Apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance, in particular an aroma or insectide, into ambient air

Abstract

Apparatus for releasing a volatile substance, in particular a fragrance or an insecticide, into ambient air, the apparatus includes a housing made of a first material which has a plant-based fiber material, and a barrier layer having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile substance, and arranged inside the housing, the apparatus includes an insert made of a second material, the second material is provided or impregnated with the volatile substance, wherein the second material has one or more of: i) a plant-based fiber material or ii) sucrose or starch or iii) a mineral material.

Claims

1. Apparatus for releasing a volatile substance into ambient air, the apparatus comprising: a housing made of a first material which has a plant-based fiber material, and a barrier layer having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile substance, and arranged inside the housing, the apparatus comprises an insert made of a second material, the second material is provided or impregnated with the volatile substance, wherein the second material comprises one or more of: i) plant-based fiber material or ii) sucrose or starch or iii) a mineral material.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises polyamide, polyester, aluminum, or polyvinyl alcohol.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is arranged in contact with a ply made of the plant-based fiber material.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is arranged between two plys made of the plant-based fiber material.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is embodied as a coating of a ply made of the plant based fiber material and/or as a coating on an inner side of the housing.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first material has a plurality of barrier layers that preferably have different permeabilities for different volatile substances.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a stand surface on which the housing can stand on a subsurface, wherein the stand surface is water-repellant.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plant-based fiber material is paper or cardboard or paperboard, or mechanical pulp board, or wood pulp.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plant-based material is mechanical pulp, or ground wood pulp, or pulp or cotton fiber or grass fiber.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mineral material is rock flour or bentonite or silica gel.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a plurality of plys of the second material connected to one another by an adhesive.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a plurality of plys of mechanical pulp board connected to one another.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and/or the second housing part comprises a receiving element for the insert, wherein the first housing part comprises one or a plurality of through-holes through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air, and the second housing part can be displaced from a closed position, in which it covers the through-holes of the first housing part, to an open position, in which the through-holes of the first housing part are exposed for releasing the volatile substance.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part have a basic outline of identical shape.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a locking element that prevents complete separation of the first housing part and the second housing part from one another is arranged on the first housing part and/or second housing part.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a first housing part, a second housing part, and a third housing part, wherein the first housing part and/or the second housing part comprises a receiving element for the insert, wherein the third housing part has one or a plurality of through-holes through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air, wherein the first housing part and/or the second housing part can be displaced from a closed position, in which the first housing part and/or the second housing part covers the through-holes of the third housing part, to an open position, in which the through-holes of the third housing part are exposed for releasing the volatile substance.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are embodied identical.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the third housing part has the shape of a tube.

29. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a first locking element is arranged on the third housing part and cooperates with a further first locking element on the first housing part and a second locking element is arranged on the third housing part and cooperates with a further second locking element on the second housing part.

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a recess for the insert and one or a plurality of through-holes through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air, wherein the through-holes are provided with a removable barrier element, for and/or a film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of an apparatus for releasing a volatile substance into the ambient air according to a first exemplary embodiment in a closed position.

[0051] FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus according to FIG. 1 when the vapor barrier element is detached.

[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus according to FIG. 1 in an open position.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a perspective elevation of an apparatus for releasing a volatile substance into the ambient air according to a second exemplary embodiment in a closed position.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates the apparatus according to FIG. 3 in an open position.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a perspective elevation of an apparatus for releasing a volatile substance into the ambient air according to a third exemplary embodiment in an open position.

[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates an inner housing part of a housing of the apparatus according to FIG. 6.

[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates the apparatus according to FIG. 6 in a closed position.

[0058] FIG. 9a is a top view of an insert of the apparatus according to FIG. 1.

[0059] FIG. 9b is a side view of an insert of the apparatus according to FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 10a is a top view of an insert of the apparatus according to FIG. 4.

[0061] FIG. 10b is a side view of an insert of the apparatus according to FIG. 4.

[0062] FIG. 11 is a perspective elevation of an alternative insert of the apparatus according to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference number and therefore as a rule each is also identified or mentioned only once.

[0064] The depiction in FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 1 for releasing a volatile substance, for example, in the form of a fragrance or an insecticide, into the ambient air according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a housing 10 made of a first material having a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, cardboard, or paperboard, and a barrier layer having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile substance as well as an insert 20, depicted in FIGS. 9a and 9b, arranged inside the housing 10. The insert 20 comprises a second material that is a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, cardboard, or paperboard, wherein the second material is provided, in particular impregnated, with the volatile substance.

[0065] The housing 10 comprises a receiving element for the insert and one or a plurality of through-holes 12 through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air, wherein, in a closed position of the housing 10, the through-holes 12 are provided with a removable barrier element 11, for example a film, see FIG. 1. Alternatively, it can be provided that the removable barrier element 11 is a removable housing element made of the first material of the housing 10.

[0066] For example, the removable housing element can be connected to the rest of the housing 10 via a perforation. This perforation can be separated when the housing element 11 is removed.

[0067] The depiction in FIG. 2 depicts by way of example removal of this barrier element 11 from the through-holes 12.

[0068] In FIG. 3, the housing 10 is shown in an open position in which the through-holes are exposed so that ambient air can circulate through the latter and the volatile substance, for example a fragrance, of the insert 20 can exit from the interior of the housing 10. The barrier element 11 has been completely removed from the housing 10 according to FIG. 3.

[0069] The first material of the housing 10 of the apparatus 1 has a barrier layer, for example comprising polyamide, polyester, or polyvinyl alcohol. This barrier layer can be arranged in contact with a ply made of the plant-based fiber material. Furthermore, it can be provided that the barrier layer is embodied as a coating of a ply made of the plant-based fiber material, in particular as a coating on an inner side of the housing 10.

[0070] Furthermore, a time-temperature indicator 17 via which the shelf life of the volatile substance can be displayed is arranged on the outside of the housing 10.

[0071] A second exemplary embodiment of an inventive apparatus 1 for releasing a volatile substance into the ambient air is depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. The apparatus 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment also comprises a housing 10 made of a first material that has a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, cardboard, or paperboard, and a barrier layer having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile material, as well as an insert 20, depicted in FIGS. 10a and 10b, arranged inside the housing 10. The insert 20 comprises a second material that is a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, carton, or paperboard, wherein the second material is provided, in particular impregnated, with the volatile substance.

[0072] What has been stated about the first material in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment also applies to the second exemplary embodiment. Therefore refer to the description of FIGS. 1-3.

[0073] In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the housing 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment comprises a first housing part 13 having a recess for the insert, wherein the first housing part 13 has one or a plurality of through-holes 12 through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air, and a second housing part 14, which can be displaced out of a closed position, shown in FIG. 4, in which position the second housing part covers the through-holes 12 of the first housing part, into an open position, shown in FIG. 5, in which the through-holes of the first housing part are exposed for releasing the volatile substance.

[0074] The housing 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment also has a time-temperature indicator 17 via which the shelf-life of the fragrance or insecticide can be displayed.

[0075] FIG. 6 depicts a third exemplary embodiment of an inventive apparatus 1 for releasing a volatile substance into the ambient air. The apparatus 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment also comprises a housing 10 made of a first material having a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, cardboard, or paperboard, and a barrier layer having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile substance, as well as an insert 20, depicted in FIGS. 10a and 10b and arranged inside the housing 10. The insert 20 comprises a second material that is a plant-based fiber material, in particular paper, cardboard, or paperboard, wherein the second material is provided, in particular impregnated, with the volatile substance.

[0076] What has been stated about the first material in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment also applies to the second exemplary embodiment. Refer to the description of FIGS. 1-3.

[0077] The housing 10 of the apparatus 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment comprises a first housing part 13, a second housing part 14, and a third housing part 15. The first and second housing parts 13, 14 are embodied identically in the exemplary embodiment. Both the first and also the second housing part 13, 14 have a receiving element for the insert 20; only one of the two housing parts 13, 14 is fitted with the insert 20, however.

[0078] The third housing part 15 is embodied like a tube or sleeve and comprises a plurality of through-holes 12 through which the volatile substance can be released into the ambient air if they are exposed by the first and/or second housing part 13, 14. In the closed position shown in FIG. 8, the first housing part 13 and the second housing part 14 cover the through-holes 12 of the third housing part 15. The first and second housing parts 13, 14 can be displaced from this closed position into an open position, shown in FIG. 6, in which the through-holes 12 of the third housing part 15 are exposed for releasing the volatile substance.

[0079] The housing 10 can additionally have a removable barrier element, for example a barrier element embodied as a sleeve, that covers a gap between the first housing part 13 and the second housing part 14 in the closed position. This barrier element comprises a barrier material having a barrier function against permeation of the volatile substance or is embodied of such a material.

[0080] The third housing part 15 of the housing 10 is depicted in FIG. 7. It can be seen from this depiction that a plurality of first locking elements 16 are arranged on the third housing part and can cooperate with further first locking elements on the first housing part 13. Furthermore, the third housing part 15 comprises a plurality of second locking elements 16′ that can cooperate with further second locking elements on the second housing part 14. The first locking elements 16 are arranged on a first side of the third housing part 15 opposing a second side of the third housing part on which the second locking elements 16′ are arranged. Thus, when the housing is assembled, the first locking elements 16 face the first housing part 13 and the second locking elements 16′ face the second housing part. The first and second locking elements 16, 16′ are embodied as folded segments of the third housing part 13.

[0081] FIG. 8 depicts a housing 10 in the closed position having a first housing part 13 and a second housing part 14.

[0082] FIGS. 9a and 9b depict the insert 20 of the first exemplary embodiment. This insert 20 has a rectangular section with rounded corners. The insert 20 comprises a plurality of, in this case five, plys 21 of the plant-based fiber material, for example mechanical pulp board or wood pulp, connected to one another by an adhesive. The adhesive is preferably biodegradable. The plys each have an area density in the range of 350 g/m.sup.2 to 950 g/m.sup.2, preferably 450 g/m.sup.2 to 600 g/m.sup.2, or 600 g/m.sup.2 to 800 g/m.sup.2. Alternatively, it can be provided that the plys each have a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm and an area density in the range of 350 g/m.sup.2 to 950 g/m.sup.2.

[0083] FIGS. 10a and 10b depict the insert 20 of the second and third exemplary embodiments. This insert 20 has a square section with rounded corners. The insert 20 comprises a plurality of, in this case five, plys 21 of the plant-based fiber material, for example mechanical pulp board or wood pulp, connected to one another by an adhesive. The adhesive is preferably biodegradable. The plys each have an area density in the range of 350 g/m.sup.2 to 950 g/m.sup.2, preferably 450 g/m.sup.2 to 600 g/m.sup.2, or 600 g/m.sup.2 to 800 g/m.sup.2. Alternatively, it can be provided that the plys each have a thickness in the range of 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm and an area density in the range of 350 g/m.sup.2 to 950 g/m.sup.2.

[0084] The exemplary embodiments of the inserts 20 depicted in FIGS. 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b are merely by way of example and can have a different shape, e.g. can be pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal, and/or can have sharp, non-rounded corners.

[0085] FIG. 11 depicts an insert 20 that can be used as alternative in the exemplary embodiments described in the foregoing. The insert 20 comprises a plurality of, in this case six, plys 21 of the plant-based fiber material, for example mechanical pulp board or wood pulp, connected to one another by an adhesive. The insert 20 as a plurality of, in this case three, first plys 21 that are embodied with the full surface area. The insert 20 furthermore has a plurality of, in this case three, second plys 21′ that include a plurality of, in this case three, in particular punched, holes. One of the second plys 21′ forms an outer surface of the insert 20. The recesses 22 of the second plys 21′ are arranged congruently above one another and form a receiving element for volatile material.

[0086] The inserts 20 described in the foregoing can alternatively comprise one of the following materials or one or a plurality of the cited materials: a further plant-based fiber material or sucrose or starch or a mineral material. The plant-based fiber material can be mechanical pulp, in particular ground wood pulp, or pulp or cotton fiber or grass fiber. The mineral material can be rock flour or bentonite or silica gel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0087] 1 Apparatus for releasing a fragrance or insecticide into the ambient air [0088] 10 Housing [0089] 11 Barrier element [0090] 12 Through-hole [0091] 13 First housing part [0092] 14 Second housing part [0093] 15 Third housing part [0094] 16, 16′ Locking element [0095] 17 Time-temperature indicator [0096] 20 Insert [0097] 21, 21′ Ply [0098] 22 Recess