Patent Abstract:
A device is presented which automatically controls the interaction of a medium with an external environment, the temperature of which varies or remains constant. In addition to the medium, the device includes a mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, and an automatic drive mechanism which drives the mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment. Advantageously, the device includes a receptacle for the medium, and the receptacle includes a housing incorporating the mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, which is beneficially a movable vent or an expandable vent. The automatic drive mechanism is advantageously a temperature-responsive member or a temperature-responsive fluid movement device. The temperature-responsive member, which manifests variations in the surface area thereof as the temperature thereof is raised, is beneficially one of the following: a linear spring, a spiral metallic spring, a multi-metallic spring, a polymeric spring, or a pop spring. A preferred embodiment of the device includes at least one static vent positioned within the housing in alignment with at least one movable vent positioned therein, and the at least one movable vent is driven by the automatic drive mechanism to move in relation to the at least one static vent, thereby providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment by affording varying exposure thereof as the temperature of the external environment varies.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/370,794 filed Apr. 8, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to the interaction of a medium with its external environment. It relates particularly to a device for automatically controlling the interaction of a medium with its external environment.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    The interaction of a medium with its external environment has occupied the attention of many innovators over a considerable period of time, especially in the recent past and continuing through the present day. For example, a number of devices for modifying air quality have appeared and continue to appear on the market. These devices, which volatilize and dispense a medium, such as an air freshener, into a room or automobile interior, are often the subject of Unites States Patents. Exemplary of such United States Patents are the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,361,752; 6,123,935; 6,141,496; 6,514,467; 6,416,043; 6,267,297; 6,103,201; 5,932,147; 5,253,804; and 4,754,696. Howsoever efficacious, these devices are found wanting in that they do not provide for automatic control of the interaction of the medium with the external environment, the temperature of which is often variable, not do they provide constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment is afforded. Furthermore, presently available devices do not provide for automatic control of the interaction of a medium, and the constant effectiveness thereof with an external environment, when the desired interaction is something other than volatilizing and dispensing—that is to say, absorbing, absorbing and chemically reacting, among other interactions, are not provided for.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of the related art. This object is achieved, and attending benefits are obtained, by the provision of the present invention, which is a device for automatically controlling the interaction of a medium with an external environment the temperature of which varies or remains constant. The device includes a medium, which is one or more of the following: a temperature-sensitive medium, a moisture-sensitive medium, a chemically-reactive medium, an evaporative medium, and an absorptive medium. The medium can be a liquid, solid, gas, fiber, gel, or an encapsulated material. The instant device also includes a mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, as well as an automatic drive mechanism, which communicates with and drives the mechanism providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, so that a desired interaction of the medium with the external environment is afforded.  
           [0007]    The instant drive mechanism advantageously includes a container for the medium, which is preferably a receptacle having a housing which incorporates the mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, which is beneficially a movable vent or an expandable vent. The movable vent is preferably one or more of the following: a movable shutter, a movable louver, a movable orifice, and a movable sheath. The automatic drive mechanism, which communicates with and drives the mechanism for providing constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment, is advantageously a temperature-responsive member or a temperature-responsive fluid movement device. The temperature-responsive member, which manifests variations in the surface area thereof as the temperature thereof is varied, is preferably a linear spring, a spiral metallic spring, a multi-metallic spring, a polymeric spring, or a pop spring.  
           [0008]    Excellent results are obtained if the device of the present invention also includes a static vent, which is securely positioned within the housing in substantial alignment with a movable vent, and the movable vent is driven by the automatic drive mechanism to move relative to the static vent, so that constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment is provided by varying the exposure of the medium in the external environment. The static vent is advantageously a static orifice, a static louver, or a static sheath. Especially beneficial results are achieved for some media if the movable vent and the static vent have essentially the same geometric shapes, so that constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment is achieved by varying the exposure of the medium to the external environment in a substantially linear fashion. Especially beneficial results are also achieved for some media in the movable vent and the static vent has essentially different geometric shapes, so that constant effectiveness of the medium in the external environment is achieved by varying the exposure of the medium to the external environment in a substantially non-linear fashion.  
           [0009]    Additional preferred embodiments of the device according to the present invention includes a device having a cooperating mechanism for presenting an on/off condition at chosen levels of exposure of the medium to the external environment, as well as a device having a cooperating mechanism for inducing a temperature change in the medium, the latter mechanism being advantageously a programmable heater such as a thermal profile generator or a time/temperature thermal profile generator. When a programmable heater is employed, beneficial results are obtained if the mechanism is provided to cooperate with the programmable heater and present a signal evincing the end of a programmed cycle.  
           [0010]    Additional preferred embodiments of the device according to the present invention includes a mechanism for inducing air currents across the medium contained in the receptacle. Such a mechanism for inducing air currents is preferably a fan programmed for continuous operation at a substantially constant blade speed, or a fan the blade speed of which is controlled by the automatic drive mechanism.  
           [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, the device according to the present invention has a housing which includes a front face and a back face, which are joined together to form a slot therebetween. The slot functions as the reservoir for the medium, which is configured in the form of a sheet having two major surfaces. The sheet is configured to fit within the slot and is capable of movement therein. At least one of the front face and the back face of the housing has at least one fixed vent therein. A temperature responsive member, which serves as the automatic drive mechanism, is connected to a holder for medium, which moves the medium within the slot as a result of changes in temperature, so that the medium is oriented with respect to the at least one vent for communication therethrough with the external environment. The major surfaces of the medium have at least one masked area and at least one unmasked area thereon, each masked and unmasked area having substantially the same shape and surface area as the at least one fixed vent. The at least one masked area is in substantial alignment with the at least one fixed vent when the external environment is at a first temperature, and the at least one unmasked area is in substantial alignment with the at least one fixed vent when the external environment is at a second temperature, the first temperature being higher than the second temperature.  
           [0012]    Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a device having a housing which includes a first concave face and a second concave face, which faces when joined together form an integral, hollow enclosure. The first concave face and the second concave face are connected together at one area thereof on one edge thereof by means of a hinge. The second concave face contains the medium therein. The automatic drive mechanism is a bimetallic spring, which is attached to the first concave face and the second concave face, respectively, in the vicinity of the hinge. The first and second concave faces are positioned apart to expose the medium to the external environment when the external environment is at a first temperature, and the first and second concave faces are drawn together by means of the bimetallic spring to form an integral hollow enclosure when the external environment is at a second temperature, the first temperature being lower than the second temperature.  
           [0013]    Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a device having a housing for the receptacle for the medium, and an automatic drive mechanism which is a temperature-responsive member such as a spring. For this embodiment the external environment is a liquid, and the medium is a liquid or a powder which is contained in the receptacle. In this embodiment the device additionally includes a mechanism for automatically dispensing the medium from the receptacle into the liquid external environment, which mechanism for automatically dispensing the medium is driven by the automatic drive mechanism.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its primary object and attending benefits, reference should be made to the Detailed Description of the Invention, which is set forth below. This Detailed Description should be read together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 1A, 1B,  1 C,  1 D, and  1 E depict a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including exploded perspective, sectional, and top views thereof, respectively.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 2A, 2B,  2 C,  2 D, and  2 E depict a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including exploded perspective, sectional, and top views thereof, respectively.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 3A, 3B,  3 C,  3 D,  3 E and  3 F depict a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including exploded perspective, sectional, top views, and a section view thereof, respectively.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4A, 4B,  4 C,  4 D, and  4 E depict a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including exploded perspective, sectional, and top views thereof, respectively.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 5A, 5B,  5 C,  5 D, and  5 E depict a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including side views and detailed views thereof, respectively.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 6A, 6B,  6 C,  6 D, and  6 E depict a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including a perspective and exploded perspective view thereof, respectively.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 schematically depicts the platform spring assembly employed in the embodiment of FIG. 6B.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically depict a vented and a non-vented shutter, respectively, for employment in the embodiment of FIG. 6B.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 9A and 9B schematically depict in sectional representation a seventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 10A and 10B schematically depict in sectional representations an eighth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 schematically represents two asymmetric profiles for vents which are employed in preferred embodiments according to the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 12A, 12B,  12 C,  12 D,  12 E and  12 F schematically depict a ninth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 13A, 13B, and  13 C depict a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including an exploded sectional view and two sectional views thereof, respectively.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 14A, 14B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E, and  14 F schematically depict an eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is very closely related to the embodiment depicted in FIGS.  3 A- 3 F.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 15A, 15B, and  15 C depict a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 16A, 16B, and  16 C schematically depict a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is very closely related to the embodiment depicted in FIGS.  15 A- 15 F.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 17A and 17B depict a fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including a perspective and exploded perspective view thereof, respectively.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 18A and 18B depict a fifteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations, including an exploded view and a detailed view of some of the components thereof, respectively.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 19A, 19B,  19 C and  19 D depict a sixteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention in schematic representations.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 20A and 20B depict a thermal response housing assembly, which is a component of the embodiment of FIGS.  19 A- 19 D.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 21A, 21B,  21 C,  21 D, and  21 E are schematic representations illustrating the operation of the thermal response housing assembly of FIGS.  20 A- 20 B.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 22A, 22B, and  22 C are schematic representations of a seventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a closely related to the sixteenth preferred embodiment represented in FIGS.  19 A- 19 D.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1A illustrates the most basic configuration of the embodiments. The automatically controlled device comprises only three pieces: an outer housing with static vents (hereafter referred to as housing)  1 , a medium  2 , which is shaped into a movable shutter  2  (hereafter, the medium and shutter will be used interchangeably, contingent on the explanation needed) and a spring  3 .  
         [0038]    Vent is defined as the group consisting of louvers, orifices, sheaths, and other geometrical openings that allow the medium to communicate with its external environment.  
         [0039]    In a preferred embodiment, the spring has an unrestrained end  4  and a stationary end  5 . The shutter  2  serves two purposes: it functions as the medium and the shutter  2 . The shutter  2  comprises multiple movable vents  16  that are equally spaced circumferentially and a centrally located unrestrained spring end attachment hole  7 .  
         [0040]    The shutter  2  for this application is comprised of a member of the group of homogeneous, non-homogeneous, multi-layered and combined materials.  
         [0041]    An example of a homogeneous material would be naphthalene and is used as the active and medium  2 . Naphthalene is used for mothballs. This material is molded into the shape of a shutter  2 .  
         [0042]    An example of a non-homogeneous material is an active, impregnated into a carrier material, such as cardboard, plastic, or compressed sawdust. The shutter  2  is made of a mixture of cardboard particulates, plastic and active and molded into or impregnated into the shape of a shutter  2 . The plastic acts as the binder and the cardboard is used to absorb and disperse the active. The example of an active in this case is a fragrance.  
         [0043]    An example of a layered or laminated structure is a medium comprising progressive layers, in any permutation, of a homogeneous layer, a non-homogeneous layer and even a layer where the active is encapsulated by a plastic coating (e.g. microspheres).  
         [0044]    The shutter medium  2  is placed onto the unrestrained end of the spring  4  via the centrally located spring attachment hole  7 . The spring and shutter assembly is inserted into the housing  1  until the assembly passes through, snaps in, and sits onto the spring and shutter assembly retainers  9 . The shutter assembly is then rotated until the stationary end of the spring  5  snaps into the spring retaining slot  10 . Once the entire assembly is complete, the device is functional.  
         [0045]    The changes in ambient temperature control the rotation and alignment of the shutter vents  16  to the static vents  6 . The device is set so that when the ambient temperature increases or decreases, the shutter vents  16  and the static vents  6  can either be totally aligned, misaligned or any configuration in between. In this preferred embodiment, when the ambient temperature reaches its maximum designed temperature, the shutter vents  16  and the static vents  6  are in total alignment FIG. 1C at  11  and minimal medium  2  is exposed to the external environment  21 . This occurs because both the static vents  6  and the shutter vents  16  have substantially the same geometric shapes. When the device reaches its lowest designed temperature, the static vents  6  and shutter vents  16  are in total misalignment, thereby exposing the maximum amount of medium FIG. 1E at  12  through the static vent  6  and into its external environment  21 .  
         [0046]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 E illustrate a four-piece device that comprises a housing  1 , a shutter  15 , a spring  3 , and a medium  13 .  
         [0047]    The device functions similar to the device in FIG. 1A, with two exceptions: the shutter  15 , although identical in design to the medium FIG. 1A at  2 , does not serve the purpose as the medium  13 . The medium  13  is a separate refillable item.  
         [0048]    The device is assembled in the same manner as the device in FIG. 1A, with the exception that the shutter assembly is now inserted into the housing  1  until it snaps into and comes to rest on the shutter assembly retainers  9 . The shutter assembly is then rotated until the stationary spring end  5  snaps into the spring retaining slot  10 .  
         [0049]    The medium  13  has an extended pull-tab  20  to aid in insertion and removal of the medium  13 . The medium  13  is ultimately inserted into the housing  1  until it snaps into and comes to rest upon the medium retainers  14 .  
         [0050]    A medium barrier  22  has been added to the back of the medium  13  to act as a barrier  22  so that the face of the medium  13  will only communicate with its external environment  21  through the shutter vents  16  and the static vents  6 . This forces the medium  13  to communicate with its external environment  21  solely through the automatic control system of the device.  
         [0051]    The shutter&#39;s  15  only function in FIGS.  2 A- 2 E is to change the amount of exposure and the degree to which the medium  13  is allowed to communicate with its external environment  21 . As the temperature changes, the non-restricted spring end  4  rotates thereby causing the shutter  16  to align or misalign with the static vent  6 .  
         [0052]    In this preferred embodiment, increasing ambient temperatures will cause the spring  3  to expand and rotate the shutter  15  counterclockwise until the shutter vents  16  are in total misalignment with the static vents  6 . This creates the situation where the static vents  6  are totally blocked off by the interference of the areas of the shutter that are non-vented  12  and results in virtually no communication of the medium  13  with its external environment  21 .  
         [0053]    The opposite result occurs when the ambient temperature decreases. The spring  3  contracts and causes the shutter  15  to rotate clockwise. As the shutter vents  16  become increasingly more aligned with the static vents  6 , perfect alignments are ultimately achieved between the static vents  6  and the shutter vents  16 . In this configuration, the shutter  15  creates no restriction of the static vents  6 . This is depicted in FIG. 2C at  11 . This configuration allows the medium  13  to communicate fully and maximally with its external environment  21 .  
         [0054]    This preferred embodiment and the way in which the shutter  15  rotates is ideal for a fragrance medium. Fragrances exposed to high ambient temperatures typically exhibit high vapor pressures and evaporation rates. This results in a high level of perceived fragrance strength by the consumer if left uncontrolled. The opposite is true if the fragrance medium is subject to low ambient temperatures. The consumer perceives the fragrance strength as weak or insufficient if left uncontrolled. Ideally, the perceived strength of the fragrance would be linear and independent of temperature. This device does just that; it removes the external variable of temperature variation on the medium  13  by automatically controlling the degree to which the medium is allowed to communicate with its external environment  21  throughout its useful temperature range. This is determined by the degree that the non-vented shutter areas  12  block off the static vents  6  in response to temperature change. In this preferred embodiment, the shutter  15  increases the exposure and communication of the medium  13  to its external environment  21  when the temperature decreases, by progressively minimizing the degree to which it blocks off the static vents  6 . It also progressively decreases the blockage of the static vents  6  as the temperatures rises. The result is the device increases the exposure of the medium  13  to its environment  21  when the fragrance is perceived as being weak and ineffective and decreases the exposure or communication of the medium  13  to its surroundings  21  when the fragrance is perceived as too strong or overpowering. The progression of how the shutter controls the ability of the medium  13  to communicate with its external environment  21  is depicted in FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D, and FIG. 2E. FIG. 2C shows the static vents  6  and the shutter vents  16  in total alignment  11 . FIG. 2D shows the shutter  15  beginning to close. The non-vented shutter area  12  is partially blocking off the static vent  6 . FIG. 2E shows the static vent  6  totally blocked off by the non vented shutter area  12 . The automatic rotation of the shutter  15  with changing temperature, linearizes the perceived strength of the fragrance with changing temperatures and therefore blocks out the external temperature variable the fragrance is affected by and exposed to.  
         [0055]    It must be noted that the spring  3  can be turned over. It will then rotate in the opposite direction and move clockwise with increasing temperatures and counterclockwise with decreasing temperatures. It accomplishes the opposite results and increases the exposure of the medium  13  when hot and decreases the exposure of the medium  13  when cold. This design set up is useful for controlling and optimizing the efficacy of various insect control media; such as pheromones, insecticides, and repellants when insects are most active (hot weather) and requires the maximum amount of medium  13  exposure and helps prolong the useful life of the medium by blocking of exposure of the medium  13  to its external environment when the insects are not active. This set up is also useful for absorptive medium types.  
         [0056]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 E illustrate a five-piece device, which includes a hosing  1 , a shutter  15 , a spring  3 , a reservoir  18 , and a medium  19 .  
         [0057]    The device in FIGS.  3 A- 3 E is assembled in the same manner as the device in FIGS.  2 A- 2 E with the exception of adding and affixing a reservoir containing the medium  18  instead of just the medium itself FIG. 2A at  13 . The reservoir  18  is installed by inserting it into the housing  1  until the lip on the reservoir  17  snaps into and comes to rest on the reservoir retainer&#39;s  14 . The device functions, in all aspects, identically to the device in FIG. 2A.  
         [0058]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 E illustrates a device comprising three-pieces: a housing  1 , a medium acting as a shutter (hereafter referred to as the shutter)  2  and a manually adjustable spring  3 .  
         [0059]    The housing  1  is comprised of static vents  6 , a spring adjustment-retaining slot  24  and a shutter rotation limiter tab  25 . The spring adjustment retaining slot  24  is required to retain the spring adjuster tab  23  and allow enough lateral movement of the spring-adjuster tab  23  to move the medium  2  to the desired position in relation to the static vents  6 . The shutter rotation stop tab  25  cooperating with the shutter rotation stop slot  26  is required to insure the shutter doesn&#39;t travel beyond its intended maximum and minimum distances of travel. In essence, the spring is not allowed to over travel its design limits. If the device was designed to expose no medium to the external environment at 120 F, the shutter stop  25  inhibits the shutter from rotating beyond the desired alignment of the shutter vents  16  to the static vents  6 . In this case, perfect alignment of the vents would expose no medium to the environment and satisfy the desired effect. However, without the stops  25 , the shutter  2  will continue to rotate, as temperatures greater than the 120 F design temperature are present. This will actually begin to expose the medium to the environment again, even though it would be highly undesirable. The same is true for minimum designed temperatures. Once the lowest design temperature is present, the maximum amount of medium  2  is exposed to the environment  21  and further decreases in temperature will have no affect on the ability of the shutter to rotate; the shutter rotation stop  25  insures this.  
         [0060]    When the consumer desires to vary the amount of medium  2  exposed to the external environment  21 , the consumer will move the manual spring-adjuster tab  23  left or right.  
         [0061]    In a preferred embodiment, and using a fragrance medium as an example, the consumer would move the spring-adjusting tab  23  clockwise (right) to reduce the exposure of the medium to its environment  21  if the consumer perceived the fragrance strength as being too strong and counter clockwise to expose more of the medium  2  if the fragrance strength was perceived as being too weak. It must be noted, that the manual spring adjuster  23  concept may be used in many of the following devices as well, to set or vary an infinite amount activation temperatures within the useful temperature range, simply by preloading or unloading the spring. This would be done to satisfy the needs of specific applications.  
         [0062]    Once the consumer moved the spring adjuster tab  23  to the desired setting, the automatic features of the device would take over again, at the new set point, and continue to automatically compensate for variations in ambient temperature. The manual adjustment feature is desirable to the consumer because it allows the consumer to personally tailor the device to individual needs, preferences, and specific applications.  
         [0063]    The device is installed in the same manner as the device in FIG. 1A with the exception that the spring  3  needs to be manually compressed to give the spring adjuster tab  23  the clearance necessary to be inserted into the housing  1  and snap into and come to rest on the spring assembly retainers  9 . Once located on the spring assembly retainers  9 , the spring assembly is rotated until the manual spring adjuster tab  23  pops through the spring adjuster-retaining slot  24 . The device is now assembled and ready for use.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 5A illustrates a device that comprises an upper housing  27 , a lower housing  28 , a hinge  29 , a medium  37 , and a bimetallic spring  36 .  
         [0065]    The upper housing  27  and the lower housing  28  are connected by a hinge  29  and will be hereafter referred to as the housing assembly. The hinge is comprised of a member of the group consisting of mechanical hinges, fasteners, or integral plastic hinges.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 5D illustrates the top spring retainer assembly. The top spring retainer  34  contains a slot  31  and a top wedge hook  39  for securing the top end of the bimetallic spring  30 . FIG. 5C illustrates the bottom spring retainer assembly. The bottom spring retainer  35  also contains a slot  33  and a bottom wedge hook  38  for securing the bottom end of the spring  32 .  
         [0067]    The medium  37  is contained in the lower housing  28 . In this case, the lower housing  28  is acting as a medium reservoir as well.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 5A illustrates the device fully open, maximizing the exposure of the medium  37  to its external environment. Its appearance resembles an open clam shell. The device in FIG. 5A develops this configuration when the ambient temperature is the coldest and causes the bimetallic spring  30  to contract.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 5B illustrates the device fully closed, minimizing the exposure of the medium  37  to its external environment. The closure of the device is a result of high ambient temperatures expanding the spring  36  and forcing the housing assembly to close shut.  
         [0070]    This is consistent with the previously described methods to control the perceived strength of a fragrance. When the ambient temperatures increase, the fragrance components increase in vapor pressure, evaporation rate, and perceived fragrance strength to the consumer. The opposite is true as ambient temperatures decrease. The device controls this, by opening up and allowing the medium  37  to communicate fully to its external environment when the ambient temperature is cold and the vapor pressures are at their lowest, as well as closing down, to restrict communication of the medium  37  with its external environment when the ambient temperatures get hot and the vapor pressures are at their highest.  
         [0071]    The device in FIG. 6B comprises a rear housing  41 , a front housing  40 , a spring assembly (FIG. 7), and a manual platform adjuster  56 . The device uses two types of shutters that also function as the medium. FIG. 8A illustrates a vented shutter  61  and FIG. 8B illustrates a non-vented shutter  63  comprising masked off areas of the shutter.  
         [0072]    The rear housing  41  comprises a shutter grip slot  59 , two shutter guide rails  45 , an axle-bearing slot  47 , a shutter slot  44 , two platform stops  46  and four front housing attachment pegs  42 .  
         [0073]    The front housing  41  comprises a shutter grip slot  59 , a shutter slot  44 , static housing vents  55 , attachment peg receptors  43 , and an axle hole  58 .  
         [0074]    The platform spring assembly (FIG. 7) comprises a spring  49 , a fixed spring end anchor  51 , a movable spring end pivot  52 , an axle  50 , a shutter platform connecting rod  53 , a shutter platform  48 , and a shutter platform connecting rod pivot  54 .  
         [0075]    The vented shutter in FIG. 8A at  61  has punched out holes to define the movable vents  62 . The masked off shutter FIG. 8B at  63  illustrates a shutter that has the typical vent portions “masked off” with a barrier material as discussed in FIG. 2A at  22  and is designated as the masked area  64 . There are no holes or vents punched in this card; the card is solid with barrier material adhered to the shutter  63  in places where vents would typically be. This creates areas where the medium cannot communicate with the external environment. It also functions as a shutter.  
         [0076]    To begin assembling the device, the platform spring assembly housing (FIG. 7) is inserted into the rear housing  41 . The front housing  40  is then appropriately assembled onto the rear housing assembly  41  via the attachment pegs  42  and the attachment peg receptors  43 . Once assembled, the manual platform adjuster  56  is secured to the axle  50  via the axle receptor  57 .  
         [0077]    In a preferred embodiment using the vented shutter FIG. 8A at  61 , the device functions and is used in the following manner when an evaporative medium, such as a fragrance is used. The vented shutter  61  is inserted into the grip slot  59  until the vented shutter  61  comes to rest on the platform  48 . The device is designed so that the movable vents  62  and the static housing vents  55  align at the maximum design temperature. This maximally restricts the mediums communication with its external environment. When the ambient temperatures increase above the maximum design temperature, full alignment is maintained by the platform stops  46 . This is important since increasing ambient temperatures would cause the spring  49  to continue to expand, resulting in the shutter  61  to over travel. If this happened, the alignment would be lost and the non-vented areas of the shutter would begin reappearing. This would start exposing the medium to its external environment again and defeat the purpose of the invention. This would cause excessive evaporation and an extremely strong and undesirable perception of the fragrance to the consumer.  
         [0078]    The device is also designed to function in the opposite manner when the device is exposed to its lowest designed ambient temperatures. As the temperatures drops, the spring  49  continues to contract. As the spring  49  continues to contract and reaches its lowest designed temperature, the platform  48  bottoms out on the coil of the spring  49 . At this point, the shutter vents  62  and the static housing vents  55  are in total misalignment. One could argue that the spring  49  would continue to contract and the spring would continue to decrease in diameter if the temperatures plummeted and thus allow the platform  48  to continue to drop. However, the additional movement is considered insignificant for the devices purpose. If an application warranted more stringent low temperature control, an added pair of stops  49  would be inserted.  
         [0079]    The non-vented shutter FIG. 8B at  63  functions identically to the vented shutter FIG. 8A at  61 . The only difference in the two shutters is that holes are not punched in the non-vented shutter  63 . Barrier material is adhered or coated on the shutter and substituted for the holes or vents  62  punched in the vented shutter  61 . Both methodologies accomplish the same task.  
         [0080]    The manual platform adjuster  56  is desirable to the consumer because it allows the consumer to adjust the exposure of the medium to its external environment. Turning the manual adjuster  56  compresses or decompresses the spring  49  which ultimately control the position of the shutter  61  or  63  via the platform  48 . If the consumer desires a stronger perceived fragrance, the shutter  61  or  63  is adjusted to be more misaligned with the static housing vents  55 . If the consumer desires weaker fragrance strength the shutter  61  or  63  is adjusted to be better aligned with the static housing vents  55 .  
         [0081]    The device in FIGS. 9A and 9B is another automatic temperature controlled device that uses movable louvers  77  to allow the medium  73  to communicate with its external environment. The device comprises a medium  73 , a housing  71 , static housing vents  79 , a spring rod assembly  70 , and a louver assembly  72 .  
         [0082]    The spring assembly  70  comprises a spring  75 , a spring static end  68 , a spring rod pivot  80 , and a connecting rod  74 .  
         [0083]    The louver assembly  72  comprises a louver bar  69 , a louver bar pivot  76 , movable louvers  77 , and louver pivots  78 .  
         [0084]    In a preferred embodiment, and using a fragrance as an example of the medium  73 , the device functions in the following manner. As the ambient temperature decreases, the spring  75  begins to contract and wind up. As the spring  75  contracts, it pulls the connecting rod  74  down. When this is occurring, it simultaneously causes the louvers  77  to move freely toward a horizontal position via the louver bar pivots  76 , and the louver housing pivots  78 . When the minimum designed ambient temperature is met, the louvers move into a horizontal position and are restricted from further travel by the louver bar stops  67 . The louver bar stops  67  restrict any potential for over travel if the ambient temperature continues to drop below the lowest designed ambient temperature for the device.  
         [0085]    The operational sequence reverses as the ambient temperature increases and approaches the device&#39;s maximally designed temperature. The spring  75  expands and unwinds; causing the connecting rod  74  to rise and simultaneously close the louvers  77  until contacting the louver housing  71  halts their movement. The louver housing  71  provides the stopping mechanism for the louvers  77  when the maximum design temperature is met.  
         [0086]    This operational sequence is consistent with the needs of controlling the evaporative profile of a fragrance medium  73  and blocks out the temperature variable by linearizing the evaporative profile with changing temperatures. In essence, the sequence of operations increases the mediums  73  communication with its external environment as the vapor pressure or evaporation rates of the medium  73  drop off with decreasing temperatures and restricts the mediums communication with its external environment as the vapor pressure or evaporation rates climb with increasing temperatures.  
         [0087]    The device in FIG. 10A illustrates an automatic temperature controlled mechanism that comprises a housing  84 , static vents  87 , bimetallic spring retainers  85 , a medium reservoir  81 , a medium  83 , a wick  82 , a wick sheath  88 , and a bimetallic spring  86  with a sheath retaining hole  89 .  
         [0088]    The device is assembled by inserting the sheath  88  into the sheath-retaining hole  89  and then inserting the bimetallic spring  86  into the spring retainers  85 . The wick  82  is inserted into the sheath  88  and the entire assembly is inserted into the reservoir opening  90 .  
         [0089]    In a preferred embodiment, the device functions and is designed in the following manner when an evaporative medium, such as a liquid fragrance is used. Once the wick  82  is inserted into the medium  83 , the medium  83  quickly saturates the wick  82  and comes to equilibrium through capillary action. The sheaths  88  main purpose is to regulate the amount of surface area the wick  82  is exposed to in relation to its external environment. Assuming the ambient temperature is held constant, exposing more of the wick  82  to its external environment increases the evaporation rate and perceived strength of the fragrance medium  83  to its external environment and ultimately the consumer. Unfortunately, ambient temperatures vary and if the wick  82  length is held constant as temperatures change, the evaporation rates and perceived strengths of the medium  83  changes. Many devices currently operate in such a fashion and are at the mercy of varying temperatures. These devices haven&#39;t blocked out the temperature variable. This device does.  
         [0090]    The sequence of operation is similar to what has been described previously. As the temperature increases, the bimetallic spring  86  expands and becomes increasing more convex. Since the sheath  88  is an integral part of the spring  86 , the sheath  88  rises with the spring  86  and progressively reduces the surface area or length of the wick  82  exposed to its external environment. When the ambient temperature reaches the maximum design temperature of the device, the sheath  88  significantly shields the wick  82  from its external environment and only a very little portion of the wick  82  can be seen sticking out above the face of the sheath  88 . This is illustrated in FIG. 10B.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 10A illustrates the device operating at its minimally designed temperature. The spring  86  is frilly contracted and the sheath  88  is allowing the maximum amount of wick  82  exposure to its external environment.  
         [0092]    The two operating scenarios just described are consistent with the philosophy of minimizing exposure of an evaporative medium to its external environment when the ambient temperature is hot and maximizing the exposure of the medium to its surroundings when they are cold. This typically holds true for an evaporative medium, but as discussed before is opposite, if the desired outcome is to expose more of the medium  83  to its external environment when hot. To reverse the desired outcome and optimize this type of application, the spring  86  would control movement of the wick  82  instead. When the temperature increased, the wick  82  would be pulled out of the medium  83 , exposing more of the wick  82  and allowing maximum communication of the medium  83  to its external environment.  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 11 illustrates two asymmetric vent profiles  93  and  94 . The static vent profile  93  is shown cut into a representative portion of a device housing  95 . This irregular shaped vent profile  93  would be used to compensate for complex medium that exhibited up to a third order temperature response characteristic curve. The asymmetric vent  94  is shown cut into a representative portion of a movable shutter  96 . This vent geometry  94  would be custom designed for a complex evaporative medium that required extremely tight control of the mediums exposure to its external environment. In essence, the more precisely the vent profile or profiles are designed to match the characteristics of a specific medium, the better the device will control the mediums constant effectiveness to its external environment throughout its useful temperature range.  
         [0094]    The devices in FIGS.  12 A- 12 E illustrate the operations of two expandable vent methodologies. FIG. 12A illustrates the assembly diagram for the coiled spring actuated expandable vent device FIG. 12B. The device comprises a top cap  112 , an expandable vent housing  113 , a coil spring  115 , a spring connecting rod  116 , a connecting rod anchor  111 , a medium  117 , and a reservoir for the medium  118 .  
         [0095]    The device is first assembled by attaching the spring  115  to the spring connecting rod  116 . The medium  117  is inserted into the medium reservoir  118  and the spring connecting rod  116  is passed through the medium  117  and attached to the connecting rod anchor  111 . The top cap  112  is attached to the expandable vent housing  113 . The spring  115  is compressed and passed through the expandable vent housing  113  until the spring bottoms out in the top cap  112  and decompresses for a tight friction fit inside of the top cap  112  and the expandable vent housing  113  is secured to the reservoir  118 .  
         [0096]    The device functions similarly to the others previously described since the vents  114  are driven to open or close by the expansion or contraction of the spring  115 . The advantage of the expandable vent device is that it allows greater than 90% medium exposure, in comparison to only 50% medium exposure that is characteristic of the movable shutter.  
         [0097]    In a preferred embodiment of the device and assuming the medium is a fragrance, FIG. 12D illustrates the device operating at its maximally designed temperature. As the ambient temperature rises, the spring expands and rotates the vent housing  113  clockwise until it is tightly wound and the vents  114  are totally closed.  
         [0098]    [0098]FIG. 12C illustrates the device operating at its minimally designed temperature. As the ambient temperature decreases, the spring  115  contracts and rotates counterclockwise, causing the expandable vent housing  113  to follow and open the vents  114  to their full extent.  
         [0099]    [0099]FIGS. 12E and 12F illustrate another expandable vent device. However, this configuration of this device uses the bimetallic spring  120  as a vehicle to compress and expand the expandable vent housing  119  and hence the expandable vents  114 .  
         [0100]    [0100]FIG. 12E at  114  illustrates the device operating at its minimally designed temperature. The bimetallic springs  120  and  132  are contracted due to the exposure of a low ambient temperature. At the springs  19  and  132  contracted state, the expandable vent housing  119  is compressed and results in the expandable vents  114  bulging out. This configuration allows the medium to communicate with its external environment maximally.  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 12F illustrates the device operating at its maximally designed temperature. The bimetallic springs  120  and  132  are fully expanded and cause the expandable vent housing  119  to elongate under tension. When the expandable vent housing  119  is fully elongated, the expandable vents  114  are in their maximally closed position and maximally restrict the medium from communicating with its external environment.  
         [0102]    It should be noted that the utilization of a single spring located on the top or bottom will suffice, but the dual spring approach creates more expandable vent housing travel, generates higher forces and is the preferred approach. It also should be noted that the expandable vent housing could also be the medium. The housing would be a multiplayer material as previously discussed and the medium would only be exposed on the inside of the expandable vent housing.  
         [0103]    [0103]FIGS. 13A, 13B, and  13 C illustrate a device that operates with a spring activated movable lid that allows the medium to communicate with its external environment within the useful range of its designed temperatures.  
         [0104]    The device comprises a movable cap  122 , a bimetallic spring  124 , a spring connecting rod  123 , a connecting rod spring retainer  160 , and an upper housing  127  containing a spring retaining slot  125 , a seal-retaining slot  132 , a seal  126 , and attachment threads  137 . The device also includes a lower housing  129  containing attachment threads  138  as well as a medium  128 .  
         [0105]    The device is first assembled by inserting the spring connecting rod  123 , through the bimetallic spring  124  and attaching the lower connecting rod attachment  158  to the connecting rod spring retainer  160 . The upper spring connecting rod attachment  131  is inserted into the cap spring connecting rod retainer  130  and secured. The seal  126  is inserted into the seal-retaining slot  132  and the bimetallic spring  124  is inserted into spring retaining slot  125 . This completes the assembly of the upper half of the housing  127 . The medium  128  is placed into the lower housing  129 . The assembly is complete and the device is ready for use when the upper housing  127  and lower housing  129  are screwed together via  137  and  138  and sealed.  
         [0106]    In a preferred embodiment and using a complex liquid medium, FIG. 13B depicts the device operating at its minimally designed temperature. When the device is at its minimally designed temperature, the bimetallic spring  124  is fully contracted and pulling down on the cap  122  via the spring connecting rod  123 . At this juncture, no medium  128  is in communication with its external environment.  
         [0107]    [0107]FIG. 13C depicts the device operating at its maximally designed temperature. When the device is at its maximally designed temperature, the bimetallic spring  124  is fully expanded and has pushed the cap  122  off of the seal  126  to its full extent via the spring connecting rod  123 . At this point, the medium is maximally communicating with its external environment.  
         [0108]    FIGS.  14 A- 14 F show a device almost identical to the device illustrated in FIGS.  3 A- 3 E. The major exception is that the device in FIG. 14B uses a bimetallic spring  103  as the driving mechanism instead of a coiled spring.  
         [0109]    The device is assembled by inserting and securing the bimetallic spring  103  into the static spring anchor  109  located on the post  108 . The movable shutter  102 , which includes vent holes  134 , is installed by inserting the movable end of the bimetallic spring  102  into the movable spring anchor  105 . The bimetallic spring  103  is installed properly when it rests against the bimetallic spring pivot  104 . The movable shutter  102  is positioned and located concentrically with the lower housing  110  by placing the movable shutter  101  via the axis hole  250  onto the movable shutter rotation bearing  107 . To complete the assembly, the upper shroud  101 , which includes static vent holes  133 , is attached to the lower housing  110  containing the medium  106 .  
         [0110]    In a preferred embodiment the medium  106  is a fragrance gel. The sequence of operation is illustrated in FIGS.  14 D- 14 F. FIG. 14D illustrates the device at its minimally designed temperature. The movable shutter vents  134  are in total alignment with the static housing vents  133  and result in maximally exposing the medium to its external environment. The bimetallic spring  103  is contracted and appears linear.  
         [0111]    [0111]FIG. 14E represents the device operating at increased ambient temperatures and illustrates the movable shutter vents  134  oriented to the static vents  133  in a configuration that allows the medium  106  to communicate to its external environment at only 50% of it maximal potential. At this stage, the bimetallic spring is partially expanded and bent or bowed. In essence, the static vents  133  are 50% blocked off.  
         [0112]    [0112]FIG. 14F represents the device operating at its maximally designed temperature and illustrates the movable shutter vents  134  and the static vents  133  in total misalignment. At this stage, the bimetallic spring  103  is fully expanded and maximally bent and the medium  106  is maximally restricted from communicating with its external environment.  
         [0113]    FIGS.  15 A- 15 C illustrate a continually variable speed fan that changes fan speed with changes in ambient temperature. The fan comprises a fan motor  145 , fan blade  144 , a thermistor-type amperage controller  148  and a power source  146 . The power source  146  is a battery, a 12-volt dc circuit or a household 120-volt circuit. An on-off switch is optional.  
         [0114]    The device is assembled by initially inserting and securing the fan motor  145  and fan  144  into the fan retainer  151 . The fan mounting bracket assembly consists of the mounting brackets  150 ; the mounting bracket mounts  152  and the fan retainer  151 . The mounting bracket assembly and the fan are installed into the top housing via the mounting brackets  152  and secured. The medium reservoir  156 , which contains the medium  154 , is snapped into place with the top housing  140  and the device is ready for use.  
         [0115]    In a preferred embodiment and using a fragrance as the medium  154 , the device functions in the following manner. When the device is exposed to its highest designed ambient temperature, the thermistor control  148  operates at its maximum designed voltage resistance and causes the fan motor to operate at its lowest RPM or speed. This results in the medium communicating with its external environment in the most restricted manner. As the ambient temperature begins to decrease, the thermistor controller  148  continues to decrease its voltage resistance and allows the fan to continually increase in speed. At its minimally designed temperature, the fan motor receives full design voltage and the fan speed is maximized.  
         [0116]    The result is that the medium&#39;s  158  communication with its environment is continually controlled and is perceived by the consumer as having constant effectiveness throughout its useful temperature range.  
         [0117]    FIGS.  16 A- 16 C represent a device identical in all aspects to the device in FIG. 15, with the exception of the control circuitry  149 . This device has an integrated circuit  149 ; a control circuit reset button  154  and an indicator light  153  that indicates when the useful life of the medium has expired. The device is assembled in the same manner as the device in FIG. 15.  
         [0118]    In a preferred embodiment, this device is typically used in the home where the ambient temperatures are fairly stable. The medium  154  for this example is a fragrance gel. In a typical home, ambient temperatures vary very little in comparison to an automobile environment and as a result, compensating for large fluctuations in ambient temperature is not required. The devices previously described, to control the constant effectiveness of the medium in highly variable temperature environments, would not be the driving mechanisms of choice to accomplish this.  
         [0119]    Assuming the household ambient temperatures are fairly constant, the major difficulty the device must compensate for is the decrease in vapor pressures and evaporation rates of the medium as it progresses through its useful life and ages. The lower vapor pressures and evaporation rates these mediums are characteristically known for as they age are counteracted by continually increasing the amount of airflow the medium is exposed to. This increases the evaporation rates of the medium as its vapor pressures naturally drop off in time and counteracts the effect. Many airflow movement devices can be used to programmably control the constant effectiveness of a medium to its external environment. Fans are members of the group consisting of airflow generators such as low frequency vibratory mechanisms, bellows, turbines, high frequency vibratory generators (piezoelectric), and turbines. Any of these mechanisms can be programmed accordingly and accomplish the same goal.  
         [0120]    The device is designed and functions in the following manner. Once the chemical characteristics of the medium and its useful life have been defined, the integrated circuit is programmed for the application or product line. One or more variables can be programmed into the device and there are many parts and electric circuitry in the market one could use to accomplish the present invention which is being disclosed. However, the main goal of the present invention is to continuously control the pertinent variables of the device to maintain constant effectiveness of the medium to its external environment. These include time and temperature dependency, time versus airflow rate dependency, time versus medium exposure (evaporation or absorption) and time versus vibration profiles. High frequency vibration could also be used as a heater function. However, the following is a good straightforward description of a preferred embodiment. Two variables are programmed into the programmable circuit: time and voltage applied to the fan motor. The time variable is set using an internal programmable timer in the circuit, which would be typically designed to go through 360 degrees of counting to designate the useful life of the medium. In a straightforward programming example, 60 set points would characterize a medium that had a 60-day useful life and would represent 6 degrees of progression per day for 60 days on the clock. At this point, the timer would time out, send an electrical signal to the light  153  to turn on and then shut the control circuitry  149  off until the consumer pushed the reset button  154  to repeat the sequence of operation. This would be done when a new medium  154  was installed.  
         [0121]    The voltage supplied  146  to the fan  145  is programmed in the same fashion and corresponds with the clock set points. When the entire programmable integrated circuit  149  is complete, a time versus fan speed profile is established.  
         [0122]    To optimize the programmable circuit  149 , the program would be written specific to the medium and optimize the constant effectiveness of the medium  154  to its external environment. It must be noted, that a myriad of profiles could be developed and many permutations are available.  
         [0123]    [0123]FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a device that identical in all aspects to FIGS. 6A and 6B with the exceptions of an added fan assembly, static vents  98  in the rear housing  41 , a movable shutter  8 , and a separate medium card  155 . The device is also assembled in the same manner as FIGS. 6A and 6B with the exception of installing the added components of the fan assembly and the movable shutter  8 .  
         [0124]    The fan assembly is installed as follows. The fan axle  65  is inserted through the fan hole  162  and secured with the fan blade retainer  97 . The fan axle  65  is now inserted through the fan axle-receiving hole  91  and secured with the fan axle retainer  66 . The rest of the device is installed in the same manner as described in the verbiage for device in FIGS. 6A and 6B.  
         [0125]    The movable shutter is installed by inserting it through the slot  44  until it comes to rest on the shutter platform  48 . The shutter  8  is located closest to the rear housing  41 .  
         [0126]    The medium card  155  is also inserted into slot  44  and comes to rest on the platform stop  49 . The medium card  155  is stationary and located closest to the front housing  40 .  
         [0127]    In a preferred embodiment, fragrance is used as the medium. The device is attached to the automobile air vent housing by the auto vent attachment  163 . The device controls the exposure of the medium to its external environment by controlling the rate of airflow delivered by the auto vent through and around the device. The volume of airflow allowed through the static vents  55  and  98 , movable shutter vents  159 , the speed of the device&#39;s fan  92  and around the periphery of the device, are all used to accomplish this. The airflow around the periphery of the device also helps control the speed of fan  92 . The fan speed is the highest when the auto vent air is cold and the vent system is unrestricted and the fan speed is the slowest when the auto vent air is hot and the vent system is restricted.  
         [0128]    The reason why this device is so advantageous to the consumer is that it discriminates between hot air and cold air coming out of the automobile&#39;s vent system (summer versus winter). When hot air is coming out of the automobile&#39;s vent system, the spring  49  expands and moves the shutter vents  159 , via the platform  48 , to positions where the shutter vents  159  become misaligned with the static vents  98  and  55  and retard airflow through the device and fan  92 . This is consistent with what has been discussed; with an evaporative medium  155 , we decrease the exposure of the medium  155  to its external environment when the ambient temperature is hot to prevent an overpowering perception of the fragrance to the consumer and increase exposure of the medium  155  to its environment when it is cold, to increase the strength of a weak and ineffective perception of the fragrance to the consumer.  
         [0129]    This counteracts the changes in vapor pressures and evaporation rates with changing temperatures and maintains constant effectiveness of the medium  155  as it communicates with its external environment.  
         [0130]    [0130]FIG. 18A illustrates a breakout of a programmable heating device to control the constant effectiveness of a medium to its surrounding environment. The heating device is an electrical resistive heater and is a member of the group of heaters comprising induction heaters and high frequency vibratory heaters such as piezoelectric heaters. Any of these members can be used for the heating device and programmed accordingly.  
         [0131]    The device is assembled in the following manner. The following components are installed in the base housing  167 ; the use up light  169 , the reset button  168 , the programmable circuitry  170 , the power source regulator  171 , the power source plug  166 , the heat shield  173 , the heater  174  and the heater/medium separator  175 . The upper housing  178  which comprises the static vents  180  and the medium slot  179  is snapped into place onto the base housing  167  and the device is assembled and ready for use once the medium  177  is inserted into the medium slot  179  and the device is plugged in.  
         [0132]    In a preferred embodiment, this device is typically used in the home where the ambient temperatures are fairly stable. The medium  177  for this example is a fragrance gel. Assuming the household ambient temperatures are fairly constant, the major difficulty the device must compensate for is the decrease in vapor pressures and evaporation rates of the medium as it progresses through its useful life and ages. The lower vapor pressures and evaporation rates these mediums  177  are characteristically known for as they age, are counteracted by continually increasing the amount of heat the medium  177  is exposed to. This increases the evaporation rates of the medium  177  as its vapor pressures naturally drop off in time and counteracts the effect. Many heating devices can be used to programmably control the constant effectiveness of a medium to its external environment. They were discussed earlier.  
         [0133]    The device is programmed in the same manner and using the same concepts that were described device in FIGS.  16 A- 16 C. The major exception is that we are using a heating mechanism for this application instead of a fan.  
         [0134]    In this example, two variables are programmed into the programmable circuit  170 : time and voltage applied to the heater. The time variable is set using an internal programmable timer in the circuit, which would be typically designed to go through 360 degrees of counting to designate the useful life of the medium. In a straightforward programming example,  60  set points would characterize a medium that had a 60-day useful life and would represent 6 degrees of progression per day for 60 days on the clock. At this point, the timer would time out, send an electrical signal to the light  169  to turn on and then shut the control circuitry  170  off until the consumer pushed the reset button  168  to repeat the sequence of operation. This would be done when a new medium  177  was installed.  
         [0135]    The voltage supplied  166  to the heater  174  is programmed in the same fashion and corresponds with the clock set points. When the entire programmable integrated circuit  170  is complete, a time versus heater temperature profile is established.  
         [0136]    To optimize the programmable circuit  170 , the program would be written specific to the medium  177  and optimize the constant effectiveness of the medium  177  to its external environment. It must be noted, that a myriad of profiles could be developed and any permutations are available. They do not have to be linear and most often are not.  
         [0137]    The devices in FIGS.  19 A- 19 D illustrate a novel automatic thermostatic ratchet mechanism to control the exposure of a medium  250  to its external environment. The device comprises a housing assembly, a thermal response housing assembly FIG. 20A at  205 , a latch notch assembly  210 , and a latch housing assembly  213 .  
         [0138]    The housing assembly consists of a housing  252 , a manual id  254 , a lid hinge  258 , a latch retainer slot  260 , and a keyway slot  260 .  
         [0139]    The thermal response housing assembly in FIG. 20A at  205  comprises a latch guide housing  206 , a latch guide slot  211 , a swing arm bracket  209 , a swing arm pivot  208 , a housing pivot  207 , and a bimetallic spring  200 . FIG. 20B illustrates the latch notch assembly  210  and comprises a latch  204  and a ratchet tooth  218 , which includes a notch  202 , an incline  214 , and a peak  203 .  
         [0140]    FIGS.  19 A- 19 D illustrate in a simplistic way, the basic sequence of operations. FIG. 19A illustrates the device in the cold condition with the medium  250  loaded into the housing  252 . FIG. 19B illustrates the device in the hot position and FIG. 19C illustrates the device in the final stage of allowing the medium  250  to communicate with its external environment.  
         [0141]    FIGS.  21 A- 21 E illustrates the sequence of operations. Its sole control mechanism resides in the movements of the thermal response latch assembly  213 .  
         [0142]    In a preferred embodiment, the medium  600  will be a dishwashing detergent and the device will go through a hot, cold, and hot cycle before the medium  600  is dispensed. FIG. 21A depicts a thermal response latch assembly  213  in the first phase of the sequence. The external environment in this phase is cold and the bimetallic spring  200  is contracted, located between the two ratchets  218  and its pivot  208  is in the fully down position. As the temperature rises, the bimetallic spring  200  starts to expand, bow, and push the ratchet  218  forward. As the ratchet  218  is being pushed forward, the latch  204  is simultaneously being pushed forward because it is an integral part of the latch notch assembly  213 . When the external environment reaches its maximum temperature, the bimetallic spring  200  is fully expanded, and pushes the ratchet  218  to its farthest position forward. This is depicted in FIG. 21B.  
         [0143]    Phase two begins when the temperature of the external environment begins to decrease. The decrease in temperature causes the bimetallic spring  200  to contract, pull back, and ride up on the incline of the ratchet  214  until the spring  200  reaches the peak of the ratchet  203 . At nearly full contraction, the spring  200  drops down into the second ratchet notch  202 . The ability of the spring  200  to ride up the ratchet incline  214  and drop back into the ratchet notch  202  is created by the bimetallic spring arm pivot  208 . At this juncture, we have completed one hot to cold cycle.  
         [0144]    The latch housing assembly  213  goes through another hot to cold cycle as previously discussed. However, when the temperature gets hot in this cycle and the spring  200  has pushed the second ratchet tooth  218  as far as the expansion of the spring  200  will allow, it dispenses its medium  250  to the external environment. This occurs when the latch retainer slot  258  no longer retains the latch. This happens because the distance the latch  204  has traveled in the second cycle has caused the latch  204  to be pushed out so far that it loses support from the latch retainer slot  258  in the housing  252 . The ratchet arm  220  width is so much narrower than the latch  204  that is passes right through the latch retainer slot  258  via the key way  260 . This allows the latch assembly  213  to drop via the housing pivot  207  and dispense the medium  250  to its external environment.  
         [0145]    FIGS.  21 A- 21 D work in a very similar manner to the first device with the exception that this device dispenses its medium  250  on the first cycle hot and uses a method whereby the bimetallic spring  200  pulls the latch notch assembly  210 , instead of pushing it. In addition, only one ratchet tooth  218  is used. There are no new parts in this device; the system just functions differently.  
         [0146]    [0146]FIG. 21A illustrates the device in the start up or cold environmental condition. Please note that the spring&#39;s  200  starting position is resting on the peak of the ratchet tooth  218 . As the dishwashing temperature gets progressively hotter, the spring  200  expands and progresses down the ratchet incline  214 . As the spring  200  expands to its full extent, it falls into the ratchet notch  202 . This is illustrated in FIG. 21B. As the temperature in the wash cycle decreases, the spring  200  contracts and pulls the ratchet notch assembly  210  backwards. Once the proper design temperature is reached, the latch retainer slot  258  no longer supports the latch  204  and the medium  250  is exposed to its external environment. This is illustrated in FIG. 21D.  
         [0147]    FIGS.  22 A- 22 C illustrate a device similar in all aspects to the embodiment presented immediately above with the exception that it may be used to either transform medium  250  from the top medium chamber to the bottom when desired, or holds two media  250  and  251  simultaneously in separate compartments until the external environments temperature is met, to allow the two to be mixed when needed. This is done by dumping the top chamber contents into the bottom chamber prior to releasing the combined ingredients to their external environment simultaneously.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5