Patent Publication Number: US-2007119964-A1

Title: Scent Emanating Container

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to scent emanating containers, and more particularly to such containers that are adapted for placement on the end of a writing instrument.  
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
      Scent emanating devices of many types are well known in the art. For instance, scented materials adapted to be hung in automobiles, scented candles and artificially scented articles placed in homes or rooms where a particular scent is desired, and potpourri consisting of dried flowers or other scented items placed in bowls are all well known means for providing a desirable scent in a given space.  
      Portable scent emanating devices are desirable when a person desires to have a particular aroma present regardless of where he or she may be located. In addition, it may be desired to have a scented device that accompanies a person when working at a desk or other confined location where a more permanent form of scent emanating device may not be available or desirable.  
      For instance, a person who writes may desire to have a scent emanating device present when working. There have been devices adapted for interconnection to the need of a writing device that contain a scented material, such as perfume. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,307,359 and 3,888,416 each disclose perfume carrying containers adapted for mounting to a pen. One drawback to eh prior art scent emanating devices mounted to pens, however, is the difficulty of releasing the scent in a consistent manner. In addition, as the scent in the prior art devices is in liquid form, a mechanism for controlling the emanation of the scent would preferably prevent spilling or the over-dosing of the scent.  
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
      It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a scent emanating device adapted for placement on the end of an elongated writing instrument that dispenses the scent in a consistent and clean manner.  
      It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a scent emanating device that may be equipped with a variety of scented members.  
      It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a scent emanating device that is inexpensively manufactured.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a scent emanating container adapted for removable placement on the end of an elongated writing instrument, comprising a scent housing; a neck portion adapted for placement on the elongated writing instrument and from which the scent housing extends;  
      a post interiorly extending from the housing; and a scented member removably positioned on the post. In its preferred form, the scent housing comprises a base portion and a cover hingedly connected to the base portion with the post extending upwardly from said base portion. The base portion and cover preferably include a plurality of openings formed therethrough that permit the scent to disseminate tehrefrom. The scented member is preferably a sponge that may be impaled on the post.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the present invention in its closed position and engaged with a writing instrument;  
       FIG. 2 a  front elevation view of the present invention in its open position and engaged with a writing instrument;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in the Figures a scent emanating device, designated generally by reference numeral  10 , essentially comprising a scent housing  12 , a neck  14  from which housing  12  extends and that is adapted for secure placement on the end of an elongated writing instrument  16 , such as a pen or pencil, a post  18  interiorly extending within housing  12 , and a scent emanating member  20  connected to post  18 . Housing  12  consists of a base portion  22  connected to neck  14 , and a cover  24  hingedly connected to base portion  22 . A plurality of openings  26  (see  FIG. 3 ) are formed through base portion  22  and cover  24  to permit the scent to emanate therefrom.  
      Writing instrument  16  extends along a longitudinal axis X-X with neck  14  adapted for secure engagement with one end thereof. Neck  14  includes a coating of non-slip material  28  (see  FIG. 4 ) on its interior surface to prevent device  10  from inadvertently becoming disconnected from writing instrument  16 . When device  10  is engaged with writing instrument  16 , post  18  extends co-linearly along axis X-X, thereby giving the user easy access to the end of post  18  as will be further described hereinafter.  
      As cover  24  flips about hinge  30  between open and closed positions relative to the top of base portion  14 , when in its open position, the user is given access directly into base portion  14 . As scent emanating member  20  is placed in impaled relation on post  16 , once fully used, it can be easily removed and replaced by the user with a new scent emanating member  20  simply by lifting open cover  24 , gripping scent member  20 , pulling it off of post  16 , and placing a new scent member  20  on post  16 .  
      Scent emanating member  20  is preferably a sponge that has been pre-soaked with the desired scent composition due to the sponge&#39;s cellular structure and ability to be securely impaled on and removed from post  16 .  
      The present invention has been described in reference to its preferred mode. It should be understood that changes may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the full scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.