Abstract:
This application generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for delivering a fragrance. In some embodiments, portable fragrance delivery systems are provided. In further embodiments, improved fragrance delivery systems are provided that provide increased dispersion of scented agents by utilizing a fan formed from a fragrant material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/198,143 filed on Jul. 29, 2015, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for delivering and dispersing a fragrance. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various configurations of fragrance devices have been developed. Typically, such devices use various heat sources, such as a tea light or a heat-producing light bulb, that simultaneously act to emit light and also act to slowly warm wax-based substances that are heavily scented with a fragrance. The heat sources of such devices act to turn the waxy fragrance-scented substance from an initial solid state over time into a liquid state. As the wax-based substance warms up, agents within the substance may be dispersed into the air to spread the scent of the fragrance device. 
         [0004]    While prior fragrance systems, devices, and methods have been generally sufficient in dispersing scented agents, further improvements may be desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In some aspects of the present invention, fragrance delivery systems are provided. In some embodiments, a fragrance delivery system described herein includes a motor, a fan including a blade or blades configured to rotate about a fan axis to propel air in a downstream direction from the fan, and a means for powering or delivering power to the motor to rotate the fan blade(s). The fan blade or blades may be made of a fragrant material, or may contain fragrant material, that is released into the air, particularly when the fan blade is rotated. In some embodiments the motor may be powered by batteries positioned in, on or near the motor or, among other alternatives, it may be powered by household current supplied through a conventional electrical cord and plug attached to the motor. 
         [0006]    The system of this invention need not necessarily be housed in or include any container, but the system typically will include a decorative vessel, body or container consisting of a vessel made of ceramic, metal, wood, plaster, resin or other appropriate material or combination of materials. Such a container may be esthetically pleasing, may serve to protect and shield the motor and fan blade structure from undesirable contact, and may serve to direct the flow of fragrance emitted by the system among other things. 
         [0007]    The fragrance delivery system assembly may include at least a means for forcing airflow through the vessel, such as an electrically powered fan, and a base with or attached to a power source, which may be an electrical cord with plug or a battery and an on/off switch. The electrical cord may be, for example, a standard 110 volt cord or a USB computer cable among other alternatives. Airflow through the fan blade(s) facilitates release of fragrance into the room or other space containing the system. In some embodiments, a lamp or other light source may provide light thru the vessel perforations and or to provide a source of heat. The lamp or light source may be, for example, a LED light. In some embodiments, no light source is included. 
         [0008]    The fan blade or blades assembly may be, or may include, for example, fragrance-impregnated molded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) plastic. In some embodiments, the fragrance-carrying fan blade may be a fragrance-impregnated molded thermoplastic rubber (TPE) or a fragrance-impregnated molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or any other suitable fragrance-emitting or fragrance carrying material. 
         [0009]    The fan blade or blades assembly may be in any form suitable for its intended purpose of forcing air through the blades so that a stream or streams of fragrant air will be emitted by the device. 
         [0010]    The fan blade or blades, in some embodiments, may be easily detached from and attached to the assembly so that the blade(s) may be replaced to provide a different fragrance or to provide a replacement source of fragrance when the fragrance in a particular fan blade or blades in use is spent. 
         [0011]    Numerous fan blade structures like, or different from, those depicted in the figures may be used. The fan blade(s) may be, or may include, EVA, TPR, or TPE or any other suitable material capable of formation into an appropriate fan blade(s) shape and capable of serving as a carrier for, and capable of releasing into the air, fragrance oils or other fragrance materials. In some embodiments, heat may be used to impregnate the oil into the fan blade materials either before or after it is formed. In some instances, pellets of such material may be impregnated with the fragrance materials before the pellets are molded into the fan blade shape by melting the pellets and forming the melted material in a mold to create the fan blade(s). In some instances, the fragrance delivery system of this disclosure may include a heat source to facilitate and or accelerate release of fragrance from the fan. 
         [0012]    As noted above, the fragrance delivery system may include a battery power source. The battery may provide backup power or an alternative power source to ensure the fragrance delivery system is portable. Another embodiment may include, at least a fragrance delivery system without a power cord relying only on battery power. 
         [0013]    A shell for housing the fan may be provided. A first end of the shell may have an engagement feature for receiving a partition at the first end of the shell. A light source housing may protrude through a central opening of the partition. An outer surface of the shell may include radially spaced apart ribs projecting outwardly from the shell. 
         [0014]    A vessel may be provided that defines an interior volume. The vessel may have an opening and may be configured to receive the shell through the opening of the vessel to position the shell in the interior volume of the vessel. The opening of the vessel may engage with the radially spaced apart ribs of the shell to axially align the vessel with the shell. The vessel may further including a plurality of vents through the vessel to allow air to flow out from the interior volume of the vessel. In some embodiments, a plurality of alternatively selectable vessels may be provided where each of the plurality of vessels have alternative configurations and designs. Each of the plurality of vessels may include an opening configured to receive the shell through the opening to position the shell in the interior volume of the vessel. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, a detachable power cord may be provided. The first end may be configured to detachably couple with a standard outlet (e.g.,  12   v  outlet, USB outlet, or the like) and a second end configured to detachably couple with the fan. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the fragrance delivery system does not include a heater for heating the fragrance carrier. Optionally, the fragrance delivery system does not include a light source. A portable battery may be provided to power the fan. Optionally, the portable battery only powers the fan and may not power any other electronics. In some embodiments, the fragrance delivery system does not include a power cord. Embodiments lacking a heater and/or a light source may be counter-intuitive; however, such embodiments may advantageously last longer on a portable power source and may thus provide extended battery life and a more convenient, moveable, and/or portable fragrance delivery system. 
         [0017]    The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor it is intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the figures which accompany it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A-1C  are various views of exemplary fragrance delivery systems according to some embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is an exploded view.  FIG. 1B  is a side view.  FIG. 1C  is a top view.  FIG. 1D  is a cross sectional view. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate various exemplary vessels that may be used with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate various views of exemplary fans according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an assembled fragrance delivery device according to some embodiments of the present invention without a vessel. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E  are first side, second side, top plan, perspective, and perspective views of an assembled fragrance delivery device according to some embodiments of the present invention disposed in a vessel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate various views of exemplary fragrance delivery systems  10  according to some embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary fragrance delivery system  10 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates a side view of the exemplary fragrance delivery system  10 .  FIG. 1C  illustrates a top view of the exemplary fragrance system  10 .  FIG. 1D  illustrates a cross-sectional view of fragrance delivery system  10 . Fragrance delivery system  10  includes a vessel  12  configured to house a fragrance delivery device  16  including a fan  14  made of a fragrant material. Vessel  12  defines an interior space  18  for housing the fragrance delivery device  16  and the fan  14 . Vessel  12  may have a narrow neck  20  that extends upwardly to a top opening  22 . The top opening  22  may allow vaporizing agents or scents released by the fan  14  to move from the interior space  18  of the vessel  12  to the space outside the vessel  12 . Additionally, the vessel  12  may include vents or perforations  24  that extend from an interior wall of the vessel  12  to an exterior wall of the vessel  12 . The vents or perforations  24  may also allow vaporizing agents or scents released by the fan  14  to exit from the interior space  18  of the vessel  12 . In some embodiments, the vents or perforations  24  may also provide a decorative pattern on vessel  12 . For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1D , the vents  24  may be configured to resemble flowers on the surface of the vessel  12 . The vents  24  may be placed symmetrically about the vessel  12  to provide a decorative appearance for vessel  12 . Vessel  12  may further include a bottom opening  26  opposite the top opening  22  for receiving the fan  14  and the delivery device  16 . The side walls of the bottom opening  26  may be configured to couple with the fragrance delivery device  16  to provide releasable engagement between the vessel and the fragrance delivery device  16 . The releasable engagement may allow users to interchange fan  14  (e.g., when the fragrant material in a fan  14  is used up, to change the type of fragrance released, or the like). Additionally, this may be beneficial for users who want to switch and interchange between alternative vessels  12  to provide alternative appearances for fragrance delivery system  12 . For example,  FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate various exemplary vessels  12   a - 12   e  that may be used with embodiments of the present invention. Each vessel  12   a - 12   e  may include a bottom opening  26  for releaseably engaging with the fragrance delivery device  16 . The vessels  12   a - 12   e  may be decorative and may be made from ceramic, metal, wood, resin or the like. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate various views of exemplary fans  114  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The fan  114  includes a hub  28  and a plurality of blades  30  connected to the perimeter of the hub  28 . The fan also includes a ring around its perimeter connected to the blades  30  and defining a perimeter surface  29 . The fan  14  optionally may further include a central opening  36  about central axis  40 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an assembled fragrance delivery device without a vessel. 
         [0025]    The hub of fan  14  is configured to cooperate with the fragrance delivery device  16 . In some embodiments, the cooperation between the central opening  36  and the fragrance delivery device  16  may preferentially align the fan  14  with the fragrance delivery device  16 , as will be discussed and illustrated further below. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an assembled fragrance delivery device  16  according to some embodiments of the present invention without a vessel.  FIG. 4  shows a fragrance delivery device  15  according to embodiments of the invention, including a fan  14 , a shell  42  on a base  48 . The device shown in  FIG. 4  includes an optional power cord  54 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E  are first side, second side, top plan, perspective, and perspective views of an assembled fragrance delivery device according to some embodiments of the present invention disposed in a vessel. 
         [0028]    The fans  14 ,  114  include a fragrance impregnated solid carrier material. For example, the fan blades may be formed in whole or in part from a fragrance impregnated solid carrier material. In some embodiments, the fragrance impregnated solid carrier material is molded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) plastic. The properties of EVA allow it to have absorbed in it, or be impregnated, embedded, or infused with, (collectively referred to herein by use of the term “impregnate” or variations thereof) one or more vaporizing agents, such as for example a fragrance, permitting it to be used as a reservoir for those vaporizing agents. A vaporizing agent is a substance that may be impregnated in a solid carrier material, such as for example EVA, but that is also capable of existing in a substantially vaporized and/or aerosolized state at approximately ambient conditions. 
         [0029]    Methods for making and using EVA and other polymeric materials and impregnating them with vaporizing agents such as fragrances, odor-neutralizing substances, insecticides and substances having medicinal properties are known in the art. EVA used in the invention may have a molecular weight in the range of 10,000 Daltons to 100,000 Daltons. Vaporizing agents may be impregnated into the EVA at weight percents varying from 10 to 90%, from 20 to 80% from 30 to 70%, from 30 to 60%, and from 30 to 50%. 
         [0030]    As an alternative to EVA, other solid carrier materials may be used to form the fragrance impregnated solid carrier material. For example, in some embodiments, the fragrance impregnated solid carrier material may be a fragrance impregnated molded thermoplastic rubber or a fragrance impregnated molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Alternate embodiments of the solid carrier material may be composed of other polymeric materials including but not limited to, polyethylene (high or low density), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyether block amide (PEBA) and polymethylpentene, ethyl vinyl alcohol, polystyrene, acrylic polymers, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and nylons. 
         [0031]    Possible fragrances to be impregnated in the solid carrier material may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of fragrances including musk oil, civet, castoreum, ambergris, plant perfumes, sandalwood oil, neroli oil, bergamot oil, lemon oil, lavender oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol, camphor, verbena oil, citronella oil, coconut oil, salvia oil, clove oil, chamomile oil, costus oil, labdanum oil, broom extract, carrot seed extract, jasmine extract, mimosa extract, narcissus extract, olibanum extract, rose extract, acetophenonene and derivatives thereof, dimethylaniline derivatives, naphthaline derivatives, allyl caprate, alpha-amylcinnamic aldehyde, anethole, anisaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl propionate, borneol, cinnamyl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, citronellal, cumin aldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, decanol, ethyl butyrate, ethyl caprate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl vanillin, eugenol, geraniol, exenol, alpha-hexylcinnamic aldehyde, hydroxycitrolnellal, indole, iso-amyl acetate, iso amyl isovalerate, iso-eugenol, linalol, linalyl acetate, p-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl dihydrojasmonate, methyl eugenol, methyl-beta-naphthol ketone, methyl phenyl carbinyl acetate, musk ketol, musk xylol, 2,5,6-nonadienal, gamma-nonalactone, phenyl acetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, beta-phenylethyl alcohol, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanol, gamma-undecalactone, undecenal, vanillin, metofluthrin, and mixtures thereof. 
         [0032]    Those of skill in the art will recognize that in constructing the solid carrier material for the fan  14 , it may also be desirable to mix the fragrance with hindered amines such as for example, 1-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy)-4-octadecanoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine; 1-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine; and bis(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate. The foregoing hindered amines may be added to the fragrance at weights of between 0.1% and 2.0% by weight of the EVA (or other carrier), preferably at 0.7% by weight. Further, various antioxidants such as tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, phenol bisphosphite, and butylated hydroxytoluene may be added to the fragrance at amounts of between 0.015% and 2.5% by weight of the EVA or other, and preferably between 0.2% and 0.5% by weight. 
         [0033]    It is contemplated that in alternate embodiments of the invention, the EVA material used in the solid carrier material may also be impregnated with other vaporizing agents such as an insecticide. The insecticide may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of substances including citronella oil, pyrethrum, aluminum phosphide, and magnesium phosphide. Other alternate embodiments of the invention may also utilize a disc impregnated with vaporizing agents having medicinal properties. Such vaporizing agents having medicinal properties may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of preparations including eucalyptus oil, cinnamon oil, eugenol, geranium oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, menthol, camphor, thymol, turpentine oil, I-desoxyephedrine, and bornyl acetate. In other alternate embodiments of the invention, the foregoing substances may be impregnated in the disc in combination with one or more fragrances or alone. 
         [0034]    The fragrance delivery device  16  may further include a light source housed in a light source housing. In some embodiments, the light source does not act as a heat source and does not soften the fragrant material. In some embodiments, no light source is present in the device. 
         [0035]    Fan  14  may be centrally supported within the fragrance delivery device  16  and configured to rotate about a fan axis to provide an axial flow of air in a downstream axial direction (upwards and parallel to the fan axis). Power supply  50  may couple with fan  14  to power the fan. 
         [0036]    The base  48  may be configured to close off the open end  64  of shell  42  or the bottom end of frame  44 . The base  48  may include vents  72 . The vents  72  may allow outside air to enter the fragrance delivery device  16  from the bottom of the fragrance delivery device  16 . This may provide a continuous supply of air for fan  14  to propel in the downstream direction. In some embodiments, the base  48  further includes feet  75  that may support the base  48  above the support surface to provide clearance for air to be drawn through vents  72  and into shell  42 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the power supply  50  may be coupled with a power cord  54 . The power cord  54  may be an electrical cord with a standard plug for an electrical outlet. In some embodiments, the power cord  54  may be a standard 110 volt cord. In other embodiments, the power cord  54  may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) to micro-USB or mini-USB plug. In some embodiments, the cord  54  is detachable (during normal user operation) from the power source  50  to provide a more portable fragrance delivery device  16 . For example, after recharging a rechargeable battery of the fragrance delivery device  16 , a user may detach the cord  54  so as to provide a more compact portable fragrance delivery device  16 . 
         [0038]    A light source, when present, may be one or more light emitting diodes (LED). In some embodiments the light source and/or transparent housing may provide ambient light through the vessel perforations (e.g., through perforations). 
         [0039]    In further embodiments of the invention, the delivery device may not include a light source or light source housing. Embodiments without a light source may be preferable to reduce a power consumption of the device. Additionally it may also be beneficial if the device does not include a heater as a heater may consume a substantial amount of power. By reducing the power consumption of a device, the device may be used for longer periods of time on battery power and without being plugged in. 
         [0040]    Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.