Fragrance Emitting Device for Use in Ironing

Abstract

A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing is disclosed. The device is intended to allow a person who is ironing to initiate the release of a fragrance when desired. The device comprises an absorbent body (20) within which is incorporated a fragrance composition, the body being adapted for disposition between an upper surface (18) of an ironing board and an ironing board cover (12) fitted to cover the upper surface. Release of fragrance is initiated by passing a hot iron over the device. Cellulose pulp is a suitable material for the body. The device may be sold as a packaged product within a sealed package that preserves the fragrance within the body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage of PCT/GB2005/00003445 filed Sep. 8, 2005, and based upon GB Application No. 0420122.4 filed Sep. 10, 2004, under the International Convention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a fragrance emitting device for use in ironing.

BACKGROUND ART

Many people find that clean washing can sometimes loose its freshness and “just washed” smell due to factors such as its being left in a washing machine for too long or not using a conditioning agent on heavily soiled items. This can cause items to give off a stale smell when they are being ironed.

This problem has been addressed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2003/0136035 of Lehrman. Lehrman's proposal is to incorporate fragrance emitting means within an ironing board cover. However, the proposal presented by Lehrman is less than ideal and does itself have problems. Most particularly, it has been observed by the present inventor that in Lehrman's proposal it is likely that the fragrance will become exhausted some considerable time before the cover has reached the end of its life. The user then has the option of doing without emission of fragrance or replacement of a cover that is still otherwise perfectly serviceable. Moreover, many people chose to use decorative ironing board covers, and such people will not wish to abandon this preference to obtain the benefit of the fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of this invention is to provide a solution to the problem of providing a fragrance while ironing that is more practical and versatile than the proposal of Lehrman.

With this end in mind, this invention provides a fragrance emitting device for use in ironing comprising an absorbent body within which is incorporated a fragrance composition, the body being adapted for disposition between an upper surface of an ironing board and an ironing board cover fitted to cover the upper surface.

By providing a fragrance body that is a separate product, it can be made sufficiently cheaply that it can be disposed of when the fragrance has become exhausted. The user has a free choice to use whatever cover they choose, and the cover can be used until it has become completely worn out. The fragrance not only freshens the items being ironed; it also pervades the surrounding atmosphere making the task of ironing less arduous.

The absorbent body may be formed from a cellulose pulp material. This has advantages of being cheap and readily biodegradable and can withstand the temperatures encountered in ironing. It is also relatively inert and is unlikely to react unfavourably to the fragrance composition.

There are various possible ways in which the fragrance composition can be incorporated into the body. For example, it may be encapsulated such that it is released only upon application of heat. This has the advantage that the fragrance can remain almost indefinitely in the body if it is unused. However, it is relatively expensive to produce and requires specialist manufacturing techniques. An alternative is to simply disperse liquid fragrance composition in the body. This can be achieved very simply and cheaply. However, the device must be stored in a sealed enclosure prior to use. The fragrance chosen preferably has low volatility at room temperature, so as to minimise loss of fragrance when the device is not in use, and has a higher volatility at the temperatures encountered during ironing.

The fragrance composition most preferably has a flashpoint that is greater than the temperature to which it will typically be subject. For example, it may be selected to have a flashpoint greater than 150° C.

Advantageously, the body is substantially smaller than the upper surface of a typical ironing board. This allows a user to select when to cause fragrance composition to be volatised by passing a hot iron over a region of an ironing board cover above the device.

From another aspect, the invention provides a packaged product for use in ironing comprising an absorbent body having volatile fragrance composition dispersed within it, contained within a sealed package that is substantially impermeable to the fragrance composition.

Typically, the package is formed from a flexible and preferably transparent plastic material. The package may simply be ruptured in order to open it. Alternatively, the package may be resalable after it has been opened. In such embodiments, a user can return the device to the package when it is not in use to reduce the rate at which fragrance composition evaporates from it and thereby extend its life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ironing board being provided with a fragrance emitting device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a packaged product embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A fragrance emitting device embodying the invention is formed as a body 20 of cellulose pulp approximately 2 mm to 4 mm thick. In shape it is approximately an isosceles triangle, having a base that is straight and two further edges that are convex curves.

The body 20 is permeated with a fragrance composition. The composition is formulated to have a low volatility at room temperature and a relatively higher volatility at temperatures encountered during ironing. Care must be taken to ensure that the amount of the composition that is present in the pad is not so great that it will diffuse thorough the ironing board cover because this could create an oily patch in the cover. The fragrance composition must also be selected such that it will not react with the foam backing that is present on most ironing board covers, because this could cause the body to adhere to the cover.

An additional consideration that must be addressed when selecting a suitable fragrance composition is that its flashpoint should not be lower than the temperature to which it will be subject during ironing. Experiments have shown that this can exceed 150° C., which is an unusually high flashpoint for a fragrance composition.

After manufacture, the body 20 permeated with fragrance composition is sealed, in this embodiment, within a plastic package 22 that has low permeability to the fragrance composition, and is thus presented as a packaged product for sale. In the interest of presentation, the plastic material from which the package is formed may be transparent. Thus, within the package 22, the fragrance composition can escape from the body 20 only until it reaches saturation within the package. This ensures that most of the fragrance composition remains within the body until the device is to be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical ironing board for use presents an upwardly-directed ironing surface 10 upon which an article to be ironed can be supported. The ironing surface 10 is formed by a heat-resistant outer surface of an ironing board cover 12 that is wrapped around the ironing board portion. The cover 12 is supported on a flat upper surface 18 of the ironing board. Although these are not shown, the ironing board is typically supported on legs which, when placed on a flat floor, position the flat upper surface horizontally at a convenient height above the floor.

When viewed in plan, the ironing board extends along an axis about which it is symmetrical. Towards one of its ends, the board carries an iron stand 16 formed of heat-resistant material, the stand being to receive and support an iron when it is not in use. Towards the opposite end of the bord, its width tapers to form a nose.

To use the device, the cover 12 is first removed from the region of the board's nose to expose the flat surface below. The device is then removed from its sealed package and placed upon the flat surface 18 as shown at 20 in FIG. 1. It will be seen that the shape of the body means that it fits well within the nose of the ironing board. Once the device is in place, the cover 12 is replaced. As will be seen from FIG. 2, the device is then sandwiched between the cover 12 and the flat surface 18.

When the ironing board is not in use, the fragrance composition will evaporate form the body 20 only slowly. The air surrounding the body 20 will quickly become saturated with the fragrance composition, whereupon further evaporation will cease. However, when the ironing board is in use, and the iron is passed over the pad, two effects cause a release of perfume. First, the body 20 and the fragrance composition is heated, causing an increase in the volatility of the fragrance composition. Second, the air immediately surrounding the pad 10 is compressed by the iron, and this causes some of it to be ejected through the material of the cover, carrying fragrance composition with it. Thus, a user can choose to cause fragrance composition to be released by passing their iron over it. While no fragrance is required, the user can simply avoid the region of the board upon which the device is placed.

In another embodiment, the fragrance composition is encapsulated within bodies that prevent its evaporation, the bodies being formed such as to rupture when subject to the heat of an iron passing over the body. Evaporation of the fragrance composition is substantially prevented until the bodies are ruptured. This extends the life of the device by preventing dispersal of the fragrance other than when release of fragrance is wanted by the user.

In an alternative embodiment, the package may be provided with a re-sealable sealing strip 24. This allows a user to return the device to the package 22 while it is not in use, thereby conserving the fragrance composition within the body 20.

Claims

1. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing comprising an absorbent body within which is incorporated a fragrance composition, the body being adapted for disposition between an upper surface of an ironing board and an ironing board cover fitted to cover the upper surface.

2. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 1 in which the absorbent body is formed from a cellulose pulp material.

3. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 1 in which encapsulated such that it is released only upon application of heat.

4. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 1 in which liquid fragrance composition is dispersed within the body.

5. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 4 in which the fragrance composition has low volatility at room temperature.

6. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 5 in which the fragrance composition has a higher volatility at the temperatures encountered during ironing.

7. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 1 in which the fragrance composition has a flashpoint that is greater than the temperature to which it will typically be subject during ironing.

8. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according to claim 7 in which the fragrance composition has a flashpoint greater than 150° C.

9. A fragrance emitting device for use in ironing according claim 1 in which the body is substantially smaller than the upper surface of a typical ironing board.

10. (canceled)

11. A packaged product for use in ironing comprising an absorbent body having volatile fragrance composition dispersed within it, contained within a sealed package that is substantially impermeable to the fragrance composition.

12. A packaged product for use in ironing according to claim 11 in which the package is formed from a flexible plastic material.

13. A packaged product for use in ironing according to claim 11 in which the package is resealable.