Unit for the transfer and distribution of a liquid and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneeGivaudan SA
InventorsGerald Leslie Hart, Guy Edward Naish, Kishen Gohil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unit (1) for the transfer and distribution of a liquid (27) using capillary action has an elongated shaft (2) and a screen (3) The shaft (2) includes a first capillary medium (4) suitable for drawing the liquid (27) from a reservoir (26) into the shaft (2) when a bottom portion (20) of the shaft (2) is disposed in the liquid. The screen (3) is connected to the shaft (2) and includes a second capillary medium (5) suitable for receiving the liquid (27) drawn by the first capillary medium (4) and distributing it over at least a major part of the screen (3) where it evaporates.
Claims21
A unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) for the transfer and distribution of a liquid (27) using capillary action with an elongated shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) including a first capillary medium (4, 10, 16) suitable for drawing the liquid (27) from a reservoir (26) and with a screen (3, 9, 35) including a second capillary medium (5, 11, 19) suitable for receiving the liquid (27) from the first capillary medium (4, 10, 16) and distributing it over at least a part of the screen (3, 9, 35) for evaporation.
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen (3, 9, 35) is at least partially made of a capillary material, preferably a cellulose structure such as card (4′, 10′, 16′) or a non-woven fleece material, and has a plurality of openings (6, 12, 17) through which air can be blown.
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) is at least partially made of a capillary material, preferably a cellulose structure such as card (4′, 10′, 16′) or a non-woven fleece material.
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the shaft (2, 8, 14) is permeable to liquid (27) at a bottom portion (20) and impermeable at other portions of the shaft (2, 8, 14).
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen width (W2) is at least twice the shaft width (W1), preferably three times wider.
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen (3, 9, 35) and the shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) are made in one piece.
Transfer unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom part (20) of the shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) has cutting means (20′) to facilitate breaking or cutting a seal (24) in a shaft receiving passage (21) of a refill unit (25) for fragrance dispensers.
Method of manufacturing a unit (1, 1′, 7, 13) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of cutting at least one shape (29, 29′, 29″) of an elongated shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) with an attached screen (3, 9, 35) wider than the shaft (2, 2′, 8, 14) from a sheet material (28, 30, 32).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.