| Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environmentRelated Patent Categories: Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, And Diffusing, Slow DiffusersDevice employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070001024, Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/868,203, entitled "Device for Employing Gas Generating Cell for Facilitating Controlled Release of Fluid into Ambient Environment," filed Jun. 14, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of the following applications: a.) U.S. application Ser. No. 09/645,673, entitled "Controlled Release of Substances," filed Aug. 24, 2000; b.) U.S. application Ser. No. 09/649,563, entitled "Controlled Release of Substances," filed Aug. 28, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/028,372, entitled "Controlled Release of Substances," filed Feb. 24, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,539, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/880,124, entitled "Controlled Release of Substances," filed Jun. 20, 1997, now abandoned; c.) U.S. application Ser. No. 10/115,273, entitled "Electrochemical Cell with Cathode Construction," filed Apr. 2, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,008, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/335,050, entitled "Electrochemical Cell with Cathode Construction," filed Oct. 30, 2001; d.) U.S. application Ser. No. 10/300,729, entitled "Foldable, Refillable Sustained-Release Fluid Delivery System," filed Nov. 20, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/989,552, entitled "Dual Reservoir Dispenser for an Air Freshener or Insecticide," filed Nov. 20, 2001, now abandoned and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/989,616, entitled "Apparatus with Potentiometer for Dispensing an Air Freshener or Insecticide," filed Nov. 20, 2001, now abandoned; and e.) U.S. application Ser. No. 10/709,440 entitled "Moving Emanators," filed May 5, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/483,833, entitled "Moving Emanators," filed Jun. 30, 2003, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. [0002] This application also claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/584,987, entitled "Device Employing Gas Generating Cell for Facilitating Controlled Release of Fluid into Ambient Environment," filed Jul. 1, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0003] This invention relates generally to fluid dispensing devices, and more particularly to fluid dispensing devices employing gas-generating cells as a propulsion component to facilitate controlled release of a fluid, such as, for example, a fragrance or sanitizer, into a surrounding environment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Various devices have been utilized as fluid dispensing apparatus, especially for fluids in liquid form, where the fluids are dispensed over an extended period of time at a predictable, substantially constant rate to the surrounding environment. One such device employs a gas-generating cell as a propulsion mechanism for the fluid. [0005] One important aspect of such fluid delivery devices is shelf life of the device, particularly in high volume consumer applications, such as air freshener devices. In such applications, a shelf life of more than two years is typically required. Most known devices, however, are not designed for long shelf life, especially when they are mated to bladder-type fluid delivery reservoirs. [0006] There are three major issues that affect shelf life of fluid delivery devices. First, shelf life is affected by the loss of moisture from the gas generating cell due to permeation through the gas chamber shell or through the flexible diaphragm. Since most of the reactions which generate hydrogen involve the consumption of water, desiccation of the cells typically will have a negative impact resulting in lower performance or shorter than desirable life. Second, if the gas generators are the type which consumes a metal, and oxygen is uncontrollably admitted to the cell, the metal will oxidize prematurely, and be spent when the device is to be activated. Third, if the gas generators are the type which consume a metal, hydrogen is generated to some degree prematurely. While corrosion inhibitors may be utilized to significantly reduce this effect, some hydrogen generation will occur if the active metal is in the presence of the aqueous solution, especially if the device is exposed to elevated temperature during storage. This hydrogen must be vented passively, otherwise the device will prematurely pressurize resulting in premature dispensing of the liquid, deformation of the device, or an undesirable burst of fluid delivery when the device is first activated. [0007] Another concern exists with such fluid delivery devices that electrochemically consume a metal to form hydrogen in connection with the gas generator. With such devices, there is a delay before pumping of fluid occurs after the device is activated. This is caused by oxygen which has diffused into the headspace between the gas generating cell and the flexible diaphragm, which must be consumed before hydrogen generation begins. [0008] There is yet another concern with such fluid delivery devices of the type which electrochemically consume a metal to form hydrogen. Typically, the metals utilized in such devices are amalgamated with mercury to reduce the amount of corrosion while being stored. This creates environmental concerns since mercury is toxic. [0009] Among other things, the present invention is intended to address these as well as other shortcomings in the prior art and generally provides a device employing a gas-generating cell as a propulsion component to facilitate controlled release of a fluid to an ambient environment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] A device for controllably releasing a fluid into an ambient environment. According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a housing having a fluid compartment and an orifice compartment disposed adjacent thereto and in fluid communication therewith via an orifice. The fluid compartment contains the fluid for release to the ambient environment. The orifice compartment includes a fluid exit opening covered by a removable sealing element and contains an initial quantity of fluid when the device is in an inactivated state. A fluid restrictor is disposed adjacent the orifice to restrict fluid flow from the fluid compartment into the orifice compartment in the inactivated state. A gas-generating cell is in selective communication with the fluid compartment such that gas generated by the cell is directed into the fluid compartment when the device is in an activated state. A fluid membrane is disposed between the gas-generating cell and the fluid compartment that allows the gas generated by the cell to pass therethrough to the fluid compartment in the activated state while preventing fluid within the fluid container from passing therethrough to the cell in the inactivated state. The device is activated by removing the sealing element to allow the initial quantity of fluid to exit out of the orifice compartment via the fluid exit opening and activating the cell to generate gas and force fluid from the fluid compartment to the orifice compartment and out the fluid exit opening in a controlled manner. [0011] According to other aspects of the invention, the device comprises a container or housing having three compartments and an emanator system located to receive fluid drop from the container. The first compartment of the container contains a gas-generating cell and is located at the top of the container. The second compartment contains a predetermined quantity of fluid and the third compartment contains a small initial amount of fluid to be dispensed at the start of the activation of the device. The emanator system is located just below the container. The emanator system volatizes the fluid dispensed from the container into the surrounding atmosphere. [0012] The first and the second compartments are separated by either an impermeable member or a selectively permeable member. The impermeable member does not allow any fluid or its vapors within the second compartment to reach first compartment. It also does not allow gas generated by the gas generative cell to permeate into second compartment until such time that the pressure generated by the gas breaks the seal of the member and allows gas to put pressure on the fluid in second compartment. The selective permeable member allows only gas to permeate through but not allow fluid or its vapor in second compartment to permeate through to contact gas generating cell and associated electronics in the first compartment. [0013] The second and the third compartments are separated by a plug or restrictor having an aperture configured in such a way that the fluid in second compartment will not drip under storage and gravity and will drip under gravity and gas pressure when the device is activated. [0014] The third compartment has an opening in the bottom of the device. The third compartment contains a small initial amount of fluid. This compartment is sealed at the bottom opening by metal or plastic. The user of the device breaks the seal to get initial instant dose of fluid on to the emanator system to be volatilized into a surrounding atmosphere. The container of the device is positioned such that the first compartment is above second compartment and second compartment is above third compartment to allow gravity to help effectuate delivery of the fluid. [0015] The emanator system is located so that fluid dripping from the container falls on emanator system, which volatizes or delivers the fluid to surrounding atmosphere. [0016] According to other aspects of the invention, a means for holding and sealing a gas generating cell and associated electronics in the first compartment is provided so that gas generated by gas cell upon activation of the device puts pressure on the fluid in second compartment and does not escape out of first compartment when the device is activated. [0017] Means for protecting and separating gas generating and associated electronics from exposure to fluid or its vapor in the second compartment is also provided. Means for not allowing the fluid in second compartment to flow into third compartment under storage or inactivated conditions is also provided. Means for allowing the fluid in the second compartment to flow through third compartment out of container and on to emanator system under gravity and hydrogen gas pressure under an activated condition is also provided. [0018] A predetermined quantity of initial fluid in the third compartment is dispensed instantaneously at the start of the activation of device and is released onto the emanator system to start the emanation of the fluid instantaneously while the fluid in the fluid compartment begins to flow. [0019] A seal at the bottom opening of the container retains the fluid in the third compartment under storage and until such time a user of the device breaks the seal in order to get instantaneous release of fluid onto the emanator system located adjacent to a fluid exit opening of the third orifice compartment. [0020] The emanator system comprises means for vaporizing the dispensed fluid to the surrounding atmosphere. The emanator systems may comprise mechanisms involving pleated high surface area paper emanators, generating cells, heated pads or elements, fans, vibrating elements or pads and combinations thereof. Continue reading about Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment... Full patent description for Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Air freshener Next Patent Application: Vehicle air freshener diffuser Industry Class: Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Device employing gas generating cell for facilitating controlled release of fluid into ambient environment patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13715 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
