Perfume testers

Abstract

Perfume testers comprising one or more atomizers are disclosed. The atomizer comprises a liquid compartment and a mixing compartment. The mixing compartment comprises an air inlet and an air outlet. The mixing compartment comprises a mixing opening facing the liquid compartment and the liquid compartment comprises a liquid opening facing the mixing compartment. The mixing opening matches the liquid opening. The atomizer further comprises a wick connecting the liquid compartment and the mixing compartment such that in use the wick fits in the liquid and mixing compartments openings in an airtight manner. The wick extends into the mixing and liquid compartments. A portion of the wick extending into the mixing compartment comprises an outer contact surface and a volume of the mixing compartment is defined such that a ratio between the outer contact surface and the volume of the mixing compartment is at least approximately 0,05:1.

Claims

1. A perfume tester comprising one or more atomizers for atomizing an alcohol-based liquid perfume, the one or more atomizers comprising: a liquid compartment configured to receive the alcohol-based liquid perfume; and a mixing compartment provided next to the liquid compartment, the mixing compartment comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; wherein the mixing compartment comprises a mixing opening facing the liquid compartment and the liquid compartment comprises a liquid opening facing the mixing compartment, wherein the mixing opening matches the liquid opening; and the atomizer further comprises a wick connecting the liquid compartment and the mixing compartment such that in use the wick fits in the liquid compartment opening and in the mixing compartment opening in an airtight manner, the wick extending into the mixing and liquid compartments, wherein a portion of the wick extending into the mixing compartment comprises an outer contact surface and a volume of the mixing compartment is defined such that a ratio between the outer contact surface and the volume of the mixing compartment is at least 0.05:1.

2. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the outer contact surface and the volume of the mixing compartment is at least 0.4:1.

3. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the outer contact surface and the volume of the mixing compartment is at least 1:1.

4. The perfume tester according to claim 1, further comprising a central volume arranged surrounding a portion of the wick extending into the liquid compartment, the central volume extending from the mixing opening to a bottom of the liquid compartment and the atomizer further comprises one or more flooding orifices providing fluid communication between the wick and an inside of the liquid compartment.

5. The perfume tester according to claim 1, further comprising a memory chip.

6. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the wick traverses the entire mixing compartment.

7. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the wick traverses the entire liquid compartment.

8. The perfume tester according to claim 4, wherein the one or more flooding orifices are provided at a bottom of the liquid compartment.

9. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the wick is formed of a plurality of absorbent material elements, the absorbent material elements being arranged not touching each other at least at the portion of the wick extending into the mixing compartment.

10. The perfume tester according to claim 9, wherein the absorbent material elements are selected from the group consisting of polyhedral shaped elements, strips, and cords.

11. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the wick is cylindrical.

12. The perfume tester according to claim 11, wherein the mixing compartment is cylindrical, an inner radius of the mixing compartment ranging from 1% greater than an outer radius of the wick to 10% greater than the outer radius of the wick.

13. The perfume tester according to claim 1, wherein the liquid compartment comprises an openable bottom so as to allow refilling the liquid compartment.

14. A system comprising the perfume tester of claim 1 and a liquid in the liquid compartment, wherein the liquid comprises an alcohol-based liquid perfume.

15. The perfume tester according to claim 1, further comprising an air compressor configured to generate a pulsed air stream and solenoids or electro valves arranged at the atomizers air inlets and/or air outlets.

16. The perfume tester according to claim 1, further comprising a system for driving, controlling and selecting the atomizer to be used.

17. The perfume tester according to claim 1, further including the same or different perfumes in the liquid compartments, wherein the perfumes are alcohol-based perfumes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the main section of an atomizer according to an example;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of the main section of the atomizer of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perfume tester comprising one or more atomizers according to an example;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perfume tester according to another example;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perfume tester according to a still further example;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the perfume tester of any of FIG. 3 or 5 with multimedia screen to show product image;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perfume tester comprising a single perfume test device with a multimedia screen to show the product image;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perfume tester for sixteen perfume atomizers according to the example of FIG. 4 supported in a computer application; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows in a very general manner a comparison of the ratio of typical examples of perfumery ingredients when a test is performed in typical atomizers versus in an atomizer substantially as herein disclosed.

(11) In the mentioned figures the following elements may be highlighted;

(12) 1. Contact or flooding orifices between the stored perfume and the cotton arranged in the central volume

(13) 2. Liquid or perfume compartment or cylindrical wall compartment where the perfume is deposited

(14) 3. Wick compartment or cylindrical tube or central volume

(15) 4. Wick or cotton housed in the wick compartment generated by the cylindrical tube, as well as in the upper mixing compartment

(16) 5. Internal orifice through which the air stream exits from the upper mixing compartment to the outside

(17) 6. Mixing compartment or upper compartment configured to direct the air stream to be perfumed by mixing by friction/contact with an outer contact surface of the wick or cotton

(18) 7. Interior orifice through which outside air accesses the upper mixing compartment

(19) 8. External orifice through which outside air accesses the upper mixing compartment and which is also responsible for connecting to the rest of the assembly by means of a quick snap connection

(20) 9. Top cover of the assembly

(21) 10. External orifice through which the air exits from the upper or mixing compartment towards the outside and which is also responsible for connecting the rest of the assembly by means of a quick snap connection 27.

(22) 11. Upper casing of the mixing compartment

(23) 12. Lower casing of the mixing compartment

(24) 13. Outer wrapping tube of the assembly

(25) 14. Gaskets.

(26) 15. Bottom cover of the assembly through which perfume replenishment may additionally be carried out

(27) 16. Atomizer

(28) 17. Air filter

(29) 18. Air compressor

(30) 19. Solenoids or electro-valves

(31) 20. Drops trap

(32) 21. Interconnection pipes

(33) 22. Ozone generator

(34) 23. Check valve

(35) 24. Heating device

(36) 25. Exit or outlet to the outside

(37) 26. Operation control or activation buttons

(38) 27. quick snap connector atomizer-equipment

(39) 100 Bar showing the percentage of Alpha-isomethyl ionone over Limonene in a typical prior art atomizer

(40) 101 Bar showing the percentage of Iso E Super ver Limonene in a typical prior art atomizer

(41) 200 Bar showing the percentage of Alpha-isomethyl ionone over Limonene in an atomizer as disclosed herein

(42) 201 Bar showing the percentage of Iso E Super ver Limonene in an atomizer as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

(43) Throughout the following figures the same reference numbers will be used for matching parts.

(44) FIG. 3 shows an example of a perfume tester comprising three atomizers 16 with independent outlets 25 and a flow control by means of solenoids 19. In alternative, other number of atomizers may be foreseen. In this example the perfume tester comprises:

(45) A. Three atomizers 16 as those shown in FIGS. 1-2, arranged according to three main and differentiated compartments 2, 3 and 6, a lower liquid e.g. perfume compartment 2 being in the form of an exterior involute designed to contain the perfume, while a cylindrically shaped interior compartment or central volume 3 contains the wick or cotton 4 that is impregnated of the perfume in its entirety by capillarity when in contact with it through respective flooding orifices 1 and, an upper mixing compartment 6 arranged free of perfumes and only interacting with the perfume by contact with outer walls of said wick or cotton 4 in its upper part arranged in the central volume 3.

(46) Finally, the cylindrical tube (central volume 3) acts as a cover or casing for the cotton 4 thereby avoiding or at least reducing possible deformations of the cotton 4 and that the perfume flooding the exterior involute (liquid or perfume compartment 2) gets in contact in its whole surface directly with the cotton 4 arranged in the central volume (central volume 3), also acting as a more effective barrier for the vapors. As explained above, the central volume provides for a barrier or airtightness for vapours that may evaporate from the perfume (liquid) compartment towards the mixing compartment.

(47) Being the main element of the disclosure that would be completed with the corresponding sealing gaskets that prevent the perfume from being moved to other unwanted compartments, in order to facilitate its understanding, its operation would consist in that once the perfume to be tested is housed in the lower involute (perfume compartment 2), it passes through the flooding orifices 1 to the central volume 3 and by capillary action it rises and impregnates the walls of the cotton 4 housed therein throughout its surface until it becomes present through the outer walls of the cotton 4 in the upper mixing compartment 6. Thus, with the activation of the test, forced air is introduced through the external orifice 8 forcing a friction with the walls of the cotton 4 impregnated with perfume, to drive the air naturally towards a single external orifice 10 once it has been in contact with the perfume.

(48) Depending on the contact surface of the air moving through the upper mixing compartment 6 with the walls of the cotton 4, may thus define the perfume's density in the air stream, so that the dimensions may be adjusted as a function of the needs or preferences. In the example of FIGS. 1-2, two elements or casings 11 and 12 are shown. Density adjustment may thus be carried out by removing e.g. the casing 11 or by incorporating an additional one thereby rendering a larger or smaller mixing compartment according to circumstances.

(49) B. Air filter 17 to avoid the characteristic odor of a saturated atmosphere existing in perfumeries or other establishments dedicated to the sale of these products, consisting of an odor filter that for example may be based on activated carbon.

(50) C. Air compressor 18 able to develop an adequate air flow for the volume of perfumed air that is to be transferred to the user, mainly according to parameters of distance at which the user is placed and even the sensation or intensity that is to be transmitted. For example, for a distance close to the device, i.e. between 10 cm and 30 cm, a flow between approximately 5 ml/seg and approximately 40 ml/seg would be sufficient. Particularly, air flows of approximately 12 ml/seg may be foreseen. Such flows are substantially similar to a nasal inhalation, i.e. a perfume test. It is also important to take into account the size of the perfumed air outlet orifice 25, needing more air flow for a larger size of it to release the air at the same distance. For the previous example, a diameter between 1 mm and 3 mm may be used. In addition, to increase the production capacity of the compressor in those cases in which there is regulation, since e.g. it allows making an upward adjustment according to the preferences that are set in each case. The air compressor is configured to work in a pulsed manner.

(51) D. Solenoids 19 or electrovalves both at the entrance and the exit of each atomizer 16 in order to provide tightness and prevent the perfume from evaporating.

(52) E. Drops trap 20 arranged at the exit of the atomizer, or alternatively inside it avoiding contamination of external elements based on a suitable design of said atomizer.

(53) F. Interconnecting pipes 21 preferably in PTFE (Teflon®) compound to conduct air through the various elements.

(54) G. Outlet orifice 25 with an approximate diameter varying between 0,5 mm and 3 mm arranged in one or more, according to design from where the perfumed air is thrown to the outside, generating a stream with a sufficient flow to throw it an adequate distance so that it is smelled by the user according to the adjustment criteria and that it does not have to be mixed in excess with the outside air so that it reaches the nose of the user as pure as possible.

(55) H. Controls according to multiple possibilities from a simple button that activates each outlet to a more complex electronic or computer equipment.

(56) I. Power supplies adapted to the supply voltages of the different elements DC 12V, 5V etc.

(57) J. Ozone generator 22 for exclusive use in maintenance work and replacing one perfume with another in order to deodorize.

(58) K. Heater 24 for controlling the temperature of the air stream.

(59) Alternatively, the above described device may be conceived in a completely analogous manner even though mounting a single common outlet 25 of the perfume towards the outside as shown in FIG. 4. Likewise, as an alternative example, as shown in FIG. 5, the outlet solenoid could be replaced by a check valve 23 allowing air flow in a direction under a pressure greater than that which would be caused by the perfume vapor itself.

(60) From the elements described, and in order to further facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure its overall operation implemented according to FIG. 3 would be approached by displaying the following sequence:

(61) 1. Pressing the component according to a button or digital panel that indicates the beginning of a test.

(62) 2. Recognition of the product in question by reading the memory chip incorporated in the atomizer itself, reading or recognizing barcode, serial number or data entered in the equipment itself or collected by network or internet connection.

(63) 3. Adjustments of the different parameters according to the previous reading, consisting of regulating the air flow, air temperature, test times, sending sounds, images and product data, and even controlling the state of the perfume, preventing the test if the time established since its installation is exceeded or the maximum number of tests has been exceeded.

(64) 4. Activation of the selected perfume solenoids, moving from closed to open positions.

(65) 5. Activation of indicators that indicate to the user the beginning of the test.

(66) 6. Activation of the air compressor pulsation. Alternatively, if the referred compressor has power adjustment, this would be carried out previously.

(67) 7. Timing of the test during the established time. Alternatively, the operation of the test may be considered while the button is being pressed. In this respect, the device must have indications for the user to be positioned correctly.

(68) 8. Ending of the time at the end of the timer or when releasing the pushbutton if it does not have a timer.

(69) 9. Stopping the air compressor.

(70) 10. Stopping of the solenoids.

(71) 11. Stopping or actuating of the indicators that indicate to the user the completion of the test.

(72) Alternatively, it is possible to conceive designs of the atomizer based on the same principle of operation although presented with different terminations; Entry and exit of air through the top portion. Entry and exit of the air stream through the bottom portion. Crossed air stream entries upwards or downwards. Double or more vertically or horizontally air path. With or without a perfume filling orifice depending on whether it is intended for single use or multiple uses. Facilitating the replacement of the entire central part that allows changing the cotton and thus being able to change the perfume or simply for replacement due to deterioration or wear. Varied geometries, not necessarily cylindrical.

(73) Finally, in case of integrating a computer application into the operation of the system, it would be possible to record specific data such as brand, name, description, images, videos, expiration, etc., and even record on it other data such as the date of installation, time of use, remaining time of use, all kinds of adjustments and others that may serve not only to control each test but to optimize the use in terms of reliability and simplicity presenting the product according to a wide range of possibilities as it is appreciated in FIGS. 6-8 that one or more activation buttons 26 may be provided and an orifice or set of orifices 25 through which the perfumed air flow exits to the outside are shown.

(74) Alternatively, the atomizer may be designed without the tube 3 containing the cotton and, consequently, the connection orifices 1, the operation being entirely analogous.

(75) FIG. 9 shows a comparison of the ratio of Alpha-isomethyl ionone and Iso E Super over Limonene which are typical perfumery ingredients in typical atomizers versus in an atomizer substantially as herein disclosed. Bars 100 and 101 respectively show the percentage of Alpha-isomethyl ionone over Limonene and Iso E Super over Limonene present in a test carried out in a typical prior art atomizer. Bars 200 and 201 respectively show the percentage of the same ingredients, Alpha-isomethyl ionone and Iso E Super over Limonene, present in a test carried out in an atomizer substantially as herein before described.

(76) Generally, the comparison between bars 200 and 100 show that Alpha-isomethyl ionone/Limonene which is usually (in prior art atomizer) present in around 5% now raises to around 30% thereby increasing around six times its presence which indeed results in a surprising olfactory test. Comparing now bars 201 and 101 it is shown that Iso E Super/Limonene increases around 8 times when one test a perfume using an atomizer as described herein. From around 10% present when the test is carried out in a typical atomizer to around 80% when the test is carried out in an atomizer as described herein.

(77) This is explained due to the relatively large wick contact surface in combination with the relatively small volume of mixing compartment as explained above. This way, the air stream flowing in such a small volume results in a convective flow that more easily extracts not so volatile components (i.e. perfumery ingredients) from the flooded wick contact surface (of a relatively large size with respect to the volume of the mixing compartment.

(78) It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that any expert in the field understands the scope of the disclosure and the advantages derived therefrom. The fact that the drop trap is conceived at the exit of the atomizer or inside it, the materials chosen for the manufacture of the different elements, dimensions, thicknesses, design, implementation of the same or way of connecting them, etc., will be susceptible of modification as long as it does not imply an alteration of the essence of the disclosure.

(79) The terms in which this report has been written should always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense.

(80) For reasons of completeness, various aspects of the disclosure are set out in the following numbered clauses:

(81) Clause 1. Perfume tester based on the incorporation of one or more atomizers, wherein its refillable atomizers inside which contact between the air stream and the perfume will be carried out, each equipped with a memory chip for individual use, and designed as a main body provided with air intake from the outside and a perfumed air outlet, based on the layout of its three main and differentiated compartments, one designed to house the perfume at a lower level, another designed to house a cotton or similar connected to the first by one or more small orifices through which the perfume accesses impregnating the cotton in its entirety by capillarity, and a third compartment located above the first and designed such that the air stream circulates through it finding on its way towards the outside walls of the aforementioned cotton that turn the air stream into perfumed air.

(82) Clause 2. Perfume tester based on the incorporation of one or more atomizers according to clause 1, wherein alternatively, each atomizer may be configured by removing the tube that provides containment for the cotton or similar, so that the cotton is housed by its base directly on the lower compartment containing the perfume, removing the connecting ducts between the two compartments, while the air stream circulates around an upper compartment that contours the cotton contacting the perfume through the walls of the cotton impregnated with the liquid analogously by capillarity.

(83) Clause 3. Perfume tester based on the incorporation of one or more atomizers, according to clauses 1 and 2, wherein it is carried out based on the integration of said atomizers with the following main elements:

(84) A. Air filter for purification of the air accessing to the device;

(85) B. Air compressor generating the air stream;

(86) C. Solenoids or electro valves both at the entrance and exit of each atomizer in order to make tightness and prevent the perfume from evaporating; they will also act as switches for the air flow of the different perfumes installed.

(87) D. Drop trap that prevents the passage of the same with the air stream towards the outlet conduit;

(88) E. Interconnection pipes;

(89) F. One or more exit orifices of the air stream to the outside;

(90) G. System for driving, controlling and selecting of the perfume to be tested;

(91) H. Power supplies;

(92) I. Ozone generator for device maintenance and deodorization in between perfume changes;

(93) J. Air heater element to adjust to the desired temperature.

(94) Clause 4. Procedure of using the perfume tester based on the incorporation of one or more atomizers according to clauses 1, 2 and 3, wherein its operation is based on the following sequence of operations:

(95) A. Process of selection of the perfume to be tested by the user consisting of a series of buttons associated with the product image or through a program or application that allows access to different products through a touch screen or similar;

(96) B. Pressing the component according to button or digital panel that indicates the beginning of a test;

(97) C. Recognition of the product in question by reading the memory incorporated in the atomizer itself, reading or recognizing barcode, serial number or data entered in the equipment itself or compiled by network or internet connection;

(98) D. Adjustments of the different parameters according to the previous reading consisting of regulating the air flow, air temperature, test times, and even controlling the condition of the perfume, preventing the test if it has exceeded the time established since its installation or it has exceeded the maximum number of scheduled tests;

(99) E. Launching of the product image, features, sounds, multimedia, attending to the data or reading information;

(100) F. Activating the solenoids of the selected perfume going from closed to open position;

(101) G. Activating the indicators that indicate to the user the beginning of the test;

(102) H. Activating the air heater following preset adjustments according to data or reading information;

(103) I. Activating the air compressor following preset adjustments according to data or reading information;

(104) J. Activating with or without timing the test following preset adjustments according to data or reading information;

(105) K. Ending time at the end of the timer or when releasing the pushbutton if it does not have timer;

(106) L. Stopping the air compressor;

(107) M. Stopping the solenoids;

(108) N. Stopping or activating indicators indicating to the user the completion of the test.

(109) Clause 5. Perfume tester based on the incorporation of one or more atomizers according to clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein alternatively, the outlet solenoid may be replaced by a check valve allowing the air flow in the direction of circulation of air towards the outside under a pressure higher to that provoked by the vapor of the perfume itself.

(110) Clause 6. Atomizer for alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic liquids comprising: a liquid compartment configured to receive a liquid; and a mixing compartment provided next to the liquid compartment, the mixing compartment comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; wherein the mixing compartment comprises a mixing opening facing the liquid compartment and the liquid compartment comprises a liquid opening facing the mixing compartment, wherein the mixing opening matches the liquid opening; and the atomizer further comprises a wick connecting the liquid compartment and the mixing compartment such that in use the wick fits in the liquid compartment opening and in the mixing compartment opening in an airtight manner, the wick extending into the mixing and liquid compartments,

(111) wherein a portion of the wick extending into the mixing compartment comprises an outer contact surface and a volume of the mixing compartment is defined such that a ratio between the outer contact surface and the volume of the mixing compartment is at least approximately 0.05 mm.sup.−1; particularly at least approximately 0.4 mm.sup.−1, more particularly at least approximately 1:1.

(112) Clause 7. Atomizer according to clause 6, further comprising a central volume arranged surrounding a portion of the wick extending into the liquid compartment, the central volume extending from the mixing opening to a bottom of the liquid compartment and the atomizer further comprises one or more flooding orifices providing fluid communication between the wick and an inside of the liquid compartment.

(113) Clause 8. Atomizer according to clauses 6 or 7, further comprising a memory chip.

(114) Clause 9. Atomizer according to any of clauses 6-8, wherein the wick traverses the entire mixing compartment.

(115) Clause 10. Atomizer according to any of clauses 6-9, wherein the wick traverses the entire liquid compartment.

(116) Clause 11. Atomizer according to clause 10, wherein the flooding orifices are provided at or near a bottom of the liquid compartment.

(117) Clause 12. Atomizer according to any of clauses 6-11, wherein the wick is formed of a plurality of absorbent material elements arranged not touching each other at least at the portion of the wick extending into the mixing compartment other.

(118) Clause 13. Atomizer according to clause 12, wherein the absorbent material elements are selected from the group consisting of polyhedral shaped elements, strips or cords.

(119) Clause 14. Atomizer according to any of clauses 6-13, wherein the wick is cylindrical.

(120) Clause 15. Atomizer according to clause 14, wherein the mixing compartment is also cylindrical, an inner radius of the mixing compartment ranging from 1% higher an outer radius of the wick to 100% higher the outer radius of the wick, particularly from 1% to 10%.

(121) Clause 16. Atomizer according to any of clauses 6-15, wherein the liquid compartment comprises an openable bottom so as to allow refilling the liquid compartment.

(122) Clause 17. System comprising the atomizer of any of clauses 6-16 and a liquid in the liquid compartment, wherein the liquid comprises alcohol, particularly an alcohol-based perfume.

(123) Clause 18. Perfume tester comprising one or more atomizers according to any of clauses 6-16.

(124) Clause 19. Perfume tester according to clause 18, further comprising an air compressor configured to generate a pulsed air stream and solenoids or electro valves arranged at the atomizers air inlets and/or air outlets.

(125) Clause 20. Perfume tester according to clauses 18 or 19, further comprising a system for driving, controlling and selecting the atomizer to be used.

(126) Clause 21. Perfume tester according to any of clauses 18-20, further including the same or different perfumes in the liquid compartments, wherein the perfumes are alcohol-based perfumes.