Scent dispensers/absorbers and scent cartridges therefor
A scent dispenser/absorber includes a container, an invertible lid reversibly attached to an open end of the container, a vented cage, and a scent cartridge housed within the cage. In an “off” condition or state, the scent cartridge/cage combination is received in an interior chamber of the container, where the scent cartridge is out of communication with the surrounding environment and therefore incapable of performing scent dispensing function. The scent dispenser/absorber can be switched to an “on” condition or state by manually inverting the lid and, in some cases, the associated cage/scent cartridge combination, such that the scent cartridge can be positioned externally of the container, where it can communicate with the surrounding (i.e., external) environment to perform methods useful for attracting game, calming pets, medical diagnostics, aroma and insomnia therapy, and dieting.
1 . A combination, comprising: a reticulated foam composite in the form of a three-dimensional scaffold having a plurality of peripheral surfaces, including a first surface on one side of said scaffold and a second surface on an opposite side of said scaffold, said reticulated foam composite having a capacity sufficient to receive a quantity of liquid odorant; and a thermoplastic membrane enveloping said scaffold such that said thermoplastic membrane covers all of said plurality of peripheral surfaces of said scaffold, including said first surface of said scaffold and said second surface of said scaffold, said thermoplastic membrane being permeable to scent molecules dischargeable from said scaffold such that scent molecules dischargeable from said scaffold are diffusible through all of said plurality of peripheral surfaces of said scaffold, including said first surface of said scaffold and said second surface of said scaffold, whereby said combination is adapted for uses in which multi-directional diffusion of scent molecules is desirable.
2 . The combination of claim 1 , wherein said scaffold includes a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic coating applied to said hydrophobic core.
3 . The combination of claim 2 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is heat-sealed around said scaffold.
4 . The combination of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is a first foam material and said hydrophilic coating of said scaffold is a second foam material.
5 . The combination of claim 4 , wherein said first foam material has an open cell structure, including a plurality of pores defined by a plurality of surfaces.
6 . The combination of claim 5 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of HDPE; LDPE; PP and EVA.
7 . The combination of claim 6 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is an EVA polymer film.
8 . The combination of claim 7 , wherein said EVA polymer film is selected such that said EVA has a VA concentration in a range of from 3.5% to 18.5%.
9 . The combination of claim 8 , wherein said VA concentration is 18.5% of said EVA.
10 . The combination of claim 9 , wherein said EVA polymer film has a thickness in a range of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters.
11 . The combination of claim 8 , wherein said VA concentration is 3.5% of said EVA.
12 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein said EVA polymer film has a thickness in a range of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters.
13 . The combination of claim 6 , wherein said polymer is HDPE.
14 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein said HDPE has a thickness in a range of from 1 millimeter to 6 millimeters.
15 . The combination of claim 6 , wherein said polymer is LDPE.
16 . The combination of claim 15 , wherein said LDPE has a thickness in a range of from 1 millimeter to 6 millimeters.
17 . The combination of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold has a volume in a range of from 0.1 cubic inches to 4 cubic inches.
18 . The combination of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold has a weight in a range of from 150 milligrams to 6 grams.
19 . The combination of claim 2 , wherein said scaffold contains liquid odorant, whereby said combination is adapted to function as a scent-producing device.
20 . The combination of claim 19 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold absorbs said liquid odorant and releases scent molecules emanating therefrom, at least some of said scent molecules released from said hydrophobic core being discharged from said scaffold through said hydrophilic coating thereof.
21 . The combination of claim 20 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane has an inner surface bordering said hydrophilic coating of said scaffold and an outer surface opposite said inner surface, said inner surface having a first concentration of said scent molecules released from said hydrophobic core and said outer surface having a second concentration of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold, said second concentration being less than said first concentration.
22 . The combination of claim 21 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is permeable to said scent molecules such that said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane.
23 . The combination of claim 22 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is impermeable to liquid emanating from said liquid odorant, and wherein said thermoplastic membrane is adapted to function as a barrier between said liquid and a fabric enclosure enveloping said scent-producing device.
24 . The combination of claim 23 , wherein said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane and presented to said fabric enclosure as dry, but scented, air.
25 . The combination of claim 24 , wherein said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold create a relatively low level of residual scent on said outer surface of said thermoplastic membrane and therefore on said fabric enclosure, said level of residual scent being dependent upon the evaporation rate of said liquid odorant.
26 . The combination of claim 25 , wherein said evaporation rate of said liquid odorant is in a range of from 5 mg per day to 25 mg per day.
27 . The combination of claim 26 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is provided with said liquid odorant in an amount in a range of from 50 milligrams to 12 grams.
28 . The combination of claim 20 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is impermeable to liquid emanating from said liquid odorant, while being permeable to said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold such that said at least some of said scent molecules are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane as dry, but scented, air.
29 . The combination of claim 28 , wherein said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold create a relatively low level of residual scent on said outer surface of said thermoplastic membrane, said level of residual scent being dependent upon an evaporation rate of said liquid odorant.
30 . The combination of claim 29 , wherein said evaporation rate of said liquid odorant is in a range of from 5 mg per day to 25 mg per day.
31 . The combination of claim 30 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is provided with said liquid odorant in an amount in a range of from 50 milligrams to 12 grams.
32 . The combination of claim 1 , wherein said combination, including said scaffold, is reusable.
33 . A combination adapted to function as a scent-producing device, said combination comprising: a reticulated foam composite containing a quantity of liquid odorant, said reticulated foam composite being in the form of a scaffold which includes a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic coating applied to said hydrophobic core, said hydrophobic core being adapted to absorb said liquid odorant and release scent molecules emanating therefrom, at least some of said scent molecules released from said hydrophobic core being discharged from said scaffold through said hydrophilic coating thereof; and a thermoplastic membrane enveloping said scaffold, said thermoplastic membrane having an inner surface bordering said hydrophilic coating of said scaffold and an outer surface opposite said inner surface, said inner surface having a first concentration of said scent molecules released from said hydrophobic core and said outer surface having a second concentration of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold, said second concentration being less than said first concentration.
34 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is permeable to said scent molecules such that said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane.
35 . The combination of claim 34 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is impermeable to liquid emanating from said liquid odorant, and wherein said thermoplastic membrane is adapted to function as a barrier between said liquid and a fabric enclosure enveloping said scent-producing device.
36 . The combination of claim 35 , wherein said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane and presented to said fabric enclosure as dry, but scented, air.
37 . The combination of claim 36 , wherein said second concentration of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold create a relatively low level of residual scent on said outer surface of said thermoplastic membrane and therefore on said fabric enclosure, said level of residual scent being dependent upon an evaporation rate of said liquid odorant.
38 . The combination of claim 37 , wherein said evaporation rate of said liquid odorant is in a range of from 5 mg per day to 25 mg per day.
39 . The combination of claim 38 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is provided with said liquid odorant in an amount in a range of from 50 milligrams to 12 grams.
40 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is impermeable to liquid emanating from said liquid odorant, while being permeable to said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold such that said at least some of said scent molecules are diffused to atmosphere through said thermoplastic membrane.
41 . The combination of claim 40 , wherein said at least some of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold are diffused through said thermoplastic membrane as dry, but scented, air.
42 . The combination of claim 41 , wherein said second concentration of said scent molecules discharged from said scaffold create a relatively low level of residual scent on said outer surface of said thermoplastic membrane, said level of residual scent being dependent upon the evaporation rate of said liquid odorant.
43 . The combination of claim 42 , wherein said evaporation rate of said liquid odorant is in a range of from 5 mg per day to 25 mg per day.
44 . The combination of claim 43 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is provided with liquid odorant in an amount in a range of from 50 milligrams to 12 grams.
45 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is heat-sealed around said scaffold.
46 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold is a first foam material and said hydrophilic coating of said scaffold is a second foam material.
47 . The combination of claim 46 , wherein said first foam material has an open cell structure, including a plurality of pores defined by a plurality of surfaces.
48 . The combination of claim 47 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of HDPE; LDPE; PP and EVA.
49 . The combination of claim 48 , wherein said thermoplastic membrane is an EVA polymer film.
50 . The combination of claim 49 , wherein said EVA polymer film is selected such that EVA has a VA concentration in a range from 3.5% to 18.5%.
51 . The combination of claim 50 , wherein said VA concentration is 18.5% of said EVA.
52 . The combination of claim 51 , wherein said EVA polymer firm has a thickness in a range of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters.
53 . The combination of 50 , wherein said VA concentration is 3.5% of said EVA.
54 . The combination of claim 53 , wherein said EVA polymer film has a thickness in a range of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters.
55 . The combination of claim 48 , wherein said polymer is HDPE.
56 . The combination of claim 55 , wherein said HDPE has a thickness in a range of from 1 millimeter to 6 millimeters.
57 . The combination of claim 48 , wherein said polymer is LDPE.
58 . The combination of claim 57 , wherein said LDPE has a thickness in a range of from 1 millimeter to 6 millimeters.
59 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold has a volume in a range of from 0.1 cubic inches to 4 cubic inches.
60 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said hydrophobic core of said scaffold has a weight in a range of from 150 milligrams to 6 grams.
61 . The combination of claim 33 , wherein said combination, including said scaffold, is reusable.