Abstract:
A dispenser for scents and aromas is disclosed. The scent dispenser includes a hollow central body that contains a rotating shaft. A wick is wound around the shaft and extends through an opening in the top of the central body. A sealable cap is included to allow scent material to be added to the wick inside the central body. Finally, a suspension mechanism in included to allow the dispense to be suspended from a separate structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/616,014 entitled “Dispenser for Scents or Aromas” that was filed on Oct. 5, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates generally to hunting equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dispenser for scents and aromas. 2. Background Art  
         [0004]     The use of scented formulations to attract game or fur bearing animals by hunters and trappers is a time-honored technique that has been in use for at least 100 years. A variety of natural and synthetic formulations are utilized to appeal in a variety of ways to the olfactory senses of the animals, whether to arouse the animals&#39; curiosity or to otherwise attract such animals to the location of the hunter&#39;s blind or the trapper&#39;s trap. Quite often, such materials, usually in liquid form, have been derived from the urine or glandular secretions of such animals, and are, in many cases, quite odorous and foul-smelling. Other types of scents designed to mask or conceal the odor or scent trail of a hunter or trapper are also in common, widespread use, including such fragrances as cedar, pine, and fresh earth.  
         [0005]     In the mid-to-late twentieth century, the use of deer urine-based scents, in particular, became popularized by individuals and companies who began bottling and selling such animal fluids as an effective way to attract game animals, in particular, whitetail deer. Such scents were most commonly used by pouring them onto the ground in the area where the hunter had chosen to hunt, which technique commonly resulted in spills and leakage of the foul-smelling scents onto the hands and clothes of the user. Likewise, in pouring the scents onto the ground, much of the scent ended up being absorbed into the ground, which resulted in inefficient evaporation and dispersal, and excessive expense inasmuch as once the expensive scent was poured out, it could not be re-used.  
         [0006]     Devices for storage and dispersal or propagation of scented materials are widely known in the art. A variety of containers housing and selectively exposing an absorbent material upon which a scented material is placed, to permit passive evaporation of such scents, is known. Such devices generally do not satisfy the need for a clean, convenient, compact, and leak-free way to handle, store, and disperse scents, and in the vast majority of cases, they do not provide optimum scent dispersal due to the limited surface area of the scent-absorbent material or scent-containing medium, some of which constitute no more than a small piece of cotton, felt or sponge material. Likewise, many of the scent containers and scent dispersal devices known in the art do not provide for adequate sealing of the containers, resulting in frequent leaks and spills of very malodorous materials. Furthermore, such devices often tend to be large and bulky, and frequently involve complicated, often failure-prone mechanisms. Finally, in most cases no adequate provision is made for loading the scent, deploying the device, and storing the scent without the user ever having to touch or come into contact with the often foul-smelling scented materials. The present invention is directed at providing just such an improved device and method for storing and efficiently dispersing hunting, trapping, and other scented materials.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     In some aspects, the invention relates to a scent dispenser, comprising: a hollow central body with a first opening on a first end and a second opening on the top; a rotatable shaft located within the central body; a wick that is wound around the rotatable shaft, where one end of the wick extends out of the central body through the second opening on top of the central body; a sealable cap that provides access the interior of the central body through the first opening so that scented material can be added to the wick; and a suspension mechanism on the exterior of the central body that allows the scent dispenser to be suspended from a separate structure.  
         [0008]     In other aspects, the invention relates to ascent dispenser, comprising: a hollow central body with a first opening on a first end and a second opening on the top; means for storing a wick in the interior of the central body so that the wick maybe deployed at adjustable lengths through the second opening on the top of the central body; means for adding scented material to the wick in the interior of the central body that prevents spillage of the scented material; and means for suspending the scent dispenser from a separate structure.  
         [0009]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, lightweight, and economical apparatus and method for the leak-free containment and efficient dispersal of scents used by hunters, gardeners, and others, in a design that is compact enough to permit easy carrying in a pocket or hunter&#39;s pack.  
         [0010]     A further object and advantage of the device is to provide a container and dispenser for scented materials that is equipped with reliable seals at key locations to prevent the accidental leakage, spilling, or escape of the scented materials, which could otherwise contaminate the users clothing, gear, and hands.  
         [0011]     A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable, device which is very compact, yet provides a flexible, extendable, and elongated wick or other scent-containing medium which has a relatively very large surface area from which scent can evaporate and disperse, in order to maximize the amount of scent which is released into an area.  
         [0012]     A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable mechanism for extending and retracting the elongated wick or scented medium, and the ability to store the wick or scented medium within a very compact space inside the container, without leakage.  
         [0013]     A further object of the invention is to provide simple, compact, leak-free scent storage and dispensing device which is compact and affordable, so that multiple units may be deployed in an area to provide even broader coverage, or to permit the use of multiple varieties of scents at the same time.  
         [0014]     Another object and advantage of the device is to provide for easy and quick deployment of the device in the field, as well as quick and easy location and retrieval of the device after use.  
         [0015]     A further object of the invention is to provide simple, compact, leak-free scent storage and dispensing device which, by attaching to an overhanging branch or support structure, elevates the scent vapor plume above the ground, to maximize dispersal of the scent throughout the surrounding area.  
         [0016]     A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, leak-free scent storage and dispensing device for hunters and others, which will not consume an excessively large amount of scent, and which affords the capability of storing the scent between uses, and re-using it at a later time, thereby reducing the amount of money spent on replacing scents during a given hunting season.  
         [0017]     Another object and advantage of the invention is to provide for easy disassembly for cleaning, as when the user may wish to change the scented material being used, and to provide for easy and quick replacement of the wick or absorbent material or scented medium, as when the user desires to use another type of scent.  
         [0018]     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a view of a dispenser as deployed upon a branch, with the wick or scent-containing medium fully extended in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a dispenser, showing the main body comprising the container, a wick or scent-containing medium, a hanger cap, a knob for extending or retracting the wick or scent-containing medium, a filler cap, and structure on the hanger cap for the purpose of attaching a device such as a hook, string, or strap to suspend the container from an elevated structure such as an overhanging branch in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded plan view showing the individual parts of a dispenser, including the main container body, the shaft, with knob, shaft-retaining ring, hanger cap, extendable wick or scent-containing medium, filler cap, wick or scent-containing medium retainer pin, hanger cord in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dispenser, showing the filler cap, container body, shaft and knob, hanger cap, wick or scent-containing medium, retainer pin for the wick or scent-containing medium,  0 -ring seal for the hanger cap, and a hanger cord in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser with all components assembled, showing the wick or scent-containing medium in its retracted position, wound around the shaft, with the hanger cap fully inserted to its full depth into the side opening of the body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional end-view of a dispenser with all components assembled, and revealing the placement and relationships of such components, including the wick or scent-containing medium wound around the shaft and fully retracted in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective surface view of one embodiment of the fully-assembled scent containing and dispersal device, with both filler cap and hanger cap sealably attached to the main body, and revealing a cord or string utilized for attaching the device to a tree branch or other elevated structure.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective-drawing of the shaft of a dispenser, showing a pair of 0-ring sealing grooves, a longitudinal slot configured to receive one end of a wick or other scent-containing medium, a knob for winding the wick or other scent-containing medium around the shaft, and a pair of nibs at the end at the end opposite the knob, which are provided for the purpose of retaining the shaft within the body by locking into the shaft retaining ring in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a wick or scent-containing medium, showing attachment loops affixed to or formed as a part of an upper end and a lower end of such wick or scent-containing medium in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a dispenser that shows how a wick or other scent-containing medium may be attached to the hanger cap with a loop formed or attached at each end of such wick or scent-containing medium, and a retainer pin in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a dispenser that shows how a wick or other scent-containing medium may be attached to the shaft with a loop formed or attached at one end of such wick or scent-containing medium in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a dispenser with the filler cap removed, showing the stored wick or scent containing medium wound around the shaft within the inner chamber, and scent being added via an eye-dropper to saturate the wick or scent-containing medium in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     The present invention is directed to a lightweight, compact scent dispenser capable of storing and efficiently dispersing a variety of scented materials. The dispenser is particularly well-suited for the storage and dispersal of game attractant scents, such as urine-based or glandular-secretion-based materials, or synthetic versions thereof, for use in attracting animals such as deer while hunting or trapping. It is likewise well suited for containing, storing, and dispersing cover scents for hunters, fragrances for home and garden use, and for use in repelling various types of animals, ranging from quadrupeds to insects, through the use of suitable formulation which are repellent to various animal species.  
         [0033]     The device includes a compact, simple container for containing, extending, and retracting an absorbent wick-type member or other scent-impregnated or scent-containing medium, which wick or scent-containing medium is utilized to hold the scented material until it the wick or scent containing medium is extended and exposed to the atmosphere and ambient wind currents, where such scented materials are released into the atmosphere to disperse the scented material&#39;s vapors throughout an area surrounding the location where the device is deployed.  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a compact hollow main body which serves as a container for the wick or scent-containing medium when retracted into such container, and a side opening into the internal cavity of such hollow body through which the scent-containing medium is extended or retracted. The wick or scent-containing medium is attached at one end to an internal transverse shaft, equipped with a seal or gasket at the opening where it enters the container, and having a knob or handle attached to one external end of such shaft where it can be rotated by hand to extend the wick to expose and release the scent, or to retract the wick or scent-containing medium through the side opening into the container by winding it around the shaft. A filler cap is sealably and removably mounted to the end of the cavity opposite the knob or handle. Removing the filler cap permits access to the inner chamber of the container, and allows a liquid scented material to be applied to the coiled wick stored within. A second, hanger-cap is sealably mounted to the side opening into such hollow body to provide leak-tight storage for the scent when the wick or scented medium is fully retracted into the body. The opposite end of the absorbent wick or other scent-containing medium is attached to the hanger-cap. In addition, a hanging mechanism such as a cord or strap or hook is provided and attached to the upper portion of the hanger-cap, in order to provide the easy capability of mounting the unit to a tree branch or other elevated structure.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment as shown, the container  1 , including container body  1 A, is fitted with a filler cap  3 , a shaft-with-knob component  4 , a flexible, extendable and retractable wick or other absorbent scent-containing or scent-impregnated medium  5 .  FIG. 1  further shows the device as it might be deployed for dispersal of scented materials in a hunting application, with the wick or scent-containing medium  5  fully extended to expose its full surface area  30  to the atmosphere and attached to an upper hanger-cap  2 , which hanger-cap  2  is equipped with a cord, strap, or other apparatus  2 A which is utilized for attachment of and suspension of the device from a tree branch or other elevated structure  28 . By further referral to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that the hook, cord, or strap  2 A, which is attached to hanger cap  2  at one end, has been draped over such branch or elevated structure  28 , and attached back to the hanger cap at notch  7 .  
         [0036]     Also as shown in  FIG. 1 , after the container  1  has been mounted upon a tree branch  28 , the wick or scent-containing medium  5  has been extended by pulling the hanger cap  2  out of side opening  9  and apart from the main body  1 A, thereby unwinding the wick or scent-containing medium  5  to its full length to expose its full surface area, and thereby permitting the release and evaporation of vapors of the scented materials from the generally flexible, elongate wick or scent-containing medium  5  to the ambient atmosphere, where the vapors of such scented materials can disperse on the wind currents to the surrounding area.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment as shown, the container  1  is included of a main body  1 A having a surrounding outer wall  1 B that includes an outer wall surface  1 C and an inner wall surface  1 D, enclosing an inner chamber  1 E. The container  1  is fitted with a hanger-cap  2 , a filler cap  3 , a shaft member  4  having a handle or knob section  4 A, which may be integral to the shaft  4 , or a separate piece which is attached thereto. The device is further equipped with a wick or scent-containing medium  5 . In addition, the hanger cap  2  is equipped with a hole  6  and a hook-slot  7 , for the purpose of attaching a hanger-cord  2 A which is provided to suspend the container  1  from an elevated structure such as an overhanging branch or other elevated structure. The hanger cap  2  is equipped with a resilient O-ring  8 , preferably made of an elastomeric or other suitably resilient polymeric material, suitably configured and sized to seal the circumference around hanger cap  2  when hanger cap  2  is inserted into the side opening  9 , to prevent leakage or escape of scent vapors or liquid from the container  1  when the wick or scent-containing medium  5  is stored within the inner chamber  1 E of main body  1 A.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical body  1 A is equipped at one end with a cylindrical hole  22  that opens to the outside to the inner chamber  1 E of the body  1 A. A shaft member  4  is inserted into the hole  22 . The end of shaft  4  which remains outside the inner chamber  1 E of the body  1 A, is configured with a handle or knob or similar device  4 A to allow hand-rotation of the shaft  4  by the user, for the purpose of un-winding the wick or scent-containing medium  5  from the shaft  4  and to extend it to its full length, thereby exposing the scent to the atmosphere. After use, this embodiment enables winding the wick or scent-containing medium  5  around the shaft  4 , thereby retracting the wick or scent-containing medium back into the inner cavity  1 E of the main body  1 A for storage.  
         [0039]     In one embodiment, when the wick or scent-containing medium  5  is fully wound around the shaft and thus drawn into and contained within the inner chamber  1 E, the hanger cap  2  is likewise drawn into the side opening  9 , and the sealing O-ring or gasket  8  of the hanger cap  2  abuts the inner surface  9 A of side opening  9 , to prevent leakage of scent from the container  1 . The top or outer end  17  of the wick or scent-containing medium  5  is fitted with a loop  17 A which is utilized for attaching the wick or scent-containing medium  5  to hanger cap  2 .  
         [0040]     Such loop  17 A is positioned and retained within transverse hole  12  and transverse slot  13  of hanger-cap  2 , by retainer-pin SC mounted within loop  5 A. The hanger cap  2  is likewise fitted with an O-ring or gasket  8  which forms a seal against the outer circumference of the hanger cap  2 , and against the inner wall  9 A of the side opening  9 , when the hanger cap  2  is forced to the full depth into the side opening  9 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows the inter-relationships of the various components of one embodiment of the invention. The main body  1 A serves as the central mounting “chassis” for the container  1 . The shaft  4  is sealably and rotatably mounted within the mating hole  22  in the end of main body  1 A, with the seal being affected by one or more resilient O-rings or gaskets  20 , installed in one or more grooves  11  in the circumference of shaft  4 . The upper end  17  of the wick  5  is also equipped with a loop  17 A, which slides through the transverse slot  13  in hanger cap  2 , and transverse hole  12 , and is held in place by retainer pin  5 C which is placed within loop  17 A while such loop  17 A is contained within transverse hole  12  and transverse slot  13 . The hanger cap  2  is likewise fitted with one or more resilient members, such as O-rings  8 , to seal hanger cap  2  around its circumference against the inner wall surface of side opening  9 , as the hanger cap  2  is inserted into the side opening  9 .  
         [0042]     In  FIG. 4 , the individual parts of one embodiment of the dispenser are shown, including the main container body  1 A, the shaft  4  with knob  4 A, hanger cap  2 , extendable wick or scent-containing medium  5 , filler cap  3 , wick or scent-containing medium  5 , retainer pin  5 C, and hanger cord  2 A.  FIG. 5  illustrates the assembled relationships of the various components of one embodiment of the invention, including the filler cap  3 , shaft retainer  15 , container body  1 A, shaft  4  and knob  4 A, hanger cap  2 , and retainer pin  5 C for the wick or scent-containing medium  5 , and hanger cord  2 A, and O-rings  8 ,  20 , and O-ring  8 A on the filler cap  3 .  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional end-view of one embodiment of the device illustrates the container  1  and all components of the device assembled and contained in the main body  1 A, showing the wick or scent-containing medium  5  in its retracted position, wound around the shaft  4 , with the hanger cap  2  fully inserted to its full depth into the side opening  9  of the body  1 A.  FIG. 7  is a perspective exterior surface view of one embodiment of the fully-assembled scent containing and dispersal device, with both filler cap  3  and hanger cap  2  sealably and removably attached to the main body  1 A, and revealing a cord or string  2 A utilized for attaching the container  1  to a tree branch or other elevated structure  28  (not shown in this Figure).  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  illustrates the shaft  4  of one embodiment of the device, showing a pair of O-ring sealing grooves, a longitudinal slot configured within and parallel to the central axis of the shaft  4 , and adapted to receive one end loop  19 A of a wick or other scent-containing medium  5  as revealed in other figures, a knob  4 A for winding the wick or other scent-containing medium  5  around the shaft  4 , and a pair of nibs  18  at the end opposite the knob  4 A, which are provided for the purpose of retaining the shaft  4  within the body  1 A by locking into the shaft retaining ring  15  after being passed through opening  22 , as in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 9  reveals one embodiment of a wick or scent-containing medium  5 , with attachment loops  17 A and  19 A affixed to or formed as a part of an upper end and a lower end, respectively, of such wick or scent-containing medium  5 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view which shows how, in one embodiment of the device, a wick or other scent-containing medium  5  may be attached to the hanger cap  2 , with a loop  17 A formed or attached at the upper end  17  of such wick or scent-containing medium  5 , and a retainer pin  5 C, which are inserted into and retained within a transverse hole  12  and a transverse slot  13  by such retainer pin  5 C.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view which shows how a wick or other scent-containing medium  5  may be attached to the shaft  4 , with a loop  19 A formed or attached at the bottom or lower end  19  of such wick or scent-containing medium  5 , which loop is inserted into and held within a center slot  16  of shaft  4 .  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , removal of the filler cap  3  permits a quantity of scented material to be poured or otherwise loaded onto the absorbent wick or scent-containing medium  5 , as shown, thereby loading such wick or medium  5  with scented material in preparation for future use. Alternatively, such wick or scent-containing medium  5  may be pre-soaked or pre-impregnated or infused with scented materials, as with a scent-containing medium made of a scent-impregnated plastic or other material, or a pre-loaded wick. When the filler cap  3  is fully inserted into the inner chamber  1 E of main body  1 A, the O-ring or gasket  8 A seals against the inner wall surface  1 C to prevent leakage or escape of the scent vapors or liquid. In one embodiment, a locking mechanism such as locking tabs  21  on filler cap  3  with mating locking grooves  21 A may be utilized to retain the filler cap  3  in place, to prevent inadvertent removal of the cap  3 , or to prevent any possible buildup of pressure within the container  1  from forcing the cap  3  out of the main body  1 A. Upon replacement of the filler-cap  3 , the scented material is retained on the scent-containing medium, and is sealed within the main cavity  1 E of the main body  1 A, until the user is ready to dispense the scent, possibly hours, days, or weeks later.  
         [0047]     The container body  1 A, shaft  4 , hanger cap  2 , filler cap  3 , retainer pin  5 A may all preferably be constructed of a suitable polymeric material, such as high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, or other thermoplastic, or other thermosetting or composite material such as glass-reinforced polyester resin. O-rings  4 E,  8 , and  19  are preferably constructed of a resilient elastomeric material such as nitrile rubber, viton, silicone, acrylonitrile or other such elastomer, or one of a number of fluorocarbon materials or elastomer/fluorcarbon composites. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the container  1  and its rigid solid components may be made in a number of different sizes, shapes, and colors, from a variety of materials, including the various types of polymers as listed above, and in addition the device may be equipped with a camouflage coating with several different processes, including film transfer and others.  
         [0048]     Likewise, the elongate wick or scent containing medium  5 , in a one configuration, may be made of a braided or woven cotton or other natural textile fabric that has been specially treated to remove natural oils and to render it hydroscopic and highly absorbent, and may be configured in various widths, thicknesses, lengths, and colors. Preferably, such wick or scent-containing medium  5  may be shaped as a flat, elongated strip of material having a thickness ranging from approximately 0.031″ to about 0.25″, but in one embodiment may be about 1/16″ in thickness, with a length ranging from about 4″ to as long as 3 or 4 feet or longer, but in one embodiment approximately 6″ to 12″ long. Such wick  5  is preferably configured as a flat solid woven or braided, or hollow woven or braided, textile fiber or fabric material having a width that may range from about ¼″ to as much as 4″ wide, or more, but preferably, in an embodiment suitable for hunting, outdoor, household, or gardening use, having a nominal width of about ½″ to 1″. Alternatively, the wick or scent-containing medium  5  may be made from a range of materials such as natural or synthetic fabrics, plastics or polymers, scent-impregnated plastics or polymers, absorbent permeable, porous or foamed elastomers, foam plastics, felt materials made of natural or synthetic fibers, or other absorbent or adsorbent materials, and in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate a variety of applications and needs. Likewise, the dimensions and geometry of the main body  1 D and associated components may be configured and constructed in a wide range of different sizes, colors, and shapes to accommodate scent-containing media or wicks of various types and sizes, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0049]     Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and function of the invention. The novel features of the invention are also pointed out in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, materials, and arrangement of some of the parts, within the principle of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms express in the following claims.