Consumer products containing volatile composition cartridges

Abstract

Disclosed herein are consumer products comprising (i) outer packaging, (ii) one or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, and (iii) instructions for using one or more cartridges with a reusable housing, wherein one or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging and each comprises a reservoir for interface contact with a reusable housing, containing a volatile composition in liquid form and having an opening, a membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, and a sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, wherein one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement in a reusable housing, and one or more cartridges are configured to be placed in a reusable housing without being bonded to or attached to the reusable housing, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst before use, or (b) The sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use. It is a consumer product to which one of the following applies.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of consumer products, and more specifically to a product comprising a cartridge for delivering a volatile composition. [Background technology]

[0002] Systems for delivering volatile materials into the atmosphere are known in the art. Examples of such systems include insecticides, air purifiers, and odor removers, which function by evaporating volatile materials into the air, thereby providing various benefits such as air purification or odor removal.

[0003] Most volatile composition dispensers are designed for single use. Typical disposable air purifier dispenser devices are described in International Publications 98 / 16262 and 2017 / 192639, and include an air purifier medium in a container and a push-button actuator that can be manually operated to rupture a foil covering the container to initiate the distribution of the air purifier into the air. The problem associated with such devices is that, after the volatile composition is depleted, it is not possible to refill or replenish the volatile composition to restart the volatile composition dispenser. As a result, the entire product is discarded, contributing to the environmental problem of plastic waste. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 98 / 16262 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2017 / 192639 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a volatile composition dispenser comprising a reusable housing and a replaceable cartridge for delivering a volatile material.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a need for a volatile composition dispenser that is easy to use and provides a high level of consumer satisfaction.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The present invention provides the following. 1. A consumer product, (i) an outer packaging, (ii) one or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, (iii) instructions for using one or more cartridges with a reusable housing, The one or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging, each A reservoir for making a contact interface with the reusable housing, containing the volatile composition in a liquid form and having an opening, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, A sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, The one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement within the reusable housing, The one or more cartridges are configured to be placed within the reusable housing without being adhered or attached to the reusable housing, and (a) the membrane surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture prior to use, or (b) the sealing substrate surrounds the membrane, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture or be removed prior to use, 2. A consumer product, (i) an outer packaging, (ii) one or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, (iii) instructions for using one or more cartridges with a reusable housing, One or more cartridges are packaged within an outer wrapping, each A reservoir for making contact with a reusable housing at an interface, the reservoir containing a volatile composition in liquid form and having an opening, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, the membrane being configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, A sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, One or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement within a reusable housing, One or more cartridges are configured to be removed from the reusable housing without being touched by the user, and (a) the membrane surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) the sealing substrate surrounds the membrane, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture or be removed before use, either of which applies, a consumer product. 3. The consumer product according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the sealing substrate surrounds the membrane and the sealing substrate is configured to be removed before use. 4. One or more cartridges include an outer sealing region, and the outer peripheries of the sealing substrate and the membrane are sealed together in the outer sealing region, Optionally, the membrane is sealed to the outer periphery of the reservoir in the outer sealing region, the consumer product according to any one of clauses 1 to 3. 5. The consumer product according to any one of clauses from 1 to 4, wherein the sealing substrate includes a pull tab to facilitate removal by the user. 6. The consumer product according to any one of clauses from 1 to 5, wherein the volatile composition includes a fragrance. 7. The consumer product according to any one of clauses from 1 to 6, wherein the volatile composition includes a volatile carbonyl-containing compound having a vapor pressure of at least 0.025 Torr at 25 °C, and the volatile carbonyl-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of volatile aldehydes, ketones, and mixtures thereof. 8. One or more cartridges shall have at least one secondary reservoir section, When the cartridge is oriented for use, At least one secondary reservoir portion is located below the reservoir in the direction of gravity. The consumer product according to any one of Clauses 1 to 7, wherein the total volume of at least one secondary reservoir located below the primary reservoir in the direction of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition. 9. The reservoir is the outermost layer of one or more cartridges in the consumer product as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 8. 10. One or more cartridges are compressible or deformable, as described in any one of clauses 1 to 9 of the Consumer Product. 11. The membrane and reservoir are each compressible or deformable, as described in Clause 10 of the consumer product. 12. The membrane is approximately 20 cm long. 2 ~about 40cm 2 A consumer product as described in any one of clauses 1 to 11, having an evaporation surface area and one or more cartridges having a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm. 13. The film covers substantially the entire surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. Optionally, the film covers at least 90% of the surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. More selectively, the film forms at least 95% of the surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. Consumer products as defined in any one of clauses 1 through 12. 14. The consumer product as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 13, wherein the reservoir is formed from a transparent material so that the filling level of the volatile composition can be seen. 15. A consumer product as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 14, wherein the reusable housing comprises one or more rib elements configured to apply a compressive force to a cartridge placed within the reusable housing, and the compressive force is configured to be applied to the cartridge substantially as long as the cartridge is within the reusable housing. 16. The reusable housing comprises a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other in order to open and close the reusable housing. The front frame has a window configured to receive a part of the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir), At least a portion of the window is bordered by a wall portion that projects substantially vertically from the window into the interior of the reusable housing, and the wall portion is configured to support a cartridge (e.g., a reservoir) within the reusable housing without adhesive. The rear frame has one or more openings configured to allow airflow into the reusable housing, The reusable housing is configured to hold the cartridge between the front and rear frames, allowing the volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge. Consumer products as specified in any one of clauses 1 through 15. 17. A consumer product as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 16, comprising a reusable housing comprising a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other to open and close the reusable housing, wherein the rear frame comprises one or more rib elements configured to apply a compressive force to a cartridge when the reusable housing is closed and the cartridge is placed inside the reusable housing, and the compressive force is configured to be applied to the cartridge substantially as long as the cartridge is inside the reusable housing. 18. A consumer product as described in any one of Clauses 1 to 17, wherein the compression force is configured to cause a reduction in the thickness of the reservoir of the cartridge when it is held in a reusable housing compared to the thickness of the reservoir before the compression force is applied. 19. Consumer products, (i) Outer packaging and, (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, each of which is a single-use cartridge for placement in a reusable housing, packaged within an outer packaging, A reservoir for contacting a reusable housing and forming an interface, the reservoir containing a volatile composition in liquid form and having an opening, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, It comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, When one or more cartridges are placed in a housing comprising a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from or toward each other to open and close the housing, the front frame is configured to have a window configured to receive a portion of the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir), and at least a portion of the area around the window is bordered by a wall portion projecting substantially perpendicularly from the window toward the interior of the housing, the wall portion being configured to support the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir) within the housing without adhesion, the rear frame comprises one or more openings configured to allow airflow into the housing, the housing is configured to hold the cartridge between the front frame and the rear frame so that a volatile composition can evaporate from the cartridge, the cartridge is held within the reusable housing without adhering to or sticking to the reusable housing, can be removed from the reusable housing without user contact, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) Consumer products to which either of the following applies: the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use.

[0008] In this form, the present invention provides a consumer product comprising a cartridge highly adapted for use with a specific housing, and by using the cartridge with the housing specified in the instructions for use, several advantages, as described herein, are provided. These advantages may not be obtained if the cartridge is used with a housing different from that described in the instructions, or if a different cartridge is used with a housing. By using the cartridge with a housing as defined, consumers will reduce plastic waste compared to single-use volatile composition dispensers. The cartridge may be configured to (a) be held in the housing without adhesive or attachment, and / or (b) be removable from the reusable housing without user contact. This allows the present invention to provide a small, compact, and portable cartridge with a high film evaporation surface area that can be easily removed from the housing at the end of its lifespan. In particular, by not having to touch the cartridge by hand to remove it from the housing, consumers can advantageously avoid touching the film moistened with a volatile composition that typically contains a substantial amount of organic material that is unpleasant to touch. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] This specification details the present invention and concludes with claims that clearly define it, but the present invention is thought to be better understood from the following description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] This is a diagram of a consumer product with a single configuration. [Figure 2] This is a diagram of a consumer product with a single configuration. [Figure 3A] A front perspective view of a cartridge in one configuration is shown. [Figure 3B] A front perspective view of a cartridge in one configuration is shown. [Figure 4] The rear view of a cartridge in one configuration is shown. [Figure 5A]Examples of reusable housings in which the cartridges disclosed herein may be used together are shown. [Figure 5B] Examples of reusable housings in which the cartridges disclosed herein may be used together are shown. [Figure 5C] Examples of reusable housings in which the cartridges disclosed herein may be used together are shown. [Figure 5D] Examples of reusable housings in which the cartridges disclosed herein may be used together are shown. [Figure 6] This shows a single cartridge configuration. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the effect of compressing a cartridge using a single configuration. [Figure 8] A magnified view of a single cartridge configuration is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Herein, various configurations are described in order to provide an overall understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and principles of use of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these configurations are shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus and methods specifically described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary configurations, and that the scope of the various configurations of this disclosure is defined solely by the claims. Features illustrated or described in relation to one exemplary configuration can be combined with features of other exemplary configurations. Such modifications and variations are included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0011] In one embodiment, the present invention is a consumer product, (i) Outer packaging and, (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, (iii) Instructions for using one or more cartridges with a reusable housing, One or more cartridges are packaged inside the outer packaging, and each one is, A reservoir for contacting a reusable housing and forming an interface, the reservoir containing a volatile composition in liquid form and having an opening, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, It comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, The present invention relates to a consumer product in which one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement in a reusable housing. The consumer product, in particular the outer packaging, one or more cartridges, and instructions may have any of the additional features defined herein. Disclosures herein of narrower embodiments should not be construed as limiting this disclosure to a narrower aspect of the present invention.

[0012] In some configurations, the consumer product may take the form of a refillable cartridge pack, in which case the refill pack packaging does not include a reusable housing as mentioned in the instructions. The ingredients of the consumer product are listed below.

[0013] outer packaging The outer packaging may be any suitable packaging, such as rigid or flexible packaging. From the viewpoint of protecting the cartridge from accidental damage or rupture, the packaging may be rigid or semi-rigid. For example, the packaging may be formed from plastic material or cardboard material. In some configurations, the outer packaging may be formed from a combination of rigid and semi-rigid materials, such as a combination of plastic and cardboard material.

[0014] In some configurations, the outer packaging may be formed mostly from cardboard material. For example, the outer packaging may be formed from at least 50% by weight of cardboard material, for example, at least 60% by weight, at least 70% by weight, at least 80% by weight, at least 90% by weight, or at least 95% by weight of cardboard material.

[0015] The outer packaging can take any suitable form. In some configurations, the outer packaging may take the form of blister or clamshell packaging, which may be made from plastic material, cardboard material, or a combination thereof. Blister packaging may have any suitable structure, including face-sealed blisters, full-face-sealed blisters, full-card blisters, and trap blisters. In some configurations, the outer packaging may take the form of a box, such as a corrugated cardboard box.

[0016] Suitable cardboard materials that can be used for outer packaging include corrugated cardboard (single-sided, single-walled, double-walled, triple-walled, and honeycomb corrugated cardboard, etc.) and paperboard. In some configurations, the cardboard material may be laminated with a plastic material.

[0017] Suitable plastic materials that can be used 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 understand that other plastics may also be used.

[0018] cartridge One or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging to form a consumer product. For brevity, one or more cartridges may be referred to as “cartridges” in this specification.

[0019] The cartridge is a single-use, disposable cartridge containing a volatile composition for release into the surrounding environment, and can be disposed of once the volatile composition is depleted. The cartridge is designed to be housed in a reusable housing, and once the cartridge has depleted the volatile composition, it can be removed from the housing and replaced with a new cartridge. Using single-use cartridges with reusable housings reduces the amount of material contributing to waste disposal and the amount of material (e.g., plastic) used during the manufacturing process compared to a product that is entirely single-use (i.e., if the housing is single-use).

[0020] The cartridge comprises a reservoir, a membrane, and a sealing substrate. The reservoir contains a volatile composition and is surrounded by both the membrane and the sealing substrate, which can surround the reservoir in any order. Thus, the membrane may surround the sealing substrate, or the sealing substrate may surround the membrane.

[0021] The cartridge may include an outer periphery sealing region in which both the reservoir and the outer periphery of the film can be sealed. In a configuration in which the sealing substrate surrounds the film, the outer periphery of the sealing substrate may be sealed to the outer periphery of the film in the outer periphery sealing region; that is, insofar as the sealing substrate can be removed from the cartridge, the outer peripheries of the reservoir, film, and sealing substrate may be sealed together in the outer periphery sealing region. This may occur when the edges of the reservoir and film are adjacent. Alternatively, the edge of the reservoir may extend beyond the edge of the film, and the sealing substrate may be directly sealed to the reservoir in the outer periphery region of the reservoir beyond the edge of the film. In a configuration in which the film surrounds the sealing substrate and the cartridge also includes a bursting mechanism for bursting the sealing substrate, the outer periphery sealing region may consist only of the outer peripheries of the reservoir and film. In such a configuration, the cartridge may also include an inner periphery sealing region in which the inner periphery of the reservoir is sealed to the sealing substrate. This can be achieved by providing an intermediate step in the inner circumference of the reservoir (for example, between the outer circumference of the reservoir and the main body), and the sealing substrate can be sealed in the intermediate step of the reservoir.

[0022] The cartridges described herein are advantageous in that they allow the user to remove used or completed cartridges from the housing without having to touch the cartridge, thereby avoiding contact between the user's hands and the organic components of the volatile composition throughout the cartridge's lifecycle. This can be achieved by providing a form of cartridge configured to be placed within a reusable housing without adhesion or attachment to the reusable housing. For example, the housing can be opened and turned upside down so that the cartridge falls out of the housing. This advantage of the present invention is particularly advantageous because used or completed cartridges still contain a small amount of residual volatile composition, and therefore the film remains moistened with organic components even when the cartridge has reached the end of its effective service life.

[0023] For example, a cartridge may be configured to be held within the housing without adhesive and / or mounting. In this context, “adhesion” refers to the use of adhesive, such as glue, adhesive tape, or adhesive strips such as Velcro, to secure the cartridge within the housing. Thus, in some configurations, the cartridge does not have adhesive on the outer portion of the cartridge, and this adhesive is intended to releasably bond the cartridge to the housing. “Mounting component” refers to any mechanism that secures the cartridge within the housing and requires an active release or disengagement step, and does not allow the cartridge to easily fall out of the housing when the housing is opened and turned upside down. For example, “mounting” may refer to a hook or clamp, a component configured to be held securely within a slot in the housing and requiring a manual removal step to pull it out of the slot, or any other mounting means for securing the cartridge to the housing that requires a disengagement or release step.

[0024] In some configurations, the cartridge may be held within the housing by mounting means that can be released or disengaged without touching the cartridge, such as via a button or slider.

[0025] In some configurations described herein, the cartridge is configured to be removed from the housing without user contact. In this context, “without user contact” should be understood as enabling the removal of the cartridge without the user touching it, whether the user touches the cartridge directly or indirectly, such as by using gloves or another tool like a stick.

[0026] In some configurations, the cartridge may comprise 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 primary reservoir in the direction of gravity, and the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the primary reservoir in the direction of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition.

[0027] In this context, “oriented for use” refers to the orientation in which the cartridge can be reasonably positioned during consumer use, such as the intended configuration of the housing in which the cartridge is intended to be placed. For example, if the housing has a base, “oriented for use” refers to the orientation when the base is placed on a substantially flat surface. If the housing has a hook, “oriented for use” refers to the orientation resulting from the housing being suspended from the hook. “Oriented for use” may refer to the orientation that would result from following the instructions discussed herein.

[0028] When used herein, if the reservoir and secondary reservoir portion are fluidly connected, and the secondary reservoir portion is "below gravity" of the reservoir, the secondary reservoir portion is positioned so that the liquid present in the reservoir can flow into the secondary reservoir portion under gravity. The liquid may flow directly from the primary reservoir portion to the secondary reservoir portion, or through a conduit connecting the primary and secondary reservoir portions through a connection (e.g., an opening). When at least one secondary reservoir portion is below gravity of the reservoir, the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion below gravity of the reservoir is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile material. If the secondary reservoir portion includes a portion below the reservoir and a portion not below the reservoir, the volume of the portion below the primary reservoir portion is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile material. Therefore, if the cartridge according to the present invention has an initial volume of less than 4% of the volatile material and is oriented in this manner, substantially all of the remaining volatile material is held in the secondary reservoir portion, and the reservoir is substantially empty. Those skilled in the art will understand that a small amount (e.g., a droplet) of volatile material may remain in the reservoir. This is advantageous as it informs the user that the cartridge has depleted its volatile composition and reached the end of its effective life. This is beneficial because the volatile composition typically includes a small amount of non-volatile material present at the end of its service life, which can be seen in the reservoir. The user may be confused by this residual material in the reservoir and mistakenly believe that the cartridge is not depleted, leading to dissatisfaction with the cartridge's performance over the subsequent period.

[0029] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the cartridge is oriented for use, the total volume of at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the reservoir in the direction of gravity may be 4% to 30% (e.g., 5% to 20%, e.g., 7% to 15%) of the initial volume of the volatile material.

[0030] The reservoir, film, and encapsulation substrate will be described in order below.

[0031] reservoir The reservoir contains the volatile composition and has an opening surrounded by a membrane and a sealing substrate.

[0032] The cartridge reservoir may typically be formed from a plastic material and, advantageously, may be transparent so that the filling level of the volatile composition in the reservoir can be easily observed. An example of a suitable material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0033] The reservoir is configured to make interface contact with the reusable housing as described herein. Therefore, in some configurations, the term “making interface contact” may be understood to mean that the reservoir is configured to be received by a window in the reusable housing, and as a result, the cartridge is held securely within the housing when the housing is closed. Thus, the reservoir may have a shape configured to correspond to a window in the reusable housing, and therefore the reservoir portion may be received and tightly fitted within the window.

[0034] In such a configuration, it may be advantageous for the reservoir to be formed from a transparent material so that the level of volatile composition filling the reservoir can be seen from the outside of the reusable housing, such as through a window.

[0035] The cartridges disclosed herein are single-use cartridges intended to be housed within a reusable housing. Therefore, the cartridges typically do not have their own housing. In other words, the cartridge reservoir may be the outermost layer of the cartridge. In this context, “outermost” should be understood to mean that the cartridge does not contain any substantial components outside the reservoir. To avoid misunderstanding, this does not preclude the presence of a membrane and sealing substrate surrounding the reservoir opening. Nevertheless, in some configurations, the reservoir may have a label or wrapping around the reservoir intended to convey information to the user. However, the reservoir may be transparent as described herein, and in such cases, the reservoir typically does not need to be covered by additional labels or packaging so as not to obscure the reservoir.

[0036] The reservoir may have any suitable shape. To securely hold the cartridge and prevent its rotation, the reservoir may correspond to the shape of a window in the housing configured to hold the cartridge together. Therefore, the reservoir may have an elliptical shape. A combination of a window and a reservoir, both having an elliptical shape, ensures that the cartridge is held firmly within the window and cannot rotate within it. Furthermore, the absence of corners / vertices makes it easier to place and remove the cartridge from the window than a polygonal shape that requires specific alignment. When an elliptical cartridge is placed within an elliptical window, the curved edges of the cartridge and window naturally align the cartridge during insertion, improving ease of use and user experience. The reservoir may have any suitable size. For example, the reservoir may have a maximum dimension of approximately 4.5 cm to approximately 5.5 cm. The reservoir may be elliptical and have an aspect ratio of approximately 1.2 to approximately 1.8, for example, approximately 1.3 to approximately 1.6. These dimensions can be measured at the maximum distance from the membrane in a plane parallel to the plane of the membrane. The reservoir may have a trapezoidal taper as it extends away from the membrane (for example, the reservoir may have a tapered cross-section as the distance from the membrane increases). This taper guides the cartridge into the window during insertion, thus improving the ease of insertion into the housing window. The reservoir may have a variable depth, which may also increase the ease of insertion into the housing window, as the shallower end of the reservoir may be inserted first, and the inclined section of the reservoir may assist in aligning the reservoir into the window during insertion. Thus, the reservoir may have a depth at the first end that is greater than the depth at the second end. In some configurations, the reservoir may comprise a first end section, a second end section at the opposite end of the first end section, and an inclined section between them. In some configurations, the inclined section may have an inclination angle of 2° to 35°, e.g., 3° ​​to 25°, e.g., 4° to 15°.The first and second end sections may correspond to the respective ends of the cartridge such that the inclined sections extend to and from the first and / or second ends. Alternatively, the first and / or second end sections may have a substantially uniform depth with the inclined sections in between. In this regard, the substantially uniform depth may correspond to a maximum depth to minimum depth ratio of about 1 to about 1.4, preferably about 1 to about 1.3, and more preferably about 1 to about 1.2, where the maximum and minimum depths are measured along a line that bisects the cartridge longitudinally.

[0037] It is worth noting that reservoir depth can be particularly useful when the sealing substrate is removable. Removable sealing substrates are described in more detail below. For example, if the reservoir depth is sufficient, the user may grip the sidewall of the reservoir while removing the sealing substrate. 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 is considered to provide a suitable gripping surface when the user removes the sealing substrate. The above represents the minimum reservoir depth that provides a sufficient gripping surface, but it is further considered that if the reservoir depth is too high, the cartridge may become difficult to handle. For example, the reservoir depth may be 15 mm or less, preferably about 14 mm or less, more preferably about 13 mm or less, and most preferably 12 mm or less. Of course, a range of reservoir depths may be created by combining the minimum and maximum reservoir depths.

[0038] Furthermore, as mentioned above, if the reservoir depth varies along its length and / or width, it may be preferable to have the reservoir depth described above adjacent to the pull tab for the sealing substrate. This can improve the ease of gripping the cartridge while removing the sealing substrate. For example, if the pull tab is located on the side of the cartridge, the maximum reservoir sidewall depth may be adjacent to the pull tab, for example, on the side of the cartridge.

[0039] As described above, the reservoir has a side wall. The periphery may extend outside the side wall. The periphery of the cartridge may have a sealing region to which the film and sealing substrate are bonded to the reservoir. If the sealing substrate is removable, an adhesive insufficiency region may be provided at the periphery. To provide sufficient adhesion between the film and the sealing substrate, the periphery should have a width of at least 3 mm, more preferably at least 5 mm (generally perpendicular to the side wall). To facilitate the removal of the sealing substrate, the insufficiency region may have a width of at least 1 mm, more preferably 2 mm, and even more preferably at least 2.5 mm, from the outer edge of the periphery toward the side wall. If the adhesive insufficiency region exceeds 2.5 mm, it is thought that it will adversely affect the adhesion between the sealing substrate and the film, which may lead to leakage during transport, storage, and / or use.

[0040] film The volatile composition is in liquid form and is configured to evaporate through a membrane. Therefore, the cartridge includes a microporous membrane, sometimes referred to herein as the “membrane” for brevity. The membrane may surround a reservoir so that the volatile composition cannot escape the cartridge without passing through the membrane. The membrane may also prevent the passage of liquid so that the volatile composition can escape the cartridge only by evaporation through or from the membrane.

[0041] The membrane is vapor permeable and can draw up liquid, but prevents the free flow of liquid from the membrane. Any suitable membrane can be used. Specific properties that may result in an advantageous membrane are described below, purely as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to membranes having the following properties, and any membrane known in the art that can evaporate volatile compositions can be used in the present invention.

[0042] The film can have any suitable volume-average pore size, such as 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm, e.g., 0.02 μm to 0.3 μm, e.g., 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm, more specifically 0.065 μm to 0.15 μm, as it can provide improvements in terms of evaporation rate and control of leakage or evaporation of volatile compositions. In certain configurations, the film may have volume-average pore sizes of 0.065 μm to 0.15 μm, 0.07 to 0.12 μm, 0.07 to 0.11 μm, or 0.08 to 0.1 μm.

[0043] In some configurations, the membrane may have a pore size distribution such that at least 50%, for example, at least 60%, for example, at least 70%, for example, at least 80%, or for example, at least 90% of the membrane's pores have a pore size of 0.065 μm to 0.15 μm.

[0044] The membrane may contain (or be formed from) any suitable material, such as polyethylene, including ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), but polyethylene chains of other lengths may also be used. As used herein, UHMWPE refers to polyethylene having a molecular weight of about 3.5 million to 7.5 million amu.

[0045] The film may have a thickness of approximately 0.01 mm to 1 mm, or approximately 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, or approximately 0.22 mm to 0.37 mm, for example, approximately 0.25 mm to 0.35 mm in the z direction.

[0046] The membrane may be formed from a single piece or a single sheet of material. In other words, the membrane does not have to be laminated. Therefore, the membrane may be formed from a single sheet of polyethylene having the thickness described above.

[0047] Those skilled in the art will understand that the surface area of ​​the film can vary depending on the size of the cartridge preferred by the user. In some configurations, the (evaporation) surface area of ​​the film is approximately 2 cm². 2 ~about 100cm 2 , or about 10cm 2~about 50 cm 2 or about 10 cm 2 ~about 45 cm 2 or about 10 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2 or about 15 cm 2 ~about 40 cm 2 or about 15 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2 or about 20 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2 or about 30 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2 or about 35 cm 2 may be.

[0048] Particularly preferred membranes can have an evaporation surface area of about 20 cm 2 ~about 40 cm 2 e.g., about 30 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2 can have

[0049] The membrane may form substantially all (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) of the surface area of the face of the cartridge. Thus, the cartridge may have a front and a back, and the membrane may form substantially all (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) of the surface area of the front or back of the cartridge. In some configurations, the membrane may form substantially all (e.g., at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%) of the projection of the cartridge onto a plane, and the plane is selected to provide the maximum membrane area. This advantageously allows the membrane to have an evaporation surface area maximized with respect to the size of the cartridge, resulting in improved release of the volatile composition.

[0050] Thus, in some configurations, the membrane is about 20 cm 2 ~about 40 cm 2 e.g., about 30 cm 2 ~about 35 cm 2It may have an evaporation surface area and may form substantially the entire surface of the cartridge.

[0051] In some configurations, the membrane is approximately 20 cm long. 2 ~about 40cm 2 For example, about 30cm 2 ~about 35cm 2 The cartridge may have an evaporation surface area and may have a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm, preferably less than 9 cm. This is advantageous because it means that the cartridge has a compact size while maintaining a large evaporation surface area.

[0052] In such a configuration, the membrane is large relative to the overall size of the cartridge. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous that the cartridge be configured to be removed from the housing without being touched by the user, because otherwise it would be very difficult to avoid touching the membrane (which is wetted with the volatile composition) when removing the cartridge from the housing. This may also be achieved by ensuring that the cartridge is held in place within the housing without adhesive or attachment, so that the user can easily lift the opened housing to remove the cartridge without having to disengage or remove the cartridge from the housing. This advantage is illustrated by Figure 5C, which shows how the cartridge may be positioned within the housing. When this housing is opened, it is difficult to lift the cartridge without touching the membrane, and therefore it is advantageous that the cartridge can instead be removed by simply lifting the open housing and letting the cartridge fall.

[0053] The membrane may have any suitable porosity. For example, the membrane may have a porosity of 45% to 70% by volume, for example, 45% to 65%. In a particular configuration, the porosity may be 50% to 70%, for example, 55% to 65%.

[0054] The membrane is 0.6-2 cm 3It may have any appropriate total pore volume, such as / g. Typically, the total pore volume is 0.65–1.6 cm³. 3 / g, for example, 0.7~1.5cm 3 It may be / g. In a specific configuration, the total pore volume is 0.8 to 1.4 cm³. 3 / g is also acceptable.

[0055] The membrane has a concentration of 0.3-0.8 g / cm³. 3 It can have any suitable bulk density, such as 0.35–0.75 g / cm³. Typically, the bulk density is 0.35–0.75 g / cm³. 3 For example, 0.4~0.7 g / cm³ 3 This is possible. In a particular configuration, the bulk density is 0.4-0.6 g / cm³. 3 That's fine.

[0056] Suitable membranes for the present invention include polyethylene membranes available from Microporous, LLC, having the properties described herein.

[0057] The membrane may contain any suitable fillers and plasticizers known in the art. Examples of fillers include finely ground silica, clay, zeolite, carbonate, activated carbon, and mixtures thereof. In one configuration, the membrane may be filled with silica at a total weight of about 30% to about 80%.

[0058] In one aspect of the present invention, the film may contain a dye sensitive to the amount of volatile composition in contact with it to indicate the end of its service life. Alternatively, the film may change to transparent upon contact with a fragrance or volatile composition to indicate that diffusion is occurring. Other means known in the art for indicating the end of service life can be conceived within the scope of the present invention.

[0059] The films described herein can, advantageously, provide a distinct visual change when wetted with a volatile composition and when dried (whether before use or at the end of the service life). Such a visual change may be more detectable if the film does not contain a white pigment (e.g., TiO2). Therefore, the film may contain less than 5% by weight of a white pigment, e.g., less than 1% by weight of a white pigment, less than 0.1% by weight of a white pigment, or less than 0.01% by weight of a white pigment. The film may not contain a white pigment at all.

[0060] The visual change when a film is wet compared to dry may be more pronounced when the film contains a coloring dye / pigment or a black dye / pigment. Therefore, the film may contain a coloring or black dye / pigment such as activated carbon. Such a coloring or black pigment / dye (e.g., activated carbon) may be present in any preferred amount, such as 0.1 to 5% by weight, for example, 0.3 to 1% by weight.

[0061] Sealing substrate The cartridge comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the reservoir and therefore the volatile composition. This prevents the evaporation of the volatile composition as long as the sealing substrate is in place and intact. The sealing substrate may be removed or ruptured to allow the volatile composition to evaporate. This removal or rupture may be referred to herein as "activating" or "operating" the cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be activated before use, i.e., the sealing substrate is configured to rupture or be removed before use. In this context, "use" means allowing the volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge, i.e., enabling it to perform its function of distributing the volatile composition by evaporation. In other words, rupturing or removing the sealing substrate enables the evaporation of at least one liquid volatile composition from the cartridge.

[0062] Non-limiting examples of suitable encapsulating substrates include impermeable films, foils, or laminates, such as flexible (e.g., polymer) films, flexible (e.g., metallic) foils, or composite materials (e.g., foil / polymer film laminates). The impermeable films, foils, or laminates are supplied bonded to the cartridge to prevent evaporation of the volatile composition. A specific example of a suitable encapsulating substrate is aluminum foil.

[0063] The encapsulation substrate can have any suitable thickness, such as 10 μm to 1 mm, 15 μm to 100 μm, 18 μm to 50 μm, or 20 μm to 35 μm.

[0064] As mentioned above, there are two possible configurations for the order of the encapsulation substrate and the film.

[0065] In some configurations, a sealing substrate may be positioned between the film and the volatile composition to prevent the volatile composition from contacting the film. Thus, the cartridge may be configured such that an external force applied to the cartridge causes the sealing substrate to rupture, allowing the volatile composition to pass through the ruptured sealing substrate and come into contact with the film. The volatile composition may then impregnate the film or evaporate from the film. The cartridge may include a rupture mechanism, and the rupture of the sealing substrate may be caused by the activation of the rupture mechanism, which may be achieved by a force applied to the cartridge at an appropriate location. Suitable rupture mechanisms are described in detail in U.S. Patents 10,561,754, 10,561,755, and 10,561,756. The rupture mechanism may be activated by a force applied by a housing in which the cartridge is used, such as a housing containing rib elements configured to activate the rupture mechanism when the cartridge is positioned inside the housing. Alternatively, a force applied to the cartridge may directly rupture the sealing substrate by applying pressure to it through the film. Therefore, the film may be deformable such that when a force (for example, a force applied by a rib element present on the housing as described herein) is applied to the film, the film can deform in the direction of the force applied toward the sealing substrate. In such a configuration, the sealing substrate may be formed from a substantially inelastic material such as a metal foil. When the above force is applied to the film, the film deforms and comes into contact with the sealing substrate. The sealing substrate may rupture because it cannot deform or bend sufficiently in the direction of the force. In such a configuration, when the film is deformed by the applied force and presses against the sealing substrate, it is important that the sealing substrate ruptures before the film is damaged. In other words, the applied force causes the sealing substrate to rupture, while the film deforms without breaking, rupturing, or tearing. Therefore, in some configurations, the film may surround the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate may be configured to rupture upon force applied to the sealing substrate through the film.In other configurations, the film may be placed between the volatile composition and the sealing substrate, so that the volatile composition comes into contact with the film but cannot evaporate and leave the cartridge because the film is surrounded by the sealing substrate. In such configurations, the cartridge may also be configured for use with a housing that has ribs to directly rupture the sealing substrate, as described above. However, this may result in only small holes in the sealing substrate, limiting the rate at which the volatile composition can evaporate from the cartridge. Therefore, in such configurations, the sealing substrate may be provided as a removable component (such as a removable film, foil, or laminate) that surrounds the film and prevents the evaporation of the volatile composition before the sealing substrate is removed. When this type of sealing substrate is removed from the cartridge, the entire film may be exposed to the ambient environment, allowing for an increased evaporation rate of the volatile composition. In such cases, the sealing substrate may be provided with a pull tab so that the consumer can easily remove the sealing substrate from the cartridge before use.

[0066] If a pull tab is provided on the sealing substrate to facilitate its removal, the pull tab may be of any preferred size. For example, the pull tab may have a length of 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 may have a length of about 2 mm to about 20 mm, preferably about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or more preferably about 5 mm to about 10 mm, specifically including all values ​​within these ranges and any range thus produced. Similarly, the width of the pull tab may 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 may have a width of about 2 mm to about 20 mm, preferably about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or more preferably about 5 mm to about 10 mm, specifically including all values ​​within these ranges and any range thus produced. The pull tab may be placed in any preferred location on the sealing substrate. Preferably, the pull tab is placed adjacent to the sealing area.

[0067] If the length and / or width of the pull tab exceeds the above values, it may be difficult to package the cartridge. For example, the housing and cartridge may be packaged together or separately. If the cartridge is placed inside the housing, the housing may be in an open or closed position. When in the closed position, it is desirable to ensure that the pull tab is similarly positioned inside the housing. If the cartridge is placed outside the housing, it may be useful to show a portion of the pull tab to the consumer to indicate the ease with which the cartridge can be operated. However, if the length and / or width exceeds the above values, it may be difficult to show only a portion of the pull tab while concealing the rest.

[0068] As explained, in some configurations, the sealing substrate may be a ruptureable substrate. In other configurations, the sealing substrate may be a removable sealing substrate.

[0069] If the sealing substrate ruptures during the closure of the housing as described herein, a film located outside the sealing substrate may be wetted with a volatile composition. Since the volatile composition typically contains various organic compounds and solvents, users typically prefer to avoid the need to touch the wet film. The use of the rupture mechanism described herein advantageously allows the cartridge to be operated without the user needing to touch the cartridge during the operating process, thereby avoiding any contact between the user's hands and the organic components of the volatile composition. Therefore, in some configurations described herein, the sealing substrate is configured to rupture during the closure of a reusable housing.

[0070] Volatile composition dispenser A combination of a cartridge and a reusable housing may be referred to as a volatile composition dispenser. Therefore, placing one of one or more cartridges within a reusable housing typically forms a volatile composition dispenser, which may be used to release a volatile composition over time.

[0071] Accordingly, the cartridges described herein may be housed in a reusable housing to form a volatile composition dispenser. For example, a volatile composition dispenser may comprise (i) a reusable housing and (ii) a cartridge described herein held within the housing. The cartridge is typically held within the housing without adhesion or attachment to the housing, as described in more detail below.

[0072] In this way, the cartridge can be used to distribute at least one volatile composition and / or other solution or composition, such as a fragrance and / or insecticide, to, for example, an ambient area or atmosphere. The volatile composition may include a single chemical substance or a single material that can enter the gas phase under atmospheric conditions, or more generally, the volatile composition may include a mixture of chemical substances and / or materials that can enter the gas phase under atmospheric conditions.

[0073] While the cartridge may be intended for use in interior spaces such as the interior of a building or the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the present invention is not limited to such use, and those skilled in the art will understand that the dispenser may be configured for use in any suitable environment and may be configured to dispense any suitable solution, chemical, material, and / or composition.

[0074] The cartridge may be configured to continuously distribute the volatile composition without requiring any energy input; that is, the cartridge (and corresponding housing) may be unpowered. "Unpowered" may mean that the device is passive and does not need to be powered by an external energy source. The cartridge and any associated housing do not need to be powered by a heat source, gas source, or current source, and the volatile composition is generally not delivered by aerosol means (for example, the cartridge may not contain components under high pressure).

[0075] The continuous emission of at least one volatile composition may be for any suitable length, e.g., up to 20, 30, 40, 60, or 90 days, shorter or longer, or any period between 10 and 90 days. Of course, compositions with greater or less volatility may be provided in the cartridge to increase or decrease its effective life. The effective life of the cartridge may also depend on the operating conditions (i.e., temperature, pressure, moisture content, airflow, etc.).

[0076] Instructions for use As referred to herein, consumer products include instructions for using one or more cartridges with a reusable housing. Thus, the instructions define the housing in which the cartridge is used. In this context, “using the cartridge” can be understood as placing the cartridge within a reusable housing as defined in the instructions, so that the reusable housing supports the cartridge and allows for the effective release of volatile substances without causing spillage or leakage. Using the cartridge with a housing specified in the instructions may also provide additional benefits, which may not be obtained if the cartridge is used with a housing not specified in the instructions. These benefits are described in detail herein with respect to housing.

[0077] Instructions may be provided within the outer packaging, for example, as an insert within the outer packaging, or as a marking on one or more cartridges themselves, but the instructions do not need to be physically packaged within the outer packaging. Instructions may be provided in any form that is provided to the consumer at the time of purchase or use of the consumer product. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that instructions may be present outside the outer packaging as a separate component alongside the outer packaging (for example, on a shelf alongside the consumer product), or may be provided electronically during use or purchase (for example, as part of an electronically accessed advertisement or sales list).

[0078] The instruction manual instructs the user to use one or more cartridges with a reusable housing to which the cartridges are fitted. The instruction may take the form of a written note or graphic indication that one or more cartridges are suitable for or fit a particular reusable housing. Thus, the instruction manual may instruct the user to place one or more cartridges in a housing having the features defined below. Thus, in some configurations, the present invention provides a consumer product in which the instruction manual instructs the user to use one or more cartridges with a reusable housing having any combination of the features defined herein.

[0079] The instructions may instruct the user to place one or more cartridges into a single specific reusable housing, such as a housing of a particular brand having the characteristics defined in the accompanying claims. Alternatively, the instructions may provide a list of possible reusable housings in which one or more cartridges can be used, each of which listed housings having the characteristics defined in the accompanying claims.

[0080] Reusable housing As described above, the cartridge is a single-use cartridge intended to be housed in a reusable housing. For brevity, the reusable housing may be referred to herein simply as the "housing" or "housing."

[0081] Instructions may instruct the user to place the cartridges defined herein into specific reusable housings. Reusable housings that may be referenced by the instructions are described below.

[0082] The housing may be a non-energized housing. A preferred housing may have a front frame and an opposing rear frame. The front frame and the rear frame may be movable relative to each other so as to allow the housing to represent a closed position and an open position. The front frame and the rear frame may be pivotally connected to each other in a clamshell configuration (e.g., via hinges), or they may be completely separable.

[0083] To improve ease of use, the housing may be equipped with hinges as described herein (for example, the housing may be equipped with a pivotably connected front frame and rear frame). The hinge / pivot connection allows the user to utilize a lever effect when closing the housing and applying the compressive force as described herein.

[0084] Regardless of the nature of the connection between the front and rear frames, the front and / or rear frames may be provided with separation tabs and / or separation slots that facilitate the user's gripping of the front and / or rear frames and facilitate the separation of the front frame from the rear frame. If separation tabs are provided on both the front and rear frames, the separation tabs may be spaced apart from each other to facilitate the user's gripping. For example, one or more separation slots may be contained within the interface between the front and rear frames, or may be contained entirely within the front or rear frame. If more than one separation slot is used, the first separation slot may be located on one side of the housing, and the second separation slot may be located on the opposite side of the housing.

[0085] When separation tabs are used, the front frame may have one or more front separation tabs spaced apart from each other, and the rear frame may similarly have one or more rear separation tabs spaced apart from each other. In such a configuration, one or more front separation tabs may similarly be spaced apart from one or more rear separation tabs.

[0086] The housing can typically be formed from a plastic material such as polypropylene. Those skilled in the art will recognize other suitable plastics that may be used.

[0087] Both the front and rear frames may be provided with a locking mechanism for releasably connecting them when the housing is closed. Thus, the locking mechanism can releasably lock the housing in the closed position. The locking mechanism may be located at the movable end of the housing (e.g., a second end), which faces the first end to which the front and rear frames may be connected, for example, via a hinge. Various locking mechanisms can be used, including latches, snap fasteners, clasps, and catches. Typical latching mechanisms include through-latch and button-latch mechanisms.

[0088] The locking mechanism may be configured to produce a sound of at least 50 dB (e.g., 50 dB to 65 dB) when the housing is closed and the locking mechanism is engaged. This sound confirms to the user that the housing is properly closed and locked in the closed position. This sound confirms to the user that the cartridge has been activated, and is therefore particularly advantageous when the housing is used with a cartridge that is activated by closing the housing, as described herein. This overcomes the problem of prior art volatile composition dispensers, including button actuation mechanisms, in which the user is often unsure whether pressing the button has properly activated the cartridge. The sound can also enhance user satisfaction. The sound may be produced, for example, when a deformable overhang button portion returns from a deformed state to a natural state and / or when the latch engages with the intended corresponding structure.

[0089] As described herein, the housing (e.g., the rear frame) may have one or more rib elements, which may be configured to apply a compressive force to the cartridge, for example, by impacting the cartridge when the housing is closed. Typically, such rib elements are configured to apply a compressive force to the cartridge membrane (either through direct impact or through one or more additional components or layers) when the housing is closed.

[0090] The rib elements can take the form of one or more projections extending from the rear frame toward the center of the housing. The rib elements can have any suitable size and any suitable shape, such as a cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, or polygon, which may have straight or curved edges and faces. While the rib elements can have any suitable size, they typically have a maximum dimension extending from the rear frame of about 0.1 to 1 cm and a maximum dimension parallel to the plane of the rear frame of about 0.1 to 2 cm. However, those skilled in the art will understand that larger or smaller rib elements may be used.

[0091] In some configurations where rib elements are configured to directly apply compressive forces to the membrane during use, the rib elements should be of an appropriate size and shape so as not to rupture, penetrate, or otherwise damage the membrane.

[0092] The rib element may have a substantially flat or rounded cartridge contact surface.

[0093] The housing (e.g., the front frame) may be provided with a window. Advantageously, the window allows the cartridge to be seen from the outside of the housing, which may allow for easy determination of the filling level of the volatile composition without opening the housing. The window may be a notch in the housing (e.g., the front frame), or it may be a part of the housing (e.g., the front frame) made from a transparent material. In some configurations, the window may be configured to receive a part of the cartridge, such as a reservoir. This helps to securely hold the cartridge in place when the housing is closed without requiring adhesive or other bonding means. In some such configurations, the window may be a notch in the front frame configured to receive a part of the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir).

[0094] The window portion may have any suitable shape. To securely hold the cartridge and prevent it from rotating, the window may be elliptical. The window may have any suitable size. For example, the window may have a maximum dimension of about 4.5 cm to about 5.5 cm. The window may be elliptical and have an aspect ratio of about 1.2 to about 1.8, for example, about 1.3 to about 1.6.

[0095] In a configuration in which the housing (e.g., front frame) includes a window configured to receive a portion of the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir), at least a portion of the area around the window may be bordered by a wall portion projecting substantially perpendicularly from the window into the interior of the housing. The wall portion may be configured to support the cartridge within the housing without adhesion. For example, a portion of the cartridge may rest on the wall portion when the cartridge is held within the housing. This allows the cartridge to be supported and held securely within the housing, but, as will be discussed in more detail herein, allows for quick and easy removal by the user because the cartridge is not glued to the housing.

[0096] The wall portion may have any suitable shape that allows the wall portion to support the cartridge within the housing without being glued. For example, the wall portion may consist of a solid (e.g., uninterrupted) wall, or it may consist of a segmented portion of the wall, or it may be formed from 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.

[0097] To facilitate the evaporation of the volatile composition, the housing (e.g., the rear frame) may have one or more openings that allow the evaporated volatile composition to exit the housing. The openings may be configured as described in U.S. Patent No. 11,207,440. Furthermore, the housing (e.g., the front frame) may similarly have one or more openings that facilitate airflow through the housing. In some configurations, the openings included in the front frame may have a smaller opening area than one or more openings in the rear frame.

[0098] When the housing accommodates a cartridge as defined herein, the peak force required to close the housing, including engaging the locking structure if one exists, may be between 20N and 120N, such as 45N to 110N, 50N to 105N, or 55N to 100N, for at least 10 locking cycles. Higher peak forces required to close the housing when the housing accommodates a cartridge may be caused by forces required to rupture the sealing material and / or compress the cartridge, in addition to the force required to actuate the locking mechanism.

[0099] The peak force required to close the housing can be measured by fixing the front frame at an angle such that the joint between the front and rear frames is horizontally parallel when the housing is closed. The rear frame can then be positioned in equilibrium near the front frame, for example, in a position where components of the locking mechanism are in contact but the locking mechanism is not engaged. The peak force can be measured by applying a force perpendicularly downward to the dimensional center point of the rear frame of the housing and determining the peak force required to close the housing.

[0100] As described above, the cartridge may be configured to be removed from the housing without the user touching it. Therefore, in some configurations, the housing is configured such that, when the housing is in an open configuration, the cartridge placed inside the housing can be removed by bending the housing.

[0101] Therefore, in some configurations, the housing may be an openable housing (e.g., having a clamshell structure), and the housing and cartridge are such that when the cartridge located inside the housing reaches the end of its service life, the cartridge is... (i) Steps to open the housing, (ii) The step of turning the housing upside down, The cartridge may be configured to be removable from the housing without the need for a step to disengage or detach it from the housing.

[0102] As referred to herein, the instructions for use of a consumer product may instruct the consumer to place the cartridge within the housing as defined herein. Specific examples of housings that may be referenced by the instructions may include I and II listed below. For the avoidance of doubt, these housings may include any additional features described herein.

[0103] I. A housing comprising a front frame and a rear frame that are movable toward or toward each other in order to open and close the housing, The front frame has a window configured to receive a part of the cartridge (e.g., a reservoir), At least a portion of the window is bordered by a wall portion that projects substantially vertically from the window into the housing, and the wall portion is configured to support a cartridge (e.g., a reservoir) within the housing without adhesive. The rear frame has one or more openings configured to allow airflow into the housing, The housing is configured to hold the cartridge between the front and rear frames, allowing the volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge.

[0104] II. A housing comprising a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other to open and close the housing, wherein the rear frame comprises one or more rib elements configured to apply a compressive force to the cartridge when the housing is closed and the cartridge is positioned within the housing. In such a case, the compressive force may cause a reduction in the thickness of the reservoir of the cartridge when held within the housing compared to the thickness of the reservoir before the compressive force is applied.

[0105] Compression force As described herein, a reusable housing may include one or more rib elements (e.g., as part of a rear frame) configured to apply a compressive force to the cartridge when the cartridge is located within the reusable housing and the housing is closed. The opposite end of the cartridge may be held in place by the housing (e.g., a front frame), resulting in a compressive force being generated by the compression of the cartridge within the housing (e.g., between the front frame and the rib element). The compressive force may typically be generated by the compression between the front frame and the rib element, but for brevity and simplicity, the compressive force is described herein in relation to the action of the rib element on the cartridge.

[0106] Typically, such rib elements may be configured to apply compressive force to the cartridge membrane either through direct impact of the rib elements on the membrane when the housing is closed, or through one or more additional components or layers. Compressive force may be applied to the cartridge for substantially its entire service life, while the cartridge is located within the housing. In other words, substantially, as long as the cartridge is within the housing, compressive force may be applied to the cartridge so that the volatile composition evaporates from the cartridge. In this context, the term “substantially” may mean at least 80% of the time, at least 85% of the time, at least 90% of the time, or at least 95% of the time.

[0107] As used herein, compressive force refers to a force acting to compress a portion of the cartridge and can be understood as a force acting on the surface of the cartridge in a direction toward the interior of the cartridge. While compressive force may act substantially perpendicular to the surface of the cartridge, those skilled in the art will understand that compressive force may act at an angle to the surface of the cartridge, and that it can still provide the benefits discussed below. Compressive force can typically act in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the cartridge, such as at an angle of 60° to 120°.

[0108] The compressive force can have any appropriate magnitude. The magnitude of the compressive force should be high enough to achieve the effects described below, but not excessively high such that it undesirably ruptures or otherwise damages the cartridge. Therefore, the magnitude of the compressive force may be, for example, about 30 N to about 120 N, for example, about 35 N to about 100 N, for example, about 40 N to about 90 N. Those skilled in the art will understand that smaller or larger compressive forces may be appropriate in some situations.

[0109] The compressive force can be approximated as being equal to the release force described below, but for the purposes of the present invention, the magnitude of the compressive force can be measured by measuring the release force as described herein.

[0110] This compressive force offers several advantages, which are typically applicable when a cartridge, such as those described herein, is reversibly / elastically compressed or deformed by the compressive force. For example, a cartridge may be compressible or deformable, and typically, the diaphragm and / or reservoir of the cartridge may be compressible or deformable. In this context, “compressible or deformable” means at least partially reversible compression and deformation such that, when removed from the housing, the cartridge returns at least partially to its original shape.

[0111] Firstly, the compressive force applied to the cartridge by the rib elements causes an equal and opposite reaction force applied to the housing by the cartridge, which biases the opening of the housing. This reaction force is sometimes referred to herein as the “opening force.” The opening force may have a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the compressive force described above. In some configurations, the opening force may have a magnitude of about 3N to about 140N, about 10N to about 100N, about 20N to about 60N, preferably about 25N to about 45N. The opening force can be measured by closing the housing with a new cartridge, fixing the front or rear frame at an angle such that the joint between the front and rear frames is horizontally parallel, and measuring the peak vertical opening force at the midpoint of the housing when the locking structure is released / disengaged (taking gravity into account).

[0112] Typically, the housing is provided with a locking mechanism for releasably locking the housing in a closed position, and while the locking mechanism is engaged, an opening force prevents the housing from opening. However, when the locking mechanism is released or disengaged, the housing will spring open at least partially due to the opening force applied to the housing by the cartridge held within the housing. Therefore, in some configurations described herein, when the housing is in the closed position, the cartridge applies an opening force to the housing, and the term “opening force” should be understood as the force that biases the housing to open. This is advantageous because, when the locking mechanism is disengaged or unlocked, the housing will spring open at least partially, allowing for easy gripping of the front and rear frames. This increases the ease with which the housing can be opened.

[0113] Secondly, the cartridge includes a reservoir containing a volatile composition. When a compressive force acts on a deformable portion of the reservoir or the membrane surrounding the reservoir, the resulting deformation may reduce the thickness of the reservoir along the direction in which the force acts. Typically, the compressive force acts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the membrane, for example, in the direction of 60° to 120° relative to the membrane. If this direction is horizontal, this may be the case when a suitable housing is in an intended upright configuration as shown in Figure 5B, in which case the reduced horizontal thickness of the reservoir causes an increase in the height of the liquid volatile composition within the reservoir. As shown in Figure 7, this provides a higher fill level appearance, especially when the fill level of the volatile composition is easily visible through a window in the front frame of the housing, and increases consumer satisfaction with the volatile composition dispenser.

[0114] Thirdly, when a compressive force acts on a deformable portion of the reservoir or the membrane surrounding the reservoir, the resulting deformation ensures that the cartridge is held securely within the housing and does not move or rattle within the housing when the housing is moved. This gives the product a premium feel and increases user satisfaction. The effect of this benefit may be increased when the front frame of the housing is provided with a window configured to receive the reservoir of the cartridge, as described herein.

[0115] Volatile compositions The volatile composition may include, but is not limited to, substances that can function as deodorizers, odor inhibitors, odor neutralizers, odor blockers, odor preventatives, odor masking materials, aromatherapy materials, aromacology materials, insecticides, air and / or surface cleaners, and / or combinations thereof. In various other configurations, the volatile composition may include various other materials that can act in the gas phase to modify, enhance, and / or treat the atmosphere or area outside the cartridge.

[0116] As used herein, “volatile composition” refers to a material that can volatilize at room temperature and atmospheric pressure without requiring an additional energy source. A volatile composition may consist entirely of a single volatile material. A volatile composition may also consist entirely of a mixture of volatile materials (i.e., the mixture has two or more volatile components). Furthermore, not all of the constituent substances of the composition need to be volatile. Any suitable volatile composition in any amount or form, including liquids or emulsions, can be used.

[0117] Materials suitable for use in this specification may include non-volatile components such as carrier materials (e.g., water, solvents, etc.). Where a composition is described herein as being “delivered,” “evaporated,” or “released,” this should be understood to refer to the volatilization of its volatile components, and it is not necessary for its non-volatile components to be emitted.

[0118] Volatile compositions can be in the form of fragrance oils. Most conventional fragrance materials are volatile essential oils. Volatile compositions can be volatile organic compounds that are commonly available from fragrance manufacturers. Furthermore, volatile compositions can be synthetically or naturally formed materials. Examples include, but are not limited to, oils of bergamot, bitter orange, lemon, mandarin, fennel, cedar leaf, clove leaf, cedarwood, geranium, lavender, orange, origanum, petitgrain, white cedar, patchouli, neroli, and rose absolute. In the case of air purifiers or fragrances, different volatile materials may be similar, related, complementary, and / or contrasting.

[0119] The volatile composition may preferably be in liquid form at 25°C. As described herein, the microporous membranes used in the present invention may have an advantageously increased appearance change when wetted with the volatile composition.

[0120] The volatile composition may have a combined vapor pressure of at least 8 Pa at 25°C, for example, at least 30 Pa at 25°C.

[0121] In addition to, or as part thereof, the cartridge may contain any known malodorous composition for neutralizing odors. Suitable malodorous compositions include cyclodextrins, reactive aldehydes, and ionones. In particular, the volatile composition may include volatile carbonyl-containing compounds having a vapor pressure of at least 0.025 Tor at 25°C, selected from the group consisting of volatile aldehydes, ketones, and mixtures thereof.

[0122] While not bound by theory, the continuous discharge of volatile compositions may be a function of various factors, such as the size of the film pores, the surface area of ​​the film, the physical properties of the volatile composition, such as molecular weight and saturated vapor pressure ("VP"), and the viscosity and / or surface tension of the volatile composition.

[0123] The volatile composition may be formulated to include a mixture of volatile materials, each having a VP of less than about 0.01 torr at 25°C, in an amount of about 10% to about 100% of the total weight; alternatively, about 40% to about 100% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of less than about 0.1 torr at 25°C; alternatively, about 50% to about 100% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of less than about 0.1 torr at 25°C; and alternatively, about 90% to about 100% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of less than about 0.3 torr at 25°C. In one embodiment, the volatile material mixture may contain 0% to about 15% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of about 0.004 torr to about 0.035 torr at 25°C, 0% to about 25% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of about 0.1 torr to about 0.325 torr at 25°C, and about 65% to about 100% of the total weight of volatile materials, each having a VP of about 0.035 torr to about 0.1 torr at 25°C. One source of information for obtaining the saturated vapor pressure of volatile materials is the EPI Suite®, version 4.0, available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

[0124] Tables 1 and 2 below show two exemplary volatile compositions containing volatile substance mixtures with various VP volatile substances. These compositions are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0125] [Table 1]

[0126] [Table 2]

[0127] The viscosity of the volatile composition can control how and when it is delivered to the microporous membrane. For example, a lower viscosity composition may flow faster than a higher viscosity volatile composition. Therefore, the membrane may be initially wetted with a lower viscosity material. To help prevent the liquid from seeping through the microporous membrane, the volatile composition may have a viscosity of less than about 23 cP and a surface tension of less than about 33 mN / m.

[0128] In one embodiment, the volatile composition may have a viscosity of about 1.0 cP to less than about 25 cP, or about 1.0 cP to less than about 23 cP, or about 1.0 cP to less than about 15 cP.

[0129] A volatile composition may be designed to contain a surface tension of approximately 19 mN / m to less than approximately 33 mN / m, or approximately 19 mN / m to less than approximately 30 mN / m, or approximately 19 mN / m to less than approximately 27 mN / m.

[0130] In addition to the configurations discussed above, the present invention also provides a consumer product that does not include instructions for use. Such a consumer product may house a cartridge configured to achieve the benefits described herein when placed in a housing having the features described herein. For example, the cartridge may be for engaging with the housing, may be operably engageable with the housing, and / or may be able to engage with a reusable housing described herein. Thus, in some configurations, the present invention provides a consumer product that, (i) Outer packaging and, (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, each of which is a single-use cartridge for placement in a reusable housing, packaged within an outer packaging, A reservoir for contacting a reusable housing and forming an interface, the reservoir containing a volatile composition in liquid form and having an opening, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, It comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the opening of the reservoir, One or more cartridges, when placed in the housing described herein, are configured to be held within the reusable housing without being glued or attached to the reusable housing, and to be removable from the reusable housing without being touched by the user, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) Provide a consumer product to which either of the following applies: the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use.

[0131] Herein, various configurations are described in order to provide an overall understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and principles of use of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these configurations are shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus and methods specifically described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary configurations, and that the scope of the various configurations of this disclosure is defined solely by the claims. Features illustrated or described in relation to one exemplary configuration can be combined with features of other exemplary configurations. Such modifications and variations are included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0132] Figure 1 shows a consumer product 100 comprising an outer packaging 101 and two cartridges 102. Instructions may be provided electronically, or inside, outside, or alongside the consumer product 100.

[0133] Figure 2 shows a consumer product 200 comprising an outer packaging 201 and three cartridges 202. Instructions may be provided electronically, or inside, outside, or alongside the consumer product 200.

[0134] Figures 3A and 3B show two diagrams of cartridge 300. Cartridge 300 comprises a reservoir 310. The membrane and sealing substrate are not visible in the diagrams shown in Figures 3A and 3B. Cartridge 300 also comprises two secondary reservoir portions 320. Reservoir 310 contains a volatile material, which is configured to evaporate from reservoir 310 after the operating process is performed, i.e., after the sealing substrate has ruptured or been removed. Cartridge 300 in Figures 3A and 3B is shown with the secondary reservoir portions 320 positioned below reservoir 310 in the direction of gravity when cartridge 300 is oriented for use. A conduit region 330 surrounding reservoir 310 functions as a conduit for fluid connection between reservoir 310 and secondary reservoir portions 320. Reservoir 310 and secondary reservoir portions 320 are surrounded by a microporous membrane (not shown) located on the back side of cartridge 300. The microporous membrane is configured to allow evaporation of volatile materials in contact with the membrane. The cartridge 300 shown in Figures 3A and 3B houses a secondary reservoir portion 320, but those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention does not require the secondary reservoir portion to be located within the cartridge disclosed herein.

[0135] Figure 4 shows a rear view of a cartridge 300 according to the present invention. The cartridge 300 comprises a sealing substrate 340 surrounding a membrane and a reservoir (not shown). The membrane is configured to allow evaporation of a volatile material when the sealing substrate 340 is removed from the cartridge. In the cartridge 300 shown in Figure 4, the entire rear of the cartridge 300 is made up of the sealing substrate 340, but those skilled in the art will understand that this is not a requirement of the cartridges disclosed herein.

[0136] Figure 5A shows an exemplary apparatus 500 for delivering a volatile composition (e.g., a volatile composition dispenser). The apparatus 500 comprises a reusable housing 510 having a front frame 520 and a rear frame 530. The apparatus further comprises a cartridge disclosed herein, disposed within the reusable housing 510. The reservoir 310 of the cartridge is visible through the front frame 520 of the reusable housing 510 and is shown as being received by a window of the reusable housing. The rear frame 530 comprises legs 560 for providing a stable base when the apparatus 500 is placed on a surface. In Figure 5A, the rest of the cartridge is not visible through the front 520 of the reusable housing 510.

[0137] Figure 5B shows a more complete view of the rear section 530 of the reusable housing 510, which has multiple openings 540 for exposing the evaporating portion (e.g., film) of the cartridge. The reusable housing 510 is openable so that the cartridge can be replaced when it reaches the end of its service life, and the rear section 530 also has a locking mechanism 550 (partially illustrated) for opening the reusable housing.

[0138] Figure 5C shows the device 500 in an open configuration, showing the cartridge inside the housing, the membrane 340 visible, and a reservoir (not shown) received by a window in the front frame 520. The locking structure 550 comprises a deformable overhang button L21 and a latch member L23, which work together to lock and unlock the device. The locking structure 550 includes a deformable overhang button L21 positioned on the edge of the front frame 520, and the rear frame 530 has complementary grooves to give the housing 500 a smooth and complete appearance when closed. The deformable overhang button L21 is attached to the latch member L23 inside the button L21, and the latch member L23 comprises a latch body L233 and a pillar L231 connecting the button L21 and the latch body L233. Two half-open notches L232 (between button L21 and latch body L233) are formed by button L21, pillar L231, and latch body L233. Two projections 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 projections L24 engage with the notches L232, and the pillar L231 engages with the gap between the projections L24, securely locking the front frame 520 and the rear frame 530. To open the housing 500 again, the consumer can deform the deformable overhanging button L21 by pressing it, causing the pillar L231 to separate from the gap and the projections L24 to disengage from the notches, thereby unlocking the latch structure. Figure 5C also shows two rib elements 570 configured to strike the cartridge membrane 340 when the housing 500 is closed. Therefore, the rib element applies a compressive force to the cartridge when the housing 500 is closed, which provides the advantages discussed herein. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the cartridge is appropriately sized to close the housing in order to generate the compressive force necessary to obtain the advantages described herein.

[0139] The front frame 520 is shown in detail in Figure 5D. The front frame 520 includes a window 580 configured to receive a portion of the cartridge. Part of the perimeter of the window 580 is bordered by a wall portion 581 that projects substantially vertically from the window 580 into the interior of the housing. The wall portion 581 is configured to support the cartridge within the housing without adhesive. The aforementioned deformable overhang button L21 is also visible.

[0140] Figure 6 shows a cartridge 630 according to the present disclosure. The cartridge 630 comprises a sealing region 635, which may comprise a portion of a sealing substrate and a portion of a film, as described herein. A pull tab 640 may be provided to facilitate removal of the sealing substrate. The pull tab 640 may be integrally formed with the sealing substrate or may be separate and bonded to the sealing substrate. The cartridge may comprise a long axis 671 and a short axis 672. To facilitate packaging, the pull tab 640 may have a length 645 substantially parallel to the long axis 671 and a width 647 substantially parallel to the short axis 672. The length 645 and width 647 of the pull tab 640 may be any preferred values ​​as described herein.

[0141] Figure 7 shows an illustrated side cross-sectional view of a cartridge 701 having a reservoir 704 containing a volatile composition. The reservoir 704 is surrounded by a membrane 703a. Since cartridge 701 is not subjected to any compressive force, the membrane 703a does not deform, and the reservoir has a filling level of the volatile composition 704a. In contrast, cartridge 702 is subjected to a compressive force F acting horizontally. The compressive force F deforms the membrane 703b of the cartridge, thereby reducing the horizontal thickness of the reservoir 704 and causing an increase in the filling level of the volatile composition 704b.

[0142] Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of a cartridge 30 in one configuration. The cartridge 30 includes a reservoir 32 having a main reservoir body 321 in which a volatile composition is stored. A sealing substrate 33 is sealably attached to the reservoir 32 in an inner circumferential sealing region 324, surrounding it and preventing the release of the volatile composition until the cartridge 30 is activated. The sealing substrate 33 can be ruptured and the volatile composition released by activating a rupture mechanism 34 located adjacent to the sealing substrate 33. One or more rupture elements 37 are located in the rupture mechanism 34 and puncture the sealing substrate 33. The rupture elements 37 may be pins. The cartridge 30 may also include a membrane 39 located outside the cartridge 30. The membrane 39 may be sealably attached to an outer circumferential sealing region 322 located in the peripheral sealing region 323 of the reservoir 32. The peripheral sealing region 323 also includes an inner circumferential sealing region 324 to which the sealing substrate 33 is sealably attached to the reservoir 32. The membrane 39 can surround the reservoir 32, the volatile composition, the sealing substrate 33, and the rupture mechanism 34. The membrane 39 may be configured to bend when pressure or an actuation force is applied to it. The membrane 39 may also be porous to continuously absorb and volatilize the volatile composition.

[0143] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​listed. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the listed value and the functionally equivalent range encompassing that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "approximately 40 mm."

[0144] All documents referenced herein, including any patents or patent applications that are cross-referenced or related, and any patent applications or patents for which this application claims priority or benefit thereof, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. No citation of any document shall be deemed prior art to any invention disclosed or claimed herein, nor shall any such invention be taught, suggested, or disclosed, either alone or in combination with any one or more other references. 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 any document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition given to that term in this document shall prevail.

[0145] While specific embodiments of the present invention 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 invention. Therefore, it is intended that all such changes and modifications within the scope of the invention be covered in the appended claims.

Claims

1. It is a consumer product, (i) Outer packaging and (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, (iii) A set of instructions for using one or more cartridges together with a reusable housing, The one or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging, and each of them is, A reservoir for contacting the reusable housing at an interface, comprising a reservoir having an opening that contains a volatile composition in liquid form, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, The reservoir comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the opening, The one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges to be placed within the reusable housing, The one or more cartridges are configured to be placed within the reusable housing without being glued or attached to the reusable housing, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) A consumer product to which either of the following applies: the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use.

2. It is a consumer product, (i) Outer packaging and (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, (iii) Instructions for using one or more of the cartridges together with a reusable housing, Equipped with, The one or more cartridges are packaged within the outer packaging, and each of them is, A reservoir for contacting the reusable housing at an interface, comprising a reservoir having an opening that contains a volatile composition in liquid form, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, The reservoir comprises a sealing substrate surrounding the opening, The one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges to be placed within the reusable housing, The one or more cartridges are configured to be removed from the reusable housing without being touched by the user, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) A consumer product to which either of the following applies: the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use.

3. The consumer product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to be removed before use.

4. The one or more cartridges are provided with an outer peripheral sealing region, and the outer peripheral portion of the sealing substrate and the film are sealed together in the outer peripheral sealing region. The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the film is optionally sealed to the outer periphery of the reservoir in the outer periphery sealing region.

5. The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sealing substrate is provided with a pull tab for easy removal by the user.

6. The volatile composition is Fragrances, and A volatile carbonyl-containing compound having a vapor pressure of at least 0.025 Tor at 25°C, selected from the group consisting of volatile aldehydes, ketones, and mixtures thereof. A consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one of the following.

7. The one or more cartridges described above include at least one secondary reservoir portion, When the cartridge is oriented for use, The aforementioned at least one secondary reservoir portion is located below the reservoir in the direction of gravity, The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the total volume of the at least one secondary reservoir portion located below the primary reservoir portion in the direction of gravity is at least 4% of the initial volume of the volatile composition.

8. The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reservoir is the outermost layer of one or more cartridges.

9. The one or more cartridges are compressible or deformable, The membrane and the reservoir are optionally compressible or deformable. A consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The aforementioned membrane is approximately 20 cm ２ ~about 40cm ２ The evaporation surface area is such that one or more cartridges have a maximum dimension of less than 10 cm. Optionally, the film covers substantially the entire surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. More selectively, the film forms at least 90% of the surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. Furthermore, optionally, the film may form at least 95% of the surface area of ​​the cartridge surface. A consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the reservoir is formed from a transparent material so that the filling level of the volatile composition can be observed.

12. The consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the reusable housing comprises one or more rib elements configured to apply a compressive force to a cartridge placed within the reusable housing, and the compressive force is configured to be applied to the cartridge substantially as long as the cartridge is located within the reusable housing.

13. The reusable housing comprises a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other in order to open and close the reusable housing, The front frame is provided with a window configured to receive a part of the cartridge (for example, the reservoir), At least a portion of the perimeter of the window is bordered by a wall portion that projects substantially perpendicularly from the window into the interior of the reusable housing, the wall portion being configured to support the cartridge (e.g., the reservoir) within the reusable housing without adhesive, The rear frame is provided with one or more openings configured to allow airflow into the reusable housing, The reusable housing is configured to hold the cartridge between the front frame and the rear frame, allowing the volatile composition to evaporate from the cartridge. A consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The reusable housing comprises a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other to open and close the reusable housing, the rear frame comprising one or more rib elements configured to apply a compressive force to the cartridge when the reusable housing is closed and the cartridge is placed inside the reusable housing, the compressive force being applied substantially to the cartridge as long as the cartridge is inside the reusable housing. Optionally, the compressive force is configured to cause a reduction in the thickness of the reservoir of the cartridge when it is held in the reusable housing, compared to the thickness of the reservoir before the compressive force is applied. A consumer product according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. It is a consumer product, (i) Outer packaging and (ii) One or more cartridges containing a volatile composition, wherein the one or more cartridges are single-use cartridges for placement in a reusable housing, and are packaged within the outer packaging, each of which is A reservoir for contacting the reusable housing at an interface, comprising a reservoir having an opening that contains a volatile composition in liquid form, A membrane surrounding the opening of the reservoir, configured to allow evaporation of the volatile composition, The reservoir comprises the sealing substrate surrounding the opening, When the one or more cartridges are placed in a housing comprising a front frame and a rear frame that can move away from each other or toward each other to open and close the housing, the front frame is configured to have a window configured to receive a portion of the cartridge (e.g., the reservoir), and at least a portion of the periphery of the window is bordered by a wall portion projecting substantially vertically from the window toward the interior of the housing, the wall portion being configured to support the cartridge (e.g., the reservoir) within the housing without adhesion, the rear frame having one or more openings configured to allow airflow into the housing, the housing being configured to hold the cartridge between the front frame and the rear frame so that the volatile composition can evaporate from the cartridge, the cartridge is held within the reusable housing without adhering to or sticking to the reusable housing, can be removed from the reusable housing without user contact, and (a) The film surrounds the sealing substrate, and the sealing substrate is configured to rupture before use, or (b) A consumer product to which either of the following applies: the sealing substrate surrounds the film, and the sealing substrate is configured to burst or be removed before use.

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