Volatile composition dispenser having an air pump and a method of delivering a volatile composition to an evaporative surface using the same

Abstract

A volatile composition dispenser and a method of dispensing a volatile composition is provided. The volatile composition dispenser includes a reservoir for containing a volatile composition and a transport member having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, and an evaporative surface. The first end portion of the transport member is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the second end portion of the transport member is in fluid communication with the evaporative surface. The volatile composition dispenser also includes an air pump in gaseous communication with the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A volatile composition dispenser comprising:
 a reservoir for containing a volatile composition, the reservoir having an air inlet and a liquid outlet that is spaced apart from the air inlet,   a transport member having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, wherein the first end portion is in liquid communication with the reservoir and the second end portion extends through the liquid outlet,   an evaporative surface disposed proximal to the second end portion of the transport member; and   an air pump in gaseous communication with the air inlet of the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a heater in communication with the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a fan disposed adjacent to the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a cartridge and a housing, the cartridge comprising the reservoir and transport member, and wherein the cartridge is releasably connectable with the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the evaporative surface is connected with the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the evaporative surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, glass, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporative surface is air permeable. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the air pump, and a power source that is in electrical communication with the air pump and controller. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the transport member further comprises a restriction member disposed in the second end portion. 
     
     
         10 . A volatile composition dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a cartridge that is releasably connectable with the housing, the cartridge comprising a reservoir and a transport member, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a volatile composition, the reservoir having an air inlet and a liquid outlet that is spaced apart from the air inlet, and wherein the transport member has a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, wherein the first end portion is in liquid communication with the reservoir and the second end portion extends through the liquid outlet;   an evaporation member disposed proximal to the second end portion of the transport member, the evaporation member having an evaporative surface, wherein the evaporation member is selected from the group consisting of: a bowl, a plate, a porous substrate, a semi-porous substrate, and combinations thereof;   an air pump in gaseous communication with the air inlet of the reservoir; and   a power source.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  further comprising a heater in communication with the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 10  further comprising a fan disposed adjacent to the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 10  further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the air pump and the power source. 
     
     
         14 . A method of dispensing a volatile composition, the method comprising the steps of:
 pumping air into an interior of a cartridge to pressurize the cartridge, the cartridge containing a volatile composition;   directing the volatile composition to an evaporative surface; and   evaporating the volatile composition from the evaporative surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: heating the air adjacent to the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of directing a volume of air over or around the evaporative surface to direct the evaporating volatile composition into the air. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of pumping air into a cartridge comprises intermittently pumping air into a cartridge to pressurize the cartridge, and wherein the step of directing the volatile composition to an evaporative surface comprises intermittently directing the volatile composition to the evaporative surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of pumping air into a cartridge comprises pumping air into the cartridge comprising a volatile composition to pressurize the cartridge with an air pump, wherein the air pump does not contact the volatile composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the air pump pressurizes the cartridge by at least 0.5 kPa. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 removing the cartridge from a housing once the volatile composition is depleted; and 
 inserting a new cartridge into the housing.