Patent Application
20150190542
The invention relates to a device for diffusing a fragrance such as a scent.
Document FR 2 958 854 discloses a fragrance diffuser comprising:
Each pouring plug also comprises a flow hole which allows the fragrance to pass into the porous insert and then to the outside of the device. The fragrance is, for example, contained in a bottle arranged above the diffuser.
Although satisfactory, this diffuser could nevertheless be simplified.
To that end, the invention is aimed at a fragrance diffusion device, characterized in that it comprises:
In the device according to one embodiment of the invention, the fragrance (e.g. scent) passes through the openings in the first wall (the upper wall when the device is in a vertical operating position, the liquid fragrance being contained in the first zone, notably an inverted upper bottle), and when the cavity is free of any obstacle, drops into the cavity (diffusion space), producing a drop by drop dripping effect. The drops fall under gravity onto the opposing second wall (lower wall is referred to as collector) and flow through said at least one duct connected to this wall into the second zone adjacent thereto (notably into a lower bottle).
This configuration of the device thus provides, using the same means, both diffusion of fragrance into the cavity and to the outside and collection of the drops in order to produce the drop by drop dripping under the device (notably into a lower bottle). The device according to the invention is therefore simpler than that of the prior art in which the diffusion and dripping functions are separate. No porous materials that have to be installed in the cavity are provided either, making the device simpler and less expensive.
It will be noted that the device according to one embodiment of the invention may comprise a cavity that may or may not be free of any obstacle between the two opposing walls.
Fragrance is diffused into the cavity and then to the outside of the device and liquid fragrance not diffused in the cavity passes from the cavity to said at least one flow duct. The liquid fragrance therefore does not pass directly from the first zone to the second zone as it does in the prior art.
Moreover, in the abovementioned prior art, in order to achieve the drop by drop dripping effect, very small holes (e.g.: 0.2 to 0.5 mm) are needed and these have a tendency to become blocked in the presence of fatty products included in the composition of fragrances (scents). With the device according to the invention, the multitude of openings in the opposing walls limits this phenomenon.
Unlike the device of the abovementioned prior art, the intake air that compensates for the volume of fragrance flowing through the openings in the first wall comes from outside the device and passes through said at least one fragrance diffusing opening then into the cavity and into said at least one air intake duct. This means that the compensation for air in the bottle that is dispensing its fragrance can be dissociated from the flow of this fragrance and therefore from the drop by drop dripping. In the prior art, the bottles communicate with one another via air-passage and flow tubes. Thus, the pressure or depression in one or other of the bottles has an influence on the drop by drop dripping function (for example when pressure equilibrium needs to be established), something which is not the case with the device according to the invention.
It will be noted that said at least one duct passing through each wall projects exclusively into the relevant adjacent zone and not into the cavity between the walls so that it does not impede the flow of the liquid in the flow duct or flow ducts of the second wall.
According to other possible features considered in isolation or in combination with one another:
According to a second aspect, the invention is also aimed at a fragrance diffusion system, characterized in that it comprises:
This system has the same advantages and features as those mentioned in relation to the diffusion device mentioned above and these will therefore not be repeated here.
According to a third aspect, the invention is aimed at a method for diffusing a fragrance in a fragrance diffusion device, characterized in that the device comprises:
According to other possible features of the method:
Other features and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the attached drawings in which:
As depicted partially in
An upper first bottle 12 containing the fragrance (e.g. an ambient scent) that is to be diffused is mounted in an inverted position on top of the device 20 with its neck 12a oriented downwards.
The device 20 comprises first fixing means 22 which are intended to fix the neck 12a to said device. These fixing means are, for example, produced in the form of an internal screw thread 22a for screwing onto the external screw thread 12b on the external surface of the neck 12a.
A lower second bottle 14 intended to collect undiffused fragrance coming from the upper bottle 12 is mounted under the device 20 with its neck 14a oriented upwards.
The diffusion device 20 comprises second fixing means 24 which are intended to fix the neck 14a to said device. These fixing means are, for example, produced in the form of an internal screw thread 24a for screwing onto the external screw thread 14b on the external surface of the neck 14a. Other fixing means such as snap-fastening means may be envisaged.
The system 10 and its device 20 as well as the two bottles are arranged vertically in
The device 20 comprises two components, namely an upper component 26 and a lower component 28 positioned facing one another and spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis L which in this instance is oriented vertically.
The two components 26, 28 each comprise a wall 30, 32 arranged the one facing the other and which between them, along the longitudinal axis L, define a central cavity C.
The walls 30, 32 extend transversely from their central region towards their periphery where a wall 36, 38 extends laterally. The two axially extending walls 36, 38 of the components 26, 28 extend in opposite directions and away from the cavity C. The fixing means 22, 24 are formed on the interior surface of these walls. It will be noted that the neck 12a, 14a of each bottle, once fixed to the device 20, presses against a respective seal J1, J2 formed in a recess of the external face 30a, 32a of the relevant transversely extending wall.
As depicted, each transverse wall 30, 32 has a concave overall shape with the concave side facing towards the cavity C. Each wall is more particularly in the shape of a funnel converging towards the central region.
Each component 26, 28 generally has axial symmetry of revolution, give or take a few embodiment details. Thus, the axially extending walls 36, 38 each have a substantially cylindrical shape, making them skirt like.
The device 20 also comprises at its periphery a peripheral wall 40 having a ring like overall shape surrounding the assembly formed of the two opposing components 26, 28 and of the separating central cavity C. This peripheral wall 40 forms a trim element and is fixed to each of the aforementioned assemblies for example by bonding, welding or some other suitable means.
The peripheral wall 40 is provided with at least one opening 42 for diffusing fragrance to outside the device. Said at least one opening 42 is made in that region of the wall that is situated around the cavity C so as to place this cavity in communication with the outside of the device. In practice, for better distribution of the diffusion of fragrance, several openings 42 are arranged around the periphery of the peripheral wall 40 as depicted in
Each of the transversally extending walls 30, 32 comprises a plurality of through-openings denoted O1, O2 respectively, each of which places a zone external to the device, respectively denoted Z1, Z2 and adjacent to the relevant wall 30, 32 in communication with the cavity C. As depicted in
The openings arranged in the upper wall (in this instance the openings O1 in the wall 30) are dimensioned so that the drops G of fragrance coming from the zone Z1 can pass through them and drop into the cavity as illustrated in
It will be noted that each opening O1, O2 is extended on the side of the internal face 30b, 32b of the wall 30, 32 by a neck denoted c1, c2 respectively and which projects into the cavity in relation to the relevant wall. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the openings from becoming blocked when the drops of fragrance fall onto the wall 32 which acts as a collector (or onto the wall 30 when it in its turn is at the bottom and is therefore acting as a collector).
The openings O1 and O2 in the two opposing walls 30, 32 do not face one another but are transversely offset in order to reduce the risk of blockage if drops fall onto the lower openings.
Each of the transversely extending walls 30, 32 also comprises a duct denoted 44, 46 respectively, formed in the central region of the wall (at the bottom of the concavity) and passing through the latter so as to place the relevant adjacent zone (Z1, Z2) in communication with the cavity C. More specifically, each duct 44, 46 extends longitudinally (in this instance vertically) in the relevant adjacent zone in the manner of a chimney. The upper duct 44 extends inside the upper bottle 12 over sufficient height that the open end 44a of the upper duct 44 is always above the level of the liquid fragrance L1 contained in the zone Z1 (
At its opposite end to the open free end each duct opens into the internal face 30b, 32b of the relevant wall without, however, projecting into the cavity. The openings O1 and O2 therefore respectively surround the ducts 44 and 46.
The upper duct 44 acts as an air intake duct which takes air in directly from outside the device via the openings 42 and not from the lower bottle. This arrangement is more effective because it is less sensitive to the variations in pressure from one bottle to the other. These pressure variations may for example be generated when the top bottle is exposed to the sun in a window and that at the bottom to shade, or vice versa, or alternatively when the bottom bottle is placed on a radiator whereas the top one is exposed to a cold draught. The changes in temperature influence the pressure through an effect of expanding the alcohol bases present in scents. In the device according to the invention, the intake air is at a stable pressure because it is coming in from outside. It will be noted that the duct is dimensioned (notably in terms of the diameter thereof) to allow fragrance to drip drop by drop into the cavity, this dripping being suited to the number of openings in the wall and to the diameter of same and is satisfactory in terms of the diffusion power (ability to diffuse scented molecules into the atmosphere). Specifically, the flow rate and therefore the rate of drop by drop dripping is notably dependent on the ability of the device to take in air.
The lower duct 46 collects the drops which have fallen onto the inclined wall 32 and have been guided under gravity as far as said duct. The duct 46 (penetrates the lower bottle 14) thus allows fragrance to flow into the zone Z2 and allows fragrance that has not been diffused to flow into the lower bottle.
When the fragrance diffusion system 10 is in operation, the liquid (fragrance) present in zone Z1 of the inverted upper bottle 12 passes through the openings O1 then forms drops G as it escapes from said openings. The drops drop under gravity inside the cavity over the entire height thereof and burst as they reach the lower wall 32 of the collector. Diffusion of fragrance thus occurs as the drops drop but mainly as the drops burst against the wall 32. Diffusion takes place radially or transversely through the air present inside the cavity C (diffusion zone) then through the openings 42 to leave the device 20.
The drop by drop dripping thus established in the cavity creates something of a suction on the liquid in the bottle 12 and therefore creates a depression in said bottle (pumping effect). This depression is compensated for by the external air that enters the bottle via the air intake duct 44.
Not all of the liquid that flows in the form of drops into the cavity is diffused therein. Specifically, a proportion of the drops reaching the lower wall 32 (arranged at a slope towards the inlet 46a of the flow duct 46) is collected on this wall without being diffused. These drops flow along the wall as far as the duct 46, enter it and flow along inside it and then into the lower bottle 14, in the form of drop by drop dripping. When the “non-diffused” liquid has passed into the lower bottle the diffusion phenomenon ceases. The capacity of the lower bottle is dimensioned so that the level of the liquid L2 transferred into the bottle 14 is situated below the free lower end 46b of the duct (
When there is no longer any liquid in the upper bottle 12 and the lower bottle 14 is (at least partially) full, the system is inverted: the lower bottle 14 becomes the upper bottle and vice versa, and the mode of operation described hereinabove is repeated.
It will be noted that the flow rate of the liquid and therefore the speed of the drop by drop dripping may be dependent on:
The colleting walls 30 and 32 are inclined towards their central region (bottom of the concavity) so as to be able to collect the liquid in the central duct 46. This also allows the openings O2 present in the wall 32 (and the same applies to the openings O1 present in the wall 30 when the system is inverted) to be arranged at a level above the low point of the wall surrounding the duct 46 and around which the liquid could accumulate. Such an arrangement considerably reduces the risk of liquid collected by the wall 32 obstructing the openings O2 while the system is in operation.
According to an alternative form which has not been depicted, several air intake ducts 44 (and, respectively, flow ducts 46) may be arranged on the wall 30 (and, respectively, 32).
Elements identical in relation to
The concave upper 72 and lower 74 walls, which are inclined towards the inlet of each respective duct 44, 46, are also provided with openings O′1, O′2 passing through the relevant wall in the thickness thereof, so as to allow drops to form and to pass from the adjacent zone Z1, Z2 to the cavity.
Several tubes 76 extend longitudinally into the cavity, each between two openings O′1 and O′2 which are situated facing one another and connected by a tube. Each tube is, for example, inserted via its two opposite ends into the two aligned openings O′1 and O′2 respectively. Alternatively, the tubes may be fixed to the relevant wall without being inserted into the openings.
Each tube 76 is hollow and comprises a cylindrical wall 78 which is pierced with a plurality of lateral orifices 80 which place the cavity and the inside of the tube in communication.
More particularly, the tube 76 is divided into two elongate compartments or chambers 82, 84 arranged one above the other and separated from one another by a transverse partition 86, for example mid-way up the height of the tube. The first compartment 82 communicates with the opening O′1 and the second compartment 84 communicates with the opening O′2.
The lateral orifices 80 which are situated lowest down in the first compartment 82 are preferably arranged some distance away from the dividing partition 86 so as to leave between them a space which may fill with liquid (buffer volume).
In operation, the liquid flows through the openings O′1 and enters the first compartments 82 of each tube. The liquid accumulates under gravity in the abovementioned space until it reaches the lowermost orifices 80 and leaves the tubes thereby. If the volume of liquid is greater, the compartment 82 fills more until the upper orifices 80 are reached and until it leaves via these orifices. It will be noted that the cross section of the lateral orifices 80 and the internal cross section of the compartments 82, 84 is dimensioned to suit the intended objective. Thus, for example, if very small cross sections are selected for the lateral orifices 80, the liquid level will be able to rise in the larger cross-section compartment 82 and fill it to the top. In that case, it is the cross section of the lateral orifices 80 that defines the rate of flow of the scent into the cavity. The drops of liquid leaving the tubes flow along the external face thereof and, in the case of some of them, diffuse into the cavity during this flow. Other drops which have not diffused run along the external face of the tubes 76, reach the sloping lower wall 74 (collector), slip along this wall towards the central duct 46 and pass through it to drop into the lower bottle.
The tubes 76 and the lower wall 74 act as liquid collectors.
Moreover, the tubes 76 form chicanes for the flow of liquid coming from the openings O′1, thus slowing this flow and therefore the drop by drop dripping phenomenon. It then follows that the time spent by the drops passing (flowing) inside the cavity is increased, making it possible to increase the diffusion time and the diffusion capacity of the device. Diffusion time can be managed by a suitable choice of the number of tubes 76 and cross section thereof. The two-compartment arrangement described hereinabove is easy to clean in so far as the two compartments are accessible via their respective open ends.
According to possible alternative forms that have not been depicted:
It will be noted that other flow diverting bodies or obstacles such as means forming chicanes for diverting and therefore retarding the flow may alternatively be arranged in the cavity in relation, or not, with tubes such as dropping tubes 76.
For the convenience of the explanation, the various types have been combined into the same central cavity C but a device 100 may very well comprise just one single type of flow-retarding element.
Components which are identical to those of
In this alternative form, the function of the elements is to keep the liquid flowing from the upper bottle in the cavity C (diffusion chamber) for as long as possible by diverting its path along various simultaneous paths. The drops flow along these elements and remain on them even if the device is inverted (to limit runs).
These elongate elements are mounted via their upper and lower opposing ends in the corresponding walls 72 and 74.
These elongate elements illustrated in
This material collects the liquid and thus remains moist. When the absorbent material 114 of the lower wall is saturated with liquid, the natural flow of liquid is directed toward the central duct 46.
Thus, when the device is inverted in the course of use, the liquid is held back by the absorbent material and therefore does not flood the cavity (greatly limiting runs).
In addition, the liquid (scent) is kept for longer in the cavity by these elements made of absorbent material (the retarding effect of the elements) and this contributes to improving the olfactory performance of the device.
It will be noted that the system depicted in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 50072 | Jan 2014 | FR | national |
