WO2006003411A1

WO2006003411A1 - Improvements in or relating to air fresheners

Info

Publication number: WO2006003411A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/002588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phillip Rogers
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2004-07-01
Filing date: 2005-07-01
Publication date: 2006-01-12
Also published as: GB0414718D0

Abstract

An air freshener apparatus for a vehicle comprises a housing for containment of a scented material or liquid, the housing having at least one aperture formed therein. The apparatus is to be seated in a pocket or recess formed within the vehicle, for example within the instrument panel, dashboard or centre console, and is rotatable therein so as to selectively expose or conceal the or each aperture.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AIR FRESHENERS

The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to air fresheners and particularly, but not exclusively, to improvements to air fresheners for vehicles such as automobiles.

There are many forms of air freshener intended for use in vehicles. These devices are usually filled with a scented fluid or gel and can be attached to the vehicle instrument panel or other trim panel of the vehicle by means of clips or a releasable adhesive.

One such device consists of a dispenser filled with a scented fluid which is operable to spray a scented mist into the vehicle cabin on actuation by the user of a dispensing button.

Another form of vehicle air freshener consists of a housing containing a scented gel. The housing has an aperture permitting vapours emitted by the gel to be released into the vehicle cabin. The housing is often adapted to be mounted to the vanes of the vehicle air vents so that air blown into the vehicle through the vents assists in the dispersion of the vapours through the vehicle cabin. The aperture in the housing may be selectively closed by the user.

These devices have a number of moving parts and may therefore be relatively costly to manufacture. Furthermore, owing to their design or the requirement to be manually operated, they cannot easily be concealed or positioned inconspicuously in the vehicle and may therefore adversely affect the aesthetics of the vehicle cabin. Because of this, many such devices are deliberately designed as novelty items which are not sufficiently stylish for more expensive vehicles. It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved form of air freshener apparatus for a vehicle. Embodiments of the invention provide an air freshener which may be located relatively inconspicuously within the vehicle and which may be suitable for use in many or all vehicle types.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided an air freshener for a vehicle comprising a housing for containment of a scented material or liquid, the housing having at least one aperture disposed therein and being adapted for location in a pocket or recess disposed within the vehicle.

The housing may be substantially spherical or cylindrical and may be adapted to be seated within the pocket or recess. In such an arrangement, the apparatus may sit in the pocket or recess under gravity.

The apparatus may be adapted for manual adjustment within the recess so as to selectively expose the at least one aperture to the air in the vehicle cabin or to conceal the at least one aperture. Such adjustment may be achieved by rotation of the housing within the recess. Exposing of the at least one aperture permits vapours from the scented material or liquid to be dispersed into the cabin of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the housing is formed from two substantially hemispherical housing portions or shells. At least one of the shells may be provided with engagement means for engaging with the other shell thereby to form the substantially spherical housing. The or each engagement means may be arranged to releasably or detachably join the shells so as to permit access to the interior volume of the housing thereby to enable replenishment or refilling of the scented material. In one embodiment, each of the shells is provided with a cooperating screw thread. In another embodiment, the shells engage by means of an interference fit.

The housing may be arranged to contain a scented liquid, such as a perfume, a scented gel or a fabric, felt or foam impregnated with a scent. The air freshener may be refilled or replenished by opening the housing and replacing the material or liquid.

The or each aperture may be disposed over only one hemisphere of the housing. In one embodiment, the or each aperture is disposed in only one of the shells. Alternatively, both shells may be provided with apertures.

The housing may be formed from a plastics material and may be coloured, textured or patterned as desired.

In use, the housing may be adapted to sit in a pocket or recess formed within a vehicle trim panel. The trim panel may be a centre console or an instrument panel of the vehicle.

The housing may have a maximum radius which is less than the depth of the recess. In one embodiment, the housing is sized so that it protrudes from the recess by only a small amount which may be sufficient to permit manual rotation of the housing within the recess.

In one embodiment, the recess is provided with retaining means for retaining the housing within the recess during manoeuvring of the vehicle. The retaining means may be operable to release the housing to permit the air freshener to be removed from the recess, for example so that it may be refilled or replenished. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises an escutcheon plate or the like having an aperture disposed therein. The plate is adapted to seat over the recess such that the housing protrudes through the aperture by a small amount. In this embodiment, only the protruding portion is visible to the user.

The plate may be hinged to the vehicle trim panel or may engage with the recess by means of clips or by an interference fit.

In another embodiment, the retaining means comprises a flexible and/or resilient ring or gasket extending around the circumference of, and protruding into, the recess. The ring or gasket may be replaced by individual flexible and/or resilient tabs projecting into the recess. The ring or the tabs may be sized and shaped to permit the housing to be manually inserted into or taken out of the recess and to permit the housing to be manually rotated while seated in the recess but to hinder or prevent the air freshener from falling or bouncing out of the recess during vehicle motion.

In yet a further embodiment, the retaining means comprises a plurality of arms or grips extending into the recess. The arms or grips may be manually retractable so as to permit release of the housing.

When seated in the pocket or recess, the housing may be manually rotated by the user thereby to expose one or more of the apertures. In this way, the air freshener can be moved between closed, semi-open and fully open positions.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an air freshener embodying one form of the invention in disassembled form; Figure 2 is a side view of the air freshener of Figure 1 in assembled form;

Figure 3 is a view from below of the air freshener of Figure 1 in assembled form;

Figure 4 illustrates the air freshener of Figure 1 in use in a closed position;

Figure 5 illustrates the air freshener of Figure 1 in use in a semi-open position;

Figure 6 illustrates the air freshener of Figure 1 in use in a fully open position;

Figure 7 illustrates one form of retaining means for use with the air freshener of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative form of retaining means for use with the air freshener of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, these illustrate an air freshener embodying a first form of the invention. The air freshener 10, which is suitable for use in a vehicle such as an automobile or the like, is shown in Figure 1 in disassembled form and comprises a housing 12 formed from two substantially hemispherical parts or shells 12a, 12b. The shells 12a, 12b are adapted to releasably engage with one another such that, in assembled form, the housing 12 takes the shape of a ball or sphere as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the shells 12a, 12b are adapted to engage with one another by means of an interference fit. Alternatively, the shells may be provided with cooperating threaded surfaces by which they may be releasably joined. One of the shells 12b is provided with a plurality of apertures 14 whilst the other shell 12a has no such apertures. The housing is arranged to contain a scented material such as a gel or a felt pad 16 which is impregnated with a perfumed liquid.

Referring next to Figures 4 to 6, these illustrate the air freshener of Figures 1 and 2 in use. The housing 12 is intended to be seated in a suitably shaped pocket or recess 20 disposed in a trim part or panel 22 of a vehicle such as the vehicle centre console or instrument panel. The recess 20 has a depth which is greater than the maximum radius of the housing 12 so that, when seated in the recess 20, the air freshener is not likely to bounce or fall out when the vehicle is in motion. The housing 12 protrudes from the recess 20 by an amount which enables the air freshener to be manually rotated by the vehicle user, for reasons described below.

In Figure 4, the air freshener 10 is shown in the closed position. In this position, the housing 12 is oriented so that the shell 12b having the apertures 14 is bottommost, the apertures 14 therefore being covered or unexposed. In the closed position of the housing 12, vapours from the scented material 16 contained in the housing are thus hindered or substantially prevented from entering the vehicle cabin.

In Figure 5, the housing 12 has been rotated within the recess 20 by the user through approximately 90° and is thus in a semi-open position. In this position, some of the apertures 14 in the second shell 12b are exposed towards the vehicle cabin such that vapours emitted by the scented material are able to enter the vehicle cabin, but at a restricted rate.

In Figure 6, the housing 12 is in its fully open position, having been manually rotated such that the second shell 12b is uppermost and most or all of the apertures 14 are exposed towards the vehicle cabin. In this open position, vapours emitted by the scented material 16 are able to be dispersed into the vehicle cabin at a maximum rate.

Movement of the air freshener 10 between the closed and open positions can be achieved simply and easily through rotation of the housing 12 within the recess 20. The housing 12 protrudes from the recess 20 by an amount sufficient to enable it to be rotated by the user's fingers or palm of the hand.

In order to replenish the air freshener 10, the housing 12 can be opened by detaching the two shells 12a, 12b thereby giving access to the interior of the housing. The scented material 16 can then be replaced as desired and the shells then reattached.

The illustrated embodiments represent advantageous examples of the invention. Nevertheless, it will be understood than various modifications and/or improvements may be made to the device without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For example, the recess 20 may be provided in the vehicle trim panel in place of a conventional switch, such recesses usually being covered by means of a blanking plate.

The recess 20 may be disposed in a generally horizontally oriented trim panel such that the housing is retained in the recess under its own weight. Alternatively, the recess may be disposed in an inclined or generally vertically oriented trim panel. In either embodiment, retaining means may be provided for preventing the air freshener from falling out of the recess when the vehicle is in motion.

For example, as shown in Figure 7, the recess 20 may be provided with an escutcheon plate 30 or other cover having a generally circular aperture 31 . The escutcheon plate or cover 30 may be hinged to the trim panel 22 adjacent the recess 20 or may be provided with suitable clips for detachably clipping the plate to the trim panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the escutcheon plate 30 is located over the recess 20 by an interference fit.

With the escutcheon plate 30 in place over the recess 20, the housing 12 projects through the aperture 31 by an amount sufficient to enable the user to rotate the ball by hand as described above. The plate 30 can be detached from the trim panel 22 in order to remove the air freshener 10 from the recess, for example, when the air freshener must be refilled.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 8, the recess 20 may be provided with an annular ring or gasket 32 extending around the wall of the recess at a height within the recess slightly greater than the radius of the housing 12. The gasket 32 may be formed from a flexible or resilient material, such as rubber, and projects into the recess 20 by a small amount. The arrangement is such that the air freshener 10 can be pushed into the recess 20, past the gasket 32, by the user but will be retained in the recess by the gasket when the vehicle is in motion.

Instead of a single gasket 32 extending around the circumference of the recess 20, the retaining means may consist of a plurality of flexible and/or resilient pads or tabs (not shown) extending into the recess 20 from the side walls thereof. Again, the tabs prevent the housing from bouncing or falling out of the recess due to movement of the vehicle but still permit the housing to be pushed into and pulled out of the recess by application of reasonable manual force.

The shells 12a, 12b of the housing 12 may be formed from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. For example, a plastics material, such as polypropylene, a metal, such as aluminium, or an alloy may be employed. The external surface of the housing 12 may be patterned, trimmed or painted in any desirable manner. For example, the housing 12 could be painted to match the interior colour scheme of the vehicle or could be patterned to resemble, for example, a golf ball, tennis ball, basket ball or soccer ball. A vehicle manufacturer's logo or emblem could be applied to the housing.

The number and position of the apertures 14 provided in the housing can be selected as desired. It will be appreciated, however, that where more than one aperture is provided, it is advantageous to place these in positions which permit closed, semi-open and fully open positions to be adopted by the housing. This can be achieved, for example, by providing all apertures in one hemisphere of the housing.

The housing can be made in one piece or in two or more pieces as in the illustrated embodiment. Where the housing is formed as a single piece, means should be provided for replenishing or recharging the scented material.

It is envisaged that the housing 12 may be substantially cylindrical rather than spherical. The cylindrical housing can be located in the pocket or recess in a generally horizontal orientation for rotation about its longitudinal axis thereby to selectively expose one or more of the apertures 14. The retaining means described above may be employed where required to retain the housing within the recess.

Alternatively, the housing may be formed in substantially any three dimensional shape provided that it is sized to locate or seat within the pocket or recess and can be manually adjusted, for example by rotation, in order to expose a variable number of apertures disposed in the housing. It may be necessary, for some shapes, to rotate the housing on spindles or the like.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple yet effective air freshener for a vehicle which is easy to use and inexpensive to produce. The device is arranged to be inconspicuously located within the vehicle and, having a stylish appearance, is more suitable for use in high specification vehicles than existing devices.

Claims

1. An air freshener apparatus for a vehicle comprising a housing for containment of a scented material or liquid and having an aperture disposed therein, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be seated in a pocket or recess within the vehicle and is rotatable therein thereby to expose or conceal the aperture.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is substantially spherical or cylindrical and is adapted for manual rotation within the pocket or recess to selectively expose the aperture to the air within the vehicle cabin.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein exposing of the aperture permits vapours from the scented material or liquid to be dispersed into the cabin of the vehicle.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is formed from two substantially hemispherical housing portions or shells.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one of the shells includes engagement means for engaging with the other shell thereby to form the substantially spherical housing.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the or each engagement means is arranged to releasably or detachably join the shells so as to permit access to the interior volume of the housing.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the shells is provided with a cooperating screw thread.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the shells are adapted to engage by means of an interference fit.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is arranged to contain a scented liquid, such as a perfume, a scented gel or a fabric, felt or foam impregnated with a scent.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each aperture is disposed in only one hemisphere of the housing.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 10 wherein the or each aperture is disposed in only one of the shells.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 10 wherein both shells are provided with apertures.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is formed from a plastics material.

14. An interior fitting or trim panel for a vehicle having a pocket or recess adapted for location therein of an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. An instrument panel, dashboard or centre console for a vehicle having a pocket or recess adapted for location therein of an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing has a maximum radius which is less than the depth of the recess.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is sized so that it protrudes from the recess by an amount sufficient to permit manual rotation of the housing within the recess.

18. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recess is provided with retaining means for retaining the housing within the recess during manoeuvring of the vehicle.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the retaining means is operable to release the housing to permit the apparatus to be removed from the recess.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the retaining means comprises an escutcheon plate or the like having an aperture disposed therein.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the retaining means comprises a flexible and/or resilient ring or gasket extending around the circumference of, and protruding into, the recess.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the retaining means comprises a plurality of flexible and/or resilient tabs projecting into the recess.

23. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the retaining means is arranged to permit the housing to be manually inserted into or taken out of the recess and to be manually rotated while seated in the recess but to hinder or prevent the housing from falling or bouncing out of the recess during vehicle motion.

24. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is operable to be rotated within the recess thereby to adopt closed, open and, optionally, semi-open positions.

25. A vehicle including an instrument panel, dashboard or centre console having a pocket or recess disposed therein and an air freshener-type apparatus seated within the pocket or recess, the apparatus comprising a housing for containment of a scented material or liquid, the housing having one or more apertures disposed therein, and being movable within the pocket or recess thereby to expose or conceal one or more of said apertures.

26. A vehicle as claimed in claim 25 wherein the housing is movable within the pocket or recess so as to vary the number or surface area of apertures exposed thereby to vary the amount or rate of scent released into the vehicle.