Ergonomic scent diffuser

An ergonomic scent diffuser having a first housing with electrical components connected to a second housing having a heating element disposed within. Slidably connected to the second housing is a cap. The cap has depressions adjacent an outer end to provide an ergonomic grip. The cap also has guide rails and retaining members that retain and position a fragrance emitting member over the heating element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a scent diffuser and more particularly a scent diffuser having an ergonomic cap and capable of holding more fragrance.

Scent diffusers are known in the art and typically involve a fragrance pad that has absorbed a fragrant liquid being exposed to a heat element. Exposure to the heat causes the liquid to evaporate and disperse a scented gas. While useful, replacing and or reloading pads is difficult because it's hard to remove the pads and it's also easy to insert the diffuser in a power source upside down where the pad is below the heating source. Also, current diffusers are limited in the amount of fragrance that can be used. Accordingly, a device that addresses these deficiencies is needed in the art.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a scent diffuser that is more ergonomically to use.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a scent diffuser that holds more fragrance.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following written description, drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An ergonomic scent diffuser includes a first housing connected to a second housing and a cap removeably connected to the second housing. The first housing has electrical components adapted to transmit power from a power source to a heating element disposed within the second housing.

The cap has depressions on the top and the bottom adjacent an outer end to provide an ergonomic grip. Extending from the outer end of the cap through a chamber and beyond an inner end of the cap are a pair of guide rails and a pair of retention members. The guide rails are positioned to align with and be slidably received within guide grooves of the second housing. The retaining member is positioned to receive and retain the fragrance emitting member. Preferably, the fragrance emitting member is a resilient solid block molded into a protective tray. The tray prevents user error resulting in melted fragrance fusing components of the unit together. The tray also prevents the block from losing shape when heated and then cooled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, an ergonomic scent diffuser10has a first housing12, a second housing14, and a cap16. The first housing12is adapted to be received within a power source (not shown) such as a 12-volt socket. Extending through a first end18of the first housing12is a spring loaded positive electrode20and extending through a side wall22of the first housing12are a pair of negative electrodes24. The positive20and negative24electrodes are connected to a circuit board (not shown) and are adapted to provide power to a heating member26.

The heating member26is connected to a circuit board (not shown) and is disposed within the second housing14. The circuit board is covered with a conformal coating to protect the circuit board from fragrance residue and corrosion from humidity, spills and the like. The second housing14is connected to the first housing12and has a first end28, a second end30, a top32, and a bottom34that form a hollow chamber36. Viewing the second housing14from the top, the width of the second housing14increases as the housing14extends from the first end28to the second end30to create a fin like shape. Also, viewing the second housing14from the ends, the second housing14transitions from a circular profile or shape at the first end28to a generally triangular profile or shape at the second end30. The top32is arcuate and convex in relation to the bottom34and has a plurality of elongated air vents38. The bottom34has a plurality of elongated air vents40and an elongated slot42through which a switch44extends. The switch is connected to the circuit board (not shown) and is adapted to turn the diffuser on and off as well as to set the diffuser on high or low power. The switch is also adapted to include an indicator light, illuminating when the unit is on and working. The diffuser is programmed to shut-off after a specified time period. A reset button is included. Extending inwardly toward the top32on an inner surface46of the bottom34are a pair of guide grooves48that preferably are arcuate in shape. Also, extending away from the second end30toward the cap16, at a transition point50of the bottom34, is a retaining clip52.

The cap16is removably connected to the second end30of the second housing14. The cap16has an open first end54, a closed second end56, a top58, and a bottom60that form a chamber. The top58and bottom60are generally tapered as the cap16extends from the first end54toward the second end56. Adjacent the second end56, the top58has a depression62adapted to receive an individual's thumb. Likewise, adjacent the second end56, the bottom60has a depression64with parallel spaced raised ridges66adapted to receive an individual's finger. Adjacent the first end54the bottom34has an opening68with a retaining slot70located at a transition point72.

Extending from the second end56of the cap16, through the chamber and beyond the first end54are a pair of guide rails74. The guide rails74are positioned to align with and be slidably received within the guide grooves48of the second housing14.

Also extending from the second end56of the cap16through the chamber and beyond the first end54are a pair of retaining members76. The retaining members76dwell in a horizontal plane above the guide rails74and in a vertical plane outside or wider than the guide rails74. The retaining members76have an elongated groove78.

The guide rails74and retaining members76are positioned to slidably receive and retain a fragrance emitting member80such as a pad or the like. In a preferred example, the fragrance emitting member80is a rubber like fragrance block. The block80has a top82, a bottom84, and a u-shaped flange86that extends downwardly from the bottom84and away from the top82. The block80is received within a block cover or tray88having an open top and a bottom92with an outwardly extending groove94.

In operation, the block80is inserted into the block cover or tray88such that the u-shaped flange86of the block80is received within the groove94of the block cover or tray88. The block cover or tray88is then slid into the retaining members76. More specifically, an outer edge96of the block cover or tray88is slidably received within the elongated grooves78of the retaining members76while the groove94of the block cover or tray88slides between guide rails74.

The cap16is then connected to the second housing14by aligning the guide rails74with the guide grooves48and sliding the rails74along grooves48until retaining clip52snaps into slot70of opening68. The diffuser10is then inserted into a power supply (not shown) and activated with a switch44.

Once activated, power is supplied to the heating member26which provides heat that causes the fragrance block to evaporate to a scented gas that flows through air vents38.

To replace the fragrance block80, the cap16is grasped with one's thumb and finger and manual force is applied pulling the cap16away from the second housing14to overcome the engagement of the retaining clip52with slot70.

Accordingly, a scent diffusing device has been disclosed that at the very least meets all the stated objectives. The design has the capacity to hold more fragrance and the cap has an ergonomic design to reduce user error.