Gel air freshener
AssigneeInternational Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
InventorsVirgil A.G. Williams, Craig M. Stumpf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described is a substantially rigid aqueous clear gel matrix air freshener article having included therein one or more gel matrix icons, the dimensions of which, on use of the article, decrease in proportion to the dimensions of the body of the air freshener article in which the icons are suspended and imbedded. The article contains water; gel matrix material which can be a hydrolyzed protein gel material such as gelatin or a polysaccharide gel material such as gellan gum; a system-compatible air freshener fragrance composition contained in one or more of the icons and/or contained in the gel matrix air freshener body; and a surfactant contained in the body.
Claims20
A substantially rigid aqueous clear gel matrix air freshener article comprising:
- (a) an air freshener gel matrix body having a volume Vo which decreases on use of said air freshener article whereby dVo/dθ<0 comprising water, a surfactant, a clear gel matrix material selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide gel matrix material and a hydrolyzed protein gel matrix material, and, optionally, a system-compatible air freshening fragrance composition;
- (b) fully imbedded within said air freshener body, one or more icons which are each visibly distinct over the range of visible wavelengths when contained within said air freshener, the total volume of which is VI which decreases on use of said air freshener article whereby dVI/dθ<0 each of which icon comprises (i) water, (ii) a clear gel matrix material selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide gel matrix material and a hydrolyzed protein gel matrix material, (iii)optionally, a system-compatible air freshening fragrance composition and (iv)optionally, a surfactant,
- with the proviso that the system-compatible air freshening fragrance compositions are present in at least one of said icons, or in said air freshener body, or in at least one of said icons and in said air freshener body, the volume fraction of said icons in said air freshener article being φ=VI/(VI+Vo), wherein 0.01≦φ≦0.90, the physical and chemical properties of each of said icons and said air freshener body being such that on use of said air freshener article, (i) the rate of volumetric reduction of each of said icons as a result of fragrance emission, if any, and water emission therefrom with respect to the volumetric reduction of the air freshener body which envelops said icons as a result of fragrance emission, if any, and water emission therefrom is a constant, according to the equations:
- ∂VI/∂Vo=φ/(1−φ) and ∂2VI/∂Vo2=0, (ii) the integrity of the fragrance compositions emitted from said air freshener body and said icons is maintained and (iii) the distinguishing visibility of the icons in said air freshener from without said air freshener, at visible wavelengths, is maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.