US-12618024-B2 - Microcell systems for controlled release of fragrances

US12618024B2US 12618024 B2US12618024 B2US 12618024B2US-12618024-B2

Abstract

A fragrance delivery system is disclosed whereby multiple fragrances can be released on demand. The fragrance delivery system includes a plurality of microcells, wherein each of the plurality of microcells is filled with a fragrance composition. Each of the plurality of microcells includes an opening, the opening being spanned by a porous sealing layer. The fragrance delivery system provides a tool to deliver a customizable olfactory effect in the vicinity of the fragrance delivery system.

Inventors

Lei Liu

Assignees

E INK CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221220

Claims (20)

1 . A fragrance delivery system comprising: a backing layer; a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of microcells having an opening, the plurality of microcells comprising a plurality of first type of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of first type of microcells comprising a composition of a first fragrance having a first concentration of the first fragrance; a porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of microcells, the porous sealing layer having a porous sealing layer average pore size, the porous sealing layer average pore size being from 0.2 nm to 1 mm, the porous sealing layer comprising a plurality of sealing slices, each sealing slice being independently removable or retractable; and a first release sheet.
2 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the composition of the first fragrance comprises a first aqueous carrier or a first non-aqueous carrier.
3 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the composition of the first fragrance is a liquid or a gel.
4 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of second type of microcells and a plurality of a third type of microcells, wherein portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of second type of microcells and portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of third type of microcells, wherein the portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of second type of microcells have a second thickness, and wherein portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of third type of microcells have a third thickness, the second thickness being different from the third thickness.
5 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of microcells further comprises a plurality of fourth type of microcells, wherein portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of fourth type of microcells, and wherein the portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of fourth type of microcells have a fourth thickness, the fourth thickness being different from the second thickness and the third thickness.
6 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of fifth type of microcells and a plurality of sixth type of microcells, wherein portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of fifth type of microcells and portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of sixth type of microcells, wherein the portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of fifth type of microcells have a fifth average pore size, and wherein the portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of sixth type of microcells have a sixth average pore size, the fifth average pore size being different from the sixth average pore size.
7 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of seventh type of microcells, wherein portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of seventh type of microcells, wherein the portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of seventh type of microcells have a seventh average pore size, the seventh average pore size being different from the fifth average pore size and the sixth average pore size.
8 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of eighth type of microcells and a plurality of ninth type of microcells, each microcell of the eighth type of microcells having an eighth volume, each microcell of the ninth type of microcells having a ninth volume, the eighth volume being different from the ninth volume.
9 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of tenth type of microcells, each microcell of the tenth type of microcells having a tenth volume, the tenth volume being different from the eighth volume and the ninth volume.
10 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of eleventh type of microcells and a plurality of twelfth type of microcells, each microcell of the eleventh type of microcells having an eleventh concentration of the first fragrance, each microcell of the twelfth type of microcells having a twelfth concentration of the first fragrance, the eleventh concentration being different from the twelfth concentration.
11 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microcells further comprises a plurality of thirteenth type of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of thirteenth type of microcells comprises a composition of a second fragrance, the second fragrance being different from the first fragrance.
12 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of microcells further comprises a plurality of fourteenth type of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of fourteenth type of microcells comprises a composition of a third fragrance, the third fragrance being different from the first fragrance and the second fragrance.
13 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the release sheet comprises a plurality of release sheet slices, each release sheet slice being independently removable or retractable.
14 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a top coating layer, wherein the top coating layer is disposed between the porous sealing layer and the release sheet, and wherein the top coating layer has a top coating layer pore size, wherein the top coating layer average pore size is larger than 0.1 nm, wherein the top coating average pore size is smaller than the porous sealing layer average pore size, the top coating layer comprising a plurality of top coating slices, each top coating slice being independently removable or retractable.
15 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the backing layer, the backing layer being disposed between the adhesive layer and the microcell layer.
16 . The fragrance delivery system of claim 15 , further comprising a second release sheet adjacent to the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being disposed between the second release sheet and the backing layer.
17 . A method of delivering fragrances form a fragrance delivery system comprising (a) a backing layer; (b) a microcell layer comprising a plurality of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of microcells having an opening, the plurality of microcells comprising a plurality of first type of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of first type of microcells comprising a composition of a first fragrance having a first concentration of the first fragrance; (c) a porous sealing layer scanning the opening of the plurality of microcells, the porous sealing layer having a porous sealing layer average pore size, the porous sealing layer average pore size being from 0.2 nm to 1 mm, the porous sealing layer comprising a plurality of sealing slices, each sealing slice being independently removable or retractable; (d) a top coating layer, the top coating layer having a top coating layer average pore size, the top coating layer average pore size being less than 0.2 nm, the top coating layer comprising a plurality of top coating slices, each top coating slice being independently removable or retractable; (e) a first release sheet comprising a plurality of release sheet slices, each release sheet slice being independently removable or retractable; the method comprising: (1) removing or retracting the release sheet or one or more release sheet slices; (2) removing or retracting the top coating layer or one or more top coating slices; and (3) removing or retracting the sealing layer or one or more sealing slices.
18 . The method of delivering fragrances according to claim 17 , further comprising a step (4) re-attaching the sealing layer or one or more sealing slices.
19 . The method of delivering fragrances according to claim 18 , further comprising a step (5) re-attaching the top coating layer or one or more top coating slices.
20 . The method of delivering fragrances according to claim 19 , further comprising a step (6) re-attaching the release sheet or one or more release sheet slices.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/295,961 filed on Jan. 3, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, along with all other patents and patent applications disclosed herein. BACKGROUND The development of methodologies for controlled and extended release of benefit agents have attracted significant attention during the last decades. This is true for a large variety of benefit agents including pharmaceutical, nutraceutical agents, agricultural nutrients and related substances, cosmetic agents, fragrances, air care agents, biocides, fertilizers, and many other benefit agents in a variety of fields. Controlled and extended release delivery systems may involve the delivery of various benefit agents in different forms, such as solid, liquid and gas, to different locations, and under different conditions. A variety of delivery systems has been developed during the last decades that provide on demand delivery of benefit agents. For instance, Chrono Therapeutics (Hayward, CA) has tested a micro pump-enabled smart transdermal patch for delivering nicotine. Nonetheless, the corresponding device is large and visible through clothing as a sizeable bump. Thus, there remains a need for small, simple, inexpensive, versatile and safe delivery systems for delivering benefit agents on demand. Delivery systems for fragrances are commercially available. For example, systems that refresh spaces comprise materials that absorb fragrances. Such absorbing materials include cotton, gels, and microporous films. These products release fragrances in spaces over time. However, delivery of more than one fragrances in a controlled manner from the same system is challenging. The inventors of the present invention surprisingly found that a microcell device having a porous layer could deliver multiple fragrances from the same system at a controlled manner, providing a customizable odor over a period of time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention of the present application addresses the need of controlled release of fragrances by providing a delivery system whereby a fragrance can be released on demand. Additionally, as described below, the invention provides a system for delivering varying amounts of fragrances from the same delivery system at different times and controlled rates, and for delivering multiple fragrances at the same or different times from the same delivery system in controlled rates. In one aspect, the invention is a fragrance delivery system comprising a backing layer, a microcell layer, a porous sealing layer, and a first release sheet. The microcell layer comprises a plurality of microcells. Each microcell of the plurality of microcells has an opening. The porous sealing layer spans the opening of the plurality of microcells. The porous sealing layer has an average pores size, the average pore size being from 0.2 nm to 1 mm. The porous sealing layer comprises a plurality of sealing slices, each sealing slice being independently removable or retractable. The plurality of microcells comprises a plurality of first type of microcells, each microcell of the plurality of first type of microcells comprising a composition of a first fragrance having a first concentration of the first fragrance. The composition of the first fragrance may comprise a first aqueous carrier or a first non-aqueous carrier. The composition of the first fragrance may be a liquid or a gel. The plurality of microcells may comprise a plurality of second type of microcells and a plurality of third type of microcells. Portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of second type of microcells. Portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of third type of microcells. The portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of second type of microcells have a second thickness. The portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of third type of microcells have a third thickness. The second thickness may be different from the third thickness. The plurality of microcells may further comprise a plurality of fourth type of microcells. Portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of fourth type of microcells. The portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of fourth type of microcells have a fourth thickness. The fourth thickness may be different from the second thickness and the third thicknesses. The plurality of microcells may comprise a plurality of fifth type of microcells and a plurality of sixth type of microcells. Portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of fifth type of microcells. Portions of the porous sealing layer span the openings of the plurality of sixth type of microcells. The portions of the porous sealing layer spanning the openings of the plurality of fifth type of microcells may