US20130216296A1 - Dry Formulation Fragrance Delivery System - Google Patents

Abstract

A fragrance delivery system comprising a dispensing device having a dispensing component and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, wherein the mixture is dry as deposited on the dispensing component and dry as dispensed from the dispensing component during and after use.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/724,883 filed Dec. 21, 2012 by the same inventors and entitled CLOTHING WIPE; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/606,827 filed Sep. 7, 2012 by the same inventors and entitled CLOTHING WIPE; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/386,425 filed Mar. 22, 2006 entitled ODOR NEUTRALIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD, now abandoned. The present application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/679,563 filed Nov. 16, 2012 by the same inventors, which is a Continuation of the above application and is also entitled CLOTHING WIPE.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention generally relates to neutralizing unpleasant odors and, more particularly, to apparatus and a method for neutralizing unpleasant odors that may cling to the surface of a person's clothing, the fur coat or hair of a pet animal, surfaces of furnishings in households and offices, interior or exterior surfaces of vehicles of all kinds, work spaces and industrial facilities, etc.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Dining out, attending concerts or dance performances, going to the theatre or to movies, going to parties, dances and celebrations, going to night clubs and other entertainment venues, or just hanging out with friends are some of the activities people engage in during their free time. Generally, in preparing to participate in these activities, people take great pains to look their best and to present themselves in the best possible light. Personal grooming aids and products are often employed, most of which are scented, in an effort to appear attractive. Perfumes and scented grooming products are used to enhance the effects, particularly among persons interested in attracting other persons of the opposite sex, for example.
• Unfortunately, the scented effects tend to diminish rapidly, reducing the intended effect of the personal grooming efforts. Further, many of the venues for the above activities include exposure to a wide variety of odors. These odors typically originate from food and beverages in restaurants, from smoke in restaurants, bars, night clubs, etc., from the perspiration of the persons themselves and other patrons, and from other substances that may be encountered during an evening's entertainment. Many of these odors are unpleasant or become more so with the passage of time. Such odors are readily absorbed by a person's clothing or hair, and are carried with the person for the rest of the evening. Thus, not only are the original scents diminished through the natural evaporation and deterioration that occurs, but they are often overwhelmed or masked by the many odors in the surroundings. These circumstances may be especially worrisome to people in a dating situation, especially as the evening wears on and the persons anticipate extending the evening or just wish to freshen themselves before proceeding with the remainder of the evening's activities, one's next appointment, etc. Other circumstances where the need to refresh one's clothing or hair may arise include following a long or arduous meeting, working out in a gym, a long walk between offices, playing with pets, and the like.
• Conventional remedies include perfume or perfumed products such as cologne applied to a person's skin or clothing, typically provided in a spray container or a bottle. Other similar products may be applied by hand. Further, it is known that certain products, such as dryer sheets for use in clothes dryers, have sometimes been used in an effort to absorb the unpleasant odors from a person's clothing or hair, but generally with limited success. Further, such dispensing devices as traditionally used for perfume or cologne are not readily available with odor neutralizing capabilities adapted to neutralizing the odors accumulated on a person's clothing. Moreover, the use of paper or fabric odor absorbing devices has heretofore failed to provide more than limited usefulness.
• It is known or has been observed that certain paper or fabric products, such as the Bounce® dryer sheets and Swiffer® floor mop products manufactured and distributed by the Proctor & Gamble Corporation for the laundry and floor cleaning markets respectively, and which may respectively contain anti-static or scented compounds or cleaning agents, have certain properties that might suggest possible applications in this field of odor neutralization of clothing. However, the available configuration of these articles is not appropriate or well suited to the application of neutralizing the odors absorbed by a person's clothing in a night club or restaurant venue. The Bounce® dryer sheets and the Swiffer® mop refills are loose sheets of fabric. They are not conveniently packaged for a person's pocket or purse, are not adapted to the particular use of odor neutralization of a person's clothing, and do not contain suitable substances for neutralizing odors absorbed into or clinging to a person's clothing or other surfaces.
• Heretofore, applicating devices for materials that include odor neutralization by masking or addition of a fragrance have been available only in liquid form, or in a dry form that requires activation by the addition of moisture or other liquid to prepare them for use. Such products and methods, in addition to often being difficult to use (requiring extra steps, etc.), often have other disadvantages such as leaving stains or other residue on the surface treated with the applicating devices. Not only are these impractical for a person's clothing or hair, but they present obstacles for many other applications that seek to freshen a surface without leaving a wet film, residue or stain, that may be unwelcome or difficult to remove. There is thus a need for a wipe technology—an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus, that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods, and that is dry—before, during, and after it is applied to a surface to be treated and freshened. Further, it is desirable that a wipe can serve both to eliminate or neutralize unpleasant odors deposited or accumulated on the surface from the surroundings, and to in general to freshen or restore an original scent or replace an odor with an alternative pleasant scent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Accordingly there is disclosed a dry formulation fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising: a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation deposited on said dispensing component, said dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component.
• In one aspect the dry formulation is formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein said PEG has a molecular weight of approximately 3000 grams/mole to 5000 grams/mole; and said fragrance component is formed as a blend of at least one essential oil and at least one aroma compound.
• In another aspect the mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, a rotating adjustment knob extending from a first end thereof and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and a rotatable dispensing component controlled by said adjustment knob and disposed within a longitudinal opening through said body from said first side to a second opposite side of said body.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof; said body formed of first and second shells corresponding to said first and second sides, having a longitudinal window opening in said first shell and an access slot disposed through an edge of said body along and proximate a side of said window opening; and a renewable dispensing component disposed within said window opening in said first shell and installable through said access slot.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises an elongate member having an axle portion and a handle portion; a roller disposed on said axle portion; and a dispensing component formed of In another embodiment the a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said roller, said dispensing component including at least one layer of said fabric, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
• In another aspect a dry formulation fragrance control is provided, comprising a dispensing insole having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component, wherein the dispensing insole comprises a three-layer assembly, in order, of an insole pad, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a two-layer assembly of a first fabric dispensing layer and a second fabric body layer, wherein said first layer includes said dry formulation deposited thereon. In one embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe configured for receiving four fingers of a user's hand between said first and second layers of said assembly. In another embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe glove configured for receiving a user's hand within said glove between said first and second layers of said assembly45. In another embodiment the two-layer assembly comprises a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe mitten configured for receiving a user's hand within said mitten between said first and second layers of said assembly.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a body member having a transverse slot extending from a top to a bottom surface thereof, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on said bottom surface of said body on each side of said slot; a comb having a plurality of tines, said comb removably secured within said transverse slot, and said tines extending past said bottom surface of said body between first and second portions of said array of bristles; and a dispensing component formed of a fabric affixed to at least one of first and second outer faces of said comb, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises a body member having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on an underside of said body and surrounding said opening; a spool disposed within said opening and supported on fixed axial stubs; and a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said spool, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.
• In another aspect the dispensing device comprises an under layer and a carrier layer substantially congruent with said under layer, said layers bonded together along first and second opposite edges thereof, thereby creating a space therebetween such that at least four fingers of a user's hand can be inserted through said space.
• In another embodiment a method of delivering a fragrance to a surface, comprises the steps of configuring a dispensing device having a dispensing component for receiving a dry formulation containing a fragrance component; producing said dry formulation from a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin as a carrier component and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent of a fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; and applying said dry formulation to said dispensing surface of said dispensing device.
• In another aspect the method comprises the steps of engaging said dispensing device with a target surface; and manipulating said dispensing device to cause an amount of said fragrance component to be deposited onto said target surface in a non-liquid form, without leaving a residue of stain or significant traces of said dry formulation.
• In another embodiment there is provided a fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry for wherein said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.
• There is also disclosed a personal care apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing. The apparatus comprises a hand-held applicator formed of a first layer and a second layer bonded together along mutual edges thereof except along a portion of the mutual edges thereby forming a pocket or sleeve; an odor neutralizing formulation uniformly deposited on an outer side of the first layer of the applicator, wherein the formulation includes a base component and a neutralizer component; the base component includes approximately 86% polyethylene glycol ester and 10% glycerin and the neutralizer component includes a fragrance mixture formed of essential oils and one or more aroma compounds combined in predetermined proportions; and a pouch for enclosing the applicator when not in use, the pouch formed of a flexible packaging film and having a reusable closure mechanism disposed along one side thereof.
• In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a clothing wipe is provided, comprising the steps of forming a first layer of an applicator in a first branch of a web process including uniformly depositing an odor neutralizing formulation on an outer surface of said first layer; forming a second layer of said applicator in a second branch of a web process including imprinting said second layer with indicia followed by merging said first and second web process branches in a step for aligning said first and second layers of said applicator for cutting, trimming and bonding operations; and forming and imprinting a storage pouch for said applicator from flexible packaging film in a third web process followed by merging said third web process branch with said combined first and second web process branches in a step to insert said applicator in said storage pouch.
• In another aspect of the method for fabricating a clothing wipe, the step of formulating the odor neutralizing formulation includes the steps of combining a fragrance mixture in a predetermined proportion to provide a fragrance component having a “clean linen” aroma; and combining the fragrance component with a base component including a mixture of a polyethylene glycol ester and glycerin. In another aspect, the polyethylene glycol ester is combined with the glycerin in respective proportions of 86% and 10% of the odor neutralizing formulation.
• In another embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for neutralizing odors in clothing, comprising an applicator for applying a neutralizing substance to a person's clothing, the applicator including a carrier layer having a generally rectangular shape defined by a perimeter thereof and impregnated with the neutralizing substance, and a substrate layer having generally the same shape as the carrier layer and bonded to the carrier layer around all but a select portion of the perimeter of the carrier layer to form a finger pocket for manipulating the applicator. In an alternate embodiment, an activating mechanism or protective sleeve associated with the applicator may be provided for releasing the neutralizing substance from the carrier layer.
• In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed comprising the steps of providing an odor-neutralizing applicator having a carrier layer impregnated with an odor neutralizing substance and adapted to be slipped over the person's fingertips of one hand; slipping the applicator over the fingertips of the person's hand; and manipulating the applicator against the person's clothing to neutralize the odors in the person's clothing. In an alternate embodiment the method includes the step of activating the carrier layer of the applicator to release the odor neutralizing substance onto the person's clothing.
• In another embodiment of the present invention a clothing wipe is disclosed comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited as a dry formulation on a surface of a handheld applicator. The PEG mixed with glycerin and a fragrance together form a dry odor neutralizing formulation, and the PEG having a molecular weight within the range of 2000 to 7000 g/mol.
• In yet another embodiment a reusable clothing wipe for freshening a person's clothing comprises a handheld applicator having a first outer surface and a dry odor neutralizing formulation deposited on said surface of said applicator. The dry odor neutralizing formulation includes a base component and a fragrance component wherein the base component comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol and glycerin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of an apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing;
• FIG. 2 illustrates an edgewise view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a pictorial view of the use of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 illustrates a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment of an apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing;
• FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical depiction of an odor neutralizing formulation for use with the embodiment ofFIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of one example of a method of manufacture of the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5;
• FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the applicator pouch shown inFIG. 4;
• FIG. 8 illustrates a first alternate embodiment of the applicator;
• FIG. 9 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the applicator; and
• FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of the use of the first or second alternate embodiments of the applicator.
• FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device;
• FIG. 12 illustrates a second isometric view of the embodiment ofFIG. 11;
• FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment ofFIG. 11;
• FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device;
• FIG. 15 illustrates an isometric view of a portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 14;
• FIG. 16 illustrates an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device intended for use with pets and other animals;
• FIG. 17 illustrates an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device;
• FIG. 18 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment ofFIG. 17;
• FIG. 19 illustrates an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device;
• FIG. 20 illustrates another isometric view of the embodiment ofFIG. 19;
• FIG. 21 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment ofFIGS. 19 and 20;
• FIG. 22 illustrates an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a roller device;
• FIG. 23 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment ofFIG. 22;
• FIG. 24 illustrates an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the invention depicted inFIGS. 22 and 23;
• FIG. 25 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention configured as an insole device;
• FIG. 26 illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment ofFIG. 25;
• FIG. 27 illustrates a plan view of another embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 8,9, and10;
• FIG. 28 illustrates another plan view of the embodiment ofFIG. 27;
• FIG. 29 illustrates a plan view of another embodiment of the invention; and
• FIG. 30 illustrates a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the embodiment depicted inFIG. 29;
• FIG. 31 illustrates a plan view of an alternate embodiment toFIGS. 19,20, and21; and
• FIG. 32 illustrates an exploded view of the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 31.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• In the descriptions that follow, examples of a number of embodiments of devices and methods employing dry wipe fragrance technology will be described. These embodiments will serve to illustrate the concept and scope of the dry wipe fragrance or dry formulation fragrance delivery system of the present invention. The invention is adapted to uses as a grooming aid but is not limited to such uses. Following a detailed description of dry clothing wipes in several illustrative embodiments, including structural adaptations to related uses, there appears detailed description of additional uses for the dry wipe technology disclosed herein. Examples include dry wipes for a variety of surfaces that may have accumulated odors of all kinds. The examples illustrate ways to freshen a surface with a fragrance that either masks the odor on the surface or replaces it with a more pleasant scent that is appropriate to the particular surface or item. Dry wipes for use with animals such as pets or animals being prepared for show are described. Dry wipes for household or office furnishings and automotive interiors that include a variety of materials with differing propensity to absorb odors are also described. Dry wipes can be produced in a variety of sizes and style of applicator to suit specific needs. The applicators described herein may be reusable, especially when stored in a container to preserve their freshness. However, low volatility is characteristic of the dry formulations used in the illustrated embodiments.
• In general, the embodiments to be described may be thought of as a family of examples of a dry wipe fragrance delivery system. Each example includes a carrier or applicator that carries an embedded fragrance formulation until it is dispensed from the carrier or applicator. The carrier is constructed to retain the formulation until use, and to dispense the formulation on a light rubbing contact with the surface to be treated or freshened. Typically the dry wipes may be used for a number of applications before the formulation is depleted. The carrier may be fabricated in a variety of sizes and configurations suited to the particular kind of surface being treated. Some of the carriers are configured as mitts for placement on a user's fingers or hand. Other carriers may have textures or brush-like surfaces to facilitate applying the formulation to grained surfaces or surfaces that include hair, coatings of fur, etc. Moreover, there is little risk of soiling or contaminating the user's hand because the formulation is dry and the portion of the applicator that is touched by the user's hand is not that same as the surface that is impregnated with the formulation.
• Referring toFIG. 1, there is illustrated a plan view of one embodiment of an apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing by refreshing the person's clothing through odor neutralization and new scent deposition. Anapplicator10 includes atop layer12, which may bear abrand indicia14 including abrand16, and, as one alternate embodiment, atextual indicia18 includinginstructions20 for using theapplicator10. In an alternative, wherein thetop layer12 includes only a brand indicia, textual indicia may be affixed to or printed upon the packaging for theapplicator10. Abonding region22 is shown, indicating the location of a bond that is formed between thetop layer12 and other layers (not shown inFIG. 1) below thetop layer12. It will be observed, however, that thebonding region22, between the edge of theapplicator10 and the dashed line, surrounds the perimeter of theapplicator10 around all of the perimeter except for one edge of theapplicator10. The edge of theapplicator10 that does not include a bond is selected so that a person's fingertips may be inserted between two of the layers, as will be explained.
• Theapplicator10 in its preferred embodiment is intended to be a compact device easily carried in a pocket or purse. Thus, its dimensions are determined accordingly to be slim and only slightly larger than a business card, for example. Theapplicator10 in the illustrative embodiment shown inFIGS. 1,2 and3 may be approximately 3.75 inches long and approximately 3.00 inches wide. Thetop layer12 may be a paper material bearing theindicia14,18, which may, for example, be printed or embossed thereon by conventional processes. In alternative embodiments, however, the dimensions and shape of theapplicator10 may of course be modified for other applications without departing from the concept illustrated inFIGS. 1,2 and3. In general, the shape may be any plane figure that is bounded by a closed perimeter, such as triangular, rectangular, circular, elliptical, oval or polygonal. The portion of the perimeter that is open, called theopen space28, to permit the users fingers to be inserted between acarrier layer24 and a substrate layer26 (SeeFIG. 2) in the manner of a finger mitt, may be located at any location along the perimeter of theapplicator10. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of theapplicator10 is generally rectangular with rounded corners, wherein theopen space28—an entry side for inserting the user's fingers—is located along one of the shorter sides of theapplicator10. Other embodiments may position theopen space28 along a longer side or a curved side.
• Referring toFIG. 2, there is illustrated an edgewise view of theapplicator10. The structure of the embodiment shown includes three layers of material, each with a distinct purpose. Thetop layer12 has been described previously. It may be bonded fully to anintermediate substrate layer24, which may be fabricated from a thin, generally flexible and substantially non-absorbent material that has some stiffness or resiliency to provide shape and “body” to theapplicator10. The purpose of thesubstrate layer24 is to form a pocket in cooperation with thecarrier layer26 when theapplicator10 is prepared for use. Materials suited to this purpose include leather, synthetic, leather-like fabrics, heavy grade papers, and the like. The lower layer, thecarrier layer26, is preferably an absorbent layer of a non-woven fabric, such as may be formed of spun-bonded polyester fibers. This example, of which the fabric such as that used in the aforementioned dryer sheets is just one alternative, is illustrative only and a number of alternative fabric materials are feasible. Thecarrier layer26 is preferably impregnated with an odor neutralizing substance to be described. In alternate embodiments, thecarrier layer26 may include pleasantly scented material such as perfume or cologne, either alone or in combination with the odor neutralizing substance.
• Thecarrier layer26 may be bonded to thesubstrate layer24 around the perimeter of thesubstrate layer24 except at the selected open space shown inFIG. 2. This open space is provided for the person using theapplicator10 to insert his or her fingertips into thepocket28 between thecarrier layer26 and thesubstrate layer24 for the purpose of manipulating theapplicator10 during use. The edge of thebonding region22, represented by a dashed line (also indicated by reference number22), is shown within thepocket28 between thesubstrate24 andcarrier26 layers. The dashedline22, also shown inFIG. 1, may in one embodiment indicate one location of stitches for sewing the edges of thebonding region22 together. The edges of thebonding region22 may also be bonded using an adhesive, rivets, staples, clamps or crimped fasteners, or even be an integral part of both thesubstrate24 andcarrier26 layers of theapplicator10. An example of the latter embodiment is provided when thesubstrate24 andcarrier26 layers are formed of a single sheet of material that satisfies the requirements of both layers.
• In some embodiments it is advantageous for theapplicator10 to be disposable; that is, it may be discarded when the odor neutralizing substance impregnated in thecarrier layer26 is exhausted. Thus, the materials used in the construction of theapplicator10 need not be particularly durable. On the other hand, it is further contemplated that other embodiments of theapplicator10 may be reusable. For example, anapplicator10 constructed of relatively durable materials and configured to be fitted with areplaceable carrier layer26, may be provided. The latter embodiment might provide a marketing advantage in that the applicator may be provided at nominal cost with or without a package of refill carrier layers26 (or, carrier sheets26). A reusable applicator would include a bonding mechanism to enable removal of thecarrier layer26 for replacement by afresh carrier layer26.
• Referring toFIG. 3, there is illustrated a pictorial view of theapplicator10 being used to apply the odor neutralizing substance to a person's clothing. Theapplicator10 is shown being manipulated by a wiping action against theclothing30 of a user, as indicated by thearrows36. The user'sfingertips32 of his or herhand34 are inserted into thepocket28 between thesubstrate24 andcarrier26 layers of theapplicator10. In a preferred embodiment, thepocket28 in theapplicator10, when opposite sides (e.g., to the left and right of theapplicator10 as indicated by the triangular marks38,40 inFIG. 3) of theapplicator10 are squeezed slightly, opens wide enough to receive twofingertips32 therein for manipulating theapplicator10. Once installed on the user's fingertips, his or herhand34 is moved in a side-to-side motion36, rubbing or wiping the lower surface portion (not visible in the figure, but will be readily understood) of thecarrier layer26. This action causes the release and transfer of the odor neutralizing substance from a portion of thecarrier layer26 to the surface of the user'sclothing30, as will be described further herein.
• Continuing withFIG. 3, the odor neutralizing substance may, for example, be an activated charcoal material, impregnated into or formed into a fabric used to construct thecarrier layer26, that absorbs odor particles on contact with thecarrier layer26. In an alternative embodiment, a compound that combines with the chemicals in food odors and smoke, thereby causing them to be non-odorous, may be activated on contact with the person's clothing. In another alternative embodiment, a compound that volatilizes odorous substances on contact, causing them to disperse by evaporation may be used. Alternate embodiments may utilize a combination of these features in a single device to accomplish odor neutralization. For example, a device may combine the features of absorption and ionization to neutralize odors accumulating on the surface of clothing. Further, the odor neutralizing substance may be bound in microcapsules impregnated within the carrier layer, thus prevented from escaping until subjected to the pressure associated with the rubbing or wipingcontact36 against the user's clothing surface when theapplicator10 is being used. The odor neutralizing substance may additionally include a perfume or other scented agent. Alternatively, the perfume or scented agent may be separately impregnated into thecarrier layer26.
• In one example, an activated charcoal material that is formed into a textile fabric having a microporous structure may be used in thecarrier layer26. The microporous structure provides a very large surface area presented to the odor-causing substances, effectively absorbing them from the person's clothing during use of theapplicator10. The activated charcoal textile material, developed in Britain for its filtering properties, is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,371 issued to Conant et al.
• The following detailed description describes several alternative and preferred embodiments with reference toFIGS. 4 through 10.
• In one preferred embodiment to be described with reference toFIGS. 4,5,6, and7, the odor neutralizing substance may include a formulation comprising a base component and an organic odor neutralizer component combined in predetermined proportions. In the illustrated example, the base component may comprise a mixture of a polyethylene glycol ester and glycerin, in approximate respective percentages of 86% and 10%. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester, a soft, colorless material is provided as a base component—a carrier—that provides sufficient body to the formulation to hold the odor neutralizer component in a solid matrix. When the clothing wipe device is rubbed along the surface of the clothing, a thin film of the carrier or base, with the neutralizer combined therewith, is deposited on the surface of the clothing. This film leaves no stain and may be removed when the clothing is washed. The glycerin is soluble in the base and provides a softening effect on the base, while slowing the release of the fragrance component of the odor neutralizer to be described. The glycerin is also washable and leaves no stain, and has a low vapor pressure so that the stability and shelf life of the device are enhanced.
• The organic odor neutralizer component may comprise a fragrance component or mixture or composition. This component comprises approximately 4% of the total odor neutralizing formulation. Fragrance mixtures are well known and are available in a wide variety of formulations or types, for neutralizing a wide variety of odors. Some of the available types include: a masking agent, a solvent, an absorbant, an encapsulant, and a spray dry fragrance. In the present invention, one class of fragrance compositions or mixtures has been found particularly suitable for counteracting or neutralizing odors on clothing or a person's hair, for example. Such a fragrance mixture is a blend of several constituents that is formulated to present—i.e., leave behind on the user's clothing—a “clean linen” aroma or scent. In the illustrated embodiment, the constituents of the fragrance mixture may include chemicals of an aromatic or aliphatic nature such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, and materials containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur. The fragrance mixture are preferably comprises approximately 4% of the total odor neutralizing formulation. However, due to the subjective nature of the sense experience, this proportion may be varied by experimenting with the proportions to be mixed. For example, the test may begin by varying the ingredients in greater or lesser proportion until a preferred proportion is determined for a particular application.
• In regard to the proportions of the three principal ingredients of the odor neutralizing formulation described above in specific percentages, it is important to point out that these are percent values arrived at for one embodiment of the illustrated clothing wipe. The clothing wipe may be configured for a variety of specific applications depending on the market for such variations. Accordingly, the proportions of the these ingredients may be varied to suit particular formulations to meet a specific target market segment. In general, the proportion of the polyethylene glycol ester may range from 80% to 90%, the glycerin (or an acceptable substitute) may range from 6% to 16%, and the fragrance mixture may range from 0.5% to 10%. Potential market segments may be gender-specific or unisex, or directed to particular kinds of activities such as indoor or outdoor, social or business or recreation, etc. Other applications may include clothing wipes that are formulated as insect repellants or other ancillary uses besides refreshing the scent or odors present on a person's clothing or hair. Such applications may include ingredients that are combined in proportions that differ substantially from those set forth herein. For example, a wipe having an insect repellant substance may include 15% to 30% repellant chemical in combination with a base component of 70% to 85% and a fragrance mixture of a few percent, for example. Other applications may include wipes having formulations adapted to a person's skin surfaces. Such applications may include ingredient formulations based on other types of ingredients in other proportions, etc. Thus, the clothing wipe described herein is only one example of a versatile delivery system for scented or other chemical formulations configured for a wide variety of personal care products.
• In use, as described herein below, the rubbing action that occurs when the clothing wipe device is brought into contact with the user's clothing or hair and deposits the odor neutralizing formulation or substance in proportion to the degree of force used and the length of path or amount of time expended as the device is rubbed across the surface of the clothing. This provides a convenient way to regulate the amount of odor neutralizing formulation deposited during use, thereby affecting the strength and noticeability of the fragrance and the effectiveness of the clothing wipe device described herein.
• Manufacturing the clothing wipe device may be illustrated by a simple sequence of steps. Both the applicator and the pouch may be supplied in bulk as thin fabrics and packaging film respectively. Each one may be imprinted in bulk web-processing facilities prior to cutting and bonding the individual pieces that will be assembled to form the applicator or the pouch. Imprinting may be used to apply logo and other indicia, as well as instructions for use and/or attractive graphics, to the pouch. The fragrance mixture may also be applied during a bulk web-processing process by depositing the compound odor neutralizer material in a slot-dye coating process, well-known in the art. In this process, the formulated mixture is placed into a reservoir such as a hopper device and conveyed to a distributing device that has a narrow slot orifice oriented across the width of the fabric that is to receive the mixture. The slot has a length approximately equal to the width of the fabric, and deposits a measured layer of the odor neutralizer formulation onto the surface of the bottom, active (first) layer of the applicator.
• Materials for the bottom (first) and top (second) layers of the applicator are selected for the abilities to be imprinted, bonded ultrasonically, and fabricated in a web-processing process as will be described. The bottom layer of the applicator may be a single ply of a non-woven (e.g., spun-bound) polypropylene fabric or a two-ply combination of a non-woven polypropylene fabric having a weight of approximately 160 g/m²weight and a rayon fabric that is needle punched in a predetermined pattern over the area of the layer to secure it to the polypropylene fabric. The total thickness of the two-ply layer may then have an approximate thickness of 0.10 inch or less. In a single layer embodiment the additional step to bond the rayon or other fabric layer may be deleted. The top layer of the applicator may preferably be a non-woven (e.g., spun-bound) polypropylene fabric of approximately 100 g/m²weight and a thickness of approximately 0.013 inch. These weights/thicknesses are approximate and selected for the size and weight appropriate to the look and feel of the hand-held clothing wipe device described in this example. Other materials may be selected as long as they have the properties suited to the application. For example, certain alternate embodiments intended for heavy-duty service may be fabricated of heavier weight materials or synthetic fabrics of greater durability.
• In the embodiment ofFIGS. 4-7, the two layers, after imprinting, depositing the odor neutralizer to the bottom layer and cutting to size, may be ultrasonically bonded around the perimeter except for along one edge, allowing the one edge to remain open, thereby forming a pocket so that the applicator may be slipped over a user's fingers during use. The bottom layer may preferably be provided in a color different from the top layer to facilitate identification of the correct side of the applicator to apply to the user's clothing. For example, the bottom layer may be white and the top layer imprinted with the logo, etc. in other colors. In another embodiment to be described with reference toFIGS. 8-10, two opposite edges of the applicator are left open—unbonded—thereby forming a sleeve for the user's fingers.
• The storage pouch may be manufactured from a flexible packaging film that is imprinted with graphics, logos, legends, indicia, instructions for use, etc. As is well known, flexible packaging film is available in many forms depending on the kind of product to be contained therein and the kind of graphics imprinted on the outside layer, etc. In the illustrated example, the packaging film, which should be adapted to containing personal care products, may be a laminated product whereby each layer of the material is selected to provide the particular properties desired in the package. Such flexible packaging film products are typically laminated of multiple layers of thin film materials such as a coated and printable outer layer to support printed graphics (e.g., polyester), low density polyethylene (LDPE), a metal foil, a linear low density polyethylene film (LLDPEF), and the like. These materials may be provided in thicknesses that range from 0.25 to 1.5 mil (1 mil= 1/1000 of an inch). In the embodiment described herein the total thickness of the film packaging material may be approximately 3.5 mil. These materials in combination provide sufficient body, moisture and puncture resistance, resistance to tearing, the effects of light, etc.
• As shown inFIG. 4 thestorage pouch70 includes a closure mechanism along the one side or edge of the pouch that does not have a bound or welded edge along its perimeter. This open edge may be resealed to enclose the applicator therein when not in use so that the odor neutralizing capacity is preserved. One preferred closure mechanism is to provide the open edge with a string zipper—a flangeless zipper—or its equivalent. The locking members of the string zipper are sealed to the edges of the opening to be closed or opened. As is well-known, a string zipper allows for reclosing a package without requiring a separate traveling slider to zip or unzip the package. String zippers may be molded from polyethylene or other similar materials. Another closure mechanism is illustrated inFIG. 7. In this example the bottom layer of the applicator is extended past the opening along the edge of the applicator, thus forming a closure flap. A strap of the same material used for the top layer may be attached parallel to the open edge on the outside of the applicator and spaced slightly away from the open edge of the applicator to serve as a retainer for the closure flap.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a pictorial view of an alternate embodiment of an apparatus for neutralizing odors on a person's clothing. Thispersonal care product50 includes anapplicator52 and apouch70. Theapplicator52 is feinted by bonding abottom layer54 of a suitable material to atop layer56 of a suitable material along itsedges58 except for oneedge60 that is left open62, thereby forming a pocket in the space between the top and bottom layers to enable a user to insert at least two fingers therein during use. Thus, in this embodiment, the first and second layers are bonded together along mutual edges thereof, except along a portion of the mutual edges—e.g., on one side or edge—thereby forming the pocket. Theapplicator52 may be imprinted withgraphics64 such as brand name or logo indicia or other decorative features. Thebottom layer54 of theapplicator52 further includes anodor neutralizing formulation66 applied-to or embedded or impregnated into the outer surface of thebottom layer54. Theformulation66 is further described inFIG. 5.
• Continuing withFIG. 4 apouch70 for storing theapplicator52 in when it is not in use is shown. Thestorage pouch70 may be formed of a single sheet of flexible packaging film as described herein above, folded along anedge81 and bonded along opposite side edges82. The fabrication process is shown inFIG. 6 to be described. Thepouch70 includes atop side72, abottom side74, and aclosure flap76 extending from thebottom side74. Thepouch70 may also includegraphics80 such as decorative features, brand name, or logo indicia imprinted on the outer sides of the pouch. In the embodiment shown astring zipper78 is provided as a first part on the underside of theclosure flap76 and a second part on the outer surface of thetop side72 of thepouch70. Theclosure flap76 may be folded along the dashedline84 until the two parts of thestring zipper78 are placed in contact and pressed together. As is well-known, a string zipper is a reusable fastener for a package that includes complementary molded ridges that may be pressed together to seal the zipper. To open the package a user need only grasp the top and bottom sides along thestring zipper78 and pull thesides72,74 at their open edges apart to separate the ridges of the fastener.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical depiction of anodor neutralizing formulation88 for use with the embodiment ofFIG. 4. InFIG. 5, a base component may be formed of a mixture of polyethylene glycol ester90 (PEG ester) andglycerin92, mixed together in approximate proportions (of the total odor neutralizing formulation) of 86% and 10% respectively. The polyethylene glycol (PEG), which comprises most of the odor neutralizing formulation, is used as a thickening agent and a carrier or vehicle for delivery of the malodor counteractant. The molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol should generally be within the range of 2000 to 7000 g/mol (grams per mole), and preferably approximately 4000 g/mol. One example of the principal ingredient of a suitable base component or thickener is a product named Mapeg® 6000 DS PEG (6000) Distearate, which is available from the BASF Corporation, Florham Park, N.J. 07932. This product, which has an average molecular weight of 6000 g/mol, is a polyethylene glycol ester widely used in soaps and other products as emulsifiers, stabilizers, viscosity control agents, and the like. There is also a variety of versions of this product available in various molecular weights and other parameters, etc. One suitable PEG that is preferred for the present invention is a product called Carbowax™ Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 4000, which has an average molecular weight of 3600 to 4400 g/mol. Further information about this product is available at www.carbowax.com and is manufactured by The Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, Mich., 48640.
• Theglycerin92 component is included in the formulation to soften the PEG somewhat to enable smooth application of theodor formulation88 on the user's clothing. Substitutes for theglycerin92 may include other poly alcohols or long chain poly oils well-known in the art. The combination of the PEG90 and theglycerin92 enables slower, more uniform release of the fragrance mixture (to be described). The purpose of thebase component90,92 is to provide a solid but soft carrier or delivery vehicle for the fragrance mixture. The base component also provides a barrier to the escape of bad odors (“malodors”) from the fabric of the person's clothing or the person's hair by providing a thin, transparent, colorless film upon the surface being wiped, yet is washable and leaves no stain.
• Theodor neutralizer component94 makes up the remaining 4% of theodor neutralizing formulation88. One reason for the relatively small percentage—approximately 4%—used in the illustrated embodiment is that typically only a very small amount of a malodor substance is very noticeable. Accordingly, only a very small amount of a counteracting fragrance may be needed to be effective in neutralizing the malodor. Further, it is possible for a limited amount of a fragrance blend or composition to counteract a malodor or to neutralize an odor. For example, in an aroma compound based on an aldehyde, the aldehyde may react with nitrogen in a malodor to form what is known in the art as a “Schiff Base” product that “ties up” the nitrogen malodor materials, thereby reducing the perception of the malodor.
• Continuing withFIG. 5, in the illustrated embodiment the odor neutralizer component preferably includes afragrance mixture94 formulated from an essential oil in combination with at least one aroma compound to provide an odor characteristic that matches the desired odor paradigm. The aroma compound, such as the aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, or esters, as is well-known, react easily with the elements that are found in malodors—i.e., oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur. A particular choice of aroma compound may be one of several that would be suitable for the type of clothing wipe50 described herein. Thus, a preferred choice would be primarily a matter of (a) how the aroma compound reacts with other materials and (b) the desired subjective criteria associated with the scent of the aroma compound. As is well-known, an aroma compound typically may include many ingredients, combined in a proportion to yield a particular aroma or scent, in varying degrees of strength or intensity, duration of effects, etc., to name just a few kinds of characteristics.
• In the present formulation these aroma compounds may include chemicals of an aromatic or aliphatic nature such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, and/or materials containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur. One example of a fragrance mixture is perfume, which is a mixture of essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents, each selected to yield a desired particular effect. A typical recipe may include primary, secondary, and tertiary components, for example. In the present invention, a fragrance mixture that presents a “clean linen” scent is suggested as one non-limiting example of many possible fragrance mixtures and fragrance paradigms that may be used in a device of the type described herein, including active scents (typically associated with masculine users) and floral scents (typically associated with feminine users) for example.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of one example of a method of manufacture of the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5. As is well-known, many products made from thin film or fabric materials may be suitably processed on web processing facilities. Web processing typically receives material from a bulk roll of material and may include mechanisms in various sequences for imprinting, coating, folding, bonding, depositing other substances thereon, cutting, filling, laminating, etc. Such processes are among those suitable for manufacturing both theapplicator50 and thepouch70 described herein inFIG. 4.FIG. 6 depicts one such process applied to fabricate both theapplicator50 and thepouch70. The method employs several web processing lines that begin with individual components of the clothing wipe, wherein the separate web processing lines or branches are merged in a single step to combine the individual processing lines or branches to join together two components of the finished product. This merging step may occur more than once, as illustrated inFIG. 6.
• Continuing withFIG. 6, the flow for fabricating the applicator may begin atstep110 to load the web processor with the material for thetop layer56 of theapplicator52 followed bystep112 to imprint thetop layer56 with selected indicia orgraphics64 before sending the imprinted material to step114. In a parallel process the material for thebottom layer54 is loaded into a separate branch of a web processor instep116 for forwarding viastep118 to feed thebottom layer54 material through a machine such as used for a slot dye process to deposit measured amounts of theodor neutralizer formulation66 onto the surface of thebottom layer54. Theodor neutralizer formulation66 may be prepared in astep120 and advanced to step122 to be applied to thebottom layer54 of theapplicator52.
• As is well known, a slot dye process is adapted to dispense a measured amount of a substance from a narrow slot opening across the width of a moving belt of the film or fabric to be coated or imprinted. As readily understood by persons skilled in the art, alternatives to the slot dye process exist that also deposit a uniform coating of a material in fluid, powder, or granular form upon the surface of a fabric. The choice is best made to suit the particular form of the product being fabricated. The slot dye process is described as one readily understood method of applying a uniform coating of material to a surface of an object.
• Following deposit of theodor neutralizer formulation66 the material for thebottom layer54 is next prepared to be aligned with and joined to—i.e., merged with—the material for thetop layer56 instep114. Following alignment, the flow advances to step124 wherein the line of applicators formed to that point may be cut intoseparate applicators52 followed by bonding the side andrear edges58 of the alignedtop56 and bottom54 layers together instep126. Such bonding may utilize an ultrasonic bonding process to bond the edges of the top56 and bottom54 layers to each other, thereby forming anapplicator52 that may be worn as a small pouch or finger mitt as depicted inFIG. 3, or a sleeve as illustrated inFIGS. 8-10 that is slipped over the user's fingers. After thebonding step126 the completedapplicator52 may be merged with thestorage pouch70 instep128 and inserted into astorage pouch70. Thestorage pouch70 may be fabricated in a similar way to be described. In the bonding step, several alternative processes may be used including continuous ultrasonic, uniform discontinuous ultrasonic, and a stitched bond. The stitched bonding may be stitched with a thread material or be simulated by an intermittent (discontinuous) ultrasonic bonding.
• Beginning atstep130 with loading the flexible packaging film for fabricating thepouch70 the flow advances to step132 to imprint the flexible packaging film with indicia such as product or brand name, logo, colorful graphics, instructions for use, other text to comply with regulatory requirements, etc. following imprinting, the imprinted film passes through a station to cut the blanks of thepouch70 to size instep134 before being folded, and the aligned side edges are bonded, again by an ultrasonic process, for example. The completedstorage pouch70 is aligned to merge with the completedapplicator52 instep128, wherein theapplicator52 is inserted into thepouch70, including folding over theflap76 to seal it against thetop layer56 by pressing the two sides of thestring zipper78 together or otherwise securing the closure. The process may then deliver the finished clothing wipes50 to abulk packing station138 to prepare them for shipment. Typically the clothing wipes manufactured as described may be packaged in quantities of one dozen to multiples of a dozen, for example. The packed products may proceed to astation140 that tests whether the package is to be shipped immediately instep142 according to an order or transferred to inventory instep144. At this point, the flow ends.
• As will be readily understood, the example of the fabrication process depicted inFIG. 6 is merely illustrative of one of several possible ways that the manufacture of these clothing wipe products may be accomplished. As noted herein above, the clothing wipe is a delivery vehicle well-suited to a wide variety of applications for delivering chemical-based products to the surface of a person's clothing or hair or skin. Its structure, regardless of the particular chemical formulations applied to the bottom layer of the clothing wipe, is thus basically the same as that described herein and adapted to being fabricated in the processes described and illustrated herein.
• FIG. 7 illustrates analternate embodiment150 of theapplicator storage pouch70 shown inFIG. 4. As inFIG. 4, thepouch70 may be formed of a single sheet of flexible packaging film as described herein above, folded along anedge81 and bonded along opposite side edges82. The basic fabrication process as shown and described inFIG. 6 may be used. The pouch includes atop side72 and abottom side74, and may also includegraphics80 such as decorative features, brand name, or logo indicia imprinted on the outer sides of the pouch. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, aclosure flap152 extends from thebottom side74. A retainingstrap154 for theflap152 extends from eachside edge82 of the pouch where it is bonded to therespective side edge82 at thelocations156 shown inFIG. 7. Theflap152 provides for closing and opening thepouch70. Persons skilled in the art will realize that other closure methods or mechanisms are possible such as other types of zip fasteners, releasable adhesives and the like.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a first alternate and preferred embodiment of the applicator. In this embodiment of theapplicator152, both ends of theapplicator152 are open, thereby forming a sleeve to permit the user's fingertips to extend beyond the end of the applicator. Further, the bonding of the bottom154 and top156 layers on either side edges166 of theapplicator152 is indicated by the dashedlines158.Indicia168 are shown on thetop layer156. The same materials are used in the fabrication of this embodiment as the embodiment ofFIG. 4 but the structure is slightly different, reflecting improved utility and only one of several other possible variations.
• Continuing withFIG. 8, theapplicator152 is formed by bonding abottom layer154 of a suitable material to atop layer156 of a suitable material along first and second side edges166, leaving both ends160 open—i.e., forming a sleeve by providing a passage between the first and second layers—to enable a user to insert at least two fingers in and through the space orpassage162 between thelayers154,156 of theapplicator152 during use. The feature of permitting the user's fingers to extend through the passage orsleeve162 of theapplicator152 has been found to work well because theapplicator152 is less likely to slip off the user's finger during its use. The bonding of the top156 and bottom154 layers is indicated by the dashedlines158 along the side edges166 of theapplicator152. The dashedlines158 may indicate the location of ultrasonic bonds or, alternatively, the stitches of a sewn binding. Theapplicator152 may be imprinted withgraphics164 such as brand name or logo, orindicia168 or other decorative features. Thebottom layer154 of theapplicator152 further includes anodor neutralizing formulation66 embedded, impregnated, or other wise applied into or upon the outer surface of thebottom layer154. Theodor neutralizing formulation66 is further described inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 9 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the applicator. In this embodiment of theapplicator172, both ends of theapplicator172 are open to permit the user's fingertips to extend through thespace182 between the bottom174 and top176 layers of theapplicator172. In this embodiment thetop layer176 is formed as a strap across the mid-section of theapplicator172. The bonding of the bottom174 and top176 layers on either side of theapplicator172 is indicated by the dashedlines178, andindicia188 are shown on theupper layer176. This embodiment of theapplicator172 is a variation of the embodiment depicted inFIG. 8 that may be implemented to save cost, for example. The same materials are used in its fabrication but the structure is slightly different, reflecting one of several possible variations.
• Continuing withFIG. 9, Theapplicator172 is formed by bonding abottom layer174 of a suitable material to atop layer176 or strap of a suitable material along both side edges180, leaving both ends of theapplicator172 open to enable a user to insert at least two fingers in and through thespace182 of theapplicator172 during use. The feature of permitting the user's fingers to extend through thespace182 of theapplicator172 in the manner of a sleeve has been found to work better because theapplicator172 is less likely to slip off the user's finger during its use. The bonding of the top176 and bottom174 layers is indicated by the dashedlines178 along the side edges180 of theapplicator172. The dashedlines178 may indicate the location of ultrasonic bonds or, alternatively, the stitches of a sewn binding. Theapplicator172 may be imprinted withgraphics184 such as brand name or logo, orindicia188 or other decorative features. Thebottom layer174 of theapplicator172 further includes anodor neutralizing formulation66 embedded or impregnated into or otherwise applied upon the outer surface of thebottom layer174. Theodor neutralizing formulation66 is further described inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of the use of the first or second alternate embodiments of the applicator. This view is similar toFIG. 3 except the user is shown with the embodiment ofFIG. 8 in use. The use of the embodiment ofFIG. 9 is similar. Theapplicator152 is shown being manipulated by a wiping action against theclothing190 of a user, as indicated by thearrows196. The user'sfingertips192 of his or herhand194 are inserted into the space orsleeve162 between the bottom154 and top156 layers of theapplicator152. In a preferred embodiment, thespace162 in theapplicator152, when opposite sides166 (SeeFIG. 8) of theapplicator152 are squeezed slightly, opens wide enough to receive twofingertips192 therein for manipulating theapplicator152. Once installed on the user's fingertips, his or herhand194 is moved in a side-to-side motion196, rubbing or wiping the lower surface portion (not visible in the figure, but will be readily understood) of thebottom layer154 against the surface of theclothing190. This action causes the release and transfer of the odor neutralizing formulation66 (SeeFIG. 5) from a portion of thebottom layer154 to the surface of the user'sclothing190. An important attribute of the applicator152 (and also other embodiments thereof as described herein) is that it enables a controlled release of the amount and strength of the fragrance component upon the user's clothing or hair when rubbed against these surfaces.
• Theapplicators10, includingembodiments52,152,172, and variations thereof, described herein above may be used multiple times and stored in a person's pocket or purse when not in use. However, in an alternate embodiment, theapplicator10 may be enclosed in a protective wrapper (See, e.g.,FIG. 4) that is removed by the user prior to use. This wrapper or pouch may be configured to retard deterioration or prevent inadvertent dispersion of the odor neutralizing formulation or odor masking substances that may occur between uses. In another alternate embodiment, a protective layer of thin paper or plastic material having a low tack adhesive may be attached as a fourth layer (not shown) to the underside of thecarrier layer26. To activate thecarrier layer26, the user need only remove the fourth layer for use and replace the fourth protective layer over thecarrier layer26 after use. In a variation of this alternate embodiment, microcapsules of the odor neutralizing substance may be embedded in the adhesive that secures the protective layer to the carrier layer. Such microcapsules are well-known in the art for incorporating sample fragrances in periodical advertisements for the fragrance products. The microcapsules are ruptured when the protective layer is peeled away from the carrier layer, thus releasing or activating the odor neutralizing substance just prior to the use of theapplicator10. In another variation the fragrance mixture may be encapsulated in a starch compound, for example. Encapsulates act to retard the volatility of the fragrance mixture until it is released by contact or other action to open the encapsulate. Other mechanisms are spray dry fragrances, which can be deposited on clothing and released with friction against the fabric.
• While the invention heretofore described has been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is shown with the opening disposed in one of the longer sides of theapplicator10. In one modification (not shown because its appearance is readily visualized to one skilled in the art, based on the structural features shown inFIGS. 1,2 and3), the opening for receiving the user's fingertips may be provided in one of the shorter sides of the applicator, thus permitting insertion of the user's fingers to a greater extent to provide a firmer grip on theapplicator10.
• In another modification, theapplicator10 may be enlarged such that a user's entire hand fits within thepocket28 between thesubstrate24 andcarrier26 layers. This configuration enables the use of the applicator as a hand mitt, for applying odor neutralizing substances to a larger fabric surface area, for example, such as to upholstery in vehicles or on furniture or draperies and curtains in offices or residences, etc.
• As noted herein above, potential market segments for clothing wipes as described herein may be gender-specific or unisex, or directed to particular kinds of activities such as indoor or outdoor, social or business or recreation, etc. Other applications may include clothing wipes that are formulated as insect repellants or other ancillary uses besides refreshing the scent or odors present on a person's clothing or hair. Other applications may include wipes having formulations adapted to a person's skin surfaces. Such applications may include ingredient formulations based on other types of ingredients in other proportions, etc. Thus, the clothing wipe described herein is only one example of a versatile delivery system for scented or other chemical formulations configured for a wide variety of personal care products.
• Yet another modification is to provide a pouch orsleeve70 as described inFIG. 4 for enclosing and storing theapplicator10 within when not in use. Such a pouch or sleeve may also protect thecarrier layer26 from contact with other surfaces or substances that could degrade its functional characteristics. A sleeve could also be employed as part of a mechanism for activating the applicator just prior to use, if that is a particular objective of the product. In this embodiment, removing theapplicator10 from enclosure or contact with the sleeve may serve to activate the odor neutralizing substance for use.
• In the following paragraphs several alternate embodiments are described: (A) A clothing wipe comprising: a mixture of PEG, glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture forming a dry formulation deposited on a surface of a handheld applicator; (B) A reusable clothing wipe for freshening a person's clothing, comprising: a handheld applicator having a first outer surface; and an odor neutralizing dry formulation deposited on said surface of said applicator; and (C) A method for neutralizing odors on clothing, comprising the step of: transferring a dry formulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance from an applicator to the surface of a person's clothing, skin, or hair, or to other surfaces as will be described.
• The more general form of the clothing wipe described herein may be adapted to a variety of applications, all of which embody the principles set forth herein and in the appended claims. The principle concept of the present invention, contrary to conventional practice in the industry that typically teaches complex combinations of numerous ingredients, is of a dry formulation of the combination of only three ingredients in carefully selected proportion and applied to the applicating surface of a wipe applicator that fits on a person's fingers or hand. The wipe is small, portable, reusable, convenient, and inexpensive to manufacture and use. From the foregoing description and further details to follow it is important to understand that the wipe described herein contains and is specifically adapted to dispense a dry formulation onto the intended surface, to avoid leaving any stain or residue that cannot be washed by conventional means. This is in distinct contrast to conventional wipe products heretofore available that are typically characterized, and limited to, the use of dry formulations that must be activated with water before use, or the use of wet formulations, some of which leave a residue that is difficult to remove or which can even damage the surface finish if applied too copiously or with improper technique. Such wet formulations would be inappropriate for the uses disclosed herein because of the risk of stains, damage or harm to the surfaces contemplated for the present dry wipe invention.
• The embodiments described in detail herein are provided to illustrate without limitation the concepts or principles of a dry wipe system for dispensing or delivering a malodor counteractant to a surface that a person wishes to freshen. As one example, any fragrance that can be delivered by the applicator may be used, from among the hundreds available. The clothing wipe can be used in a variety of scenarios or locations in which clothing is subject to picking up different kinds of odors such as an indoor dance event, a night club, an athletic event, a downtown (out of doors) event, movie theatres—any number of places that may have characteristic odors that a user might want to counteract with the clothing wipe. The wipe could also be used to “freshen” a user's skin and/or hair after an active dance or other circumstance where perspiration is likely to arise.
• Some of these characteristic odors might be: perspiration, other perfumes and fragrances, automobile exhaust, cooking and food odors, tobacco smoke, mildew, popcorn, etc. Neutralizing these odors may require different scents or different proportions of the constituents of the scent. For the example of strong or noxious odors, either a higher % of fragrance or a fragrance that provides more complete masking would be suitable.
• Another example provides a wipe that replicates a user's cologne or perfume so as to refresh his or her's own “scent.” For instance, a cologne or perfume customer could receive an applicator packaged or supplied with a cologne or perfume product that is already prepared for use or that the customer could prepare by adding the cologne or perfume themselves before going to an event.
• As yet another example, the wipe can be used by workers in industrial settings, such as automotive repair, machine shops, paint shops, kitchens, bakeries, butchering facilities, feed stores and the like—that is, any work environment that contains strong or unpleasant odors. In such cases, where the workers may need to mingle or meet with customers or executives, a clothing wipe may be used to advantage.
• Extending the scope of the concept and principles described herein, one may be led to uses of the dry wipe (as distinguished from so-called wet wipes or delivery systems that spray a liquid substance on to a target surface or in the air that are well known in the art) to freshen household surfaces such as furnishings and countertops, to wipe the fur of pet animals such as dogs, cats or other animals, and to freshen the interior surfaces of automobiles, trucks, airplanes and other vehicles, for example. The fragrances selected or developed and the size of the applicator may be adapted to each specific application. In most applications a scented fragrance to match the particular odor neutralization task is important; in some other applications a formulation that is unscented or provides only a very slight scented presence may be preferable.
• Referring toFIGS. 4 through 10, previously described for an exemplary embodiment to illustrate the concepts of the invention, persons skilled in the art will recognize that a number of alternate embodiments are possible, either identical with or are close structural equivalents or derivatives of the embodiment illustrated in the figures. Accordingly, reference to the figures as previously described should enable persons skilled in the art to readily understand the structures of the various additional alternative embodiments to be described herein below.
• For example, in the dry clothing wipe described, the fabrics used to form the applicator, the odor neutralizing formulation deposited on the surface of the applicator, and the scent provided by the formulation use materials, ingredients, and have characteristics that may be varied within the overall concept of the illustrated embodiments—a personal care or wipe device that is configured for delivering a dry odor neutralizing formulation from a convenient, reusable applicator to a person's clothing, hair, or skin or other intended surface.
• Selection of the fabric for the applicator may be from among a wide variety of materials. The dispensing component portion of the dispensing device is preferably a fabric that has an affinity for water—i.e., is hydrophilic—such as a non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric or its equivalent. The fabric chosen for the applicating surface of the wipe must be able to receive deposition of the dry formulation on it during manufacturing, retain it without significant absorption during storage or non-use, and disperse it readily but controllably onto the target surface when it is wiped against it. Other essential properties or characteristics may include color, surface texture or roughness, and so forth, as will be described.
• Further, the fabric chosen must be low in cost, which favors non-woven fabrics made by such processes as spunbonding, or pressing the fibers together. Moreover, the fabric must be suitable for automated manufacturing processes, including machine operations such as cutting, bonding of pieces together, etc. Various synthetic fibers may be used to make fabrics suitable for receiving a deposited dry formulation thereon that may subsequently be applied or transferred to another fabric surface simply by wiping the applicator along the other fabric or surface. In some applications, it may be advantageous to form the applicator of fabrics of a color that is selected to mask the particles of dust, strands of hair, etc. that may be picked up by the applicating surface of the applicator as it is rubbed across the surface to dispense the dry formulation. In other applications, the applicating surface may include features or textures that attract or retain or adhere to such particles of dust or hair and the like that are encountered by the wipe, to enable their removal as well as freshening the surface being treated by the wipe.
• Selection of the fragrance to be used in the formulation presents a different kind of task because the applicator may be adapted to a wide variety of uses simply by choosing a particular fragrance from among many that are available. Further, the proportion of the fragrance in the formulation may be varied depending on the circumstances of use of a specific embodiment of the wipe and characteristics of the fragrance. As is well known, fragrances are typically effective in relatively small amounts, such as ½% to 10% of a combination of ingredients for most applications and, in the present invention, may preferably be on the order of 1% to 5%, generally determined empirically.
• As is well known to persons skilled in the art, fragrances or scents may be classified or categorized in several ways, depending on the use of the fragrance or the interests of the person or entity that organizes the categories. Most such categories will overlap to a strong degree. Thus masculine scents may include category members not present in feminine scent categories. Others may include both. Still others may include categories for determining industrial or cleaning uses of scents and fragrances.
• For example, scents that may be found in cleaning products may include cedar, cinnamon, citrus, cotton, lemon, sage, etc., while scents for use in a dry clothing wipe as described herein may appropriately be selected from perfumes or colognes preferred by masculine or feminine users. Such scents or fragrances for the latter uses may be classified as floral, citrus, fougere (fern-like), woody, oriental, spice, etc. Still others may be categorized as clean cotton or clean linen to impart a freshened or clean scent to one's clothing—not unlike freshly laundered clothing—after using the wipe.
• Neutralizing odors using fragrances or scents can be accomplished either by chemical interaction of the scent compound with the molecules of the malodor, or by masking or covering the malodor with a stronger but pleasant scent. Both methods are suitable for use in clothing wipes as described herein and other forms of wipes using a dry formulation. In some special applications special scents may be developed, and some embodiments may even be available with an array of optional scents.
• Producing or formulating a fragrance having a given scent typically involves mixing selected essential or fragrance oils in predetermined proportions. Essential oils are volatile or aromatic liquid extracts from plants. Synthetic “fragrance oils” mimic the aromatic aspects of botanical oils. The resulting mixture may be mixed with alcohol and or distilled water. The resulting scent or fragrance is then combined with the base component of the odor neutralizing formulation, which may be the mixture of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerin, for use on the clothing wipe disclosed herein. In general, the process of mixing the ingredients proceeds as follows. (1) In a suitable vessel, heat the PEG at about 70° C. until fully liquid; (2) add the glycerin and mix well until uniform; (3) add the fragrance and continue mixing until uniform; and (4) cover until ready for depositing on the substrate layer—the fabric dispensing component of the various embodiments described herein. The amount deposited will typically be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 grams per square inch (or about 0.01 to 0.08 g/cm²) but can be adjusted depending on the application.
• The dry wipe technology described herein may be adapted to a wide variety of applications for freshening surfaces of a person's skin, hair; or surfaces of household or office furnishings, appliances, and fixtures; or the hair, fur, or feathers of pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits and other rodents, birds, etc.; or the surfaces in the interiors of automobiles, trucks, airplanes, boats, and the like. Most such adaptations are easily accomplished by varying the size of the applicator, the materials used in its construction, or the formulation and the accompanying fragrance selected for the particular intended surface application.
• For example, a home or office wipe may require a larger applicator such as a mitt to accommodate a person's entire hand, which is basically a scaled up version of the applicators depicted in the drawings herein, including the open-ended construction ofFIGS. 8,9, and10, or the single-ended embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 through 4. A dry wipe for household surfaces may be configured by appropriate selection of size, fabric, and formulation to adapt to freshening the surfaces of any and all articles found in homes or offices without limitation such as tables, counters, cabinets, chests, chairs, sofas, bedding, rugs or carpets, lamps, appliances, TV and electronic equipment, baskets for laundry and trash, and decorative objects. Fragrances adapted for household dry wipes may preferably be provided with an outdoor “fresh air” scent or, for another example, the ever-popular lemon scent frequently used in wet wipe formulations.
• In a further embodiment of a dry wipe adapted to uses on pets—dogs, cats, rodents, even pet birds, for example—the applicator may be provided in the same size as for the personal clothing wipe depicted herein or in a larger, “mitt-sized” applicator that can accommodate a person's hand. Such a wipe would have a fragrance adapted to the particular animal, one for dogs, another for cats, perhaps unscented for animals that might be sensitive to particular fragrances, etc. The wipe may also be configured structurally to better suit the surface being treated, as in the case of pets or other animals with fur, hair, or feathered skin. In other words, the bottom, applicating side of the wipe may be configured differently than a clothing wipe for personal (human) use. For example, the bottom layer of the applicator may have a texture or a rough, nappy surface, or be configured with an array of bristles (as in a brush) so that it more readily picks up particles of dust or hair, etc. during use while freshening a surface. Alternatively, the bottom portion of the applicator may be configured with a comb-like structure in combination with the dry odor neutralizing formulation to enable use of the dry wipe to transfer the formulation to the hair or fur of a pet animal during grooming. In other embodiments not shown but contemplated herein include those in which the bottom layer or fabric of the applicator, which is impregnated or otherwise includes the dry formulation deposited thereon, may be configured with alternating strips of the normal fabric described above situated between strips of textured or bristled material, or nappy fabric. In yet another example, the bottom layer or portion of the applicator may be a darker color so that particles of dust or hair or feathers that adhere to the wipe during use might be less visible.
• Yet another alternate embodiment of a dry wipe may be configured for use to neutralize the odors that accumulate or otherwise become deposited on the interior surfaces of an automobile, truck, aircraft or other vehicle. Such a dry wipe might preferably be provided with a hand mitt-sized applicator because of the convenience of the larger area of the applicator and its ability to be installed on a person's hand. The bottom layer of the applicator and the fragrance used may be provided in several versions, each adapted to use with a different kind of surface that might be encountered in the interior of the vehicle, such as fabrics of different textures, leather, hard, polished trim surfaces, etc. Again, the bottom portion of the applicator having the dry formulation in combination therewith may be specifically configured to best adapt it to the surface being treated with the dry odor neutralizing formulation.
• The description above and the description which follows disclose a number of additional alternate embodiments to illustrate the scope of the concepts and principles of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Some examples of structures and materials that are equivalents as they are expressed in the various distinct embodiments that share all of the same concepts and principles. Persons skilled in the art will recognize the existence of and be familiar with alternatives to each of the materials suggested herein. In other words, the fabrics and their equivalents, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and its equivalents, the glycerin and its equivalents, the fragrances or malodor counteractants and their equivalents, as each is selected for use in the particular embodiment of the invention appropriate to the surface desired to be treated—i.e., freshened—with the dry formulation wipe described herein, are all contemplated in the foregoing description.
• For example, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) material used as a thickening agent and carrier in the dry wipes described herein is selected from a hydrophillic compound having a range of molecular weights and viscosities from liquid through solid. In the present invention it is preferred that PEG compounds, or acceptable substitutes therefor, of medium to moderately high molecular weight, e.g., within the range of 2000 to 7000 g/mol and preferably approximately 4000 g/mol, or at least semi-solid consistency be used such that the combined formulation is essentially dry when the applicator is removed from its storage pouch or other container for use on an intended surface. The glycerin is added to improve the smoothness, uniformity, and spreadability of the formulation. Other odorless, viscous supplements may be used as long as the mixture of the base material such as the PEG or its substitute and the supplement used are compatible and the resulting mixture provides a suitably dry delivery vehicle for the fragrance or malodor counteractant from the surface of the applicator to the surface that is intended to be freshened by use of the wipe, whether, as appropriate, it is configured as a clothing wipe, a household wipe, a pet wipe, or an automotive interior wipe and the like.
• There are other chemical categories that could potentially be used in place of the polyethylene glycol as long as they are solid at room temperature and will give a limited deposition when the applicator is wiped on a surface. Categories such as paraffin waxes, glycerides, coco butters, fatty alcohols, ethoxylated alcohols, emulsifiers, hydrogenated oils, etc. may perform suitably with this type of product. Also there are other emollients that can be potentially be used in place of the glycerin, such as propylene glycol, low molecular weight glycols, alcohols and other solvents that will soften the substrate and have a low volatility so that the product will have a proper shelf life without drying and becoming brittle. Blends and mixtures of the above chemical classes can also achieve the desired end product, i.e., a mixture of polyethylene glycol plus paraffin wax or a solid longer chain aliphatic alcohol could serve as the major ingredient in the formulation.
• In a broadened sense, the clothing wipe concepts described herein above provide illustrative examples of a reusable dry formulation fragrance system such as a dry formulation grooming aid—a device or method or system using a dry formulation that usually includes a fragrance that is delivered or dispensed by some sort of device (wipe, brush, roller, pad, mitten, glove, etc.) for the purpose of performing some grooming action on a person's clothing, hair or skin; a pet's hair or fur coat; the surface of an object such as home or office furnishings, automotive (or other vehicle) interiors, etc. It should be understood that the term “grooming” is used in the broadest sense as treating a surface in some useful way by applying the dry formulation fragrance or other component to the surface. Further, the dry formulation is understood to be a mixture that is dry as deposited on the dispensing component prior to use and dry as dispensed on—delivered to—a target surface during and after use. The term “dry” means non-liquid, as in a polymeric matrix. Examples of the variety of applications are discussed in the foregoing description. The description which follows discloses several exemplary embodiments to illustrate structures of the delivery system adapted to satisfying the differing requirements of many of these alternative applications. In some applications the grooming may be accompanied by treating the target surface in some way in addition to depositing a fragrance to the surface. Examples include applying sun-screen, insect repellant, or in the case of pets, an antidote to fleas, etc. Accordingly, a variety of embodiments to be described herein below provide more kinds of such devices, methods or systems for the delivery of dry formulations having scented or unscented, specifically treated or untreated properties that have utility, primarily but not limited to, a grooming application.
• For purposes of the present invention, the term “dry formulation” means that the fragrance component (or other substance delivered as a part of the dry formulation) is dispersed in a solid form material such as a polymeric matrix, as opposed to being conveyed in a liquid base or carrier. At normal room or outdoor temperatures, the formulation is dry—i.e., not liquid and not viscous—on the dispensing surface, and it is dry on contact with the target surface as it is applied to the target surface. For example, dry on the dispensing surface means that it is dry in the same way a hard wax finish is dry after it is applied to the dispensing surface. Similarly, dry on contact with the target surface means that after application the dry formulation leaves the fragrance on the surface, usually with only minimal traces of the polymeric matrix (the PEG+glycerin, the delivery agent or carrier or base component). It is a key attribute of the dry formulation of the present invention that, after application—usually by a wiping or roll-on action of the dispensing device—it is present on the target surface only in trace amounts and is thus basically imperceptible except by detecting the scent of the fragrance or the absence of the malodor. In other words, the formulation is invisible but the fragrance or absence of the odor is what is perceived. Moreover, the dry trace residue if any is clear and essentially colorless, it leaves no stain, and is readily washed when the target surface is cleaned. In contrast, other “dry” products such as chap stick, underarm deodorants, lipstick, etc. intentionally leave a residue of the formulation as the intentional object of its use.
• Thus, the carrier or base component of the dry formulation fragrance provides the medium for conveying the fragrance component from the mixing or composition stage, wherein the PEG and the glycerin are mixed in their viscous phase at elevated temperatures, to the application surface of the dispensing device during manufacture, where it becomes dry as it cools below approximately 100° F., and from the dispensing device to the user's target surface as it delivers or transfers the fragrance component during use. The carrier or base component is formulated to be dry at normal temperatures, to deposit the fragrance component evenly upon the target surface, while leaving no stain or significant residue or traces of the carrier component on the target surface.
• When describing the proportions of the ingredients of the dry formulation fragrance or other combination, the amounts are preferably expressed as “weight percent” of the total weight of the formulation. Thus, for example, the dry formulation might be expressed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component. Further, the primary base component, a polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) may include its molecular weight, such as 3000 to 5000 g/mol. for example, with a preferred range of 3500 to 4500 g/mol. Moreover, the proportion of the fragrance in the formulation may be varied depending on the circumstances of use of a specific embodiment of the wipe and characteristics of the fragrance. As is well known, fragrances are typically effective in relatively small amounts, such as ½% to 10% of a combination of ingredients for most applications and, in the present invention, may preferably be on the order of 1% to 5%, generally determined empirically.
• In the more general case of alternative embodiments to the illustrated examples described herein, the following data is supplied as a guide to the parameters of manufacture.
• The percentage of solid (polyethylene glycol) ingredient needs to be sufficient to cause solidification of the formulation at temperatures at which the product would normally be used. This would require ranges as follows:

• 	Waxy or solid ingredients	40-95%
  	Emollients or solid ingredient softeners	5-40%
  	Fragrance or odor fighting ingredients	1-20%

  
  Other ingredients can be added to this formulation for desired effects. This could be, but not limited by, ingredients such as antistats to reduce static electricity, skin conditioning ingredients such as vitamins, Aloe Vera, etc, surfactants or cleaners, coloring agents, etc.
  The percentage of additional ingredients could be as low as 0.05% for certain very active ingredients to as high as 50% to achieve the desired effect such as incorporating a cleaning agent into the formulation. For example:

• primary alcohols	0.001%-50%
  secondary alcohols	0.001%-50%
  aldehydes	0.001%-100%
  esters	0.0001%-100%
  ketones	0.0001%-50%
  phenolic compounds	0.0001%-50%
  any other recognized aromachemical compounds	0.00001%-100%

  
  To prepare the formulation for deposition onto the dispensing pad or substrate, the solid ingredient(s) need to be heated until liquid. With the formulation listed above, this requires a temperature of 50-90 degrees Celsius (122-194 F). The fragrance is usually added to the batch at the temperature where the mixture is still liquid, but as low as possible to avoid vaporizing the more volatile ingredients in the fragrance. The final formulation is applied to the substrate while the batching is still liquid, generally when the temperature has been allowed to drop to the lower end of the heating range. This is likely in the range of 60-70 Celsius (140-158 F), but the application temperature of the formula is dependant on both the formulation ingredients as well as the equipment and the process used to apply the formulation to the substrate.
• • The end product formulation is a solid at room and temperatures up to 120+/−20 degrees Fahrenheit. The consistency is like a candle wax or a hard shoe polish so that when the applicator is rubbed onto clothing or other surfaces, the odor fighting fragrance in the formulation will be transferred to the surface. If the product formulation is to soft, to much of the waxy formulation will be applied and if the formulation is too hard the amount of product deposited to the surface will not be sufficient to achieve the desired effect.
    The formulation contains both solid and liquid ingredients as described above. The solid ingredient from the supplier can be in powdered, prilled or solid form. Both the fragrance and emollient softener (glycerin) in our formula are liquids for all normal encountered temperatures. During the process batching and heating as described above, the mixture becomes a liquid and stays a liquid until the mixture cools below its solidification temperature. With our formulation, the solidification temperature is about 145 F (+/−10 F). As it's applied to the applicator it cools very quickly for the proper handling and packaging.
• In the following detailed descriptions a variety of alternative embodiments of the invention are presented, to illustrate various ways that the concept of applying a dry formulation containing a fragrance component or a substance with other chemical properties or scents to mask or neutralize odors that accumulate on surfaces can be applied as a grooming aid to a wide variety of such surfaces. This concept enables, for example, grooming of a person's hair, skin, or clothing; the hair or fur coat of a pet or other animal, or even the “fur” of a fur coat, natural or synthetic; the surfaces of upholstery or furnishings of an office, residence, customer areas in business establishments; or the interior surfaces of vehicles, private or engaged in public transportation, and the like.
• By way of illustration and not limitation some embodiments are configured as brushes having a wipe surface incorporated in the bristle portion of the brush. Others may have a roller device incorporated into the brush to transfer the fragrance formulation to the target surface by rolling it on as the brush is passed through the hair or fur coat or otherwise used to brush the target surface. Still others are configured as rollers for rolling along a surface without the need for brushing to dispense or deliver the fragrance component to clothing, upholstery, or other surfaces. Further, still others are wipes configured for being slipped over a person's fingers or hand, similar to the clothing wipes described previously in the present Detailed Description. The embodiments described herein include removable or replaceable dispensing components having a dry formulation fragrance or other substance—some configured as a removable cartridge or the like—that add a fragrance to the target surface or absorb or mask odors accumulated on a target surface such as skin, hair, clothing, upholstery, etc. The wipe surfaces or the roller surfaces of the dispensing devices may be reusable and replaceable. Several different brush styles are illustrated to suit different kinds of target surfaces to which the fragrance component may be applied. Other embodiments include gloves or mittens, which are adapted to efficient application of the fragrance component to furnishings or upholstery in buildings or vehicles, for example.
• Beginning withFIG. 11 various embodiments are illustrated, some of which employ the same structural features or components as depicted in previous figures and are thus identified by the same reference numbers. The embodiments depict exemplary devices to illustrate the concepts and principles of the invention but do not exhaust the possibilities for implementing the invention. Accordingly it is intended that persons skilled in the art may apply the concepts illustrated herein to practice the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
• A structural feature common to all of the embodiments described herein is a dispensing surface that includes a coating of the dry formulation fragrance described herein. The dispensing component portion of the dispensing device is preferably a fabric that has an affinity for water—i.e., is hydrophilic—such as a non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric or its equivalent that is coated with the dry formulation in a manufacturing process that precedes the manufacture of the apparatus that supports the dispensing device in a form convenient for hand-held use. In most embodiments the side of the fabric dispensing component opposite the coated side is also coated, but with a low tack or other type adhesive to secure the fabric to a part of the dispensing device or to enable multiple layers of the fabric to be applied to the dispensing device. Thus it will be understood that when a structural element is identified as a roller, or a wipe pad or surface, it will include the dispensing component (the fabric) and the coatings as described above. In the figures, the dry formulation fragrance coating is visible and indicated by the shading on the respective surfaces in the drawings. Thus, a reference number for the dispensing component will represent the fabric and the coating thereon. Further, in most embodiments, at least one edge of the dispensing component may be uncoated along a narrow band at the edge of the fabric to enable convenient removal of a top layer of multiple layers of the fabric to replenish the dispensing device with a fresh dispensing component. For example, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 11,12, and13, theroller element214 includes adispensing component215, which is to considered as one or more layers of a fabric material coated on the outer surfaces with the dry formulation fragrance and on its opposite side with a low tack adhesive. There will be a few exceptions to this structure, which will be identified as needed.
• Referring now toFIGS. 11,12, and13 several views of an embodiment of the invention configured as a brush-type dispensing device are illustrated. Thebrush200 is depicted inFIGS. 11,12, and13 in top, bottom, and exploded views respectively.Brush200 includes abottom side202 havingbristles204 attached to thebottom side202 typically in an orderly and uniform array, and atop side206 that attaches to thebottom side202 along a seam orparting line238. The bottom202 and top206 sides, which may typically be fabricated as separate “halves” to facilitate manufacture and assembly, may be secured along the seam orparting line238 using adhesives or other fasteners, or snap-fit or slide-together parts, all well known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment the bottom202 and top206 sides may, illustratively, be molded shells of a thermoplastic material, or stamped of sheet metal, as is well understood in the art. Thebristles204 may be nylon, boar's hair, metal, or other synthetic materials, the selection being dependent upon the intended use or application. An opening208 (see208A—top and208B—bottom) is provided in both thebottom side202 and thetop side206 to receive aroller214 as shown that functions as a dispensing component or surface in the dispensing device (brush200). Theroller214 may be supported on an axle or on pivots as will be described. Theroller214 includes a dispensingsurface215, preferably fabric (to be described), upon which the dry formulation may be deposited during manufacture. Thebrush200 includes ahandle210 and anaccess cap212 on the distal end of thehandle210. Anadjustment knob216 to be described is disposed in the forward end (opposite the end having the handle210) of thebottom side202.
• Continuing with the exploded view inFIG. 13 theadjustment knob216 includes a threadedscrew218 extending from a rear side thereof along its axis of rotation, whose threads match the internal threads of thehole224 in the forward end of thebottom side202. Theadjustment knob216 is part of an assembly including acoil spring220 and anadjustable pivot222 to adjust the longitudinal compression along the axis of asplined roller spindle228, thereby acting as a brake on the rotation of theroller214 during use of thebrush200. Thesplined roller spindle228 is a “push-fit” within thecylindrical bore213 of theroller214. Preferably, theroller214 is an assembly that includes a cylindrical form wrapped with several layers of a non-woven, spunbonded, hydrophilic fabric that is coated on the outer surface with the dry formulation fragrance and the inner surface with a low-tack adhesive. The fabric layers are preferably lightly scored or perforated laterally at intervals roughly corresponding to the circumference of theroller214, so spent portions of the fabric may be removed to expose fresh surfaces of the coated fabric. The fabric itself may, for example, be a polypropylene sheet material having a weight of approximately 100 g/m²although other weights may be preferable in certain specific applications.
• The assembly of thespindle228 androller214 is rotatingly supported on a fixedpivot226 and theadjustable pivot222, which may typically be conical in profile and are positioned in each end of theopening208 in thebrush200. The adjustableconical pivot222 is mounted on a rectangular or square base that is supported in a similarly shapedcompartment223 to prevent it from rotating as theroller device200 is being used or theadjustment knob216 is being adjusted. Theadjustable pivot222 and thecompression spring220 are positioned within theopening208 in alignment with thescrew218 on theadjustment knob216. As theknob216 is rotated clockwise, thecompression spring220 may be compressed to exert more tension on the end of thespindle228, thus resisting its ability to roll; similarly, as theknob216 is rotated counter clockwise thecompression spring220 tension is reduced, allowing the roller to roll more freely. Thehandle210 of thebrush200 is hollow in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, theaccess cap212 includes a portion withexternal screw threads232 that matchinternal screw threads234 disposed within the distal end of thehandle210. The threadedaccess cap212 thus enables access to thehollow handle210 for storing aspare roller230 within it. Thespare roller230 may be identical with theroller214.
• Materials for the various parts of thebrush device200, and for similar variations of the brushes described herein, including the bottom202 and top206 sides, thecap212, the cylindrical form for theroller214, theknob216,spindle228, and pivot222 may be fabricated by injection molding or stamping, from thermoplastic or metallic materials respectively, or their equivalents, all of which are well known to persons skilled in the art. The bristles of thebrush device200 may be formed of nylon, metal, boar's hair, or synthetic materials suited to the application. Thecompression spring222 may be metal or plastic as appropriate for the application. In one example, thespring222 may be formed from spring steel as a coil spring.
• In operation the brush depicted inFIGS. 11,12, and13 is configured for use as a hair brush that also applies a fragrance to the hair being brushed. The surface of the roller is covered with a fabric material, preferably a hydrophilic, non-woven or spun-bonded polypropylene fabric as described herein in the description of the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-10. This material is chosen because it readily accepts the dry formulation as it is deposited on the fabric during manufacture and readily disperses it as the applicator or dispensing device is brushed through a person's hair that also causes the fragrance to be transferred to the hair through the rolling and/or wiping action of the dispensing component—theroller214. The separate layers of the fabric may be uncoated at a narrow strip along one or more edges of the fabric to enable easier grasping of a layer for easy removal to expose a fresh layer. It is intended that theroller214 not spin freely, but will roll as the brush is passed through the hair or fur, its rotation being retarded by the tension exerted upon the ends of the roller by thepivots222,226.
• FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an exploded isometric view of an embodiment similar to thebrush device200 ofFIGS. 11-13, except for the mechanism used to control the rotation of the roller. As before, the bottom202 and top206 halves of the brush body of thebrush device260 inFIGS. 14 and 15 are assembled at a seam orparting line238. In this embodiment,roller214 is mounted onspindle228 and supported at one end bypivot226. However, at the opposite end of the spindle228 a detent mechanism controlled by anadjustment knob240 is provided. Theknob240 includes a three-part shaft extending from a rear side of theknob240. The three parts include, in order, adetent shaft242, acircular retaining rim256, and aspindle support244 having a square cross section (in this illustrative embodiment), all disposed axially along a longitudinal axis from the center of the back side of theknob240. Thedetent shaft242 may have a cross section having anywhere from three to ten substantially equal sides; that is, it may be an equilateral triangle, rectangle, etc. . . . to an octagonal or even a ten or twelve-sided cross section. Typically, and in this illustrated embodiment, the detent shaft may have an equilateral octagonal cross section. However, the detent mechanism that may be used is not limited to the particular embodiment depicted in the figures.
• Thedetent mechanism assembly258 includes theadjustment knob240 and itsdetent shaft242, retainingrim256, andspindle support244 plus adetent bulkhead252 that includes acastellated retainer254 as shown inFIG. 15. The castellated retainer functions as a detent shroud in that the segments (or prongs or fingers) of the castellated structure are flexible (because the distal ends of the segments are free and theretainer254 is molded of a plastic material). Thedetent assembly258 is formed when theknob240 anddetent shaft242, etc. is pressed through a hole255 in the central portion of thedetent bulkhead252 and through thecastellated detent retainer254 that surrounds the hole255. As the retainingrim256 passes through thecastellated retainer254 the segments (the free ends of the individual sides of the castellated structure) of thecastellated retainer254 flex outward to permit therim256 to engage the distal ends of the segments of theretainer254, thus retaining theknob240,detent shaft242, andspindle support244 within thedetent bulkhead252. As depicted inFIG. 15, the detent assembly is inserted into aslot250 within arecess246 within thebottom side202 of thebrush device260, after inserting thespindle support244 into the proximate end of theroller214 andspindle228 assembly. The same materials may be used to fabricate thebrush device260 and the components of thedetent assembly258 as for the structural components of the embodiment ofFIGS. 11-13.
• In operation thebrush device260 ofFIGS. 14 and 15 is used in the same way as thebrush device200 except that theroller214 is held in a fixed orientation relative to thebrush260 by thedetent assembly258. Thus, thebrush device260 applies the dry formulation fragrance in a wiping action as thebrush260 is passed through the hair or fur being groomed. Rotation of theadjustment knob240 may be used to position a fresh surface of theroller214 for dispensing the dry formulation fragrance onto the target surface. The fabric that surrounds theroller214 may be uncoated at a narrow strip along one or both edges of the fabric (see the ends of theroller214 inFIG. 14) to enable easier grasping of a layer for easy removal to expose a fresh layer ofcoated fabric215.
• FIG. 16 illustrates an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush device. This embodiment,brush device280, is constructed much like thebrush devices200,260 with respect to the brush and bristle structure except that it employs a viscous bushing262 (also called a viscous rotary damper) inserted in one end of theroller214 to damp or retard its rotation during use, and thereby does not require anadjustment knob240 as in the previous illustrative embodiments. Theviscous bushing262 includes, for example, acentral bushing264 having a square bore through its center and anouter bushing surface266. Theviscous bushing262 is inserted—preferably a “press-fit”—into a rearward end270 of theroller214, or alternatively, is equipped with keyed external ribs that fit into corresponding slots within the bore within theroller214, as shown and described in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 23 for example. The end of the roller with the viscous bushing is inserted into theopening208bin thebottom shell202 over a square (or other non-round profile)support268, which may be molded into the face of abulkhead member236. Thesupport268 may have any non-round cross section as long as it will match the non-round cross section of theinternal bushing264 of theviscous bushing262. Thesquare support268 supports theinner bushing264 in a fixed, non-rotating position while supporting the rearward end of theroller214. Apivot body274 having aconical pivot bushing276 is installed in the opposite, forward end of theroller214 and the forward end of theroller214 is placed into aspace272 in the forward end of thebottom shell202 with acompression spring278 inserted between thepivot body274 and the forward end of thespace272 in thebottom shell202. Theviscous bushing262 may typically be an off-the-shelf purchased component.
• The structure illustrated inFIG. 16 supports the roller within the opening208a/bof the assembledbrush device280 and allows theroller214 to roll against the resistance provided by theviscous bushing262. When in use, if the brush device is lightly brushed over the target surface, theroller214 will tend to hold a non-rotating orientation within the opening208a/band the brush device acts primarily as a wipe to dispense a relatively smaller amount of the dry formulation fragrance. However, if thebrush device280 is passed through the target area more vigorously theroller214 will be caused to roll somewhat, thus tending to dispense relatively more of the dry formulation fragrance. Thus, the use of this embodiment is susceptible to a certain amount of variation or skill to control the amount of the dry formulation fragrance onto the target surface.
• FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate isometric views of another embodiment of the invention configured as a brush or dispensing device.Brush device300 may be assembled from atop shell282 and abottom shell284, which may be formed of molded thermoplastic or stamped from sheet metal, for example.Bottom shell284 includes an array ofbristles286, which may be fabricated from nylon, metal, boar's hair, or synthetic materials suited to the application. Anopening288 is formed in a central portion of thebottom shell284 to accommodate acartridge292 to be described. Thecartridge292 may be assembled from (seeFIG. 18) acarrier295 formed of a thin resilient material such as spring steel or plastic and at least one layer (preferably a plurality) offabric dispensing components296. An integral tab-like handle294 may extend from one edge of thecarrier295. The dispensing component(s)296 is/are fabricated from sheets of a hydrophilic, non-woven fabric that have acoating297 of the dry formulation fragrance on the outer (convex) surface and a low-tack adhesive coated on an inner (concave) surface. Thefabric dispensing components296 may preferably be, for example without limitation, a spunbonded polypropylene fabric having a weight of approximately 100 g/m².
• In the illustrated embodiment, thecartridge292 is enclosed as an assembly within the space between the top282 and bottom284 shells for thebrush device300 when assembled along acommon edge298. Aslot290 is provided along the common edge orseam298 of one side of the body of thebrush device300. The slot enables thecartridge292 assembly to be removed for replacement. The resiliency of thecarrier295 permits thecartridge292 to be inserted or removed through theslot290, even when up to a half-dozen layers of thefabric dispensing components296 are installed—i.e. stacked—on thecarrier295. Thecarrier295 flattens slightly during installation or removal and is restored to its normal, relaxed state when fully disposed within the body of the brush device formed by the top282 and bottom284 shells. When installed, thecartridge292 causes theuppermost dispensing component296 to protrude slightly into the bristle area. Thisembodiment300 may be used like an ordinary hair brush. The dry formulation fragrance is applied via a wiping action of the dispensing component surface against the target surface as the brush is passed over—i.e., wiped onto—the target surface. As in previous embodiments, the separate layers of thefabric dispensing component296 that cover thecarrier295 may be uncoated at a narrow strip along one or more edges of thefabric dispensing component296 to enable easier grasping of a layer for easy removal to expose a fresh layer of thedispensing component296.
• FIGS. 19,20, and21 illustrate isometric views of another embodiment of the invention configured as apet brush device320. In this embodiment thehandle310 is disposed from one of the longer sides to provide more comfortable and efficient use when grooming the relatively thick fur of many pet animals. Thepet brush320 also includes a different structure for locating a wipe surface of the dispensing component in position for dispensing the dry formulation fragrance while grooming a pet. As in previous brush embodiments, the shells that make up the brush body may be molded of thermoplastic or stamped from sheet metal. The pet brush depicted inFIGS. 19,20, and21 includes abottom shell302 and atop shell306 assembled along a parting line orseam328 and may be secured along the seam orparting line238 using adhesives or other fasteners, or snap-fit or slide-together parts, all well known in the art. The bottom302 and top306 shells, including theintegral handle310 may be injection molded of an ABS plastic or its equivalent, for example.Bristles304 are disposed on the outer surface of thebottom shell302. The bristles may be formed of nylon, metal, boar's hair, or synthetic materials suited to the application. In thepet brush320 the bristles may be stiffer and/or spaced more openly to enable convenient grooming of thick fur coats.Bristles320 made of stainless steel or other non-corrosive metal wire may be preferred.
• The exploded view inFIG. 21 illustrates a dispensing device for thepet brush320 configured as a comb-like structure314 havingtines316 disposed, in this example, uniformly along the lower edge of thecomb314. Thetines316 of thecomb314 are configured to extend within the space among thebristles304 as shown inFIG. 20 so that the dispensing component having thedry formulation coating325 is directly in the path of the hair or fur being brushed with the pet brush during use. Thecomb314 includes slender extensions ortangs318 formed in each end of thecomb314. Eachtang318 includes anotch326 in its upper end. The notchedtangs318 are provided to lock thecomb314 in the ends ofslot308 when installing thecomb314 in thebrush device320. Thetangs318 are intended to be resilient and flexible enough to bend slightly to enable thecomb314 to be locked or latched into position within theslot308. Thecomb314 may be removed by squeezing thetangs318 toward each other to unlatch or unhook thenotches326 from the ends of theslot308. Thecomb314 may preferably be faced withfabric dispensing components322,324 on respective opposite sides of thecomb314. Thefabric dispensing components322,324 may be the same non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric used in embodiments previously described herein. The fabric may preferably be, as before, a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene having a weight of approximately 100 g/m², and coated on the side facing away from the comb with thedry formulation fragrance325 and on the opposite (inner) side with a strong adhesive (not shown in this view, but is understood that thefabric dispensing components322,324 are secured to the faces of thecomb314. Alternatively, thecomb314 may be formed of sheets of thin plastic such as ABS or an equivalent material that is somewhat flexible so that it will bend slightly during use of thebrush320 as it is passed through the fur coat of a pet, for example. In some embodiments it may be advantageous to increase the width of thetines316 to provide greater surface area for thefabric dispensing components322,324 to adhere to. In other embodiments, thefabric dispensing components322,324 may be adhered to the surfaces of thetines316 with a low tack adhesive to permit convenient replacement of the fabric withfresh dispensing components322,324.
• The pet brush embodiments described herein may advantageously employ any of a variety of fragrances, fragrance substitutes, or other agents of particular applicability to the grooming of pets or other animals, to be carried and dispensed or delivered by the exemplary devices. For example, some fragrance control agents (alternatively: odor neutralization agents) may be selected from the list including Vitamin E, Avocado oil, Omega-6, silk wheat proteins, oat proteins, Safflower oil, Sunflower seed oil, Pennyroyal and comfrey oil, Hydrolyzed Oat protein, Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Oatmeal, Chamomile Extract, Castor oil, Omega-3, Cranberry seed oil, Kava extract, Papaya leaf extract and the like. In some applications, flea control agents may also be included in the dry formulation. Substances for use as part of the dry formulation mixture in any of the embodiments described herein for use in grooming pets or other animals should be compatible with the PEG+glycerin as the dry formulation base component. In a typical case, the flea control additive will be present in the dry formulation in small amounts, and will be non-toxic to pets and humans. In some embodiments of a pet brush, both the fragrance control and flea control agents may be included in the dry formulation mixture.
• FIGS. 22,23, and24 illustrate isometric views of another embodiment of the invention configured as a roller device.FIGS. 23 and 24 depict alternate structures of a mechanism for controlling the rotation of the roller portion of the device.Roller device340 as shown inFIG. 22 includes amain shaft330 having ahandle portion332 at one end, aroller portion354 and aknob346 attached to the end of themain shaft330 opposite thehandle portion332. Themain shaft300 and handle332 may be formed as a unit of molded plastic such as ABS, polypropylene, high density polyethylene and the like. Anouter fabric layer360 is wrapped around theroller354. Thefabric layer360 may be wrapped around theroller354 several times as will be described. Thefabric layer360, also known as dispensingcomponent360, is coated with thedry formulation fragrance355 over all of thefabric360 except for a narrow band at each end of thefabric360. In some embodiments, one or both uncoated regions may be omitted. Theknob346 controls a brake mechanism to be described. Some fragrance control agents (alternatively: odor neutralization agents) for use with theroller devices340 and380, and other embodiments of the dispensing devices described herein may be selected from the list including Vitamin E, Avocado oil, Omega-6, silk wheat proteins, oat proteins, Safflower oil, Sunflower seed oil, Pennyroyal and comfrey oil, Hydrolyzed Oat protein, Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Oatmeal, Chamomile Extract, Castor oil, Omega-3, Cranberry seed oil, Kava extract, Papaya leaf extract and the like.
• FIG. 23 illustrates an exploded view of theroller device340 that employs aviscous bushing342 to provide a brake upon the rotation of theroller354. Themain shaft330 includes ahandle portion332, aspindle334 to support theroller354, and abushing support336 having a square (preferably but not so limited) cross section. A threadedhole338 is provided in the end of thebushing support336. Theviscous bushing342 has asquare bore344 through its center that enables it to be fitted upon thebushing support336. Thebushing342 may also include first andsecond ridges345 along its outer surface, which are oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis of themain shaft330. Theridges345 key the outer portion of the bushing togrooves358 within theinner bore356 of theroller330 as will be described. After installation of theroller354 on to themain shaft330, aligning the first andsecond ridges345 on theviscous bushing342 with corresponding first andsecond grooves358 within thebore356 of theroller354 to key theroller354 with the outer, rotating portion of theviscous bushing342. A retainingwasher350 having asquare hole352 in its center is installed over the distal end of thebushing support336. Theknob346, which has ascrew348 attached to the underside of theknob346, is threaded into thehole338 in the end of thebushing support336 to secure theroller354 on themain shaft330 of theroller device340.
• Continuing withFIG. 23, thefabric layer360 is shown partially unwrapped to depict several features of thefabric layer360. As in previously described embodiments, thefabric layer360 may preferably be a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric having a weight in the range of 100 to 200 g/m²or its equivalent. The outer surface of thefabric360 is coated with thedry formulation fragrance355. The fabric layer may be lightly scored or perforated alonglateral lines360 at intervals approximating the circumference of theroller354 to enable convenient tear-off ofsegments364 of thefabric layer360 that are depleted of thedry formulation fragrance355. Further, the inner surface of thefabric layer360 may be coated with a low tack adhesive in theregions361 on eachsegment364 of thefabric layer360. In operation, theviscous bushing342 retards the rotation of theroller354 in a controlled manner as theroller device340 is rolled against a target surface to transfer the dry formulation fragrance to the target surface. In selecting the characteristics or specifications for the viscous bushing, persons skilled in the art will understand the need to balance the amount of braking imparted by the viscous bushing with the ease of use of the roller device. The viscous bushing prevents the roller from free wheeling, which may allow uneven or incorrect amounts of the dry formulation fragrance to be applied to the target surface.
• FIG. 24 illustrates an exploded view of theroller device380 that employs a friction brake assembly to retard the rotation of theroller354. Themain shaft370 includes ahandle portion372, aspindle376 having a square (preferably but not so limited) cross section to support theroller354. A threadedhole378 is provided in the end of thespindle376 to receive thescrew348 attached to theknob346. After installation of theroller354 on to thespindle376, acompression spring386 and a retainingwasher382 having asquare hole384 in its center are installed over the distal end of thespindle376. Theknob346 is screwed into the threadedhole378 in the end of thespindle376 to secure theroller354 on themain shaft370 of theroller device380. Theknob346 may be fully tightened against the proximate end of theroller354 or lightly tightened against the end of theroller354, or tightened to an intermediate position to adjust the amount of retarding pressure applied to the end of theroller354. The amount of retarding pressure is regulated by the tension in thecompression spring386 to control the rotation of theroller354 in the same manner as described for the embodiment depicted inFIG. 23.
• Continuing withFIG. 24, thefabric layer360 is shown partially unwrapped to depict several features of thefabric layer360. As in previously described embodiments, thefabric layer360 may preferably be a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric having a weight in the range of 100 to 200 g/m²or its equivalent. The outer surface of thefabric360 is coated with thedry formulation fragrance365. Thefabric layer360 may be lightly scored or perforated alonglateral lines368 at intervals approximating the circumference of theroller354 to enable convenient tear-off ofsegments364 of thefabric layer360 that are depleted of thedry formulation fragrance365. Further, the inner surface of thefabric layer360 may be coated with a low tack adhesive in theregions367 on eachsegment364 of thefabric layer360. In operation, the friction brake assembly—retainingwasher382,compression spring386, andadjustment knob346—retards the rotation of theroller354 in a controlled manner as theroller device340 is rolled against a target surface to transfer the dry formulation fragrance to the target surface. In selecting the characteristics or specifications for thecompression spring386, persons skilled in the art will understand the need to balance the amount of braking imparted by thespring386 with the ease of use of theroller device380. The tension in thespring386 applied against the end of theroller354 via the retainingwasher382 prevents the roller from free wheeling, which may allow uneven or incorrect amounts of the dry formulation fragrance to be applied to the target surface.
• FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate isometric views of another embodiment of the invention configured as aninsole device400. The assembledinsole device400 is shown inFIG. 25 and includes aninsole402 having astack412 of one or more layers of adispensing component404 preferably made from a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric having a weight of approximately 100 g/m². Theunderside410 of theinsole402 may be coated with a low tack adhesive414 to facilitate installation in a shoe. As shown in exploded viewFIG. 26 eachlayer404 is coated with adry formulation fragrance406 on an upper side in the figure and may be coated on an underside with a low tack adhesive414 as shown on the up-turned underside of thetop layer416. Inserted within a person's shoe, the action of the user's foot against the coating transfers or dispenses the dry formulation fragrance from the layer of thedispensing component404 to the sole of the user's foot. The low tack adhesive414 enables eachlayer404 to be removed as itsdry formulation fragrance406 is depleted from use. Theinsole402 may be formed of latex foam, a non-liquid gel, sponge rubber, neoprene, vinyl, or the well-known Poron®, the registered name for a urethane cushioning material available from Rogers Corporation, Rogers, Conn. 06263.
• FIGS. 27 through 30 illustrate plan views of several other embodiments of the invention similar to the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 8,9, and10. These are configured as wipes for applying the dry formulation fragrance to various surfaces as will be described. They are preferably constructed of somewhat heavier materials to withstand uses that are more vigorous or forceful than the typical light duty use as a clothing wipe (the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-10, for example). These embodiments are in basic form two-layer devices in which an outer surface of the carrier layer—i.e., the active layer”—is coated with the dry formulation fragrance. The second layer may be attached to the active layer along several edges by stitches, welding, adhesives, etc. to form a finger mitt (FIGS. 27 and 28), a hand mitt (FIG. 29), or a glove (FIG. 30) for the user's hand. As shown inFIGS. 27 and 28, the finger mitt is open at two opposite ends to accommodate a user's fingers. The hand mitt and glove ofFIGS. 29 and 30 are open at only one end to enable insertion of the user's hand.
• FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate a finger mitt that is similar to the applicator shown inFIGS. 8-10 except that thefinger mitt430 ofFIGS. 27 and 28 is larger to accommodate four fingers of a person's hand. The larger surface area contains a greater coated area that enables dispensing the dry formulation fragrance more easily to a larger area of clothing, hair, or other target surface. Because of its greater utility, the applicator ofFIGS. 27 and 28 may alternatively carry a dry formulation fragrance that is adapted to a wider variety of target surfaces, or, by replacing or augmenting the fragrance component of the dry formulation, may be used to dispense or deliver other useful substances to the target surfaces. Theapplicator430 is formed of afirst layer432 and asecond layer434, which may be shaped as shown inFIGS. 27 and 28 and may be stitched or welded together along two opposite edges as indicated at dashedlines436 and438. Both first andsecond layers432,434 may be formed from a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric having an approximate weight of 100 to 200 g/m²or even heavier as necessary for the stress of applying the dry formulation fragrance to textured or rough target surfaces. Some embodiments may employ heavier fabric in the 160 to 300 g/m²range. The first or “active”layer432 is coated on an outer surface with thedry formulation fragrance440. In some variations of this embodiment, a plurality of “active” layers may be stacked on theinsole402, each coated with thedry formulation fragrance440 on an outer surface and a low tack adhesive on an inner surface to hold the layers together until a layer with adepleted coating440 is removed to refresh theapplicator430. As a further variation, thecoating440 of theactive layer432 may be omitted along a narrow band at one or more edges of theactive layer432 to facilitate removal of a depleted active layer.
• FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate two exemplary variations of thebasic applicator430 depicted inFIGS. 27 and 28, wherein the size and shape of the applicator is scaled up to accommodate a person's entire hand for use in dispensing a dry formulation fragrance or other additive to larger surfaces, textured or rough surfaces, or target surfaces that require substances other than fragrances to be applied. Such surfaces may require fabric of heavier weights ranging from 100 g/m²to 200 g/m²or more, for example. Both thehand mitt450 and theglove470 are constructed of two layers of the hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric recommended as the dispensing component for the other embodiments of the wipes and dispensing devices. The two layers, a first “active”layer452,472 (respectively on themitt450 and glove470) that is coated with the dry formulation fragrance (or other additive)458,478 (respectively) and a second, backside layer454,474 (respectively) to provide anenclosure460,480 (respectively) for the user's hand, are attached together along the outer edges of themitt450 orglove470 using stitches or welding as indicated by theline456 on themitt450 and theline476 on theglove470. Ahem462,482 may be applied around the open side or end of themitt450 orglove470.
• Some illustrative examples of use of the embodiments shown inFIGS. 29 and 30 include the following. Themitt450 andglove470 are well suited to dispensing a dry formulation fragrance or other useful dry formulation substances to furnishings in offices, residences, vehicle interiors and the like. For example, a dry wipe for household surfaces may be adapted to freshening the surfaces of any and all articles found in homes or offices without limitation such as tables, counters, cabinets, chests, chairs, sofas, bedding, rugs or carpets, lamps, appliances, TV and electronic equipment, baskets for laundry and trash, and decorative objects. Fragrances adapted for household dry wipes may preferably be provided with an outdoor “fresh air” scent or, for another example, the ever-popular lemon scent frequently used in wet wipe formulations.
• In a further example of a dry wipe in a mitt-sized applicator as depicted inFIG. 29 and adapted to uses on pets—dogs, cats, rodents, even pet birds, for example—such a wipe may have a fragrance adapted to the particular animal, one for dogs, another for cats, perhaps unscented for animals that might be sensitive to particular fragrances, etc. Further, the bottom layer of the applicator may have a texture or a rough, nappy surface, or be configured with an array of bristles (as in a brush) so that it more readily picks up particles of dust or hair, etc. during use while freshening a surface.
• Yet another example of a dry wipe as shown inFIGS. 29 and 30 may be configured for use to neutralize the odors that accumulate or otherwise become deposited on the interior surfaces of an automobile, truck, aircraft or other vehicle. The bottom layer of the applicator and the fragrance used may be provided in several versions, each adapted to use with a different kind of surface that might be encountered in the interior of the vehicle, such as fabrics of different textures, leather, hard, polished trim surfaces, etc.
• Referring toFIGS. 31 and 32 there is illustrated a underside plan view and an exploded view respectively of an alternate to the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 19,20, and21 (a comb-style embodiment) that is adapted from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 11 to 16. The adaptation provides a pet wipe apparatus that employs a stationary roller-like cartridge in a pet brush style of housing that provides a wipe action to the target surface—a pet's fur coat. The pet wipebrush500 includes abrush housing502 that may be molded of thermoplastic or stamped from sheet metal. The other parts of thebrush500 except the fabric covering the cartridge may similarly be molded of a thermoplastic material. Thefabric dispensing component532 may be preferably made from a hydrophilic, non-woven, spunbonded polypropylene fabric having a weight of approximately 100 g/m²to 200 g/m². Thecartridge510 may have several layers of thedispensing component fabric532 wrapped around it, and further be scored or perforated at intervals corresponding to the width of a single face of thetriangular cartridge510. The scoring orperforations536, which are coincident with the edges of the wiping surface of thecartridge510 in the figure, enable used or depleted section of thedispensing component fabric532 to be torn off to expose a fresh face. The underside of the housing is open but includesrectangular seats504 for receiving replaceable bristle inserts506, each equipped with an array ofbristles508, which may be removed for cleaning or replacing with alternate bristle forms. Thebristles508 are distributed within the entire area of the bristle inserts506. Between the bristle inserts506 is a central space wherein resides acartridge510 that is wrapped with afabric dispensing component532 as in the other embodiments described herein. Thefabric dispensing component532 includes adry formulation fragrance534 or other additive deposited on its surface. Thedry formulation fragrance534 may be dispensed by wiping against a target surface during a grooming activity using thebrush500.
• Continuing withFIG. 31, thecartridge510 may be supported axially on first and second non-rotating pivot posts512, one at each end of thecartridge510. Each pivot post is supported in anon-round receptacle521 at a first end of thehousing502 and at a second end opposite the first end within a similarnon-round receptacle520 formed in an inner side518 of a retaininglever516. The retaininglever516 includes afulcrum522 that enables it to rock with the aid of aflat spring530 that retains the retaininglever516 within anopening524 in the end of thehousing502. The first and second legs of thespring530 may be embedded or otherwise attached to the underside of thelever516 and the adjacent surface of thehousing502 respectively. The retaininglever516 is provided to enable removal of thecartridge510 to rotate it to expose a fresh side of thedispensing component532 for further use. In operation thelever516 is rocked on itsfulcrum522 to free thepivot post512 from thepivot post receptacle520 so that thecartridge510 may be tilted, lifted out and rotated 120 degrees, and reinserted into the central space between the first and second bristle inserts506,506. In the exemplary embodiment, thecartridge510 has a triangular cross section, so it requires a rotation of 120 degrees to position a fresh face in the wiping path. Thereceptacles520 are the same shape as the pivot posts512 and thecartridge510 so that the cartridge remains in place during use when the retaininglever516 is held in its released position by thespring530.
• While the inventions heretofore described have been shown in only several illustrative forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to other various changes and modifications from those depicted and described without departing from the spirit thereof. Materials and processes described for fabrication of the illustrated embodiments may vary within the normal range of equivalents as known in the arts. As one example, fragrance control agents as described for the embodiments ofFIGS. 19-24 may be used interchangeably with other fragrance components described elsewhere in this Specification. Similarly, other additive agents may be substituted for the fragrance component and delivered to a target surface using the dry formulation concepts illustrated herein. Alternatives for the PEG and glycerin mixture suggested herein may exist or may become available in the future, and may be suitable as long as they remain dry as deposited on the dispensing component and dry as delivered to the target surface.
• In other alternatives, substitutes for the fragrance component may as readily be used to accomplish other uses, including but not limited to insect repellants, sun screens, skin conditioners, surfactants or cleaners, antistatic coatings, coloring agents, and the like. The percentage proportion of such ingredients may vary from as little as 0.05% to as much as 50% depending on the application.
• Thus, as broadly defined, the present invention of a dry formulation fragrance delivery system, which may be useful as a grooming aid or in other applications in which the delivery system described herein and set forth in the following claims may be adapted to delivering other agents, may be characterized in its most basic form as comprising: a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and a dry formulation deposited on the dispensing component, the dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component or other agent in a preferred but not limiting embodiment.

Claims (70)

What is claimed is:

1. A dry formulation fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising:

a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and

a dry formulation deposited on said dispensing component, said dry formulation comprising a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance component.

2. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dry formulation is formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein

said PEG has a molecular weight of approximately 3000 grams/mole to 5000 grams/mole; and

said fragrance component is formed as a blend of at least one essential oil and at least one aroma compound.

3. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.

4. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, a rotating adjustment knob extending from a first end thereof and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and

a rotatable dispensing component controlled by said adjustment knob and disposed within a longitudinal opening through said body from said first side to a second opposite side of said body.

5. The grooming aid ofclaim 4, wherein said brush comprises:

a paddle style hair brush having flexible pin-shaped bristles disposed in a pattern of bristles surrounding said opening on said first side of said body in an array having an approximate density between 10 and 20 bristles per square inch.

6. The grooming aid ofclaim 4, wherein:

said flexible pin-shaped bristles each have a diameter exceeding 0.010 inch and are formed of nylon.

7. The grooming aid ofclaim 4, wherein said rotatable dispensing component comprises:

a removable cylindrical tube disposed on a axle and wrapped with at least one layer of a fabric upon which said dry formulation is deposited to be dispensed during use of said grooming aid.

8. The grooming aid ofclaim 7, said fabric comprising:

a length of non-woven fabric having a low-tack adhesive on one side and wrapped in a plurality of layers around said cylindrical tube, said length pre-scored at defined segments to enable tear-off of a segment depleted of said dry formulation.

9. The grooming aid ofclaim 8, said non-woven fabric comprising:

edges that are uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.

10. The grooming aid ofclaim 7, wherein said axle comprises:

a splined tube supported on first and second conical pivots aligned with a longitudinal axis of said brush at respective first and second ends of said opening, said splined tube disposed within said cylindrical tube by way of an interference fit.

11. The grooming aid ofclaim 10, further comprising:

a brake acting in cooperation with said rotating adjustment knob disposed at a first end of said body for controlling rotation of said dispensing component.

12. The grooming aid ofclaim 11, wherein said brake further comprises:

an assembly including said rotating adjustment knob coupled to said conical pivot at said first end of said opening, said knob operable through a threaded bore to permit adjustment of friction between said conical pivot and a proximate end of said hollow axle.

13. The grooming aid ofclaim 11, wherein said brake further comprises:

an assembly including said rotating adjustment knob configured with a keyed shaft disposed through a flexible detent shroud and into a proximate end of said splined tube for indexing a rotational disposition of said dispensing component;

wherein said detent shroud includes resilient stops and is supported within said first end of said body of said brush.

14. The grooming aid ofclaim 4, wherein:

said adjustment knob is coupled to said rotatable dispensing component to control rotation of said dispensing component.

15. The grooming aid ofclaim 4, wherein said handle comprises:

a hollow tube for storing a spare removable roller; and

a cap for closing a distal end of said handle.

16. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof; and

a rotatable dispensing component disposed within a longitudinal opening disposed through a central portion of said first side of said body.

17. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a brush formed of a body, an array of bristles disposed on a first side of said body, and a handle extending from a second end thereof;

said body formed of first and second shells corresponding to said first and second sides, having a longitudinal window opening in said first shell and an access slot disposed through an edge of said body along and proximate a side of said window opening; and

a renewable dispensing component disposed within said window opening in said first shell and installable through said access slot.

18. The grooming aid ofclaim 17, wherein said brush comprises:

a paddle style hair brush having flexible pin-shaped bristles disposed in a pattern of bristles surrounding said window opening on said first side of said body in an array having an approximate density between 10 and 20 bristles per square inch.

19. The grooming aid ofclaim 18, wherein:

said flexible pin-shaped bristles each have a diameter exceeding 0.010 inch and are formed of nylon.

20. The grooming aid ofclaim 17, wherein said renewable dispensing component comprises:

a removable resilient insert cartridge having at least one fabric layer segment upon which said dry formulation is deposited to be dispensed during use of said grooming aid.

21. The grooming aid ofclaim 20, said resilient insert cartridge comprising:

an elongated, U-shaped member having a grasping tab extending from a free side edge of said U-shaped member such that a convex surface of said U-shaped member protrudes through said window opening and said grasping tab extends through said access slot in said body when said insert cartridge is installed within said body.

22. The grooming aid ofclaim 20, said fabric layer segment comprising:

a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an outer side thereof with said dry formulation, and coated on an underside thereof with a low tack adhesive to enable stacking in a plurality of fabric layer segments upon a convex surface of said resilient insert cartridge.

23. The grooming aid ofclaim 22, said non-woven fabric comprising:

at least one edge of said fabric layer segment that is uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.

24. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

an elongate member having an axle portion and a handle portion;

a roller disposed on said axle portion; and

a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said roller, said dispensing component including at least one layer of said fabric, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.

25. The grooming aid ofclaim 24, further comprising:

an adjustment mechanism disposed on a first end of said elongate member that cooperates with said roller to hold it in a stationary orientation until said roller needs to be advanced to expose fresh formulation.

26. The grooming aid ofclaim 25, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises:

a viscous rotation damper to retard rotation of said roller until adjustment of the orientation of said roller; and

a knob coupled to said damper for adjusting said roller.

27. The grooming aid ofclaim 25, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises:

a brake mechanism coupled to said axle portion and operated by an adjustment knob, for retarding rotation of said roller until advancement of the orientation of said roller is desired.

28. The grooming aid ofclaim 27, wherein further:

said brake mechanism applies friction between said roller and said axle portion of said elongate member.

29. The grooming aid ofclaim 24, said dispensing component further comprising:

a non-woven fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof and a low tack adhesive deposited on an inner surface thereof.

30. The grooming aid ofclaim 24, wherein:

said fabric dispensing component is disposed around said roller in multiple layers, and scored across the width of said fabric at ends of said fabric of each layer to enable removal of a layer depleted of said dry formulation.

31. The grooming aid ofclaim 29, said non-woven fabric comprising:

at least one edge of said non-woven fabric is uncoated with said low-tack adhesive.

32. A dry formulation fragrance control, comprising:

a dispensing insole having a dispensing component; and

a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component.

33. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, said dispensing insole comprising:

a three-layer assembly, in order, of an insole pad, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.

34. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, said insole pad comprising:

a thin insole material selected from the group consisting of a non-woven fabric, leather, felt, and silicone sheet.

35. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, said insole pad comprising:

a resilient insole material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, gel-filled rubber, and silicone sheet.

36. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, said insole pad comprising:

a peel-off backing sheet, a low tack adhesive layer, and at least one said dispensing component formed from a fabric layer, said assembly shaped to fit within a shoe.

37. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, said dispensing component comprising:

a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an underside thereof with said low tack adhesive and having substantially the same outline shape as said insole pad.

38. The fragrance control ofclaim 32, wherein:

said dispensing component is configured to enable stacking in a plurality of layers upon said insole pad.

39. A dry formulation fragrance control, comprising:

a dispensing component; and

a dry formulation formed as a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerin, and a fragrance, said mixture deposited on said dispensing component.

40. The fragrance control ofclaim 39, said dispensing component comprising:

a sheet of non-woven fabric coated on an underside thereof with a low tack adhesive and having substantially the same outline shape as an insole for a person's shoe.

41. The fragrance control ofclaim 39, wherein:

said dispensing component is configured to enable stacking in a plurality of layers within a person's shoe.

42. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a two-layer assembly of a first fabric dispensing layer and a second fabric body layer, wherein said first layer includes said dry formulation deposited thereon.

43. The grooming aid ofclaim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:

a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe configured for receiving four fingers of a user's hand between said first and second layers of said assembly.

44. The grooming aid ofclaim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:

a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe glove configured for receiving a user's hand within said glove between said first and second layers of said assembly.

45. The grooming aid ofclaim 42, said two-layer assembly comprising:

a clothing/pet/furniture/skin wipe mitten configured for receiving a user's hand within said mitten between said first and second layers of said assembly.

46. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a body member having a transverse slot extending from a top to a bottom surface thereof, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on said bottom surface of said body on each side of said slot;

a comb having a plurality of tines, said comb removably secured within said transverse slot, and said tines extending past said bottom surface of said body between first and second portions of said array of bristles; and

a dispensing component formed of a fabric affixed to at least one of first and second outer faces of said comb, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.

47. The grooming aid ofclaim 46, said comb comprising:

first and second resilient pawls (hooks) configured to engage corresponding teeth (edges) disposed on said body adjacent first and second ends of said slot.

48. The grooming aid ofclaim 46, said bristles comprising:

flexible bristle material selected from the group consisting of boar bristle, horsehair, nylon, thermoplastic, and stainless steel.

49. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein said dispensing device comprises:

a body member having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, a handle extending from one side thereof, and an array of bristles disposed on an underside of said body and surrounding said opening;

a spool disposed within said opening and supported on fixed axial stubs; and

a dispensing component formed of a fabric surrounding an outer surface of said spool, said fabric having said dry formulation deposited on an outer surface thereof.

50. The grooming aid ofclaim 49, said body member comprising:

keyed sockets disposed at opposite ends of said opening for receiving said fixed axial stubs of said spool within said opening.

51. The grooming aid ofclaim 49, said spool comprising:

a spool body having a cross section substantially based on a plane figure selected from the group consisting of a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and octagon.

52. The grooming aid ofclaim 51, said spool body comprising:

a body having a substantially triangular cross section.

53. The grooming aid ofclaim 52, said triangular cross section comprising:

an equilateral triangle having rounded apexes.

54. The grooming aid ofclaim 52, said triangular cross section comprising:

a closed triangular figure having curved sides and a constant diameter (derived from a Reuleaux triangle).

55. The grooming aid ofclaim 49, said dispensing component comprising:

a plurality of layers of said fabric surrounding said spool, said fabric scored at intervals wherein each successive layer is removable.

56. The grooming aid ofclaim 55, wherein further:

said fabric is scored at intervals coinciding with an apex of said spool.

57. The grooming aid ofclaim 49, said body comprising:

a latch attached to one side of said body along an axis of said spool, configured as a rocking lever and having a keyed receptacle in a first end to receive a correspondingly keyed axle stub for preventing rotation of said spool when said latch is disposed in a locking position.

58. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, said wherein dispensing device comprises:

an under layer and a carrier layer substantially congruent with said under layer, said layers bonded together along first and second opposite edges thereof, thereby creating a space therebetween such that at least four fingers of a user's hand can be inserted through said space.

59. The grooming aid ofclaim 58, wherein said under layer and carrier layer comprise:

a non-woven or spun-bonded polypropylene fabric having a weight within the range 100 to 200 grams/square meter.

60. The grooming aid ofclaim 58, wherein said layers are bonded together by a process selected from the group consisting of sewing, hot welding, cementing, binding, and stapling.

61. The grooming aid ofclaim 58, wherein said dry formulation comprises:

a mixture of polyethylene glycol and glycerin in combination with a fragrance component.

62. A method of delivering a fragrance to a surface, comprising the steps of:

configuring a dispensing device having a dispensing component for receiving a dry formulation containing a fragrance component;

producing said dry formulation from a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin as a carrier component and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent of a fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; and

applying said dry formulation to said dispensing surface of said dispensing device.

63. The method ofclaim 62, further comprising the steps of:

engaging said dispensing device with a target surface; and

manipulating said dispensing device to cause an amount of said fragrance component to be deposited onto said target surface in a non-liquid form, without leaving a residue of stain or significant traces of said dry formulation.

64. A fragrance delivery system useful as a grooming aid, the delivery system comprising:

a dispensing device having a dispensing component; and

a dry formulation formed as a mixture of approximately 80 to 90 weight percent polyethylene glycol (PEG) and approximately 6 to 16 weight percent glycerin and approximately 0.5 to 10 weight percent fragrance component, all weight percentages being based on the total weight of the dry formulation; wherein

said mixture is dry as deposited on said dispensing component and dry as dispensed from said dispensing component during and after said grooming.

65. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

an insect repellant is substituted for said fragrance component.

66. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

a sun screen product is substituted for said fragrance component.

67. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

a skin conditioner is substituted for said fragrance component.

68. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

an antistatic agent is substituted for said fragrance component.

69. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

a surfactant or cleaner is substituted for said fragrance component.

70. The grooming aid ofclaim 1, wherein:

a coloring agent is substituted for said fragrance component.

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