Integrated, essential-oil atomizer

• US 7,878,418 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ESIP Series 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Early Vaughn Sevy
• Inventors: Sevy, Early Vaughn
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey; Steven J
• Application Number:
  US12/247,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20100084484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 239/8, 239/11, 239/67, 239/69, 239/338, 239/340, 239/342, 239/346, 239/351, 239/369, 239/370, 239/124, 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 261/78.2, 261/DIG.88, 422/123
• US Class Current: 239/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0012 Apparatus for achieving spraying before discharge from the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2429 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together after discharge B05B7/2435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/88 Aroma dispensers

Abstract

An atomizer provides a control of duty cycle or a motor driving a diaphragm pump. By providing precise, high-speed flow through an eductor nozzle, improved atomization occurs. However, to control the total volume of atomized liquid discharged, the delay time between operational time periods may also be controlled. Thus, a very effective atomizer provides economical use of essential oils by control duty cycle. Precision modeling provides highly integrated subsystems providing superior performance and reliability.

Claims

1. A method of aroma therapy comprising;

providing an atomizer comprising an eductor and a separator, the atomizer being connected directly to a reservoir and to a pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface;

the providing an atomizer wherein the eductor comprises a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter;

adjusting an electronic controller to control at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump;

operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer;

educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow;

atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator;

separating the droplets by size;

recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir;

passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; and

simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the duty cycle by controlling the ratio of the duration of operation to the duration of the delay plus the duration of operation.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising connecting a first connector of the atomizer directly to the pump, a second connector thereof directly to the reservoir, and a third connector thereof directly to a distributor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the atomizer is homogeneously molded with the first, second, and third connectors.

5. A method of aroma therapy comprising;

providing an atomizer, homogeneously molded and comprising an eductor, separator, pump, and first, second, and third connectors;

the providing the atomizer, wherein the atomizer is connected by the first connector directly to the pump, by the second connector directly to the reservoir, and by the third connector directly to a distributor, the pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface;

adjusting an electronic controller to control the duty cycle by at least one a duration of operation, a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump, and a ratio corresponding thereto;

operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer;

educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow;

atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator;

separating the droplets by size;

recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir;

passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow;

simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump; and

providing a housing, a motor inside the housing and electrically powered to drive the pump, the housing further comprising a lock securing the atomizer to the pump.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pump is located in a housing having a filter disposed in an aperture thereof receiving a cord providing power to the motor, the aperture serving to support stress on the cord and pass the flow from the environment to the pump.

7. A method of aroma therapy comprising:

providing an atomizer comprising an eductor and a separator, the atomizer being connected directly to a reservoir and to a pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface;

adjusting an electronic controller to control at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of a delay between periods of operation of the pump;

operating the pump to pressurize ambient air into a flow through the atomizer;

educting a liquid directly from the reservoir into the flow;

atomizing the liquid into droplets by the educting and by colliding against a wall of the separator;

separating the droplets by size;

recovering comparatively larger droplets into the reservoir;

passing comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer out through the separator with the flow; and

simultaneously limiting net outflow of the liquid and decreasing mean droplet size by selectively controlling by a user the duty cycle of the pump;

the atomizer, wherein the pump comprises a pump body fitted with a valve plate captured in a pinch slot to support pressure between the pump body and valve plate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pump further comprises seals positioned about openings passing the flow into and out of the pump, the seals minimizing pressure exposure of the structure of the pump by being sized to fit within about two diameters of apertures corresponding thereto.

9. A method of atomizing, the method comprising:

providing a pump disposed within a housing, driven by a motor, and comprising a diaphragm compressing air and providing a flow thereof at a pressure greater than ambient pressure, the motor comprising a coil and a first magnet operably connected to reciprocate the first magnet back and forth to drive the diaphragm;

providing a separator plate controlling outflow, separating the comparatively larger droplets from the comparatively smaller droplets prior to exit of the comparatively smaller droplets from the atomization;

providing an eductor comprising a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter;

providing a control system infinitely variable between extremes by a user to arbitrarily select at least one of a duration of operation and a duration of deactivation between periods of operation of the motor;

providing a bottle containing a liquid comprising a scent;

connecting an atomizer directly to the bottle,

securing the atomizer directly to the pump anchoring the atomizer to a supporting surface;

drawing from the bottle a portion of the liquid by eduction;

atomizing the portion into droplets;

spraying the droplets into a separator removing droplets insufficiently small to be carried indefinitely by ambient air movement.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the separator and flow are sized to release droplets having an effective diameter of from about 1 micron to about 5 microns.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising connecting the pump directly to the atomizer, operating the pump providing the flow, increasing the velocity of the flow by constricting the flow through a nozzle, and educting the liquid from the bottle into the flow as droplets.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the atomizer further comprises a body having the first fitting, second fitting, and third fittings homogeneously molded therewith, the first fitting directly receiving and securing the bottle, the second fitting containing the eductor, and a third fitting containing a distributor releasing the flow into the ambient.

13. The method of claim apparatus of claim 12, further comprising conducting aroma therapy comprising:

selecting the liquid to be an essential oil containing substantially no diluents;

selecting by a user a first time period corresponding to operation of the pump, arbitrarily selected between a first minimum time and a first maximum time;

selecting by a user a second time period corresponding to a delay in operation of the pump, the delay arbitrarily selected between a second minimum time and a second maximum time.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a pump disposed within the housing and comprising a diaphragm compressing air to a pressure greater than ambient pressure;

a motor comprising a coil and a first magnet

the motor, wherein the coil is operably connected to reciprocate an electric field to activate the first magnet;

the motor, wherein the first magnet drives a second magnet back and forth to oscillate the diaphragm;

a control system operably connected to the coil to control electricity flowing to the coil;

an atomizer, integrated with the pump, the atomizer being anchored by the pump and receiving directly therefrom a flow of pressurized air;

the atomizer further comprising a first fitting directly receiving and securing a bottle containing an aromatic scent thereto, a second fitting containing an eductor, and a third fitting containing a distributor releasing the pressurized air into the ambient;

a separating chamber and a separator plate controlling outflow from the separator chamber, separating comparatively larger droplets from comparatively smaller droplets prior to exit of the comparatively smaller droplets from the atomizer; and

an eductor comprising a nozzle having a minimum effective diameter discharging the flow therethrough and into an aperture spaced therefrom a distance of from about one to about 10 times the minimum effective diameter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system further comprises an actuator adjustable by a user to selectively and arbitrarily control the duration of delivery of electrical energy to the coil.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system further comprises an actuator adjustable by a user to selectively and arbitrarily control a delay between adjacent periods of continuous delivery of electrical energy to the coil.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control system further comprises:

an actuator, adjustable and infinitely variable by a user between extremes, selectively and arbitrarily controlling the duration of delivery of electrical energy to the coil and a delay between adjacent periods of continuous delivery of electrical energy to the coil.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the atomizer further comprises a body having the first fitting, second fitting, and third fittings homogeneously molded therewith.