AU2006100624A4 - Improved Deodorising Vapour System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to an air freshening device of the type adapted to disseminate a deodorant and/or a fragrance into the atmosphere of a room or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to electrically powered air freshening devices which operate to automatically disseminate a deodorant and/or a fragrance.

Air fresheners are commonly used to deodorise and/or introduce fragrant odours into enclosed spaces such as rooms and the like. Passive air fresheners progressively release a deodorant and/or a fragrance into the atmosphere and gradually lose their effectiveness over time so that they eventually need to be replaced.

Generally air fresheners operate by heating the deodorant and/or a fragrance source. The heating of the deodorant and/or a fragrance source may, in addition to consuming more power, alter the aroma by causing the deodorant and/or a fragrance source to chemically degrade over time as well as presenting a potential fire risk in the case of a malfunction.

In a number of applications, it is desirable to be able to move an air freshening device from room to room. For example, in the hotel industry rooms are cleaned by staff going from room to room. As part of the cleaning process the rooms are generally deodorised, often with an aerosol spray can of air freshener/deodorant.

The use of spray cans is relatively expensive and generally believed to be environmentally irresponsible. Alternatives to the use of aerosol spray cans are desired.

We have now found an air freshener that overcomes, or at least ameliorates, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an air freshening device including a casing defining a closed chamber and having an inlet and an outlet, a receptacle for receiving a deodorant and/or a fragrance source at ambient temperature whereby a deodorising and/or a fragrant vapour produced by the movement of air over the source is able to enter the chamber from the receptacle, an electrically powered fan adapted to draw air into the chamber through the inlet and to expel air, together with vapour from the source, from the chamber through the outlet.

The air freshening device of the present invention is advantageously suited for use in room cleaning in hotels and the like, where the air freshener can simply be positioned in the rooms and activated whilst the cleaning staff attend to the cleaning of the room. The absence of a heating element in the air freshening device makes it convenient to move the air freshening device from room to room.

By the movement of air over the deodorant/fragrance source, the concentration of the deodorising and/or fragrant vapour in the air which is expelled from the air freshening device remains consistent for a longer period of time compared to the previously mentioned prior art air fresheners.

Preferably, the deodorant/fragrance source retains the deodorant/fragrance in a pad, sponge or other absorbent or other fluid retaining media whereby a liquid deodorant/fragrance is prevented from spilling from the receptacle.

In one preferred form of the invention, the receptacle is able to be removed from the chamber to allow the deodorant and/or fragrance source within the receptacle to be replenished.

In another embodiment the air freshening device of the present invention further includes a cyclic timer adapted to control the operation of the fan such that the fan is inoperative for a first period during which the vapour from the source accumulates within the chamber, and subsequently operates for a second period during which air and vapour are expelled from the chamber into the external atmosphere.

In another embodiment, the device also includes a second fan to move the air over the deodorant and/or fragrance source. The second fan allows a user to selectively vary the concentration of the fragrance distributed from the air freshener.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a first front perspective view of an air freshening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a second front perspective view of the air freshening device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cut away section of the air freshening device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, an air freshening device 10 according to the present invention includes a generally rectangular casing 11 which may be formed from a suitable material such as a moulded thermoplastic material. The casing 11 includes a top face 12, a front face 13, a rear face (not shown), first and second end faces 14, 15, and a bottom face 16. The casing 11 defines a closed chamber 17.

Formed in the end face 14 is an outlet aperture 18, which may be provided with a finger guard or a grille. An inlet aperture 19 is formed in the end face substantially opposite the outlet 18. A receptacle 20 is contained in the interior of the casing 11 such that the receptacle 20 is located generally below and between the inlet 19 and outlet 18. The receptacle 20 is in the form of a container having an open top which allows the interior of the receptacle 20 to communicate with the interior or chamber of the casing 11. In use, the receptacle 20 contains a deodorant and/or fragrance source 21 (such as a liquid deodorant having a fragrance as illustrated in figure 1) so that movement of air by the fan 27 results in the source 21 also producing a deodorising and fragrant vapour.

The interior of the casing I 1 also contains an electric fan 27 affixed to the casing 11 such that the fan 27 extends across the outlet aperture 18.

The air freshening device 10 is powered by a suitable source of electricity such as a mains supply or a battery. The power supply is connected to and powers the fan 27.

As mentioned previously, the receptacle 20 contains the deodorant and/or fragrance source 21 when the air freshening device 10 is being used. The deodorant and/or fragrance is absorbed into an absorbent pad from which the deodorant and/or fragrance is vaporised. As air passed over the source 21, a deodorising and/or fragrant vapour is produced which rises above the receptacle 20 and eventually finds its way out of the receptacle 20 and into the chamber defined by the casing 11 and is expelled r through the outlet 18 to the external atmosphere. This cycle repeats so long as the device 10 remains powered.

A user is able to access the receptacle 20 to replenish the source 21 which is consumed while the device 10 operates. This may be done by adding liquid deodorant and/or fragrance to the absorbent pad or by replacing the absorbent pad with a pre-impregnated pad.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (3)

1. 2. An air freshening device according to claim 1 wherein the deodorant and/or fragrance source includes a liquid deodorant and/or fragrance retained in an absorbent pad.
2. 3. An air freshening device according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle is able to be removed from the chamber to allow the deodorant and/or fragrance source within the receptacle to be replenished.
3. 4. An air freshening device according to claim 1 wherein the device also includes a second fan to move the air over the deodorant and/or fragrance source. An air freshening device according to claim 1 wherein the air freshening device further includes a cyclic timer adapted to control the operation of the fan such that the fan is inoperative for a first period during which the vapour from the source accumulates within the chamber, and subsequently operates for a second period during which air and vapour are expelled from the chamber into the external atmosphere.