[0001] The present invention concerns an fragrance specimen carrier to be used for example
for presenting products in a retail store based on self-service. For many cosmetic
and techno-chemical products, the fragrance is a significant factor from the consumer's
point of view.
[0002] There are often several different products presented side by side. For preventing
disturbances by the environment, the intensity of the fragrance must be kept limited
for each product. The fragrance sample must be brought to a suitable distance from
the customer so that he/she can catch the fragrance. The samples must also be connectable
to the product in question. For this purpose, the presenting of the products is being
developed by introducing means, by which the customer can get a reliable thought of
the fragrance of the specific product in question.
[0003] This means is based on a "sample knob" connected with the presenting means of the
products, said sample knob being attached to a string or the like having a suitable
length, to be pulled out. The string is a part of a winding device that is tensioned
when distancing the knob from the winding device and pulls the knob back to the winding
device when the person examining the sample releases the knob. The sample knob is
a bowl-like vessel covered by a lid. The lid has a construction such that it penetrates
air suitably so as to convey the fragrance. Depending on the construction of the fragrance
sample, the lid can be provided with openings, it can be made of porous material or
both. The fragrance sample is traditionally included in a suitable carrier, for example
gelled. Projecting from the bottom of the bowl there is a suitable fastener for fixing
the string of the winding device. The fastener is also suitably shaped so as to set
appropriately to its seat in the winding device for the next testing of the sample.
[0004] To ensure that the winding string pulls the knob reliably back to its seat, the winding
device must have some tension potential, whereby an impact stress is exerted to the
knob, in case it is let to return substantially non-retarded. In these situations,
early fatigue has been detected in the constructions of the knobs. Above all, the
lids tend to loosen before a reasonable service life has been reached. A knob vessel
hitting against the seat causes a substantial recoil effect on the contents of the
knob, and thereby an internal pressure shock on the lid.
[0005] The existing problems can be substantially decreased by means of an fragrance specimen
carrier, in other words a sample knob in accordance with the present invention, the
substantial characteristics thereof becoming evident from the enclosed Claim 1. Advantageous
embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0006] The invention will be described in more detail based on the enclosed drawing, the
figure showing the fragrance specimen carrier of the invention as a cross-sectional
view.
[0007] The fragrance specimen carrier shown in the figure comprises, as known in the art,
a bowl-like vessel body 1 covered by a lid 2. In the construction in accordance with
the invention there is a centrally located tube 4 passing through the vessel, said
tube 4 being a fixed part of the body of the vessel 1 and defining for its part the
bowl space. The tube 4 is open extending through the bottom of the vessel 1 and extending
to a substantial distance from the bottom inside the vessel, preferably to the level
of the lower surface of the lid 2. The lid 2 comprises a sleeve 5 projecting from
the lower surface of the lid 2. The sleeve 5 is dimensioned according to the inner
diameter of the tube 4 so that the sleeve can be pushed with a fitting clearance to
the tube 4 when putting the lid 2 in place. The sleeve 4 will be locked in its inwardly
pushed position by means of a string holder 3.
[0008] For locking the sleeve 5, the string holder 3 is dimensioned to be partly inserted
to the sleeve 5 as far as the reach of the hooks 6 that belong to the string holder.
The insertion length is delimited by a circumference flange 8, by which the string
holder 3 sets against the edges of the mouth opening of the bottom side of the tube
4. The hooks 6 are equipped with grip cams 6a dimensioned to attach to the notches
7 formed to the inner surface of the sleeve 5.
[0009] When closing the lid 2, the sleeve of the lid is inserted in the tube preferably
to a depth, where the lid sets against the end of the tube 4. The sleeve 5 is locked
to this position by means of a string holder 3 that is pushed from the opposite end
of the tube 4, respectively from the open end of the sleeve 5 so that the hooks 6
set to the notches 7 of the sleeve. In this position, the string holder 3 is also
with its flange 8 against the end of the tube 4. The sleeve 5 and the lid fixed thereto
are locked against the forces attempting to open the lid 2.
[0010] The locking between the sleeve 5 and the string holder 3 is preferably provided to
be opened, whereby a new fragrance specimen carrier can be changed for replacing a
stale product or for providing a new fragrance sample. The opening of the locking
of the string holder 3 can be provided for example by forming the axial walls of the
notches chamfered or by forming the walls in either of the rotating directions chamfered,
whereby the hooks can be forced out of the notches 7 by turning the string holder
about the axial direction with respect to the sleeve. Correspondingly, the cams 6a
of the hooks can have chamfered side surfaces, or they can have chamfered side surfaces
only at one rotating side.
1. An fragrance specimen carrier fixed to a rewinding string included in a shelf system,
said carrier comprising a vessel (1), an air-penetrating lid (2) and a string holder
(3) characterized in that the vessel (1) is equipped with a tube (4) open at both ends, passing through the
bottom, substantially extending to the level of the lid, that the lid (2) is equipped
with a sleeve (5) extending from the lower surface thereof and having the extending
end open, the outer diameter of the sleeve corresponding to the inner diameter of
the tube (4) with a fitting clearance, and that the sleeve (5) is retained in the
tube (4) with the string holder (3).
2. The fragrance specimen carrier in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that the string holder (3) attaches with flexible hooks (6) to the notches (7) of the
inner surface of the sleeve (5)
3. The fragrance specimen carrier in accordance with Claim 2, characterized in that the axial boundary surfaces of each notch (7) are chamfered at least in one circumferential
direction
4. The fragrance specimen carrier in accordance with Claim 2, characterized in that of the cam cheek surfaces of each hook (6) in the direction of the sleeve axis, at
least the cheek surface of one circumferential direction is chamfered.
