(19)         Federal Republic of Germany                                                                                                                       (51) Int.Cl.4:

                                [emblem]                                                                                                                                           B 01 J 20/28

                German Patent Office                                                                                                                                  B 01 D 53/02

                                                                                                                                                                                          B 01 D 53/14

(12)         Offenlegungsschrift                                                                                                                                      B 01 D 53/34

                [= Published Patent Application]                                                                                                                 B 01 J 20/22

(11)         DE 34 43 274 A1                                                                                                                                               B 01 J 20/04

                                                                                                                                                                                           A 82 D 3/00

                                                                                                                                                                                            A 81 L 9/01

(21)         Application number:            P 34 43 274.4

(22)         Filing date:                            November 28, 1984

(43)         Disclosure date:                   May 28, 1986

                                                                                                                                             Property of the German Patent Office

 

 

(71)         Applicant:

                Neubauer, née Fassati, Adele, 7000 Stuttgart, DE

 

(74)         Representative:

                Barthelmess, O., 7000 Stuttgart

 

(72)         Inventor:

                Same as the applicant.

 

 

(54)         Device for Eliminating Odors in Refrigerators or the Like

 

                        Materials, stored in refrigerators, often emit strong or less strong odors; and as a result, other foodstuffs in the refrigerator may take on foreign odors and, thus, suffer a reduction in the quality.

                        Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a device, which is to be accommodated in the refrigerator, requires little space and over a prolonged period of time eliminates or binds the odors, produced in the refrigerator, in a hygienically safe manner.

                        This object is achieved by a perforated and, thus, gas permeable container, which is filled with a powdery or granular active ingredient mixture, comprising cetyl alcohol, borax, and sodium bicarbonate, in such a manner that said mixture is in contact with the air surrounding the container.

 

DE 34 43 274 A1

                                                                                                            FEDERAL PRINTING OFFICE    04.86    808  022/378      4/70


 

 

                                                                   Patent Claims

 

1.)        Device for eliminating odors in refrigerators or the like, characterized in that said device comprises a perforated and, thus, gas permeable container (1), which is filled with a powdery or granular active ingredient mixture (4), comprising cetyl alcohol (C2H5OH), borax (Na2B4O7 · 10 H2O) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in such a manner that said filling (4) is in contact with the air surrounding the container (1).

 

2.)        Device, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the active ingredient mixture (4) comprises 50 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 2 parts by weight of borax and 2 parts by weight of cetyl alcohol.

 

3.)        Device, as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the active ingredient mixture (4) is located in an insert (5), the walls (6) of which are provided with perforations (16); and that this insert (5) can be inserted in an interchangeable manner in the container (1), which is provided with air passages (3) and can be closed with a cover (2).

 

4.)        Device, as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that until the device is used, the perforated walls (6) are covered with cover films (7), which can be peeled off.


 

5.)        Device, as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the container (1) comprises two nested container elements (8 and 9) that resemble dual jackets and are closed on one end and whose inner and outer walls (10/11 and 12/13) exhibit identical perforations (14), which are configured in such a manner that, when the container elements (8 and 9) are slid into each other, said perforations coincide in such a manner that by rotating these container elements in opposite directions, the opening or closing of these perforations (14) is achieved by choice.

 

6.)        Device, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the inside walls of the dual jacket of the bottom container element (9), which contains the active ingredient mixture (4), are provided with a gas permeable cover (15), which covers the perforations (14).

 

7.)        Device, as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cover (15) is made of gauze or a similar close meshed net.


 

 

                                    Device for Eliminating Odors in Refrigerators or the Like

 

 

The invention relates to a device for eliminating odors, which are emitted by foodstuffs and other materials that are stored in refrigerators or the like.

 

Such odors are more or less strong; and as a result, other materials, stored in the refrigerator, may take on foreign odors and, thus, may suffer a reduction in quality.

 

Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive device, which requires little space and over a prolonged period of time eliminates or binds the odors, emitted by the foodstuffs, stored in the refrigerator.

 

This object is achieved by a device exhibiting the features, characterized in patent claim 1.

 

This novel device can be put or hung easily into the storage space of the refrigerator and eliminates or binds any odors, which are produced, for a number of weeks in a hygienically safe manner. Then the device may be either replaced in its entirety; or only the active ingredient filling may be replaced, as in other design models.

 

Advantageous embodiments of the invention, in particular also in regard to the mix ratio of the


active ingredient filling, are characterized in the dependent claims.

 

The subject matter of the invention is depicted in two embodiments in the drawings.

 

Figure 1 depicts the device in the form of a can-like container;

Figure 2 is a side view of the container, according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 depicts the active ingredient filling of the container, according to Figures 1 and 2; and

Figures 4 and 5 depict  another embodiment with a ring-shaped container.

 

The device, depicted in Figures 1 to 3, comprises a can-like container 1 with a cover 2, which can be placed on said container. Both the bottom of the container 1 and expediently also the cover 2 are provided with a plurality of passages 3 of arbitrary shape.

 

The active ingredient filling 4, comprising a mixture of cetyl alcohol (C2H5OH), borax (Na2B4O7 · 10 H2O) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is located in an insert 5, the outer dimensions of which match the container 1. Both face sides 6 of said insert are provided with a perforation 16. In addition, the face sides 6 of said insert can be provided with a cover film 7, which can be removed and which is intended for the storage and shipment of said insert. Thus, the filling 4 is then sealed in an air-tight manner.

 

In order to use the device, both films 7 are peeled off; and then the insert 5, containing the active ingredient 4, is put into the container 1; and the cover 2 is put on said container.


Thereafter, the device is ready for use.

 

The active ingredient 4 can be used in either a powdery or, even better, granular form. A preferred mix ratio comprises 50 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 2 parts by weight of borax and 2 parts by weight of cetyl alcohol.

 

The design model, depicted in Figures 4 and 5, comprises two nested container elements 8 and 9 that resemble dual jackets and are closed on one end. Both the inner walls 10 and 11 of these container elements 8 and 9 and their outer walls 12 and 13 are provided with perforations 14, which are configured in such a manner that, when both container elements are slid into each other, said perforations coincide in such a manner that by simply rotating these container elements 8 and 9 in opposite directions, the perforations 14 can be opened or closed by choice. The active ingredient filling 4 is located in the dual jacket of the bottom container element 9 and is poured in preferably in the granular form. In order to prevent the filling from escaping through the perforations 14, the inside walls of the bottom dual jacket are provided with a gas permeable cover 15 made of a close meshed net, gauze or the like.

 

In this embodiment the active ingredient mixture can be refilled again from a supply package.

 

For the sake of completeness it must be added that the invention is not restricted to the described embodiments, but rather can also be realized in any number of different ways within the scope of the patent claim.


 

                                                                   - Blank Sheet -


                                                                                                                              Number: 34 43 274

                                                                                                                           Int. Cl.4: B 01 J 20/28

                                                                                                            Filing date: November 28, 1984

                                                                                                             Disclosure date: May 28, 1988

[see figures]