Dual-Layer Porous Tablet for Controlled Volatile Substance Evaporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing volatile substance tablets exhibit a high initial evaporation rate followed by a significant reduction, failing to maintain a consistent release of fragrance or insecticide over time, limiting their effectiveness in ambient dispersion.

Innovation Solution

A dual-layer tablet design featuring porous materials with different properties, where one layer evaporates faster than the other, allowing for a high initial evaporation rate and a sustained release, achieved by spacing the layers with an impermeable material and varying the evaporation surface exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If a single-layer tablet design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the evaporation rate cannot be maintained consistently over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of consistent volatile substance releaseVSAvoidtablet structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tablet is divided into two distinct layers: a first layer with high porosity (50-90%) for rapid initial evaporation and a second layer with low porosity (10-50%) for sustained release. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, resolving the contradiction between maintaining consistent evaporation duration and avoiding excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tablet (first layer vs. second layer) are assigned different porosity characteristics to optimize their respective functions. The first layer's high porosity enables fast evaporation, while the second layer's low porosity provides controlled sustained release, allowing the overall system to achieve both rapid initial action and prolonged duration without requiring complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If a high porosity material is used throughout the tablet, then the initial evaporation rate is high, but the release cannot be sustained over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial evaporation rateVSAvoidduration of volatile substance release
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tablet structure segments the porosity function into two layers: the first layer uses high porosity (50-90%) material to maximize initial evaporation rate, while the second layer uses low porosity (10-50%) material to sustain release over time. This resolves the contradiction by assigning different porosity characteristics to different functional zones rather than using uniform material throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by giving different porosity properties to different parts of the tablet. The first layer (contacting the volatile substance) has high porosity for rapid evaporation, while the second layer (closer to the heating element) has low porosity for controlled sustained release, enabling both high initial productivity and prolonged duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Duration of action of moving object

If a low porosity material is used throughout the tablet, then the release is sustained over time, but the initial evaporation rate is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of volatile substance releaseVSAvoidinitial evaporation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tablet is segmented into two layers with complementary porosity characteristics: the first layer uses high porosity (50-90%) material to ensure high initial evaporation rate, while the second layer uses low porosity (10-50%) material to provide sustained release over time. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between achieving both rapid initial action and prolonged duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tablet are assigned different porosity qualities to optimize their functions. The first layer's high porosity enables rapid initial evaporation, while the second layer's low porosity ensures sustained release, allowing the system to achieve both high initial productivity and extended duration without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If the same volatile substance is used in both layers, then the formulation is simple, but the evaporation profile cannot be optimized for both immediate and sustained action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial evaporation rateVSAvoidduration of volatile substance release
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the volatile substance distribution into two layers with different porosity characteristics. The first layer (high porosity) enables rapid initial evaporation of the volatile substance, while the second layer (low porosity) provides sustained release over time, optimizing both immediate productivity and prolonged duration through structural segmentation rather than formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The dual-layer tablet provides a controlled release of volatile substances, ensuring a high initial evaporation rate for immediate action and a prolonged, slow release for sustained effectiveness, enhancing the duration of fragrance or insecticide dispersal.

Implementation Method 1

a tablet for retaining a volatile substance in a liquid or solid state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a first and a second layers of volatile substance retaining material, for example a porous material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 3

the volatile substance in one of the layers can evaporate faster than the volatile substance in the other layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2160099B1Tablet and device for the evaporation of volatile substances
Publication Date: 2015.07.29 ZOBELE HLDG SPA
  • EP2160099B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2160099B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2160099B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a tablet (1) for retaining a volatile substance in a liquid or solid state, such as a perfume and/or an insecticide. The tablet comprises at least a first and a second layers (2,4) of volatile substance retaining material, said first and second layers being spaced apart from each other at a selected distance, and wherein it further comprises a layer of impermeable material (3) joined to said layers and located in between said first and second layers.