Patent ID: 6790436
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A substantially rigid aqueous clear gel matrix air freshener article consisting essentially of:(a) an air freshener gel matrix body which is a single body having a volume Vo which decreases on use of said air freshener article whereby dVo/d&thgr;<0 comprising (i) about 50-90% by weight of water, (ii) about 0.1-25% by weight of a surfactant having a hydrophile/lipophile balance in the range of from about 10 to about 30, (iii) about 0.1-10% by weight of a clear gel matrix material selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide gel matrix material and a hydrolyzed protein gel matrix material, (iv) a non-gelling hydrocolloid (v) about 0.1-20% by weight of a system-compatible air freshening fragrance composition, each of the components of which has a C log10P of from about 1 to about 4 and the components of which have an average C log10P of about 2.5, wherein P is the octanol/water partition coefficient for each of the fragrance components, (vi) about 0.1-20% by weight of a lower alkanol, (vii) about 0.001-7% by weight of an antimicrobial agent, (viii) about 0.5-20% by weight of a C2-C6 alkylene glycol, and (ix) about 0.05-4.0% by weight of a chelating agent; (b) fully imbedded within said air freshener body, one or more molded gel matrix icons which are each permanently visibly distinct from said gel matrix body over the range of visible wavelengths when contained within said air freshener gel matrix body, the total volume of which is V1 which decreases on use of said air freshener article whereby dV1/d&thgr;<0 each of which icon comprises (i) about 50-90% by weight of water, (ii) about 0.1-10% by weight of a clear gel matrix material selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide gel matrix material and a hydrolyzed protein gel matrix material, (iii) about 0.1-20% by weight of a system-compatible air freshening fragrance composition each of the components of which has a C log10P of from about 1 to about 8 and the components of which have an average C log10P of about 4.5, wherein P is the octanol/water partition coefficient for each of the fragrance components, (iv) an opacifying agent which is a pigment, (v) a non-gelling hydrocolloid, (vi) about 0.1-25% by weight of a surfactant having a hydrophile/lipophile balance of less than about 10, (vii) about 0.1-20% by weight of a lower alkanol, (viii) about 0.001-7% by weight of an antimicrobial agent, (ix) about 0.5-20% by weight of a C2-C6 alkylene glycol, and (x) about 0.05-4.0% by weight of a chelating agent; with the volume fraction of said icons in said air freshener article being &phgr;=Vl/(Vl+Vo) wherein 0.01&lE;&phgr;&lE;0.90, the physical and chemical properties of each of said icons and said air freshener body being such that on use of said air freshener article, (i) the rate of volumetric reduction of each of said icons as a result of fragrance emission and water emission therefrom with respect to the volumetric reduction of the air freshener body which envelops said icons as a result of fragrance emission and water emission therefrom is a constant, according to the equations: âˆ‚Vl/âˆ‚Vo=&phgr;/(1âˆ’&phgr;) and âˆ‚2Vl/âˆ‚Vo2=0, (ii) the integrity of the fragrance compositions emitted from said air freshener body and said icons is maintained and (iii) the distinguishing visibility of the icons in said air freshener body from without said air freshener body, at visible wavelengths, is maintained.