US3706140A

US3706140A - Multi-use dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US3706140A
Application number: US92696A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andre R Brillaud; Lawrence F Gallin
Original assignee: Systematic Research & Dev Corp
Current assignee: Systematic Research & Dev Corp
Priority date: 1970-11-25
Filing date: 1970-11-25
Publication date: 1972-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-19

Abstract

A dispenser consisting of an opened celled housing or vessel forming a chamber of predetermined size permeable to the ingress and egress of fluids more particularly volatile gases to permit escape or dispensing of such gases or other fluids from the chamber into a desired environment. At a critical temperature a means is mounted in or on the vessel for loading and holding of materials to be dissolved or volatilized at the critical temperature and for passing the dissolved substance or the resultant gas to the chamber for dispensing or escape through the permeable walls of the vessel. The material to be dissolved or volatilized will as a general rule be held in a carrier or like device which will degrade or act to release the material to be dissolved or volatilized.

Description

United States Patent 151' 3,706,140 Brillaud et al. 1 Dec. 19, 1972 [541 MULTI-USE DISPENSING DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Lawrence F. Gallin, Somerset, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Systematic Research & Development Corp., Somerset, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 92,696

[52] US. Cl. ..34/60, 239/55, 118/48 [51] Int. Cl. ..F26b 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..34/12, 60; 239/54, 55; 118/76-78, 48

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,442,692 5/1969 Gaiser ..117/120 2,738,225 3/1956 Meek ..239/55 2,215,988 9/1940 Vivaudou et al. ..239/55 2,941,309 6/1960 Cobb 34/12 X 2,774,627 12/1956 Johnson ..239/D1G. 11

3,215,311 11/1965 Nison et al. ..222/52 772,888 12/1967 Canada ..34/60 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr.

AttorneyPopper, Bain, Bobis & Gilfillan ABSTRACT A dispenser consisting of an opened celled housing or vessel forming a chamber of predetermined size permeable to the ingress and egress of fluids more particularly volatile gases to permit escape or dispensing of such gases or other fluids from the chamber into a desired environment. At a critical temperature a means is mounted in or on the vessel for loading and holding of materials to be dissolved or volatilized at the critical temperature and for passing the dissolved substance or the resultant gas to the chamber for dispensing or escape through the permeable walls of the vessel. The material to be dissolved or volatilized will as a general rule be held in a carrier or like device which will degrade or act to release the material to be dissolved or volatilized.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEC 19 I972 sum 1 BF 3 ace ANDRE RBRILLAUD LAWRENCE E. GALLIN INVENTORS FIC7.4

PATENTED DEC 19 m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 6

ANDRE RBRILLAUD LAWRENCE F. GALLIN INVENTORS PATENTED DEC 19 I972 SHEEI 3 OF 3 FIG. IO

FICLIZ RY p 2% CLMHNG WET CLOTHIN G CL TEMPERATURE (F'. OF CLOTHING M5105; or DRYER FIG. I5 ANDRE R. BRILLAUD LAWRENCE F. GALLIN INVENTORS MULTl-USE DISPENSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The use of a free body dispenser of materials to produce a given result wherein the materials are freed as a function of the rupture of the dispensing container or on the happening of some given condition are a know expedient as is indicated in US. Pat. Nos. 3,215,311, 3,114,647 and 3,397,106.

One area in which dispensing techniques have been attempted have been in the treatment of laundered products either in the home or in commercial laundries but these have not proven extensively successful up to the present time and are limited as to the nature of the treatment that can be applied to the laundered products.

ln the present invention, an improved dispenser is provided which is particularly adapted to be used in either home dryers or commercial laundry dryers which will permit scenting, deodorizing, water proofing, germ proofing or disinfecting of various laundered items. It consists of a light weight generally hollow dispensing device with permeable walls which holds the treating material or the material in a suitable protective carrier and permits the treating material to escape through the permeable walls when certain given temperatures or other conditions are met. The dispenser or dispensers, as the case may be, being thrown in with the items such as clothing, textile materials or the like to be treated as in the drying chamber of a laundry dryer or closely associated therewith so that the treating material or agent when released can act on the various items in the dryer.

One method of utilizing the dispenser of the present invention is based on the fact that the drying of laundered items is accelerated by the use of heat and mass air movement and that the wet or damp laundry remains at a relatively low temperature until all moisture has been removed by the action of such heat and mass air movement at which time the temperature of the laundered items increases substantially to the ambient heat of the system. The conventional dryers operate on a time cycle so that the operator can select the exposure time to heat based on the quality of laundered items generally by weight to be dryed and it is conventional practice not to allow the laundered items to be over exposed to extreme heat for prolonged periods of time.

The dispenser of the present invention can be filled with a material which is particularly adapted for this type of operation in that by the selection of a suitable treating material the laundered items which are being dryed can be treated at a precise moment as a function of the temperature in the dryer. Treating materials which have properties adapting them to volatilize at the proper point in the drying cycle i.e., the point at which the temperature of the laundered items pass to the elevated temperature of the ambient heating medium can be used to perfume, disinfect, moth proof and to water proof the laundered items or to coat them with anti microbiological substance or apply a variety of other treatments.

The effective application of a given treatment relies on the fact that the treating material or the protective carrier and the treating material dispensed therein will be held in the dispenser and will melt or degrade when a critical temperature is reached. This critical temperature at which melting or degradation occurs can be selected by choosing the treating material for performing a given treatment which is temperature susceptable and suitably mounting the same, in or on the device either directly or with a suitable protective and degradable carrier, in the desired quantity.

Thus, in the use of the present dispensing device in the preferred application; so long as the clothing is wet or damp, the temperature of the environment of the laundered items in the dryer never reaches the critical temperature at which the treating material or the protective and degradable carrier with the treatment material, as the case may be, melts or degrades. However, as the laundered items dry and the temperature increases to the critical temperature, the gaseous or dissolved end state of the treatment material is then released either under direct action or initially by degradation of the coating of the protective carrier in the environment in which the dispenser and the items to be treated are located.

If the treating material or the protective and degradable carrier mounted in or on the dispenser is in soluble to water the dispenser is prevented from releasing the gaseous type of treatment material prematurely.

Since the treatment technique above described does not expose the treating material for prolonged periods of time to high temperature, moisture or mass air movements, loss and/or degradation of the treatment material is significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF lNVENTlON Thus, the present invention covers an improved dispenser comprising a generally spherical body with permeable walls which forms a collecting and dispensing chamber and in which is mounted a means for holding a treating material or a protective and degradable carrier and treating material and for passing the treating material when it volatilizes or dissolves to the collecting and dispensing chamber; the spherical body member having an entry means to permit treating material or treating material in or on a suitable protective and degradable carrier to be loaded into the means for holding the treating material.

Additionally, the present invention covers a dispenser as above described having a suitable attaching means such as a permanent magnet affixed to the spherical body to permit the dispenser to be attached or to freely attach itself in the environment in which the dispenser will be used.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient and easy to use dispenser for use in laundry drying equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light-weight dispensing mechanism which will carry a specific treatment material and will release the treatment material as a function of a given condition of the system or environment in which the dispenser is used.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which will hold and dispense a specific treatment material contained in or on a protective carrier which carrier is water insolule and degrades at a given critical temperature and thereby permits release of the treatment material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light-weight free body dispensing device having permeable walls in which a vaporizable material can be placed and which is adapted to be used in a home dryer so as to release material in vaporized from during the drying cycle at a given critical temperature.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a-tope elevation of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1- i I I I FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the form of the invention shown in FIG.,1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another form of the invention partly in section.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6 showing a closure mechanism to permit access to the means for holding the treatment material.

FIG. 8 is a side view partly in cross-section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6 with the closure member in open position and phantomized in closed position.

FIG. 9 is an exploded partial perspective view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view broken in part and having a exploded partial perspective view of the upper and lower portions of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the percent release of a given treating material as against temperature variation or change in a given drying cycle.

SPLIT HOUSING FORM OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5 show one form of dispenser in accordance with the present invention formed by a generally spherical housing 10 consisting of a semi-spherical upper member 11 and a semispherical lower member 12 which have means thereon, as hereinafter described, to detachably connect the upper and lower members together to form the composite spherical shape of this from of the invention.

It will be understood that while this and other forms of the present device are illustrated as having a generally spherical shape that this is not intended to so limit the shape of the present device and as will be understood by thos skilled in the art this device can be square, cone shaped or trapizoidal as the case may requre to facilitate formation or construction of the device for the particular mechanism or system to which the device will be applied.

The upper and lower members 11 and 12 are relatively thinned walled elements and when connected together form a collecting and dispensing chamber generally designated 13. The collecting and dispensing chamber 13 as indicated in the drawings has a relatively large volume as compared with the treating material storage chamber 14 formed by means more fully described below which is connected to the upper and lower members 11 and 12 so as to lie across or transversely of the chamber 13 for reasons which will appear clear in regard to the volatilizing of the treating material held in the storage chamber 14.

The collecting and dispensing chamber 13 is relatively large to allow for expansion and storage of the volatilized or dissolved-treating material before it is passed through the walls of the respective upper and lower members 11 and 12 of the housing 10 when the dispensing mechanism becomes operative.

' The upper member 11' and lower member 12 are generally made from the same material and this can be any suitable type of material which can be molded or shaped such as in a stamping process for stainless steel sheeting or a molding process for plastic materials.

Suitable materials for the upper and lower housing 11 and 12 will be those which are inert chemically and can physically withstand temperatures, pressures or both and the impact shock to which the dispenser may be subjected in the performance of the specific treatment or use to which it is applied.

Materials particularly adapted for the device'in accordance with the present invention would bestainless steel sheeting of relatively thin gauge or any of the heat resistant polymers which are chemically inert such as fluorocarbon resins, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, etc.

It will be further noted that the upper member and lower member 11 and 12 respectively are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 15 which may havea geometrical pattern as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings or alternatively may be randomly disposed through the walls of each of the respective members.

, It is believed clear that while openings 15 are shown as extending through the walls of the respective upper and lower members 11 and 12 that these members may be made of relatively permeable materials in which the premeability of the walls would be a function of the porosity of the materials selected for this purpose.

For example, one material that might be used for this purpose is a fluorocarbon resin material sold on the open market under the trademark Zytex. The functional character of this material in its formation being such that it can provide the desired porosity as may be required.

The semi-spherical upper member 11 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is provided with a plurality of indented sections as at 16, in the upper member 11 and 17 in the lower member 12 which served to strengthen the relatively thin walls of the respective upper and lower members of housing 10. Transverse portions as at 18 on the upper member 11 and 19 on the lower member 12 associated with these

indented sections

16 and 17 respectively are continuous with the respective annular flange 20 extending radially outward about the open end of the upper member 1 l and the L-shaped annular flange 21 extending radially outward on the lower member 12.

Transversely disposed across the open end of the upper member 11 is a perforated screen like element 22 which is connected at its peripheral edge to the flange 20 as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

A transverse perforated screen like element 23 closes the open end of the semi-spherical lower member 12 and is fastened at its peripheral edge to the flange means 21 in the same manner above described for the transverse screen element 22 of the upper member 11. However, the transverse element 23 is further provided with a medially disposed indented perforated portion 24 which as shown in FIG. 3 will when the upper and lower members 11 and 12 are detachably connected together form the treating material storage chamber 14 above described.

In order to connect the upper and lower members 11 and 12 together an upwardly extending annular wall 25 is connected at one end to the periphery of the lower flange and it extends upwardly a sufficient distance so that when the upper annular flange 20 on the upper member 11 is nested into engagement against the lower annular flange 21 locking lugs as at 26, 27 and 28 struck in the sides of the annular wall means 25 will detachably hold the upper member 11 and lower member 12 in assembled position as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

In operation or use the upper and lower members 11 and 12 which are made of relatively thin resilient material can be easily detached from one another. When separated, treating material or as above described treating material in or on a suitable protective and degradable carrier is placed in the indented or tray portion 24 of the transverse perforated element 23 and when the upper member is connected to the lower member the treating material or the carrier and treating material will be held securely between the respective

perforated plates

22 and 23 and will not spill into the collecting and dispensing chamber 13 formed by the housing member 10.

FIG. 3 further shows that the perforated screen like

elements

22 and 23 are so disposed that the openings or at least a plurality of the openings will meet and permit either fluids to contact the treating material or the carrier and treating material as the case may be or alternatively will permit the treating material or the degradable carrier to dissolve or volatilize and the gaseous or fluid end product for the treatment to escape from the holding chamber 14 into the collecting and dispensing chamber 13. From the holding and dispensing chamber 13 the volatilized or dissolved end products for applying the treatment can pass through the openings in the upper and lower housing 11 and 12 to accomplish the desired treatment in the environment and to the items in this environment into which'the dispenser has been placed.

In the case of a laundry dryer, the wet laundered items and one or more of the dispensers as above described are thrown into the dryer together. The drying cycle is commenced in the conventional manner well known for the drying of laundered items.

By reference to FIG. 13, one such conventional cycle is graphically illustrated to show how a treating material for example, a freshening agent having a relatively high thermal release point, will act in such cycle.

The graph shows that until a substantially dry condition is reached by the laundered items, the critical release temperature for the treating material will not be achieved. When the critical release temperature range is reached, the treating material in the dispenser is volatilized without any difficulty and the laundered items thus receive the desired treatment at the right point in the drying cycle.

Where the thermal release point is low for example in the case of a perfume treatment when the essential perfume oils which are used have a low vapor pressure but conversely must be released late in the drying cycle if the perfume essence is to remain in the laundered items, the low vapor pressure materials must be protected by some technique as by encapsulating or compounding the treatment material into a carrier or other type a high critical temperature release material which will dissolve or vaporize at a high critical temperature. High critical temperature release materials for this purpose would be casein based glues or heat resistant polymers, waxes, etc. Such materials and devices for this purpose are known and can be purchased on the open market.

Conversely, however, it may be desirable to use low thermal release materials for certain treatments as for example, in the case of an antibacterial treatment using hexachloraphene or a moth-proofing treating using dechloroparabenzene.

The temperature at which degradation of the treating material or the carrier and treating material as the case may be will occur can be varied and will depend on the material and the particular treatment. It can vary between F to 250 F depending on whether the treating material or the carrier is an essential oil, wax, or other temperature degradable material. The concept of the operation of the dispenser in the case of laundry drying however, being a function of the critical temperature of the treating material within the indicated range.

SIDE PORT FORM OF THE INVENTION Another form of the invention may utilize a side port for charging the treating material into thedispenser.

This type device is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 of the drawings as having a substantially spherical housing 50 with a wall 51 made of relatively thin material. The housing has vent openings or perforations 52 to receive fluid from the exterior of the housing 50 or to vent gases or fluids to the exterior of the housing, and the housing forms a dispensing chamber 53.

A segmental opening 54 is formed in the wall 51 of the housing 50 and an annular L-shaped flange as at 55 is connected to the inner surface of the wall 51 about the segmental opening 54.

A closure member 56 having substantially the shape as the segmental opening 54 and an exterior curvature to match the curvature of the spherical housing 50 is pivotally connected to a suitable hinge means 57 on the annular flange 55.

A finger grip means 58 is provided on the closure member 56 to facilitate opening and closing the segmental opening 54. When the closure means is moved to the closed position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the projecting lip 59 will engage an indented portion 60 struck in the side of the L-shaped annular flange 55 so as to latch'the closure member 56in closed position.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show that extending radially inward from the annular flange means 55 on opposite sides of the segmental opening 54 are spaced brackets as at 61 and 62.

These spaced

brackets

61 and 62 as shown in section at FIG. 6 extend towards each other adapting them to receive a trapizoidal shaped perforated basket element 63. The basket element will have perforations in the order of 30 gauge mesh and will serve to receive the treating material which can-be placed therein through the segmental opening 55.

Alternatively, in place of the basket member a molded trapizoidal shaped carrier (not shown) with the treating material intersperced therethrough may be placed in the position in which the bracket member 63 is presently illustrated.

Carrier devices adapted for use with the dispenser shown in FIGS. 6 through 10 will be described more fully below.

The operation of the basket means 63 or a molded carrier device will be the same.

Thus, when it is desired to use the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 the closure member 56 is moved to the open positionand the basket 63 is either loaded with granules or pellets of the treating material or in lieu of the basket,a molded carrier, is placed in position on the

brackets

62 and 63. g

The closure member is then moved to the closed position as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and the dispenser is then ready for use in the same manner as above described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to of the drawings or for any other use to which dispensers of the present invention can be applied.

As above indicated, it is possible to mold a trapizoidal shaped carrier to fit into position on the

brackets

61 and 62. Such carriers will be particularly adaptable for low vapor pressure materials which can be encapsulated into a matrix or carrier compound which melts or degrades when the critical temperature is reached. By choosing the desired matrix or carrier material and combining the same with the treating material, the composition can be molded into the desired shape to fit into the

brackets

61 and 62. For example, high temperature wax type compounds with the treating materials therein are purchaseable on the open market and can be molded for this purpose. Heat resistant casein based glues may also be used. Heat resistant polymers such as polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polypropylenes, etc. are also adapted for this purpose.

DISPENSER WITH ATTACI-IING MEANS In certain dispensing techniques it may be desirable to provide some form of attaching means to either fix the position of the dispenser in the apparatus in which it is being used or to fix it in a more desirable position with respect to the device to which the particular treatment is to be applied.

FIGS. l0, l1 and 12 illustrate a magnetic form of attaching means as applied to a device substantially similar to that above described for FIGS. 6 to 10 of the drawings.

Thus, FIGS. 10 to 12 show a dispenser also having a substantially spherical housing 100 with a relatively thin wall 101 which has vent openings or perforations there through as at 102.

The housing 100 forms a collecting and dispensing chamber 103 which communicates with the vent openings and perforations 102 in the same manner as shown and described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 described above.

This form of the invention has the segmental opening 104, the associated annular flange 105,

brackets

106 and 107 and basket member 108 mounted in the bracket members and aclosure member 109 which elements are identical to those above described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 of the drawings and accordingly require no further description for this form of the invention.

This form of the invention, however, differs from the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 in that at some point spaced from the segmental opening 104, the housing is provided with an annular wall 110 which is connected at one end with the exterior portion of the wall 101 of the housing so as to forma recess or compartment 111.

Mounted in the recess or compartment 111 is a-permanent magnet member 112 which is connected in assembled position as by a suitable connecting member such as the rivet means 113 shown in. FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings.

The thickness of the permanent magnet'member 112 and the depth of the recess or compartment formed by the annular wall will be such that the permanent magnet member 112 will project beyond the outer end 114 of the annular wall 100 at least a sufficient distance to provide a magnetic surface of sufficient area to affix and hold the housing 100 of the dispensers to a metal surface either in the apparatus or adjacent thereto as the case may require.

In operation this form of the invention is loaded or filled in the same manner above described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 then it is either placed or affixed in position in the apparatus in which it is used or else it is thrown into the apparatus and will automatically affix itself in position in the device to any suitable metal surface to hold the dispenser in position.

Thus, three alternate forms of the present invention have been illustrated which are adapted to provide means for dispensing treating materials to produce certain qualities or results. More particularly these dispensers are for use in laundry drying devices wherein the operation of the dispensing member and the dispensing of the treating material are a function of the temperature acting in the apparatus.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described and each may have substitutes which perform a substantially similar function.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus including;

a. housing means made of plastic material with relativelythin walls defining a dispensing chamber,

b. said housing means being permeable to permit continuous fluid flow into and out of said dispensing chamber when the dispenser is placed into use in said drying apparatus,

c. said housing means having an associated storage means therein including,means forming a retaining space having flow passage means in communication with the dispensing chamber,

treating material of a type to degrade only at predetermined elevated temperature conditions above ambient atmospheric temperatures,

e. said treating material disposed in the retaining space means to permit degraded treating material to pass continuously into and dwell in said dispensing chamber during use of the dispenser,

f. said housing having an acess and closure means to permit the storage means to be loaded with treating material from time to time and to prevent escape of degraded treating material other than into the dispensing chamber in the housing,

g. and said dispensing chamber having a relatively large volume as compared with the means for retaining the treating material.

2. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a. said housing means includes, a first member and a second member,

b. said access and closure means includes, means to detachably connect said first member to said second member to form the housing means,

c. and reinforcing means formed in the respective walls of the first member and second member of the housing.

3. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first member is semi-spherical in shape, said second member is semi-spherical in shape, and said housing means formed by said first member and second member having a spherical shape, and the means rendering said housing permeable comprises a plurality of spaced openings in the walls of said housing means.

4. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said storage means includes,

a. a first transverse gas permeable element disposed across the open end of said first semi-spherical member,

b. a second transverse gas permeable element disposed across said second semi-spherical member,

c. said first transverse gas permeable element and said second transverse gas permeable element forming therebetween retaining means for holding treating material when said first and second semispherical elements are in assembled position.

5. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said detachable means includes:

a. flange means about the open end of said first semispherical member,

b. L-shaped flange means about the open end of said second semi-spherical member,

c. a means on said L-shaped flange to engage and hold said flange means of said first semi-spherical member when said first semi-spherical member and said second semi-spherical member are brought into nested engagement with each other.

6. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including permanent magnet means for removably attaching said dispenser to any suitable point of use.

7. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a. said housing is provided with means including, at

least one segmented side opening in the wall thereof to permit treating material to be loaded into the storage means from time to time, b. and a closure means for said segmented side open- 5 8. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 7 including,

a. bracket means connected in said housing adjacent said segmented opening,

means for holding treating material adapted to be mounted in said bracket means and means thereon providing communication with the dispensing chamber formed by the housing, c. said holding means for treating material adapted to 5 be mounted .in said bracket means when the closure means is open and held in assembled position when the closure means is closed. 9. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 7 including, permanent magnet means for removably attaching said dispenser to any suitable point of use.

10. A dispenser of the capsule type comprising:

a. a substantially spherical housing made of plastic material having relatively thin walls defining a chamber therein,

. the walls of said housing made of a material to provide controlled porosity for passing fluid therethrough,

c. said housing having a storage means for treating material to degrade responsive to a given condition at a point where the dispenser is used,

d. said storage means having means for providing communication between said chamber and said treating material,

e. means on said housing including a segmented opening therein to permit treating material to be loaded into the storage means from time to time,

f. and a closure means for said segmented opening.

11. lna dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 10 including:

a. bracket means connected in said housing adjacent said segmented opening,

b. means for holding treating material adapted to be mounted in said bracket means and in communication with the chamber formed by said housing,

c. said holding means for treating material to be mounted in said bracket when said closure means is open and held in assembled position when the closure means is closed.

12. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 10 including, permanent magnet means for removably attaching said dispenser to any suitable point of use.

13. In a dispenser as claimed in claim 3 including;

a. annular wall means connected to the outside of said housing and forming a recess;

b. a permanent magnet fixedly mounted in said recess;

0. said permanent magnet disposed to extend beyond said annular wall means to provide sufficient magnetic surface to afiix said dispenser to any suitable coacting metal surface.

i i i

Claims

1. A dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus including; a. housing means made of plastic material with relatively thin walls defining a dispensing chamber, b. said housing means being permeable to permit continuous fluid flow into and out of said dispensing chamber when the dispenser is placed into use in said drying apparatus, c. said housing means having an associated storage means therein including, means forming a retaining space having flow passage means in communication with the dispensing chamber, d. treating material of a type to degrade only at predetermined elevated temperature conditions above ambient atmospheric temperatures, e. said treating material disposed in the retaining space means to permit degraded treating material to pass continuously into and dwell in said dispensing chamber during use of the dispenser, f. said housing having an acess and closure means to permit the storage means to be loaded with treating material from time to time and to prevent escape of degraded treating material other than into the dispensing chamber in the housing, g. and said dispensing chamber having a relatively large volume as compared with the means for retaining the treating material.

2. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. said housing means includes, a first member and a second member, b. said access and closure means includes, means to detachably connect said first meMber to said second member to form the housing means, c. and reinforcing means formed in the respective walls of the first member and second member of the housing.

4. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said storage means includes, a. a first transverse gas permeable element disposed across the open end of said first semi-spherical member, b. a second transverse gas permeable element disposed across said second semi-spherical member, c. said first transverse gas permeable element and said second transverse gas permeable element forming therebetween retaining means for holding treating material when said first and second semi-spherical elements are in assembled position.

5. In a dispenser of the capsule type for use in drying apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said detachable means includes: a. flange means about the open end of said first semi-spherical member, b. L-shaped flange means about the open end of said second semi-spherical member, c. a means on said L-shaped flange to engage and hold said flange means of said first semi-spherical member when said first semi-spherical member and said second semi-spherical member are brought into nested engagement with each other.

7. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 1 wherein: a. said housing is provided with means including, at least one segmented side opening in the wall thereof to permit treating material to be loaded into the storage means from time to time, b. and a closure means for said segmented side opening.

8. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 7 including, a. bracket means connected in said housing adjacent said segmented opening, b. means for holding treating material adapted to be mounted in said bracket means and means thereon providing communication with the dispensing chamber formed by the housing, c. said holding means for treating material adapted to be mounted in said bracket means when the closure means is open and held in assembled position when the closure means is closed.

9. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 7 including, permanent magnet means for removably attaching said dispenser to any suitable point of use.

10. A dispenser of the capsule type comprising: a. a substantially spherical housing made of plastic material having relatively thin walls defining a chamber therein, b. the walls of said housing made of a material to provide controlled porosity for passing fluid therethrough, c. said housing having a storage means for treating material to degrade responsive to a given condition at a point where the dispenser is used, d. said storage means having means for providing communication between said chamber and said treating material, e. means on said housing including a segmented opening therein to permit treating material to be loaded into the storage means from time to time, f. and a closure means for said segmented opening.

11. In a dispenser of the capsule type as claimed in claim 10 including: a. bracket means connected in said housing adjacent said segmented opening, b. means for holding treating material adapted to be mounted in said bracket means and in communication with the chamber formed by said housing, c. said holding means for treating material to be mouNted in said bracket when said closure means is open and held in assembled position when the closure means is closed.

13. In a dispenser as claimed in claim 3 including; a. annular wall means connected to the outside of said housing and forming a recess; b. a permanent magnet fixedly mounted in said recess; c. said permanent magnet disposed to extend beyond said annular wall means to provide sufficient magnetic surface to affix said dispenser to any suitable coacting metal surface.