S. C. Johnson Son, Inc.

Michael J McGlade

Nitin Sharma

Kenneth W Michaels

Gopal P Ananth

Andrew N Niemiec

A refill cartridge for a volatile composition includes a reservoir, a volatile composition within the reservoir, and a composite membrane in fluid communication with the reservoir. The composite membrane includes a barrier layer having a thickness of less than about 10 &#x3bc;&#x3b7;&#x3b9; and at least one support layer in contact with the barrier layer, the support layer having a thickness of at least about 10 um. The volatile composition is transported from the reservoir across the composite membrane at a flux of between 1 and 100 g/(m2-hr) at about 25&#xb0; C. and about 101 kPa.

Composite membrane

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

A volatile material dispensing system includes a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit includes a volatile material and a wicking surface. A fan is disposed within the housing. During an active state the fan draws ambient air into the housing and over the wicking surface, which is angled between about 20 degrees to about 75 degrees relative to a central axis of the housing. Further, during the active state the drawn air is expelled from the housing through channels of the fan at an angle of between about 20 degrees to about 75 degrees relative to the central axis of the housing.

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Racine, WI, United States of America

Michael J McGlade