U.S. patent application number 15/735015 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-14 for cartridge with vapour permeable membrane, in particular for volatile substances such as insecticides and fragrances.
The applicant listed for this patent is ZOBELE HOLDING S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Walter SORDO, Franco ZOBELE.
Application Number | 20180161470 15/735015 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54150531 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180161470 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZOBELE; Franco ; et
al. |
June 14, 2018 |
CARTRIDGE WITH VAPOUR PERMEABLE MEMBRANE, IN PARTICULAR FOR
VOLATILE SUBSTANCES SUCH AS INSECTICIDES AND FRAGRANCES
Abstract
Cartridge for volatile substances in the liquid state, such as
insecticides or fragrances, of the type including a tray-shaped
container closed on one side with a multilayer film, the multilayer
film consisting of at least one internal vapour permeable membrane
and one external vapour barrier layer. A directing/assisting unit
is provided, apt to direct/assist the removal of just a first
portion of the external vapour barrier layer--in the form of
notches, weakening lines or strengthening lines--along a desired
partition line, for cartridge activation.
Inventors: |
ZOBELE; Franco; (Trento,
IT) ; SORDO; Walter; (Trento, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ZOBELE HOLDING S.P.A. |
Trento |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
54150531 |
Appl. No.: |
15/735015 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
June 10, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2016/053432 |
371 Date: |
December 8, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 9/12 20130101; A01M
29/12 20130101; A61L 2209/131 20130101; A61L 2209/133 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61L 9/12 20060101
A61L009/12; A01M 29/12 20060101 A01M029/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2015 |
IT |
102015000022867 |
Claims
1. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances, such as insecticides
or fragrances, of the type comprising a tray-shaped container
closed by a multilayer film, said multilayer film consisting of at
least one internal vapour permeable membrane and of an external
vapour barrier layer, the cartridge comprising directing/assisting
means apt to direct/assist the removal of only a first portion of
the external vapour barrier layer, according to a desired partition
line, for cartridge activation.
2. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 1, wherein,
in the normal position of use of the cartridge, the vapour
permeable membrane corresponding to said first portion of the
vapour barrier layer is permanently soaked by said liquid volatile
substances, for a prevailing time of the useful life of said
cartridge.
3. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 2, wherein,
in said normal position of use of the cartridge, said multilayer
film lies in a vertical plane and said first portion of the
external vapour barrier layer corresponds to a lower portion of
said multilayer film.
4. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 1, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise a notch (4),
formed at one end of said partition line, and one gripping tab (3)
extending outside said first portion in the proximity of said
notch.
5. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 1, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise two notches
(4, 4') formed at the two opposite ends of said partition line and
two gripping tabs (3a, 3b) extending outside said first portion in
the proximity of said notches.
6. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 4, wherein
said notches are V-notches and said directing/assisting means apt
to direct/assist the removal of a first portion of the vapour
barrier layer furthermore comprise a straight-notch (5) formed in
said vapour barrier layer starting from at least one of said
V-notches (4, 4') and in the direction of said partition line.
7. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 4, wherein
a laser-cut (6) line is furthermore provided along said partition
line and through the entire width of said first portion of the
vapour barrier layer.
8. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 4, wherein
two laser-cut lines (6) are furthermore provided, arranged parallel
to the two sides of said partition line and through the entire
width of said first portion of the vapour barrier layer.
9. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 4, wherein
there are furthermore provided two adhesive tapes (7, 7'), arranged
parallel to the two sides of said partition line and through the
entire width of said first portion of the vapour barrier layer.
10. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 1, wherein
said tray-shaped container (1) comprises two different-depth areas,
wherein the lesser-depth area faces said first portion of the
vapour barrier layer.
11. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 2, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise a notch (4),
formed at one end of said partition line, and one gripping tab (3)
extending outside said first portion in the proximity of said
notch.
12. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 3, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise a notch (4),
formed at one end of said partition line, and one gripping tab (3)
extending outside said first portion in the proximity of said
notch.
13. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 2, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise two notches
(4, 4') formed at the two opposite ends of said partition line and
two gripping tabs (3a, 3b) extending outside said first portion in
the proximity of said notches.
14. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 3, wherein
said directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the removal of
a first portion of the vapour barrier layer comprise two notches
(4, 4') formed at the two opposite ends of said partition line and
two gripping tabs (3a, 3b) extending outside said first portion in
the proximity of said notches.
15. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 5, wherein
said notches are V-notches and said directing/assisting means apt
to direct/assist the removal of a first portion of the vapour
barrier layer furthermore comprise a straight-notch (5) formed in
said vapour barrier layer starting from at least one of said
V-notches (4, 4') and in the direction of said partition line.
16. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 5, wherein
a laser-cut (6) line is furthermore provided along said partition
line and through the entire width of said first portion of the
vapour barrier layer.
17. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 6, wherein
a laser-cut (6) line is furthermore provided along said partition
line and through the entire width of said first portion of the
vapour barrier layer.
18. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 5, wherein
two laser-cut lines (6) are furthermore provided, arranged parallel
to the two sides of said partition line and through the entire
width of said first portion of the vapour barrier layer.
19. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 6, wherein
two laser-cut lines (6) are furthermore provided, arranged parallel
to the two sides of said partition line and through the entire
width of said first portion of the vapour barrier layer.
20. Cartridge for liquid volatile substances as in claim 5, wherein
there are furthermore provided two adhesive tapes (7, 7'), arranged
parallel to the two sides of said partition line and through the
entire width of said first portion of the vapour barrier layer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for containing
volatile substances, such as liquid insecticides and fragrances,
wherein at least one of its walls is closed with a vapour permeable
membrane.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Systems consisting of a box-shaped container, or cartridge,
closed on at least one of its walls with a vapour permeable
membrane, are well known in the art; they are used to make a
reserve of substances which are sufficiently volatile to be able to
slowly emanate outwardly through said membrane, such as certain
insecticides or perfumes in liquid form.
[0003] These systems consist of a cartridge, which is often
thermoformed and generally shaped as a tray with raised edges;
these edges are connected to a peripheral flat flange on which a
vapour permeable membrane is applied, this membrane hermetically
closing the tray to substances in liquid or gel form, while
permitting vapours of said substances to pass trough.
[0004] These cartridges are generally used with the membrane in a
vertical position, in order to achieve a slim design of the device
and to allow a visual inspection of the level of the residual
liquid in the cartridge.
[0005] During storage and transportation, and in any case before
the device is activated, evaporation of the liquid is prevented
through a vapour barrier layer, such as a thin sheet of aluminium,
sealingly applied over the vapour permeable membrane. This vapour
barrier layer is stuck to the membrane with per se known means,
which allow its removal. To facilitate its removal, the vapour
barrier layer is equipped with a projecting tab extending out of
the membrane, so that said vapour barrier layer is removed by
pulling said tab in a convenient tearing direction, before the
first use of the cartridge by the consumer.
Drawbacks of Existing Solutions that the Invention is Aimed to
Solve
[0006] Although the above said known devices, comprising a membrane
diffuser of volatile substances, have found great success in the
market, they generally have the drawback that their evaporation
rate profile decreases too quickly.
[0007] Static volatile substances, i.e. air fresheners, already
present the general issue that the most volatile components of the
fragrance formulations evaporate first, therefore remaining, after
a certain time, only the heavier ones, with a consequent decreasing
intensity of evaporation and a change in the fragrance
features.
[0008] Moreover, membrane cartridges have the additional technical
issue that the portion of the membrane which is in contact with the
liquid is able to contribute to the evaporation of the liquid to a
much greater extent than the portion of the membrane which is in
contact with the vapours inside the cartridge. Thus, since
throughout the life of the product the liquid level gradually
decreases, also the soaked surface of the membrane correspondingly
decreases, and therefore the evaporation rate of the volatile
substance is consequently reduced.
[0009] Some attempts have been made to design a special profile of
the container, in order to reduce the decrease of the liquid level
as much as possible: for example, document EP-1.518.794 discloses a
cartridge which has an upper zone much wider than the lower zone.
Thanks to this expedient, the decrease in the evaporation rate over
time is less pronounced, but still it remains a significant
difference between the evaporation rate at the beginning and at the
end of use.
[0010] A constant release rate over time is just a good thing when
the volatile substance is a fragrance, but it becomes an essential
requirement when there is a need of delivering a precise dose of
active ingredient for the volatile substance, as in case of
pharmaceutical or insecticide applications. Therefore, there is a
need for a container for volatile substances, which provides a more
stable evaporation rate over time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the invention is therefore to propose a
cartridge container for volatile liquids, provided with a membrane
permeable to vapours of said liquids, which allows an evaporation
rate as homogeneous and stable as possible for the entire life of
the container. This object is achieved with a cartridge comprising
a tray-shaped container closed by a multilayer film, said
multilayer film consisting of at least one internal vapour
permeable membrane and one external vapour barrier layer, wherein
are provided directing/assisting means apt to direct/assist the
removal of only a first portion of the external vapour barrier
layer, along a desired partition line, for cartridge activation.
The dependent claims define preferred features of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further features and advantages of the invention will anyhow
be more evident from the following detailed description of some
preferred embodiments of the same, given as a mere and nonlimiting
example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cartridge according to the
present invention, which shows a V-notch along a longitudinal edge;
FIG. 1A shows the position of use of the cartridge itself, and
FIGS. 1B and 1C show the activation mode thereof, by removal of a
portion of the barrier layer along a desired partition line;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view of an embodiment variant, in which the
effect of the V-notch is completed by a straight-notch at the apex
of the V-notch, extending into the vapour barrier layer along said
partition line;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a view of a variant with two notches on opposite
sides of the closure element, with two respective tear-off
tabs;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment variant, similar to that
shown in FIG. 2, in which the effect of the V-notch is completed by
a laser-cut line, formed in correspondence of said partition
line;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment variant similar to that
shown in FIG. 2 in which the effect of the V-notch is completed by
two laser-cut lines arranged parallel to the two sides of said
partition line;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment variant similar to that
shown in FIG. 2 in which the effect of the V-notch is completed by
two adhesive tapes arranged along the two sides of said partition
line;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view, in a vertical position of use, of an
embodiment variant which has a different shape of the thermoformed
body of the cartridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In its preferred embodiment, the invention consists in a
container that comprises a tray-shaped body 1 and its flat closure
element 2 (FIG. 1A). Hereinafter this construction is briefly
referred to as "cartridge".
[0021] For ease of presentation, hereinafter, both in the
description and in the attached drawings, reference will be made
exclusively to an embodiment of the cartridge for volatile
substances in the liquid state which is suitable for use in a
natural evaporation device, as a refill. However, it must be clear
that such a cartridge can also be used in assisted evaporation
devices, by making simple shape adjustments within the obvious
reach of a skilled man in the art, for example by means of external
heating or ventilation sources.
[0022] The body 1 is preferably made by thermoforming of plastic
material, with a cavity apt to contain the volatile substance. This
thermoformed body consists of the coupling between an outer layer
of material having good mechanical performance--such as PET, PVC,
PP or other material known for this type of applications--and an
inner layer with low melting point, such as PE, apt to allow a
correct welding with the closure element 2. Moreover, an
intermediate layer of additional barrier material can also be
provided, so as to extend the shelf life of the product. In this
sense, a preferred coupling may be a three-layer PET/EVOH/PE
material in a thickness of 300 to 600 microns.
[0023] The closure element 2 consists of a multilayer film
comprising: [0024] a lower layer, which in the assembled cartridge
will be the one facing the thermoformed tray-shaped body 1, formed
by the above mentioned vapour permeable membrane made of such a
material that it can be welded or differently joined, in a
liquidtight manner, to the outer edge of the tray-shaped body 1;
[0025] an upper layer, which in the assembled cartridge will be the
one facing outwards, consisting of a peelable vapour barrier layer,
e.g. an aluminium film; [0026] an intermediate release layer, which
allows to maintain the mechanical coupling between the vapour
permeable membrane and the vapour barrier layer, during the
transport and storage steps, while the degree of adhesion provided
by the release layer has however to be kept sufficiently low in
order to allow the removal of the vapour barrier layer when
activating the cartridge; [0027] an optional outer layer of plastic
material, which protects the aluminium film from oxidation and
improves its strength, to avoid tearing of the aluminium layer
before activation.
[0028] As known, this multilayer film is manufactured independently
from the tray-shaped body 1. In other words, the coupling between
the aluminium film, the release layer and the membrane is performed
in a separate process, which takes place before the step in which
said multilayer film is welded on the edge of the thermoformed
tray-shaped body 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
1A, it can be seen that the tray-shaped body 1 has a substantially
rectangular plan shape and a relatively small thickness. The
closure element 2 has an outline corresponding to that of the tray
1, but in addition it has an appendix 3, formed by an extension
only of the peelable vapour barrier layer of the multilayer film,
which thus forms a gripping tab for the removal of the vapour
barrier layer.
[0029] FIG. 1A shows the method of use of the cartridge according
to the invention, which method provides for the vertical
positioning of the cartridge, more specifically with the closure
surface 2 lying on a vertical plane. In the same FIG. 1A it can be
seen that, while the cartridge is being used, the reserve
evaporable liquid obviously collects in the lower part of the
cartridge, so accomplishing the function better described
below.
[0030] According to a first primary feature of the present
invention, the peelable vapour barrier layer is divided into two
portions, along a desired partition line, and the removal of a
first of said two portions, precisely the lower one in use, is
carried out when the cartridge is activated, while the second
portion remains permanently attached to the vapour permeable
membrane.
[0031] In this way, after activation, the vapour permeable membrane
remains in turn subdivided into two parts: [0032] an active part,
which is the part where the vapour barrier layer has been removed,
and therefore allows the outside evaporation of the liquid
contained in the cartridge, and [0033] an inactive part, which is
the part covered with the remaining part of the vapour barrier
layer that stays adherent to the vapour permeable membrane
throughout the life of the product, where no evaporation
occurs.
[0034] In this way, when the cartridge of the invention is in use
(FIG. 1A), the rate of evaporated liquid is exclusively related to
the size of the first removed portion 2a of the vapour barrier
layer and no longer to the residual liquid content. For a major
part of the useful life of the device--i.e. until the liquid level
inside the tray-shaped body 1 reaches the proximity of the
partition line of the first portion 2a of the vapour barrier
layer--the evaporation rate of the device therefore remains
perfectly constant, thus fully achieving the object of the
invention.
[0035] In correspondence of the set partition line that separates
the two portions of the vapour barrier layer--according to another
important feature of the invention--directing and/or assisting
means can be provided for directing/assisting the separation of the
first portion of the vapour barrier layer of the multilayer film
from the second or remaining portion, when activating the
device.
[0036] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, said directing/assisting means
for the separation of the first portion of the vapour barrier layer
consist in a V-notch 4, formed in the edge of the tray-shaped body
1, in a position corresponding to the beginning of the desired
partition line and preferably near the inner edge of the tear-off
tab 3; this simple V-notch 4--which should involve the vapour
barrier layer, but which, for manufacturing convenfence, may also
extend to the entire multilayer film and also to the edge of the
tray-shaped body 1--makes up an opening starter for the tear-off of
the first portion 2a of the peelable vapour barrier layer of the
closure member 2.
[0037] In other words, and as it can be seen from FIGS. 1B and 1C,
when the user needs to activate the cartridge, only the first
portion 2a of the vapour barrier layer of the closure member 2
should be removed, thus leaving exposed only the underlying surface
1a of the vapour permeable membrane, and therefore not the entire
surface of said membrane as it happens in prior art devices.
[0038] In a second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the effect of
the V-notch 4 is integrated by a straight-notch 5--starting from
the apex of the V-notch 4 and extending in the direction of the
desired partition line--to further facilitate proper operation of
the tearing of the vapour barrier layer and to obtain a correct
removal of the first portion 2a of the vapour barrier layer from
the second remaining portion, which stays permanently in
position.
[0039] In a third embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, two tear-off
tabs 3a, 3b projecting from two opposite sides of the closure
member 2 and having a shape that improves the grip by the user's
fingers are provided. Immediately to the left of each of the
tear-off tabs 3a, 3b, and in correspondence of the two opposite
ends of the desired partition line, respective notches 4, 4' are
provided. In this embodiment the tearing action thus takes place in
a bilateral way and is therefore strongly directed along the
desired partition line.
[0040] In a fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the effect of
the V-notch 4 is completed by a laser-cut line 6, in the direction
of extension of the above said straight-notch 5 up to cross the
entire width of the closure member 2, and then substantially
coinciding with the desired partition line. The laser-cut line 6
then allows to separate sharply said first portion 2a from the
second portion of the vapour barrier layer which is intended to
remain attached to the vapour permeable membrane.
[0041] In a fifth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5, the effect of
the V-notch 4 is completed by two laser-cut lines 6, positioned at
the two sides of the desired partition line and mutually parallel,
by means of which the tearing action triggered by the V-notch 4
and/or by the straight-notch 5 is "directed" up to the opposite
part of the closure member 2.
[0042] In the various embodiments discussed above, "laser-cut"
means that said cut can also be made with any other technique, such
as mechanical or thermal cutting. And so also, it should be
understood that the cut extends only to the vapour barrier layer
without affecting the underlying vapour permeable membrane.
Moreover, said cut can also consist only in a weakening groove
formed on the plastic material coating layer that covers the outer
face of the vapour barrier layer.
[0043] Another possible option, alternative to the execution of
partition lines by means of laser-cut lines, consists instead in
strengthening the vapour barrier layer by applying an additional
plastic protective layer on one or on both sides of the desired
partition line. In this sixth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6,
the effect of the V-notch 4 in directing the tearing of the first
portion 2a of the peelable vapour barrier layer along a desired
partition line is then assisted by two adhesive tapes 7, 7' (or by
only one of them), positioned parallel to the two sides of the
desired partition line, in such a way that the tearing of the
vapour barrier layer is "directed" between the two additional
plastic material layers.
[0044] In the above description some precise geometric directions
are given for positioning the different elements which jointly form
the cartridge of the present invention, among which, for example,
the V-notch 4, the straight-notch 5, the laser-cut lines 6 or the
adhesive tapes 7. However it must be clear that, in the practical
exploitation of the device, these different elements may also be
slightly different positioned in respect of the above-mentioned
geometrical definition. The scope of the invention should therefore
be considered to also include a reasonable range around the
positioning definitions provided here.
[0045] A further improvement that can be achieved in the cartridge
of the present invention, in order to delay the moment when the
liquid level coincides with the evaporation part of the membrane,
is to use a tray-shaped body 1 comprising two zones having a
different depth, as provided in a known manner in the above-cited
document EP-1.518.794. The shallower zone will be in this case
positioned in such a way as to include the whole of the
above-mentioned first removable portion of the vapour barrier
layer; for example, the depth of the cartridge at the lower level
of the evaporation zone may advantageously be very small, i.e.
about 1-2 mm, while the depth of the cartridge at the higher level,
corresponding to the area where the membrane remains permanently
covered by the vapour layer barrier, is significantly greater, such
as 10-30 mm.
[0046] One such embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises a
tray-shaped body 8, thermoformed according to a silhouette that
includes a very thin lower zone 8a, which contains a minimum
quantity of evaporating liquid, and an higher zone 8b which is much
wider, to contain a significantly greater amount of the evaporating
liquid.
[0047] As can be easily understood from the drawing, the thinner
zone 8a is arranged at the portion 2a of the vapour barrier layer
that is to be removed, and where, therefore, the vapour permeable
membrane is active, while the zone 8b of greater depth is
positioned in correspondence of the area protected by the second
portion of the vapour barrier layer that is never removed.
[0048] Consequently, during use, the liquid that is located in the
zone 8a defines the evaporation rate of the device, while the
liquid that is located in the zone 8b, and which cannot evaporate
directly, gradually replaces the liquid evaporated from the zone
8a. In this case, the evaporation rate thus remains constant
practically for the entire useful life of the device.
[0049] The object of the present invention is therefore fully
achieved, in a particularly simple and effective way. In fact, it
is to be noted that the entire multilayer film is produced and
applied to the tray-shaped body 1 with the same technologies of the
known types of products while the provision of directing and/or
assisting means has a totally irrelevant production cost. The
cartridge according to the present invention can therefore be
produced at substantially the same cost of traditional products,
though having the relevant advantage of a surprisingly constant
evaporation rate vs time.
[0050] It is understood, however, that the invention is not to be
considered as limited by the particular arrangements illustrated
above, which represent only exemplary embodiments of the same, but
that different variants are possible, all within the reach of a
person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the
invention itself, as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *