Abstract:
An air freshener includes a frame having a clip, the clip for attachment to a vehicle air duct louver and a deflector extending external to the louver into the passenger compartment. The deflector fluttering under operation of a vehicle climate control system to further promote aroma dispersion. The deflector being swivel mounted to the clip.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/122,642 filed May 2, 2000, now U.S. Pat. Design No. 437,041. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to air fresheners and, more particularly, to an air freshener adapted to engage a vehicle air duct louver. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Owing to traffic congestion and urban sprawl, commuters are spending ever-increasing amounts of time in vehicles. As a result of increased residence time in vehicles, commuters often consume food and drink in vehicles. The spillage of consumables has made an air freshener a common accessory in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Vehicle air fresheners are commonly affixed to a vehicle console proximal to an air duct such that the vehicle climate control system conveys a masking aroma throughout the passenger compartment. The aroma being impregnated within the air freshener. Examples of conventional air fresheners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,723; 5,368,822; 5,465,521; 5,704,832 and 5,865,372. 
     Conventional air fresheners that engage a vehicle air duct louver are advantageous in being readily affixed to the air duct, as well as having good laminar flow of air across the aroma releasing surface of the air freshener. However, a louver attached air freshener is limited in its utility owing to the directionality of air exiting a vehicle air duct. As a result, to fully aromatize the passenger compartment of a vehicle, several air fresheners are often dispersed among the climate control ducts of a vehicle. Thus, there exists a need for a louver mountable air freshener capable of dispersing an aroma over a substantial vehicle passenger compartment volume. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An air freshener for mounting on a vehicle climate control louver includes a frame terminating in a clip adapted to engage the louver. An airflow deflector swivelably extends from an elongated aperture in the clip. An aroma emanates from the inventive air freshener and is dispersed by the deflector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air freshener according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the air freshener according to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 3A-D are top, side, bottom, and cutaway views, respectively, of a swivel tab according to FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention has utility as a vehicle louver attachable air freshener having a deflector extending from the louver in order to disperse aromatized air within a vehicle passenger compartment. A deflector is mounted to an air freshener according to the present invention using a swivel to provide compact storage and deflection control of aromatized airflow. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an air freshener  10  according to the present invention includes a rigid polymeric frame  12 . As used herein, “rigid” is defined as a modulus of rigidity at least greater than 20% of the modulus for atactic polyethylene. The frame  12  terminates in a clip  14  having a sufficient length to engage a vehicle louver slat. The clip portion  14  has an elongated aperture  16  therein. A frame according to the present invention is preferably injected molded of a thermoplastic illustratively including polyalkenes, polycarbonate and polystyrene. Attached to the frame  12  is an aroma impregnated strip  18 . The aroma impregnated strip  18  is adhered to the frame  12  by a series of posts  20  of the frame  12  extending through apertures  21  in the strip  18 . It is appreciated that an aroma impregnated strip is readily adhered to a frame by other conventional techniques illustratively including adhesives, thermal fusion, solvent welding and the like. An aroma impregnated strip preferably is constructed of an open cell polymeric matrix incorporating solvated globules of the aroma. Strip matrix materials illustratively include polyvinyl chloride, EVA, K-resins and polyalkenes. Any desired aroma may be impregnated within a strip either in pure form or solvated by solvents illustratively including water, alcohol, esters, ketones, and other organic solvents. Aromas illustratively include vanilla, pine oil, and citrus. A swivel  22  contacts the outer surface  24  of the clip  14 . The swivel  22  is held in contact with the elongated aperture  16  of the clip  14  by way of a snap button  26  press fit into the rearward surface  28  of the swivel  22 . Thus, the snap button  26  engages the elongated aperture  16  and the swivel  22 . The snap button  26  has a head  30  having dimensions sufficiently large to prevent the head  30  from passing through the elongated aperture  16  and a shaft  31  adapted to engage the rearward surface  28  of the swivel  22 . The outward surface  32  of the swivel  22  is adapted to engage a complementary fitting  34  of a flattened deflector  36 . Preferably, the swivel  22  and the snap button  26  are formed from one of the same materials from which the frame  12  is formed. More preferably, the swivel  22  and snap button  26  are formed of the same material as the frame  12 . While the swivel  22  and snap button  26  are elliptical in cross section, it is appreciated that other complementary shapes are operative herein to form a deflector swivel mount. 
     A deflector according to the present invention is formed to any shape capable of redirecting airflow from a vehicle air duct. Illustrative deflector configurations include a flattened disc, a rotatable propeller shape, and irregularly shaped sheets. Additionally, a deflector readily assumes ornamental deflector shapes illustratively including a butterfly, a hat, a figure silhouette, figure silhouettes and the like. Optionally, a deflector according to the present invention has an additional joint (not shown) intermediate between the deflector and the swivel engaging fitting. An additional joint affords greater adjustment control over airflow direction exiting a vehicle air duct equipped with an air freshener according to the present invention. A deflector according to the present invention is formed from a variety of materials illustratively including metal, plastic, wood and laminates thereof. Preferred plastics or the formation of a deflector are polyacetate and polyalkenes. In a preferred embodiment, the deflector has a thickness from about 0.3 to 5 millimeters and sufficient flexibility to flutter under the force of air duct flow. In a further preferred embodiment the deflector is a sheet material having an edge. Flutter of a deflector according to the present invention serves to further promote dispersion of aromatized air within the vehicle passenger compartment. Preferably, the deflector edge flutters more than 0.5% of the deflector edge thickness under the force of vehicle climate control airflow at the lowest operative climate control fan speed. 
     FIGS. 3A-D depict various views of the air freshener swivel according to the present invention. The swivel  22  has a bore hole  40  in the rearward surface  28 . The bore hole  40  is adapted to frictionally seat the shaft  31  of snap button  26 . Preferably, the bore hole  40  is oval in cross section to facilitate frictional interaction with the shaft  31  Optionally, bore hole  40  is decorated along the walls thereof with friction increasing structures illustratively including ridges, threads, and dimples. The bore hole  40  extends into the base portion  42  of the swivel  22 . A columnar portion  44  extends from the base  42  thereby defining a shoulder  46 . A male fitting  48  extends from the columnar portion  44  thereby forming a second shoulder  50 . The male fitting  48  is adapted to frictionally engage a fitting  34  of deflector.  36  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. These patents and publications are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual patent or publication was specifically and individually incorporated herein by reference. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.