WO2004084957A1

WO2004084957A1 - Dispenser for dispensing an anti-bacterial and/or deodorising and/or scented material in a receptacle such as a bag, and receptacle comprising said dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2004084957A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000914
Authority: WO
Inventors: René PHAM
Original assignee: Pham Rene
Priority date: 2003-03-27
Filing date: 2004-03-26
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: FR2852848A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a simple, effective, low-cost, environmentally friendly and easy-to-use dispenser for dispensing an anti-bacterial and/or deodorising and/or scented material in a receptacle such as a bag, and disinfecting the receptacle in a contamination-free manner. The present invention further relates to a receptacle containing such a dispenser. Said dispenser (1) comprises two plates (10a, 10b) with edges that have a wavy outline and are joined together via inserts (12) so as to define a cavity (13) for an inserted refill (11) made of an absorbent material impregnated with an anti-bacterial and/or deodorising and/or scented material. The inserts (12) and the plates (10a, 10b) define side openings (15) that promote, together with the wavy edges, the release of the material into the bag. The present invention is suitable for use in all types of receptacles such as sports bags, school satchels, travel bags, backpacks, grips and suitcases used for a wide variety of both recreational and professional activities.

Description

ANTI-BACTERIAL AND / OR ANTI-ODOR AND / OR PERFUMING PRODUCT DIFFUSER FOR ANY TYPE OF CONTAINER SUCH AS A BAG AND CONTAINER COMPRISING SAID DIFFUSER

Technical area :

The present invention relates to an anti-bacterial and / or anti-odor and / or perfuming product diffuser for any type of container such as a bag, this bag comprising at least one plate capable of receiving at least one refill soaked in the product. It also relates to a container such as a bag comprising this diffuser.

Prior art:

Containers such as sports bags, school bags, travel bags, backpacks, briefcases, suitcases or the like are rarely cleaned and often cause bacteria to develop, leading to skin diseases, yeast infections, warts, or allergies and bad smells. These risks are frequent, especially in the sports environment in which sports clothing impregnated with sweat, dust and possibly dirt rubs more or less soiled shoes depending on whether they are used indoors or outdoors and often towels wet toiletries. These risks are aggravated if things remain in the sports bag for several hours or even days between two sports sessions. To date, there is no system to disinfect this type of container and its content to limit the risk of infection and contamination.

Furthermore, it is known to use in vehicles and / or furniture such as wardrobes, diffusers in the form of foam pads, cardboard or any other equivalent material, soaked for example with a perfume product and / or anti-odor and / or mothproof to be suspended. The publication US-A-5 460 787 describes in particular a perfume diffuser comprising a housing provided with diffusion orifices and an opening allowing the insertion of a refill impregnated with perfume. This diffuser further comprises fixing means for example on a door, a garment, a fan blade.

Publication US-A-3 964 684 describes a perfume and deodorant diffuser comprising a housing defining a housing for receiving a soaked refill, this housing being able to be delimited by a simple plate extended by two returns. This diffuser may include adhesive means allowing it to be fixed for example under the cover of a trash can.

Publication GB-A-2 324 963 describes a perfume diffuser comprising two parallel plates connected by spacers between which is inserted a refill soaked in a volatile perfuming product. This fragrance diffuser can be fixed to a support by means of velcros®, magnetic means, adhesives or any other means.

Publication US-A-5 735 460 describes an air freshener comprising a housing provided with a housing receiving a refill impregnated with a volatile product and means for heating this refill to promote the evaporation of the volatile product. This cooler is also provided with a fixing clip.

The publication US-A-5 407 642 describes an air freshening clamp comprising a housing receiving a refill of volatile product and which can be fixed, for example, on the fins of air diffusers in a motor vehicle.

The soaked pads or even the above diffusers are however not intended to be used in a container, such as a bag, a briefcase or a suitcase, in which they would be in direct contact with the content, hence risks important contamination of platelets and / or contents leading to a reduction in the diffusing power and the duration of the effectiveness of these platelets.

Likewise, it is known to limit bad odors in shoes, to use ball-shaped diffusers provided with orifices and containing an anti-odor product. These balls have the disadvantage of not being refillable. After use, they must be thrown away, which poses recycling and environmental concerns.

Diffusers are also known in the form of bottles or carboys commonly used to perfume, for example, sanitary facilities. These bottles or carboys are provided with a cap to be pressed manually to spray the perfumed product which they contain. They are therefore not intended to distribute a product continuously and autonomously.

Other diffusers are in the form of bottles containing a liquid perfumed product in which a wick soaks, part of which protrudes outside the bottle through its neck. This wick makes the liquid perfumed product go up, by capillary action, up to the part located outside the bottle, so that it diffuses by evaporation. These diffusers are not waterproof and when they are tilted or overturned, the liquid perfume pours out without control. Therefore, they cannot be used in bags intended to be handled randomly.

None of these solutions is therefore satisfactory.

Statement of the invention:

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, ecological and easy to use solution for diffusing an anti-bacterial and / or anti-odor and / or perfuming in all types of containers that can be used for all types of leisure and professional activities, without risk of contamination, effectively by promoting the circulation of air in the container and the diffusion of the product, reliable and autonomous. The containers are for example sports bags, school bags, travel bags, backpacks, briefcases, suitcases and any type of similar container.

To this end, the invention relates to a diffuser of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that said plate is arranged to move the refill away from the bottom and the side walls of the container as well as from the content intended to be housed in the container and includes non-rectilinear edges arranged to provide spaces between said plate and the side walls of the container allowing the circulation of air below and laterally to promote the diffusion of the product.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plate comprises means for retaining the refill to promote the circulation of air at least above and laterally.

These retaining means may include a groove formed by at least two tabs provided under the plate, these tabs being able to be four in number, disjoint and defining between them lateral openings and feet for resting the plate at the bottom of the container.

The retaining means can also be chosen from the group comprising a velcro® type fastener, a repositionable or non-repositionable adhesive, complementary nestable shapes associated with the plate.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diffuser comprises at least two plates assembled together by connecting means, the plates and the connecting means being arranged to define between the plates a housing intended to receive the refill. The connecting means are advantageously chosen from the group comprising spacers, velcro® type fasteners, repositionable or non-repositionable adhesives, nestable complementary shapes.

The connection means can be arranged to allow the relative mobility of the plates between them, between an open position in which the refill can be introduced into the housing and a closed position of use, these connection means being chosen from the group comprising a hinge, a film hinge.

In this configuration, the plates are preferably provided with closing means arranged to keep them in their closed position, these closing means being chosen from the group comprising a Velcro® type fastener, a repositionable adhesive or not, complementary nestable shapes. .

The plates and the connecting means are advantageously arranged to provide lateral openings.

Each plate may have at least one through hole and / or feet intended () to bear against the bottom of the container and be made from at least one of the rigid or semi-rigid materials chosen from the group comprising synthetic materials, composite materials, wood, metals.

Each plate can have a profile chosen from the group comprising a planar shape, a concave shape, a convex shape, a shape with several inclined sides and have an outline chosen from the group comprising parallelepipeds whose angles are pointed and / or rounded and or beveled, bean shapes, circles, ovals, wavy shapes. Preferably, the refill is made of a material chosen from the group comprising cartons, nonwovens, fabrics, cellulose wadding and the product chosen from the group comprising essential oils, bactericidal products, in particular those specific to body disinfection, virucidal products, fungicidal products.

The invention also relates to a container such as a bag comprising a diffuser as described above.

Brief description of the drawings:

The present invention and its advantages will appear more clearly in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective a first embodiment of a diffuser according to the invention with its refill partially introduced into its housing,

FIGS. 2-5 are sections of several embodiments of the diffuser according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows in perspective a second embodiment of the diffuser according to the invention, its refill being shown next to it, and

Figures 7 and 8 are top views of several possible contours of the diffuser according to the invention. Illustrations of the invention and best way of carrying it out:

The diffuser 1-8, of anti-bacterial and / or anti-odor and / or perfuming product according to the invention is intended to be used in any type of container such as a sports bag, a school bag, a travel bag, backpack, briefcase, suitcase or the like. It comprises at least one plate 10a-80a capable of receiving at least one refill 11-61 soaked with the appropriate product, this plate 10a-80a being arranged to promote the diffusion of the product in the container and avoid any contamination due to direct contact between the product, container and content. To simplify the rest of the description, the term bag will be used to denote, without limitation, any type of container.

Referring to Figure 1, the diffuser 1 comprises two plates 10a, 10b including an upper plate 10a and a lower plate 10b assembled together by connecting means 12 and thus defining between them a housing 13 intended to receive a refill 11 also in the form of a sheet.

The plates 10a, 10b are substantially planar and parallel to each other and of substantially constant thickness. They have a substantially rectangular outline provided with non-rectilinear edges, for example wavy, crenellated, sawtooth, etc. and whose angles are bevelled to be used in a rectangular bag with rounded or straight corners.

The non-rectilinear edges make it possible to provide spaces between the plates 10a, 10b and the walls of the container to promote the circulation of air between the bottom and the top of the diffuser 1-8 and thus optimize the diffusion of the product in the container.

Each plate 10a, 10b may have through holes (not shown in this figure) allowing the passage of air and thus promoting the diffusion of the product in the bag. The lower plate 10b is provided with feet 14 guaranteeing, when the diffuser is placed in the bottom of the bag, a space between it and the bottom of the bag to allow the circulation of air and thus favor the diffusion of the product both through the possible orifices provided in the lower plate 10b than under the lower plate 10b itself.

The connecting means connecting the plates 10a, 10b comprise spacers 12 distributed between the plates 10a, 10b along two or three of their sides. The fourth flank is left free of spacers to form the opening for introducing the refill 11 into the housing 13. The spacers 12 are fixed to the plates 10a, 10b in a manner that cannot be dismantled by gluing, thermofusion. They can also be fixed removably by means, for example, of Velcro® type fasteners, repositionable or non-repositionable adhesives. They can also be replaced by complementary nestable shapes or any other similar means adapted to the material constituting the plates 10a, 10b. In the example shown, the spacers 12 are arranged so as to provide lateral openings 15 between the plates 10a, 10b to promote the circulation of air and the diffusion of the product. The thickness of these spacers 12 determines the thickness of the refill 11.

The refill l i has a shape and dimensions adapted to the housing 13 receiving it. In this example, it is substantially flat, of substantially constant thickness with a substantially rectangular outline provided with wavy edges and whose angles are bevelled. It can be made of cardboard, nonwoven, fabric, cellulose wadding, or any other equivalent absorbent material.

The product used to impregnate the refill li has for example a bactericidal and / or fungicidal and / or perfuming action. It is preferably non-toxic, natural, biodegradable, ecological, non-flammable and has a neutral pH. This product can for example contain essential oils having known antiseptic properties, for example based on eucalyptus, mint, pine, thyme, rosemary, cloves, cypress, savory or any other equivalent plant. Thus, the essential oil molecules attracted by polar attraction to polluting and smelly particles, surround them and include them before pressing them under the effect of gravity at the bottom of the bag in the form of neutral mineral compounds.

When using the diffuser 1, the refill 11 soaked is inserted into the housing 13, then the assembly is disposed at the bottom of the bag or along one of its side walls. For some particular application, the diffuser 1 with its refill 11 can possibly be arranged for example between two layers of clothing. Once in place in the bag, the refill 11 gradually diffuses, by evaporation, the product in the bag. The lifetime of the refill 11 is provided to ensure effective treatment of the bag for a predetermined minimum duration, for example for at least one month. After this period, the user takes the diffuser 1 out of the bag, removes the used refill 11 and replaces it with a new one. The fact that the refill 11 is used between the plates 10a, 10b makes it possible to avoid any direct contact between it and the contents of the bag or with the hands of the user when he puts away or takes out the objects or the belongings in or from her bag. Therefore, the plates 10a, 10b ensure total safety during use, whether oral, skin and / or eye. In addition, the plates 10a, 10b make it possible to avoid any contact between the refill 11 and the contents of the bag. The refill 11 can thus remain clean, its effectiveness not being limited by soiling. In addition, the contents of the bag, for example clothing, not being in direct contact with the product, the latter is not likely to migrate.

Industrial application:

In general and with reference to all the figures, the plate (s) 10a-80a can be made from one or more rigid or semi-rigid materials such as for example synthetic materials, composite materials, wood, metals or any other equivalent material. They can be transparent, opaque, printed, colored and / or have a specific surface condition with, for example, reliefs on their external and / or internal faces and have varied profiles. Thus, the plates 10a, b 20a, b 30a and 60a, b of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 are substantially planar. The plates 40a, b of FIG. 4 have a convex convex profile and the plates 50a, 50b of FIG. 5 are composed of several sides defining an inverted "V". The lateral ends of the lower plates 40b, 50b serve as feet for resting the diffuser 4, 5 at the bottom of the bag so that the air and the product circulate freely under the diffuser 4, 5.

According to other variants not shown, the plates can have a concave hollow profile, in "V", "M", "W" or any other suitable profile and / or have variable thicknesses over their length and / or width. When the diffuser has several plates, they can be identical or different in terms of material and / or dimensions and / or profile. Likewise, each plate may have a contour identical to that of the container or different. Thus, the contour of the plate 70a illustrated in FIG. 7 is in the form of a bean to give a flexible bag a bean shape facilitating its wearing. In another vein, the outline of the plate 80a illustrated in FIG. 8 forms waves intended to create spaces for air circulation and diffusion of the product between the walls of the container, for example rectangular and shown in dotted lines on this figure, and the outline of the diffuser.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the diffuser 2 comprises two plates 20a, b connected at a lateral or longitudinal end by a return 22 and forming only a single piece. This diffuser 2 is also provided with feet 24. The three open sides define lateral openings 25 for the circulation of air and the diffusion of the product permeating the refill 21. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the diffuser 3 comprises a single plate 30a provided on its underside with means for retaining the refill 31. In this example the retaining means comprise two tabs 31a, 31b defining between them a groove in which the refill 31 is housed. This groove is preferably discontinuous in order to define lateral openings 35 promoting the circulation of air and the diffusion of the product impregnating the refill 31. They can also extend over the entire length of the plate 30a , the diffusion then taking place through the longitudinal ends of the plate 30a and / or through through orifices not shown. The legs 31a, 31b also define feet used to place the diffuser 3 in the bottom of the bag.

According to other alternative embodiments not shown, the plate 30a can be associated with other means for retaining the refill 31, such as for example a Velcro® type fastener, a repositionable adhesive or not, complementary nestable shapes.

The diffuser can also include plates connected to each other by connecting means allowing their relative pivoting between an open position in which the refill can be introduced into the housing and a closed position of use in which the diffuser is used in the bag.

In the example illustrated in Figure 6, the diffuser 6 comprises two plates 60a, 60b substantially planar and parallel, of substantially constant thickness, having a substantially rectangular outline and connected by hinges 62 removable or not. The plates 60a, 60b are provided with through orifices 66 promoting the circulation of air and the diffusion of the product. For the same purpose, the lower plate 60b is provided with feet 64. The lower plate 60b is also provided with studs 67 intended to serve as a support for the upper plate 60a in the closed position to guarantee the spacing of the plates 60a, 60b and the dimensions of the housing 63. The plates 60a, 60b are kept in the closed position by closing means 68. In this example, these closing means comprise fasteners of the velcro® type disposed respectively on the internal face of the upper plate 60a and on the studs 67 carried by the lower plate 60b. The refill 61 has a shape substantially similar to that of the plates 60a, 60b and to that of the housing 63 defined between the plates 60a,

60b, the hinges 62 and the studs 67.

In another embodiment not shown, the refill 11 can also consist of micro beads soaked in product and united for example in a net.

In other variant embodiments not shown, the hinges can be replaced by a hinge film or any other equivalent means.

Likewise, in other examples not shown, the closure means can be repositionable or non-repositionable adhesives, nestable complementary shapes, a lock or any other equivalent means preferably providing lateral openings 65 between the plates.

It is possible in the same bag to use several diffusers 1-6 for example arranged adjacent or superimposed. Similarly, each diffuser 1-6 can contain one or more refills. In addition, to increase their resistance while limiting their size and their weight, the plates 10a-80a can be provided with reinforcement (not shown) such as ribs.

The diffuser can thus be inserted into a container or integrated into this container. In the latter case, the integration of the diffuser into the container according to the invention can be part of the steps for manufacturing the container. This description clearly shows that the diffuser according to the invention makes it possible to meet the set goals, in particular that it is simple to use for disinfecting and / or perfuming any type of container in a reliable and durable manner without risk of contamination. Thus, an athlete can use the same sports bag between two sessions by simply replacing his dirty clothes with clean clothes.

The use of the diffuser according to the invention will avoid any risk of bacteriological development in its bag and contamination of clean clothing. The diffuser effectively cleans the atmosphere inside the bag, the bag no longer needs to be cleaned as regularly. Clean items can be placed directly in the bag after removing dirty items, and dirty items can be transported without the risk of bad odors.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art while remaining within the scope of the protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims

claims

1. Difuser (1-8) of anti-bacterial and / or anti-odor and / or perfuming product for any type of container such as a bag, said diffuser comprising at least one plate (10a-80a), capable of receiving at least one refill (11-61) soaked with said product, characterized in that said plate (10a-80a) is arranged to move said refill (11-61) away from the bottom and side walls of the container as well as from the content intended to be housed in the container and has non-rectilinear edges arranged to provide spaces between said plate (10a-80a) and the side walls of the container allowing the circulation of air below and laterally to promote the diffusion of the product.

2. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate (10a-80a) comprises means for retaining said refill to promote the circulation of air at least above and laterally.

3. Diffuser (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means comprise a groove formed by at least two tabs (3a, b) provided under said plate (10a-80a) and feet for resting said plate (10a-80a) at the bottom of the container.

4. Diffuser (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that said tabs (31a, b) are four in number, disjoint and that they define between them side openings (35).

5. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 2, characterized in that said retaining means are chosen from the group comprising a Velcro® type fastener, a repositionable adhesive or not, complementary nestable shapes associated with said plate (10a -80A).

6. Diffuser (1, 2, 4-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two plates (10a, b, 20a, b, 40a, b, 50a, b, 60a, b) assembled between them by connecting means (12, 22, 62), said plates and said connecting means being arranged to define between said plates a housing (13, 63) intended to receive said refill (11, 21, 41, 51, 61).

7. Diffuser (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8) according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting means (12, 22) are chosen from the group comprising spacers, fasteners of the velcro® type, repositionable or non-repositionable adhesives, complementary nestable forms.

8. Diffuser (6) according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting means (62) are arranged to allow the relative mobility of said plates (60a, b) between them, between an open position in which said refill (61 ) can be introduced into said housing (63) and a closed position of use, these connecting means (62) being chosen from the group comprising a hinge, a hinge film.

9. Diffuser (6) according to claim 8, characterized in that said plates (60a, b) are provided with closure means arranged to keep them in their closed position.

10. Diffuser according to claim 9, characterized in that said closure means are chosen from the group comprising a Velcro® type fastener, a repositionable adhesive or not, complementary nestable shapes.

11. Diffuser (1, 2, 4-8) according to claim 6, characterized in that said plates (10a, b, 20a, b, 40a, b, 50a, b, 60a, b) and said connecting means ( 12, 22, 62) are arranged to provide lateral openings (15, 25, 35).

12. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate (10a-80a) comprises at least one through orifice (66).

13. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate (10a-

80a) is produced in at least one of the rigid or semi-rigid materials chosen from the group comprising synthetic materials, composite materials, wood, metals.

14. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate (10a-

80a) has a profile chosen from the group comprising a flat shape, a concave shape, a convex shape, a shape with several inclined sides.

15. Diffuser (1, 2, 3, 6) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plate (10b, 20b, 30a, 60b) comprises feet (14, 24, 31a, 31b, 64) intended to bear on the bottom of said container.

16. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said refill (11-61) is made of a material chosen from the group comprising cardboards, nonwovens, fabrics, cellulose wadding.

17. Diffuser (1-8) according to claim 1, characterized in that said product is chosen from the group comprising essential oils, bactericidal products, virucidal products, fungicidal products.

18. Container such as a bag, characterized in that it comprises a diffuser according to at least one of claims 1 to 17.