WO2018235051A1 - Fragrance diffuser - Google Patents

Abstract

A fragrance diffuser comprises a housing (100), a replaceable cartridge (300) containing a material (320) charged with a fragrant substance, the cartridge being removably mounted in an air flow channel (C) located in the housing, and an impeller (230) capable of generating an air flow in the channel between an inlet region (E1) and an outlet region (E2). The diffuser is characterised in that - the housing (100) is elongated and has, in a first end region (E1), at least one air inlet (131-133), and in a second, opposite end region (E2), at least one air outlet (151, 152), - the impeller (230) is mounted on a functional unit (200) also comprising a control switch (240) and a battery (220), - the channel (C) is in part defined by the walls of the housing (100) and by the functional unit (200). The invention can be used with a quick-acting, compact individual diffuser without any remanence.

Description

 title

 «Olfactory diffuser»

Field of the invention

 The invention relates to an olfactory diffuser.

Background of the invention

 Document FR2957262A1 discloses an olfactory diffuser with a housing, a motor fan or turbine itself powered by a battery or a battery, a push-button control and an olfactory cartridge.

Summary of the invention

 This known diffuser, however, has relatively large dimensions, and by design its general shape is imposed.

 The present invention aims at providing an individual olfactory diffuser which has particularly compact dimensions, which is ergonomic and practical to use, and which is easy to store, for example in a handbag or the pocket of a garment, which is instantaneous use and without remanence, and which is also in danger and without air pollution.

 To this end, an olfactory diffuser is proposed, comprising a housing, a replaceable cartridge of a material charged with olfactory substance removably mounted in an air circulation channel located in the housing, a turbine capable of generating a circulation of air in said channel between an input region and an output region,

the diffuser being characterized in that

 the housing is elongated and has at least one air inlet opening in a first end region and in at least one opposite end region at least one air outlet opening,

the turbine is mounted on a functional unit also comprising a control switch and a battery, the channel is defined in part by walls of the housing and by said functional unit.

 This diffuser optionally comprises the following additional features, taken individually or in any combination that the skilled person will apprehend as being technically compatible:

^* the channel has a cross section which gradually decreases from the cartridge to the outlet or openings.

 Ί the length of the case is between 8 and 15 cm.

the total surface area of the inlet orifice (s) is between approximately 10 and 50 mm ² .

^* Or the total area of outlet openings is between about 10 and 50 mm ^2.

^* The surface of the cross section of the cartridge level to the housing is between about 300 and 600 mm ^2.

^* The functional unit comprises a generally planar board carrying on one face the turbine and on the opposite face a battery.

^* the switch is located on the same side as the battery.

^* The functional unit comprises, at said first side, only the turbine.

^* The diffuser further includes a connector for recharging the battery, located in the input region, and a charging circuit of the battery.

Brief description of the drawings

 Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings. on which ones :

 - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from below of the various components of an olfactory diffuser according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the diffuser, FIG. 3 is a view from above of the diffuser,

 FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the diffuser,

 - Figure 5 is an elevational view of a first end of the diffuser,

 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line XX-XX of FIG. 3,

 - Figure 7 is an elevational view of the second end of the diffuser,

 FIGS. 8 to 12 are five enlarged partial section views of five details D8 to D12 of the diffuser (see FIG. 2),

 13 to 16 are perspective views of an assembly of internal organs of the diffuser according to four different points of view.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

 Referring to the drawings, there is shown an olfactory diffuser according to the invention which first comprises a housing or shell 100 consisting of two parts 1 10 and 120.

 The first part 1 10 (the lowest part in Figure 1) forms an upper shell which comprises a bottom wall 1 11 and a rising wall of generally U-shaped section 12 forming, in the continuity of each other , two side walls 1 12a, 1 12b and an end wall 1 12c.

 It is also observed that the bottom wall 1 1 1 is rising in

1 1 1 has in its region opposite to a terminal wall 1 12c, and also that the height of the side walls 1 12a, 112b decreases progressively from said end wall 1 12c to said upward region 1 1 1a.

Part 120 (the uppermost portion in Figure 1) comprises a main wall 121 which terminates in a downward region (with respect to the orientation of the figure) 121a, generally symmetrical with the upward region 11 1 a. This wall 121 has a substantially identical contour to that of the bottom wall January 1. The parts 1 10 and 120 also comprise internal arrangements for wedging and locking, consisting in particular of uprights 123 on the part 120 and ribs or grooves 113 on the part 1 10, as well as teeth and / or locking tabs. shown, allowing the two parts to be assembled in a guided manner and essentially not removable by a movement according to the arrow F12 of Figure 1, with latching, as shown generically in Figure 1 1.

 It is understood that the two assembled parts 1 10, 120 together form an elongated hollow shell having two side walls 112a, 1 12b, a lower wall 121, an upper wall 11 1 and end regions E1 and E2 where the upper walls and lower, respectively the side walls, meet by defining a section in the general shape of "U" respectively in a vertical plane (right end E1 in Figure 1, or air inlet end) and in a horizontal plane (Left end E2 in Figure 1 or air outlet end).

 At the end E1, the shell has a set of three air inlet ports 131 -133, located for example immediately below a charging connector as will be described later.

 At the end E2, as shown in particular in Figure 7, the shell has two oblong air outlet orifices, respectively 151, 152, the major axis extends from top to bottom.

 In the shell 100 is housed a functional unit or functional unit 200 comprising in particular a printed circuit board 210, a rechargeable battery 220 and a motor-driven fan or turbine 230.

As is shown in particular in FIGS. 13 to 16, the rechargeable battery 220 and the turbine 230 are respectively fixed on the two opposite faces of the card 210. The card also carries a fugitive push switch 240, and the components of a control circuit 250 for charging the battery 220 as well as any other useful circuit such as regulation and thermal protection of the turbine 230. The card 210 also carries a connector 260 preferably in "mini-USB" format, opening in the vicinity of the air inlet end E1 of the shell.

 The push switch 240 cooperates with a command button

140 comprising an actuating portion 141 in the general shape of disk housed intimately in a circular opening 1 1 1 b formed in the upper wall 11 of the shell, and a transmission rod 142 connecting this part

141 to the switch 240.

 As shown in particular in Figure 2, the assembly 200 is wedged in the shell 100 by means of wedging arrangements 150 carried by the parts 1 10 and 120, the latter being assembled during the manufacturing process by imprisoning the assembly 200 in the position shown in Figure 2, operating at the level of the card 210.

 It is observed that in this position, the shell 100 defines with the card 210, in its lower region, a generally continuous air channel C between the air inlet 130 and the air outlets 141, 142.

 With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the diffuser finally comprises a cartridge 300 comprising an envelope 310 permeable to air, here in the form of a generally cylindrical body with a perforated cylindrical wall 31 1, a first end plate 312 a larger diameter than the outer diameter of said wall, and a second end plate 313 smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of said wall.

 This envelope contains a substrate 320 bearing a volatile olfactory substance retained in place thanks to the configuration of the envelope 310.

 This substrate is here in the form of plastic granules retaining a volatile substance such as a perfume in the adsorbed state. It may be, for example, polymer granules marketed by the company ARKEMA under the trade name PEBAX®.

 As shown in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 8, the cartridge 300 is removably mounted and sealed in the shell 100 through two openings 1 1 1 c, 121 c formed vis-à-vis one of the other in the walls

1 1 1, 121 of the hull. The opening 1 11 c has a diameter substantially identical to that of the end plate 312, while the opening 121c has a diameter substantially identical to that of the end plate 313.

 As shown in particular in Figure 8, the end plate 312 and the associated aperture January 1 c define shoulders capable of abutting against each other to wedge the cartridge in position during its implementation. place, as will be detailed later. In addition, the annular zone 312a of the plate adjacent to the shoulder has a small rib 312b which ensures, over the entire periphery, a substantially sealed contact with the homologous portion of the opening 1 11 c.

 A similar arrangement is advantageously provided at the opposite closure plate 313.

 In the final nesting position of the cartridge 300, the closure plate 313 is housed in the opening 121c formed in the wall 121. In this position, the outer surfaces of the closure plates 312, 313 are flush with the outer surfaces of the walls 11 and 121, thus making these surfaces generally smooth.

 In this position, the olfactory substance carried by the substrate 320 is exposed inside the shell.

 It is understood that when the turbine 230 is started, a flow of air

(arrows FA) is created in the elongated longitudinal channel C extending between the region of the inlet orifice (s) and the region of the outlet orifice (s), this channel being defined in part by the walls 1 12a, 1 12b, 121 of the hull 100 and partly by the card 210 of the functional unit 200, here only the turbine 230 is present in the space of this channel, the other components being transferred to the other side of said card 210. .

This produces a laminar flow or little turbulent conducive to the extraction of the olfactory substance from the substrate 320 when the air passes along this substrate and in it. This behavior is favored by the fact that the cross section of the channel between the cartridge and the outlet orifice (s) gradually decreases and generally without discontinuity, thus concentrating the aromatic flow towards these orifices.

 The fact that the cartridge occupies a substantial part of the section of the channel (typically 70 to 90%) makes it possible to extract the olfactory substance in a particularly progressive and effective manner with a limited air flow rate.

 To control this air flow, it is possible to act on the characteristics and the speed of rotation of the turbine, as well as on the size of the at least one of the air intake orifices and the outlet orifices.

 In addition, the geometry of the assembly makes it possible to avoid the use of baffles while limiting the remanence.

 The characteristics of the diffuser are advantageously as follows:

- distance between inlet orifice (s) and outlet orifice (s): between 8 and 15 cm;

- cross section of the hull: between about 300 and 600 mm ² ; - total surface of the inlet ports: between approximately 10 and 50 mm ² ;

total area of the outlets: between approximately 10 and 50 mm ² ;

- nominal flow rate of the vacuum turbine: between about 1 and 2 m ³ / hour. When the cartridge 300 is exhausted, it is replaced by another cartridge by extracting the spent cartridge by an initial pressure on the closure plate 313 from the outside, to begin the extraction of the cartridge.

 Cartridges with different olfactory substances are advantageously provided. Each new cartridge is preferably supplied with a waterproof seal, which prevents the olfactory substance from diffusing before use.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the drawings, but the skilled person will be able to make many variations and modifications.

Claims

claims 1. Olfactory diffuser, comprising a housing (100), a replaceable cartridge (300) of a material (320) loaded with olfactory substance removably mounted in a channel (C) for air circulation located in the housing, a turbine ( 230) adapted to generate an air flow in said channel between an input region (E1) and an output region (E2), the diffuser being characterized in that  the housing (100) is elongate and has a first end region (E1 at least one air inlet port (131 -133) and a second end region (E2) opposite the minus one air outlet (151, 152),  the turbine (230) is mounted on a functional unit (200) also comprising a control switch (240) and a battery (220),  - The channel (C) is defined in part by the walls of the housing (100) and by said functional unit (200). 2. Diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the channel (C) has a cross section which gradually decreases from the cartridge (300) to the outlet or openings (151, 152). 3. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the length of the housing (100) is between 8 and 15 cm. 4. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the total surface of the one or more inlet ports (131 -133) is between about 10 and 50 mm ² . 5. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the total surface of the outlet or openings (151, 152) is between about 10 and 50 mm ² . 6. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface of the cross section of the housing (100) at the cartridge (300) is between about 300 and 600 mm ² . 7. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the functional unit (200) comprises a generally flat card (210) on a first face the turbine (230) and on the opposite side a battery (220) . 8. Diffuser according to claim 7, wherein the switch (240) is located on the same side as the battery (220). 9. Diffuser according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the functional unit (200) comprises, at said first face, only the turbine (230). 10. Diffuser according to one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a connector (260) for charging the battery, located in the input region, and a circuit (250) for charging the battery.