Porous Wick Fragrance Diffuser with Segmented Air Intake

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fragrance diffusers require complex designs with small holes that can clog when dealing with fatty products, and pressure balance issues between bottles affect the diffusion and drop functions.

Innovation Solution

A device with two facing walls and a porous wick that extends between them, allowing fragrance diffusion and drip without clogging, and using external air intake orifices to separate air compensation from fragrance flow, eliminating pressure influence between bottles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If small holes are used to ensure drop by drop fragrance flow, then the drip function is improved, but the holes become clogged by fatty products in the fragrance composition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrip functionVSAvoidclogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces small holes with a porous wick material that has controlled porosity to enable drop-by-drop fragrance flow while preventing clogging by fatty products. The porous structure allows selective passage of liquid through capillary action without the clogging issues of small drilled holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of small drilled holes with a material-based solution using porous wick material. This substitution eliminates the clogging problem inherent in mechanical hole structures while maintaining the desired drip control function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If bottles communicate through flow tubes and air passages, then the system is integrated, but pressure or depression in one bottle influences the operation of the drip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidpressure interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air compensation function from the fragrance flow path by introducing external air intake orifices in the peripheral wall. This separation prevents pressure changes in one bottle from influencing the other, as each bottle has independent air compensation while maintaining system integration for fragrance diffusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces external air as an intermediary substance that compensates for volume changes in each bottle independently. This mediator allows pressure balance without direct communication between bottles, eliminating pressure interference while maintaining system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If diffusion and drop by drop functions are separated, then each function can be optimized, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction optimizationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the diffusion and drop-by-drop functions into a single porous wick element. The wick simultaneously performs fragrance diffusion through its porous structure and controlled drip through its capillary properties, optimizing both functions while simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the porous wick a multi-functional component that performs both diffusion and drip control functions. This universal element eliminates the need for separate components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining optimized performance of both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Simplifies the diffuser design, prevents clogging, and ensures consistent fragrance diffusion and drip without pressure interference between bottles.

Implementation Method 1

at least one wick of porous material which extends into the cavity along the longitudinal axis by crossing the two walls via its two respective opposite ends

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the at least one wick being impregnated with fragrance and thus ensuring both the diffusion of fragrance (located above the device, in particular in an upper bottle) in the cavity and outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

diffusion of fragrance (located above the device, in particular in an upper bottle) in the cavity and outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 4

The return air which compensates for the volume of fragrance flowing through said at least one wick comes from outside the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure compensation: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3027231B1Device for diffusing fragrance, such as a perfume
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 TECHNIPLAST
  • EP3027231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3027231B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3027231B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a fragrance diffusion device, characterised in that it comprises: - two opposing walls (30; 32; 82; 84) spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis (L) so as to together define a cavity (C; C') extending transversely to a peripheral wall (40) provided with an opening (42) that brings the cavity into communication with the outside of the device, - a wick (34; 86-92) made from porous material that extends into the cavity along the longitudinal axis, passing through the two walls by means of the two respective opposite ends (34a, 34b) of same, each protruding into an outer area (Z1, Z2) adjacent to the wall in question, - an air recovery port (O1, O2; 94a, 94b, 96a, 96b) that passes through each wall in such a way as to bring each outer area into communication with the cavity and therefore with the outside of the device.