Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Vaporizer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-05-22
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Vaporizer
C392S392000, C392S395000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236807
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A present invention relates in general to electric evaporation systems which use wicks, and in particular to a new and useful wick evaporation system having a child-resistant wick retaining structure, a reverse thread feature, unique decorative features and a compact structure.
Wick-based vapor emanation systems are known in the art for dispersing into the air vapors of any number of liquids. Such systems are often used in the home with liquids varying from insect repellent to air freshener. Typically, in such systems, one end of a wick is partially submerged in the liquid to be dispersed. The liquid is contained in any suitable container. The partially submerged portion of the wick absorbs the liquid, some of which diffuses by capillary or wicking action into the exposed, unsubmerged portion of the wick. The exposed portion of the wick is locally heated, often by means of a ring-shaped heater which fits over the wick. This causes the liquid which has diffused into the exposed portion of the wick to evaporate into the surrounding air. Continual application of heat to the exposed portion of the wick results in an evaporation/absorption process that continues until the liquid is consumed.
A problem with conventional wick-based liquid emanation systems, as with many products suitable for home use, is the potential that a child will come into contact with the liquid contents of the system. Many of the liquids utilized with such systems can be harmful if swallowed, and some are harmful if merely touched. Therefore, it is desirable to make these systems “child-resistant ” to reduce the chance that a child will access the potentially harmful contents of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,845 to Greatbatch, et al. discloses a child-resistant, wick-based liquid emanation system that includes a container which is capable of containing liquid and has an opening. A wick is partially disposed within the container and extends through the opening of the container. A hollow overcap encases the extended portion of the wick and has a closed, separable tip and an open base attached to cover the opening of the container. The system is activated by separating the tip from the overcap. This system is complex and adds a step before the product can be used.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,394 and 5,290,546 to Hasegawa, et al. disclose an electric air freshener that includes an electric plug which is integral with the vaporizer housing. This structure is common to similar electric evaporators that have been available in Europe and Asia for many years. The housing includes a ring heater for engaging the upper end of a wick for heating that end and vaporizing liquid from a bottle which is screwed into a socket formed as part of the housing.
A similar structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,186 to Schimanski, et al. where a tangential heater rather than an ring heater is used as the heating means for heating the upper end of the wick. U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,186 to Schimanski, et al. is incorporated here by reference for its teaching of this type of electric evaporator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,053 to Schroeder, et al. shows a similar structure which can swivel around its plug.
The concept of a wick-based electric evaporator is quite old as demonstrated by U.S. Pat. No. 1,944,821, issued in 1934, and including the same basic units of a wick with an upper end that is heated to vaporize liquid from a container extending below the heater.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a vapor emanation system that includes a plastic housing having a socket portion and an electric plug portion, with safety, decorative and miniaturization features. A decorative container containing liquid to be evaporated by heat, has a body for storing the liquid and a neck connected to the body for engaging the socket portion of the housing for supporting the container on the housing. The neck has a passage there through and a retaining ring is fixed in the passage. A hole extends through the ring. A wick having an upper portion extending through the hole of the retaining ring also has a lower portion extending down into the body of the container for absorbing liquid from the container and for moving the liquid into the upper portion of the wick by capillary action. A tangential electric heater in the housing heats the upper portion of the wick above the neck to evaporate liquid from the wick. A retaining pin extending through the wick below the neck, extends radially beyond the wick by an amount which precludes upward extraction of the wick from the retaining ring to prevent a child from removing the wick and being exposed to the liquid.
The socket and the container are made with reverse screw threads to minimize misuse of the product. With reverse threads, common bottles cannot be used with the system. This prevents a consumer from trying to use volatile and flammable colognes or make-shift wicks in the system which would be dangerous. A typical bottle cannot be attached to the housing of the invention.
Furthermore the use of one or more pins in the wick prevents the wick from being pulled out to allow a consumer to pour in an inappropriate blend of perfumes which are not intended for the system. If the wick cannot be removed the container cannot be refilled by the consumer.
According to another object of the invention, the body of the container may simulate a decorative item such as a bunch of fruit and a vapor dispersing flange above the heater may also be used to further simulate the item, for example by simulated foliage at the top of the fruit.
A still further object of the invention is achieved by miniaturizing the system. To this end the heater is a tangential heater and the socket portion of the housing is smaller in diameter that the largest diameter of the container or bottle body which extends below the housing. The container body is fully visible below the housing, not being covered by any part of the housing.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to, and forming a part of, this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1944821 (1934-01-01), Blaise
patent: 2176345 (1939-10-01), Hurwitt
patent: 4621768 (1986-11-01), Lhoste et al.
patent: 4663315 (1987-05-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 4968487 (1990-11-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5038394 (1991-08-01), Hasagawa et al.
patent: 5222186 (1993-06-01), Schimanski et al.
patent: 5290546 (1994-03-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5647053 (1997-07-01), Schroeder et al.
patent: 5909845 (1999-06-01), Greatbatch et al.
Ruffolo Richard R.
Zaraboza Roberto
Zembrodt Anthony
Bath & Body Works, Inc.
Colucci & Umans
Michalos Peter C.
Notaro Angelo
Paik Sang
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