U.S. patent application number 09/842848 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for device and method of supplying substances to be dispensed into air.
Invention is credited to Wittek, Gotz-Ulrich.
Application Number | 20010028119 09/842848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27575996 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010028119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wittek, Gotz-Ulrich |
October 11, 2001 |
Device and method of supplying substances to be dispensed into
air
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for supplying substances to be
dispensed into air or air mixtures, especially scents, with a flat
disk-shaped or plate-shaped base body with multiple separate
channels running through it essentially parallel to its top and/or
bottom sides, with the channels accommodating the substances to be
dispensed and containing an inlet port and an outlet port,
respectively, so that a stream of gas supplied to the inlet port
can flow through it, with the inlet and outlet ports of at least
one channel being sealed in a gastight manner until the substance
is released and/or the substance is placed with an airtight seal in
at least one channel in a reservoir which does not release this
substance until the time of dispensation thereof.
Inventors: |
Wittek, Gotz-Ulrich;
(London, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James W. Peterson, Esq.
BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 1404
Alexandria
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
27575996 |
Appl. No.: |
09/842848 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09842848 |
Apr 27, 2001 |
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08983022 |
Jun 8, 1998 |
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6234455 |
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08983022 |
Jun 8, 1998 |
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08931456 |
Sep 17, 1997 |
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5832320 |
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08931456 |
Sep 17, 1997 |
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08781028 |
Jan 9, 1997 |
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08781028 |
Jan 9, 1997 |
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08232050 |
Jun 30, 1994 |
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08232050 |
Jun 30, 1994 |
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PCT/EP96/02925 |
Mar 7, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
261/30 ;
261/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 9/14 20130101; Y10S
261/65 20130101; A63J 25/00 20130101; A63J 2005/008 20130101; A61L
9/125 20130101; A61M 15/0048 20140204; A63J 5/00 20130101; Y10S
261/88 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
261/30 ;
261/104 |
International
Class: |
B01F 003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 1995 |
DE |
195 24 193.2 |
Jul 17, 1995 |
DE |
195 26 002.3 |
Aug 16, 1995 |
DE |
195 30 111.3 |
Dec 8, 1995 |
DE |
195 45 950.4 |
Mar 6, 1995 |
DE |
196 08 708.2 |
Jul 2, 1996 |
DE |
196 26 602.5 |
Claims
1. A device for supplying substances to be dispensed into air or
air mixtures, especially scents, with a flat disk-shaped or
plate-shaped base body that has multiple separate channels running
through it essentially parallel to its top and/or bottom sides,
with the channels serving to accommodate the substances to be
dispensed and containing an inlet port and an outlet port,
respectively, so a stream of gas supplied to the inlet port can
flow through, with the inlet and outlet ports of at least one
channel being sealed in a gastight manner until the substance is
dispensed and/or the substance being placed under gastight seal in
at least one channel in a reservoir that releases the substance
only at the time when it is dispensed.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least
one inlet and outlet port is sealed with a seal that can be
destroyed.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealed
channel contains at least the substance to be dispensed and/or an
inert gas in its interior.
4. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that the reservoir contains the substance enclosed in a carrier
material so that the substance can be released by destroying the
carrier material.
5. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
by actuating devices that cause the opening or destruction of the
gastight seals of the inlet and/or outlet port and/or destroy the
carrier material for the substances in order to activate the
release of the substances to the ambient air or the gas stream
supplied to the inlet port.
6. A device especially according to one of the preceding claims for
supplying substances, especially scents, to be dispensed in the
form of a gas, characterized by at least one hollow body which is
provided with at least one air exchange port and whose interior can
be purged by a gas flow; at least one reservoir arranged in the
hollow body for the substance which is to be dispensed into the
environment and which is enclosed by a carrier material so that the
substance can be released by destroying at least part of the
carrier material.
7. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
by means for controlled destruction of the gastight seal or the
carrier material in the hollow body or channel.
8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the devices
for controlled destruction are provided in the device itself.
9. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that the devices
for destruction are provided separately from the apparatus in such
a way that they can be brought into operative connection with the
apparatus on activation of the release of the substances, with the
means preferably being designed in such a way that they become
active on insertion of the apparatus into a device for releasing
the gaseous substances.
10. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the hollow
bodies are designed as channels.
11. A device according to one of claims 7 through 10, characterized
in that the means for controlled destruction of the air tight seals
and/or the carrier material are mechanical and/or pneumatic
means.
12. A device according to one of claims 4 through 11, characterized
in that the hollow body or the channels have wall elements with
which the carrier material is in operative connection and which can
be displaced toward each other.
13. A device according to one of claims 4 through 12, characterized
in that the carrier material is arranged next to the air exchange
port of the hollow body or the inlet port of the channel in such a
way that a stream of air directed into the interior of the hollow
body or channel through the air exchange port or the air inlet port
destroys at least a part of the carrier material arranged in the
hollow body or channel.
14. A device according to one of claims 4 through 13, characterized
in that the carrier material is arranged in the hollow body or in
one of the channels so that it essentially seals off the cross
section, so the carrier material is broken open to release the
substance when gas is blown into the air inlet port of the hollow
body for the first time.
15. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that an absorption medium impregnated or. enriched
with the substance to be dispensed is arranged in the hollow body
or channel.
16. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the reservoir of carrier material contains at
least partially enclosed microcapsules in which the substance to be
released is enclosed.
17. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that a multitude of hollow bodies or the base body
is/are composed of a top cover layer (8), a bottom cover layer (9)
and the dividing webs (7) which separate the hollow bodies or
channels from each other.
18. A device according to one of claims 4 through 17, characterized
in that the carrier material contains a sheathing layer (11),
another sheathing layer (12) detachably connected to the sheathing
layer (11), and an adhesive joining the two sheathing layers (11,
12) together, with the reservoir embedded in them.
19. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that at least one air exchange port of the hollow
body can be sealed.
20. A device according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 6,
characterized in that a plurality of hollow bodies or channels are
arranged side by side.
21. A device according to claim 20, characterized in that the
hollow bodies or channels are arranged so they run essentially
radially with respect to a center.
22. A device according to claim 20, characterized in that the
hollow bodies or channels are arranged so they run at least
partially at an inclination or parallel to each other.
23. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that at least a plurality of hollow bodies or
channels are arranged side by side and/or one above the other.
24. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the reservoir takes up only a small portion
of the hollow body.
25. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that it is composed at least in part of
biodegradable material.
26. A device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the reservoir is attached in the hollow body
or channel at least next to one of the ports in the hollow body in
such a way that it essentially seals off the cross section of the
hollow body or channel, as well as having means to supply gas in a
controlled manner to at least one port of the hollow body.
27. A method of releasing substances, especially scents, to be
dispensed in the form of a gas, where the substances are
microencapsulated and embedded in a carrier material, characterized
in that the micro scent capsules embedded in the carrier material
are ruptured by the kinetic energy of a gas.
28. A method according to claim 27, characterized in that air is
used as the gas.
29. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that helium is
mixed with the air.
30. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that 1 to 20
vol % helium is mixed with the air.
31. An arrangement for carrying out the method according to one of
claims 27 through 30, characterized by the following elements:
equipment for generating a gas stream, at least one device
according to one of the preceding claims 4 through 25, means for
selectively introducing the stream of gas into individual channels
or cavities.
32. An arrangement according to claim 31, characterized in that it
has equipment for storing the device in a movable manner.
33. An arrangement according to claim 31, characterized in that it
has equipment for storing the device in a stationary manner and
means for supplying gas to one or more of the ports of a hollow
body or the channels, either selectively or jointly.
34. An arrangement according to one of claims 31 to 33,
characterized in that the equipment for generating a stream of gas
is at least a pump.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method of
supplying substances to be dispensed into air or air mixtures.
These substances to be dispensed are different scents in
particular. Such presentation of scents would preferably be done
for visual and/or acoustic stimuli and other events. In addition to
scents, with another presentation, this could also be micro
quantities of other substances which must be in aerosol form. The
substances may also be in gaseous form. When "air" is mentioned
below, it may also refer to air mixtures.
[0002] The invention thus also relates in particular to a method
and a device for increasing the sensorial perception of visual
and/or acoustic presentations, especially for decentralized media,
e.g., in presenting television movies, video movies, radio
broadcasts or musical performances, etc., wherein suitable scents
are supplied to the viewers or listeners in synchronization with
the presentation of certain visual and/or acoustic events (e.g.,
motion picture scenes).
[0003] Such a method and the respective equipment are described in
the present applicant's patent application PCT/EP92/02446, here in
particular in the description of FIGS. 16 and 17.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to specify a device
and a method of supplying substances to be dispensed into air,
where the device has small, handy dimensions and contains the
substance to be dispensed in an easily activated form. This object
is achieved by this invention with the devices specified in the
independent patent claims 1 and 6 as well as the method specified
in independent patent claim 27.
[0005] Preferred embodiments and aspects of the invention are
derived from the dependent patent claims as well as the description
and drawings.
[0006] According to this invention, a device for supplying
substances to be dispensed into air, especially scents with a flat
disk-shaped or plate-shaped base body having multiple separate
channels running essentially parallel to its top and/or bottom
sides to accommodate substances to be dispensed into air, with each
channel having one inlet port and one outlet port, and wherein a
stream of gas supplied to the inlet port can flow through the
channels, wherein the inlet and outlet ports of at least one
channel are sealed gastight until the substance is released and/or
the substance is accommodated in a gastight manner in a reservoir
in at least one channel that does not release the substance until
the time for release of it.
[0007] In addition, the invention relates to a device for supplying
substances to be dispensed in air, especially scents characterized
by
[0008] at least one hollow body provided with at least one air
exchange port, where a stream of gas can flow through the
interior;
[0009] at least one reservoir which is arranged in the hollow body
for the substance to be released to the ambient air and is enclosed
by a carrier material so that the substance can be released by
destruction of the carrier material.
[0010] Destruction of the carrier material is understood to refer
to the fact that the integrity of the carrier material is altered
so that the substances to be dispensed are exposed.
[0011] This can be accomplished by tearing off a part of a
laminate, breaking a device and other methods of division.
[0012] According to another feature, the present invention relates
to a reservoir with scent capsules that is self-activated by
automatic detachment of a separation film on influx of air.
[0013] Another feature of the invention relates to a micro scent
reservoir that can be played in decentralized scent dispensers,
with the micro scent reservoirs optionally being designed in the
form of a disk.
[0014] The device according to this invention for supplying
substances to be dispensed into air has the advantages of being
very small, handy and easy to package and ship. Additional
advantages include the fact that the device can accommodate
multiple substances that do not evaporate and cannot become mixed.
The substances released can also be activated easily and can be
protected well in transport.
[0015] The present invention, among other things, provides methods
and a device where the various scent supplies (scent sets)
belonging to an individual motion picture are fabricated and stored
in a manner which ensures both storage of these scents (preferably
20-50 different scents per motion picture) in an extremely small
space (compact disk) as well as perfect preservation and rapid,
trouble-free shippability at low manufacturing costs.
[0016] Another feature of the invention is that a hard material
reservoir consisting of easily separated halves is provided for
substances that can be dispensed into air, especially scents.
[0017] According to another feature of the invention, a flat hard
material protection is claimed, that protects stored substances
such as scents that are to be dispensed into air from external
environmental influences, such as pressure, impact, heat and
damage.
[0018] Another feature concerns a flat scent reservoir with sealed
scents that can be played, where the seals are not removed until
immediately before playing.
[0019] In general terms, the invention presents a flat preservation
system for multiple scent sets, especially a flat or disk-shaped
hard material to protect pressure-sensitive and/or light- or
heat-sensitive scent sets.
[0020] Another feature is a flat, hard material transport reservoir
with protective tubes arranged in it to protect pressure-sensitive
aromas.
[0021] Another feature of the present invention relates to a
disk-shaped scent reservoir that is suitable for transport of
encapsulated scents in a manner that protects them from pressure,
temperature, moisture and light.
[0022] Furthermore, a method of releasing substances, especially
aromas, to be dispensed into air, where the substances are
microencapsulated and embedded in a carrier material which is
characterized in that the scent microcapsules embedded in the
carrier material can be broken open by the kinetic energy of a
gas.
[0023] The invention thus creates a micro scent reservoirs system
(scent disks) for automatic playing of event-based scent sets in
decentralized scent dispensers (scent players), thus permitting a
decentralized and yet synchronized scent accompaniment with motion
pictures, music and other events.
[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the method according
to this invention for minimized storage and decentralized
synchronized presentation of scents with visual and/or acoustic
stimuli, the micro scent reservoirs equipped with the required
aromas are manufactured in the form of very flat compact disks 1,
such as those known for music CDs, for example.
[0025] This very small and flat embodiment of the scent carrier has
the fundamental advantage that despite the relatively large scent
contact areas, it nevertheless takes up very little space and thus
permits mass distribution of the scent sets belonging to a certain
motion picture to a large public.
[0026] Thus it is possible with scent set carriers of this form and
type to glue them as inserts into a daily newspaper or television
schedule or a Product such as a package of coffee, etc. In this
way, all the scents (scent sets) belonging with a television movie
can be available to all interested viewers at the time of the
broadcast without each individual television viewer having to
purchase a scent CD for a motion picture he would like to see in
the scented version.
[0027] By means of rapid, decentralized distribution of scent sets
formulated precisely for a given motion picture and perfectly
protected, and then added as an insert to a daily newspaper or
television schedule or a postal mailing in the form of a flat scent
compact disk, it is feasible for the scents (scent sets) belonging
to a television movie or other media event to be in a perfectly
preserved form at the time when they are dispersed to all
interested viewers, without each individual television viewer
having to go into a shop to purchase a new appropriate scent set
for a motion picture that viewer would like to see in the scented
version.
[0028] This permits for the first time rapid distribution,
long-term storage and finally decentralized, synchronized playing
of many different scent sets that fit precisely with a motion
picture for a mass public to be distributed in a decentralized
manner.
[0029] Here for the first time, a technique by which the carrier
substance (e.g., air) automatically opens the sealed and preserved
aroma out of the sealed state, gradually dissolves it and entrains
it.
[0030] Thus with this technique, the aromas remain hermetically
sealed off from air until the immediate time of presentation, so
that premature aging processes are reliably prevented despite the
fact that the substances are accommodated in an extremely small
space.
[0031] Another application of these disks could also be in medical
technology for administration of very small controlled doses of
medication.
[0032] In contrast with computer diskettes and music CDs, which are
flat binary information carriers, storage and distribution of
scents is linked to the physical form of the scents.
[0033] The different supplies of micro scents are preferably
applied to the inside of one of the two halves of such a disk in
the form of a certain type of scent tracks (scent track
arrangement).
[0034] Such scent track arrangements may also be stored in multiple
layers one above the other in such a disk, because the individual
layers are extremely thin and thus take up very little space. The
individual tracks of such a scent track arrangement are partitioned
off from one another by certain patterns of separating cuts. These
separating cuts can be pressed as patterns into the respective half
of the disk, or finally, they may be in the form indentations and
elevations on the counterpart of the other half of the disk, where
the individual tracks giving off the scent are ultimately formed by
the manufacturing process, while the disk halves are joined in a
certain manner.
[0035] To prevent mixing of the individual scents and aromas from
the scent tracks during storage of the disk, these tracks are
preferably designed in such a way that small, individually
separated protective channels are formed in production of the disk
and demarcate the individual scent tracks from one another.
[0036] Within the separate scent channels, the scents are
preferably sealed once again in scent carrying slotted channels to
protect them from the action of oxidation processes in addition to
outside scents.
[0037] A third sealing of the scents can also be achieved by
encapsulation, by sealing the scents another time in very small
microcapsules inside the scent carrying slotted channels, so that
the microcapsules rupture simultaneously with the opening of the
slotted channels.
[0038] The diameter of the separating channels and the elevation
due to the second sealing of the scents are preferably designed so
that the total thickness of the scent CD is only on the order of
that of commercial music CDs and CD ROMs, or at least it is so
slightly greater that these scent CDs can still be glued to a
newspaper as an insert with no problem.
[0039] If a motion picture is to be played back over TV or a video
player, the signals assigned to a scent can be played through the
respective television transmitter or over the storage medium
together with the video and audio signals of the motion picture, as
already described in the present patent applicant's patent
PCT/EP92/02446 (FIGS. 16 and 17).
[0040] These signals act directly or indirectly on a playback
apparatus, the so-called scent player, into which the scent disks
described above are placed before starting the motion picture.
[0041] If one of these scent tracks is activated by a scent signal,
a carrier medium, which may be air or a certain air mixture, is
driven by a small pump and pumped into the respective scent channel
on the scent disk through a micro filling connection. Certain very
thin scent carrying layers are then activated within the scent
channel by the pressure provided by the carrier medium.
[0042] The signals for triggering the scents may also influence
additional features of a scented motion picture presentation, such
as the quantity of air flowing through a scent carrier, the
temperature of the scent-air mixture dispensed, the length of the
scent interval, optionally any intended mixing of scents due to
their simultaneous activation or overlaying one scent over
another.
[0043] If, in a modification of the intended equipment, the intent
is to also present theater, music or motion picture presentations
accompanied by scents in public theaters, etc., the invention also
makes it easy to minimize the cost of renovating such buildings (as
described in PCT/EP92/02446) by omitting the scent line
installations normally required for this purpose. Instead of the
central scent playing device and the complete line system, a small
playback apparatus is mounted at any desired location. This is
important in particular when there are plans to accompany only
certain presentations with scents over a limited period of time,
when then would not justify the cost of a complete renovation of
the theater under some circumstances. This device can also permit
scents to accompany open air presentations.
[0044] With the creation of a novel multiple-scent reservoir system
that can be played back automatically and can easily be distributed
through mass media such as newspapers due to extensive
miniaturization, the invention also makes it possible to use this
system for any desired decentralized application.
[0045] In addition to using this system for motion pictures, it is
thus also possible to use this system for other media, such as
advertising, or for automatic food and beverage dispensers,
computer games or on-line purchasing accompanied by scents, music
CDs, product information units (e.g., information computer at the
point of sale) and any type of presentation that can be enhanced by
the addition of scents either centrally or from decentralized
sites.
[0046] Like the other decentralized applications already mentioned,
the recently available data helmets, VR helmets and equipment for
experiencing virtual reality, cyberspace adventures, etc. also
offer a possibility for using these rapidly dispersable and
optimally preserved micro scents.
[0047] This invention is further explained below with reference to
the figures, which show the following:
[0048] FIG. 1: a scent compact disk or a scent CD;
[0049] FIG. 2a: a partial section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from FIG. 1 with slotted channels in the unactivated
state;
[0050] FIG. 2b: a partial section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from FIG. 1 with slotted channels in the activated
state;
[0051] FIG. 3: a cross section through various variations of the
scent CD from FIG. 1;
[0052] FIG. 4a: a half cross section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from FIG. 1 in the unactivated state;
[0053] FIG. 4b: a half cross section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from FIG. 1 in the partially activated state;
[0054] FIG. 4c: a partial cross section through the scent compact
disk/scent CD from FIG. 1 in the fully activated state;
[0055] FIG. 5: an exploded diagram of the scent CD from FIG. 1 with
different function layers;
[0056] FIG. 6: another embodiment of a scent compact disk with
playback demarcation and nation-specific filter codes, and a
partial diagram of a playback device;
[0057] FIG. 7: another embodiment of the scent CD;
[0058] FIG. 7a: a variation of the embodiment according to FIG.
7;
[0059] FIG. 8: a partial cross section through another embodiment
of a scent compact disk;
[0060] FIG. 9: a lower disk frame of another embodiment of the
scent CD;
[0061] FIG. 10: another embodiment of the scent CD with manual
preparation of the possibility of activation;
[0062] FIG. 11: a longitudinal section through the embodiment from
FIG. 10;
[0063] FIG. 12a: another embodiment of the scent CD with
minimization for transport
[0064] FIG. 12b: the embodiment of the scent CD from FIG. 12a in
the unfolded and ready-to-play state;
[0065] FIG. 13a: another embodiment of the scent CD with transport
minimization for in the transport state;
[0066] FIG. 13b: the embodiment of the scent CD from FIG. 13a in
the activated state;
[0067] FIG. 14: another one-piece embodiment of the scent CD as a
folding disk;
[0068] FIG. 15: a schematic cross section through a playback
apparatus 24.
[0069] The embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG. 1 and
in FIGS. 2a through 5 shows a flat scent compact disk/scent CD (1)
in which a large number (i.e., preferably between 5 and 50)
different scents are stored in an extremely small space within a
very small flat disk where they are also preserved perfectly.
[0070] Such scent CDs serve fundamentally to permit playback in
small playback apparatuses (FIG. 15) independently of large
machines, as already described in FIGS. 16 and 17 of PCT/EP92/02446
(for a scent medium to be played back vertically by, the scent
carrier, although this is not yet practically feasible). The
extremely flat scent CDs which are proposed in the present
invention and can be played in small decentralized playback
apparatuses make it possible here for the first time to play back
event-based (e.g., motion picture) sets of many different scents in
a synchronized manner at any desired location, in perfect quality
and at the same time individually adapted to the personal
perception of the consumer or observer.
[0071] These multiple scent sets, each precisely adapted to a
certain event or motion picture, which can also be preserved for
long periods of time, also permit for the first time a very rapid
and inexpensive distribution, e.g., by mail, to a mass public with
a decentralized distribution due to their small and preferably flat
construction.
[0072] With such a scent compact disk/scent CD (1), each individual
scent of the various scents is first stored in a separate,
extremely flat slotted channel 3a, 3b, 3c, etc. (FIGS. 1, 2a and
4a), where each of these slotted channels is in turn accommodated
in another very flat protective tube 21a, 21b, etc., which
hermetically seal the different scents with respect to each other
in the slotted channels 3a, 3b, 3c, etc. (FIG. 2a). In the present
embodiment, these tubes are accommodated radially on the scent CD 1
(FIG. 1).
[0073] The numerous protective tubes 21a, 21b, etc. which are
arranged around the scent carrying slotted channels 3a, b, c, etc.
are formed by an upper disk half 8, a lower disk half 9 and lateral
channel separations 6 in the form of elongated dividing webs 7 on
both sides in the scent compact disk 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2a).
[0074] The protective tubes 21 thus form small, flat, radially
arranged tunnels in which the slotted channels 2 running across the
scent CD are also protected from external environmental influences
such as heat, pressure and damage (FIG. 2a). This protective
function becomes especially important due to the fact that the
slotted channels 3 are preferably designed so they are sensitive to
pressure (FIGS. 2a and 4a), which is explained in greater detail
below.
[0075] To optimally utilize the small amount of space available on
the scent CD, the slotted channels 3 in the present embodiment
preferably run in a conical form from the edge of the disk, where
the inlet 2 of each slotted channel 3 is located, to an outlet
panel 4 toward the inside.
[0076] The inlet 2 and outlet 25 of the slotted channels 3 may be
provided with seals 10 and 22 (FIG. 4a) to additionally preserve
the scents, with these seals being opened as soon as the disk is
placed in a playback apparatus or not until it is actually played
back by the playback apparatus (FIG. 4b).
[0077] In the preferred manner of storage of the scents within the
slotted channels 3, these seals may be eliminated under some
circumstances because long-lasting preservation is ensured by the
present embodiment of the disk, as explained in greater detail
below.
[0078] The scents are preferably applied to the insides of slotted
channels 3 in the form of microscopically small, so-called micro
scent capsules 19 (FIGS. 2a and 4a), with the scents being
completely enclosed by the microencapsulation, which guarantees
very good preservation in an extremely small space due to the
exclusion of oxygen. (Microencapsulation of extremely small
quantities of substances in liquid form and in other forms is a
method that has long been known in the printing industry.)
[0079] In addition, there is additional preservation of the scents
due to the fact that the slotted channels 3 wherein the
encapsulated scents are stored are enclosed yet again by a
protective and sealing tube, protective sheathing 21.
[0080] Protective sheathing 21 also has the function of protecting
the micro scent capsules 19 in the slotted channels 3 from the
effects of mechanical pressure and other pressure as well as light,
heat, moisture and other influences, because the micro scent
capsules can be opened prematurely relatively easily if a slotted
channel 3 is compressed, for example.
[0081] This also plays an important role in transport of these
scent disks with the various resulting mechanical stresses, etc.,
because if the micro scent capsules 19 were opened prematurely, the
scent would also begin to be released, age and oxidize prematurely,
which could result in a considerable impairment of the scent
impression.
[0082] Each individual scent is thus sealed and preserved in three
ways in the present embodiment:
[0083] 1) in the protective sheathing 21 (protection from
mechanical pressure, oxygen and mixing),
[0084] 2) in the slotted channels 3 (protection from mixing and
oxidation),
[0085] 3) in the micro scent capsules 19 (protection from
oxidation), thus making it possible to achieve a very reliable
preservation and storage of many different scents (e.g., 40) in an
extremely small space (scent CD).
[0086] For scene-specific scent accompaniment of a TV motion
picture or other event, the scent CD is placed in an appropriate
playback apparatus, wherein the functioning of such a playback
apparatus is already substantially described in patent application
PCT/EP92/02446 by the present applicant. The flow paths here are
many times longer due to the fact that, in contrast with said
previous patent application, the transport medium, e.g., air in the
present embodiment, does not flow by the shortest path--namely
across the scent carrier--but instead it flows longitudinally
through the slotted channels 3 arranged in the disk in a flat
manner. Thus, the surface of the individual scents is enlarged
significantly while the space required by the playback medium is
very small, thus permitting a more accurate presentation of scents
as well as permitting playback in various intensities.
[0087] On the other hand, with the longer flow paths in the
extremely flat construction of the scent CD, the pressure required
for playback is much higher, which is why no tangential blower is
provided as the pump drive of such a playback apparatus for scent
compact disks, as described in the previous application, but
instead one of the known types of pumps for air and gaseous media
such as a normal aquarium pump or diaphragm pump 66 is used (FIG.
15). Apart from further suitable pump types such as compressor
pumps, also very small, compressor-like or turbine-like pumps can
be used for this purpose.
[0088] In a presentation of these scents to accompany a motion
picture or music, a technique is implemented for the first time
whereby the carrier substance (e.g., air) automatically opens the
sealed and preserved scent out of the sealed state, gradually
releasing it from the hermetic seal in which it is preserved, and
then entraining the scent and transporting it to the consumer.
[0089] The carrier medium here opens the scent bottle itself, so to
speak, and then automatically becomes enriched with the scents
belonging to a certain scene in the motion picture.
[0090] With this technique, the scents remain sealed off from air
until the immediate time of presentation, so that despite the fact
that they are accommodated in an extremely small space, premature
aging processes are reliably prevented.
[0091] For scene-specific development and release of scents desired
for a motion picture, first a scent CD 1 produced to fit precisely
with the events in that motion picture is placed in a suitable
playback apparatus.
[0092] Within the playback apparatus 24, a small inlet nozzle 23 is
automatically inserted into the slotted channel inlet 2 of the
scent to be played back first, while another outlet nozzle 27 is
inserted into the outlet 25 of the slotted channel 3 which is
placed on the inside of scent CD 1 (FIG. 4b).
[0093] As soon as the corresponding scent which is desired for a
certain scene is to be played back while a motion picture is
running, a corresponding signal which can be identified by the
playback apparatus, e.g., by a suitable signal receiver 67 (FIG.
15), is played or transmitted together with the motion picture.
[0094] In this way, the proposed gaseous transport medium,
preferably air, is activated within the playback apparatus 24 by
means of a pump (not shown) and pumped through inlet nozzle 23 into
the inlet 2 of the slotted channel 3a belonging to the first
desired scene scent A.
[0095] Due to the pressure which then builds up, first the walls at
inlet 2 of slotted channel 3a, preferably made of a scent carrying
film top side 11 and a scent carrying separating film 12a (FIG. 5)
for the purpose of simple fabrication, are pressed apart radially
to the axis of flow (FIG. 4b).
[0096] In order for the air stream to continue to the end of the
slotted channel 3 and not be able to escape at the sides,
preferably certain parts of the film sides 11 and 12 of the slotted
channel 3 are connected to each other and also in part to the disk
halves 8 and 9.
[0097] Thus, films 11 and 12 can each be connected on both sides to
a lateral film joint 30 next to each slotted channel 3, so they are
separated shortly after the scent carrying parts of the films.
[0098] In a modified form of slotted channel 3k (FIG. 3), these
lateral joints 30 also remain between films 11 and 12, and on
activation of this modified slotted channel 3k, there preferably
results a small, flat, scent carrying channel 33 which persists as
a scent channel during playback operation, without connections 30
being released (see the three right channels in FIG. 3).
[0099] Such a lateral connection 30 next to slotted channels 3 may
come about as a glued joint, a hot glue joint, a grooved seam, a
folded seam or a punched joint, or due to the fact that the
dividing webs 7 of the bottom half 9 of the disk come in contact
with the top half 8 of the disk in such a way that in this way the
lateral connections 30 between films 11 and 12 are created (as in
FIG. 3, for example).
[0100] Likewise, on the top half 8 of the disk there may be upper
dividing webs 46 which work together with the bottom half 9 of the
disk or its dividing webs 7 to establish the separations for the
individual scent channels.
[0101] In a slight modification of the slotted channel 3k shown in
FIG. 3 (second protective tube 21 from the left), it may also be
provided with an additional material, optionally slightly folded
(FIG. 8), so that slotted channel 3k is completely in contact with
the walls of the protective channel 21 when air flows through, thus
yielding a greater flow-through volume (FIG. 8) than in the design
of a flat channel 33 (as in the two right protective tubes 21 in
FIG. 3).
[0102] In another modification of the slotted channel 3k shown in
FIG. 3, it is made of one piece instead of two films 11 and 12,
with the scents applied to the walls of this one-piece flat channel
during the manufacturing process. Thereafter, however, the channel
can likewise be folded flat, pressed or bent and then accommodated
in a protective tube 21.
[0103] Such flat channels can also be provided with seals 10 and 22
at the ends or with closing perforations, gluings, folds, etc.,
which are opened when the carrier material first flows through
them.
[0104] It is also possible here to set up such flat channels during
the manufacturing process in such a way that the walls of these
channels are under an internal tension, either partially or
completely or only at the ends. If air flows into such channels and
builds up a certain pressure there, then the areas of these
channels that are under a slight pressure will rupture, thus
completely allowing air and scents, etc. to flow through.
[0105] To stabilize the air stream, preferably the scent carrying
top side 11 of the film is joined to the top half 8 of the disk in
FIGS. 4a-c, and at least the front end of the bottom separating
films 12 is joined to a connection 45 and the rear end is linked by
another connection 47 to the bottom half 9 of the disk (FIG.
4b).
[0106] The pressure that then builds up further at slotted channel
inlet 2 (FIG. 4b) is propagated finally toward the interior of the
slotted channel 3a (FIG. 4c), with the top side 11 of the film and
the scent carrying separating film 12a being separated from each
other along their length as far as outlet 25, and with the
separating film 12a being pressed into the displacement cavity 13
(FIGS. 4a-c and 2b).
[0107] In as much as the top side 11 of the film and the separating
film 12 are each connected to a connection 30 at the edge of a
slotted channel 3k (as in FIG. 3), the separating film 12 becomes
detached from the top side of the film only in the middle area,
then forming flat channel 33 (the three right channels in FIG.
3).
[0108] Then the micro scent capsules 19 that are connected to films
11 and 12 are torn apart and opened, thus releasing the scents that
had been sealed until then, so they are then entrained by the
additional air forced in (FIGS. 4c and 2b) If the films 11 and 12
of a slotted channel 3 have become detached from one another and
the scents previously sealed in the micro scent capsules have been
released from their preserved form, the air stream 29 which is then
enriched with scents is next sent through protective tubes 21a-x
and conveyed further through outlet 14 to the outlet nozzle 27
(FIG. 4c).
[0109] The air 29, which is then enriched with the scents belonging
with a certain scene, is conveyed further out of the playback
apparatus and to the viewer after leaving the slotted channel 3a of
scent CD 1, so that, for example, in a scene of a motion picture
where an orange is scene, the scent of an orange can also be
perceived (FIG. 15).
[0110] Playback of the next scent belonging with another scene then
takes place by triggering and moving the scent CD 1 inside the
playback apparatus 24 by means of additional appropriate signals in
such a way that the proper scent can also be played, with the two
inlet and outlet nozzles 23 and 27 being lifted briefly away from
the scent CD and then inserted into the slotted channel 3b and the
protective tube 21b of the next scent.
[0111] In a variation of the present embodiment, the flow of air
inside the scent CD can also take place in the opposite direction,
from the inside to the outside instead of from the outside to the
inside, with the inlet nozzle 23 being reversed to function as the
outlet nozzle 27 and vice versa. The enriched air is then also
directed from the respective other scent outlet to the viewer
accordingly.
[0112] To be able to actually accommodate all 30, 50 or more scents
required for a motion picture, a piece of music, etc., on a single
scent CD, it is also advantageous to keep the respective area
needed for a scent as small as possible through certain design
measures.
[0113] The area needed to be able to accommodate an encapsulated
scent on a scent CD on the whole can first of all be influenced by
how tightly the scent capsules are applied in the scent carrying
layers of the scent CD and how large the individual capsules
are.
[0114] In addition, the intensity of the scent mixture which is
selected as the basis of the encapsulation process may also
influence the required scent area.
[0115] Therefore, in order to be able to accommodate as many scents
as possible on a scent CD with the present scent CDs, especially
intense mixtures of the scents to be encapsulated and at the same
time as many scent capsules as possible are preferably applied per
unit of area so that only a small amount of area is required per
scent.
[0116] To maintain maximum scene accuracy and avoid any
superimposing of scents, the measures proposed for central playback
equipment in a previous patent application PCT/EP92/02446 (FIGS. 16
and 17) (measures which function here for the first time in
contrast with all previous proposals), i.e., extreme minimization
of the amount of air used, specification of the scent path and
minimization of the lines used, can also be used in the present
playback apparatus.
[0117] The scent quantities retrieved from the scent CD by the
playback apparatus are therefore on an extremely low level, i.e.,
amounting preferably to one thousandth to one ten thousandth of the
volume capacity of an air conditioning system and are also conveyed
in a relatively bundled form to the viewer, as also proposed in
PCT/EP92/02446. The scents can therefore be perceived only in a
very small area around the nose of the viewer, which makes it
possible to work with especially small quantities of scent.
[0118] In addition to the measures proposed previously, this also
makes it possible to accommodate the scents in a very small space
inside the scent CD.
[0119] In one embodiment of the playback apparatus with
decentralized control (not shown here) preferably only between
0.0001 and 0.5 liter of scented air per second is used. In another
preferred embodiment of the decentralized playback apparatus,
between 0.003 and 0.3 liter per second is used, and in an
especially preferred embodiment of the invention, between 0.01 and
0.2 liter per second is used.
[0120] This also makes it possible to design very accurately the
course of a scent presentation, because such small quantities of
scent are volatilized very rapidly, thus permitting an accurate
scene-specific presentation.
[0121] Due to the scent impressions that can be perceived
essentially only in the area of an individual viewer's nose, it is
likewise possible to make these small quantities of scent
adjustable individually for this viewer or for each viewer
otherwise.
[0122] This adjustability of the quantities of scent dispensed is
important in particular due to the fact that the sensitivity of
consumers' noses to odors often varies greatly.
[0123] With a preferred playback apparatus, the intensity of the
scent presentations can be adjusted accordingly, so that each
consumer can enjoy the intensity of the presentation he would
prefer. In addition, with more expensive embodiments of the
playback apparatus, it would also be possible to influence
individually the temperature, quantity and scent cycle duration of
the scents presented.
[0124] If a consumer enjoys motion picture presentations
accompanied by scents but has a specific aversion to certain
scents, it is also possible with the present playback apparatus to
classify these scents in classes, with the user being able to more
or less "vote against" any scent classes he does not want. The
control signals for these unwanted scents are then simply ignored
by the playback apparatus and these scents are then skipped.
[0125] The corresponding individual set-up of a scent presentation
is explained further below in the description of FIG. 6. For the
purpose of easy manufacturing, scent CD 1 is preferably composed of
four function layers during the manufacturing process, namely of
the top half 8 of the disk, the scent carrying film top side 11,
the scent carrying separating film 12 and the bottom half 9 of the
disk which is usually provided with dividing webs 7 (FIG. 5).
During manufacture, the individual function layers 8, 9, 11 and 12
are then pressed together and welded in part (e.g., by ultrasonic
welding), resulting in the individual function features of the
scent CD, as provided and described above, due to the shape and
properties of the individual layers (FIGS. 1 and 5). Slotted
channels 3 are preferably formed by pressing and, in part, gluing
layers 11 and 12 together, with the segmentation of slotted
channels 3a, 3b, etc., and of separating films 12a, 12b, etc.,
formed by the contact of dividing webs 7, which are preferably
provided on the bottom half 9 of the disk, with the top half 8 of
the disk.
[0126] In order to achieve a tight connection between the bottom
half 9 of the disk or the dividing webs 7 on it and the top half 8
of the disk to produce small, air-pressure-resistant protective
tubes 21a-x, the tips of the dividing webs 7 can be joined to the
top half 8 of the disk by various methods (for example, with
ultrasonic welded joints 39, as shown in FIG. 2a, or with plug or
glued connections).
[0127] In this way, the different scent tracks of films 11 and 12
(FIG. 5) applied to at least one of the films by a type of printing
method can also be segmented. Such a segmentation, preferably
air-pressure-resistant, is advantageous to this extent because this
prevents the air stream from flowing into an adjacent channel
during activation of one slotted channel 3, which could thus result
in an unwanted mixed scent.
[0128] The joints of the dividing webs 7 and the other half of the
disk can also be formed through the scent carrying films 11 and 12,
e.g., as plug connections or glued joints.
[0129] With a plug connection, the films are pinched at the edge,
whereas the films, which are made of plastic in an ultrasonic
welded joint 39, for example, are heated briefly in the area of the
contacting dividing webs 7 and are welded together in the process.
A glued joint with films made of cellulose, for example, can be
formed, e.g., by the adhesive penetrating through capillaries or
through small perforation holes through the films to the other half
of the disk, thus segmenting the scent tracks.
[0130] In another modification of the process of manufacturing the
scent CDs, scent carrying separating films 12a-x are initially also
left as a cohesive film 12 after applying the scents (FIG. 5),
where the individual scents here are also applied or printed onto
the total film 12 without dividing it into individual separating
films 12a, 12b, etc.
[0131] Individual scent lamellas are then preferably predesignated
by means of small cuts in the film surface (a type of predetermined
breaking points). In addition, scent carrying top side 11 of the
film is omitted here, and the separating film 12 together with the
various micro scent capsules 19 of the individual scent tracks is
glued to the top half 8 of the disk.
[0132] When the bottom half 9 and top half 8 of the disk to which
the presegmented separating film 12 with all the required scents
has already been glued are joined or pressed together, the dividing
webs 7 of the bottom half of the disk thus come in contact with the
top half, so that the scent carrying separating films 12 are
divided into individual films 12a, 12b, etc. Finally, the scent
carrying slotted channels 3a-3x are formed between the separating
films 12 and the top half 8 of the disk and are hermetically sealed
from each other by the dividing webs 7.
[0133] In additional embodiments (not shown) of the invention,
various combinations of the components of individual embodiments of
the scent CDs plus variations and modifications of the
manufacturing processes described here for production of similarly
functioning scent disks are also conceivable.
[0134] The scents which are ultimately presented by the present
playback apparatus can also be modified in their form of
presentation to perfect the scent impression.
[0135] An important improvement in the scent impression can be
achieved in certain cases, e.g., if they are also warmed or heated
by a small heating element (not shown) before or at the time of
dispensation to the viewer, in order to present the typical scent
impression of hot coffee, for example, even more accurately.
[0136] Such heating can preferably also be achieved by the fact
that the scents to be heated are diverted by a deflecting valve
into another channel leading to a suitable, preheated micro heating
element before reaching the viewer. Such a method is advantageous
in particular when the heating elements used in the playback
apparatus are too slow to be heated very rapidly in a film showing
and then be cooled again briefly with the next scent.
[0137] Conversely, with the present playback apparatus (not shown),
it may also be possible to cool the scents flowing toward the
viewer in order to thereby imitate the scent impression, e.g., of
ice cream or a cool autumn breeze.
[0138] In a somewhat more complicated playback apparatus (not
shown), a further improvement in the scents retrieved from the disk
by the playback apparatus can also be achieved in certain aromas
and scents if they are enriched with some moisture before being
dispensed to the viewer.
[0139] Thus, for example, the scent impression of a rain-moistened
meadow can be perfected if the meadow scent, which is stored in a
relatively dry condition and is retrieved by normal air, is
subsequently passed through a moisturizer (not shown).
[0140] Accordingly, the retrieved medium itself, such as air, can
also be enriched with moisture before passing through the disk.
[0141] Such a moisturizer may also be provided on the disk itself,
so that the carrier medium can be passed through a suitable
moisture micro chamber (not shown), e.g., through a type of
permeable moisturizing pad, before or after penetrating into the
diffusing channels.
[0142] Such moisturizing of the scented air may also be achieved on
the disk by means of microencapsulated moisture which is then
released by a method similar to that used with the release of
scents from microcapsules described above.
[0143] If a sharp, vertical alignment of the exiting air enriched
with scents is desired with the present playback apparatus, the
carrier medium, such as air, with a decentralized playback
apparatus can also be mixed with certain quantities of helium
(which is absolutely harmless for humans, because divers and even
asthmatics can breathe better in this way) The helium can be
accommodated in small cartridges resembling CO.sub.2 cartridges in
syphon bottles inside the playback apparatus (not shown).
[0144] For example, it is also possible for the scents to be first
retrieved by a microcurrent of helium from the cartridge. As
described above, the area or space in which the scents are
accommodated in the disk is preferably minimized by various
measures, e.g., intensification of the scent output base, so it is
possible to use only very small quantities of helium for the actual
retrieval of the scent.
[0145] This mixture of extremely small quantities of helium and
intense scent is then mixed with a somewhat larger stream of air to
dilute it to the normal scent intensity and then finally it is
transported to the viewer.
[0146] This diluted stream of air can also be provided with
moisture in advance, as described above, or it may also be heated.
Cartridges that are used only for retrieving scents can also be
filled with substances other than helium.
[0147] In another embodiment of the scent compact disk 1, which is
shown in the first channel on the left in FIG. 3, no micro scent
capsules 19 are accommodated in the slotted channels 3, but instead
other scent carrying materials 26, which are also arranged in an
extremely flat manner, are accommodated there, where in this case
films 11 and 12 do not completely move apart with an influx of air
mass under pressure, but instead they remain as a sleeve or
modified flat channel 44 around the respective material 26. The air
then flows through the permeable or semipermeable scent carrying
material 26.
[0148] The protective tubes 21a, 21b, etc. which are around the
modified flat channels 44 and hermetically seal them from each
other (FIG. 2a) are, however, preferably provided with seals 10 and
22 at inlet 2 and outlet 25 in this case, because the possibilities
for preservation of these other materials 26 would not extend as
far as with micro scent capsules. In this case, very thin and flat
nonwovens can also be used as the scent carrying materials 26.
[0149] These nonwovens are preferably attached to the edge of the
modified flat channels 44.
[0150] In a variation of this embodiment of a scent CD various
forms of micro storage for scents can also be combined within one
scent CD, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the scents here can be stored
and preserved over scent carrying materials 26 in the left channel
and over micro scent capsules 19 in other channels.
[0151] This embodiment is recommended in particular if one of the
few scents with which microencapsulation is difficult to implement,
such as the aroma of coffee, is to be used with the movie that is
to be accompanied. Thus, both encapsulated scents and other scents
in different forms of storage can be stored in the optimum possible
manner on such a scent CD. Due to the great variability in
composition of scents, very different encapsulation methods are
partly also necessary for storage in some cases. Therefore, each
scent is preferably produced and applied with the optimum
encapsulation method for it for use in a scent CD.
[0152] If other methods that yield an optimum result for storage of
specific scents are considered, they are used on other scent tracks
accordingly, so that the optimum scent storage method is used on
each scent track.
[0153] Thus, for example, sensitive scents can be stored in the
form of a scent resin, scent gels or other combinations of scents
and carrier materials. If the corresponding forms of storage are
not combined with a method of encapsulation of the scents, for
better conservation, these scent tracks are usually provided with
seals 10 and 22 at the inlet and outlet, e.g., as illustrated in
FIG. 4a.
[0154] To further reduce the differences in stability of scents
which are encapsulated and also stored with other methods, other
methods of preservation can also be used in addition to the seals
10 and 22.
[0155] The scent carrying tracks of the scents on the disk that
have not been encapsulated are also filled with small quantities of
substances that prevent premature aging and oxidation. Thus, for
example, the modified flat channels 44 (FIG. 3) can be filled
therewith or, if scent carrying nonwovens are used, for example,
and are applied directly to the wall of a slotted channel 3 (for
example, like the open tracks shown in FIGS. 2a or 4a), then the
slotted channels 3 themselves may also be filled with them.
[0156] These are preferably gaseous substances which are retained
within the respective scent track after filling by means of seals
10 and 22. Such oxidation inhibitors 62 may be, for example, very
small quantities of helium or carbon dioxide which are placed in
the corresponding scent tracks on the disk. Other gaseous
substances such as those also used in preserving foods and
beverages can also conceivably be used.
[0157] As another method, it is also possible to produce a more or
less strong vacuum in the disk after filling with scents, before
applying the seals 10 and 22. If the seals 10 and 22 are sealed, a
vacuum remains in the sealed scent tracks, so that no oxygen or
other substances that would accelerate the aging process can reach
the sensitive scents which are not encapsulated.
[0158] As soon as seals 10 and 22 are opened in playback, the
vacuum is finally eliminated, whereupon the presentation of the
corresponding scent can begin. If small quantities of oxidation
inhibitors are used instead, they are forced automatically out of
the scent track by the scent carrying substances, such as air, in
playing disk.
[0159] In another embodiment of such mixed disks (not shown here)
which have scent tracks with encapsulated scents as well as scents
that are not encapsulated, disks can be manufactured where all
scent tracks are stored in the form of the types of unencapsulated
storage described above. Although such disks, despite the various
preservation methods described above, probably do not have the
stability of disks in which all the scents are encapsulated, they
can be used for short-term demand under some circumstances.
[0160] The additional preferred embodiment of a scent CD 5 shown in
FIG. 6 completely avoids the sometimes complicated rotation of the
S-CD for playback of each following scent and the associated
lifting and re-engagement of the inlet and outlet nozzles 23 and 27
into the inlet 2 and outlet 25 of the corresponding new scent.
[0161] For this purpose, after insertion of the scent CD, which is
rectangular here, for example, into the playback apparatus, an
inlet nozzle panel 28 is inserted into the slotted channel inlets 2
of the scents, where there is a separate inlet nozzle 23 for each
individual scent with its own control valve 48. Seals 10 optionally
provided at the inlets 2 of the scent carrying slotted channels 3a,
b, etc. are opened when the scent CD is connected to the playback
apparatus 24 through the inlet nozzles 23. For the intended
exchange of one scent with another, in this embodiment it is
necessary only to switch to the new line to the other inlet nozzle
23.
[0162] Such a method of controlling the scent disk should greatly
simplify the manufacture and functioning of the playback apparatus
because no there are almost no moving parts or susceptible
mechanical parts (FIG. 15).
[0163] Here again, as described above, micro scent capsules 19 are
preferably used, and they automatically rupture due to the
separation of separating films 12, etc. when air 18 flows into the
respective slotted channel 3 and thus are automatically released to
the air stream. The air 29 enriched with scents is advanced further
by the air coming after and flows to an aligning device 51 which
collects the various air streams of the individual activated scent
channels 21 and directs them to a focusing outlet nozzle 54.
Finally, in the operating mode, the focusing outlet nozzle 54 has a
connection to the playback apparatus, from which the activated
scents are finally transported to the viewer and/or listener by
means of another short piece of line (FIG. 6).
[0164] The aligning device 51 that collects the air streams and the
focusing outlet nozzle 54 are preferably part of the scent disk 5
itself. If deposits of different scents develop in these scent
lines with prolonged operation, which could result in unwanted
superimposition of scents from previous presentations over a period
of time, this has the advantage that these scent lines are replaced
each time a scent CD is changed (FIG. 6).
[0165] In a preferred modification of the embodiment described
here, the scent stream exiting from the focusing outlet nozzle 54
of the scent CD 5 is sent directly from the scent CD to the viewer
without an additional piece of line in the playback apparatus
(FIGS. 6 and 15).
[0166] Finally, it is thus possible for the scents presented by the
playback apparatus not to come in contact with the playback
apparatus in any way. This has the advantage that even with very
extensive use of such a playback apparatus for scent CDs, deposits
of scents cannot develop anywhere in the apparatus over a period of
time. This can be a user-friendly simplification in the sense of
maintenance-free handling (FIG. 15).
[0167] In this variant of the presentation arrangement, the scent
CD is preferably not stored flat inside the playback apparatus but
instead is arranged at an inclination, e.g., at an angle of
30.degree., so that the scents in the scent CD can also flow out to
the viewer at a slightly inclined angle (FIG. 15).
[0168] If, in other embodiments of the playback apparatus 24 (not
shown here), the scents nevertheless pass through a long piece of
lines and possibly devices within the playback apparatus after
leaving the scent CD 5, this could over a period of time result in
rather unpleasant odors of scents deposited from previous
presentations. In this case, a special cleaning disk (not shown) is
prepared for such a playback apparatus, where a nonwoven or similar
material with a cleaning fluid is provided in the protective tubes
21 instead of scent carrying slotted channels and can then flow
through the corresponding contaminated lines of the playback
apparatus in operation and then can finally be collected.
[0169] Then when a scent in the scent CD is played in a
presentation (which is indicated schematically in FIG. 6), only the
valve 48 of the corresponding slotted channel 3 is opened. The
tendency toward a back-up to possibly develop through the aligning
device 51 into other scent carrying protective channels 21 or
slotted channels 3 is largely suppressed by the fact that the
valves 48 for the other scents remain closed, and thus no reverse
air flow with possible mixing of scents can take place.
[0170] Additional protection from such a back-up can be ensured by
the fact that small outlet valves 56 that allow air flow
essentially only in the direction of the aligning device 51 are
provided at the end of the scent carrying protective tubes 21 just
before the point of transfer into the air stream aligning device
51.
[0171] Since the scents already come in contact with oxygen and
other materials after the first playback, they already begin to age
after the first playback of the scents, which is still perfect.
[0172] To prevent scents from being played back in a very aged and
possible less pleasant form (which would not give this new medium a
good reputation) at a second playback of this scent disk, possibly
at a much later time, the scent CDs of all the embodiments
described here are preferably designed so that they can be played
back only once or only to a limited extent.
[0173] This limited playback capability can be achieved with the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, by providing inside
the scent CD 5 a small marking tab 40 that is accessible from the
outside only through a small sampling port 41 (FIG. 6).
[0174] If the playback apparatus is then instructed to start
operation of the playback mode, first a pin 42 (FIG. 6) which is in
the playback apparatus 24 and fits exactly through the sampling
port 41 is inserted into the scent CD 5. If the sampling pin 42
detects that the marking tab 40 is still present, the scent CD is
then released for playback operation.
[0175] After the start of playback operation, the sampling pin 42
is finally inserted a certain distance further into the scent CD 5,
whereupon the marking tab 40 is bent over or destroyed. This
ultimately documents the fact that the scent CD has already been
played once (FIGS. 6 and 15). If, however, the sampling pin detects
before the playback operation the fact that the scent CD 5 has
already been played once and that the scents have already been
affected negatively by a possibly advanced aging process, then the
playback operation is not started.
[0176] The destruction of marking tab 40 need not take place after
the first scent is retrieved but instead may preferably be
initiated only after a later scent in the motion picture, e.g., the
next-to-last scent, to make it possible for a movie that has been
viewed incompletely to be watched to the end later with the scent
accompaniment.
[0177] If a scent CD is to be made so that it can be played back
more than once, the release of an additional playback may also be
linked to a playback twice or more previously. For example,
multiple marking tabs 40 may then be provided in succession or side
by side, and they may then be located by suitably modified sampling
pins.
[0178] Detection and control of the frequency of playback of a disk
may also be performed by electronic or other means instead of by
mechanical means. Thus, for example, it is feasible to implement
this information on a magnetic strip 50 (FIG. 6) on the disk which
can be read by the playback apparatus 24 by means of a
corresponding magnetic strip reader 70 (FIG. 15).
[0179] Since an important aging factor with a scent disk is also
due to how much time has elapsed since it was played the first
time, the playback limit can also be defined in advance by a
certain period of time which is stored as information on the disk
and/or the playback apparatus (FIG. 15).
[0180] Thus, for example, it is possible to have the playback
apparatus impart the time of playback to the disk on the initial
playback, e.g., in the form of a mechanical code 53 (FIG. 6), such
as a punched card, etc., or a magnetic strip 50 on the disk (FIG.
6) or other equally suitable measures.
[0181] The playback time could be relayed by an internal clock or
by a signal transmitted together with the scent motion picture.
[0182] After this point in time, the disk can still be played for a
defined period of time, e.g., for a week. After this period of time
has elapsed, the apparatus will refuse to play the disk again. This
makes it possible to ensure that despite multiple playing of a
disk, the scents used in it are still definitely in a satisfactory
condition when the respective motion picture is played.
[0183] The length of the possible playback interval may be the same
for all disks or it may be associated with the most sensitive of
the scents used in the disk.
[0184] Such a time limit to playback can also be linked to the
minimum stability of the scents used on the disk without any prior
playback. Thus, for example, a disk that was sold in March 1997 and
whose stored scents would be perfectly stable until approximately
December 1999 could be provided with a suitable time code at the
time of manufacture, e.g., a mechanical, optical or magnetic time
code.
[0185] Then if this disk remains unused for a very long period of
time and the user does not attempt to play it back until June 1999,
when the scents might no longer play back with satisfactory
results, the playback apparatus will refuse to play the disk
accordingly.
[0186] In addition, as an alternative or additionally, it is also
possible for the playback apparatus to give the user the
information that the disk is already too old instead of just
refusing the service.
[0187] If it is possible some day to manufacture scent sensors in
sufficient quality at reasonable prices, it would also be possible
to install such a scent quality sensor directly in the playback
apparatus.
[0188] Quality assurance of the scents could also be established
here simply through quality control of such sensors instead of
through a time playback limit of the scent disks.
[0189] Since the individual perception of scents has a much greater
range of variation than with other sensory stimuli, it has been
made possible with the present embodiment in FIG. 6 (in addition to
the possibilities of individually influencing the scents through
the general scent intensity, temperature, etc. on the playback
apparatus as described above) to modify a movie presentation
accompanied by scent according to additional particulars of the
individual user's presentation (FIG. 15).
[0190] First, scents to which a certain number of users could have
a specific aversion are classified in scent classes. Then if a user
wants to exclude one or more of the scent classes provided from a
movie or music presentation, etc., accompanied by scents, he can do
this by selecting not to play these scent classes on the playback
apparatus or by means of filter codes 55, which may be set on the
disk itself. The unwanted scents are then ignored by the playback
apparatus and the respective scents are skipped.
[0191] If there are users who have a very low opinion of the scent
of a perfume, for example, they will set this first with a suitable
precode that can be selected on their playback apparatus (e.g.,
"perf.not" etc.) or by preselectable grids or filter codes 55 on
the disk (FIG. 6).
[0192] Then when a movie in which a perfume occasionally occurs
(e.g., "Pretty Woman," F. Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" from 1968
or "Gone with the Wind"), the presentation of a perfume will be
either omitted entirely or will be presented only in a very
attenuated form when the playback apparatus is set accordingly.
[0193] For the second form of attenuated scents, a suitable
automatic scent attenuator is built into the apparatus and is
linked to the incoming signals of the scents that have been
rejected.
[0194] Such attenuation of scents may be accomplished, for example,
by reducing the air flow in the playback apparatus or by an
additional admixture of fresh air.
[0195] Finally, if another user with different preferences decides
to view a movie accompanied by scents, he will set a different
personal precode on the playback apparatus accordingly, so that in
addition to the above-mentioned individual control of the general
scent intensity, a scent movie experience perfectly adapted to the
individual user can also be presented.
[0196] Precodes that are linked to other properties of the
presentation and may also be provided on the scent CD 5 itself are
also conceivable.
[0197] Thus, for example, it is possible to set the scent CDs
themselves for certain characteristics, e.g., nation-specific
preferences in scent perception. For example, it is known that the
scent of jasmine is much less beloved by Europeans than Asians, and
conversely the aroma of pizza is much more appreciated in Europe
than it is in Japan, for example.
[0198] With a suitable (e.g., nation-specific) precode 53 (FIG. 5)
which can be set on the scent CD 5 itself (e.g., by means of a
mechanical precode 53 or by a magnetic strip 50, FIG. 6), it is
possible, for example, to first produce an internationally
standardized CD and then adapt it to specific requirements (e.g.,
of the distribution region) without any change in production.
[0199] A suitable (e.g., nation-specific) specification of the
scent presentation can also be accomplished through the signals
which are also transmitted with the movie. Thus, for example,
transmitter signals originally associated with a scent that is not
especially appreciated in a certain country can be either
suppressed or attenuated for that country in a suitable signal
modification in the transmitter.
[0200] In addition, means may also be provided for setting the
intensity of an entire scent presentation or other general
properties of a presentation (e.g., thermal values or interval
profiles) with suitable precodes on the scent disk itself, as
proposed above as a setting option for the playback apparatus.
[0201] Finally, it is possible by combining the various setting
options and precodes to create an individual user profile for each
individual user which is then stored on the playback apparatus and
can then be retrieved by the user. Then by operating a single
pushbutton, etc., it is possible to retrieve and preset, for
example, five different user-oriented precodes, a preferred
intensity control, a heat profile, an interval profile and a
quantity profile at the same time.
[0202] Such a user profile can also be based on additional
conditions, e.g., the user's current moods or other
characteristics, the seasons of the year, etc. Certain scents are
known, for example, to be able to have a positive influence on
moods and thus the presentation of one and the same movie could
turn out differently for a user who is depressed than one who is
elated, for example.
[0203] On the whole, this yields at least four types of
modification of a movie, music or other presentation accompanied by
scents: in general by modification of the transmitter signals or on
the disk and individually by settings on the playback apparatus or
on the disk.
[0204] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7,
the very thin function layers are accommodated in a double scent CD
arrangement, if more scents are needed, e.g., for playback of an
especially long movie, than can be accommodated on a single disk.
In this case, the bottom half 9 of the disk of the top scent CD
simultaneously serves as the top half 8 of the bottom disk of the
scent CD.
[0205] In an especially space-saving modification of this
embodiment according to FIG. 7a, no intermediate layers are
provided between the two scent layers, but instead the individual
scent carrying layers are arranged so that the volumes of the next
layer come to lie in the gaps of the preceding layer.
[0206] Instead of the two scent carrying layers, it is also
possible to use a middle scent carrying layer which is printed with
scent strips on both sides, with separating films 12 applied to
both scent carrying sides of the middle layer.
[0207] The total area needed to accommodate a scent on the scent CD
can also be influenced by the intensity of the scent mixture
selected as the basis of the encapsulation process. If especially
intense mixtures that can be accommodated in a very small space are
used, it is also possible with another modification of the
embodiment according to FIG. 7 to accommodate the scent carrying
slotted channels 3s, which are very narrow in this case, on edge
within protective tubes 21s which are likewise very narrow.
[0208] The narrow protective tubes 21s here are arranged on edge
side by side in the scent CD, which is still very flat,
approximately as illustrated in the right portion of the scent CD
in FIG. 7.
[0209] With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 and possibly other
embodiments of the invention (not shown), the scent carrying films
and separating films 12 are likewise designed through additional
forms and arrangements so that the scents encapsulated between them
automatically rupture when air flows through, thus releasing the
previously enclosed and preserved scent.
[0210] Thus, for example, it is possible to provide the two films
11 and 12, which are glued together along with the scent during the
manufacturing process, with various folds and turns (FIG. 8) which
are ultimately unfolded and unwounded by the air flowing through,
where the scent carrying film 11 and the separating film 12 are
also separated from one another and automatically release their
scent.
[0211] Small scent strips or fibers may also be combined or glued
together in a spiral during the manufacturing process in such a way
that these small scent carrying spirals unwind and release the
scent in presentation of the scent by the carrier medium such as
air flowing into the protective tubes 21. In many cases, these may
also be scents not enclosed in scent capsules.
[0212] With another preferred embodiment of the scent CD shown in
FIG. 9, rotation of the S-CD is also avoided for the playback of a
respective following new scent. The individual scent tracks 31 are
simply arranged side by side here and are played later during
playback through separate inlet nozzles.
[0213] If it is necessary to apply another scent, although
attenuated, of a scent already present, or a scent already used
with another scent CD, to a scent track 31 during the manufacturing
process, it is possible here to provide only a short length of the
scent track with scent tracings, resulting in a modified scent
track 32. This avoids having to mix this scent again anew, which
can reduce costs during the manufacturing process.
[0214] To avoid new mixing work and to reduce the quantity of
scents that must be stocked up by the manufacturer of the disks on
the whole, it is likewise possible here in the manufacture of a
scent CD for a new movie to apply multiple different scents at the
same time on a further modified multiple-scent track 36, to produce
a newly composed mixed scent from this, if this new mixed scent
corresponds to movie director's ideas.
[0215] Thus, for example, it is possible to apply a floral scent in
the first part 37a of the new multiple-scent track 36 from existing
fresh scent ingredients of previously manufactured scent CDs, and
to apply a meadow scent in the second part 37b, so that then the
impression of the scent of a meadow of flowers is formed from the
interaction of the two scents.
[0216] With another modified scent track 34 in this embodiment, the
scents are applied in such a way that they develop only partially
at normal atmospheric pressure. The remaining portions of the scent
carrying separating films 12 do not separate until the air pressure
increases (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 2b and 4b). Something like that
can also be achieved by angling the films in various ways.
[0217] In another modification (shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) of the
scent compact disk 1 from FIG. 9, the micro scent capsules 19
applied in the slotted channels 3 are activated manually rather
than being automatically activated by the detachment of the
separating films 12 caused by the penetration of air. The
separating films here are connected to each other in a handle-like
outside part, the so-called activator 61, in the area of the inlet
ports 2.
[0218] If a user intends to view a scent-accompanied presentation
of a motion picture, he will pull on the activator 61 of the
separating films (FIG. 11), with them all being pulled away
together from the other scent carrying film, which thus activates
them. Next, this activated disk is inserted into the playback
apparatus (FIG. 15), whereupon the scents that are activated at the
same time do not become mixed or escape to the outside due to the
fact that they remain accommodated in the protective tubes.
[0219] With this modification of the disk, it is possible to
greatly reduce the required air pressure of the playback apparatus
because now the air pressure need not be so high that the
separating films 12 are automatically detached from the top side 11
of the film, and the scents also remain activated in the scent
capsules 19 until shortly before use.
[0220] With another modification (not shown) of this embodiment,
novel scent carrying applications, so-called scent carrying touch
coatings 58 are used on the scent carrying top side 11 of the film,
for example. The scent carrying touch coatings 58 are not activated
by separating the two films 11 and 12 from each other but instead
are activated merely by touching the surface of the touch coatings
58 or by touching an object to it.
[0221] In this case the touch coatings 58 are preferably applied to
one side within the disk, e.g., directly to one or both halves 8 or
9 of the disk, or to one of the scent carrying films 11 or 12. Then
an activator 61 is installed in front of the scent carrying parts
11/12/8/9 and is removed manually or automatically before playback
by the playback apparatus. The scent carrying parts 11/12/8/9 and
the activator 61 together form the scent matrix 60.
[0222] By removing the activator 61, the touch coatings 58 in the
scent matrix 60 are touched in such a way that the scents in the
coating are activated. Immediately thereafter, the activated scents
in the scent CD are then retrieved by certain signals and presented
by a method essentially similar to that in the embodiments
described above.
[0223] With other variations of the invention, scent carrying
coatings are provided with microencapsulated scents that can be
activated by vacuum, light, heat or other triggering means.
[0224] Before the scents of such a disk can be played back, the
inherent scents are first activated by an appropriate triggering
means and prepared for the playback operation.
[0225] Thus, for example, light-sensitive scents or light-sensitive
seals can be activated by guiding a light source such as a laser
beam into the scent tracks before playback.
[0226] If such scent tracks are also sealed by inlet and outlet
seals 10 and 22, these seals are removed or rendered ineffective
before the triggering means such as the laser beam penetrates
through them.
[0227] With another variation of this embodiment, the disks are
shaped in the form of round flat storage media, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. In this case, the two halves 8 and 9 of the disk are
essentially only partially joined together. The connection of the
disk halves is preferably such that the disk halves are not
separated from each other but can be rotated against each other
about the center axis.
[0228] If such a disk is to be activated, the top and bottom halves
8 and 9 of the disk are rotated against each other about the axis
for a short distance, whereupon the scent carrying touch coatings
58 inside are activated by the touch of an internal or external
triggering means and the disk is thus ready for playback.
[0229] In another embodiment of the invention (illustrated in FIGS.
12a and b), for transport, shipping and storage, the scent CD is
manufactured to be even flatter than in the previous embodiments by
entirely eliminating the possibility of through-flow of air, etc.
The displacement cavity 13 shown in FIGS. 2a, b and 4a, b or other
cavities that allow air flow past the inherent scents are thus not
present to any an extent during transport (FIG. 12a) in this
embodiment, so that such a scent CD also approximates more closely
the diameter of a music CD or CD-ROM.
[0230] If this embodiment of the scent CD is to be played, it is
first enlarged by the user before the actual playback or is
automatically enlarged by the playback apparatus to a slightly
larger volume than its transport volume.
[0231] This increase in volume can be accomplished, for example, by
providing the top and bottom halves 8 and 9 of the disk with a
small catch 35 on the side, so that the user can insert a coin, for
example, into this side catch 35 and turn it, so that the scent CD
halves 8 and 9 move a small distance away from each other. Due to a
small spacer 38, this distance between the halves of the CD is
maintained during the playback operation, but the scent CD can also
be opened automatically by the playback apparatus.
[0232] Only after this opening process is the required space for
air or other media to pass over the scents stored on the slotted
channels 3 of the scent CD or on other inherent scent contact
surfaces (FIG. 12b).
[0233] To ensure that airtight tubes are still formed with the
definite alignment of the air stream around the slotted channels 3
or other scent carrying surfaces, the previous dividing webs are
replaced in this embodiment by modified flexible dividing webs 17
which become aligned without rupturing during the volume-increasing
step.
[0234] The ends of the flexible dividing webs 17 can be connected
to the disk halves 8 and 9, e.g., by plastic hinges 64.
[0235] In another modification (shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b) of the
embodiment according to FIGS. 12a and 12b, micro scent capsules 19
in the disks are activated simultaneously with the process of
opening the top and bottom disk halves 8 and 9, as described with
regard to FIGS. 12a and b, by separating the scent carrying films 8
and 9 from each other, at least in the middle area, by the
operation of opening the disk.
[0236] The oncoming air or other medium need no longer apply the
force to separate the scent carrying films 8 and 9 from each other,
but instead it can flow unhindered past the scent capsules 19,
which have already ruptured.
[0237] In this case, the micro scent capsules 19 can also
preferably be applied in such a way that there is no slotted
channel 3, or not a complete slotted channel, or scent carrying
films 11 and/or 12 in the protective tube 21 (FIG. 13a).
[0238] Finally, the micro scent capsules 19 are applied or glued
directly to the top half 8 and/or the bottom half 9 of the disk,
with disk halves 8 and 9 ultimately being connected by flexible
dividing webs 17 and folded up so that the scent capsules 19 mostly
come to lie directly between disk halves 8 and 9 (FIG. 13a).
[0239] When disk halves 8 and 9 are opened, the flexible dividing
webs 17 lying flatly between them become aligned, with the micro
scent capsules 19 glued between them being ruptured, forming
ruptured capsules 20, while on the other hand the volume required
for the flow of air, etc., in the disk is created with the volume
increase achieved simultaneously by opening the disk (FIG.
13b).
[0240] With another variation of this embodiment of a disk (not
shown), a displacement cavity 13 or other cavities that permit air
flow past the scents inside are not yet present as an extent in the
transport state or the sealed state. At the same time, this disk
variation does not have microencapsulated scents, but instead in
this case the scents are applied to the disk by other methods
described above to permit a rapid and very short-term production of
disks for a certain event by omitting the time-consuming
encapsulation procedure.
[0241] The greatly inferior preservation options for such disks
with unencapsulated scents are partially compensated in this
variation of a scent disk by the fact that the cavity 13, which is
not yet present in the sealed state, is placed over the scent
tracks so closely that this yields a preservation effect (similar
to that in the embodiments in FIGS. 12a and b or 13a/b). By largely
excluding any type of cavity above the scent tracks, this yields a
type of sealing of the scents, so that penetration of oxygen and
other substances that would accelerate the aging process is
prevented.
[0242] If these disks which are intended for short-term use are
opened just before playback, the cavities 13 that are necessary to
allow sufficient air flow are also formed (approximately as in the
modification of the previous embodiment of FIG. 13a according to
FIG. 13b).
[0243] In another modification (not shown) of the embodiment,
little or no internal volume is provided for the flow of air, etc.
However, first at least the slotted channels 3 are designed to be
entirely or partially elastic, so that first the walls of the
slotted channel are expanded in activating of a scent carrying
slotted channel 3 to the extent that volume is provided around the
channel, in which case the air pumped up to it can flow past scent
carrying materials 26, micro scent capsules 19 or other scent
reservoirs provided in the disk.
[0244] The pressure resulting here in an activated slotted channel
3 is also transmitted to the protective layers (e.g., protective
tubes 21) around the slotted channel, so the latter are designed to
yield briefly during the activation and thus permit air flow to the
required extent. Such an elastic slotted channel may also be used
in other embodiments described here.
[0245] Finally, with the embodiments described last, it is possible
to keep the scents, which require almost no volume, extremely small
for transport, whereas in their presentation, the cross sections of
air volumes flowing past the scent can be kept large at the same
time.
[0246] Another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 14
concerns a variation of the embodiment according to FIG. 6.
[0247] For reasons of simpler recycling of the disks that have been
played and also to simplify manufacturing, first a plastic hinge 52
is inserted between the ends of the top half 8 and the bottom half
9 of the disk (FIG. 14).
[0248] In the manufacture of such a one-piece folding disk 49, the
disk halves 8 and 9 need no longer be joined together in an
accurate fit, but instead they are already joined and secured to
each other by the plastic hinge 52.
[0249] The scent carrying films 11 and 12 need only be inserted
between disk halves 8 and 9 of folding disk 49 after they have been
manufactured and joined, whereupon the disk halves are folded
together, securing the scent carrying film layers 11 and 12
inside.
[0250] To avoid welding the disk halves 8 and 9 at the upper end of
folding disk 49, which welding might be difficult to release, one
or more catch projections 57 are provided there to engage when disk
halves 8 and 9 are folded together and thus fixedly secure the
folding disk in the folded condition. Catch projections 57 are
preferably provided on folding disk 49 in such a way that they
cannot be opened by the user but instead can be opened only with
special equipment.
[0251] Since the outer seal of a folding disk 49 or its protective
tubes 21 is not as great as that with a scent CD that has been
welded together, the internal scent carrying films 11 and 12 here
are preferably designed to be maintained as scent carrying flat
channel 33, in which case the air masses flowing past them are
carried only through the flat channel and do not require any
further sealing by protective tubes 21.
[0252] If the disk has finally been played and the internal scent
carrying layers 11 and 12 and channels 33 are to be separated from
the disk halves as part of recycling, folding disk 49 is then
opened by a special device, layers 11 and 12 or 33 or the like are
removed and the disk is fitted with new scent carrying films. If,
for the purpose of disposal, the protective sheathing or disk
halves 8 and 9 are to be disposed of, they can also be recycled
after separating the scent carrying films. Accordingly, materials
that fulfill the function while also being biodegradable and/or
recyclable can be used for disk halves 8 and 9 or for folding disk
49.
[0253] In another variation of the embodiment of the invention
according to FIG. 14, the connections between the top half 8 of the
disk and the bottom half 9 are designed as permanent glued joints,
welded joints, etc., despite the folding form. These connections
are preferably designed so that they can rupture to remove the
scent carrying layers for the purpose of disposal of a disk.
[0254] In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the
individual scent carrying films are joined together in succession
rather than side by side, thus resulting on the whole in a scent
carrying tape on which are located all the scents of an intended
presentation. The scent carrying tape likewise consists of a top
film and a bottom film between which the scents are stored,
preferably in the form of microcapsules.
[0255] The length of the scent carrying strips on this tape is
standardized, so that a new scent can be located precisely by
advancing the two-film tape by a defined length.
[0256] If playback of a scent is intended, the two-film tape will
advance, controlled by appropriate signals, exactly so far that the
strip with the intended scent comes to lie in front of a protective
channel.
[0257] The scent carrying films of the tape are separated here from
each other, so that they are now exposed in the area of the
protective channel and the scent capsules are opened.
[0258] The protective channel guides the scented air dispensed from
the opened microcapsules to an outlet. A protective channel for the
transport of multiple scents or for the scent being played back at
the time is provided here.
[0259] This modification of storage in the manner of a scent tape
is especially suitable if repeated playback of one and the same
scent or only a few different scents is provided.
[0260] In this form, it is thus preferably a method of preservation
for the presentation of a single scent or only a few scents that
are to be presented over a longer period of time, each always in a
satisfactory form.
[0261] With other modifications of this invention (not shown) the
scent CD is played, for example, in combination with a music CD
player or while a computer game is running.
[0262] Other applications are derived inasmuch as the scent CD is
to be played by an automatic food or beverage dispenser for passing
interested customers, either automatically or in response to a
pushbutton. It is possible in this case for the scent CD not to
contain different scents but instead 50 applications of the same
scent, where the scent CD is used here mainly instead of a large
liquid scent container to ensure that the scents presented will be
kept fresh optimally, which is not usually possible in the long run
with liquid scent supplies that are in constant contact with air
(see preceding paragraph).
[0263] Finally, such scent CDs, which make it possible for the
first time to automatically play back scents of perfect quality and
even sets of very different scents at any desired location to
accompany certain events and to adjust this individually as needed
to conform to the personal perceptions of the consumer or viewer,
can be used for a wide variety of different applications.
[0264] This is true in particular if the use of scent impressions
previously had to be omitted with these applications because scents
could in general only be blown into a space, if at all. Thus many
consumers who do not particularly appreciate said scent or to whom
this scent impression would appear too strong or too weak could be
disturbed by this.
[0265] A decentralized multiple scent reservoir as proposed in the
present invention, which plays back scents in the desired type and
quality, can avoid this problem of measuring everything by the same
yardstick and permit a pleasant scent experience for each consumer
at the location and time and in the manner and intensity personally
desired by that consumer.
[0266] Various combinations of the embodiments or parts thereof
described here are combined in other embodiments of the invention
that are not discussed in greater detail here.
List of Reference Numbers
[0267] 1.) Scent compact disk, scent CD
[0268] 2.) Inlet port
[0269] 3.) Slotted channel
[0270] 3a.) Slotted channel, scent A
[0271] 3b.) Slotted channel, scent B
[0272] 3c.) Slotted channel, scent C
[0273] 3d.) Slotted channel, scent D
[0274] 3k.) Modified slotted channel
[0275] 3s.) Narrow slotted channel
[0276] 4.) Outlet panel
[0277] 5.) Scent CD
[0278] 6.) Channel separation
[0279] 7.) Dividing webs
[0280] 8.) Top half of disk
[0281] 9.) Bottom half of disk
[0282] 10.) Inlet seal
[0283] 11.) Scent carrying top side of film
[0284] 12.) Scent carrying separating films
[0285] 12a.) Separating film, scent A
[0286] 12b.) Separating film, scent B
[0287] 12c.) Separating film, scent C
[0288] 12d.) Separating film, scent D
[0289] 13.) Displacement cavity
[0290] 14.) Outlet
[0291] 15.) Scent carrying part of film
[0292] 16.) Scent-free part of film
[0293] 17.) Flexible dividing webs
[0294] 18.) Scent-free air
[0295] 19.) Micro scent capsules
[0296] 20.) Ruptured scent capsules
[0297] 21.) Protective tube
[0298] 21a.) Protective tube, scent A
[0299] 21b.) Protective tube, scent B
[0300] 21s.) Narrow protective tube
[0301] 22.) Outlet seal
[0302] 23.) Inlet nozzle
[0303] 24.) Playback apparatus
[0304] 25.) Slotted channel outlet
[0305] 26.) Scent carrying materials
[0306] 27.) Outlet nozzle
[0307] 28.) Inlet nozzle panel
[0308] 29.) Scent-enriched air
[0309] 30.) Film connection
[0310] 31.) Scent tracks
[0311] 32.) Modified scent track
[0312] 33.) Scent carrying flat channel
[0313] 34.) Modified scent track
[0314] 35.) Lateral catch
[0315] 36.) Modified multiple-scent track
[0316] 37a.) Partial scent track
[0317] 37b.) Partial scent track
[0318] 38.) Spacer
[0319] 39.) Welded joint
[0320] 40.) Marking tab
[0321] 41.) Scanning port
[0322] 42.) Scanning pin
[0323] 43.) Plug or glued connection
[0324] 44.) Modified flat channel
[0325] 45.) Connection
[0326] 46.) Top dividing webs
[0327] 47.) Connection
[0328] 48.) Valve
[0329] 49.) Folding disk
[0330] 50.) Magnetic strip
[0331] 51.) Air flow aligning device
[0332] 52.) Plastic hinge
[0333] 53.) National code
[0334] 54.) Focusing outlet nozzle
[0335] 55.) Individual filter code
[0336] 56.) Outlet valve
[0337] 57.) Catch projections
[0338] 58.) Scent carrying touch coating
[0339] 59.) Activator film
[0340] 60.) Scent matrix
[0341] 61.) Activator
[0342] 62.) Oxidation inhibitor
[0343] 63.) Vacuum
[0344] 64.) Plastic hinge
[0345] 65.) Nonwoven
[0346] 66.) Diaphragm pump
[0347] 67.) Signal receiver
[0348] 68.) Heat regulator
[0349] 69.) Flow regulator
[0350] 70.) Magnetic strip reader
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