Volatile material dispensing device having a dispenser mount

Abstract

A volatile material dispensing device comprising a housing having opposing first and second walls joined to one another along a periphery, each of the first and second walls having at least one opening defining a cavity for receiving a solid component comprising a volatile composition, a dispenser mount centrally located in one of the first and second walls and extending from an exterior surface of one of the first and second walls, the dispenser mount comprising a flat mounting surface and characterized by a height greater than a thickness of one of the first and second walls.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a volatile composition dispenser for dispensing a volatile composition, and in particular to a volatile material dispensing device having a dispenser mount, and a volatile composition dispenser having a dispenser mount. [Background technology]

[0002] It is well known to use various devices to diffuse volatile compounds such as fragrances, disinfectants, insect repellents, air freshening compositions, deodorants, etc. Passive volatile composition dispensers are a common means for delivering volatile compounds into the air. Passive volatile composition dispensers can include a container that contains a volatile composition that is delivered to the surrounding air through a vent in the container. The dispenser can be designed to be used in a freestanding manner, with a suitable flat surface for placing the dispenser itself. The dispenser can also be designed to be used in a hanging manner, with a hook for hanging the device on a support.

[0003] In particular, dispensers that utilize a solid carrier to deliver a volatile compound typically have a surface for receiving the solid carrier. A gel air freshener device with a gel receiving surface having a recess for receiving a gel composition is described in GB 2374805(A). However, only the top side of the gel composition (not in contact with the gel receiving surface) is exposed to air, limiting delivery of the volatile material in the gel composition to one side. Furthermore, the device must be positioned so that the gel composition does not come into contact with the interior surface on which the device is placed, so deployment of the device is also limited. Contact of the volatile compound in the gel composition with the interior surface may result in unintended alteration of the interior surface, especially when the volatile compound is incompatible with the surface finish of the interior surface, such as a paint finish.

[0004] US Patent No. 9,591,842 (B2) describes a passive volatile dispensing device including a housing having a first curved wall and a second curved wall and a side wall between the curved walls. A volatile-containing substrate is disposed in an internal cavity of the housing. A plurality of openings are provided in both the first wall and the second wall for releasing an active ingredient from the volatile-containing substrate. The volatile-containing substrate is a cellulose substrate impregnated and / or coated with an active ingredient for diffusion into the surrounding air. However, the substrate may be placed too deep in the wall opening, and thus the device requires features such as rib designs in the housing to secure the substrate in the housing to prevent the substrate from unintentionally contacting the interior surface for placing the device. The additional features create complexities in manufacturing and assembly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] UK Patent Application Publication No. 2374805(A) [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 9,591,842(B2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In view of the above, there remains a need for a volatile composition dispenser that can be used to contain a solid part that includes a volatile composition and that can be used in a variety of locations, such as attached to a door, wall, or interior fixture, or freestanding within an interior space, to dispense the volatile composition while preventing unintended contact of the solid part with surfaces within the interior space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a volatile substance dispensing device, the volatile substance dispensing device comprising: a) a housing having opposing first and second walls, the first and second walls joined to one another along their periphery; a housing, each of the first wall and the second wall having at least one opening therein and defining a cavity for receiving a solid component including a volatile composition; b) a dispenser mount located at the center of one of the first wall and the second wall and extending from an outer surface of one of the first wall and the second wall, the dispenser mount having a flat mounting surface and characterized by a height that is greater than a thickness of one of the first wall and the second wall. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a volatile material dispensing device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the volatile material dispensing device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the volatile material dispensing device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the volatile material dispensing device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 1 is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of a volatile material dispensing device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components within a volatile composition dispenser according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the volatile composition dispenser of FIG. 6 assembled in a vertical orientation when the dispenser is placed / mounted on an interior surface or support. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the volatile composition dispenser of FIG. 6 assembled in a horizontal position when the dispenser is placed / mounted on an interior surface or support. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] It has been found that the versatility of placing consumer products in various locations plays an important role in allowing consumers / users to use consumer products containing volatile compositions that are customized to provide benefits to the interior space of a specific location.In particular, through the design of a volatile composition dispenser having a container with a base without an opening for receiving a solid component, it may be preferable to separate the solid component containing the volatile composition from direct contact with the interior space to minimize any risk of incompatibility or adverse reaction between the solid component material and / or the volatile composition and the interior surface on which the container is placed.However, this may result in the volatile composition being trapped in the container, which may reduce the performance of the volatile composition dispenser.

[0010] The present invention relates to a volatile material dispensing device comprising a housing having opposing first and second walls joined together along a periphery, each of the first and second walls having at least one opening defining a cavity for receiving a solid component containing a volatile composition. A dispenser mount is located at the center of one of the first and second walls, the dispenser mount extending from an exterior surface of one of the first and second walls. The dispenser mount comprises a flat mounting surface and is characterized by a height from the flat mounting surface to a center of one of the first and second walls, the height being greater than a thickness of one of the first and second walls.

[0011] A technical effect of a dispenser mount having a flat mounting surface and a height greater than a thickness of one of the first and second walls is that an exterior surface of one of the first and second walls can be spaced from an interior surface in which the volatile material dispensing device is installed. Advantageously, in use, when a solid component is within the cavity defined by the first and second walls, the solid component is spaced from the interior surface, thereby preventing and / or minimizing contact between the solid component and the interior surface.

[0012] In the following description, the dispensers described are consumer products, such as air fresheners, for evaporating a volatile composition within a space, such as rooms in homes and commercial establishments, or enclosed spaces such as passenger compartments in vehicles, to provide various benefits, such as air freshening, odor removal, or fragrance in the space, however, the dispensers may be configured for use in a variety of applications that deliver a volatile composition into the air, and the dispensers may include, for example, consumer products such as, but not limited to, air freshening products.

[0013] Prior to describing the present invention in detail, the following terms are defined for clarity of description. Terms not defined should be given their ordinary meaning as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

[0014] As used herein, "interior space" refers to a finite volume of space in a residential, commercial, vehicular environment or enclosed space. Interior spaces may include, for example, sanitary facilities such as bathrooms, toilets, bathrooms including toilets, locker rooms, etc. Enclosed spaces may include, for example, furniture for storing personal items including, but not limited to, shoe cupboards, wardrobes, gym lockers, as well as trash cans, garbage collection bins, pet litter boxes, cat litter boxes, pet cages, pet carriers, etc. Pet carriers are small portable boxes, crates, or cages used to transport small animals, such as, for example, cats, small dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc., from one location to another.

[0015] As used herein, "horizontal orientation" refers to the position of a dispenser of a volatile composition according to the present invention with the central evaporation surface facing the surrounding environment in an upward or downward position.

[0016] As used herein, a "solid part" refers to a three-dimensional object having a width, length and thickness along the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, respectively. A solid part is self-supporting and has at least two evaporation surfaces.

[0017] As used herein, "vertical orientation" refers to the position of a dispenser of a volatile composition according to the present invention with the central evaporation surface facing the surrounding environment in a forward-facing or rear-facing position.

[0018] As used herein, "non-powered" means that the volatile composition dispenser is passive and does not need to be powered by an external energy source. In particular, the volatile composition dispenser does not need to be powered by a heat source, a gas source, or a current source, and the volatile composition is not dispensed by aerosol means. Furthermore, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0019] As used herein, "top note" refers to perfume raw materials that have high volatility.

[0020] As used herein, "bottom note" refers to perfume raw materials that are less volatile than the top notes.

[0021] As used herein, "vapor" refers to the gaseous form of an organic or inorganic substance that coexists as a solid or liquid at ambient conditions including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

[0022] As used herein, "vapor impermeable substrate" refers to a material configured to resist the diffusion of vapors from the dispenser prior to its intended use.

[0023] As used herein, "vapor emission rate" refers to a measure of the passage of vapor through a substrate.

[0024] As used herein, a "volatile composition" refers to a material that can be vaporized at room temperature and atmospheric pressure without the need for an additional energy source. Volatile compositions can be configured for a variety of uses, including, but not limited to, air freshening, deodorization, odor removal, odor neutralization, pest control, vermin control, insect repellent, medicine / drug, disinfectant, sanitizer, mood enhancement, aromatherapy aid, scented composition, unscented composition, or any other use that requires a volatile composition that acts to condition, modify, or otherwise change the air or surrounding environment. Furthermore, not all of the component materials of the volatile composition need be volatile. Suitable volatile compositions in any amount or form, including liquids, solids, gels, or emulsions, may be used. Materials suitable for use herein may include non-volatile compounds, such as carrier substances (e.g., water, solvents, etc.). It should also be understood that when a volatile composition is described herein as being "delivered," "volatilized," or "emitted," this refers to the volatilization of the volatile components of the volatile composition, and that the non-volatile components of the volatile composition do not need to be vaporized.

[0025] For purposes of illustrating the invention in detail, the invention is described below as a non-energized volatile composition dispenser. However, the volatile composition dispenser may be configured for use with an energized device, such as, for example, an electrical heating device or a fan. The solid part described below is a gel composition including a fragrance as an example of a volatile composition. The gel composition is a polyester polyol crosslinked using a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, isothiocynates, and mixtures thereof. However, it will be understood that the solid part may be formed from any gel composition that can be molded into a three-dimensional object and, when cured, is self-supporting and has at least a peripheral evaporation surface and a central evaporation surface. Additionally, the solid part may be a permeable substrate impregnated with and / or coated with the volatile composition. The permeable substrate may be a cellulosic substrate.

[0026] The volatile material dispensing device and solid part may be configured in various shapes and sizes to facilitate customization for use as a volatile composition dispenser, such as an air freshener in a vehicle, a residential interior space, a commercial interior space, an interior space of a household furniture (such as a cupboard or locker), an interior space of a household appliance, etc. Preferably, the household appliance may be selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a washing machine, and an automatic dishwasher. The interior space may be the interior environment of a portable consumer product, preferably the portable consumer product may be a bag, luggage, etc.

[0027] The solid component containing the volatile composition to produce an effect may be implemented using a volatile material dispensing device, such as an apparatus for delivering the volatile composition to an interior space. It is contemplated that the apparatus may be configured for use in a variety of applications to deliver the volatile material into the air and / or to a surface, so long as the volatile material evaporates from the apparatus. For purposes of this disclosure, and without intending to limit the scope of the invention, the apparatus will be described as a non-energized apparatus.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a volatile material dispensing device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the volatile material dispensing device 1. The volatile material dispensing device 1 comprises a housing 3 having a first wall 4 and a second wall 5 opposite the first wall 4. The first wall 4 and the second wall 5 each have at least one opening and can be removably attached and / or joined to each other to define a cavity 6 for receiving a solid part containing a volatile composition. The first wall 4 can define a front cover for the housing 3. The first wall 4 can comprise a central portion 7 having a front surface for applying a decorative element thereon. The decorative element can be a logo or a graphical symbol. The first wall 4 can further comprise a plurality of first wall solid portions 42 and a plurality of first wall openings 44, which are interconnected to define a first peripheral wall area 46 surrounding the central portion 7.

[0029] The second wall 5 may define a rear frame of the housing 3. Referring to FIG. 2, the second wall 5 includes a dispenser mount 20 located in the center of the second wall 5. The dispenser mount 20 includes a substantially flat, planar mounting surface 22 for supporting and / or attaching the device 1 to an interior surface or support within the interior space, either vertically (as shown in FIG. 7) or horizontally (as shown in FIG. 8). The dispenser mount 20 is characterized by a height H that is greater than a thickness T of the second wall 5, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a gap between the device 1 and the interior surface, thereby preventing solid parts from directly contacting the interior surface.

[0030] 2, the second wall 5 may comprise a plurality of second wall solid portions 52 and a plurality of second wall openings 54, which are interconnected to define a second peripheral wall area 56 surrounding the dispenser mount 5. The height H of the dispenser mount 5 may be determined by measuring the height between the flat mounting surface 22 and the outer surface of at least one of the second wall solid portions 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser mount 20 is integral with the second wall 5. However, it will be understood that the dispenser mount 20 may be integral with the first wall 4 depending on the application of the device 1 in the interior space.

[0031] The components of the housing 3, including the first and second walls, may be made from plastic, bamboo, wood, glass, shells, pulp, metal, or semi-metal. It is also foreseeable that in certain embodiments, the selected material of the walls may be recyclable or may even be made from a recyclable material. Any of the components of the housing, including the first and second walls and the dispenser mount 20, may be molded by thermal means, injection, or blowing. In particular, at least one of the first and second walls may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of molded pulp paper, plastic, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.

[0032] 3, the first wall 4 and the second wall 5 are joined to one another via a component holder 60 disposed along their respective perimeters or between the first wall 4 and the second wall 5. The component holder 60 may be configured to hold a solid component in place within the housing (described below with reference to FIG. 6). The first wall 4 and the second wall 5 may be hingedly connected to form a single housing component. The dispenser mount 20 may be characterized by a thickness corresponding to a thickness of the second wall 5 to facilitate manufacturing of the housing 3 as a single housing component.

[0033] The walls may be joined together by a variety of mechanisms including snap-fit ​​connectors, adhesives, or one or more latches that mechanically attach one of the walls to the other. The first wall 4 and the second wall 5 may be individually flat, convex, or may be so convex that they separately form two hemispherical walls that when joined together form a spherical dispenser. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the first wall 4 and the second wall 5 each have a substantially flat outer surface that is hexagonal shell-shaped. Thus, in this example, they form a hexagonal disk housing and dispenser. However, it will be understood that the housing 3 may be formed in any shape based on the size and shape of the solid component or components to be disposed therein.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the device 1 of FIG. 1 showing a detailed view of the second wall 5. The flat mounting surface 22 is characterised by a mounting surface area A1 and the second peripheral wall region 56 is characterised by a peripheral wall region area A2. The ratio of the mounting surface area A1 to the second peripheral wall region area A2 may be between 1:2 and 1:15, preferably between 1:5 and 1:15, more preferably between 1:7 and 1:10. The mounting surface area A1 is approximately 100 mm 2 ~400mm 2 , 150mm 2 ~350mm 2 , 200mm 2 ~300mm 2, or a different combination of the above upper and lower limits, or any combination of integers within the ranges listed above. The second peripheral wall area A2 is 1000 mm 2 ~4000mm 2 , 1200mm 2 ~3800mm 2 , 1500mm 2 ~3500mm 2 , 1800mm 2 ~300mm 2 or different combinations of the above upper and lower limits, or any combination of integers within the ranges recited above.

[0035] The second peripheral wall area A2 includes the area of ​​the solid portion 52 of the second wall and each of the plurality of openings 54 in the second wall. Further, at the beginning of use, the exposure of the dispenser may be from about 40% to about 90%, with at least about 60% of the total surface area of ​​the plurality of openings each being at least 4.2 mm 2 Specifically, each of the plurality of openings has an area of ​​at least about 4.2 mm 2 It has an area of.

[0036] 5 is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of a volatile composition dispensing device 30 according to the present invention. Volatile material dispensing device 30 has substantially the same components as device 1, except that volatile material dispensing device 30 includes a flange 32 having a suspension opening 34 for supporting device 30 in a suspended position above a surface.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the components of a volatile composition dispenser 40 according to the present invention. The dispenser 40 comprises a volatile material dispensing device 41 and a solid part 42 containing a volatile composition. The solid part 42 is configured to contain a volatile composition in a solid phase and comprises a plurality of evaporation surfaces from which the volatile composition in a solid phase can evaporate. The volatile composition may be selected from the group consisting of fragrances, deodorants, disinfectants, insect repellents, malodor reducers, and mixtures thereof. The volatile composition may be present in a concentration of 3% to 85% by weight of the solid part, preferably 15% to 75% by weight, and even more preferably 20% to 60% by weight of the solid part.

[0038] The volatile material dispensing device 41 comprises a housing having a first wall corresponding to a front cover 44 and a second wall corresponding to a rear frame 46, which when assembled, define a cavity for receiving a solid component 42. Each of the front cover 44 and the rear frame 46 has substantially the same characteristics as the first wall 4 and the second wall 5 described above, and is configured to volatilize a volatile composition in the solid component 42 into an interior space. A dispenser mount 70 extends outwardly from the rear frame 46 away from the cavity. The dispensing device 41 may further comprise a component holder 60 having an anchor 62 for removably attaching the solid component 42 to the component holder 60. The component holder 60 may comprise an inner periphery 64 configured to define a central opening for surrounding the solid component 42. The solid component 42 may comprise an opening 43 sized and shaped to mate with the anchor 62. Specifically, the opening 43 extends through a thickness of the solid component 42.

[0039] Dispenser 40 may comprise no more than one solid part, for example, dispenser 40 may comprise a single piece solid part 42. Thus, the shape of the inner contour of device 41 may correspond to the shape of the outer contour of solid part 42 to minimize the material used to make device 41.

[0040] 6, the solid component 42 includes at least one central evaporation surface 424 and a peripheral evaporation surface 425 surrounding the at least one central evaporation surface 424. The solid component 42 may further include a second central evaporation surface opposite the at least one central evaporation surface 424. The dispenser mount 70 may include a pedestal 72 and a sidewall 74 surrounding the pedestal 72 to define a hollow central portion 75 and a dispenser rim 76. The technical effect of designing the hollow central portion 75 and the dispenser rim 76 is to minimize contact between the second central evaporation surface of the solid component 42 and the rear frame 46 so as to maximize the evaporation surface area of ​​the solid component 42.

[0041] A visual indicator 48 may be disposed on an inner surface of the rear frame 46. Specifically, the visual indicator 48 may be visible when the solid components 42 shrink from an initial size to a reduced size to provide a visual cue that the dispenser 40 is in use.

[0042] The solid part 42 may be characterized by a shrinkage of greater than 1% to less than 40%, and the technical effect is that the remaining portion of the solid part 42 has sufficient structure such that the solid part 42 is a self-supporting structure that does not require a container to support the solid part on a mounting surface. Additionally, it also provides sufficient surface area for ease of removal by a user from the mounting surface. The mounting surface may be an interior surface, fixture, furniture, or other product mounting location within an interior space.

[0043] The visual indicator 48 may be positioned anywhere on the rear frame 46 or front cover 44 in proximity to the peripheral evaporation surface 425 .

[0044] The visual indicator 48 may indicate a dispenser status selected from the group consisting of end of dispenser life, a quantitative status indicative of the number of days the dispenser has been used, and combinations thereof. As shown in Figure 6, the visual indicator 48 may be in the form of a letter that displays the English word "END" to indicate the end of the dispenser's life. Alternatively, the visual indicator 48 may be a set of letters or graphic symbols that indicate the status of the dispenser.

[0045] The entire area of ​​the central evaporation surface 424 may include a surface finish as shown in Figure 6. A technical effect of providing a surface finish to the entire area of ​​the central evaporation surface 424 is ease of manufacture, and it will be appreciated that the visual indicator 48 may also be obscured by simply texturing at least one region of the central evaporation surface 424.

[0046] The volatile composition dispenser 40 may be configured in any orientation, such as a vertical orientation during use as shown in FIG. 7, or a horizontal orientation as shown in FIG.

[0047] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the assembled volatile composition dispenser 40 of FIG. 6 in a vertical orientation when the dispenser 40 is installed / mounted to a first interior surface 100 or support within an interior space, such as a cupboard door or wall.

[0048] Specifically, the dispenser 40 is mounted to the first interior surface 100 via a dispenser mount 70. The dispenser mount 70 comprises a substantially flat, planar mounting surface 71 for vertically supporting and / or mounting the dispenser 40. The dispenser mount 70 is characterized by a height H configured to provide a gap 80 between the dispenser 40 and the interior surface 100, thereby preventing direct contact between the solid components 42 and the interior surface 100, thereby minimizing the risk of adverse reactions that may occur between the solid components 42 and the interior surface 100. The gap may include sufficient space 80 to minimize contact and allow airflow through openings in the front cover 54 and rear frame 56.

[0049] 8 is a side schematic view of the assembled volatile composition dispenser 40 of FIG. 6 in a horizontal position when the dispenser 40 is installed / mounted on a second interior surface 200 or support, such as a table top, kitchen or bathroom counter, etc. The dispenser mount 70 is installed on the second interior surface 200 such that the flat mounting surface 71 rests on the second interior surface 200. The dispenser mount 70 may be characterized by a height of more than 1 mm and less than 20 mm. The technical effect is to provide a more stable support for the dispenser 40 by lowering the center of gravity of the dispenser 40.

[0050] The solid part 42 may be made from any known material that provides a self-supporting structure and may have a mixture of vaporizable and non-vaporizable components, so long as the amount of vaporizable and non-vaporizable components is configured to provide a shrinkage of greater than 1% and less than 40%. Vaporizable components may include volatile compositions and water. Non-vaporizable components may include components suitable for forming solid parts, including, but not limited to, gelling materials, elastomers, polyurethanes, and the like.

[0051] Table 1 shows examples of aqueous gel compositions according to the present invention.

[0052] [Table 1]

[0053] The solid part may be non-aqueous, preferably containing less than 1% water by weight, and more preferably being substantially free of water.

[0054] The solid component may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose polymers, chemically crosslinked polyols or derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.

[0055] Table 2 shows examples of non-aqueous gel compositions containing ethyl cellulose polymers that can have shrinkage between 1% and 40%.

[0056] [Table 2]

[0057] The solid part may be a chemically crosslinked polyol, wherein the polyol or a derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyester polyols, polyglycerols and mixtures thereof, preferably the polyol derivative is a polyester polyol, more preferably castor oil, and even more preferably the polyester polyol is selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, isothiocyanates and mixtures thereof, crosslinked using a crosslinking agent.

[0058] The solid part may also be molded from a moldable material, such as any one of the non-aqueous gel compositions described below.

[0059] Non-aqueous gel composition: Gel compositions are formed using crosslinkers that form covalent bonds that are mechanically and thermally stable, and therefore less susceptible to disruption once formed. In contrast, physical crosslinks rely on microstructural changes to achieve stability, such as crystalline or highly entangled regions.

[0060] Physical gels can also retain high concentrations of hydrophobic materials, such as fragrances, but such physical gels are more delicate to handle, as they are more easily destroyed during manipulation. In addition, such physical gels typically exhibit a greater decrease in volume as the hydrophobic material evaporates, and typically decrease in length by a level of 50% to 90% as the hydrophobic material evaporates, as compared to the crosslinked gels of the present invention. In contrast, the crosslinked gels of the present invention exhibit less shrinkage, typically of the order of 1% to 40%, preferably 3% to 30%, more preferably 4% to 20%, as the hydrophobic material is released at the end of a period of 1 to 75 days, preferably 1 to 60 days, more preferably 1 to 45 days.

[0061] The gel composition may have an elastic modulus G' of greater than 0.1 kPa, preferably greater than 1 kPa, even more preferably greater than 2 kPa, and less than 100 kPa.

[0062] The gel may be a chemically crosslinked polyol or its derivative. Suitable polyols or its derivatives may be selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyester polyols, polyglycerols, and mixtures thereof. Polyols, polyester polyols, and polyglycerols contain multiple hydroxyl groups and are suitable for forming gels with compact networks. In addition, the resulting gel has a higher affinity for less hydrophobic materials.

[0063] Suitable polyols or derivatives thereof may have a molecular weight of 60 Da to 10000 Da, preferably 150 Da to 3000 Da, more preferably 500 Da to 2000 Da, even more preferably 600 Da to 1300 Da. Longer polyols and derivatives thereof provide greater flexibility of the gel.

[0064] Suitable polyols and their derivatives do not contain terminal hydroxyl groups. Secondary alcohols are particularly suitable. Primary alcohols with terminal hydroxyl groups typically result in more linear chains and more compact networks. A combination of primary and secondary alcohols is preferred because it results in a more desirable correlation length.

[0065] An average correlation length of less than 8 nm as measured using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) is preferred, however, the gel compositions described herein can be formulated to have any desired correlation length.

[0066] When secondary alcohols are used, gels with more optimal pore size are obtained. Lightly branched polyols such as poly(diethylene glycol adipate) and its derivatives result in softer gels. Preferred polyols and their derivatives have at least two hydroxyl groups per molecule, more preferably at least three hydroxyl groups per molecule.

[0067] Polyols are compounds that contain multiple hydroxyl groups. Diol polyols with two hydroxyl functionalities result after crosslinking in linear polymers or more open networks with large pore sizes. In contrast, hydroxyl functional monomers with more than two functionalities form more compact gels with smaller pore sizes. Suitable polyols include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, pentaerythritol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, 4,6-di-tert-butylbenzene-1,2,3-triol, propanetriol (glycerol), 1,2,5-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-cyclohexanetriol, 2,5-dimethylhexane-1,2,6-triol, 3-hydroxymethylpentane-1,2,5-triol, 1,3,6-hexanetriol, 1,1,5,5-pentanetretraol, 1,2,5,6-hexanetretraol, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanehexol (sorbitol), and mixtures thereof.

[0068] The polyester polyol is a hydroxyl-containing ester. Suitable polyester polyols can be selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyester polyols, aromatic polyester polyols, organic oil-based polyester polyols, and mixtures thereof. Organic oil-based polyester polyols are preferred. Preferred organic oils are vegetable oils, as they typically contain high levels of unsaturation (C=C bonds) and naturally contain hydroxyl groups. Suitable polyester polyols include hexanoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, 1,1',1''-(1,2,3-propanetriyl) ester; pentanoic acid, 5-amino-4-hydroxy-, 1,1',1''-(1,2,3-propanetriyl) ester; polycaprolactone triol; castor oil, hydroxy sunflower oil (HSO), and mixtures thereof.

[0069] Castor oil is particularly suitable. Castor oil (ricinus oil) is a pale yellow and viscous liquid extracted from the beans of the castor plant (ricinus communis). Castor oil is composed mainly of triglycerides of fatty acids containing 87-90% ricinoleic acid (cis-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid) and can be obtained in high purity grades. Castor oil and its derivatives have been used as polyols for polyurethanes and adhesives. Castor oil can be partially hydrogenated. Castor oil offers branching lengths and hydroxyl group positions that have been found to be particularly suitable for providing chemically crosslinked gels with pore sizes that result in slow release of hydrophobic materials, especially when the hydrophobic material is a fragrance. In addition, chemically crosslinked gels derived from castor oil show less syneresis of hydrophobic materials from the gel.

[0070] Polyglycerols are hydroxy-containing ethers. Polyglycerols are typically obtained by polymerization of alkylene oxides, such as epoxides. Suitable alkylene oxides include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and mixtures thereof, using chain initiators such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol, pentaerythritol, hexanetriol, sorbitol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof. Suitable polyglycerols can be selected from the group consisting of α,α-diglycerol, α,β-diglycerol, hyperbranched polyglycerol, dendritic polyglycerol, and mixtures thereof. Hyperbranched polyglycerols are aliphatic polyethers with multiple hydroxyl end groups obtained from the asymmetric polyaddition of glycidol to glycerol, resulting in a spherical branch-on-branch structure that provides special internal flexibility. Dendritic polyglycerols are hyperbranched polyglycerols with a well-defined, symmetrical and spherical three-dimensional structure around a core. Apart from improving gel elasticity, the dendritic structure with a sterically shielded core together with the exceptionally high functional groups of hyperbranched polyglycerols produces flexible gels with relatively small pore sizes, which increases the longevity of the final composition by slowing down the diffusion rate as a result of physical encapsulation of hydrophobic materials as well as improved H-bonding and van der Waals interactions. Such polyglycerols can be purchased from Nanopartica GmbH (Germany) and Sigma-Aldrich. Suitable polyglycerols include polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(diethylene glycol), poly(dipropylene glycol), poly(1,4-butanediol), poly(neopentyl glycol), poly(1,6-hexanediol), and mixtures thereof. The polyglycerol preferably has 2 to 50 repeat units, preferably 4 to 30 repeat units.

[0071] Any suitable crosslinking agent may be used, but crosslinking agents selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, isothiocyanates, and mixtures thereof are preferred. The crosslinking agent may be a linear, branched, or cyclic isocyanate, and mixtures thereof. Cyclic isocyanates and mixtures thereof are preferred. Suitable cyclic isocyanates include heterocyclic isocyanates such as 1,3,5-tris(5-isocyanatopentyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione.

[0072] Suitable crosslinking agents include 1,4-butane diisocyanate (BDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), L-lysine ethyl ester diisocyanate (LDI), 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (H12MDI), glycolide-ethylene glycol-glycolide isocyanate (Bezwada, LLC), 4,4'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), 2,4'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), 2,2'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI). , 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (2,6-TDI), poly(hexamethylene diisocyanate) (PDI), 1,3-bis(2-isocyanatopropan-2-yl)benzene, poly(pentamethylene diisocyanate), and mixtures thereof, preferably 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), L-lysine ethyl ester diisocyanate (LDI), poly(pentamethylene diisocyanate), poly(hexamethylene diisocyanate) (PDI), 1,3,5-tris(5-isocyanatopentyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione, and mixtures thereof. Such crosslinkers are available from Sigma-Aldrich and Covestro under the trade name Desmodur® eco N7300.

[0073] The crosslinker may have a viscosity of less than 2.500 mPa·s at 25° C. and an isocyanate equivalent of 15% to 40%, preferably 18% to 30%. Such crosslinkers are more easily blended with polyols. As a result, a more homogeneous gel can be obtained.

[0074] The gel is preferably essentially free or free of unreacted isocyanates and / or isothiocyanates.

[0075] The gel may further comprise a hydroxyl-containing polymer, a hydroxyl-containing oligomer, or a mixture thereof. The hydroxyl-containing polymer and / or oligomer can be used to change the elasticity of the gel composition and therefore the perfume release longevity (a higher elastic modulus G' will slow the release of the perfume).

[0076] Suitable hydroxyl-containing polymers may be selected from the group consisting of poloxamer, gelatin, carrageenan, chitin, chitosan, and mixtures thereof.

[0077] Poloxamers are non-ionic triblock copolymers composed of a central hydrophobic chain of polyoxypropylene (poly(propylene oxide)) flanked by two hydrophilic chains of polyoxyethylene (poly(ethylene oxide)). Suitable poloxamers have a weight average molecular weight of 1500 g / mol to 15000 g / mol and a weight percentage of poly(ethylene oxide) of 10% to 80%, preferably 50% to 80%. Suitable poloxamers are commercially available from BASF under the trade name Pluronic®.

[0078] Gelatins are usually translucent, colorless, and typically obtained from collagen from various animal body parts. They are commonly used as gelling agents in the food, pharmaceutical industry, vitamin capsules, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Suitable gelatins may have a bloom of 90 to 300. Bloom is a test for measuring the strength of gels or gelatins, and is measured according to the method outlined in US Patent No. 1,540,979 by Bloom. The test measures the weight in grams required to press a 4 mm gel at a temperature of 25°C with a plunger having a diameter of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) against its surface without breaking it. The result is expressed in bloom (grade) units. This is usually between 30 and 300 blooms. To perform the bloom test on gelatin, a 6.67% by weight gelatin solution is kept at 10°C for 17 to 18 hours before testing.

[0079] Carrageenans are, for example, sulfated polysaccharides derived from red algae commonly known as Irish moss. They are typically composed mainly of α-D-galactopyranose-4-sulfate units and 3,6-anhydro-α-D-galactopyranose units. At least three forms, designated "iota", "kappa" and "lambda" carrageenans, respectively, are known, which differ in the ratio of the two galactopyranose units and thus in their sulfate ester content.

[0080] Kappa carrageenan is the major component in aqueous extracts from Chondrus crispus and Gigartina stellata. It has a lower sulfate content than iota and lambda carrageenans.

[0081] Chitosan is typically obtained by deacetylation under alkaline conditions of chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after cellulose. Chitin can be found as an important component of the exoskeleton of animals, especially crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, and is also the major polymer in the cell walls of certain fungi. Chitin and chitosan are linear polysaccharides consisting of randomly distributed β-(1-4) linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated units) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (acetylated units). Chitosan has two types of reactive groups that can be grafted: free amine groups on the deacetylated units, and hydroxyl groups on the C3 and C6 carbons on the acetylated or deacetylated units.

[0082] The chitosan of the present invention may have a molecular weight of 10,000 g / mol to 4,000,000 g / mol, preferably 70,000 g / mol to 1,600,000 g / mol. Suitable chitosans may have a degree of deacetylation of at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 75%.

[0083] The gel composition may be transparent or translucent. The gel composition may have any suitable shape, such as a star, a circle, or a pyramid. The gel composition may be colored by adding a dye. The gel composition of the present invention may be molded into a desired shape or even 3D printed.

[0084] The gel composition may be of any suitable shape or size, as both shape and size define the evaporation surface area of ​​the gel composition. It is known that the shape and size of the gel composition can affect the release and lifespan of hydrophobic materials. For example, a thin sheet will result in faster release and shorter lifespan compared to a sphere of the same mass of gel composition. A suitable gel composition may have an evaporation surface area of ​​less than 150 cm2, preferably between 3.0 and 100 cm2, more preferably between 6.0 and 60 cm2.

[0085] The evaporation surface area can be measured by creating a 3D model of the gel composition using CAD software and calculating the surface area using CAD software. Any suitable CAD software can be used, such as AutoCAD® 2013.

[0086] The following examples are intended to more fully illustrate the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention, since many variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. All parts, percentages and ratios herein are expressed as weight percent unless otherwise specified. EXAMPLES

[0087] Solid parts suitable for implementation within the volatile material dispensing device and volatile composition dispenser according to the present invention were prepared based on the composition details set forth in Table 3 below and evaluated for their respective shrinkage (results are shown in Table 4).

[0088] [Table 3]

[0089] The solid part inventive sample is prepared according to the procedure described below with the composition details set out in Table 1.

[0090] Preparation procedure: The polyol or its derivative is mixed with the volatile composition and optionally a hydroxyl-containing polymer is added. The crosslinker is then added at a temperature between 5°C and 35°C, preferably between 15°C and 30°C, and further mixed to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture is poured into a mold of the desired shape and cured at a curing temperature, preferably between 20°C and 30°C. Such a temperature limits the evaporation of the volatile components of the hydrophobic material. Alternatively, the mixture may be kept below 5°C to avoid curing. Curing then starts only when the temperature is increased to the curing temperature.

[0091] The polyol or derivative thereof may be mixed with the crosslinker and, optionally, the hydroxyl-containing polymer, preferably at a temperature of 20° C. to 85° C., more preferably 30° C. to 75° C., for 10 minutes to 10 hours, preferably 15 minutes to 2 hours. The mixture may be cooled and the hydrophobic material may be added, preferably at a temperature of 10° C. to 40° C., more preferably 15° C. to 30° C., and further mixed, for example, for 15 to 120 minutes. The mixture may be poured into a desired mold and cured, preferably at a temperature of 20° C. to 30° C. Alternatively, all of the components of the gel composition may be blended at a low temperature, such as 5° C. or less, before the temperature is increased to the curing temperature.

[0092] result The shrinkage results of the inventive samples 1 to 6 in Table 3 are shown below in Table 4. Specifically, the shrinkage is determined based on the following formula (1). Shrinkage rate = (initial length - contracted length) / initial length x 100% During the ceremony, Initial length = length or diameter of the solid part before use Reduced Length = Length or diameter of a solid part after a given period of use.

[0093] [Table 4]

[0094] All of the above inventive samples 1-6 have shrinkage between 6.3% and 12.5%, i.e., less than 40%. As a result, each of the samples at the end of life is a single integral piece with a size large enough to be easily removed, thereby reducing messiness. In contrast, conventional gels leave behind gelling polymers after the water and fragrance evaporate, and the remaining gelling polymers cause stickiness within the gel. Furthermore, the remaining gel also sticks to the container and is prone to tearing, resulting in a dirty residue.

[0095] All documents cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patents or patent applications, and any patent applications or patents to which this application claims priority or benefit, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, unless expressly stated to the contrary. The citation of any document shall not be deemed to be prior art to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, or to teach, suggest or disclose such invention, either alone or in combination with any other reference(s). Furthermore, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

[0096] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. 1. A volatile material dispensing device comprising: a) a housing having opposing first and second walls, the first and second walls joining one another along their periphery; a housing, each of the first wall and the second wall having at least one opening defining a cavity for receiving a solid component comprising a volatile composition; b) a dispenser mount centrally located in one of the first and second walls and extending from an outer surface of the one of the first and second walls, the dispenser mount having a flat mounting surface and characterized by a height greater than a thickness of the one of the first and second walls.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser mount is characterized by a height greater than 1 mm and less than 20 mm.

3. 3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat mounting surface is characterized by a mounting surface area, and the one of the first wall and the second wall comprises a peripheral wall area surrounding the dispenser mount, the peripheral wall area being characterized by a peripheral wall area, and a ratio of the mounting surface area to the peripheral wall area is between 1:2 and 1:15, preferably between 1:5 and 1:15, more preferably between 1:7 and 1:

10.

4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser mount is integral with the one of the first wall and the second wall, and preferably the dispenser mount is characterized by a thickness that corresponds to a thickness of the one of the first wall and the second wall.

5. The first wall and the second wall each include a plurality of openings, and when activated, the openings have an exposed percentage of about 40% to about 90%, and at least about 60% of the total surface area of ​​the plurality of openings each have an exposed percentage of at least 4.2 mm ２ 5. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of openings has an area of

6. The individual openings are at least about 4.2 mm ２ 6. The device of claim 1 having an area of:

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are hinged to form a single housing part.

8. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall comprises a material selected from the group consisting of molded pulp paper, plastic, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.

9. 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising an anchor disposed within the housing for securing the solid component between the first wall and the second wall.

10. A volatile composition dispenser comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a solid component disposed within the device.

11. 11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispenser comprises no more than one solid part, and preferably the shape of the inner contour of the device corresponds to the shape of the outer contour of the solid part.

12. 12. A dispenser according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the solid part comprises a volatile composition selected from the group consisting of fragrances, deodorants, disinfectants, insect repellents, malodour reducers and mixtures thereof, preferably the volatile composition is present in a concentration of from 3% to 85% by weight of the solid part, preferably from 15% to 75% by weight, more preferably from 20% to 60% by weight of the solid part.

13. 12. A dispenser according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the solid component is non-aqueous, preferably containing less than 1% water by weight, more preferably substantially free of water.

14. 14. The dispenser of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the solid component comprises a cellulosic substrate impregnated and / or coated with the volatile composition.

15. 14. The dispenser according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the solid part comprises a peripheral evaporation surface, the solid part being capable of shrinking from an initial size relative to the peripheral evaporation surface to a reduced size smaller than the initial size when the solid part is exposed to an ambient environment within the interior space, the solid part being characterized by a shrinkage in a direction away from the peripheral evaporation surface of more than 1% to less than 40%, preferably the solid part comprises a gel composition selected from the group consisting of ethylcellulose polymers, chemically crosslinked polyols or derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, preferably a chemically crosslinked polyol, the polyols or derivatives thereof being selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyester polyols, polyglycerols, and mixtures thereof.

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