Methods, compositions and articles for olfactory-active substances
The present invention is directed to methods, compositions and articles comprising olfactory-active compositions. An article of the present invention comprises a structural component and an olfactory-active composition. The article may control the release, release rate or absorption of the olfactory-active composition. The article may be of various shapes and sizes. A method of use of an article comprises providing fragrance to an environment.
1. An article comprising
a structural component comprising an absorbent matrix material;
wherein the absorbent matrix material comprises multiple types of pulp fibers and at least one space-filling additive, wherein the space-filling additive is combined with the pulp fibers during formation of the absorbent matrix material;
wherein a first type of the pulp fibers disposed at an interior of the absorbent matrix material has a first porosity;
wherein a second type of the pulp fibers disposed at an exterior of the absorbent matrix material has a second porosity;
wherein the second porosity is different from the first porosity;
wherein the absorbent matrix material comprises an overall porosity adjustable by at least the first type of the pulp fibers, the second type of pulp fibers, and a concentration of the at least one space-filling additive; and
at least one olfactory active composition releasably retained in the absorbent matrix material.
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein a release rate of the at least one olfactory active composition is reduced by an increased compactness of the pulp fibers.
3. The article of claim 1 , wherein, when the pulp fibers are refined, a release rate of the at least one olfactory active composition is reduced.
4. The article of claim 1 , wherein a modulating coating or treatment is applied to at least a portion of a surface of the structural component.
5. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a holder for the article.
6. The article of claim 5 , wherein the holder comprises a metal, ceramic, glass, plastic, or polymer material.
7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the holder prevents contact between the article and a surface.
8. The article of claim 6 , wherein the holder comprises an energy source; and
wherein the energy source comprises a heater, fan or solar panel.
9. The article of claim 6 , wherein the holder comprises moveable parts.
10. The article of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment element.
11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the attachment element comprises a hook, clip, string, prong, loop, spike, or adhesive.
12. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a dye or a color applied to the article.
13. The article of claim 1 , wherein the pulp fibers have different absorbance rates.
14. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of material covering at least a portion of the article, wherein the layer of material does not absorb the at least one olfactory active composition.
15. The article of claim 14 , wherein the layer of material is metal, ceramic, glass, plastic, or polymer material.
16. The article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent matrix material comprises a plurality of openings formed by destroying or reducing a size of the at least one space-filling additive.
17. The article of claim 1 , further comprising at least a portion of the exterior of the absorbent matrix material treated with a porosity-altering material;
wherein the porosity-altering material comprises a dye, pigment, a wax, soy wax, paraffin, bees wax, polyethylene wax, microcrystalline wax, waxes that soften or melt at a temperature greater than about 150 F., acrylates, polylactide, polyglycolide or polycaprolactone, or a polyester copolymer selected from poly(lactide/glycolide) acid (PLGA) or poly(lactid-co-epsilon-caprolact-one) (PLCL), alkyl- or alkoxyalkyl-2-cyanoacrylates, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, 2-methoxybutyl-2-cyanoacrylate, crosslinked cyanoacrylate, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactic-glycolic acid copolymers, polycaprolactone, lactic acid-caprolactone copolymers, poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyalkyl acrylates, copolymers of alkylacrylate and vinyl acetate, polyalkyl methacrylates, copolymers of alkyl methacrylates and butadiene; dioctyl phthalate, dimethyl sebacate, trethyl phosphate, tri(2-ethylhexy)phosphate, tri(p-cresyl)phosphate, glyceryl triacetate, glyceryl tributyrate, diethyl sebacate, dioctyl adipate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate, lauric acid, dibutyl phthalate, trioctyl trimellitate, dioctyl glutarate, or a starch; and
wherein a release rate of the at least one olfactory active composition is modulated by the absorbent matrix material treated with the porosity-altering material.
18. An article comprising:
a structural component comprising an absorbent matrix material;
wherein the absorbent matrix material comprises multiple types of pulp fibers and at least one space-filling additive, wherein the space-filling additive is combined with the pulp fibers during formation of the absorbent matrix material;
wherein a first type of the pulp fibers disposed at an interior of the absorbent matrix material has a first porosity;
wherein a second type of the pulp fibers disposed at an exterior of the absorbent matrix material has a second porosity;
wherein the second porosity is different from the first porosity;
wherein the absorbent matrix material comprises an overall porosity adjustable by at least the first type of the pulp fibers, the second type of pulp fibers, and a concentration of the at least one space-filling additive; and
at least one olfactory active composition at least partially filling pores formed between the pulp fibers.
19. The article of claim 18 , further comprising at least a portion of the exterior of the absorbent matrix material treated with a porosity-altering material;
wherein the porosity-altering material comprises a dye, pigment, a wax, soy wax, paraffin, bees wax, polyethylene wax, microcrystalline wax, waxes that soften or melt at a temperature greater than about 150 F., acrylates, polylactide, polyglycolide or polycaprolactone, or a polyester copolymer selected from poly(lactide/glycolide) acid (PLGA) or poly(lactid-co-epsilon-caprolact-one) (PLCL), alkyl- or alkoxyalkyl-2-cyanoacrylates, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, 2-methoxybutyl-2-cyanoacrylate, crosslinked cyanoacrylate, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactic-glycolic acid copolymers, polycaprolactone, lactic acid-caprolactone copolymers, poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyalkyl acrylates, copolymers of alkylacrylate and vinyl acetate, polyalkyl methacrylates, copolymers of alkyl methacrylates and butadiene; dioctyl phthalate, dimethyl sebacate, trethyl phosphate, tri(2-ethylhexy)phosphate, tri(p-cresyl)phosphate, glyceryl triacetate, glyceryl tributyrate, diethyl sebacate, dioctyl adipate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate, lauric acid, dibutyl phthalate, trioctyl trimellitate, dioctyl glutarate, or a starch; and
wherein a release rate of the at least one olfactory active composition is modulated by the absorbent matrix material treated with the porosity-altering material.