Abstract:
A dispenser fixture for dispersing aromatic vapors into a facility includes an elongated dispenser chamber bounded by end walls, one containing a motor driven fan and the other wall containing fixtures for supplying and controlling electrical current for powering the fan motor. The chamber, containing trays supporting a replaceable supply of aromatic material, presents the aromatic material to an air flow passing into apertures positioned near or in the other wall such that a carrier arm supporting the fixture orientates the fan motor to discharge air enriched with aromatic vapors in a horizontal direction into the facility. The fixture includes upstanding side walls joining the end walls, a floor wall joining the side walls and the end walls, and a top wall overlying the side and end walls for enclosing the aromatic materials in the chamber. The dispenser fixture may be made of a hard plastic or metal.

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/126,360 filed May 2, 2008, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into this application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispenser fixture for aromatic materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser chamber having a tray for presenting a supply of aromatic materials to a flow of air passing from apertures positioned near or in the end wall of a fixture for dispersing aromatic vapors in a manner that a carrier arm supporting the dispenser orientates a motor driven fan to discharge a stream of air enriched with aromatic vapors in a generally horizontal direction. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A dispenser for volatile fluid is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,705; 5,816,845; 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 a 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. 
     A need exists for a deodorant or fragrant dispenser having a robust construction for discharging air streams within a large room such as a restaurant, coffee house and the like in a manner to produce a pleasant environment conducive to the sale of products on the premises. 
     A need also exists for providing a deodorant or fragrant dispenser that is designed so that it is not recognized as a traditional prior art dispenser in order to maintain the privacy of the source of the air stream. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has met these needs. The present invention provides a dispenser fixture for dispersion of aromatic vapors and includes an elongated dispenser chamber bounded by end walls, one end wall containing a fan driven by a motor and the other end wall containing fixtures for supplying and controlling electrical current to power the motor for driving the fan. The dispenser chamber contains one or more receptacles, for example rectangular trays, for presenting a supply of aromatic materials to a flow of air passing from apertures that are positioned near or in the end wall containing the fixtures such that a carrier arm supporting the dispenser fixture orientates the motor driven fan to discharge a stream of air enriched with aromatic vapors in a generally horizontal direction and out into the environment. 
     The elongated dispenser chamber further includes upstanding side walls joined with a floor wall containing a load bearing surface supporting at least one receptacle containing a replaceable supply of aromatic material and an inboard end wall supporting an electrical supply utility. In the embodiments of the present invention, the dispenser fixture has one or more apertures for admitting a flow of ambient air into the dispensing chamber. The elongated dispenser chamber includes an outboard end wall having an aperture aligned with an air flow path from a blower supported by the outboard end wall and connected by wiring that traverses the elongated dispenser chamber with the electrical supply utility for energizing the blower. The top wall or cover of the dispenser chamber is mounted by a hinge for pivotally fastening the top wall to one of the upstanding side walls in order to facilitate relative movement from an open position to a closed position. The top wall or cover overlies the upstanding side walls, the inboard end wall, and the outboard end wall. 
     The closed position of the dispenser chamber defines a condition in which ambient air supplied by the one or more apertures of the dispenser fixture is enriched with aromatic vapors in the dispenser chamber and is driven by the blower as an ambient exhaust. The open position of the dispenser chamber defines a condition in which the aromatic material supported in the receptacle or receptacles is accessible for replacement in the elongated dispenser chamber. A carrier arm has a mounting flange on a terminal end of the dispenser chamber and projects outwardly from a base adapted for attachment to a support. The mounting flange through suitable fasteners is attached to the dispenser fixture, for example the floor wall, to orientate the floor wall in a substantially horizontal direction and thus the dispenser fixture in a horizontal orientation. Additional fasteners secure the top wall or cover of the dispenser chamber to one of the upstanding side walls, to the inboard end wall and to the outboard end wall of the dispenser chamber. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser fixture having a robust construction for discharging air streams within a large room such as a restaurant or a coffee house in a manner to produce a pleasant environment conducive to the sale of products on the premises. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser fixture designed such that it is camouflaged so that it is not recognized as a traditional prior art dispenser and therefore the source of the fragrant air stream is not recognized. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when the following description is read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial isometric schematic view of a retail establishment selling products and includes a dispenser fixture for the dispersion of aromatic vapors according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal right side isometric view of a first embodiment of a dispenser fixture of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevation view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 2  with the top wall or cover pivotally displaced from a closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  with the dispenser fixture orientated in a 180 degree position. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a dispenser fixture of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a frontal right side isometric view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the dispenser fixture of  FIG. 8  with the top wall or cover pivotally displaced from a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side wall  10  and an end wall  12  of a retail establishment or facility F engaged in the sale of a commodity or product, such as coffee, at a counter  14  supported by a floor  16 . A base  18  is mounted to the sidewall  10  and is adapted to be supported by side wall  10 . A carrier arm  22  has a terminal end  22   a  which is mounted to base  18 , which in turn is mounted to side wall  10 , through suitable fasteners known to those skilled in the art. Carrier arm  22  further includes terminal end  22   b  attached to a mounting flange  20  which in turn is structured to support and be fastened through suitable fasteners to a dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A outwardly from side wall  10 . Dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A is structured to disperse aromatic vapors into the facility and is orientated horizontally within the facility F via carrier arm  22 . 
     The structure of dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A and its location within the facility F is such that a high velocity air stream emitted by the facility enters one end of the dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A, is orientated in a substantially horizontal orientation within dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A, and exits the other end of dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A for emission of aromatic vapors out into the facility. Carrier arm  22  may be pivotally mounted to base  18  for pivotal movement with dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A relative to side wall  10 , in which instance, dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A preferably remains in a horizontal positioning relative to carrier arm  22 . Preferably, dispenser fixture  24 ,  24 A is an electrical device and includes an electrical supply utility  36 ,  114  whose outlet plug  38 ,  116  is inserted into an electrical socket  19  in  FIG. 1 , more about which is discussed herein below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-7 , a first embodiment of the present invention involves dispenser fixture  24  having several legs  23   a  for supporting dispenser fixture  24  on a surface. Dispenser fixture  24  further includes upstanding side walls  26  and  27  which are joined with a floor wall  28  as best shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown particularly in  FIG. 7 , floor wall  28  has a load bearing surface  30  for supporting at least one rectangular tray  32  constructed to contain a replaceable supply of aromatic material. As shown best in  FIG. 6 , an inboard end wall  34  supports the electrical supply utility  36  in the form of an electrical utility cable with the outlet plug  38  on its free end and a mounting fixture  40  at its entrance into the interior of dispenser fixture  24 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 6 , suitable wiring  41  is arranged within dispenser fixture  24  for electrically connecting a control switch  42  into a circuit for supplying electrical current by a feed line  44  to a blower  46 , preferably, in the form of an electric motor which is mounted in a fan assembly  47 . With particular reference to  FIG. 6 , the fan assembly  47  is mounted to an outboard end wall  48  of the dispenser fixture  24  and has an aperture  50  as shown in  FIG. 2 , which is aligned with an air flow path from blower  46 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , aperture  50  and blower  46  are located in the outboard end wall  48  of dispenser fixture  24 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , feed line  44  traverses an elongated dispenser chamber  23 . Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , dispenser chamber  23  constitutes the volume contained within inboard end wall  34 , outboard end wall  48 , side walls  26  and  27 , floor wall  28 , and a top wall or cover  52 . 
     In the first embodiment of  FIGS. 2 through 7  and as best shown in  FIG. 5 , an end wall extension  34   a  of top wall or cover  52 , which is adjacent to the inboard end wall  34  when dispenser fixture  24  is closed, contains spaced-apart parallel openings or apertures  54  for admitting a flow of ambient air from the surrounding environment into the dispenser chamber  23  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of dispenser fixture  24 . Top wall  52  has a generally cross sectional shape in the form of an arc along its length and presents spaced-apart side wall extensions  26   a  and  27   a , which are connected by an end extension  34   a  as best shown in  FIG. 5 . As best shown in  FIG. 4  side wall extension  27   a  is formed with a cooperating component forming hinges  56  that pivotally fasten top wall  52  to the upstanding side wall  27  in order to facilitate movement of top wall  52  relative to dispenser chamber  23  for an opened and closed position of dispenser fixture  24 . The top wall  52  overlies the upstanding side walls  26  and  27 , the outboard end wall  48 , and the inboard end wall  34 . 
     Particularly referring to  FIG. 5 , in the closed position of dispenser fixture  24 , there is defined a condition in which ambient air supplied by the apertures  54  of extension  34   a  of top wall  52  is enriched with aromatic vapors in the dispenser chamber  23 , which vapors are driven by blower  46  as an ambient exhaust. Referring particularly to  FIG. 7 , the opened position of the dispenser fixture  24 , which involves top wall or cover  52  being positioned upward and away from dispenser chamber  23 , defines a condition in which the aromatic material is accessible for replacement in the rectangular tray  32  supported by support surface  30  of the elongated dispenser chamber  23 . Even though  FIG. 7  only shows one tray  32 , it is to be appreciated that additional trays  32  may be provided in dispenser chamber  23  and supported by support surface  30 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , threaded fasteners  58  extend through openings  58   a  in the upstanding side wall  26  to engage with threads formed in the side wall extension  26   a  (not shown) for securing side wall extension  26   a  to upstanding side wall  26  for maintaining dispenser fixture  24  in a closed position. 
     To enhance the appearance of dispenser fixture  24 , the outboard end wall  48  includes an upwardly and outwardly extending extension  48   a  which joins with an extended part of the top wall  52  to provide an enhanced stream line appearance as best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . 
       FIGS. 8-11  illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention involving a dispenser fixture  24 A for dispersion of aromatic vapors according to the present invention. As best shown in  FIG. 11 , dispenser fixture  24 A has an elongated dispenser chamber  100  with upstanding side walls  102  and  104  which are joined by a floor wall  106  containing a load bearing surface  108 , which receives and supports one or more rectangular trays  110 .  FIG. 11  shows two such trays  110  which are constructed to contain and support a replaceable supply of aromatic material (not shown). 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , an inboard end wall  112  supports an electrical supply utility in the form of an electrical utility cable  114  with an outlet plug  116  on its free end and a mounting fixture  118  at its entrance into the interior of the dispenser fixture  24 A. As best shown in  FIG. 11 , suitable wiring within dispenser fixture  24 A is arranged to electrically connect a control switch  120  into a circuit for supplying electrical current by feed lines  122  to a blower  124 , preferably, in the form of an electric motor, which is mounted in a fan assembly  123 . In this embodiment, the upstanding side walls  102  and  104  have a plurality of spaced-apart apertures  126  for allowing a flow of ambient air into the dispenser chamber  100 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 11 , blower  124  is mounted to an outboard end wall  128  having an aperture  129  aligned with an air flow path from blower  124 . A top wall or cover  130  is formed with a side wall extension  104   a . Similar to that of dispenser fixture  24 , top wall or cover  130  of dispenser fixture  24 A is mounted by one or more hinges (not shown) to upstanding sidewall  104 . The hinges pivotally fasten top wall  130  to upstanding side wall  104  in order to facilitate movement of top wall  130  relative to dispenser chamber  100  from an open position to a closed position for dispenser fixture  24 A. Top wall  130  overlies each of the upstanding side walls  102  and  104 , the inboard end wall  112 , and the outboard end wall  128  when the dispenser fixture  24 A is in a closed position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in the closed position of dispenser fixture  24 A, there is defined a condition in which ambient air supplied by apertures  126  located in sidewalls  102  and  104  is enriched with aromatic vapors in the dispenser chamber  100  and which aromatic vapors are driven by blower  124  as an ambient exhaust. In the opened position of dispenser fixture  24 A, a condition exists whereby the aromatic material is accessible for replacement in the elongated dispenser chamber  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , threaded fasteners  131  extend through openings  131   a  in the upstanding side wall  102  to engage threads (not shown) formed in the side wall extension  102   a  for securing top wall  130  to sidewall  102  for keeping dispenser fixture  24 A closed similar to that of dispenser fixture  24 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 9 , the appearance of dispenser fixture  24 A of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-11  is enhanced by the formation of a hood-like extension  160  at the top wall  130  which tapers rearward along side wall extensions  102   a  and  104   a  to provide an enhanced stream line appearance as best shown in  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , top wall  130  extends downwardly along sidewall extensions  102   a  and  104   a  to form an extension  112   a  for inboard end wall  112 . Extension  112   a  overhangs inboard end wall  112  when dispenser fixture  24 A is closed as shown in  FIG. 8 . It is to be appreciated that when top wall or cover  130  is in the position shown in  FIG. 8 , that dispenser fixture  24 A is closed. Legs  136  support dispenser fixture  24 A. 
     It is to be further appreciated, that even though dispenser fixtures  24  and  24 A have legs  23   a  and  136 , respectively, that in accordance with the present invention, these fixtures may be supported by carrier arm  22 , which may be mounted to a wall  10  of an establishment or facility F as discussed herein above and as shown in  FIG. 1 . It is also to be appreciated that dispenser fixtures  24  and  24 A may be made of a relatively hard plastic material or metal and that this material in addition to the structure of the dispenser fixtures  24  and  24 A provide a robust construction. 
     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. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.