Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
i~L~ 7~133
PC 6782
FRAGRANCE ~!EN~RATO~
The present invention is concerned with the
field of room odorization. In particular, it deals
with a disposable device, which is electrically
heated and which volatilizes perfume from porous
material.
In the past, such devices have evaporated
liquid perfume from reservoirs using the heat from
light bulbs, as in U.S. 1,803,334 and have also
10 liquified wax impregnated with perfume, as in U.S.
2,532,~00. U.S. 2,942,09~ teaches a housing
con~aining a light bulb and having deodorant tablets
which are ne~71y saturated with liquid perfume each
time the device is to be used. U.S. 3,080,624
15 employs a reservoir filled ~7ith perfume and topped
with a wick to bring the pcrfume in contact with
the hot light bulb. The disadvan~a~e of having
liquid perfume in contact with hot electric light
bulbs is obvious.
U.S. 3,9~3,458 makes use of a refractory cake
to carry perfume oil and an electric heating element
with a pilot light to volatilize the perfume.
The present invention, for the first time,
presents a disposable unitary odorizer which over-
comes the numerous shortcomings of the devicesheretofore employed to odorize rooms.
~'
~L2~7~3
Thc present invention is a disposahlc odorizcr
comprising an electrical heating element fixedly
enclosed in porous material impre~,natetl with volatile
odorous substance. The odorizer wherein thc hcatin~
elcment is a ceramic coated resistor is prcferred as is
the odorizer wherein the heatin~ element is a light
bulh,
The odorizer wherein the porous material is
plaster of Paris is preferred as is the odorizer
10 wherein the porous material is molded around the
heating e~e~ent. The odorizer is also preferred with a
housing with means to direct the odorous substance as
it volatilizes.
The odorizer which further comprises indicator
15 means for verifying activation of the heating elemcnt
is preferred and the odorizer wherein the indicator
means is a neon bulh wired so as to remain lighted
whenever the heating element is activate~ is especially
preerred as is the odorizer wherein the heating
20 ele~ent is energized by switching means.
A disposable odorizer comprisin~ a ceramic coated
resistor embedded in plaster of Paris impregnated with
up to about 10 wei~ht percent volatile ~erfume is an
especially Dreferre~ e~bodiment of the present inven-
25 tion.
The figure shows an exploded isometric perspectiveview of the total assembly of the odorizer including
the housing and all internal parts.
33
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The fi~,ure shows a side elevational view of the
housing 1 of the odorizer which is preferabl~ ~ade of
! a harA translucent plastic such as ~olypropylcne, It
has a series of a~ertures or slots ~ alon~, the Ipper
portion to allow the escape of the volatilized odorous
substance. It also has an opening or slot 3 to receive
a switch. Several ventilator openin~s 4 are located on
the underside of housing 1 to allow for the entrance of
air from the outside of the unit so that it can pass
over the scented bloc~ and out through the odor slots
_ in the housing. ~ovement of air is increased by the
convective action resulting fro~ the heating of
perfumed hlock 44.
The figure also shows a side elevational view of the
backing plate 5 with a rib means 6 to which housing 1 is
permanently affixed. ~penings 7 provide a means for
metal contacts 20 and 23 to project through backing
plate 5 to make electrical contact with a duplex wall
outlet. For~ed recesses 8 and 10 receive contacts 20
and 23 and formed pins 9, 11 and 13 serve as a fastening
means for contacts 20 and 23 hy bein~ heat distorted
after passing through holes 21, ~ and 28 in the
contacts. Formed projection 14 serves as a support
- for neon lanp 15 which is electrically connected to
the contacts by means of wire 16 and through resistor
17 and wire 18, such wires passing through holes 22 and
27. Electrical current passes through contact ~3 to
~2~7~33
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s~7itch 31, ~hich is af~ixed to the contact 23 ~ means
of the switch contact 33. S~7itcll 31 ls .^7ired in series
~ith contact 3n through switch contact 34, so that when
switch 31 is closed current flo~Js through neon lamp 15
and electrical leads 45 and 46 through rcsistive element
44 and fragrance ~loclc 43. Neon lamp lS wired in
parallel with resistive ele~ent 44 is on when current
flows throu~h resistive element 44. Flan~,e ~2 on
switch 31 finishes the opening 3 on the housin~ 1
10 after assembly.
The ~igure further sho~ls a side elevational view
of the bulkhead 36 which separates fragrance block 43
from the electrical connections. ~penings 37 are slots
throu~h which contacts 19 and 26 ~ass and ar~ electrically
15 connected to the resistive element 44 by means o. leads
45 and 46 throu~h holes 27 and 77. ProJections 38
provide a ~eans hy ~7hich fragrance impre~nated plaster
can be poured and held in place when hardened.
Projections 3l~ also provide a means for prevention
.~ of contact T7ith electrical contacts 45 and 46 by
objects inserted through openings _ and 4 in housing
1. Projection 39 protects lamp 15. Projection 4
protects resistor 17 and projection 41 ~rotects
switch 31. Opening 42 for switc~ 31 is aligned with
25 openin~ 3 in housin~ 1.
In manufacturing the odorizer of the present
invention, an electrical heatin~ element, preferablv a
ceramic coated resistor, will be embedded in porous
~aterial in liquid state. The porous material will he
3~ ~olded into a desired shaped block and the heatin~
element ~Jill ~e positioned so that its leads protrude
~rom the block, preferably from opposite sides or from
the top and botto~ o~ the block. It is preferable to
protect the electrical connections from the odorous
~247~33
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fumes and this ~ay he done by sealing the lcads into
the housing of the unit. A bulkhead which separates
the electronics of the Eragrance generator ~rom the
odorous fumes is a preferred means of providing this
protection. In the case where a light ~ulb is e~plo~ed
as the heat source, the bulb will be immersed up to
the threaded portion in liquid plaster and the plaster
will then be allowed to harden. A bulb recePtacle
will be provided to receive the bulb and it will be
10 wired into the system in place of the resistor.
The preferred porous material is plaster of
Paris which can optionally contain other components
to strengthen the material and prevent ~echanical
and thermal da~age The liquid plaster can be pre-
15 molded into any desired shape to provide a fragranceblock. It also can he molded, if desired, bv pouring
plaster through holes provided in the hulkhead when
the bulkhead is placed in the mold. Yet another
possible means of forming the fragrance block is
to pour thc olaster into the mold and then lower
the bulkhead into the hardenin~ plaster to the
desired depth.
The odorous substances to be volatilized will
generally be mixed into the plaster while it is still
in liquid for~ and will be entrapped in the porous
block once the plaster has set up. Alternatively, the
odorous substances can he applied to the hardened
plaster block after it has been molded.
The odorous suhstances used in the present inven-
3~ tion will generally be of the nature of a perfume orperfume oil designed to imDart a pleasant fragrance to
a room such as a bathroom or nursery. It is also
7~33
~,
conte~plated that a substance such as an insect repel-
lant liquid or evell an insecticide can he ~Ised as the
suhstance to he volatilize~. In such cases the c~dori?er
could then be uc;ed to repel such insects as flies and
mosquitoes from rooms and to repel and/or kill such
insects as ~oths in closets. In all cases, no substance
will he employe~ which is flammable or which will
provide any hazard to humans or to pets.
