US 7,622,073 B2 · Apparatus for and method of dispensing active materials

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing active materials comprises a housing and control circuitry disposed within the housing. The control circuitry implements programming for a mode of operation in which during a first period of time a first active material is emitted, during a second period of time the first active material and a second active material are emitted, and during a third period of time the second active material is emitted, wherein during the second period of time, the first and second fragrances are alternated.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for dispensing active materials, comprising:

a housing;
and
control circuitry disposed within the housing that implements programming for a mode of operation in which during a first sustained period of time a first active material is emitted in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a first dwell period, during a second sustained period of time the first active material is emitted in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a second dwell period and a second active material is emitted in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a third dwell period, wherein during the second sustained period of time the discrete bursts of the first and second active materials are emitted such that when a discrete burst of one of the first and second active materials is emitted, a discrete burst of the other of the first and second active materials is initiated before the discrete burst of the one of the first and second active materials is terminated, and during a third sustained period of time the second active material is emitted in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a fourth dwell period.

A method of dispensing active materials, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting a first active material in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a first dwell period for a first sustained period of time;
emitting the first active material in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a second dwell period and a second active material in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a third dwell period for a second sustained period of time, wherein during the second sustained period of time the discrete bursts of the first and second active materials are emitted such that when a discrete burst of one of the first and second active materials is emitted, a discrete burst of the other of the first and second active materials is initiated before the discrete burst of the one of the first and second active materials is terminated;
and
emitting the second active material in the form of discrete bursts each followed by a fourth dwell period for a third sustained period of time.

1 more element

A method of dispensing active materials, the method comprising the steps of:

periodically emitting discrete bursts of a first active material for a first sustained period of time;
periodically emitting discrete bursts of the first active material and a second active material for a second sustained period of time;
and
periodically emitting discrete bursts of the second active material for a third sustained period of time;
wherein during the second sustained period of time, the discrete bursts of the first and second active materials are alternately emitted such that when a burst of one of the active materials is emitted, a burst of the other of the active materials is initiated before the burst of the one of the active materials is terminated.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,177 words

Summary884 words

#Not applicable

#1. Technical Field

Brief description of the drawings16 figures

#FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a diffusion device;

#FIG. 2 is a plan view of the diffusion device of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a plane view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the housing is removed;

Detailed description4,982 words

#As seen in FIG. 1, a diffusion device 10 includes a cylindrical housing 12. The housing 12 includes two apertures 14 and 16 through which an aerosol active material may be emitted. Two multi-position switches 18 and 20 are disposed within housing 12. An operating mode switch 18 controls the operating mode of diffusion device 10 and extends through another aperture, 22 in the housing 12. An emission frequency switch 20 controls the emission frequency of diffusion device 10 and extends through yet another aperture 24 in the housing 12.

#A container 26 containing an active material and having a wick extending therefrom is disposed within the housing 12 and an opening (not shown) of the container 26 is adjacent the aperture 14. An additional container 28, also containing an active material, which may be the same or different than the active material in the container 26, and having a wick extending therefrom, is disposed within the housing 12 and an opening (not shown) of the container 28 is disposed adjacent the aperture 16. The containers 26 and 28 are replaceable.

#Illustratively, the types of liquid active materials described herein may be, for example, an insecticide, an insect repellant, an insect attractant, a disinfectant, a mold or mildew inhibitor, a fragrance, a disinfectant, an air purifier, an aromatherapy scent, an antiseptic, an odor eliminator, a positive fragrancing active material, an air-freshner, a deoderizer, or the like, and combinations thereof. The present invention contemplates the use of the same or different active materials and/or the same or different types of active materials. For example, both of the containers 26 and 28 may include a lavender fragrance therein. Alternatively, the container 26 may include a strawberry fragrance and the container 28 may include a vanilla fragrance. Still alternatively, the container 26 may include an insect repellant and the container 28 may include an odor eliminator. As such, any combination of types of liquid active materials may be utilized in the containers 26, 28.

Facts

Application

11/427,714Filed 29 Jun 2006 · continuation in part

Priority

12 Apr 2005

Published

US 2007/0012718 A118 Jan 2007

Granted

24 Nov 2009

Term ends

6 Jun 2027

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 420 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

A61L 9/037
Apparatus therefor: comprising a wick
A61L 9/035
Apparatus therefor: emanating multiple odours
A61L 9/127
Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor: comprising a wick
B05B 17/0607
Using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations: generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers

Family

Application60/670,519Us provisional application · filed 12 Apr 2005

Application11/403,166Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Apr 2006

US 2007/0012718 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Jan 2007

US 2006/0226251 A1Published application

US 7,622,073 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

12 Apr 2005Priority claimedParent application 60/670,519
29 Jun 2006Application filedUS 11/427,714
18 Jan 2007PublishedUS 2007/0012718 A1
25 Sep 2009Assigned to S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
24 Nov 2009GrantedUS 7,622,073 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
6 Jun 2027Term endsEstimated, includes 420 days of adjustment

Apparatus for and method of dispensing active materials

Life of this patent

Apparatus for and method of dispensing active materials

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description6,177 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,177 words