Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
B38
~Z64349
AROMA G r.NER~ T I NG ~ PP ~RATUS WI TH E LE CTR I CAL
k~TINC; ELEMENT
Th-s invention relates to apparatus for
producing an aroma in the surrounding atmosphere,
and more particularly for doing so using an elec-
trical heating element in proximity to a medium
containing an aromatic liquid which element serves
to create air currants that flow through the medium
thereby assisting the evaporation of the aromatic
liquid.
Many prior art devices exist wherein an
electric light bulb in proximity to a liquid
contained within a housing acts as the heating
element to assist vaporization or evaporation
of the liguid. Se~ Gudeman U.S. No. 1,403,548;
Rosenthal U.S. No. 1,706,939; Huff U.S. No.
2,591,818; Diehl U.S. No. 2,942,090; Weber III
U.S. No. 3,080,624; and Spector U.S. No. 4,346,059.
Other vaporizers are shown in Lockey U.S. No.
658,793 and Messina U.S. No. 2,515,310. Patents
disclosing pressurized or mechanical dispensers
of a liquid include Dearling U.S. 3,330,481;
Valbona et al U.S. No. 3,864,080; ~arrison U.S.
No. 3,972,473; Dearling U.S. No. 4,084,732; and
Hammond Br. Patent Spec. 1,443,314. Other documents
of interest are the odor expelling toy in Locks et
1:~6~49
al U 5. No. 2,618,892; a lure for wild game which
was a combustible fuel to ge~e_ate he t in Bilye~
U.S. No. 3,119,650; and German Patent No. 2807383.
More recontly arom~ sene-ating units which
use an electric~l heating ele~ent (o~e_ ~han a
lamp) and dis?os~ble car~ ~cge of some sort im~_es-
nated with the aromatic liouid to be dispe_se~ have
become popular. One such u~it utilizes a fl~t cir-
c1lar ca-tridge adapted to be ins~ d horizontally
into a slot wi~hin a housing. The ~nlt cont_lns a
heating element below the slot.
The housing in the above described unit, e~cept
for the relatively narrow slot, completely encloses
the he ting element and associated electrical clr-
cuitry. ~ence, there is little danger that in re-
placing cartridges one will come in contact with
electrical parts or terminals. ~owever, as designs
change it becomes desirable to provide improved
heating elements which will meet appropriate elec-
trical safety reguirements for use in more openhousings where the heating element is more e.Yposed
~during replacement of cartridges. At the same time
heating element designs which provide automatic
switching between more than one heat control setting and
more uniform distribution of heat over the nearby disc
are also desirable.
The present invention is directed to an
improved electrical he~ting apparatus particularly
for use in a replaceable cartridge aroma generating
unit. A heating ele~ent is disposed between a
pair of electrical insulating layers such as
mica.
126~349
B3~3
--3--
Access to the terminals of the heating
element is provided by e~tending the terminals
through at least one insulating layer. A frame is
employed to clamp the insulating layers and heating
ele~ent together along a perimeta- re~ion of the
insulating layers. At the same time the frame in
cooperation with an insulating laver forms a
compartment surrounding the electrically extended
heater element terminals.
In a preferred emDodiment, a the~ostat
and a parallel rectifier circ~lit are couple~
between one of the e~tended terminals and a terminal
of an associated AC power source lead. The thermo-
stat and rectifier circuits are disposed on an
opposite side of the insulating layer from the heater
element within a compartment formed by the frame and an
insulating layer. A fuse is also included coupled
between the other extended heater terminal and its
associated lead terminal on the same side of the
insulating layer as the termostat and rectifier
circuits, also within a compartment formed by the
~frame and insulating layer.
In the preferred embodiment, the frame
comprises two parts: a first section, such as the
top, and a second section, such as the bottom.
The top comprises a peripheral wall member and a
flange extending inwardly therefrom to define a
central open area. One of the insulating layers
engages ~he flange.
The bottom comprises an outer peripheral
wall portion adapted for mating engagement with the
top wall portion, and an inner peripheral wall
portion which is shorter than the outer wall
portion and engages the other insulating layer.
lZ 6 ~39~9 ~3~
At least one side, and preferably two opposite
sides, of the inner wall portion are spaced apart
from corresponding sides of the outer wall
portion. Together with the ins~lating layer the
spaced apart sides form comparLments for
enclosing the he~ter element extended terminals and
le~d terminals and associated circuitry.
The above described heater element asse~bly
is particularly suitable for aroma-generating
units having a housing adapted for supportina a medi~m
impregnated with aroma producing fluid and the
heater element assembly in proximity thereto.
FIG. 1 is a pèrspective view of an aroma
generating unit adapted for receiving within a slot
therein a replaceable cartridge;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a bottom portion of
the unit of FIG. 1 taken along the line~ and arrows
2-2 and including a preferred embodiment heater element
assembly;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional vie~ of the
.~heater eleme~t assembly of FIG. 2 taken along the
lines and arrows 3-3;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the preferred
embodiment heater assembly;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the preferred
embodiment heater assembly with the bottom portion
of the frame removed;
FIG. 6 is a lay out of the electrical
circuit external to the electrical heater assembly
shown connected thereto;
FIG. 7 is top planar vie~ of the bottom
portion of the frame of the electrical heater
assembly;
1264349 B 3 8
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FIG. 8 is a bottom planar view of the top
portion of the frame of the electrical heater
asse.~bly; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view
of the bottom of the unit taken along the lines
and arrows 9-~ in FIG. 2 with the heater asse~bly
removed.
Referrlng now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
perspective view of an aroma generating unit
designated generally 100 is shown. It is
preferably made of molded plastic having a top 102
attached approximately to the bottom 104. The
bottom includes a plurality of feet 106 for resting
the unit on a table top and spacing the bottom
away therefrom. The bottom and top each includes
a plurality of openings or air vents 108 in the
top and 904 in the bottom.
The aroma generating unit 100 is adapted
for receiving a disposable, relatively rigid
circular cartridge 110 in front slot 112 formed
between the top 102 and bottom 104. Cartridge
110 is impregnated, usually only in the center
portion 120, with an aromatic liquid or oil.
The remaining portion 122 of the cartridge 110
serves as a liquid or oil free portion for handling
the cartridge for inserting or removing the cartridge
into or from the unit 100. The center portion 120
of the cartridge also comprises perforation 121.
In FIG. 2, the bottom contains a tray
designated generally 130 which comprises a
platform area 132 with a central rectangular
opening 134 and a surrounding upwardly extending
~264349 B38
wall 136. A heating me~ns designated generally
140 is attached to the bottom 104 by scre~s 1a2
and lg4 below the platform area 132 directly
under the opening 134. When the cartridge is
5 inserted into the slot, the portion 122 of the
cartridge rests on the platform area 132 with
cente~ portion 120 positioned over the he-~ting
means lA0. The w211 136 aids in properly posi-
tionir.g the cartridge 110 within the unit 100.
10 FIG. 9 snows in cross section the platform
area 132, opening 134, surrounding wall 136 and
the level 902 at which the heater assembly 140 is
positioned below the platform area 132 and the air
vents 90g.
The unit 100 comprises a two lead cord and
plug designated generalIy 150 for coupling the
unit 100 to a power source such as a 120 volt AC
electrical socket. When the switch 152 is turned
to the on position, power is applied to the
20 heating means 140 and the red power on indication
light 154 is turned on. . As the heating means
~,heats up the surrounding air an air current is
created drawing air in from the bottom vents 904 past
the center portion 120 of the cartridge, and out
25 the top vents 108.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the
heater assembly 140 taken along the lines and
arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2. The heater assembly
comprises a serpentine or rope heater element 302
30 positioned between planar, spaced apart and
parallel mica insulating layers 304 and 306. The
insulating layers 304 and 306 and element 302 are
pressed or held together by a frame designated
generally 310 comprising a top portion 312 and
35 bottom portion 314, preferably made of high
temperature plastic resin.
~643~9 ~38
FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the asse~bly
140. Two insulated electrical le~ds 402 and 404
from cord and plug 150 pass through the bottom
frame portion 314 at holes 406 and 408. Metal
eyelets 403 and 405 hold frame portions 312 and
314 in compressive alianment. The holes in the
evelets are large enough to accommodate the shanks
of sc~e~s 142 and 14a FIG. 5 is the s~me bottom
vieT~ of t~e heater asse~bly lao with the bottom
frame portion 31a removed to expose the inte~nal
circuitry.
In FIG. 5, the heater element 302 comprises
two terminals which are eYtended through insula-
ting layer 306 by crimp connectors at 502 and 504
making the terminals electrically assessible from
a side of the insul~ting layer opposite the heater
element. Insulated leads 402 and 404 after they
pass through bottom frame portion 304 have their
ends stripped of insulation to expose electrical
terminal ends 510 and 512.
In the preferred embodiment, a bimetallic
'thermostat 520 is coupled between the extended
heater terminal at 502 and the e.Yposed lead ter-
minal 510 while a fuse 524 is coupled between the
extended heater terminal at 504 and exposed lead
terminal 512. When the air surrounding the ther-
mostat 520 reaches a predetermined temperature
thermostat 520 opens up to disconnect power to
the heating element thereby controlling the tem-
perature depending on the choice and setting ofthe thermostat 520. Fuse 524 protects the en-
tire unit if for some reason the heater element
should short circuit.
A more stable operating temperature is
established by coupling a rectifier circuit 530
~Z6~349 B38
--8--
in parallel with thermostat 520 between the
terminals at 502 and 510. When the bimetallic
switch is closed there is no bias voltage applied
across the diodes and they do not conduct. When
the switch opens the diodes become conductive
during one half the AC cycle and half wave rec-
tification occurs theresy delivering only one
half the power to the he~ting element that is
delivered when the ther~ostat is closed.
~his reduces the range over which the temper-
ature cycles during the opening and closing of
the thermostat resulting in a more even distri-
bution of the aroma within the amblent atmosphere
with time.
Alternatively, the thermostat and rectifier
circuit can be designed to produce an aroma burst
cycle (thermostat closed) and an aroma maintenance
cycle (thermostat open). In the preferred
embodiment a bimetallic element is chosen which
opens at approximately 90C and closes at
approximately 60C. When the unit is first turned
on full power is applied and for approximately 3
minutes plus or minus 1/2 minute, the thermostat
remains closed (burst made). The temperature at
the cartridge center also rises to approximately
130 C causing a high rate of volatization of the
aromatic liquid. After 3 minutes, the thermostat
opens and the power is delivered through the diode
rectifier circuit 530 (maintenance mode). During
this period the temperature of the cartridge
center 120 stabilizes at just under 100C which
still results in considerable volatization but not
as much as in the burst mode. When the unit is
turned off it cools off and the thermostat closes,
ready for the next burst mode when the unit is
turned on again.
~2643~9 B3~3
FIG. 6 is a layout of the electrical circuit
o~ the unit 100 external to the heater asse~bly lao
One insulated lead 602 of plug 60a is coupled to
one side of switch 152 whose other side is coupled
to one side of lamp 154 and to the heater assembly
140 as lead 404. The other side of the lamp 154
and lead 402 from the heater asse~ly 140 are
coupled to the other insulating lead 606 of plug 604.
Insulated wire nuts 608 are used throushout the
electrical circuit.
A 33K resistor 620 is coupled in series with
the neon lamp 154 to limit current flow through
the lamp.
FIG. 7 is a top planar view of the bottom
portion 314 of frame 310 while FIG 8 is a bottom
view of the top portion 312. The top planar
portion 312 comprises an outer peripheral wall
portion 802 and a peripheral flange 804 extending
inwardly therefrom defining a central open area
806. The top portion further comprises a pair of
tabs 810 and 812 opposite one another extending
~outwardly from opposite sides of the wall portion
802. The flange 804 is adapted to engage a
peripheral portion of insulating layer 304 when
the assembly is joined together.
The bottom portion 314 in FIG. 7 comprises
an outer peripheral wall portion 702 adapted for
mating engagement with the wall portion 802 when
the top and bottom portions of the frame are
joined together. The bottom portion further
comprises an inner peripheral wall portion 704
which defines a center open area 706. The inner
wall portion is shorter than the outer wall
portion and is adapted to engage insulating layer
306 when the assembly is joined together. The
~Z6434g
B38
10-
bottom portion also comprises a pair of opposite
tabs 710 and 712 which are adapted to align with
tabs 810 and 812. All tabs comprise a center
aperture or hole so that suitable attachment means
can be employed to hold the frames together.
In the preferred e~bodiment, a pair of
opposite sides 720 and 722 of the inner peripheral
wall 704 are spaced apart from corresponding sides
of the outer peripheral wall 702. The spaced
apart walls tosether with the outer peripheral
wall and insulating layer 306 form compartments
730 ar.d 732 which completely surround any e~posed
electrical portlons of the heater element and
related circuitry and lead terminals.
This is more clearly shown in FIG. 3, which
shows the engagement of the outer peripheral
walls, the pressing together of the insulating
layers and heating element between flange 804 and
inner wall portion 70a, and the containment of the
fuse 524, rectifier circuit 530 and thermostat 520
by the compartments 730 and 732. Hence, the
theating assembly is a self contained unit which
can be used in closed aroma generating unit
housings or more open ones where the heater
assembly is more accessible when replacing
aromatic li~uid laden cartridges.
An additional feature of the improved
heater assembly of the present invention is that
the mica insulating layers are pressed into
contact with the serpentine heater element which
helps to distribute more evenly the heating effect
of the heater assembly over a planar region. The
frame is constructed so that it is open both below
and above the bottom and top insulating layers,
respectively, in the area of the heater element.
~ 6 4 349 B38
Heated air currents rise in planar fashion
entraining evaporated aromatic fluid for
distribution into the atmosphere.
