WO2008108769A1

WO2008108769A1 - Aromatherapy diffusion and writing system

Info

Publication number: WO2008108769A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/005880
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Eartherbs, Llc; Toomeoja, Ulle; Anderson, Craig
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2007-03-05
Publication date: 2008-09-12

Abstract

A writing and aromatherapy diffusion device having a first housing containing a conventional writing implement, such as a pen or pencil, which is connected to a second housing containing a wick for diffusing essential oils. The two housings include threads for easy attachment to each other. The second housing includes an aperture at one end for diffusing the essential oils into the air where they may be inhaled into the nose of a user. A cap is provided to allow for the selective covering of the second housing, including any apertures, thereby preventing the further diffusion of air containing the essential oils.

Description

TITLE

AROMATHERAPY DIFFUSION AND WRITING SYSTEM Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to writing instruments and, more particularly, to a writing instrument adapted to provide aromatherapy diffusion.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] The benefit of the use of scents for aromatherapy is well established. For example, there are devices for delivering various combinations of scents in rapid succession to a user's nose in conjunction with video graphic images and/or sounds. Other systems provide for selecting an odor to match a visual or auditory targeted stimulus.

[0003] Writing instruments, such as pens, are widely distributed for commercial sale and would thus provide a useful vehicle for the distribution of scents. For example, it has been found to be desirable to provide pleasurable scents along with a pen to enhance the enjoyment of the writing experience. It is known to provide scented pens having scented inks, a scented polymeric grip that is integral with or removably attached to the barrel of the pen barrel, or even aerosol misters attached to one end of the pen. Other systems for proving scents include a scented writing instrument that has an absorbent pencil soaked in a liquid fragrance. Similarly, there have been impregnated scented crayons, chalk, and clay, which help to teach the identification of color to scent and scent to color. Scents have also been applied to plastic containers and even cosmetic enamel for nails

[0004] The ability to deliver scents in combination with a writing instrument or similar disposable commodity requires the use of sophistical materials, such as scented plastics, or complicated aerosol deliver devices that are bulky and must be attached to the end of the pen. As these device require complicated processing techniques or materials, they are expensive to manufacture and/or difficult to use. Brief Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide an aromatherapy diffusion writing system that is easy to manufacture. [0006] It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an aromatherapy diffusion writing system that is easy to use. [0007] It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an aromatherapy diffusion writing system that is inexpensive to manufacture. [0008] It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide an aromatherapy diffusion writing system that does not interfere with use of the writing system. [0009] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention comprises a writing and aromatherapy diffusion device having a first housing containing a conventional writing implement interconnected to a second housing containing a wick for diffusing essential oils. The two housing may further include threads, snap engagement, or friction fit for easily attaching the housings to each other. The second housing includes at least one aperture for allowing the essential oils to diffuse into the air where they may be inhaled into the nose of a user. A cap is provided to allow for the selective covering of the second housing, including any apertures, thereby preventing the further diffusion of air containing the essential oils. The cap may be retained over the second housing by conventional means, such as threads, snap engagement, or friction. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0011] Fig. 1 is perspective view of the aromatherapy diffusion and writing system of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 2 is an explored perspective view of the aromatherapy diffusion and writing system of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0013] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in Figure 1 an aromatherapy diffusion and writing device 10 according to the present invention. Device 10 generally comprises a body 12 having a first end 14 and an opposing second end 18. First end 12 is generally adapted for writing and includes a conventional writing system 16, such as a ball point or felt- tip pen. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that other know writing systems, such as felt tip or pencil lead, may be employed in lieu of a ball point pen tip. Second end 14 comprises an aromatherapy scent deliver system 20, which will be described in greater detail herein after. [0014] Referring to Fig. 2, diffuser system 20 comprises a container 22 forming a chamber 24. Chamber 24 houses a wick 26, such as a cotton, fabric, paper, or cellulose acetate tow fibers which is saturated with aromatherapy based essential oils. Wick 26 is preferably freestanding in chamber 24 and is adapted to allow for the complete diffusion of essential oils into the surrounding air just prior to and during inhalation by a user. In particular, wick 26 and chamber 24 cooperate to allow oxygen to freely circulate throughout chamber 24 and around wick 26 in an unobstructed manner during the entire inhalation process of the user, thereby providing for maximum diffusion of essential oils and the accompanying benefits to the user. The diffusion of the essential oils is a correlation between the size of wick 26 and the inside dimensions of chamber 24. Wick 26 is preferably smaller in diameter and length than the inside diameter and length of chamber 24 to allow for the free flow of oxygen around wick 26. [0015] It should be understood by those with skill in the art that wick 26 can be made of cotton, paper, fabrics, and cellulose acetate (a plastic), and the balance are made from papers and rayon. Compared to cotton, paper and fabric wicks, cellulose acetate tow fibers are thinner than sewing thread, white, and packed tightly together to create a filter. An acceptable matrix may include more than 12,000 white fibers. Microscopically, the fibers are Y shaped and contain the delustrant titanium dioxide. The fibers may be made from cellulose acetate and can include a plasticizer, such as triacetin (glycerol triacetate), that is applied to bond the fibers. Wick 26 according to the present invention preferably comprises a denier (a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibers defined as the mass in grams per 9,000 meters) of 0.05 grams per 450 meters, although it may be greater or less without departing from the spirit of the invention. Wick 26 may be used for diffusion whether the fibers are of any value greater or lesser than that considered a microfiber, if it is 1 denier or less, or a 1 -denier polyester fiber that has a diameter of about 10 micrometres or any value greater of lesser. Wick 26 of the present invention can produce acceptable diffusion with a tex mass in grams greater than zero. When measuring objects that consist of multiple fibers, the term "filament tex" is sometimes used, referring to the mass in grams per 10,000 meters of a single filament. Wick 26 according to the present invention can produce diffusion with any filament tex mass in grams greater than zero. [0016] It should be understood by those of skill in the art that the elements of device 10 may have different dimensions as long as the relative dimensions allow for air to circulate around wick 26 and, preferable, for wick 26 to move freely inside chamber 24. Diffusion can occur with any cross-sectional shape wick, including, round, square, rectangle, triangle or any shape that can move freely inside chamber 24. Similarly, diffusion can occur in any cross- sectional shape chamber 24, including round, square, rectangle, triangle or any shape that can enclose wick 24. The preferred diameter of wick 24 is between about lmm and about 50 mm. The preferred length of wick 24 is between about lmm and about 300 mm. The preferred diameter of chamber 24 is between about lmm and about 50 mm. The preferred length of chamber 24 is between about lmm and about 300 mm.

[0017] Container 22 further includes an aperture 28 formed proximately to second end 18 of device 10 to allow diffused essential oils to escape. Additional holes 30 may be provided near the base of container 22 to encourage the circulation of air up and around wick 26, thereby assisting in the diffusion of essential oils into the air. Container 22 is preferably shaped to encourage placement into the outer portions of the nostrils of a user, and aperture is preferably positioned to allow any air containing diffused essential oils in container 22 to be inhaled by the user. The essential oils are suspended on the fibers of wick 26, which allows oxygen to fully surround or encapsulate the essential oil molecules, thereby maximizing diffusion into the air. [0018] System 20 further comprises a sealing cap 34 that is adapted for removable positioning over container 22 and in covering relation to aperture 28, thereby selectively containing diffused aroma produced by the essential oils in chamber 24. Sealing cap 34 may be retained over container 22 by the use of threads, a corresponding groove and ridge arrangement to provide for snap fit engagement, or even frictional forces. First end 12 and second end 14 of body 12 may be separable according to known systems, such as corresponding threads 36. [0019] As seen in Fig. 2, writing system 16 may comprise a conventional ball point pen stylus 40 that is adapted to fit inside a pen housing 42 inside body 12. Device 10 may include a flange 44 for attachment to stylus 40 and positioning stylus 40 within pen housing 42. Writing system 16 may include a grip 46 that is formed from plastic, rubber, or silicone, to improve comfortable grasping by a user. Device 10 is assembled by placing flange 44 onto stylus 40 and inserting stylus 40 into housing 42. At the same time, wick 26 is saturated with essential oils and placed into container 22. Container 22 may then be threaded onto the rear of housing 42 to form device 10. Cap 30 may be placed over container 22 if aromatherapy diffusion is not desired. Accordingly, a user may selectively inhale the diffused essential oils at any time, including during the writing process. [0020] Diffused essential oils, as used in connection with the present invention, comprise the terpenes and higher homologues (as well as other molecules based on terpene), and phenylpropane derivatives. Each of these groups is created by different biosynthetic processes, which take place in different parts of plants cells. By quantity, the terpenes and their higher homologues are the most significant components of the essential oils. The two chemical families, terpenes and phenylpropanes, make up nearly 100 percent of the components of essential oils. Essential oils may be further categorized according to their functional groups: alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, etc.

[0021] Diffused essential oils work on several different levels. The first way is through the sense of smell, which is the most complex and sensitive of the five senses. The volatile aromatic molecules of a diffused essential oil permeate the air, enter your nostrils, and drift to the olfactory receptors in the nose where diffused aromas are detected. The olfactory nerves are the only sensory receptors that connect directly into the brain, and are normally able to replace themselves. Notably, even a single diffused essential oil molecule can excite olfactory receptors and the human olfactory system needs as few as forty diffused essential oil molecules to recognize a specific smell.

[0022] Once receptors identify a diffused aroma, the associated nerve cells relay this information directly to the limbic system of the brain. The limbic system is a group of deep brain structures involved in the sense of smell as well as emotions. Diffused aromas can thus trigger memories and even influence behaviors. The limbic system may also works in coordination with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus area of the brain to regulate the hormonal activities of the endocrine system. As a result, diffused aromas may influence the production of the hormones that govern various activities and functions, such as immunological responses, appetite, insulin production, overall metabolism, stress, and sex drive, as well as conscious thoughts and reactions.

[0023] It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that diffuser system 10 may be interconnected in the manner described above to various other personal items instead of writing system 16. For example, diffuser system 10 may be interconnected in like fashion to housings containing cosmetics, such as lip stick, mascara, or lip balm, or even other items, such as crayons and markers.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A writing and aromatherapy diffusion device, comprising: a first elongated housing containing a writing instrument; and a second elongated housing containing a wick and interconnected to said first housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said second housing defines an aperture at an end opposite said first housing.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second housings are removably interconnected.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first and second housings are connected by threads.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cap positioned in covering relation to said second housing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said cap is removable.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said wick is saturated with essential oils.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said second elongated housing further defines at least one hole positioned proximately to said first housing.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said cap and said second housing include threads for selective engagement with each other.

10. A writing and aromatherapy diffusion device, comprising: a first elongated housing containing a writing instrument; a second elongated housing containing a wick and interconnected to said first housing; a cap positioned in covering relation to said second housing; an essential oil impregnated into said wick; and wherein said second housing includes at least one aperture for dispersing said essential oils into the air.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the writing instrument is a pen.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a flange for interconnecting said pen to said first housing.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a first set of threads for interconnecting said first housing to said second housing.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a second set of threads for interconnecting said cap to said second housing.

15. A method of delivering aromatherapy diffusion, comprising: providing a first housing including a writing instrument; providing a second housing including an aperture formed therein that is in fluid communication with a wick positioned within said housing, wherein said wick is saturated with at least one essential oil; and diffusing said at least one essential oil through said aperture of said second housing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a cap for selectively covering said at least one aperture.