# US 4,391,781 A · Electrically heated vapor dispenser

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,391,781 A
- Document ID: US4391781A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/360,866
- Filed: 1982-03-22
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1982-03-22
- Assignees: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
- Inventors: Klaas J. van Lit
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391781A

## CPC

- A61L 9/03: Apparatus therefor
- Y10S 261/89: Electrically heated aroma dispensers
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A device for dispensing thermally volatilizable substances of the type having a heating surface against which is placed a mat which is impregnated with a volatilizable substance. A clamp arm, which is biased toward the heating surface, presses the mat against such surface, and a lever, which is depressible, when depressed engages the clamp arm and moves it away from the heating surface, thereby releasing the mat to facilitate replacement thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for dispensing a thermally volatilizable substance, comprising:
a housing;
a heater secured within the housing and having a heating surface forming a support for a replaceable mat containing the volatilizable substance;
said housing defining a window over the heating surface and an access opening adjacent to one end of the heating surface for removal and/or insertion or replaceable mats;
a clamp arm secured to the housing, extending over the window, and terminating in a free end and having means biasing said clamp arm towards the heating surface to press a mat thereagainst; and
depressible lever secured to the housing and upon depression engageable with the free end of said clamp arm to move the clamp arm away from the heating surface, thereby to release a mat to facilitate removal thereof through said access opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the clamp arm free end and the lever have interacting surfaces whereby depression of the lever results in movement of the clamp arm in a direction normal to the direction of depression.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said clamp arm has at least one protuberance for engaging a mat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the clamp arm and the lever are integrally formed with at least a portion of the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 further including a protective grid secured to the housing and spanning the window, said clamp arm forming a portion of the grid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5 wherein the grid, the clamp arm and the lever are integrally formed with at least a portion of the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein said clamp arm has at least one protuberance for engaging a mat.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the clamp arm free end and the lever have interacting surfaces whereby depression of the lever results in movement of the clamp arm in a direction normal to the direction of depression.