US 7,540,473 B2
Dispensing system for a volatile liquid
Ralph Schwarz, Racine, Wis. (US)
Assigned to S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wis. (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/341,046.
Application 11/341046 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/608717, filed on Jun. 27, 2003, abandoned.
Application 10/608717 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/394621, filed on Mar. 21, 2003, granted, now 7,032,831.
Application 10/394621 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/607702, filed on Jun. 27, 2003, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2006/0170119 A1, Aug. 03, 2006
Int. Cl. B01F 3/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 261—30  [261/104; 261/107; 261/DIG. 88] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dispensing system for a volatile liquid, comprising:
a fan adapted to push an air stream;
a capillary member that is in fluid communication with a reservoir for the volatile liquid, the capillary member having a body, in which a portion of the body is positioned within the air stream with the fan activated; in which the portion of the body is impervious to passage of the air stream therethrough in a direction of the air stream and in which the air stream passes unobstructed over opposing surfaces of the capillary member aligned generally transverse to the direction of the air stream; and
a guide associated with the fan and defining opening, having a predetermined dimension, to selectively receive the capillary member and to position the portion of the body such that the portion of the body is in the air stream when the fan is activated;
wherein a blade of the fan has a dimension R extending from an axis of rotation of the fan blade to an edge of the fan blade farthest from the axis of rotation; and
the portion of the body of the capillary member in which the body of the capillary member has a width W which does not exceed 1.2 R.