Multi-clarity lenses

• US 7,281,811 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Dancs, Imre J., Trent, John S., Thuot Rann, Raechell Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/097,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/332, 362/253, 362/311, 362641-643, 362/92, 362/234, 362/800, 362/161, 362/240, 362/242, 362/268, 126/213, 126/209, 219/758, 219/220, 219/230, 219/201, 219/209, 392394-395, 392/393
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward apparatuses, devices, methods, kits, programs, and combinations to disperse and/or project light. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention where a light effect of glowing, diffuse, and projected light is desired, one lens is provided that diffuses light in one section of the lens and is substantially clear in another section to allow substantially all the light to pass through the lens. In other embodiments to obtain the same effect, one or more lenses diffuse light while one or more other lenses are clear to allow substantially all the light to pass through the lens.

Claims

1. A diffuser, comprising:

a housing assembly having a compartment for receiving a container having an active material therein;

a heating device disposed within the housing assembly;

an electrical connection to transmit electricity to the diffuser;

a light source comprising a light-emitting diode;

a first lens to project light emitted from the light source;

a second lens to diffuse light emitted from the light source; and

a third lens disposed between the light source and the second lens to further diffuse light emitted from the light source.

2. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the first lens is oriented toward at least one of a front, side, top, bottom, or back orientation of the diffuser.

3. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the first lens comprises a glass, a resin, or a plastic.

4. The diffuser of claim 3, wherein the first lens comprises a plastic comprising polypropylene.

5. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the first lens diffuses light and projects light.

6. The diffuser of claim 5, wherein the the first lens comprises a single integral optical element.

7. The diffuser of claim 6, wherein the first lens includes a thicker section and a thinner section.

8. The diffuser of claim 7, wherein the thicker section is more opaque to light than the thinner section.

9. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the first lens includes a portion that is at least one of clear, polished, frosted, colored, etched, painted, and textured.

10. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the first lens comprises a thicker portion and a thinner portion.

11. The diffuser of claim 10, wherein the thicker portion is more opaque to visible light than the thinner portion.

12. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the container includes a wick that has an upper portion disposed adjacent the heating device and the diffuser includes an adjustment mechanism for displacing the upper portion of the wick toward or away from the heating device.

13. A method of displaying light and dispensing a fragrance from a diffuser, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the diffuser, the diffuser including a housing assembly having a reclosable compartment for at least one of receiving, releasably engaging, and retaining a container configured to contain the fragrance;

a heating device disposed within the housing assembly at a position proximate to the container;

a light source comprising a light-emitting diode; and

at least one lens near the light source to display light;

inserting into the compartment the container having an amount of the fragrance;

providing a power source to the diffuser; and

activating the heater and the light source to display the light through the at least one lens and to dispense the fragrance from the diffuser.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the diffuser comprises at least two lenses.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein light is diffused and projected through the at least one lens.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the container includes a wick that has one end inserted in fragrance and another end extended therefrom.

17. A multi-clarity lens for displaying light from a device to disperse active material, the multi-clarity lens comprising:

a polypropylene lens comprising at least one section that is thicker and more opaque to light than at least one other section thereof;

wherein the device comprises a housing assembly having a reclosable compartment for at least one of receiving, releasably engaging, and retaining a container configured to contain the active material;

a heating device disposed within the housing assembly at a position proximate to the container;

a light source comprising a light-emitting diode; and

the polypropylene lens disposed near the light source to display light.

18. The multi-clarity lens of claim 17, wherein the lens diffuses light and projects light.

19. The multi-clarity lens of claim 17, wherein a section of the polypropylene lens is at least one of clear, polished, frosted, colored, etched, painted, and textured.

20. The multi-clarity lens of claim 17, wherein the container includes a wick that has one end inserted in the active material and another end extended therefrom.