Microwave deodorizer

Abstract

A safe and effective microwave deodorizer including a volatile medium, such as a liquid solution of water and citrus oils, contained in an absorbent material such as a non-metallic sponge. When the microwave deodorizer is heated in a microwave oven, the microwave deodorizer releases deodorizing vapors in a manner designed to deposit a deodorizing residue on an inner surface of the microwave oven.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A microwave deodorizer comprising: 
 an absorbent material; and    a volatile medium contained in the absorbent material; wherein, heating the microwave deodorizer within a microwave oven releases a deodorizing vapor in a manner designed to deposit a deodorizing residue on an inner surface of the microwave oven.    
     
     
         2 . A microwave deodorizer comprising: 
 an absorbent material; and    a volatile medium contained in the absorbent material; wherein, heating the microwave deodorizer within a microwave oven heats the volatile medium to an elevated temperature, and a deodorizing vapor is released from the volatile medium through the absorbent material in a manner designed to deposit a deodorizing residue on an inner surface of the microwave oven.    
     
     
         3 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 2 , wherein the deodorizing residue is deposited on the inner surface upon contact of the deodorizing vapor with the inner surface.  
     
     
         4 . A microwave deodorizer comprising: 
 a member;    an absorbent material resting at least one of on and in the member; and    a volatile medium contained in the absorbent material; wherein, heating the microwave deodorizer within a microwave oven heats the volatile medium to an elevated temperature, and a deodorizing vapor is released from the volatile medium through the absorbent material in a manner designed to deposit a deodorizing residue on an inner surface of the microwave oven.    
     
     
         5 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 4 , wherein the member is made of a dielectric material.  
     
     
         6 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 4 , wherein the member is a tray.  
     
     
         7 . A microwave deodorizer comprising: 
 a container having an open area exposing an interior of the container to an exterior therethrough;    an absorbent material resting in the container; and    a volatile medium contained in the absorbent material; wherein, heating the microwave deodorizer within a microwave oven heats the volatile medium to an elevated temperature, and a deodorizing vapor is released from the volatile medium through the absorbent material in a manner and deposits a deodorizing residue on an inner surface of the microwave oven upon contact with the inner surface.    
     
     
         8 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 7 , further comprising a waterproof cover covering the open area to prevent evaporation of the volatile medium.  
     
     
         9 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 8 , wherein the waterproof cover is removable from the container.  
     
     
         10 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 9 , wherein the volatile medium is a solution including a mixture of purified water, lemon oil and orange oil.  
     
     
         11 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 10 , wherein the solution is emulsified by shaking the microwave deodorizer before removing the waterproof cover and putting the microwave deodorizer in the microwave oven.  
     
     
         12 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 7 , wherein the absorbent material is a dielectric material.  
     
     
         13 . The microwave deodorizer of  claim 7 , wherein the absorbent material is a sponge.  
     
     
         14 . A microwave deodorizer comprising: 
 a volatile liquid solution including deodorizing oils therein;    a sponge-like material infused with the volatile liquid solution; and    an open-ended container holding the sponge-like material and volatile medium, the open-ended container having a waterproof cover removably mounted thereon, the waterproof cover covering an open area of the open-ended container;    wherein, an emulsion of the deodorizing oils in the volatile liquid solution is created by shaking the microwave deodorizer before removing the waterproof cover, and    wherein, when the microwave deodorizer is placed within a microwave oven without the waterproof cover and heated therein, a temperature of the volatile liquid solution is elevated and a deodorizing vapor is released from the volatile liquid solution inside the microwave oven through the sponge-like material in a manner designed to coat an inner surface of the microwave oven with a deodorizing substance when the deodorizing vapor contacts the inner surface of the microwave oven.    
     
     
         15 . A method of deodorizing a microwave oven comprising the steps of: 
 heating a microwave deodorizer to an elevated temperature within a microwave oven, the microwave deodorizer including an absorbent material and a volatile medium contained in the absorbent material;    releasing a deodorizing vapor in the microwave oven; and    coating an inner surface of the microwave oven with a deodorizing residue formed when the deodorizing vapor contacts the inner surface.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 infusing the absorbent material with the volatile medium.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 placing the absorbent material in a container, the container having an open area exposing an upper surface of the absorbent material to an exterior of the container.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 placing the container, the absorbent material and volatile medium in the microwave oven.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 removing a waterproof cover covering the open area of the container before placing the container, absorbent material and volatile medium in the microwave oven.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 shaking the container, absorbent material and volatile medium infused therein to emulsify a liquid solution of deodorizing oils in the volatile medium.    
     
     
         21 . A method of freshening a microwave oven comprising the steps of: 
 shaking a microwave deodorizer to emulsify a liquid solution of deodorizing oils contained in an absorbent material therein;    heating the microwave deodorizer to an elevated temperature within a microwave oven;    releasing a deodorizing vapor in the microwave oven; and    coating an inner surface of the microwave oven with a deodorizing residue formed when the deodorizing vapor contacts the inner surface.