Abstract:
A pre-scented or custom scented card insert designed to fit into any existing toilet paper or paper towel holder. The insert allows consumers to choose a scent additive to freshen their bathroom, kitchens or any other place where these products are used, as well as to scent the toilet paper or paper towel rolls. The insert can be replaced easily to refresh the roll, or additional inserts can be added to create a stronger fragrance impact.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/210,990, filed Jun. 12, 2000, entitled “Prescented And Custom Scented Card Insert”, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Over the years, there have been many inventions and attempts made to mask bathroom or kitchen odors and the files are replete with patents that deal with dispensers, paper holders, spindles and odorous fragrance carriers. Many of these inventions are elaborate, even motor driven, battery operated, complicated and costly devices. Producers of commercial toilet paper have attempted to address this issue by adding a dose of fragrance on the inside of the tube carrying the tissue. This works quite well, but there are several drawbacks: For one, fragrance can dissipate over time in distribution before it reaches the end customer. Secondly, increasing the fragrance load or dosage to compensate for this loss is only possible to some extent, given the issue of multiple chemical sensitivity and allergies; if the tissue paper carries too much fragrance, skin sensitivity and rashes could develop from repeated skin contact. Thirdly, while some customers may like some pre-scented aromas, others may object to a particular fragrance. This limits the marketability of pre-scented tissue papers. Fragrance is therefore almost never found on kitchen towels where it may be used for food contact. Many people therefore also choose to buy unscented toilet tissue and rely on other fragrance air freshener devices in the bathroom. 
     Various styles of air freshener systems have been available in the prior art. An example can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,310 to Konicek, which describes a door activated air freshener system that uses motion control valves to deposit fragrance onto paper pads within a specially constructed device. Additional U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,38 and Pat. No. 4,615,486 offer additional variations on the door-activated system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,831 to Spector describes an elaborate air-filled device with jet openings and pressurized chambers that when hand actuated, expel a pulse of fragrance into the atmosphere. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,649 to Monealegre, and also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,279,373, 4,208,012 and 4,155,500, described a variety of air freshener cartons that are free standing or can be wall mounted and exhibit perforated sleeves, folded flaps or other carton constructions that can be adjusted to allow more or less of a fragranced air freshener material to be released. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,168,550 and 4,209,864 to Lindauer, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,228, to Rosenkrantz, all describe elaborate aroma emitting attachments to the toilet that activate by flushing. 
     Elaborate paper holder devices for air fresheners have been described in a multitude of patents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,025 to Hixon, describes a multi-purpose toilet tissue dispenser that incorporates a night light, pencil holder, a means for holding an air freshener, and an attachment device for mounting onto a wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,658, to McCall, describes a roll spindle and hand ratchet mechanism that activates a music box, a fragrance dispensing apparatus, an audio tape player, and a night light. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,246, to Kantor, describes a toilet roll covering that is wall mounted or free standing and essentially adds an embellishment feature by incorporating a lace pouch that can hold a scented potpourri. Hight, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,696, describes a multi-compartment cabinet for containing storage roll tissue in one compartment and an air freshener device in another compartment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,621 to Poulos, describes a tissue paper scenting and storage device having a two-part interior chamber sized to accommodate multiple rolls of paper in a sealed environment to preclude malodorous contamination, and also incorporating a ventilated top section that can hold an air freshener that scents the stored tissue paper in the compartment below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,313, to Newbold, describes a pre-moistened toilet paper and dispenser that attaches to a conventional paper roll dispenser or can be separately mounted. This device is closed and allows pre-moistened towels to remain moist and said towels may contain 1% perfume fragrance. 
     There are also a multitude of prior art inventions that relate to the actual spindle element. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,102 to Jones, describes a perforated, elongated tubular housing that can contain fragrance material within a central chamber. The patent to Armand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,218, describes a spool for rotatably supporting a roll of toilet paper and dispensing a fragrance from opposed ends of the spool, by compressing and squeezing a fragrance material out of the spool and onto the inner tubing of the paper roll. Singer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,510, describes a similar device that consists of three components: a coiled spring and two plastic molded pieces that are vented and have interlocking tongues and slots which allow the components to be joined. Singer further describes the inclusion of scented pellets within this spindle that can emit fragrance as the spindle is rotated. 
     The fragrance carrier itself also is the subject matter of many patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,912, to Santini, describes a membrane-gel diffusion device that allows for the controlled release of fragrance gel through a membrane material. 
     Johnson Wax is currently marketing a product under the trademark “Spin Fresh,” which involves a fragrance gel membrane product in a custom made vented spindle construction. This product is meant to replace the existing spindles in home paper holders. The fragrance gel load in this product is 4 grams, and the active fragrance load is between 5% and 10%. 
     All of the above prior art patents are more or less cumbersome to assemble and use. Many are very elaborate and costly to manufacture as they incorporate to varying degrees electric motors, valves, pressurized containers, ratchet handles and gears, electronics, wooden cabinets, batteries, moving parts, injection molded components, springs, mounting brackets, gels, or complicated membrane packaging. The initial cost to purchase and later maintain the refills is relatively high. Many of these devices require assembly and mounting or disassembly or modification of existing tissue and paper roll holders. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The current invention seeks to overcome the above mentioned issues of cost and offer better user friendliness and ease of application for home air freshener use. 
     In this invention, the preferred embodiment prescribes the use of a 120# commercial blotting paper which may first be printed with a graphic design and/or instructions for use. 
     It will become obvious to those skilled in the art, that many paper substrates such as commercial Cover Stocks, SBS or beverage board type papers could be readily used as a substitute. The only criteria for the insert material is that it is absorbent enough to carry a sufficient fragrance load and be pliable and thin enough to conform to the inside of the tube and spindle space. 
     A fragrance coating is then applied to the insert by roller application, spraying, silk screening, flexography or bath saturation. This coating includes common fragrance oil ingredients as made by companies such as Belmay, IFF and Givaudan Roure. These fragrance oils can be modified to achieve the desired end result. One formulation adds polymers to thicken the fragrance and create a thicker coat weight which will also reduce the rate of evaporation. Another formulation may include plastisizing agents that create a scented film-like coating on the paperboard, again retarding the evaporation process. Other formulations that can retard the evaporation and therefore help achieve a longer lasting product, include dipropyleneglycol (DPG), diethylphthylate (DEP) and other common fixatives known by those skilled in the art of fragrance chemistry. On the other hand, additives such as denatured alcohol (39C) may be added to create more lift and speed up the evaporation process, providing a stronger initial fragrance impact, but typically a shorter lasting product. 
     The paperboard is then die-cut and perforated ¼″ (2/inch) long lines spaced approximately ⅝″ apart. Either flatbed or rotary die-cutting is suitable. This will allow the insert to form and bend around the interior spindle and will also allow a customer to tear off a section to allow a better fit or a reduced fragrance impact. While the ⅝″ spacing and ¼″ long perforations are ideal, it is also obvious that a slightly different spacing and tooth pattern could be envisioned by those skilled in the art. 
     The above finished product can then be packaged in many conventional ways, including blister packing, pouch packing, or cartoning. These packages can incorporate resaealable features so that after one insert is removed, the others remain protected for future use. The primary packaging should provide sufficient odor and fragrance barrier properties so that the product remains moist and fresh for later use. One common and preferred structure includes PVDC coated polyester. 
     The principal object of this invention is to bring to market and commercialize a low cost, easy and safe method of allowing a customer to add scent to their bathroom or kitchen, without having to replace existing paper or tissue roll holders or interior spindles. Another object of this invention is to allow customers to dose the strength of the freshening device by inserting either a section of one insert or several fragrance inserts into the tube around the spindle. Another object is to provide a customer a wide array of fragrance choices in the after-market purchase of toilet and paper tissue. 
     Still, another principal object of this invention is to allow a customer to spray-apply their own personal body cologne, perfume or aromatherapy oil on an unscented insert, thereby customizing the product to their personal fragrance preferences. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prescented and custom scented card insert of the present invention, when flat; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the card insert when rolled for insertion into a toilette paper tube, for example; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the card insert received in a toilette paper tube; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of the card insert applied to a toilette paper tube; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective, exploded view showing the card insert being received in the spindle about which a toilette paper roll spins. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an insert card  10  is provided which is capable of absorbing a fragrance. Preferably, the card  10  is made from 120# blotting paper. The card can also be made from a non-woven, porous materials or synthetic carrier materials such as extruded polyethylene or molded polystyrene based materials that will hold fragrance and allow evaporative emittance of the fragrance. Such materials include, for example Tyvek® sheeting available from E. I. duPont de Nemours &amp; Co.; Teslin®, microporous sheeting available from PPG Industries, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Porex®, porous plastic sheeting available from Porex Technologies Corp. of Fairburn, Ga., Celwa® paper pads, available from John H. Willig d/b/a Celwa Products Co. of New York, N.Y. 
     The card  10  has a first pair of opposed sides  12  and a second pair of opposed sides  14 . If the card  10  is square, the sides  12  and  14  are of the same length. On the other hand, if the card is rectangular, the sides  12  are long sides and the sides  14  are short sides. Perforation lines  16  extend between the opposing sides  12  of the card  10 . Each perforation is preferably about ¼″ long with 2 perforations per inch. The lines  16 , which are generally parallel to each other, are preferably spaced apart about ⅝″. The perforations are formed preferably by die-cutting, preferably with a flat bed die cutter. However, the perforations can also be formed using a rotary die-cutter. Although shown as a rectangle, the insert can be die-cut shape to a desired shape, or have die-cut perorations so that the insert can be punched out from a blank in a desired shape. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 2, the perforated lines  16  allow for the card  10  to be easily rolled or formed to a size in which it can be received within a tube of paper towels, toilette paper, or the like. For example, if the card  10  is to be inserted in a paper towel tube, the card  10  preferable is 9″×5″. If the card  10  is to be inserted in a toilette paper tube, the card  10  is preferably 5″×4½″. The perforated lines also allow for the insert to be reduced in size by the consumer. Thus, for example, larger sheets could be provided, which are then cut in half by the consumer. 
     Preferably, the card  10  is printed with graphics. The graphics can be ornamental or provide instructions for use of the cards. Such graphics can be printed on the card  10  either before or after the perforations are formed. One method for printing graphics is by sheet fed lithographic offset. 
     The insert can be provided as either scented or unscented. If provided as an unscented insert, the consumer can apply his or her own fragrance to the insert by either spraying the insert or dipping the insert in a desired fragrance (i.e., a perfume, cologne, etc.) 
     If the insert is pre-scented, the fragrance can be applied either by roller or spray application. The fragrance formulation preferably comprises fragrance oil and a DPG diluent. The preferred fragrance load is approximately 2.0 grams per toilet tissue insert and 4.0 grams for paper towel inserts (or about 0.09 gm/in 2 ). The fragrance applied can include, or be comprised of microencapsulated fragrance oil. This will allows for improved shelf life of the scented insert and will provide a refreshing feature to the insert. 
     The evaporation of the fragrance from the insert can be either enhanced or retarded. Evaporation can be retarded by applying a second film of plastisizing agents after the fragrance has been applied to the insert. Polymers, such as dipropyleneglycol (DPG), diethylphthylate (DEP) or similar solvents, can also be added to the fragrance formulation to thicken the fragrance coating to achieve a heavier coating weight. This will also retard the rate of evaporation of the fragrance from the insert. On the other hand, evaporation enhancers, such as denatured alcohol (39C) can be added to the fragrance formulation to increase the rate of evaporation of the fragrance from the insert. 
     The cards  10  are formed as individual cards. Preferably, they are packaged in a resealable pouch or bag. The preferred packaging is a three-side seal, PVDC coated polyester, pouch with resealable fold and a hanger hole for peg rack display. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show how the scented insert  10  when folded along its lines  16  of perforations may be enclosed within a roll  20  of tissue. As can be seen, the insert or card  10  is received around the internal roller or spindle  22  about which the roll  20  rotates, and within the central tube of the roll  20 . In this location, the scented insert card  10  can provide for the emission of a pleasing fragrance. The same may also be applied, as for example, within a roll of paper towels, or the like. 
     FIG. 5 shows how an alternative example of usage of the scented insert card  10  can be located within the cavity of the spindle  22 , for holding a roll  20  of tissues, or other paper, and used for the same purpose of providing the release of a pleasing fragrance. 
     Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the invention as described herein. Such variations, or modifications, to this disclosure, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention as provided and disclosed herein.