CONTAINER FOR DIFFUSING VOLATILE SUBSTANCES

Abstract

The container for diffusing volatile substances comprises a transparent container body (1) for a material impregnated with volatile substances and provided with an opening (2); a permeable membrane (3) that closes the opening (2) of the container body (1); and a barrier layer (4) removably connected to the permeable membrane (3); wherein the permeable membrane (3) is sealed with the container body (1) in a sealing zone (6), the permeable membrane (3) being transparent in the sealing zone (6).

It permits to provide a container for diffusing volatile substances with an improved or high-performance membrane that allows at first sight to see that the sealing of the container is correct.

Claims

1. Container for diffusing volatile substances, comprising: a transparent container body (1) for a material impregnated with volatile substances and provided with an opening (2); a porous permeable membrane (3) made from a thermoplastic material that closes the opening (2) of the container body (1); and a barrier layer (4) removably connected to the permeable membrane (3); characterized in that the permeable membrane (3) is sealed with the container body (1) in a sealing zone (6), the permeable membrane (3) being transparent in the sealing zone (6) and opaque outside the sealing zone (6).

2. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission of the permeable membrane (3) in the sealing zone (6) is greater than 70% and/or the diffraction angle of the membrane permeable (3) is less than 30.

3. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the sealing zone (6) is a zone of the perimeter of the permeable membrane (3) and the container body (1).

4. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the permeable membrane (3) and/or the barrier layer (4) comprise a relief pattern (7) in the sealing zone (6).

5. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer (4) comprises a pattern (8) printed on the sealing zone (6) and/or on the permeable membrane (3).

6. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

7. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

8. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is made of polyolefin.

9. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the permeable membrane (3) and/or the barrier layer (4) comprise a relief pattern (7) in the sealing zone (6).

10. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer (4) comprises a pattern (8) printed on the sealing zone (6) and/or on the permeable membrane (3).

11. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 3, wherein the barrier layer (4) comprises a pattern (8) printed on the sealing zone (6) and/or on the permeable membrane (3).

12. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 4, wherein the barrier layer (4) comprises a pattern (8) printed on the sealing zone (6) and/or on the permeable membrane (3).

13. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

14. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 3, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

15. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 4, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

16. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 5, wherein the permeable membrane (3) is a microporous membrane.

17. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

18. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 3, wherein the barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

19. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 4, wherein the barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

20. Container for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 5, wherein the barrier layer (4) is made of aluminum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] For better understanding of what has been disclosed, some drawings in which, schematically and only by way of a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of the container according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container according to the present invention, according to a first embodiment; and

[0027] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container according to the present invention, according to a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the container for diffusing volatile substances comprises a transparent container body 1 for containing a material impregnated with volatile substances (not shown in the figure).

[0029] This container body 1 comprises an opening 2 which is closed by a permeable membrane 3 and a barrier layer 4.

[0030] This permeable membrane 3 allows the diffusion of volatile substances through it but prevents the escape of possible liquids inside the container body 1.

[0031] On the other hand, the barrier layer 4 prevents the diffusion of volatile substances into the environment, so it must be removed before the first use. To this end, the barrier layer 4 is removably connected to the permeable membrane 3.

[0032] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the permeable membrane 3 can be made of a microporous polyolefin, while the barrier layer 4 can be made of aluminum.

[0033] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the container body 1 comprises a perimeter rim 5 that surrounds the opening 2 and is where the permeable membrane 3 and the barrier layer 4 are attached to the container body 1.

[0034] On the other hand, the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1 are sealed together in a sealing zone 6, which is preferably the perimeter contact zone between the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1.

[0035] The sealing between the permeable membrane 3 and the container body 1 is carried out without pores remaining between them in the sealing zone 6, and in such a way that the permeable membrane 3 is transparent in this sealing zone 6 and opaque outside said sealing zone 6. Thus, the barrier layer 4 can be seen through the permeable membrane 3 in the sealing zone 6.

[0036] Advantageously, the light transmission of the permeable membrane 3 in the sealing zone 6 is greater than 70% and/or the diffraction angle of the permeable membrane 3 is less than 30.

[0037] If the sealing is correct, the permeable membrane 3 will be transparent in the sealing zone 6 and this correct sealing can easily be verified, since otherwise the barrier layer 4 will not be seen clear in this sealing zone 6.

[0038] To facilitate the verification that the sealing is correct, the permeable membrane 3 and/or the barrier layer 4 may comprise an embossed pattern 7 in the sealing zone 6, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] Furthermore, the barrier layer 4 may comprise a pattern 8 printed in the sealing zone 6, for example, lines parallel to each other, which also makes it easier to see whether the sealing is correct or not.

[0040] This way, before a first use, the manufacturer or the user will be able to check whether the container for the diffusion of volatile substances according to the present invention is properly sealed, and for its use he/she will simply have to remove the barrier layer 4. For the manufacturer it is especially important to check that the process has been correct and a defective container that could reach the consumer half empty is not going to be sent.

[0041] Although reference has been made to specific embodiments of the invention, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the disclosed container for diffusing volatile substances is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.