Compositions able to indicate when they become inefficient in use

Abstract

The invention concerns a composition aimed to indicate by color change when consumer articles, particularly volatile dispensers, containing or associated with said composition have become inefficient in use. The composition is constituted by a volatile liquid phase, a non-volatile polar phase and a useful amount of a dye originally dissolved essentially in the volatile liquid phase, said dye being able to adopt a different color according to the nature of the phase in which it is dissolved or deposited. Optionally, the composition can also contain an effective amount of an acidic compound. The invention also concerns the use of said composition in a consumer article, in particular a device aimed to diffuse a volatile or partially volatile liquid, more specifically an air freshener.

1 . A composition intended to indicate by color change when a consumer article containing or associated with said composition has become ineffective in use, said composition being composed of: 
 a) a volatile liquid phase,    b) a non-volatile polar phase,    c) a useful amount of a dye originally dissolved essentially in the volatile phase, said dye being able to adopt a variable color as a function of the nature of the phase in which it is dissolved or deposited,    d) optionally, a useful amount of an acidic compound.    
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said polar phase is essentially composed of a solid material selected from the group consisting of the oxides and hydroxides of the metals in group III and IV of the periodic table.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2 , wherein said polar phase is essentially composed of silica gel, silicate, or alumina.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said dye is selected from the group consisting of diaryl phthalides and their indole derivatives, diaryl sulphophthaleins and fluorans.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein said dye is selected from the group consisting of N-[9-(2-carboxyphenyl)-6-(diethylamino)-3H-xanthen-3-ylidene]-N-ethylethamine free base, 3,3-bis(1-octyl-2-methylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3,3-bis(1-ethyl-2-methylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3,3-bis(1-butyl-2-methylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3,3-bis(1-pentyl-2methylindol-3-yl) phthalide, 3,3-bis(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-6-dimethyl amino phthalide, 2′-(bisphenylmethyl) amino-6-(diethylamino)spiro-(isobenzofuran-1(3H), 9′-(9H) xanthen)-3-one, 3-(4-diethylamino) phenyl-3-(di(4-octyl) phenylamino) t-(3H)-isobenzofuranone and 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-diethyl-amino fluoran.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a) the dye is present in an amount comprised between 0.007% and 2%; b) the polar phase is present in an amount comprised between 0.5% and 12%; c) the acidic compound is present in an amount comprised between 0% and 20%; and d) the volatile liquid phase constitutes the balance of the composition, percentage being referred to the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein a) the dye is present in an amount comprised between 0.01% and 0.5%; b) the polar phase is present in an amount comprised between 1% and 10%; c) the acidic compound is present in an amount comprised between 0% and 5%; and d) the volatile liquid phase constitutes the balance of the composition, percentage being referred to the weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said volatile liquid phase is a perfume, a deodorizing or sanitizing agent or an insect repellent, or any other volatile material capable of imparting perceptible and desirable benefits to the quality of the air into which it is diffused.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 8 , wherein said volatile liquid phase is a perfume  
     
     
         10 . A consumer article in the form of a volatile material dispenser containing a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A consumer article according to  claim 10 , wherein the volatile material dispenser is a perfume dispenser.  
     
     
         12 . A perfume dispenser according to  claim 11 , in the form of an air freshener, a plug-in air freshener, a diaper pail freshener, a car freshener, a closet freshener, a cat litter box freshener, a shoes freshener or a garbage pail freshener.