GB2275608A - A tamper-resistant electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrically heatable dispensing apparatus is constructed and arranged to receive a container 1 of volatile material. An integral electrical heater is provided to heat the volatile material to diffuse vapourised material into the surrounding atmosphere. The apparatus has electrical contacts 12 for connecting it to an electrical power source to operate the heater, the electrical contacts extending outwardly from one surface 25 of the apparatus. A locking device 30 is provided which is slidable within the body through the surface from which the electrical contacts extend so that in use the locking device cannot be operated whilst the electrical contacts are plugged into an electrical outlet socket constituting the power source. Therefore, the container containing the volatile material cannot be removed during use of the apparatus thereby preventing direct access to the volatile material in the container. <IMAGE>

Description

A TAMPER-RESISTANT ELECTRICALLY HEATED VAPOUR DISPENSING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a tamper-resistant electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus, particularly of the type which supports the container for holding a volatile material to be dispensed by slow diffusion into the surrounding atmosphere. The volatile material can be an air deodorizer, fragrance, insecticide or the like.

Such containers, and particularly tamper resistant type containers, are well known as may be seen in United States Patent 4849606, dated July 18, 1989 in the name of Edward J. Martens et al and assigned to S.C. Johnson & BR< Son, Inc., an applicant hereof. The Martens et al Patent is particularly concerned with a tamper-resistant container preferably a thermo- formed plastic container having a multi-layered seal with an inner non-removable layer of vapour permeable material and an outer removable layer of vapour impermeable material being removable when the volatile material is to be dispensed from the container. The outer impermeable layer is peeled back from the container leaving the inner vapour permeable layer.The inner layer maintains the volatile material inside the container and prevents the user of the container from contacting the material while simultaneously allowing the vapour from the material to be released into the surrounding atmosphere.

The vapour dispensing container is particularly suitable for use as a single use cartridge for an electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus. When utilised with such electrically heated dispensing apparatus, the tamper-resistant container is made in the shape of cartridge which complements the interior structure of the electrically heated apparatus.

However, in use, the dispensing apparatus together with a cartridge loaded therein is plugged into, by electrical contacts thereon, an electrical power source outlet so as to heat the volatile material to diffuse it into the surrounding atmosphere. However, when such a dispensing apparatus is plugged into the power source outlet in domestic homes for example, it is possible for the cartridge to be removed and the permeable seal broken by the inquisitive fingers of young children. Having removed the cartridge, it is then easier for children to gain direct access to the volatile material in the cartridge by breaking the permeable seal and to insert their fingers into the slot in which the cartridge is usually stored and to pull the dispensing apparatus away from the power outlet.As with any electrical outlet plug, this may of course lead to children inserting their fingers behind the apparatus and touching the live electrical contacts leading to electrical shocks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus in which the above mentioned disadvantages are substantially eliminated.

According to the present invention there is provided an electrically heatable vapour dispensing apparatus comprising a body, receiving means in the body for receiving and storing therein a container arranged to contain a volatile material for dispensing into the surrounding atmosphere through openings in the body, integral heating means for heating the volatile material, electrical connection means extending outwardly relative to one face of the said apparatus for connecting the said apparatus to an electrical power source outlet, and locking means movably mounted on the body for locking the container within the said receiving means, the locking means having at least a part thereof extending from the said one face so that when connected to a power source outlet the one face co-operates with an opening face of the power source outlet to prevent access to the locking device to unlock the locking device.

Conveniently, a slot is provided in the body into which is slidably located the longer arm of an Lshaped locking device. The shorter free end of the longer arm prevents removal of the cartridge in a locking position. The locking device is movable to an open position in which the cartridge can be removed from the apparatus.

Conveniently-, the longer arm of the locking device is provided with a resilient tongue extending outwardly therefrom for securing the locking device in its locked position.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container for a volatile substance with an impermeable layer of the seal partly removed; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevational view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of an embodiment of the container having a key-way; Fig. 4 is a top view of the container with the impermeable sealing layer partially cut away, but with the permeable sealing layer intact; Fig. 5 illustrates the container, with the top impermeable layer removed, being inserted into a tamperresistant electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus of the present invention;; Fig. 6 is one end view of an alternative tamper-resistant electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus of the present invention having electrical pin connectors for use with a three-pin socket as used in the United Kingdom and showing a locking device in an open position; Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 with the locking device in a closed or locking position; Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevational view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an L-shaped locking device of the embodiment of Figs. 6 to 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a known tamper resistant container 1 having an open upper end surrounded by a lip or flange 2. The interior 3 of the container 1 can be filled with any suitable air treating volatile material such as an air deodorizer, fragrance, insecticide, or the like. After the container 1 is filled with volatile material, the open upper end is sealed with at least one flexible material. Any conventional seal known in the art can be utilised.

However, the flexible seal is preferably a multi-layered seal comprising an inner non-removable layer of vapour permeable material 4 and an outer removable layer of vapour impermeable material 5. When the container 1 is.

to be used and the volatile material diffused into the surrounding atmosphere, the outer vapour impermeable layer 5 is peeled away from the container's peripheral flange 2 and removed. The non-removable inner layer 4 maintains the volatile material in the container 1 and prevents the user from contacting the material while simultaneously allowing the vapour from the material to be released into the surrounding atmosphere. The flexible seal, whether being single layers or plural layers, can be attached to the peripheral flange 2 of the container 1 utilising any conventional means, such as an adhesive, heat seal, crimping or the like.

Because the impermeable layer of the container seal is meant to be easily removed by a consumer when the container is to be used, the seal is subject to being broken or tampered with by downward pressure on the seal or by squeezing of the container and seal. To prevent the breaking of the container seal in this manner, optionally, but preferably, a free standing rib or ribs 6 is formed as an integral part of the container 1. The rib or ribs 6 may have any desired configuration consistent with the purpose described for them herein and could take the form of a raised logo or other design.

In any event, the size of the rib should not take up a significant portion of the internal volume of the interior 3 since that reduces the amount of volatile material which can be placed therein.

The rib 6 is free standing within the walls or interior 3 of the container and is, preferably, an integral part of the container outer wall, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The rib 6 extends upwardly from the container's bottom surface 7 to a level approximately coextensive with the level of the peripheral flange 2 of the container 1. The top surface 8 of the rib is located slightly below the bottom surface of the inner permeable sealing layer 4 so as not to interfere with the attachment or placement of the sealing layer 4 on the container 1. Whilst the rib 6 is substantially equal in height to the container side walls, the length of the rib is preferably not equal to the length of the container's interior. Preferably, the ribs 6 are wholly contained within the walls of the container 1 without joining the walls to form compartments within the container.A shortened length of the rib increases the container strength since it does not provide a crease line.

Further, the shortened length of the rib 6 allows one shot filling of the interior of the container rather than requiring multiple separate fillings for separate compartments which would otherwise be required if the rib 6 extended the entire length of the container 1. When downward pressure is placed on the sealing layer(s) of the container 1 or the sealing layer(s) are squeezed, the rib 6 is contacted, thereby preventing the downward movement of the sealing layers and any rupture of the sealing layers. Any leakage of volatile material from the container 1 is prevented.

The ratio of the height of the rib 6 from the bottom surface 7 of the container relative to the distance between the flange 2 and bottom surface 7 should be such that the sealing layer rests upon the top rib or ribs 6 in response to pressure upon the sealing layer 4.

This permits the rib or ribs 6 to support the sealing layer 4 as described above. The above ratio is also dependent upon the degree to which the interior 3 of the container 1 is filled since filling interior 3 to a degree which does not permit sealing layers 4,5 to contact the rib after sealing will negate its purpose.

Substantial overfilling should be avoided because it can allow pressure to be placed upon the sealing layer 4 without contact with the rib and thus raises the possibility that the sealing layers 4,5 can rupture during handling.

When a plurality of ribs 6 are utilised, the ribs 6 can extend either lengthwise, or across the width of the container 1. Preferably, however, as with a single rib 6, the ribs 6 do not extend from wall to wall in the interior 3 of the container 1 and thus do not form compartments in the container 1 as described above.

The materials utilised for making the containers and sealing layers are dependent upon the material being held and dispensed from the container 1.

The container 1 is preferable formed utilising a thermoformed plastics material. This provides for easy moulding and incorporation of the rib or ribs 6 into the container 1 structure.

One specific example of a volatile material suitable for dispensing from the container 1 is a terpene-based fragrance. A suitable seal for the container 1 for use with the fragrance utilises a transparent low density polyethylene as the permeable non-removable inner permeable layer and a coated aluminium foil as the impermeable outer removable layer.

When utilised with an electrically heated vapour dispensing apparatus 9 according to the present invention, the container 1 is made in the shape of a cartridge which complements the interior structure of the tamper-resistant electrically heated apparatus. One embodiment of such a tamper-resistant electrically heated apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9.

The apparatus 9 comprises a body 10 having a slot 11 extending through the body 10 in which the container 1 is insertable as a receiving means. The body 10 of apparatus 9 is preferably of a plastics material and has an integral heating element (not shown) and a two pin electrical plug 12 for insertion into an electrical power outlet socket during use of the apparatus 9.

When the heating apparatus 9 is to be utilised to generate a vapour, the impermeable seal 5 of the volatile material holding container 1 is removed and the container 1 inserted into slot 11 of apparatus 9. Lower ridges 19 and upper ridges 19' formed as an integral part of body 10. Peripheral flange 2 of container 1 slides along the top of upper ridges 19' and are supported thereby when the container 1 is in place. The ends 20 of ridges 19 and 19' are preferably rounded to aid insertion of container 1. Lower ridges 19 are also provided to guide container 1 into the apparatus 9.

After the container 1 is inserted into the apparatus 9, the electrical plug 12 of heating apparatus 9 is inserted into an electrical outlet socket. The interior of the apparatus 9 is heated thereby causing the material contained in the container 1 to be heated and diffused into the surrounding atmosphere through the permeable inner sealing layer 4 of the container 1 and openings 13 in the outer wall of body 10 of the electrically heated apparatus 9.

When utilised with an electrically heated apparatus 9, extended portion 14 of the container 1 provides an area to hold during the insertion of the container 1 into the heating apparatus 9. The extended portion 14 can additionally have a projection or projections 15 protruding from at least one surface of the extended portion 14 in any form, such as lines, bulbs, the name or logo of the seller raised in outline, or the like, which provide for better gripping of the extended portion 14 of the flange. The projection or projections 15 are preferably on the underside of the extended portion 14 if a finger hold area is desired.

Projections 15' on the extended portion 14 are present if no other projections are present on the upper surface of the extended portion 14. The projections 15' serve to separate the laminate of layers 4 and 5 from extended portion 14 so that the user can more easily grasp the end of the laminate and remove impermeable layer 5 prior to use.

A key-way 16 is provided between the hollow rib 6 and one side wall of the leading edge of the container 1 which is to be inserted into the slot of the body 10 of the apparatus. The key-way 16 is formed in the bottom surface wall 7 of the container 1 in the end of the container 1 which is to be inserted first into the electrically heated apparatus 9. The key-way 16 comprises a raised area in the container end wall such as shown in Fig. 4 which allows the container 1 to ride over the projection or bar 18 contained on the inner bottom surface of the electrically heated apparatus 8. If bar 18, such as shown in Fig. 8, is utilised rather than a knob, the bar only extends partway into the interior of the apparatus 9 since the key-way 16 and rib 6 of the container do not extend the total length of the container.Once the bar 18 meets the bottom wall 7 of the container, the forward motion of the container will be stopped. Whenever the container 1 is inserted keyway containing end first, the projection 18 acts as a guide for the container 1. However, when the container 1 is inserted non-key-way containing end first, the projection 18 will strike the solid end wall of the container 1 and block the insertion of the container 1 into the apparatus 9. The use of the key-way and projection 18 therefore ensures that the container 1 is inserted into the apparatus 9 in the proper position enabling placement of the container 1 in the most advantageous position relative to the heating element in the apparatus 9. Additionally, proper placement ensures easy removal from the apparatus 9.

To further aid the proper insertion of the container 1 as a cartridge into an electrically heated apparatus, an arrow can be formed or imprinted at one end of the container's flexible seal, as illustrated for example in Fig. 5, to show the proper direction of insertion.

The end corners of the container are cut at an appropriate angle at the leading edge of the container to form angled ends 21 to assist insertion into the electrically heated apparatus 9. When the container 1 has angled ends 21, such as shown in Fig. 5, the forward end of the container 1 will project slightly from opposite end 22 of the electrically heated apparatus 9 thereby providing a portion of the container 1 which can be used by the consumer to push the container 1 outwardly from the electrically heated apparatus 9 when the container is to be removed from the apparatus 9. When the container 1 is to be pushed outward the extended portion 14 is easily gripped by the user and the container 1 pulled out of the apparatus 9 without having to contact the portion of the container 1 which held the volatile material.

However, the electrically heated apparatus 9 according to the present invention is particularly characterised by a locking device 30 which is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9. A modified form of the electrically heated apparatus 9 described above with reference to Fig.5 is disclosed with the only essential difference being in the fact that a 3-pin electrical connection is shown rather than the 2-pin connection. Otherwise, like parts bear the same reference numerals as used to describe the container 1 and electrically heated apparatus 9 of Figs. 1 to 5.

Referring specifically to Figs. 6 to 9 the electrical connectors 12 extend outwardly from a flat face surface 25, which when the apparatus 9 is connected to a wall socket, engages and lies parallel to the front surface of the wall electrical outlet socket (not shown). Extending through the body 10 from surface 25 is an elongate slot 26 which opens into the slot 11.

At mouth 27 of the elongate slot 26 is a recessed portion 28 for receiving at least part of a shorter arm 29 of an L-shaped locking device 30. Such a device is more clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The locking device 30 is slidable within slot 26 from an open position shown in Fig. 6 in which the container 1 can be inserted or removed from the body 10, and a locking position shown in Fig. 7 in which the free end of the longer arm 31 of the L-shaped locking device 30 projects into the slot 11 behind a container 1 inserted into the slot 11. Thereby removal of a container 1 from the body during use of the dispensing apparatus 9 is prevented.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 the locking device 30 has formed therein an aperture 32 over which lies an angled resilient tongue 33 which extends outwardly from surface 34 of the longer arm 31 and into space 35 formed within the body adjacent the slot 26.

The tongue 33 acts as a stop against the inside of the body 10 to hinder removal of the locking device 30 from the body 10.

When the locking device 30 is in its unlocked position as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 8, the tongue 33 sits within the space 35. As the locking device 30 is slid towards its locking position, the slot 26 and locking device 30 friction fit one with the other, in a manner which is well known in the art, to hold the locking device in its locking position blocking the withdrawal of the container 1 from slot 11 of body 10 prior to insertion in a power outlet socket.

Once in the locked position, the shorter arm 29 of the locking device 30 lies against body 10, at least partially, in recess 28 in surface 25 so that the outer surface 38 thereof lies flush with the surface 25 of the body 10. A preferably semi-circular end 39 of the arm 29 projects outwardly from the body 10 in the plane of the surface 25 so as to provide a convenient projection by which the locking device 30 can be gripped for movement into the open position to allow removal of the container 1.

Fig. 9 illustrates in greater detail one particular form of the locking device 30 used with the vapur dispensing apparatus of Figs. 6 to 8, clearly illustrating the two arms 29, 31, the semi-circular end 39 of arm 29, the tongue 33 and aperture 32 of arm 31.

Conveniently, the locking device 30 is of a plastics material although a spring metal material may also be used.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the above described embodiment of the present invention, particularly to fit various types of electrical systems in various Countries.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. An electrically heatable vapour dispensing apparatus comprising a body, receiving means in the body for receiving and storing therein a container arranged to contain a volatile material for dispensing into the surrounding atmosphere through openings in the body, integral heating means for heating the volatile material, electrical connection means extending outwardly relative to one face of the said apparatus for connecting the said apparatus to an electrical power source outlet, and locking means movably mounted on the body for locking the container within the said receiving means, the locking means having at least a part thereof extending from the said one face so that when connected to a power source outlet the one face co-operates with an opening face of the power source outlet to prevent access to the locking device to unlock the locking device.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means includes a resilient tongue for preventing removal of the locking means from the body.

3. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means is L-shaped and comprises a longer arm passing into the body and a shorter arm for locking and unlocking the container within the receiving means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shorter arm of the L-shaped locking means is located externally of the body and in the locked position of the locking means lies in a recess in the body so as to be flush with the one surface of the body from which electrical contacts extend in a transverse direction thereto.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the free end of the shorter arm of the L-shaped locking means projects beyond the body to provide a gripping area for moving the locking means from a locked position to an unlocked position and vice versa.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises a slidable plate movable into and out of the said one face of the body.

7. An electrically heated dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 5 and 9; or Figs. 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.