Air freshening and purifying devices are used in many forms, such as plastic containers, jars, impregnated rings and the like. These contain, or are impregnated with, a fragrance which evaporates over a period of time and is thereby released into the atmosphere. In this specification the term"fragrance"may refer to a simple perfume, but it is also intended to include a deodorant which itself may or may not be perfumed. The term"air purifying"is intended to include compositions having disinfecting and insecticidal capabilities.

Different forms of these sorts of devices are sold as being particularly suitable for use in certain locations e. g. in the home, in vehicles, to be placed on radiators or lights etc., to generally freshen or purify the surrounding environment.

However, it is recognised that certain types of apparatus which are commonly used by one or more people on a frequent basis, are prone to becoming a means for transmitting germs and from smelling stale. The most obvious example of such apparatus is a telephone handset, either for land based telephones or mobile phones. Telephone sanitisation cloths can be used to wipe down the handsets to

remove germs and freshen the apparatus. However, it is up to the user to remember to use such wipes on a frequent basis.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an air freshening or purifying device which can be affixed to solid objects, such as telephone handsets, cradles and receivers, which provides a means for freshening or purifying the air in the region of the handset for a period of time.

The invention therefore provides An air freshening or purifying device comprising a holder and a solid planar fragrancing or air purifying component, the holder comprising a first portion having a recess provided with means for receiving and supporting at least a part of a periphery of the component and a second portion containing vents, wherein the first and second portions are separated by hinge means so that they can be folded together such that the second portion covers the component, wherein one side of the first portion, which is an outermost side when the first and second portions are folded together and forms a base of the device, is provided with a layer of adhesive for attaching the device to another object, said base further comprising means to protect such an object from the fragrancing or air purifying component.

The fragrancing or air purifying component is preferably an emanation pad coated or impregnated with air purifying or fragrancing composition.

The composition is preferably in liquid or gel form and may be microencapsulated.

The fragrancing or air purifying component may alternatively be a disc of solid fragrancing or air purifying composition.

The holder may be made from plastic or cardboard.

In a preferred embodiment the second portion is provided with a projection forming a means for retaining the component.

Fastening means are preferably provided for fastening the first and second portions together when the disc holder is in a folded position.

The fastening means may comprise clip means or a releasable adhesive applied to a flange or a base of the device.

Preferably a protective layer is provided overlying the adhesive.

The recess may extend through at least a part of a thickness of the first portion.

Edges of the recess may be provided with locating means to receive and support the air purifying or fragrancing component.

Preferably the device in its closed state has a maximum width or diameter lying in the range of 10mm to 30mm, with a height of 1mm to 3mm.

The air purifying or fragrancing component has a maximum width or diameter lying in the range of 7 to 25mm.

A preferred embodiment in the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of an air freshening or purifying device according to the present invention as shown in an open state; Figure 2 is a plan view of the air freshening or purifying device of Figure 1 as shown in its closed state ; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the air freshening or purifying device on the line III-II of Figure 2; and Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of a telephone handset and cradle respectively to which the device of Figure 2 has been affixed.

An air freshening or purifying device 10 according to the present invention comprises a holder 11 which supports an emanation pad 12 coated or impregnated with a fragrancing or air purifying composition. The holder 11 is preferably of plastic, coated cardboard or metal and has a first portion 13 and a second portion 14 separated by a hinge or fold line 15. The first portion 13 is provided with a

recess or slot 16 sized and shaped to receive and support the pad 12. The second portion 14 is provided with a plurality of vents or apertures 17. An end of the second portion 14 remote from the hinge 15 is provided with suitable fastening means 18. The fastening means 18 may comprise a clip which co-operates with detente means provided on the first portion 13. Alternatively the fastening means 18 may comprise a releasable adhesive layer provided on a flange. The fastening means 18 advantageously provides a locking system to prevent accidental loss of the pad 12.

The pad 12 is preferably made from a solid material such as cellulose, scintered plastic or ceramic and is impregnated with a composition in a suitable form, such as polymerised fragrance oil in a dispersion. Alternatively the composition may be microencapsulated in a concentrate or dilute form. Alternatively the composition may be a gel based composition and applied in a surface coating on the emanation pad 12. The pad 12 is preferably circular, or it may alternatively be rectangular or another suitable shape.

The recess 16 is shallow and preferably provided at one or both edges with locating means, such as an undercut or slot, to receive and support the edges or parts of the periphery of the pad 12. The pad 12 can thus easily be loaded and removed from the holder 11. The recess 16 may extend through the whole thickness of the first portion 13. Alternatively it may only extend partially through the thickness of the first portion 13, as shown in the drawings.

In use, a pad 12 is loaded into the recess 16, whilst the holder 11 is in its opened out state as shown in Figure 1. The first and second portions 13,14 are folded together along the hinge 15 so that the pad 12 is covered by the second portion 14 to form a flat compact unit. The device 10 can then be affixed to a suitable solid object, such as a telephone handset, by means of a layer of adhesive 20 located on the outer surface 21 of the first portion 13, which effectively forms the base of the device 10.

The second portion 14 provides the user with protection against contact with the pad 12, whilst allowing the fragrance or air purifying composition to disperse via the vents 17. Furthermore the first portion 13 protects the apparatus, to which the device 10 is adhered, from the corrosive effect of the composition 17. Even in the embodiment of the invention where the recess 16 passes through the entire thickness of the first portion 13, some protection is given due to the fact that the recess 16 holds the pad 12 at least a small distance away from the surface of apparatus.

As an alternative to the emanation pad 12, a disc of solid injection moulded fragrance or a cut polymerised fragranced sheet using a polymerised dispensing 0.1 could be used in a similar manner. The disc may be circular or another suitable shape.

As a further option, the surface of the second portion 14, which is the inner most surface when the device 10 is in its folded state, is provided with a small projection which

is adapted to pierce the pad 12 or fragrancing disc to retain it in position within the device 10.

When intended for use on a telephone handset or cradle, as shown in Figs 4 and 5, the following ranges of dimensions of the device 10 and pad 12 are ideal:- In its closed state Maximum width or diameter of holder 10mm to 30mm Maximum height of holder 1mm to 3mm Maximum width or diameter of purifying or fragrancing component 7mm to 25mm However, the size can be varied for different applications.