DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a personal olfactory device.

Prior art

It is well known that olfactive stimuli can have a strong emotional impact on the human being. It is a common experience that a pleasant olfactory sensation favours the achievement of a state of well-being and relaxation. Some studies exploit olfactory stimuli to attain beneficial effects on tackling stress, bad mood, eating disorders or mild states of depression. Furthermore, evidence shows that aromatherapy carried out with appropriate scents can control the craving for nicotine in smokers thus providing a concrete assistance in the process of getting out of the nicotine addiction and in quitting smoke.

There is a growing interest in the above and other aromatherapy applications and, consequently, there is an interest in developing olfactory devices for personal use.

An olfactory device for personal use is represented by the vaporizers which are commonly known as “electronic cigarettes.” Such devices are based on the principle of causing the evaporation of an aqueous solution by supplying heat and have the drawback of requiring a battery power supply. These devices therefore, require internal electronic parts for operation and tend to be quite expensive to be manufactured. Additionally, these vaporizers are essentially conceived to offer an alternative to cigarettes or as an aid to quit smoking, using for the latter purpose suitable solutions having a nicotine content progressively reduced. For this reason, they are essentially designed to reproduce the sensation of smoking a cigarette, for example they develop a cloud of vapour at each inhalation to give to the users the visual sensation of smoke. Consequently, they are unsuitable for an olfactory stimulation having a broader and more diversified purpose.

Among the devices known from the patent literature, the following can be mentioned.

EP 2978461 discloses a device for diffusing aromatic vapours forming part of a multimedia system for entertainment or educational purposes. It is therefore a device designed to involve an audience of people and not suitable for personal use. It should be noted that the persistence of an aroma in the air can saturate the olfactive cells and make the desired effect of aromatherapy disappear, for which a device capable of giving intermittent inhalation is preferable.

US 7484716 discloses a wearable olfactory cartridge which, like in the previous case, is designed to be used in a multimedia context. Said wearable cartridge is controlled by a central unit, for example a computer, to provide olfactory stimuli in a context of an audio-visual presentation.

US 7154579 discloses another example of an olfactive system synchronized with an audio-visual system.

In general, all devices developed for multimedia applications have the purpose of adding an olfactory sensory dimension to a film, a video game viewing, etc. They are therefore complex systems and can only be used in association with a multimedia apparatus.

US 6 803 987 discloses a portable olfactory device with forced ventilation operation achieved by means of a fan. The device essentially comprises an inhalation mask and a separate unit to be worn for example at the waist, which contains the fan, the respective battery, and other electrical and mechanical components necessary for operation. This is therefore a rather complex device and not very comfortable to use.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an olfactory device for personal use which is portable, comfortable to use and simple to manufacture, which does not require electrical power or internal moving parts. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved system for allowing the insertion and replacement of a cartridge containing an olfactive substance. In particular, an object of the invention is to preserve the scent contained in the cartridge by avoiding contact with the outside.

The object is achieved with a device according to the attached claims. The device comprises a housing for an interchangeable cartridge containing an olfactive substance and a dispensing nozzle communicating with the outside. The cartridge containing the olfactive substance communicates with the nozzle through a path comprising a Venturi-effect convergent channel.

The Venturi-effect convergent channel accelerates the flow of air containing the olfactive substance toward the nozzle. The applicant has found that this acceleration has the effect of concentrating the molecules of the olfactive substance and that this phenomenon improves the olfactory sensory experience and makes it more engaging at parity of substance consumed.

The device is integrally contained in a portable body and has no further external components. It does not require fittings or connections to external units.

Advantageously, the device comprises a diffusion chamber located between the cartridge and the convergent channel. Said diffusion chamber acts as an accumulation chamber, collecting a mixture of air and olfactive substance emanated from the cartridge. For example, the olfactive substance is represented by vapours of a volatile essence contained in the cartridge.

Moreover, and even more advantageously, the diffusion chamber is isolated from the convergent and from the nozzle by means of a normally closed passive valve: this avoids the dispersion of the olfactive substance when the device is not used.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a manual dispenser whose actuation has the effect of expelling at least part of the olfactory mixture contained in the diffusion chamber by temporarily opening said valve, in order to put the diffusion chamber in communication with the nozzle and pump the olfactory mixture towards the nozzle itself through the convergent. The passage of the mixture into the convergent achieves the desired effect of accelerating the flow.

The device according to the invention requires no battery power and has no mechanisms or moving parts inside it. It is therefore lightweight, little bulky and easy to manufacture. The device is suitable to be used as an olfactory device for personal use, for any aromatherapy application.

A device according to the invention can be advantageously made with a body with an elongated shape and with a length preferably from 100 mm to 150 mm, more preferably from 130 mm to 140 mm, for example about 135 mm. The body can have an essentially cylindrical shape with a variable diameter, and with a maximum diameter ranging between 20 and 25 mm, for example about 23 mm. With these dimensions, the device has substantially the proportions of a cigar and is easy to be used in any situation both indoors and outdoors.

The device can be used, with the appropriate essences, to create a state of satisfaction or relaxation in the user, so to evoke certain sensations or memories, or even as a healthy alternative to smoking. The use of the device comprises, for example, placing the device in proximity of a nostril and operating the dispenser causing the expulsion of an olfactory mixture comprising an olfactive substance contained in a cartridge mounted in the device. In use, the device can be positioned with the nozzle close to the nostrils, for example at a distance of about 3 cm.

Description of preferred embodiments

The convergent channel which achieves the desired flow acceleration due to Venturi effect is preferably located near the dispensing nozzle.

In various embodiments of the invention, the device may comprise a single nozzle or a plurality of nozzles, for example arranged in a crown. The emission axis of the nozzle can be tilted with respect to the axis of the convergent channel. Preferably, the nozzle may have an increasing cross-section area from the inlet to the outlet. The effect of said tilted axis and of said embodiment with increasing cross-section area is to improve the diffusion of the olfactive substance and consequently to obtain a better experience of use.

The diffusion chamber is preferably located between the cartridge and the nozzle and more preferably between the cartridge and the convergent. The path of the olfactive substance consequently crosses, in order: the diffusion chamber, the convergent channel and finally the dispensing nozzle towards the outside.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dispenser comprises a pressure zone that is elastically deformable when a pressure is applied by the user and that defines a wall portion of the diffusion chamber. By acting on said deformable wall portion (for example by pressing it with the thumb), the user causes a temporary compression of the diffusion chamber and the consequent expulsion of the olfactive mixture toward the convergent channel and the nozzle. In one embodiment, the device also comprises a valve located between the diffusion chamber and the nozzle and arranged to isolate the diffusion chamber from the nozzle. Said valve is arranged to open during the actuation of the dispenser and to close when the actuation of the dispenser stops. The valve is preferably located at the outlet of the diffusion chamber.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the valve is represented by an orifice in a portion of the wall of the diffusion chamber wall, the wall is made of elastically deformable material, for example silicone. The orifice has a closed configuration when the wall portion is undeformed in rest conditions, and an open configuration when the wall portion is elastically deformed due to the actuation of the dispenser. The wall portion for example is represented by a membrane. More preferably, said membrane rests on the inlet section of the converging channel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device comprises: a cartridge holder compartment, a spout that can be separated from said compartment, and a dispensing body. The spout, in turn, includes the nozzle and the convergent- divergent nozzle. The dispensing body can be fitted on the spout and is made at least in part of an elastically deformable material, preferably silicone. The dispensing body comprises the diffusion chamber and a pressure zone accessible to the user.

When the dispensing body is fitted on the spout, the diffusion chamber communicates directly with the inside of the cartridge (containing the olfactive substance) while it is essentially isolated from the nozzle through the valve previously described. By pressing on said pressure zone, the user causes the valve to open, putting the chamber in communication with the emission nozzle; at the same time the pressure causes an expulsion of the olfactive mixture from the diffusion chamber toward the nozzle through the convergent channel.

A further aspect of the invention is represented by a bayonet coupling between the interchangeable cartridge, containing the olfactive substance, and the device.

For example, in a preferred embodiment, the interchangeable cartridge can be inserted into said housing by means of a bayonet coupling which is formed between a first coupling element integral with the cartridge and a second coupling element mating with the first one and associated with the housing.

More preferably, the bayonet coupling comprises a male coupling element associated with the cartridge and a female element, mating thereto, obtained in the housing adapted to receive the cartridge. For example, the coupling elements are configured to achieve a bayonet coupling with a quarter turn of the cartridge relative to the housing. Even more preferably, when the bayonet coupling is in the engagement condition, an opening of the cartridge is compressed against a sealing ring made of deformable material, for example silicone, which ensures the sealing.

The male element associated with the cartridge can be provided, for example, on a neck of the cartridge, which is shaped like a small bottle. The male element can also be used to fix a cap of the small bottle, which is removed before insertion into the olfactory device. In a preferred embodiment, the male element is in the form of two fins extending from the neck of the small bottle.

The advantages of the bayonet coupling are essentially the following: the coupling is simple and fast; the slight compression contact with the sealing ring prevents the dispersion of the olfactive substance or the contamination of the substance with the external air; the bayonet coupling can have a perceptible feedback (for example in the form of a “click”) indicating the correct positioning of the cartridge.

Another aspect of the invention is represented by a personal olfactory device with an interchangeable cartridge, comprising a housing for receiving a cartridge containing an olfactive substance and at least one dispensing nozzle for realising the olfactive substance or a mixture containing the olfactive substance, wherein the cartridge can be inserted into said housing by means of a bayonet coupling between a first coupling element integral with the cartridge and a second coupling element mating with the first one and associated with the housing.

Yet another aspect of the invention is represented by an interchangeable cartridge for use in the aforementioned olfactory device, the cartridge containing an olfactive substance and having a first bayonet coupling element adapted to couple with a second bayonet coupling element provided in a seat of the olfactory device.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The invention is now described with reference to a particularly preferred solution and with the aid of the figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an olfactory device in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an exploded view of the components of the device of Fig. 1 , in which the components are seen in section.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the valve in the closed position.

Fig. 5 shows a detail of the valve in the open position. Fig. 6 shows an interchangeable cartridge, containing an olfactive substance, usable in the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the spout of the device, in section. Fig. 8 shows an example of bayonet coupling of an interchangeable cartridge containing the olfactive substance.

Fig. 9 shows an example of a cartridge configured for bayonet coupling.

Fig. 10 shows a variant of the olfactory device of Fig. 1 with bayonet couplable cartridge.

With reference to the figures, the essential components of the olfactory device 1 are: a shell 2, a spout 3, a pressure-operable dispenser 4.

The device 1 operates with an interchangeable cartridge 5 containing an olfactive substance (Fig. 6). The shell 2 defines a compartment 20 for housing the cartridge 5. In the example, said cartridge 5 is in the form of a small bottle 50 with a cap 51 which is removed before insertion into the compartment 20. The cap 51 can be received on the bottom of the compartment 20 acting as a support for the small bottle 50 as shown in Fig. 2. The olfactive substance contained in the small bottle 50 can be for example a liquid or a solid with suitable volatility.

The spout 3 can be screwed to the shell 2 by means of the coupling between a screw 30 of the stem of the spout 3 and a seat 21 of the shell 2. A ring 22 is provided between the shell and the spout. The spout 3 comprises a convergent channel 31 communicating directly with a nozzle 32 that is open outwards. Said convergent channel 31 is clearly visible in the enlargement of Fig. 7. The section 33 indicates the inlet section of the convergent channel 31. Preferably, the convergent channel 31 is directed along the longitudinal axis of the device 1 , as in the figures. The nozzle 32 preferably has an emission axis B tilted with respect to the axis A of the convergent channel 31 . The angle between the axes of the two channels is preferably from 30° to 60° and more preferably from 45° or about 45°.

The nozzle 32 opens onto a front surface 34 of the spout 3 which is preferably curvilinear and tilted with respect to the axis of the device itself.

The figures show a preferred embodiment in which the nozzle 32 has an increasing cross-section area from the inlet zone towards the dispensing zone on the outside. For example, the nozzle 32 has a substantially cone-shaped cross- section.

The stem of the spout 3 forms a seat 35 for housing and retaining the neck 52 of the small bottle 50 by the interposition of a ring 6. Preferably the ring 6 is made of silicone.

The spout 3 also has a seat 36 for housing the dispenser 4. It should be noted that the seat 35 for housing the small bottle and the seat 36 for the dispenser are communicating through a duct 37 formed in the body of the spout.

The dispenser 4 is made of an elastically deformable material, advantageously silicone, and comprises a pressure zone 40 which can be pressed by the user for example with the thumb. Said pressure zone 40, as will be apparent hereinafter, operates substantially as a small manually operated pump.

The dispenser 4 comprises on the inside a diffusion chamber 41 having an inlet duct 42 and an outlet orifice 43. Said orifice 43 is formed in a membrane portion 44 and is configured to remain essentially closed when the dispenser 4 is undeformed in rest conditions (Fig. 4) and to open when the dispenser is deformed (Fig. 5) under the effect of a squeezing force F.

More specifically, the orifice 43 is configured to open, as in Fig. 5, following a squeezing of the pressure zone 40 which deforms the membrane 44. For this purpose, the orifice 43 is designed as a slit oriented in a tilted direction, or preferably essentially perpendicular to the pressure zone 40. The orifice 43 acts as a passive valve which reacts by temporarily opening upon the pressure of the zone 40 and tends to close (due to the elasticity of the material) in the absence of stress.

The dispenser 4 is associated with the seat 36 of the spout 3. The dispenser 4 also has a retaining ring 45 which is coupled to the aforementioned stem of the spout 3 and a front collar 46 which is coupled to the body of the convergent channel 31 .

When the device 1 is assembled, as in Fig. 3, the small bottle 50 is firmly held inside the compartment 20 being supported by its own cap 51 and the neck 52 being housed in the seat 35 and retained by the silicone ring 6.

The small bottle 50 is open and the olfactive substance (for example a volatile liquid) can reach the diffusion chamber 41 through the passage 37 and the duct 42. A mixture of air and olfactive substance is formed in the diffusion chamber 41 . As a result of the assembly in the spout 3, the membrane 44 with the orifice 43 faces the inlet section 33 of the convergent channel 31 .

In the rest condition, the orifice 43 tends to remain closed and substantially isolates the chamber 41 from the channel 32. It should be noted that the membrane 44 is located at the inlet section 33 of the convergent channel 31 . In these conditions, the chamber 41 substantially acts as a volume of accumulation of olfactive mixture ready for dispensing while avoiding any waste. By pressing on the zone 40, the user causes the opening of the orifice 43 following the compression of the membrane 44, as exemplified in Fig. 5. The force F tends to spread apart the edges of the orifice 43, which opens so as to put the convergent channel 31 in free communication with the diffusion chamber 41 .

At the same time, the action on the zone 40 compresses the olfactive mixture inside the diffusion chamber 41 with a pumping effect, so that the olfactive mixture is expelled into the convergent channel 31 until it reaches the nozzle 32. The nozzle 32 diffuses the olfactive mixture to the outside.

By holding the device 1 at a short distance from the nose, for example 3 cm, the desired olfactive perception is obtained. The passage through the convergent channel 31 causes the desired Venturi effect of acceleration of the flow, which improves the olfactory experience. The diffusion toward the nostrils of the user is favoured by the tilted axis of the nozzle 32.

The assembled device 1 preferably has a length from 130 mm to 140 mm and a diameter from 20 mm to 25 mm. The small bottle 50 preferably has a diameter of 12 mm. The material for making the rigid parts may include plastic (possibly also recycled or compostable plastic), wood, metal or metal alloys.

The embodiment of Fig. 8-10 is now described. In this embodiment of the invention, the small bottle 50 is inserted into the seat 35 with a bayonet coupling.

More particularly, the neck 501 of the small bottle 50 has two projecting fins 502, preferably in a position such as to be diametrically opposite to the other, which represent a male bayonet coupling element. Preferably the fins have a convex edge 503 as can be seen in Fig. 9. More preferably, one fin has a convexity in the lower edge and the other fin has a convexity in the upper edge so as to facilitate a “snap” engagement in the seat 35. The corresponding female element, in the seat 35, is represented by two slots 351. If correctly aligned, the small bottle 50 can be inserted into the seat 35 by passing the fins 502 through the slots 351. Once the small bottle 50 has been inserted axially into the seat 35, by rotating the small bottle in the manner indicated by the arrows of Fig. 8, for example by ¼ of a turn, the fins 502 remain held by an edge 352 thus achieving the desired bayonet engagement.

It should be noted that the fins 502 can also be used for fixing the cap 51 of the small bottle. Therefore, the cap of the small bottle can also have a bayonet-type clamping. For this reason, the cap can also comprise a suitable female seat adapted to house the fins 502.

In Fig. 10 the reference numerals indicate details corresponding to those already described with reference to Fig. 2. The position of the fins 502, i.e. of the bayonet coupling between the small bottle 50 and the spout 3, is also indicated.