Device for diffusing volatile substances

Abstract

The device for diffusing volatile substances comprises a container (1) for housing a liquid containing the volatile substances and comprising an outlet for volatile substances (2) and an air inlet (3), and a nebulizer (5) with which the volatile substances are diffused to the outside, wherein the device for diffusing volatile substances also comprises a dispenser (4) that connects the volatile substances outlet (2) and the air inlet (3) to the nebulizer (5); a chamber (6) in which a mist of volatile substances is generated from the nebulizer (5), the chamber comprising an outlet hole (8) through which the mist of volatile substances exits.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2020/087919 having International filing date of Dec. 28, 2020, which claims the benefit of priority of Spain Patent Application No. P201931160 filed on Dec. 27, 2019. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.

The present invention relates to a device for diffusing volatile substances.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical systems for the diffusion of volatile substances are known. Electric diffusers are devices for diffusing volatile substances with the use of energy that are used to activate elements such as fans, heaters, atomizers, nebulizers, aerosols in order to achieve optimal efficiency, optimal dose control and optimal control by the user on dispensing adjustment.

Some of these devices incorporate motors, heaters or solenoid valves that allow the vapors to escape through diffuser or dispenser systems such as nozzles and wicks. These devices are normally based on a container where the volatile substance is located, an electrical system for the evaporation of the volatile substance and a power system such as batteries or cells.

In other cases, the volatile substance is contained within a container in liquid form, and the electrical system is used to dispense the dose by heating to evaporation, by spraying, nebulization or other methods.

In other cases, this volatile substance is inside a pressurized metal housing, which acts as a protection and as a support, and which includes the propellant gas of the volatile substance that is intended to be diffused.

Currently existing solutions have different drawbacks.

In the case of nebulizers/atomizers, the volatile substances must contain different solvents, usually non-natural ones, to prevent the holes in the metal plate of the piezoelectric element from getting clogged.

In the case of diffusers that use a pressurized metal housing, the main problem they have is that they normally need a propellant gas for proper operation. In addition, the gas itself and the metal housing makes environmental sustainability not good

There are other devices such as humidifiers or fragrance diffusers that use piezoelectric elements without a perforated metal plate, in which the problem is that the user adds the fragrance to the water manually, but there is no control regarding evaporation/dosage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for releasing volatile substances in which no gas is necessary, natural, usually water-based, fragrances can be used, and with which we can have good control of the dosage.

With the device for diffusing volatile substances of the invention, the aforementioned drawbacks are solved, presenting other advantages that will be described below.

The device for diffusing volatile substances, comprising:

• • a container for housing a liquid containing the volatile substances and comprising an outlet for volatile substances and an air inlet, and
  • a nebulizer with which volatile substances are diffused outside, wherein the device for diffusing volatile substances also includes:
  • a dispenser that connects the volatile substances outlet and the air inlet with the nebulizer;
  • a chamber in which a mist of volatile substances is generated from the nebulizer, the chamber comprising an outlet hole through which the mist of volatile substances exits.

The device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention also advantageously comprises an air stream generator in said chamber that directs the mist of volatile substances to the outlet hole.

Furthermore, the dispenser advantageously doses the liquid containing the volatile substances to the nebulizer drop by drop, and the air inlet is liquid-tight.

According to a preferred embodiment, the air stream generator is arranged at the bottom of the chamber, and the outlet port is arranged at the top of the chamber.

Preferably, said nebulizer is placed next to the air stream generator

The device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention also advantageously comprises electronic control means connected to the nebulizer and the air stream generator.

Said electronic control means, for example a processor, adjusts the evaporation level selected by the user and adjusts the force of expulsion of the mist of volatile substances.

As indicated above, the device for releasing volatile substances according to the present invention has, among others, the following advantages:

• • no gas is necessary,
  • allows the use of natural, usually water-based fragrances and
  • allows having a good control of the dosage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand what has been stated, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the components of the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the volatile substances container of the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of a part of the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention, wherein the dispenser and the nebulizer can be seen;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of the chamber of the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention, when a drop has been formed on the nebulizer by the dispenser; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of the chamber of the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention, when the mist of volatile substances is generated and diffuses through the outlet hole of the chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the figures, the device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises a container 1 for housing a liquid containing the volatile substances, said container 1 comprising an outlet 2 for the liquid containing the volatile substances and a air inlet 3, connecting or located in the part of the container where there is no liquid.

Said liquid outlet 2 and said air inlet 3 are preferably arranged in the lower part of said container 1, and said air inlet 3 is liquid-tight, that is, it does not allow the entry of liquid into the container 1.

The device for diffusing volatile substances also comprises a dispenser 4 that drops the liquid containing the volatile substances drop by drop through said liquid outlet 2.

The dispenser 4 doses said liquid drop by drop to a nebulizer 5, which is in charge of converting the drop of liquid into a mist of volatile substances. Said nebulizer 5 is conventional, for example, a piezoelectric element that will vibrate at a very high frequency and transforms the drop into vapor and may comprise a plate where the liquid drop is deposited, the plate being at a suitable temperature to carry out the nebulization.

This liquid outlet 2 and said air inlet 3 are preferably positioned so that the liquid outlet 2 plugs the air inlet 3 causing the dosage to stop.

By virtue of the physical properties of the liquid, a drop is generated on top of the nebulizer 5. The size of said drop is defined/controlled by an element that is mounted on the nebulizer 5, for example, a perimeter edge around said plate.

While the air inlet 3 is clogged, no liquid comes out. Once the nebulizer 5 starts to work, the air inlet 2 is released and automatically causes another drop to be generated.

The mist of volatile substances thus generated diffuses into a chamber 6, and an air stream generator 7, for example a fan, directs the mist of volatile substances towards an outlet hole 8 of said chamber 6.

Advantageously, chamber 6 has a double function (to store the mist of volatile substances and prevent the liquid from escaping) in the event that the device is overturned.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nebulizer 5 and the air stream generator 7 are arranged in the lower part of the chamber 6, while the outlet hole 8 is arranged in the upper part of the chamber 6.

The device for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention also comprises electronic control means 9, for example a processor, which is responsible for managing the different components of the diffusion device.

Said electronic control means 9 are connected to the nebulizer 5 and to the air stream generator 7 in order to control their operation.

In this way, the force of the air stream can be controlled by the electronic control means 9, which allows the volatile substances to be expelled from the device at different speeds, making their range adjustable.

Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident to an expert in the field that the device for diffusing volatile substances being described is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the mentioned details can be replaced by others technically equivalent, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for diffusing volatile substances, comprising: a container (1) for housing a liquid containing the volatile substances and comprising an outlet for volatile substances (2) and an air inlet (3), anda nebulizer (5) with which volatile substances are diffused outside, characterized in that the device for diffusing volatile substances also includes:a dispenser (4) that connects the volatile substances outlet (2) and the air inlet (3) with the nebulizer (5);a chamber (6) in which a mist of volatile substances is generated from the nebulizer (5), the chamber comprising an outlet hole (8) through which the mist of volatile substances exits; wherein the dispenser (4) doses the liquid containing the volatile substances to the nebulizer (5) drop by drop, and wherein the liquid outlet (2) is configured to plug the air inlet (3) when liquid comes out, thereby stopping the dosing, and when the nebulizer (5) operates, the air inlet (3) is released causing another drop to be generated.

2. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, which also comprises an air stream generator (7) in said chamber (6) that directs the mist of volatile substances to the outlet hole (8).

3. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet (3) is liquid-tight.

4. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the air stream generator (7) is arranged in the lower part of the chamber (6).

5. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the outlet hole (8) is arranged in the upper part of the chamber (6).

6. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein said nebulizer (5) is placed next to the air stream generator (7).

7. The device for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, which also comprises electronic control means (9) connected to the nebulizer (5) and the air stream generator (7).