Abstract:
An aroma diffusing night lamp system having the characteristics of high level of safety and installation angle adjustability is disclosed to include a lamp socket, a light emitting device mounted in the top side of the lamp socket, an electric plug rotatably coupled to the lamp socket and a lampshade surrounding the light emitting device and having a top trough that holds an aromatic substance that gives off a pleasant smell when heated by heat energy from the light emitting device during its operation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/616,560, entitled “Aroma diffusing night lamp system”, filed on Nov. 11, 2009 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to scent releasing devices and more specifically, to an aroma diffusing night lamp system that combines a night lamp unit and an aroma diffuser unit together and that uses an angle-adjustable electric plug to obtain the necessary working power supply. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional night lamp does not allow adjustment of the angular position of the two parallel metal prongs of their electric plugs to fit different indoor installation requirements. 
     There are night lamps with an added aroma diffusing function. These night lamps combine an angle-adjustable night lamp unit and an aroma diffuser unit. When the night lamp unit of a night lamp is connected to a city power supply outlet, the radiating heat from the night lamp unit heats an aromatic substance, for example, essential oil in the aroma diffuser unit into vapor, providing a romantic atmosphere and enhancing the value of use of the night lamp. 
     Although conventional aroma diffusing night lamps allow adjustment of the installation angle of the night lamp unit, their angle-adjustable structure wears quickly with use or is difficult to be adjusted to the accurate angle. After installation, the applied essential oil may fall from the lampshade accidentally. 
     Further, regular aroma diffusing night lamps commonly use an incandescent lamp bulb to emit light and to heat the supplied aromatic substance. The heating efficiency of an incandescent lamp is low. Further, the aroma diffuser unit of a regular aroma diffusing night lamp is less stable. In consequence, a gap may be produced in the electric conducting structure, affecting the performance of electric conductivity. Further, regular aroma diffusing night lamps have no means to seal the electric conducting component parts. If the aromatic fluid leaks out, a short circuit accident may occur. 
     Further, some known aroma diffusing nigh lamps use a lampshade prepared from a light-transmissive heat-resisting hard material such as ceramic or glass. During installation, small retaining and/or fastening members are used to affix the lampshade in place. The use of these retaining and/or fastening members may cause the lampshade to break, shortening the night lamp lifespan and threatening user safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished to provide an aroma diffusing night lamp system having an angle-adjustable electric plug, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art designs. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an aroma diffusing night lamp system having an angle-adjustable electric plug, which is durable and safe in use, avoiding breaking of the lampshade and allowing adjustment of the angular position of the electric plug. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an aroma diffusing night lamp system comprises a lamp socket having a round hole on one side thereof, a light emitting device mounted in the top side of the lamp socket, a lampshade fastened to the lamp socket around the light emitting device, the lampshade having a top trough located on the top side thereof for holding an aromatic substance, a bottom edge located on the bottom side thereof and a through hole cut through the bottom edge and coupled to the lamp socket, and an electric plug coupled and rotatable relative to the lamp socket and adapted for electrically connecting the lamp socket to an external city power supply outlet. The electric plug comprises an electric plug body having a cylindrical rear side, a first shaft holder shell and a second shaft holder shell. The cylindrical rear side has a small diameter section and a big diameter section for connection to the lamp socket. The first shaft holder shell has two arched arms defining an arched groove. The second shaft holder shell has two arched arms defining an arched groove. The arched arms of the first shaft holder shell are respectively abutted against the arched arms of the second shaft holder shell around the small diameter section of the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body and fastened to the round hole of the lamp socket to keep the arched grooves of the first shaft holder shell and second shaft holder shell in friction engagement with the big diameter section of the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the lamp socket comprises a first socket shell, a second socket shell and a power switch. The first socket hell has a retaining rod perpendicularly extended from the periphery thereof. The second socket shell has a retaining rod perpendicularly extended from the periphery thereof. The first socket shell and the second socket shell are fastened together to hold the light emitting device in place. The power switch is mounted in one side of the second socket shell. 
     Further, the lamp socket is mounted with a gasket ring that is stopped against the bottom edge of the lampshade. The retaining rods of the first socket shell and second socket shell are inserted through the through hole on the bottom edge of the lampshade and stopped at the top side of the bottom edge of the lampshade after rotation of lamp socket relative to the lampshade through an angle. 
     Further, the gasket ring has a bottom ring portion, a top ring portion, an upright stop wall and a hole. The top ring portion is located on the top side of the bottom ring portion. The top ring portion has a relatively smaller diameter than the bottom ring portion so that the periphery of the top ring portion defines the upright stop wall. The hole of the gasket ring extends through the top ring portion and the bottom ring portion at the center. The upright stop wall has a diameter fitting the diameter of the through hole on the bottom edge of the lampshade. The gasket ring is mounted around an upper part of the lamp socket below the retaining rods of the first socket shell and the second socket shell and stopped at the top side of the bottom edge of the lampshade after insertion of the retaining rods of the first socket shell and the second socket shell upwardly through the through hole on the bottom edge of the lampshade and rotation of the lamp socket relative to the lampshade through an angle. 
     The electric plug further comprises a gear wheel located on the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body. The lamp socket has a damping spring leaf mounted in a locating groove in the round hole thereof. The damping spring leaf has a protruding damping portion located on a middle part thereof stopped against the toothed periphery of the gear wheel. Further the damping spring leaf has W-shaped configuration. The locating groove of the lamp socket has a W-shaped configuration fitting the W-shaped configuration of the damping spring leaf. 
     Further, the electric plug body has a plurality of retaining blocks equiangularly spaced around the cylindrical rear side thereof for securing the gear wheel. The retaining blocks of the electric plug body have a triangular shape. The gear wheel is a gear ring, having a plurality of triangular retaining grooves equiangularly arranged on the inner diameter thereof and respectively forced into engagement with the triangular retaining blocks of the electric plug. 
     Further, the lamp socket comprises a spring holder groove, a set of first metal conducting plates arranged at one lateral side relative to the spring holder groove and electrically connected to one of the positive and negative poles of the light emitting device, a set of second metal conducting plates arranged at an opposite lateral side relative to the spring holder groove and electrically connected to the other one of the positive and negative poles of the light emitting device, a spring member mounted in the spring holder groove, and a metal ball supported on the spring member. The power switch has a cone adapted for moving the metal ball between a first position to electrically connect the set of first metal conducting plates and the set of second metal conducting plates and a second position to electrically disconnect the set of first metal conducting plates from the set of second metal conducting plates. 
     In conclusion, the invention utilizes a light emitting device to heat the applied aromatic substance into vapor, allows accurate adjustment of the angular position of the electric plug relative to the electric socket, and avoids breaking of the lampshade. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic top view of the aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of an aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of the aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of part aa of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic bottom view of the aroma diffusing night lamp system in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an aroma diffusing night lamp system having an angle-adjustable electric plug in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a lamp socket  11 , a light emitting device  12 , an electric plug  13  and a lampshade  20 . The aroma diffusing night lamp system is safe and durable in use and allows adjustment of the installation angle of the electric plug  13 . 
     The lamp socket  11  has a round hole  115  on one side thereof. The light emitting device  12  is mounted in the top side of the lamp socket  11 . The lampshade  20  has a shadow fluid trough  202  defined in the top side thereof, a bottom edge  204  located on the bottom side thereof and a through hole  206  cut through the center of the bottom edge  204 . An aromatic substance (such as essential oil, fragrant wax or the like) is put in the shadow fluid trough  232 . By means of the through hole  236  on the bottom edge  234  of the lampshade  23 , the lampshade  23  is coupled to the lamp socket  11  and surrounds the light emitting device  12 . 
     Further, the electric plug  13  comprises an electric plug body  131  having a cylindrical rear side formed of a small diameter section  1312  and a big diameter section  1314  for connection to the lamp socket  11 , a first shaft holder shell  133  and a second shaft holder shell  134 . The first shaft holder shell  133  has two arched arms  1331 , defining an arched groove  1333 . The second shaft holder shell  134  has two arched arms  1341 , defining an arched groove  1343 . The arched arms  1333  of the first shaft holder shell  133  are respectively abutted against the arched arms  1343  of the second shaft holder shell  134  around the small diameter section  1312  of the stepped cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131  to keep the arched grooves  1333  and  1343  in friction engagement with the big diameter section  1314  of the stepped cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131 . Thus, the electric plug body  131  is secured and rotatable relative to the first shaft holder shell  133  and the second shaft holder shell  134 . After rotation, the friction force between the stepped cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131  and the first and second shaft holder shells  133  and  134  secures the electric plug body  131  to the first and second shaft holder shells  133  and  134  firmly in position. After coupling of the electric plug body  131  with the first and second shaft holder shells  133  and  134  to the round hole  115  of the electric socket  11 , the electric plug  13  can be rotated relative to the first and second shaft holder shells  133  and  134  and the electric socket  11  to fit different installation requirements. Further, the aforesaid light emitting device  12  is electrically connected to the electric plug  13 . After connection of the electric plug  13  to power supply, the light emitting device  12  is turned on to emit light through the lampshade  20 , and at the same time the aromatic substance (such as essential oil, fragrant wax or the like) is heated by heat energy released from the light emitting device  12  to give off a pleasant smell. 
     The lamp socket  11  comprises two symmetrical socket shells, namely, first and second socket shells  111  and  112 , and a power switch  113 . The first socket shell  111  has a retaining rod  1112  perpendicularly extended from the periphery thereof. The second socket shell  112  has a retaining rod  1122  perpendicularly extended from the periphery thereof. The two symmetrical socket shells  111  and  112  surround the light emitting device  12 , holding the light emitting device  12  firmly in position. The power switch  113  is installed in the second socket shell  112  and exposed to the outside. After the electric plug  13  is connected to an external power source and the power switch  113  is switched on, the lamp socket  11  and light emitting device  12  are electrically connected to emit light and to produce heat. On the contrary, when the power switch  113  is switched off, the lamp socket  11  and light emitting device  12  are electrically disconnected. The aforesaid round hole  115  is located on the first socket shell  111  at one side opposite to the power switch  113 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, the aroma diffusing night lamp system further comprises a gasket ring  15  mounted on the lamp socket  11  and stopped between a part of the lamp socket  11  and the bottom edge  204  of the lampshade  20 . The gasket ring  15  has a bottom ring portion  151 , a top ring portion  153 , an upright stop wall  155  and a hole  157 . The top ring portion  153  is located on the top side of the bottom ring portion  151 . The top ring portion  153  has a relatively smaller diameter than the bottom ring portion  151  so that the periphery of the top ring portion  153  defines the upright stop wall  155 . The hole  157  cut through the top ring portion  153  and the bottom ring portion  151  at the center. The gasket ring  15  is prepared from an elastic material such as rubber, silicon rubber or elastic plastics. The diameter of the upright stop wall  155  fits the diameter of the through hole  206  on the bottom edge  204  of the lampshade  20 . After mounting of the gasket ring  15  on the upper part of the lamp socket  11 , the retaining rods  1112  and  1122  are upwardly inserted with the two symmetrical socket shells  111  and  112  of the lamp socket  11  through the through hole  206  on the bottom edge  204  of the lampshade  20  to force the top ring portion  153  into the through hole  206  and to stop the bottom ring portion  151  against the bottom edge  204 , and then the lamp socket  11  is rotated through an angle to have the retaining rods  1112  and  1122  to be stopped at the top side of the bottom edge  204  of the lampshade  20 . Thus, the lamp socket  11  and the lampshade  20  are secured together, and the upright stop wall  155  is kept engaged in the through hole  206  for enabling the contact force between the lamp socket  11  and the lampshade  20  to be evenly distributed through the lamp socket  11  and the lampshade  20 , avoiding concentration of shear stress or flexural shear stress. 
       FIGS. 5˜7  show an aroma diffusing night lamp system having an angle-adjustable electric plug in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the electric plug  13  of this second embodiment further comprises a gear wheel  132  arranged on the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131  to replace the aforesaid big diameter section  1314  for connection to the lamp socket  11 ; the lamp socket  11  further comprises a damping spring leaf  137 . The damping spring leaf  137  has a W-shaped configuration and a protruding damping portion  1192  on the middle. The socket shell  111  further has a locating groove  1151  disposed in the round hole  115  and configured to fit the W-shaped configuration of the damping spring leaf  117 . After mounting of the damping spring leaf  117  in the locating groove  1151  inside the round hole  115 , the protruding damping portion  1172  of the damping spring leaf  117  is kept suspending in the round hole  115 . When the gear wheel  132  of the electric plug  13  is partially inserted into the round hole  115  of the socket shell  111 , the protruding damping portion  1172  of the damping spring leaf  117  is stopped against the toothed periphery of the gear wheel  132  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), holding the gear wheel  132  in place and allowing rotation of the gear wheel  132  with the electric plug body  131  relative to the lamp socket  11  to adjust the angle of the electric plug  13 . Thus, the user can adjust the angle of the electric plug  13  relative to the electric socket  11  accurately. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  and  FIG. 5  again, the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131  of the electric plug  13  has a plurality of triangular retaining blocks  135  equiangularly spaced around the cylindrical rear side thereof. The gear wheel  135  is a gear ring, having a plurality of triangular retaining grooves  1321  equiangularly arranged on the inner diameter thereof and respectively forced into engagement with the triangular retaining blocks  135  of the electric plug body  131  of the electric plug  13 . After installation of the gear wheel  132  in the cylindrical rear side of the electric plug body  131  of the electric plug  13 , the electric plug  13  can then be fastened with the shaft holder shells  133  and  134  to the lamp socket  11  and then rotated relative to the lamp socket  11  to the desired angle. By means of using the damping spring leaf  137  to stop the gear wheel  132 , the structure is strong and does not wear quickly with use. 
     In either of the aforesaid first and second embodiments, the lamp socket  11  further comprises a spring holder hole  116 , a pair of first metal conducting plates  117  and  117 ′, a pair of second metal conducting plates  118  and  118 ′, a spring member  119  and a metal ball B. The spring member  119  is mounted in the spring holder hole  116 . The pair of first metal conducting plates  117  and  117 ′ are electrically connected and arranged at one lateral side relative to the spring holder hole  116 . The pair of second metal conducting plates  118  and  118 ′ are arranged in parallel at the other lateral side relative to the spring holder hole  116 . The pair of first metal conducting plates  117  and  117 ′ and the pair of second metal conducting plates  118  and  118 ′ are respectively electrically connected to the positive pole and negative pole of the light emitting device  12 . The metal ball B is set between the spring member  119  and the power switch. The power switch  113  further has a cone  1131  adapted for shifting the metal ball B. Thus, when the lamp socket  11  is assembled, and the power switch  113  is switched on, the cone  1131  forces the metal ball B to contact the pair of second metal conducting plates  118  and  118 ′ and to compress the spring member  119 , closing the circuit of the pair of first metal conducting plates  117  and  117 ′ and the pair of second metal conducting plates  118  and  118 ′, and therefore the light emitting device  12  is turned on to emit light and to heat the aromatic substance (such as essential oil, fragrant wax or the like) in the shadow fluid trough  232  of the lampshade  20 . 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.