Abstract:
The invention relates to an odor dispensing device comprising a housing and a disc shaped cartridge ( 3, 32 ) adapted to move around its rotation axis and having a plurality of discrete radially arranged compartments ( 5, 33 ), each compartment ( 5, 33 ) containing an odorant or an odorant carrier ( 6, 58 ), said housing containing means for positioning the cartridge ( 3, 32 ), means for producing an airstream to a pre-selected compartment ( 5, 33 ) in response to a signal emanating from a computer control module, a microprocessor, an optical system or a timing mechanism and means for temporarily subjecting the odor carrier ( 6, 58 ) within the compartment ( 5, 33 ) to the airstream so that an odor is discharged from the cartridge ( 3, 32 ), and entrained in the airstream, wherein the cartridge ( 3, 32 ) has a basic body ( 4, 34 ) with bottom ( 4   f   , 51 ) and compartments ( 5, 33 ) separated by walls, which compartments ( 5 ) of the cartridge ( 3 ) can be tightly closed and opened by covers ( 11 ) working in axial direction of the cartridge ( 3 ) and against the flow of the airstream.

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP99/06193 which has an International filing date of Aug. 24, 1999, which designated the United States of America. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an odor dispensing device comprising a housing and a disc shaped dispensing cartridge adapted to move around its rotation axis and having a plurality of discrete radically arranged compartments, each compartment containing an odorant on an odorant carrier, said housing containing means for positioning the cartridge, means for producing an airstream to a pre-selected compartment in response to a signal emanating from a computer control module, a microprocessor, an optical system or a timing mechanism and means for temporarily subjecting the odor carrier within the compartment to the airstream so that an odor is discharged from the cartridge and entrained in the airstream, and to an odor dispensing cartridge. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal computers and microprocessors are now routinely used in all aspects of life and the introduction of multi-media and virtual reality technology is widespread in business, leisure and educational environments. The multi-media industry in particular has made significant technological advances in enhancing the video graphics and audio playback quality of their products. Virtual reality is specifically intended to simulate the real world as closely as possible allowing a participant to take a view in three dimensional space. Virtual reality technology now allows production of sound within the virtual world and to a more limited extent, tactile capability. 
     In order to enhance further the experience created by multi-media or virtual reality, it will be necessary to develop the technology to include the capability to use the senses of smell and taste as well. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an odor dispensing device and an odor dispensing cartridge for dispensing odors in conjunction with multi-media or virtual reality technology to enhance the real life effect, especially in conjunction with computer games, videos or television and/or music. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an odor dispensing device and an odor dispensing cartridge to dispense odors into an interior atmosphere, especially to refresh the atmosphere surrounding people in living rooms, motor cars and in public transport. 
     It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an odor dispensing cartridge and a device for its use to dispense selectively a plurality of odors or fragrances. 
     Numerous devices have been previously proposed for releasing fragrances into an interior atmosphere in order to stimulate the olfactory sense. Such devices are often referred to generically as “air freshener” devices. 
     Typically such air freshener devices release fragrance by passive evaporation or by employing an active release mechanism such as a pressurized aerosol mechanism which can by manually or automatically operated. 
     It is known that the intensity of a released fragrance decreases with time elapsing from the instant of fragrance emission and therefore repeated release of fragrance can be necessary to maintain a desired fragrance intensity. 
     Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing interactively an odor into an interior atmosphere. 
     It is also suggested that “fragrance fatigue” can occur whereby a persons olfactory organ becomes “saturated” with a particular smell or fragrance and thus the individual becomes insensitive to the presence of the particular fragrance. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide, in general an odor dispensing device and an odor dispensing cartridge to dispense selectively a plurality of odors or fragrances as desired for supporting sales activities, e.g. in perfumeries, and/or only for pleasure of a person. 
     A device for delivering odoriferous substances intended for dispersal in the air or air mixtures, in particular individual odors, is already disclosed in WO 97/02076. 
     The proposed device, the so-called scent compact diskette, comprises a flat disc shaped cartridge through which pass a number of separate channels substantially parallel to the top face and bottom face and which are directed radially. The channels are formed by an upper diskette half, a lower diskette half and lateral channel divisions in the form of two-sided, elongated dividing ribs in the diskette. They thus form small, radially arranged flat tunnels. The odoriferous substances, which may be partly the same or all different, are introduced into the channels or the odoriferous substances are introduced in gastight reservoirs which are placed in the channels which each reservoir release the individual odoriferous substance only when it is to be dispersed. 
     Each channel has one inlet aperture and one outlet aperture and allows unrestricted passage of a gas (air) stream introduced via the inlet aperture. The inlet and outlet apertures of the channels are gastight sealed until the odoriferous substance of an individual channel is released by rupture of the appropriate seals of the channel and/or by rupture of the appropriate reservoir if the substance is introduced in the channels in afore mentioned reservoirs. 
     This device allows the diffusion of a scent coincident with the showing of films or videos, and/or in combination with playing music, thus offering a complete audio-visual olfactory experience. 
     The production of the diskette is very laborious and, hence, very expensive because a lot of manufacturing steps are involved and, further, some steps must be performed very precisely, especially those of the gastight sealings and/or the introduction of the reservoirs into the channels. Each odoriferous substance can only be used once because after rupture of the apertures and/or the reservoir by the first use of one specific channel this might allow unrestricted and uncontrolled, respectively, passage of a gas (air) stream, i.e. uncontrolled flow of the odoriferous substance being introduced in that channel. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided an odor dispensing device and an odor dispensing cartridge which both are simple and, hence, can be easily producted and therefore are inexpensive. 
     According to the invention the odor dispensing device comprises an odor dispensing device comprising a housing and a disc shaped cartridge adapted to move around its rotation axis and having a plurality of discrete radically arranged compartments, each compartment containing an odorant on an odorant carrier, said housing containing means for positioning the cartridge, means for producing an airstream to a pre-selected compartment in response to a signal emanating from a computer control module, a microprocessor, an optical system or a timing mechanism and means for temporarily subjecting the odor carrier within the compartment to the airstream so that an odor is discharged from the cartridge and entrained in the airstream wherein the cartridge has a basic body with bottom and compartments separated by walls, (a) which compartments can be tightly closed and opened by covers working in axial direction of the cartridge and against the flow of the airstream whereby in the closure position the covers are pressed on opening edges of the walls, or (b) which each compartment has a closable inlet aperture and an interrelated closable outlet aperture for passing of a part the airstream, thereby in the opening position in both cases (a) and (b) picking up the particular scent of the odorant on the odorant carrier which scented airstream is then discharged into the surrounding air of the housing. 
     According to the invention the odor dispensing cartridge comprises a basic body with bottom and a plurality of discrete radically arranged compartments separated by walls, each compartment containing an odorant on an odorant carrier, and (a) can be tightly closed and opened by covers working in axial direction of the cartridge whereby in the closure position the covers are pressed on opening edges of the walls, or (b) which each compartment has a closable inlet aperture and an interrelated closable outlet aperture. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, the signals emanate from a computer control module and in response to a signal the cartridge is oriented and operated such that the airstream is led to a pre-selected compartment containing the required odorant on the odorant carrier picking up the particular scent and discharging it. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention the signals emanate from a timing mechanism, or alternativel, from an optical system. 
     Preferably the device is provided with two selectively operable actuating means which control entry of the airstream into each compartment. In an especially preferred embodiment, the selectively operable actuating means are pin operated responsive to signals emanating from the computer control module. 
    
    
     The invention will hereafter be explained by way of examples with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which also further details are shown which drawings are presented solely for non-limiting purpose of further illustrating the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a first exemplary variant of an odor dispensing device with an inserted odor dispensing cartridge, 
     FIG. 1A shows the device according to FIG. 1 without the odor dispensing cartridge but with partly opened hood, 
     FIG. 1B shows the odors dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of an odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 1 with covers partially broken away, 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 3, wherein a compartment is opened, 
     FIG. 3A shows the odor dispensing cartridge with mounted securing band, 
     FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 4A shows a detailed view of a variant of the odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 4, 
     FIG. 4B shows a cross-section of a closed compartment according to FIG. 4A, 
     FIG. 4C shows an exploded view of a further variant similar to that of FIG. 4, 
     FIG. 4D shows a perspective view of an odor dispensing cartridge with mounted securing band, 
     FIG. 4E shows a further variant of a securing band, 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through a second exemplary variant of an odor dispensing device with a second exemplary variant of an odor dispensing cartridge, 
     FIG. 5A shows the odor dispensing device of FIG. 5 without the odor dispensing cartridge, 
     FIG. 5B shows the odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 5, 
     FIG. 6 shows a top view of an odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 5B, 
     FIG. 6A shows a partly view according to FIG. 6 in a further variant, 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 5B, 
     FIG. 8 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 7, 
     FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 7, 
     FIG. 10 shows details from FIG. 9, 
     FIG. 11 shows a partial perspective view according to FIG. 6 with closed rotary slide, 
     FIG. 12 shows a partial perspective view according to FIG. 6 with opened rotary slide, 
     FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of an odor dispensing cartridge similar to FIG. 2 with a further variant of covering the compartments, 
     FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a mounted odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG. 13, 
     FIG. 15 shows a cross-reaction of a compartment of an odor dispensing cartridge according to FIG.  14  and 
     FIG. 16 shows the odor dispensing device of FIG. 1 used in conjunction with a multi media station. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     By way of example, FIG. 1 shows an odor dispensing device according to the invention denoted by  1 . FIG. 1A shows the odor dispensing device  1  without the odor dispensing cartridge  3  and FIG. 1B separately shows the odor dispensing cartridge  3 . The odor dispensing device  1  substantially consists of a housing  19  and an odor dispensing cartridge  3  which can be positioned therein. The odor dispensing cartridge  3 , whose individual components can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, for example, has a basic body  4  with compartments  5 , of which there are eight for example in this case, for receiving odorants on an odorant carrier  6 . The compartments  5  which have opening edges  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  build by the basic body  4  and are open towards the top are trapezoidal in shape, for example, in this case. Other shapes of the compartments  5  are, of course, conceivable. An acceptance opening  7  with a carrier and positioning device  9  for a drive shaft  8  of the housing  19  is provided in the central region of the odor dispensing cartridge  3 . Through-openings  10  for control elements described in greater detail below can also be seen in the basic body  4 . 
     A cover  11  matched corresponding to the shape of the compartments is allocated to each compartment  5 . The covers  11  are each connected to the basic body  4  via a spring clip  12  arranged in radially external manner and may be arranged in such a way that the radially external edges  13  of the covers  11  form hinges, so to speak, about which the covers  11  may be swivelled into their particular position. The covers  11  are thereby pre-stressed, i.e. pressed tightly onto the opening edges  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  in the closed position. The spring clips  12  are secured by a security band  12   a  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The elastic arms of the spring clip  12  and the appropriate cover  11  and the bottom of the compartment  5  can be provided with tongues and grooves  4   e ,  11   a ,  12   b  as specifically can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The spring clips  12  can be additionally secured  4   e ,  11   a ,  12   b  therewith and, further, their correct position is stabilized. 
     For a better guiding of the covers  11  the basic body  4  can contain rims  4   b ′ at their external opening edges  4   b  as can further be seen on FIGS. 4A and 4B. These rims  4   b ′ have a tickness of about the size as the tickness of the covers  11  and build a ring in which the covers  11 , especially the just hereafter described one single piece  11   b  are/is placed. 
     FIG. 4C shows a further variant of the covers  11 . All covers  11  here are manufactured in one production step, e.g. stamped out of one sheet of plastic or moulded, yielding one single piece  11   b  whereby the covers  11  are held jointly together by linking bars  11   c . By this way as well the manufacture of the covers  11  as also their mounting is made easier. 
     For further simplification of the mounting according to FIGS. 4C to  4 E the spring clips  12  can be linked together by one or more bands  12   c  made of the same material as the spring clips  12  which bands  12   c  can be fixed at the basic body  4  by sealing(s)  12   d  so that further securing of the spring clips  12  is not necessary as specifically is shown in FIG.  4 D. The opening edges  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  of the compartments  5  are provided with a flat seal  14  which ensures a reliable sealing of the compartments  5  when the covers  11  are closed. The flat seal  14  contains openings  14   a  thereby building bounderies which coincidence with the open edges  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  of the covers  11 . Projections  15  of the covers  11  project over the opening edges  4   a  of the compartments  5 . Pegs  16  may be fixed at the projections  15  which point downwards and pass through corresponding holes  10  of the basic body  4  in the closed condition of the covers  11 . 
     By means of an actuation element  17  which acts directly on the projection  15  or via the peg  16  the projection  15  may be pushed up via an actuation device  18  whereby the cover  11  is swivelled over the hinge against the pre-stress of the spring clip  12  and the odor-emitting substance of the odorant carrier  6  may thus be exposed to the air stream inside a flow duct  20  build by the hood  2 . 
     The air flow can be produced by any mechanical means, especially it is produced by means of a fan  21  whose suction opening  22  is substantially diametrically opposite to the exhaust opening  23  (FIG. 1) which fan  21  may further be associated with a heating element and/or an ionizer  21   a . The swivelled-up cover  11  acts as a flow barrier and provides a good turbulence and/or a uniform mixing and distribution of the odor molecules in the air stream without contaminating the parts of the device and/or cartridge  3  because the odor molecules by this way are always surrounded with fresh air, i.e. building an odor cloud in fresh air. This has the advantages that the following dispensed odor is not contaminated with the previous one. As shown in FIG. 1, two actuation elements  17 , 17 ′ may optionally be provided along with actuation devices  18 , 18 ′. With this configuration it becomes possible to dispense two different odors separately without turning the odor dispensing cartridge  3  into another position for this purpose or to dispense a mixture of the corresponding odors. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 1, the housing  19  may be set on a base surface by means of a ball joint  24 , a telescopic stand  25  and a foot  26 . The direction of emission of the “fragrance cloud” may be set in different directions by the above-mentioned means. The movable hood  2  is pivoted at the housing  19 . 
     To operate the odor dispensing device  1 , first of all an odor dispensing cartridge  3  which separately is shown in FIG. 1B is placed onto the drive shaft  8  of the odor dispensing device  1  which is separately shown in FIG.  1 A and fixed in reproducible manner in the direction of rotation via the carrier and positioning device  9 . The odor dispensing device  1  is ready for use after the hood  2  (not shown in greater detail) which partially defines the flow duct  20  has been closed. The odor dispensing cartridge  3  may be rotated via the drive shaft  8  and the drive device  27  in such a way that the compartment  5  with the desired fragrance is positioned for opening by the actuation element  17  (FIGS. 1,  3 ). 
     All actions of the actuation element(s)  17 , 17 ′ and the drive device  27  are synchronized via corresponding signal lines, which are not shown, and are connected to an external control device (not shown). 
     FIG. 5 shows a further variant of an embodiment of an odor dispensing device, namely an odor dispensing device  30  with an odor dispensing cartridge  32  placed outside the housing  55 . FIG. 5A shows the odor dispensing device  30  without the odor dispensing cartridge  32  and FIG. 5B separately shows the odor dispensing cartridge  32 . As can be seen from the subsequent drawings, the odor dispensing cartridge  32  consists of a basic body  34 , for instance having eight compartments  33 . The compartments  33  are covered and closed, respectively, by a cover plate  35  which spans the entire basic body  34 . According to FIG. 8 a rotary carrier  36  having a fixing acceptance opening  36   b  with a groove  36   a  which may cooperate with a correspondingly formed drive shaft  37  of the odor dispensing device  30  is provided in the central region. 
     For its part the drive shaft  37  is connected, for example via a toothed belt  38 , to a drive device  39  and can be rotated in the defined manner corresponding to the compartment spacing. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 to  12 , at the radially vertical inner boundary wall  40  and outer boundary wall  41  each compartment  33  is provided with an inlet aperture  42  and an outlet aperture  43  which may be closed and/or opened via a rotary slide arrangement  44 . The rotary slide  44  has an inner closure element  45  and an outer closure element  46  which are allocated to the apertures  42 ,  43 , are substantially diametrically opposed and are connected to a pivot  48  by means of a bar  47 . With respect to the rotational movement of the rotary slide  44  specified by the pivot  48 , the closure elements  45 ,  46  and the boundary walls  40 ,  41  of the compartments  33  have a mutually matched geometry in such a way that the apertures  42 ,  43  are tightly closed in the closed position of the rotary slide  44 . 
     A lug  49  projecting radially outwards through the outlet aperture outer  43  is provided on the closure element  46  as rotary slide adjustment element. At the bottom this lug  49  is angled to form a tongue  50  and may extend beyond the lower boundary plane  51  of the odor dispensing cartridge  32 . The lug  49  serves to limit the rotary movement of the rotary slide  44  since in its end position it may strike the corresponding edges of the outlet aperture  43 . 
     As can be seen from FIGS. 5,  6 ,  11  and  12 , the rotary slide  44  is opened via the lug/tongue  49 , 50  by a control lever  52  on whose radially external end a control projection  53  is provided. With a drive unit (a motor)  54  the control lever  52  is swivel-mounted in the housing  55  of the odor dispensing device  30 . The movement path of the control projection  53  is designed in such a way that it substantially coincides with the movement path of the lug  50  and may act thereon (FIG. 6) when a compartment  33  and/or the odor dispensing cartridge  32  has been rotated into the corresponding position. The control projection  53  may be brought from a rest position—in this position the control projection  53  is under the odor dispensing cartridge  32  in a region which does not project into the movement path of the tongues  50  dictated by the rotation of the odor dispensing cartridge  32 —into the region of a tongue  50  of a rotary slide  44  and open the latter (FIG.  12 ). If the compartment  33  is opened an air stream produced by means of a fan  56 , but which can be produced by any mechanical means, may enter the central distributor chamber  57  through the hollow drive shaft  37  and thence enter the compartment  33  through the inlet aperture  42 , picks up volatilized fragrance molecules from the odor carrier  58  arranged in the compartment  33 , and makes its way out into the environment through the outlet aperture  43 . The fan  56  may further be associated with a heating element and or an ionizer. 
     If the rotary slide  44  is formed in such a way that it remains stationary in its open position, after swivelling the control projection  53  back the odor emission angle may be adjusted by means of the drive  54  and/or the odor dispensing cartridge  32  may be continuously rotated for improved spatial distribution (not shown). 
     In an undifferenciated form FIGS. 6 and 12 illustrate a possible way in which the rotary slide  44  may be closed. In this case the control projection  53  is moved beyond the open position of the rotary slide  44  until the tongue  50  snaps over the latter which tongue  50  in this case, of course, is elastic. When the control projection  53  is guided back, the rotary slide  44  is closed and the control projection  53  moved beyond the closed position so that the tongue  50  snaps over the control projection  53  again. 
     In FIGS. 6,  8  and  12 , for example, a leaf spring  59  for the automatic closure of the apertures  42 ,  43  is provided which may be mounted directly onto the rotary slide  44  or moulded together with the rotary slide  44  and is supported at its free side on a projection  60  mounted at the bottom  51  of the compartment  33  and arranged on the base of the basic body  34 , respectively. If the control projection  53  recoils back into its rest position the rotary slide  44  is rotated into the closed position by the leaf spring  59 . 
     FIG. 6A shows a further variant of the inner boundry walls  40 . In this embodiment the boundary walls  40   a  are curved over their whole length and have practically the same radius as the inner closure elements  45  of the rotary slides  44 . 
     Relative to a cartridge  3 FIGS. 13 to  15  show a further variant for pushing the covers  11  down to the basic body  4  thereby tightly closing the cartridges  5 . A piece of rubber  61  consisting of radically arranged rubber bands  65  which are connected with a circular tube-like inner wall  67  at their inner ends and with a circular outer wall  62  at their outer ends, which both walls  67 , 62  are arranged at right angles to the rubber bands  65 , is clamped onto the periphery  4   d  of the basic body  4 . At the acceptance opening  7  the circular tube-like inner wall  67  is secured by a tension ring  69 . The rubber bands  65  are running from the middle  66  of the external edges  13  of the covers  11  over the tips of the projections  15  and are under tension thereby pushing the covers  11  downwards. The rubber piece  61  may be further secured at the periphery  4   d  of the basic body  4  via a clamp ring  68 . FIG. 13 shows in an exploded view the parts to be mounted (for a better overview with the exception of the flat seal  14 ) and FIG. 14 shows the completely mounted configuration. FIG. 15 specifically shows in a cross-section how the rubber piece  61  is positioned and secured and, further, by dashed lines the situation of an opened cartridge  5  is shown whereby the band  65  is expanded in the region  71  near the acceptance opening  7 . As soon as the upwards push on the cover  11  is released these are pressed downwards again. 
     FIG. 16 exemplifies the use of an odor dispensing device according to the present invention, especially the use of a device according to FIG. 1 in combination with a multi media station  73 . A video station  7 , a non-shown audio station, a keyboard  74  and a computer unit  75  are arranged in such a way that the stimuli of the user&#39;s sense-organs nose, eyes and ears are simultaneously optimised. 
     A device according to FIG. 6 can preferably be used as air freshener whereby the atmosphere of a room, e.g. a cabin of a motor car, can be perfumed with a specific odor according to the preference of the driver or whereby the specific odor can be changed after a predetermined time as programmed by the user to avoid fatigue of the person(s) staying in the room/cabin. 
     The use of the odor dispensing device  1 , 30  and the odor dispensing cartridge  3 , 32 , respectively, as air freshener device is also in particular suitable to overcome the well known odor fatigue mentioned at the beginning, whereby the odor is conveniently changed after 2 to 4 hours; this change can be effected by an optical system or can be time triggered. 
     Especially a device according to FIG. 6 may be equipped in addition with a power source and all actuation and operation means, so building a stand alone unit. Such a stand alone unit might specifically be useful in perfumeries to offer different perfumes to a customer, especially in such preselected quantities that the nose of the customer after having smelled some perfumes can still differenciate further between different perfumes and is not becoming insensible as it otherwise would usually be after smelling three or four perfumes. 
     All parts of the cartridge  3 , 32  and practically all parts of the device  1 , 30 , respectively, with the exception of electronic and driving means, may be made of plastic. 
     The odor carrier  6 , 58  is prefabricated, preferably in tablet form, and preinstalled in a disposable compartment  5 , 33 . As carrier  6 , 58  a porous substrate material may be suitable which then may be impregnated with an odorant, e.g. with a perfume oil, by e.g. spraying or dipping and then is inserted in the appropriate compartment  5 , 33 . Each odor dispensing cartridge  3 , 32  contains a selection of odors that are specific to the desired use and its content and the display associated with it. 
     The number of individual scents is usually smaller in case of the use of the device  1 , 30  as air freshener, e.g. 3 to 5, and larger, e.g. 6-8, in case of the use in connection with multi media. 
     The perfume is usually and conveniently a mixture of any natural and/or synthetic odor and can thus be any fragrance material suitable for imparting the desired odor. Any direction is possible, e.g. fruity, flowery, lavender, vanilla, pine, agrestic or any combination thereof. 
     Any absorbent/porous material which is inert and does not affect the character of the odor material over time can be used. This carrier material may be natural or synthetic. Suitable porous substrates are organic materials, e.g. especially cellulose, plastics, polyethylene (PE), preferably high density PE with a porous size of about 1-500μ, more preferably of about 20-50 μ, most preferably of about 40μ, and any kind of inorganic materials, e.g. plaster, clay, zeolithes, alumina or ceramics. The substrate can also be in the form of gels. These may be manufactured on the base of carboxy methyl cellulose, carrageenan, polyurethane mousse, stearate, gellan gum, polymeric substrates like agar-agar, or any other gelling agents, e.g. silica or Tween 20 (polysorbate). The preferred high density PE is POREX®. A wide range of grades thereof is available, the most preferred being POREX® X 4903. 
     In addition, for optimum dispension of the odorant on the odorant carrier  6 , 58  system, another material can be added to the odor substance. This is a diluent or co-solvent for the perfume. The materials co-act with the perfume to raise or lower the volatility of the perfumes thereby allowing to adjust and control the lifetime. Representative diluents include alcohols, glycols, mineral oils. 
     Concerning the concentration of the odor material a level starting from pure oil, i.e. from 100%, down to about 20%, diluted in most types of solvents used in the perfumery industry, can be used. Thus, e.g. dipropylene glycol, hexylene glycol, DOWANOL DPM (diporpylene glycol dimethyl ether) or dipropylene glycol mono methyl ether, Carbitol (diethylene glycol mono ethyl ether), paraffinic solvents or ethylphtalate are possible solvents. 
     The weight ratio of perfume to substrate depends on the substrate material and should be in the range of about 0,05 to about 1,5. Thus, e.g. the level of perfumes in different substrates is advantageously as follows: porous materials: about 5-60%, preferably about 25% by weight; gels used for impregnating the carriers 6,58: about 1-20%, preferably about 10% by weight. The gellified perfumes may contain up to ca. 96% perfume material. 
     The carriers  6 , 58  may be in the form of exchangable discs (tablets) depending on the concept of the odor dispensing device  1 , 30  used but may have a diameter of about 1-30 mm, preferably of about 15-20 mm, the thickness depend also on the concept, but may be preferably 1-10 mm.