Air freshener dispenser

• US 5,725,152 A
• Filed: 03/26/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Okamoto Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Akyu, Muneki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Lisa Ann
• Application Number:
  US08/622,123
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 239/34, 239/42-47, 239/51.5, 239/53-57, 239/145, 239/289, 239/326, D23/366-369
• US Class Current: 239/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick

Abstract

An air freshener dispenser is provided with an emanator medium which is easily replaced, allowing for sustainable use of the container. The dispenser is characterized by having a head section consisting of a head assembly and a fixing member. The head assembly is detachably connected to the container, comprising a cylindrical cap member having a plurality of threads for mating with threads on the outer periphery of the container neck and an exterior ornamental part extending upwardly and outspreadly from the outermost periphery of the cap member. The fixing member is inserted into the space surrounded by the thread in such a way that the emanator medium is firmly held therebetween, its base being in tight contact with the wick which carries the fragrant liquid thereto by capillary action.

Claims

1. An air freshener dispenser comprising:

a container having a neck with an opening for containing a fragrant liquid composition;

a wick depending downwardly into the container supported by a wick holder;

a head assembly monolithically molded including a hollow cylindrical member suitable for mating the head assembly with the neck of the container, an exterior ornamental part extending upwardly and outspreadly from the outermost of the cylindrical member, a plurality of retaining means formed on the top of the cylindrical member to extend uprightly therefrom and disposed circumferentially at a predetermined interval to surround an opening matching with the container opening;

an emanator medium of an absorbent material removably retained in the head assembly, having a bottom part and ambient parts; and

a fixing member substantially comprising a shaft and a flat bottom, vertically inserted into an inner space defined by the retaining means of the head assembly for connecting the emanator medium to the head assembly, thereby holding the bottom part of the emanator medium in fluid contact with the top of the wick as well as causing the ambient parts of the emanator medium to stand upright.

2. The air freshener of claim 1, where the wick holder is provided with a plurality of vent holes, and the top surface of the cylindrical member is provided with a plurality of upward protrusions to make a gap between the bottom part of the emanator medium and the top surface of the cylindrical member, whereby allowing air to flow between interior and exterior of the container.

3. The air freshener dispenser of claim 1, wherein the exterior ornamental part of the head assembly is formed in the shape of a petal, the emanator medium in the shape of a stamen, and the fixing member in the shape of a pistil, respectively.

4. An air freshener dispenser comprising:

a container having an opening and storing a fragrant evaporable liquid;

a head assembly connected to the container adjacent the opening and simulating petals of a flower comprising a plurality of flexible cantilevered gripper members;

an absorbent material removably connected to the head assembly and operatively connected to the opening, the absorbent material extending upward from the container and configured to complement the simulated petals of the head assembly;

delivery means extending from the opening into the container to deliver the fragrant evaporable liquid to the absorbent material; and

a fixing member removably connected to the head assembly, mounted between the gripper members and extending the absorbent material upward from the opening and the gripper members, and securing the absorbent material for fluid contact with the delivery means whereby evaporable fluid is delivered to the absorbent material for evaporation.

5. The air freshener dispenser of claim 4 wherein the fixing member includes a pair of spaced annular flanges that position the absorbent material with the gripper member.

6. The air freshener dispenser of claim 4 wherein the absorbent material is configured to simulate a flower stamen.

7. An air freshener comprising:

a container having an opening and storing a fragrant evaporable liquid;

a head assembly connected to the container adjacent the opening and simulating the petals of a flower comprising a plurality of flexible cantilevered gripper members;

an absorbent material removably connected to the head assembly and operatively connected to the opening, the absorbent material extending upward from the container and configured to complement the simulated petals of the head assembly;

delivery means extending from the opening into the container to deliver the fragrant evaporable liquid to the absorbent material; and

a fixing member, mounted between the gripper members and extending the absorbent material upward from the opening and the gripper members, having an upper top portion configured to simulate a pistil when removably connected to the head assembly and a lower annular flange for securing the absorbent material for fluid contact with the delivery means whereby evaporable liquid is delivered to the absorbent material for evaporation.

8. The air freshener dispenser of claim 7 wherein the absorbent material has a fringed edge configured to simulate a flower stamen.

9. The air freshener dispenser of claim 8 wherein the fixing members includes a pair of spaced annular flanges that position the absorbent material with the gripper members.

10. An air freshener dispenser comprising:

a container having an opening and storing a fragrant evaporable liquid;

a head assembly connected to the container adjacent the opening and simulating petals of a flower comprising a cylindrical member with an aperture coincident with the container opening and a plurality of bosses;

an absorbent material removably connected to the head assembly and operatively connected to the opening, the absorbent material extending upward from the container and configured to complement the simulated petals of the head assembly and spaced by the plurality of bosses from an upper surface of the cylindrical member;

delivery means extending from the opening into the container to deliver the fragrant evaporable liquid to the absorbent material; and

a fixing member removably connected to the head assembly, mounted between the gripper members and extending the absorbent material upward from the opening and the gripper members, and securing the absorbent material for fluid contact with the delivery means whereby evaporable fluid is delivered to the absorbent material for evaporation.

11. The air freshener dispenser of claim 10 wherein the delivery means includes a wick member extending into the fragrant liquid and a wick holder member for mounting the wick member and extending over and into the container opening, the cylindrical member extending over the wick holder and securing it to the container.

12. An air freshener dispenser comprising:

a container having an opening and storing fragrant evaporable liquid;

a head assembly connected to the container adjacent the opening and simulating the petals of a flower comprising a cylindrical member with an aperture coincident with the container opening and a plurality of bosses;

an absorbent material removably connected to the head assembly and operatively connected to the opening, the absorbent material extending upward from the container and configured to complement the simulated petals of the head assembly and spaced from an upper surface of the cylindrical member by the plurality of bosses;

delivery means extending from the opening into the container to deliver the fragrant evaporable liquid to the absorbent material; and

a fixing member having an upper top portion configured to simulate a pistil when removably connected to the head assembly and a lower annular flange for securing the absorbent material for fluid contact with the delivery means whereby evaporable liquid is delivered to the absorbent material for evaporation.

13. The air freshener of claim 12 wherein the delivery means includes a wick member extending into the fragrant liquid and a wick holder member for mounting the wick member and extending over and into the container opening, the cylindrical member extending over the wick holder and securing it to the container.