SUSPENDED CONTAINER FOR ESSENCES WITH MEANS FOR THEIR ABSORPTION AND DIFFUSION OF THEIR PERFUME TO THE SURROUNDING AMBIENT

Abstract: Herein is described a container (4) holding in its cavity (2) perfumed essences (3), provided with a stopper (4) and hanging means for the container (1) when hooked to a fixed support, where said means are made up of one or more threadlike elements (5), which pass through said stopper (4) in such a way that a section (5d) can come into contact with said perfumed essences (3) and are produced in a material suitable to absorb them and permit their propagation through capillary action along their length.

Description: Description of the invention entitled: SUSPENDED CONTAINER FOR ESSENCES WITH MEANS FOR THEIR ABSORPTION AND DIFFUSION OF THEIR PERFUME TO THE SURROUNDING AMBIENT. This invention refers to the technological field of containers for perfumed essences to be used in closed surroundings (bathrooms, cars, etc.) to deodorise and perfume by means of gradual evaporation. More in detail, the invention concerns the type of these containers, provided with hanging means, connected to the stopper, which makes it possible to hang them from a fixed support (hook, rear mirror, etc.) in the surroundings to be perfumed. The same applicant has described this type of container in previous applications, for example PCT/IBOO/00175. According to the present state-of-art, the containers for perfumed essences are hung by means of various systems, for example by means of a cord tied around the neck just below the stopper, which keeps them fixed. When the latter is made of porous material, such as wood or similar, it absorbs the essence to give off the perfume but, being in contact with said cords, they become damp causing a questionable aesthetic result as they are soaked with the liquid, impairing with time the necessary characteristics of duration and mechanical resistance. Furthermore, these cords are noticeably expensive compared to the selling price of the container. The inventor of this invention has conceived a new type of container where the hanging means are also meant for the emanation of the perfume, being made of a threadlike element in a material suitable to absorb the perfumed essences, transferring part of them with a capillary action to the outside of the container without undergoing any physical-chemical deterioration and without moistening the external surfaces with the essence. In fact, the subject of this invention consists in a container holding perfumed essences, produced according to the preamble to the enclosed claiml, characterised by the characterising part of the said claim 1. Hereunder is a more detailed description of some examples of the container according to the invention, but this description is not intended as limiting or binding regarding other possible embodiments obtainable on the basis of the teachings of the above-mentioned claim 1. During this description, reference will also be made to the enclosed drawings, which represent: - in figure 1, the longitudinal section of an embodiment of the container subject of this invention, in which a plaited cord transversally crosses the stopper; - in figure 2, the longitudinal section of another embodiment in which a plaited cord enters and exits the stopper by means of two holes in its upper surface; - in figure 3, the longitudinal section of another embodiment in which a plaited cord penetrates into the cavity of the container through a single hole in the upper surface of the stopper. In figure 1 it can be seen how, in the embodiment shown, the hanging means of a container 1 according to the invention are made up of a plaited cord 5 which transversally crosses the stopper 4, in such a way as to leave a section 5d open between the lateral walls 4e of the latter, in an area above the cavity 2 of the container 1. Turning the container upside-down, this section 5d is soaked with the perfumed essence 3 inside which is then transferred in part to the outside, due to known capillary action, where it evaporates gradually without noticeably dampening the external surface of the cord 5. Another possible embodiment of a container 11 according to the invention is shown in figure 2: in this case, a plaited cord 15 enters and exits the stopper 4 through two holes 6, 7 in the upper surface, leaving a section open 15d between its lateral walls 4e in a similar position to the case considered previously. Also in this case, by turning the container 15 upside- down, the effect described above for the previous embodiment is obtained. Finally, in the embodiment shown in figure 3, the hanging means 21 according to the invention consist in a plaited cord 25 which goes through a hole 8 in the upper surface of the stopper 4, having an open section 25d between its lateral walls 4e and in the direction of the cavity 2 of the container 21. The cord 25 is fixed even by means of a simple knot 9 in such a way that it can be slipped off the stopper 4. Depending on whether or not the said open section 25d penetrates into the cavity 2 of the container 21, similar operation to that already described for the two previous cases can be obtained, or the cord 25 can be used as a "wick" diffuser. Evidently, to this end, it must penetrate into the cavity 2 until it touches the bottom of the container 21, as shown in the figure. In all three cases described above, the cord 5, 15, 25, which constitutes the hanging means for the container 1, 11, 21, also acts as diffuser, and the stopper 4 can be produced in all the non-absorbent materials known to the skilled-in-the-art . Nothing prevents the production of this stopper in porous absorbent materials, such as wood or similar, so as to increase the amount of evaporation and, therefore, the perfuming effect wherever necessary. Concerning the means 5, 15, 25 for hanging the container, they can be produced in cord in natural or synthetic fibre, or in material, or plaited as shown in the figures. Other types of suitable materials can be used without problem.

Claims: Claims : 1. Container (1, 11, 21) with perfumed essences (3) in its cavity (2), provided with a stopper (4) and means to hang the container (1) when they are hooked to a fixed support, characterised in that these means are made up of one or more threadlike elements (5, 15, 25) which pass through the said stopper (4) in such a way that one section (5d, 15d, 25d) can come into contact with said perfumed essences (3), and which are produced in a material suitable to absorb them and consent their diffusion through capillary action. 2. Container according to claim 1, where said threadlike elements are made up of one or more cords (5, 15, 25) connected to each other and made of natural or synthetic yarn fibre. 3. Container according to claim 2, where said one or more cords (5) go transversally through said stopper (4), having an open section (5d) between its lateral walls (4e) above the said cavity (2) of the container (1) . 4. Container according to claim 2, where said one or more cords (15) pass through two holes (6, 7) in the upper surface of said stopper (4), entering and exiting in such a way as to present an open section (15d) between its lateral walls (4e) . 5. Container according to claim 2, where said one or more cords (25) pass through a hole (8) in the upper surface of said stopper (4), presenting an open section (25d) between its lateral walls (4e) and in the direction of said cavity (3) of the container. 6. Container according to one of the previous claims, where said stopper (4) is made of porous material suitable to absorb said perfumed essences (3) propagating their fragrance. 7. Container having in its cavity (2) perfumed essences as illustrated in the enclosed description and given in the enclosed drawings. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 30 August 2001 (30.08.01); original claims 1-7 replaced by new claims 1-4 (2 pages)] 1. Container ( 1, 11, 21 ) with perfumed essences ( 3 ) in its cavity ( 2 ) provided with a stopper ( 4 ) and means to hang the container ( 1 ) when they are hooked to a fixed support, tliese means being made up of one or more threadlike elements ( 5, 15, 25 ) which pass through the said stopper (4 ) in such a way that one section ( 5d, 15d, 25d ) can come into contact with said perfumed essences ( 3 ), and which are produced in a material suitable to absorb them and consent their diffusion through capillary action, characterized in that said threadlike elements are made up of one or more cords ( 5, 15, 25 ) connected to each other and made of natural or synthetic yarn fibre, said one or more cords ( 5 ) going transversally through said stopper ( 4 ), and having an open section (5d) between its lateral walls ( 4e ) above the said cavity ( 2 ) of container ( 1 ). Container according to claim 1, where said one or more cords ( 15 ) pass through two holes ( 6, 7 ) in the upper surface of said stopper ( 4 ), entering and exiting in such a way as to present an open section (15d ) between its lateral walls ( 4e ). Container according to claim 2, where said one or more cords ( 25 ) pass through a hole ( 8 ) in the upper surface of said stopper ( 4 ), presenting an open section ( 25d ) between its lateral walls ( 4e ) and in the direction of said cavity ( 3 ) of the container. Container according to one of the previous claims, where said stopper ( 4 ) is made of porous material suitable to absorb said perfiuned essences ( 3 ) propagating their fragrance.

Inventors: GIOVANNONE ALBERTO, GIOVANNONE, ALBERTO
Applicants: GIOVANNONE ALBERTO, GIOVANNONE, ALBERTO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A61L9
IPC codes: A61L9