Bottle eject mechanism

• US 7,643,734 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Wefler, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US11/096,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20060222347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 392/386, 392/395, 239 34- 46
• US Class Current: 392/395
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/20 Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects fumigation apparatus A01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward apparatuses, devices, methods, kits, programs, and combinations to eject a bottle or container from a compartment. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention an ejector is provided that cantilevers over the bottle and is configured to eject the bottle from the container when sufficient force is applied to the ejector. In other embodiments, an ejection mechanism is disposed on a housing assembly of a device at a position to eject the container from the compartment, wherein the ejection mechanism is disposed in a non-retaining relationship with the container. The ejector mechanisms of the present invention can be used with a variety of devices, including, for example, a diffuser used to disperse an active material and/or generate an aesthetic lighting display, such as multicolored displays, color-changing displays, projection displays, shine-through displays, or the like. The diffusers may also provide control over varying emission of light and/or fragrance.

Claims

1. A diffuser, comprising:

a housing assembly having a compartment adapted to receive a container having a reservoir with a narrowed neck at an end thereof, wherein the neck is surrounded by shoulder portions and a wick extends through the neck; and

an ejector arm disposed on the housing assembly, the ejector arm configured to extend across an interior of the compartment, wherein the ejector arm is adapted to extend over the shoulder portions of the container adjacent the neck when the container is received in the compartment to apply a force to the container to disengage the container from the housing assembly and eject the container from the compartment.

2. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the ejector arm is positioned between a body of the container and an upper portion of the wick when the container is received in the compartment.

3. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein a portion of the ejector arm protrudes from the housing assembly so as to allow engagement with a finger of a user.

4. The diffuser of claim 1 further comprising at least one light source comprising a light-emitting diode.

5. The diffuser of claim 4 further comprising at least one lens to project light from the diffuser emitted from the at least one light source.

6. The diffuser of claim 1 further comprising a heating device and an adjustment mechanism for displacing an upper portion of the wick toward or away from the heating device.

7. The diffuser of claim 1 further comprising a heating device and a reclosable opening for inserting the container into the housing assembly, wherein the heating device is disposed at least three inches from the reclosable opening.

8. A diffuser, comprising:

a housing assembly having a compartment that is adapted to receive a container having a wick extending from a first end of the container; and

an ejection mechanism disposed on the housing assembly at a position to apply a force to a portion of the first end of the container to disengage the container from the housing assembly and eject the container from the compartment, wherein the ejection mechanism is disposed in a non-retaining relationship with the container.

9. The diffuser of claim 8, wherein the ejection mechanism is configured to cantilever over a top portion of the container when the container is received in the compartment.

10. The diffuser of claim 8 further including a heating device and a reclosable opening for receiving the container at a base of the housing assembly, wherein the heating device is disposed at least three inches from the opening.

11. The diffuser of claim 8 further comprising a heating device that is only functional when the container is inserted into the compartment.

12. A diffuser, comprising:

an enclosed housing assembly having a reclosable compartment that at least one of receives, releasably engages, and encloses a container having an optional wick extending therefrom;

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

a light source comprising a LED; and

an ejector arm disposed on the housing assembly at a position to apply a force to a portion of the container to disengage the container from the housing assembly and eject the container from the compartment, wherein the reclosable compartment includes a reclosable opening having a reclosable door configured to open so that the container can be inserted into the reclosable compartment and close after the container is received into the compartment to enclose the container in the housing assembly.

13. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the heating device is functional only when the container is received and releasably engaged in the compartment.

14. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the heating device is disposed at least three inches from the reclosable opening.

15. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the enclosed housing has substantially no hole or opening wider than about 0.25 inches (0.635 cm) when the reclosable compartment is closed.

16. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the enclosed housing has substantially no hole or opening wider than about 0.01 inches (0.0254 cm) when the reclosable compartment is closed.

17. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein a substantially entire outside surface of the housing assembly is substantially maintained at a temperature less than about 194°

F. (90°

C.) during operation of the diffuser at a temperature of about 77°

F. (25°

C.).

18. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein a substantially entire outside surface of the housing assembly is substantially maintained at a temperature less than about 131°

F. (55°

C.) during operation of the diffuser at a temperature of about 77°

F. (25°

C.).

19. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the heating device heats a surface of the container or the optional wick to a temperature of between about 149°

F. (65°

C.) and about 266°

F. (130°

C.) during operation of the diffuser at a temperature of about 77°

F. (25°

C.).

20. The diffuser of claim 12, wherein the heating device heats a surface of a material of the container or the optional wick to a temperature less than about 149°

F. (65°

C.) during operation of the diffuser at a temperature of about 77°

F. (25°

C.).

21. A diffuser, comprising:

an ejector arm operatively connected to a housing assembly of the diffuser that is adapted to receive and releasably engage a container, the ejector arm configured to extend across an interior of the housing assembly and over a portion of the container when the container is received in the interior of the housing assembly so as to apply force to the container to displace the container in a direction to disengage the container from the housing when sufficient pressure is exerted on the ejector arm.

22. The diffuser of claim 21, in combination with a container.

23. The diffuser of claim 22, wherein the ejector arm is configured to extend over a top portion of the container when the container is received within a compartment disposed in the housing assembly.

24. The diffuser of claim 22, wherein an end of the ejection arm protrudes from the housing assembly such that the end is adapted to be engaged by a finger of a user such that sufficient pressure can be exerted by the user on the ejector arm to disengage and eject the container from the housing assembly.

25. The diffuser of claim 22 further comprising a reclosable opening for inserting the container into the device.

26. The diffuser of claim 25, wherein the opening is at a base of the housing.

27. The diffuser of claim 21 further comprising a heating device disposed at least three inches from an opening accessible to a human hand or finger.

28. The diffuser of claim 22, wherein the container contains at least one of a fragrance and an insecticide and further includes a wick extending therefrom.