초록 ▼

A composite wick for delivering two liquids with different properties to a surface includes a first section provided for delivering a first liquid to the surface of the wick and a second section provided for delivering a second liquid to the surface of the wick. Preferably, the first section is made

A composite wick for delivering two liquids with different properties to a surface includes a first section provided for delivering a first liquid to the surface of the wick and a second section provided for delivering a second liquid to the surface of the wick. Preferably, the first section is made of hydrophobic materials and the second section is made of hydrophilic materials. Also, a composite wick includes a first section made of either a porous ceramic-based material or a porous sand-based material and a second section made of a porous plastic material, wherein the first and second section preferably are formed as concentric cylinders, with the first section being disposed within the second section.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding a mixture of oil-based and water-based liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid,

We claim: 1. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding a mixture of oil-based and water-based liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 2. The wick-based delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 3. The wick-based delivery system of claim 1, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 4. The wick-based delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a heater arranged adjacent to the wick for heating liquid drawn through the wick. 5. The wick-based delivery system of claim 4, wherein the heater is an electric plug-in heater. 6. The wick-based delivery system of claim 1, wherein the container includes an opening that is substantially sealed by the wick. 7. The wick-based delivery system of claim 6, further comprising a neck closure having a hole, wherein the neck closure fits tightly into the opening of the container and the wick fits tightly into the hole of the neck closure, such that the opening of the container is substantially sealed by the neck closure and the wick. 8. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding a mixture of oil-based and water-based liquids; and a capillary member, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 9. The wick-based delivery system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a non-porous material. 10. The wick-based delivery system of claim 8, wherein one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a porous material, and the other section is comprised of a non-porous material. 11. The wick-based delivery system of claim 8, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 12. The wick-based delivery system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 13. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding both an oil-based liquid and a water-based liquid, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 14. The wick-based delivery system of claim 13, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 15. The wick-based delivery system of claim 13, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 16. The wick-based delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a heater arranged adjacent to the wick for heating liquid drawn through the wick. 17. The wick-based delivery system of claim 16, wherein the heater is an electric plug-in heater. 18. The wick-based delivery system of claim 13, wherein the container includes an opening that is substantially sealed by the wick. 19. The wick-based delivery system of claim 18, further comprising a neck closure having a hole, wherein the neck closure fits tightly into the opening of the container and the wick fits tightly into the hole of the neck closure, such that the opening of the container is substantially sealed by the neck closure and the wick. 20. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding an oil-based liquid and a water-based liquid, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a capillary member, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 21. The wick-based delivery system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a non-porous material. 22. The wick-based delivery system of claim 20, wherein one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a porous material, and the other section is comprised of a non-porous material. 23. The wick-based delivery system of claim 20, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 24. The wick-based delivery system of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 25. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a mixture that contains both oil-based and water-based liquids; a container for holding the mixture; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 26. The wick-based delivery system of claim 25, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 27. The wick-based delivery system of claim 25, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 28. The wick-based delivery system of claim 25, further comprising a heater arranged adjacent to the wick for heating liquid drawn through the wick. 29. The wick-based delivery system of claim 28, wherein the heater is an electric plug-in heater. 30. The wick-based delivery system of claim 25, wherein the container includes an opening that is substantially sealed by the wick. 31. The wick-based delivery system of claim 30, further comprising a neck closure having a hole, wherein the neck closure fits tightly into the opening of the container and the wick fits tightly into the hole of the neck closure, such that the opening of the container is substantially sealed by the neck closure and the wick. 32. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a mixture that contains both oil-based and water-based liquids; a container for holding the mixture; and a capillary member, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 33. The wick-based delivery system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a non-porous material. 34. The wick-based delivery system of claim 32, wherein one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a porous material, and the other section is comprised of a non-porous material. 35. The wick-based delivery system of claim 32, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 36. The wick-based delivery system of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 37. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: an oil-based liquid; a water-based liquid; a container for holding both liquids, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 38. The wick-based delivery system of claim 37, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 39. The wick-based delivery system of claim 37, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 40. The wick-based delivery system of claim 37, further comprising a heater arranged adjacent to the wick for heating liquid drawn through the wick. 41. The wick-based delivery system of claim 40, wherein the heater is an electric plug-in heater. 42. The wick-based delivery system of claim 37, wherein the container includes an opening that is substantially sealed by the wick. 43. The wick-based delivery system of claim 42, further comprising a neck closure having a hole, wherein the neck closure fits tightly into the opening of the container and the wick fits tightly into the hole of the neck closure, such that the opening of the container is substantially sealed by the neck closure and the wick. 44. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: an oil-based liquid; a water-based liquid; a container for holding the oil-based liquid and the water-based liquid, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a capillary member, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising a hydrophobic material and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising a hydrophilic material and being generally-impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 45. The wick-based delivery system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a non-porous material. 46. The wick-based delivery system of claim 44, wherein one of the first section and the second section is comprised of a porous material, and the other section is comprised of a non-porous material. 47. The wick-based delivery system of claim 44, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 48. The wick-based delivery system of claim 44, further comprising a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 49. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding a mixture that contains both oil-based and water-based liquids; and a wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising either a porous, hydrophobic material or a non-porous, hydrophobic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising either a porous, hydrophilic material or a non-porous, hydrophilic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 50. The wick-based delivery system of claim 49, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 51. The wick-based delivery system of claim 49, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 52. The wick-based delivery system of claim 49, wherein the first and second sections both comprise either a porous material or a non-porous material. 53. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a container for holding both an oil-based liquid and a water-based liquid, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising either a porous, hydrophobic material or a non-porous, hydrophobic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising either a porous, hydrophilic material or a non-porous, hydrophilic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air and is generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid. 54. The wick-based delivery system of claim 53, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 55. The wick-based delivery system of claim 53, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 56. The wick-based delivery system of claim 53, wherein the first and second sections both comprise either a porous material or a non-porous material. 57. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: a mixture that contains both oil-based and water-based liquids; a container for holding the mixture; and a wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising either a porous, hydrophobic material or a non-porous, hydrophobic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising either a porous, hydrophilic material or a non-porous, hydrophilic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 58. The wick-based delivery system of claim 57, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 59. The wick-based delivery system of claim 57, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 60. The wick-based delivery system of claim 57, wherein the first and second sections both comprise either a porous material or a non-porous material. 61. A wick-based delivery system, comprising: an oil-based liquid; a water-based liquid; a container for holding both liquids, wherein the container has separate compartments for separately holding the respective liquids; and a porous wick, having discrete first and second sections, the first section comprising either a porous, hydrophobic material or a non-porous, hydrophobic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the water-based liquid, and the second section comprising either a porous, hydrophilic material or a non-porous, hydrophilic capillary member and being generally impermeable to the oil-based liquid, wherein the oil-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the first section, to a surface of the first section that is exposed to the ambient air, and the water-based liquid is transported from within the container, through or along the second section, to a surface of the second section that is exposed to the ambient air. 62. The wick-based delivery system of claim 61, wherein the first section is comprised of high density polyethylene and the second section is comprised of a ceramic-based material. 63. The wick-based delivery system of claim 61, wherein the wick comprises a plurality of at least one of the first section and the second section. 64. The wick-based delivery system of claim 61, wherein the first and second sections both comprise either a porous material or a non-porous material.