Volatile substance evaporation element

Abstract

A volatile substance evaporation element including a rod impregnated with volatile substances, the rod being made of sintered wood. The porosity of the rod varies between its core and its surface, the porosity of said rod being lower on its surface than in its core, making it possible to increase the capacity of the core of the evaporation element to act as a receptacle for volatile substances.

Claims

1. A volatile substance evaporation element comprising: a rod impregnated with volatile substances, wherein said rod is made of sintered wood, wherein the porosity of said rod varies between its core and its surface, and wherein the core extends to up to between 50% and 90% of the width of the rod.

2. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the porosity of said rod is lower on its surface than in its core.

3. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 2, wherein the porosity of said rod is 10% lower on its surface than in its core.

4. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 2, wherein the porosity of said rod is 30% lower on its surface than in its core.

5. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 2, wherein the porosity of said rod is 50% lower on its surface than in its core.

6. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the length of the rod is at least seven times greater than the width of the rod.

7. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the rod is substantially cylindrical.

8. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the core extends to up to 50% of the width of the rod.

9. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the core extends to up to 70% of the width of the rod.

10. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 1, wherein the rod comprises at least one groove that extends along the length of the rod.

11. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 10, wherein said at least one groove has a helical shape.

12. The volatile substance evaporation element according to claim 10, wherein a depth of said at least one groove is between 50% and 10% of a width of the rod.

13. A volatile substance evaporation element comprising: a rod impregnated with volatile substances, wherein said rod is made of sintered wood, and wherein the porosity of said rod varies between its core and its surface and is 10% lower on its surface than in its core.

14. A volatile substance evaporation element comprising: a rod impregnated with volatile substances, wherein said rod is made of sintered wood, and wherein the porosity of said rod varies between its core and its surface and is 30% lower on its surface than in its core.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to make the foregoing more readily understandable, a set of drawings is attached, wherein, schematically and by way of illustration and not limitation, an embodiment is represented.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a volatile substance evaporation element in accordance with the present invention, indicating the core by means of dashed lines;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views of two embodiments of the volatile substance evaporation element in accordance with the present invention, which include grooves; and

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of two possible uses of the volatile substance evaporation element in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) The volatile substance evaporation element of the present invention comprises a rod, preferably cylindrical, generally indicated by numerical reference 1. This rod 1 is made of sintered wood impregnated with volatile substances, i.e. made from the agglomeration of particles bonded together by means of a sintering process.

(6) The sintering process consists of pouring a water-based paste with a wood-based paste and binding agents in a matrix and then letting the rod 1 dry to remove the water.

(7) The sintering process enables the obtainment of a high level of compaction of the particles on the exterior portion of the rod 1, which will also cause the formation of a surface 2 with low porosity and a core 3 with high porosity.

(8) The resulting rod 1 has a surface 2 and core 3 configuration, wherein the surface 2 has a lower porosity than that of the core 3. Naturally, it should be understood that reference is made to average porosity, since porosity varies throughout the width or radius of the rod 1.

(9) The central core 3 with high porosity provides the rod 1 with a high capacity to absorb the volatile substances, whereas the surface 2 controls the release of the volatile substances, as well as its mechanical resistance.

(10) Depending on the design and application, the distribution between the surface 2 and the core 3 can be established in different relationships.

(11) Preferably, the width or radius of the core 3 is 70% of the width or radius of the rod 1. Alternatively, a value between 50% and 90% may be used.

(12) In order to increase the evaporation surface, the external diameter of the rod 1 can be machined to form one or more grooves 4, for example, a helical groove, as can be observed in FIG. 2, and a plurality of transverse grooves, as can be observed in FIG. 3.

(13) Preferably, the depth of this groove 4 must be sufficient to allow in the zone of the rod 1 referred to as surface 2, i.e. a depth comprised between 50% and 10% of the width of the rod 1.

(14) As can be observed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the volatile substance evaporation element in accordance with the present invention can be used on its own or together with other elements on a support 5.

(15) The rod 1 can be hanged, for example using a chain that passes directly through a possible hole made in the upper portion of the rod or fixed to a cover fixed to one end of the rod 1.

(16) The rod 1 may also be fixed to a support 6 that can be coupled to the vent grille of a vehicle.

(17) Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident to the person skilled in the art that the volatile substance evaporation element described is susceptible of many variations and modifications, and that all the aforementioned details may be replaced with other, technically equivalent ones, without detracting from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.