Patent Publication Number: US-2006006249-A1

Title: Scented devices for inconspicuously scenting objects and methods for making and using the same

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to scented devices, and more particularly, to scented devices for inconspicuously scenting objects and methods for making and using the same.  
      2. Background of the Invention  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,011 to Spector discloses a scented sticker attachable to an article of clothing or other surface. The sticker includes an appliqué sheet, which is profiled to simulate the appearance of an odoriferous object, such as a fruit or a flower. Secured to the rear of the sheet is a shallow dish containing a pad saturated with a volatile scent whose odor simulates the characteristic natural odor of the object pictured by the sheet. The scent is emitted through perforations in the sheet. The base of the dish has a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive thereon to facilitate attachment of the sticker.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,396 to Sugimoto discloses a three-dimensional perfumed seal. The seal comprises a vinyl base sheet, an adhesive layer, a release paper, a foam synthetic resin padding material, a covering vinyl sheet and a capsulated perfume layer. The adhesive layer is applied to one surface of the base sheet. The release paper is applied to the surface of the adhesive layer opposite from the base sheet. The foam synthetic resin padding material is disposed on the surface of the base sheet opposite from the adhesive layer. The covering vinyl sheet sandwiches the padding material in cooperation with the base sheet and has a design printed on one of the opposite surfaces thereof. The capsulated perfume layer is laminated to the covering vinyl sheet on the area where the design is present.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,514 to Gadoua discloses a laminated, flexible, lightweight scent-carrying ornament having an adhesive backing, which permits the ornament to be applied to one&#39;s personal clothing. The laminated construction comprises an open weave top lamination, an absorbent center lamination, and an adhesive backed bottom lamination, which are joined or fused together.  
      The scented structures of Spector, Sugimoto and Gadoua are needlessly complex and costly, each requiring the assembly of several distinct components and/or layers of material. Moreover, when in use the scented structures of Spector, Sugimoto and Gadoua are intended to be openly displayed and seen.  
      A simpler scented structure is needed that may be inconspicuously attached to scent an object.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a scented device is disclosed comprising a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a unitary structure between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate; an adhesive layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the adhesive layer being attached to the bottom surface of the substrate; and an agent within a portion of the substrate for releasing a scent from the substrate.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of forming a scented device is disclosed comprising forming a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a unitary structure between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate; applying an adhesive layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the adhesive layer being applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and applying to a portion of the substrate an agent for releasing a scent from the substrate.  
      In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, a method for inconspicuously scenting a provided object is disclosed comprising attaching a substrate to an inconspicuous portion of the provided object, the substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a unitary structure between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate, and an agent within a portion of the substrate for inconspicuously scenting the provided object.  
      Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
      It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a scented device, in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a scented device, in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view of the scented device of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2B  is a planar view of the scented device of  FIG. 1A , in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the scented device of  FIG. 1A  located between a pair of objects, in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is flow diagram depicting a method for forming scented devices, in accordance with systems and methods consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
       FIG. 1A  shows a cross-sectional view of scented device  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Scented device  10  may be attached to an object to scent the object, i.e., to provide a source of a scent that may be released from scented device  10 . As used herein, the term “object” means any object or any creature, e.g., a person or any other creature, to which scented device  10  may be attached. Scented device  10  may comprise any structure suitable for attachment to and scenting an object.  
      In one embodiment, scented device  10  may comprise a substrate  12 , an adhesive layer  14  and a release paper  16 . Substrate  12  may contain any scenting agent suitable for release, e.g., release of a scent from substrate  12  by forced and/or natural air flow, and detection by smell. Substrate  12  may also contain any of a variety of other agents that are presently or later well-known in the textile-treating industry, e.g., an anti-mildew agent, a germicidal agent or a mothproofing agent. The amount of scenting agent carried by substrate  12  may be an amount sufficient to provide the desired conditioning effect. Such an amount may vary in any given case and may depend upon a variety of factors, such as the nature of the scenting agent(s) or substrate material(s) and the type of conditioning effect desired. Generally, the amount of scenting agent employed may range from about 1 gram to about 8 grams per substrate  12 .  
      A top surface of adhesive layer  14  may be attached to a bottom surface of substrate  12 , and release paper  16  may be attached to a bottom surface of adhesive layer  14 . A user may remove release paper  16  to expose adhesive layer  14  for attaching scented device  10  to an object. Adhesive layer  14  may comprise any one or more adhesive materials that are suitable for attaching scented device  10  to an object. Similarly, release paper  16  may comprise any one or more materials that may be removed to expose adhesive layer  14 .  
      Substrate  12  may comprise any unitary structure suitable for retaining one or more desired scenting agent(s) in a form for release to a desired space. As used herein, “unitary structure” means a component that may include one or more materials forming the component. One or more of a variety of different materials may form substrate  12 , including paper, woven cloth, non-woven cloth, sponge, plastic, foam plastic, such as polyurethanes, and felt. The fibers or filaments of substrates of non-woven cloth may be natural, e.g., wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal or ramie, or synthetic, e.g., rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefin&#39;s, polyamides or polyesters, and bonded together with a polymeric binder resin such as polyvinyl acetate. Substrate  12  may be treated with a waterproofing or sizing material, such as a thermosetting resin, a starch or other impregnation, which may have the effect of reducing water absorption and allowing the formation of a coating of scenting agent.  
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show side elevational and planar views of an embodiment of scented device  10 , as shown in cross-sectional view in  FIG. 1A .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  together depict a three-dimensional cylindrical shape for this embodiment.  FIG. 2B  depicts a perimeter shape of a circle, i.e., as viewed along the axis of the three-dimensional cylindrical shape. Other embodiments of scented object  10  may comprise any perimeter shape, e.g., a perimeter with the shape of a heart, a teddy bear, a star, a flower. Any embodiment of scented device  10  may have a height “h,” i.e., the maximum height or thickness of scented device  10 , greater than or equal to 1/16 of an inch but typically not greater than 1 inch, and a diameter “d,” i.e., the minimum diameter circle enclosing the perimeter shape of scented device  10 , greater than or equal to ¼ of an inch but typically not greater than 3 inches. With such dimensions, scented device  10  may be inconspicuously attached to an object, e.g., to reduce the likelihood that scented object  10  may be seen. Any other heights “h” and/or diameters “d” may be used for any embodiment of scented device  10 . Additionally, scented device  10  may be conspicuously attached to an object, if desired.  
       FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional view of a scented device  10 A, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Scented device  10 A may be identical to scented device  10 , except that scented device  10 A may include a substrate  12 A. Substrate  12 A may be identical to substrate  12 , except that substrate  12 A may have variation in the contour of the upper surface of substrate  12 A, i.e., the upper surface of substrate  12  is generally flat and the upper surface of substrate  12 A is generally not flat. The contour of upper surface of substrate  12 A may be selected to correspond to a perimeter shape for scented device  10 A, e.g., a perimeter shape for scented device  10 A resembling a teddy bear may have contour to the upper surface of substrate  12 A resembling a teddy bear. Like scented device  10 , scented device  10 A may have a height “h,” i.e., the maximum height or thickness of scented device  10 A, greater than or equal to 1/16 of an inch but typically not greater than 1 inch, and a diameter “d,” i.e., the minimum diameter circle enclosing the perimeter shape of scented device  10 A, greater than or equal to ¼ of an inch but typically not greater than 3 inches. With such dimensions, scented device  10 A may be inconspicuously attached to an object, e.g., to reduce the likelihood that scented object  10 A may be seen. Various other heights “h” and/or diameters “d” may be used for any embodiment of scented device  10 A. Additionally, scented device  10 A may be conspicuously attached to an object, if desired.  
       FIG. 3  depicts a scented device  10  located between a pair of objects  18  and  20 . In this instance, scented object  10  may comprise a spacer that may be used to maintain a space between a pair objects, e.g., a cabinet door  18  covering an opening into the cabinet and a cabinet faceplate  20  defining the opening, thus preventing one object  18 , e.g., a cabinet door, from contacting the other object  20 , e.g., a cabinet faceplate. In the case where scented device  10  is used to maintain a space between a cabinet door  18  and a cabinet faceplate  20 , the opening and closing of cabinet door  18  may create airflow to improve release of scent from scented device  10 . Scented device may be used as a spacer to maintain a space between any desired pair of objects  18  and  20 . Moreover, either of scented devices  10  and  10 A may be used to scent an object, without maintaining a space between a pair of objects  18  and  20 .  
       FIG. 4  depicts a method to form scented devices  10  or  10 A. In step  22 , substrates  12  or  12 A may be formed from any suitable substrate material, e.g., a sheet of substrate material comprising one or more desired substrate materials in a prefabricated sheet. The initial thickness of the substrate material, e.g., a sheet of substrate material, may be selected by taking into account any of a variety of factors, such as how processing steps may compress substrates  12  or  12 A; how agents, if present, may impact any such compressing of substrates  12  or  12 A; and the desired thickness of scented device  10  or  10 A. Typically, the initial thickness of the substrate material may be greater than or equal to 1/16 of an inch but typically not greater than 1 inch.  
      Any of a variety of presently or later well-known processes may be used to form substrates  12  or  12 A. For example, a die or other cutting device may be employed to cut, punch or otherwise form substrate  12  or  12 A from the initial substrate material. Such processes may provide substrate  12  or  12 A in any desired perimeter shape, e.g. a circle, a heart, a teddy bear, a star, a flag, a flower. The initial substrate material may have a generally flat contour on its upper surface, i.e., as shown in  FIG. 1A , however, processing the substrate material may include altering the contour of the upper surface so it is not generally flat, i.e., as shown in  FIG. 1B . Any of a variety of presently or later well-known processes may be used to alter the contour of the upper surface of the substrate material, if desired, such as using a contoured press that may use mechanical force and/or heat to alter the contour of the upper surface of the substrate material.  
      In step  24 , any one or more suitable agents may be applied to substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A. Typically, at least one scenting agent is applied, however, any of a variety of presently or later well-known agents may be applied to substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A. The applying of agent(s) may occur at any time during the process of  FIG. 4 , e.g. before, during or after either step  22  or step  26 . Any of a variety of presently or later well-known processes may be used to apply the agent(s), such as spraying an agent on substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A, immersing substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A in an agent bath, or injecting an agent into the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A. Once the agent(s) are applied, excess agent, if any, may be removed from the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A using any presently or later well-known processes. The substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A may then be dried using any presently or later well-known processes. While void spaces in the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A may be partially filled by one or more agents, the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A may retain sufficient porosity or air-permeability to permit passage of air to facilitate the release of aroma from the scenting agent.  
      In step  26 , any one or more suitable adhesive material(s) may be applied to substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A. The applying of adhesive material may occur at any time during the process of  FIG. 4 , e.g. before, during or after either step  22  or step  24 . Any of a variety of presently or later well-known processes may be used to apply the adhesive material, such as spraying an adhesive material on substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A, or attaching a double-sided adhesive tape to the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A. Once the adhesive material is applied to form adhesive layer  14 , release paper  16  may be attached to adhesive layer  14 . Alternatively, a combined adhesive layer  14  and release paper, e.g., double-sided adhesive tape with release paper on one side, may be attached to the substrate material or substrates  12  or  12 A.  
      The method of  FIG. 4  has been used to produce scented devices  10 , as described below:  
     EXAMPLE I  
      A prefabricated sheet was used in this example. The prefabricated sheet is available from Central Shippee of Bloomingdale, N.J. under the product name PSA Durafelt and comprises a non-woven cloth for the substrate material, an adhesive layer and a release paper. The prefabricated sheet had an initial minimum thickness of ⅜ of an inch and was cut into a plurality of circular perimeter shapes using a rotary die cutter &amp; embossing machine available from TTARP Industries, Inc. of Buffalo, N.Y. A quaternary scenting agent was sprayed onto scented devices  10  once they were separated from the prefabricated sheet. In this example, the scenting agent was Lagerfeld available from Perfums International Ltd. of NY., N.Y. Scented devices  10  were spread out on a flat surface and exposed to room temperature for a period of two minutes, allowing the scenting agent to dry.  
      The resulting scented devices  10  had a thickness of approximately 1/16 of an inch and a diameter of approximately ⅜ of an inch. The scented devices  10  were then tested for scenting ability. The test object was a daily planner available from Franklin Covey under the product name Monarch Zipper Binder. The planner had a width of 8.5 inches, a length of 11 inches, a thickness of 2 inches and an enclosed volume of 187.0 cubic inches. One scented object  10  was placed on the inside lining of the planner. A test was conducted each day consisting of opening the planner and leaving the planner open to determine whether the scent from scented device  10  could be readily detected by human smell, e.g., within one to two minutes, without forced air flow and by a human nose separated from the scented device  10  by approximately one to three feet. The result was that an aroma emanating from scented device  10  was readily detected for at least 90 consecutive days.  
     EXAMPLE II  
      A scented device  10  manufactured as set forth above in EXAMPLE I was also evaluated for its ability to scent a different test object comprising a drawer. One scented device  10  was placed on the inside surface of the front panel of the drawer,  2  inches down from the top edge of the front panel. The drawer dimensions were 28 inches, by 20 inches, by 5 inches, or 2800 cubic inches. A test was conducted each day consisting of opening the drawer ten inches and leaving the drawer open to determine whether the scent from scented device  10  could be readily detected by human smell, e.g., within one to two minutes, without forced air flow and by a human nose separated from the scented device  10  by approximately one to three feet. The result was that an aroma emanating from scented device  10  was readily detected for at least 60 consecutive days.  
      Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.