Combined air and air treatment preparation dispenser

• US 11,796,219 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Issued: 10/24/2023
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xela Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xela Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Muderlak, Todd J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savani, Avinash A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tighe, Dana K
• Application Number:
  US16/664,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 553852
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0644 One-way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/085 including an air filter
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/205 Mounting a ventilator fan therein
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing air and an air treatment preparation includes a drying module, an air treatment preparation module, and an air diverter. The drying module has an air dispensing outlet and an air diverter outlet. The air treatment preparation module has an air diverter inlet and an air treatment preparation. The air diverter has a one-way valve. The air diverter connects the air diverter outlet of the drying module to the air diverter inlet of the air treatment preparation module via the one-way valve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing air and an air treatment preparation comprising:

a housing having a housing back panel and a housing cover releasably attached to the housing back panel, wherein the housing cover includes a bottom panel having an opening and a side panel having a plurality of vents;

a drying module having an inlet, an air dispensing outlet, and an air diverting outlet, wherein the air dispensing outlet is aligned with the opening in the bottom panel of the housing cover;

an air treatment preparation module having an air diverting inlet and the air treatment preparation, wherein the air treatment preparation is exposed to the plurality of vents; and

an air diverter connecting the air diverting outlet and air diverting inlet, the air diverter further including a one-way valve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter module connected to the inlet of the drying module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air treatment preparation is selected from the group consisting of an air fragrance, an air deodorizer, and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter module further includes a mechanical switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air treatment preparation module further includes a mechanical switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control module having at least one control and at least one indicator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one indicator has at least two operable positions.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the filter module and air treatment module further includes a mechanical switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one indicator is in operable communication with the mechanical switch of the at least one of the filter module and the air treatment preparation module.

10. A method of dispensing an air treatment preparation, the method comprising:

activating an apparatus comprising;

a housing having a housing back panel and a housing cover releasably attached to the housing back panel, wherein the housing cover includes a bottom panel having an opening and a side panel having a plurality of vents;

a drying module comprising a motor, an air dispensing outlet and an air diverter outlet,

an air treatment preparation module comprising an air diverter inlet and the air treatment preparation, and

an air diverter connecting the air diverter outlet of the drying module and the air diverting inlet of the air treatment preparation module, the air diverter further including a one-way valve;

forcing air, using the motor, through the drying module, wherein a majority portion of the air is forced through the air dispensing outlet and a minor portion of the air is forced through the air diverter inlet and out through the plurality of vents in the side panel;

building air pressure in the air diverter to reach a threshold level to open the one-way valve;

opening the one way valve, thereby permitting air flow through the air diverter and into the air treatment preparation module;

contacting the air treatment preparation with at least a portion of the minor portion of the air; and

forcing the minor portion of the air out of the air treatment preparation module.