Abstract:
A fragrance emitting device comprising a container containing two differently colored, differently fragranced immiscible liquids, and a light source. The light source is located in the base of the device and shines through the container heating a first of said two immiscible liquids. Portions of said first immiscible liquid rise from a layer formed by said first immiscible liquid at the bottom of said container into a layer formed immediately above said first layer by said second immiscible liquid thereby heating said second immiscible liquid. Vapors are released from the device when portions of the first immiscible liquid reach the uppermost surface of the second immiscible liquid and also when the second immiscible liquid reaches a specified temperature. Preferably a replacement container and a cap are removable from the base for easy, inexpensive replacement of said immiscible liquids.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a fragrance emitting device. In known fragrance emitting devices, a fragranced liquid held in a wick or pad is heated to cause partial evaporation of the liquid thereby causing a fragrance to be emitted from the device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fragrance emitting device comprising a heal source and a container containing first and second immiscible liquids, the heat source heating the first immiscible liquid to cause the first liquid to rise from a position at the lower end of the container and pass through the second liquid towards a surface of the second liquid, one of said liquids including a fragrance released from said surface by said heated first liquid.  
           [0003]    Preferably, the first liquid contains a fragrance, the first liquid rising to said surface to release the fragrance.  
           [0004]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fragrance emitting device may further comprise a light source with the container comprising at least partially transparent walls so that light from the source passes through the walls. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragrance emitting device in operation;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fragrance emitting device of FIG. 1;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 in operation; and  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 shows a replaceable cartridge of the device of FIGS.  1  to  3  being removed from a base section of the device of FIGS.  1  to  3 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0009]    Referring to the Figures, the fragrance emitting device  10  comprises a base  12 , a container  14  and a cap  16 . FIG. 2 shows that base  12  comprises a cup shaped lower part  12   a  and a generally cylindrical upper part  12   b . The lower part  12   a  has a base L 8  and a vertically extending side wall  20 . The upper edge of the vertically extending side wall  20  cooperates with and is connected to a corresponding lowermost edge of the upper part  12   b . The upper edge of the side wall  20  includes a generally rectangular cut-out  32  and a diametrically opposite semi-circular cut-out  34 , for purposes to be described below.  
         [0010]    A rectangular platform  22  is located in the base  12  and carries electronic circuitry  24  which is connected by a lead  26  to a power source  27 . The power source may be mains electricity, but it is to be understood that any suitable power source could be used. A lamp  28  is secured to the platform  22 , and is controlled by the electronic circuitry  24  and a switch  30 . the electronic circuitry  24  is of known type and will not be described in derail. The switch  30  protrudes through the cut-out  32  in the base side wall  20  for actuation by a user. The lead  26  leaves the base  12  through the semicircular cut-out  34 .  
         [0011]    The container  14  comprises a transparent hollow moulding  36  having a base  35  with a dome shaped inwardly extending protrusion  38  in the centre. The base  35  is surrounded by a wall  37  which curves inwardly to an opening  42  at its upper end. The opening  42  is surrounded by a stepped rim  44  for the location of the cap  16  (to be discussed below).  
         [0012]    The base  35  of the container  14  sits on a radially inwardly directed annular flange  40  formed on the upper part  12   b  of the base  12 . The lamp  28  protrudes through the open centre of annular flange  40  into the dome shaped protrusion  38  in the moulding  36 . This is shown most clearly in FIG. 3.  
         [0013]    The cap  16  is of inverted cup-shape with an end wall  39  and an outwardly curving surrounding side wall  41 . A number of angularly spaced holes  54  extend through the cap  16  at the junction of the end wall  39  and the side wail  41  for a purpose to be described below. A lower edge  43  of the cap side wall  41  sits in the stepped rim  44  of the container  14  to locate the cap  16  on the container  14  with an outer surface of the cap side wall  41  contiguous with the outer surface of the container wall  37 .  
         [0014]    The container  14  contains a first liquid  46  and a second liquid  48 . The liquids  46 , 48  are immiscible so that first liquid  46  forms a layer at the bottom of container  14  and second liquid  48 , of lower density than the first liquid  46 , forms a layer directly above the layer formed by the first liquid  46  and has a surface  52  adjacent but below the opening  42  at the upper end of the container  14 . The first liquid  46  contains a fragrance.  
         [0015]    Referring specifically to FIG. 3 which shows the device in operation, the device is operated by use of the switch  30  to connect the lamp  28  to the power source  27  via the electronic circuitry  24  and the lead  26 . The lamp  2   g  radiates heat energy through the dome shaped protrusion  38  into the first liquid  46 . The dome shape allows a maximum amount of light to pass into the container  14  and maximizes the surface area of the container  14 , and thus of the first liquid  46  which is heated by the lamp  28 .  
         [0016]    When sufficient heat has been transmitted to the first liquid  46 , portions  50  of first liquid  46  rise into the layer formed by second liquid  48  in the general direction indicated by arrow A. As the portions  50  rise through second liquid  48 , heat is transferred from the portions  50  into the second liquid  48  thereby causing the portions  50  to cool and the second liquid  48  to heat up. This subsequent cooling of the portions  50  causes them to stop rising and eventually to reverse direction and fall back down in a general direction indicated by arrow B into the layer formed by first liquid  46  once more. The returning portions  50  thus recombine with the body of liquid  46  for reheating and a continuation of the process. The portions  50  may comprise discrete bubble-like portions which break away from the layer formed by first liquid  46  or they may comprise more vertically elongate portions which do nor break away from the layer formed by first liquid  46 .  
         [0017]    On first switching on the device  10 , the liquids  46 , 48  will be relatively cool. The initial portions  50  will not reach the surface  52  of the second liquid  48  because the second liquid  48  will be significantly cooler than the first liquid  46 , thus the portions  50  of relatively hot liquid  46  will initially be cooled relatively rapidly by second liquid  48 . As the process continues, second liquid  48  will heat up due to the heat transfer from the portions  50  and also from the main body of the first liquid  46 . As the second liquid  48  increases in temperature the portions  50  will rise increasingly close to the surface  52  until eventually some portions  50  will break the surface  52 . This allows the release of fragrance vapours  46 ′ from first liquid  46 .  
         [0018]    The fragrant vapours  46 ′ rise from the surface  52  through the opening  42 , into the space formed by the interior of the cap  16  and out into the atmosphere through the holes  54  in the cap  16 . Thus the surrounding atmosphere will be filled with the fragrance. This will continue until the lamp  28  is switched-off using the switch  30 . The first liquid  46  will then gradually cease rising through the second liquid  48  until the first liquid  46  reaches a rest position above the base  35  of the container  14 . No fragrant vapours are then released.  
         [0019]    It will be appreciated that the lamp  28  also transmits light through and out of the wall  37  so providing a light. Of course, both liquids  46 , 48  may be fragranced and the heating of the second liquid  48  by the first liquid  46  releases this fragrance from the second liquid  48  from the surface  52 . Each liquid  46 , 48  may contain a different fragrance such that a combination of fragrances is emitted in varying rates; a first fragrance being emitted when the portions  50  of first liquid  46  break the evaporation surface and a second fragrance being emitted  48 ′ from more continuous evaporation of second liquid  48  at the surface  52 . Equally it could be that only the second liquid  48  is fragranced.  
         [0020]    Preferably the liquids  46 , 48  are differently coloured such that the combination of moving portions  50  of a first colour within a, liquid of a second colour and light produces a pleasant visual effect.  
         [0021]    It will be understood that it is equally possible to have more than two immiscible liquids in a container  14 , one or each of which may be differently coloured and differently fragranced to produce more complex visual and olfactory stimulation.  
         [0022]    The device  10  allows easy replacement of a container  14  when all the fragrance or fragrances have been emitted or when it is desired to change the fragrance. FIG. 4 shows the container  14  and cap  16  of the device  10  being separated from the base  12 . A replacement container  14  and cap  16  are then located on the base  12 . This arrangement enables a prolonged life of the device at a minimum cost because there is no need to replace the relatively expensive base  12  containing all of the electronics  24 , 26 , 28 , 30  when the fragrance of the liquids is exhausted. Likewise container  14  could be separated from both the base  12  and the cap  16  to be replaced by another container  14  thus avoiding the unnecessary replacement of cap  16 . It would, of course, be just as simple to replace one container  14  and cap  16  with another containing liquids of a different colour and/or fragrance combination if it were desired, even if the previous container  14  and cap  16  had not yet been exhausted.  
         [0023]    Another method of replacing the liquids  46 , 48  would be to remove cap  16  from container  14  in order to pear away the old liquids  46 , 48  through opening  42  and to refill the container  14  with new liquids  46 , 48 .  
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that the fragrance emitting device  10  would work equally effectively as a fragrance emitter if the lamp  28  were replaced by a non-light emitting heat source. In this case there would be no need for the immiscible liquids to be differently coloured, nor would it be necessary for container  12  to comprise a transparent moulding  36 .  
         [0025]    The opening  42  at the upper end of the container  14  may be covered with a cover such as a membrane that allows vapour to pass through but prevents the liquids spilling.  
         [0026]    The cap  16  may contain a fan to dispense the vapours through the holes  54 . This may be powered via the electronic circuitry  24 .