Apparatus for delivering a volatile material
An apparatus for delivering a volatile material in a continuous manner is disclosed. The apparatus includes a delivery engine having a reservoir for containing a volatile material; a rupturable substrate secured to the reservoir; a rupture element positioned adjacent to the rupturable substrate; and a breathable membrane enclosing the reservoir, rupturable substrate and rupture element.
1. An apparatus for delivering a volatile material comprising:
a delivery engine having a reservoir comprising a volatile material mixture; a microporous membrane enclosing said reservoir; and a rupturable substrate enclosing said reservoir;
a rupture element comprising a support structure, wherein the rupture element is configured to engage the rupturable substrate;
a housing for receiving said delivery engine, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vents for facilitating the diffusion of volatile materials from the microporous membrane; and
a flow path from the reservoir, through the rupturable substrate, and to the microporous membrane.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said delivery engine further comprises a collection basin in fluid communication with said microporous membrane and said reservoir upon rupturing said rupturable substrate.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compressible flange.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said compressible flange comprises a distal end and a piercing element, said piercing element positioned on said distal end.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of less than about 15N.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said microporous membrane comprises an average pore size of about 0.02 microns.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said microporous membrane comprises an evaporative surface area of about 15 cm 2 to about 35 cm 2 .
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said microporous membrane comprising an average pore size of about 0.01 to about 0.03 microns.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of less than about 25N.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of less than about 20N.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of less than about 10N.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of from about 1N to about 15N.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of from about 1N, to about 10N.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rupture element comprises a compression force to breach said rupturable substrate of from about 1N to about 5N.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises polyethylene.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises a thickness in a z-direction of from about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises a thickness in a z-direction of from about 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises a thickness in a z-direction of from about 0.15 mm to about 0.35 mm.