Abstract:
A fragrance dispenser unit for a vacuum cleaner, including an openable outer case, including a top side a bottom side and an opening, wherein at least one of the top side and the bottom side further includes perforations, a liquid fragrance source removably placeable within an interior of the outer case and a portion of the liquid fragrance source is visible to a user for determining an amount of liquid remaining in the liquid fragrance source via the opening of the outer case.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/046,348, filed Mar. 11, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a fragrance dispenser assembly for a vacuum cleaner outer shell. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of fragrances with vacuum cleaners is generally well known in the art. However, a fragrance dispenser assembly for an outer shell for a vacuum cleaner as described in the present invention is not known in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a fragrance dispenser assembly in the inside bottom of the outer shell. The assembly will house a fragrance dispenser unit having a case enclosing a disposable fragrance blister. The fragrance blister may be designed to last 30 to 60 days before the liquid fragrance is completely released and dispersed from the blister, so that the fragrance expires generally at the same interval as the time between changes of the filter bag. The blister is a transparent polypropylene container with a micro porous membrane bottom. An aluminum release sheet covers the membrane, and just before installation into the vacuum, the user peels off the aluminum sheet to expose the porous membrane to the ambient environment. 
         [0005]    The three current known methods of using fragrance producing means for vacuum cleaners are dry fragrance tablets, fragrance powder and micro encapsulated release paper. The method of the present invention uses liquid, which will dispense more potent, more even and longer lasting aromas. Also, by using a fragrance dispenser unit with the assembly, different fragrance sources may be switched out within the case of the unit. 
         [0006]    In addition, the top shelf of the assembly simultaneously provides a top shelf for support for the filter bag within the outer shell, so that a more powerful vacuum may be used to bring debris into the filter bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like designations refer to like elements, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustration of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an illustration of an upright vacuum cleaner having the outer shell of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a detail of a bracket of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4   a  is an exploded perspective view of the fragrance dispenser assembly of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4   b  is an exploded perspective view of the fragrance dispenser assembly of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the fragrance dispenser assembly of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fragrance dispenser unit assembly of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a fragrance dispenser assembly  10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The assembly  10  is located within an enclosable outer shell  12  for a vacuum cleaner  14  such as an upright vacuum cleaner, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 2 . The outer shell  12  may be a rigid and closeable bag. Alternatively, the outer shell  12  may be rigid or flexible. The vacuum cleaner  14  may be an upright or canister type vacuum cleaner. Also, the vacuum cleaner  14  may be a by-pass type (clean air) or direct-air type (dirty air) system. In this embodiment, the assembly  10  includes a bracket  16  having a top shelf portion  18  for use with a fragrance dispenser unit. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 3  the bracket  16  is attachable to an interior portion  20  of the outer shell  12 . The bracket  16  may be securely fitted to the interior portion  20  with or without a physical connection attaching the bracket to the interior portion  20 . The outer shell  12  may be generally flexible or rigid. The bracket  16  may be attached by attachment means  18  through an aperture  22  of the outer shell  12 . The bracket  16  may be attached to the interior portion  20  of the outer shell  12  through means such as screws, pins, snap-fit connection, glue or other equivalent means known in the art. It may be preferred that the bracket  16  is attached to the framework of the vacuum cleaner  14  for even greater stability. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show exploded views of the fragrance dispenser assembly  10 . The bracket  16  supports a top shelf  24 . The top shelf  24  may be of sufficient area and rigidity to support a filter bag for the vacuum cleaner  14 . As shown, the top shelf  24  is attached to the bracket  16  by attachment means  26  such as a snap-fit connection. However, other attachment means  26  known in the art such as glue or screws are also contemplated. It is also contemplated that the top shelf  24  and the bracket  16  may be formed together in one piece. 
         [0018]    The top shelf  24  includes a top surface  28 . The top surface  28  may also include perforations  29  for better dispersal of the fragrance to be used. As shown, the top surface  28  includes an indentation  30 . The indentation  30  receives a fragrance dispenser unit  32 . The indentation  30  as shown is generally round; however, other geometry is also contemplated. The indentation  30  may include a secondary notch  34  to facilitate removal of the fragrance dispenser unit  32 . 
         [0019]    In addition, the indentation  30  may include an attachment mechanism  36  for securing the fragrance dispenser unit  32  in the indentation  30 . The attachment mechanism  36  may releasably secure the fragrance dispenser unit  32  or may secure the fragrance dispenser unit  32  to the indentation permanently. The attachment mechanism  36  may include one or more flanges  38  to overhang the fragrance dispenser unit  32  for greater security of the attachment between the fragrance dispenser unit  32  and the indentation  30 . 
         [0020]    Although an indentation  30  for receiving the fragrance dispenser unit  32  is shown, other embodiments are also contemplated. For example, a portion of the shelf may have a protrusion or other geometry and a bottom surface of the fragrance dispenser unit  32  may have an indentation or other complementary geometry to the protrusion. Also, the assembly  10  may also be used as a support for a filter bag within the outer shell  12 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the fragrance dispenser unit  32  in detail. As shown, the fragrance dispenser unit  32  includes an openable outer case  40 . The outer case  40  includes a top side  42  and a bottom side  44 . The outer case  40  also may have perforations  46 . A fragrance source  48  may be placed within the outer case  40 . The perforations  46  and the concentration of scent in the fragrance source  48  may be manipulated so that the scent of the fragrance source  48  expires approximately simultaneously with an interval for which a filter bag would be changed for the vacuum cleaner. For example, the scent lasts 30 to 60 days before the liquid fragrance is completely released and dispersed, so that the fragrance expires generally at the same interval as the time between recommended changes of the filter bag for the vacuum cleaner  14 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the fragrance source  48  is a fragrant liquid in a container, at least a portion of which is see-through (transparent or translucent). The container may be made of a material such as polypropylene or an equivalent. The container may include a microporous membrane bottom, where a release sheet covers the membrane. Before installation of the fragrance dispenser unit in the outer shell, a user may peel the release sheet to expose the porous membrane to the environment. By using a liquid fragrance source, the invention provides more variety of fragrances and more potent, more even and longer-lasting fragrances than have been known in the prior art. 
         [0023]    The transparency or translucency of the container, or blister, allows a user to determine the level of liquid in the container without having to open the outer case. The other known technologies for providing fragrance within a vacuum cleaner, such as tablets, powder, patches or microencapsulated paper, do not provide the visual gauge for determining fragrance level that is provided in this invention. In addition, an aluminum release sheet covers the membrane, and just before installation into the vacuum, the user peels off the aluminum sheet to expose the porous membrane to the ambient environment. 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. In addition, unless mention was made to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.