IP Library Granted Patent US 9,278,152
Granted Patent B2
US 9,278,152 · App. 14/053,729 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Solid state fragrancing

Inventors: John T. Irwin (Sylvania, OH); Stephen A. Dukes (North Baltimore, OH); Robert James Hayes (Westerville, OH); Donald James Staufenberg (Dublin, OH); Jeffrey C. Gayer (Sylvania, OH)
Assignee: Impact Products, LLC
A61L9/12A61L9/042A61L9/05A61L2209/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,278,152
App. No.
14/053,729
Granted
Mar 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Fragrance control is provided by articles of manufacture including various solid state fragrancing objects, methods of using such objects, and systems that employ one or more such objects. The solid state fragrancing object can be used to inconspicuously provide fragrance to a user in an environment by disposing the solid state fragrancing object in the environment and configuring the solid state fragrancing object as at least a portion of a fixture within the environment. The fragrancing object can be easy to manufacture, long lasting, provide fragrance that is consistently released over time, provide an indication to the user that the object needs to be replaced, and can hold a desired ratio of fragrance.

Claims (31)

1. A method of inconspicuously providing fragrance to a user in an environment comprising:

disposing a solid state fragrancing object in the environment, the solid state fragrancing object configured as at least a portion of a fixture within the environment, wherein the solid state fragrancing object comprises a solid material including a fragrancing component and a member of the group consisting of a polyether block amide, a polyolefin elastomer, and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is disposed within a line of sight of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is disposed out of the line of sight of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid material has a substantially constant cross-sectional area in a longitudinal dimension and a surface area to volume ratio from about 0.5:1 to about 50:1.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fragrancing component comprises a fragrance oil.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein disposing a solid state fragrancing object in the environment comprises disposing a plurality of the solid state fragrancing objects in the environment.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the solid state fragrancing objects are disposed on more than one fixture.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the solid state fragrancing objects disposed on different fixtures comprise different fragrancing components.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is configured as at least a portion of a trim piece of the fixture.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a lavatory stall door, a lavatory stall wall, a lavatory stall upright, a urinal divider, a mirror frame, a hand dryer, a paper towel dispenser, a sink counter, a soap dispenser, a shelf, an entry or exit door to the environment, an air vent, a feminine hygiene container, a piece of plumbing, a light fixture, and a waste receptacle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object covers a preexisting portion of the fixture.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object replaces a portion of the fixture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object substantially matches a color of the fixture.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object substantially matches a texture of the fixture.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is removably coupled to the fixture.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is removably coupled to the fixture by one of a mount and a base.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is directly coupled to the fixture.

18. A method of inconspicuously providing fragrance to a user in an environment comprising:

disposing a plurality of solid state fragrancing objects in the environment, the solid state fragrancing objects independently configured as at least a portion of at least one fixture within the environment;

wherein:

the solid state fragrancing objects comprise a solid material including a fragrancing component;

the solid material comprises a member of the group consisting of a polyether block amide, a polyolefin elastomer, and combinations thereof; and

the fragrancing component comprises a fragrance oil.

19. A method of inconspicuously providing fragrance to a user in an environment comprising:

disposing a solid state fragrancing object in the environment, the solid state fragrancing object configured as at least a portion of a fixture within the environment;

wherein:

the solid state fragrancing object comprises a solid material including a fragrancing component and a member of the group consisting of a polyether block amide, a polyolefin elastomer, and combinations thereof;

the fixture comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a lavatory stall door, a lavatory stall wall, a lavatory stall upright, a urinal divider, a mirror frame, a hand dryer, a paper towel dispenser, a sink counter, a soap dispenser, a shelf, an entry or exit door to the environment, an air vent, a feminine hygiene container, a piece of plumbing, a light fixture, and a waste receptacle;

the solid state fragrancing object is removably coupled to the fixture; and

the solid state fragrancing object is disposed within a line of sight of the user.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2025
From: TZ SSE BUYER LLC
To: THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES
Reel/Frame 071059/0301 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC
To: TZ SSE BUYER LLC
Reel/Frame 071021/0555 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: ACF FINCO I LP
To: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 068462/0483 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 068462/0495 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 19, 2024
From: TZ SSE BUYER LLC
To: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC; SUPPLY SOURCE ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 068462/0489 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 28, 2024
From: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC; SUPPLY SOURCE ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: TZ SSE BUYER LLC
Reel/Frame 067554/0362 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS TERM LOAN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053084/0224 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: IMPACT PRODUCTS LLC
To: ACF FINCO I LP, AS ABL COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053084/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2014
From: IRWIN, JOHN T.; DUKES, STEPHEN A.; HAYES, ROBERT JAMES; STAUFENBERG, DONALD JAMES; GAYER, JEFFREY C.
To: IMPACT PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 032258/0470 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 13803327 · Mar 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61700926 · Sep 14, 2012
Related Publication 20140076984A1 · Mar 20, 2014