An aromatic nebulizing diffuser formed of a bottom holder shell, an electric fan, a mist creation block member, an oscillator, a circuit board, a power supply unit and a cover shell assembly is disclosed. The oscillator is adapted to oscillate an aromatic fluid in the mist creation block member into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets. The mist creation block member includes a semispherical air guide and a top flange, defining an air passage for guiding fan-induced currents of air to the nozzle hole of the cover shell assembly. The cover shell assembly defines a fluid storage chamber for providing a refill to the oscillation chamber, and a water stopper to prevent splashing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to nebulizers and more particularly, to an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which creates enhanced decorative and visual effects of aroma diffusion, and facilitates general maintenance and cleaning activities.

2. Description of the Related Art

With fast economic development and technological advancement and the rise of human civilization, there is a growing emphasis on the level of material and spiritual life, and having a good living environment has become the goal of people actively want to pursue. Further, air conditioners, air purifiers, fragrances, electric jasmines, aromatic nebulizing diffusers, perfume dispensers are intensively used in offices, rooms, cars, and many other living environments to eliminate bad smells and stale air, improving the work efficiency and mental health. Further, many new designs of aromatic nebulizing diffusers and perfume dispensers have been continuously created and have appeared on the market.

However, commercial aromatic nebulizing diffusers and perfume dispensers commonly have the following drawbacks:1. Because the air guide conduct is mounted in the mist creation block member for guiding outside air into the mist creation block member, its size is limited, lowering the effect of pressurizing the intake flow of air. Further, the presence of the air guide conduct in the mist creation block member gives resistance to the intake flow of air, lowering the aroma diffusing effect, complicating the manufacturing process and increasing the manufacturing cost.2. After a long use of an aromatic nebulizing diffuser or perfume dispenser, the internal components may be covered with oil stains. However, the complicated component mounting structure of a conventional aromatic nebulizing diffuser or perfume dispenser does not facilitate general maintenance and cleaning activities.3. Because there is no any spare storage means adapted to give supply of an aromatic fluid or essential oil to the mist creation block member, the mist creation block member must be maximized to hold a large amount of aromatic fluid or essential oil, and the oscillator needs to oscillate a large amount of aromatic fluid or essential oil in the mist creation block member into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets, lowering the aroma diffusing effect.4. During oscillation of the oscillator to oscillate the aromatic fluid or essential oil into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets, the contained aromatic fluid or essential oil may be partially forced out of the mist creation block member, causing aromatic fluid/essential oil loss or contaminating the outer surfaces of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser or perfume dispenser. Further, the splashed fluid can hinder the flowing of the created mist of aromatic fluid droplets, lowering the aroma diffusing effect.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is main object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which enhances the aroma diffusing effect. It is another object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which facilitates mounting and dismounting and general maintenance and cleaning activities. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which can gives refills to the oscillation chamber. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which prevents the supplied aromatic fluid from splashing out of the oscillation chamber.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, an aromatic nebulizing diffuser comprises a bottom holder shell comprising an accommodation open chamber and a plurality of air vents in communication with the accommodation open chamber, an electric fan mounted in the accommodation open chamber and operable to suck outside air through the air vents into the accommodation open chamber, a mist creation block member mounted in the bottom holder shell to seal a top open side of the accommodation open chamber, the mist creation block member comprising an oscillation chamber adapted for holding an aromatic fluid, a through hole located in a bottom side of the oscillation chamber, a semispherical air guide disposed therein and defining an air hole in communication with said accommodation open chamber of said bottom holder shell, a top flange surrounding the semispherical air guide and a notch located in the top flange and facing toward the oscillation chamber for guiding currents of air induced by electric fan into the oscillation chamber, an oscillator sealed in the through hole of the oscillation chamber of the mist creation block member and adapted to oscillate an aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets, a circuit board electrically coupled with the oscillator, a power supply unit electrically connected to the electric fan, the oscillator and the circuit board to provide the electric fan, the oscillator and the circuit board with the necessary working voltage, and a cover shell assembly detachably mounted at the bottom holder shell to shield the mist creation block member. The cover shell assembly comprises an upper cover shell and a lower cover shell. The upper cover shell comprises a nozzle hole and a top guide tube. The lower cover shell comprises a bottom guide tube connected to the top guide tube. Thus, the nozzle hole, the top guide tube, the bottom guide tube and the oscillation chamber provide a passage for guiding a created mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber to the outside open air.

Preferably, the bottom guide tube defines an air passage hole in communication with the notch in the top flange.

Preferably, the bottom holder shell comprises a step located on the inside thereof, and a water seal ring squeezed in between said mist creation block member and said step.

Preferably, an oscillator sealing gasket ring is mounted in the through hole of the oscillation chamber of the mist creation block member to seal the oscillator in the through hole, and a locating plate is bonded to the oscillation chamber to seal the oscillator sealing gasket ring in the through hole of the oscillation chamber.

Preferably, the aromatic nebulizing diffuser further comprises a functional keypad mounted in the accommodation open chamber of the bottom holder shell. The functional keypad comprises a circuit board electrically coupled to the oscillator, the oscillator circuit board and the power supply unit, and a plurality of key switches electrically connected to the circuit board for functional controls.

Preferably, the lower cover shell is abutted against the top flange in such a manner that a side-open air guide chamber is defined between the semispherical air guide and the top flange.

Preferably, the upper cover shell defines a rounded recess in the top wall thereof around the nozzle hole.

Preferably, the cover shell assembly defines a fluid storage chamber between the upper cover shell and the lower cover shell for accommodation a fluid for giving a refill to the oscillation chamber.

Preferably, the lower cover shell comprises a locating hole in communication between the fluid storage chamber and the oscillation chamber, and a water valve mounted in the locating hole and switchable to open/close the locating hole. The water valve comprises a valve block fastened to the locating hole, a valve stem movably mounted in the valve block, a spring mounted around the valve stem and stopped between one end of the valve stem and a part of the valve block, and a rubber flap fastened to an opposite end of the valve stem and movable with the valve stem to close/open the locating hole. The oscillation chamber comprises a protrusion stoppable against the valve stem to keep the rubber flap away from the valve block for allowing the locating hole to communicate the fluid storage chamber and the oscillation chamber.

Preferably, the cover shell assembly further comprises a water stopper mounted in the top guide tube. The water stopper comprises a ring-shaped member fixedly mounted in the top guide tube, a rib rack fixedly mounted in the ring-shaped member, a plurality of open spaces defined in the rib rack, and a smoothly arched baffle plate connected to the rib rack and suspending below the ring-shaped member.

Preferably, the lower cover shell comprises a bottom coupling flange of outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the top rim of the bottom holder shell. Thus, the bottom coupling flange of the top cover shell assembly can be directly and detachably press-fitted into the top rim of the bottom holder shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1,2and3, an aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention is shown. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser comprises a bottom holder shell10, an electric fan20, a mist creation block member30, an oscillator40, an oscillator circuit board50, a power supply unit60, and a top cover shell assembly70. The mist creation block member30is designed to provide an oscillation chamber and flow guide means to facilitate intake of air and to enhance the nebulizing effect. The coupling structure between the bottom holder shell10and the top cover shell assembly70facilitates mounting and dismounting and general maintenance and cleaning activities. The top cover shell assembly70is capable of storing an extra amount of aromatic fluid for making a refill, and can prevent splashing and nozzle hole blockage.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 7, andFIGS. 2 and 3again, the bottom holder shell10comprises an accommodation open chamber11, a plurality of air vents12located on the bottom side thereof in communication between the accommodation open chamber11and the atmosphere for taking in outside air, a plurality of columns13and a step14disposed inside the accommodation open chamber11, and a plurality of foot members15fixedly mounted at the bottom side thereof and respectively equipped with a rubber pad151for supporting the bottom holder shell10stably on a flat surface. Referring toFIGS. 3,4and7again, the electric fan20is mounted in the accommodation open chamber11and operable to suck outside air through the air vents12into the inside of the accommodation open chamber11.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIGS. 2-4again, the mist creation block member30is an one-piece member (for example, made out of a plastic material by injection molding) fixedly fastened to the columns13of the bottom holder shell10by fastening members, for example, screws32, defining therein an oscillation chamber31where an aromatic fluid (for example, a mixture of an essential oil and water) can be oscillated into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets, and a bottom through hole311cut through the bottom wall thereof in communication between the oscillation chamber31and the accommodation open chamber11. Decorative plugs321are fastened to the top wall of the mist creation block member30in a flush manner to keep the screws32from sight. Further, a water seal ring33is squeezed in between the mist creation block member30and the step14of the bottom holder shell10to seal the accommodation open chamber11. Further, a semispherical air guide34is mounted in a top side of the mist creation block member30, defining an air hole341in communication with the accommodation open chamber11. The mist creation block member30further comprises a top flange35protruded from the top wall thereof and extending around the semispherical air guide34, and a notch351formed in the top flange35and facing toward the oscillation chamber31. The semispherical air guide34, the top flange35and the notch351form an air guide structure for guiding currents of air induced by the electric fan20into the oscillation chamber31and a nozzle hole712of the top cover shell assembly70.

Referring toFIGS. 3,4,5and7again, the oscillator40is mounted within a gasket ring41in the bottom through hole311of the mist creation block member30, and then a locating plate42is affixed to the bottom side of the mist creation block member30to seal the bottom through hole311and to hold the oscillator40in the bottom through hole314within the gasket ring41. Thus, the oscillator40can be operated to oscillate an aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber31into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets.

The oscillator circuit board50is mounted in the accommodation open chamber11and electrically coupled with the oscillator40for driving the oscillator40to oscillate an aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber31into a mist of aerosol droplets.

Referring toFIGS. 3,4and7again, the power supply unit60is mounted in the accommodation open chamber11and electrically connected to the electric fan20, the oscillator40and the oscillator circuit board50. Preferably, the bottom holder shell10is equipped with a port for enabling an external power plug61to be connected to the power supply unit60to provide an external power supply to the electric fan20, the oscillator40and the oscillator circuit board50.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIGS. 2-5again, the top cover shell assembly70is covered on the top side of the bottom holder shell10to shield the mist creation block member30, comprising an upper cover shell71, a lower cover shell72. The upper cover shell71comprises a top guide tube711and a nozzle hole712. The lower cover shell72comprises a bottom guide tube721defining therein an air passage hole7211. The nozzle hole712, the top guide tube711, the bottom guide tube721and the oscillation chamber31are kept in communication with one another, providing a passage for guiding the created mist of aromatic fluid droplets from the oscillation chamber31to the atmosphere.

The lower cover shell72has its bottom surface abutted against the top flange35so that a side-open air guide chamber is defined between the semispherical air guide34and the top flange35. Further, the air passage hole7211of the lower cover shell721is kept in communication with the notch351in the top flange35so that the fan-induced currents of air can go through the air hole341, the notch351in the top flange35and the air passage hole7211of the bottom guide tube721into the oscillation chamber31and the nozzle hole712.

The upper cover shell71defines a rounded recess713at the top wall thereof around the nozzle hole712for enabling the ejected mist of aromatic fluid droplets to be widely diffused into the outside open air, enhancing the decorative and visual effects of aroma diffusion.

Referring toFIG. 1again, the cover shell assembly70is configured to fit the bottom holder shell10, exhibiting the shape of a flower bud and enhancing the decorative and visual effects of aroma diffusion.

Referring toFIGS. 1,3,4and7again, the invention further comprises a functional keypad80mounted in the accommodation open chamber11of the bottom holder shell10. The functional keypad80comprises a circuit board81electrically coupled to the oscillator40, the oscillator circuit board50and the power supply unit60, and a plurality of key switches82electrically connected to the circuit board81for situational lighting options, time setting, power control and other related functional controls. The bottom holder shell10has means, for example, holes for accommodating the key switches82.

Referring toFIGS. 3-5again, after understanding of the component parts of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser and their positioning, the operation and features of the aromatic nebulizing diffuser will now be outlined hereinafter. At first, the user needs to fill an aromatic fluid (for example, an essential oil and water mixture) into the oscillation chamber31of the mist creation block member30. Thereafter, the user can turn on the oscillator40and the electric fan20, causing the oscillator40to oscillate the aromatic fluid into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets and the electric fan20to suck outside air through the air vent12of the bottom holder shell10and the air hole341of the semispherical air guide34into the side-open air guide chamber between the semispherical air guide34and the top flange35and then into the oscillation chamber31via the notch351to further carrying the created mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the top cover shell assembly70into the outside open air via the nozzle hole712.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3again, the coupling structure between the bottom holder shell10and the cover shell assembly70facilitates general maintenance and cleaning activities. The lower cover shell72of the top cover shell assembly70comprises a bottom coupling flange722of outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the top rim of the bottom holder shell10. Thus, the bottom coupling flange722of the top cover shell assembly70can be directly and detachably press-fitted into the top rim of the bottom holder shell10.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9andFIGS. 3,4,5and6again, a fluid storage chamber73is defined within the cover shell assembly70between the upper cover shell71and the lower cover shell72around the top guide tube711for storing a fluid, for example, water.

The lower cover shell72further comprises a locating hole723, and a water valve90mounted in the locating hole723switchable between an open position and a close position to control the supply of the storage fluid from the fluid storage chamber73to the oscillation chamber31.

Subject to the design of the semispherical air guide34and top flange35of the mist creation block member30to provide a passage for enabling the electric fan20to induce currents of air into the oscillation chamber31, it is not necessary to provide any extra air guide means in the oscillation chamber31, and supplying air to the oscillation chamber31will not encounter any resistance. Further, using the fluid storage chamber73to supply water to the oscillation chamber31, the volume of the oscillation chamber31can be minimized. During application, it simply needs to apply a small amount of water and essential oil to the oscillation chamber31for quick oscillation, enhancing aroma diffusion efficiency and effects.

The water valve90comprises a valve block91, a valve stem92, a rubber flap93and a spring94. The valve block91is a hollow member thread-connected to the locating hole723of the lower cover shell72. The valve stem92is movably inserted into the valve block91. The spring94is mounted on the valve stem92and stopped between one end of the valve stem92and an inside part of the valve block91. The rubber flap93is closely attached to the top open side of the valve block91to prohibit flowing of the storage fluid out of the fluid storage chamber73through the valve block91.

Referring toFIGS. 2,3and9, the oscillation chamber31further comprises a protrusion312. After connection between the cover shell assembly70and the bottom holder shell10, the valve step92of the water valve90is stopped against the protrusion312to lift the rubber flap93away from the top open side of the valve block91, allowing the fluid to flow from the fluid storage chamber73to the oscillation chamber31. On the contrary, after separation between the protrusion312and the water valve90, the water valve90is closed, stopping the supply of the fluid from the fluid storage chamber73.

Thus, when the fluid in the oscillation chamber31reaches a predetermined high level, the valve block91is closed, the fluid communication between the fluid storage chamber73and the water valve90is interrupted, and the storage fluid in the fluid storage chamber73cannot be guided into the oscillation chamber31. On the contrary, when the aromatic fluid level drops due to working of nebulizing diffusion in the oscillation chamber31, the aromatic fluid does not block the valve block91, and the storage fluid is guided out of the fluid storage chamber73into the oscillation chamber31again. Thus, the above fluid refilling action is repeated again and again, improving the drawbacks of prior art designs that cannot give a refill to the oscillation chamber.

Further, because the cover shell assembly70can store a liquid, a relatively smaller oscillation chamber31can be used to hold an aromatic fluid (mixture of water and essential oil). Further, because the volume of the oscillation chamber31is smaller than the volume of the fluid storage chamber73, the oscillator40can oscillate the aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber31into a mist of aromatic fluid droplets efficiently and rapidly, shortening the waiting time. In order to get a better nebulizing diffusion performance, the volume of the oscillation chamber31must be smaller than the fluid storage chamber73.

Referring toFIGS. 3-6again, the cover shell assembly70further comprises a water stopper74mounted in the top guide tube711. The water stopper74comprises a ring-shaped member741fixedly mounted in the top guide tube711, a rib rack742fixedly mounted in the ring-shaped member741, a plurality of open spaces744defined in the rib rack742, and a smoothly arched baffle plate743connected to the rib rack742and suspending below the ring-shaped member741.

Thus, the water stopper74can prevent the aromatic fluid from splashing out of the oscillation chamber31to block the nozzle hole712, allowing the created mist of aromatic fluid droplets to fly through the open spaces744in the top guide tube711and the nozzle hole712to the outside open air.