Abstract:
Articles and method for utilization of aromatherapeutic agents in both entertainment and therapeutic situations or a combination thereof, the invention contemplates the disposition of aromatherapeutic agents on or in substrates of varying description such that pressure applied to such substrates causes release of the aromatherapeutic agents to thereby cause aromas from said aromatherapeutic agents to be sensed at least by a user of the articles. Aromatherapeutic agents can be encapsulated and caused to adhere to a substrate having low-tack adhesive on at least portions thereof such that the substrate can be removable and replaceably attached to an object intended to be struck or peeled by a user to release the encapsulated aromatherapeutic agent. Aromatherapteutic agents carried by an appropriate carrier can be placed in or on a projectile to be thrown against an object causing release for an intended affect.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates generally to the use of aromatherapeutic agents and particularly to articles and methods of use of such articles bearing aromatherapeutic agents for timely release of such agents to produce an entertainment and/or therapeutic affect. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Aromatherapeutic agents of varying kind have been known to have therapeutic affects historically. In relatively recent times, such agents have found utility for more than mere fanciful applications and are presently used in clinical situations for perceived therapeutic value. A primary method for delivering such agents to the olfactory senses of users has been incorporation into objects such as candles, soaps and the like, which, on use in a normally intended manner, cause an included aromatherapeutic agent to be released into an environmental space within which the article is used. This kind of use almost certainly precedes recorded history. The nature of those aromatherapeutic agents used in such situations have varied from single fragrances intended to be pleasant to the senses to specific compounds and materials believed to have calming affects on individuals having the opportunity to sense the aromas so produced. The art is replete in the literature and in previously issued patents with particular materials capable of providing perceived aromatherapeutic effects when incorporated into candles, soaps, or when delivered by other aroma delivery systems. 
   The art has also intended the encapsulation of fragrant materials in microcapsules and the like wherein such microcapsules have been adhered to substrates of varying description and then intentionally disrupted to break open the microcapsules in order to release fragrance into the air surrounding the disrupted microcapsules. U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,869 to Sweeny et al provides one example of such a teaching, the disclosure of this patent being incorporated hereinto by reference. In this patent, a planar substrate formed of a film or sheet material has an adhesive formed on one side so that the substrate can be adhered to a desired object. The opposite side of the substrate of Sweeny et al has microcapsules adhered thereto, the microcapsules being formed of shells of polymeric materials such as urea-formaldehyde resin within which a fragrant material is enclosed. The materials from which the encapsulating shells of Sweeny et al can be formed can vary widely similarly to the permissible variation of such encapsulating shells in the practice of the present invention. In the practice of the Sweeny et al invention, the encapsulated fragrant materials preferably take the form of a material having some relationship to a visible image formed on the substrate. As an example, an image of a bunch of grapes formed on the Sweeny et al substrate is coupled with the encapsulation of a material having the fragrance of grapes such that disruption of the microcapsules such as by scratching or the like causes the aroma of grapes to be emitted from the disrupted microcapsules. On dissipation of the resulting aroma, other microcapsules can be disrupted to refresh the emitted aroma, the intent of the use of the Sweeny et al article being the novelty of the experience. 
   Even though the use of prior art articles such as is disclosed by Sweeny et al as noted above have produced pleasurable effects for users, the prior art has not previously provided particular articles and methods of their use that permit realization of the benefits of aromatherapeutic agents in situations wherein entertainment and/or therapeutic benefits can occur. The invention thus intends the effective and efficient utilization of aromatherapeutic agents through incorporation of such agents in articles and methods of use of such articles to cause benefits to a user and to others subjected to use of the articles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides articles and methods for use of such articles wherein an aromatherapeutic agent is disposed on or in an object in a quiescent states albeit subject to a percussive effect sufficient to release aromatic compounds from the aromatherapeutic agent. As one example, the aromatherapeutic agent can be disposed on a wall poster, a photograph or other image-bearing article so that a projectile thrown against the poster causes release of aromas from the aromatherapeutic agent. In particular, a poster such as is used as a wall hanging and having the image of a person, place or thing intended to generate negative emotions in the mind of a user can be provided with an aromatherapeutic agent encapsulated such as within microcapsules, and wherein such microcapsules are layered over at least portions of the image. For purposes of entertainment or even for purposes of therapeutic benefit, an object thrown against the image by a user, such as when in an emotionally agitated state, ruptures at least some of the microcapsules and releases the aromatherapeutic agent, the aromatherapeutic agent being chosen to have a calming aroma. Alternatively, the aromatherapeutic agent can be disposed in or on a projectile and thrown against a wall poster or other object having a disagreeable image or connotation such that an emotionally agitated user throwing the projectile against the image causes the aromatherapeutic agents to be released and to produce a calming affect. 
   The invention can be otherwise embodied to dispose an aromatherapeutic agent on objects intended to be struck through the agency of a body part of a user or an object manipulated by a user. The object used for striking can alternatively have an aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereon such that a calming aroma is released when the striking object is caused to strike another object. As examples, a mallet used to strike a sounding board can be covered over at least portions of a striking surface of the mallet with a percussively-released aromatherapeutic agent producing a calming aroma being released on striking of the board with the mallet, thereby to reduce an emotional condition causative of the need to strike the board with the mallet. Conversely, the board can be covered over at least certain surfaces thereof with an aromatherapeutic agent so that striking of said surfaces with a mallet or the like releases a calming aroma. 
   As further exemplary alternatives, an aromatherapeutic agent can be disposed on an object such as a punching bag, a car dashboard, etc., so that manual striking of a surface so covered releases a calming aroma. Accordingly, the disposition of an aromatherapeutic agent over portions of a dashboard of a car or other vehicle and at locations thereof in proximity to an operator of the vehicle such that the operator, when agitated due to the unavoidable emotional insult associated with operation of the vehicle, can strike the covered surface with a hand to thereby release a calming aroma and thus reduce the affects of a condition known as “road rage”. The invention finds utility in situations wherein an entertainment benefit and/or therapeutic benefit is desired. 
   The invention further contemplates the encapsulation of an aromatherapeutic agent, such as within microcapsules or in layers of a polymeric material as an example, with the subsequent disposition of the encapsulated agent on one face of a film or sheet-like substrate, an adhesive such as a low tack adhesive being disposed on the opposite side of the film. The resulting article can then be adhered to a surface of an object such as a wall poster, punching bag, car dashboard, etc., such that the article can be struck with aroma released to provide the benefits herein intended. Through the use of microcapsules in particular, a single percussive event typically ruptures only a portion of the microcapsules, the microcapsule-coated article then being reusable until essentially all of the microcapsules have been ruptured by subsequent percussive events. Once essentially all of the microcapsules have been disrupted, the articles can be readily peeled away and replaced with another article having the same or another aromatherapeutic agent carried by the article. As a further alternative, a substitute configured with microcapsules inter alia can be provided with a release sheet or covering that can be peeled away or otherwise disrupted for release of an aromatherapeutic agent. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide articles and methods of use of such articles wherein an aromatherapeutic agent is disposed on an object or substrate in a non-aromatic quiescent state so that the substrate can be subjected to a percussive force to release a calming aroma for an entertainment benefit and/or therapeutic benefit. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide encapsulated aromatherapeutic agents, such as in microcapsules, disposed on one face of a substrate and having an adhesive on another face of the substrate, the substrate being adherable to an object such as a wall poster, punching bag, car dashboard or the like, so that striking of the substrate releases a calming aroma, the substrate being removable and replaceable. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a target and/or projectile for throwing against the target and wherein either or both of the target or the projectile are provided with a normally quiescent aromatherapeutic agent releasable on percussive contact between the target and the projectile, the target preferably having an image formed thereon causative of heightened emotions sufficient to entice a user to throw the projectile against the target. 
   Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a target such as a wall poster having a microencapsulated aromatherapeutic agent provided over at least portions of surfaces thereof; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bean bag or similar object which can be manually thrown by a user and having microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent disposed over at least portions of surfaces thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a bean bag or similar projectile shown in an unfolded configuration with a disc having microencapsulated aromatherapeutic agents formed thereon; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bean bag or other projectile having a pocket into which a disc having microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent is provided; 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a punching bag having microencapsulated aromatherapeutic agents formed on at least portions thereof; 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an article having microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent formed on one side thereof and an adhesive material formed on the opposite side thereof; 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the article of  FIG. 6A ; 
       FIG. 7  is a detail perspective view of the article of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  disposed on the dashboard of a vehicle; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a mallet and board intended to be struck by the mallet, the mallet and the board being shown with microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent disposed over surfaces thereof; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a lanyard having an object carried thereby; 
       FIG. 10  is an idealized perspective view of a spray can directing a spray of aromatherapeutic agent-bearing microcapsules onto a substrate; and, 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a double-sided article having microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent formed on both sides of the article. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a target  10  is seen to have an image  12  formed on a surface of said target, the target essentially being formed of a sheet of material such as paper, plastic fabric or similar material of the kind used to fabricate posters or the like. The target is conveniently hung on a wall (not shown) in a conventional manner. The target  10  is seen to have an aromatherapeutic agent  14  disposed over an outward face, the aromatherapeutic agent  14  being seen as stippling on the target  10  as represented in the drawings. It is to be understood that the aromatherapeutic agent  14  is intended to be disposed on the target  10  in a manner such that the agent  14  is quiescent, that is, does not emit an appreciably discernable aroma until subjected to a percussive force or other form of activation such as by striking with an object thrown against or otherwise directed against that facing portion of the target  10  having the aromatherapeutic agent  14  disposed thereon. In order to maintain the aromatherapeutic agent in such a condition, the agent  14  can be encapsulated such as with microcapsules formable as one example according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,869 and patents mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,869 inter alia. While thus encapsulated, the aromatherapeutic agent  14  does not emit an aroma. However, when the microcapsules are disrupted, such as by subjection to a percussive force, the aromatherapeutic agent  14  contained within the microcapsules is exposed to the air and emits an aroma intended to have a calming or other affect. 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , a bean bag is seen at  16  to have an aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereon as represented by stippling. It is to be understood that the bean bag  16  can be used as a projectile which could be thrown against the target  10  of  FIG. 1  for the purpose of providing the aforementioned percussive effect and to release an aroma from the aromatherapeutic agent  14  disposed on the target  10 . When the target  10  is provided with the aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereon, the agent  18  need not be disposed on the bag  16 . When the bag  16  has the aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereon, it is not necessary for the agent  14  to be disposed on the target  10 . It is further to be understood that both the target  10  and the bag  16  can be used together with both having the respective aromatherapeutic agents  14  and  18  disposed thereon. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a bean bag  20  formed in halves is seen to be formable into a projectile through the use of a connector such as a strap  22  having a hook and loop fastening material formed on the strap  22  and on the body of the bag  20  in a manner such as the halves of the bag  20  can be held together. A disc  24  having an aromatherapeutic agent  26  formed on at least some surfaces thereof can be placed between the halves of the bag  20  and held by closure of the bag  20  through the agency of the strap  22 . The aromatherapeutic agent  26  can be encapsulated, such as within microcapsules, and caused to adhere to the disc  24  in a manner conventional in the art. The disc  24  can be formed of material such as paper, plastic or the like and can take the form of a planar substrate of any desired geometrical shape. The impact of the bag  20  on a surface when thrown against such a surface, whether or not a surface of the target  10  of  FIG. 1 , causes release of an aroma from the aromatherapeutic agent  26 . The use of a bean bag as an appropriate projectile facilitates aroma release particularly when the aromatherapeutic agent  26  is encapsulated since beans (not shown) contained within the bag  20  move within the confines of the bag  20  and efficiently transfer forces onto the disc and thus onto the encapsulated aromatherapeutic agent  26  when the bag  20  is thrown against an essentially unyielding surface. The act of throwing the bags  16  or  20  against the target  10  or against another surface, especially a surface such as that of the target  10  having an image  12  formed thereon, causes a release of tension which is further enhanced by the aroma of the aromatherapeutic agents  14  or  26 . Provision of the image  12  in the form of a person, place of thing against which a user of the target would wish to strike with a projectile provides a further therapeutic affect to the user. 
   As is seen in  FIG. 4 , a bean bag  28  or other suitable projectile can be formed with a pocket  30  within which a disc such as the disc  24  could be placed, the bag  28  then being usable as aforesaid. It is to be understood that the disc  24  can be readily replaced in the bags  20  or  28  when the disc is spent by virtue of disruption of essentially all of the microcapsules containing the aromatherapeutic agents  18  or  26 . 
   As is seen in  FIG. 5 , a punching bag  31  is seen to have a disc  33  having microcapsules such as are described herein disposed on one or more of the surfaces of the punching bag  31  as are normally struck by a user. It is to be understood that microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent can be sprayed onto such surfaces such as with an aerosol and from a can or the like. 
   As seen best in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , an aromatherapeutic agent usable according to the invention can be encapsulated within microcapsules  32  disposed on a substrate  34 , the substrate  34  preferably taking the form of a film or sheet of a material such as paper, plastic or the like. The substrate  34  can be provided with an adhesive layer  36  on the other face of the substrate  34 . The adhesive layer  36  is preferably a low tack adhesive such as is conventional in the art and which allows the resulting article to be removably adhered to objects such as a punching bag  38  as seen in  FIG. 5  or to a vehicle dashboard or the like as seen in  FIG. 7 . In such environments, the substrate  34  can be replaced once the microcapsules disposed thereon are all essentially disrupted and the substrate  34  is therefore spent, that is, is not further capable of emitting an aroma when subjected to a percussive force. 
   In yet another embodiment of the invention as is seen in  FIG. 8 , a mallet  42  and a sounding board  44  are seen to have an aromatherapeutic agent  46  formed thereon such as on surfaces of the mallet  42  used to strike the board  44  or any other relatively unyielding surface for the purpose of releasing an aroma from the agent  46 . The board  44  can be provided with the agent  46  on at least portions thereof, a hammer (not shown) being usable to subject the agent  46  to a percussive force to release the desired therapeutic aroma. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a lanyard  41  such as is conventionally worn about the neck of a user has an object such as a card  43  carried at an end of the lanyard. The card  43  is provided with an aromatherapeutic agent on at least portions of at least one face thereof, the agent being microencapsulated or otherwise provided thereon. The user of the lanyard  41  can take an action necessary to release the agent and thus an aroma depending on the mood of the user. As an example, agents having differing mood influencing properties can be located on different portions of the card  43  with the user releasing the intended aroma to show the mood of the user, each of the agents being indicative of a different mood. The different agents can be disposed on opposite sides of the card  43  with such sides being colored to also show a mood associated with the different mood evoked by the particular agent on the particular side of the card. Cards such as the card  43  and so configured with different colors indicative of mood can be used without association with the lanyard  41  and with a single aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereon as noted above or with more than one agent as described herein. Such cards can be used in games and the like and can be provided in kits with such cards having various colors on faces thereof showing varying moods, the faces of such cards also potentially having holograms and the like disposed thereon and associated with the mood-indicating colors and/or an aromatherapeutic agent or agents disposed on a face or faces of such cards. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a spray can  45  directing an aerosol or spray  47  of an aromatherapeutic agent, such as is contained in microcapsules represented by the spray  47 , onto a substrate  49 . It is to be noted that the agent need not be microencapsulated but is preferably contained such that an aroma is not released by the agent until acted upon such as by directing a percussive force, thereto when on the substrate  49 . It is also to be understood that a container or device other than a spray can such as the can  45  can be used to dispense an agent onto a substrate such as the substrate  49 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 11 , article  48  configured according to another embodiment of the invention is seen to be formed of a sheet-like substrate  50  having an encapsulated or otherwise contained aromatherapeutic agent  52  disposed on both planar faces of the substrate. The article  48  is effectively used within the bags  20  or  28  as examples. A release sheet  54  can be provided over either face of the substrate  50 , or both, to permit peeling of said sheet  54  from the substrate to disrupt microcapsules containing an aromatherapeutic agent. Wax or any other suitable coating disruptable to release an aromatherapeutic agent disposed thereunder whether or not encapsulated can also be employed. Articles as are described herein on which a layer of encapsulated aromatherapeutic agent is disposed can thus be provided with a covering release sheet such as the release sheet  54  which may or may not rupture the encapsulations on peeling away of the sheet. In such an application, the aromatherapeutic agent can be disposed on such articles in one or more layers whether or not microencapsulated. 
   It is to be understood that the invention can be practiced other than as explicitly described herein without departing from the intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.