Patent Publication Number: US-2020290069-A1

Title: Portable device for spreading odors

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Israeli Patent Application Serial No. 265413, filed on Mar. 17, 2019 and entitled PORTABLE DEVICE FOR SPREADING ODORS, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to devices for spreading odors. More particularly, the present invention relates to portable devices for spreading odors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Humans are very sensitive to odors and odors are known to impact ones&#39; feelings. Perfumes delights us, smells of food make us hungry, the smell of another person&#39;s sweat may repulse us and the like. While, one can control the environment&#39;s smell at one&#39;s home or office, it is almost impossible at public places (e.g., the subway, a bus, an airplane, public toilets and the like) or at other people&#39;s places. 
     The current solutions include air sprays that spread a single amount of aerosol from a pressurized tank or a bottle filled with liquid perfume. Such solutions are limited to a single act of spreading of odors each time and are considered unsafe (e.g., can explode, are flammable, etc.) and for example, cannot be carried on board a passengers&#39; compartment in an airplane. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, lightweight and safe solution for ongoing spreading of odors in the vicinity of a user. Such solutions may allow the user to select the radius at which the odors are to be spread. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some aspects of the invention may be related to a portable device for spreading odors, that may include: a housing configured to hold: at least one replaceable cartridge holding an absorbing element absorbed with a volatile liquid; and a ventilation unit configured to provide air flow to the vicinity of the at least one absorbing element. In some embodiments, the hosing may include: at least one insertion entrance for inserting the at least one replaceable cartridge; and at least one volatile compound exit. 
     In some embodiments, the replaceable cartridge may include one or more apertures configured to introduce the provided air flow to the vicinity of the at least one absorbing element. In some embodiments, the replaceable cartridge may include one or more exits directed to release volatile compounds evaporated from the absorbing element. In some embodiments, the ventilation unit may include at least one fan. 
     In some embodiments, the portable device may further include a controller configured to control the air flow provided by the ventilation unit. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to control the amount of power provided to a fan. In some embodiments, the controller may further include a user interface. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to: receive instructions from the user interface; and control the capacity of air flow provided by the ventilation unit based on the received instructions. In some embodiments, the user interface comprises at least one of: a button, a key, a microphone and a touchscreen. 
     In some embodiments, the ventilation unit may be configured to allow the volatile compound to expend in a radius of at least 5 meters. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to: receive a required radius spread of the volatile compound; and control the ventilation unit to provide an air flow in a capacity that causes the required radius spread. 
     In some embodiments, the device may further include a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device. In some embodiments, the controller may further be configured to: receive a capacity of air flow from an application running on the external device via the communication unit; and control the air flow provided by the ventilation unit based on the received capacity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are illustrations of portable devices for spreading odors according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an air flow in a portable device for spreading odors according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a portable devices for spreading odors according to some embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a set of portable devices for spreading odors and cartridges according to some embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
     A portable device for spreading odors according to embodiments of the invention may be carried, e.g., manually, by a human, in a bag (e.g., a school bag, a shoulder bag and the like) to be used anywhere. In some embodiments, the liquid odor material included in such portable device may be stored in a way that may prevent the liquid odor from spilling out from the portable device, regardless of its position and orientation (e.g., inside a bag). The device may be easily carried and activated single handedly. A user may activate the device in any environment, either closed environment (e.g., a bus, passengers&#39; compartment at an airplane, public toilets and the like), an open environment (e.g., in a picnic) or a semi closed environment (e.g., passenger&#39;s hall in a central station, at a train station platform and the like). In some embodiments, such a device may include a replaceable cartridge for providing the odors and a ventilation unit that allows to spread the odors in the vicinity of the user. In some embodiments, the ventilation unit may allow the odors to be sprayed in a radius of several meters (e.g., 5 meters). 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  which are illustrations of a portable device  100  for spreading odors according to some embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 1B  is a cross-section view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1A . Portable device  100  may include: a housing  10 , at least one replaceable cartridge  20  holding an absorbing element  22  absorbed with a volatile liquid (e.g., liquid odor) and a ventilation unit  30  configured to provide air flow to the vicinity of at least one absorbing element  22 . In some embodiments, housing  10  may include at least one insertion entrance  12  for inserting at least one replaceable cartridge  20 . For example, replaceable cartridge  20  may be inserted from insertion entrance  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In yet another example (not illustrated), hosing  10  may be configured to be separated from a frame  18  holding at least one replaceable cartridge  20 , via insertion entrance  12 , thus allowing the replacement of at least one replaceable cartridge  20  with a different one. In some embodiments, hosing  10  may include at least one volatile compound (VOC) exit  14  configured to allow VOCs evaporated from absorbing element  22  to exit and be spread in the surrounding of device  100 . In some embodiments, hosing  10  may include one or more air entrances  16  configured to allow air from the surrounding of device  100  to enter and be ventilated trough cartridge  20  as illustrated and explained with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
     In some embodiments, hosing  10  may be made from any suitable material, for example, a polymer, a metal (e.g., an aluminum alloy), wood and a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, absorbing element  22  may include any absorbing material configured to absorb volatile liquid. In some embodiments, absorbing material may include a fabric (e.g., cotton), a porous polymer or any other of porous material and foams. For example, absorbing element  22  may include at least one of: a felt having a thickness of 1-50 mm., a cardboard at various thickness, aroma beads, polymeric foam infused with aromatic volatile liquid, ceramic foam infused with aromatic volatile liquid and the like. In some embodiments, the volatile liquid may include VOCs configured to spread odors (e.g., perfumes), odors neutralizers and the like. For example, aromatic oils, liquid perfumes, pest control material (e.g., Citronella oil) and the like. 
     In some embodiments, replaceable cartridge  20  may be replaced by another replaceable cartridge  20  and a user may select a replaceable cartridge  20  from a variety of replaceable cartridges  20  each carrying a different volatile liquid for spreading different odors. In some embodiments, the user may carry, for example, in his/her bag, several different replaceable cartridges  20  and may replace them as needed. For example, the user may use one type of replaceable cartridge  20  in public toilets and another type in his/her office using the same device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, replaceable cartridge  20  may include one or more apertures  24  configured to introduce flow of air provided by ventilation system  30  to the vicinity of at least one absorbing element  22 . In some embodiments, replaceable cartridge  20  may include one or more exits  26  directed to release the VOCs evaporated from absorbing element  22 . In some embodiments, apertures  24  and exits  26  may be located in the VOCs air flow path, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In some embodiments, ventilation unit  30  may include any component that may allow to controllably introduce air from the surrounding of device  100  to the vicinity of absorbing element  22  and further from absorbing element  22  towards VOCs exit  14 . For example, ventilation unit  30  may include a fan. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  may further include a power supply source  40  that may be a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery). For example, device  100  may include a socket for recharging power supply source  40  (e.g., using a USB cable). 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2  which is an illustration of the air flow into and from device  100  during operation of device  100 . Air may flow from the surroundings of device  100  via one or more entrances  16 . Entrances  16  may include slots located at the any end and/or walls of housing  10 . In some embodiments, since the volatile liquid is totally absorbed in absorbing element, therefore may not spill out from device  100 , one or more entrances  16  may be located at any position at the end and/or walls of housing  10 , regardless of the position of at least one replaceable cartridge  20 . From the entrances the air may be pumped and directed towards apertures  24  of cartridge  20  to be directed to the vicinity of absorbing element  22 . In some embodiments, at the vicinity of absorbing element  22  the air may absorb VOCs evaporated from absorbing element  22  to be carried by the air flow from exit  14  to the surrounding of device  100 . In some embodiments, device  100  may be configured to spread the air carrying VOCs in a radius of at most 5 meters in an open or semi-open environment. In some embodiments, the spreading radius may be controlled by controlling the amount of air provided by ventilation system  30 , as discussed herein below. In some embodiments, device  100  may be configured to spread odors in 40-50 m 2  closed rooms. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  may include a controller configured to control various controllable components of device  100 , illustrated and discussed in  FIG. 3 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3  which is a block diagram of device  100  according to embodiments of the invention. Device  100  may include a controller  50  configured to control various controllable components of device  100 , for example, the power provided from power supply  40  to ventilation system  30 . Controller  100  may include a processor  52 , a memory  54  and a user interface. In some embodiments, processor  52  may be any computing device configured to execute instructions stored in memory  54 . In some embodiments, user interface  56  may include any device that may be configured to send, receive and/or present information to or from the processor/controller, and/or to a user. For example, user interface  56  may include at least one of: one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more push buttons, a touchscreen, a knob, a microphone, a speaker and the like. 
     In some embodiments, a user may select the capacity of air and VOCs provided by device  100 , by pushing a button, rotating a knob, touching a touchscreen and the like. Following the selection, controller  50  may control the amount of power provided by power supply  40  to ventilation unit  30 , such that device  100  may provide the selected capacity. For example, controller  50  may control the amount of power provided to the one or more fans. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  may further include a communication unit  60  configured to communicate with an external device, for example, a mobile device of the user. For example, communication unit  60  may include at least one cell modem 2G/3G/CAT-M, Bluetooth device or any other wireless modem. In some embodiments, controller  50  may receive the selected VOCs capacity (e.g., air flow capacity) from an application running on the external device, for example, the user&#39;s mobile computing device  200  (e.g., a smart phone, a smart watch, a lap top and the like) being in communication with portable device  100  via communication unit  60 . 
     In some embodiments, power supply  40 , controller  50  and communication unit  60  may all be assembled on a printed circuit board (PCB). In some embodiments, the fan of ventilation unit  30  may also be assembled on the same PCB or elsewhere. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4  which is an illustration of several devices  100  for spreading odors and replaceable cartridges  20  according to some embodiments of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4  each of devices  100  may include any one of cartridges  20   a - 20   e . In some embodiments, at least some of cartridges  20   a - 20   e  may include different odors (e.g., indicated as different colors). In some embodiments, cartridges  20   a - 20   e  may be inserted into devices  100  via insertion entrance  12 . 
     While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.