Electromechanical apparatus for dispensing volatile substances with single dispensing mechanism and cartridge for holding multiple receptacles

• US 7,389,943 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Jaworski, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US11/170,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 239/102.2, 239/67, 239/304, 239/305, 239/326, 239/338, 239/34, 239/44, 239/45, 239/47, 239/49, 239/70, 239/102.1, 239/302, 239/303, 239/390, 239/392, 239/394, 239/396, 261/DIG.88, 261/DIG.65, 392/390, 392/394, 392/395
• US Class Current: 239/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/205 using vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic or piezoelectric atomizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/88 Aroma dispensers

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance includes an electromechanical dispenser attached to a pivot arm, and a cartridge for holding a plurality of reservoirs each containing a volatile substance. The cartridge is rotatable such that any one of the reservoirs can be positioned in an engagement position, in which the volatile substance can be dispensed. The cartridge has a cam feature consisting of a contoured circumferential surface that alternately rises and falls. The pivot arm operates in tandem with the cam feature such that, when the cartridge is rotated, the dispenser alternately engages and disengages from successive reservoirs, and remains out of the path of motion traversed by the reservoirs as the cartridge rotates from one engagement position to a subsequent engagement position. The electromechanical dispenser may be a piezoelectrically actuated vibratory type liquid atomization apparatus, and the volatile substance may be a fragrance.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance, comprising:

an electromechanical dispenser for dispensing a volatile substance;

a cartridge for holding a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir for containing a volatile substance to be dispensed, said cartridge being rotatable so as to be able to position any one of said reservoirs in an engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said dispenser in such a manner that the volatile substance in said one reservoir can be dispensed; and

a pivot arm for alternately disengaging a reservoir from said dispenser and engaging a successive reservoir with said dispenser during rotation of said cartridge.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, wherein said pivot arm maintains a state of disengagement between said dispenser and said reservoirs, during rotation of said cartridge from one engagement position to a subsequent engagement position.

3. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises a cam feature such that, when said cartridge is rotated so as to position any given reservoir in the engagement position, said pivot arm operates to engage said dispenser with the given reservoir, and when said cartridge is rotated so as to position the given reservoir out of the engagement position, said pivot arm operates to disengage said dispenser from the given reservoir.

4. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 3,

wherein said cam feature comprises a cut-away tubular portion having on a longitudinal end thereof a circumferential cross-sectional surface that alternately rises and falls along the circumference, and

wherein said pivot arm is connected to said dispenser and said pivot arm abuts said circumferential cross-sectional surface of said cut-away tubular portion such that, when said cartridge rotates, said pivot arm alternately rises and falls, whereby said cam feature and said pivot arm operate to cause said dispenser to alternately disengage from and engage successive reservoirs.

5. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 4,

wherein each of said reservoirs is provided with a respective liquid delivery member, and

wherein, by virtue of said alternately rising and falling circumferential cross-sectional surface, said dispenser is maintained at a position above the liquid delivery member of a next-to-be engaged reservoir, before said dispenser engages the next-to-be engaged reservoir, and said dispenser drops down upon the liquid delivery member to engage the next-to-be engaged reservoir, whereby collision, improper engagement and non-engagement between said dispenser and said liquid delivery member, due to vertical misalignment therebetween, are prevented.

6. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 5, wherein each of said liquid delivery members is a wick.

7. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, said housing comprising retention snaps for removably retaining said cartridge in said housing in such a manner as to permit rotation of said cartridge.

8. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, said housing having a circumferential surface provided with at least one concave portion; and

at least one handle for rotating said cartridge, said at least one handle being provided on said cartridge, and said at least one handle being provided with a convex portion that fits into said concave portion,

wherein, as said cartridge is rotated, said convex portion is rotationally brought into alignment with said concave portion at the same time as one of said reservoirs is brought into the engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said dispenser in such a manner that the volatile substance in said one reservoir can be dispensed, whereby the aligning of said convex portion with said concave portion provides visual, auditory and/or tactile feedback to a user of said apparatus that one of said reservoirs is in the engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said dispenser in such a manner that the volatile substance in said one reservoir can be dispensed.

9. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, further comprising an exit port for releasing a volatile substance from said apparatus to the atmosphere outside of said apparatus.

10. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment lever for adjusting the amount of a volatile substance dispensed, the frequency of dispensing periods, and/or the duration of the dispensing periods.

11. An apparatus for dispensing a volatile substance according to claim 8, further comprising at least one of (a) an exit port for releasing a volatile substance from said apparatus to the atmosphere outside of said apparatus, and (b) an adjustment lever for adjusting the amount of a volatile substance dispensed, the frequency of dispensing periods, and/or the duration of the dispensing periods,

wherein at least one of said exit port and said adjustment lever is disposed in alignment, along a circumference of said housing, with said dispenser and with one of said concave portions.

12. A device for atomizing liquids, comprising:

an atomizer assembly comprising an atomization plate and a piezoelectric actuator coupled with said atomization plate to vibrate said atomization plate, thereby atomizing liquid supplied to said atomization plate;

a cartridge for holding a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir for containing a liquid to be atomized, said cartridge being rotatable so as to be able to position any one of said reservoirs in an engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said atomizer assembly in such a manner that the liquid in said one reservoir can be supplied to said atomization plate; and

a pivot arm for alternately disengaging a reservoir from said atomizer assembly and engaging a successive reservoir with said atomizer assembly during rotation of said cartridge.

13. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, wherein said pivot arm maintains a state of disengagement between said atomizer assembly and said reservoirs, during rotation of said cartridge from one engagement position to a subsequent engagement position.

14. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, wherein said cartridge comprises a cam feature such that, when said cartridge is rotated so as to position any given reservoir in the engagement position, said pivot arm operates to engage said atomizer assembly with the given reservoir, and when said cartridge is rotated so as to position the given reservoir out of the engagement position, said pivot arm operates to disengage said atomizer assembly from the given reservoir.

15. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 14,

wherein said cam feature comprises a cut-away tubular portion having on a longitudinal end thereof a circumferential cross-sectional surface that alternately rises and falls along the circumference, and

wherein said pivot arm is connected to said atomizer assembly and said pivot arm abuts said circumferential cross-sectional surface of said cut-away tubular portion such that, when said cartridge rotates, said pivot arm alternately rises and falls, whereby said cam feature and said pivot arm operate to cause said atomizer assembly to alternately disengage from and engage successive reservoirs.

16. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 15,

wherein each of said reservoirs is provided with a respective liquid delivery member, and

wherein, by virtue of said alternately rising and falling circumferential cross-sectional surface, said atomizer assembly is maintained at a position above the liquid delivery member of a next-to-be engaged reservoir, before said atomizer assembly engages the next-to-be engaged reservoir, and said atomizer assembly drops down upon the liquid delivery member to engage the next-to-be engaged reservoir, whereby collision, improper engagement and non-engagement between said atomizer assembly and said liquid delivery member, due to vertical misalignment therebetween, are prevented.

17. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 16, wherein each of said liquid delivery members is a wick.

18. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, further comprising a housing, said housing comprising retention snaps for removably retaining said cartridge in said housing in such a manner as to permit rotation of said cartridge.

19. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, further comprising:

a housing, said housing having a circumferential surface provided with at least one concave portion; and

at least one handle for rotating said cartridge, said at least one handle being provided on said cartridge, and said at least one handle being provided with a convex portion that fits into said concave portion,

wherein, as said cartridge is rotated, said convex portion is rotationally brought into alignment with said concave portion at the same time as one of said reservoirs is brought into the engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said atomizer assembly in such a manner that the liquid in said one reservoir can be supplied to said atomization plate, whereby the aligning of said convex portion with said concave portion provides visual, auditory and/or tactile feedback to a user of said apparatus that one of said reservoirs is in the engagement position in which said one reservoir can be engaged with said atomizer assembly in such a manner that the liquid in said one reservoir can be supplied to said atomization plate.

20. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, further comprising an exit port for releasing an atomized liquid from said device to the atmosphere outside of said device.

21. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 12, further comprising an adjustment lever for adjusting the amount of an atomized liquid dispensed from said device, the frequency of dispensing periods, and/or the duration of the dispensing periods.

22. A device for atomizing liquids according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of (a) an exit port for releasing an atomized liquid from said device to the atmosphere outside of said device, and (b) an adjustment lever for adjusting the amount of an atomized liquid dispensed from said device, the frequency of dispensing periods, and/or the duration of the dispensing periods,

wherein at least one of said exit port and said adjustment lever is disposed in alignment, along a circumference of said housing, with said atomizer assembly and with one of said concave portions.