Abstract:
A dispenser assembly for supporting a fragrance control unit comprising a canister and a controller or comprising a wafer support plate, fragrance wafers and a fan unit are disclosed. The controller includes a timer, a computer program for the dispersing rate, and a mechanism for activating a spray mechanism of the canister. An embodiment includes a back plate pivotally connected to a front sconce cover and having a tapered structure. Further embodiments include a sconce cover and back plate wherein studs in the sconce cover enter the back plate and the sconce cover is slid upwardly along the back plate and secured in place. Slits in the sconce cover and a top opening allows dispersion of the fragrance. Further embodiments include a sconce cover hinged to the back plate. The sconce cover includes logos and/or decorative designs, e.g. bronco, Southwestern pottery and floral arrangements with slits for dispersing the fragrance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/281,561, filed Nov. 19, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a dispenser assembly for dispersing a fragrance into the atmosphere. More particularly, the invention relates to a dispenser assembly comprising a sconce cover for housing a fragrance control unit, and which sconce cover optionally contains a decorative design and/or a logo. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Deodorizers are currently used to deodorize commodes and urinals, particularly in the restrooms of institutions and places frequented by the public, although they may also be used in homes. Deodorizer cabinets or frames are generally provided for such deodorizers. Examples of such cabinets or frames are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,705; 5,816,846; and 6,105,916. These dispensers provide a drive selectively using a large or small motor providing an air stream for generating vapor from a wick, ceramic wafers, or discs containing vaporizable deodorant and reversible drive mounting mounted back-to-back. U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,779 discloses a framed fluid delivery device that includes a fluid delivery cartridge for the timed release delivery of a fluid. These known deodorant dispensers are commonly used and recognized by the public because of their use for dispersing fragrances in hostile environments, such as restrooms where it is desirous to control the nature of the atmosphere. 
         [0006]    It has become desirable to spray and/or disperse a fragrance into other public places, for example, restaurants, coffee houses, airports, convention centers, shopping centers, theaters, and the like in a manner to produce a pleasant environment and to provide a decorative cabinet or frame. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An aspect of the invention is to provide a dispenser assembly for supporting a fragrance control unit comprising a canister and a controller. The dispenser assembly further comprises a back plate for supporting the canister and controller and for mounting the dispenser assembly against a wall and a sconce cover for enclosing the fragrance control unit. The fragrance control unit is slidable within the back plate such that the dispenser mechanism can be aligned with an opening in the sconce cover so that a stream of fragrance can be directly dispersed from the fragrance control unit and into the atmosphere. The controller further comprises a timer for intermittently dispersing the stream and optionally a computer program for dispersing a desired number of streams per minute or hour. The controller also comprises a mechanism for activation of the spray dispenser of the canister. The sconce cover is pivotally connected at the bottom to the back plate. The sconce cover has a tapered configuration from the bottom to the top and an upper tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly, and in some embodiments, may be made of powdered coated carbon steel construction. 
         [0008]    A further aspect of the invention is to provide a dispenser assembly for supporting a fragrance control unit comprising a canister and a controller, wherein the dispenser assembly includes a back plate for supporting the canister and controller and for mounting the dispenser assembly against a wall, and a sconce cover for enclosing the fragrance control unit. The sconce cover and the back plate are constructed so that studs in the sconce cover enter into apertures of the back plate and the sconce cover is slid upwardly along the back plate and is secured in position via a tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly. Several openings in the cylindrical housing of the sconce cover and an opening in the top of the dispenser assembly disperses the fragrance into the environment. 
         [0009]    A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide a dispenser assembly for supporting a fragrance control unit comprising a canister and a controller or alternately for supporting a fragrance control unit comprising a wafer nest including fragrant wafers and a fan unit which is used to generate and disperse a fragrance from the wafers and into the environment. A sconce cover is hinged to one longitudinal side of a back plate and is secured to the back plate via a tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly. The sconce cover may comprise one or more decorative designs and/or company logs having slits with the same configuration as the decorative design and/or logo and which slits allow the fragrance to be dispersed, and further includes an aperture for directly dispersing a stream of fragrance out into the environment. 
         [0010]    The controller of the fragrance control unit may include a timer, a computer program for controlling the dispersing rate, and a dispersing mechanism for activating the spray mechanism of the canister. The fragrance control unit may alternately comprise a fan unit, a wafer holder plate, and fragrance wafers supported on the wafer holder plate. 
         [0011]    Designs for the sconce cover may include a bronco cowboy riding a bull, a Southwestern pottery arrangement, and different floral arrangements, all of which have one or more slits outlining the artistic design for dispersing fragrance into the environment. Logos may also be included on the sconce cover containing slits for dispersing fragrance into the environment. 
         [0012]    These and other aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when the following description is read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a right perspective view of a dispenser assembly of an embodiment of the present invention showing in phantom a canister containing a liquid fragrance and a controller for intermittently operating the canister so that a stream of liquid is dispersed from the canister. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front left perspective view of a sconce cover for the dispenser assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear left perspective view of the back plate of the dispenser assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the sconce cover of  FIG. 2  lying on its front surface. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is top sectional view showing a lock pawl of a key cam lock and lock catch assembly of the sconce cover in engagement with a pin of the back plate of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a right perspective view of a dispenser assembly of a further embodiment of the present invention showing in phantom a liquid fragrance canister and a controller for intermittently operating the canister so that a stream of liquid is dispersed from the canister. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear left perspective view of a sconce cover for the dispenser assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a left perspective view of a back plate of a dispenser assembly of a further embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a left perspective view of a back plate of a dispenser assembly similar to that of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is left perspective view of a sconce cover having a decorative design and which sconce cover may be used in the dispenser assembly of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the sconce cover of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a right perspective view of a back plate of a dispenser assembly comprising a liquid fragrance canister and a controller (in phantom) for intermittently operating the canister so that a stream of liquid is dispersed from the canister. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a left perspective view of a sconce cover having a decorative design different from that of  FIGS. 10 and 11  which may used in the dispenser assembly of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the sconce cover of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  refer to a first embodiment of a dispenser assembly  10  of the present invention. Dispenser assembly  10  comprises a back plate  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) and a sconce cover  14  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ), which as shown in  FIG. 2  forms a tapered body with a wide portion W at the bottom and a narrow portion N at the top of  FIG. 2 . Preferably, dispenser assembly  10  is of a powder coated carbon steel construction. As shown in  FIG. 1 , dispenser assembly  10  further comprises a fragrance control unit, which, in turn comprises a canister  16  which contains a liquid fragrance and a controller  18 . Canister  16  and controller  18  are shown in phantom for a better understanding of the construction of dispenser assembly  10 . In general, controller  18  will comprise a timer (not shown) and a mechanism (not shown) for activating a spray dispenser of canister  16 . In some embodiments, the timer may include a computer program for delivering a desired number of fragrant sprays per minute or hour. Canister  16  and controller  18  are elements that are available commercially and therefore details of these components are not necessary for a full understanding of the invention. Canister  16  in general has a spray dispenser  20  ( FIG. 1 ) for spraying and/or dispersing a fragrance. Controller  18  has an underside configuration that corresponds to the upper portion of canister  16  so that these two components  16  and  18  are nested together when canister  16  is inserted into the back plate  12  and into controller  18  and canister  16  interlocks with controller  18  such that canister  16  is suspended from controller  18 . A member  22  is provided for anchoring controller  18  into back plate  12 . 
         [0028]    A canister support member  24  is provided in back plate  12  to both support and space canister  16  away from back plate  12 . Canister support member  24  has an arcuate surface  26  corresponding to an outer arcuate surface of canister  16  for spacing canister  16  away from back plate  12 . Canister  16  and controller  18  are slid within back plate  12  in order to position spray dispenser  20  ( FIG. 1 ) in alignment with an opening  28  of sconce cover  14  ( FIG. 2 ). Even though not shown, an elongated tube may be attached to spray dispenser  20  so that it extends out of opening  28  for directing a fragrance spray out of sconce cover  14  of dispenser assembly  10 . 
         [0029]    As particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , back plate  12  includes several openings  30  for attaching back plate  12  and therefore dispensing assembly  10  to a flat surface, such as a wall, through suitable fastening devices, such as, for example, screws or nails. Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the lower portion of back plate  12  further comprises a gusset member  32  containing opposed gussets  34  and  36  for pivotally connecting sconce cover  14  to back plate  12 . This pivotal connection is made via pins  38  and  40  provided in sconce cover  14  ( FIG. 4 ) and which pins  38 ,  40  are inserted into apertures  34   a  and  36   a  of gussets  34  and  36 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 4 , sconce cover  14  further comprises a cut-out section  42  located between pins  38  and  40 . Sconce cover  14  is connected to back plate  12  by positioning sconce cover  14  such that cut-out section  42  receives gusset member  32  of back plate  12  and pins  38  and  40  enter into the apertures  36   a  and  34   a  of gussets  36  and  34 , respectively. 
         [0030]    Sconce cover  14  is located and secured to the top of back plate  12  via a tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  shown best in  FIG. 1 . Key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  comprises a lock pawl  46 . Lock pawl  46  is rotated via rotation of key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  and engages a lock catch pin  48  in a bracket  50  of back plate  12 . This structure is also shown in  FIG. 5 . Tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  requires a key for operation. Tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  is commercially available and its operation is well-known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    Back plate  12  further comprises opposed longitudinal side brackets  52  and  54  as shown in  FIG. 1 , and sconce cover  14  further comprises members  38   a  and  40   a  which contain pins  38  and  40 , respectively. Member  38   a  forms a recess  56  with sidewall  14   a  of sconce cover  14  and member  40   a  forms a recess  58  with sidewall  14   b  of sconce cover  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 . When back plate  12  and sconce cover  14  are assembled together, side brackets  52  and  54  of back plate  12  enter into recesses  58  and  56  respectively, and bracket  50  of back plate  12  is received in the opened area  60  of sconce cover  14  so as to provide a substantially enclosed dispensing assembly  10 . Rotation of key cam lock and lock catch assembly  44  by a key (not shown) will cause lock pawl  46  to engage catch pin  48 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a further embodiment of a dispenser assembly of the invention. Dispenser assembly  62  comprises a sconce cover  64  and a back plate  66  wherein sconce cover  64  is slidable within and along back plate  66 . Preferably, dispenser assembly  62  is of a powder coated carbon steel construction. With reference to  FIG. 7 , sconce cover  64  comprises a body  68  having a curved configuration; a lower portion  70  attached to body  68  through suitable means, such as for example, tack welding; a tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly  72 ; slits or openings  74 ,  76  and  78  on opposed sides of body  68 ; and an opened upper portion  80 . Upper portion  82  of body  68  further includes two opposed studs  84 , each of which is attached to an inner surface  68   a  of body  68  of sconce cover  64 , through suitable means, such as by welding. 
         [0033]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 6 , back plate  66  supports a fragrance control unit which comprises a canister  86  and a controller  88 , which are shown in phantom for a better understanding of construction of dispenser assembly  62 . In a manner similar to that described for the dispenser assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 5 , canister  86  and controller  88  of dispenser assembly  62  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  are nested together as a unit. Back plate  66  further includes a bracket assembly  90 , a support member  92 , and a flange  94 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , bracket assembly  90  includes a U-shape plate member  91  which extends across back plate  66  for supporting controller  88 , and support member  92  and flange  94  support canister  86 . Bracket assembly  90  is structured to interchangeably support controller  88  as shown in  FIG. 6  or a fan unit which would be used in conjunction with wafers supported on a wafer holder plate, the latter of which would be supported by support member  92  in a fashion similar to that disclosed herein below with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Controller  88  is slidable along bracket assembly  90  for a desired positioning in back plate  66  and the positioning of canister  86  within flange  94 . A sliding mechanism  67  ( FIG. 6 ) may be provided for this purpose. 
         [0034]    Still referring to  FIG. 6 , back plate  66  further includes two spaced apart longitudinal flanges  96  and  98 , each of which has an elongated channel  100  for receiving a stud  84  of sconce cover  64 . That is, for the assemblage of sconce cover  64  and back plate  66 , each stud  84  of sconce cover  64  enters into the lower portion  100   a  of elongated channels  100  of flanges  96  and  98 , and the sconce cover  64  is slid upwardly until the lower portion  70  of sconce cover  64  abuts against a lower support member  102  of back plate  66 . As indicated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , lower portion  70  of sconce cover  64  and lower support member  102  of back plate  66  have a similar configuration such that sconce cover  64  fits tightly against back plate  66 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , back plate  66  also includes a lock catch member  104  which is engaged by an L-shaped pawl (not shown) of tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly  72  of sconce cover  64  in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0035]    As disclosed herein above, in some embodiments, the dispenser assembly  62  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  may optionally comprise a fragrance control unit that comprises a fan unit, wafers and a wafer holder plate, in which instance, the wafer holder plate would be supported by support member  92  and the fan unit would be supported by bracket assembly  90 . In this instance, the fan unit would be operated to generate and/or circulate a fragrance from the fragrant wafers supported on the wafer holder plate such that the fragrance can be delivered up through the opened upper portion  80  and/or through slits  74 ,  76  and  78  of sconce cover  64 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , back plate  66  may be mounted against a wall via one or more openings in back plate  66  in which suitable fastening means, for example, screws or nails are inserted. The plurality of slits  74 ,  76  and  78  on each side of sconce cover and the opened upper portion  80  of the sconce cover cooperate to create an air flow for the fragrance emanating from the fragrance control unit of dispenser assembly  62 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  illustrate further embodiments for a dispenser assembly of the invention.  FIGS. 8-11  illustrate a dispenser assembly  103 . Referring particularly to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , dispenser assembly  103  comprises a back plate  104  which comprises a U-shape module mount plate  106 ; a plurality of retainer strips  108 ,  110 ,  112  and  114  for retaining the U-shape module mount plate  106 ; a U-shape back spacer  116  mounted between the retainer strips  108 - 114  and the back plate  104 ; a hinge  118  along the longitudinal edge of the back plate  104 ; a support member  120  projecting outwardly from the back plate  104 ; a wafer support plate  122  supported by the support member  120  for supporting fragrance wafers (not shown); and a flange support  124  connected to the periphery of support member  120 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , flange support  124  may have a plurality of apertures which may be in the pattern shown therein so as to enhance the air flow through the dispenser assembly  103 . Wafer support plate  122  comprises a wafer enclosure plate  126  and a wafer divider  128 . If back plate  104  supports a wafer support plate  122 , then, even though not shown, module mount plate  106  will, in some embodiments, support a fan unit for generating and dispersing fragrance from the wafers and into the atmosphere in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. In this latter instance, the fan unit, the wafer support plate  112  and the wafers will constitute a fragrance control unit. In some embodiments, if the fragrance control unit comprises a controller and a canister as illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 12 , then the controller can be inserted down into the U-shape back spacer  116  and between retainer strips  108 - 114  as particularly illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In some embodiments, if the fragrance control unit comprises a fan unit and a wafer plate support containing fragrance wafers, then the fan unit will be mounted to the U-shape module mount plate  106  in a manner apparent to those skilled in the art. Back plate  104  may be mounted to a wall via one or more apertures  130  and suitable fasteners, such as, for example, clips, nails and/or screws. 
         [0038]    A suitable sconce cover for the dispenser assembly  103  of  FIGS. 8 and 9  is shown at reference numeral  132  in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Sconce cover  132  comprises a corresponding hinge  134  which interconnects with hinge  118  of back plate  104  for connecting sconce cover  132  to back plate  104 . Sconce cover  132  has a curved configuration and comprises decorative designs  134  and  136 . Decorative designs  134 ,  136  include slits  138 ,  140  which have a configuration corresponding to that of decorative designs  134  and  136  and which slits  138 ,  140  outline the decorative designs  134  and  136  for creating an air flow for the fragrance emanating from the fragrance control unit for dispersing a fragrance into the environment. The dispenser assembly  103  of  FIGS. 8-11  may also support a canister and a controller similar to that disclosed for the dispenser assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1-5  and dispenser assembly  62  of  FIGS. 6-7 . If the dispenser assembly  103  of  FIGS. 8-11  supports a canister and a controller for controlling the rate of fragrance dispensed from the canister similar to that disclosed for the dispenser assemblies  10 ,  62  of  FIGS. 1-7 , then an aperture  142  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) is provided in sconce cover  132  for delivering a direct stream of fragrance through sconce cover  132 . 
         [0039]    Even though not shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , a tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly similar to that provided at reference number  144  in the embodiment of  FIG. 12  will be provided. In this instance, the tubular key cam lock and lock catch assembly will comprise a lock latch (not shown) for entering into the L-shaped opening  146  in back plate  104  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). When sconce cover or shield  132  is attached to back plate  104 , the sconce cover  132  covers the fragrance control unit in a spaced away relationship and allows the fragrance to be dispersed out into the environment through slits  138 ,  140  and/or through aperture  142  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
         [0040]      FIGS. 12-14  illustrates a further embodiment of a dispenser assembly  150 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , dispenser assembly  150  supports, as shown in phantom, a canister  154  and a control box  152  which constitutes a fragrance control unit, and which fragrance control unit may be similar to that described herein above with reference to the other embodiments of the invention. In  FIGS. 12-14 , like numerals represent like components illustrated in  FIGS. 8 through 11 . 
         [0041]    A suitable sconce cover  154  for the embodiment of  FIG. 12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Sconce cover  154  has a curved configuration and contains a decorative design  156 . Decorative design  156  has slits  158  that corresponds to and outline the decorative design  156 . It is to be appreciated that sconce cover  154  of  FIGS. 13 and 14  can be interchangeable with the sconce cover  132  of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiments of  FIGS. 10 and 13 , sconce covers  132  and  154 , respectively, are opened at the top and bottom. In some embodiments, this structure for sconce covers  132 ,  154  allows an undercurrent of air to flow upwardly into the dispenser assembly  130 ,  150  and through the slits of sconce cover  132 ,  154 ; however, the clearance between the back plate and the sconce cover is such that the inside of the dispenser assembly is not accessible other than through the unlocking of the key cam lock and lock catch assembly. In some embodiments, sconce covers  132  and  154  may be made of an aesthetic metal sheet, for example, a brushed metal sheet or a copper sheet. In some embodiments, the slits in the sconce covers  132  and  154  may be made using an etching method. In some embodiments, the sconce covers  132  and  154  may be attached to their respective back plate through suitable fasteners along their opposed longitudinal edges or along the longitudinal edges of the back plate. In some embodiments, the sconce covers  132  and  154  may include cut-outs, designs and/or logos that are centrally located and slits along their sides similar to slits  74 ,  76  and  78  of sconce cover  68  of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0043]    Even though the embodiments of  FIGS. 8-14  illustrate a sconce cover as being attached to the back plate via a hinge arrangement, it is to be appreciated that the sconce cover may be attached to the back plate through other appropriate fastening means. For example, the sconce cover may be attached by using a fastening arrangement, for example, clips, screws and/or nails, provided along the opposed longitudinal sides of the sconce cover and the back plate. In this instance, the back plate may first be attached to the wall and the sconce cover than attached to the back plate. 
         [0044]    The spray dispenser or aerosol such as that for example indicated at reference number  20  in  FIG. 1  as disclosed herein above may have an elongated tube which extends outwardly from aperture  28  of sconce cover  14 . In some embodiments of the invention one or more such elongated tubes may be provided for delivering the liquid fragrance into one or more directions outwardly from the sconce cover wherein the elongated tubes may be bent in such directions for delivering the liquid fragrance into one or more desired pathways outwardly from the sconce cover. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments of the invention, a sliding mechanism similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be provided in the back plate of the dispenser assembly of the several embodiments of the invention and this sliding mechanism may be structured and arranged to accommodate the different types of controllers and/or fan units of the fragrance control unit of the invention. In some embodiments, the, designs, motifs, cut-outs and/or logos provided in the sconce cover may be custom made. In some embodiments, the sconce cover may be made of an aesthetic metal sheet, for example, a brushed metal sheet or a copper sheet. In some embodiments, the slits in the sconce cover may be made using an etching method. In the embodiments of the invention, the canister and the controller and the fan unit, wafer support plate and the fragrance wafers of the fragrance control unit are well-known items that are commercially available. In some instances, the fan unit and the controller may be battery and/or electrically operated, and their operation may be controlled through an off/on button. In some embodiments, the fragrance control unit may be provided with a wick, ceramic wafers or discs containing vaporizable deodorant and a drive using a motor providing an air stream for generating vapor from the wick, ceramic wafers, or discs. 
         [0046]    While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating there from. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.