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US 6,631,891 B1Granted
Volatile material dispensers
OwnerBrian Sladeinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerBrian Sladeinventor
Estimating the term…
Dispensers of volatile liquids have a liquid reservoir (10) feeding a downwardly extending dispersal screen (2) formed by spaced threads or groups of threads (20) down which the liquid (L) flows as it is vaporised the screen having a large thread; void ratio whereby a relatively small quantity of liquid is exposed, so that the liquid on the screen is constantly replaced. In other dispensers utilizing a downwardly extending dispersal screen (30; 42; 82; 110; 120; 160). a capillary wick (38; 52; 94; 140; 172) leads the liquid upwards from a reservoir (34; 50; 92; 136; 166) to produce a syphon effect. The amount of liquid on the screen (160) may be limited by an arrangement (184; 186) for interrupting the syphon flow. The liquid flow to a dispenser screen (42; 82; 110) may also be regulated by taking liquid from a supply container (48; 90; 108) into a reservoir chamber (50; 92; 136) having a constant liquid level, whereby the rate of liquid flow is independent of the level in the supply container. Dispensers according to the invention may have any one or more of these features.
A dispenser for a volatile material comprising a reservoir containing the material as a liquid, and a diffusing screen from which the material can evaporate or volatilise into the surrounding atmosphere, said screen being in flow communication with the liquid in the reservoir downwardly from an entry edge at which the liquid is transferred to the screen from the reservoir and comprising a fabric having at least a first series of generally parallel threads of a plurality of filaments, the threads of said first series being arranged in spaced groups in which the threads of a group are more closely spaced than in the spaces between the groups, said groups of threads being arranged to exercise a capillary action on the liquid reaching the screen from the reservoir.
A dispenser for a volatile liquid comprising a reservoir for the liquid and a fluid conduit providing a flow path extending upwardly from the reservoir to an upper region of a downwardly extending, laminar dispersal or diffusion screen, said fluid conduit having means for drawing liquid from the reservoir to said screen upper region to allow the liquid to flow by gravity down the screen as it is dispersed therefrom to the surrounding atmosphere.
A dispenser for a volatile liquid comprising a reservoir for the liquid and a fluid conduit providing a flow path from the reservoir to an upper region of a downwardly extending, laminar dispersal or diffusion screen, said fluid conduit having means for drawing liquid from the reservoir to said screen upper region to allow the liquid to flow by gravity down the screen as it is dispersed therefrom, a secondary pad or mat for receiving surplus liquid from said downwardly extending screen being connected to a lower region of said screen through a flow path of limited cross-section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.