Multi-chambered and extended release fragrance and scenting devices

Abstract

This invention is an air freshener, one that can be applied to consecutively disseminate scented material into the air, and includes a base member, the base member having a plurality of chambers or cavities provided therein, and into which a fragrance emitting gel may be deposited, during manufacture, with each cavity having a seal member applied thereon, to seal in the gel material. Then, the seal members may be removed consecutively, or in certain instances simultaneously, in order to disseminate the air freshening material from the contained gel to provide for the admittance of fragrance aroma into the surrounding atmosphere. In another embodiment, the base member may have a series of laminates applied to it, each laminate having a fragrance emitting material applied thereto, so that as each laminate is removed, it provides for a sustained emission of a fragrance aroma into the surrounding atmosphere, to function as an air freshener. The base members may be suspended by a cord from a support, whether it be in the vehicle, an office, or a room in the home.

Claims

1. An extended usage fragrance release and scenting device, comprising: a base member, said base member being formed of one of paper, cardboard, paperboard, wood, metal, and polymer, said base member having a plurality of chambers formed integrally therein, each chamber having a quantity of fragrance applied within each chamber, said chambers being formed from one of pressure, indentation, or molded therein, of the base member; each said chamber being separated from each other chamber as formed within said base member; a seal for sealing each chamber and its fragrance gel therein, and each seal formed as a thin film of material and made of paper sheet or polymer film, each seal being adhesively applied or heat sealed to said base member and secured thereon for sealing the assembled base member chambers; and each seal having an extending tab to facilitate the pull opening of its respective seal and allowing exposure of the chambered fragrance gel to the atmosphere, whereby each said seal may be simultaneously or consecutively pulled open from its base member to refresh the surrounding ambient air for a prolonged period of time.

2. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein said seals are separately pulled open from its respective chamber to obtain longevity in usage and sustained release of the air freshener to the ambient air.

3. The fragrance release device of claim 2, wherein said base member and its formed chambers are molded of a polymer, and said polymer being one of polypropylene and polyethylene.

4. The fragrance release device of claim 3, wherein the seal films are made of polyethylene.

5. The fragrance release device of claim 4, wherein said seal films are made of transparent polymer.

6. The fragrance release device of claim 4, wherein said films are made of opaque polymer.

7. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein the fragrance is a fragrance gel, and said fragrance gel is filled in each base member chamber in an amount between about 0.2 grams to 100 grams.

8. The fragrance release device of claim 7, wherein the fragrance gel is filled within each chamber in an amount between about 4 grams to 10 grams.

9. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein the extending tab of each seal is located laterally upon the base member to facilitate its grasping and pulling of the associated seal member into an opened condition.

10. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein the chambered fragrance is capable of releasing its scent for up to approximately one week, as each seal is sequentially removed from the device during usage.

11. The fragrance release device of claim 10, and wherein there are four chambers provided in each base member, and when each chambered seal is removed from its base member, it provides for the dissemination of its scent for approximately one week.

12. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein each seal is separated by a line of perforations from each adjacent seal in order to facilitate the individual removal of each seal from the base member during usage.

13. The fragrance release device of claim 1, wherein each seal is separated by a line of cut from each adjacent seal in order to facilitate the removal of each individual seal from the base member during application of said device.

14. A long term usage fragrance release and scenting device, comprising: a base member, said base member being formed of one of paper, cardboard, paperboard, wood, metal or polymer sheet material, said base member having at least one opening provided therein and through said sheet material, said chamber being formed by indentation or molded within said base member within said opening; a cover for said at least one chamber, said cover slidingly engaged with said base member and its formed chamber and capable of being slid from a closed to an opening position with respect to the formed chamber to gradually open said cover upon the base member chamber to the atmosphere; said at least one chamber being filled with a quantity of a fragrant or fragranced gel applied therein, whereby when said cover is gradually pulled upon said base member and the associated chamber is gradually opened, the fragrant or fragranced gel is released into the surrounding atmosphere for an extended period of time.

15. The fragrance release device of claim 14, wherein said base member and its formed at least one chamber are molded from a polymer, and said polymer is one of polypropylene and polyethylene.

16. The fragrance release device of claim 14, wherein said base member is formed having an opening provided therethrough, and said formed chamber and slideable cover are pressure fitted within said base member opening, such that when said cover is gradually slid open from the chamber, the fragrance is gradually released into the surrounding atmosphere for an extended period of time.

17. The fragrance release device of claim 16, wherein said cover is made of transparent polymer.

18. The fragrance release device of claim 16, wherein said cover is made of opaque polymer.

19. The fragrance release device of claim 14, wherein said fragrance and fragrance gel is filled in the base member chamber in an amount between about 0.2 grams to 100 grams.

20. The fragrance release device of claim 19, wherein the fragrance gel and fragrance is provided within the formed chamber in an amount between about 4 grams to 10 grams.

21. The fragrance release device of claim 14, wherein the fragrance and fragrance gel is capable of releasing its scent as the cover is gradually slidedly removed from the chamber for up to approximately four weeks.

22. The fragrance release device of claim 14, wherein said cover is formed at its lateral edges with a slide configuration for engagement with the side edges of the formed chamber to allow for the cover to be gradually slid open upon the base member to provide for the gradual release of its scent to the surrounding atmosphere.

23. A multi-layered extended application of a fragrance release and scenting device, comprising: a base member, said base member being formed of one of paper, cardboard, paperboard, wood, metal, or polymer sheet material, a plurality of laminated sheets applied onto the surface of the base member, each laminated sheet having a quantity of fragrance material applied to their undersurface when laminated together, such that when each sheet is pulled free from the sheet provided therebelow, a fragrance is released to the atmosphere, such that upon removal of each of the laminated sheets from the base member, a timed release of fragrance will be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere, for a sustained period of time.

24. The fragrance release device of claim 23, wherein there are four laminated sheets with the applied scented material laminated onto the base member and which when individually removed, over a period of time, furnishing a discharge of scented refreshener into the atmosphere for approximately four weeks.

25. The fragrance release device of claim 24, wherein said base member includes an aperture at its upper edge, and said aperture capable of holding a cord for suspension of the device during application.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In referring to the drawings:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a back view of the multi-chambered and extended release fragrance and scenting device of this invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a back view of the device of FIG. 1, with its uppermost polymer or paper firm layer removed to discharge its scent;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a multi-layered laminated air freshener of this invention;

[0048] FIG. 7 shows the various layers of the laminated air freshener of FIG. 6, capable of selective peeling over periods of time to disseminate their fragrance;

[0049] FIG. 8 shows a hanging adjustable slider scenting device of this invention;

[0050] FIG. 8a-8d show the sliding cover for the scenting device of FIG. 8 as it is gradually opened to disseminate its fragrance over a sustained period of time; and

[0051] FIG. 9 provides a side view of the fragrance slider device of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] As previously summarized, the basic concept of this invention is to provide an air freshener, one that can be utilized preferably sequentially, allowing it to freshen the ambient air where it is used, periodically, so as to sustain the scenting or refreshing of the atmosphere in a room, office, vehicle, and for a prolonged period of time. Generally, in the use of the current invention, a certain segment of its air freshener can be opened, to release the aroma from its scented gel, and allow such to be depleted, over a period of time, through this initial usage of the device. Then, when the user deems it necessary to continue the air freshening process, a second section of the same air freshener can be opened, to allow for dissemination of its freshening material, to the atmosphere, to continue the cleansing of the air through usage of this singular device. The device may have a plurality of such segmented freshening components, or many such segments, even as high as twenty or more, to allow for the continuous sequential usage of the device, over a prolonged period of time. Or, if the air freshening requires a significant strength of the scented material to be disseminated into the atmosphere, then a couple of sections of the refreshing device can be opened simultaneously, to allow for a double or more strength of the air freshener to be released into the ambient air, to attain its beneficial results.

[0053] In referring to FIG. 1, this shows one embodiment of the sectionalized air freshener 1, which includes a body portion 2, having a series of a plurality of chambers 3, which form a space within the body 2, for holding a fragrance or air freshening material, usually in gel form, within each of the formed compartments, as can also be noted in FIG. 5. The body 2, and its various chambers 3, can be formed of paper, paperboard, molded of plastic, formed of metal, or even wood, to function as the primary body portion 2 for this freshening device. If it is formed of paperboard, the chambers 3 can be constructed by pressure indentation, or pressed therein, during the formation of the body portion 2. Nevertheless, as noted, it forms a series of chambers, as at 3, for holding the fragrance material, as noted at 4, in FIG. 4. The type of gel as located within each chamber has already been previously reviewed, but generally, is a fragrance type of gel, or a fragrance that may freshen the surrounding air, when used, and which gel has enough viscosity so as to be retained within the chamber, even when it is opened, during its usage, and prevent the scented material from migrating out of the same, particularly when the body portion 2 may be suspended vertically during its usage and application. The characteristics of such a scented gel has already been reviewed herein.

[0054] As can be seen in the various figures, the body 2 has an aperture, as at 4, at its upper end, so that a string, cord, clip, or other suspension means may be applied thereto, to allow for the suspension of the device during its usage.

[0055] As can also be noted in FIG. 1, there are a series of seal means or strips 5 that are adhered to the back surface 6 of the device, and these seal means are formed as strips of sealing material, whether it be paper, a polymer film such as polyethylene, or other type of sealing material that may be adhesively applied or heat sealed around the perimeter of each chamber 3, in order to seal the various chambers containing their scenting gel in place, as during shipment and storage, or while being displayed for sale, and until such time as the device is readied for usage. Each of these seals, as can be noted, extend laterally, to their edges 7, and which form a tab like portion for each seal, and these tabs may be grasped and pulled free from the device, individually, for purposes as previously explained, to allow for dissemination of its contained scented gel 4 from its exposed chamber, during usage. Generally, the tabs 7 are just not adhered to the back surface 6 of the body 2, so that they can be easily grasped, and pulled free, when opening a particular gel laden chamber of the device, during its usage. As can further be noted, in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, each of the seal portions 5 are separated from each other by a line of perforations, as noted at 8, so that, for example, when the top seal member 5 is to be pulled open, it will tear along its line of perforation 8, from the next adjacent seal 5, as can be readily understood. Or, the various seals may simply have, instead of a line of perforation 8, be separated by a cut line from each of the other seal members, so that individual seals 5 can be removed, when it is desired to freshen the surrounding air, by exposing its scented gel to the atmosphere, during usage.

[0056] It might also be noted that these seal members 5 can be formed either of opaque film material, or be transparent, so that the user can readily see that there is a fragrance gel supplied within the device, and readied for usage and application, when its seal member is pulled free from the device.

[0057] As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the frontal surface 9 extends the full height and width of the body portion 2 of this device, and print indicia may be applied thereto, in the form of directions information, ingredients of its scented material, or even have brand names, trademarks, or other advertising and promotional material applied thereto. Obviously, when this refreshing device is suspended from the rearview mirror of a vehicle, such information can be readily observed by the vehicle occupants.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the air freshening device, and noting that it is of a thin line construction, and it is not an obstruction to the driver's line of vision, particularly when driving a vehicle.

[0059] As noted, in FIG. 4, the upper scented gel holding chamber 3 has had its seal member removed, which exposes its retained gel to the atmosphere, to allow for it to disseminate its refreshing scent to the ambient air, during its usage. For example, it may have been predetermined that through the formulation of the gel 4 supplied into each chamber, in order to control the amount and degree of its discharge of refreshing material into the atmosphere, it may be that one section of the device may provide a week long air freshening, during its usage. Then, when it is necessary to continue the delivery of scented material into the air, a second of the seal member 5 may be removed, to allow for its gel laden container 10 to deliver its scent into the atmosphere, to attain, for example, another week of air freshening through usage of this device 1, as can be understood upon reviewing, once again, the FIG. 4 embodiment.

[0060] A further example of another embodiment of the air freshener device of this invention can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. As noted therein, the device 11 includes a series of laminated layers, as at 12, that are applied to the base material 13 of the formed device. As can also be noted, there is an aperture provided, as at 14, for holding a cord, as at 15, that allows the device to be suspended during usage, as can be understood. This is a die cut type of air freshener, and in this embodiment, can include four highly scented layers 12, including the surface layer 16 of the body member 13, of the formed device. In the preferred embodiment, and these will be formed generally of paper, cardboard or paper board, polymer, generally non-woven layers, not too unlike the types of scented devices that are applied to the pages of magazines, as previously reviewed, so that when each scented layer 12 is removed, its aroma will permeate into the surrounding air, to function as an air freshener, as can be understood. As noted, when the top layer is pulled free, and due to the chemical makeup of its scented material, it may furnish a full week of air freshening, from the suspended device 11. Then, when the second layer is removed, it may provide a second full week of air freshening, from the useful device. And, as noted, there may be a third week and a fourth week that air freshening can be attained, through the peel back of each of its laminate layers, during the usage and application of the shown device. Generally, as can be understood, through the principal of this invention, it is designed to furnish the continuous and consecutive usage of the device, to furnish many weeks of air freshening, from its singular formed structure, as can be understood. One may simply tear the top layer off of the device, either fully separating it, or tearing it at its line perforation, as noted at 17, to expose and activate the next layer of fragrance, constructed into the device. Each of the four layers, in the preferred embodiment, will have had its chemical makeup formulated to last approximately one week of air freshening attributes, and thereby provide a total of four weeks of scenting of the surrounding air. Obviously, it depends upon the chemical makeup of the scented material, and it further depends upon the number of laminations 12 that are constructed into the device during its manufacture, that dictates the longevity of usage of the embodiment, during its application.

[0061] A third embodiment of the concept of this invention can be seen in FIGS. 8, and 8a-8d, in addition to its accompanying FIG. 9. As can be noted, as shown in FIG. 8, the air freshening device 20, during usage, also can be suspended through the application of its cord 21. The device includes a body portion 22 and as can be seen in FIG. 9, it may be formed of a metal or plastic molded casing, formed having its body portion 22, and an integrally formed chamber part 23, as noted. The device may be formed of an aluminum or plastic injection molded casing, that could be mounted in a printed paper card, such as the body or card 22, as noted, so that the entire assembly of the shown device 20 may simply be its card 22, having an aperture therethrough, as noted approximately at 24, wherein the casing including its chamber 23, and its associated lid 25, may be pressed within its body 22, or adhesively secured therein, during its manufacture.

[0062] The chamber portion 23 can be filled with a fragrance gel, or scented porous plastic material, which is capable of giving off an aroma, perhaps of perfume, or of an air freshening scent, when it is opened for usage and application. The cover or lid 25 is an adjustable lid, as can be noted in the FIGS. 8a-8d, and can be opened to various positions, for the four positions as noted within said figures, to provide for a weekly freshening for the surrounding air, during the usage and application of the device, as an air freshener. As can be seen, when the lid is shifted downwardly approximately ¼ of the chamber 23, it will provide a calculated one week of air freshening. When the lid is slid approximately ½ downwardly upon its chamber 23, it will provide a second week of air freshening. As can be noted, when pulled further downwardly, it will furnish a week three and a week four of air freshening, until its gel has evaporated completely into the atmosphere, and has been depleted, in its usage for air freshening purposes.

[0063] Generally, the device as shown in FIG. 8, is identified as a hanging adjustable slider type of air freshener, in this particular instance, for use generally within an automobile, or at other locations where air freshening is required.

[0064] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary and structure of the air freshening device as shown and explained herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing hereon. The description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, and as depicted in the drawings, are generally set forth for illustrative purposes only.