Timed aerosol fragrance dispenser for forced-air duct installation

• US 7,854,394 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aaron M. Best, David J. Havell, Michael Mac Powell
• Original Assignee: Aaron M. Best, David J. Havell, Michael Mac Powell
• Inventors: Best, Aaron M., Powell, Michael Mac, Havell, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/351,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20090127351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 239/4, 239 67- 70, 239/99, 239/102.1, 239/102.2, 239/282, 239/302, 239/326, 422/4, 422/5, 422/105, 422/123, 422/124, 222/14, 222/52, 222/57, 222/638, 222/645, 222/646, 222/648, 222/649, 261/115, 261/118, 261/119.1, 261/DIG.88, 454/157, 454/337, 454/370
• US Class Current: 239/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes

Abstract

A timed aerosol fragrance dispenser includes a housing containing a programmable microprocessor, a low-voltage DC power source, a piezoelectric assembly for spraying timed bursts of fragrance, and circuitry for activating the piezoelectric assembly, and a magnetic reed switch air flow detector. A fragrance-containing reservoir attaches to the housing, which incorporates a clip which allows the dispenser to be secured to a heating and air conditioning vent register. When the air flow detector senses air flow from the vent register, the microcontroller in combination with other circuitry generates current pulses having a voltage sufficiently high to activate the piezoelectric assembly. Intervals between pulses are switch selectable. In addition, the normal programming can be overridden to spray fragrance for a set period even in the absence of air flow from the vent register.

Claims

1. A timed aerosol fragrance dispenser for dispensing fragrance into air flow emanating from a heating and air conditioning vent register, the fragrance dispenser comprising:

a fragrance-containing reservoir;

a case containing a microcontroller, a magnetic reed switch having a flapper actuator which detects air flow from the vent register, a piezoelectric assembly coupleable to the reservoir for spraying fragrance from the reservoir in timed bursts, a DC power source and circuitry for converting current from the DC power source to pulses having voltage levels sufficient to activate the piezoelectric assembly.

2. The timed aerosol fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein said circuitry comprises:

a capacitor for storing charge from the DC power source;

a transistor activated by a pulse train generated by the microcontroller;

a switching transformer coupled to the capacitor through the transistor, the output of said switching transformer being coupled to the piezoelectric assembly.

3. The timed aerosol fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein intervals between pulses in the pulse train are switch selectable.

4. The timed aerosol fragrance dispenser of claim 2, wherein the pulse train from the microcontroller is normally generated only when the magnetic reed switch signals to the microcontroller that air flow is emanating from the vent register.

5. The timed aerosol fragrance dispenser of claim 4, wherein the normal programming can be overridden for a set period of time by depressing a momentary contact switch so that a pulse train will be sent to the transistor even in the absence of air flow from the vent register.

6. The timed aerosol fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein said magnetic reed switch having a flapper actuator is mounted within a window that penetrates the case.