Portable accessory comprising a case for receiving a pad containing a volatile active substance

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory intended to be worn by a user, said accessory comprising a case (1) and an element for carrying the case, said accessory further comprising a pad (3) that is able to release an active substance by gradual evaporation, the case (1) being equipped with a housing (4) that has a lateral slot (5) through which the pad can be reversibly inserted, said housing being arranged to provide a force for holding the inserted pad in place, at least one wall (12) of said housing having a grille (6), the openings (7) of which are arranged to allow the evaporation of the active substance through said grille.

Description

[0001] Portable accessory comprising a box for receiving a wafer containing a volatile active substance

[0002] The invention relates to an accessory intended to be worn by a user, said accessory comprising in particular a plate which is capable of releasing an active substance by progressive evaporation.

[0003] It applies in particular to an accessory whose blister contains a volatile active substance which has a repellent function for harmful insects such as blood-sucking, biting or stinging insects, for example mosquitoes, a perfuming and / or aromatherapeutic function

[0004] Document EP-1 919279 discloses such a wafer comprising a matrix of polymer material in which a liquid composition is impregnated, said liquid composition advantageously comprising a mixture of:

[0005] - an active substance based on an essential oil or a mixture of essential oils;

[0006] - a solute comprising at least one food substance chosen from vanillin and a mixture of vanillin and menthol carboxamide, said solute being capable of reducing the evaporation kinetics of the active substance by reducing the vapor pressure, in order to increase the diffusion time of said active substance.

[0007] Accessories are known which comprise a strap for carrying by the user, in particular intended to be fixed around the user's wrist and / or on a support worn by the user, for example a backpack, a handbag or a belt, the plate being permanently or reversibly associated with said strap. In particular, bracelets are known made of flexible material on which a housing is formed for the removable reception of a plate, in particular for the purpose of its subsequent replacement after evaporation of all or part of the active substance.

[0008] In particular, the housing is formed by attaching to the main body of the bracelet an openwork textile piece, for example made of a mesh-type textile material, by partially sewing the edges of said textile piece to said main body, one edge of said piece being left free of sewing to allow the introduction of the plate.

[0009] This solution allows the active substance contained in the tablet to be diffused through the mesh of the textile piece, without however preventing the possibility of contact of the tablet by the user through the openwork textile piece.

[0010] Furthermore, this solution is not entirely satisfactory, in that it does not allow the plate to be retained on the bracelet in a satisfactory manner, nor does it allow easy removal of said plate after use. Furthermore, due to the flexibility of the bracelet and the housing, the risk of deformation and damage to the plate remains significant, which does not guarantee the user optimal effectiveness of the accessory. Furthermore, this solution is not versatile in that it does not allow the housing to be separated from the bracelet, for example for the replacement of said bracelet for aesthetic purposes or in the event of deterioration.

[0011] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular an accessory in which the blister is protected, retained and replaceable in an improved manner, while guaranteeing the optimal progressive release of the active substance throughout the lifetime of said blister.

[0012] To this end, the invention proposes an accessory intended to be worn by a user, said accessory comprising a housing and a carrying element for said housing, said accessory further comprising a wafer which is capable of releasing an active substance by progressive evaporation, the housing being equipped with a housing which has a lateral slot through which said wafer can be reversibly introduced, said housing being arranged to ensure a retaining force for said inserted wafer, at least one wall of said housing having a grid whose openings are arranged to allow evaporation of the active substance through said grid.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, made with reference to the appended figures, in which: [Fig.1a] and

[0014] [Fig.1b] schematically and in perspective represent an accessory according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively during the introduction of a wafer into the housing (figure 1a) and with said wafer inserted into said housing (figure 1b);

[0015] [Fig.2a] and

[0016] Fig.2b] schematically represent in longitudinal section the housing of the accessory of figures 1a and 1b, respectively in view along a side face (figure 2a) and in perspective (figure 2b);

[0017] [Fig.3a] and

[0018] [Fig.3b] schematically represent a housing according to an alternative embodiment of the preceding figures, respectively in perspective (figure 3a) and in top view (figure 3b);

[0019] [Fig.4a] and

[0020] [Fig.4b] schematically and in perspective represent a housing according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0021] In relation to these figures, an accessory intended to be worn by a user is described below, said accessory comprising a case 1 and a carrying element of said case which is in the form of a bracelet 2, as well as a plate 3 which is capable of releasing an active substance by progressive evaporation.

[0022] In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the housing 1 as shown in the figures, in particular: - the terms “upper” and “lower” are taken with reference to figure 2a;

[0023] - the terms “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right” are taken with reference to figure 3b, the terms “front” and “rear” referring to positions respectively at the top and bottom in this same figure.

[0024] The accessory may in particular comprise a plate 3 as described in document EP-1 919279, which comprises a matrix of polymer material in which a liquid composition comprising the active substance is impregnated.

[0025] In particular, the active substance may have at least one function chosen from the following functions:

[0026] - a repellent function for harmful animals, such as blood-sucking, biting or stinging insects, for example mosquitoes; and / or

[0027] - a perfuming function; and / or

[0028] - an aromatherapeutic function.

[0029] Advantageously, as taught by document EP-1 919279, the liquid composition may comprise:

[0030] - an active substance comprising an essential oil or a mixture of essential oils;

[0031] - a solute comprising at least one food substance chosen from vanillin and a mixture of vanillin and menthol carboxamide, said solute being capable of reducing the evaporation kinetics of the active substance by reducing the vapor pressure.

[0032] The housing 1 is equipped with a housing 4 which has a lateral slot 5 through which the wafer 3 can be reversibly introduced, said housing being arranged to ensure a retaining force for said inserted wafer, at least one wall of said housing having a grid 6 whose openings 7 are arranged to allow the evaporation of the active substance and its diffusion through said grid. The housing 1 has a structure making it possible to ensure good retention of the wafer 3 in the housing, also preventing said wafer from deforming when fixing the bracelet 2 around a part of the user's body and / or on a support worn by said user, for example a backpack.Alternatively, the carrying element may be in the form of an attachment element on a support, for example a clip buckle, which is associated with the case 1, or an ankle bracelet, a carrying element on clothes, flip-flops, necklaces, bags.

[0033] The housing 1 makes it possible to avoid direct contact between the plate 3 and the support on which the accessory is carried, which makes it possible to:

[0034] - protect the plate 3 against the risk of damage by friction, in particular when the accessory is worn on a support carried by the user, such as a backpack, a handbag or a belt;

[0035] - limit the risks of irritation and / or allergy for the user, when the bracelet 2 is attached around his wrist.

[0036] Advantageously, the housing 4 is elastically deformable by the insertion of the plate 3, said deformation being arranged so that said housing applies to said plate a clamping force which is sufficient to retain said plate.

[0037] In particular, the dimension of the slot 5 is similar to that of the plate 3, in order to limit the risk of incorrect insertion of said plate into the housing 4 and, in relation to the tightening applied by said housing, to make the use of the accessory safe from the risk of removal of said plate by young children.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2a, the housing 4 has edges 4c which are arranged to ensure lateral support of the plate 4 between said edges. For this purpose, the housing 4 has a lower part 4a which forms an imprint of geometry complementary to that of the periphery of the plate 3, in order to match said periphery when said plate is arranged in the housing 4.

[0039] In particular, the housing 4 has an upper part 4b which extends between the lower part 4a and the grid 6, having a height which is sufficient to keep the plate 3 at a distance from said grid. This arrangement makes it possible to improve the air circulation at the upper face of the plate 3, and thus to guarantee good evaporation of the active substance of said plate.

[0040] To obtain the aforementioned properties and advantages, the housing 1 can be made from an elastomer material, which also makes it easier to manufacture, in particular by molding, and therefore reduces the production costs of the accessory.

[0041] In the embodiments shown, the case 1 has a parallelepiped geometry with rounded edges, the housing 4 being formed between four lateral faces, respectively front 8 - rear 9 and left 10 - right 11, and two faces, respectively upper 12 and lower 13, the respective dimensions of said faces being in particular defined so as to allow the case to be worn on the wearer's wrist.

[0042] In particular, the upper 12 and lower 13 faces have a rectangular geometry with rounded edges, the front 8 - rear 9 lateral faces being smaller than the left 10 - right 11 lateral faces.

[0043] One of the side faces 8, 9, 10, 11 has a slot 5 for inserting the wafer 3 into the housing 4, which makes it easy to locate said slot for inserting a wafer 3, in particular with a view to replacing a wafer at the end of its life after evaporation of all or part of the active substance.

[0044] Advantageously, the slot 5 is formed on one of the left 10 - right 11 lateral faces, and has a significant length and / or height(s), in particular equal to at least 80% of the total length and / or width(s) of said face. This arrangement makes it easier to insert and extract a plate 3 from the housing 4.

[0045] Furthermore, the side face 10 opposite the slot 5 has a button 14 allowing the plate 3 to be pushed out of the housing 4 for removal. In the figures, the slot 5 and the button 14 are formed on the right 11 and left 10 side faces respectively.

[0046] In the figures, the button 14 is formed by a localized thinning 14a of the left lateral face 10, said thinning extending in particular over the entire periphery of said button, in order to allow the activation of said button by elastic deformation, under the effect of the pressure exerted on it by a finger of the user.

[0047] The button 14 may also be formed by a localized excess thickness of the lateral face 10, said excess thickness being able in particular to be provided in addition to a thinning 14a as described previously.

[0048] The grid 6 is positioned in the upper face 12 of the housing 1, and is perforated to present a network of openings 7, through which the active substance of a platelet 3 is intended to evaporate. These openings 7 can have varied geometries, such as for example:

[0049] - a hexagonal geometry, in order to give the grid 6 an aesthetic appearance of the “honeycomb” type (figures 1a, 1b); or

[0050] - a diamond geometry (figures 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b).

[0051] To optimize the evaporation and diffusion through it of the active substance contained in the wafer 3, the grid 6 has a surface which forms at least 80% of the surface of the upper face 12. Similarly, the openings 7 form between the housing 4 and the exterior of the casing 1 an air passage section whose area is greater than at least 60% of the surface of the grid 6. According to one embodiment, the grid 6 can be made from a metallic material, in particular aluminum, and can be overmolded by the material constituting the casing 1, in particular in order to be able to position said grid as close as possible to the housing 4 to promote the evaporation of the active substance. Alternatively, the grid 6 can be formed in a single piece with the casing 1, in particular by molding said casing.

[0052] The housing 1 is further equipped with at least one member 15a, 15b for association on the carrying element, which may in particular be formed in a single piece with said housing, in order to facilitate its manufacture. Alternatively, the housing 1 may be used independently of the carrying element, for example by being placed to diffuse the active substance.

[0053] In relation to the figures, the case 1 has at least one loop 15a, 15b in which a strap 2 is mounted. In particular, the strap 2 may be of the NATO type or the loops 15a, 15b may be compatible with such a strap.

[0054] The bracelet 2 has in a single piece a first end 2a provided with a row of orifices 16 extending regularly over part of its length, and a second end 2b on which are fixed a tongue 17 and a tightening loop 18 made of rigid material, in particular metal, the tongue 17 being arranged to be inserted selectively into an orifice 16 according to the desired usage dimension for the bracelet.

[0055] Alternatively, the bracelet 2 may comprise two strands each having a complementary tightening means and, on the opposite side, a means of association with the case 1.

[0056] In the embodiments shown, the case 1 is equipped with two loops 15a, 15b spaced longitudinally, in particular in a direction parallel to the left 10 and right 11 lateral faces. In particular, the loops 15a, 15b can extend at least partly over the lower face 13 of the case 1. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the dimensions of the grid 6 independently of the dimensions necessary for fixing the case 1 to the bracelet 2.

[0057] In figures 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, the loops 15a each have an oblong section and both extend in a direction strictly parallel to the front 8 and rear 9 lateral faces, each being spaced longitudinally from the adjacent front 8 or rear 9 face.

[0058] In Figures 4a and 4b, the loops 15b each have a substantially circular section and extend from the lower face 13 of the housing 1, projecting longitudinally from the adjacent front face 8 or rear face 9.

[0059] In a variant not shown, the front 8 and rear 9 side faces can each be equipped with a loop for attaching the case 1 to the bracelet 2.

[0060] Advantageously, a bracelet 2 can be reversibly arranged in the loops 15a, 15b, which allows the user to change it easily, in particular to replace it in the event of deterioration or to select it according to his aesthetic preferences.

[0061] In particular, the bracelet 2 may be made of different materials, in particular textiles or flexible plastic, and may have different colors and / or patterns.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Accessory intended to be worn by a user, said accessory comprising a case (1) and a carrying element for said case, said accessory further comprising a pad (3) which is capable of releasing an active substance by progressive evaporation, said accessory being characterized in that the case (1) is equipped with a housing (4) which has a lateral slot (5) through which said pad can be reversibly introduced, said housing being arranged to ensure a retention force for said inserted pad, at least one wall (12) of said housing having a grid (6) whose openings (7) are arranged to allow the evaporation of the active substance through said grid.

2. Accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (1) is made from an elastomeric material.

3. Accessory according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (4) is elastically deformable by the insertion of the plate (3), said deformation being arranged so that said housing applies on the plate (3) a clamping force which is sufficient to retain said plate.

4. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the grid (6) is made from a metallic material.

5. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the grid (6) is overmolded by the material constituting the housing (1).

6. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (1) has a parallelepiped geometry with rounded edges, the housing (4) being formed between four lateral faces respectively front (8) - rear (9) and left (10) - right (11), and two faces respectively upper (12) and lower (13).

7. Accessories according to claim 6, characterized in that a lateral face (11) has a slot (5) for inserting the plate (3) into the housing (4).

8. Accessory according to claim 7, characterized in that the lateral face (10) opposite the slot (5) has a button (14) allowing the plate (3) to be pushed out of the housing (4) for the purpose of its removal.

9. Accessory according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the grid (6) is positioned in the upper face (12) of the housing (1).

10. Accessory according to claim 9, characterized in that the grid (6) has a surface that forms at least 80% of the surface of the upper face (12) of the case (1).

11. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (1) is equipped with at least one association element (15a, 15b) on the carrying element.

12. Accessory according to claim 11, characterized in that the case (1) has at least one loop (15a, 15b) in which a carrying strap (2) is mounted.

13. Accessory according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the connecting member (15a, 15b) is formed in one piece with the housing (1).

14. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the plate (3) is formed of a matrix of polymer material in which is impregnated a liquid composition comprising the active substance.

15. Accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the active substance has a repellent function for harmful animals, a perfumer and / or an aromatherapist function.

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