Fragrance-carrier composition retainer

Abstract

A disposable fragrance-carrier composition retainer for retaining fragrance-carrier compositions during heating, facilitating the removal of one fragrance-carrier composition and its quick replacement with a different fragrance-carrier composition, and allowing for easy disposal of the composition byproducts. The fragrance-carrier composition retainer includes, among other elements, a continuous base and at least one sidewall. The retainer is generally shaped to hold the wide variety of commercially available fragrance-carrier compositions, including tart type candles, wax potpourri wafers, and heat activated liquid potpourri, and is configured to be received by the multitude of fragrance-carrier composition heating devices more commonly known as tart burners or potpourri heaters. The at least one sidewall is proximally joined to, or formed with, the base at a sidewall bottom edge and has a distal sidewall top edge and may include at least one removal tab.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fragrance-carrier composition retainer adapted to be releasably received by a fragrance-carrier composition heating device reservoir, comprising: 
 a continuous base having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and    at least one sidewall integrally formed with the base, having a sidewall bottom edge proximal to the base and having a sidewall top edge distally located from the base.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous base is flat.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous base interior surface is concave and the exterior surface is convex.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the continuous base interior surface is convex and the exterior surface is concave.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is orthogonal to the continuous base.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom edge to the top edge defining a frustum of a circular cone.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed with a plurality of fluted segments.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the top edge is parallel to the base.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the top edge is formed with a plurality of scalloped segments.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one removal tab secured to the at least one sidewall.    
     
     
         11 . A fragrance-carrier composition retainer adapted to be releasably received by a fragrance-carrier composition heating device reservoir, comprising: 
 a continuous base having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and    at least one sidewall proximally joined to the base at a sidewall bottom edge and having a distal sidewall top edge.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the continuous base is flat.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the continuous base interior surface is concave and the exterior surface is convex.  
     
     
         14 . The according to  claim 11 , wherein the continuous base interior surface is convex and exterior surface is concave.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sidewall is orthogonal to the continuous base.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sidewall extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom edge to the top edge defining a frustum of a circular cone.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sidewall is formed with a plurality of fluted segments.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the top edge is parallel to the base.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the top edge is formed with a plurality of scalloped segments.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 at least one removal tab secured to the at least one sidewall.    
     
     
         21 . A means for retaining a fragrance-carrier composition, comprising: 
 a means for supporting the fragrance-carrier composition; and    a means for laterally restraining the fragrance-carrier composition secured to the supporting means; and    a means for gripping the supporting means secured to the restraining means.