Device for the controllable transfer of a liquid and an apparatus for dispensing transferred liquids
A device is disclosed which allows the controllable transfer of a liquid, such as a perfume, a pharmaceutical agent, a masking agent, an insecticide or an organoleptic substance, through an outlet opening of a container. This device includes a holder with a fitting designed to embrace a capillary medium and to fit into the opening in such a way that liquid is only transferable through the opening by the capillary medium. The holder, adjacent to the fitting, further includes a sleeve which further embraces the capillary medium at least at a length which is chosen in such a way that, in a first vertical position of the sleeve liquid has access, and in a second, inverse, vertical position of the sleeve liquid has no access to the capillary medium. An apparatus is also provided in which at least one device is installed on a rotor.
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The present invention relates to a device for the controllable transfer of a liquid, and an apparatus for dispensing transferred liquids with at least one of the devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn order to transfer liquids it is known to use capillary action which is dependent on the cohesion forces within the liquid and the adhesion forces of the liquid to a porous capillary medium containing small channels for the transfer of the liquid. Such a capillary medium, being introduced through an opening into a container, can therefore transfer a liquid out of the container by means of capillary action. The transferred liquid may be used to distribute chemical substances to the ambient air in order to mask or generate an odor, to evoke a medical or organoleptic effect, or to affect insects.
In order to stop the transfer of liquid the capillary medium must be removed or covered, which is inconvenient and may cause further distribution of the remaining liquid on the cover or the removed capillary medium. The use of two or more liquids increases the inconvenience accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a device, which allows an easily controllable transfer of a liquid through a capillary medium and an apparatus for dispensing transferred liquids with at least one of the devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe invention allows the controllable transfer of a liquid, such as a perfume, a pharmaceutical agent, a masking agent, an insecticide, or an organoleptic substance, by a first capillary medium such as a scrib-rod from a container preferably to a second capillary medium such as a gauze. The first capillary medium is inserted into a holder containing a fitting being designed to embrace the capillary medium, and to fit into an opening of the container. The holder further containing a preferably non-porous sleeve, which further embraces the capillary medium at least at a length which is chosen in such a way, that, in a first vertical position of the sleeve, liquid has access and in a second, inverse, vertical position of the sleeve the liquid has no access to the capillary medium.
The invention is therefore easily controllable by turning it from a first to a second position.
In a preferred embodiment of the device, the end of the sleeve extends to a side-wall of the container in such a way that in a third, horizontal position of the container access of the liquid to the capillary medium is prevented as well. This embodiment is used for an apparatus containing two devices which in positions one and two are activated alternatively and which are both deactivated in the third position. A further advantage of this embodiment is, that two or more liquids may be diffused separately.
In a further embodiment, the first capillary medium is connected to a second capillary medium such as a gauze or an extended portion of the first capillary medium, from which the transferred liquid is diffused preferably under the support of an air flow generated by a fan.
In a further embodiment, the device includes an annular container with one or more, preferably three, compartments respective reservoirs filled with different liquids which through a first capillary medium are guided to a second capillary medium which is embraced by the container. The annular container may be molded in one piece which can be produced at low cost. The annular container may, however, also consist of segments which can be separated, for example for the refill of the liquids, and combined afterwards. Using an annular container also facilitates handling of the device and integration into an apparatus which automatically turns the device into positions in which transfer of selected liquids is initiated or terminated. For this purpose the outer surface of the device, which is held in a bearing, may be in contact with a drive wheel.
In a further embodiment of the device, the holder for the first capillary medium may be integrated into the containers of the inventive devices.
The first and the second capillary medium may be made in one piece. This would be especially advantageous in cases where the container is to be disassembled and reassembled, embracing the second capillary medium in the center.
The inventive apparatus, which allows dispensing of transferred liquids, contains at least one inventive device as described above being rotatably mounted on an axis of a stator between at least a first vertical and a second vertical thereto in inverse position.
One embodiment of the apparatus contains two inventive devices arranged towards each other along the same axis on a rotor with the second capillary medium oriented towards the center of the rotor in such a way that in a first position of the rotor, only one of the devices and in the second position, the other one of the devices transfers the liquid.
The apparatus is preferably equipped with a control unit containing a sensor for detecting the position of the rotor. The control unit is able to actuate the air flow generator and/or to control the air flow depending on the position of the rotor.
In the third position, the diffusion of the liquid is therefore immediately stopped because liquid is no longer transferred by the first capillary medium, and no longer diffused from the second capillary medium.
In a further embodiment the apparatus may be fully automated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Therefore, when turning the container 20 upside down, as shown in
Adding two inventive devices 1 aligned along axis w will extend the arrangement to five devices 1 which may be turned around axis v or w into corresponding positions where liquid 21 is transferred in the corresponding devices 1.
In order to allow the use of larger volumes of liquid 21 the devices 1x, 1y, and 1z may be replaced by devices comprising a modified container 201 as shown in
Of course, the vertical and horizontal alignment need not be exact and may vary in a broad angle depending on the percentage of liquid 21 in the containers 20; 201 and the form (bent, straight) and length of the sleeve 13.
It is also possible to use a single inventive device 1 preferably in a housing which may be located on a surface in at least two positions in such away that in both positions (inverse and not inverse) the device 1 is at least approximately vertically aligned.
The positions of the rotor 9 are preferably detected by a sensor 62 which is connected to a control unit 6 which is controlling the fan 4 and/or a motor 63 which, in a preferred embodiment, is used to turn the rotor between positions. In case that the rotor 9 reaches the third position driven by the motor 63 or manually the fan 4 is switched off by the control unit 6 because no liquid is transferred in this position. In a further embodiment, depending on the input from a sensor 65, which measures temperature and/or humidity, the control unit 6 adjusts the air flow generated by the fan 4 or actuates fan 4 and rotor 9 in a suitable way.
The electrical devices in the apparatus are connected to a power supply 64. In order to control the apparatus, preferably one or more control buttons 61 (mains switch, etc.) are installed. The apparatus may also be programmable and equipped with a timer. The apparatus may rest on a support 73 or may be installed on the wall by corresponding means 72.
The annular container 2001 of the inventive device 102 shown in
The holder 10′ for the first capillary medium 3 is incorporated into the segment 102a′. Handling of this device is therefore facilitated, since liquid 21a can be refilled without removing the holder. Incorporation of the holder 10 can advantageously also be done in the containers 20, 201 shown in
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. (cancelled)
2. A device for the controllable transfer of a liquid stored in a container through an outlet opening of said container, which device comprises:
- a container having an opening, and a bottom;
- a quantity of a liquid selected from the group consisting of a perfume, a pharmaceutical agent, a masking agent an insecticide or an organoleptic substance within said container:
- a capillary medium having two ends, one end extending into the region of the bottom of the container;
- a holder for the capillary medium, the holder comprising a fitting adapted to embrace the capillary medium and to fit within the opening, and further comprising a sleeve which extends into the container and which embraces the capillary medium, the sleeve having a length less than the length of the capillary medium, and wherein there is no gap in contact between the length of the holder and the capillary medium;
- wherein in a first position of the device the capillary medium is in contact with the quantity of liquid, and in a second position of the device the quantity of liquid contacts the sleeve but does not contact the capillary medium; and
- wherein the capillary medium, which is extended out of the fitting, is connected to a second capillary medium, from which the transferred liquid is exposed to the air or to the air flow generated by an air flow generator and evaporated.
3-7. (cancelled)
8. The device according to claim 2 further comprising an annular container with at least one reservoir being equipped with a holder for the transfer of a liquid through a first capillary medium to a second capillary medium which is embraced by the annular container.
9. The device according to claim 8 wherein the annular container is molded in one piece or consists of interconnectable segments comprising a reservoir.
10. The device according to claim 2 wherein the holder is incorporated in the container.
11. An apparatus for dispensing at least one liquid, comprising at least one device according to claim 2 for the controllable transfer of a liquid through an outlet opening of a container to a second capillary medium, the device being rotatably mounted between at least a first position in which liquid is transferred and a second position in which transfer of liquid is prevented.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a rotor which is turned around at least a first axis in such a way that for two devices installed on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, in a first position of the rotor liquid is transferred only in the first device and in a second position of the rotor liquid is only transferred in the second device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a third device installed on a third axis which is perpendicular to the first and the second axis so that in a first position of the rotor liquid is transferred only in the first device, in a second position of the rotor liquid is only transferred in the second device, and in a third position of the rotor liquid is only transferred in the third device.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the rotor is rotatable around the first axis and the second axis with at least a fourth and/or a fifth device installed on the first axis so that in a fourth position of the rotor liquid is transferred only in the fourth device and that in a fifth position of the rotor liquid is only transferred in the fifth device.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second capillary medium of the installed devices is oriented towards the crossing point of the first and the second axis.
16. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a device having an annular container with at least one reservoir equipped with a holder for the transfer of a liquid through a first capillary medium to a second capillary medium, which is embraced by the annular container.
17. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising an air flow generator which is generating an air flow towards at least the second capillary medium of the device whose first capillary medium is exposed to the liquid.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the air flow generator is a fan.
19. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a control unit comprising a switch for actuating the air flow generator and/or comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the rotor, the control unit being able to actuate the air flow generator and/or to control the air flow depending on the position of the rotor.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the control unit is programmable and capable of controlling a motor used to turn the rotor between the operating positions.
21. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a stator comprising the air flow generator and a bearing for the axis of the rotor which carries at least one device.
22. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the liquid is a perfume, a pharmaceutical agent, a masking agent, an insecticide or an organoleptic substance.
23. (cancelled)
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising a stator comprising the air flow generator and a bearing for the axis of the rotor which carries up to five devices.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2005
Applicant: Givaudan SA (Geneva)
Inventors: Gerald Hart (Surrey), Guy Naish (Leicester)
Application Number: 10/893,848