Scent-awake clock

• US 4,407,585 A
• Filed: 12/11/1981
• Issued: 10/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James P. Kavoussi, Louise D. Hartford
• Original Assignee: James P. Kavoussi, Louise D. Hartford
• Inventors: Kavoussi, James P., Hartford, Louise D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US06/330,030
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 222/70, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 368/250, 368/12, 368/72-75, 368/243
• US Class Current: 368/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 25/00 Indicating the time by other means or by combined means electric or electromechanical indicating G04C ; illumination of dials or hands G04B19/30; indicating the time by acoustic means G04B21/00; arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times G04B23/00; continuously indicating the time optically by electric means G04C19/00; producing acoustic time signals by electrical means G04C21/00; devices for cooking eggs A47J29/00

Abstract

An alarm clock that awakens a sleeper by the scent of smell. A housing is provided in which is mounted a storage container of aromatic liquid, which liquid is dispensed at a preset time by a timing mechanism. Various dispensing mechanisms are disclosed for releasing the liquid from the container at the preset time. In the first embodiment, the storage container has a spray nozzle, which is pressed downwardly at the preset time and at intervals by a lever arm pivoted by a solenoid operated by the timing mechanism. In another embodiment, the storage container is vacuum sealed, and a U-shaped tube is provided in which a first end is placed outside of the tube and the other end inside the tube above the liquid level. The solenoid operates a pivotal arm that alternately exposes the open end of the tube to air to supply pressure in the container and thus forces out the liquid. In still another form of the invention, the aromatic liquid may be released from its container in response to the operation of a hammer of a conventional buzzer alarm clock.

Claims

1. A scent-awake clock for awakening a sleeper through the sense of smell comprising a housing;

aromatic means in said housing for giving off a scent when dispensed;

means for storing and dispensing said aromatic means in said housing;

actuating means operably connected to said means for storing and dispensing, said actuating means selectively causing said aromatic means to be dispensed form said means for storing and dispensing; and

timing means for activating said actuating means at a predetermined time, said aromatic means comprising a liquid stored in said means for storing and dispensing said means for storing and dispensing comprising a container, said actuating means comprising a solenoid electrically connected to said means for activating, and a lever arm pivoted at one end thereof to said housing, the other end of said lever arm being connected to the plunger of said solenoid for movement thereby, said lever arm operating said means for storing and dispensing said aromatic means to thereby dispense said aromatic means, wherein said lever arm comprises a plunger means located between said one end and said other end thereof, said plunger means extending downwardly from said lever arm towards said container;

said container comprising a sealed liquid-filled squeezable bag which is alternately squeezed and expanded by said plunger means to cause said aromatic means to exit therefrom, said squeezable bag having outlet means at the bottom thereof through which said aromatic means is forced out;

means for mounting said squeezable bag in said housing; and

tray means mounted in said housing directly below said outlet means so that when said aromatic means is forced out of said squeezable bag, said aromatic means drops onto said tray means where said aromatic means evaporated to give off a scent to awaken a sleeper;

said housing further having an opening formed therein adjacent said tray means through which said evaporated aromatic means exits.

2. The scent-awake alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said outlet means comprises a hollow needle having a first end projecting into the interior of said squeezable bag adjacent the bottom of said bag, and a second end remote from said first end and outside of said squeezable bag, said hollow needle being mounted in said means for mounting said squeezable bag, said aromatic means exiting through said hollow needle via the first end thereof when said plunger means impinge downwardly on the upper surface of said bag.

3. The scent-awake alarm clock according to claim 1, further comprising a fan means for stirring the air in said housing when said aromatic means is dispensed in said tray;

and said means for activating said actuating means comprises means for intermittently operating said actuating means and said fan means so that said aromatic means is dispensed at intervals.

4. The scent-awake alarm clock according to claim 1, further comprising a fan means for speeding up the evaporation of said aromatic means in said tray means and said housing comprising an opening formed therein adjacent said tray means so that said evaporated aromatic means may exit therethrough.

5. The scent-awake alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said tray means is mounted in said housing below said means for storing and dispensing, said tray means having a layer of absorbing material thereon, to absorb the dispensed aromatic means dropped thereon.

6. A scent-awake alarm clock for awakening a sleeper through the sense of smell comprising, a housing;

aromatic means in said housing for giving off a scent when dispensed;

means for storing and dispensing said aromatic means in said housing;

actuating means operably connected to said means for storing and dispensing, said actuating means selectively causing said aromatic means to be dispensed from said means for storing and dispensing; and

timing means for activating said actuating means at a predetermined time, said aromatic means comprising a liquid stored in said means for storing and dispensing;

said means for storing and dispensing comprising a container, and said actuating means comprising a solenoid electrically connected to said means for activating, and a lever arm pivoted at one end thereof to said housing, the other end of said lever arm being connected to the plunger of said solenoid for movement thereby, said lever arm operating said means for storing and dispensing said aromatic means to thereby dispense said aromatic means, wherein said actuating means further comprises a connecting lever having a first end pivotally connected to said lever arm between one end and said other end thereof, and a second end remote from said first end and positioned adjacent said container, and a flat plate having a first end pivotally connected to said second end of said connecting lever, and a second free end, said connecting lever and said flat plate being moveable along with the movement of said lever arm, said container comprising a U-shaped tube having a first opening positioned near the bottom of said container, said flat plate alternately closing off and opening said first opening to the ambient air, and a second opening positioned within said container at a higher vertical level than said first opening, said second opening being positioned in said container above the liquid lever thereof so that when said flat plate is moved away to expose said first opening to the air, the vacuum in said container is broken and the liquid level is forced downwardly;

said container further having an outlet tube through which the aromatic means exists upon the supply of air to the interior of the container; and

tray means mounted directly below said outlet means on which said aromatic means drops to thus be evaporated.

7. The scent-awake alarm clock according to claim 6, wherein said housing has an opening formed therein adjacent said tray means so that said evaporated aromatic means may exit therethrough;

and fan means for blowing air onto said tray means to thus speed up the rate of evaporation;

said activating means comprising means for intermittently operating said solenoid and said fan means.