US 7,682,575 B2 · Low cost, easy to manufacture scent dispersing mat apparatus

Abstract

A low cost, easy to manufacture scent-dispersing mat apparatus has a flexible closed cell foam mat containing a plurality of blind holes extending from its upper surface. These blind holes are partially filled with a fragrant liquid scent, creating air spaces thereabove. The upper surface of the flexible closed cell foam mat is sealed with a polymeric sheet that entraps the air spaces in the blind holes, causing entrapped air to become saturated with fragrant scent vapor. The polymeric sheet is perforated by one or more fine needles at the blind hole locations. The perforations permit escape of fragrant scent-saturated air to the ambient when pressure is applied to the top surface of the mat. Upon release of pressure, the foam mat and the blind holes recover their shape; the entrapped air pressure decreases, drawing fresh ambient air into the entrapped air spaces.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims14

Dependent claims

A scent dispersing mat apparatus, comprising;

a. a flexible closed cell foam mat having an upper surface and a bottom surface and a mat thickness;
b. said upper surface having a plurality of blind holes or apertures therein, each of the blind holes having a depth smaller than the thickness of the said flexible closed cell foam mat, so that the depth of the blind holes is less than that required for contact with said bottom surface;
c. a plurality of said blind holes being partially filled with liquid scent, to thereby provide a plurality of air spaces between said liquid scent and said upper surface;
d. an impermeable polymeric material forming a sheet, said polymeric sheet covering and sealing said blind holes at said upper surface of said foam mat;
e. attachment means, attaching said polymeric sheet to said upper surface of said flexible cell foam mat, thereby creating entrapped air spaces between said liquid scent and said polymeric sheet;
f. said entrapped air becoming saturated with scent vapor by evaporation of said liquid scent;
g. said polymeric sheet being perforated by one or more fine needles to create perforations, said perforations being adapted to provide for communication between entrapped air within said blind holes and ambient air;
h. said perforations adapted to release scent saturated entrapped air when pressure is applied to the top surface of said mat, and said perforations adapted to draw ambient air into said blind holes when said pressure is released;
whereby said perforations are sufficiently small such that, due to the elastic nature of said polymeric sheet, said perforations will instantly close when no force is being applied to said mat;
and
whereby exertion of force on said mat squeezes said flexible closed cell foam mat, increasing pressure of said scent saturated entrapped air and opening said perforations, thereby releasing said scent saturated air into the ambient;
and
whereby upon release of said force said mat recovers its shape and the shape of blind holes, reducing said entrapped air pressure and drawing ambient air into said blind holes.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,663 words

Summary3,266 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a low cost easy to manufacture mat apparatus for dispersing scent; and more particularly to an apparatus capable of housing a scented vaporizable liquid for dispersion of volatilized scent when the apparatus receives a force or is compressed.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings1 figure

#The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a low cost easy to manufacture scent-dispersing mat that incorporates the elements of the present invention.

Detailed description1,339 words

#The scent dispersing mat apparatus of the present invention releases a scented fragrance when force is applied to its external upper surface. Such force is exerted when, for example, the upper surface of the mat is stepped on by a person, animal or inanimate object. The scent dispersing mat apparatus also provides a cushioned contact that affords a comfortable surface for stepping, sitting or lying upon.

#Generally stated the scent dispersing mat is easy to use and disperses fragrant scent only when the force is applied to the upper surface of the mat, for example by a user stepping on the mat. The mat comprises a flexible closed cell foam mat with multitude of molded or drilled holes or apertures which are open to the upper surface but do not reach the bottom surface of the mat and therefore forming ‘blind’ holes or apertures. A plurality of these holes is partially filled with a liquid scent leaving an air space above the liquid scent, which vaporizes at ambient temperature. Therefore, an air space exists between the liquid scent and the upper surface of the flexible close cell mat. A polymeric sheet is then bonded to the upper surface of the flexible closed cell mat to seal each of the blind holes containing liquid scent and entrapped air. The polymeric sheet is perforated with one or more fine needles at the blind hole locations. These fine perorations are small enough to prevent the escape of the liquid scent. Moreover, due to the elastic nature of the polymeric sheet, these fine perforations instantly close as the needles are withdrawn.

#The liquid scent present in a plurality of the blind holes evaporates the scent into the entrapped air, saturating the air with the liquid scent vapor. The air is rapidly brought to the equilibrium saturation vapor pressure of the liquid scent at the ambient temperature. This equilibrium value represents the maximum value of scent vapor that air can carry at the ambient temperature.

Facts

Application

11/265,658Filed 2 Nov 2005 · continuation in part

Priority

14 Nov 2003

Published

US 2006/0062700 A123 Mar 2006

Granted

23 Mar 2010

Term ended

31 Mar 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 138 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

A61L 9/12
Using substances evaporated in the air without heating: apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
A01K 1/0157
Floor coverings, e.g. bedding-down sheets ; Stable floors: mats; Sheets
A01K 1/0353
Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds: pet beds, e.g. dog beds
Y10T 428/233
Sheet including cover or casing: foamed or expanded material encased

Family

Application10/712,343Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Nov 2003

Application11/007,725Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Dec 2004

US 2006/0062700 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Mar 2006

US 7,498,072 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,991,842 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part

Application11/007,725Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2004/0121111 A1Published application

US 2005/0106077 A1Published application

US 7,682,575 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Low cost, easy to manufacture scent dispersing mat apparatus

Life of this patent

Low cost, easy to manufacture scent dispersing mat apparatus

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims14

Description4,663 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,663 words