Disposable plug-in dispenser for use with air freshener and the like

• US 5,945,094 A
• Filed: 04/14/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Wefler, Mark E., Martin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Neil S.
• Application Number:
  US08/834,071
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 392/390-395, 219/392, 239/44, 239/45, 239/50, 424/405, 424/76.1
• US Class Current: 424/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick

Abstract

This invention provides a disposable air freshener dispenser device which is adapted for engagement and support by a wall electrical outlet. The dispenser device consists of a cartridge which has a sealed content of liquid air freshener medium, and an absorbent matrix which can be exposed for wicking of air freshener into the atmosphere. An electrical-resistance type heater module is detachably secured and positioned proximate to the exposed absorbent matrix section for promotion of the wicking action.

Claims

1. A disposable dispenser device for engagement and support by a wall electrical outlet, and which is an assembly of structural units, said device comprising:

a cartridge which comprises

(a) a thermoplastic tray having a reservoir and a shallow recess, the reservoir and the shallow recess being contiguous and depressed in one side of the tray,

(b) a volatile liquid medium which is contained within the reservoir,

(c) an emanating absorbent matrix having a first section, disposed within the reservoir so as to be submersed in the liquid medium, and a second section, extending out of the liquid medium, and disposed within the shallow recess,

(d) a first vapor-impermeable membrane bonded to the one side of the tray to cover the reservoir so as to encase the liquid medium and the first section of the absorbent matrix within the reservoir, and

(e) a removable second vapor-impermeable membrane which covers the shallow recess so as to encase the second section of the absorbent matrix within the recess; and

an electrical-resistance heating module to which the cartridge is detachably securable, wherein the heating module comprises

(a) a panel on which are formed an electrical-resistance heater and two apertures,

(b) a pair of metal prongs which are positioned within the apertures of the panel and electrically engaged to the electrical-resistance heater, and

(c) a plastic electrical plug housing to which the panel and the cartridge are detachably securable so that, when the panel and the cartridge are secured to the plug housing, the second section of the absorbent matrix within the shallow recess of the tray is held in thermal communication with the electrical-resistance heater of the panel, and the metal prongs extend from the housing for engagement with the wall electrical outlet to conduct electrical current to the electrical-resistance heater to promote liquid-medium wicking into the atmosphere.

2. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge thermoplastic tray is a molded polyvinyl structure with transparency, and the liquid medium in the tray reservoir is visible when the dispenser device is engaged with the wall electrical outlet.

3. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the absorbent matrix is a porous wick structure formed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic, thermoset, cellulosic and ceramic compositions.

4. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is a fragrance formulation.

5. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second vapor-impermeable membranes are formed of a material selected from aluminum foil and nylon film.

6. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second vapor-impermeable membranes taken together constitute a single thin film, and the second vapor-impermeable membrane is a peelable section of the single thin film that is removable for exposure of the second section of the emanating absorbent matrix for liquid medium wicking.

7. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical plug housing is a structure molded from a material selected from the group consisting of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers.

8. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical-resistance heater comprises a surface microfilm coating of electric-conductive polymer disposed on the panel.

9. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a vented cover that selectively overlays and is detachably secured to the electrical plug housing so as to encase therebetween the electrical-resistance heater module and the second section of the absorbent matrix within the shallow flat recess of the tray.

10. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the electrical plug housing and the vented cover are integrally molded as a single plastic unit, and the vented cover is attached by a flexible hinge means to one side of said electrical plug housing.

12. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reservoir of the tray, with the liquid medium and the first section of the absorbent matrix encased therein, is spaced from the electrical-resistance heater module when the panel and the cartridge are secured to the housing.

13. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first section of the absorbent matrix extends to a wall of the reservoir opposite the shallow recess.

14. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tray further comprises a depression contiguous with the wall of the reservoir opposite the shallow recess, and the first section of the absorbent matrix extends into the depression.

11. A disposable dispenser device for engagement and support by a wall electrical outlet, and which, prior to assembly, is an aggregate of conformational structural units, said device comprising:

cartridge components, able to be assembled into a cartridge, which comprise

(a) a thermoplastic tray having a reservoir, for containing a liquid medium, and a shallow recess, the reservoir and the shallow recess being contiguous and depressed in one side of the tray,

(b) an emanating absorbent matrix having an upper section, which fits within the shallow recess, and a lower section, which extends into the reservoir, and

(c) a vapor-impermeable membrane which is bondable to the one side of the tray to seal the reservoir and the shallow recess; and

plug-in electrical-resistance heating components, able to be assembled into an electrical-resistance heating module, which comprise

(a) a panel on which are formed an electrical-resistance heater and two apertures,

(b) a pair of metal prongs provided for positioning within the apertures of the panel and for electrical engagement to the electrical-resistance heater in the assembled dispenser device, and

(c) a plastic electrical plug housing to which the panel and the cartridge are detachably securable so that, when the panel and the cartridge are secured to the plug housing, the upper section of the absorbent matrix within the shallow recess of the tray is held in thermal communication with the electrical-resistance heater of the panel, and the metal prongs extend from the housing for engagement with the wall electrical outlet.