Dispenser for dispensing volatile compositions

Abstract

A volatile composition dispenser is configured to be used in a vehicle. The volatile composition dispenser comprises a housing and a fan positioned at least partially within the housing. The fan is configured to intermittently activate to move a volume of air. The volatile composition dispenser further comprises a controller in electrical communication with the fan and positioned within the housing, and a replaceable unit configured to be attached to the housing and positioned at least partially within the housing.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A replaceable unit for a volatile composition dispenser, the replaceable unit comprising:
 a volatile composition container comprising an inner wall, at least one projection extending from the inner wall, a material configured to contain a volatile composition in at least partially a liquid phase, an inlet orifice, and an outlet orifice, wherein the at least one projection is configured to engage a portion of the material to maintain the material at a distance away from the inner wall;   a space defined intermediate the inner wall and the material, wherein at least a portion of the liquid phase volatile composition is configured to evaporate into the space to create a saturated vapor phase volatile composition within the space; and   a power source receiving space joined with the volatile composition container, the power source receiving space capable of receiving a power source.   
     
     
         7 . The replaceable unit of claim  1  further comprising the power source, wherein the power source is a battery or a solar cell. 
     
     
         8 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein the material has a volume of about 2 cm 3  to about 16 cm 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein the material has an exposed surface area of about 5 cm 2  to about 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein the volume of volatile composition within the material is from about 1.5 mL to about 12 mL. 
     
     
         11 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein a power source receiving space includes a securing means selected from the group consisting of: a clip, a clamp, a band, adhesive, a sleeve, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein the power source is configured to power a fan of a volatile composition dispenser, wherein the fan can force the volume of air through an inlet orifice of the volatile composition container and at least partially through the space in the volatile composition container to cause at least a portion of the volume of air to exit the volatile composition container through an outlet orifice. 
     
     
         13 . The replaceable unit of claim  1 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of: a porous media, a wick, a membrane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A replaceable unit for a volatile composition dispenser, the replaceable unit comprising:
 a shell defining a volatile composition container and a power source receiving space, wherein the power source receiving space an electrical lead for electrically connecting a power source with a volatile composition dispenser,   and wherein the volatile composition container comprises:
 a high surface area material disposed within the volatile composition container, 
 an inlet orifice; 
 an outlet orifice; and 
 an air flow path defined between the high surface area material and the shell and extending from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice, 
 wherein the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice are sized to inhibit evaporative losses of a volatile composition within the volatile composition container. 
   
     
     
         15 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the volatile composition container comprises only one inlet orifice and only one outlet orifice. 
     
     
         16 . The replaceable unit of claim of  claim 9 , wherein the outlet orifice can be offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis from the inlet orifice to create a tortuous path through the volatile composition container. 
     
     
         17 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , further comprising the power source, wherein the power source is a battery or a solar cell. 
     
     
         18 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the high surface area material has a volume of about 2 cm 3  to about 16 cm 3 . 
     
     
         19 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the high surface area material has an exposed surface area of about 5 cm 2  to about 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the volume of volatile composition within the high surface area material is from about 1.5 mL to about 12 mL. 
     
     
         21 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein a power source receiving space includes a securing means selected from the group consisting of: a clip, a clamp, a band, adhesive, a sleeve, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the power source is configured to power a fan of a volatile composition dispenser, wherein the fan forces air through the air flow path to dispense the saturated vapor phase volatile composition into the air. 
     
     
         23 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the high surface area material is selected from the group consisting of: porous media, a wick, a membrane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the volatile composition container comprises a baffle for directing air through the air flow path. 
     
     
         25 . The replaceable unit of  claim 9 , wherein the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice have a cross-sectional area in the range of about 0.01 cm 2  to about 0.2 cm 2 .