Abstract:
The fragrance emanation system includes a container for holding preferably a fragranced liquid or gel, a housing for holding the container, and a wick. The housing contains a socket for attaching to the container, a cavity for receiving the container and a door for enclosing the container. One end of the wick protrudes from the container. An electrical circuit is included having a heater for heating the protruding end of the wick and electrical connectors coupled to the circuit to receive current from a power source to provide the current to the heater. The heater heats and evaporates the liquid within the wick, thereby accelerating the emission of vapors from the evaporated liquid. The door includes a window, a bottom and a mechanism for holding the door closed to assist in holding the container in engagement with the socket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/656,752, filed Sep. 4, 2003, which is incorporated herewith. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to electric air freshener systems and in particular to a new and useful fragrance emanation system using a wick evaporation system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Air fresheners have existed for quite some time. Generally, an air freshener is used to emit a pleasant aroma into a room or enclosed area. The aroma may create a mood, invoke a psychological response and/or mask unpleasant odors. In some instances, aromas are used for therapeutic purposes. 
         [0004]    Wick-based air freshener systems are known in the art for dispersing the vapors of liquids into the air. Such systems are often used in and around the home in conjunction with a wide array of liquids, ranging from insect repellant to fragrance oils. Typically, in such systems, one end of a wick is partially submerged in the liquid to be dispersed. The liquid is contained in any suitable container. The partially submerged portion of the wick absorbs the liquid, some of which is drawn up by capillary or wicking action through the exposed, non-submerged portion of the wick. The exposed portion of the wick is locally heated, often by means of a ring-shaped heater that fits over the wick. This causes the liquid that has diffused into the exposed portion of the wick closest to the heating element to evaporate into the surrounding air. Continual application of heat to the exposed portion of the wick results in an evaporation/absorption process that continues until the liquid is fully consumed. 
         [0005]    The aforementioned method of using a heating element to motivate the evaporation of an aromatic or fragrant compound into the atmosphere is one of the most common methods for implementing an air freshener. For example, one known device utilizes scented liquid held in a bottle. The bottle contains a wick that is submerged in the scented liquid at one end while protruding through the top of the bottle at the other end. The wick draws up the scented liquid by means of capillary action. The end of the wick that protrudes through the top of the bottle is located next to a heating element so that the drawn up scented liquid is evaporated by the heat emitted from the heating element. This type of air freshener is usually plugged into a standard wall outlet, which provides both power and physical support. The wall outlet supplies power to the heating element in the form of alternating current (“AC”), which as previously mentioned, heats the fragrant compound. The heat causes the fragrant compound to evaporate and disperse into the atmosphere, thereby emitting an aroma. 
         [0006]    Known air freshener systems generally contain a fragrance bottle that is exposed to the user at all times. The bottle is attached to the air freshener with the wick extending from the bottle into the air freshener. Having the fragrance bottle exposed to the user allows breakable fragrance bottles to fall and shatter on the floor. This also allows easy access for children to be exposed to the fragrance bottle and its contents. In addition, liquid fragrance may drip on the floor and create a harmful, dangerous and/or unsanitary environment. 
         [0007]    Air fresheners may utilize a variety of heating elements. For example, some air fresheners utilize positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) heating elements. Alternatively, a series of resistors may be used to heat the fragrant compound. It is also known to use resistors to heat a ceramic block, which in turn heats a wick saturated with a scented liquid. Using a power source (such as a standard wall outlet) in conjunction with one or more resistors has also proven effective. 
         [0008]    As discussed above, known air freshener systems contain exposed, drip prone, often glass or otherwise breakable fragrance containers that hang from the system. As such, there is a clear need for a device that securely encloses the fragrance container within the device. 
         [0009]    There is also a clear need for a device that allows the user to determine the amount of liquid fragrance left in an enclosed fragrance container, such that the desirability of enclosing the fragrance container within the device does not require forgoing the ability to view the fragrance container. Additionally, there is a need for a device that contains a door, which snaps closed and securely encapsulates the fragrance container and contains an aperture or transparent or translucent window to allow for a clear view of the fragrance container without the need to open the door. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention preferably includes a container for holding a fragrant liquid, a housing for holding the fragrance container, and a wick with one of its ends protruding from the fragrance container. The housing preferably contains a socket for attaching the fragrance container, a cavity for receiving the container and a door for enclosing the container. An electrical circuit is also preferably included having a heater for heating the protruding end of the wick. Additionally, the electrical circuit preferably contains electrical connectors coupled to the circuit in order to receive current from a power source, which also provides the current to the heater. The heater heats the wick, thereby heating the liquid, which has traveled up through the wick via capillary action from the fragrance container, thus accelerating the emission of vapors from the evaporated liquid. 
         [0011]    The door optimally includes a window, a mechanism for holding the door closed and a bottom, which assists in holding the fragrance container in engagement with the socket. 
         [0012]    One embodiment of the heater includes at least one resistor and is made of a ceramic material. At least one vent and one air intake are included in the housing to facilitate release of the aroma. 
         [0013]    The fragrance container includes a threaded neck. The socket of the housing is also threaded, such that the fragrance container can be screwed into the housing after it is placed through the open door and into the cavity of the housing. Alternatively, the socket of the housing may contain an annular lip for holding the fragrance container in engagement with the socket. 
         [0014]    Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid fragrance emanation system. 
         [0015]    It is also an object of the present invention to heat a wick that is submerged in a scented liquid in order to evaporate the scented liquid, thus providing an aroma. 
         [0016]    It is also an object of the present invention to protect the fragrance container from accidentally falling and breaking. 
         [0017]    It is also an object of the present invention to prevent any liquid fragrance from escaping either the fragrance container or the plastic housing. 
         [0018]    It is also an object of the present invention to encapsulate the fragrance container within the fragrance emanation system by providing an enclosing mechanism. 
         [0019]    It is also an object of the present invention to allow the user to determine the amount of liquid fragrance left in the fragrance container, while the fragrance container remains enclosed within the housing of the device. 
         [0020]    In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fragrance emanation system having an aesthetically pleasing design. 
         [0021]    Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment, along with some alternative embodiments, set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the present invention, the organization and method of operation of the invention in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention. 
           [0023]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following drawings. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fragrance emanation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the fragrance emanation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the fragrance emanation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the fragrance emanation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the fragrance emanation system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a circuit insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a heater assembly insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the fragrance emanation system with the door in an open position and with all inserts removed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the heater assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view of the fragrance container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    A detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]    Moreover, well known methods and procedures for both carrying out the objectives of the present invention and illustrating the preferred embodiment are incorporated herein but have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure novel aspects of the present invention. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the fragrance emanation system of the present invention is generally designated  10 , and comprises a multi-part plastic hollow housing  50 . However, housing  50  may be made of any appropriate material. A generally circular plug portion  59  of housing  50  contains plug blades  70  in order to transfer electricity from the wall outlet to fragrance emanation system  10 . Vertical air intakes  64  and substantially horizontal air intakes  66  are disposed in plastic housing  50  and are surrounding cylindrical plug portion  59 . Additionally, circular air intakes  71  are provided at the top of the backside of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3 . The air intakes are provided to create airflow throughout fragrance emanation system  10  and may be any appropriate shape, number or size and in any appropriate location. 
         [0037]    An enclosing mechanism or door  67  is preferably attached to plastic housing  50  via a hinge  63 . Hinge  63  is located on the left side of fragrance emanation system  10 , although hinge  63  may be located on the right side, or even on the top or the bottom of door  67 . Thus, when looking at fragrance emanation system  10  from the front, as shown in  FIG. 2 , door  67  preferably opens from right to left. Door  67  is useful to assist in holding fragrance container  60  in place and may be opened when fragrance container  60  needs to be replaced. Furthermore, a plastic flange  72  is preferably attached to the bottom of door  67 . Although plastic is described herein, flange  72  may be made from any appropriate material. When door  67  is in the closed position, flange  72  not only serves as a platform that provides added support to the bottom of fragrance container  60 , but also in conjunction with housing  50  forms a cavity  75  inside housing  50 , which is able to receive fragrance container  60 . Door  67  and flange  72  prevent fragrance container  60  from accidentally falling and shattering as well as store or return any liquid that has escaped fragrance container  60  within housing  50 . Additionally, door  67  optionally includes an aperture or window  73 , which may be open or covered with a transparent or translucent material. Window  73  on door  67  provides a user with a simple way to assess the amount of gel or liquid  65  left in fragrance container  60 , while fully containing fragrance container  60  within housing  50 . Additionally, door  67  has a mechanism (not shown) to hold door  67  in a closed position when desired. 
         [0038]    Housing  50  preferably includes a flat cover  68  containing vapor vents  69  to allow for the dissipation of fragrance vapors. Cover  68  contains sides that are preferably rectangular that widen into a circular shape towards the middle in order to conform to the shape of fragrance container  60 . This shape helps create a unique and decorative fragrance emanation system  10  as it rests near a wall, supported by a wall socket. 
         [0039]    Cover  68  preferably includes a plurality of air vents  69 . In addition, in the middle of cover  68 , there exists a circular opening  61  larger than the upper end  55  of the wick, which also serves as an air vent. The air vents are provided to release the vaporized fragrance from fragrance emanation system  10  and may be any appropriate shape, number or size and in any appropriate location. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , housing  50  preferably contains a heater assembly  52  that is in close proximity to the upper end  55  of the wick. Heater assembly  52  is preferably semi-circular in design. However, heater assembly  52  may be any appropriate shape. Upper end  55  of the wick engages passage or opening  57  near heater assembly  52 . 
         [0041]    In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , heater assembly insert  74  preferably includes a socket  56 , which can either utilize a snap fit or reverse thread design. The socket  56  receives the fragrance container  60  (not shown) as described in reference to  FIG. 10 . Moreover, heater assembly insert  74  contains preferably two annular grooves  22 , which are used to securely attach heater assembly insert  74  to housing  50 . Additionally, heater assembly insert  74  may be made from any appropriate material. Furthermore, a blade assembly  79  is preferably connected via a wire  78  to heater  80  and is used to support blades  70  (not shown). 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 8 , door  67  is shown in operation and flange  72  is illustrated as providing the bottom to housing  50 . In addition, preferably two annular rims  24  extend outwardly from inside housing  50 . 
         [0043]    In combination, the elements in  FIGS. 6-8  illustrate the interior of hollow plastic housing  50 . The ceramic body  84  fits in heater assembly  52  of heater assembly insert  74 . Annular groove  22  then receives and snap fits into annular rim  24 . This allows opening  57  to be snap fit inside housing  50 , which then allows for ceramic body  84  to be securely attached to opening  57  within housing  50 . At the same time, blade assembly  79  slides into and attaches to plug portion  59 , where blades  70  (not shown) protrude outwardly from plug portion  59 . 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a preferred embodiment of heater assembly  52  comprises a heater  80 , which is surrounded by a ceramic potting material body  84 . However, various other appropriate heating assemblies may be used for the present invention. Additionally, body  84  also may be snapped into place by a preferably plastic heater assembly insert  74  and become attached to heater assembly  52  so it is adjacent to opening  57  for receiving the upper end  55  of the wick. Opening  57  may be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper end  55  of the wick to allow easy insertion of a new wick when liquid  65  in fragrance container  60  has been depleted. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , fragrance container  60  is advantageously made of glass. However, any material or container that is appropriate to contain a liquid, in particular, air freshening liquid, to be evaporated from the unit, may be used. The wick arrangement of the present invention includes a retaining ring  30  having a lower cylindrical portion  32 , which closely engages by press fit and/or by use of adhesive into neck  62  of container  60  to prevent the removal of wick  54 . 
         [0046]    Ring  30  is preferably made of polypropylene or other high strength synthetic material such as nylon, and has an upper flange  34  forming the top of neck  62  of fragrance container  60 . Ring  30  has an opening  36  extending through its axis that preferably has a diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the flexible fibrous wick  54 . This allows the lower portion of wick  54  to be firmly held in opening  36 . Thereby upper end  55  of wick  54  extends through and protrudes from neck  62  in order to be heated. Additionally, wick  54  may be composed of cotton, cellulose, polyester or any known wick material. 
         [0047]    Optionally, a steel pin  40  may be inserted through the fibrous wick  54  just below retaining ring  30  to securely hold wick  54  in place. Plastic or other sufficiently strong material may also be used for pin  40 . Pin  40  is preferably long enough to extend radially through wick  54  by an amount sufficient to preclude extraction of wick  54 , upwardly through retaining ring  30 . This, in conjunction with the secure fixing of ring  30  to neck  62 , prevents the extraction of the wick from fragrance container  60  and prevents refilling of fragrance container  60  with appropriate or inappropriate liquids. Pin  40  extends through skirt or sleeve  31 , which encompasses wick  54  for added strength and resistance to removal of wick  54 . 
         [0048]    Further, the polypropylene retaining ring  30  may have a cylindrical portion  32  that is slightly greater in diameter than the inner passage through neck  62  so that a firm force is required to push ring  30  into neck  62 . This simultaneously contracts the cylindrical portion  32  of neck  62  and, with wick  54  in place, effectively squeezes wick  54  even more firmly within opening  36 . At the same time, the force fit is achieved, preferably without adhesive. 
         [0049]    Reverse screw thread  90  is preferably included on neck  62  of fragrance container  60 . When viewing fragrance container  60 , which contains reverse screw thread  90  on neck  62 , from above, the fragrance container  60  must be turned clock-wise to tighten it onto the housing and counter-clockwise to loosen and remove it. Optionally, neck  62  of fragrance container  60  and socket  56  may contain forward screw threads. Therefore, both forward and reverse screw thread containers may be used in fragrance emanation system  10 . 
         [0050]    During operation, fragrance emanation system  10  is energized by receiving electricity through electrical plug blades  70 . Blades  70  are configured to be plugged into an electric wall outlet. Blades  70  both supply electricity to, and support fragrance emanation system  10  on the wall. Additionally, blades  70  are made to rotate at least 90 degrees in order to adapt to both a horizontal and a vertical electric wall outlet. When blades  70  are in either position, fragrance container  60  may always be located on the bottom of fragrance emanation system  10  and air vents  69  may always remain on the top. 
         [0051]    Electrical power is drawn through blades  70  to heater  80 . Blades  70  are preferably connected to heater  80  by means of electrical conducting wire  78  and resistor  77  all of which are connected in series as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Heater  80  heats upper end  55  of wick  54  and fragrance emanation system  10  begins to dispense vaporized fragrance. Liquid  65  continues to evaporate near upper end  55  of wick  54  because of the heat that is provided by heater  80 . Liquid  65  is replenished by capillary action as more liquid  65  is absorbed up from fragrance container  60  toward the upper end  55  of wick  54 . 
         [0052]    While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments, which have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, such embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention. It should be appreciated that the present invention is capable of being embodied in other forms without departing from its essential characteristics.