Air-freshening device

Abstract

An air-freshening device comprising a container open at one end, containing an aqueous phase and a hydrophobic phase comprising a volatile material, preferably a fragrance, and covering said open end a breathable film. Aforementioned air-freshening devices may also find use in combination with electrical heating vapour dispensing devices.

1 . An air-freshening device comprising a container having an open end, the container holding a composition comprising an aqueous phase, and a hydrophobic phase comprising a fragrance, and said open end is covered by a breathable film.  
     
     
         2 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises more than 10% by weight of water.  
     
     
         3 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1 , wherein the container holding a composition comprises of lower aqueous phase, and an upper hydrophobic phase comprising a fragrance.  
     
     
         4 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion.  
     
     
         5 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein the breathable film is selected from the group consisting of monolithic films and micro-porous films.  
     
     
         6 . The air-freshening device of  claim 5  wherein the monolithic film is a copolymer comprising soft segments formed by polyether units selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein the monolithic film is selected from poly(ether-co-amide) films and poly(ether-co-ester) films.  
     
     
         8 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  having a space between the upper surface of the composition and the lower surface of the breathable film.  
     
     
         9 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein a non-breathable material is releasably fitted over the breathable film.  
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing the air-freshening device of  claim 1  comprising the steps of 
 filling an aqueous phase in a container;    adding on top of the aqueous phase a hydrophobic phase comprising the fragrance; and    covering the open end of the container with a breathable film; and optionally    fitting a non-breathable film over the breathable film.    
     
     
         11 . A method of releasing fragrance to ambient air comprising exposing the air-freshening device of  claim 1  to the ambient air.  
     
     
         12 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of water to fragrance in the composition is about 9:1 to about 1:9.  
     
     
         13 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of water to fragrance in the composition is about 7:3 to about 3:7.  
     
     
         14 . The air-freshening device of  claim 13  wherein the weight ratio of water to fragrance in the composition is about 4:1 to about 2:3.  
     
     
         15 . The air-freshening device of  claim 6  wherein the amount of the soft segments is between 15% and 40% by weight of the film.  
     
     
         16 . The air-freshening device of  claim 15  wherein the amount of the soft segments is between 20% and 30% by weight.  
     
     
         17 . The air-freshening device of  claim 8  wherein the space between the upper surface of the composition and the lower surface of the breathable film is not greater than 3 cm.  
     
     
         18 . The air-freshening device of  claim 17  wherein the space between the upper surface of the composition and the lower surface of the breathable film is not greater than 1 cm.  
     
     
         19 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) the weight ratio of water to fragrance in the composition is about 9:1 to about 1:9;    (b) the breathable film is a monolithic film and is a copolymer comprising soft segments formed by polyether units selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of the soft segments is between 15% and 40% by weight of the film;    (c) there is a space between the upper surface of the composition and the lower surface of the breathable film and said space is not greater than 3 cm.    
     
     
         20 . The air-freshening device of  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) the weight ratio of water to fragrance in the composition is about 4:1 to about 2:3;    (b) the breathable film is a monolithic film and is a copolymer comprising soft segments formed by polyether units selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of the soft segments is between 20% and 30% by weight of the film;    (c) there is a space between the upper surface of the composition and the lower surface of the breathable film and said space is not greater than 1 cm.    
     
     
         21 . The air-freshening device of  claim 5  wherein the breathable film has soft segments which are formed by polyether units and dicarboxylic acid.