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US 12,622,992 B2Granted
Air freshener with hinged and channeled frame
AssigneeEnergizer Auto, Inc.
InventorsAlexa Ann Valore, Elin Lee LeClaire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air freshener includes a first arm and a second arm connected together at one of their ends by a joint to enable swinging of the arms between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In a closed configuration, a fastener clasps opposite ends of the first arm and the second arm together to surround a central space in which a support structure, such as a support post of a rearview mirror on a vehicle, may be positioned. The first arm and the second arm each include an inner wall and lateral side walls defining an open chamber in which a fragrance substrate is retained by an interference fit. The inner wall defines an interior periphery, and ends of the lateral side walls define an exterior periphery of the air freshener.
Claims14
An air freshener, comprising:
- a frame having an inner surface forming an interior periphery of the air freshener about a central space, the central space defining a passageway along an axis through the air freshener for receiving an external support structure, the frame comprising:
- a first frame section extending along a first inner wall between a first joint end and a first clasp end, the first inner wall forming a first portion of an outer boundary of the central space and having a first interior surface, the first frame section having a first front wall and a first rear wall extending radially from the first inner wall away from the central space and defining a first channel, the first front wall culminating in a first front outer edge along the first channel, the first rear wall culminating in a first rear outer edge along the first channel, the first front outer edge and the first rear outer edge being axially separated by a first distance open to atmosphere,
- a second frame section extending along a second inner wall between a second joint end and second clasp end,
- a joint pivotally coupling the first joint end to the second joint end, and
- a clasp detachably connecting the first clasp end to the second clasp end in a closed configuration;
- and
- a first fragrance substrate having a first inner body and a first outer surface, the first inner body being substantially enclosed within the first frame section, the first outer surface being radially outward from the first interior surface of the first inner wall and being exposed to the atmosphere across the first distance in the closed configuration, wherein the first outer surface of the first fragrance substrate forms an exterior periphery of the air freshener along the first channel radially outward from the interior periphery.
4 more elements
A combination, comprising:
- a frame having an inner surface forming an interior periphery of the air freshener about a central space, the central space defining a passageway along an axis through the air freshener for receiving an external support structure, the frame comprising:
- a first frame section extending along a first inner wall between a first joint end and a first clasp end, the first inner wall forming a first portion of an outer boundary of the central space and having a first interior surface, the first frame section having a first front wall and a first rear wall extending radially from the first inner wall away from the central space and defining a first channel, the first front wall culminating in a first front outer edge along the first channel, the first rear wall culminating in a first rear outer edge along the first channel, the first front outer edge and the first rear outer edge being axially separated by a first distance open to atmosphere,
- a second frame section extending along a second inner wall between a second joint end and second clasp end,
- a joint pivotally coupling the first joint end to the second joint end, and
- a clasp detachably connecting the first clasp end to the second clasp end in a closed configuration,
- a first fragrance substrate having a first inner body and a first outer surface, the first inner body being substantially enclosed within the first frame section, the first outer surface being radially outward from the first interior surface of the first inner wall and being exposed to the atmosphere across the first distance in the closed configuration, wherein the first outer surface of the first fragrance substrate forms an exterior periphery of the air freshener along the first channel radially outward from the interior periphery;
- and
- a rearview mirror of a vehicle, the rearview mirror having a body and a support,
- wherein the support of the rearview mirror passes within the interior periphery and through the central space of the air freshener.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.