Dry Formulation Fragrance Delivery System
A fragrance delivery system comprising a dispensing device having a dispensing component and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, wherein the mixture is dry as deposited on the dispensing component and dry as dispensed from the dispensing component during and after use.
The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/724,883 filed Dec. 21, 2012 by the same inventors and entitled CLOTHING WIPE; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/606,827 filed Sep. 7, 2012 by the same inventors and entitled CLOTHING WIPE; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/386,425 filed Mar. 22, 2006 entitled ODOR NEUTRALIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD, now abandoned. The present application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/679,563 filed Nov. 16, 2012 by the same inventors, which is a Continuation of the above application and is also entitled CLOTHING WIPE.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to neutralizing unpleasant odors and, more particularly, to apparatus and a method for neutralizing unpleasant odors that may cling to the surface of a person's clothing, the fur coat or hair of a pet animal, surfaces of furnishings in households and offices, interior or exterior surfaces of vehicles of all kinds, work spaces and industrial facilities, etc.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDining out, attending concerts or dance performances, going to the theatre or to movies, going to parties, dances and celebrations, going to night clubs and other entertainment venues, or just hanging out with friends are some of the activities people engage in during their free time. Generally, in preparing to participate in these activities, people take great pains to look their best and to present themselves in the best possible light. Personal grooming aids and products are often employed, most of which are scented, in an effort to appear attractive. Perfumes and scented grooming products are used to enhance the effects, particularly among persons interested in attracting other persons of the opposite sex, for example.
Unfortunately, the scented effects tend to diminish rapidly, reducing the intended effect of the personal grooming efforts. Further, many of the venues for the above activities include exposure to a wide variety of odors. These odors typically originate from food and beverages in restaurants, from smoke in restaurants, bars, night clubs, etc., from the perspiration of the persons themselves and other patrons, and from other substances that may be encountered during an evening's entertainment. Many of these odors are unpleasant or become more so with the passage of time. Such odors are readily absorbed by a person's clothing or hair, and are carried with the person for the rest of the evening. Thus, not only are the original scents diminished through the natural evaporation and deterioration that occurs, but they are often overwhelmed or masked by the many odors in the surroundings. These circumstances may be especially worrisome to people in a dating situation, especially as the evening wears on and the persons anticipate extending the evening or just wish to freshen themselves before proceeding with the remainder of the evening's activities, one's next appointment, etc. Other circumstances where the need to refresh one's clothing or hair may arise include following a long or arduous meeting, working out in a gym, a long walk between offices, playing with pets, and the like.
Conventional remedies include perfume or perfumed products such as cologne applied to a person's skin or clothing, typically provided in a spray container or a bottle. Other similar products may be applied by hand. Further, it is known that certain products, such as dryer sheets for use in clothes dryers, have sometimes been used in an effort to absorb the unpleasant odors from a person's clothing or hair, but generally with limited success. Further, such dispensing devices as traditionally used for perfume or cologne are not readily available with odor neutralizing capabilities adapted to neutralizing the odors accumulated on a person's clothing. Moreover, the use of paper or fabric odor absorbing devices has heretofore failed to provide more than limited usefulness.
It is known or has been observed that certain paper or fabric products, such as the Bounce® dryer sheets and Swiffer® floor mop products manufactured and distributed by the Proctor & Gamble Corporation for the laundry and floor cleaning markets respectively, and which may respectively contain anti-static or scented compounds or cleaning agents, have certain properties that might suggest possible applications in this field of odor neutralization of clothing. However, the available configuration of these articles is not appropriate or well suited to the application of neutralizing the odors absorbed by a person's clothing in a night club or restaurant venue. The Bounce® dryer sheets and the Swiffer® mop refills are loose sheets of fabric. They are not conveniently packaged for a person's pocket or purse, are not adapted to the particular use of odor neutralization of a person's clothing, and do not contain suitable substances for neutralizing odors absorbed into or clinging to a person's clothing or other surfaces.
Heretofore, applicating devices for materials that include odor neutralization by masking or addition of a fragrance have been available only in liquid form, or in a dry form that requires activation by the addition of moisture or other liquid to prepare them for use. Such products and methods, in addition to often being difficult to use (requiring extra steps, etc.), often have other disadvantages such as leaving stains or other residue on the surface treated with the applicating devices. Not only are these impractical for a person's clothing or hair, but they present obstacles for many other applications that seek to freshen a surface without leaving a wet film, residue or stain, that may be unwelcome or difficult to remove. There is thus a need for a wipe technology—an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus, that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods, and that is dry—before, during, and after it is applied to a surface to be treated and freshened. Further, it is desirable that a wipe can serve both to eliminate or neutralize unpleasant odors deposited or accumulated on the surface from the surroundings, and to in general to freshen or restore an original scent or replace an odor with an alternative pleasant scent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly there is disclosed a dry formulation fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising: a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation deposited on said dispensing component, said dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component.
In one aspect the dry formulation is formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein said PEG has a molecular weight of approximately 3000 grams/mole to 5000 grams/mole; and said fragrance component is formed as a blend of at least one essential oil and at least one aroma compound.
In another aspect the mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, a rotating adjustment knob extending from a first end thereof and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and a rotatable dispensing component controlled by said adjustment knob and disposed within a longitudinal opening through said body from said first side to a second opposite side of said body.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof; said body formed of first and second shells corresponding to said first and second sides, having a longitudinal window opening in said first shell and an access slot disposed through an edge of said body along and proximate a side of said window opening; and a renewable dispensing component disposed within said window opening in said first shell and installable through said access slot.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises an elongate member having an axle portion and a handle portion; a roller disposed on said axle portion; and a dispensing component formed of In another embodiment the a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said roller, said dispensing component including at least one layer of said fabric, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
In another aspect a dry formulation fragrance control is provided, comprising a dispensing insole having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component, wherein the dispensing insole comprises a three-layer assembly, in order, of an insole pad, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a two-layer assembly of a first fabric dispensing layer and a second fabric body layer, wherein said first layer includes said dry formulation deposited thereon. In one embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe configured for receiving four fingers of a user's hand between said first and second layers of said assembly. In another embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe glove configured for receiving a user's hand within said glove between said first and second layers of said assembly 45. In another embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe mitten configured for receiving a user's hand within said mitten between said first and second layers of said assembly.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a body member having a transverse slot extending from a top to a bottom surface thereof, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on said bottom surface of said body on each side of said slot; a comb having a plurality of tines, said comb removably secured within said transverse slot, and said tines extending past said bottom surface of said body between first and second portions of said array of bristles; and a dispensing component formed of a fabric affixed to at least one of first and second outer faces of said comb, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a body member having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on an underside of said body and surrounding said opening; a spool disposed within said opening and supported on fixed axial stubs; and a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said spool, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
In another aspect the dispensing device comprises an under layer and a carrier layer substantially congruent with said under layer, said layers bonded together along first and second opposite edges thereof, thereby creating a space therebetween such that at least four fingers of a user's hand can be inserted through said space.
In another embodiment a method of delivering a fragrance to a surface, comprises the steps of configuring a dispensing device having a dispensing component for receiving a dry formulation containing a fragrance component; producing said dry formulation from a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin as a carrier component and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent of a fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; and applying said dry formulation to said dispensing surface of said dispensing device.
In another aspect the method comprises the steps of engaging said dispensing device with a target surface; and manipulating said dispensing device to cause an amount of said fragrance component to be deposited onto said target surface in a non-liquid form, without leaving a residue of stain or significant traces of said dry formulation.
In another embodiment there is provided a fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry for wherein said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
There is also disclosed a personal care apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing. The apparatus comprises a hand-held applicator formed of a first layer and a second layer bonded together along mutual edges thereof except along a portion of the mutual edges thereby forming a pocket or sleeve; an odor neutralizing formulation uniformly deposited on an outer side of the first layer of the applicator, wherein the formulation includes a base component and a neutralizer component; the base component includes approximately 86% polyethylene glycol ester and 10% glycerin and the neutralizer component includes a fragrance mixture formed of essential oils and one or more aroma compounds combined in predetermined proportions; and a pouch for enclosing the applicator when not in use, the pouch formed of a flexible packaging film and having a reusable closure mechanism disposed along one side thereof.
In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a clothing wipe is provided, comprising the steps of forming a first layer of an applicator in a first branch of a web process including uniformly depositing an odor neutralizing formulation on an outer surface of said first layer; forming a second layer of said applicator in a second branch of a web process including imprinting said second layer with indicia followed by merging said first and second web process branches in a step for aligning said first and second layers of said applicator for cutting, trimming and bonding operations; and forming and imprinting a storage pouch for said applicator from flexible packaging film in a third web process followed by merging said third web process branch with said combined first and second web process branches in a step to insert said applicator in said storage pouch.
In another aspect of the method for fabricating a clothing wipe, the step of formulating the odor neutralizing formulation includes the steps of combining a fragrance mixture in a predetermined proportion to provide a fragrance component having a “clean linen” aroma; and combining the fragrance component with a base component including a mixture of a polyethylene glycol ester and glycerin. In another aspect, the polyethylene glycol ester is combined with the glycerin in respective proportions of 86% and 10% of the odor neutralizing formulation.
In another embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for neutralizing odors in clothing, comprising an applicator for applying a neutralizing substance to a person's clothing, the applicator including a carrier layer having a generally rectangular shape defined by a perimeter thereof and impregnated with the neutralizing substance, and a substrate layer having generally the same shape as the carrier layer and bonded to the carrier layer around all but a select portion of the perimeter of the carrier layer to form a finger pocket for manipulating the applicator. In an alternate embodiment, an activating mechanism or protective sleeve associated with the applicator may be provided for releasing the neutralizing substance from the carrier layer.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed comprising the steps of providing an odor-neutralizing applicator having a carrier layer impregnated with an odor neutralizing substance and adapted to be slipped over the person's fingertips of one hand; slipping the applicator over the fingertips of the person's hand; and manipulating the applicator against the person's clothing to neutralize the odors in the person's clothing. In an alternate embodiment the method includes the step of activating the carrier layer of the applicator to release the odor neutralizing substance onto the person's clothing.
In another embodiment of the present invention a clothing wipe is disclosed comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited as a dry formulation on a surface of a handheld applicator. The PEG mixed with glycerin and a fragrance together form a dry odor neutralizing formulation, and the PEG having a molecular weight within the range of 2000 to 7000 g/mol.
In yet another embodiment a reusable clothing wipe for freshening a person's clothing comprises a handheld applicator having a first outer surface and a dry odor neutralizing formulation deposited on said surface of said applicator. The dry odor neutralizing formulation includes a base component and a fragrance component wherein the base component comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol and glycerin.
In the descriptions that follow, examples of a number of embodiments of devices and methods employing dry wipe fragrance technology will be described. These embodiments will serve to illustrate the concept and scope of the dry wipe fragrance or dry formulation fragrance delivery system of the present invention. The invention is adapted to uses as a grooming aid but is not limited to such uses. Following a detailed description of dry clothing wipes in several illustrative embodiments, including structural adaptations to related uses, there appears detailed description of additional uses for the dry wipe technology disclosed herein. Examples include dry wipes for a variety of surfaces that may have accumulated odors of all kinds. The examples illustrate ways to freshen a surface with a fragrance that either masks the odor on the surface or replaces it with a more pleasant scent that is appropriate to the particular surface or item. Dry wipes for use with animals such as pets or animals being prepared for show are described. Dry wipes for household or office furnishings and automotive interiors that include a variety of materials with differing propensity to absorb odors are also described. Dry wipes can be produced in a variety of sizes and style of applicator to suit specific needs. The applicators described herein may be reusable, especially when stored in a container to preserve their freshness. However, low volatility is characteristic of the dry formulations used in the illustrated embodiments.
In general, the embodiments to be described may be thought of as a family of examples of a dry wipe fragrance delivery system. Each example includes a carrier or applicator that carries an embedded fragrance formulation until it is dispensed from the carrier or applicator. The carrier is constructed to retain the formulation until use, and to dispense the formulation on a light rubbing contact with the surface to be treated or freshened. Typically the dry wipes may be used for a number of applications before the formulation is depleted. The carrier may be fabricated in a variety of sizes and configurations suited to the particular kind of surface being treated. Some of the carriers are configured as mitts for placement on a user's fingers or hand. Other carriers may have textures or brush-like surfaces to facilitate applying the formulation to grained surfaces or surfaces that include hair, coatings of fur, etc. Moreover, there is little risk of soiling or contaminating the user's hand because the formulation is dry and the portion of the applicator that is touched by the user's hand is not that same as the surface that is impregnated with the formulation.
Referring to
The applicator 10 in its preferred embodiment is intended to be a compact device easily carried in a pocket or purse. Thus, its dimensions are determined accordingly to be slim and only slightly larger than a business card, for example. The applicator 10 in the illustrative embodiment shown in
Referring to
The carrier layer 26 may be bonded to the substrate layer 24 around the perimeter of the substrate layer 24 except at the selected open space shown in
In some embodiments it is advantageous for the applicator 10 to be disposable; that is, it may be discarded when the odor neutralizing substance impregnated in the carrier layer 26 is exhausted. Thus, the materials used in the construction of the applicator 10 need not be particularly durable. On the other hand, it is further contemplated that other embodiments of the applicator 10 may be reusable. For example, an applicator 10 constructed of relatively durable materials and configured to be fitted with a replaceable carrier layer 26, may be provided. The latter embodiment might provide a marketing advantage in that the applicator may be provided at nominal cost with or without a package of refill carrier layers 26 (or, carrier sheets 26). A reusable applicator would include a bonding mechanism to enable removal of the carrier layer 26 for replacement by a fresh carrier layer 26.
Referring to
Continuing with
In one example, an activated charcoal material that is formed into a textile fabric having a microporous structure may be used in the carrier layer 26. The microporous structure provides a very large surface area presented to the odor-causing substances, effectively absorbing them from the person's clothing during use of the applicator 10. The activated charcoal textile material, developed in Britain for its filtering properties, is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,371 issued to Conant et al.
The following detailed description describes several alternative and preferred embodiments with reference to
In one preferred embodiment to be described with reference to
The organic odor neutralizer component may comprise a fragrance component or mixture or composition. This component comprises approximately 4% of the total odor neutralizing formulation. Fragrance mixtures are well known and are available in a wide variety of formulations or types, for neutralizing a wide variety of odors. Some of the available types include: a masking agent, a solvent, an absorbant, an encapsulant, and a spray dry fragrance. In the present invention, one class of fragrance compositions or mixtures has been found particularly suitable for counteracting or neutralizing odors on clothing or a person's hair, for example. Such a fragrance mixture is a blend of several constituents that is formulated to present—i.e., leave behind on the user's clothing—a “clean linen” aroma or scent. In the illustrated embodiment, the constituents of the fragrance mixture may include chemicals of an aromatic or aliphatic nature such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, and materials containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur. The fragrance mixture are preferably comprises approximately 4% of the total odor neutralizing formulation. However, due to the subjective nature of the sense experience, this proportion may be varied by experimenting with the proportions to be mixed. For example, the test may begin by varying the ingredients in greater or lesser proportion until a preferred proportion is determined for a particular application.
In regard to the proportions of the three principal ingredients of the odor neutralizing formulation described above in specific percentages, it is important to point out that these are percent values arrived at for one embodiment of the illustrated clothing wipe. The clothing wipe may be configured for a variety of specific applications depending on the market for such variations. Accordingly, the proportions of the these ingredients may be varied to suit particular formulations to meet a specific target market segment. In general, the proportion of the polyethylene glycol ester may range from 80% to 90%, the glycerin (or an acceptable substitute) may range from 6% to 16%, and the fragrance mixture may range from 0.5% to 10%. Potential market segments may be gender-specific or unisex, or directed to particular kinds of activities such as indoor or outdoor, social or business or recreation, etc. Other applications may include clothing wipes that are formulated as insect repellants or other ancillary uses besides refreshing the scent or odors present on a person's clothing or hair. Such applications may include ingredients that are combined in proportions that differ substantially from those set forth herein. For example, a wipe having an insect repellant substance may include 15% to 30% repellant chemical in combination with a base component of 70% to 85% and a fragrance mixture of a few percent, for example. Other applications may include wipes having formulations adapted to a person's skin surfaces. Such applications may include ingredient formulations based on other types of ingredients in other proportions, etc. Thus, the clothing wipe described herein is only one example of a versatile delivery system for scented or other chemical formulations configured for a wide variety of personal care products.
In use, as described herein below, the rubbing action that occurs when the clothing wipe device is brought into contact with the user's clothing or hair and deposits the odor neutralizing formulation or substance in proportion to the degree of force used and the length of path or amount of time expended as the device is rubbed across the surface of the clothing. This provides a convenient way to regulate the amount of odor neutralizing formulation deposited during use, thereby affecting the strength and noticeability of the fragrance and the effectiveness of the clothing wipe device described herein.
Manufacturing the clothing wipe device may be illustrated by a simple sequence of steps. Both the applicator and the pouch may be supplied in bulk as thin fabrics and packaging film respectively. Each one may be imprinted in bulk web-processing facilities prior to cutting and bonding the individual pieces that will be assembled to form the applicator or the pouch. Imprinting may be used to apply logo and other indicia, as well as instructions for use and/or attractive graphics, to the pouch. The fragrance mixture may also be applied during a bulk web-processing process by depositing the compound odor neutralizer material in a slot-dye coating process, well-known in the art. In this process, the formulated mixture is placed into a reservoir such as a hopper device and conveyed to a distributing device that has a narrow slot orifice oriented across the width of the fabric that is to receive the mixture. The slot has a length approximately equal to the width of the fabric, and deposits a measured layer of the odor neutralizer formulation onto the surface of the bottom, active (first) layer of the applicator.
Materials for the bottom (first) and top (second) layers of the applicator are selected for the abilities to be imprinted, bonded ultrasonically, and fabricated in a web-processing process as will be described. The bottom layer of the applicator may be a single ply of a non-woven (e.g., spun-bound) polypropylene fabric or a two-ply combination of a non-woven polypropylene fabric having a weight of approximately 160 g/m2 weight and a rayon fabric that is needle punched in a predetermined pattern over the area of the layer to secure it to the polypropylene fabric. The total thickness of the two-ply layer may then have an approximate thickness of 0.10 inch or less. In a single layer embodiment the additional step to bond the rayon or other fabric layer may be deleted. The top layer of the applicator may preferably be a non-woven (e.g., spun-bound) polypropylene fabric of approximately 100 g/m2 weight and a thickness of approximately 0.013 inch. These weights/thicknesses are approximate and selected for the size and weight appropriate to the look and feel of the hand-held clothing wipe device described in this example. Other materials may be selected as long as they have the properties suited to the application. For example, certain alternate embodiments intended for heavy-duty service may be fabricated of heavier weight materials or synthetic fabrics of greater durability.
In the embodiment of
The storage pouch may be manufactured from a flexible packaging film that is imprinted with graphics, logos, legends, indicia, instructions for use, etc. As is well known, flexible packaging film is available in many forms depending on the kind of product to be contained therein and the kind of graphics imprinted on the outside layer, etc. In the illustrated example, the packaging film, which should be adapted to containing personal care products, may be a laminated product whereby each layer of the material is selected to provide the particular properties desired in the package. Such flexible packaging film products are typically laminated of multiple layers of thin film materials such as a coated and printable outer layer to support printed graphics (e.g., polyester), low density polyethylene (LDPE), a metal foil, a linear low density polyethylene film (LLDPEF), and the like. These materials may be provided in thicknesses that range from 0.25 to 1.5 mil (1 mil= 1/1000 of an inch). In the embodiment described herein the total thickness of the film packaging material may be approximately 3.5 mil. These materials in combination provide sufficient body, moisture and puncture resistance, resistance to tearing, the effects of light, etc.
As shown in
Continuing with
The glycerin 92 component is included in the formulation to soften the PEG somewhat to enable smooth application of the odor formulation 88 on the user's clothing. Substitutes for the glycerin 92 may include other poly alcohols or long chain poly oils well-known in the art. The combination of the PEG 90 and the glycerin 92 enables slower, more uniform release of the fragrance mixture (to be described). The purpose of the base component 90, 92 is to provide a solid but soft carrier or delivery vehicle for the fragrance mixture. The base component also provides a barrier to the escape of bad odors (“malodors”) from the fabric of the person's clothing or the person's hair by providing a thin, transparent, colorless film upon the surface being wiped, yet is washable and leaves no stain.
The odor neutralizer component 94 makes up the remaining 4% of the odor neutralizing formulation 88. One reason for the relatively small percentage—approximately 4%—used in the illustrated embodiment is that typically only a very small amount of a malodor substance is very noticeable. Accordingly, only a very small amount of a counteracting fragrance may be needed to be effective in neutralizing the malodor. Further, it is possible for a limited amount of a fragrance blend or composition to counteract a malodor or to neutralize an odor. For example, in an aroma compound based on an aldehyde, the aldehyde may react with nitrogen in a malodor to form what is known in the art as a “Schiff Base” product that “ties up” the nitrogen malodor materials, thereby reducing the perception of the malodor.
Continuing with
In the present formulation these aroma compounds may include chemicals of an aromatic or aliphatic nature such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, and/or materials containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur. One example of a fragrance mixture is perfume, which is a mixture of essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents, each selected to yield a desired particular effect. A typical recipe may include primary, secondary, and tertiary components, for example. In the present invention, a fragrance mixture that presents a “clean linen” scent is suggested as one non-limiting example of many possible fragrance mixtures and fragrance paradigms that may be used in a device of the type described herein, including active scents (typically associated with masculine users) and floral scents (typically associated with feminine users) for example.
Continuing with
As is well known, a slot dye process is adapted to dispense a measured amount of a substance from a narrow slot opening across the width of a moving belt of the film or fabric to be coated or imprinted. As readily understood by persons skilled in the art, alternatives to the slot dye process exist that also deposit a uniform coating of a material in fluid, powder, or granular form upon the surface of a fabric. The choice is best made to suit the particular form of the product being fabricated. The slot dye process is described as one readily understood method of applying a uniform coating of material to a surface of an object.
Following deposit of the odor neutralizer formulation 66 the material for the bottom layer 54 is next prepared to be aligned with and joined to—i.e., merged with—the material for the top layer 56 in step 114. Following alignment, the flow advances to step 124 wherein the line of applicators formed to that point may be cut into separate applicators 52 followed by bonding the side and rear edges 58 of the aligned top 56 and bottom 54 layers together in step 126. Such bonding may utilize an ultrasonic bonding process to bond the edges of the top 56 and bottom 54 layers to each other, thereby forming an applicator 52 that may be worn as a small pouch or finger mitt as depicted in
Beginning at step 130 with loading the flexible packaging film for fabricating the pouch 70 the flow advances to step 132 to imprint the flexible packaging film with indicia such as product or brand name, logo, colorful graphics, instructions for use, other text to comply with regulatory requirements, etc. following imprinting, the imprinted film passes through a station to cut the blanks of the pouch 70 to size in step 134 before being folded, and the aligned side edges are bonded, again by an ultrasonic process, for example. The completed storage pouch 70 is aligned to merge with the completed applicator 52 in step 128, wherein the applicator 52 is inserted into the pouch 70, including folding over the flap 76 to seal it against the top layer 56 by pressing the two sides of the string zipper 78 together or otherwise securing the closure. The process may then deliver the finished clothing wipes 50 to a bulk packing station 138 to prepare them for shipment. Typically the clothing wipes manufactured as described may be packaged in quantities of one dozen to multiples of a dozen, for example. The packed products may proceed to a station 140 that tests whether the package is to be shipped immediately in step 142 according to an order or transferred to inventory in step 144. At this point, the flow ends.
As will be readily understood, the example of the fabrication process depicted in
Continuing with
Continuing with
The applicators 10, including embodiments 52, 152, 172, and variations thereof, described herein above may be used multiple times and stored in a person's pocket or purse when not in use. However, in an alternate embodiment, the applicator 10 may be enclosed in a protective wrapper (See, e.g.,
While the invention heretofore described has been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is shown with the opening disposed in one of the longer sides of the applicator 10. In one modification (not shown because its appearance is readily visualized to one skilled in the art, based on the structural features shown in
In another modification, the applicator 10 may be enlarged such that a user's entire hand fits within the pocket 28 between the substrate 24 and carrier 26 layers. This configuration enables the use of the applicator as a hand mitt, for applying odor neutralizing substances to a larger fabric surface area, for example, such as to upholstery in vehicles or on furniture or draperies and curtains in offices or residences, etc.
As noted herein above, potential market segments for clothing wipes as described herein may be gender-specific or unisex, or directed to particular kinds of activities such as indoor or outdoor, social or business or recreation, etc. Other applications may include clothing wipes that are formulated as insect repellants or other ancillary uses besides refreshing the scent or odors present on a person's clothing or hair. Other applications may include wipes having formulations adapted to a person's skin surfaces. Such applications may include ingredient formulations based on other types of ingredients in other proportions, etc. Thus, the clothing wipe described herein is only one example of a versatile delivery system for scented or other chemical formulations configured for a wide variety of personal care products.
Yet another modification is to provide a pouch or sleeve 70 as described in
In the following paragraphs several alternate embodiments are described: (A) A clothing wipe comprising: a mixture of PEG, glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture forming a dry formulation deposited on a surface of a handheld applicator; (B) A reusable clothing wipe for freshening a person's clothing, comprising: a handheld applicator having a first outer surface; and an odor neutralizing dry formulation deposited on said surface of said applicator; and (C) A method for neutralizing odors on clothing, comprising the step of: transferring a dry formulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance from an applicator to the surface of a person's clothing, skin, or hair, or to other surfaces as will be described.
The more general form of the clothing wipe described herein may be adapted to a variety of applications, all of which embody the principles set forth herein and in the appended claims. The principle concept of the present invention, contrary to conventional practice in the industry that typically teaches complex combinations of numerous ingredients, is of a dry formulation of the combination of only three ingredients in carefully selected proportion and applied to the applicating surface of a wipe applicator that fits on a person's fingers or hand. The wipe is small, portable, reusable, convenient, and inexpensive to manufacture and use. From the foregoing description and further details to follow it is important to understand that the wipe described herein contains and is specifically adapted to dispense a dry formulation onto the intended surface, to avoid leaving any stain or residue that cannot be washed by conventional means. This is in distinct contrast to conventional wipe products heretofore available that are typically characterized, and limited to, the use of dry formulations that must be activated with water before use, or the use of wet formulations, some of which leave a residue that is difficult to remove or which can even damage the surface finish if applied too copiously or with improper technique. Such wet formulations would be inappropriate for the uses disclosed herein because of the risk of stains, damage or harm to the surfaces contemplated for the present dry wipe invention.
The embodiments described in detail herein are provided to illustrate without limitation the concepts or principles of a dry wipe system for dispensing or delivering a malodor counteractant to a surface that a person wishes to freshen. As one example, any fragrance that can be delivered by the applicator may be used, from among the hundreds available. The clothing wipe can be used in a variety of scenarios or locations in which clothing is subject to picking up different kinds of odors such as an indoor dance event, a night club, an athletic event, a downtown (out of doors) event, movie theatres—any number of places that may have characteristic odors that a user might want to counteract with the clothing wipe. The wipe could also be used to “freshen” a user's skin and/or hair after an active dance or other circumstance where perspiration is likely to arise.
Some of these characteristic odors might be: perspiration, other perfumes and fragrances, automobile exhaust, cooking and food odors, tobacco smoke, mildew, popcorn, etc. Neutralizing these odors may require different scents or different proportions of the constituents of the scent. For the example of strong or noxious odors, either a higher % of fragrance or a fragrance that provides more complete masking would be suitable.
Another example provides a wipe that replicates a user's cologne or perfume so as to refresh his or her's own “scent.” For instance, a cologne or perfume customer could receive an applicator packaged or supplied with a cologne or perfume product that is already prepared for use or that the customer could prepare by adding the cologne or perfume themselves before going to an event.
As yet another example, the wipe can be used by workers in industrial settings, such as automotive repair, machine shops, paint shops, kitchens, bakeries, butchering facilities, feed stores and the like—that is, any work environment that contains strong or unpleasant odors. In such cases, where the workers may need to mingle or meet with customers or executives, a clothing wipe may be used to advantage.
Extending the scope of the concept and principles described herein, one may be led to uses of the dry wipe (as distinguished from so-called wet wipes or delivery systems that spray a liquid substance on to a target surface or in the air that are well known in the art) to freshen household surfaces such as furnishings and countertops, to wipe the fur of pet animals such as dogs, cats or other animals, and to freshen the interior surfaces of automobiles, trucks, airplanes and other vehicles, for example. The fragrances selected or developed and the size of the applicator may be adapted to each specific application. In most applications a scented fragrance to match the particular odor neutralization task is important; in some other applications a formulation that is unscented or provides only a very slight scented presence may be preferable.
Referring to
For example, in the dry clothing wipe described, the fabrics used to form the applicator, the odor neutralizing formulation deposited on the surface of the applicator, and the scent provided by the formulation use materials, ingredients, and have characteristics that may be varied within the overall concept of the illustrated embodiments—a personal care or wipe device that is configured for delivering a dry odor neutralizing formulation from a convenient, reusable applicator to a person's clothing, hair, or skin or other intended surface.
Selection of the fabric for the applicator may be from among a wide variety of materials. The dispensing component portion of the dispensing device is preferably a fabric that has an affinity for water—i.e., is hydrophilic—such as a non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric or its equivalent. The fabric chosen for the applicating surface of the wipe must be able to receive deposition of the dry formulation on it during manufacturing, retain it without significant absorption during storage or non-use, and disperse it readily but controllably onto the target surface when it is wiped against it. Other essential properties or characteristics may include color, surface texture or roughness, and so forth, as will be described.
Further, the fabric chosen must be low in cost, which favors non-woven fabrics made by such processes as spunbonding, or pressing the fibers together. Moreover, the fabric must be suitable for automated manufacturing processes, including machine operations such as cutting, bonding of pieces together, etc. Various synthetic fibers may be used to make fabrics suitable for receiving a deposited dry formulation thereon that may subsequently be applied or transferred to another fabric surface simply by wiping the applicator along the other fabric or surface. In some applications, it may be advantageous to form the applicator of fabrics of a color that is selected to mask the particles of dust, strands of hair, etc. that may be picked up by the applicating surface of the applicator as it is rubbed across the surface to dispense the dry formulation. In other applications, the applicating surface may include features or textures that attract or retain or adhere to such particles of dust or hair and the like that are encountered by the wipe, to enable their removal as well as freshening the surface being treated by the wipe.
Selection of the fragrance to be used in the formulation presents a different kind of task because the applicator may be adapted to a wide variety of uses simply by choosing a particular fragrance from among many that are available. Further, the proportion of the fragrance in the formulation may be varied depending on the circumstances of use of a specific embodiment of the wipe and characteristics of the fragrance. As is well known, fragrances are typically effective in relatively small amounts, such as ½% to 10% of a combination of ingredients for most applications and, in the present invention, may preferably be on the order of 1% to 5%, generally determined empirically.
As is well known to persons skilled in the art, fragrances or scents may be classified or categorized in several ways, depending on the use of the fragrance or the interests of the person or entity that organizes the categories. Most such categories will overlap to a strong degree. Thus masculine scents may include category members not present in feminine scent categories. Others may include both. Still others may include categories for determining industrial or cleaning uses of scents and fragrances.
For example, scents that may be found in cleaning products may include cedar, cinnamon, citrus, cotton, lemon, sage, etc., while scents for use in a dry clothing wipe as described herein may appropriately be selected from perfumes or colognes preferred by masculine or feminine users. Such scents or fragrances for the latter uses may be classified as floral, citrus, fougere (fern-like), woody, oriental, spice, etc. Still others may be categorized as clean cotton or clean linen to impart a freshened or clean scent to one's clothing—not unlike freshly laundered clothing—after using the wipe.
Neutralizing odors using fragrances or scents can be accomplished either by chemical interaction of the scent compound with the molecules of the malodor, or by masking or covering the malodor with a stronger but pleasant scent. Both methods are suitable for use in clothing wipes as described herein and other forms of wipes using a dry formulation. In some special applications special scents may be developed, and some embodiments may even be available with an array of optional scents.
Producing or formulating a fragrance having a given scent typically involves mixing selected essential or fragrance oils in predetermined proportions. Essential oils are volatile or aromatic liquid extracts from plants. Synthetic “fragrance oils” mimic the aromatic aspects of botanical oils. The resulting mixture may be mixed with alcohol and or distilled water. The resulting scent or fragrance is then combined with the base component of the odor neutralizing formulation, which may be the mixture of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerin, for use on the clothing wipe disclosed herein. In general, the process of mixing the ingredients proceeds as follows. (1) In a suitable vessel, heat the PEG at about 70° C. until fully liquid; (2) add the glycerin and mix well until uniform; (3) add the fragrance and continue mixing until uniform; and (4) cover until ready for depositing on the substrate layer—the fabric dispensing component of the various embodiments described herein. The amount deposited will typically be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 grams per square inch (or about 0.01 to 0.08 g/cm2) but can be adjusted depending on the application.
The dry wipe technology described herein may be adapted to a wide variety of applications for freshening surfaces of a person's skin, hair; or surfaces of household or office furnishings, appliances, and fixtures; or the hair, fur, or feathers of pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and other rodents, birds, etc.; or the surfaces in the interiors of automobiles, trucks, airplanes, boats, and the like. Most such adaptations are easily accomplished by varying the size of the applicator, the materials used in its construction, or the formulation and the accompanying fragrance selected for the particular intended surface application.
For example, a home or office wipe may require a larger applicator such as a mitt to accommodate a person's entire hand, which is basically a scaled up version of the applicators depicted in the drawings herein, including the open-ended construction of
In a further embodiment of a dry wipe adapted to uses on pets—dogs, cats, rodents, even pet birds, for example—the applicator may be provided in the same size as for the personal clothing wipe depicted herein or in a larger, “mitt-sized” applicator that can accommodate a person's hand. Such a wipe would have a fragrance adapted to the particular animal, one for dogs, another for cats, perhaps unscented for animals that might be sensitive to particular fragrances, etc. The wipe may also be configured structurally to better suit the surface being treated, as in the case of pets or other animals with fur, hair, or feathered skin. In other words, the bottom, applicating side of the wipe may be configured differently than a clothing wipe for personal (human) use. For example, the bottom layer of the applicator may have a texture or a rough, nappy surface, or be configured with an array of bristles (as in a brush) so that it more readily picks up particles of dust or hair, etc. during use while freshening a surface. Alternatively, the bottom portion of the applicator may be configured with a comb-like structure in combination with the dry odor neutralizing formulation to enable use of the dry wipe to transfer the formulation to the hair or fur of a pet animal during grooming. In other embodiments not shown but contemplated herein include those in which the bottom layer or fabric of the applicator, which is impregnated or otherwise includes the dry formulation deposited thereon, may be configured with alternating strips of the normal fabric described above situated between strips of textured or bristled material, or nappy fabric. In yet another example, the bottom layer or portion of the applicator may be a darker color so that particles of dust or hair or feathers that adhere to the wipe during use might be less visible.
Yet another alternate embodiment of a dry wipe may be configured for use to neutralize the odors that accumulate or otherwise become deposited on the interior surfaces of an automobile, truck, aircraft or other vehicle. Such a dry wipe might preferably be provided with a hand mitt-sized applicator because of the convenience of the larger area of the applicator and its ability to be installed on a person's hand. The bottom layer of the applicator and the fragrance used may be provided in several versions, each adapted to use with a different kind of surface that might be encountered in the interior of the vehicle, such as fabrics of different textures, leather, hard, polished trim surfaces, etc. Again, the bottom portion of the applicator having the dry formulation in combination therewith may be specifically configured to best adapt it to the surface being treated with the dry odor neutralizing formulation.
The description above and the description which follows disclose a number of additional alternate embodiments to illustrate the scope of the concepts and principles of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Some examples of structures and materials that are equivalents as they are expressed in the various distinct embodiments that share all of the same concepts and principles. Persons skilled in the art will recognize the existence of and be familiar with alternatives to each of the materials suggested herein. In other words, the fabrics and their equivalents, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and its equivalents, the glycerin and its equivalents, the fragrances or malodor counteractants and their equivalents, as each is selected for use in the particular embodiment of the invention appropriate to the surface desired to be treated—i.e., freshened—with the dry formulation wipe described herein, are all contemplated in the foregoing description.
For example, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) material used as a thickening agent and carrier in the dry wipes described herein is selected from a hydrophillic compound having a range of molecular weights and viscosities from liquid through solid. In the present invention it is preferred that PEG compounds, or acceptable substitutes therefor, of medium to moderately high molecular weight, e.g., within the range of 2000 to 7000 g/mol and preferably approximately 4000 g/mol, or at least semi-solid consistency be used such that the combined formulation is essentially dry when the applicator is removed from its storage pouch or other container for use on an intended surface. The glycerin is added to improve the smoothness, uniformity, and spreadability of the formulation. Other odorless, viscous supplements may be used as long as the mixture of the base material such as the PEG or its substitute and the supplement used are compatible and the resulting mixture provides a suitably dry delivery vehicle for the fragrance or malodor counteractant from the surface of the applicator to the surface that is intended to be freshened by use of the wipe, whether, as appropriate, it is configured as a clothing wipe, a household wipe, a pet wipe, or an automotive interior wipe and the like.
There are other chemical categories that could potentially be used in place of the polyethylene glycol as long as they are solid at room temperature and will give a limited deposition when the applicator is wiped on a surface. Categories such as paraffin waxes, glycerides, coco butters, fatty alcohols, ethoxylated alcohols, emulsifiers, hydrogenated oils, etc. may perform suitably with this type of product. Also there are other emollients that can be potentially be used in place of the glycerin, such as propylene glycol, low molecular weight glycols, alcohols and other solvents that will soften the substrate and have a low volatility so that the product will have a proper shelf life without drying and becoming brittle. Blends and mixtures of the above chemical classes can also achieve the desired end product, i.e., a mixture of polyethylene glycol plus paraffin wax or a solid longer chain aliphatic alcohol could serve as the major ingredient in the formulation.
In a broadened sense, the clothing wipe concepts described herein above provide illustrative examples of a reusable dry formulation fragrance system such as a dry formulation grooming aid—a device or method or system using a dry formulation that usually includes a fragrance that is delivered or dispensed by some sort of device (wipe, brush, roller, pad, mitten, glove, etc.) for the purpose of performing some grooming action on a person's clothing, hair or skin; a pet's hair or fur coat; the surface of an object such as home or office furnishings, automotive (or other vehicle) interiors, etc. It should be understood that the term “grooming” is used in the broadest sense as treating a surface in some useful way by applying the dry formulation fragrance or other component to the surface. Further, the dry formulation is understood to be a mixture that is dry as deposited on the dispensing component prior to use and dry as dispensed on—delivered to—a target surface during and after use. The term “dry” means non-liquid, as in a polymeric matrix. Examples of the variety of applications are discussed in the foregoing description. The description which follows discloses several exemplary embodiments to illustrate structures of the delivery system adapted to satisfying the differing requirements of many of these alternative applications. In some applications the grooming may be accompanied by treating the target surface in some way in addition to depositing a fragrance to the surface. Examples include applying sun-screen, insect repellant, or in the case of pets, an antidote to fleas, etc. Accordingly, a variety of embodiments to be described herein below provide more kinds of such devices, methods or systems for the delivery of dry formulations having scented or unscented, specifically treated or untreated properties that have utility, primarily but not limited to, a grooming application.
For purposes of the present invention, the term “dry formulation” means that the fragrance component (or other substance delivered as a part of the dry formulation) is dispersed in a solid form material such as a polymeric matrix, as opposed to being conveyed in a liquid base or carrier. At normal room or outdoor temperatures, the formulation is dry—i.e., not liquid and not viscous—on the dispensing surface, and it is dry on contact with the target surface as it is applied to the target surface. For example, dry on the dispensing surface means that it is dry in the same way a hard wax finish is dry after it is applied to the dispensing surface. Similarly, dry on contact with the target surface means that after application the dry formulation leaves the fragrance on the surface, usually with only minimal traces of the polymeric matrix (the PEG+glycerin, the delivery agent or carrier or base component). It is a key attribute of the dry formulation of the present invention that, after application—usually by a wiping or roll-on action of the dispensing device—it is present on the target surface only in trace amounts and is thus basically imperceptible except by detecting the scent of the fragrance or the absence of the malodor. In other words, the formulation is invisible but the fragrance or absence of the odor is what is perceived. Moreover, the dry trace residue if any is clear and essentially colorless, it leaves no stain, and is readily washed when the target surface is cleaned. In contrast, other “dry” products such as chap stick, underarm deodorants, lipstick, etc. intentionally leave a residue of the formulation as the intentional object of its use.
Thus, the carrier or base component of the dry formulation fragrance provides the medium for conveying the fragrance component from the mixing or composition stage, wherein the PEG and the glycerin are mixed in their viscous phase at elevated temperatures, to the application surface of the dispensing device during manufacture, where it becomes dry as it cools below approximately 100° F., and from the dispensing device to the user's target surface as it delivers or transfers the fragrance component during use. The carrier or base component is formulated to be dry at normal temperatures, to deposit the fragrance component evenly upon the target surface, while leaving no stain or significant residue or traces of the carrier component on the target surface.
When describing the proportions of the ingredients of the dry formulation fragrance or other combination, the amounts are preferably expressed as “weight percent” of the total weight of the formulation. Thus, for example, the dry formulation might be expressed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component. Further, the primary base component, a polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) may include its molecular weight, such as 3000 to 5000 g/mol. for example, with a preferred range of 3500 to 4500 g/mol. Moreover, the proportion of the fragrance in the formulation may be varied depending on the circumstances of use of a specific embodiment of the wipe and characteristics of the fragrance. As is well known, fragrances are typically effective in relatively small amounts, such as ½% to 10% of a combination of ingredients for most applications and, in the present invention, may preferably be on the order of 1% to 5%, generally determined empirically.
In the more general case of alternative embodiments to the illustrated examples described herein, the following data is supplied as a guide to the parameters of manufacture.
The percentage of solid (polyethylene glycol) ingredient needs to be sufficient to cause solidification of the formulation at temperatures at which the product would normally be used. This would require ranges as follows:
Other ingredients can be added to this formulation for desired effects. This could be, but not limited by, ingredients such as antistats to reduce static electricity, skin conditioning ingredients such as vitamins, Aloe Vera, etc, surfactants or cleaners, coloring agents, etc.
The percentage of additional ingredients could be as low as 0.05% for certain very active ingredients to as high as 50% to achieve the desired effect such as incorporating a cleaning agent into the formulation. For example:
To prepare the formulation for deposition onto the dispensing pad or substrate, the solid ingredient(s) need to be heated until liquid. With the formulation listed above, this requires a temperature of 50-90 degrees Celsius (122-194 F). The fragrance is usually added to the batch at the temperature where the mixture is still liquid, but as low as possible to avoid vaporizing the more volatile ingredients in the fragrance. The final formulation is applied to the substrate while the batching is still liquid, generally when the temperature has been allowed to drop to the lower end of the heating range. This is likely in the range of 60-70 Celsius (140-158 F), but the application temperature of the formula is dependant on both the formulation ingredients as well as the equipment and the process used to apply the formulation to the substrate.
-
- The end product formulation is a solid at room and temperatures up to 120+/−20 degrees Fahrenheit. The consistency is like a candle wax or a hard shoe polish so that when the applicator is rubbed onto clothing or other surfaces, the odor fighting fragrance in the formulation will be transferred to the surface. If the product formulation is to soft, to much of the waxy formulation will be applied and if the formulation is too hard the amount of product deposited to the surface will not be sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
The formulation contains both solid and liquid ingredients as described above. The solid ingredient from the supplier can be in powdered, prilled or solid form. Both the fragrance and emollient softener (glycerin) in our formula are liquids for all normal encountered temperatures. During the process batching and heating as described above, the mixture becomes a liquid and stays a liquid until the mixture cools below its solidification temperature. With our formulation, the solidification temperature is about 145 F (+/−10 F). As it's applied to the applicator it cools very quickly for the proper handling and packaging.
- The end product formulation is a solid at room and temperatures up to 120+/−20 degrees Fahrenheit. The consistency is like a candle wax or a hard shoe polish so that when the applicator is rubbed onto clothing or other surfaces, the odor fighting fragrance in the formulation will be transferred to the surface. If the product formulation is to soft, to much of the waxy formulation will be applied and if the formulation is too hard the amount of product deposited to the surface will not be sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
In the following detailed descriptions a variety of alternative embodiments of the invention are presented, to illustrate various ways that the concept of applying a dry formulation containing a fragrance component or a substance with other chemical properties or scents to mask or neutralize odors that accumulate on surfaces can be applied as a grooming aid to a wide variety of such surfaces. This concept enables, for example, grooming of a person's hair, skin, or clothing; the hair or fur coat of a pet or other animal, or even the “fur” of a fur coat, natural or synthetic; the surfaces of upholstery or furnishings of an office, residence, customer areas in business establishments; or the interior surfaces of vehicles, private or engaged in public transportation, and the like.
By way of illustration and not limitation some embodiments are configured as brushes having a wipe surface incorporated in the bristle portion of the brush. Others may have a roller device incorporated into the brush to transfer the fragrance formulation to the target surface by rolling it on as the brush is passed through the hair or fur coat or otherwise used to brush the target surface. Still others are configured as rollers for rolling along a surface without the need for brushing to dispense or deliver the fragrance component to clothing, upholstery, or other surfaces. Further, still others are wipes configured for being slipped over a person's fingers or hand, similar to the clothing wipes described previously in the present Detailed Description. The embodiments described herein include removable or replaceable dispensing components having a dry formulation fragrance or other substance—some configured as a removable cartridge or the like—that add a fragrance to the target surface or absorb or mask odors accumulated on a target surface such as skin, hair, clothing, upholstery, etc. The wipe surfaces or the roller surfaces of the dispensing devices may be reusable and replaceable. Several different brush styles are illustrated to suit different kinds of target surfaces to which the fragrance component may be applied. Other embodiments include gloves or mittens, which are adapted to efficient application of the fragrance component to furnishings or upholstery in buildings or vehicles, for example.
Beginning with
A structural feature common to all of the embodiments described herein is a dispensing surface that includes a coating of the dry formulation fragrance described herein. The dispensing component portion of the dispensing device is preferably a fabric that has an affinity for water—i.e., is hydrophilic—such as a non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric or its equivalent that is coated with the dry formulation in a manufacturing process that precedes the manufacture of the apparatus that supports the dispensing device in a form convenient for hand-held use. In most embodiments the side of the fabric dispensing component opposite the coated side is also coated, but with a low tack or other type adhesive to secure the fabric to a part of the dispensing device or to enable multiple layers of the fabric to be applied to the dispensing device. Thus it will be understood that when a structural element is identified as a roller, or a wipe pad or surface, it will include the dispensing component (the fabric) and the coatings as described above. In the figures, the dry formulation fragrance coating is visible and indicated by the shading on the respective surfaces in the drawings. Thus, a reference number for the dispensing component will represent the fabric and the coating thereon. Further, in most embodiments, at least one edge of the dispensing component may be uncoated along a narrow band at the edge of the fabric to enable convenient removal of a top layer of multiple layers of the fabric to replenish the dispensing device with a fresh dispensing component. For example, in the embodiment of
Referring now to
Continuing with the exploded view in
The assembly of the spindle 228 and roller 214 is rotatingly supported on a fixed pivot 226 and the adjustable pivot 222, which may typically be conical in profile and are positioned in each end of the opening 208 in the brush 200. The adjustable conical pivot 222 is mounted on a rectangular or square base that is supported in a similarly shaped compartment 223 to prevent it from rotating as the roller device 200 is being used or the adjustment knob 216 is being adjusted. The adjustable pivot 222 and the compression spring 220 are positioned within the opening 208 in alignment with the screw 218 on the adjustment knob 216. As the knob 216 is rotated clockwise, the compression spring 220 may be compressed to exert more tension on the end of the spindle 228, thus resisting its ability to roll; similarly, as the knob 216 is rotated counter clockwise the compression spring 220 tension is reduced, allowing the roller to roll more freely. The handle 210 of the brush 200 is hollow in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the access cap 212 includes a portion with external screw threads 232 that match internal screw threads 234 disposed within the distal end of the handle 210. The threaded access cap 212 thus enables access to the hollow handle 210 for storing a spare roller 230 within it. The spare roller 230 may be identical with the roller 214.
Materials for the various parts of the brush device 200, and for similar variations of the brushes described herein, including the bottom 202 and top 206 sides, the cap 212, the cylindrical form for the roller 214, the knob 216, spindle 228, and pivot 222 may be fabricated by injection molding or stamping, from thermoplastic or metallic materials respectively, or their equivalents, all of which are well known to persons skilled in the art. The bristles of the brush device 200 may be formed of nylon, metal, boar's hair, or synthetic materials suited to the application. The compression spring 222 may be metal or plastic as appropriate for the application. In one example, the spring 222 may be formed from spring steel as a coil spring.
In operation the brush depicted in
The detent mechanism assembly 258 includes the adjustment knob 240 and its detent shaft 242, retaining rim 256, and spindle support 244 plus a detent bulkhead 252 that includes a castellated retainer 254 as shown in
In operation the brush device 260 of
The structure illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 292 is enclosed as an assembly within the space between the top 282 and bottom 284 shells for the brush device 300 when assembled along a common edge 298. A slot 290 is provided along the common edge or seam 298 of one side of the body of the brush device 300. The slot enables the cartridge 292 assembly to be removed for replacement. The resiliency of the carrier 295 permits the cartridge 292 to be inserted or removed through the slot 290, even when up to a half-dozen layers of the fabric dispensing components 296 are installed—i.e. stacked—on the carrier 295. The carrier 295 flattens slightly during installation or removal and is restored to its normal, relaxed state when fully disposed within the body of the brush device formed by the top 282 and bottom 284 shells. When installed, the cartridge 292 causes the uppermost dispensing component 296 to protrude slightly into the bristle area. This embodiment 300 may be used like an ordinary hair brush. The dry formulation fragrance is applied via a wiping action of the dispensing component surface against the target surface as the brush is passed over—i.e., wiped onto—the target surface. As in previous embodiments, the separate layers of the fabric dispensing component 296 that cover the carrier 295 may be uncoated at a narrow strip along one or more edges of the fabric dispensing component 296 to enable easier grasping of a layer for easy removal to expose a fresh layer of the dispensing component 296.
The exploded view in
The pet brush embodiments described herein may advantageously employ any of a variety of fragrances, fragrance substitutes, or other agents of particular applicability to the grooming of pets or other animals, to be carried and dispensed or delivered by the exemplary devices. For example, some fragrance control agents (alternatively: odor neutralization agents) may be selected from the list including Vitamin E, Avocado oil, Omega-6, silk wheat proteins, oat proteins, Safflower oil, Sunflower seed oil, Pennyroyal and comfrey oil, Hydrolyzed Oat protein, Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Oatmeal, Chamomile Extract, Castor oil, Omega-3, Cranberry seed oil, Kava extract, Papaya leaf extract and the like. In some applications, flea control agents may also be included in the dry formulation. Substances for use as part of the dry formulation mixture in any of the embodiments described herein for use in grooming pets or other animals should be compatible with the PEG+glycerin as the dry formulation base component. In a typical case, the flea control additive will be present in the dry formulation in small amounts, and will be non-toxic to pets and humans. In some embodiments of a pet brush, both the fragrance control and flea control agents may be included in the dry formulation mixture.
Continuing with
Continuing with
Some illustrative examples of use of the embodiments shown in
In a further example of a dry wipe in a mitt-sized applicator as depicted in
Yet another example of a dry wipe as shown in
Referring to
Continuing with
While the inventions heretofore described have been shown in only several illustrative forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to other various changes and modifications from those depicted and described without departing from the spirit thereof. Materials and processes described for fabrication of the illustrated embodiments may vary within the normal range of equivalents as known in the arts. As one example, fragrance control agents as described for the embodiments of
In other alternatives, substitutes for the fragrance component may as readily be used to accomplish other uses, including but not limited to insect repellants, sun screens, skin conditioners, surfactants or cleaners, antistatic coatings, coloring agents, and the like. The percentage proportion of such ingredients may vary from as little as 0.05% to as much as 50% depending on the application.
Thus, as broadly defined, the present invention of a dry formulation fragrance delivery system, which may be useful as a grooming aid or in other applications in which the delivery system described herein and set forth in the following claims may be adapted to delivering other agents, may be characterized in its most basic form as comprising: a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation deposited on the dispensing component, the dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component or other agent in a preferred but not limiting embodiment.
Claims
1. A dry formulation fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising:
- a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and
- a dry formulation deposited on said dispensing component, said dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component.
2. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dry formulation is formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein
- said PEG has a molecular weight of approximately 3000 grams/mole to 5000 grams/mole; and
- said fragrance component is formed as a blend of at least one essential oil and at least one aroma compound.
3. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
4. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, a rotating adjustment knob extending from a first end thereof and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and
- a rotatable dispensing component controlled by said adjustment knob and disposed within a longitudinal opening through said body from said first side to a second opposite side of said body.
5. The grooming aid of claim 4, wherein said brush comprises:
- a paddle style hair brush having flexible pin-shaped bristles disposed in a pattern of bristles surrounding said opening on said first side of said body in an array having an approximate density between 10 and 20 bristles per square inch.
6. The grooming aid of claim 4, wherein:
- said flexible pin-shaped bristles each have a diameter exceeding 0.010 inch and are formed of nylon.
7. The grooming aid of claim 4, wherein said rotatable dispensing component comprises:
- a removable cylindrical tube disposed on a axle and wrapped with at least one layer of a fabric upon which said dry formulation is deposited to be dispensed during use of said grooming aid.
8. The grooming aid of claim 7, said fabric comprising:
- a length of non-woven fabric having a low-tack adhesive on one side and wrapped in a plurality of layers around said cylindrical tube, said length pre-scored at defined segments to enable tear-off of a segment depleted of said dry formulation.
9. The grooming aid of claim 8, said non-woven fabric comprising:
- edges that are uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.
10. The grooming aid of claim 7, wherein said axle comprises:
- a splined tube supported on first and second conical pivots aligned with a longitudinal axis of said brush at respective first and second ends of said opening, said splined tube disposed within said cylindrical tube by way of an interference fit.
11. The grooming aid of claim 10, further comprising:
- a brake acting in cooperation with said rotating adjustment knob disposed at a first end of said body for controlling rotation of said dispensing component.
12. The grooming aid of claim 11, wherein said brake further comprises:
- an assembly including said rotating adjustment knob coupled to said conical pivot at said first end of said opening, said knob operable through a threaded bore to permit adjustment of friction between said conical pivot and a proximate end of said hollow axle.
13. The grooming aid of claim 11, wherein said brake further comprises:
- an assembly including said rotating adjustment knob configured with a keyed shaft disposed through a flexible detent shroud and into a proximate end of said splined tube for indexing a rotational disposition of said dispensing component;
- wherein said detent shroud includes resilient stops and is supported within said first end of said body of said brush.
14. The grooming aid of claim 4, wherein:
- said adjustment knob is coupled to said rotatable dispensing component to control rotation of said dispensing component.
15. The grooming aid of claim 4, wherein said handle comprises:
- a hollow tube for storing a spare removable roller; and
- a cap for closing a distal end of said handle.
16. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and
- a rotatable dispensing component disposed within a longitudinal opening disposed through a central portion of said first side of said body.
17. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof;
- said body formed of first and second shells corresponding to said first and second sides, having a longitudinal window opening in said first shell and an access slot disposed through an edge of said body along and proximate a side of said window opening; and
- a renewable dispensing component disposed within said window opening in said first shell and installable through said access slot.
18. The grooming aid of claim 17, wherein said brush comprises:
- a paddle style hair brush having flexible pin-shaped bristles disposed in a pattern of bristles surrounding said window opening on said first side of said body in an array having an approximate density between 10 and 20 bristles per square inch.
19. The grooming aid of claim 18, wherein:
- said flexible pin-shaped bristles each have a diameter exceeding 0.010 inch and are formed of nylon.
20. The grooming aid of claim 17, wherein said renewable dispensing component comprises:
- a removable resilient insert cartridge having at least one fabric layer segment upon which said dry formulation is deposited to be dispensed during use of said grooming aid.
21. The grooming aid of claim 20, said resilient insert cartridge comprising:
- an elongated, U-shaped member having a grasping tab extending from a free side edge of said U-shaped member such that a convex surface of said U-shaped member protrudes through said window opening and said grasping tab extends through said access slot in said body when said insert cartridge is installed within said body.
22. The grooming aid of claim 20, said fabric layer segment comprising:
- a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an outer side thereof with said dry formulation, and coated on an underside thereof with a low tack adhesive to enable stacking in a plurality of fabric layer segments upon a convex surface of said resilient insert cartridge.
23. The grooming aid of claim 22, said non-woven fabric comprising:
- at least one edge of said fabric layer segment that is uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.
24. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- an elongate member having an axle portion and a handle portion;
- a roller disposed on said axle portion; and
- a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said roller, said dispensing component including at least one layer of said fabric, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
25. The grooming aid of claim 24, further comprising:
- an adjustment mechanism disposed on a first end of said elongate member that cooperates with said roller to hold it in a stationary orientation until said roller needs to be advanced to expose fresh formulation.
26. The grooming aid of claim 25, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises:
- a viscous rotation damper to retard rotation of said roller until adjustment of the orientation of said roller; and
- a knob coupled to said damper for adjusting said roller.
27. The grooming aid of claim 25, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises:
- a brake mechanism coupled to said axle portion and operated by an adjustment knob, for retarding rotation of said roller until advancement of the orientation of said roller is desired.
28. The grooming aid of claim 27, wherein further:
- said brake mechanism applies friction between said roller and said axle portion of said elongate member.
29. The grooming aid of claim 24, said dispensing component further comprising:
- a non-woven fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof and a low tack adhesive deposited on an inner surface thereof.
30. The grooming aid of claim 24, wherein:
- said fabric dispensing component is disposed around said roller in multiple layers, and scored across the width of said fabric at ends of said fabric of each layer to enable removal of a layer depleted of said dry formulation.
31. The grooming aid of claim 29, said non-woven fabric comprising:
- at least one edge of said non-woven fabric is uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.
32. A dry formulation fragrance control, comprising:
- a dispensing insole having a dispensing component; and
- a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component.
33. The fragrance control of claim 32, said dispensing insole comprising:
- a three-layer assembly, in order, of an insole pad, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.
34. The fragrance control of claim 32, said insole pad comprising:
- a thin insole material selected from the group consisting of a non-woven fabric, leather, felt, and silicone sheet.
35. The fragrance control of claim 32, said insole pad comprising:
- a resilient insole material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, gel-filled rubber, and silicone sheet.
36. The fragrance control of claim 32, said insole pad comprising:
- a peel-off backing sheet, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.
37. The fragrance control of claim 32, said dispensing component comprising:
- a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an underside thereof with said low tack adhesive and having substantially the same outline shape as said insole pad.
38. The fragrance control of claim 32, wherein:
- said dispensing component is configured to enable stacking in a plurality of layers upon said insole pad.
39. A dry formulation fragrance control, comprising:
- a dispensing component; and
- a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component.
40. The fragrance control of claim 39, said dispensing component comprising:
- a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an underside thereof with a low tack adhesive and having substantially the same outline shape as an insole for a person's shoe.
41. The fragrance control of claim 39, wherein:
- said dispensing component is configured to enable stacking in a plurality of layers within a person's shoe.
42. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a two-layer assembly of a first fabric dispensing layer and a second fabric body layer, wherein said first layer includes said dry formulation deposited thereon.
43. The grooming aid of claim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:
- a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe configured for receiving four fingers of a user's hand between said first and second layers of said assembly.
44. The grooming aid of claim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:
- a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe glove configured for receiving a user's hand within said glove between said first and second layers of said assembly.
45. The grooming aid of claim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:
- a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe mitten configured for receiving a user's hand within said mitten between said first and second layers of said assembly.
46. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a body member having a transverse slot extending from a top to a bottom surface thereof, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on said bottom surface of said body on each side of said slot;
- a comb having a plurality of tines, said comb removably secured within said transverse slot, and said tines extending past said bottom surface of said body between first and second portions of said array of bristles; and
- a dispensing component formed of a fabric affixed to at least one of first and second outer faces of said comb, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
47. The grooming aid of claim 46, said comb comprising:
- first and second resilient pawls (hooks) configured to engage corresponding teeth (edges) disposed on said body adjacent first and second ends of said slot.
48. The grooming aid of claim 46, said bristles comprising:
- flexible bristle material selected from the group consisting of boar bristle, horsehair, nylon, thermoplastic, and stainless steel.
49. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:
- a body member having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on an underside of said body and surrounding said opening;
- a spool disposed within said opening and supported on fixed axial stubs; and
- a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said spool, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
50. The grooming aid of claim 49, said body member comprising:
- keyed sockets disposed at opposite ends of said opening for receiving said fixed axial stubs of said spool within said opening.
51. The grooming aid of claim 49, said spool comprising:
- a spool body having a cross section substantially based on a plane figure selected from the group consisting of a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and octagon.
52. The grooming aid of claim 51, said spool body comprising:
- a body having a substantially triangular cross section.
53. The grooming aid of claim 52, said triangular cross section comprising:
- an equilateral triangle having rounded apexes.
54. The grooming aid of claim 52, said triangular cross section comprising:
- a closed triangular figure having curved sides and a constant diameter (derived from a Reuleaux triangle).
55. The grooming aid of claim 49, said dispensing component comprising:
- a plurality of layers of said fabric surrounding said spool, said fabric scored at intervals wherein each successive layer is removable.
56. The grooming aid of claim 55, wherein further:
- said fabric is scored at intervals coinciding with an apex of said spool.
57. The grooming aid of claim 49, said body comprising:
- a latch attached to one side of said body along an axis of said spool, configured as a rocking lever and having a keyed receptacle in a first end to receive a correspondingly keyed axle stub for preventing rotation of said spool when said latch is disposed in a locking position.
58. The grooming aid of claim 1, said wherein dispensing device comprises:
- an under layer and a carrier layer substantially congruent with said under layer, said layers bonded together along first and second opposite edges thereof, thereby creating a space therebetween such that at least four fingers of a user's hand can be inserted through said space.
59. The grooming aid of claim 58, wherein said under layer and carrier layer comprise:
- a non-woven or spun-bonded polypropylene fabric having a weight within the range 100 to 200 grams/square meter.
60. The grooming aid of claim 58, wherein said layers are bonded together by a process selected from the group consisting of sewing, hot welding, cementing, binding, and stapling.
61. The grooming aid of claim 58, wherein said dry formulation comprises:
- a mixture of polyethylene glycol and glycerin in combination with a fragrance component.
62. A method of delivering a fragrance to a surface, comprising the steps of:
- configuring a dispensing device having a dispensing component for receiving a dry formulation containing a fragrance component;
- producing said dry formulation from a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin as a carrier component and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent of a fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; and
- applying said dry formulation to said dispensing surface of said dispensing device.
63. The method of claim 62, further comprising the steps of:
- engaging said dispensing device with a target surface; and
- manipulating said dispensing device to cause an amount of said fragrance component to be deposited onto said target surface in a non-liquid form, without leaving a residue of stain or significant traces of said dry formulation.
64. A fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising:
- a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and
- a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein
- said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
65. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- an insect repellant is substituted for said fragrance component.
66. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- a sun screen product is substituted for said fragrance component.
67. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- a skin conditioner is substituted for said fragrance component.
68. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- an antistatic agent is substituted for said fragrance component.
69. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- a surfactant or cleaner is substituted for said fragrance component.
70. The grooming aid of claim 1, wherein:
- a coloring agent is substituted for said fragrance component.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 22, 2013
Inventors: Ben Kusin (Dallas, TX), Charles C. Steward (Oradel, NJ), Ronald C. Griepenburg (Oradel, NJ), Edgardo Guce (New Milford, NJ)
Application Number: 13/840,528
International Classification: A45D 34/00 (20060101);
