Disposable plug-in air freshener with heat activated cartridge

• US 5,976,503 A
• Filed: 04/14/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• 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): Dees, Jose' G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shelborne, Kathryne E.
• Application Number:
  US08/834,070
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 424/43, 424/45, 424/76.1, 424/76.2, 424/76.3
• US Class Current: 424/43
• 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 an air freshener dispenser device comprising (1) a disposable air freshener cartridge, and (2) a disposable electrical plug housing. The cartridge has an elongated thermoplastic hollow body configuration with a sealed internal reservoir chamber of liquid air freshener medium, and the upper section of the cartridge body is shaped to a flat shallow extension of the cartridge chamber. An electrical-resistance heating element is affixed on the inner surface of the cartridge chamber shallow extension. A thin wick matrix extends internally from the cartridge chamber bottom up to the top of the chamber shallow extension. The cartridge has an integrally structured means adapted for removal of a top portion of the cartridge chamber shallow extension to expose an upper section of wick matrix to the atmosphere. The electrical plug housing is detachably secured and positioned proximate to the cartridge heating element. Activation of the heating element promotes air freshener dispersion into the atmosphere from the exposed wick.

Claims

1. An air freshener dispenser device which is adapted for engagement and support by an electrical outlet, and which is an assembly of structural units, the dispenser device comprising:

a disposable cartridge having (a) an elongated thermoplastic hollow body with a sealed internal reservoir chamber of liquid air freshener medium and an extension extending up from and contiguous with the cartridge chamber, the body having two vertical slots extending therethrough, the slots being disposed on either side of the extension;

(b) a wick matrix comprising a lower section disposed in the cartridge chamber and an upper section extending into the chamber extension;

(c) integrally structured means for facilitating removal of a top portion of the chamber extension to expose the upper section of the wick matrix to the atmosphere; and

(d) an electrical-resistance heating element affixed to the cartridge body adjacent to the chamber extension for heating the wick matrix and integrated with the two vertical slots; and

an electrical plug housing which is detachably securable to the cartridge proximate to the heating element, the electrical plug housing comprising two metal prongs which are insertable through the cartridge vertical slots, so as to engage the heating element and extend rearwardly from the cartridge for engagement with the electrical outlet to conduct electric current to the heating element, whereby air freshener wicking into the atmosphere is heat-promoted.

2. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hollow body of the cartridge is a construction of sealed, juxtapositioned sections of molded, vapor-impermeable polyvinyl thin film having transparency so that the air freshener medium in the reservoir chamber is visible.

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

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

5. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air freshener medium is a liquid pesticide composition.

6. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air freshener medium is a liquid therapeutic composition.

7. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical-resistance heating element is one of a film coating and a printed pattern.

8. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical plug housing and two prongs are a unitary structure molded from a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermosets and the prongs have metallized surfaces to conduct electric current.

9. A dispenser device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrical plug housing encases the extension so as to insulate the extension and the heating element when the dispenser device is operational, and function as a child-proof shield.

10. A disposable air freshener cartridge which is adapted for use with an electrical plug housing in a heat-activated air freshener device, the cartridge comprising:

an elongated thermoplastic hollow body with a sealed internal reservoir chamber of liquid air freshener medium and an extension extending up from and contiguous with the cartridge chamber;

a wick matrix comprising a lower section disposed in the cartridge chamber and an upper section extending into the chamber extension;

integrally structured means for facilitating removal of a top portion of the chamber extension to expose the upper section of the wick matrix to the atmosphere; and

an electrical-resistance heating element affixed to the cartridge body adjacent to the chamber extension for heating the wick matrix, and which is adapted to integrate with the electrical plug housing for heat generation.

11. A vaporizable liquid medium dispenser device which is adapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet, the dispenser device comprising:

a disposable cartridge comprising (a) an elongated, hollow thermoplastic body comprising a bottom portion, having two vertical slots extending therethrough, and a top portion detachable from the bottom portion, the body including a sealed internal chamber, the chamber including (i) a reservoir disposed in the bottom portion of the body and containing liquid medium and (ii) an extension extending from the reservoir to the top portion of the body;

(b) a wick matrix disposed within the chamber and extending from the liquid in the reservoir up to the extension so that detachment of the top portion of the body exposes an upper section of the wick matrix to the atmosphere; and

(c) an electrical-resistance heating element affixed to the bottom portion of the body in thermal communication with the extension of the chamber for heating the wick matrix, and which is adjacent to the two vertical slots of the body; and

an electrical plug housing which is detachably securable to the cartridge and includes two metal prongs which fit within the two vertical slots of the body, so as to engage the heating element and extend rearwardly from the cartridge for insertion into the electrical outlet, so as to conduct electric current to the heating element.

12. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic body of the cartridge comprises a plurality of molded, vapor impermeable polyvinyl thin film layers sealed together, at least one of the layers having transparency so that the liquid medium in the reservoir is visible.

13. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the wick matrix is formed of a porous material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, cellulosic compositions, and ceramic compositions.

14. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of a fragrance, a pesticide, and a therapeutic agent.

15. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the electrical resistance heating element comprises one of a film coating and a printed pattern.

16. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the electrical plug housing and the two prongs are molded as a unitary structure from a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermosets, and the prongs are metallized so as to be electrically conductive.

17. The dispenser device according to claim 11, wherein the electrical plug housing is securable to the cartridge so as to encase and insulate the extension and the heating element.