U.S. patent application number 10/062654 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for scented novelty product.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Schaab, Carl K..
Application Number | 20020139140 10/062654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27370347 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020139140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schaab, Carl K. |
October 3, 2002 |
Scented novelty product
Abstract
A scented bracelet or other novelty product. A bracelet may
include a bracelet body, a sheet material covering the bracelet
body, and a fragrance-containing microcapsule material adhered to
the sheet material. The microcapsule material may be adhered to an
inside or an outside surface of such bracelet adjacent to the arm
of the wearer. The bracelet body may include an elastic material
which permits the bracelet to be slapped onto one arm by a
one-handed movement of the other arm. A scented tattoo may include
a backing sheet, tattoo material on the backing sheet, and a
fragrance-containing microcapsule material adhered to at least one
of the tattoo material and the backing sheet. The bracelet or other
product may have a body which includes a pair of bodies connected
together, the microcapsule material being adhered to at least one
of said bodies. One or both of the two bodies may include an
elastic material which urges it automatically into a spiral shape,
or may include an elastic material which stretches and contracts
longitudinally. The disclosure also describes a process for
manufacturing a scented product comprising the steps of: providing
a product comprising a body, with a sheet material covering said
body, and applying a fluid to said sheet material, said fluid
containing microcapsules which contain a fragrance. The product may
be a bracelet or another novelty product as described above. The
fluid may be applied by spraying.
Inventors: |
Schaab, Carl K.; (Lady Lake,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
|
Assignee: |
Baker Products, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
27370347 |
Appl. No.: |
10/062654 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60265813 |
Feb 1, 2001 |
|
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60266249 |
Feb 2, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
63/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 9/12 20130101; A61L
9/042 20130101; A44C 15/002 20130101; A61L 9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/3 |
International
Class: |
A44C 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scented bracelet comprising a bracelet body, a sheet material
covering the bracelet body, and a fragrance-containing microcapsule
material adhered to the sheet material.
2. A scented bracelet according to claim 1, wherein said
microcapsule material is adhered substantially only to an inside
surface of said bracelet adjacent to the arm of the wearer.
3. A scented bracelet according to claim 1, wherein said bracelet
body comprises an elastic material which permits the bracelet to be
slapped onto one arm by a one-handed movement of the other arm.
4. A scented bracelet according to claim 3, wherein said
microcapsule material is adhered substantially only to an inside
surface of said bracelet adjacent to the arm of the wearer.
5. A scented bracelet according to claim 1, wherein said
microcapsule material is adhered substantially only to an outside
surface of said bracelet away from the arm of the wearer.
6. A scented tattoo comprising a backing sheet, tattoo material on
the backing sheet, and a fragrance-containing microcapsule material
adhered to at least one of the tattoo material and the backing
sheet.
7. A scented product comprising at least one body, a sheet material
on the at least one body, and a fragrance-containing microcapsule
material adhered to the sheet material.
8. A scented product according to claim 7, wherein said at least
one body includes a pair of bodies connected together, said
microcapsule material being adhered to at least one of said
bodies.
9. A scented product according to claim 8, wherein at least one of
said bodies includes an elastic material which urges said body
automatically into a spiral shape.
10. A scented product according to claim 9, wherein each of said
two bodies includes an elastic material which urges said body
automatically into a spiral shape.
11. A scented product according to claim 9, wherein the other one
of said two bodies includes an elastic material which stretches and
contracts longitudinally.
12. A process for manufacturing a scented product comprising the
steps of: providing a product comprising a body, with a sheet
material covering said body, and applying a fluid to said sheet
material, said fluid containing microcapsules which contain a
fragrance.
13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said product is a
bracelet.
14. A process as claimed in claim 13, wherein said microcapsule
material is adhered substantially only to an inside surface of said
bracelet adjacent to the arm of the wearer.
15. A process as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bracelet
comprises an elastic material such that the bracelet can be slapped
onto one arm by a one-handed movement of the other arm.
16. A process as claimed in claim 15, wherein said microcapsule
material is adhered substantially only to an inside surface of said
bracelet adjacent to the arm of the wearer.
17. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fluid is applied
by spraying.
18. A process as claimed in claim 14, wherein said microcapsule
material is adhered substantially only to an outside surface of
said bracelet away from the arm of the wearer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Patent Applications 60/265,813 and 60/266,249 filed
respectively on February 1 and Feb. 2, 2001, the disclosures of
which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention is related to scented wearable novelty
articles, such as scented tattoos and scented bracelets. It is
related more particularly to a scented product comprising a
microencapsulated scent applied to a sheet material.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Claff, U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,353, and Fellows et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 4,925,667, disclose perfume dispensing arrangements
wherein an encapsulated fragrance may be applied to a tape material
such as paper, cloth, or plastic for being dispensed.
[0006] Ornitz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,547, discloses plastic jewelry
comprising a combination of silicone and scented oils.
[0007] Guillet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,371, discloses wearable objects
such as eyeglasses containing a plate which is impregnated with a
perfume.
[0008] Lo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,039, discloses a method of
making microcapsules. Example 8 discloses microcapsules containing
a fragrance.
[0009] Yamamoto, U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,622, and Yamamoto, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,987,161, disclose encapsulated perfumes, which may be
encapsulated for example in a polymer matrix, and which are said to
retain their fragrance for a long time.
[0010] Tokunaga, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,780, discloses a metal
material which may be impregnated with a liquid perfume.
[0011] Haiduk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,570, discloses a perfume
dispenser.
[0012] Tajiri et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,360, discloses a
microcapsule-containing ink composition for NCR paper.
[0013] Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,541, Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No.
6,063,438 and Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,640 disclose
microencapsulated finishing agents.
[0014] None of the foregoing references discloses or suggests a
scented wearable novelty article, such as a scented tattoo or a
scented bracelet, comprising a microencapsulated scent applied to a
sheet material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scented bracelet
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bracelet.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing equipment used in a
spraying process according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of a scented tattoo according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of a scented hair ornament according
to another embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] By a combination of a structure and a manufacturing process,
the invention provides both an economical manufacturing process and
improved adhesion of the scented material to the bracelet, tattoo
or other wearable object.
[0021] According to a broad aspect of the invention, a liquid
containing a microencapsulated fragrance may be applied, for
example by silk-screening or spraying, onto tattoo material, a
sheet material or fabric material, an article of jewelry, or onto
another article.
[0022] In an embodiment of the invention, the article to be
manufactured may be a so called "slap bracelet," namely a bracelet
10 which can be placed on the wrist by a rapid slapping movement,
as shown in FIG. 1. The bracelet 10 comprises a body 20 made of
metal or another elastic material. The elastic material body 20 is
covered by, for example, a fabric body 30, as shown in
cross-section in FIG. 2. Both woven and non-woven fabrics and any
other suitable sheet material are usable. The fabric body 30 may be
glued or adhered to the elastic body 20 in any suitable way; and
further may be simply wrapped or otherwise disposed on the elastic
body without adhesion. The fabric is impregnated before or after
attachment to the elastic material by spraying it with a liquid
slurry or another fluid containing microcapsules (shown
schematically at 60 and 70 in FIG. 1) which in turn contain a
fragrance.
[0023] The invention has been successfully practiced with bracelets
covered with real or simulated suede-type and feather-type
fabrics.
[0024] Depending on the particular type of fragrance used,
approximately 0.5 to 3.0 grams of slurry may be applied to each
bracelet. More or less fragrance may be used if needed, for
particularly strong or weak fragrances. The microcapsules are
approximately 20-30 microns in diameter and may be produced by any
suitable method. The fragrance content of the slurry may be
approximately 15-60 percent, preferably about 20 percent; for
example, 5 gal. of slurry may contain 1 gal. of fragrance.
[0025] The slurry may further contain an appropriate water soluble
binder to promote adhesion to the substrate. Typical binders
include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylidone, cellulose acetate
phthalate, carboxy methyl cellulose, acacia gum and other suitable
materials. The content of binder in the slurry can be from about 2
to 30 % of the amount of encapsulated fragrance, but is preferred
at about 7 to 10 percent of the encapsulated fragrance.
[0026] Other ingredients that may be contained in the fragrance
slurry include thickening agents, such as fumed silica,
polyethylene glycol, and / or rheology agents such as
polymethacrylic acid esters. These ingredients can be used at
levels of about 0.1 to 10 percent of the water present in the
formulation. A typical formulation is presented below:
1 Encapsulated Fragrance 20.0 grams Acacia Gum 5.0 grams Polymethyl
Methacrylate 1.0 gram Water 74.0 grams 100.0 grams
[0027] In use, when the microcapsules are touched, they break,
thereby releasing the fragrance. Thus, intact microcapsules remain
sealed, retaining the fragrance.
[0028] Although not necessary, it is advantageous in some instances
to apply the fragrance primarily or exclusively to the inside of
the bracelet, in the position shown at 70 in FIG. 1, and not
substantially to the outside of the bracelet shown at 60. This
arrangement avoids any possible discoloration of the outside of the
bracelet due to the applied fragrance. Further, in this arrangement
the fragrance is activated primarily by the inside of the bracelet
being slapped onto the wrist, and not primarily by routine handling
or contact with the outside of the bracelet.
[0029] On the other hand, to avoid allergic sensitivities and the
like, it may also be advantageous in some instances to apply the
fragrance primarily or exclusively to the outside of the bracelet,
in the position shown at 60 in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows equipment usable for producing the bracelet 10.
In this example, suitable for small quantities, the equipment may
be a spray can 40 with a downward-directed hood-shaped outlet 50.
Other conventional types of spraying equipment may be used as
well.
[0031] After the fabric body 30 is placed on the elastic body 20,
the assembled bracelet is placed under the outlet 50 and sprayed
with the fragrance-containing liquid. Enough material is applied to
the bracelet to provide a commercially acceptable fragrance in the
final product, but not so much that the material builds up and
develops a crusty appearance. After scenting, the bracelet is
either air dried or passed through a heater to accelerate the
drying process. The parameters of the process can easily be adapted
by those skilled in the art according to the commercial product
that is desired to be manufactured.
[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, the same or a
similar liquid or fluid can be silk-screened or sprayed onto a
tattoo material or onto a backing paper to make a scented
tattoo.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a scented
tattoo according to an embodiment of the invention. In this
example, a tattoo sheet 101 has a conventional dye 103 applied to
it in an appropriate pattern to be applied to the skin of the
wearer. A layer of scented material 105 as described above overlies
the dye 103. The foregoing layers are protected prior to use by a
backing sheet 107. The layers in FIG. 4 are shown schematically and
are not drawn to scale. The layers can be placed in a different
order if desired.
[0034] The invention is also applicable to an arrangement as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,251 and Des. 430,350, incorporated
by reference. These patents disclose an arrangement of two elastic
bodies which are covered by respective fabric bodies and connected
together by an attachment member. See especially FIGS. 1-9 and
12A-14B and the corresponding text. One or both of the fabric
bodies may have scented material applied to one or both sides in
accordance with the present invention.
[0035] In a further embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 5, a
second fabric body 32 may be attached so as to provide additional
decoration to the bracelet 10. The second fabric body 32 may
optionally have an elastic body therein, which may be of the same
type as the elastic body 20, which automatically curls into a
spiral shape, or may be selected to stretch and contract
longitudinally.
[0036] The embodiment of FIG. 5, as well as the other embodiments
described above, are not limited to being used as a bracelet or the
like, but may be usable as hair ornaments, for example, as
disclosed in FIGS. 19A and 19B of U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,251 and the
corresponding text.
[0037] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not
limited by the specific disclosure herein.
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