Claims
- 1. An apparatus for delivery of a gas comprising:
a sachet comprising a water vapor selective material; and a reactant disposed within the sachet that generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water vapor selective material has a thickness between about 0.15 mils and 15 mils, and a nominal average pore size between about 0.05 microns and about 10 microns.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sachet further comprises a support layer disposed adjacent the water vapor selective material.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water vapor selective material has a water vapor transmission rate between about 2,000 g/m2/24 hrs and about 150,000 g/m2/24 hrs.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of acids, aqueous acids, citric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bitartate, chlorites, chlorates, sulfites, bisulfites, sulfates, carbonate, nitrites, and combinations thereof.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a second sachet disposed in the sachet; and a second reactant disposed in the second sachet.
- 7. An apparatus for delivery of a gas comprising:
a sachet comprising a water vapor selective material; a partition disposed within the sachet defining a first volume and a second volume; a first reactant disposed in the first volume; and a second reactant disposed within the second volume, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant generate a gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 8. An apparatus for delivery of a gas comprising:
a barrier layer; a sachet layer comprising water vapor selective material disposed adjacent to the barrier layer; and a reactant disposed in a volume defined by the barrier layer and the sachet layer that generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the water vapor selective material has a thickness between about 0.15 mils and 15 mils, and a nominal average pore size between about 0.05 microns and about 10 microns.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sachet layer further comprises a support layer disposed adjacent the water vapor selective material.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the water vapor selective material has a water vapor transmission rate between about 2,000 g/m2/24 hrs and about 150,000 g/m2/24 hrs.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an envelope layer disposed adjacent the sachet layer.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the sachet layer and the barrier layer such that the reactant is disposed in a volume defined by the barrier layer and the intermediate layer.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second reactant disposed in a volume defined by the intermediate layer and the sachet layer.
- 15. An apparatus for delivery of a gas comprising:
a sachet comprising a rigid frame defining an opening and a sachet layer disposed about the opening; and a reactant disposed in the sachet, wherein the reactant generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a second opening defined by the rigid frame; and a second sachet layer disposed about the second opening.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rigid frame is tubular and has a circular cross-section.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of acids, aqueous acids, citric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bitartate, chlorites, chlorates, sulfites, bisulfites, sulfates, carbonate, nitrites, and combinations thereof.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising:
a second sachet disposed in the sachet; and a second reactant disposed in the second sachet.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sachet layer comprises a water vapor selective material.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising an envelope layer disposed adjacent the sachet layer.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising a partition layer disposed within the sachet defining a first volume and a second volume.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reactant is disposed in the first volume, and further comprising a second reactant disposed in the second volume.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sachet layer comprises a water vapor selective material, and the second sachet layer comprises a material that restricts or prevents the transmission of liquid water and water vapor after hydration.
- 25. A fluid dispersion system for dispersing a gas comprising:
a fluid dispersion apparatus; and an apparatus for delivery of a gas disposed within the fluid dispersion apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a sachet, and a reactant disposed in the sachet that generates gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the fluid dispersion apparatus is a humidifier, and the apparatus for delivery of a gas is disposed in a fluid reservoir defined by the fluid dispersion apparatus.
- 27. The system of claim 25, wherein the fluid dispersion apparatus is a humidifier, and the apparatus for delivery of a gas is disposed in a dispersion outlet defined by the fluid dispersion apparatus.
- 28. The system of claim 25, wherein the sachet comprises a barrier layer and a sachet layer disposed adjacent to the barrier layer.
- 29. The system of claim 25, wherein the sachet comprises a rigid frame defining an opening and a sachet layer disposed about the opening.
- 30. The system of claim 25, wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of acids, aqueous acids, citric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bitartate, chlorites, chlorates, sulfites, bisulfites, sulfates, carbonate, nitrites, and combinations thereof.
- 31. A method of deodorizing comprising the steps of:
providing the fluid dispersion system of claim 25; and delivering the gas to one or more odor-causing compounds, wherein the gas inactivates the one or more odor-causing compounds.
- 32. A method of inactivating pathogens comprising the steps of:
providing the fluid dispersion system of claim 25; and delivering the gas to one or more pathogens, wherein the gas inactivates the one or more pathogens.
- 33. An apparatus for delivery of a gas to a reservoir comprising:
a sachet; a reactant disposed within the sachet; and a reservoir in fluid communication with the sachet, wherein the reactant generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sachet comprises a barrier layer disposed adjacent a sachet layer.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sachet comprises a first sachet layer disposed adjacent a second sachet layer.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sachet comprises a rigid frame defining an opening and a sachet layer disposed about the opening.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 33, comprising wherein the reactant is selected from the group consisting of acids, aqueous acids, citric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bitartate, chlorites, chlorates, sulfites, bisulfites, sulfates, carbonate, nitrites, and combinations thereof.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the reservoir is a bottle.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the reservoir comprises a first end adapted to couple to a conduit.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 33, comprising a second sachet disposed within the sachet, and a second reactant disposed within the second sachet.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising
a frangible pouch disposed within the reservoir; an initiating agent disposed within the frangible pouch; and a piston mounted to the cartridge, wherein actuation of the piston disrupts the frangible pouch releasing the initiating agent.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the frangible pouch is constructed of glass, and the apparatus further comprises a sock disposed about the frangible pouch.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the reservoir comprises a first end adapted to couple to a second reservoir, such that the reservoir can be detached from the second reservoir for removal and replacement of the sachet and the reactant.
- 44. A method of delivering gas to a conduit comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for delivery of a gas comprising:
a sachet; a reactant disposed within the sachet that generates a gas in the presence of an initiating agent; and a reservoir in fluid communication with the sachet, coupling the apparatus to a conduit, and delivering a gas to the conduit by introducing an initiating agent to the reactant.
- 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the conduit is a food or beverage conduit.
- 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the conduit is a conduit in a dental apparatus.
- 47. The method of claim 44, wherein the conduit is a conduit in a medical apparatus.
- 48. The method of claim 44, wherein the conduit is a conduit in a water or beverage dispenser.
- 49. The method of claim 44, wherein the conduit is in a humidifier or vaporizer.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial. No. 60/190,028, filed Mar. 17, 2000, No. 60/183,368, filed Feb. 18, 2000, No. 60/259,896, filed Jan. 4, 2001, and No. 60/341,429, filed Dec. 17, 2001, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/660,117, filed Sep. 12, 2000, and Ser. No. 09/785,364, filed Feb. 16, 2001, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, the entire disclosure of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (5)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60259896 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
|
60183368 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
|
60190028 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
|
60341429 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
|
60183638 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09785634 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
10225769 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09660117 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10225769 |
Aug 2002 |
US |