Abstract:
A system and method for producing a fragrance. The system may include body having a plurality of chambers defined therein. Each chamber may include a fragrance accord. A circuit and a plurality of emitters may be positioned within the body. The emitters may be connected to and controlled by the circuit, and each of the emitters may be positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the chambers and control ejection of the fragrance accord therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Fragrance tends to play a significant part in a customer&#39;s selection of a product such as shampoo or deodorant. However, oftentimes these products are packaged in such a way as to prevent the customer from smelling the fragrance of the product in the store. Rather, the customer is expected to purchase the product first before opening the packaging and smelling the fragrance. This may lead to customers that are not pleased with the fragrance of the product they have purchased. In addition, this may cause some rogue customers to tear open the packaging of the product in the store to smell the fragrance prior to purchasing the product. If the customer does not like the fragrance enough to purchase the product, the product is put back on the shelf with torn packaging, making subsequent customers less likely to purchase that particular product. What is needed is an improved system and method to enable customers to smell the fragrances of various products prior to purchasing them. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A system for producing a fragrance is disclosed. The system may include a body having a plurality of chambers defined therein. Each chamber may include a fragrance accord. A circuit and a plurality of emitters may be positioned within the body. The emitters may be connected to and controlled by the circuit. Each of the emitters may be positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the chambers and control ejection of the fragrance accord therein. 
         [0003]    The emitters may be or include piezoelectric drivers, heating elements, aerosol devices, or a combination thereof. The circuit may be configured to receive a plurality of fragrance selections, each corresponding to a different fragrance. Each fragrance may include a different combination of two or more of the fragrance accords. In response to receiving a fragrance selection, the circuit may transmit a first signal to a first of the emitters, causing the first of the emitters to displace. In response to the first of the emitters displacing, a portion of a first of the fragrance accords may be dispensed from a first of the chambers adjacent to the first of the emitters. In response to receiving the fragrance selection, the circuit may also transmit a second signal to a second of the emitters, causing the second of the emitters to displace. In response to the second of the emitters displacing, a portion of a second of the fragrance accords may be dispensed from a second of the chambers adjacent to the second of the emitters. The selected fragrance may include the first fragrance accord and the second fragrance accord. The fragrance accords may be in liquid form, gel form, or solid state form. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the system may include a body having a plurality of chambers defined therein. Each chamber may include a fragrance accord. A circuit may be positioned within the body, and the circuit may be configured to receive a signal corresponding to a fragrance selection from a portable electronic device. A plurality of piezoelectric drivers may also be positioned within the body. The piezoelectric drivers may be connected to and controlled by the circuit, and each of the piezoelectric drivers may be positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the chambers. 
         [0005]    The circuit may be configured to receive the signal when the portable electronic device is physically connected to the body. In another embodiment, the circuit may be configured to receive the signal wirelessly from the portable electronic device. The signal may be an audio signal. For example, the signal may include at least a portion of a song. 
         [0006]    A method for producing a fragrance is also disclosed. The method may include receiving a selection of a fragrance. In response to the selection, a first signal may be transmitted to a first piezoelectric device that causes the first piezoelectric device to displace. In response to the first piezoelectric device displacing, a first fragrance accord may be dispensed from a first chamber. Also in response to the selection, a second signal may be transmitted to a second piezoelectric device that causes the second piezoelectric device to displace. In response to the second piezoelectric device displacing, a second fragrance accord may be dispensed from a second chamber. The fragrance may include the first fragrance accord and the second fragrance accord. 
         [0007]    The selection may be received from a portable electronic device. The selection may be received wirelessly from the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may be or include a cellular phone, a tablet, an MP3 player, or a combination thereof. The first fragrance accord and the second fragrance accord may be combined in a common chamber to form the fragrance. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative system for producing one or more fragrances, according to an embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a partial perspective view of another illustrative system for producing one or more fragrances, according to an embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic view of the system shown in  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0015]    As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative system  100  for producing one or more fragrances, according to an embodiment. In at least one embodiment, the system  100  may be located in a store to allow customers to sample the fragrances of various products to help the customers select which product to purchase. Illustrative products may be or include soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, perfume, cologne, air fresheners, household cleaning products, and the like. However, in other embodiments, the system  100  may be used to produce various fragrances and introduce them into the environment at a user&#39;s home, office, or at any other location. 
         [0017]    The system  100  may include a body  102 . The body  102  may include one or more inputs  111 - 116 . Although six inputs  111 - 116  are shown, it will be appreciated that more or fewer inputs may be present. The inputs  111 - 116  may be buttons that may be touched or pressed. Each input  111 - 116  may correspond to a particular fragrance (e.g., for a particular product). For example, the input  111  may correspond to the fragrance of cucumber citrus scented dishwashing liquid manufactured and sold by the Colgate-Palmolive Company. 
         [0018]    The body  102  may also include one or more chambers  141 - 147 . Although seven chambers  141 - 147  are shown, it will be appreciated that more or fewer chambers may be present. Each chamber  141 - 147  may include a fragrance building block or accord  151 - 157  therein. The fragrance accords  151 - 157  may be in liquid form, gel form, or solid state form. Each fragrance may be made up of a unique combination of the fragrance accords  151 - 157 . For example, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of 40% of the first fragrance accord  151 , 40% of the second fragrance accord  152 , and 20% of the third fragrance accord  153 . 
         [0019]    The fragrance accords  151 - 157  may include amber, ambreine, aquatic, aromatic, balsam, chypre, citrus, cologne, floral, fresh, fougere, fruit, gourmand, green, herbal, mellis, oriental, spice, wood, a combination thereof, or the like. For example, the fragrance accord  151  in chamber  141  may be fruit, and the fragrance accord  152  in chamber  142  may be green. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic view of the system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the body  102  may also include one or more circuits (one is shown:  120 ) and one or more actuators or emitters (seven are shown:  131 - 137 ). As shown, each of the inputs  111 - 116  may be connected to a common circuit  120 . In another embodiment, each of the inputs  111 - 116  may be connected to a separate circuit. The circuit  120  may include a battery, resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors or other switches, logic gates, buttons, LED lights, sound producing elements, a combination thereof, or the like to create a varied user experience. 
         [0021]    The circuit  120  may be connected to the emitters  131 - 137 . Each of the emitters  131 - 137  may be positioned adjacent to and/or connected to a corresponding one of the chambers  141 - 147 . The emitters  131 - 137  may be or include piezoelectric drivers, heating elements, aerosol devices, and the like. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in operation, the user may select one of the inputs (e.g., input  111  corresponding to the cucumber citrus fragrance). In response to the selected input  111 , the circuit  120  may transmit one or more signals to one or more of the emitters  131 - 137 . For example, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up from fragrance accords  151 - 153  but not fragrance accords  154 - 157 . In this instance, the circuit  120  may transmit signals to the emitters  131 - 133  causing the emitters  131 - 133  to activate (e.g., bend, vibrate, or otherwise displace). When the emitters  131 - 133  activate, they may cause the corresponding chambers  141 - 143  to dispense a portion of the fragrance accords  151 - 153  contained therein. 
         [0023]    In at least one embodiment, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of equal portions of the fragrance accords  151 - 153 . In this embodiment, the signals transmitted to the emitters  131 - 133  may cause the emitters  131 - 133  to vibrate or displace with the same or similar amplitude, frequency, and/or duration. In another embodiment, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of different portions of the fragrance accords  151 - 153 . For example, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of 40% of fragrance accord  151 , 40% of fragrance accord  152 , and 20% of fragrance accord  153 . In this embodiment, the signals transmitted to the emitters  131 ,  132  may cause the emitters  131 ,  132  to vibrate or displace with twice the amplitude, frequency, and/or duration as the emitter  133  so as to output twice as much liquid as is output by the emitter  133 . 
         [0024]    The fragrance accords  151 - 153  dispensed from the chambers  141 - 143  may flow into a common chamber  162 . The common chamber  162  may be a tubular passageway between the chambers  141 - 147  and an output  164 . In at least one embodiment, the fragrance accords  151 - 153  may be stirred or mixed in the common chamber  162  prior to being dispensed through the output  164 . The output  164  may be or include a nozzle configured to spray the fragrance into the air for the user to smell. Although not shown, in at least one embodiment, a fan may be positioned proximate to the output  164  to propel the fragrance into the air. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a partial perspective view of another illustrative system  300  for producing one or more fragrances, according to an embodiment. The system  300  may include a body  302  having one or more chambers  341 - 347  therein. Although seven chambers  341 - 347  are shown, it will be appreciated that more or fewer chambers may be present. Each chamber  341 - 347  may include a fragrance accord  351 - 357  therein. The fragrance accords  351 - 357  may include those described above. For example, the fragrance accord  351  in chamber  341  may be fruit, and the fragrance accord  352  in chamber  342  may be green. 
         [0026]    The system  300  may be configured to receive one or more signals from a portable electronic device  370 . The portable electronic device  370  may be a cellular phone, a tablet, an MP3 player, another audio signal producing device, or the like. As shown, the body  302  may include an auxiliary input  304  configured to physically connect with a corresponding auxiliary output  372  of the portable electronic device  370 . In other embodiments, the body  302  may include a receiver configured to receive wireless signals from the portable electronic device  370 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic view of the system  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , according to an embodiment. Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , the body  302  may also include one or more circuits (one is shown  320 ). The circuit  320  may include components similar to those described above with respect to the circuit  120 . The circuit  320  may be connected to one or more emitters (seven are shown:  331 - 337 ) in the body  302 . Each of the emitters  331 - 337  may be positioned adjacent to and/or connected to a corresponding one of the chambers  341 - 347 . The emitters  331 - 337  may be or include piezoelectric drivers, heating elements, aerosol devices, and the like. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in operation, the user may select an input (e.g., input  311  corresponding to the cucumber citrus fragrance) using the portable electronic device  370 . For example, the user may download an application (i.e., an “app”) on the portable electronic device  370  that includes a list of one or more fragrances, or the user may navigate to a website including the list of fragrances. The user may then select the input  311  from the list by touching an icon on the screen of the portable electronic device  370  that identifies the fragrance, typing a command into the portable electronic device  370  that identifies the fragrance, or speaking a voice command into the portable electronic device  370  that identifies the fragrance. In another embodiment, the user may customize his or her own fragrance including two or more of the fragrance accords  351 - 357  rather than selecting from a predetermined list of fragrances. 
         [0029]    In response to the selected input  311 , the portable electronic device  370  may transmit one or more signals (three are shown:  381 - 383 ) to the circuit  320  in the system  300 . The signals  381 - 383  may be transmitted through the auxiliary input  304  and output  372 , or the signals  381 - 383  may be transmitted wirelessly. In at least one embodiment, the signals  381 - 383  may be audio signals (e.g., a song, tone, or combination of tones) corresponding to the selected input  311 . The circuit  320  may receive and process the signals  381 - 383 , and the circuit  320  may then transmit one or more signals that correspond to the signals  381 - 383  to one or more of the emitters  331 - 337 . For example, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up from fragrance accords  351 - 353  but not fragrance accords  354 - 357 . In this instance, the processing of the signals  381 - 383  may cause the circuit  320  may transmit signals to the emitters  331 - 333  causing the emitters  331 - 333  to activate (e.g., bend, vibrate, or otherwise displace). When the emitters  331 - 333  activate, they may cause or allow the corresponding chambers  341 - 343  to dispense a portion of the fragrance accords  351 - 353  contained therein. 
         [0030]    In at least one embodiment, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of equal portions of the fragrance accords  351 - 353 . In this embodiment, the signals transmitted to the emitters  331 - 333  may cause the emitters  331 - 333  to vibrate or displace with the same amplitude, frequency, and/or duration. In another embodiment, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of different portions of the fragrance accords  351 - 353 . For example, the cucumber citrus fragrance may be made up of 40% of fragrance accord  351 , 40% of fragrance accord  352 , and 20% of fragrance accord  353 . In this embodiment, the signals transmitted to the emitters  331 ,  332  may cause the emitters  331 ,  332  to vibrate or displace with twice the amplitude, frequency, and/or duration as the emitter  333  to output twice as much liquid as is output by the emitter  333 . 
         [0031]    The fragrance accords  351 - 353  dispensed from the chambers  341 - 343  may flow into a common chamber  362 . The common chamber  362  may be a tubular passageway between the chambers  341 - 347  and an output  364 . In at least one embodiment, the fragrance accords  351 - 353  may be stirred or mixed in the common chamber  362  prior to being dispensed through the output  364 . The output  364  may be or include a nozzle configured to spray the fragrance into the air for the user to smell.