Abstract: An apparatus for emitting a chemical agent includes a supply of the chemical agent, an emanator from which the chemical agent can diffuse, means for transporting the chemical agent from the supply to the emanator, means for interrupting the transportation of the chemical agent from the supply to the emanator and means for providing a flow of air over the emanator to promote diffusion of the chemical agent from the emanator. The supply of the chemical agent, the emanator, the means for transporting the chemical agent and the means for interrupting the transportation of the chemical agent may be provided in the form of an integral replaceable cartridge.

Abstract: A disinfection rack to mount, organize, display, and sterilize vials comprising of a reservoir (16) that contains disinfection fluid, which travels along a plurality of wicks (24) into a disinfection chamber (14), where the top of vials (28) remains in contact with the disinfecting fluid. Vials (28) are suspended by the top and neck within said disinfection chamber (14), and is stabilized by a spring (22) also contained within. The disinfection rack can be mounted by attaching a mounting plate (10) to a wall, cabinet, door, or other vertical surface allowing continuous visualization and sterilization of vials while in said disinfection chamber (14).

Abstract: A passive aromatic substance dispenser is described. A highly absorbent rod shaped wick, held within a hermetically sealed tube, serves as a fragrance dispensing reservoir in contact with an efficient fragrance diffuser, and also serves as a convenient means for suspending the diffuser in a selected area to be fragranced. When fragrancing an area is not desired, closing the housing for the diffuser seals the diffuser from ambient air currents, protecting the aromatic substance from evaporating from the diffuser. The vacuum that develops within the tube due to the absorption of aromatic substance from the rod and into the diffuser prevents draining of the fragrance material from the rod and into the diffuser when not required, thus providing self regulation of the fragrance material by the dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus including a liquid vaporizer having a first wick of linear shape, a bottle for holding the liquid to be vaporized and a gravity-flow metering device having a second wick. The bottle has a closing cap to which two tubes are connected. One tube discharges the liquid from the bottle and the other extends through the cap to the opposite end of the bottle for counteracting the vacuum which is produced when liquid is discharged. The end of the discharging tube extends outwardly of the cap further than the end of the other tube so that a pool is produced in the dispenser. The level of the pool is limited by the position of the end of the tube for counteracting the vacuum. The second wick is of J-shape; one end is immersed in the pool and the other end is suspended over the first wick so that liquid absorbed at the immersed end drips from the second wick on the first wick and is evaporated and diffused from the first wick.

Abstract: An air-freshening device including an air-freshening fluid container having a removable cap with a wick support. A fluid-absorbent medium has an exposed surface on the cap and a wick extends through the cap to the fluid-absorbent medium. An outer closure support for the container has a pair of adjustable closure half-shells. Each half-shell has an internal locking arm for engaging the flange of the cap for controlling the air freshener flow out of the device.

Abstract: Volatile substances such as fragrances, perfumes, deodorizers, room freshener compositions and the like are dispensed in vapor phase from a container holding the substance in liquid phase at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. The container has a window covered with a microporous membrane with an active structure formed from a material having a critical surface tension that is below the surface tension of the liquid substance. The active membrane material has a critical surface tension that is below 22 dynes/cm and preferably below 20 dynes/cm while the surface tension of the liquid is at least 22 dynes/cm. One example is an ultraviolet irradiated polymer composition with 0.2 microns nominal pore size.

Abstract: Volatile substances such as fragrances, perfumes, deodorizers, room freshener compositions and the like are dispensed in vapor phase from a container holding the substance in liquid phase at room temperature and under atmospheric pressure. The container has a window covered with a microporous membrane with an active structure formed from a material having a critical surface tension that is below the surface tension of the liquid substance. Generally the active membrane material has a critical surface tension that is below 22 dynes/cm and preferably below 20 dynes/cm while the surface tension of the liquid is at least 22 dynes/cm. One example is an ultraviolet irradiated polymer composition with 0.2 microns nominal pore size. In all instances the volatile substance is first sorbed within a porous element and desorbed therefrom for transport through the membrane only in its vapor phase.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the evaporation of a solution into the ambient air. The apparatus contains a reservoir having at least one elastic wall; a first compartment outside the reservoir having an opening to the ambient air; a passage which may be intermittently opened and closed, connecting the reservoir to the first compartment; and, an absorbent material placed on a support which is outside both the reservoir and the first compartment, and which is in contact with the first compartment. By exerting pressure on the elastic wall of the reservoir, solution may be transferred from the reservoir to the first compartment through the passage when it is open. The passage is kept closed during the time intervals between intermittent transfers of the solution. The portion of solution which has been transferred to the first compartment is gradually and continuously transferred to the absorbent material for evaporation to the ambient air.

Abstract: A diffuser for volatile liquids. The diffuser includes an absorbent carrier for accepting and diffusing a volatile liquid, a container for storing a volatile liquid, and a pointed element for piercing the perforable container to establish direct communication for flow of volatile liquid between the perforable container and the absorbent carrier.

Abstract: A reversible fragrance emitting unit adapted to rest on a flat surface in either an upright or an upside down position, no fragrance being emitted in one position and fragrance being emitted in the other position, so that a switching action is effected simply by reversing the unit. The unit consists of a vented cylindrical shell closed at its upper end by a cover plate and at its lower end by a bottom wall. Disposed within the shell and secured to the cover plate is an absorbent pad. Joined to the pad is the leading end of a series of interhinged absorbent elements in an accordian formation, the trailing end of the series being joined to a weight whereby when the unit is upside down, the accordian is collapsed on the bottom wall and compressed by the overlying weight, and when the unit is reversed in position and is made upright, the weight drops to the bottom wall, thereby expanding the accordian.

Abstract: An air freshener dispenser of the type containing in a reservoir a liquid fragrance composition comprising a necked container, a wick provided in the neck, an emanator pad holder retaining within a containment enclosure an absorbent or emanator pad in contact with the wick, and a cover member including at least one fragrance-diffusion aperture, the emanator pad holder including means defining at least one fragrance diffusion channel, the emanator pad being detachably rotatable within the cover member, whereby rotation of the cover member brings the diffusion aperture and the diffusion channel into registry.

Abstract: A room deodorizer that relies on the fact that oil and water do not mix and that oil is lighter than water, to the end that water can be used to drive the perfume oils out of a paper matrix or the like by molecular displacement consequently, instead of having a perfume solution moving up a wick, it is provided that water rises from a reservoir by capillary action into an upper portion of a wick which is impregnated with perfume oil, and because of the molecular displacement of the oil by the water, the perfume oil is thereby driven to the surface when it evaporates into the ambient.

Abstract: A vapor dispersing device in which evaporative dispersion of volatile and diffusive components of an air treating agent is regulated over an extending period by the use of a container, for the agent, into which at least one rigid porous wick extends to transfer the agent from the container to a porous plastic element from the surface of which dispersion of the agent will occur by means of evaporation, the surface of the element being impregnated with an occluding agent, the evaporation rate of which is chosen, relative to rate of deposition on non-volatile components of the air treating agent in the element, to result in an even dispersion rate over a desired operating period.

Abstract: A vapor dispersing device in which evaporative dispersion of volatile and diffusive components of an air treating agent is regulated over an extending period by the use of a container, for the agent, into which at least one rigid porous wick extends to transfer the agent from the container to a porous plastic element from the surface of which dispersion of the agent will occur by means of evaporation, the surface of the element being impregnated with an occluding agent, the evaporation rate of which is chosen, relative to rate of deposition on non-volatile components of the air treating agent in the element, to result in an even dispersion rate over a desired operating period.

Abstract: A device for long-term evaporation of liquid perfumes, particularly for placing in the pockets of garments and handbags and equipped with a stand, comprising a flat, plate-like basic member which encloses a perfume carrier and which has at least one wall having an evaporation region made porous for evaporation purposes. The basic member is provided with a reserve perfume chamber which communicates with the evaporation chamber through at least one channel for the passage of perfume. A cover member is mounted on the basic member and movable thereon in the manner of a slide from a sealing position, in which the porous evaporation region is covered, to at least one evaporating position.

Abstract: A device for producing a pleasant or fragrant scent in a room or automobile, for example. The device includes a housing that encloses a container of a fragrant liquid. At least part of the container is made of a substantially transparent material that can also be pierced by a needle or sharp pin. The container includes a reservoir part that is visible through an opening formed in the housing, so that a user may check the amount of liquid remaining in the container. The container further includes a chamber part that may be pierced so that the liquid seeps from it, and a pad or layer of material absorbs the seepage. An adjustable window formed on the housing controls the amount of the liquid that evaporates from the absorbent layer.

Abstract: A vapor generator for generating vapors from a vaporizable liquid concentrate such as a deodorant-fragrance concentrate and employable either with or without a fan dispenser. The vaporizable liquid is sealed within a receptacle having an openable top portion, such as a pull-top can, and a capillary action diaphragm is located under the top so as to be exposed when the top is opened. The vaporizable liquid is transported upwardly from the body of liquid to the diaphragm by capillary action membrane means extending from the top to the bottom of the receptacle, and then distributed by capillary action through the diaphragm and vaporized from the exposed surface thereof. A small pressure equalization port through the diaphragm equalizes the vapor pressure under the diaphragm to substantially atmospheric pressure so that such vapor pressure will not interfere with the capillary actions.

Abstract: A combined fragrance dispenser and humidifier includes a vessel to hold a quantity of water, an absorbent carrier member having one end in contact with the water and another end in air circulating relationship with a fragrance retaining member so that air circulates through the absorbent carrier member allowing the water vapor to evaporate while passing over the fragrance to dissipate the fragrance as well.