Abstract:
The present invention provides an intermediary device which alters a surrounding environment and attaches to and/or integrates with at least one other device with little or no effect on devices to which the intermediary device is attached.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/407,394 entitled Intermediary Device and filed on Aug. 30, 2002 which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates, generally, to a device which can serve as an intermediary device between other devices, and more particularly, to an intermediary device which alters the environment while leaving the other devices generally unaffected. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   While the way in which the present invention addresses the disadvantages of the prior art will be discussed in greater detail below, in general, the present invention provides an intermediary device which attaches to and/or integrates with at least one other device, the intermediary device, altering a surrounding environment with little to no effect on devices to which it is attached. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an intermediary device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  are front and rear perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an intermediary device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is perspective view of the intermediary device of  FIG. 2  in an exemplary environment; 
       FIG. 4  is perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an intermediary device the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is perspective view showing an alternative aspect of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is close-up perspective view an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth herein. For example, in the context of the present invention, the method and apparatus hereof find particular use in connection with environment altering systems such as air fresheners. However, generally speaking, various volatizable materials such as insect repellants, deodorizers, sanitizers, and/or the like are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, various embodiments of the present invention are described in conjunction with specific appliances and devices, though it should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention should not be considered limited to those specifically mentioned herein. 
   An intermediary device  100  in accordance with the present invention is provided for herein. Generally, device  100  comprises a structure configured to alter a surrounding environment, which can also be attached and/or integrated with at least one other device. For example, as mentioned above, device  100  may comprise an air freshener such as a solid, gel, liquid (e.g., scented oil) air freshening device which is attached to, for example and as described in further detail below, a home appliance. 
   In general, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary intermediate vapor-dispensing device  100  configured to attach to a first device  110  and a second device  120 . For example, in one exemplary embodiment, first device  110  is an electrical receptacle and second device  120  is a device which, in the absence of intermediary device  100 , is typically plugged into the electrical receptacle. 
   For example, referring to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and as described in further detail below, device  100  is configured to be positioned between a wall outlet  130  and an electrical cord  140  of an appliance (e.g., a radio as pictured)  150 . Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 4–6 , intermediary device  100  is integrated with a lamp  500  between a first device comprising a lamp socket  502  and a second device comprising a light bulb  503  which otherwise would be inserted into lamp socket  502 . Thus, it should be apparent that, in its various embodiments, intermediate vapor-dispensing device  100  comprises any device configured to attach to a first device  110  and a second device  120  having various properties described herein below. 
   In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, device  100  is a discrete, low-noticeability unit. In this context, “discrete, low-noticeability” refers generally to various characteristics of the same. For example, in the context of an intermediary device which is located between a wall outlet and a standard plug (e.g., connected to radio, alarm clock, etc.), as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , intermediary device  100  is generally about the size and shape of a standard plug base  101 . For example, a body  200  of intermediary device  100  can be described by length L and width W, (e.g. if rectangular) or diameter D (e.g. if cylindrical), and for intermediary device  100  to generally mimic the appearance of the plug on a conventional electrical cord for example, the ratio of length L to width W (or to diameter D) is preferably from about 1:1 to about 2: 1. Most preferably, and in order to more closely mimic the appearance of the plug on a conventional electrical cord, the ratio of L/W or L/D should be about 1.25:1 to about 1.75:1. In such embodiments, on one end of body  200 , electrical outlet prongs  201  are provided for insertion into an electrical receptacle. In the illustrated embodiment, prongs  201  are configured for a standard two-prong outlet, though any configuration (three-prong, grounded outlet, European style,  220  amp, etc.) may likewise be used. On an opposing end of base  200 , intermediary device outlets  202  are provided for insertion of other devices. Again, in the illustrated embodiment, outlets  202  are configured in a standard two-prong configuration, though any configuration may likewise be used, and, in fact, may desired in instances where intermediary device  100  is used as an adapter for plugging components into receptacles which otherwise might not fit (e.g., where a wall outlet is a two-prong configuration and an appliance is a three-prong configuration, prongs  201  may be two-prong, while outlets  202  may be three-prong). Thus, intermediary device  100  is at least partially “camouflaged” in that it suitably blends in with base  101  of the plug of appliance  150 . 
   However, discrete and/or low-noticeability may also be obtained in a number of alternative manners. For example, with momentary reference to  FIG. 5 , in the context of a lamp  500  comprising, generally, a lamp base  501 , a socket  502  and a light bulb  503 , intermediary device  100  may be disguised by the placement of a lamp shade  504  or other hiding feature which covers and/or obstructs the viewing of intermediary device  100 . 
   Of course, in addition to separate hiding features, intermediary device  100  may also have other generally discrete/camouflaged characteristics as in the case of the wall plug and other embodiments. For example, with reference to  FIGS. 4–6 , in the lamp embodiment, intermediary device  100  comprises a shape which has a natural contour corresponding to the shape of the lamp. 
   In various embodiments, intermediary device  100  comprises materials suitable for use in applications where electricity or heat are present. For example, intermediary device  100  may comprise a base material of a non-conductive nature such as plastic, ceramic, fiberglass or the like. Intermediary device  100  may further comprise various conductive materials (e.g., copper, aluminum, other metals or the like), such that electric current or heat can pass through intermediary device  100 . 
   In an embodiment such as that described in  FIGS. 4–6 , intermediary device  100  has a male end  505  configured for insertion into socket  502 . In many instances, male end  505  will thus be threaded for insertion and fastening into socket  502 . However, various alternative methods for insertion/fastening now known or as yet unknown are likewise contemplated herein. 
   Male end  505  is attached to or otherwise integrated with an environment altering portion  506 . In this embodiment, environment altering portion  506  comprises various components and structure which serve to alter the environment surrounding intermediary device  100 . For example, in the context of a vapor-dispensing device  100 , portion  506  comprises any combination of a material to be vaporized (insect repellant, air freshener, deodorizer or the like) in various forms (gel, solid, liquid, etc.), heating elements, material evacuation elements (e.g., a fan), control switches, switches for activating and de-activating the environment altering device and/or devices to which intermediary device  100  is connected, venting and the like. Of course, it should be appreciated that in various embodiments, some of these components may not be present, and other components not listed here may be present. Nonetheless, all of the same variously fall within the scope of the present invention. 
   In this exemplary embodiment, intermediary device  100  further comprises a female end  507 . Female end  507  comprises a socket for receiving light bulb  503 . Generally, the socket of female end  507  is configured to receive and retain light bulb  503 , and thus, in instances where light bulb  503  is threaded, female end  507  will be similarly sized and threaded. In alternative embodiments, female end  507  may be configured in non-threaded manners yet which retain light bulb  503 , such as, for example, by snap fit. Similarly, intermediary device  100  and/or female end  507  may act in an adaptive sense in that the size of female end  507  may not correspond to socket  502  so as to allow various light bulbs which would not otherwise fit socket  502  to be used with lamp  500 . 
   Briefly, however, in other embodiments, intermediary device  100  need not follow such contours or have male and female ends, but rather may comprise a configuration which is separate from the typical plug and socket type configurations described above. For example, intermediary device  100  may comprise, in various embodiments a configuration which encompasses part of first or second device  110 ,  120 . One such example might include a “ring” configuration which encircles and connects with lamp socket  502 , but is not configured with its own socket  507  and rather, bulb  503  still connects with socket  502 . 
   As mentioned above, intermediary device  100  comprises various elements which alter the environment surrounding device  100 . One such example is alteration by dispensation of a vapor. In such embodiments, in addition to male and female ends ( 505 ,  507 ) and generally within altering portion  506 , with reference to  FIG. 6 , intermediary device  100  comprises a reservoir  600  for containing a material to be dispensed  601  and a retainer  602  configured for holding reservoir  600 . 
   Briefly, retainer  602  is any mechanism/structure capable of receiving and retaining reservoir  600 . For example, the embodiment of  FIG. 6  depicts retainer  602  as a two-piece structure which holds reservoir  600 . In various embodiments, reservoir  600  has a predetermined shape; in this example, frusto-conical with a hollow core  603  (e.g., to fit around male end  505 ). Retainer  602  comprises an upper portion  604  and a lower portion  605 . Upper portion  604  has a similar shape as reservoir  600  so that upper portion  604  can encompass reservoir  600  and secure to lower portion  605 , thereby retaining reservoir  600 . Briefly, in accordance wit various aspects of the present invention, various sections of intermediary device  100  may comprise features which facilitate intermediary devices altering the environment, such as, for example and as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , vents  606 . 
   Finally, while the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments, many changes, combinations and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various components may be implemented in alternate ways. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the system. In addition, the techniques described herein may be extended or modified for use with other types of devices. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.