Abstract: An orifice plate is vibrated up and down at high frequency while liquid is delivered to its lower surface so that the liquid is ejected up from the plate in the form of very small diameter droplets. The upper surface of the plate is constructed to resist wetting and buildup of a liquid film thereby to form smaller diameter liquid droplets which are ejected to greater heights. The upper surface of the plate may be treated with a surfactant such as a flurosurfactant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are hard surface cleaners which provide improved fragrance retention properties to the treated hard surface, and methods for using them. The cleaners include a fragrance, a carrier, and a surfactant selected from ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, polyglycosides, ethoxylated alkyl alcohols, and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers functionalized with a fatty alcohol moiety. The cleaner may also contain water and a base.

Abstract: A plug and wickholder is configured to be reliably sealed to the neck of a bottle which contains a liquid to be atomized and to a cap which seals the bottle during storage. The plug and wickholder includes a first generally tubular wall which contains a wick and which fits tightly into a cap sealing wall, and it further includes a generally cylindrical sealing wall which fits tightly into a bottle neck. A second generally vertical tubular wall is interposed between the first generally tubular wall and the generally cylindrical sealing wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dispensers for active materials, which dispensers employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a simmer plate and to the body of a solid fuel containing the active material, so as to more rapidly liquify the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to volatilize the active material. The heat conductive elements and simmer plate are configured so as to engage said solid fuel, and to cause the flow of liquified fuel to the wick. The fuel may comprise various active ingredients, such as fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, herbal and medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and the like, and may be provided in various forms.

Abstract: An electrically activatable fumigating device, methods of using it, and methods of constructing the device, are disclosed. The device is adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet. It is provided with a resistance heater that is housed in a lower recess of a heating cup by crimping edges of the recess around the heater. The cup focuses the heat of the heater adjacent the bottom of the cup. A eutectic thermal cut-off operates as a primary means of energy cut-off. The resistance heater is also designed to fail after a specified heating period as a redundant means of cut-off.

Abstract: A compression-molded candle product having multiple layers and method of maufacture thereof are disclosed. The candle may be optionally configured to dispense one or more volatile additives. The additive may be fragrances, sanitization agents, deodorants, insect control compounds or any other volatile material, or mixture thereof. The candle may optionally have separate colorants in each layer.

Abstract: An aerosol dispenser assembly (1) has a container (2) holding a liquid product and a liquefied gas propellant for propelling the liquid product from the container, the propellant being present in a quantity of at most about 25% by weight of the contents of the container (2). A valve (4) is attached to the container (2) for selectively dispensing the liquid product from the container (2) as a mist. The assembly (1) is configured such that the mist has a small particle size, is dispensed at an expeditious rate, and very little product is retained in the container (2) when the propellant is depleted.

Abstract: An aerosol dispenser assembly (1) having a container (2) that contains a liquid product, and a propellant for propelling the liquid product from the container (2). The propellant is a dual phase hydrocarbon propellant, is free of normal butane, and is at most 25% by weight of the contents of the container. A valve (4) is attached to the container (2) for selectively dispensing the liquid product from the container (2) as a mist, the mist having an average particle size of less than 35 &mgr;m (0.0014″), over at least 75% of the life of the dispenser assembly (1). The dispenser assembly (1) is capable of dispensing over 98% by weight of the liquid product from the container (2). A vapor tap (24) is formed in the valve (4) to facilitate thorough mixing of the propellant and the liquid product prior to dispensing, and a valve stem (12) is disposed in the valve (4). The valve stem (12) defines at least one stem orifice (26) for flow of the product during dispensing.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for the reduction or elimination of unpleasant odors from surfaces containing such odors comprises a perfume, a surfactant/solubilizer, a solvent/drying aid, an odor absorber, and, preferably, a buffer to maintain the desired pH. The solution contains minimal or no volatile organic compounds. Due to the specific nature of the combination of the surfactant/solubilizer and the solvent/drying aid, the use of fragrances previously too hydrophobic for use in an aqueous solution is possible, providing a large variety of efficient odor counteractants not previously available. The composition may optionally comprise additional components, such as preservatives, antimicrobials, anti-static compositions, anti-wrinkling agents, insect control agents, moth repellents, UV protectants, water-proofing agents, and textile treatment agents. The aqueous solution may be applied to a variety of surfaces, in sufficient quantity to wet the surface, preferably by spraying.

Abstract: Acidic hard surface cleaners are disclosed having a disinfectant which is a quaternary ammonium biocide and/or a substituted guanidine biocide such as a biguanide biocide. There is also a cationic polymer and a surfactant which does not have an anionic moiety. Water is also included at the time of use.

Abstract: A liquid two part cleaning composition for hard surfaces, and a two chamber bottle for dispensing the cleaner are disclosed. The cleaner includes a first basic liquid and a second acidic liquid. At least one of the liquids includes a surfactant system. At least one of the liquids includes a foam inhibitor. When the first and second liquid are dispensed on a surface, carbon dioxide gas released instantaneously creates a quickly breaking foam on the surface. The bottle has horizontal orientation of the first and second chamber that assures a user's thumb is on the front wall and a user's fingers are on the rear wall of the bottle when dispensing. The horizontal orientation provides an ergonomically advantageous wide range of motion. The positioning of a user's thumb on the front wall of the bottle allows for design adjustments in the bottle to achieve equal dispensing from both chambers.

Abstract: An overcap for use with a spray canister includes a peripheral wall adapted to attach to the spray canister, a cantilevered lever arm hingedly attached to the peripheral wall, and a nozzle within the cantilevered lever arm. The nozzle includes a stem socket adapted to receive a valve stem of the spray canister and adapted to provide a fan-shaped spray.

Abstract: A vibratory plate liquid atomization device (10) having a tilted orifice plate (34) which is vibrated by a piezoelectric actuator (36); and a novel replaceable liquid reservoir (40) having a vertically extending, dimensionally stable, liquid delivery system (44) with a non-horizontal upper surface (44a).

Abstract: A toilet tank cleanser dispenser has a receiving holster suitable to receive an inverted container of cleaning composition and suitable to dose liquid from the container. The adapter has an internal dosing shuttle for metering an aliquot of cleanser through an opening at the bottom of the adapter defining a valve seat. A float can move up and down with respect to the liquid level in the tank to drive an outlet valve against an outlet of the adapter. The valve head can have a balloon-like structure driven by the float. For example, a low density thin wall polyethylene valve head can be supported by a trapped air pocket to reduce leakage, permit some flexibility, and avoid permanent deformation.

Abstract: Furniture polishes, and methods for their use, are disclosed. The polishes are liquids in the form of a dispersion which is a biliquid foam with a thickener, where the foam is structured as an oil-in-water complex. The dispersion has an oil portion having a polysiloxane and/or a hydrocarbon oil such as a mineral oil. There is also surfactant such as one nonionic surfactant and one more polar surfactant. Water is also provided. The polish is preferably essentially free alcohols.

Abstract: A cleaning implement provides a spray head for a cleanser spray bottle. It also mounts on its forehead a removable cleaning pad. The spray head threads onto a conventional spray bottle. The cleaning pad is mounted immediately above the spray outlet. It has a slot to engage the spray head. There can be a living hinge to allow the pad to flex, and the forehead can be rounded to permit the pad to rotate on the spray head without being removed to change orientations. A single hand can be used to spray and rub a hard surface, without the need for a spray bottle to be put down while wiping the surface.