Disposable air freshener including gel or polymer fragrance support

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a fragrance distribution device comprising an electrical resistor, a plug or other power source, and a fragrance in a polymer or thermoplastic carrier. The polymer or thermoplastic carrier may include, for example, metal inclusions, which may be powdered metal. These metal inclusions are believed to enhance heat distribution throughout the carrier, thus allowing a more uniform and reliable release of fragrance.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fragrance distribution device, comprising:
 a housing,   a resistor connected to said housing and capable of generating heat to be transferred to said housing   a fragrance support contained within said housing, said fragrance support comprising a fragrance support material, at least one fragrance, and a plurality of metal inclusions distributed throughout the fragrance support material.   
     
     
         2 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said fragrance support material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); ethyl vinyl alcohol, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylic polymers, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, nylons, and mixtures and copolymers of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 2 , wherein said fragrance support material is EVA. 
     
     
         4 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said metal inclusions are selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, gold, solver, copper, platinum, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 4 , wherein said metal inclusions are aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said metal inclusions are present in an amount between 0.5% to 2.0% of the fragrance support by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 7 , wherein said metal inclusions are present in the amount of 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of the fragrance support. 
     
     
         9 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said metal inclusions are powders that have a size ranging between 200 mesh to 400 mesh. 
     
     
         10 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 9 , wherein said metal inclusions are powders that have a size of about 325 mesh. 
     
     
         11 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said fragrance is selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, ethyl maltol, furaneol, 1-hexanol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, menthol, benzaldehyde, hexanal, cinnamaldehyde, citral, cis-3-hexenal, furfural, neral, vanillin, ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl decanoate, spice oil, flower oil, fruit oil, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, hexyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, methyl butanoate, methyl salicylate, pentyl butanoate, pentyl pentanoate, sotolon, strawberry aldehyde, fructone, anethole, anisole, eugenol, dihydrojasmone, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, 6-acetyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine, gamma-decalactone, gamma-nonalactone, delta-octalactone, jasmine lactone, massoia lactone, camphor, citronellol, linalool, nerol, nerolidol,alpha-terpineol, thujone, and thymol, 
     
     
         12 . The fragrance distribution device of  claim 1 , wherein said metal inclusions are aluminum powder having a size between 200 mesh and 400 mesh and said fragrance support material is EVA. 
     
     
         13 . A fragrance support comprising a fragrance support material, at least one fragrance, and a plurality of metal inclusions distributed throughout the fragrance support material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of enhancing distribution of heat through a polymer fragrance support, comprising
 heating a polymer fragrance support to a melted state;   mixing metal inclusions into the melted polymer fragrance support; and   allowing the heating polymer fragrance support to cool.