Emanator device

摘要

An emanator device for emanating an air treatment agent into the surrounding air comprises a housing (102) which contains a solid or liquid source of the air treatment agent, wherein the housing comprises a blister or capsule containing an air treatment agent (108) and a plurality of openings which are sufficiently small that they can be closed by a film or plug of water. For example the openings may be provided by a gauze or mesh (114). The openings do not inhibit the emanation of air treatment agent released from the blister, but when the emanator device is subject to wet conditions, as may happen in a dishwashing machine, the openings are blocked by a film or plug of water. The air treatment agent does not therefore enter the water, where it may have caused adverse effects, or simply have been wasted. Under dry conditions, however, emanation occurs normally.

主权项

1. An air treatment method for a dishwashing machine, the method comprising:
providing an emanator device for emanating an air treatment agent into the surrounding air in the dishwashing machine, the emanator device comprising a housing which contains a source of an air treatment agent,
wherein the housing comprises a wall and a plurality of openings,wherein the openings are the only openings available for passage into the surrounding air of the air treatment agent emanated by the source thereof, andwherein each of the openings is adapted to be closed by a film or plug of water during use in the dishwashing machine; and emanating the air treatment agent during dry phases of operation of the dishwashing machine, but not during wet phases of operation; wherein each of the openings is sufficiently small, that selectively during a wet phase the openings are closed by the film or plug of water.