Scent delivery system

• US 9,808,550 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Cabin, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Precision Products Mfg.
• Inventors: Fantuzzi, Emmanuel, Padilla, Jr., Ricardo, Yong, Loong Sang, Kamal, Ritu Raj, Connolly, Dillon, Ducos, Romain
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/942,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20160263265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 261 26, 261 30, 261DIG 88, 422124
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/215 by forcing the gas through absorbent pads containing the liquid

Abstract

A scent delivery assembly that includes a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, an airflow path that is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening, a fan positioned along the airflow path, and at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path. The first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position and a scent assembly. The scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position.

Claims

1. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening,

a fan positioned along the airflow path, and

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position,

a first motor that is operable to move the first cover between the open and closed positions,

wherein the main body portion includes a divider member positioned in the interior, wherein the divider divides the interior into an airflow path portion and a non-airflow path portion, wherein the first scent assembly is positioned in the airflow path portion when the first cover is in the open position and wherein the first motor is positioned in the non-airflow path portion.

2. The scent delivery assembly of claim 1 wherein the scent assembly includes a reservoir portion and a diffusing portion.

3. The scent delivery assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the second cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the second cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position.

4. The scent delivery assembly of claim 3 further comprising a third cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the third cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the third cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position.

5. The scent delivery assembly of claim 4 further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to selectively move the first, second and third covers between the open and closed positions.

6. The scent delivery assembly of claim 1 wherein the first motor includes a first arm that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first cartridge is attached to a distal end of the first arm, wherein when the first arm is in the first position the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein when the first arm is in the second position the first cover is in the open position.

7. The scent delivery assembly of claim 1 wherein when the first cover is in the closed position the scent assembly is not aligned with the airflow path, and wherein when the first cover is in the open position the scent assembly is generally aligned with the airflow path.

8. The scent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the first motor includes an arm extending therefrom, wherein the arm is configured to move the first cover between the open and closed positions.

9. The scent delivery system of claim 1 wherein the cartridge is sealed when it is in the closed position.

10. The scent delivery system of claim 5 wherein the first, second and third cartridges each include a scent associated therewith and are configured to communicate the scent identification to the controller.

11. The scent delivery system of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to communicate the scent identification to a control panel that includes a user interface.

12. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening,

a fan positioned along the airflow path,

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position, and

a first actuator that includes a first arm that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first cartridge is attached to a distal end of the first arm, wherein when the first arm is in the first position the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein when the first arm is in the second position the first cover is in the open position,

wherein the main body portion includes a divider member positioned in the interior, wherein the divider divides the interior into an airflow path portion and a non-airflow path portion, wherein the first cartridge is positioned in the airflow path portion and the first actuator is positioned in the non-airflow path portion.

13. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening,

a fan positioned along the airflow path, and

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a housing portion and the first cover, wherein the housing portion includes an attachment opening therein, and wherein the distal end of a first actuator arm is releasably received in the attachment opening.

14. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening,

a fan positioned along the airflow path,

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position, and

at least first and second positioning pegs positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the first cartridge.

15. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening,

a fan positioned along the airflow path,

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position, and

a motor that is operable to move the first cover between the open and closed positions,

wherein the first cartridge includes a second cover that is movable via the motor together with the first cover between the closed position and the open position, and wherein the scent assembly is positioned in the airflow path between the first cover and the second cover.

16. A scent delivery assembly comprising:

a main body portion that defines an interior and includes at least one intake opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein an airflow path is defined between the intake opening and the outlet opening, wherein the main body portion includes a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion that cooperate to define the interior, wherein the intake opening is defined in the lower housing portion and the outlet opening is defined in the upper housing portion,

a fan positioned along the airflow path, and

at least a first cartridge positioned along the airflow path, wherein the first cartridge includes a first cover that is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first cartridge includes a scent assembly, wherein the scent assembly is not in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the closed position, and wherein the scent assembly is in flow communication with the airflow path when the first cover is in the open position.

17. The scent delivery system of claim 16 further comprising a removable tray portion received in a tray portion recess defined in the lower housing portion, wherein the tray portion includes a first cartridge opening defined therethrough, wherein the first cartridge is removably received in the first cartridge opening.

18. The scent delivery system of claim 17 wherein the upper housing portion is pivotally connected to the lower housing portion.