S. C. Johnson Son, Inc.

Gopal P Ananth

Brian T Davis

Joel E Adair

Murthy S Munagavalasa

Scott W Demarest

Simon M Conway

Kenneth W Michaels

Padma Prabodh Varanasi

David P Mather

Scott D Walter

Dirk K Nickel

Matthew Abbondanzio

Jeffrey L Harwig

Thomas J Szymczak

Sebastian D Hasik

Gene Sipinski

Darren K Robling

Daniel T Ropiak

Michael J McGlade

Ranjit A De Silva

Andrew N Niemiec

Kevan Gartland

Ranjit A Desilva

A method of alternatingly emitting two or more volatile materials comprises the steps of activating a first heater and emitting a first volatile material for a first period of time by emitting the first volatile material at a first primary evaporation rate and emitting the first volatile material at a first secondary evaporation rate after evaporation of the first volatile material at the first primary evaporation rate. The method further includes the steps of deactivating the first heater, activating a second heater, and emitting a second volatile material for a second period of time by emitting the second volatile material at a second primary evaporation rate and emitting the second volatile material at a second secondary evaporation rate after evaporation of the second volatile material at the second primary evaporation rate. The first and second secondary evaporation rates are less than the first and second primary evaporation rates.

Method of alternatingly emitting two or more volatile materials

Methods determine how effective a product that dispenses an insect repellent or insecticide is in controlling flying insects such as mosquitoes, with no or reduced need for human test subjects. An insect trap or other automated monitoring device is positioned in a test environment and operated in a manner so as to mimic some human attribute (e.g. by dispensing carbon dioxide). Trap/monitoring results in the presence and absence of the operating product are obtained in order to judge relative effectiveness of the active. Further, the real time evaluation of insect populations permits evaluation of time needed to achieve base effectiveness and length of time that effectiveness can be sustained.

Methods for testing insect control products

Disclosed are devices for dispensing air treatment chemicals. There is a substrate bearing a first volatile air treatment chemical that is capable of being dispensed from the substrate when the substrate is heated, and an indicator unit holding a volatile indicator chemical separate from the first volatile air treatment chemical such that the volatile indicator chemical is capable of being dispensed from the unit when the unit is heated. The extent of dispensing of the first volatile air treatment chemical can be indicated by a visible cue whose appearance results from the dispensing of the volatile indicator chemical. In one form the unit also holds a second air treatment chemical. In another the indicator unit is a replaceable cartridge positionable more remote from the heater than the substrate.

Air treatment devices with use-up indicators

Disclosed are devices for dispensing air treatment chemicals, and refill units for use therewith. Some of these devices have a well facing the heater and a transparent wall to view the use up of the air treatment chemical. Other of these devices have a refill with wells positioned in opposing directions.

Air treatment device with reservoir refill

Devices for dispensing air treatment chemicals are described. They have a first substrate bearing a first volatile air treatment chemical that is dispensed when the first substrate is heated, and a second substrate bearing a second volatile air treatment chemical that is dispensed from the second substrate when the second substrate is heated. The substrates are positioned in stacked fashion relative to each other, optionally with a permeable membrane there between. There may also be a use-up cue indicator unit coordinated with use of the chemicals. The first and second substrates and indicator unit can be in a single replaceable cartridge unit, preferably with the second substrate in the form of a porous ring that houses the indicator unit.

Air treatment dispensers delivering multiple chemicals

Heated volatile dispensers are disclosed that are provided with automated dye-based use-up indicators. Multiple migrateable dyes of different colors are positioned adjacent a porous substrate. Heating of the substrate, such as a slab impregnated with an insect repellent, both causes the impregnated chemical to dispense from the slab and the indicator dyes to migrate to one or more visible positions. One dye migrates to a visible position faster than a dye of a different color. Further heating may cause one or both dyes to change color at a visible position. The dye movement imparts information about the degree of use-up of the impregnating chemical.

Heated volatile dispensing device with dye-based use-up indicator

A replacement device for a light bulb includes a translucent shell and a base. The base is configured to be received in a conventional light socket. The base also includes a compartment, slot or recess for receiving and securing a replaceable volatile active insert for enabling the device to emit an insect control material when the insert is secured in the compartment Combinations of one or more of a coiled fluorescent light, a plurality of colored LEDs, and an incandescent light source may also provided in the shell as a source of illumination. Thus, a single device is used as a replacement for a conventional light bulb that provides insect control in the form of a cartridge, bottle, mat, tube, sheet, patch etc.

Combination light device with insect control ingredient emission

A diffusion device includes a housing having a battery disposed therein and adapted to receive a replaceable fluid reservoir for holding a fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir includes a wick for movement of the fluid to a discharge end thereof. The diffusion device further includes a piezoelectric element energized by a power source for vibrating a perforated orifice plate disposed adjacent the discharge end of the wick, wherein the piezoelectric element develops vibratory movement to pump the fluid from the discharge end through the perforated discharge plate and into the atmosphere. A control circuit and light emitting diode ('LED') are disposed in the housing, wherein the control circuit energizes the LED at a particular frequency when the dispenser is active and a voltage developed by the battery is above a threshold voltage.

Diffusion device

Homogenous insecticidal compositions are disclosed in which a non-polar insecticide is dissolved in one or more polar solvents. The compositions have very low viscosity and high flash points and are suitable for use with a piezoelectric liquid atomizer.

Growing community of inventors

Racine, WI, United States of America

Gopal P Ananth