Aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule

An aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule is disclosed to include a hollow housing including a first opening on a top side thereof, a second opening on a bottom side thereof and an integrated holder member downwardly inwardly extended from a top side thereof and defining therein a holding chamber facing toward the first opening, a heat conduction device mounted in the holding chamber, and a heating element mounted at a bottom side of the heat conduction device and kept in contact with the heat conduction device. Thus, an aroma capsule can be placed in the holding chamber and heated by the heating element to release fragrant vapor. After the aroma contained in the aroma capsule is used up, the aroma capsule can be replaced conveniently and rapidly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an aroma diffuser technology and more particularly, to an aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,066,420, 8,262,277 and 8,147,116 disclose an aroma diffuser, which includes a power supply, a heating source, essential oil or aroma wax, and a container for the aroma wax to be contained therein. The essential oil is likely to be leaked from the container as the container is toppled over. After the aroma wax contained in the container is evaporated completely and before a new aroma wax is placed in the container, the user needs to take aroma wax residues out from the container and then to clean the container. During the cleaning process, the user is likely to be stained by the aroma wax residues.

Further, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/157,302, which was invented and filed by the present inventor, the holder member is a separated member. An external assembly step is necessary to install the holder member, increasing the cost. Further, the holder member is not orthopedically designed for finger installation. It is not convenient for the user to place the aroma capsule in the narrow inside space of the heat conduction container in the aroma diffuser with the fingers, or to take the used aroma capsule out of the aroma diffuser. This disadvantage affects the convenience and efficiency of the use of the aroma capsule in the aroma diffuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides an aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule. The aroma diffuser can be simply and smoothly combined with a disposable aroma capsule. Since the aroma capsule is disposable, a new aroma capsule can replace the used aroma capsule easily.

Thus, the present invention provides an aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule, which reduces the assembly cost and errors.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule comprises a hollow housing, a heat conduction device and a heating element. The hollow housing comprises a first opening, a second opening and a holder member. The first opening is located on a top side of the hollow housing. The second opening is located on an opposing bottom side of the hollow housing. The holder member is mounted in the hollow housing, defining therein a holding chamber that faces toward the first opening. The heat conduction device is mounted in the holding chamber and abutted to the bottom hole. The heating element is mounted at a bottom side of the heat conduction device, and kept in contact with the heat conduction device. Thus, the heating element is electrically connected to a power supply unit for generating heat to heat the heat conduction device.

When using the aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule, the user can place an aroma capsule in the holding chamber of the holder member through the free end of the heat conduction device, and use a power supply unit to provide electricity to the heating element for generating heat to heat the heat conduction device so that the generated heat energy can be transferred through the heat conduction device to the aroma capsule, causing the aroma capsule to release a fragrant vapor toward the outside of the aroma diffuser.

Unlike the prior art design in which the hollow housing and the holder member are made from different materials and separately mounted, the invention has the hollow housing and the holder member integrally made in one piece without any labor-consuming assembly steps, and thus, the invention saves the component cost of the holder member and enhances the structural stability. During the operation of the heating element to heat the aroma capsule, the heat energy in the holder member and the hollow housing is prohibited from being transferred to the printed circuit board and other electronic components, avoiding thermal damage to the electronic components.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the holder member further comprises an upper arched wall and a lower upright wall surrounding the holding chamber. The upper arched wall curves inwardly from the top side of the hollow housing. Further, the upper arched wall has a wide top and a narrow bottom. The lower upright wall is extended downwardly from the upper arched wall to the inside of the holder member.

The aroma diffuser further comprises an aroma capsule placed in the holding chamber of the holder member. The aroma capsule has a bottom side thereof supported on the lower upright wall and kept in contact with the heat conduction device, and an opposing top side thereof suspended in the upper arched wall and defining with the upper arched wall an arched gap therebetween. After the contained aroma in the aroma capsule is used up, the user can insert his or her plump fingers through the arched gap to pick up the used aroma capsule from the holding chamber of the holder member for replacement, and then place a new aroma capsule in the holding chamber inside the holder member of the aroma diffuser quickly. When compared to the prior art design in which the holder member and an attached external member, the holder member and the hollow housing in accordance with the present invention are integrally made in one piece, and thus, the invention greatly the assembly cost and errors. The design of the invention allows the user to replace the aroma capsule conveniently and efficiently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be apparently understood by those in the art after reading the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can also be performed or applied by other different embodiments. The details of the specification may be on the basis of different points and applications, and numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Refer toFIGS. 1-4. In an embodiment according to the present invention, an aroma diffuser1having an aroma capsule comprises a hollow housing10, a heat conduction device11, and a heating element13. The hollow housing1comprises a first opening101, a second opening103and a holder member15. The first opening101is defined in a top side of the hollow housing10. The second opening103is defined in an opposing bottom side of the hollow housing10. The holder member15is integrally extended from the top side of the hollow housing10toward the inside thereof, defining therein a holding chamber155that faces toward the first opening101. The heat conduction device11is mounted in the holding chamber155of the holder member15. The heating element13is disposed on a bottom side of the heat conduction device11and kept in contact with the heat conduction device11. The heating element13is connectable to a power supply unit (now shown) for generating heat energy to heat the heat conduction device11of the aroma diffuser1.

In this embodiment, an electrical wire (not shown) is inserted through a bottom hole153of the holder member15to electrically connect the heating element13to the power supply unit.

Thus, when using the aroma diffuser1, the user can put an aroma substance unit through the first opening101into the holding chamber155of the holder member15to keep the aroma substance unit in direct contact with the heat conduction device11. The power supply unit provides the necessary working power to the heating element13, causing the heating element13to generate heat for heating the heat conduction device11, enabling the heat energy thus produced to be transferred through the heat conduction device11to the aroma substance unit. In this embodiment, the aroma substance unit is an aroma capsule12. Thus, the aroma capsule12is heated to generate fragrance that is diffused upward through the free end111of the heat conduction device11.

Referring also toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, in this embodiment, the holder member15further comprises an inside flange19and a bottom hole153. The inside flange19extends downwardly inwards from a top side of the holder member15. The bottom hole153is defined in an opposing bottom side of the holder member15and surrounded by the inside flange19. The heat conduction device11is supported on a top side of the inside flange19. The heating element13is mounted in the bottom hole153, and kept in contact with the heat conduction device11.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 3 and 4again, in this embodiment, the holder member15further comprises an upper arched wall1510and a lower upright wall1512. The upper arched wall1510and the lower upright wall1512surround the holding chamber155. The upper arched wall1510curves inwardly from the top side of the hollow housing10, exhibiting a bowl-shaped configuration that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. The lower upright wall1512extends downwardly from the upper arched wall1510to the inside of the holder member15. Thus, when placing the aroma capsule12in the holding chamber155of the holder member15, the bottom surface of the aroma capsule12is surrounded by the lower upright wall1512and kept in contact with the heat conduction device11, the opposing top surface of the aroma capsule12is surrounded by the upper arched wall1510, and an arched gap1551is defined between the placed aroma capsule12and the upper arched wall1510for the insertion of the user's plump fingers to put the aroma capsule12in the holder member15, or to take the aroma capsule12out of the holding chamber155of the holder member15for replacement. An equivalent holder member of a conventional aroma diffuser is an added external member that does not have the said upper arched wall. The design of the present invention allows the user to smoothly put the aroma capsule12in the holder member15, or to conveniently take the aroma capsule12out of the holder member15for replacement.

In this embodiment, the holder member15is formed integral with the hollow housing10and inwardly extended from the top side of the hollow housing10. Further, the material of the aroma diffuser1can be selected from the group of ceramic, metal, wood and plastics. In this embodiment, ceramic is selected for making the aroma diffuser for the advantages of electrical insulation and heat resistance characteristics and aesthetic appearance. In this embodiment, ceramic is used to make the hollow housing10and the holder member15in one piece. When compared to the conventional design in which the hollow housing and the holder member are independent members made of different materials, the invention has the hollow housing and the holder member be integrally made in one piece without further labor and time-consuming assembly steps, saving component cost and enhancing structural stability.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIGS. 2 and 4again, the heat conduction device11further comprises a mounting frame113on a bottom side thereof. The mounting frame113comprises a screw rod30and a bottom cover16. The bottom cover16is fastened to the second opening103of the hollow housing10. The heating element13is stopped against a bottom surface of the heat conduction device11. The screw rod30has one end thereof fastened to the bottom cover16, and an opposite end thereof inserted through the mounting hole115and tightly stopped at the bottom surface of the heating element13against the heat conduction device11to hold the heating element13and the heat conduction device11in positive contact with each other, maintaining the stability of heat conduction.

The heat conduction device11is made of a thermally conductive material. Preferably, the heat conduction device11is selected from the material group of metal, ceramic and glass. The heat conduction device11is configured to adapt the shape of the aroma capsule12. The aroma capsule12comprises a shell made in the form of a metal film container, and an aroma, such as scented wax or essential oil contained in the shell.

Further, the heating element13can be a metal heating element, ceramic heating element, polymer PTC heating element or composite heating element. In the present preferred embodiment, the heating element13is a polymer PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heating element (PTC semiconductor heating element or PTC thermistor).

Referring toFIGS. 2, 4 and 5again, in the present preferred embodiment, the aroma diffuser1further comprises a DC power socket17and a printed circuit board170(PCB). The DC power socket17and the printed circuit board170are electrically coupled together and mounted in the hollow housing10. The printed circuit board170is electrically coupled with the heating element13to provide the heating element13with the necessary working power. The bottom cover16comprises a mount160located at a top side thereof. The DC power socket17and the printed circuit board170are coupled together and mounted on the mount160. The mount160comprises a first retaining groove1601and a second retaining groove1602. The first retaining groove1601and the second retaining groove1602are symmetrically upwardly extended from a top wall of the bottom cover16. The printed circuit board170is plugged into the first retaining groove1601and the second retaining groove1602.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIGS. 1, 4 and 5again, in the present preferred embodiment, the bottom cover16further comprises an upright barrel167, a flanged lagging sleeve169, a washer162, a screw nut164and an anti-tamper buckle166. The upright barrel167extends vertically upwardly from a center through hole (not shown) of the bottom cover16to a predetermined height. The screw rod30has its one end inserted into the upright barrel167. The flanged lagging sleeve169is made from silicon rubber. In installation, insert the flanged lagging sleeve169upwardly into the upright barrel167at the center of the bottom cover16and sleeve the flanged lagging sleeve169onto the screw rod30, and then attach the washer162onto the screw rod30, and then thread the screw nut164onto the screw rod30to stop the washer162against the flanged lagging sleeve169, and then fasten the anti-tamper buckle166to the screw nut164. Thus, the upright barrel167and the flanged lagging sleeve169prohibit transfer of heat energy from the heating element13through the screw rod30to the DC power socket and the printed circuit board170, avoiding electronic component damage. Further, the anti-tamper buckle166comprises two hooks1621located at a top edge thereof. The upright barrel167comprises two retaining grooves1671located on an inside wall thereof. The anti-tamper buckle166is attached to the periphery of the screw nut164to force the hooks1621into engagement with the respective retaining grooves1671of the upright barrel167to prevent non-professional persons or children from unwillingly dismantling the screw nut, avoiding component damage and dangers.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2again, the aroma diffuser1has an aroma capsule12placed therein. The aroma capsule12is placed in the holder member15. The aroma capsule12further comprises a disposable container121and an aroma125. The disposable container121comprises an opening1211and a protruding edge1213. The protruding edge1213extends outward from the opening1211. The protruding edge1213allows the user to move and operate the aroma capsule12easily and conveniently. The aroma125is contained in the disposable container121. The aroma125is, for example, a scented wax, essential oil, flavor block or fragrance stone. In the present preferred embodiment, the aroma125is a scented wax.

Referring toFIG. 1again, in the present preferred embodiment, the aroma capsule12further comprises a breathing film123sealed to the opening1211of the disposable container121to stop the melted scented wax or aroma from flowing out of the aroma capsule, assuring safety.

Further, the disposable container121to be directly manipulated by the user is an aluminum foil shell, thus, there is nothing for the user to worry about breaking the disposable container121or washing the disposable container121. Further, the user does not need to prepare an extra container for holding the aroma125.

The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present invention and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.