Controlled diffuser device

• US 10,258,708 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scent2Market, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scent2Market, Inc.
• Inventors: D'Amico, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Viet
• Application Number:
  US14/974,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20160271287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 239 35, 239 55, 239 59, 239 57, 239 60, 239 50
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/042 with the help of a macromolecular compound as a carrier or diluent A61L9/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor

Abstract

A controlled diffuser device can include a cover, a louver panel, a substrate member, and a base is disclosed. A cover and a base can be configured to affix to each other to sandwich a substrate member and a louver panel while enabling a substrate member and louver panel to slidably engage a base upper surface. A substrate member may comprise a material that changes in a physical dimension as it diffuses aromatic components. Because of static securement and slidable engagement configurations, a louver panel operatively shutters apertures of a cover to selectively moderate varying degrees of exposure of a substrate member as a substrate member changes in a physical dimension. Other embodiments may include a base configured to receive a substrate member and have a cover placed over top. As the substrate changed in physical dimension, the cover can be caused to move relative to the base.

Claims

1. A shuttering device, comprising:

a base having a base bottom with conjoined base sides and an open base top forming a base interior cavity;

a substrate member comprising fragrance, said substrate member configured to slidbaly insert into said base interior cavity, wherein said substrate member further comprises a material that changes at least one physical dimension upon being exposed to a change in conditions; and

,

a cover having a cover top with conjoined cover sides and an open cover bottom forming a cover interior cavity, said cover interior cavity configured to receive at least said base top and a portion of said substrate member when said substrate member is inserted into said base interior cavity and said cover is placed over top of said base;

wherein;

said substrate member is configured to sit within said base interior cavity such that when said cover is placed over top said base, said cover rests upon said substrate member;

when said substrate member changes at least one physical dimension, said cover moves relative to said base;

said base side has at least one base vent aperture and said cover has at least one cover vent aperture;

said at least one base vent aperture and said at least one cover vent aperture are shuttered and/or opened as said cover moves relative to said base; and

said shuttering and/or said opening of said at least one base vent aperture and said at least one cover vent aperture increases a diffusion rate of the fragrance from said substrate member by increasing exposure of said substrate member as said substrate member changes in the at least one physical dimension.

2. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said substrate member has at least one aperture formed therein.

3. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising an end-of-life indicator.

4. The device recited in claim 3, wherein said end-of-life indicator comprises a signal generator that generates a signal when said at least one vent aperture of said base side and said at least one vent aperture of said cover are aligned.

5. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said base bottom is structured to cause the base to stand freely upright with said base top facing upwards.

6. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said base bottom is structured to cause the base to stand freely upright with said base top facing upwards with said substrate member inserted into said base and said cover placed over top of said base.

7. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said cover top is closed.

8. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said base bottom has a flare to assist with stability of the device.

9. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said base is configured to allow at least a portion of said substrate to extend beyond said open base top.

10. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of said cover relative to said base comprises said cover moving towards said base.