Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Our invention concerns, inter alia, a dispensing unit of a
volatilizable substance such as a perfumery material, an insect
repellent and an animal repellent or the like capable of
visible determination of its extent of use comprising a
sighting mechanism having associated therewith a vertically
positioned rotatable support having located thereon in the same
plane at least one gravity activated weight and a volatilizable
substance and having a variably located centroid initially
positioned proximate the geometric center point of the unit
with the centroid moving downward when the unit is in use
whereby as the volatilizable substance evaporates, the weight
eccentrically located in the same plane as the volatilizable
substance angularly rotates about the "z" axis leaving its
initial position and finally coming to rest at a resting
position while the volatilizable material is used up and
whereby at least the final position of the weight is rendered
visibly detectable by means of said sighting mechanism.
D.spensing units of volatilizable substances capable of
visible determination of their extent of use are known in the
prior art.
Thus, U.S. Letters Patent 2,642,310 issued on June 16, 1953
entitled "Diffuser And Binder Base For Residue of Evaporable
Material~ discloses and claims a dispensing unit of volatili-
zable material containing minor portions of nonvolatilizing
residue forming components, comprising a relatively flat re-
ceptacle having an enlarged bottom wall, a low peripheral side
wall, and being open at the top thereof, said bottom wall
having a thin sheet of fibrous material arranged along and in
close proximity thereto, the surface of said sheet of fibrous
material being adherent to the volatilizable material and pro-
viding means ~or adhering bodies of said nonvolatilizable
~ 2 ~ ~
residue in fixed position with respect to said receptacle, with
the sheet being characterized to function as a replacement in-
dicator as portions thereof become exposed through evaporation
of volatilizable material from the receptacle.
Articles which can be modified using weight means and
sighting means which are dispensing units of volatilizable sub-
stance, but which are not disclosed to be so capable of being
modified are set forth in U.S. Letters Patent 3~964 ~684 issued
on June 22~ 1976 and U.S. Letters Patent 4~258~004 issued on
March 24r 1981~ The disclosures of said U.S. Letters Patent
3~964 ~684 and 4 ~258~004 are incorporated herein by reference.
The prior art does not however disclose a dispensing unit
of volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of
its extent of use involving a variably-located weight means
associated with a sighting means.
Our invention also relates to multi-layer sequentially
timed release polyfunctional volatilizable substance delivery
articles which comprise a plurality of concentric or coaxial
neighboring matrix layers.
There has been considerable work performed relating to
volatilizable substances including fragrance substances which
have a fragrance impact both initially and over extended
periods of time during the consumption of the consumable
material in which the volatilizable substance, e.g., fragrance
is located. Problems have arisen in attempting to create such
fragrance compositions for use with hydro-alcohol compositions
of matter such as colognes, wherein part of the fragrance is
available for immediate results whereas another part of the
fragrance provides the effect gradually over extended periods
-3- 2~
of time; and further, in different manners in different con-
trollable periods of time. Such problems include the con-
tinuous distribution of "initial impact" and "extended release"
fragrance over the entire mass of the hydro-alcohol composition
of matter (e.g., colognes) as well as commercial manufacture of
same.
In U.S. Letters Patent 4,428,869 issued January 31, 1984,
hydro alcohol compositions of matter such as colognes are
described wherein part of the fragrance is available for
immediate results whereas another part of the fragrance
provides the effect gradually over extended periods of time;
and further, in different manners in different controllable
periods of time.
U.S. Patent ~o. 3,920,849, describes orally utilizable
compositions which may be either chewing gum compositions,
chewable medicinal tablets, chewing tobacco or toothpaste
having, on oral intake, a high flavor intensity release evenly
and uniformly over an extended oral utilization time in the
mouth cavity; the orally utilizable compositions containing a
non-confined flavor oil, a flavor oil which is physically en-
trapped in solid particles and a suspending agent such as
silica, xanthan gum, ethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl
cellulose; the non-confined flavor oil, the entrapped flavor
oil and the suspension agent being premixed prior to addition
to either the chewing gum base, the chewing tobacco, the
chewable medicinal tablet base, the toothpaste base, the
smoking tobacco or the hot beverage.
U.S. Patent No. 2,886,440 teaches a method of preparing a
chewing gum characterized by "extended flavor perception time,
true flavor character, and high degree of flavor release
comprising the steps of forming a spray-dried emulsion of a
volatile, water-immiscible flavoring agent encapsulated within
finely divided particles of gelatin, and substantially
_4_ ~ t~
uniformly distributing said gelatin encapsulated flavoring
agent within an all enveloping mass of a chewing gum basen~
U.S. Patent No. 2,886,446 teaches a chewing gum comprising
(i) smaller particles of gelatin characterized by faster liber-
ation of flavor and (ii) larger particles of gelatin
characterized by slower liberation of flavor, each of the
gelatin particles containing dispersed therewithin, in dried
emulsion form, discrete micro-droplets of a volatile water-
immiscible flavoring agent, and an all-enveloping mass of a
chewable gum base within which the particles are substantially
uniformly distributed whereby the flavor is released
substantially evenly and uniformly over the extended chewing
time.
U.S. Patent No. 2,886,445 teaches that:
~It is now possible to obtain a flavoring composition,
particularly adapted for use in chewing gum which permits
attainment of a product characterized by extended flavor
perception time, true flavor character, and release of a
large proportion of flavoring agent. This flavoring
composition comprises finely divided particles of a dried
hardened gelatin emulsion containing discrete micro-
droplets of a volatile, water-immiscible flavor agent.
Preparation of the flavoring composition of this invention
may be effected by encapsulating discrete micro-droplets of
volatile, water-immiscible flavoring agent within finely
divided particles of a dried emulsion of hardened gelatin~.
U.S. Patent No. 2,886,449 teaches:
~A chewing gum containing a flavoring composition char-
acterized by an extended flavor perception time, true
flavor character, controlled release of a large portion of
flavoring agent, and reduction in amount of flavor oil
",~,.....
-5~ 35~
required (which) may be prepared by the process comprising
forming a gelatin-coacervated flavor~ and substantially
uniformly distributing said gelatin-coacervated flavor
within an all-enveloping mass of a chewable gum base. The
product chewing gum...comprises...finely divided particles
of coacervated gelatin containing a water-immiscible
flavoring agent therewithin and an all-enveloping mass of a
chewing gum base within which the particles are substan-
tially distributed.~
U.S. Patent No. 3,753,730 issued on August 21, 1973
discloses processes for altering the flavors of particulate
grain products comprising applying a composition comprising a
flavoring agent, an edible cold water insoluble film former and
a vehicle to a particulate grain product; drying the distri-
buted composition to form a flavor containing film on the grain
product; and then optionally distributing the coated flavored
grain through a large mass of uncoated grain particles.
German Offenlegungsschrift No. 28 26 042 published on
January 4, 1979 discloses a condiment consisting of a lemon
flavored salt prepared by mixing salt and a lemon oil powder
and spaying the resulting mixture with lemon oil. More parti-
cularly, the salt is admixed with (a) from 0.1 up to 0.5 weight
percent of salt of a terpene-free lemon oil bonded to a powdery
carrier and (b) terpene-free liquid lemon oil. The condiment
is prepared by mixing the dry salt with component (a), spraying
the mixture with component (b) and mixing through a screw con-
veyor.
Nothing in the prior art discloses the multi-layer
sequentially timed release poly-functional volatilizable
substance delivery article of our invention.
--6-- ~ k .
Our invention further describes a stick shave formulation
and article for employing same. Traditional products used to
facilitate wetting and lubricating the beard or in the case of
women underarm or leg hair prior to shaving are generally soap
systems that are packaged in pressurized aerosol containers or
tubes. These products are inconvenient to use because the user
must apply the products first to a hand and then to the face.
The hand must then be washed prior to actually shaving. AlSo
p~essurized systems contain volatile organic compounds as
propellants and therefore are considered to be harmful to the
environment. In addition products in commerce do very little
in terms of lubricating, moisturizing or wetting.
Stick formulations using anti-perspirants and deodorants
are known in the prior art; for example, the formulat~on as
described in U.S. Letters Patent 4,822,603 for "SURE ~ n
anti-perspirant and deodorant. Hair removers in the form of
hand held "stick" articles are also known in the prior art and
in commercial use, for example, the ~NAIR ~ n glide-on hair
remover with aloe vera distributed by the Carter Products
Division of Carter-Wallace, Inc., New York, New York 10153.
However, nothing in the prior art discloses either
implicitly or explicitly the stick shave formulation and
article for employing same of our invention.
-7 - 2~ ~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Our invention concerns a dispensing unit of a volatilizable
substance such as a perfumery material, an air freshener, a
deodorant, an insect attractant, an insect repellent, an animal
repellent or a pheromone capable of visible determination of
its extent of use.
The unit defined according to our invention has a varibly
located centroid initially positioned proximate the geometric
center point of the unit with the centroid moving downward when
the unit is in use. AS the volatilizable substance evaporates,
a weight or weight means eccentrically located in the same
plane as the volatilizable substance angularly rotates about
the ~z~ axis leaving its upper position and finally coming to
rest at a lower position when the volatilizable material is
used up. At least the final position is rendered visibly
detectable by means of a simple sighting mechanism.
One embodiment of our invention is a dispensing unit of a
volatilizable substance as defined, supra, capable of visible
determination of its extent of use comprising a sighting
mechanism having associated therewith a vertically positioned
rotatable support having located thereon in the same plane at
least one gravity activated weight and a volatilizable sub-
stance and having a variably located centroid initially
positioned proximate the geometric center point of the unit
with the centroid moving downward when the unit is in use
whereby as the volatilizable substance evaporates, the weight
eccentrically located in the same plane as the volatilizable
substance angularly rotates about the ~z~ axis leaving its
initial position and finally coming to rest at a resting
position when the volatilizable material is used up and whereby
at least the final position of the weight is rendered visibly
detectable by means of a simple sighting mechanism.
-8- 2 ~
The volatilizable substance may be a totally volatilizable
material suspended in a foam-like material such as polyurethane
foam or it may be a volatilizable material suspended in a
matrix of nonvolatilizable material such as a silica gel by
itself or the silica gel-matrix may be further suspended in a
rigid foam such as a polyurethane foam.
The weight as described, supra, may be freely rotatable or
the weight may be attached to a vertical support and both the
weight and vertical support rotate about the "z~ axis as will
be more specifically described, supra. As the volatilizable
substance evaporates, its density decreases whereas the density
of the weight remains constant. Accordingly, the moment of
inertia and center of gravity vary as the volatilizable sub-
stance evaporates and the weight travels in a downward direc-
tion as a result of gravitational attraction for the weight
means.
The second embodiment of our invention is a dispensing unit
of volatilizable material capable of visible determination of
its extent of use and having a variable centroid initially
located below the geometric center point of the unit with the
variable centroid moving in a substantially downward direction
on use of the dispensing unit, comprising:
(1) A freely rotatable vertically disposed substantially
planar solid vapor impermeable wall member the
rotation of which is gravity induced, said wall member
having (i) an enclosing outer circumferential boundary
having an upper boundary arcuate segment and a lower
boundary arcuate segment and (ii) two vertically dis-
posed substantially planar outer surfaces located,
respectively, in a first ~x-y~ plane and in a second
"x_yn plane parallel to each other and rotatable about
9 2
a "z" axis substantially perpendicular to each of said
"x-y" planes, said first and second "x-y" planes each
having a horizontal "x~ axis and a vertical "y" axis;
(2) A shaft means parallel to said "z" axis about which
said wall member is capable of rotating;
(3) Located in a third "x-y" plane proximate said lower
boundary arcuate segment on and removably affixed to a
major portion of at least one of said planar outer
surfaces, a laminar matrix of a volatilizable
substance included in a nonvolatilizable substance,
the medium plane of said laminar matrix being sub-
stantially parallel to said first and second "x-y"
plane;
(4) Located in a fourth "x-y" plane proximate said upper
boundary arcuate segment on and permanently affixed to
a minor portion of at least one of said planar outer
surfaces a substantially solid visible weight means
having a centroid initially located in the proximity
of said vertical "y" axis, above the location of said
shaft means and at a height above ground greater than
the height above ground of the centroid of said
laminar matrix;
(5) Associated with said wall member, a fixed sighting
means comprising a window means located in a fifth
"x-y" plane parallel to said first and second "x-y~
planes, perpendicular to said "z" axis and facing said
visible weight means, said sighting means having a
line of vision through said window in a direction from
said window means to at least one given location of
said weight means, each line of vision being sub-
stantially parallel to said "z" axis
whereby as the volatilizable substance evaporates the weight
means together with the wall member angularly rotates in said
"x-y" plane about said "z" axis leaving its initial position
--10--
;~ ,t", ~ ~"
(xO, yO, zO) at the first upper "y" axis location and
finally coming to rest at a second lower "y" axis location
(Xf, yf, zO) which is visibly detectable from said window
means, the angular velocity of said weight means together with
said wall member being at least in part a function of the rate
of elimination from said unit of said volatilizable substance,
However, the dispensing unit of volatilizable substance of
our inventon does not need to have its weight means fixedly
attached or permanently attached to any vertical supports.
Thus, as shown in Figures 16, 16-A, 17 and 18 the weight means
can be freely rotatable (unlike the article shown in Figures 1,
21 and 22)
Accordingly, another embodiment of the dispensing unit of
volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of its
extent of use of our invention comprises:
(1) A fixed vertically disposed substantially planar
solid vapor impermeable wall member, said wall member
having (i) an enclosing outer circumferential boundary
having a first upper boundary arcuate segment and a
first lower boundary arcuate segment; (ii) two
vertically disposed substantially planar outer
surfaces located, respectively, in a first nx-yn plane
and in a second "x-y" plane being parallel to each
other, said first and second "x-y" planes each having
a horizontal "x" and a vertical "y" axis, each of said
"x~ axis and said "y~ axis being perpendicular to a
"z" axis; and (iii) a nonbroken vapor impermeable side
wall protruding from and contiguous with the entirety
of said circumferential boundary extending in a
direction substantially parallel to said "z" axis,
having a first upper arcuate segment and a second
lower arcuate segment;
--ll--
(2) A cylindrically shaped shaft means having a shaft wall
parallel to said "z" axis having a first upper surface
segment and a first lower surface surface segment;
(3) Located in a third "x-y~ plane proximate said first
lower boundary arcuate segment and said second lower
arcuate segment on and removably affixed to a major
portion of at least one of said planar outer surfaces
and a major portion of said second lower arcuate
segment, a laminar matrix of a volatilizable substance
included in a nonvolatilizable substance (e.g., a
perfume material or an insect repellent such as
l-nonen-3-ol suspended in a matrix of silica gel), the
medium plane of said laminar matrix being substan-
tially parallel to said first and second "x-y" planes,
said matrix having a second upper surface segment
parallel to said llZ~ axis and perpendicular to each of
said "x-y~ planes and a second lower surface segment
parallel to said "z~ axis and perpendicular to each of
said ~x-y" planes, and initially being contiguous with
said first lower segment surface;
(4) Located in said third ~x-y~ plane initially proximate
said first upper boundary arcuate segment and said
second upper arcuate segment and initially having a
major portion of its lower surface contiguous with
said second upper surface segment of said matrix a sub-
stantially solid, visible, freely rotatable weight
means having a centroid initially located in the
proximity of said vertical "y~ axis above the location
of said shaft means and at a height above ground
greater than the height above ground of the centroid
of said laminar matrix;
(5) Associated with said visible weight means, a fixed
sighting means comprising a window means located in a
fourth ~x-y" plane parallel to said first and second
~x-y" planes, perpendicular to said ~z" axis and
-12~ 7~
facing said visible weight means, said sighting means
having a line of vision through said window means in a
direction from said window means to at least one given
location of said weight means, said line of vision
being substantially parallel to said ~z~ axis
whereby as the volatilizable substance evaporates, the weight
means angularly rotates in said third "x-y" plane above said
~z~ axis leaving its initial position at the first upper ~y~
axis location (xO, yO, zO) and finally coming to rest at
a second lower ~y~ axis location (Xf, yf, zO) which is
visibly detectable from said window means, the angular velocity
of said weight means being at least in part a function of the
rate of elimination from said unit of said volatilizable
substance,
!
Furthermore, the dispensing unit of volatilizable substance
capable of visible dètermination of its extent of use of our
invention need not have an actual central or eccentric shaft
means, but instead, may rotate using outer bearings as shown in
Figures 34, 35 and 36 described in detail, infra.
Accordingly, yet another embodiment of our invention fox
the dispensing unit of volatilizable substance capable of
visible determination of its extent of use comprises:
(1) A freely rotatable vertically disposed substantially
solid impermeable first wall member, said first wall
member having (i) an enclosing first outer circum-
ferential boundary having a first upper boundary
arcuate segment and a first lower boundary arcuate
segment (ii) two vertically disposed substantially
planar outer surfaces enclosed by said first circum-
ferential boundary and located, respectively, in a
.. . ..
-13-
2 ~
first ~x-y" plane and in a second "x-y~ plane, said
first and second "x-y" planes being substantially
parallel to each other, said first and second "x-y~
planes each having a horizontal "x" axis and a
vertical "y~ axis, each of said "x" axis and said ~yn
axis being perpendicular to said "z" axis and (iii) an
unbroken vapor impermeable first side wall protruding
from and contiguous with the entirety of said first
circumferential boundary of said first wall member,
extending in a direction substantially parallel to
said "z" axis and having a second upper arcuate
segment and a second lower arcuate segment;
(2) Proximate to, "x-y" planarly parallel to, "zn-coaxial
with and spaced from said first wall member a fixed
vertically disposed substantially solid impermeable
second wall member, said second wall member having
(i) an enclosing second outer circumferential boundary
circumscribing the enclosing first outer circum-
ferential boundary of said first wall member;
(ii) two vertically disposed substantially planar
outer surfaces enclosed by said circumferential
boundary located, respectively, in a third "x-y~ plane
and in a fourth "x-y~ plane, said first, second, third
and fourth "x-y" planes being substantially parallel
to one another, said third and fourth "x-y" planes
each having a horizontal "x" axis and a vertical "y"
axis, each of said "x~ axes and said ~y~ axes being
perpendicular to said "z" axis and (iii) a second non-
broken vapor impermeable side wall protruding from and
contiguous with the entirety of said second circum-
ferential boundary extending in a direction sub-
stantially parallel to said "z~ axis and circurn-
scribing said first side wall of said first wall
member;
(3) Fixedly positioned revolvable bearing means located
between said first side wall and said second side wall
enabling said first wall member to freely rotate in
its "x-y~ plane about said "z" axis within the
confines of the second side wall of the second wall
member;
(4) Located in a fifth "x-y" plane proximate said first
lower boundary arcuate segment and said lower arcuate
segment on and removably affixed to a major portion of
at least one of said planar outer surfaces of said
wall member and a major portion of said second lower
arcuate segment of said first side wall of said first
wall member, a laminar matrix of a volatilizable sub-
stance included in a nonvolatilizable substance (e.g.,
a perfumery material in a silica gel matrix), the
median ~x-y" plane of said laminar plane of said
laminar matrix being substantially parallel to said
first, second, third and fourth "x-y~ planes;
(5) Located in a sixth ~x-y" plane proximate said upper
boundary arcuate segment of said first wall member on
and permanently affixed to a minor portion of at least
one of said planar outer surfaces of said first wall
member, substantially solid visible weight means
having its centroid initially located in the proximity
of said vertical "y~ axis above the location of said
~z" axis and at a height above ground greater than the
height above ground of the centroid of the said
laminar matrix;
(6) Associated with said first wall member, a fixed
sighting means comprising a window means located in a
seventh ~x-y" plane parallel to said first, second,
third, fourth, fifth and sixth "x-y" ~lanes and
perpendicular to said "z~ axis, said sighting means
having a line of vision through said window means in a
direction from said window means to at least one given
-15- Z~
location of said weight means, said line of vision
being substantially parallel to said ~Z~ axis
whereby as the volatilizable substance evaporates, the weight
means angularly rotates in said sixth "x-y" plane about said
"z" axis leaving its initial position txO, yO/ zO) at the
first upper "y~ axis location and finally coming to rest at a
second lower ~y~ axis location (Xf~ yf, zO) which is
visibly detectable from said window means, the angular velocity
of said weight means being at least in part a function of the
rate of elimination from said unit of said volatilizable
substance.
Mathematical expressions which can be used to formulate
computerized designs of the dispensing unit of volatilizable
substance of our invention and which are also useful in further
defining our invention are as follows:
MOMENTUM BALANCE:
~ (I~, ~L r~3 -~ f~ ~a -t ~d~) R ~ = L,~
TORQUE BALANCE:
fJ~J~ +1
~""~, . . .
-16-
2~
wherein Ll represents the momentum of the weight means and
L2 represents the momentum of the volatilizable substance
which is variable in volume, weight and density. Thus, Ll is
defined, thusly:
L, = m,J ~1~+~? z (~
~ X12 1 ~l2
and L2 is defined, thusly:
L~ dV~ f ~v~d,~, Jx~
' ~ J'f~ +.~Y~d~ l x~ d~
/X. ~ ~z
By the same token
~1
i~ the torque of the weight means defined, thu~ly:
t
and
is the torque of the volatilizable substance defined, thusly:
-
p2d~ d~ q~JX2 ~ 31
wherein ml is the mass of the weight means m2 representsthe variable mass of the volatilizable substance; and m3
represents the mass of the support means for both the weight
means and the volatilizable substance. By the same token
.~
is the density of the weight means and
is the variable density of the volatilizable substance.
xl Is the horizontal distance from the centroid of the
weight means to the "z" axis; Yl is the vertical distance
from the centroid of the weight means to the "z" axis; x2 is
the horizontal distance from the centroid of the volatilizable
substance to the "z" axis; Y2 is the vertical distance from
the centroid of the volatilizable substance to the "z" axis;
Z2 is the "z" distance from the centroid of the volatilizable
substance to the "x-y" plane of the volatilizable substance
(that is, the median plane);
is time an~
/t~
represents the angle through which the weight means and
volatilizable substance rotate; lower "g" is gravitational
acceleration; V2 is the variable volume of the volatilizable
substance.
Furthermore, the "equation of state" may be written, thusly:
~ ~d~ d ~ < ~d(~V2)~ = ~
~ 2 ~ _ J
wherein "K" represents a constantO
;
~"~,~,....
Z~ 5:~.
--19--
Our invention also covers multi-layer, multi-functional
volatilizable substance delivery articles. By the term
"multi-functional n is meant perfumery, flavoring, animal
repellent, pheromone, insect repellent, insect attractant, air
freshener and tobacco flavor. The articles of our invention
are constructed in order to deliver, in sequentially timed
fashion, to the environment surrounding the article, (e.g.,
atmosphere or body of water) different fish feed attractants,
repellents, combinations thereof, perfumes having different
aroma profiles, insect repellents which repel different
insects, e.g., Aedes albopictus or Aedes agyptae or Musca
domestica L.... during the day time hours and during the night
time hours, air freshener-insect repellent combinations,
perfume-air freshener combir.ations and the like. The article
can be constructed where one of the layers is, for example, a
gel layer and the matrix layer adjacent thereto is composed of
perfume containing particles which emit a fragrance in a
sustained release function. Thus, for example, the perfume
containing particles can be particles shown to be produced in
U.S. Letters Patent 4,521,541 issued on June 4, 1985 the
specification for which is incorporated herein by reference.
The gel, for example, may be a gellan gum such KELCOGEL ~
manufactured and distributed by the Kelco Division of Merck &
Co., Inc., 8355 Aero Drive, San Diego, California.
More specifically, our invention covers a multi-layer
sequentially timed release polyfunctional volatilizable
substance delivery article comprising a plurality of concentric
or coaxial neighboring matrix layers which layers (i) have a
finite thickness (e.g., from about 0.5 mm up to about 5 cm)
having a finite thickness vector t, and two matrix surfaces
each of which is substantially perpendicular to the thickness
vector t and (ii) consisting essentially of a suspension agent
which is substantially non-flowable at ambient conditions (e.g.,
-20- 2~
a gel or a particulate microporous polymer suspension agent
such as microporous polyethylene or microporous polypropylene)
containing at least one volatilizable substance capable of
emission from a matrix surface (e.g., a perfume composition, a
flavor composition, an insect repellent, a pheromone, a
deodorant or an air freshener), a surface of one matrix layer
being prior to the use of the article contiguous with a surface
of its neighboring matrix layer whereby on use of the article
the outer most matrix layer initially evolves its contained
volatilizable substance at a rate substantially greater than
the rate at which its neighboring matrix layer evolves its
contained volatilizable substance until such point in time that
sufficient volatilizable substance contained in the outer most
matrix layer has been evolved into the environment surrounding
the article, that a substantial portion of the surface of the
neighboring matrix layer is at least constructively exposed to
the surrounding environment thereby permitting a substantial
increase in the rate of emission of volatilizable substance
from the neighboring matrix layer. The term ~at least
constructively exposed~ is intended to mean that the surface is
either actually newly exposed as a result of diminishment of
the gel as a result of release of the volatilizable substance
contained within the gel, for example, or that the micropores
of the overlaying matrix on losing all of their volatilizable
substance are suddenly able to permit new volatilizable
substance to enter and pass therethrough.
More specifically, an embodiment of the multi-layer
sequentially timed release polyfunctional volatilizable
substance delivery article of our invention cornprises:
-21- ~ ~r'~
(a) a first matrix layer (i) having a finite thickness
having a finite thickness vector tl, an inner first
matrix surface perpendicular to said vector tl and
on outer first matrix surface substantially per- :
pendicular to said vector tl and (ii) consisting
essentially of a first continuous, discontinuous non-
particulate or discontinuous particulate solid, semi-
solid or gel, porous or non-porous suspension agent
containing a first volatilizable substance (e.g.,
perfume) capable of emission thereof from said outer
first matrix surface
(b) a second matrix layer (i~ having a finite thickness
vector t2, an inner second matrix surface sub-
stantially perpendicular to said vector t2 and an
outer second matrix surface substantially perpendi-
cular to said vector t2 and (ii) con~isting
essentially of a second continuous, discontinuous
non-particulate or discontinuous particulate solid,
semi-solid or gel porous or non-porous suspension
agent containing a second volatilizable substance
capable of emission thereof from the inner second
matrix surface, said inner second matr_x surface
being, prior to use of said article, contiguous with
said outer first matrix surface whereby on use of said
article, said first matrix layer initially evolves
said first volatilizable substance at a rate sub-
stantially greater than the rate at which said second
matrix layer evolves said second volatilizable
substance until such point in time that sufficient
first volatilizable substance has been evolved into
the environment surrounding said article, that a
substantial portion of said second inner surface is at
least constructively exposed to the s~rrounding
environment thereby permitting a substantial increase
in the rate of emission of said second volatilizable
substance.
-22- 2~
Still another embodiment of the multi-layer sequentially
timed release polyfunctional volatilizable substance delivery
article of our invention has a vertically disposed "y" axis
comprising:
(a) a horizontally disposed first matrix layer having a
first upper matrix surface in an "x-z" plane having a
maximum variable radius Rl and a first lower matrix
surface in an "x-z" plane having a maximum variable
ratio Rl', said "x-z~ planes bei.ng perpendicular to
said ~y" axis, (i) consisting essentially of a first
continuous, discontinuous non-particulate or
discontinuous particulate solid, semi-solid or gel
porous or non-porous suspension agent containing a
first volatilizable substance, (e.g , a first perfume)
capable of emission from said first upper surface;
(ii) having a horizontally disposed first "x-z" matrix
median plane having a first circumferential outer
boundary located in said first "x-z" matrix median
plane; and (iii) having an unbroken first side
wall extending both upwardly at a distance Hl and
downwardly at a distance Hl from said first cir-
cumferential outer boundary, in a direction sub-
stantially perpendicular thereto on said "y" axis and
a first outer matrix wall surface;
(b) a second horizontally disposed matrix layer coaxial
with reference to said "y" axis with said first matrix
layer having a second upper matrix surface in an "x-z~
plane having a maximum variable radius R2 initially
substantially cocircumferential with, contiguous with
and substantially coplanar with said first lower
matrix surface of said first matrix layer, and a
second lower matrix surface in an ~x-z~ plane having a
maximum variable radius R2' substantially parallel
-23-
Z~
to said second upper matrix surface (i) consisting
essentially of a second continuous, discontinuous non-
particulate or discontinuous particulate solid, semi-
solid or gel porous or non-porous suspension agent
having contained therein a second volatilizable
substance capable of emission from said upper matrix
surface; (ii) having a horizontally disposed second
~x-z~ matrix median plane having a second circumfer-
ential outer boundary located on said second "x-z"
matrix median plane, said second "x-z" matrix median
plane being substantially parallel to and coaxial with
said first "x-z" matrix median plane with reference to
said ~y" axis and (iii) having an unbroken second
side wall extending upwardly at a distance H2 and
downwardly at a distance H2' from said second
circumferential outer boundary in a direction sub-
stantially perpendicular thereto on said ~y" axis; and
having a second outer matrix wall surface;
(c) a volatilizable substance-impervious laminar support
means for supporting said second matrix layer, said
second support means (i) having an upper support
surface located in an ~x-z" plane having a maximum
radius R3 perpendicular to said ~y~ axis; said upper
support surface being initially contiguous with and
substantially coplanar with said second lower matrix
surface; (ii) having a horizontally dlsposed ~x-z~
support median plane having a third circumferential
outer boundary located in said "x-z~ support median
plane, and (iii) having an unbroken volatilizable
substance-impervious third side wall extending
upwardly at a distance Hs which is greater than or
q H1 + Hl + H2 + H2 from said third
circum- ferential outer boundary said third side wall
having an inner surface/ said inner surfacé being
-24- 2~ 5~
initially contiguous with and parallel to said first
outer matrix wall surface and said second outer matrix
wall surface whereby on use of said article, said
first matrix layer evolves first volatilizable
substance, (e.g., a first perfume) initially at a rate
substantially greater than said second matrix layer,
evolves said second volatilizable substance (e.g., a
second perfume); radi Rl and Rl' diminish at a
rate greater than the rate of diminishment of radii
R2 and R21 thereby enabling the emission, at an
increasing rate, of said second volatilizable
substance.
Still another embodiment of the multi-layer sequentially
timed release polyfunctional volatilizable substance delivery
article of our invention has a vertically disposed "y" axis
comprising:
(a) a vertically disposed first matrix mass (i) having a
first unbroken side wall of length ~1 substantially
parallel to and circumferential with reference to said
~y" axis which side wall has a first outer side wall
surface (ii) having a first upper matrix surface
horizontally disposed in an "x-z~ plane (iii) having
a first lower matrix surface horizontally disposed in
an "x-z~ plane each of said ~x-z~ planes being
perpendicular to said ~y" axis and parallel to one
another (iv) consisting essentially of a first
coniinuous, discontinuous non-particulate or dis-
continuous particulate solid, semi-solid porous or
non-porous suspension agent containing a first
volatilizable substance (e.g., a first insect
repellent) capable of emission from said first outer
side wall surface; (v) covering said first upper
matrix surface and said first lower matrix surface
. .
-25-
~ ? ~'~
volatilizable substance-impervious permanently-affixed
laminae having surfaces in the ~x-z~ plane coplanar
and substantially contiguous with the first upper and
lower matrix surfaces
(b) a vertically disposed second matrix mass coaxial with
said first matrix mass (i) having a second unbroken
inner side wall initially coterminous with said first
unbroken side wall of said first matrix mass having
initial length Ll, circumferential with respect to
said "y~ axis, and having its surface contiguous with
said first outer side wall surface of said first
matrix mass (ii) consisting essentially of a second
continuous, discontinuous non-particulate or discon-
tinuous particulate solid, semi-solid porous or non-
porous suspension agent containing a second volati-
lizable substance (e,g,, second insect repellent)
capable of emission from said outer side wall surface
whereby on use of said article, said second matrix mass
intially evolves said second volatilizable substance (e.g.,
second insect repellent) initially at a rate substantially
greater than said first matrix mass evolves said first
volatilizable substance (e,g., first insect repellent) until
such point in time that sufficient second volatilizable
substance has been evolved into the environment surrounding
said article that a substantially portion of said first outer
side wall is at least constructively exposed to the surrounding
environment thereby permitting a substantial increase in the
rate of emission of said first volatilizable substance.
Still another embodiment of our invention is a concentric
multi-layer sequentially timed release polyfunctional
volatilizable substance delivery article having a first geo-
metric centroid comprising:
-26- ~7~
(a) a first matrix mass (i) having a first matrix outer
surface the points on which are at a range of
distances Ra-Rb from said geometric centroid and
(ii) consisting essentially of a first continuous,
discontinuous non-particulate or discontinuous
particulate solid, semi-solid porous or non-porous
suspension agent containing a first volatilizable
substance (e.g., a first room deodorant) capable of
emission from said first matrix outer surface;
(b) a second matrix mass concentric with said first
matrix mass (i) having a second matrix inner surface
contiguous with said first matrix outer surface (ii)
having a thickness in the range of Tl-T2 (e.g.,
from about 0.1 mm up to about 5 cm); (iii) having a
second matrix outer surface the points on which are at
a range of distances Ra + Tl to Rb + T2 from
said geometric centroid and (iv) consisting
essentially of a second continuous, discontinuous
non-particulate or discontinuous particulate solid,
semi-solid porous or non-porous suspension agent
containing a second volatilizable substance (e.g.,
second room deodorant) capable of emission from said
second matrix outer surface
whereby on use of said article said second matrix mass
initially evolves said second volatilizable substance at a rate
substantially greater than said first matrix mass evolves said
first volatilizable substance until such point in time that
sufficient second volatilizable substance has been evolved into
the environment surrounding said article that a substantial
portion of said first outer surface is at least constructively
exposed to the surrounding environment thereby permitting a
substantial increase in the rate of emission of said first
volatilizable substance.
2~ '5~.
~27-
Our invention also relates to a convenient and easy to use
shave system in stick form. The stick facilitates application
of the product to the skin without the product actually
touching the hands. The product contains superior wetting,
lubricating and moisturizing ingredients.
The formulation of our invention contains a triethanolamine
stearate soap formed in situ with from 1-10% of a nonionic
wetting agent; from 1-15% of a silicone copolymer; from 0.1-1%
of a polyoxyethylene polymer slip agent; from 1-30~ of a
synthetic detergent; from 2-10% of a whitening agent; and 5-20%
of emollient moisturizers and hair lubricants.
The triethanolamine stearate soap formed in situ is formed
because stearic acid and triethanolamine are in the formulation
or group of formulations which are reacted in forming the
formulation for the stick material. The nonionic wetting agent
may be, for example, polyethylene glycol-50-nonylphenylether
(e.g., IGEPON ~ DM970 manufactured by the GAF Corporation of
New York, New York). The silicone copolymer may be, for
example, one of the copolymers having the structures:
CH3 CH3
(CH3)3SiO - SiO SiO Si~CH3)3
CH3 (CH2)xO(C2H40)y~C3H60)zR
-28- 2~7
CH3
(CH3)3SiO - S;O ---Si~CH3)3
CH3 ~
' FH3 ' ~ FH3 '
HO - S;O S10 . - H
. I
and
f H3 F H3
~CH3)3Si0 - ";O S;O S;O(CH3)3
~ A ~ ~ CH3 ,
wherein
the formulae (R = H or 1-3Calkyl: m + n = 5-50; x = 0-3; y: z
1) to (1:0); the cpd. (I) contains 30 70 wt.% of polyoxyaL'cylene
~ps., A ~ CH2CH2CH2NH2 or -CH2CH2C~H2NH-CH2CH2NH2; O =
500-10,000; p + q = 50 150)..
The polyoxyethylene polymer slip agent may be a
polyethylene glycol such as PEG 14-M or POLYOX WSRN 3000 (ir. 3%
aqueous solution) manufactured by the Amerchol Corporation.
The synthetic detergent may be, for example, sodium methyl
-29-
cocoyl taurate (e.g., IGEPON ~ TC42 manufactured by the GAF
Corporation of New York, New York).
The whitening agent may be titanium dioxide, for example.
The emollient moisturizers may be polyethylene-glycol 600,000
(e.g., PEG 14-M, glyceryl mono stearate (e.g., CERASYNT Q, or
AMERCHOL CAB (mixture of petrolatum and lanolin alcohol). The
hair lubricant may be, for example, dimethicone polyol, which
is DOW 193 surfactant manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company
of Midland, Michigan. In addition, fragrance, paraffin wax,
methylparaben, propylparaben and the like may also be added to
our formulation for enhancing its activity.
The inclusion of the polymer slip agent has given rise to
unexpected, unobvious and advantageous results because such
polymer slip agent actually lowers the friction between the
razor and skin while at the same time not causing the solidi-
fied stick shave formulation to change phase at ambient
conditions.
Formulations exemplary of our invention are set forth in
Examples VIII and IX, infra.
~ . ", ~3 ~L.
-30-
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, in schematic form, of
an exploded embodiment of a dispensing unit of volatilizable
substance capable of visible determination of its extent of use
of our invention wherein the volatilizable substance and the
weight means rotate on a rotatable support when the article is
in use.
Figure 2 is a front view of the article of Figure 1 when
observed with a line of sight towards the sighting means.
Figure 3 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a front view of the n indicator" side of the
element of the article of Figure 1 containing the weight means
and the volatilizable substance.
Figure 5 is a cut-away side elevation view of the element
of Figure 4 taken along line 5-5 looking in the direction of
the arrows.
Figure 6 is a side view of the article of Figure 1, when
closed and not in operation, attached to a wall.
Figure 7 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 1 when in operation.
Figure 8 is the rear view of the article of Figure 1 at the
point of commencement of operation, with the centroid of the
weight means at a location on the "y" axis at a position, (0,
Yi' Zi)-
-31- 2~
Figure 8A is the rear view of that element of the article
of Figure 1 containing the weight means and the volatilizable
substance at that point in time of the start of operation of
the article.
Figure 9 is a rear view of the article of Figure 1 when in
operation.
Figure 9A is a rear view of that element of the article of
Figure l when said article is in operation which element con-
tains the weight means and the volatilizable substance, showing
the centroid of the weight means moved to a new position,
(x, y, z) with the matrix containing the volatilizable
substance partially reduced in volume and density.
Figure 10 is the rear view of the article of Figure l when
completely used and when the volatilizable substance is fully
expended with the location of the weight means at a point
(o, -yf, Zf)
Figure lOA is the rear view of that element of the article
of Figure 1 which previously contained volatilizable substance
and containing the weight means when the article is fully
expended and no longer contains any volatilizable substance.
Figure ll is the rear view of another embodiment of the
element of the article of Figure l containing the weight means
and the volatilizable substance wherein the volatilizable
substance is located in a gel which is suspended in a macro-
porous foam, e.g., a large pore polyurethane foam, when the
article of our invention is at its initial point of use.
-32- 2~ 5~
Figure llA is the rear view of the element of Figure 11
when the article of Figure 1 is in use and the centroid of the
weight means is at (x, y, o).
Figure llB is the rear view of the element of Figure 11
when the volatilizable material in the holding matrix thereof
is fully expended and the weight means is at a location
(o, -yf, o).
Figure 12 is the rear view of an element containing a
freely rotatable weight means and volatilizable substance which
element is a part of the article illustrated in FigureS 16,
16A, 17 and 18 and which element is shown in exploded, per-
spective view in Figure 18, when the article is at that point
of initial use (at ~ ~ O ).
Figure 12A is the rear view of the element of Figure 12
after use of the article of Figures 16, 16A and 17 has
commenced, showing the freely rotatable weight means having its
centroid at location (x, y, z).
Figure 12B is a rear view of the element of Figure 12 after
the volatilizable substance contained in the element has been
fully expended showing the centroid of the freely rotatable
weight means at location (o, -yf, Zf).
Figure 13 is a cut-away side elevation view of another
embodiment of the dispensing unit of volatilizable substance
capable of visible determination of its entent of use of our
invention in exploded fashion wherein the weight means and
volatili~able substance-containing matrix are together on a
freely rotatable element within the unit.
33 2 ~
Figure 14 is the front view of the article of Figure 13
looking in the direction of the sighting means with the outer
element of said article being partially cut-away to shown holes
through which the volatilizable substance, e.g., air freshener,
deodorant, perfume, insect repellent or insect attractant
escapes.
Figure 15 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is the front view of another embodiment of the
dispensing unit of volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use of our invention with the
freely rotatable weight means looking at the article in the
direction of the sighting means at that point in time when said
article has not yet been put into use.
Figure 16A is the front view of the article of Figure 16 at
that point in time when the volatilizable substance contained
therein is completely expended.
Figure 17 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 16 at that point in time when use of the article has
not yet commenced.
Figure 18 is a perspective view, in exploded fashion, of
that element of the article of Figure 16 housing the freely
rotatable weight means and also housing the matrix containing
the volatilizable substance.
Figure 19 is a diagram, in graphical form, showing the
shifting position of the centroid of the element of the article
of Figure 1 as the article of Figure 1 is being used; and also
showing the shifting position of the weight means of the
article of Figure 1 as the article is being used.
,~"", - - .
_34_ 2~7~5~
Figure 20 is a cut-away side elevation view, in graphical
representation, of the element of Figure 19.
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the element of the
article of Figure 1, containing the weight means and the
volatilizable substance, showing the weight means as an
integral part of the element, rotatable with entire element.
Figure 22 is a perspective view of the element of Figure
21, containing a matrix containing the volatilizable substance,
a gel.
Figure 23 is a perspective view of an element freely
rotatable on a shaft having a weight means and a volatilizable
substance supported on a vertically disposed rotatable disk
freely rotatable about a shaft and useful with a sighting
means (not shown).
Figure 23A is a front view of the element of Figure 23.
Figure 24 is another embodiment of an element of the
dispensing unit of volatilizable substance capahle of visible
determination of its extent of use where the weight means is in
the form of a cylindrical sector.
Figure 24A is the front view of the element of Figure 23.
Figure 25 is another embodiment of an element of the
dispensing unit of volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use where the element is in the
shape of a paraboloid and the weight means is an integral part
of the paraboloid.
Figure 25A is a cut-away cross sectional view of the
paraboloid element of Figure 25.
2~ 51
-35-
Figure 26 is another embodiment of an element for use with
the dispensing unit of a volatilizable substance capable of
visible determination of its extent of use, with the element
being in the shape of an elliptical cylinder rotatable about a
shaft with the weight means being a secantial section of the
elliptical cylinder.
Figure 26A is a front view of the element of Figure 26.
Figure 27 is another embodiment of an element used in
conjunction with the dispensing unit of a volatilizable
substance capable of visible determination of its extent of
use. The element is shown in perspective view with
volatilizable substance coated on both sides of a circular
planar support which is vertically disposed; and the weight
means is a secantial section.
Figure 28 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
the element used in conjunction with the dispensing unit of a
volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of its
extent of use where the element is in the shape of an eccentric
parabolo-elliptical cylinder.
Figure 28A is a front view of the element of Figure 28.
Figure 29 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
element used in conjunction with the dispensing unit of a
volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of its
extent of use in the shape of an eccentric elliptical cylinder.
Figure 29A is a front view taken in cross section of the
element of Figure 29.
717~5:~
-36-
Figure 30 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of an element used in the dispensing unit of a
volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of its
extent of use of our invention, having one weight means.
Figure 31 is a cut-away cross-sectional front view of
another embodiment of an element used in conjunction with the
dispensing ~nit of a volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use of our invention.
Figure 32 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another
embodiment o~ an element having a weight means and a
volatilizable substance used in conjunction with the dispensing
unit of a volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use, having two weight means.
Figure 33 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of an element having a weight means and a
volatilizable substance used in conjunction with the dispensing
unit of a volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use, having two weight means.
Figure 34 is the front view of another embodiment of the
dispensing unit of volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use looking towards the sighting
means wherein the element having the weight means and
volatilizable substance is capable of freely rotating within a
housing with bearing means between the outer housing and the
element containing the waiting means and the volatilizable
substance.
Figure 35 is a cut-away elevation view of the dispensing
unit of Figure 34 taken along line 35-35 looking in the
direction of the arrows.
'5~.
-37-
Figure 36 is a cut-away elevation view of the rear of the
dispensing unit of Figure 34 taken along lines 36-36 of Figure
35 looking in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 37 is a front view of three mounted dispensing units
of volatilizable substance(s) each capable of visible
determination of its respective extent of use: with each of the
units capable of containing different volatilizable materials,
e.g., perfumes, insect repellents and deodorants.
Figure 38 is a perspective view of an element in
conjunction with the dispensing unit of volatilizable substance
capable of visible determination of its extent of use of our
invention in the shape of a hemisphere wherein the weight means
is set in the matrix of volatilizable substance affixed to a
support means and wherein the weight means is in the shape of a
frustum of a cylinder, said element being freely rotatable
about a shaft.
Figure 38A is a cut-away side elevation view of the element
of Figure 38.
Figure 39 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
element useful in conjunction with the dispensing unit of
volatilizable substance capable of visible determination of its
extent of use, said element being in the shape of an
hemi-ellipsoid with the weight means being spherical and being
imbedded in a secantial section of a matrix containing
volatilizable substance (without showing the sighting means).
Figure 39A is a cut-away cross-sectional view of the
element of Figure 39.
-38-
Figure 40 is a cut-away side elevation view of a bilayer,
bifunctional volatilizable substance delivery article of our
invention wherein each layer is in the form of a cylinder with
the lower surface of one of the cylinders being contiguous and
coplanar with the upper surface of the other cylinder.
Figure 41 is a cut-away side elevation view of the bilayer,
bifunctional volatilizable substance delivery article of
Figure 40 during use thereof.
Figure 42 is another embodiment of a bilayer, bifunctional
volatilizable substance delivery article of our invention prior
to use thereof wherein each of the layers is in the form of a
cylinder and one cylinder has an outer surface contiguous with
the lower surface of the other cylinder.
Figure 43 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 42 during the operation thereof.
Figure 44 is a cut-away side elevation view of another
embodiment of the bilayer, bifunctional volatilizable substance
delivery article of our invention in the form of a cone wherein
the lower matrix layer is in the form of a cone having an upper
flat surface and the upper matrix layer is in the form of a
frustum of a cone with the lower surface of the frustum being
contiguous with the upper surface of the lower cone matrix.
Figure 45 is a cut-away side elevation view of the use of a
plurality of articles as depicted in Figure 44 wherein each of
the articles is held in a stand and each of the articles is
capable of delivering different volatilizable substances at
different times, e.g., insect repellents, perfumes, air
fresheners and room deodorants.
5~.
-39-
Figure 46 is a cut-away side elevation view of the use of
the article of Figure 44 contained in a heating bath wherein
the volatilization of the volatilizable substances contained in
the article of Figure 44 is accelerated as a result of the use
of the heating bath.
Figure 47 is a cut-away perspective view of a concentric
multi-layer sequentially timed release bifunctional volati-
lizable substance delivery article of our invention in the
shape of a suspended sphere.
Figure 48 is a cut-away side elevation view of the
concentric bilayer sequentially timed release bifunctional
volatilizable substance delivery article of Figure 47.
Figure 49 is a perspective view of a bilayer sequentially
timed release bifunctional volatilizable substance delivery
article which is in the form of two vertically disposed upright
concentric cylinders.
Figure 50 is a cut-away side elevation view of the embodi-
ment of our invention shown in perspective view in Figure 49
retained in a supporting means wherein the core cylinder is
restrained from initial outward emission of the volatilizable
substance contained therein.
Figure 52 is a cut-away side elevation view of the article
of Figure 50 while in use.
,
Figure 51 is a top view of an article of the type illus-
trated in Figure 49 with the exception that the article con-
sists of four coaxial concentric cylindrical layers of
volatilizable substance.
-40- 2 ~7~Z~
Figure 53 sets forth a graph of intensity of perceptible
desirable aroma evolved from an article of our invention as
illustrated in Figure 40 versus time for each of the two aromas
evolved as a result of the use of fragrances in each of the
matrix layers of the article.
Figure 54 is a cut-away side elevation view of an article
using the stick shave formulation of our invention.
Figure 55 is a side view of an article of our invention
using the stick shave formulation of our invention showing the
internal parts of the article using "hidden" lines.
Figure 56 is a bottom view of the article of Figures 54
and 55.
Figure 57 shows the use of the article of Figures 54, 55
and 56 in operation when lathering skin.
Figure 58 is another schematic diagram showing an
individual using the article of Figures 54, 55 and 56.
-41- ~ ~7 7? 5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 8A, 9A and lOA
illustrate the workings of one embodiment of the dispensing
unit of volatilizable substance capable of visible
determination of its extent of use. The dispensing unit
consists of:
(1) A fixed vertically disposed substantially planar solid
vapor impermeable wall member 62 having (i) an
enclosing outer circumferential boundary having a
first upper boundary arcuate segment and a first lower
boundary arcuate segment (ii) two vertically disposed
substantially planar outer surfaces located,
respectively, in a first "x-y" plane and in a second
"x-y" plane being parallel to each other, said first
and second "x-y" planes each having a horizontal "x"
axis, 706 (shown in Figure 19) and a vertical "yn
axis, 704 (shown in Figure 19) each of said "x" axes
and said "y" axes being perpendicular to a "z" axis
700 (shown in Figure 20) and (iii) a non-broken vapor
impermeable side wall 60 (shown in Figure 1)
protruding from and contiguous with the entirety of
said circumferential boundary extending in a direction
substantially parallel to said "x~ axis 700 having a
first upper arcuate segment area and a second lower
arcuate segment
(2) A cylindrically shaped shaft means 74 having a shaft
wall parallel to said "z" axis 700 having a first
- upper surface segment and a first lower surface
segment with the shaft means having a retaining rib 84
capable of holding element or cartridge 55 in a freely
rotatable manner
-42- Z~9 f ~
(3) Located in a third ~x-y~ plane proximate said first
lower boundary arcuate segment and said second lower
boundary arcuate segment on and removably affixed to a
major portion of at least one of said planar outer
surfaces and a major portion of said second lower
arcuate segment, a laminar matrix of a volatilizable
substance 56 included in a non-volatilizable substance
(e.g., a perfuming material in a gel), the medium
plane of said laminar or matrix 56 being substantially
parallel to said first and second "x-y~ planes, said
matrix 56 having a second upper surface segment
parallel to said "z~ axis 700 and perpendicular to
each of said "x-y" planes and a second lower surface
segment parallel to said "z~ axis 700 and
perpendicular to each of said ~x-y" planes and
initially being contiguous with said first lower
segment surface
(4) Located in said third "x-y" plane initially proximate
said first upper boundary arcuate segment and said
second upper arcuate segment and initially having a
major portion of its lower surface contiguous with the
second upper surface segment of said matrix, a sub-
stantially solid visible weight means 58 having a
centroid 658a (shown in Figure 19) initially located
in the proximity of said vertical ~y~ axis 704 (shown
in Figure 19) above the location of said shaft means
74 and at a height above ground greater than the
height above ground of the centroid of the laminar
matrix (the matrix containing the volatilizable
material) 56;
(5) Associated with the visible weight means 58, a
fixed sighting means (e.g " a window 78 having window
wall 80) located in a fourth ~x-y~ plane parallel to
said first and second "x-~ planes perpendicular to
said "z~ axis 700 (shown in Figures 19 and 20) and
?'~.T.;~
-43-
facing said visible weight means 58, said sighting
means 78 having a line of vision through said window
means 78 in a direction from said window means 78 to
at least one given location of said weight means 58
said line of vision being substantially parallel to
said "z~ axis 740 whereby as the volatilizable
substance evaporates from the matrix holding it 56 the
weight means 58 angularly rotates in said third "x-y~
plane above said "z" axis 700 leaving its original
position as shown in Figure 8A at the first upper ~yn
axis location going through the position during use as
shown in Figure 9A and coming to rest at a second
lower ~y" axis location as shown in Figure 10A which
is visibly detectable from the window means 78 (for
example, by means of color change appearing on disk
62), The angular velocity of the weight means 58 is
at least in part a function of the rate of elimination
from the unit 50 of the volatilizable substance from
the matrix in which it is located 56. The element S5
holding the matrix containing the volatilizable
substance 56 and holding the weight means 58 within
vertically disposed support 62 and side wall 60 has an
inner wall 53 and a hole 64 therethrough which enables
the cartridge 55 to be supported on retaining rib 84
of the shaft means 74 which is part of the outer cover
76 within which window 78 having window wall 80 is
located. Cover 76 has outer surface 86 in which is
located window 78 having window wall 80. Cover 76
supporting cartridge 54 on retaining rib 84 is
detachably attached to wall support 52 via screw
thread 82A of cover 76 and screw thread 82B of wall
support 52. Screw thread 82B of wall support 52 has
its location on side wall 70 which has in a portion
next to the screw thread a series of apertures 66
5 11.
-44-
through which the volatilizable substance escapes as
it is evaporating from the matrix containing the
volatilizable substance 56. Side wall 70 has inner
wall 72 which has a diameter slightly greater than the
diameter of cartridge 55. The shaft means 74 having
retaining rib 84 also has a rotation surface 68B which
rotates on pen 68A of wall member 52. Overall cart-
ridge 55 freely rotates on shaft means 74 when the
dispensing unit is in use and when the dispensing unit
is in use apertures 66 are exposed to the outer
atmosphere.
As seen in Figure 3, the wall member 52 is attached via
tape or adhesive 90 to wall 92. Also as seen in Figure 3, the
sighting window 78 has a protective clear screen, e,g., clear
glass or polyacrylate 79 through which colored portions of disk
62 may be observed. The various colored portions of disk 62
are shown in Figure 4 as 62A, 62B and 62C, Thus, for
illustrative purposes in Figure 4, when the volatilizable
substance is completely expended, 62C has a distinctive color,
e.g., red since weight means 58 is located adjacent window 78
behind glass or plastic screen 79.
During the dispensing of the volatilizable substance, e.g.,
perfumery material or air freshener into the surrounding
environment _ (as shown in Figure 7) the weight means 5
rotates as is shown in progressive stages in Figures 8, 8A, 9,
9A, 10 and 10A. During the rotation, for example, as is seen
in Figure 9A, the matrix or gel containing the volatilizable
substance 56 may retract from the wall of the dispensing unit
53 so that the edge of the matrix achieves an irregular shape
as is shown at reference numeral 57 of Figure 9A. When no
volatilizable substance is left, the matrix will have shrunk to
a very small volume and this is shown in Figure 10A using
reference numeral 59.
~ ?~ ~
The matrix containing the volatilizable material may also
be in the form of a macroporous foam as is shown in Figures 11,
llA and llB where weight means 158 rotates about shaft means
174 as part of element 154. The solid plastic ~oam, e.g.,
polyurethane form as shown by reference numeral 356 and the gel
containing volatilizable material in the pores of the foam 356
is shown by reference numeral 256. When the volatilizable
material is completely expended void spaces exist in the
plastic foam 356 as shown by reference numeral 159 in Figure
llB.
During the operation of the dispensing unit of volati-
lizable substance of our invention, the overall centroid will
vary in location as shown in Figures 19 and 20. Thus,
initially prior to use of the dispensing unit of our invention
the centroid of the element 55 in Figure 19 is located at 702a
below the shaft means 74; and the centroid of the weight means
58a is shown at 658a. While the dispensing unit is in use, the
centroid of the weight means 58a proceeds from location 658a to
location 658b to location 658c and finally at the end of its
use time to location 658d where the weight means is 58d. At
the same time the centroid of the overall element 55 moves from
location 702a through location 702b, location 702c, location
702d, location 702e, location 702f, location 702g, location
702h and finally to location 658d where it is substantially
identical to the centroid of the weight means 58d.
On the other hand, the weight means instead of being
fixedly attached to disk 52 as shown in Figure 1, can be freely
rotatable as shown in Figures 12, 12a, 12b, 16, 16a, 17 and 18.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 show a dispensing unit of volati-
lizable substance in a matrix 556 capable of visible deter-
mination of its extent of use and having a variable centroid
initially located below the geometric center point of the unit
with the variable centroid moving in a substantially downward
,.......
-46- 2i~ ~ 5
direction on use of the dispensing unit consisting of:
(1) A fixed vertically disposed substantially planar
solid vapor impermeable wall member having (i) an
enclosing outer circumferential boundary having a
first upper boundary arcuate segment and a first lower
boundary arcuate segment (ii) two vertically disposed
substantially planar outer surfaces located, re-
spectively, in a first "x-y" and in a second "x-y"
plane being parallel to each other, said first and
second ~x-y" planes each having a horizontal "x~ axis
and a vertical "y" axis. Each of said "x n axes and
said "y~ axes being perpendicular to a "z" axis which
is the center of shaft 574 and (iii) a non-broken
vapor impermeable side wall 560 protruding from and
contiguous with the entirety of the circumferential
boundary extending in a direction substantially
parallel to the ~z" axis having a first upper arcuate
segment and a second lower arcuate segment;
(2) A shaft means 574 parallel to the "z" axis which is
cylindrically shaped;
(3) Located in a third "x-y" plane proximate said first
lower boundary arcuate segment and said second lower
arcuate segment on and removably affixed to a major
portion of at least one of said planar outer surfaces
and a major portion of said second lower arcuate
segment, a laminar matrix of a volatilizable sub-
stance, e g., a perfume composition, an air freshener
or an insect repellent 556 included in a
non-volatilizable substance, e g., a gel, the median
plane of said laminar matrix 556 being substantially
parallel to said first and second ~x-y" planes;
(4) Located in a third ~x-y~ plane initially proximate
said first upper boundary arcuate segment and said
second upper arcuate segment and initially having a
I . ~h 5 ~.
-47-
major portion of its lower portion contiguous with the
second upper surface segment of said matrix 556, a sub-
stantially solid, visible, freely rotatable weight
means 558 having a centroid initially located in the
proximity of said vertical "y~ axis above the location
of said shaft means 574 and at a height above ground
greater than the height above ground of the centroid
of said laminar matrix 556;
(5) Associated with said visible weight means 558, a fixed
sighting means comprising a window means 578a, 578b,
578c, and 578d located in a fourth "x-y" plane
parallel to said first and second "x-y" planes
perpendicular to said ~z" axis and facing said visible
weight means 558, said sighting means 578a, 578b, 578c
and 578d having a line of vision through said window
means in a direction from said window means 578a,
578b, 578c and 578d to at least one given location of
said weight means (and in the case of Figures 16, 16a
and 17, four locations) whereby as the volatilizable
substance evaporates from the matrix 556 the weight
means 558 angularly rotates in said third "x-y" plane
above said "z~ axis leaving its initial position at
the first upper "y" axis location (in the proximity of
windows 578a and 578d and finally coming to rest at a
second lower ~y" axis location (between 578c and 578b
which is visibly detectable from said window means
578a, 578a and 578d, the angular velocity of said
weight means 558 being at least in part a function of
the rate of elimination from said unit or cartridge
_ of the volatilizable substance into the environ-
ment 594. Thus, as volatilizable substance evaporates
from the matrix 556 when the unit is in operation the
volatilizable substance evaporates through apertures
556 located in cover 576 into the environment 594
while the unit as shown in Figures 16, 16a and 17 is
attached via tape or adhesive 590 to wall 592. Base
-48- 2 ~
552 holds in place cover 576 having outer surface 586
sighting means 578a, 578b, 578c and 578d are located
in cover 576 located in base 552 are vents 557 in
order to enable equilibration as vapor leaves through
apertures 566; the vents being given reference numeral
557. Shaft 574 is fixed to pin 568 in view of the
fact that weight means 558 rotates but container 554
does not rotate during use (as opposed to the embodi-
ment shown in Figure 1) holding in place weight means
558 (in the confines of its own ~x-~" plane is disk
579 which is located between container 554 and outer
cover 576. Disk 579 also keeps in place any flowable
matrix material which might be present in matrix 556.
The rotatable weight means 558 of Figures 16 and 16a is
also shown in operation in Figures 12, 12a and 12b as reference
numeral 258. As the volatilizable material is expended from
matrix 256 (shown in Figure 12a) weight means 258 rotates about
shaft 274 until it comes to rest as is shown in Figure 12b
leaving voids 259 as a result of the elimination of volati-
lizable substance from matrix 256. Also the edge of matrix 256
may contract from the edges of wall 254 as shown in Figure 12a
where the edge of the gel or matrix is shown by reference
numeral 157.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 show another embodiment of the
dispensing unit of our invention wherein location of weight
means 458 is observed through sighting means 478 in cover 476
as volatilizable substance is emitted through apertures 466
from space 496 into the environment 494 through porous surface
486, the weight means 458 rotates about shaft means 474. The
shaft means 474 has protrusions 484 on which container 454
rotates. The protrusions of shaft means 474, that is,
. .
49 2~ 5~
protrusions 484 rest on pin 468 which is part of the
holey wall 470. As the volatilizable substance is
emitted from the matrix 456 weight means 458 rotates
about shaft means 474. Container 454 is held in place
by cover 476 located on seat 499 which fits into wall
member 452. Wall member 452 is adhered to a wall by
means of adhesive 496 and tape 490. The overall unit
is indicated by reference numeral 400.
Window means 478 capable of observing any location of
weighting means 458 may optionally contain a protective glass
or clear plastic 479.
Figures 34, 35 and 36 illustrate another embodiment of our
invention for a dispensing unit of volatilizable substance
capable of visible determination of its extent of use. The
unit consists of:
(l) A freely rotatable vertically disposed substantially
solid impermeable first wall member. Said first wall
member ha~ing (i) an enclosing first outer circum-
ferential boundary having a first upper boundary
arcuate segment and a first lower boundary arcuate
segment (ii) two vertically disposed substantially
planar outer surfaces enclosed by said first circum-
ferential boundary and located, respectively, in a
first ~x-y" plane and in a second ~x-y" plane, said
first and second ~x-y~ planes being substantially
parallel to each other, said first and second ~x-y"
planes each having a horizontal ~x" axis and a
vertical "y" axis each of said "x" axes and said "y~
axes being perpendicular to said "z~ axes and (iii) an
unbroken vapor impermeable first side wall 1102
protruding from and contiguous with the entirety of
said first circumferential boundary of said first wall
-50- 2~
member extending in a direction substantially parallel
to said "z" axis and having a second upper arcuate
segment and a second lower arcuate segment;
(2) Proximate to, "x-y~ planarly parallel to, "z~-coaxial
with and spaced from said first wall member a fixed
vertically disposed substantially solid impermeable
second wall member, said second wall member having (i)
an enclosing second outer circumferential boundary
1104 (ii) two vertically disposed substantially
planar outer surfaces enclosed by said circumferential
boundary located, respectively, in a third "x-y" plane
and in a fourth "x-y" plane, said first, second, third
and fourth ~x-y" planes being substantially parallel
to one another, said third and fourth ~x-y~ planes
each having a horizontal ~x~ axis and a vertical "y~
axis, each of said "x" axes and said "y" axes being
perpendicular to said "z" axis and (iii) a second
non-broken vapor impermeable side wall protruding from
and contiguous with the entirety of said second cir-
cumferential boundary extending in a direction sub-
stantially parallel to said "z~ axis and circum-
scribing said first side wall of said first wall
member;
(3) Fixedly positioned revolvable bearing means 1100
located between said first side wall at 1102 and said
second side wall at 1104 enabling said first wall
member to freely rotate in its "x-y~ plane about said
~z" axis within the confines of the second side wall
of the second wall member;
(4) Located in a fifth "x-y~ plane proximate said first
lower boundary arcuate segment and said second lower
arcuate segment on and removably affixed to a major
portion of at least one of said planar outer surfaces
of said first wall member and a major portion of said
-51- ~ ~ sJ~.~
second lower arcuate segment of said first side wall
of said first wall member a laminar matrix 1056 of a
volatilizable substance included in a non-volatil-
izable substance, e.g.~ a perfumery material or air
freshener in a gel, the median ~x-y~ plane of said
laminar plane of said laminar matrix 1056 being sub-
stantially parallel to said first, second, third and
fourth "x-y~ planes;
(5) Located in a sixth ~x-y" plane proximate said upper
boundary arcuate segment of said first wall member on
and permanently affixed to a minor portion of at least
one of said planar outer surfaces of said first wall
member, substantially solid visible weight means 1058
having its centroid initially located in the proximity
of said vertical ~y" axis above the location of said
~z~ axis and at a height above ground greater than the
height above ground of the centroid of the said
laminar matrix 1056;
(6) Associated with said first wall member a fixed sighting
means 1 _ (window) having window side 1080 located in
a seventh "x-y~ plane parallel to said first, second,
third, fourth, fifth and sixth "x-y~ planes and
perpendicular to said "z~ axis, said sighting means
1078/1080 having a line of vision through said window
means 1078 in a direction from said window means 1078
to at least one given location of said weight means
1058, said line of vision being substantially parallel
to said ~z~ axis whereby as the volatilizable
substance evaporates from matrix 1056 the weight means
1058 angularly rotates in said sixth "x-y~ plane about
said "z~ axis leaving its initial position at the
first upper ~y" axis location and finally coming to
rest at a second lower ~y~ axis location which is
visibly detectable from said window means 1078, the
angular velocity of said weight means 1058 being at
least in part a function of the rate of elimination
:
-52 ~,~J ~ ? 5 ~
from said unit 1000 of said volatilizable substance.
The unit 1 _ is affixed to wall 1092 by means of tape
1090 A butting tape 1090 is the wall member having affixed
thereto cover 1076 having surface 1086 and containing escape
holes for the volatilizable substance 1066 and 1166. Between
the outer cover 1076 and the inner cartridge 1055 which con-
tains the weight means 1058 and volatilizable substance matrix
1056 are bearing means 1100 which enable cartridge 1055 to
rotate as volatilizable substance in matrix 1056 evaporates
through microporous cover 1076 (which is part of cartridge
1055) through escape holes 1166 and 1066. Meanwhile, window
sighting means 1078 having window side 1080 is also backed by
protective glass or plastic 1076 through which the location of
the weight means 1058 is ascertained by the viewer. Vents 1057
in the wall member enable the gas within unit 1000 to equili-
brate during use of the unit of our invention.
Units such as those illustrated in Figures 34, 35 and 36 or
Figure 1 or Figure 16 may be used in conjunction with one
another at one geographic location as is illustrated in Figure
37 wherein unit 1200 contains three units 1250a; 1250b and
1250c located on wall 1292. Unit 1250a has cover 1286a in
which is located window means 1278a. Unit 1250c has cover
1286c in which is located window means 1278c. Unit 1250b has
cover 1286b in which is located window means 1278b. Each of
units 1250a, 1250b and 1250c may contain different volati-
lizable substances, for example, unit 1250a can contain a
perfume; unit 1250b can contain a deodorant: and unit 1250c can
contain an insect repellent. As each unit is expended, a
viewer can determine that fact by observation through the
respective window means, e.g., 1278a, 1278b and/or 1278c
thereby enabling replacement of the particular volatilizable
substance cartridge in the particular unit involved. In
.,~""",,,
~53~ 2 ~~
addition, each of units 1250a, 1250b and 1250c can contain, for
example, different perfume materials which can be caused to
blend with one another as a result of using different cart-
ridges, for example, cartridge 55 of Figure 1 or cartridge 1055
of Figure 35.
Elements containing weight means and volatilizable sub-
stance may be of various shapes as illustrated in Figures 23,
23a, 24, 24a, 25, 25a, 26, 26a, 27, 28, 28a, 29, 29a, 30, 31,
32, 33, 38, 38a, 39 and 39a
Thus, in referring to Figure 23, volatilizable substance is
located matrix 802 and weight means 808 is contiguous with
matrix 802 at surface 809. Both weight means 808 and matrix
802 are contiguous with vertical member 806 at surface 807.
The unit _ rotates about axis 804 as volatilizable substance
is emitted from matrix 802.
!
By the same token, referring to Figure 24 and 24a, weight
means 818 is contiguous with matrix 812 at surfaces 819a and
819b and both weight means 818 and matrix 812 are contiguous
with surface 817 on vertical member 816 Unit 810 rotates
about axis 814 as volatilizable substance is emitted from
matrix 812.
Referring to Figures 25 and 25a, matrix 822 is contiguous
with weight means 828 at surface 829 and both weight means 828
and matrix 822 are contiguous with vertical member 826 at
surface 827 Unit 820 rotates about axis 824 as volatilizable
substance is emitted from matrix 822.
i
By the same token, referring to Figures 26 and 26a, volati-
lizable substance is emitted from matrix 832 on use of unit
830. Volatilizable substance being emitted from matrix 832
causes unit 830 to rotate about axis 834. Matrix 832 is
-54- 2~
contiguous with weight means 838 at surface 839. Both weight
means 838 and matrix 832 are contiguous with vertical member
836 at surface 837.
Referring to Figure 27, vertical member 846 has two
surfaces; surface 847a and 847b. Contiguous with surface 847a
is matrix 842a containing volatilizable substance. Contiguous
with surface 847b is matrix 842b also containing volatilizable
substance. The volatilizable substances of matrix 842a may be
the same as or different from the volatilizable substance of
matrix 842b. Weight means 848 is contiguous with matrices 842a
and 842b at surface 849. As volatilizable substance is elimin-
ated from matrices 842a and 842b the unit 840 rotates around
axis 844.
Similarly, referring to the unit 850 of Figure 28, matrices
852a and 8 _ have surfaces contiguous with vertical member 856
at surfaces 857a and 857b. The matrices 852a and 852b may
contain the same or different volatilizable substances, e.g.,
one matrix can contain an insect repellent and the other matrix
can contain a perfume. Matrices 852a and 852b have surfaces
contiguous with weight means 858 at surface 859. As
volatilizable substance are emitted from matrices 852a and 852b
unit 850 rotates about shaft 854.
By the same token, referring to Figure 29, matrix 862 con-
taining volatilizable substance has a surface contiguous with
the weight means 868 at surface 869. Both weight means 868 and
matrix 862 have a surface contiguous with vertical member 866
at surface 867. Unit 860 rotates about shaft 864 as volati-
lizable substance from matrix 862 is emitted into the atmos-
phere.
~55~ 2 ~?~
Referring to Figure 30, matrix 872 containing volatilizable
substance has a surface contiguous with weight means 878 at
surface 879, As volatilizable substance is emitted from matrix
872 unit 870 rotates about shaft 874,
Referring to Figure 31, matrix 882 containing volatilizable
substance has surfaces contiguous with weight means 888 as in-
dicated by reference numerals 889a and 889b, The advantage of
unit 880 is that it can rotate in a clockwise or counter-
clockwise direction depending on the initial evaporation
location of the volatilizable substance from matrix 882, As
volatilizable substance is emitted from matrix 882 unit 880
rotates either clockwise or counter-clockwise about axis 884,
The center point of symmetrical weight means 888 is at 888x.
In a similar fashion unit 890 illustrated in cross-section
area in Figure 32 has matrix 892 containing volatilizable
substance, Matrix 892 has a common surface with weight means
898a at surface 899a, Matrix 892 has a common surface with
welght means 898b at surface 899b. When volatilizable
cubstance is emitted from matrix 892 unit 890 rotates about
axis 894 either in a clockwise or counter-clock~7ise direction.
Referring to Figure 33, Figure 33 has a volatilizable
substance located in matrix 902 surrounded by a magnetic metal
casing 954. Magnetically attached to casing 954 at surface
954a is weight means 908a. Magnetically attached to surface
954b is weight means 908b. As volatilizable substance is
emitted from matrix 902, unit 900 rotates about axis 904
causing the weight means to come in view of sighting means (not
shown).
-56- ~t~J~
Referring to dispensing unit 1300 in Figure 38, having a
hemispherical shape, matrix 1302 containing weight means 1308
has a surface 1307 contiguous with vertical member 1306. As
volatilizable substance is emitted from matrix 1302 unit 1300
rGtates about axis 1304 causing weight means 1308 to be re-
located finally at a position directly beneath axis 1304.
Similarly, referring to the hemi-ellipsoid of Figure 39,
matrix 1402 containing volatilizable substance has a surface
contiguous with vertical member 1406 at surface 1407.
Contained within matrix 1402 is weight member (spherical in
shape) 1408. As volatilizable substance is emitted from matrix
1402 unit 1400 rotates about axis 1404 bringing visible weight
member 1408 into view of sighting means (not shown).
;
Referring to Figure 40, a gel layer in the form of a
cylinder 4619 having lower surface 4616 and upper surface
4617a contains islands or holes which contain perfume material
of a given first formulation 4618. The lower layer having
upper surface 4616 contains microporous polymer particles 4614
which have included therein a second perfumery material. Such
microporous polymer particle may be produced according to the
processes set forth in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,521,541 issued
on June 4, 1985 the specification for which is incorporated by
reference herein. The cylinders are supported in container
4612 having inner wall 4621 and cover 4623. When not in use
the cover 4623 is in a closed position supported on the wall
4612 Prior to use, the two cylinders have side walls that
abut and are contiguous with inner wall surface 4621. The
overall article 4610 when in use is shown in use in Figure 41.
The gel layer having surface 4617a is reduced in its lateral
and longitudinal dimensions and is shown in Figure 41 to have
lateral surface 4617a and longitudinal surface 4617c. The
fragrance evolving into the environment in Figure 41 is coming
from both the gel layer and the particulate lower layer into
environment 4 _ . The evolution of fragrance is shown by
reference numeral 4625.
-57~
Figure 42 shows the use of two gel layers 4634 and 4638 in
a bilayer cylindrical mode 4630. Prior to use, both layers
4634 and 4638 which have a common surface 4636 abut inner wall
4631 in cylinder 4632. The upper surface 4637a is the one from
which fragrance or other volatilizable substance is initially
evolved as shown in Figure 43. Cover 4643 is in a closed
position when the article 4630 is not in use.
Figure 43 shows the article of Figure 42 when in use
showing the reduction in dimensions of cylinders 4634 and 4638
and showing that cylinder 4638 has been reduced to a much
greater extent than cylinder 4634 thereby permitting fragrance
to be evolved not only from cylinder 4638 but also from
cylinder 4634. The surfaces of cylinder 4638 on use are shown
as 4637a (lateral) and 4637c (longitudinal). The fragrance is
evolved from both cylinders 4634 and 4638 and the evolution of
the fragrances shown by reference numeral 4634 into surrounding
atmosphere 4644.
With reference to Figure 44, the cut-away side elevation
view of the cone containing two volatilizable substance-con-
taining matrices, the lower layer, the conical layer 4654 is
held in position in cone 4652. The upper surface of the
particulate layer 4654 containing particles, for example, those
defined according to the aisclosure of U.S. Letters Patent No.
4,521,541 issued on June 4, 1985 has its upper surface 4656
contiguous with the lower surface of the upper layer 4658 which
is in the shape of a frustum of a cone. The foam 4658 contains
perfume materials 4659 disbursed therein which are evolved from
surface 4657a initially on use of the article 4650 of Figure
44. When the article 4650 is not in use cover 4653 is in
position on side wall 4652. When cover 4653 is opened, the
article is in use and the initial fragrance or other
volatilizable substance evolves from surface 4658a from the
foam or gel 4658. As the article is being used, the foam layer
4658 or gel layer 4658 shrinks away from the inner wall of cone
-58- 2~"~q3~
4658, that is, shrinks away from the inner surface 4651. When
the gel or foam shrinks away from wall 4651 it starts leaving
surface 4656 exposed; that is, the upper surface of the cone
4654 When the upper surface 4656 of cone 4654 is exposed
fragrance or other volatilizable substance, e.g., air freshener
is evolved from cone 4654 as it is evolved to a lesser extent
from frustum of cone 4658.
The operation of the article of Figure 44, that is article
4650 is shown in Figure 46 when such a cone 4652 is heated
using, for example, hot oil 4673 contained in heating article
4670. The hot oil is contained in container 4671 and is heated
by heating unit 4675. Vent holes 4676 permit any vapors from
the hot oil to be evolved into the outer atmosphere together
with perfume from article 4650 which is held in place in
orifice 4672 of article 4 _ . The hot air venting from
container 4671 is indicated by reference numeral 4677. The
venting of the fragrance from cone 4650 into the atmosphere
surrounding the cone is indicated by reference numeral 4678.
Figure 45 shows another use of a plurality of the cones
shown in Figure 44 as articles 4650a, 4650b, 4650c and 4650d.
Each of the cones can evolve different fragrances at different
times as a result of different porosities of foam or gel 4658
(shown in Figure 44). On use of the articles (which may be
used in seriatum) the covers can be pulled up causing surface
4657a of Figure 44 to be exposed at different points in time.
Each of articles 4650a, 4650b, 4650c and 4650d may be held in
place in openings 4662a, 4662b, 4662c and 4662d of the platform
4661 of the unit 4660 of Figure 45.
Another embodiment of our invention is a bilayer spherical
article shown in partially cut-away perspective view in Figure
47 and shown in cut-away side elevation view in Figure 48.
Inner layer 4681 is made up of a ball of particles such as
those defined in U.S. Patent No. 4,521,541 issued on June 4,
1985.
_59_ ~ 3 ~
The outer layer 4682 may be a gel containing either perfume or
air freshener particles 4683. The entire article 4680 is
suspended from hanging wire 4685 using support disk 4684. The
hanging wire 4685 may have a flanged support 4687 interwoven in
the ball of particles 4681, with the flange support being
indicated by reference numeral 4687. The outer gel may be a
gel such as that set forth and described in Example I, infra,
and in United Kingdom Specification No. 1,598,449 published on
September 23, 1981, the specification of which is incorporated
by reference herein or United States Patent No. 2,465,470 the
specification of which is incorporated by reference herein. As
the outer layer gel 4682 or foam 4682 is used up; that is, as
perfume 4683 is evolved, pores are open in layer 4682 to permit
fragrance or air freshener from particles 4681 to be evolved
into the atmosphere surrounding article 4 _ until finally only
volatilizable substance from core 4681 is evolved from article
4680 (at that point in time when volatilizable substance 4683
is completely dissipated from layer 4 _ .
Article 6100 shown in Figure 49 and shown in use in Figure
50 has a solid lid on its central cylindrical core 6103 made up
of pellets as defined in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,521,541.
The surface of these pellets 6105 has cover 6104 held in place
by wire restrainer 6108 which is attached to the cylinder wall
6109 of article 6110. The surface of the outer cylinder 6106
which is a cylinder containing foam or gel 6101 containing
perfume or air freshener or insect repellent particles 6107 is
the first surface from which volatilizable substance is evolved
into the atmosphere. While in use the article of Figure 49,
article 6100 is shown in use in Figure 52. As foam or gel 6101
is dissipated, the surface of the inner core cylinder 6103
becomes exposed thereby permitting fragrance or air freshener
or insect repellent or the like to be evolved from the central
core cylinder 6103 into the atmosphere in addition to the
-60- 2~ ~
volatilizable substance being evolved from the gel or foam 6101
as shown in Figure 52. Another embodiment is shown, in top
view, wherein four layers of sequentially timed release
quadri-functional volatilizable substances are delivered to the
atmosphere sequentially. Thus, for example, pellets as defined
in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,521,541 of June 4, 1985 may be
contained in core cylinder 6125 and in the third concentric
cylinder 6122. The second concentric cylinder 6123 and the
outer concentric cylinder 6121 may be composed of gel or foam
containing perfume, air freshener or insect repellent
substances therein. Thus, foam or gel layers 6123 and 6121
concentric with layers 6122 and central layer 6125 may be
composed of a gel as defined in U.K. Specification 1,598,449
published on September 23, 1981 or U.S. Patent 2,465,470 or
U.S. Patent 2,691,615 or U.S. Patent 2,927,055 the
specifications for which are incorporated herein by reference.
Thus, lids can be held by retaining wires on the upper flat
surface of inner core cylinder 6125, on the second concentric
cylinder 6123 and on the third concentric cylinder 6122 Thus,
the only volatilizable substance that can be evolved would be
evolved from outer cylinder 6121. As the outer cylinder gel or
foam 6121 evolves its fragrance 6126 into the outer atmosphere
6129 from surface 6128 (with fragrance or other volatilizable
substance being evolved shown by reference numeral 6130; that
is, being evolved from article 6120), the outer surface of
third cylinder 6122 becomes exposed to the atmosphere and
volatilizable substance or fragrance is then capable of being
evolved from concentric cylinder 6122 into the atmosphere along
with fragrance from outer cylinder 6121. As volatilizable
substance from concentric cylinder 6122 is used up, surface of
cylinder 6123 becomes exposed and volatilizable substance from
cylinder 6123 is then evolved into the atmosphere. Then, as
fragrance or other volatilizable substance on use is evolved
.~,....
-61- 2 ~ J.~.
from cylinder 6123, volatilizable substance from cylinder 6125
is finally capable of being evolved into the atmosphere. The
nature of each of the concentric cylinders may be such that the
timing of evolution of volatilizable substance from each of the
concentric cylinders may be easily timed.
Thus, referring to Figure 53, the intensity of perceptible
desirable aroma, for example, being evolved from the article
6110 of Figure 40 (having two cylindrical layers) is shown by
the two graphs indicated as "Aroma Al and "Aroma A2n. At
time zero, only aroma "Aroma Al" is evolved as time proceeds
to time tl, evolution of "Aroma A2~ commences and goes up
to a maximum shortly after time tl and then it too is
dissipated by time t2 as shown in Figure 53.
Referring to Figure 54, a solid shaving stick 4712
containing the formulation as exemplified in Examples VIII and
IX, infra, and as set forth, supra, is contained in a base
holder 4714 having a protective cap 4722, When the user twists
twister 4716, screw 4718 forces the gel stick 4712 in an
outward direction so that surface 4720 can be easily used for
lathering skin 4 _ on face 4744 shown in Figure 57. In Figure
57 the lather is shown using reference numeral 4746. The base
of the holder 4 _ wherein the twister is contained is shown by
reference numeral 4726 in Figure 55. The bottom of the article
of Figure 54 is shown in detail in Figure 56 with the screw
control shown by reference numeral 4718 (using dotted lines) in
Figure 56.
Thus, an individual holds the article 4710 of Figure 54 in
his or her arm 4732 and lathers the skin 4742 on face 4744
(shown in Figure 57 and 58) with the lather being shown by
reference numeral 4 _ .
-62- ~ 7
EXAMPLES I-VII
Air-treating gels were prepared having the compositions
described in the table.
TABLE
E~AMPLE
Components I II III IV V VI VII
Sodium stearate 20 15 15 15 10 10 15
_________________________________________________________ ______ I
Monoethyl ether of
diethylene glycol 55 65 50 55 65 60
________________________________________________________________ j
Monoethyl ether
of triethylene glycol - - - - - - 50
________________________________________________________________
Water (distilled) 5 - 15 20 10 - 15
________________________________________________________________
Perfume
~EVERFRESH ~ ) 20 20 20 10 15 30 20
Into a one liter cylindrical vessel as shown in Figures 40
and 41 and described in the Detailed Description of The
Drawings, supra, polyethylene foamed particles prepared accord-
ing to the procedure set forth at column 12, lines 24-67 and
column 13, lines 1-21 of U.S. Letters Patent 4,521,541 issued
on June 4, 1985 are added to the cylinder until the cylinder
having an internal radius of 10 cm contains 100 grams of
particles each having a diameter of 0.1 cm. The particles are
arranged so that the upper surface thereof, surface 4616 in
Figure 40 is substantially planar. Surface 4616 is then
covered with 200 grams of gel per each of Examples I, II, III,
IV, V, VI and VII. The perfume contained in each of the
polyethylene particles is a rose perfume containing the
following formulation:
-63- 2~
Phenylethyl alcohol................ 30 parts
Rose oxide.,....................... 22 parts
Beta-Ionone........................ 15 parts
Trans,trans-delta-damascone 42 parts.
The gel of layer 4618 containing the EVERFRESH~ perfume
is prepared by any convenient technique such as by mixing the
components and refluxing the mixture with stirring for 10 to 60
minutes at a temperature of from 80 to 110~C until the soap
completely dissolves. A gel forms upon the cooling of the
mixture and the mixture at that point in time is poured onto
the particles of polyethylene containing rose perfume.
In each instance the atmosphere surrounding article 4610
when cover 4623 is initially that of the EVERFRESH ~ perfume
air freshener. As gel 4618 shrinks on useage, the rose
fragrance from layer 4614 evolves from surface 4616 into the
atmosphere 4624 (shown in Figure 41). It should be noted that
the gels remained rigid at temperatures of up to at least 55~C.
",
-64- 2~7~
EXAMPLE VIII
The following groups of mixtures are prepared:
Ingredients Parts by Weight
Group A
Stearic acid,................,.............. 15.0
Paraffin Wax................................. 10.0
Glyceryl Stearate SE......................... 9.0
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate................. 6.0
~0:50 Mixture of Petrolatumj
¦and Lanolin Alcohol ¦ ...................... 4.0
Nonyl Nonoxynol-150.......................... 3.0
Propylparaben................................ 0.2
____________________________________________________________
Group L
Titanium Dioxide............................. 8.0
____________________________________________________________
Group C
Dimethicone Copolyol......................... 10.1
Polyethylene Glycol 14-M..................... 8.0
Triethanolamine.............................. 1.5
Methylparaben................................ 0.2
____________________________________________________________
Group D
Sodium Cocoyl Isthionate..................... 24.0
_ _ _ _ _ _------------------------------ !
Group E
Fragrance.................................... 1.0
All materials in Group A are weighed together and heated
until melted.
The materials in Group B are added to the materials in
Group ~ and the resulting mixture is mixed until uniform.
-65- ~ '5:~.
All materials and parts are weighed together and heated
until completely melted. The materials of Part D are added to
Part C and mixed until uniform,
The mixture resulting from Parts A and B are added to the
mixture resulting from Parts C and D until a smooth consistency
is formed. To the resulting mixture, the fragrance of Part E
is added with mixing.
The resulting product while still hot is then added into
molds and the molds are allowed to cool and harden. Each mold
is then fabricated into an article as set forth in Figures 54,
55 and 56.
A shaving stick thus formulated when used with water
imparts a white emollient foam for shaving ease.
-66-
EXAMPLE IX
SHAVING STICK
The following mixtures are prepared:
Ingredients Parts by Weight
GROUP "A n
Stearic Acid...............,................ 15.00
Paraffin Wax 155/160......................... 10.00
Cerasynt Q tVAN DYK) (NOTE: 1)............... 9.00
Igepon TC42 (GAF) (NOTE: 2)~................ 6.00
Amerchol CAB (AMERC~ (NOTE: 3)............... 4.00
IGEPON DM970 (GAF) (NOTE: 4)................. 3.00
PROPYL PARABEN............................... 0.20
____________________________________________________________ ,
GROUP n B n
TITANIUM DIOXIDE #328 (WHITTAKER)............ 8.00
____________________________________________________________
GROUP n C n
DOW 193 SURFACTANT (DOW CORNING)
(NOTE: 5)
...... 10.10
POLYOX WSRN 3000 IN 3% SOLUTION
(AMERCHOL) (NOTE: 6) ........................ 8.00
TRIETHANOLAMINE 99~.......................... 1.50
METHYL PARABEN............................... 0.20
GROUP n D n
IGEPON AC78 (GAF) (NOTE: 7).................. 24.00
____________________________________________________________
GROUP n E n
FRAGRANCE IFF................................ 1.00
NOm ~ AS~'NT ~ is glyceryl monostearate.
;OT _: _ PO TC~2 is sodium methyl cocoyl taurate.
;O~ RC O_ ~AB is a mixture of petrolatum and
_anol_n alcohol.
NOTE 4: IGEPON DM970 is polyethylene glycol-50-nonyl
phenylether.
NOTE 5: ~OW 93 SURFACTANT is dimethicone copolyol.
NOTE 6: OLY X WSRN 3000 is a 3% aqueous solution
a s_licone copolymer) of polyoxyethylene-14,000
molecular weight).
NOTE 7: IGEPON AC78 is sodium cocoyl isothionate.
-67- 2~ 5:~.
All the materials in Group "A" are mixed together and
heated until a melt is formed.
The material of Group "B" ~TITANIUM DIOXIDE) is added to
the mixture of Group "A~ and the resulting mixture is stirred
until uniform.
All the materials in Group "C" are weighed and mixed
together and heated until a melt is formed. The resulting melt
is admixed with the material of Group "D~ (IGEPON AC78) until
the resulting mix is uniform.
The mixture of Groups ~A" and "B" is admixed with the
mixture of Groups "C" and "D" until a new mixture is formed
having smooth consistency. The resulting mixture is admixed
with the Fragrance of Part "En.
- While hot the resulting mixture is poured into molds and
the resulting articles are allowed to cool and harden thereby
forming a shaving stick which when used with water imparts a
white emollient foam for shaving ease.
-68- ~t~ 7~
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHIC~ AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A dispensing unit of a volatilizable substance capable
of visible determination of its extent of use comprising a
sighting mechanism having associated therewith a vertically
positioned rotatable support having located thereon in the same
plane a gravity-activated weight and a volatilizable substance
and having a varibly located centroid initially positioned
proximate to the geometric center point of the unit with the
centroid moving downward when the unit is in use, whereby as
the volatilizable substance evaporates, the weight eccen-
trically located in the same plane as the volatilizable
substance angularly rotates about the ~z~ axis leaving its
initial position and finally coming to rest at a resting
position when the volatilizable substance is used up and
whereby at least the final position of the weight is rendered
visibly detectable by means of said sighting mechanism.
2. The dispensing unit of Claim 1 of volatilizable
substance capable of visible determination of its extent of use
and having a variable centroid with said variable centroid
initially located below the geometric center point of the unit
and moving in a substantially downward direction on use of said
dispensing unit comprising:
(1) a freely rotatable vertically disposed substantially
planar solid vapor impermeable wall member the
rotation of which is gravity induced said wall member
having:
(i) an enclosing outer circumferential boundary
having an upper boundary arcuate segment and a
lower boundary arcuate segment and having;
