Automobile plug-in air freshener with rotatable switch and vaporizer

• US 5,373,581 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James S. Smith
• Original Assignee: James S. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/155,383
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 392/386, 392/390, 392/391, 392/392, 392/394, 392/403-407, 219/202, 219/267, 261/142, 261/DIG. 65, 422/125, 422/128
• US Class Current: 392/390
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/89 Electrically heated aroma dispensers

Abstract

An automobile plug-in air freshener with a main body portion in a cylindrical configuration having an open outboard end and a closed inboard end and pluggable into an electrical cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. An extension portion has a cone shaped interior component rotatably positioned outboardly of the open end of the cylinder with an interior edge in a cylindrical configuration positioned rotatably in the outboard end of the main body portion with an exterior component in a rectangular configuration constituting a housing with an opened inboard end and louvers at the outboard end and a slot along an upper intermediate extent. A generally planar refill container in a rectangular configuration is removably positionable within the slot of the rectangular housing, the refill container having a fragrance therein activated by heat. A heating element is located within the main body portion adjacent to the outboard open end is energized by a switch actuated by rotation of the extension portion to heat the fragrance within the refill cartridge for disseminating a fragrance and freshening the adjacent air.

Claims

1. A new and improved automobile plug-in air freshener comprising, in combination:

a hollow main body portion in a cylindrical configuration having an open outboard end and a closed inboard end and positionable along a horizontal axis in a cigarette lighter opening of a vehicle;

a hollow extension portion having a cone shaped interior component rotatably positioned on the main body portion outboardly of the open end thereof with an interior edge in a cylindrical configuration positioned in the open outboard end of the main body portion and an exterior component in a rectangular configuration constituting a housing with an opened inboard end communicating with said main body portion and louvers at the outboard end and a slot along an upper intermediate extent;

a generally planar refill container in a rectangular configuration removably positionable within the slot of the rectangular housing, the refill container containing a fragrance substance therein activatable by heat;

a heater located within the main body portion adjacent to the outboard open end adapted to heat the fragrance substance within the refill cartridge for disseminating a fragrance and freshening the adjacent air;

electrical components for energizing the heater comprising a electrical probe extending outwardly from the closed inboard end of the main body portion with a spring to urge the probe outwardly and with a wire extending therefrom to a terminal of the heater and a resilient electrical contact extending radially from cylindrical wall of the main body portion with a wire extending to the outer terminal of the heater; and

a switch in the electrical wire between the resilient contact and the heater comprising a first contact element mounted within the interior surface of the main body portion adjacent to the outboard end and a corresponding electrical contact element mounted in the radially outward face of the interior edge of the extension portion, the contacts rotatably movable from an in-contact closed orientation and an out-of-contact orientation through the rotation of the extension portion with respect to the main body portion.

2. A vehicle plug-in air freshener comprising:

a hollow main body portion in a cylindrical configuration having an open outboard end and a closed inboard end and positionable along a horizontal axis in a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle;

a hollow extension portion rotatably mounted in the main body portion having a cone shaped interior component positioned outboardly of the open end of the main body portion with an interior edge in a cylindrical configuration in the open outboard end of the main body portion and exterior component constituting a housing with an open inboard end communicating with the open end of said main body portion and louvers at the outboard end and a slot along an upper intermediate extent;

a generally planar refill container removably positionable within the slot of the housing, the refill container having a fragrance substance therein activatable by heat;

a heating element located within the main body portion adjacent to the outboard open end thereof adapted to heat the fragrance substance within the refill cartridge for disseminating a fragrance and freshening the adjacent air;

electrical components for energizing the heater comprising an electrical probe extending outwardly from the closed inboard end of the main body portion with a spring to urge the probe outwardly and with a wire extending therefrom to a terminal of the heater and a resilient electrical contact extending radially from one cylindrical wall of the main body portion with a wire extending to the outer terminal of the heater; and

a switch in the electrical wire between the resilient contact and the heater comprising a first contact element mounted within the interior surface of the main body portion adjacent to the outboard end and a corresponding electrical contact element mounted in the radially outward face of the interior edge of the extension portion, the contacts rotatably movable from an in-contact closed orientation and an out-of-contact orientation through the rotation of the cone shaped extension portion with respect to the main body portion.