Volatile composition dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143766-B2
Application number	US-76084810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2010
Priority date	Apr 16, 2009
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A volatile composition dispenser comprises a volatile composition container comprising at least one volatile composition therein. A rupture element is positioned proximate to the volatile composition container. The volatile composition container comprises a cam comprising a camming surface. The camming surface is configured to move at least a portion of the rupture element toward the volatile composition container to puncture the volatile composition container and release at least a portion of the volatile composition from the volatile composition container such that the portion of the volatile composition evaporates and exits the volatile composition dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A volatile composition dispenser comprising:
a volatile composition container comprising at least one liquid volatile composition therein;
a rupture element comprising an outer housing and a movable portion attached to the outer housing;
a cam comprising a camming surface on one end and a mounting portion attached to or formed with the cam on the other end, wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of detents for mounting the dispenser to an air vent; and
a breathable membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface is proximal to the camming surface and the inner surface is distal to the camming surface, wherein the rupture element, when in a non-actuated position, is disposed between the inner surface of the breathable membrane and the volatile composition container, and wherein the camming surface, when actuated, applies a force to the movable portion of the rupture element and displaces the movable portion of the rupture element towards the volatile composition container in a first direction; relative to the outer housing, to puncture the volatile composition container in the first direction and release the at least one liquid volatile composition from the volatile composition container such that the at least one liquid volatile composition evaporates and exits the volatile composition dispenser.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the breathable membrane receives the at least one liquid volatile composition after the movable portion of the rupture element punctures the volatile composition container.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the breathable membrane comprises a microporous membrane configured to receive the at least one liquid volatile composition for evaporation.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising an outer shell, wherein the volatile composition container and the rupture element are positioned at least partially within the outer shell, wherein the cam is positioned outside of the outer shell when the camming surface does not apply a force to at least the portion of the rupture element, and wherein the camming surface is at least partially positioned within the outer shell when the camming surface applies a force to at least the portion of the rupture element.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising a rupturable seal in sealed communication with a portion of the volatile composition container, wherein the rupture element is positioned proximate to the rupturable seal such that when the camming surface moves the movable portion of the rupture element toward the rupturable seal, the movable portion of the rupture element punctures the rupturable seal to allow the at least one liquid volatile composition to be released from the volatile composition container onto the breathable membrane.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the cam is pivotable between a first position, where the camming surface is free from applying a force to the rupture element, and a second position, where the camming surface contacts said breathable membrane.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion, wherein the rupture element comprises at least one puncturing tip configured to puncture the volatile composition container at least at a location proximate to the lowermost portion of the volatile composition container when the camming surface moves the movable portion of the rupture element toward the volatile composition container.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprising an outer shell, wherein the outer shell comprises at least one vent configured to be placed in fluid communication with the at least one liquid volatile composition.

Assignees

• Gruenbacher Dana Paul
• Comstock Bryan Gabriel
• Still James Douglas
• Teufel Rainer Bernhard
• Lane Richard Lee
• Sordo Walter
• Rossi Danilo
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Gruenbacher Dana Paul
• Comstock Bryan Gabriel
• Still James Douglas
• Teufel Rainer Bernhard
• Lane Richard Lee
• Sordo Walter
• Rossi Danilo

Classifications

• B60H3/0028

  on or near an air outlet · CPC title

• A61L2209/131

  Semi-permeable membranes · CPC title

• B60H2003/0057

  Servicing means therefor, e.g. for renewal of substances · CPC title

• A61L9/12 Primary

  Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor · CPC title

• B60H3/0007

  Adding substances other than water to the air, e.g. perfume, oxygen · CPC title