Passive dispensing device
First Claim
1. A passive dispensing device for a liquid active material, the dispensing device comprising:
- an upper housing portion for receiving a container for holding and dispensing a liquid active material, wherein the upper housing portion includes an interior cavity and wherein the container includes a wick extending from inside the container to an area outside the container;
a lower housing portion that extends downwardly from the upper housing portion, wherein the lower housing portion defines a recess between the upper and lower housing portions and includes first and second legs that extend downwardly from the upper housing portion and outwardly from the recess;
a first set of vents disposed in a first body portion of the upper housing portion;
a second set of vents disposed in a second body portion of the upper housing portion; and
a louver for opening and closing the first and second sets of vents,wherein the dispensing device has an operative position in which the first and second legs are disposed on a support surface, the container is retained in the recess with the wick extending upwardly into the interior cavity, and the container is spaced above the support surface and disposed between the first and second legs to allow convective air flow under the container, between the container and the first and second legs past the recess and the container, and through the device to dispense the active material from the upper housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A passive dispensing device for a liquid active material includes an upper housing portion for receiving a container for holding and dispensing a liquid active material, wherein the upper housing portion includes an interior cavity and wherein the container includes a wick extending from inside the container to an area outside the container. The device further includes a lower housing portion that extends downwardly from the upper housing portion, wherein the lower housing portion defines a recess between the upper and lower housing portions and includes first and second legs that extend downwardly from the upper housing portion and outwardly from the recess. The device has an operative position in which the first and second legs are disposed on a support surface, the container is retained in the recess with the wick extending upwardly into the interior cavity, and the container is spaced above the support surface and disposed between the first and second legs to allow convective air flow past the recess and the container through the device to dispense the active material from the upper housing.
157 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A passive dispensing device for a liquid active material, the dispensing device comprising:
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an upper housing portion for receiving a container for holding and dispensing a liquid active material, wherein the upper housing portion includes an interior cavity and wherein the container includes a wick extending from inside the container to an area outside the container; a lower housing portion that extends downwardly from the upper housing portion, wherein the lower housing portion defines a recess between the upper and lower housing portions and includes first and second legs that extend downwardly from the upper housing portion and outwardly from the recess; a first set of vents disposed in a first body portion of the upper housing portion; a second set of vents disposed in a second body portion of the upper housing portion; and a louver for opening and closing the first and second sets of vents, wherein the dispensing device has an operative position in which the first and second legs are disposed on a support surface, the container is retained in the recess with the wick extending upwardly into the interior cavity, and the container is spaced above the support surface and disposed between the first and second legs to allow convective air flow under the container, between the container and the first and second legs past the recess and the container, and through the device to dispense the active material from the upper housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19)
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11. A passive dispensing device for a liquid active material, the dispensing device comprising:
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a housing having first and second body portions defining upper and lower housing portions; first and second clips extending inwardly from the upper housing portion, wherein each of the clips includes two abutting outer engaging portions and an inner indentation therebetween; a container for holding the liquid active material, comprising; a wick extending from inside the container to an area outside the container; a recess disposed in a first wall of the container; a downwardly facing ledge disposed in a second wall of the container; wherein the container is disposed within the device such that the outer engaging portions of the first clip engage walls defining the recess, the outer engaging portions of the second clip engage the ledge, and the indentations form passageways between the container walls and the clips. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A passive dispensing device for a liquid active material, the dispensing device comprising:
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a container for holding the liquid active material, wherein the container includes a wick extending from inside the container to an area outside the container; an upper housing portion for dispensing the active material, wherein the upper housing portion includes an interior cavity; a lower housing portion that extends downwardly from the upper housing portion, wherein the lower housing portion defines a recess between the upper and lower housing portions and the lower housing portion further includes first and second legs extending downwardly from the upper housing portion and outwardly from the recess; and first and second opposed openings formed between the first and second legs and first and second inwardly facing clips extending from opposing inner surfaces of the upper housing portion adjacent the first and second openings, respectively, wherein each of the first and second clips includes at least one engaging portion and an indentation, and further wherein the first and second clips engage the container such that passageways are formed between the container and the indentations to allow air to flow into the upper housing portion, wherein the dispensing device has an operative position in which the container is retained in the recess with the wick extending upwardly into the interior cavity, a bottom surface of the container is disposed above bottom surfaces of the legs, and the container is disposed between the first and second legs such that gaps are formed between the container and the legs to allow convective air flow under the container, through the gaps and the passageways past the container, and through the device to dispense the liquid active material from the upper housing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 20)
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Specification