Abstract:
An electric automobile air freshening device that has an oil chamber for receiving various scented oils that are vaporized when a heating element is thermally energized when the related 12 VAC plug is inserted in a cigarette lighter receptacle. The plug may be integral with the housing or detachable via a retractable cord.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to air freshener devices and, more specifically, to an oil-based air freshener for motor vehicles that comprises a fragrance housing with a 12V plug projecting therefrom that plugs into the lighter of the vehicle to supply power to an electric heater element enclosed therein to heat the oil. The oil is retained in a chamber with the heater element and the chamber is accessed by removing the cover of the fragrance housing. The fragrance is released when heated by the heating element and passes through a plurality of fragrance egress apertures disposed in the cover. 
     An on/off switch may also be included as well as a heat control means that will reduce a greater amount of fragrance into the ambient air when the heat is turned up. 
     Also shown are alternates of the present invention wherein the 12V plug is not fixed but is removably attached to the housing and remain in electrical communication with each other when separated by a retractable cord similar to those found in vacuum cleaners. The removable plug allows the user to selectively and removably place the fragrance housing in an appropriate location on the dashboard or elsewhere when the ashtray and lighter are located in a console or when the configuration of the ashtray would cause the presence of the present invention to be an obstruction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device that is plugged into a cigarette lighter or other 12 VAC receptacle to supply power to a heating element within a housing for the purpose of vaporizing an aromatic oil contained therein which is emitted into the ambient interior of the vehicle to provide a pleasant fragrance of the users choice therein. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device having a 12 VAC plug projecting from the housing that has electrical contacts that are in electrical communication with a heating coil that is energized once the plug is inserted into the cigarette lighter receptacle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device wherein the heating coil is in thermal communication with the heater element and transfers heat thereto for vaporizing the scented oil in the oil chamber. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device having a 12 VAC plug that is detachable from the housing and remains in electrical communication therewith via a retractable cord. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device including a filter element disposed between the cover of the housing and the scented oil in the oil chamber. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device that is simple and easy to use. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric automobile air freshening device that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an electric automobile air freshening device that has an oil chamber for receiving various scented oils that are vaporized when a heating element is thermally energized when the related 12 VAC plug is inserted in a cigarette lighter receptacle. The plug may be integral with the housing or detachable via a retractable cord. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention with the cover removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of an alternate of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an additional element of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Electric Automotive Air Freshener Device of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Electric Automotive Air Freshener Device of the present invention     12  fragrance housing     14  12 VAC plug     16  electrical contact     18  cover of  12       20  fragrance egress apertures     22  oil chamber of  12       24  oil heating element     26  heating coil     28  scented oil     30  12 VAC receptacle     32  motor vehicle     34  dashboard     36  user     38  on/off temperature control switch     40  retractable cord     42  threaded attachment means     44  spring loaded locking spool     46  axle of  44       48  electrical connection     50  engaging means     52  filter element       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention is an electrically heated oil-based air freshener  10  for use with the cigarette lighter  30  of a motor vehicle  32 . The heated auto air freshener  10  comprises a fragrance housing  12  with a 12 VAC plug  14  projecting from the side thereof. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . Shown are the electrical contacts  16  of the 12 VAC plug  14  and the removable cover  18  installed on the housing  12 . The scented oil within the oil chamber  22  of the housing  12  is vaporized when heated and is released in the ambient environment through the fragrance egress apertures  20  in the cover  18 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . Shown are the electrical contacts  16  of the 12 VAC plug  14  and the removable cover  18  installed on the housing  12 . The scented oil within the oil chamber  22  of the housing  12  turns to a fragrant gaseous state when heated and is released in the ambient environment through the fragrance egress apertures  20  in the cover  18 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention  10  with the cover  18  removed. The scented oil within the oil chamber  22  of the housing  12  is vaporized when heated  24  and is released in the ambient environment through the fragrance egress apertures  20  in the cover  18 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . When the 12 VAC plug  14  is inserted into the receptacle, electricity is received from the electrical contacts  16  and delivered to the heating coil  26  which is thermal communication with the oil heating element  24  in the oil chamber  22 . The oil heating element  24  gasifies the scented oil in the oil chamber  22  and the fragrant vapors passes the fragrance egress apertures  20  of the cover  18  into the ambient environment. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the present invention. Shown is the present invention  10  with the cover  18  removed and the user  36  delivering scented oil  28  to the oil chamber  22  and its associated oil heating element  24 . The scented oils  28  are available in a wide variety of fragrances to provide the user  36  ample choices. 
       FIG. 7  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 , shown is the user  36  returning the cover  18  to the top of the housing  12 . Shown is the housing  12  having an optional on/off temperature control slide switch  38 . The present invention  10  may include just an on/off switch or a temperature control means or any combination thereof. Any suitable configuration of buttons, toggle switches and the like may be employed. Increasing the heat applied to the oil increases the rate of evaporation and the strength of the fragrant vapors emitted into the vehicle, thus the inclusion of a temperature control means serves to allow the user  36  to adjust the intensity of the emitted fragrance accordingly. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the 12 VAC plug  14  inserted into the 12 VAC cigarette lighter  30  in the dashboard  34 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional element of the present invention. Shown is the present invention  10  wherein the 12 VAC plug  14  is detachable from the housing  12  and the electrical communication is maintained via a retractable cord  40 . A threaded attachment means  42  is depicted although any appropriate attachment means may be employed. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the additional element of the present invention introduced in  FIG. 9 . Shown is the present invention  10  wherein the 12 VAC plug  14  is detached from the housing  12  and the electrical communication is maintained via a retractable cord  40 . A threaded attachment means  42  is depicted although any appropriate attachment means may be employed. The cord  40  is coiled around a spring-loaded locking spool  44  similar to those used with vacuum cleaners. The spool  44  rotates on an axle  46  and has an electrical connection  48  with the heating coil  26 . The bottom of the housing  12  includes an engaging means  50  such as a suction cup or hook and loop fastener elements for securing the housing  12  to a surface such as a dashboard or console. The detachable plug  14  and retractable cord  40  are advantageous when the lighter is disposed within the ashtray and the presence of the housing  12  would prove to be an obstruction to the usage thereof. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of an additional element of the present invention  10 . Included is a replaceable filter element  52  that is porous enough to allow the passage of the fragrant vapors but is too dense to permit the passage of the scented oil therethrough. The filter element  52  is disposed between the fragrance egress apertures  20  in the cover  18  and the scented oil in the oil chamber  22  of the housing  12 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention