Volatile material dispenser and method of attaching a refill or refills to same

• US 9,770,524 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Belongia, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US12/837,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20120012668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,629 Days
• Field of Search: 239 33, 239 44, 239 47, 239 49, 239 50
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2072 combined with a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method of attaching a refill to a volatile material dispenser includes the step of providing a volatile material dispenser that includes a housing, a first implement that attaches a refill containing a volatile material to the housing, and a second implement that attaches the refill to the housing, wherein the first and second implements include different features. The method further includes the step of attaching the refill in a first orientation to the volatile material dispenser, wherein in the first orientation, the first implement retains the refill. Still further, the method includes the step of attaching the refill in a second orientation different than the first orientation to the volatile material dispenser, wherein in the second orientation, the second implement retains the refill.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a refill to a volatile material dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a volatile material dispenser that includes a housing having first and second cavities disposed within the housing and each cavity adapted to accommodate a refill, each cavity includes a first implement formed within the cavity and which attaches a refill containing a volatile material to the housing by interacting with a neck portion of the refill, and a second implement formed within the cavity and which attaches the refill to the housing by interacting with a container portion of the refill;

inserting the refill into one of the first cavity or the second cavity and attaching the refill in a first orientation to the volatile material dispenser, wherein in the first orientation, the first implement and the second implement retain the refill; and

inserting the refill into one of the first cavity or the second cavity and attaching the refill in a second orientation to the volatile material dispenser, wherein in the second orientation, the first implement retains the refill.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the second orientation, the refill is oriented 180 degrees from an orientation of the refill in the first orientation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first orientation of the refill inserted into the second cavity is oriented 180 degrees from the first orientation of the refill inserted into the first cavity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first implement includes at least one of a plurality of stationary ribs, a movable rib, and a latch, wherein the plurality of stationary ribs and the movable rib create an interference with a sheath covering at least a portion of a wick that extends from the refill, and the latch that interacts with the neck portion of the refill, wherein the first implement attaches the refill to the housing by preventing downward movement of the refill.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second implement includes a ledge that interacts with a protrusion extending from the container portion of the refill to prevent downward movement of the refill.