Dispensing of multiple volatile substances

• US 7,610,118 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Helf, Thomas A., Jaworski, Thomas, Porchia, Jose, Walter, Scott D., Schramm, Heather R., Tomkins, David A., Martens, Edward J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge; Charles R
• Application Number:
  US10/549,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700239-241, 700/265, 700281-284, 422/5, 422/105, 222/25, 222/52, 222/54, 222/145.5, 222/145.6, 239/34, 239/69, 261/19, 261/20, 261/26
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2033 using a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/205 using vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic or piezoelectric atomizers
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/035 emanating multiple odours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/125 emanating multiple odours
• 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: A63H 33/40 Windmills; Other toys actuated by air currents driving mechanisms for toy figures or vehicles A63H29/16
• 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: B05B 17/0684 Wicks or the like

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling emission of fragrances into a given area such as a room or a region of a yard; and more particularly the creation of a desired atmosphere within the given area. In addition, the invention involves a volatile substance dispensing device (200) having mounted therein a plurality of reservoirs (31) storing a volatile substance, and a plurality of atomizer assemblies (34) for emitting volatile substances communicated thereto by the reservoirs (31). Preferably, a microcontroller (50) controls the emission of the volatile substances in accordance with preferred programs.

Claims

1. A volatile substance dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers, each configured to emit a volatile substance from a replaceable volatile substance reservoir when the reservoir is loaded in the dispensing system so as to communicate the volatile substance to each respective dispenser;

a programmable microprocessor for controlling the emission of different volatile substances From the plurality of dispensers;

a memory card reading device for reading program in Formation from a replaceable memory card, wherein the replaceable memory card comprises information relating to one or more set programs for instructing the microprocessor to control volatile substance emission from the plurality of dispensers in a coordinated manner; and

a user interface that includes at least one knob disposed on a housing of the dispensing system that allows a user to instruct the microprocessor to control the volatile substance emission according to the one or more set programs.

2. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing system further includes a continuous action air freshener.

3. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the volatile substance is selected from the group consisting of fragrance, insect repellant, insecticide, disinfectant, sanitizer, and water.

4. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing at least one of light intensity, airborne chemicals, humidity, sound, motion, and temperature, wherein the microprocessor controls the emission of the volatile substances at least partially based on information relating to a sensed condition output from the sensor.

5. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface that comprises a mode lever to enable a user to switch between the one or more programs to control the volatile substance emission from one or more of the plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers.

6. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the memory card is a flash memory device.

7. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the memory card reading device is an optical scanner that reads information displayed on the memory card.

8. A method of selling replaceable volatile substance reservoirs for use in a volatile substance dispensing device which is configured to mount a plurality of volatile substance reservoirs simultaneously and to operate electromechanical dispensers to emit volatile substances from respective volatile substance reservoirs independently or in combination, the dispensing device having a microprocessor and a memory card reading device for reading a memory card containing information relating to one or more programs for instructing the microprocessor to control emission of volatile substances from the volatile substance reservoirs in accordance with the one or more programs, the method comprising:

grouping a plurality of volatile substance reservoirs, each having a different volatile substance;

storing on a memory card information relating to one or more set programs for instructing the microprocessor to control the emission of the different volatile substances from the group of volatile substance reservoirs;

providing a user interface that includes at least one knob disposed on a housing of the dispensing device that allows a user to instruct the microprocessor to control the emission of the different volatile substances according to the one or more set programs;

packaging the plurality of volatile substance reservoirs together with the memory card; and

offering the packaged materials for sale as a single item.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the memory card comprises a flash memory.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the memory card has the information relating to the one or more computer-readable programs printed thereon.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the volatile substances are selected from the group consisting of fragrance, insect repellant, insecticide, disinfectant, sanitizer, and water.

12. A volatile substance dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of volatile substance dispensers configured to dispense volatile substances from a plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs, respectively, when the plurality of volatile substance reservoirs are loaded in the dispensing system so as to communicate a volatile substance to each respective dispenser;

a microprocessor for controlling the plurality of volatile substance dispensers to emit volatile substances from the plurality of volatile substance reservoirs according to one or more set programs; and

a user interface that includes a mode lever to enable a user to instruct the plurality of volatile substance dispensers to dispense the volatile substances from the respective plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs according to the one or more set programs, wherein the microprocessor controls the plurality of volatile substance dispensers to perform at least one of (i) repetitive alternation between independent emissions of different volatile substances, (ii) repetitive alternation between emissions of different combinations of volatile substances, or (iii) repetitive alternation between different emission intensifies of at least one volatile substance, in a set pattern;

wherein the microprocessor controls the plurality of volatile substance dispensers to emit repeatedly (i) intermittent bursts of a first combination of volatile substances from different reservoirs over a first period of time, and (ii) intermittent bursts of a second combination of volatile substances from different reservoirs over a second period of time.

13. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the dispensing system further includes a continuous action air freshener.

14. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the volatile substance is selected from the group consisting of fragrance, insect repellant, insecticide, disinfectant, sanitizer, and water.

15. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the volatile substance is a fragrance, and the set pattern reduces fragrance fatigue by a user.

16. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising a sensor for sensing at least one of light intensity, airborne chemicals, humidity, sound, motion, and temperature, wherein the microprocessor controls the emission of the volatile substances at least partially based on information relating to a sensed condition output from the sensor.

17. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the user interface allows a user to switch between different emission modes.

18. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the microprocessor controls the plurality of volatile substance dispensers (i) to emit intermittent bursts of a first volatile substance over a first period of time, (ii) to emit intermittent bursts of a second volatile substance over a second period of time following the first period of time, and (iii) to repeat the first and second periods.

19. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the microprocessor controls the plurality of volatile substance dispensers to emit repeatedly (i) intermittent bursts of a combination of volatile substances from different reservoirs over a first period of time, and (ii) intermittent bursts of a single volatile substance from one reservoir over a second period of time.

20. A volatile substance dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers, each configured to dispense a volatile substance from a different replaceable volatile substance reservoir, each reservoir comprising a wick that (i) extends into the reservoir, and (ii) communicates the volatile substance from the reservoir through capillary action, to deliver the volatile substance to the electromechanical volatile substance dispenser, wherein each electromechanical volatile substance dispenser comprises;

(a) an orifice plate; and

(b) a piezoelectric actuator element that expands and contracts when alternating voltages are applied thereto, which expansion and contraction is communicated to the orifice plate to cause the orifice plate to vibrate and, consequently, to eject into the air droplets of a volatile substance communicated by the wick;

a microprocessor for controlling an emission of volatile substances from the plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers based on one or more set programs by independently controlling the voltage applied to each actuator element; and

a plurality of knobs disposed on a housing of the volatile substance dispensing system, wherein each knob is independently associated with one of the plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers to allow independent adjustment of a level of the emission of the volatile substance from each of the plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers according to the one or more set programs.

21. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 20, wherein the dispensing system further includes a continuous action air freshener.

22. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 20, wherein the volatile substance is selected from the group consisting of fragrance, insect repellant, insecticide, disinfectant, sanitizer, and water.

23. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 20, further comprising a sensor for sensing at least one of light intensity, airborne chemicals, humidity, sound, motion, and temperature, wherein the microprocessor controls the emission of the volatile substances at least partially based on information relating to a sensed condition output from the sensor.

24. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 20, further comprising a mode lever to enable a user to switch between different programs for controlling the emission of the volatile substances from the plurality of electromechanical volatile substance dispensers.

25. A volatile substance dispensing system comprising:

at least one dispenser configured to dispense a volatile substance from a plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs, when the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs are loaded in the volatile substance dispensing system so as to communicate a volatile substance to the at least one dispenser, the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs including information relating to one or more computer-readable programs from which a user may choose;

at least one reading device the reading the information from the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs;

a microprocessor for receiving signals from the reading device relating to the information and controlling the at least one dispenser to emit volatile substance from the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs in accordance with the signals communicated from the reading device;

a knob disposed on a housing of the volatile substance dispensing system for controlling a level of volatile substance emission from the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs;

a mode lever to manually switch between the one or more computer-readable programs for controlling the level of the volatile substance emission from the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs; and

wherein the housing secures the at least one dispenser, and the replaceable volatile substance reservoirs are mounted within the housing so as to communicate volatile substances to the dispenser when loaded in the volatile substance dispensing system.

26. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, further comprising selection means for selecting one of the control programs to be run by the microprocessor when more than one program is read from the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs.

27. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the reading device reads a flash memory integrated with the plurality of replaceable volatile substance reservoirs, which stores the information relating to the one or more of the computer-readable control programs.

28. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, further comprising:

a plurality of dispensers, each configured to dispense a volatile substance from a respective, replaceable volatile substance reservoir when the volatile substance reservoir is loaded in the volatile substance dispensing system, each volatile substance reservoir including information relating to one or more computer-readable programs; and

a plurality of reading devices for reading the information from each of the respective reservoirs, wherein the microprocessor receives signals from the plurality of reading devices relating to the one or more computer-readable programs from the volatile substance reservoirs and controls the dispensers to emit volatile substance based on the signals from the reading devices.

29. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 28, wherein the microprocessor controls the plurality of dispensers to emit a coordinated combination of volatile substances from respective reservoirs based on the received signals.

30. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the dispensing system further includes a continuous action air freshener.

31. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the volatile substance is selected from the group consisting or fragrance, insect repellant, insecticide, disinfectant, sanitizer, and water.

32. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, further comprising a sensor for sensing at least one of light intensity, airborne chemicals, humidity, sound, motion, and temperature, wherein the microprocessor controls the emission of a volatile substance at least partially based on information relating to a sensed condition output from the sensor.

33. A volatile substance dispensing system according to claim 25, further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface allows a user to instruct the microprocessor to control the emission of a volatile substance.