Method for delivering a volatile fluid to the atmosphere

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327044-B2
Application number	US-201313750027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2013
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A method for delivering a volatile fluid in a continuous manner, over a period of time and without leakage, to the atmosphere is disclosed. The method includes activating a device by breaching a semi-rigid sheet to release volatile fluid to the atmosphere. The device includes a flexible sheet and a semi-rigid sheet that are sealed along their edges to form a closed pocket or reservoir for containing a volatile fluid. The semi-rigid sheet is sealed on a first side to a flexible sheet and sealed on a second side to a vapor permeable membrane. The semi-rigid sheet contains a volatile fluid in the reservoir during storage, preventing contact of the volatile fluid with the vapor permeable membrane before the device is activated. The semi-rigid sheet has a differential score to guide the bounds of an opening that is formed upon activation. Once activated, the vapor permeable membrane provides continuous emission of a volatile fluid from the device.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for delivering a volatile fluid to the atmosphere comprising the steps of:
a. providing an air freshening device having an x-axis, a y-axis, a z-axis, a sealed edge, wherein said device further comprises:
i. a flexible sheet;
ii. a multi layer semi-rigid sheet comprising a first reservoir side and a second membrane side, wherein said first reservoir side is sealed to said flexible sheet to form a reservoir, wherein said semi-rigid sheet comprises:
a structural layer,
a differential score comprising a varied incision depth, wherein said differential score extends along either said x-axis or said y-axis and terminates at endpoints located inside the boundaries of said sealed edge to minimize leakage of said volatile fluid through said sealed edge, wherein said differential score comprises at least one incision having a depth along said z-axis that transverses at least about 50% of said structural layer; and

iii. a vapor permeable membrane comprising a first semi-rigid sheet side and a second atmosphere side wherein said first semi-rigid sheet side is sealed to said second membrane side of said semi-rigid sheet; and

b. breaching said differential score to release said volatile fluid from said reservoir and to contact said volatile fluid with said vapor permeable membrane thereby diffusing said volatile fluid to the atmosphere in the form of a vapor while preventing said volatile fluid from leaking from the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an un-scored region that is about 5 mm to about 10 mm from said sealed edge.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet further comprises a first sealant layer, and wherein said differential score comprises an upper incision and a lower incision, wherein said lower incision has a depth, along said z-axis, that transverses at least 50% of said first sealant layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet further comprises a second sealant layer sealed to said structural layer and to said vapor permeable membrane, wherein said second sealant layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet further comprises a perfume resistant barrier layer sealed to said structural layer and comprising a material selected from the group consisting of: ethylene vinyl alcohol, metal foil, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet comprises at least 3 materials selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polyethylene terpthalate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polypropylene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet comprises polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and polypropylene.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said structural layer comprises about 200 micron thick polypropylene, and wherein said semi-rigid sheet further comprises a first sealant layer of about 200 micron thick polypropylene, a bather layer of about 10 micron thick ethylene vinyl alcohol, and a second sealant layer of about 35 microns.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid sheet has a modulus of elasticity of about 2200 N/mm2.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a volatile fluid mixture contained in said reservoir, wherein said volatile fluid mixture comprises about 90% to about 100%, by total weight, of volatile fluids each having a VP at 25° C. of less than about 0.3 torr.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a perfume mixture contained in said reservoir.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said vapor permeable membrane is a microporous membrane comprising an average pore size of about 0.01 to about 0.03 microns.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said vapor permeable membrane comprises an average pore size of about 0.02 microns.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaporative surface area of said vapor permeable membrane is about 2 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2.

15. The method claim 1 further comprising an intensity control sheet attached to said vapor permeable membrane.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said device is contained in a housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said housing comprises a notch, and wherein said device further comprises a tab extending from said device, said tab is configured to insert into said notch.

18. A method for delivering a volatile fluid to the atmosphere comprising the steps of:
a. providing a device having an x-axis, a y-axis, a z-axis, wherein said device further comprises:
i. a reservoir for containing a volatile fluid;
ii. a multi layer semi-rigid sheet comprising a first sealant layer sealed to a flexible sheet to form a reservoir, a barrier layer sealed to said first sealant layer, a structural layer sealed to said barrier layer, a second sealant layer sealed to said structural layer, wherein said multi layer semi-rigid sheet further comprises a differential score comprising an upper incision and a lower incision, said upper incision has a depth along said z-axis that transverses at least about 50% of said structural layer and said lower incision has a depth along said z-axis that transverses at least about 50% of said first sealant layer; and
iii. a vapor permeable membrane heat-sealed to the outermost periphery on one side of said second sealant layer of said semi-rigid sheet;

b. breaching said differential score to release said volatile fluid from said reservoir and to contact said volatile fluid with said vapor permeable membrane thereby diffusing said volatile fluid to the atmosphere in the form of a vapor while preventing said volatile fluid from leaking from the device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said upper incision transverses the thickness of second sealant layer and from about 50% to about 90% of said structural layer, and wherein said lower incision transverses from about 50% to about 90% of said first sealant layer.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Olchovy Jason John
• Deflorian Stefano
• Sicheri Livio Sordo
• Sordo Walter
• Jaye Ian Roderick

Classifications

• A61L2209/131

  Semi-permeable membranes · CPC title

• A61L9/12 Primary

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

• A01M1/2055

  Holders or dispensers for solid, gelified or impregnated insecticide, e.g. volatile blocks or impregnated pads · CPC title

• A01M29/12

  using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents · CPC title