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US 7,581,851 B2Granted
Scented lighting devices and systems, and methods for making the same
OwnerJessica Wanginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Lampholders formed from materials comprising scented compounds that are more volatile when warm than when at ambient temperature to generate a desired scent during use, along with lighted displays incorporating such lampholders and methods for making such lampholders, are shown and described.
Claims12
An electric lampholder for generating a desired scent when operating a lighting element, the lampholder comprising:
- an electric socket having at least one electrical conductor, the socket configured to be physically and electrically coupled to the lighting element such that the lighting element is operatively electrically coupled to the at least one conductor;
- and
- wherein the socket has a permanent shape and at least one portion of the socket is made from a material comprising a scented compound having a desired scent, the scented compound being present throughout the at least one portion of the socket, the scented compound having an elevated rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is in a heated state due to being in close proximity to the illuminated lighting element, the elevated rate of vaporization being significantly greater than a reduced rate of vaporization of the scented compound from the material when the socket is not in the heated state, the socket being in a solid state when the lampholder is in the heated state and configured to be physically and operatively used as an unscented electric socket after substantially all the scented compound evaporates.
An electric lampholder for generating a desired scent when operating a lighting element, the lampholder comprising:
- an electric socket having a rigid structure configured to be physically coupled to the lighting element and including at least one electrical conductor such that the lighting element is operatively electrically coupled to the at least one conductor;
- and
- wherein a material that forms the socket comprises a polymeric material and a scented compound having a desired scent, the scented compound being encapsulated in the rigid structure of the socket and having a first rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is in a heated state due to being proximate to the illuminated lighting element, the first rate of vaporization being great enough that the desired scent can be noticed in the vicinity of the lampholder when the lampholder is operating, the scented compound having a second rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is not in the heated state, the second rate of vaporization being low enough that the desired scent is at least substantially unnoticeable in the vicinity of the lampholder when the lampholder is not operating, at least the polymeric material maintaining integrity of the rigid structure of the socket during and after the scented compound has evaporated such that the socket remains configured to be physically and electrically coupled to the lighting element after substantially all the scented compound evaporates.
An electric lighted display for generating a desired scent during operation, the lighted display comprising:
- a plurality of lighting elements;
- and
- a plurality of lampholders, each lampholder having an electric socket including a permanent shape and operatively receiving one of the lighting elements therein;
- wherein the socket includes at least one conductor configured to electrically couple the lampholders and lighting elements to a source of electricity, at least a portion of each socket being made from a material comprising a scented compound having a desired scent, the scented compound having an elevated rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is in a heated state due to being proximate to an illuminated lighting element, the elevated rate of vaporization being significantly greater than a reduced rate of vaporization of the scented compound from the material when the socket is not in the heated state, the socket being solid when in the heated state and configured to remain physically and operatively coupled to the lighting element after substantially all the scented compound evaporates.
1 more element
A lighted display for generating a desired scent during operation, the lighted display comprising:
- a plurality of lighting elements;
- and
- a plurality of lampholders, each lampholder having an electric socket operatively receiving one of the lighting elements therein;
- wherein the socket includes at least one conductor configured to electrically couple the lighting elements to a source of electricity, the socket having a permanent shape and being made from a material comprising a scented compound having a desired scent, the scented compound having a first rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is in a heated state due to being proximate to an illuminated lighting element, the first rate of vaporization being great enough that the desired scent can be noticed in the vicinity of the lampholder when the lampholder is operating, the scented compound having a second rate of vaporization from the material when the socket is not in the heated state, the second rate of vaporization being low enough that the desired scent is at least substantially unnoticeable in the vicinity of the lampholder when the socket is not operating, the shape of the socket remaining substantially intact as the scented material evaporates such that it remains configured to be physically and operatively coupled to the lighting element after substantially all the scented material evaporates.
1 more element
A device comprising:
- an electric socket having a permanent shape and being configured to be coupled to a lighting element, the socket including:
- a base portion having walls projecting therefrom to form an at least partially cylindrical cavity having an open end, the base portion having one or more conductors, the open end being configured to receive the lighting element, wherein at least a portion of the socket wall or base portion are made from a scented material configured to emit a desired scent when heated above room temperature, the scented material having a first rate of vaporization when above room temperature, and a second rate of vaporization when at or below room temperature, the first rate of vaporization being great enough that the desired scent is noticeable in a vicinity of the socket, and the second rate of vaporization being low enough that the desired scent is substantially unnoticeable in the vicinity of the socket, the socket being solid when in the heated state such that the cylindrical cavity remains physically coupleable to the lighting element and the one or more conductors remain electrically and operatively coupleable to the lighting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.