# US 10,500,298 B2 · Method for delivering a volatile material

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- Number: US 10,500,298 B2
- Document ID: US10500298B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/976,930
- Filed: 2018-05-11
- Published: 2018-09-13
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-16
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Dana Paul Gruenbacher; Jason John Olchovy; Scott Kendyl Stanley; James Douglas Still; Rhonda Jean Jackson; Zaiyou Liu; Walter Sordo; Stefano Deflorian; Cedric Morhain
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500298B2

## CPC

- A61L 9/04: using substances evaporated in the air without heating
- A61L 9/12: Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
- B60H 3/0028: {on or near an air outlet}
- A61L 2209/131: Semi-permeable membranes
- B60H 2003/0057: {Servicing means therefor, e.g. for renewal of substances}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES

## Abstract

A method of delivering a volatile material to the atmosphere in a continuous manner is disclosed. The method includes providing a delivery engine having a reservoir that includes a volatile material mixture. The volatile material mixture includes about 40% to about 100%, by total weight, of the volatile materials each having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than about 0.1 torr. The delivery system also includes a microporous membrane enclosing the reservoir, wherein the microporous membrane comprises an average pore size of about 0.01 to about 0.03 microns.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of delivering a volatile material comprising the steps of:
providing a delivery engine comprising:
a reservoir comprising a volatile material mixture;
a rupturable substrate enclosing at least a portion of the reservoir;
a rupture element positioned adjacent to the rupturable substrate; and
a microporous membrane enclosing the reservoir, the rupturable substrate, and the rupture element; and
breaching the rupturable substrate to create a flow path from the reservoir, through the rupturable substrate, through the rupture element, and to the microporous membrane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises about 40% to about 100%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than about 0.3 torr.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises:
a. 0% to about 15%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a VP at 25° C. of about 0.004 torr to about 0.035 torr;
b. about 0% to about 25%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a VP at 25° C. of about 0.1 torr to about 0.325 torr; and
c. about 65% to about 100%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a VP at 25° C. of about 0.035 torr to about 0.1 torr.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises a viscosity of about 1.0 cP to less than about 15 cP.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises a surface tension of about 19 mN/m to less than about 27 mN/m.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the microporous membrane comprises an average pore size of about 0.01 microns to about 0.06 microns.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises a perfume material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using a fan to deliver the volatile material to the atmosphere.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery engine further comprises a collection basin in fluid communication with the microporous membrane and the reservoir upon rupturing the rupturable substrate.

### Claim 10

A method of delivering a volatile material comprising the steps of:
providing a delivery engine comprising:
a reservoir comprising a volatile material;
a rupturable substrate enclosing at least a portion of the reservoir;
a microporous membrane;
a rupture element positioned between the rupturable substrate and the microporous membrane, wherein the microporous membrane encloses the reservoir, the rupture element, and the rupturable substrate; and
compressing the microporous membrane and the rupture element to breach the rupturable substrate, creating a flow path from the reservoir, through the rupturable substrate, through the rupture element, and to the microporous membrane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of inserting the delivering engine in a housing, the housing comprising a notch to compress the microporous membrane and the rupture element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the rupture element comprises a compressible flange, the flange comprises a piercing element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the microporous membrane comprises an average pore size of about 0.01 microns to about 0.06 microns.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the compressing step comprises a compression force of less than about 15N.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises a perfume material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises about 40% to about 100%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than about 0.3 torr.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the volatile material mixture comprises about 40% to about 100%, by total weight, of volatile materials each having a vapor pressure at 25° C. of less than about 0.1 torr.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the reservoir comprises a bottom, an opening, and a ridge circumferencing the opening, wherein the rupturable substrate is sealed to the ridge of the reservoir.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the reservoir comprises see-through plastic.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of using a fan to deliver the volatile material to the atmosphere.