Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to volatile-substance diffusers. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Patent EP-0 104 758 discloses a volatile-substance diffuser comprising a body and a cartridge of a product saturated with a volatile substance. The body can accept the cartridge removably. A radiator allows the air under the cartridge to be heated to force it to pass through the cartridge and escape through an upper opening in the body in order to diffuse the substance. To stop diffusion, the cartridge has to be removed from the body, then the cartridge has to be hermetically sealed by a protective member. These operations are relatively lengthy to perform. What is more, the substance continues to diffuse when the cartridge is removed from the body as long as it is not covered with the protective member. Diffusion therefore stops very gradually over a fairly long period of time and, in particular, after the user wishes it to stop. A persistent smell thus remains, and it is preferable to wait until this has completely disappeared before diffusing another substance. 
     Another source, document FR-1 500 142, discloses a smell diffuser comprising two concentric cylindrical tubes with lateral openings and able to rotate so as to deliberately make their openings coincide so that the smell of a substance housed in the inner tube can be diffused. Using this device, eliminating the effect of a persistent smell entails having an airtight seal between the two tubes. Now, this seal is of a form that is relatively complicated to produce. 
     One object of the invention is to provide a diffuser which allows diffusion to be stopped abruptly and which is easy to manufacture. 
     With a view to achieving this object, the invention envisages a diffuser of a volatile substance comprising a body which has at least one opening and a reservoir for a product containing a volatile substance, the reservoir being mounted so that it can move in the body between a diffusing position which allows a gas to flow through the product, then into the opening, and a closed position in which the product is isolated from the opening, the reservoir and the body having respective faces extending facing each other, in which one of the faces is spherical. 
     Thus, having a spherical face, the seal may have a form that is simple to produce, for example a circular form. As the seal is a total seal, smell is not diffused at all in the closed position. Placing the reservoir in the closed position allows diffusion of the volatile substance to be stopped abruptly, with no persistence effect. It is thus possible to swiftly alternate the diffusion of different substances. What is more, diffusion can be stopped simply and quickly. 
     Advantageously, the spherical face is that of the reservoir. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir can move in terms of rotation with respect to the body. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir can move so that it turns on itself so that the reservoir occupies the same place in the body in its diffusing position and in its closed position. 
     Thus, the change in position is compatible with a small space requirement inside the body. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir can move about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a direction in which the gas flows through the product. 
     Advantageously, the faces each have symmetry of revolution about the axis of rotation. 
     Advantageously, the faces are spherical. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir has a spherical interior face. 
     Advantageously, with the opening being a first opening, the body has a second opening designed so that, in the diffusing position, the gas flows into the second opening, then through the product, then into the first opening. 
     Advantageously, the diffuser comprises at least one element which makes a seal between the body and the reservoir in the closed position. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir comprises a removable cartridge containing the product. 
     Advantageously, the product comprises granules containing the volatile substance in the adsorbed state. 
     The granules can adsorb a large amount of volatile substance. The spaces between the granules make it possible to offer a broad area for exchange between the circulating gas and the granules for diffusing the substance. 
     Advantageously, the reservoir has a wall exhibiting orifices, each having a contour shaped such that it forms a passage for gas when a spherical granule is resting against the orifice. 
     Thus, the wall holds the granules back whatever the position of the wall, for example if it is vertical, and the orifices are not closed off by the granules. 
     Advantageously, the orifices have a skewed circular contour. 
     Advantageously, the wall is undulating. 
     Thus, the orifices are given a skewed shape in a particularly simple way. 
     The invention also envisages a device for diffusing a volatile substance comprising at least one diffuser according to the invention, and a support designed to accept the diffuser or diffusers simultaneously. 
     Advantageously, the support is designed to hold the or each diffuser by clipping-together. 
     Advantageously, the support comprises means for controlling the position of the reservoir of the or each diffuser. 
     Advantageously, the support comprises means for circulating a gas through the or each diffuser in the diffusing position. 
     This may be a blower, which avoids heating up the products and degrading the substances that are to be diffused, or better still a turbine which has the additional advantage of being quieter. 
     Advantageously, the support is, for example, an organ pipe and comprises at least two diffusers, the gas-circulating means being common to the diffusers. 
     Advantageously, the diffusion device comprises polarizing means for accepting the diffuser in the support in at least one predetermined position. 
     Advantageously, the diffusion device comprises polarizing means for accepting the diffuser in the support in at least one predetermined diffuser in the support. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description which will follow of two preferred embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples. In the appended drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a view in axial section and in perspective of a diffuser body according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a spool of the diffuser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view in axial section showing the body and the spool of FIGS. 1 and 2 assembled in the closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the wall of the cartridge of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in section on V—V of the wall of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a diffusion device supporting diffusers according to FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a view in cross section of the device of FIG. 6; 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are respective views from above in section and from the right in section of a support for a diffusion device according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 are respective views from the right and from the front of the housing of a diffuser intended to be accepted in the support of FIGS. 8 and 9; 
     FIGS. 12,  13  and  14  are views of the housing of the diffuser in section on XII—XII, XIII—XIII and XIV—XIV of FIGS. 10 and 11; 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 are respective views in axial section and from the front of a blanking plate for the housing of FIGS. 10 to  14 ; 
     FIGS. 17,  18  and  19  are views from beneath, from the front and in axial section of a spool to be housed in the housing of FIGS. 10 to  14 ; 
     FIG. 20 is a view in axial section illustrating the spool of FIG. 19 between the two plates of FIG. 15; 
     FIGS. 21 to  24  are views from the front, in axial section, from above and from beneath, of the drive shaft of the diffuser of FIG. 10; 
     FIGS. 25 and 26 are elevations, partially in axial section, and from above, of the drive shaft of the support of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 27 is a view in axial section of a seal of the diffuser of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 20, illustrating an alternative form; and 
     FIG. 29 is a circuit diagram for an electronic control circuit of the support. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a diffuser  2  according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises a body  4  with an exterior face  6  of any shape, for example cubic. The body  4  has a cylindrical duct  8  of axis  10 , opening to two opposed front and rear faces of the body, defining two, front and rear, openings  11  and passing through the center of the body. The body  4  also has a cylindrical duct  12  of axis  14  perpendicular to the axis  10  and intersecting the latter geometrically at the center of the body. The duct  12  opens onto an exterior lower face of the body. 
     The body  4  has an interior face  16  with symmetry of revolution about the axis  14 . In this particular instance, this face  16  is spherical and has its center at the center of the body. It geometrically intersects the ducts  8  and  12 . The body  4  has two seals in the form of circular strips  19  of elastomer arranged on the spherical face  16  and contiguous with the two parts of the duct  8  which are separated from one another by the spherical face  16 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the diffuser  2  also comprises a spool  20  which has a spherical exterior face  22  of roughly the same radius as the spherical interior face  16  of the body  4 , so that the spool  20  can be placed in the body  4 , the two spherical faces  16 ,  22  facing one another. The spool  20  has a cylindrical duct  24  of axis  26  passing diametrically right through the sphere. The spool  20  has a shaft  28  of axis  30  oriented radially with respect to the center of the sphere and at right angles to the axis  26 . The shaft  28  projects from the spherical exterior face  22 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 to  5 , the spool  20  comprises a cartridge  32  which has a cylindrical exterior face in surface-to-surface contact with the face of the duct  24 , and two, front and rear, end walls  34 . The walls  34  have a generally flat circular shape. However, in transverse profile, each wall  34  has undulations. In addition, it has orifices  36  of circular shape when viewed in plan, formed in locally non-planar portions of the wall. Thus, the orifices  36  have skewed, that is to say non-planar, contours. The cartridge  32  contains a product  35 , here in the form of granules of plastic containing a volatile substance such as a fragrance in the adsorbed state. These may, for example, be polymer granules marketed by ELF ATOCHEM under the brand name PEBAX. The spool  20  and the cartridge  32  here constitute the reservoir. 
     The spool  20  is placed in the body  4 , the shaft  28  extending into the duct  12  and out of the body  4 . The spool  20  can move in terms of rotation with respect to the body  4  about the coincident axes  14  and  30 . The spool  20  occupies the same place in the body whatever its rotational position about the axis  14 . Action on the shaft  28  allows the spool  20  to be placed in any one of the following positions. In the open position, or diffusing position, the ducts  8  and  24  are coaxial and in the continuation one of the other. When air enters one of the openings  11 , it passes in succession, and in this order, through a portion of the duct  8 , a portion of the duct  24 , an end wall  34  of the cartridge  32 , the product  35 , the other end wall  34  of the cartridge, the other portion of the duct  24 , the other portion of the duct  8  and the second opening  11 . On passing between the granules  35 , the air becomes laden with desorbed fragrance which it diffuses through the second opening  11 . The undulations in the walls  34  of the cartridge  32  allow this cartridge to be completely filled with granules without these blocking the orifices  36 . The air can therefore pass right through the cartridge. 
     In the closed position, the spool  20  extends with the axis  26  of the duct  24  perpendicular to the axis  10  of the duct  8  of the body  4 . The wall of the spool  20  extends facing the two portions of the duct  8  which it closes off. The cartridge  32  is isolated from the body  4  and from the openings  11 , this isolation being sealed by virtue of the seals  19 . 
     It is also possible to have a position of partial opening (or closure) when the axes  10  and  26  of the ducts  8  and  24  are slightly inclined one with respect to the other. In this position, only a small air communication is permitted from one of the openings  11  to the other through the cartridge  32 . 
     To allow the spool  20  to be introduced into the body  2 , the latter has, for example, a main part  2   a  which is widened out on its face that has the first opening  11  and has a threaded interior housing of axis  10 . The body  2  further also comprises an attached part  2   b  defining the largest part of the face which has the first opening  11  and has a threaded cylindrical exterior face designed to be screwed into the housing in the main part  2   a . Each of the two parts—the main part  2   a  and the attached part  2   b —defines a hemisphere of the spherical interior face  16 . The spool  20  is housed in the main part  2   a  before this part is attached to the attached part  2   b.    
     With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a diffusion device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is a scent organ and comprises a support  40  which has a series of places designed to accept diffusers  2  placed side by side with the front openings  11  facing in the same direction, the series of places constituting a module. The support comprises means for holding the diffusers in their places by clipping-together. Each place has an actuator, not depicted, designed to collaborate with the axis  30  of the associated diffuser  2  to maneuver the spool  20  with respect to the body  4 . The support  40  comprises a primary duct  42  containing a blower  44  and connected to a series of secondary pipes  46  opening into the respective places facing the rear opening  11  of the ducts  8  of the diffusers. The support  40  comprises means for switching the blower  44  on and for choosing the position—closed, partially open or open—of each of the diffusers  2 . Each of the diffusers  2  comprises a cartridge  32  associated with a different substance, for example a fragrance. The diffusers are all supplied with air by the blower  44 , the common source of air, which takes in its air at the rear part of the support  40 . 
     When all the diffusers  2  are closed, to diffuse one or more of the fragrances, all that is required is for the associated diffuser or diffusers  2  to be brought into a partially or fully open position. The blower  44  supplies the open diffuser or diffusers with air. The diffusion of a volatile substance using the diffuser occurs without a rise in temperature, thus avoiding degrading the substance that is to be diffused. The closed diffusers are subjected, by the blower  44 , to a slight raised pressure. However, each diffuser  2  that is in a closed position prevents the delivery of fragrance even in the event of a raised pressure. 
     When a diffuser  2  which was initially in an open position is placed in a closed position, diffusion of the associated fragrance ceases. In addition, the cartridge  32  is isolated from the outside of the device. There is therefore no phenomenon of persistent smell. In addition, the product  35  containing the fragrance is shut away and can thus be kept for a long time. The support  40  will advantageously comprise polarizing means for mounting each diffuser  2  in the correct position in its space. It would be possible to provide means known per se for preventing the diffuser  2  from being maneuvered for diffusing the fragrance unless it is in place on the support. The partially-open position allows the intensity of the fragrance diffused to be adjusted. A stepping motor will make it possible to choose the partially-open position of each diffuser with great precision. 
     A second preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to  27 , with numerical references increased by 100. 
     The support  140  illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is able to accept a diffuser  102  illustrated in FIGS. 10 to  20 . The diffuser  102  comprises a body  104  comprising a hollow casing  105 . This has an exterior shape of cubic overall shape and an interior shape of cylindrical overall shape. The casing  105  has a cylindrical interior face  116  of axis  110  and a lower orifice  112  of axis  114 , the axes  110  and  114  being secant and perpendicular to each other. The cylindrical face  116  is broken by a flat  121  extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis  114  and having the orifice screw locations for this purpose. The plates form openings  111 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 17 to  20 , the diffuser  102  comprises a spool  120  which, here too, has a convex spherical exterior face  122  and a cylindrical interior face  124  of axis  126  coaxial thereto. The cylindrical interior face  124  has, near its axial ends, two annular grooves  129 . The grooves  129  respectively accept two gratings  134  identical to the gratings  34  in the first embodiment. The spool  120  is filled with granules in the chamber delimited between the two gratings  134  via the interior face  124 . In this instance it is therefore practically the entire interior volume of the spool which is occupied by the granules. The spool has a flat lower exterior face  131  parallel to the axis  126  and, therein, a rectangular flat-bottomed cavity  133 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 20, the spool  120  is housed coaxially in the body  104 . The exterior spherical face  122  of the spool extends facing the plates  127  and the interior cylindrical face  116  of the casing. Each plate has an interior shoulder accepting a seal  119  of circular annular shape depicted in FIGS. 20 and 27. This seal has a “V” profile. It has a base  173  parallel to the axis  110  and a lip  135  connected to an innermost edge of the base and locally parallel to the spherical face  122  with which it comes into contact. In the open position illustrated in FIG. 20, the seals  119  extend very close to the gratings  134 , around these. In the closed position, the gratings  134  extend facing the interior face  116 , between the two seals which isolate these gratings from the outside. 
     With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the support  140  comprises walls  141  delimiting a housing that accepts the diffuser  102 , approximately of the same shape thereas, having two openings  143  intended to face the openings  111  of the diffuser. The housing has an upper opening  146  for introducing the diffuser by sliding downward. The support comprises a blower  144  capable of sending air into the upstream opening  143 . As a preference, to reduce noise, this blower will be replaced by a turbine. 
     The vertical side walls  141  forming the housing have, in their portion closest to the downstream opening  143 , a vertical rib  145 . The vertical side walls of the diffuser  102  likewise have a slot  147  capable of accepting the corresponding rib  145 . Ribs and slots constitute polarizing means for introducing the diffuser  102  into the housing in a predetermined correct position. 
     Moreover, the diffuser  102  may comprise electronic identification means such as a chip associated with reading means  143  accessible on a side face of the diffuser and illustrated in FIG.  10 . The support  140  will then comprise a microprocessor and means  149  for dialog with the reading means  143  of the diffuser housed in the housing. These various electronic elements will constitute means for electronically identifying the diffuser  102  accepted by the support  140 , for polarizing purposes when, according to the circumstances in which the support  140  is used, it is desirable for only certain predetermined diffusers  102  to be accepted in the support. This will be the case, for example, when the support is used for promotional purposes to promote one or more fragrances and must therefore accept only the diffuser or diffusers corresponding to this or these fragrances. 
     In the support  140 , the lower wall  141  forming the housing has, passing through it, a drive shaft 
     The support  140 , particularly when it is available to the public, may be designed to be operated by a single push-button. Provision may be made for action on this push-button to trigger the switching-on of the blower  144  and, at the same time, the opening of the diffuser. A time delay closes the diffuser and switches off the blower at the end of an adjustable predetermined period of time. This version is well suited to the testing of a fragrance at a sales outlet. 
     An electronic control circuit for the support  140  allowing operation such as this is illustrated in FIG.  29 . When the user presses the push-button, the blower starts up and the valve opens. When the intended period of time (about ten seconds) has elapsed, the blower stops and the valve closes again. If the user presses the button again, the cycle recommences. Likewise, if the user keeps the button depressed, the duration of the cycle is lengthened. 
     The timer function is provided by an NE 555  (U 3 ) which is mounted as a retriggerable monostable. The duration of time delay T is adjustable according to the following formula: 
     
       
           T= 0.693×( R 13+ R 12)× C 4 with  C 4=47 μF;  R 2=16 k; 
       
     
     R 13  variable from 0 to 470 k. 
     The duration can therefore vary from 0.5 seconds to 15.8 seconds. In a series-production version, the potentiometer could be replaced by a resistor R 1 , the resistance of which would be adjusted for the desired time. The duration is lengthened if the potentiometer is turned in the clockwise direction. 
     The blower  144  is controlled via a transistor amplifier by the output of the NE 555 . The diode D 4  acts as a free wheel to limit the overvoltage associated with inductive phenomena. 
     The motor  159  is controlled by a double power amplifier L 222  (Ul). The time for which power is applied to the motor is fixed by the RC network (R 14 , C 4 ). This time can vary from 0 to 5 seconds. 
     The components D 1 , R 11 , C 1 , R 12 , F 1  and F 2  are used to protect the circuit. 
     D 1  protects against reversal of polarity. 
     R 11  and C 1  form an RC network to regulate current spikes to improve EMC compatibility. 
     R 12  clips overvoltages. 
     F 1  or F 2  are fuses to protect against short circuits. F 1  is a filament-type fuse which places the card definitively out of action in the event of a fault. F 2  is a resettable fuse which places the card out of action only when the fault is present. Maintenance of cards with the F 2  fuse will therefore be less intensive. 
     The card may be powered by a mains wall power outlet with a power of at least 6 VA, unregulated, supplying 12 V at 500 mA. As a preference, the voltage of 12 V under load is to be guaranteed in order to maintain correct speed for the motor  159  used for closing and opening the valve or spool. If the power supply is too weak, the valve will not open fully. 
     A green LED visually indicates that the electronics are under power. 
     An eight-pin mini KK connector provides connections for the motor, the blower, the push-button and the power jack. 
     In a multimedia application, the diffuser according to the invention may be controlled by the UBS port of a computer. 
     The polarizing functions could alternatively be provided by reliefs for the coupling of the drive shafts  151  and  163  so that only certain diffusers  102  can be associated with certain supports  140 . 
     One of the gratings  134  could be molded integrally with the spool  120 . 
     In the diffuser, the chip could be used to store various data such as the date of manufacture, product code, etc. 
     The outlet of the support could be provided with a removable position-adjustable nozzle so as to give the best sense of smell according to the user&#39;s position. 
     When the diffuser  2 ,  102  has a single spherical face, this may be provided on the body  4 ,  104 , the spool  20 ,  120  having a cylindrical exterior face. 
     The spherical face or faces may be replaced by a face with a profile that is curved in a plane radial to the axis of rotation and the curvature of which is always in the same direction, that is to say has no point of inflection. 
     Furthermore, in another embodiment, the diffuser  2  could be used directly, without a support  40 . The fragrance would then be diffused without forced-air circulation. The diffuser could, for example, be worn around the user&#39;s neck. The sealed nature of the diffuser would even allow the user to bathe with it. 
     The substances to be diffused may be fragrances, for example to appeal to the sense of smell in certain places, or to present fragrances in a store. These may be pheromones for repelling or attracting insects or animals. The wearing of the diffuser about the user&#39;s person therefore affords good protection against dangerous insects. It may be a deodorizing, sanitizing or bactericide substance. 
     The orifices  36  may have a non-circular shape, for example an elliptical or polygonal shape, the walls  34 ,  134  being flat. 
     The characteristics relating to the orifices in the wall retaining the granules may be employed independently of the shape of the faces of the diffuser. 
     As a replacement for the blower  44 ,  144 , the device  40 ,  140  could comprise a source of compressed inert gas. 
     The diffusion device  40 ,  140  could comprise a number of modules each comprising a number of diffusers  2 ,  102 , thus defining a rectangular matrix of diffusers  2 ,  102 . 
     The diffuser may have various configurations which differ greatly from those just described. 
     The diffuser and the diffusion device according to the invention allow smells of fragrances to be diffused without the use of a solvent, particularly alcohol, which is forbidden by certain national legislation for the diffusion of smells under certain circumstances, particularly in public. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1