WO2014118811A1

WO2014118811A1 - Diffusing device of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments

Info

Publication number: WO2014118811A1
Application number: PCT/IT2013/000184
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Zangirolami; Michele VENISTI
Original assignee: Millefiori S.R.L.
Priority date: 2013-02-04
Filing date: 2013-07-03
Publication date: 2014-08-07
Also published as: ITTO20130085A1

Abstract

A diffusing device (1) of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments is described, comprising at least one substance adapted to be volatilized, heating means (3) adapted to heat such substance to pass it to its gaseous state, electric supply means of such heating means (3), and processing means (5) operatively cooperating at least with such heating means (3) and such electric supply means, such processing means (5) being adapted to receive as input a first electric supply current from such electric supply means and to supply as output a second electric supply current to such heating means (3), such processing means (5) being adapted to automatically change in time an intensity and/or voltage value of such second electric current supplied to such heating means (3).

Description

DIFFUSING DEVICE OF SUBSTANCES ADAPTED TO BE VOLATILIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTS

The present invention refers to a diffusing device of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments .

A high number of diffusing devices of substances adapted to be volatilized in an environment are known in the art, such as essences, perfumes, insecticides, etc., substantially equipped with heating means of one of such substances initially in a solid or liquid state, to generate its evaporation and the simultaneous passage into a gaseous state and its following nebulisation and dispersion in the environment, typically due to the action of a suitable fan. Examples of such devices are disclosed in US3923458, GB2417205, WO03077961, US2005133617 , DE20121113, US2010271846, US2010270391, FR2948879, FR2955497, US4647433, US4544592, US2011110092, US2010090021, US2009136390, MXPA06015156, EP1247535, US2003161755, US2009123345, KR100816776, US2742342, AU2007240818 , US2010206960,

US2006170119, GB1379782.

Such known devices however have a substantially static operation, since they are lacking suitable on-board processing means able to implement a local intelligence which allows manually or automatically regulating their operation depending on the variation of one or more specific environmental parameters, to optimise and/or improve their diffusion action.

Therefore, purpose of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a diffusing device of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments equipped with on-board processing means suitable to implement a local intelligence adapted to automatically regulate the operation of the device itself, also depending on the variation of one or more specific environmental parameters to optimise and/or improve their diffusion action.

Another object of the present invention is providing a diffusing device of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments equipped with on-board processing means adapted to automatically regulate the fragrance intensity variation by changing in time the amount of heat transferred to such essence, to improve its perception and/or optimize the consumption of the essence itself.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a diffusing device of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments as claimed in claimed 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the assembled device of Figure 1 in an operating position thereof;

- Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of the assembled device of Figure 1 in another operating position thereof;

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the assembled device of Figure 1 in a further operating position thereof;

Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the assembled device of Figure 1 in an operating position thereof; and

Figures 6 and 7 show perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the supply capsules of the essence to be diffused for the device of the present invention.

For conciseness, herein below obviously all descriptions related to operating modes of common components with other diffusing devices, and necessary for the basic operation of the device, and which are anyway deemed widely known in the art, will not be described, in order to describe more in particular the aspects and components characterising the diffusing device of the present invention .

With reference then to the Figures, it is possible to note that the diffusing device 1 of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments of the present invention comprises: at least one substance adapted to be volatilized (perfume, essence, fragrance, insecticide, aerosol, etc.), at ambient temperature in a solid or liquid state;

heating means 3 adapted to heat such substance adapted to be volatilized in order to make it pass to its gaseous state;

electric supply means (not shown) of such heating means 3; and

processing means 5 operatively cooperating at least with such heating means 3 and such electric supply means, such processing means 5 being adapted to receive as input a first electric supply current from such electric supply means and to supply as output a second electric supply current to such heating means 3, such processing means 5 being advantageously adapted to automatically change in time the value of intensity and/or voltage of such second electric current supplied to such heating means 3 in the modes which will be described in more detaial below.

The substance adapted to be volatilized is then evaporated by administering through a thermal route, by means of heat generated and transmitted by the heating means 3, the necessary energy for its phase passage.

Obviously, the electric supply means can be of the standalone type and arranged on board the diffusing device 1 of the present invention, composed for example of one or more electric batteries, or from mains, connecting the diffusing device 1 to an electric mains socket operatively connected to the processing means 5.

Moreover, the diffusing device 1 of the present invention can comprise diffusing means 7 of such substance adapted to be volatilized in its gaseous state into the surrounding environment, such diffusing means 7 preferably comprising at least one axial fan 9 supplied by such electric supply means and possibly operatively cooperating with such processing means 5 for managing its operation, such diffusing means 7 being obviously adapted to move an air current to enable the substance adapted to be volatilized, taken to its gaseous state by the heating means 3, to go out of the diffusing device 1. Moreover, the action of the air current generated by such diffusing means 7, and in particular by such fan 9, being suitably addressed, can help limiting the temperature at least of the parts of the diffusing device 1 adjacent or in direct contact with the heating means .

Preferably, such heating means 3 are of the thermal radiance type and, still more preferably, comprise at least one lamp 6 of the automotive typology (for example of the Hi 12V type), such lamp 6 being, as known, with low spply voltage and, advantageously, further under-supplied by such processing means 5, which preferably provide the lamp 6 itself with a second current having a maximum voltage value which is lower than the operating nameplate voltage. The use of a lamp 6 of automotive origin therefore allows obtaining the following advantages:

as known, a common lamp of automotive origin is technically designed to be used under humid and harsh condition and its resistance is completely protected by the bulb glass: this allows producing heating means which are extremely protected against the action of the volatilized substance in its gaseous state, which is often chemically aggressive and at a high temperature;

a common lamp of automotive origin propagates a good part of its heat by radiance as infrared radiation and not by heat conduction, such radiation being then converted in contact with the substance adapted to be volatilized transmitting higher and more diffused thermal energy; it must further be noted that heating by thermal conduction would impair the air current generated by the diffusing means and touching the heating means. Moreover, a purely resistive heater would heat a large area, implying higher consumptions while the radiance-tye heating means allow having a high efficiecy with an extremely reduced absorbed power (on the order of 2W) ;

a common lamp of automotive origin, being with a lowe voltage, is already characterised by a very long life and the under-supplied voltage use in the diffusing device 1 of the present invention further extends its working life; a common lamp of automotive origin, being mass produced with high amounts, is widely available on the marked at low costs.

Preferably, the substance adapted to be volatilized is contained inside at least one capsule 11, such diffusing device 1 being then equipped with at least one seat 13 adapted to house such capsule 11 sufficiently adjacent to the heating means 3. Still more preferably, such seat 13 is arranged on at least one door 15 moving between an external position to the diffusing device 1 (like the one, for example, shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3) , in which it is possible to insert or remove the capsule 11 from the seat 13, and an internal position to the diffusing device 1 (like the one, for example, shown in particular in Figure 4) , in which the capsule 11 is taken adjatent to the heating means 3, and vice versa.

Still more preferably, such door 15 is movable through an oscillating movement allowed by a suitable connection of the door 15 itself with the diffusing device 1 by interposing hinge means 17.

As further alternative, the diffusing device 1 of the present invention could be equipped with a plurality of such seats 13 in order to house therein a corresponding plurality of such capsules 11, for example to increase their life autonomy, to diffuse every time different perfumes coming from single capsules 11 containing different substances, in order to alternate the delivery of perfumes with other essences or insecticides, to make a variety of perfumes composing the single essences, etc.

In a possible variation thereof, such capsule 11 is internally equipped with at least one buffer substance absorbing the substance adapted to be volatilized at its liquid state. As an alternative, the capsules 11 could contain therein the substance adapted to be volatilized at its solid state, such as for example naphtalene or other known insecticides.

It must be noted as, advantageously, through suitable temperature checks performed by such processing means, it could be possible to directly use, in the capsule 11, the substance adapted to be volatilized without diluting in any solvent, allowing to reduce the sizes of the capsule 11 itself and to improve the perfume quality which is usually damaged by the presence of a solvent.

In particular, as can be noted in more detail in Figures 6 and 7, the capsule 11 is equipped with at least one surface 19 adapted to get adjacent to the heating means 3 of the diffusing device 1 of the present invention when the capsule 11 itself is placed into the seat 13, and possibly taking the door 15 to its internal position (Figure 4), such surface 13 being equipped with a plurality of through-holes 21 communicating the internal volume of the capsule 11 containing the substance adapted to be volatilized with the outside and consequently allowing such substance adapted to be volatilized taken to its gaseous state by the action of the heating means 3, to go out. Advantageously, the diameter of each of such holes 21 is suitably reduced so that, without heat supplied by the heating means 3, the internal volume of the capsule 11 gets quickly saturated, strongly limiting the evaporation of the substance adapted to be volatilized and allowing to keep the charge without a use for very long periods of time.

Preferably, in order to avoid that the substance adapted to be volatilized contained in the capsule 11 gets dispersed by evaporation before its use through the holes 21, the surface 19 is externally covered, at least in its portion equipped with holes 21, by at least one removable protecting film 23.

Moreover, the surface 13 can be equipped with at least one recessed portion 27 adapted to at least partially house therein at least part of the heating component of the heating means 3, and in particular of the lamp 6 bulb, to allow a deeper and more diffused heating of the substance adapted to be volatilized contained inside the capsule 11.

It must be noted how always the use of the heating means 3 of the thermal radiance type allows simply and cheaply defining upstream the heat absorbed by the capsule 11 depending on the volatility of the substance adapted to be volatilized contained therein, by simply changing the external colour of the capsule 11, namely, for example, by externally colouring with reflecting pigments (for example white) a capsule 11 containing therein a low-temperature volatile substance, or by externally colouring with absorbing pigments (for example black) a capsule 11 containing therein a high-temperature volatile substance .

In addition, the diffusing device 1 of the present invention can comprise a supporting structure composed of at least one mask 29 and of at least one containing cover 31, such mask 29 being equipped on its perimeter with a fastening profile compatible with the shape of the boxes to be embedded for electric plants, so that the diffusing device 1 can be easily housed in one of these embedded boxes as replacement of a common electric plant element.

As stated, the processing means 5, made through an adequate configuration of electronic control components known per se and suitably programmed, allow optimising and/or improving the diffusion action of the substance adapted to be volatilized, by automatically changing in time the value of intensity and/or voltage of the second electric current supplied to the heating means 3, and possibly acting on the operation of the diffusing means 7, and in particular of the fan 9, also depending on the variation of one or more specific environmental parameters.

For example, through the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 as described above, it is possible to extend longer the olfactive perception of the perfumed fragrance issued in the environment therefrom. Such effect is obtained by exploiting a sensory trick to improve the perception of the fragrance itself: in fact, as it is known, olfactive receptors are adapted to evaluate in particular the changes of concentration of a compound in the environment rather than its stay. In such case, the processing means 5 alternate a first life time period ΊΊ in which they provide the heating means 3 with the second electric current at a first value of current Ii and/or voltage v intensity, to a second life time period T₂ in which they provide the heating means 3 with the second electric current at a second value of current I₂ and/or voltage V₂ intensity, where ΊΊ « T₂, Ii » I₂ and/or V₁ » V₂. In practice, relatively long periods (T₂) (for example 30 minutes) of low volatilisation intensity perfume (determined by the reduced heat provided by the heating means 3 through reduced intensity/voltage I₂, V₂ values of the second electric current provided by the processing means 5 to the heating means 3) with relatively short periods (ΊΊ) (for example 2 minutes) of high volatilisation intensity perfume (determined by the high heat provided by the heating means 3 through high intensity/voltage I_lf Vi values of the second electric current provided by the processing means 5 to the heating means 3) in order to stimulate the receptors with the intensity variation and recall the frangrance to memory.

Alternatively, through the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 as described above, it is possible to extend longer the life of a charge of substance adapted to be volatilized. In such case, the processing means 5 provide the heating means 3 with a second electric current with limited electric power, simultaneously reducing the action of the diffusing means 7.

Alternatively, through the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 as decribed above, it is possible to proceed with a quick and intense perfuming of an environment. In such case, the processing means 5 provide the heating means 3 with a second electric current with high electric power {for example 15W) maximising the action of the diffusing means 7.

Alternatively, through the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 as described above, it is possible to compensate the running out of the substance adapted to be volatilized contained inside the capsule 11, though keeping the fragrance perception substantially unchanged. In such case, the processing means 5 provide the heating means 3 with a second electric current having an intensity and/or voltage value which increases in time, in a continouos or discrete way. The decrease of substance adapted to be volatilized contained inside the capsule 11, that would take to a reduced fragrance intensity if the amount of heat provided to the substance itself from the heating means 3 remained unchanged in time, it is therefore compensated, by increasing, as time passes, the amount of heat provided to the capsule 11, which consequently determines more and more amount of volatilised substance, keeping its perception substantially constant.

It is wholly clear that two or more of the above described functions can be mutually alternated during the operation of the diffusing device 1 of the present invention automatically (for example following the automatic discover that running out of the substance adapted to be volatilized inside the capsule 11 is about to occur) or manually by a user through suitable control means cooperating with the processing means 5.

It is also clear that the above described functions, which are merely an example, are only some of those which can be potentially implemented by the local intelligence placed on board the processing means 5, such local intelligence being obviously designed to be programmed at will to perform the most various functions, always by exploiting the operation of the above described processing means 5, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.

It can be noted how the processing means 5 can also evaluate the temperature of the substance adapted to be volatilized parametrically with respect to the temperature of the environment in which the diffusing device 1 of the present invention is placed, and the electric power supplied to the heating means 3 through the second electric supply current.

In order to measure the temperature difference, the processing means 5 can further be equipped with means for measuring the ambient temperature.

In particular, such measuring means comprise at least one thermistor or at least one last- generation microcontroller with integrated thermometer, basing its reading on the threshold voltage of a junction of a semiconductor.

Moreover, the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 of the present invention can comprise means for signaling a running out of the substance adapted to be volatilized, for example contained inside the capsule 11, such signaling means comprising, for example, at least one warning light 33 whose turning on is driven by the processing means 5 and signals the user that a running out of the substance adapted to be volatilized is approaching and/or occurred. In particular, the processing means 5 comprise means for measuring the operating time T_F of the heating means 5 starting from the last re-filling of substance adapted to be volatilized or the last replacement of a spent capsule 11 with a new capsule 11, such processing means 5 being adapted to compare such operating time T_F with a time value T_D designating a mean default life of a re-filling of substance adapted to be volatilized or of a capsule 11, and being adapted to signal, through such signalinf means, that the re-filling of substance adapted to be volatilized or of the capsule 11 is next to run out if T_F « T_D and/or that the re-filling of a substance adapted to be volatilized or of the capsule 11 is run out if T_F > T„.

Obviously, the event triggered by the refilling of substance adapted to be volatilized or the replacement of a spent capsule 11 with a new capsule 11 can be signaled to the processing means 5 in various ways, for example:

manually through the above control means, for example by pressing a suitable push-button 35;

- automatically, by providing the door 15 or seat 13 with a suitable sensor cooperating with such processing means 5;

automatically, by providing the capsule 11 with identifying means containing at least one piece of information related to the time value T_D related to the life of such capsule 11 and possibly the typology of substance adapted to be volatilized contained therein, such means comprising for example at least one identifying code (like for example a bar code placed externally on the capsule 11 envelope) or a transponder (for example a RFID tag) , and providing the diffusing device 1 of the present invention with reading means of such identifying means cooperating with such processing means 5: in such a way, by simply inserting a capsule 11 inside the diffusing device 1 of the present invention, the processing means 5 are also able to know the time value T_D of the actual life of the specific capsule 11 and possibly the typology of the substance contained therein to determine the most adequate thermal power transferred to the substance itself by the heating means 5, by changing the intensity and/or voltage values of the second electric current supplied thereto. Such identifying means of each capsule 11 can further be stored in a suitable data base which can be searched to verify the possible presence of conterfeited capsules, if they contain false identifying means not stored in such data base.

Moreover, the processing means 5 of the diffusing device 1 of the present invention can comprise wireless communication means (for example of the WIFI, GSM, Bluetooth type, etc.) for remotely managing the operation of the diffusing device 1 of the present invention, for example to manage its turning on/off or other possible settings .

Preferably, the control means cooperating with the processing means 5 can comprise one or more push-buttons 35 whose hollow body is made of an opaline material, and inside which body at least one LED light is arranged, whose operation is managed by the processing means 5: in particular, the opaline material operates as wave-guide of the light emitted by the related LED so that the same push-button 35 can also operate as warning light 33. Obviously, by acting on the control means, it is possible, through the processing means 5, to regulate and/or change the luminous effect obtained from such LED, for example to create an attraction point to locate the diffusing device 1 of the present invention with no light or to provide information about its operating modes.

Claims

1. Diffusing device (1) of substances adapted to be volatilized for environments characterised in that it comprises:

at least one substance adapted to be volatilized;

heating means (3) adapted to heat said substance adapted to be volatilized in order to make it pass to a gaseous state;

electric supply means of said heating means (3) ; and

processing means (5) operatively cooperating at least with said heating means (3) and said electric supply means, said processing means (5) being adapted to receive as input a first electric supply current from said electric supply means and to supply as output a second electric supply current to said heating means (3), said processing means (5) being adapted to automatically change in time an intensity and/or voltage value of said second electric current supplied to said heating means (3) .

2. Diffusing device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that said processing means (5) alternate a first life time period ΊΊ in which they supply said heating means (3) with said second electric current at a first current Ii and/or voltage V_x intensity value, with a second life time period T₂ in which they supply said heating means (3) with said second electric current at a second current I₂ and/or voltage V₂ intensity value, being χ « T₂, Ii » I₂ and/or V_x » V₂.

3. Diffusing device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises diffusing means (7) of said substance adapted to be volatilized in gaseous state in the surrounding environment, said diffusing means (7) operatively cooperating with said processing means (5) .

4. Diffusing device (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that said processing means (5) supply said heating means (3) with said second electric current with limited electric power reducing an action of said diffusing means (7) or supply said heating means (3) with said second electric current with high electric power maximising said action of said diffusing means (7) .

5. Diffusing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said processing means (5) supply said heating means (3) with said second electric current having an intensity and/or voltage value increasing in time.

6. Diffusing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said processing means (5) are equipped with means for measuring an ambient temperature.

7. Diffusing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said processing means (5) comprise signaling means for a running out of said substance adapted to be volatilized and means for measuring an operating time T_F of said heating means (5) starting from a last re-filling of said substance adapted to be volatilized, said processing means (5) being adapted to compare said operating time T_F with a time value T_D showing a mean default life of said re-filling of said substance adapted to be volatilized and being adapted to signal through said signaling means that said re-filling of substance adapted to be volatilized is near its running out if T_F ~ T_D and/or that said re-filling of substance adapted to be volatilized is run out if T_F > T_D.

8. Diffusing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said processing means (5) comprise wireless communication means for remotely managing an operation of said diffusing device (1) .

9. Diffusing device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said heating means (3) are of the thermal radiance type.

10. Diffusing device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said substance adapted to be volatilized is contained inside at least one capsule (11), said diffusing device (1) being equipped with at least one seat (13) adapted to house said capsule (11) adjacent to said heating means (3), said seat (13) being arranged on at least one door (15) moving between an external position to said diffusing device (1) to insert or remove said capsule (11) into/from said seat (13), and an internal position to said diffusing device (1) to which said capsule (11) is taken adjacent to said heating means (3), and vice versa.

11. Diffusing device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that said capsule (11) is equipped with at least one surface (19) adapted to get adjacent to said heating means (3), said surface (13) being equipped with at least one recessed portion (27) adapted to at least partially house therein at least part of a heating component of said heating means (3) .

12. Diffusing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said capsule (11) is equipped with identifying means containing at least one piece of information related to said time value T_D showing said life of said capsule (11) and possibly a typology of said substance adapted to be volatilized contained therein, and with reading means of said identifying means cooperating with said processing means (5) .