Fragrance dispenser

• US 20100178042A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Ginestel, Marcelo Lauras, Christianson, Jeffrey J., Neumann, Hermann
• Granted Patent: US 9,453,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/386
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/035 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements

Abstract

A fragrance dispenser includes a housing and a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing. Each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element centrally disposed therein. A controller is disposed in the housing to control the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently. Prongs extend from the housing to provide power to the controller. A volatile material holder is held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material.

Claims

1. A fragrance dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element centrally disposed therein;

a controller disposed in the housing to control the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently;

prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; and

a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material.

2. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein the prongs fold flat against the housing.

3. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a mode selector switch disposed on the housing and in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch.

4. The fragrance dispenser of claim 3, further comprising a sensor disposed on the housing and in electrical communication with the controller, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element.

5. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed proximate to each heating pan, wherein the light source is activated with a brightness that is proportional to the amount of the power provided to each corresponding heating element.

6. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on the housing and in electrical communication with the controller, wherein a signal from the sensor at least partly determines the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element.

7. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a base portion comprising the plurality of heating pans recessed in a front side thereof and a modular decorative cover portion that releasably attaches over the front side of the base portion.

8. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein the volatile material holder is held within the housing such that the plurality of reservoirs is spaced from the corresponding plurality of heating elements and ventilation passages are disposed through the housing to promote a flow of air between each of the plurality of reservoirs and the corresponding plurality of heating elements.

9. A fragrance dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element centrally disposed therein;

a controller disposed in the housing to control the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently;

prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; and

a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material; and

a mode selector switch disposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch.

10. The fragrance dispenser of claim 9, wherein the mode selector switch includes a sequential setting wherein the controller distributes power sequentially to each of the heating elements.

11. The fragrance dispenser of claim 9, wherein the mode selector switch includes a concurrent setting wherein the controller distributes power concurrently to each of the heating elements.

12. The fragrance dispenser of claim 9, wherein the mode selector switch includes a combination setting wherein the controller distributes power sequentially and concurrently to each of the heating elements.

13. The fragrance dispenser of claim 9, further including a sensor disposed in the housing, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element.

14. The fragrance dispenser of claim 9, further including a light source and a light sensor disposed in the housing, wherein a signal from the light sensor is used to activate the light source based on the quantity of light present in the environment of the sensor.

15. A fragrance dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of heating pans disposed in the housing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes a corresponding heating element centrally disposed therein;

a controller disposed in the housing to control the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element independently;

prongs that extend from the housing to provide power to the controller; and

a volatile material holder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material;

a mode selector switch disposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch; and

a light source disposed proximate to each heating pan, wherein the light source is activated with a brightness that is proportional to the amount of the power provided to each corresponding heating element.

16. The fragrance dispenser of claim 15, further including a sensor disposed in the housing, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element.

17. The fragrance dispenser of claim 16, wherein the signal from the sensor is used in conjunction with the amount of the power provided to each heating element to determine the brightness of each corresponding light source.

18. The fragrance dispenser of claim 15, including three heating pans, three heating elements, and three reservoirs.

19. The fragrance dispenser of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a base portion that includes a light sensor disposed thereon, wherein the light sensor is oriented to receive a quantity of light transmitted through one of the plurality of reservoirs.

20. The fragrance dispenser of claim 19, wherein timer circuitry within the controller is triggered by a signal from the light sensor to count down a predetermined time period.