Abstract:
A multi-fragrance scent dispenser includes a housing having an outlet opening; first and second holders in the housing for holding first and second liquid fragrance containers having first and second wicks, respectively, extending out of the first and second liquid fragrance containers; a first heater positioned in the housing to be in surrounding relation to the first wick when the first liquid fragrance container is held by the first holder; a second heater positioned in the housing to be in surrounding relation to the second wick when the first liquid fragrance container is held by the first holder; a control circuit which selectively controls activation of the first and second heaters; and a blocking plate movable relative to the heaters for at least partially blocking escape of evaporated fragrance through the outlet opening from at least one of the first and second wicks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to scent dispensers, and more particularly, is directed to a scent dispenser for emitting multiple fragrances.  
           [0002]    Although air fresheners or scent dispensers which deliver scents to an enclosed area are well known, most of these scent dispensers only emit one type of fragrance. However, a user becomes accustomed to a particular scent over a period of time, and thereby loses any feeling for that particular scent. In other words, the user becomes so used to the scent that it is no longer noticeable to the user.  
           [0003]    There are scent dispensers that can dispense multiple fragrances.  
           [0004]    For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0146242 to Vieira discloses a multiple-scent containing article formed by a flat circular cartridge with a plurality of scent elements around the periphery thereof, each containing a different scent. There is an opening so that only one scent element is exposed at a time, and a heater is positioned below the opening to heat the scent element and release the vapor. A fan flows the released vapor out of the cartridge. Alternatively, the disk can remain stationary and a plurality of heating elements could be provided. In addition, the device can be set for durations of time for each scent. However, there is no arrangement for partially blocking the heating effect to each scent element to adjust the amount of scent that is emitted.  
           [0005]    As another example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0066798 to Laudamiel-Pellet et al discloses a multiple scent-containing article having a plurality of heating elements that lie under the scent-containing receptacles in which the device can be set for durations of time for each scent. However, again, there is no arrangement for partially blocking the heating effect to each scent element to adjust the amount of scent that is emitted.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser that overcomes the problems with the aforementioned prior art.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser that sequentially activates the heaters associated with different fragrance materials during predetermined time periods.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser in which the activation of the different heaters can be manually controlled.  
           [0009]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser in which the activation of the different heaters can be partially or wholly blocked to regulate the amount of scent for each fragrance.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser having adjustable holders which can hold different shape and dimension bottles such that the wick thereof is always at a desired position relative to the heater assemblies.  
           [0011]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser which can use gel packs positioned above the heater assemblies in combination with the bottles, or alternatively, the gel packs can be used in place of the fragrance containing bottles with wicks surrounded by the heater assemblies.  
           [0012]    It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a multi-fragrance scent dispenser having a fan for blowing the vaporized fragrance out of the second dispenser.  
           [0013]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a multi-fragrance scent dispenser includes a housing having an outlet opening; a first holder in the housing for holding a first liquid fragrance container having a first wick extending out of the first liquid fragrance container; and a second holder in the housing for holding a second liquid fragrance container having a second wick extending out of the second liquid fragrance container. A first heater is positioned in the housing to be in surrounding relation to the first wick when the first liquid fragrance container is held by the first holder, and a second heater is positioned in the housing to be in surrounding relation to the second wick when the first liquid fragrance container is held by the first holder. A control circuit selectively controls activation of the first and second heaters. Further, there is at least one blocking plate movable relative to the heaters for at least partially blocking escape of evaporated fragrance through the outlet opening from at least one of the first and second wicks.  
           [0014]    The at least one blocking plate includes at least. one opening for movement into and out of alignment with the first and second wicks for adjusting escape of the evaporated fragrance from the first and second wicks. The at least one blocking plate is positioned above the first and second wicks for slidable movement relative to the first and second wicks. A moving assembly is secured to the at least one blocking plate for moving the at least one blocking plate such that the at least one opening is moved into and out of alignment with the first and second wicks for adjusting escape of the evaporated fragrance from the first and second wicks.  
           [0015]    The moving assembly includes a slide plate connected to the at least one blocking plate first for moving the at least one blocking plate to the different positions; and a slide member connected to the slide plate and which is manually actuable for moving the slide plate, and thereby the at least one blocking plate. The housing includes a slide opening and the slide member is accessible through the housing for manually moving the slide member.  
           [0016]    The control circuit includes an actuation circuit for alternately controlling actuation of the first heater and the second heater. The actuation circuit alternately controls actuation of the first heater for a predetermined time interval and the second heater for the predetermined time interval. The actuation circuit further includes an override switch for controlling the actuation circuit to terminate actuation of the actuated heater and to actuate the non-actuated heater, regardless of the predetermined time interval, and then to start running of the predetermined time interval. Preferably, the actuation circuit includes a central processing unit.  
           [0017]    A first light is visible through the housing and is activated when the first heater is actuated and a second light is visible through the housing and is activated when the second heater is actuated.  
           [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the first holder includes an inturned wall for receiving a neck of the first liquid fragrance container in a snap-fitting manner; and the second holder includes an inturned wall for receiving a neck of the second liquid fragrance container in a snap-fitting manner. Specifically, each holder includes a cylindrical wall for receiving the neck in surrounding relation thereto, and the inturned wall is formed at a lower end of the cylindrical wall. In such case, each liquid fragrance container includes an outer lip on the neck for snap-fitting with the inturned wall of the respective holder.  
           [0019]    There is also a heater housing for holding each heater, and the at least one blocking plate is movable between each heater housing and the respective wick.  
           [0020]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a multi-fragrance scent dispenser includes a housing having an outlet opening; a first heater; a second heater; a first holder in the housing for adjustably holding a first liquid fragrance container having a first wick extending out of the first liquid fragrance container at a desired height such that the first wick is surrounded by the first heater when the first liquid fragrance container is held by the first holder; a second holder in the housing for adjustably holding a first liquid fragrance container having a second wick extending out of the second liquid fragrance container at a desired height such that the second wick is surrounded by the second heater when the second liquid fragrance container is held by the second holder; and a control circuit for selectively controlling activation of the first and second heaters.  
           [0021]    Each holder includes an adjustable platform for supporting the respective liquid fragrance container at a plurality of different heights, a spring for biasing the respective platform in a direction toward the respective heater, and a limit for limiting movement of each platform in the direction.  
           [0022]    Further, each holder includes a clamp for clamping a neck of the respective container. In this regard, there is a support for holding each heater at a respective position, and a connecting assembly for connecting the clamp to the support. Preferably, the connecting assembly includes a plurality of telescoping tubes which enables the clamp to move toward and away from the respective heater, with the telescoping tubes being held in desired positions relative to each other by friction.  
           [0023]    Each clamp includes an adjustable clamping mechanism for clamping onto necks having different diameters. Specifically, the adjustable clamping mechanism includes a clamp housing, two scissor arms mounted in the clamp housing, each having an arcuate holding section, a spring assembly for normally biasing the scissor arms toward each other to clamp around the neck of a container, and extensions of the scissor arms for grasping in order to move the arcuate holder sections away from each other against the force of the spring assembly.  
           [0024]    There is also a gel pack holder mounted immediately above each heater for holding a fragrance gel pack which emits a fragrance when heated by the respective heater. The gel pack holder includes a plurality of openings for emission of the vaporized gel fragrance to the outlet opening in the housing.  
           [0025]    A fan can also be provided in the housing for blowing the vaporized fragrance to the outlet opening in the housing.  
           [0026]    The housing preferably includes a base including the first heater, second heater, first holder, second holder, and control circuit; and a cover for covering the base and including the outlet opening.  
           [0027]    Preferably, there are more than two bottles. Thus, there is at least one additional holder in the housing for adjustably holding at least one additional liquid fragrance container having a wick extending therefrom, at a desired height such that the respective wick thereof is surrounded by the at least one additional heater when the at least one liquid fragrance container is held by the at least one additional holder.  
           [0028]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a multi-fragrance scent dispenser according to the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 2, taken along line  5 - 5  thereof;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 3, taken along line  6 - 6  thereof;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 3, taken along line  7 - 7  thereof;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heater, wick and blocking plate of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 1, in the lowest position of the blocking plate;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heater, wick and blocking plate of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 1, in a middle position of the blocking plate;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the heater, wick and blocking plate of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser of FIG. 1, in the highest position of the blocking plate;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a bottle of fragrance that can be used with the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the bottle of FIG. 11;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the bottle of FIG. 11;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 14 is a circuit wiring diagram of the main circuit board of the multi-fragrance scent dispenser;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 15 a - 15  are elevational views of alternative shaped bottles of fragrances that can be used with the present invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a scent dispenser according to another embodiment of the present invention, with the cover positioned thereon;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the scent dispenser of FIG. 16, with the cover removed;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the scent dispenser of FIG. 16, taken along line  18 - 18  thereof;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the scent dispenser of FIG. 16, taken along line  19 - 19  thereof;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the scent dispenser of FIG. 16, taken along line  20 - 20  thereof;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clamp mechanism, adjustment arrangement, and gel pack housing;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the clamping mechanism;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the clamping mechanism;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the clamping mechanism shown in the clamping position;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the clamping mechanism shown in the release position;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of a gel pack;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 27 is a bottom plan view of the gel pack;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a heater assembly and gel pack housing holding a gel pack; and  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 29 is a top plan view of the gel pack housing holding a gel pack. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0058]    Referring to the drawings in detail, a scent dispenser  10  according to the present invention includes a main housing  12  made of a suitable hard plastic material. Main housing  12  has a general shape of a rocket ship, although the present invention is not limited to this particular shape. Thus, main housing  12  tapers toward its upper end, and includes a peripheral wall  14  which has a lower open end  16  and a central opening  18  at the upper end thereof. There is also an elongated side opening  20  at the right side thereof in FIG. 1. As shown best in FIGS. 2, 6 and  7 , main housing  12  includes a rear housing extension  21  which houses the electrical components, as will be described in more detail hereafter.  
         [0059]    As shown best in FIGS. 5 and 7, a fragrance bottle support  22  is positioned within housing  12  and is secured by an annular securing wall  23  to the inner surface of peripheral wall  14 . Fragrance bottle support  22  includes a first cylindrical wall  24  having a lower inturned annular lip  26  for holding a first bottle  28  containing a liquid fragrance and a second cylindrical wall  30  having a lower inturned annular lip  32  for holding a second bottle  34  containing a second, different liquid fragrance. An upper wall  36  partially closes the upper end of each cylindrical wall  24  and  30 , and each upper wall  36  has an opening  38  therein. A divider wall  44  separates first cylindrical wall  24  from second cylindrical wall  30 .  
         [0060]    Bottles  28  and  34  each have a main body  46  and a neck portion  48  with threads  50  thereon for threadedly receiving a cap (not shown) thereon. An annular ledge  52  is formed on neck portion  48  immediately below threads  50  and has dimensions similar to the inner dimensions of first cylindrical walls  24  and  30 . When bottle  28  is inserted through lower open end  16 , neck portion  48  thereof is inserted through the lower open end of first cylindrical wall  24 . Continued insertion of bottle  28  results in annular ledge  52  being forced through lower inturned annular lip  26 , whereupon annular ledge  52  is then captured by lower inturned annular lip  26 . A similar operation occurs with respect to bottle  34 , second cylindrical wall  30  and lower inturned annular lip  32 , whereupon annular ledge  52  of second bottle  34  is captured by lower inturned annular lip  32 .  
         [0061]    The present invention is not limited to these bottle shapes, and any other suitable bottle shapes can be used, such as shown by bottles  28   a - 28   g  in FIGS. 15 a - 15   g.    
         [0062]    A wick  54  extends outwardly from the open end of each neck portion  48  and through the respective opening  38 . Each wick  54  carries liquid from the respective bottle  28  or  34  to the upper end of the wick  54 .  
         [0063]    Heater housings  56  surround each wick  54  and encase heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b , respectively. When the respective heater assembly  58   a  or  58   b  is activated, the heat therefrom is transferred through the heater housing  56  to the respective wick  54 . As a result, the liquid at the upper end of the wick  54  is vaporized by the heat, and released to atmosphere through opening  18 .  
         [0064]    Each heater housing  56  includes an inner annular wall  60  surrounding the respective wick  54 . Inner annular wall  60  includes an upper annular wall section  60   a  of a first inner diameter and a lower annular wall section  60   b  of a second inner diameter which is less than the first inner diameter and which is connected to upper annular wall section  60   a  by an annular shoulder  60   c.    
         [0065]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a fragrance blocking assembly  62  is provided for blocking some of the evaporation of the fragrance.by heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b . Specifically, fragrance blocking assembly  62  includes a blocking plate  66  having openings  68  which can be in alignment with the inner diameters of upper annular wall sections  60   a  in order to permit the escape of vaporized fragrances. As will be explained hereafter, blocking plate  66  can move horizontally above heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b.    
         [0066]    Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, when blocking plate  66  is in a first position, openings  68  are out of alignment with the openings provided by upper annular wall sections  60   a , thereby blocking some of the evaporated fragrance. FIG. 9 shows an intermediate position where openings  68  are out of alignment with the openings provided by upper annular wall sections  60   a  to a lesser extent, thereby blocking a lesser amount of the evaporated fragrance. Finally, as shown in FIG. 10, openings  68  are in alignment with the openings provided by upper annular wall sections  60   a , thereby permitting escape of all of the evaporated fragrance. As a result, a simple fragrance adjusting mechanism is provided. Although only three positions are shown, it will be appreciated that the positions of blocking plate  66  can be infinitely variable, and is not limited to these three positions, which are shown only for explanatory purposes.  
         [0067]    In order to move blocking plate  66  toward and away from heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b , blocking plate  66  is mounted within guides  64  that extend above, to the sides and to the bottom of blocking plate  66  so that only horizontal linear movement of blocking plate  66  is permitted between the positions shown in FIGS. 8-10.  
         [0068]    A slide plate  70  is connected to one end of blocking plate  66 , and a button  72  is mounted to slide plate  70  and extends out through side opening  20  for movement therealong. Thus, as button  72  is moved along side opening  20 , upper plate  66  is moved up and down therewith, thereby adjusting the positions of blocking plates  64 , and thereby adjusting the heat that is imparted to wicks  54 . As a result, the amount of evaporated fragrance that escapes is adjusted, so that the amount of scent that is provided is also adjusted. Button  72  and/or slide plate  70  are maintained in position by friction ribs on the housing.  
         [0069]    A printed circuit board  74  is provided in rear housing extension  21  and includes various circuit components  76  thereon, and a printed circuit board  75  is mounted at the front of main housing  12 .  
         [0070]    Printed circuit board  74  is connected through a wire  78  with two plug blades  80  which extend out from rear housing extension  21  for insertion into a conventional wall socket for the supply of electricity, for example, 125 volt AC input. Printed circuit board  74  is electrically connected with heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b  for controlling operation thereof.  
         [0071]    Plug blades  80  can rotated in a turning plug  82  of a plug blade bracket  84 , in order to adjust the angle and orientation of scent dispenser  10 . A horizontal elongated socket blocking plate  86  is preferably secured to rear housing extension  21  to block the socket when plug blades  80  are plugged into the socket.  
         [0072]    As an alternative, wire  78  can extend out of rear housing extension  21  and be connected to an electrical plug having plug blades  80 . In this manner, scent dispenser  10  can be mounted on a flat surface, such as a table.  
         [0073]    The circuitry of circuit components  76  and their connections on printed circuit boards  74  and  75  will now be discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 14. As shown therein, plug blades  80  are connected to electrical connections  88  of an AC input, for example, at 125 VAC, which is supplied through a voltage stepdown capacitor/resistor circuit  90  comprised of a resistor R 1  and capacitor C 1  to a rectifier circuit  92  in order to provide a DC input. The DC input is then supplied to a central processing unit (CPU)  94  to supply power therefor, with central processing unit selectively supplying power to heater assemblies  58   a  and  58   b.    
         [0074]    Once scent dispenser  10  is plugged into an electrical socket, power is supplied to CPU  94  to start operation. CPU  94  is controlled by internal software to first activate heater assembly  58   a  for a predetermined period of time, for example, twelve hours. At the end of the twelve hour time period, CPU  94  automatically terminates power to heater assembly  58   a  and then activates heater assembly  58   b  for the same twelve hour period. During this latter activation, a new fragrance bottle  28  can be inserted therein in order to replenish the liquid fragrance for the next twelve hour cycle, and so on. In this manner, a person does not become accustomed to a particular scent. Whenever heater assembly  58   a  is activated, a light emitting diode (LED)  96  on printed circuit board  75  and which is visible through an opening in the left side of the front of main housing  12 , is activated to light up. On the other hand, whenever heater assembly  58   b  is activated, a light emitting diode (LED)  98  on printed circuit board  75  and which is visible through an opening in the right side of the front of main housing  12 , is activated to light up.  
         [0075]    A person can override the twelve hour programming. In this regard, a tactile switch  100  which is accessible through an opening the front of main housing  12 , connects an input of CPU  94  to ground to control CPU to automatically switch over and activate the other heater assembly  58   a  or  58   b  and activate the other fragrance for the start of a new twelve hour time period, and thereby start the cycles running again.  
         [0076]    Referring now to FIGS. 16-29, a scent dispenser  110  according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail.  
         [0077]    Scent dispenser  110  according to the present invention includes a main housing  112  made of a suitable hard plastic material. Main housing  112  includes a base  114  for housing the fragrance materials, ,the heater assemblies and the circuitry, and a dome cover  116  for covering base  114 . Cover  116  includes an opening  118  at the upper end thereof for emission of the vaporized scents.  
         [0078]    Base  114  includes a generally lower oval shaped section  120  with a central generally oval shaped recess  122 . Vertically extending end walls  124  and  126  are provided at opposite ends of the oval shaped recess  122 , and vertically extending divider walls  128  and  130  divide the area between end walls  124  and  126  into three bottle holding areas  132 . It will be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to three bottle holding areas  132  and can be provided with more or less than three such areas. End walls  124  and  126  having inwardly extending stops  134  at the same height, and divider walls  128  and  130  have stops  136  extending from opposite sides at the upper ends thereof. Bottle holding areas  132  are further defined by a rear wall  138  having stops  140  and a front wall  142  having stops  144 . The respective walls defining bottle holding areas  132  are not shown in FIG. 17 for the sake of clarity in the drawing. Preferably, walls  124 ,  126 ,  138  and  142  are arranged in an oval configuration, as shown in FIG. 20.  
         [0079]    A platform  146  is slidably positioned in each bottle holding area  132  and is biased upwardly therein by a coil spring  148 . In this regard, a circular boss  150  extends centrally from the lower end of each platform  146  in surrounding relation to an opening  152  in each platform  146 . One end of the respective coil spring  148  extends around each circular boss  150 . A circular boss  154  extends from the bottom wall  114   a  of base  114  in each bottle holding area  132  for receiving the opposite end of the respective coil spring  148 . Stops  134 ,  136 ,  140  and  144  function as limits as to the upward movement of platforms  146 .  
         [0080]    A fragrance bottle  156  sits on the upper surface of each platform  146  and each fragrance bottle  156  includes a main body  158  and a neck portion  160 . The neck portions  160  are not shown in FIG. 17 for the sake of clarity in the drawing. A wick  162  extends outwardly from the upper open end of each bottle  156 , either from main body  158  or from neck portion  160 . Each wick  162  carries liquid from the respective bottle  156  to the upper end of the wick  162 . The length of each wick  162  will depend on the height of the bottle  156  and the weight of the bottle  156 , that is, the extent that the respective platform  146  compresses the associated coil spring  148 .  
         [0081]    A cylindrical support wall  164  extends above each bottle  156  and is mounted to end walls  124  and  126  and to rear wall  138  by an upper plate  166  having openings  168  centrally located relative to each cylindrical support wall  164 . Cylindrical heater housings  170  extend within openings  168  and extend downwardly from upper plate  166  in surrounding relation to each wick  162  and in surrounding relation to each respective opening  168 . Each heater housing  170  has a central opening  171  through which the wick  162  extends. Each heater housing  170  houses a heater assembly  172  therein. When the respective heater assembly  172  is activated, the heat therefrom is transferred through the heater housing  170  to the respective wick  162 . As a result, the liquid at the upper end of the wick  162  is vaporized by the heat, and released to atmosphere through opening  118 . Further, lights  173   a - 173   c  are provided on a ledge  175  of base  114  in front of each bottle  156 . Thus, the respective light  173   a - 173   c  is illuminated in correspondence with the heater assembly  172  then being activated. The illuminated light  173   a ,  173   b  or  173   c  can be viewed through a window  116   a  in cover  116 .  
         [0082]    In order to stably support bottles  156  at different heights, due to different shapes, configurations and weights of bottles  156 , a clamping mechanism  174  extends down from each cylindrical support wall  164 . Specifically, each clamping mechanism  174  includes a hollow, rectangular clamp housing  176 . Two scissor-like arms  178  are horizontally positioned in each housing  176 . Each scissor-like arm  178  has an arcuate center section  180 , with the two arcuate center sections  180  being in opposing relation to each other, for engaging around the neck  160  of a bottle  156 . Each scissor-like arm  178  includes a rear extension  182  extending rearwardly of arcuate center section  180  through a slot  183  in a rear wall  176   a  of housing  176 , and a front extension  184  extending forwardly of arcuate center section  180  through a slot  186  in a front wall  176   b  of housing  176 . Side walls  176   c  and  176   d  of each housing  176  include opposing cylindrical bosses  188 , and coil springs  190  extend between posts  191  on the outer surfaces of arcuate center sections  180  and the inner surfaces of side walls  176   c  and  176   d  around bosses  188 . An opening  177  is provided in the upper wall  176   e  of housing  176 , and an opening  179  is provided in the lower wall  176   f  of housing  176  for receiving a neck  160  and wick  162  therethrough. Telescoping tube members  212  and  214  can also be provided in surrounding relation to upper opening  177  for further adjustment, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 23.  
         [0083]    Thus, as shown in FIGS. 22-24, coil springs  190  normally bias arcuate center sections  180  toward each other. However, when front extensions  184  are squeezed together toward each other, as shown in FIG. 25, arcuate center sections  180  move away from each other to permit entry of the neck  160  of a bottle  156 , whereupon front extensions  184  are released. As a result, coil springs  190  bias arcuate center sections  180  in a grasping relation around the neck  160  of bottle  156 . Because the outer diameters of neck portions  160  of bottles  156  vary in size, for example, from diameters in the range of about 14 mm to 24 mm, arcuate center sections  180  can be arranged to clamp any size bottle  156 .  
         [0084]    Each clamping mechanism  174  further includes an adjustment arrangement  192  for vertically moving hollow, rectangular clamp housing  176  in order to adjust for different height bottles  156 . Adjustment arrangement  192  includes three telescopically arranged tubes  194 ,  196  and  198  telescopically received in cylindrical support wall  164  and which stay in a set position by means of friction between the tubes  194 ,  196  and  198 , and such that the tubes will also not rotate relative to each other. Specifically, a radially inwardly extending annular lip  200  is formed at the lower end of each cylindrical support wall  164 . Tube  194  slidably fits within cylindrical support wall  164  and has a radially outwardly extending annular lip  202  at the upper end thereof with outer dimensions similar to the inner dimensions of cylindrical support wall  164 . Thus, annular lip  200  engages with annular lip  202  to prevent escape of tube  194  from cylindrical support wall  164 , while permitting sliding movement therein.  
         [0085]    A radially inwardly extending annular lip  204  is formed at the lower end of tube  194 . Tube  196  slidably fits within tube  194  and has a radially outwardly extending annular lip  206  at the upper end thereof with outer dimensions similar to the inner dimensions of tube  194 . Thus, annular lip  204  engages with annular lip  206  to prevent escape of tube  196  from tube  194 , while permitting sliding movement therein.  
         [0086]    A radially inwardly extending annular lip  208  is formed at the lower end of tube  196 . Tube  198  slidably fits within tube  196  and has a radially outwardly extending annular lip  210  at the upper end thereof with outer dimensions similar to the inner dimensions of tube  196 . Thus, annular lip  208  engages with annular lip  210  to prevent escape of tube  198  from tube  196 , while permitting sliding movement therein. The lower end of tube  198  is fixed to clamp housing  176 .  
         [0087]    Alternatively, or in addition to fragrance bottles  156 , a gel pack housing  216  is mounted on the upper surface of upper plate  166  for holding a fragrance gel pack  218  above each heater assembly  172 . Specifically, each gel pack housing  216  includes a lower rectangular section  220  that is open at the lower end, and the front and rear thereof. An upper rectangular section  222  of a larger width is mounted to the upper end of lower rectangular section  220  and is open at the lower end thereof so as to be in open communication with lower rectangular section  220 . Upper rectangular section  222  is also open at the front and rear thereof. The upper wall  224  of upper rectangular section  222  includes elongated openings  226  through which the scent can escape to opening  118  in cover  116 . In this manner, each gel pack  218  includes a rectangular container  228  of a material that does not permit escape of the gel  219  in liquid form, but permits escape of the gaseous fragrance when the gel vaporizes. A wider porous and rigid holder  230  is secured to the upper surface of container  228 . Thus, when holder  230  slides within upper rectangular section  222 , container  228  is slid within lower rectangular section  220  immediately above opening  171  so that the gel  219  can be vaporized and escape to the atmosphere to emit the fragrance.  
         [0088]    Rear wall  138 , along with a rear wall  112   a  of main housing  112 , end wall  124 , and a top wall  231 , function to define a circuit area  232  for holding a printed circuit board  234  having circuit components  236  thereon that control operation of scent dispenser  110 , in the same manner as printed circuit board  74  and circuit components  76 . Printed circuit board  234  is connected through wires  235  with two. plug blades (not shown) which extend out from housing  112  for insertion into a conventional wall socket for the supply of electricity, for example, 125 volt AC input. Printed circuit board  234  is electrically connected with heater assemblies  172  for controlling operation thereof.  
         [0089]    In addition, a fan  238  is mounted to a fan support  240  in circuit area  232 . In this regard, rear wall  112   a  and top wall  231  are provided with openings  242  and  244 , respectively, for ventilation. Cover  116  also includes openings  245  in the rear wall thereof which are in alignment with openings  242  when cover  116  is assembled with base  114 , as shown in FIG. 19. Thus, fan  238  pulls air from the outside of housing  112  through openings  242  and blows the air out through openings  244 . As a result, the vaporized fragrance is entrained by the air from openings  244  and carried out through opening  118  in cover  116 . Fan  238  is controlled by the central processing unit (CPU) of circuit components  236 .  
         [0090]    A printed circuit board  246  is mounted inside of main housing  112  and at one side thereof, and is electrically connected to main printed circuit board  234 . Printed circuit board  246  includes various control buttons and light indicators which are accessible through side openings in housing  112 . Specifically, there is a toggle switch  248  that turns the scent dispenser  110  on and off, and functions as a main switch. In addition, there is a heat adjustment switch  250  that can control the energy supplied to heater assemblies  172  to control the heat to be low, medium or high. Each depression of button switch  250  toggles the setting between low, medium and high. In addition, there are three light emitting diodes (LEDs)  252 ,  254  and  256  to indicate the heat setting of low, medium and high. A third button switch  258  is also provided to control the fan  238  to be off, on for one minute and off for five minutes, and on continuously, in a toggle manner. In this regard, there are three light emitting diodes (LEDs)  260 ,  262  and  264  to indicate the fan settings of off, on for one minute and off for five. minutes, and on continuously.  
         [0091]    Once scent dispenser  110  is turned on, and the heat and fan settings are made, the appropriate heater assembly  172  is activated to heat the respective wick  162  and thereby vaporize the liquid fragrance. The central processing unit (CPU) is preset with the amount of time that the heater assemblies are activated, for example, four, six or eight hours, and starts the timer running. If scent dispenser  110  is turned off in the middle of a cycle, and then turned back on, the CPU calculates the remaining time in the cycle for that particular scent and activates the respective heater assembly  172  for that period of time. At the end of this period of time, this heater assembly  172  is deactivated, and the heater assembly  172  for the next fragrance is activated, whereupon the timer starts running again.  
         [0092]    In addition, or alternatively, a fragrance selection switch can be provided, similar to that of tactile switch  100  to automatically switch over and activate the next heater assembly  172  and activate another fragrance for the start of a new time period, and thereby start the cycles running again.  
         [0093]    It will therefore be appreciated that, in addition to the aspects of the first embodiment of scent dispenser  10 , scent dispenser  110  adds the aspects of the spring biased platforms  146  which support bottles  156 , the clamp housings  176  which clamp on different neck sizes, the extendable tubes  194 ,  196  and  198  to accommodate the different size bottles  156 , the use of the gel packs  218  above the heater assemblies  172 , and the fan  238  for blowing the fragrance out of scent dispenser  110 .  
         [0094]    Of course, it will be appreciated that the gel packs  218  can be used without the bottles  156 , or alternatively, the bottles  156  can be used without the gel packs  218 , or as a further embodiment, the gel packs  218  and bottles  156  can be used together in combination. Thus, for example, two bottles  156  and one gel pack  218  can be used.  
         [0095]    Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.