 3 and which is removed before first use.

[0020] As in Fig. 1, the container body 1 comprises a peripheral edge 5 defining a sealing zone 6 in which the porous membrane 3 is connected to the container body 1.

[0021] A message or pattern 7 is arranged behind the porous membrane 3 and is thus only visible when the membrane is transparent.

[0022] In the present application, “rear” means on the opposite side of the porous membrane 3 with respect to where the user can view it: - When the user sees the product from the front, ie through the container body 1, the message is placed on the outside of the porous membrane 3, and - If the user can only see the back of the porous membrane 3, the message will be arranged on the inside of the porous membrane 3.

[0023] The message or pattern 7 can be printed by printing the message on the back of the porous membrane 3 (embodiment of Fig. 1) or by arranging a printed base (embodiment of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

[0024] In addition, there is a residual trap: often, even when optimized, fragrances have a non-volatile part (or a low-volatile part, i.e., a part that evaporates very slowly without having any intensity). If nothing is done, this non-volatile or highly volatile part prevents the porous membrane 3 from becoming opaque again during this low- or no-evaporation phase.

[0025] To prevent this, a residual liquid region may be arranged inside the container body 1. This residual liquid region must be separated from the porous membrane 3 (not in fluid contact when the liquid is almost exhausted).

[0026] This residual liquid area can be a cavity 9 ( Fig. 7) or a porous element 10 ( Fig. 8). It must be pointed out that the cavity 9 and / or the porous element 10 in each of the Fig. 1- Fig. 3 shown embodiments.

[0027] During the evaporation of the liquid, after removal of the barrier layer 4, the porous membrane 3 and the residual liquid region are in fluid contact because the container body 1 is filled with liquid.

[0028] Since more volatile substances evaporate first, the composition of the liquid changes with a higher concentration of low-volatility components. Once a certain amount of substance has evaporated, typically more than 90% and ideally more than 95%, the residue will be contained in the residual liquid region and will not penetrate the porous membrane 3.

[0029] The volatile substances contained in the porous membrane 3 will thus evaporate completely, and the porous membrane 3 will become opaque again.

[0030] Furthermore, the porous membrane 3 ideally exhibits a certain capillarity property: To make the entire porous membrane 1 transparent until the end of its service life, the liquid should be distributed throughout the entire porous membrane 1. For this purpose, the capillary rise of the liquid must be at least equal to the length of the porous membrane 3 in the vertical position.

[0031] When the container is used for the first time, the user must remove the barrier layer 4, which allows the release of the volatile substances through the porous membrane 3. Since the porous membrane 1 is in contact with the liquid, it is transparent, and the user can see the message or pattern 7 ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), indicating that the container continues to release volatile substances.

[0032] As the liquid in the container is wasted, the porous membrane 1 progressively loses its transparency ( Fig. 6), and if it is completely opaque, the user cannot see the message or pattern 7, and therefore the user knows that the liquid is exhausted.

[0033] Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the container for releasing volatile substances described herein may be subject to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned may be replaced by other technically equivalent ones without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] Container for releasing volatile substances, comprising: - a container body (1) containing a liquid with volatile substances and having an opening (2); - a porous membrane (3) closing the opening (2) of the container body (1); and wherein the porous membrane (3) is transparent when the porous membrane (3) is in contact with the liquid of the container body (1) by virtue of the liquid being located in the pores of the porous membrane (3), and the porous membrane (3) is opaque when the porous membrane (3) is not in contact with the liquid of the container body (1), wherein the pores of the porous membrane (3) diffract the light, characterized by in that the porous membrane (3) comprises a message or pattern (7) which is viewed when the porous membrane (3) is transparent, the message or pattern (7) being printed on one side of the porous membrane (3). [2] A container for releasing volatile substances according to claim 1, further comprising a barrier layer (4) detachably connected to the porous membrane (3). [3] A container for releasing volatile substances according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body (1) comprises a residual liquid region (9, 10). [4] A container for releasing volatile substances according to claim 3, wherein the residual liquid region is a cavity (9). [5] A container for releasing volatile substances according to claim 3, wherein the residual liquid region is a porous element (10).

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