Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – For deodorizing of – or chemical purification of – or... – Including means adding material into environmental gas
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-22
2001-03-06
Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
For deodorizing of, or chemical purification of, or...
Including means adding material into environmental gas
C422S123000, C392S390000, C392S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197263
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
I. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is an air freshener for use in automobiles, having a base-power unit, and a connectable and detachable ventilate fragrance dispersing unit containing a heating element and a replaceable gel-scent cartridge, the fragrance dispersing unit having a detachable means to attach the fragrance dispersing unit to the automobile vent system to utilize the automobile air-conditioning system to disperse the fragrance throughout the automobile. The power supply in the base-power unit may be a cigarette lighter plug, a battery or a solar/electric cell.
2. Description of Prior Art
The use of air fresheners in known in prior art, some adapted for use in automobiles. An air freshener for motor vehicles of a type inserted in an electric cigarette lighter socket included in the dash of an automobile, including an airflow casing for holding a replaceable scent cartridge and a heat producing resistor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,931 to Quintana, incorporated herein by reference. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,581 to Smith, incorporated herein by reference, an automobile plug-in air freshener is disclosed, inserted into the cigarette lighter socket in an automobile, having a rotatable switch, a heating element, replaceable scent cartridges and a formed slot for inserting the cartridges. U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,078 to Steiner, et al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses an air freshener dispenser having a two-part housing comprising a base having a control circuit, and a cover having the dispensing blower and replaceable fragrance cartridge, the invention powered by onboard battery supply and having a low battery alarm mechanism.
The present invention is distinguished from the above in that it has a variety of power sources, including solar power, has at least two detachable components, including a base-power unit and a ventilated fragrance dispersing unit having a heating element for thermally transforming a gel contained in a replaceable cartridge to an airborne vaporous scent. The two components are connected by a retractable wire. The ventilated fragrance dispersing unit may be separated from the base-power unit and attached to the vent port in the air-conditioning system of the automobile, allowing the air conditioning of the automobile to act as a means of dispersing the fragrance from the cartridge throughout the interior of the automobile. A switch included on the base power unit allows the user to choose the power source, which is either solar/voltaic cell, low-voltage dry cell battery, or the automobile electrical system.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile air freshener having two main detachable components, including a base-power unit and a fragrance dispersing unit. The fragrance dispersing unit has a heating element for thermally transforming a fragrant gel contained in a replaceable cartridge to an airborne vaporous scent. The fragrance dispersing unit is connected to the base-power unit by an insulated low-voltage wire, preferably flexible, and either detachable on both the fragrance dispersing unit and base-power unit or retractable within the base-power unit.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a fragrance dispersing unit which is ventilated and may be separated from the base-power unit for attachment to the vent port in the air-conditioning system of the automobile, allowing the air conditioning of the automobile to assist in dispersing the vaporous scent from the heated cartridge throughout the interior of the automobile.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a low voltage wire which is extended when the units are separated and when the units are reconnected, the wire is retracted by a means contained within the base-power unit. The base-power unit is conformed to be securely inserted into the cigarette lighter socket of the automobile, thus deriving its power source from the automobile electrical system. The base-power unit also contains a low-voltage dry cell battery chamber allowing the invention to be powered by onboard battery power, or its power source may be derived from a solar cell included into the base-power unit when the base-power unit is attached to a window by a means of attachment. A switch included on the base power unit allows the user to choose the power source.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited, in this application, to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the general purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore that the claims be regarded as including and of such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public, generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the are who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to quickly determine from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
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patent: 5977656 (1999-11-01), John
patent: 5979175 (1999-11-01), Ellison
Snider Theresa T.
Warden, Sr. Robert J.
White Edward L.
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