SAFETY HEATER FOR LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDE OR DEODORANT MATS

Abstract: A safety heater (1) for long-lasting insecticide or deodorant mats (4) comprises means (9, 10, 11; 16, 17, 18; 19A; 21, 22, 23, 24) for signaling the life period of said mat (4), as well as safety means (3, 8) apt to prevent the replacement or accidental removal of the mat (4) while the heater (1) is working.

Description: "SAFETY HEATER FOR LONG- LASTING INSECTICIDE OR DEODORANT MATS" ===o0o=== The present invention concerns a safety heater for long-lasting mats and. in particular, a heater to exhale insecticide or deodorant substances. The use of heaters to spread insecticides into closed (or even just partia ly closed) environments, has been adopted since many years. Said use has also been extended to mats for exhaling deodorants, with a prin¬ ciple similar to that adopted for insecticides. Quite recently, the Applicant has advantageously introduced, with the EP- 1-0 671 12^. the use of plastic mats to replace the traditional cardboard ones. This ΠP type of mat. consisting of a block copolymer formed b\ an elastomeric polyrwr and a stiff polymer, allo s a more gradual spreading of the active ingredient, a far longer action of the fi ling charge - lasting, for instance, up to 30-45 nights - and. conse¬ quently, a considerable financial saving and further convenience in use. \ fundamental task of the heater according to the present invention is to heat this ne type of mat. so as to cause the vaporisation of the active ingredient contained therein. Moreover, since these ne long-last¬ ing mats have, as seen, a useful life of several it is indispensable for the heater to be able to supply an indication as to the period of use of the mat. so as to reckon exactlv v.hen said mat is reall> exhausted. This problem is specially felt when using the heater only occasionally. Finally since, as known. the heater can get very hot during use. some of its inner componen s may become quite dangerous upon contact - in case should be accidentally disassembled - especially for children. In particular, the user could easily get burnt when trying to replace an exhausted mat a neu one. while the heater is working. Such problems and drawbacks ar - nou brilliantly solved and overcome by the present invention, which provides a safety heater for long-lasting insecticide or deodorant mats, characterized in that it comprises means for signaling the life period of said mat . as as safety means apt to BAD ORIGINAL prevent the replacement or accidental removal of the mat while the heater is working. Said signaling means may comprise a graduated toothed wheel and a pawl . According to a preferred embodiment . said signaling means and said heater are controlled by common operating means. As clearly described in the aforecited EP-A1-0 671 123. the plastic mats preferably used with the heater of the present invention are of the type which, during use. undergoes a considerable shrinkage. In this case, therefore, said means for signaling the life period of the mat comprise - according to some alternative embodiments of the invention - a mechanical indicator apt to detect and evidence said shrinkage. Preferably, said safety means consist of a screening grid t -> cover the heating element of the heater, apt to withhold the mat and to be fix¬ ed to and removed from the heater by sliding exclusively in the direction of the plug feeding current to said heater. Advantageously, the sliding of said screening grid is controlled by a special release push-button. The invention is moreover particularly effective if the heater is refilled with a plastic mat already fixed to said screening grid, so as to avoid direct contact with the hands. The present invention no be described in further detail, uith reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some preferred embodiments thereof and in hich: Fig. 1 is a plan vieu partially looking through a heater according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partly sectional front vieu of the heater, along the line II-II of fig. 1; Fig. is a partly sectional side vieu of the heater, along the line III-III of fig. 1 ; Figs. 4a to 4c are three vieus of a switch of the heater according to the present invention: Figs. 5a to 5c are three vieus of a plug feeding current to the heater of the present invention; __ _ BAD ORIGINAL Fig. 6 is an assembly view of the device for signaling the life period of the mat and of the switch of the heater, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 7a-7b are plan views of the means for signaling the life period of the mat, respectively in a starting and final condition of use thereof, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 8a-8b are plan views of the means for signaling the life period of the mat . respectively in a starting and final condition of use thereof, according to a third embodiment of the present invention: and Figs. a-Qb are lateral section views of a heater, respectively in a starting and final condition of use of the mat. according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in figures 1 to 3. the heater 1 according to the present invention comprises a round seat 2. into which is inserted a refil 3. consisting of a mat 4 of plastic material and of a screening grid 5. The heater 1 is fed with current by a rotary plug 6. shown more clearly in figs. 5a to 5c The refill 3 is removable from the heater 1 by sliding in respect of the wall 7 of its casing. exclusi% r ely in the direction of the plug ό. after having been released by means of a special push-button δ. The release button S should be pushed in a direction such as not to be naturally coordinate uith the sliding direction F of the refill 3. and thus make it; more unlikely for a child to accidentallv cause the removal of said refill. Through a peephole Q. provided on the casing wall 7 of the heatei . it is possible to see one of the numbers reported on a special graduated toothed wheel 10. meant to indicate the number of days or nights of use. or preferably, the number of days or nights that are still available for use of the refill 3- The toothed wheel 10 is apt to be engaged by a paul 11 controlled at its other end by a slider 12. In fact, a pin 13 pro j ects inwards from said slider 12 and carries the paul 11; said pin 13 also acts onto a switch 14- allowing to switch on the heater 1 by pressing its button 15. when the slider 12 is moved in the direction indicated by the BAD ORIGINAL arrow G. The switch 14 is shown in detail in figs. 4a to 4c and it is of a type normally available on the market, possibily also backlighted: in this last case, the wall 7 of the heater 1 comprises an at least partial ¬ ly transparent window in correspondence of said switch 14- Fig. 6 shows in detail the unit formed by the switch 14 and by the means for signaling the life period of the mat 4, which comprise the graduated toothed wheel 10, the pawl 11 and the slider 12. As previously mentioned, among the long-lasting mats of plastic material . there are known to be mats which reduce in size as they let out the active ingredient, during use: said shrinkage is directly proportional to the time of use, or life of the mat. Nevertheless, one cannot take direct advantage of this property, seen that said reduction in size is so gradual and unperceivable as not to be noticed at first sight. A descrip ¬ tion will be given hereinafter of some alternative embodiments which take advantage of this property, adopting means apt to place in evidence the progressive shrinkage of the mat by suitably emphasizing the same. Fi°=. 7a and 7b show an alternative embodiment of the means for signaling the life period of the mat 4- which comprise in this case a pointer 1 0 pressed agains the mat 4 by a spring 17- the tip ] 5 of said pointer lό indicating a position between the start and end of life ( START - 0) of the mat 4- An even further embodiment of said signaling means is shown in figs , δa and Sb. wherein the screening grid 5 apt to withhold the mat 4 has a seat 1o in the form of tongs of elastic material , conceived so that its arms ] Q\ constantly adhere to the edge of said mat 4 and indicate , with their respective points, the gradual approach to the end of life (mark "0" I of the mat 4- Finally , the embodiment shown in figs. Q a and b foresees the use of a mat 4 having a rectangular shape substantially identical to that of conventional mats. In this case, an end of the mat 4 is held in position by fixing means 20. such as pins, while against its opposite free end there leans an arm 21 of a rocking lever 22. whose other arm 23 points 4 - BAD ORIGINAL towards a counter 24 showing the degree of use of the mat. As seen, the heater 1 is used to release from the refill a vola¬ tile substance, such as an insecticide, a deodorant, a scent or the like. Nevertheless such substances, with which the mat 4 is imbued, may cause irritations or allergies once they are in contact with the hands; they can moreover transmit, by contact, part of the smell in a persistent way (especially when using deodorant mats ) and can. anyhow, result sticky or damp to the touch. The arrangement of the refill 3 according to the pre¬ sent invention, comprising a mat 4 firmly held into a screening grid 5. thus turns out to be particularly advantageous, in that it prevents con¬ tact with the hands whenever having to replace said mat. When using the heater 1 of the present invention, the plug 6 there¬ of has to be previously disconnected from the power socket to allo remo¬ ving the refill 3- In fact, to remove the refill 3 from the casing of the heater, one should push the button S so as to release said refill and then cause it to slide in the direction of arrow F (fig. 1) towards the rotary plug 6. This arrangement and sliding direction prevent any acci¬ dental or voluntary displacement of the refill 3- when the plug is inserted, hence eliminating all risks of burns when the heater 1 is switched on. After having positioned a new refill 3 in its seat 2. said refill is automatically blocked into the heater 1 by tripping of the button S. Said heater, thus equipped with a plastic mat 4- is generally switched on at night time, in the case of an insecticide, and in the morning when a deodorant is required. The confection of the refill 3 normally reports the number of nights or of days of its lasting period. In the case of the first embodiment of the invention, one therefore rotates by hand the gra¬ duated toothed wheel 10. until the above reported number of nights, or of days, is positioned so as to be read through the peephole 9. At this point, the rotary plug ό can be inserted into the power socket, which can be either vertical or horizontal , since the casing of the heater 1 can be shifted into the required position thanks to the rotation of said plug 6. - 5 - BAD ORIGINAL To operate the heater 1, the slider 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow G (figs. 1 and 6); in this way, the pin 13 causes the button If to close the switch 14, thereby operating the heater 1 which heats the mat 4. Simultaneously, the pin 13 draws along also the pawl 11, which engages a tooth of the wheel 10, causing it to shift by one position and thus place in evidence, through the peephole 9, the number just below the previous one. To stop the heater from working, the slider 12 is moved back into its former position, thereby opening again the switch 14 through the but¬ ton 15. The pin 13 also moves back again the pawl 11. which thus engages another tooth. In this way, it is always possible to read through the peephole 9 the number of days, or of nights, that are still a-ailable before exhaustion of the refill "s . In f ct, when the number "0" appears. it is time to replace the refill "s and to again proceed as described heretofore. According to the embodiment illustrated in figs. 7a and 7b. the new refill 3 is inserted into the seat 2 making sure that the pointer 16 is pressed by the spring 17 against an outer edge of the mat 4. As soon as the refill 3 has been inserted, the tip l5 of the pointer 16 indicates the position of "START" (fig. 7a). As the active ingredient wears out. the mat 4 substantially reduces its size', shrinking in respect of its central fixing point to the screening grid 5- Thanks to the action of the spring 17. the pointer l6 always keeps in contact with the edge of the mat 4. so that, as the active ingredient wears out. the tip lS of said pointer gradually shifts towards the position "0". which it finally reaches (fig. 7b) upon exhaustion of the active ingredient. At this point, the refill 3 is replaced by a new one in the manner specified heretofore. In the embodiment of figs, δa and Sb. a new refill comprises a screening grid 5. with arms l c -\ which surround the mat 4 - elastically adhering thereto - in such a way (fig. δa ) as to keep their ends parted. Thanks to the elasticity of the arms 19Λ. they always adhere onto the mat B ADORIGINS 4 during use, whereby, as said mat gradually shrinks, the ends of said arms draw closer and closer until, upon exhaustion of the mat 4. they touch each other in correspondence of "0" (fig. 8b). At this point, the refill 3 needs to be replaced. The mat 4. shown in figs. 9a and 9b. has the same shape as the conventional mats and it can be heated through a remote source, by con¬ vection or radiance, at temperatures higher than usual. Besides, the advantage of said mat is that it can be used with a known-type heater. When said mat is preferably used in the heater 1 of figs. 9a and 9b, it is previously fixed into said heater, by one of its ends, with a pair of pins 20. The arm 21 of the rocking lever 22 must be previously shifted by hand, to allow inserting the mat 4 with its free end bearing against said arm 23. In this way. the other arm 23 of said rocking lever 22 is led to point, towards the mark "0" shown on the counter 24 (fig. 9a). During use, the mat 4 shrinks, but the presence of the pins 20 produces the shrinkage only in correspondence of its free end. namely in the direction indicated by the arrow H. The arm 21 thus gradually moves and. with it. the arm 23 which hence points, time after time, at the number of the days of use reported on the counter 24- Vvhen the arm 23 points at the final number of days of use (for instance 30. in the particular embodiment shown in fig. 9b). one draws out the mat 4 so as to replace it by a new one. For the sake of clearness, the counter 24 shown in figs. 9a and 9b reports only the numbers "0" and " ^.Q" . but said counter may obviously report more fiducial marks, even one for each days of use. As can be understood from the previous description, the use of a heater according to the present invention is quite simple and obvious, while being extremely safe in that it considerably reduces the risk of accidents. Moreover, thanks to the presence of the means for signaling the life period of the mat, it allows to fully use up the refill 3. with no wastes nor an ineffective use thereof. The present invention has been described with reference to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it is understood that any variants and BAD ORIGINAL additions can be introduced without thereby departing from its scope. For instance, in the first embodiment of the means for signaling the life period of the mat 4. the graduated toothed wheel 10 - when rotating - in¬ stead of reporting the number of days or of nights of use in a decreasing clockwise direction (i.e. from 45 to 0 ) , can equally well report said number of days or nights in an increasing clockwise direction, so that the number of days or nights appearing through the peephole 9 will correspond to that of use of said mat . δ - BAD ORIGINA

Claims: CLAIMS 1) Safety heater for long-lasting insecticide or deodorant mats, characterized in that it comprises means (9, 10, 11; lό, 17, 18; 19A; 21, 22, 23, 24) for signaling the life period of said mat (4), and safety means (3. 8) apt to prevent the replacement or accidental removal of the mat (4) while the heater ( 1 ) is working. 2) Heater as in claim l), wherein said means for signaling the life period of said mat (4) comprise a graduated toothed wheel (10) moved by a pawl (11). and reference means, preferably in the form of a peephole (9). formed in the casing of the heater ( 1 ) . 3) Heater as in claim 2). wherein said signaling means (10, 11) and said heater (l) are controlled by common operating means (12, 13). 4) Heater as in claim 3)- wherein said common operating means com¬ prise a hand-operatable slider (12). from which a pin (13) projects towards the inside of the heater (l). said pin (13) carrying said pawl (11) and engaging with a switch (14) of the heater ( 1 ) . 5) Heater as in claim 2) or 4 . wherein the graduation reported on said toothed wheel (10) comprises numbers arranged in a decreasing clock¬ wise direction. ό) Heater as in claim 2) or 4). wherein the graduation reported on said toothed wheel (10) comprises numbers arranged in an increasing clockwise direction. 7) Heater as in claim 1). wherein said insecticide or deodorant mats (4) are of the type which shrinks as it lets out the insecticide or deodorant substance, and wherein said means for signaling the life period of the mat (4) comprise a mechanical indicator (lό, 17. lδ; 19A; 21. 22. 23. 24) apt to detect and evidence said shrinkage undergone by the mat (4) during its use. δ) Heater as in claim 7). wherein said mechanical indicator con¬ sists of a pointer ( 16) , pivoted at one end and a side of which is press¬ ed by elastic means (17) against an edge of said mat (4), and of fiducial marks (ST.ART - 0), indicating the start , and end of life of the mat, - 9 - BAD ORIGINAL reported onto the casing of the heater (l) close to the tip (l8) of said pointer ( 16) . 9) Heater as in claim 7). wherein said mechanical indicator con¬ sists of two arms (19A) acting as tongs, elastically adhering to opposite edges of the mat (4) and forming, with their ends, pointers to indicate the life period of said mat (4)- 10) Heater as in claim 9). wherein said mechanical indicator also comprises fiducial marks indicating the start and end of life of the mat . reported onto the casing of the heater ( 1 ) close to the tips of said pointers. 11) Heater as in claim 0). wherein the tips of said pointers are apt to contact each other when the life of said mat (4) has come to an end. 12) Heater as in claim 7). wherein said mechanical indicator con¬ sists of a rocking lever (22). an arm (21) of which leans against an edge of the mat (4) and the other arm (23) of which points at a counter (24) reporting fiducial marks indicating the start and end of life of the mat. 13) Heater as in claim 12). wherein said mat ( 4) is fixed to the heater (l) at its end opposite to that contacting said rocking lever (22). 14) Heater as in any one of the previous claims, wherein said safe¬ ty means comprise a refill (3). consisting of a mat ( ) and of a screen¬ ing grid (5) apt to cover the heating element of the heater and to with¬ hold said mat (4). said refill (3) being fixable to and removable from the heater (l) by sliding exclusively in the direction of the plug (6) feeding current to said heater. 15) Heater as in claim 14)- wherein said safety means also comprise a release button (S) to control the sliding of said refill (3). - 10 BAD ORIGINAL AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 12 August 1996 (12.08.96); original claims 1-15 replaced by amended claims 1-16 (2 pages)] 1) Safety heater for long lasting insecticide or deodorant mats (4), characterized in that said insecticide or deodorant mats are of a type which shrinks as it lets out the insecticide or deodorant substance, and in that said safety heater further comprises means for signaling the life period of said mat (16, 17, 18; 19A; 21, 22, 23, 24) in the form of a mechanical indicator apt to detect and evidence the shrinkage undergone by the mat (4) during its use. 2) Heater as in claim 1), wherein said mechanical indicator consists of a pointer (16), pivoted at one end and a side of which is pressed by elastic means (17) against and edge of said mat (4), and of fiducial marks (START - 0), indicating the start and end of life of the mat, reported onto the casing of the heater (1) close to the tip (18) of said pointer (16). 3) Heater as in claim 1), wherein said mechanical indicator consists of two arms (19A) acting as tongs, elastically adhering to opposite edges of the mat (4) and forming, with their ends, pointers to indicate the life period of said mat (4). 4) Heater as in claim 3), wherein said mechanical indicator also comprises fiducial marks indicating the start and end of life of the mat, reported onto the casing of the heater (1) close to the tips of said pointers. 5) Heater as in claim 3), wherein the tips of said pointers are apt to contact each other when the life of said mat (4) has come to an end. 6) Heater as in claim 1), wherein said mechanical indicator consists of a rocking lever (22), an arm (21) of which leans against an edge of the mat (4) and the other arm (23) of which points at a counter (24) reporting fiducial marks indicating the start and end of life of the mat. 7) Heater as in claim 6), wherein said mat (4) is fixed to the heater (1) at its end opposite to that contacting said rocking lever (22). 8) Safety heater for long lasting insecticide or deodorant mats (4), characterized in that it comprises means for signaling the life period of said mat (9, 10, 11) in the form of a graduated toothed wheel (10) moved by a pawl (11), and reference means, preferably in the form of a peephole (9), formed in the casing of the heater (1). 9) Heater as in claim 8), wherein said means for signaling the life period of said mat (4) comprise a graduated toothed wheel (10) moved by a pawl (11), and reference means, preferably in the form of a peephole (9), formed in the casing of the heater (1). 10) Heater as in claim 9), wherein said signaling means (10, 11) and said heater (1) are controlled by common operating means (12, 13). 11) Heater as in claim 10), wherein said common operating means comprise a hand- operatable slider (12), from which a pin (13) projects towards the inside of the heater (1), said pin (13) carrying said pawl (11) and engaging with a switch (14) of the heater (1). 12) Heater as in claim 9) or 11), wherein the graduation reported on said toothed wheel (10) comprises numbers arranged in a decreasing clockwise direction. 13) Heater as in claim 9) or 11), wherein the graduation reported on said toothed wheel (10) comprises numbers arranged in an increasing clockwise direction. 14) Safety heater as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising safety means (3, 8) apt to prevent the replacement or accidental removal of the mat (4) while the heater (1) is working. 15) Heater as in claim 14), wherein said safety means comprise a refill (3), consisting of a mat (4) and of a screening grid (5) apt to cover the heating element of the heater and to withhold said mat (4), said refill (3) being fixable to and removable from the heater (1) by sliding exclusively in the direction of the plug (6) feeding current to said heater. 16) Heater as in claim 15), wherein said safety means also comprise a release button (8) to control the sliding of said refill (3).

Inventors: PEDROTTI ANDREA, ZOBELE FRANCO, PEDROTTI, ANDREA, ZOBELE, FRANCO
Applicants: PEDROTTI ANDREA, ZOBELE FRANCO, ZOBELE IND CHIM, PEDROTTI, ANDREA, ZOBELE INDUSTRIE CHIMICHE S.P.A., ZOBELE, FRANCO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A01M1
IPC codes: A01M1, A61L9