Apparatus and methods for diffusing essential oil

A essential oil diffuser that gasifies a liquid, such as water, which passes through a screen where it picks up essential oil and diffuses it into the ambient air.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to diffusing essential oils into the ambient air. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a receptacle configured to vaporize a liquid, generally water or a similarly suitable liquid, channeling the vapor through a foil to improve the interaction between the vapor and a substrate comprising an essential oil and diffusing the liquid into the air.

BACKGROUND

Aromatherapy improves psychological and physical well-being through the use of plant materials and aromatic plant oils, including essential oils. Diffusers provide a well-known mechanism for delivering the essential oils into the ambient air. Despite thus use of diffusers, a need exists to improve the delivery of highly concentrated essential oils in a diffuser. Thus an apparatus is needed to improve the delivery of diffused essential oils.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The general purpose of the systems and methods disclosed herein is to provide an improved diffuser that allows for the improved delivery of concentrated essential oils. Specifically, an apparatus that generates a vapor and directs it toward a substrate comprising an essential oil so as the vapor and the substrate interact for a longer time, thus improving the diffusion of the essential oil into the ambient air.

In one non-limiting embodiment, a vaporizer, that can deliver hot or cold vapor, generates a vapor which passes through a lid comprising a plurality of vents. The lid is further formed into a foil which directs the flow of vapor to a substrate comprising an essential oil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the apparatus, as represented inFIGS.1through3are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but are merely representative of present embodiments of the invention.

In general, the figures disclose an invention that provides an essential oil diffuser with an foiled lid configured to improve the flow of vapor around a substrate to diffuse the essential oil into the ambient air.

In the following description, numerous references will be made to essential oils and substrates, but these items are not shown in detail in the figures. However, it should be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art and in possession of this disclosure, would readily understand how the present invention and essential oils and substrates can be incorporated.

Detailed references will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated inFIG.1illustrates a view of diffuser5in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments the diffuser comprises a vapor generator wherein a receptacle housed inside the container is configured to gasify a fluid. In some embodiments the vapor generator generates water steam. In some embodiments the vapor generator generates vapor from oils, lotions, certain vinegars and alcohol including isopropyl alcohol. In some embodiments the diffuser comprises a container10with a hollow center configured to receive a liquid. In some embodiments the container body10is made of plastic, or wood, or any other material with a sufficiently high melting point. In some embodiments the container comprises an insulating layer to shield the exterior of the container from temperature variations inside the container10. In some embodiments the container10comprises an opening on the top of the container10configured to receive the liquid and through which the liquid vapor can escape.

In some embodiments the diffuser5comprises a lid15which is configured to cover the container10opening. In some embodiments the lid15comprises an annular ring with a hollow center. In some embodiments the lid15is configured to selectively secure to the container10. In some embodiments the lid15rests on the lip45of the container.

In some embodiments the lid15comprises a vented screen20which is nested in the annular ring. In some embodiments the vents are distributed across the surface of the screen20. In some embodiments the screen20is configured to direct gasses escaping from the container10toward a location on the screen.

In some embodiments the screen20comprises a series of air foils25,30and35. In some embodiments the air foils are configured to direct and recirculate gasses escaping from the container10. In some embodiments the foils are designed to concentrate the gasses towards the center of the screen where the gasses will circulate at the center of the screen before being diffused into the ambient air. In some embodiments the screen20is bent in a first in a first direction, such as away from the container10. In some embodiments the screen20is bent in a second direction, such as folded over itself and back towards the container10. In some embodiments the screen20is bent back in the first direction, thus creating a depression in the center of the screen20, and then rising from the center as the screen radiates from the center to the edge. In some embodiments the screen20reaches a nadir and drops back down where it connects to the annular ring in the lid15. In some embodiments the screen20is configured to allow vapor pressure to build up under the ridge to improve the pressure of the gas escaping from the container10as it enters the screen depression20. In some embodiments the vents in the screen20are selectively closable to allow increased ability to direct gasses escaping from the container10.

In some embodiments a substrate (not shown) is placed in the depression. In some embodiments the substrate comprises an essential oil contained in a matrix. In some embodiments the substrate comprises a porous rock, such as lava rock. In some embodiments the substrate comprises a wax. In some embodiments the substrate comprises a super absorbing polymer. In some embodiments the substrate comprises wood or other fibrous material that can absorb an essential oil. In some embodiments the substrate is a sponge or other cellulose material which absorbs the essential oil. In some embodiments the substrate is configured to nest within the depression in the screen20so as to interact with the maximum amount of vapor escaping from the container10under the highest available pressure for the longest period of time. In some embodiments the substrate may be placed on the outside of the screen20proximal the annular wall of the lid15. In some embodiments different substrates of essential oils may be combined by placing a first substrate in the center of the screen20and a second on the outside of the screen.

In some embodiments the container comprises a gasifying element60configured to gasify the liquid in the container10. In some embodiments the gasifying element60is a heating element configured to heat the liquid and increase its vapor pressure. In some embodiments the gasifying element is sonicator that uses ultrasonic waves to atmozie the liquid for dispersion as a vapor. When the embodiment comprises liquid water the heat element creates steam which escapes through the screen20, passes over the substrate, combines with essential oil vapor and then diffuses the essential oil into the ambient air. In some embodiments the heat of the steam provides further activation energy to the essential oils to vaporize and combine with the steam. In some embodiments the cold vaporization such as the ultrasonic atomization allows the microdroplets to condense on the substrate and mix with the essential oil before combining with water vapor and diffusing into the ambient air.

In some embodiment the gasifying element60which is a heater is placed in the center of the fluid reservoir to allow the fluid to be heated from the middle, thus accelerating the vaporization of the liquid. In some embodiments the gasifying element60is a heat plate positioned outside a selectively removable receptacle40wherein the receptacle40is heated, thus heating the liquid.

In some embodiments the invention comprises a method of diffusing an essential oil comprising placing a liquid in a receptacle40. In some embodiments the method further comprises vaporizing the liquid. In some embodiments the invention comprises passing the water through a vented lid wherein the lid comprising foils and vents that direct the vapor to engage a substrate comprising an essential oil. In some embodiments the method further comprises diffusing the essential oil into the ambient air. In some embodiments the method further comprises providing a screen20with a plurality of foils25,30,35wherein the foils are configured to direct the vapor passing through the screen to a desired location above the screen, such as to the center. In some embodiments the method further comprises bending the screen20to form a first foil. In some embodiments the method further comprises bending the screen20in a second direction. In some embodiments the method further comprises heating the fluid. In some embodiments the method further comprises atomizing the fluid into a vapor using ultrasonic waves.

In some embodiments a container10comprises a small cylindrical unit that produces a constant source of steam using rechargeable battery power. In some embodiments the battery powers a small heating unit that heats a small water reservoir to produce the steam. In some embodiments the reservoir is located within the unit and the steam passes through a protective vent that prohibits the water from freely spilling from the reservoir. The top may be removed allowing access to the water reservoir. In some embodiments the container10comprises PP medical grade non-corrosive plastic, so it is compatible with essential oils. In some embodiments the present invention is intended to be used as a tool for aromatherapy for essential oils by pressing the power button, the unit heats to a set temperature and produces continuous steam until the water reservoir is depleted or the unit is turned off. In some embodiments the present invention is also waterproof.

In some embodiments the vapor generating apparatus comprises a receptacle with an inner chamber configured to receive water. In some embodiments the receptacle is made of metal, or a composite, or earthen materials. In some embodiments the vapor-generating apparatus comprises a heat element which heats the contents of the receptacle. In some embodiments the apparatus vaporizes the contents of the receptacle by an ultrasonic vibrator or a spinning disc which particleize or atomizes the water into droplets. In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a fan which pulls the vapor from the receptacle and disperse it into the adjacent atmosphere. In some embodiments a current is created by the temperature of the vapor, such as when steam is created, and the hot steam naturally rises above the cooler unheated air.

In some embodiments the apparatus comprises a screen. In some embodiments the screen allows the vapor to escape from the inner chamber. In some embodiments the screen forms the top surface of the apparatus. In some embodiments the screen comprises a portion of the top surface of the apparatus. In some embodiments the scree comprises a side portion of the apparatus. In some embodiments the screen comprises a cup, cavity or depression. In some embodiments the depression comprises an air foil to direct the air flow passing over the cup. In some embodiments the cup is made of the screen material. In some embodiments the screen is solid while the area around the cup is the screen material. In some embodiments the cup is a different screen pattern than the material. In some embodiments cup comprises vents placed to modulate the air flow through the cup. In some embodiments the air flow through the vents can be selectively modulated to selectively increase or reduce the air flow through the cup.

In some embodiments a oil-bearing material is a substrate placed in the vapor flow. In some embodiments the oil-bearing material is a salt crystal such as Himalayan salt. In some embodiments the oil-bearing material is a porous stone such as pumice or volcanic stone. In some embodiments the material is a sponge.

According to some embodiments the oil-bearing material absorbs or adsorbs an oil, such as an essential oil and allows the passing vapor to dissolve or take up small quantities of the oil for dispersion into the surrounding atmosphere. In some embodiments the oil-bearing material dissolves as the vapor passes, while in other embodiments only the oil enters the gas phase, leaving the solid material behind on the screen.

In some embodiments the apparatus is battery powered. In some embodiments the apparatus is plugged into a power source50.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the disclosure. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the present disclosure may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to that precisely as shown and described.