Abstract:
A wall socket aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule is provided, including a wall socket aroma diffuser having a transparent receiving unit and an aroma capsule received in the wall socket aroma diffuser. The aroma capsule is heated to diffuse scent, and is disposable after the aroma thereof is diffused into an ambient environment completely. It is thus easy, safe for a user to replace the used aroma capsule with a new one because the aroma capsule will not be broken and the aroma thereof will not flow to a region outside of the aroma capsule. The user does not need to wash the aroma diffuser. The wall socket aroma diffuser further includes a light emitting diode that emits and projects light onto the transparent receiving unit. The light is guided and diffused by the receiving unit to generate color that pleases people&#39;s eyes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Two pending new application Ser. No. 13/543,490 and Ser. No. 13/549,493 filed on Jul. 15, 2012 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to aroma diffusers, and, more particularly, to an aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A general aroma diffuser, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,420, U.S. Pat. No. 8,262,277 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,116, for example, includes a power source, a lamp, and essential oil or aroma wax. The essential oil and the aroma wax are likely to flow out of the lamp if the lamp is toppled. Therefore, a user has to provide a certain receiving unit for the essential oil and the aroma wax to be received therein. Accordingly, the user takes the aroma wax out from the receiving unit and place it a ceramic receiving tank above a hollow frame carefully, in order not to be contaminated by the aroma wax. The aroma wax is then heated. After the aroma wax evaporates completely, the user washes and cleans the receiving tank. If the receiving tank is not sufficiently clean, new aroma wax will mix with the previous one, and diffuses unexpected scent. If the receiving tank is made of a brittle material such as ceramic, the ceramic receiving tank is likely to be broken if it is not cleaned carefully. 
         [0006]    The aroma diffuser also provides light that penetrates the receiving tank and reaches to a region outside of the receiving tank directly. Such direct light is harsh to people&#39;s eyes. Moreover, the aroma diffuser has a power plug that is stationary. Therefore, a user cannot adjust the power plug at his will. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a wall socket aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule. The aroma capsule is disposable after the aroma thereof evaporates completely. The aroma capsule is not broken. Therefore, it is easy and safe to replace the aroma capsule with a new one. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, a receiving unit of the wall socket aroma diffuser using the aroma capsule is made of a transparent material. A lamp emits and projects light onto the transparent receiving unit. The light is guided and diffused to generate color, and the color is displayed via a light guiding flange to an outer side of the wall socket aroma diffuser. The wall socket aroma diffuser comprises a swing plug device. Therefore, the wall socket aroma diffuser can be plugged into a socket heading any direction and diffuses scent upward. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a wall socket aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule, including: a wall socket aroma diffuser including a housing, a receiving unit, a heat conducting member, an electrical heat source, and an electrical plug device, wherein the housing has a free end, the receiving unit is coupled to the free end of the housing and has an upper opening and a lower opening, the heat conducting member is coupled to the lower opening of the receiving unit, the electrical heat source is coupled to and disposed on a lower side of the heat conducting member, the electrical plug device is disposed on one side of the housing, and the electrical plug device is electrically connected to the electrical heat source; and an aroma capsule received in the upper opening of the receiving unit and being in contact with the heat conducting member, wherein the aroma capsule has a disposable container and aroma, the disposable container has an opening, and the aroma is received in the disposable container, wherein the electrical heat source is electrically connected to a power supply and generates and conducts heat to the heat conducting member, and the heat conducting member conducts the heat to the disposable container and the aroma for the aroma to diffuse scent. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the aroma capsule includes an air ventilation film that covers the opening of the disposable container and the aroma received therein. A sealing cover is further coupled to the opening and the air ventilation film to seal the aroma wax in the disposable container and ensure the quality of the aroma wax. A user can easily lift off the sealing cover and place the aroma capsule in the receiving unit. The aroma capsule receives the heat generated by the electrical heat source to diffuse scent. If the aroma diffuser is toppled by chance, the aroma (e.g., aroma wax) is prevented by the air ventilation film from flowing to the aroma diffuser or a region outside of the aroma diffuser. Therefore, the wall socket aroma diffuser does not pollute the environment, and is safe to use. In an embodiment, the receiving unit is made of metal, and the aroma capsule is disposable. Therefore, the user does not need to wash and clean the receiving unit. In an embodiment, the electrical plug device can be plugged into a socket toward any direction, and the wall socket aroma diffuser can diffuse scent upward. In an embodiment, the receiving unit and the light guiding flange are made of a transparent material. Light will pass and be reflected by the transparent receiving unit, and is not harsh to people&#39;s eyes. The light, together with the aroma scent, provides a pleasant environment. The user can see the pleasant light and smell the fragrant aroma scent. 
         [0011]    As compared with the aroma diffuser of the prior art, which involves an inconvenient, dangerous aroma block replacement process and a tiresome cleaning process, the present invention provides a wall socket aroma diffuser that brings temperament and interest to people&#39;s daily life. Therefore, people can relax themselves by seeing the non-harsh, pleasant light and smelling the fragrant aroma scent. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a wall socket aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the wall socket aroma diffuser shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plane exploded view of the wall socket aroma diffuser shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of the wall socket aroma diffuser shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be apparently understood by those in the art after reading the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can also be performed or applied by other different embodiments. The details of the specification may be on the basis of different points and applications, and numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a wall socket aroma diffuser using an aroma capsule according to the present invention comprises: 
         [0019]    a wall socket aroma diffuser  100  including a housing  1 , a receiving unit  2 , a heat conducting member  3 , an electrical heat source  4 , and an electrical plug device  5 , wherein the housing  1  has a free end  11 , the receiving unit  2  has an upper opening  21  and a lower opening  23 , the receiving unit  2  is coupled to the free end  11  of the housing  1 , the heat conducting member  3  is coupled to the lower opening  23  of the receiving unit  21 , the electrical heat source  4  is coupled to and disposed on a lower side of the heat conducting member  3 , the electrical plug device  5  is disposed on one side of the housing  1 , and the electrical plug device  5  is electrically connected to the electrical heat source  4 ; and 
         [0020]    an aroma capsule  7  received between the upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2  and an inner side of the upper opening  21  and being in contact with the heat conducting member  3 , wherein the aroma capsule  7  has a disposable container  71  and an aroma  75 , the disposable container  71  has an opening  711 , and the aroma  75  is received in the disposable container  71 , 
         [0021]    wherein the electrical heat source  4  is connectable to a power supply, receives power supplied by the power supply, and conducts heat to the heat conducting member  3 , and the heat conducting member  3  conducts the heat to the disposable container  71  and the aroma  75  for the aroma  75  to diffuse scent. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the aroma  75  is an aroma block, and the aroma block is aroma wax, a scent block, a balsam block, and, preferably, is aroma wax. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the electrical heat source  4  is a resistor, a metal resistor (e.g., an aluminum alloy resistor), or a cement resistor. In an embodiment, the electrical heat source is a metal resistor PTC. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the aroma capsule  7  further comprises a sealing cover  72  (referring to  FIG. 2 ) coupled to the opening  711  of the disposable container  71  for preserving the aroma  75  (e.g., aroma wax) in the aroma capsule  7  from losing its scent or being contaminated by an ambient environment. A user may easily lift off the sealing cover  72  and place the disposable container  71  of the aroma capsule  7  and the aroma  75  contained in the disposable container  71  in the upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2 , to be in contact with and heated by the heat conducting member  3 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a preferable embodiment the aroma capsule  7  further comprises an air ventilation film  70  coupled to the opening  711  of the disposable container  71 . In another embodiment, the aroma capsule  7  further comprises the above-mentioned sealing cover  72  (referring to  FIG. 2 ). The sealing cover  72  seals the opening  711 , for covering the aroma  75  and the air ventilation film  70 . Therefore, the quality of the aroma  75  (aroma wax) in the aroma capsule  7  is not changed and the air ventilation film  70  is clean when the aroma capsule  7  is in storage and transportation. 
         [0026]    Aroma is melt and evaporated to diffuse scent at about 35-75° C. In an embodiment, the aroma  75  is preferably aroma wax. Therefore, the electrical heat source  4  heats the aroma wax up to the temperature, and the aroma wax will diffuse scent into an ambient environment. Accordingly, the disposable container  71  is not melt or deformable at 35- 75° C.,  and is made of a material that can conduct the heat generated by the electrical heat source  4  to the aroma  75 . In an embodiment, the disposable container  71  is made of metal, hard plastic, or fiber bowl (including plant fiber such as corn fiber, glass fiber and carbon fiber). 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the disposable container  71  is an aluminum foil bowl made of metal such as foil, which is thin and light, and has a well enough heat conducting capability. The disposable container  71  can conduct the heat generated by the electrical heat source  4  to the disposable container  71  and the aroma  75  to heat the aroma  75  to diffuse scent. The aluminum-foil disposable container  71  is stiff, and is different from the brittle ceramic bowel and glass receiving unit of the prior art that are provided to contain essential oil and aroma wax. 
         [0028]    Since the aroma  75  is placed in the disposable container  71 , rather than received in the receiving unit of the prior art, a user is allowed to lift off the sealing cover  72  (referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) when using the aroma  75 , without worrying about being contaminated by the aroma  75 . After the aroma  75  received in the upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2  evaporates completely, a user may remove the disposable container  71  from the upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2  and place another aroma capsule  7  that contains aroma of different scent in the receiving unit  2 , without the need of cleaning the disposable container  71 . Since the disposable container  71  is made of aluminum foil, a user does not need to worry about breaking the disposable container  71 . Since the disposable container  71  is disposable, the user does not need to wash the disposable container  71  or provide a certain receiving unit to contain the aroma  75 . 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, the air ventilation film  70  has a plurality of air vents for guiding the scent of the aroma  75  (aroma wax) upward into an ambient environment. In another embodiment, the air ventilation film  70  is a fabric (e.g., a non-woven fabric, fiber fabric, linen and canvas), fiber sheet, porous plastic film, or porous metal foil. The user of the aroma capsule  7  is allowed to lift off the sealing cover  72  and place the disposable container  71  in the receiving unit  2 . The electrical heat source  4  heats the aroma capsule  7  and makes the aroma  75  to diffuse scent. As the wall socket aroma diffuser  100  using an aroma capsule according to the present invention is toppled by chance, the aroma wax in the disposable container  71  is prevented by the air ventilation film  70  from flowing and being in contact with the electrical heat source  4 . Therefore, the wall socket aroma diffuser according to the present invention is safe to use and will not pollute the environment. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , in an embodiment the wall socket aroma diffuser  100  further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB)  8  coupled in the housing  1 , and the PCB  8  is further coupled to a light emitting diode (LED)  81 . In an embodiment, the receiving unit  2  is made of a transparent material, such as transparent or translucent, colorful or partially colorful plastic or glass, and acts as a light guiding member that forms color. The receiving unit  2  further comprises a light guiding flange  25  extending around an outer rim of the receiving unit  2  and protrusively disposed on an upper side of the free end  11  of the housing  1 . The PCB  8  is connected to a power supply that supplies power to the LED  81 , and the LED emits and projects light onto the transparent receiving unit  2 . The light is guided and diffused by the receiving unit  2  and becomes non-harsh light. The light guiding flange  25  displays the color onto an outer side of the wall socket aroma diffuser  100 , to please people&#39;s eyes and act as a night light. The wall socket aroma diffuser thus brings temperament and interest to people&#39;s daily life. The PCB  8  intermittently provides power to the electrical heat source  4  and the LED  81 . Accordingly, the electrical heat source  4  can save power intermittently and stay at a low temperature. The LED  81  also emit light intermittently, and can be used as a night lamp. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , in an embodiment the wall socket aroma diffuser  100  further comprises a screw rod  9  and a thermal insulation assembly  90 , and the PCB  8  has a hole  83 . The thermal insulation assembly  90  is coupled to an outer rim of one side of the screw rod  9  and props against under the electrical heat source  4 . The other side of the screw rod  9  passes under the hole  83  of the PCB  8  and is fixed by a screw. Therefore, the thermal insulation assembly  90  is isolated from the heat generated by the electrical heat source  4  and does not conduct the heat to the PCB  8 . 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the wall socket aroma diffuser  100  further comprises a hollow frame  6  and a cover  61 . The cover  61  has apertures  611  for diffusing scent. The hollow frame  6  is coupled to an upper side of the light guiding flange  25  above the free end  11  of the housing  1 . The cover  61  is coupled to an upper side of the hollow frame  6  for covering the aroma at the inner side of the free end  11  of the housing  1 . The aroma diffuses scent through the hollow frame  6  and the apertures  611  of the cover  61  to the ambient environment. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the electrical plug device  5  is a swing plug device, and the swing plug device is coupled to one side of the housing  1 . The swing plug device is electrically connected to the PCB  8 . The swing plug device can cooperate with an electrical socket toward any direction, and the aroma capsule  7  can diffuse scent upward through the apertures  611  of the cover  61 . 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, the housing  1  comprises a front housing  10  and a rear housing  13 . The rear housing  13  is a board member, and the board member has a hole  131 . The swing plug device is coupled to the hole  131 . The front housing  10  comprises the free end  11  and a lateral opening  15  perpendicular to the free end  11 . The rear housing  13  is coupled to the lateral opening  15  of the front housing  10 . 
         [0035]    The upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2  is sizable with respect to the aroma capsule  7 , and the aroma capsule  7  can be received in the upper opening  21  of the receiving unit  2  securely. 
         [0036]    The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present invention and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present invention should fall within the scope of the appended claims.