Patent Publication Number: US-2020289695-A1

Title: Fragrance dispersing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of fragrance dispersers and more specifically relates to a device for dispersing fragrance that is attachable to a fan. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Keeping homes, offices, and the like, smelling fresh and clean can be difficult. People may use candles or air fresheners to keep fresh-smelling scents present; however, some of these items may not last long and can be expensive to purchase. Others may be unsafe and catch fire. Some scent dispensers require an electrical outlet in order to activate, and some rooms may be unable to support the device. A suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0016995 to Nathan A. Scolari relates to an apparatus for distributing a fragrance using a fan. The described apparatus for distributing a fragrance using a fan includes a housing having openings defined in the housing; a fragrance reservoir included in the housing for receiving a fragrance medium containing a fragrance; a cover operably associated with the opening for restricting airflow into the fragrance reservoir; and, a cover actuator operably connected to the cover having an open position allowing airflow into and out of the fragrance reservoir for dispensing a fragrance and a closed position for restricting airflow into and out of the fragrance reservoir. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known fragrance dispersers art, the present disclosure provides a novel fragrance dispersing device. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide users with a plastic cap capable of dispensing scent when installed in front of a fan. 
     A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a first half of a housing which may include a first front surface and a first rear surface. The front surface may have a first fastener thereon, and the rear surface may have a fan attachment-means thereon. The fan attachment-means may be configured to attach the first half to the fan blade shield. Similarly, a second half of the housing may be provided. The second half may include a second front surface and a second rear surface. The second rear surface may have a second fastener thereon configured to removably attach the second half to the first half. 
     The second half may further include an inner-capacity and a fragrance-outlet. A fragrance-composition may be housed within the inner-capacity of the second-half and may include the fragrance. The fragrance may be configured to disperse through the fragrance-outlet when the electrical fan may be in an on-state. 
     A method of using the device is also disclosed herein. The method of using the device may comprise the steps of: providing the device as above; attaching the first half of the housing to the fan blade shield via the fan attachment-means; attaching the second half of the housing to the first half of the housing via the first fastener and the second fastener; and turning the electrical fan to the on-state to disperse the fragrance through expelled air. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a fragrance dispersing device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a side-front perspective view of the device during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side-front perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side-rear perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a fragrance disperser and more particularly to a fragrance dispersing device as used to improve dispersing of fragrance via means that is attachable to a fan. 
     Generally disclosed is a device which allows different types of scent capsules to be slid in and out, allowing users to customize the scents in their homes, offices, and the like. This keeps any room smelling fresh, clean, and sanitary at all times. The device offers easy manual activation by pressing the cap once to activate the scent dispenser and a second time to turn it off. The device may eliminate the need to burn candles or spend extensive amounts of money on other, typically ineffective, household scent dispensers. 
     The device may include a cap unit that is capable of dispensing fresh-smelling fragrances. The cap may be installed on the front of an electrical fan and be activated by turning the cap. There can be two holes for the cap attachment to slide into the center portion of the fan. The caps can be interchangeable as needed, offering a way to obtain different types of fragrances within a specific room of a home or office. Users may activate the device by turning the cap to the right and shut off by turning the cap back to the left. The device may be constructed using plastic and other suitable materials. Further, the device may be available in various sizes in order to accommodate all user needs and preferences. Exact size, measurement, construction, and design specifications may vary upon manufacturing. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , various views of a device  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a device  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the device  100  may include a first half  110  of a housing  105 , a second half  120  of the housing  105  and a fragrance-composition  130 . The device  100  may be used for dispersing a fragrance by means of an electrical fan  5 , the electrical fan  5  including fan blades  10  and a fan blade shield  15  for covering the fan blades  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a side perspective view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first half  110  of the housing  105  may include a first front surface  112  and a first rear surface  114 . The first rear surface  114  may have a fan attachment-means  118  thereon. The fan attachment-means  118  may be configured to attach the first half  110  to the fan blade shield  15 . 
     In one embodiment, the fan attachment-means  118  may include at least one hook. Preferably, the at least one hook may be two hooks. A first hook of the two hooks may be located on a first side of the first rear-surface of the first half  110 , and a second hook of the two hooks may be located opposite the first hook on a second side of the first rear-surface of the first half  110 . In this embodiment, the two hooks may easily hook onto, and secure the first half  110  to, bars on the fan blade shield  15 . Other fan attachment-means  118  are contemplated, however. For example, the fan attachment-means  118  may include hook and loop fastener. Other examples include clips, clamps, adhesives, etc. The first half  110  may be removably attached to the fan blade shield  15  in one embodiment, or permanently attached in another embodiment. 
     As shown, the fan blade shield  15  may include a shield center  25  and the first half  110  may be sized to attach to the shield center  25 . The fan blade shield  15  may be circular in shape, and likewise, the first half  110  may be circular in shape. Further, the shield center  25  and the first half  110  may be equal in diameter. In another embodiment, the shield center  25  may be larger in diameter to the first half  110 , to allow the first half  110  to fit comfortably within the shield center  25 . In one embodiment, the fan attachment-means may include an aperture (not illustrated) that is able to mate with the shield center  25 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side-front perspective view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first half  110  of the housing  105  may include a first front surface  112 . Preferably, the first front surface  112  may have a first fastener  116  thereon. The second half  120  of the housing  105  may include a second front surface  122  and a second rear surface  124 . The second rear surface  124  may have a second fastener  126  thereon which may be configured to removably attach the second half  120  to the first half  110 . As shown, the second fastener  126  may protrude from the second rear surface  124  of the second half  120 , and the first fastener  116  may include an aperture  117  configured to slidably receive the second fastener  126 . Similarly to the first half  110 , the second half  120  may be circular in shape. Preferably, the first half  110  and the second half  120  may be equal in size. However, it is contemplated that the first half  110  and the second half  120  may differ in size. 
     The first half  110  and the second half  120  may be made from a durable material configured to withstand cooler temperatures dispersed by the electrical fan  5 . In one embodiment, the durable material may be a plastic material. Other materials include metal, wood, or other suitably equivalent materials, etc. Further, as shown, the second front surface  122  of the second half  120  may include a functional decorative pattern thereon. The functional decorative pattern may further bear indicia. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side-rear perspective view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The second half  120  may further include an inner-capacity  127  and a fragrance-outlet  128 . Preferably, the fragrance-outlet  128  may include for functional use an open-state and a closed-state. Further, the second half  120  may include an outlet-cover  121  configured to prevent airflow into the inner-capacity  127  and further prevent the fragrance from being dispersed through the fragrance-outlet  128  when in the closed-state. A user may twist the second half  120  to cover the fragrance-outlet  128  with the outlet-cover  121 . 
     The fragrance-composition  130  may be housed within the inner-capacity  127  of the second half  120 . The fragrance-composition  130  may include the fragrance configured to disperse through the fragrance-outlet  128  when the electrical fan  5  is an on-state. In one embodiment, the fragrance-composition  130  may be a gel. In other examples, the fragrance-composition  130  may be a liquid or a solid. The fragrance-composition  130  may contain at least 70% of the fragrance. The fragrance is contemplated to be manufactured in a plurality of scents. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a device for dispersing a fragrance  500 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using a device for dispersing a fragrance  500  may include the steps of: providing  501  the device as above; attaching  502  the first half of the housing to the fan blade shield via the fan attachment-means; attaching  503  the second half of the housing to the first half of the housing via the first fastener and the second fastener; and turning  504  the electrical fan to the on-state to disperse the fragrance through expelled air. 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for use of device  100  (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.