Patent Publication Number: US-2009218415-A1

Title: Vapor-dispensing device comprising availability indicator

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to vapor-dispensing devices and, more particularly, to a vapor-dispensing device comprising an availability indicator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vapor-dispensing devices are desirable. Vapor-dispensing devices include, for example, air fresheners, insect repellants, and the like. Generally, vapor-dispensing devices contain an exhaustible supply of a volitizable material. However, a user is generally not able to readily notice when the vapor-dispensing device has exhausted its ability to impart the volitizable material to the surrounding environment. For example, to determine if a gel type air freshener has exhausted its fragrance laden gel material, the user of the device typically peers through small holes, slots, or cracks, to see if gel material remains within the body of the device that holds the gel matrix. In some air fresheners, the user disassembles the body to observe the status of the gel matrix. 
     Thus, there exists a need for a vapor-dispensing device that is configured to clearly indicate when the vaporizable material has been exhausted. For example, a need exists for a gel type air freshener that is configured to clearly signal when the gel matrix has been exhausted. Furthermore, it is desirable to have the ability to observe, from a moderate distance, whether an air freshening device has expended its store of fragrance bearing material. Thus, there is a need for a vapor-dispensing device that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     While the way that the present invention addresses the disadvantages of the prior art is discussed in greater detail below, in general, the present invention provides a vapor-dispensing device configured to have an indicator system. The indicator system may be configured to automatically indicate the availability status of a vaporizable material within the vapor-dispensing device. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the indicator system comprises a flag or similar object that may be configured to move from a “full” position to an “empty” position to indicate the availability of the vaporizable material. For example, the availability of a gel type air freshener may be determined from a distance by observing a physical indicator associated with the air freshener. In accordance with another aspect, the indicator system comprises two portions of a vapor-dispensing device that are configured to move relative to each other to indicate the availability of the vaporizable material. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a gel type vapor-dispensing device is configured to automatically close when the gel type matrix is substantially exhausted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematic views of exemplary vapor-dispensing devices in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another exemplary vapor-dispensing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4-6  are cross-sectional views of exemplary vapor-dispensing devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective, partial cut-away view of an exemplary vapor-dispensing device in accordance with various exemplary embodiments 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 in the appended claims. For example, in the context of the present invention, the method and apparatus hereof find particular use in connection with air freshening systems. However, generally speaking, various vapor-dispensing devices that are suitably configured to emit various fragrance materials such as deodorizers, sanitizers, insecticides, insect repellants, and/or the like are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. Likewise, though various portions of the specification refer to a gel matrix as the fragrance material used herein, various other vaporizable materials now known or as yet unknown, having similar properties should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 1 , a vapor-dispensing device  100  is configured to indicate the availability of a vaporizable material. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, vapor-dispensing device  100  comprises a vaporizable material (not shown), a housing  105 , and an indicator system  110 . Indicator system  110 , as described in greater detail herein, may be configured to indicate the availability of the vaporizable material. The availability of the vaporizable material may be indicated, for example, by the movement of an object  115  from a “full” position  120  to an “empty” position  130 . 
     By way of example, vapor-dispensing device  100  may be an air freshener device comprising an air freshening material, such as a gel matrix, and the air freshener may be suitably configured to indicate the availability of the gel matrix. Thus, vapor-dispensing device  100  may be configured such that a consumer may readily observe whether it is time to purchase a refill for or a replacement of vapor-dispensing device. 
     Briefly, the vaporizable material may comprise a material that can be vaporized over a period of time. In exemplary embodiments, the vaporizable material comprises a fragrance, an insect repellant, a deodorizer, a sanitizer, an insecticide, and/or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the vaporizable material comprises an air freshening material. 
     The vaporizable material may also comprise a support structure that is configured to temporarily hold the material that can be vaporized. For example, the support structure may be a gel matrix. In this regard, the gel matrix may be any conventional gel or gel type product, now known or as yet unknown. Furthermore, other suitable gel matrix substances may be used in various embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the support structure may be a liquid, an oil, and/or other material providing a support structure that is suitably configured to hold and/or deliver a vaporizable substance (e.g., a fragrance). 
     The support structure is further configured to change as the fragrance is exhausted. For example, the support structure (e.g., the substance bearing the fragrance) may be configured to physically change size as the fragrance is communicated to the surrounding environment. In one exemplary embodiment, as fragrance material is delivered from a gel matrix, the gel matrix may contract. Stated another way, the volume of the volitizable material may reduce as the volitizable material is communicated to surrounding environment. In yet another exemplary embodiment, as fragrance material is delivered from an oil reservoir, the volume of the fragrance laden oil is reduced. 
     Thus, over a period of time, the volitizable material may be depleted from the vapor-dispensing device. The vapor-dispensing device may begin with a fall capacity of the volitizable material and end with substantially no volitizable material (i.e., less than 5% of the volitizable material left). Once a vapor-dispensing device has substantially no volitizable material left to dispense, it may be said that the material has been exhausted. However, it has previously not been as easy to determine whether the volitizable material had become exhausted without peering through small holes or slots in the housing to investigate the availability status of the volitizable material, as it is with the various embodiments of the present invention. 
     In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, housing  105  is configured to support the volitizable material. This support may comprise no more than, for example, a gel matrix being supported on its bottom side and/or about an interior column about which the gel matrix is formed. In other embodiments, the volitizable material may be supported on the bottom, sides, and/or top, as, for example, in case of a vial of oil having a wick inserted therein. In general, housing  105  may be made of any suitable material. In one exemplary embodiment, housing  105  is constructed of a plastic material. 
     Housing  105  may comprise holes, slots, vents, and other configurations commonly used for allowing the vapor to be transmitted from the housing to the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the system for transmitting the vaporized material to the surrounding environment may be configured to control the release of the material. For example, the rate of the release may be controlled by adjusting the size of the holes, the size of the opening, the percentage of the holes that are open, and/or the like. Furthermore, the housing may be configured to have an open and a closed position. In the open position, the fragrance may be dispersed to the surrounding environment, and in the closed position, the fragrance may be retained within the housing during initial shipping/sale of the product, and during periods of non-use, and/or storage. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, housing  105  may be suitably configured to resemble typical air freshener housings, insect repellant housings, deodorizer housings, and/or the like that are now available, previously available, or here after developed. For example, with reference to  FIG. 3 , housing  305  may be a semi-conical shaped gel type air freshening device, though housing  105  may comprise any suitable shape for containing and facilitating the controlled release of a vaporizable material. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, vapor-dispensing device  100  comprises an object  115  that moves relative to housing  105 . With reference now to  FIG. 2 , and in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, housing  205  may further comprise a first portion  210  and a second portion  220  that are configured to move relative to each other. For example, the first portion may comprise an upper portion or cap (e.g.  210 ,  310 ), and the second portion may comprise a lower portion or base (e.g.,  220 ,  320 ). In this example, vapor-dispensing device  300  may be open when edges  301  and  302  are apart and closed when the edges are brought together. 
     Vapor-dispensing device  200  may further comprise an intermediate portion  230 . Intermediate portion  230  may be configured to facilitate relative motion between lower portion  210  and upper portion  220 . For example, intermediate portion  230  may comprise concentric sliding tubes, a screw mechanism, and or the like. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the vapor-dispensing device is configured such that an individual observing the outside surface of the air freshener/vapor-dispensing device is able to determine the amount of the vaporizable material inside the housing. For example, the height of a gel matrix inside an air freshener may be readily observed by looking at the outside of the device. The individual is able to do so without looking inside the housing or without looking at the volitizable material (e.g., the gel matrix) itself. 
     In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the vapor-dispensing device is configured to have an indicator object that moves relative to the housing. The indicator object may move from a first position, representing a fully charged product, to a second position representing a depleted product having substantially no vaporizable material remaining. With reference again to  FIG. 1 , indicator system  110  may comprise an indicator object  115  that moves relative to the availability of the vaporizable material. For example, indicator object  115  may comprise a physical element such as a flag, a bar, and/or the like. Indicator object  115  may be positioned at a first position  120  illustrating to the observer that the vapor-dispensing device is fully loaded. The indicator object may be configured to move to a second position  130 , which illustrates that the vapor-dispensing device has been depleted of the vaporizable material. 
     In this regard, the housing may be suitably configured with markings, labels, stickers, or other devices for illustrating the significance of the position of the indicator object. For example, the first position  120  of indicator object  115  may be marked with the words “full”, “fully charged”, “new”, and/or the like. The second position  130  of indicator object  115  may be marked with the words “empty”, “exhausted”, “replace with a new unit”, and/or the like. Furthermore, symbols, colors or other devices may be used to convey similar messages. 
     Indicator system may be configured to move in approximately an analog manner, i.e., approximately proportionate to the depletion of the gel like material. In yet another embodiment, the indicator system is configured to move in a binary manner, in that the indicator object may remain substantially at its first “available” position until the vaporizable material is nearly exhausted, and then move to the second “unavailable” position. 
     Indicator object  115  may be configured in a number of ways to move in accordance with the availability of the vaporizable material. For example, with reference to an exemplary gel type vapor dispenser and  FIG. 4 , a typical gel type air freshener  400  is configured with an intermediate portion  430  that allows a cap  410  to be lifted and suspended above a base  420  in order to open the air freshener. Air freshener  400  also comprises a gel matrix  440 . Vapor-dispensing device  400  further comprises an indicator system  450 . Indicator system  450  may further comprise a level ring  451  riding on top of gel matrix  440 . In one embodiment, level ring  451  is the indicator object. In another embodiment, level ring  451  may comprise one or more indicator object(s) (e.g.,  415 ,  416 ) attached thereto. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, indicator object(s)  415  are positioned inside cap  410 . In this embodiment, cap  410  may be configured to have a window or slot  453  through which indicator objects may be viewed. In yet another embodiment, level ring  451  and/or indicator object(s)  415  may comprise a magnetically polarized portion, and cap  410  may be configured with a magnetically sensitive tape/window. An exemplary magnetically sensitive tape/window (also referenced as  453 ), may be configured to reveal or display the height of gel matrix  440 . 
     In another exemplary embodiment, indicator object(s)  416  may be positioned outside cap  410 . In this embodiment, cap  410  may comprise a slot  454  through which indicator objects  416  may be attached to level ring  451 . Thus, indicator object(s)  416  may be displayed on the outer surface of housing cap  410 . 
     Whether indicator object  415  or  416  are inside or outside of cap  410 , they may further be configured to remain in close proximity to cap  410 . For example, the indicator object(s) (e.g.,  415 ,  416 ) may be configured to slide in and/or out in a horizontally radial direction from the axis of level ring  451 . Furthermore, indicator object(s) (e.g.,  415 ,  416 ) may be biased towards cap  410  via, for example, springs  418 , hydraulics, magnetic force, mechanical guides on cap  410 , and/or the like. 
     Indicator object(s) (e.g.,  415 ,  416 ) may be configured to move under the influence of gravity. In other words, the indicator object(s) move with the level ring which is maintained in contact with the upper surface of gel matrix  440  by gravity. In this embodiment, the level ring is held to the top of gel matrix  440  by gravity and follows the top of gel matrix  440  as it contracts downward when vaporizable material is dispensed. Indicator object(s) (e.g.,  415 ,  416 ) may, however be influenced to move under the force of springs, hydraulic pressure, elastic, rubber-bands, and/or the like. For example, level ring  451  may be biased downward by spring  460 . 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the indicator system may comprise components of the housing itself. For example, housing  305  may be configured to have at least two components, and the relative movement of the two components may be configured to indicate the availability of vaporizable material  340 . In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, housing  305  may comprise a housing cap  310  and a housing base  320 . Housing cap  310  is configured to move relative to housing base  320  such that the relative movement indicates the availability status of vaporizable material  340 . For example, the relative separation of cap  310  and base  320  may indicate the availability of vaporizable material  340 . 
     The indicator system may be configured in various ways such that a change in the availability of the fragrance material changes the relative separation of two portions of the housing. In one exemplary embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 5 , indicator system  550  comprises a spring  560  attached to level ring  551  on one end and to cap  510  on the other end of spring  560 . Level ring  551  is, for example, an annular ring. Level ring  551  may be disposed about an intermediate portion  530 , which connects cap  510  to base  520 . Intermediate portion  530  may comprise, for example, coaxial right cylindrical tubes with an inner portion configured to slide within an outer portion. 
     Indicator system  550  may be configured such that spring  560  is in a state of compression while cap  510  is in the closed position (full matrix). Although less compressed, spring  560  may also be compressed when cap  510  is raised to an open position (full matrix), as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Cap  510  is thus supported in an open position by spring  560 . Cap  510  is restrained from further upward movement by, for example, interference between the inner and outer portions of intermediate portion  530 . 
     As gel matrix  540  begins to contract, level ring  551  is biased away from cap  510  and spring  560  extends. Indicator system  550  is configured such that when the level ring reaches a Point A, farther contraction of matrix  540  causes cap  510  to follow the matrix down. For example, at Point A spring  560  may be fully extended or may be restrained from farther extension. When matrix  540  is exhausted, level ring  551  may be at a Point B. The distance between Point A and Point B may, for example, be the same distance as the distance between the two housing portions  510  and  520  when fully open (e.g., the distance  521  between edges  501  and  502 ). Thus, when matrix  540  is substantially exhausted, cap  510  is closed to the base. Therefore, vapor-dispensing device  500  may be configured, in various manners, to indicate that the vaporizable material is no longer available by automatically closing the vaporizable dispensing device. 
     In yet another version of this exemplary embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 6 , vapor-dispensing device  600  may be configured to close in a binary on/off manner. For example, device  600  may be configured to close when a substantial amount of the volitizable material has been exhausted, e.g. 90% or more. In this exemplary embodiment, base  620  may comprise a level ring receiving portion  625  configured to receive level ring  651 . Level ring receiving portion  625  may be configured to be as deep as the separation between edges  601  and  602 . 
     In this example, Point A, where the change in the height of level ring  651  also changes the height of cap  610 , may be located at the top of recessed portion  625 . When volitizable material  640  has contracted to the point that level ring  651  is at Point A, substantially all of the volitizable material is exhausted. From Point A, level ring  651  may fall into level ring receiving  625 . Thus, vapor-dispensing device  600  may be configured such that the change in position of level ring  651  from Point A to a Point B, at or near the bottom of level ring receiving portion  625 , causes cap  610  to close. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 7 , indicator system  750  is configured such that the interior of the gel matrix serves to hold the cap in the open position. In this embodiment, a level bar  751  is configured to support cap  710 . Level bar  751  may comprise, for example, a horizontal member configured to pass perpendicularly through a slot  731  in intermediate portion  730 . Level bar  751  may be configured to slide up and down in slot  731  and may be supported in a raised position  732  by the gel matrix, which surrounds the portions of level bar  751  that extend outside of intermediate portion  730 . Thus, the initial reduction of volume in the gel matrix has little effect on the position of level bar  751 . However, as the gel matrix contracts below the initial position of level bar  751 , level bar  751  may begin to descend as well. In this exemplary embodiment, intermediate portion  730  is further configured such that a change in position of level bar  751  results in a change in position of cap  710 . 
     For example, intermediate portion  730  may further comprise an inner portion  733  and an outer portion  734 . Inner portion  733  may be configured to slide coaxially within outer portion  734 . In one exemplary embodiment, inner portion  733  and outer portion  734  comprise right cylindrical tubes. Furthermore, inner portion  733  may be connected to cap  710  such that as inner portion  733  moves up or down inside outer portion  734 , cap  710  moves up or down accordingly. Inner portion  733  may also be configured to have a major slot  735  that allows inner portion  733  to slide down over level bar  751 . Major slot  735  may be configured to have a length sufficient to facilitate closing cap  710  to base  720  when level bar  751  is at its initial height. Inner portion  733  may also be configured to have a minor slot or retention slot  736 . In an exemplary embodiment, minor slot  736  is  90  degrees from major slot  735 . 
     Inner portion  733  is therefore configured to be raised (with cap  710 ), turned 90 degrees, and supported by level bar  751 . For example, inner portion  733  may be supported by placing level bar  751  securely in minor slot  736 . As level bar  751  eventually lowers, cap  710  may also lower with the bar. Furthermore, in the event that a user wishes to temporarily close vapor-dispensing device  700 , cap  710  may be lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and lowered to the closed position. 
     In various embodiments, the vapor-dispensing device may be further configured such that the cap and the base may be ‘locked’ or held together. The vapor-dispensing device may, for example comprise a connection mechanism that is configured to secure the cap to the base when the device is in a closed position. The connection mechanism may comprise a snap, clip, twist and lock, and/or other similar junction. In various examples, the device may be opened and closed multiple times. 
     In general, the indicator system may configured to indicate the availability status of a vaporizable material through relative movement of two objects, The first object may be a flag that moves relative to a housing, and/or the first object may be one portion of the housing that moves relative to a second portion of the housing. In either event, the relative movement discloses to an observer the availability status. In various embodiments, the indicator system is configured to automatically close the housing when the vaporizable material  240  is nearly exhausted. 
     The present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, 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.