Patent ID: 6021254
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: A61L,Y10S

Abstract:
A heat released vehicular air freshener comprising, in combination:a power unit including an inboard extent and an outboard extent, said inboard extent having a cylindrical configuration, said cylindrical configuration having an inboard face with a spring biased post contact mounted on the inboard face, said cylindrical configuration having an outboard face with a first pair of contacts mounted on said outboard face, said cylindrical configuration having a periphery having four resilient arcuate contacts for being releasably received in electrical communication with a vehicular cigarette lighter, said resilient arcuate contacts being positioned in spaced relationship to each other around said periphery of said cylindrical configuration, the power unit further including an outboard extent including a cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted over the outboard face of the inboard extent, the sleeve having a second pair of contacts mounted on an inner surface thereof for communicating with the first pair of contacts of the inboard extent only upon the depression thereof, a heater mounted within the sleeve adjacent to an outboard face of the outboard extent and connected to the second pair of contacts for generating heat upon the receipt of power, wherein a periphery of the sleeve has four equally spaced posts extending radially therefrom;an actuation assembly including a timer mechanism situated within the inboard extent of the power unit and electrically connected between the spring biased post contact, resilient arcuate contacts, and the first pair of contacts for supplying power to the second pair of contacts and heater coil and starting a timer for a predetermined amount of time upon the depression of the sleeve, the actuation assembly further including a solenoid for separating the first and second pair of contacts upon the cessation of the predetermined amount of time; anda fragrance mechanism including a housing having a rectangular configuration and including an interior space with a fragrance material positioned therein, a front face with a plurality of parallel horizontally oriented vents formed therein, and a rear face with a tubular sleeve mounted thereon having an open rear face and four equally spaced L-shaped cut outs formed in a periphery thereof for releasably coupling with the posts of the power unit such that depression of said fragrance mechanism urges said first pair of contacts into contact with said second pair of contacts and further generating an aroma when the fragrance material is heated.