Activating a volatile reservoir using a lateral force

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for activating a volatile reservoir using a lateral force. The apparatus includes a container assembly that includes a volatile reservoir sealed to prevent an escape of a volatile where a seal of the volatile reservoir is at least in part formed with an internal barrier. The container assembly has an opening shaped to receive a puncturing end of a wicking assembly. The internal barrier is positioned to break under a lateral force resulting from insertion of the puncturing end of the wicking assembly into the container assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for activating a volatile reservoir using a lateral force, comprising:
 a container assembly comprising a volatile reservoir sealed to prevent an escape of a volatile where a seal of said volatile reservoir is at least in part formed with an internal barrier;   said container assembly comprising an opening shaped to receive a puncturing end of a wicking assembly; and   said internal barrier positioned to break under a lateral force resulting from insertion of said puncturing end of said wicking assembly into said container assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said internal barrier is a fitment. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said fitment comprises a tapered section that is shaped to contact a floor of said volatile container. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said internal barrier comprising a tapered section that is positioned to contact said puncturing end of said wicking assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said tapered section forms a volatile free receptacle in communication with said opening. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said puncturing end is wider than at least a portion of said volatile free receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said puncturing end of said wicking assembly comprises an expanded width. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a joint formed in said internal barrier is formed to break under said lateral force. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wicking assembly is shaped to be retained from full insertion into said opening with a removable spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a break in said internal barrier resulting from a lateral force is positioned to release said volatile from said volatile reservoir such that said volatile makes contact with a wick of said wicking assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said volatile reservoir contains a volatile that is an oil based composition, an aqueous based composition, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said volatile reservoir contains a volatile that is a fragrance, a pesticide, an insecticide, a bug repellant, an animal repellant, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said internal barrier is injection molded or blow molded. 
     
     
         14 . A method for activating a volatile reservoir using a lateral force, comprising:
 inserting a puncturing end of a wicking assembly into an opening of a volatile container such that said puncturing end imposes a lateral force on an internal barrier that seals off a volatile reservoir such that said lateral force breaks said internal barrier.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing a removable spacer from said volatile container to release said wicking assembly for full insertion into said opening. 
     
     
         16 . A system for activating a volatile reservoir using a lateral force, comprising:
 a container assembly comprising a volatile reservoir sealed to prevent an escape of a volatile where a seal of said volatile reservoir is at least in part formed with an internal barrier;   said internal barrier positioned to break under a lateral force resulting from insertion of a puncturing end of a wicking assembly into said container assembly; and   said wicking assembly being restrained from full insertion into an opening of said container assembly with a removable spacer.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said puncturing end of said wicking assembly is wider than a receptacle formed with said internal barrier. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said internal barrier comprises a tapered section with an end shaped to contact a floor of said volatile container where said tapered section forms a volatile free receptacle in communication with said opening. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said internal barrier comprises break points formed to break under said lateral force. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said puncturing end comprises a laterally moving section that is shaped to move laterally in response to full insertion of said wicking assembly into said opening.