Perfume diffuser

Abstract: The invention relates to a fitting for a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard. The permitting the circulation of at least one stream of air, along a given path (2), behind at least one thickness of material (3, 3') defining a face (4) of the fitting. The fitting further includes means (5) for diffusing an active compound into the at least one stream of air. The diffusing means (5) are capable of being introduced, wholly or in part, through at least one orifice (6, 6'), or passing through the thicknesses of material (3, 3'). The loading orifices (6, 6') being orientated transversely to the path (2) of the stream. The diffusing means (5) are held in the area of the thickness or thicknesses of material (3, 3').

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a dashboard for a motor vehicle which has a perfume diffuser installed therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Currently, to enable perfume to be diffused inside a motor vehicle, use is typically made of diffusers suspended in the passenger compartment, for example, in the area inside the rear-view mirror or a diffuser added to the driving position. It has also been suggested placing a perfume diffuser into the inlet of the ventilating, heating and air conditioning device of the vehicle. Typically, such diffusers are located under the cover panel of the dashboard, thus satisfying aesthetic and safety requirements. However, the above solution has drawbacks, since the diffuser is located in an area to which it is difficult to gain access, which makes it complicated to install. In the same way, the dashboard has to be removed in order to withdraw or change it. Furthermore, the perfume diffused through the passenger compartment is the same everywhere. US Patents 5,431,859 and 5,314,669 both disclose devices through which air can flow after exiting a heating or air conditioning vent, so that the air can be scented. Both devices are external and are designed to be mounted downstream of an existing air vent. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a dashboard for a motor vehicle that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and makes available means for diffusing an active compound such as, for example, a perfume, which can be satisfactorily held in place while, at the same time, being easily accessible. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dashboard for a motor vehicle which makes available means for diffusing an active component such as, for example, a perfume, and which can be easily removed and/or changed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dashboard for a motor vehicle which makes available means for diffusing an active component such as, for example, a perfume, allowing the diffusion of active ingredients that differ according to the area of the passenger compartment in question. The invention relates to a dashboard for a motor vehicle permitting the circulation of at least one stream of air, along a given path, behind at least one thickness of material defining a face of the dashboard. The dashboard includes a diffusing means for diffusing an active compound in the stream characterized by the fact that the diffusing means are designed to be capable of being introduced, wholly or in part, through at least one orifice passing through the thicknesses of material, from the outer face and emerging in the stream. The loading orifice is preferably orientated transversely to the path of the stream. The diffusing means being also capable of being held in the area of the thicknesses of material. Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a dashboard according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II shown in accordance to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the constituent elements of the dashboard shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates, along the same section line as used for Fig. 2, an alternative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line V-V as shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 illustrates a detail, identified by reference VI in preceding Fig. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, dashboard 1 allows circulation of at least one stream of air, along a given path 2. The dashboard defines at least one thickness of material 3, 3'. The thickness of the material 3.3' define a face 4 of dashboard 1 (as shown in Fig. 1). The face 4 is also called outer face throughout the application and is adaptable to be temporarily accessible. In this application, the term "temporarily accessible" means that the outer face 4 is visible without having to remove all or part of dashboard 1. For example, the outer face 4 may be the front, as illustrated in Fig. 1 or the lateral faces of the instrument panel. Dashboard 1, also includes diffusing means 5 for diffusing an active compound, in particular a perfuming agent, in the stream of air along a given path 2. According to the invention, the diffusing means 5 are designed to be capable of being introduced, wholly or in part, through at least one loading orifice 6, 6'. In addition, the diffusing means 5 are capable of passing through the thicknesses of material 3, 3'. Preferably, the orifices 6, 6' are orientated transversely to path 2. The diffusing means 5 is held in place and prevented from displacement by holding the diffusing means 5 in an area of the thicknesses of material 3, 3'. Therefore, in accordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment, an active compound can be diffused in a stream of air with diffusing means 5. Further, the installation of the diffusing means 5 is easier as it is carried out via the outside of the dashboard 1 without removing the dashboard. Further, the diffusing means 5 are reliably held in place. It is further possible to diffuse different active components through the passenger compartment by providing diffusing means 5 having a different active compound for each air stream. According, one preferred embodiment of the present invention, diffusing means 5 are capable of being removed in relation to the rest of dashboard 1. Therefore, the diffusing means 5 can be removed or changed, when the active compound has been used up. As shown in Fig. 7, the diffusing means 5 are located, in particular, just upstream of ventilation orifices 7, provided on the front face 4 of said dashboard 1 and in the area in which the streams of air emerge. The dashboard 1 can further include ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning system (HVAC). Preferably, the HVAC system located upstream of the diffusing means 5. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the dashboard 1 comprises an instrument panel capable of permitting the circulation of one of the air streams in the direction of each of its lateral ends. In the vicinity of the lateral ends are located at least some of the ventilation orifices 7. The instrument panel is then provided with the diffusing means 5 in the area of one of its lateral faces, designed to be located opposite the front doors of the vehicle. Therefore, the diffusing means 5, while remaining accessible, is concealed when the doors of the vehicle are closed. Referring in particular to Fig. 1, the dashboard 1 includes, in particular, a panel 8 defining the outer face 4 and at least one flow conduit 9 for the air stream. As shown, the conduit 9 is provided behind the panel 8. The loading orifices 6, 6' comprises a first port 6, provided in the panel 8, and a second port 6', provided in conduit 9. The first port 6 and the second form the loading orifices 6, 6'. The first port 6 and the second port 6' are placed in axial prolongation of one another. The diffusing means 5 comprises a cartridge 10 extending in at least one direction 11, or so-called axial direction. The cartridge 10 is capable of being positioned, over a portion of its diffusing length 12, or so as to extend to meet the air stream. Preferably, the air stream passes through the diffusing length 12 and over a fixing portion 13, at least partially in the loading orifice 6, 6'. When the cartridge 10 is in place, the axial direction 11 and the axis of the loading orifice 6, 6', may possibly coincide. As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, the cartridge 10 comprises in the diffusing length 12, a support means 14 for the active compound. Preferably, the active compound is designed to be volatile, and can penetrate through the permeable enclosure 15 covering the support means 14. The permeable enclosure 15 is formed of a reservoir made of a porous material such as ceramic, foam, paper or the like. Further, the permeable enclosure 15 is capable of containing or absorbing by capillary effect several millimetres of liquid or other active substance. Referring in particular to Fig. 4, the dashboard 1 can further include means 16 for causing the permeability of the enclosure 15 to vary. Preferably, the permeable means 16 has a passage surface 17 for the passage of the vapours of the active compound. The means 16 for causing permeability of the enclosure 15 to vary comprises, a closing surface 18, mobile between the support means 14 and the enclosure 15. The aperture of the passage surface 17 and, the movements of the closing surface 18 are controllable from the end of the cartridge located in the area of the fixing portion 13, at the outer end 19. Therefore, permeability of the enclosure 15 can be adjusted without removing either the dashboard 1 or the cartridge 10. For this purpose, the enclosure 15 and the closing surface 18 comprise two associated enclosures, co-operating with one another in translation and/or rotation. With regard to translation co-operation, the enclosure 15 and the closing surface 18 have, for example, the same polygonal profile, in particular a square one, and the closing surface 18 is capable of sliding through the enclosure 15 along their common longitudinal axis. With regard to rotation co-operation, the enclosure 15 and the closing surface 18 comprise two coaxial cylinders. The closing surface 18 is preferably mobile about its longitudinal axis and has an axial prolongation 20 along the fixing portion 13. The axial prolongation 20 defines the outer end 19 of cartridge 10. The axial prolongation 20 comprises an adjusting thumb wheel 21 that enables the closing surface 18 to be rotated. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the cartridge 10 may be provided with indexing means 22. The indexing means 22 helps locate the relative position of the closing surface 18 and the enclosure 15. The indexing means 22 preferably comprises a mobile portion, provided in the area of the thumb wheel 21, and a fixed portion of the dashboard 1. Preferably, the thumb wheel 21 has an annular body 23 provided with internal teeth 24 and stops 25. The teeth 24 co-operate with an index pin 26, mounted at a fixed point on dashboard 1, for example, in the area of an index ring 27. The index ring 27 is also equipped with stops 28. The cooperation between the internal teeth 24 and a pin 26, alters the permeability of the enclosure 15. The function of the stops 25, 28 of thumb wheel 21 and of index ring 27 will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. The closing surface 18 defines a housing 37 for the support means 14. It is further designed to be mobile in relation to the enclosure 15 in translation along their common longitudinal axis. Therefore, the support means 14 can be changed without changing the entire cartridge 10. The indexing means 22 are thus designed to be capable of blocking translation movement of the closing surface 15, through the snapping the thumb wheel 21 over their fixed part in fully screwed condition. As illustrated in Fig. 6, body 23 of the thumb wheel 21 has, for this purpose a return member 29. The return member 29 is capable of snapping onto the indexing ring 27 with the help of inclined planes 30, 30' provided facing one another on the return member 29 and the indexing ring 27. With further reference to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be noted that the cartridge 10 includes, in its fixing portion 13, means 31 for holding the cartridge 10 in place. The means 31 promotes the axial prolongation 32 of the enclosure 15, the axial prolongation is capable of co-operating with the thicknesses of material 3, 3' to enable the cartridge 10 to be immobilised in the loading orifices 6, 6'. The means 31 may be a threaded portion provided on the outer face of the enclosure 15. Alternatively, it may be a tapped portion provided opposite on a section 33 integral with the conduit 9 around the second port 6'. The axial prolongation 32 of enclosure 15 can be provided, in the area of the outer end 19 of cartridge 10, with a protective ring 34 designed to locally conceal outer face 4 of dashboard 1. The outer face 4 is thus protected from possible soiling caused by the introduction of the active compound. The axial prolongation 32 of enclosure 15 can further have, at its end located at the outer end 19 side of cartridge 10, the indexing ring 27 (as shown in Fig. 5). Therefore, by rotating the thumb wheel 21, stops 25 of the thumb wheel 21 and 28 of the indexing ring 27 can co-operate with one another and enable the cartridge 10 to be screwed/unscrewed. Dashboard 1 can further include means 35 to ensure air-tightness of the loading orifice 6, 6'. The means 35, preferably comprises a joint, co-operating on one hand, with a shoulder 36 provided in the area of the enclosure 15 and, on the other hand, with the walls of the thicknesses of material 3, 3' preferably with section 33. The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims: A motor vehicle dashboard, permitting the circulation of at least one stream of air, along a given path (2), behind at least one thickness of material (3, 3') defining an outer face (4) of said dashboard, said dashboard including diffusing means (5) for diffusing an active compound in said stream, characterized by the fact that said diffusing means (5) are designed to be capable of being introduced, wholly or in part, through at least one loading orifice (6, 6'), passing through said thickness of material (3, 3'), from said outer face (4) and emerging in said stream, said loading orifice (6, 6') being orientated transversely to the path (2) of said stream, said diffusing means (5) being also capable of being held in the area of said thickness or thicknesses of material (3, 3'). The dashboard according to claim 1, wherein said diffusing means are removable, wholly or in part, in relation to the rest of said dashboard (1). The dashboard according to claim 1, wherein said diffusing means (5) are located just upstream of a ventilation orifice (7), wherein said ventilation orifice (7) is provided on the front face of said dashboard and in an area where said at least one stream of air emerges. The dashboard according to claim 3, wherein ventilation orifices are provided at each of its lateral ends and in the area of lateral faces of the dashboard designed to be located opposite the front doors of the vehicle. The dashboard according to claim 1, further comprising a panel (8) defining said outer face (4) and at least one flow conduit (9) for said at least one air stream, provided behind said panel (8), said loading orifice being constituted by a first port (6), provided in said panel (8), and by a second port (6'), provided in said conduit (9), in axial prolongation of one another. The dashboard according to claim 1, wherein said diffusing means (5) comprises a cartridge (10) extending in at least one direction (11), said cartridge having an elongate diffusing portion (12) which extends across the path of the air stream. The dashboard according to claim 6, in which said cartridge (10) comprises diffusing portion (12), a support means (14) for said active compound, designed to be volatile, and a permeable enclosure (15) covering said support means (14). The dashboard according to claim 7, further including means (16) for causing the permeability of said enclosure (15) to vary. The dashboard according to claim 8, in which said enclosure (15) has a surface (17) for the passage of the vapours of said active compound, and said means (16) for causing permeability to vary comprises a closing surface (18), wherein said closing surface (18') is mobile between said support means (14) and said enclosure (15), so as to adjust the aperture of said surface (17), wherein the movements of said closing surface (18) are controlled from the end of the cartridge (10) located in the area of said fixing portion (13). The dashboard according to claim 9, in which said enclosure (15) and said closing surface (18) comprises two coaxial cylinders, said closing surface (18) being mobile in rotation about its longitudinal axis and having an axial prolongation (20) along said fixing portion (13), said axial prolongation (20) defining an outer end (19) of said cartridge (10), wherein said closing surface (18) is driven in rotation by adjusting a thumb wheel (21). The dashboard according to claim 10, wherein said cartridge (10) is provided with indexing means (22) permitting locating the relative positioning of said closing surface (18) and said enclosure (15), wherein said indexing means (22) comprise a mobile portion, provided in the area of said thumb wheel (21), and by a fixed portion (27) of said dashboard (1). The dashboard according to claim 11, wherein said closing surface (18), is in translation movement in relation to said enclosure (15) along their common longitudinal axis, defines a housing (37) to receive said support means (14), said indexing means (22) being capable of blocking said translation movement of said indexing surface (18) through the snapping of said thumb wheel (21) over said fixed portion (27). The dashboard according to claim 7, wherein said cartridge (10) includes, in its fixing portion (13), means (31) for holding in place, an axial prolongation (32) of said enclosure (15), said axial prolongation (32) being capable of co-operating with said thicknesses of material (3, 3') to enable said cartridge (10) be immobilised in said loading orifices (6, 6'). The dashboard according to claim 7, further comprising means (35) to ensure air-tightness of said loading orifices (6, 6') co-operating, on one hand, with a shoulder (36) in the area of said enclosure (15) and, on the other hand, with the walls of said thicknesses of material (3, 3').

Inventors: CHOQUET ALAIN, CHOQUET, ALAIN
Applicants: VISTEON GLOBAL TECH INC, VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60H3
IPC codes: A61L9, B60H3