Back to results
US 6,780,382 B2Granted
Simmer plate dispenser for volatile active materials
AssigneeS.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsPaul E. Furner, Ralph G. Schwarz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeS.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsPaul E. Furner, Ralph G. Schwarz
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to dispensers for active materials, which dispensers employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a simmer plate and to the body of a solid fuel containing the active material, so as to more rapidly liquify the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to volatilize the active material. The heat conductive elements and simmer plate are configured so as to engage said solid fuel, and to cause the flow of liquified fuel to the wick. The fuel may comprise various active ingredients, such as fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal and medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and the like, and may be provided in various forms.
A simmer plate dispenser for active materials, said dispenser comprising, in combination, a meltable solid fuel comprising a volatile active material, a consumable wick, a heat conductive base upon which said fuel rests having heat conductive elements comprising at least one lobe in said base by which heat is conducted to said base from a flame upon said wick, whereby a pool of heated liquid fuel is created from which said active material volatilizes, wherein said heat conductive base is configured so as to cause the flow of said heated liquid fuel to said wick for combustion, said base and said heat conductive elements are configured so as to cooperatively engage said solid fuel, and said active material is selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof.
A simmer plate dispenser for dispersing an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal substances, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and mixtures thereof, said dispenser comprising a replaceable fuel containing said ingredient and a wick, and a dispensing device comprising a heat conductive simmer plate, and a heat conductive element to collect heat from a flame at said wick and conduct said heat to said simmer plate to thereby melt said fuel containing said active ingredient and form a pool of liquid fuel on the surface of said simmer plate, wherein said dispensing device is configured to position and engage said fuel on said simmer plate for rapid melting, said simmer plate is shaped so as to cause said pool of liquid fuel to flow to said wick, said active ingredient is selected so as to evaporate from said pool of liquid fuel, and the temperature of said pool of liquid fuel exceeds a temperature of about 180° F. at a point about 10 mm from said wick, and about 160° F. at a point about 20 mm from said wick.
A dispensing device for dispersing a volatile active material, said device comprising a heat conductive container for a replaceable fuel element comprising a combustible wick and said volatile active material, said container comprising a heat conductive lobe whereby heat is conducted to said fuel element and said container, said container and lobe configured so as to engage and melt said solid fuel element and to cause the flow of melted fuel to said wick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.