IP Library Granted Patent US 9,895,463
Granted Patent B2
US 9,895,463 · App. 14/971,013 · Granted Feb 20, 2018

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
A61L9/042A61L9/05A61L9/12A61L2209/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,895,463
App. No.
14/971,013
Granted
Feb 20, 2018
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 (28)

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, and the solid state fragrancing object comprising a solid material mixed with a fragrancing component;

wherein the solid state fragrancing object covers a preexisting portion of the fixture or replaces a portion of the fixture.

2. 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.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture includes a container or a receptacle and the solid state fragrancing object is disposed within the lid of the container or the receptacle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture includes a sink or a countertop and the solid state fragrancing object is disposed under the sink or the counter top.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture includes plumbing and the solid state fragrancing object conforms to the shape of the plumbing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture includes part of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and the solid state fragrancing object is disposed on part of the HVAC system.

7. 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, and a urinal divider.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a hand dryer, a paper towel dispenser, a soap dispenser, and a waste receptacle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a shelf and an entry or exit door to the environment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises an air vent.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises a light fixture.

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

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

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object provides a square inch of fragranced surface area to environmental cubic foot volume ratio of about 0.01 to about 0.1.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the solid state fragrancing objects are disposed on more than one fixture.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the solid state fragrancing objects disposed on different fixtures comprise different fragrancing components.

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

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

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

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is removably coupled to the fixture by one of a mount and a base.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the solid state fragrancing object is directly coupled to the fixture.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid material includes one of a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin elastomer.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the solid material includes the thermoplastic elastomer and the thermoplastic elastomer includes a polyether block amide.

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

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 May 25, 2016
From: IRWIN, JOHN T.; DUKES, STEPHEN A.; HAYES, ROBERT JAMES; STAUFENBERG, DONALD JAMES; GAYER, JEFFREY C.
To: IMPACT PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 038714/0818 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14053729 · Oct 15, 2013
Continuation In Part 13803327 · Mar 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61700926 · Sep 14, 2012
Related Publication 20160101205A1 · Apr 14, 2016