Device and procedure for release of fragrance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for release of a fragrance, comprising a vessel containing a liquid or solid base material and a radiation source, whereby the radiation source can act on the vessel so that the fragrance contained in the base material can be released, as well as a procedure for releasing the fragrance from the base material. According to the invention the radiation source for this procedure should be an electric filament.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the release of a fragrance, comprising a vessel for storing a liquid or solid base material and a radiation source. The radiation source is directed towards the vessel in a way, that the fragrance contained in the base material can be released. The invention comprises also a procedure to release the fragrance from the base material.

[0002] Devices of this type are known where the radiation source is a wax candle, a petroleum burner or similar devices. The use of such radiation sources has the disadvantage, that its energy output can only be controlled in a limited way and its operation is comparatively cumbersome, because it requires open fire.

[0003] The invention is based on the idea to provide a device, according to the preamble of claim 1, which is easier to adjust and more convenient to use.

[0004] A device according to claim 1 implements this idea. According to the invention the radiation source is an electric filament. A commercial dimmer can adjust the energy output. Switching on and off can be done relatively easy by a switch, as usually done with electric devices.

[0005] An extension of the invention is provided by operating the electric filament with a reflector. The reflector bundles the radiation emitted from the electric filament in one direction and thus increases its efficiency toward that direction.

[0006] Preferably the reflector and the electric filament are enclosed in one housing. The housing facilitates mounting and protects reflector and electric filament from physical damages.

[0007] In another model it is intended to put a filter between the vessel and the electric filament. Undesirable radiation components can thus be filtered out.

[0008] It is preferable to filter out thermal radiation by the filter. Thus the radiation would not provide heat supply to the vessel.

[0009] Furthermore it is intended to use an H2O-Filter. This is the traditional filter to eliminate thermal radiation components.

[0010] Further on it is intended that the filter can be modifiable regarding its optical properties. Depending on the spectrum, which is emitted by the electric filament, the spectrum of the radiation impinging on the vessel can be varied by modifying the filter.

[0011] Preferably the optical properties of the filter are electrically alterable. Using an electric switch a simple and reproducible adjustment can be obtained.

[0012] In another model it is intended, that the variable optical property of the filter is particularly the wavelength, which is blocked by the filter. Thus individual wavelengths of the spectrum which impinge on the vessel can be specifically filtered out.

[0013] The problem mentioned in the beginning is resolved by the procedure for the release of a fragrance according to claim 10. According to the invention it is intended, that the base material is exposed to radiation, which causes a chemical modification and thus releases the fragrance. By modifying the radiation intensity and the radiation spectrum the amount of the released frangrance can be changed.

[0014] As an extension of the procedure it is intended, that the base material release different fragrances depending on the impinging radiation. Thus without changing the base material different frangrances can be released. Equally it is possible to release different frangrances in a time-dependent way.

[0015] The base material is preferably an aqueous solution. Aqueous solutions are safe to handle and are innocuous as compared to e.g. alcoholic solutions.

[0016] In the following an implementation example of the invention is described.

[0017] In FIG. 1 the principle of the device according to the invention is shown.

[0018] A bowl 1 according FIG. 1 is supported by a Rack 2. Bowl 1 can be e.g. a glass bowl shaped as a spherical cap or the like. In principal all partially or fully open vessels can be used. In the depicted example Rack 2 is a wire rack.

[0019] Rack 2 is connected with a Housing 3, in which the electric filament 4 and the Reflector 5 are accommodated. The electric filament 4 and the Reflector 5 are arranged in such manner, that the radiation generated by the electric filament 4 impinge primarily onto the bottom side of Bowl 1.

[0020] A liquid 6 is placed in Bowl 1. This can be e.g. a solution, emulsion or a mixture of several substances. Instead of Liquid 6 there can be solid materials, for example granulate material. Because of the irradiation of the bottom side of Bowl 1 with the electric filament 4 in combination with Reflector 5, the Bowl 1 as well as the Liquid 6 is heated and the fragrance contained in Liquid 6 evaporates.

[0021] Alternatively or in addition to the use of the thermal radiation of the electric filament 4 and its absorption by the Liquid 6 resp. Bowl 1 the wavelength of the radiation emitted by the electric filament 4 can be tuned to the properties of the Liquid 6. This tuning would be done in a way as to trigger a chemical change of the Liquid 6, as for example a decomposition of a substance contained in it, caused by the impact of the radiation from the electric filament 4.

[0022] The chemically altered substance is released from Liquid 6, while unaltered substances remain in the Liquid 6. By the action of the radiation emitted from the electric filament 4 on the Liquid 6 a substance is thus released and distributed in the room where the device is located.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows an enhanced version of the device as compared to FIG. 1. Between the Housing 3 and Bowl 1 there is an additional Filter 7. This can be for instance a traditional H2O-Filter. This filters out those radiation components, which contribute to heating the water.

[0024] Therefore the Liquid 6 in Bowl 1 is not heated and only those radiation components, which cause a chemical modification of the liquid, can pass. Thus e.g. a rapid evaporation of liquid components with a distinctly higher boiling point than room temperature can be avoided.

[0025] Additionally Filter 7 can be modified regarding its optical properties. For instance the Filter 7 could be alterable regarding its transparency spectrum, by electrical switching devices, which are not demonstrated here. Thus the amount of gas evaporating from Bowl 1 can be controlled independently from the radiation intensity of the electric filament 4.

[0026] If Liquid 6 contains substances, which are modified at different radiation wavelengths and thereby produce different scents, this creates a device which can produce alterable scents.

[0027] Additionally Mirrors 8 can be arranged at the Bowl 1, which generate a light effect in the environment from the electric filament 4 in combination with Reflector 5. Alternatively parts of Bowl 1 can be metallized.

Claims

1. Device for the release of fragrance comprising a vessel (1) containing a liquid or solid base material (6) and a radiation source, whereby the radiation source can act on the vessel (1) in such way, that the fragrance (6) contained in the base material (6) is released

thus characterized, that

the radiation source is an electric filament (4).

2. Device according to claim 1,

thus characterized, that

the electric filament (4) can be operated in combination with a reflector (5).

3. Device according to one of the claims 1 or 2,

thus characterized, that

the reflector (5) and the electric filament (4) are arranged together in one housing (3).

4. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 3,

thus characterized, that

a filter (7) is placed between vessel (1) and the electric filament (4).

5. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 4,

thus characterized, that

filter (7) filters out thermal radiation.

6. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 5,

thus characterized, that

Filter (7) is an H2O-filter.

7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6,

thus characterized, that

Filter (7) can be modified regarding its optical properties.

8. Device according to claim 7,

thus characterized, that

the optical properties of filter (7) can be electrically altered.

9. Device according to one of the claims 7 or 8,

thus characterized, that

the electrically alterable property of Filter (7) is especially the wavelength, which is blocked by the Filter (7).

10. Procedure for release of a fragrance from a base material,

thus characterized, that

the base material is exposed to a radiation, which causes a chemical change of the base material and the chemical change releases the fragrance.

11. Procedure according to claim 10,

thus characterized, that

the base material releases different fragrances, depending on the applied radiation.

12. Procedure according to one of the claims 10 or 11,

thus characterized, that

the base material is an aqueous solution.