Precision fragrance dispenser apparatus

• US 5,610,674 A
• Filed: 06/19/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fragrance Technology, Inc., Scentair Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David A. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US08/492,401
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 352/85, 472/59, 472/65, 297/217.4, 348/121, 348/460, 348/46, 348/578, 345/8
• US Class Current: 352/85
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 2005/008 Smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/54 Mixing liquid fragrances with air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/061 Adding a small quantity or concentration of an additional phase in a main phase, e.g. acting as a carrier phase
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/12 with vaporisation of a liquid disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/215 by forcing the gas through absorbent pads containing the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F35/80
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/32 Details specially adapted for motion-picture projection with film moving continuously through the gate G03B41/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images may have a breath sensor located adjacent a person'"'"'s nose and actuated by inhaling and exhaling through the nose to produce a fragrance dispensing signal and a plurality of fragrance dispensers each having a fragrance release portion positioned adjacent a person'"'"'s nose for dispensing a fragrance adjacent the nose responsive to a fragrance dispensing signal from the breath sensor. The system has a source or pressurized gas connected to each fragrance dispenser and a gas pressure control mechanism connected between the source of pressurized gas in each of the plurality of fragrance dispensers and connected for receiving the breath sensor fragrance dispensing signals to selectively control the release of a pressurized gas, such are air, to individual fragrance dispensers for selectively dispersing the different fragrances responsive to signals from the breath sensor. The breath sensor may be a flexible thin flat surface having a conductive surface mounted adjacent separated contacts so that the breath moving the flexible surface brings a conductive surface against the contact to produce a signal. Each fragrance dispenser has a housing having an absorbent material therein supporting a fragrance absorbed in the material. Each housing can have long or short capillary tubing or a flexible membrane covering one end thereof and having a slit opening therethrough to allow the egress of a fragrance upon predetermined air pressure entering the housing. The housing can also have a flexible membrane covering the other end for allowing the ingress of air under pressure but blocking the egress of the fragrance therethrough. The source of air can be an oil-free air compressor or a compressed gas in a container.

Claims

1. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images comprising:

a fragrance dispensing generator for generating a fragrance dispersing signal, said fragrance dispensing generator having a breath sensor for sensing a person'"'"'s breath;

a plurality of fragrance dispensers coupled to said fragrance dispenser generator and each having a fragrance release portion positioned adjacent a person'"'"'s nose for dispensing a fragrance adjacent the nose responsive to a fragrance dispensing signal from said fragrance dispensing generator;

a source of pressurized gas connected to each fragrance dispenser; and

a gas pressure control mechanism connected between said source of pressurized gas and each of said plurality of fragrance dispensers for controlling the dispersion of a plurality of different fragrances responsive to said fragrance dispensing generator, whereby a fragrance is dispensed adjacent a person'"'"'s nose.

2. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 1 in which said breath sensor includes a flexible thin flat surface having a conductive surface thereon and having a pair of spaced contacts on one side of said thin flat surface.

3. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 2 in which said breath sensor has a plate located on either side of said flexible thin flat surface, each plate having a plurality of openings therethrough.

4. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 1 in which each said fragrance dispenser includes a housing having an absorbent material therein for supporting a fragrance absorbed therein.

5. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 4 in which said fragrance dispenser housing has a membrane covering one end thereof and said membrane having at least one opening therethrough to allow the egress of a fragrance.

6. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 5 in which said fragrance dispenser housing has a flexible membrane having a plurality of openings therethrough.

7. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 6 in which said fragrance dispenser flexible membrane has a slot opening therein which is opened to the egress of a fragrance when said flexible membrane is expanded responsive to gas pressure from said source of pressurized gas.

8. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 6 in which said flexible membrane has a plurality of slot openings forming a symmetrical pattern therearound.

9. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 4 in which said absorbent material is an open cell polymer.

10. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 4 including a vacuum source connected to a vacuum line connected to said fragrance dispensers for removing dispensed fragrances.

11. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 1 including a pair of eyeglass frames have a plurality of passageways therethrough opening adjacent a person'"'"'s nose for dispersion of fragrance therethrough.

12. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 4 in which said fragrance dispenser housing has a second flexible membrane covering the other end thereof and said second membrane having at least one opening therethrough to allow the ingress of a gas into said housing.

13. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 1 in which said fragrance dispenser is attached to a head set and is supported in front of a person'"'"'s nose.

14. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 2 including a frame having said breath sensor and each said fragrance dispenser outlet attached thereto and positioned in front of a person'"'"'s nose.

15. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 1 in which said source of pressurized gas includes an air compressor for compressing air.

16. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images comprising:

a plurality of fragrance dispensers positioned adjacent a person'"'"'s nose for dispensing a fragrance adjacent the person'"'"'s nose, each fragrance dispenser having a housing having a absorbent material therein having a fragrance absorbed therein and said housing having an opening therefrom opened upon said housing being pressurized above a predetermined pressure; and

a source of pressurized gas connected to each fragrance dispenser housing for applying a gas under pressure into each said fragrance housing for selectively pressurizing a housing to disperse a fragrance from said housing opening for producing a fragrance upon the application of a gas under pressure into a selected housing;

whereby a fragrance may be dispensed adjacent a person'"'"'s nose responsive to the application of a gas under pressure into said fragrance dispenser housing.

17. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 16 in which said source of pressurized gas is a manually squeezed member.

18. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 16 in which said source of pressurized gas is a compressed gas container.

19. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 16 in which said source of pressurized gas is an air compressor.

20. A fragrance dispenser for use with synchronized visual images in accordance with claim 16 in which each said fragrance dispenser housing opening is a capillary tube.