Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) for emitting scented vapors. The device includes a storage vessel ( 19 ) in which scented solution is stored. A metering pump forces the solution into an evaporation dish ( 6 ) located above the storage vessel. The metering pump includes a tube ( 24 ) that houses a rotating spindle ( 25 ) that supplies the solution to the evaporation dish. The solution is heated by device ( 12 ) and the vapor dispersed by a fan ( 8 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for emitting scents. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus is known (German utility model 93 08 368) for emitting scents. The known apparatus has an approximately waist-high column-shaped housing which is placed on the floor. The metering pump is formed by a hose pump connected via hoses with the storage vessel and evaporation dish. Such a hose pump is also provided in German utility model 298 13 461 having an elongate housing to be fastened to a wall or ceiling. 
     Known scent emitting apparatuses have proven useful by and large but they are rather voluminous. In addition, the scent solutions are sometimes quite aggressive so that the hose pump and hoses can be damaged with time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide a space-saving, robust, simply constructed scent emitting apparatus. 
     In the inventive apparatus, a metering pump is formed by a conveying or screw spindle driven by an electric motor and rotating in a tubular housing, the tube extending from the storage vessel into the bottom of the evaporation dish. The conveying spindle and the tube can thus be made of robust materials, such as metal, or a wear-resistant plastic stable to the scent solution. One can thus dispense completely without hoses coming in contact with the scent solution. 
     Since an electric motor with low power and thus small overall volume suffices to convey scent solution with the screw spindle, the electric motor for driving the screw spindle is preferably disposed between the evaporation dish and the fan. 
     The storage vessel can thus be disposed directly, or at least at a small distance, below the evaporation dish. The housing of the inventive apparatus thus has low height. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following an embodiment of the inventive apparatus will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the scent emitting apparatus; and 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the apparatus without a housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to FIG. 1, an apparatus of this invention has column-shaped housing  1  formed as a tube. Housing  1  is disposed on foot  2  and closed on the top side by oval plate  3  extending obliquely upward from the front. The housing can also have a rectangular or prismatic cross section rather than a circular one. 
     The back of housing  1  is adapted to be closed with cover  4  formed as a dish-shaped segment corresponding to tubular housing  1 . 
     Housing  1 , foot  2 , plate  3  and cover  4  can be made of metal, e.g. injection molded light metal or sheet metal, or another material, e.g. plastic. Housing  1  with foot  2  has a height of 20 to 50 cm for example. 
     According to FIG. 2, foot  2  is formed as a ring having fastened thereto holding device  5  formed as a rail and extending vertically upward on the inside front of housing  1 . 
     Fastened to rail  5  from the bottom to the top are upwardly open evaporation dish  6 , electric motor  7 , fan  8  and board  9 . 
     Evaporation dish  6  is heatable by electric heating device  12  which can be formed by a resistive heating element, e.g. in the form of a heating spiral, disposed on the underside of evaporation dish  6 . 
     Board  9  holds the circuit for controlling the apparatus. Board  9  extends obliquely parallel to plate  3  closing the top of housing  1 . 
     A switch  13 , two turning knobs  14 ,  15  and display  16  are secured to plate  3 . Switch  13  is used for switching the apparatus on and off, and for switching electric motor  7  to continuous operation during cleaning of the apparatus. Turning knob  14  is used for adjusting the fan speed, and turning knob  15  for adjusting the time intervals in which electric motor  7  is operated for scenting. For example, motor  7  can be switched on for scenting for a few seconds every hour. Display  16  can be formed by a programmable clock timer which sets the time intervals for operating motor  7 . 
     The power supply is effected with cable  17  for connecting the apparatus to the electric network. The electric devices, i.e. electric motor  7 , heating device  12  and fan  8 , are operated by weak current, for example 12 volts. The necessary transformer can be disposed within plug  18 . The electric lines can be fastened to holding device  5 . 
     Scent solution is provided in storage vessel  19  disposed in housing  1  at the bottom on foot  2 . Cylindrical storage vessel  19  is pushed for this purpose from the bottom to the top through ring-shaped foot  2 . To be fastened in housing  1  storage vessel  19  has on neck  20  external thread  21  disposed in matching thread  22  shown by dashed lines in cup-shaped lid  23  connected with holding device  5  either directly or via evaporation dish  6 . 
     Storage vessel  19  pushed through ring-shaped foot  2  can thus be screwed with thread  21  into internal thread  22  and thereby fastened within housing  1 . Storage vessel  19  and lid  23  with matching thread  22  can be made of plastic for example. 
     The pump for transporting scent solution from storage vessel  19  into evaporation dish  6  is embodied by conveyor worm or screw spindle  25  driven by electric motor  7  and rotating in straight vertical tube  24 . 
     Tube  24  extends from the lower area of storage vessel  19  to bottom  26  of evaporation dish  6  provided for this purpose with a corresponding opening. Scent solution conveyed from storage vessel  19  by screw spindle  25  emerges at the upper end of tube  24  and spreads over substantially flat bottom  26  of dish  6 . Outlet opening  28  of tube  24  is disposed for this purpose in the middle of evaporation dish  6 . 
     If the scent solution does not evaporate completely in dish  6  it flows back to storage vessel  29  via return tube  27  extending parallel to tube  24  and ending in the upper area of storage vessel  29 . Opening  30  in bottom  26  of dish  6  in which return tube  27  ends is disposed off-center. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of lid  23  and dish  6 . In reality they are close together, i.e. lid  23  can also be fastened to dish  6  or heating element  12 . In order to thermally separate dish  3 , in particular its electric heating element  12 , from lid  23  or storage vessel  19  one provides a heat-insulating layer in the form of disk  29  of heatinsulating material between dish  6  and lid  23 , both separating disk  29  and lid  23  being penetrated by tubes  24  and  27 . 
     Electric motor  7  is inserted into a circular opening in holding plate  31  fixed on holding device  5 . The holding of fan  8  is effected by flexible arms  32 ,  33  encompassing the circumference of fan housing  36  and fastened to holding device  5 . 
     Circular evaporation dish  6  can be made of an aluminum material for example. Foot  2 , vessel  19  with thread  21 , tube  24  with screw spindle  25 , lid  23 , dish  6 , the shaft of motor  7  and/or likewise vertically disposed shaft  37  of fan  8  are preferably disposed coaxially in housing  1 . 
     Slot-shaped air inlet openings  34  are provided on the front of housing  1  below fan  8  in the area of evaporation dish  6  and therebelow, while slot-shaped air outlet openings  35  are provided on back  1  of the housing in the area above fan  8  and below obliquely extending board  9 . 
     To clean the apparatus, one fills storage vessel  9  with solvent instead of scent solution. With switch  13  one can then switch electric motor  7  to continuous operation for flushing tubes  24  and  27 , screw spindle  25  and evaporation dish  6 . 
     The inventive apparatus can be placed e.g. on a cupboard, shelf, counter or table and used for scenting small rooms, e.g. offices or in the private area.