Patent Application
20050163671
Not Applicable.
A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses used to generate or emanate an aroma. More specifically, the present invention relates to aroma apparatuses that are configured to cooperate with plumbing fixtures so as to emanate an aroma without the use of electricity, candles or other devices. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to such aroma apparatuses that can be made integral with or attached to various plumbing fixtures to emanate an aroma therefrom.
B. Background
Apparatuses for generating or emanating aromas are commonly known and have been in use for some time. Aroma apparatuses are frequently utilized to emanate aroma into an area, such as a room or the like, to improve the smell of the area or to provide a certain ambiance to the area. Although many aroma apparatuses are configured to emanate a perfume-type aroma, other apparatuses generate aromas based on natural scents, including fruit, vegetable, plant and environmental (i.e., forest, ocean and the like) smells. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aroma” includes all types of scents and smells, including those that are pleasant, savory or otherwise able to charge an area with a desired smell and modify the environment of the area. Aromas suitable for use with the apparatus of the present invention include such aromas that are used or adaptable for use with bath oils and gels, air fresheners, candles, deodorants and other devices suitable for changing the smell of an area, including rooms and bath waters.
Apparatuses heretofore commonly utilized to generate or emanate an aroma typically require use of an electric or candle heat source, or are placed in and then at least partially dissolve by a liquid, such as a warm or hot bath, or are sprayed from a can or other device. Some aroma apparatuses plug into an electrical outlet and utilize electricity therefrom to generate heat that causes a portion of the apparatus, such as a replaceable cartridge, to emanate the aroma. Alternatively, some heat-source aroma apparatuses are battery powered or derive the heat necessary for emanating the aroma from a light. Examples of such apparatuses can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,564 to Spector, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,384 to Holland. The Spector device is a cartridge-type aroma percolator for emanating an aroma into an area at a relatively high rate. The percolator utilizes an electric heater to boil a solution onto an aroma-based insert to waft an aroma vapor. The Holland device comprises a high temperature resistant material, such as an asbestos sheet, which has been immersed in a solution of scented liquid that is configured to attach to an electric lamp shade. The electric light generates heat that causes the asbestos/scented sheet to emanate an aroma. Other aroma apparatuses require heat to be provided from a candle or other flame source to interact with the aroma portion of the apparatus to emanate the desired aroma into the area. Generally, this type of device includes an aroma material holding portion that is placed above a lit candle. The principal limitation of electric, battery or candle types of apparatuses is that they require the electric, battery or candle sources of heat and, as such, they have are generally not beneficially adaptable to certain situations, particularly use in the bath or shower. In addition, these types of apparatuses require the user to turn the device on and off and/or require replacement of the batteries and candles.
The benefits of providing aroma to a room or area are well known and include the cover-up of unpleasant smells and heightened relaxation. Both of these uses are fully applicable to utilization in the shower, bath or other places where plumbing fixtures are located. For instance, it is commonly believed that certain smells can provide therapeutic benefits, commonly referred to as aromatherapy. U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,511 to Daffer, et al., discloses a personalized therapeutic compartment or capsule that combines a shower system having a plurality of shower nozzles with a source of aroma. A person lies down in the compartment/capsule and is subject to the shower system, aroma and coordinated colors from an interior light source. While significantly less sophisticated, many people enjoy having one or more lit candles in the bathroom when they are taking a shower or bath. Unfortunately, this requires a flame source that can be somewhat incompatible with the shower or bath.
What is needed, therefore, is a aromatic apparatus that is suitable for use in a shower or bath to enhance the shower or bath with the desired aroma. The preferred aromatic apparatus will not require an electric, battery or flame source of heat to generate the aroma. Instead of relying on a separate heat source, the preferred apparatus will interact with the hot water flowing through a plumbing fixture to provide the heat to activate the emanation of aroma. Preferably, the apparatus will be configured such that the source of aroma will not be intermixed with the flowing water (i.e., will not result in aromatic water). The apparatus will allow the user to enjoy his or her shower or bath with aroma that is generated when warm or hot water flows through the plumbing fixture configured with the aromatic apparatus of the present invention.
The aromatic apparatus for plumbing fixtures of the present invention solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses an apparatus that can be beneficially utilized with a pluming fixture to provide a desired aroma for a person utilizing or positioned in the area of the fixture. When used with a shower or bath fixture, the aromatic apparatus of the present invention emanates a selected aroma to enhance the enjoyment and relaxation of the shower or bath. The aromatic apparatus of the present invention generates a selected aroma without the need of an electric, battery or flame heat source by utilizing the warm or hot water flowing through the plumbing fixture. The aromatic apparatus puts aroma in the air without causing the water flowing through the fixture to be intermixed with the aromatic component of the apparatus.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “plumbing fixture” includes shower and bathtub components, piping systems, inlet pipes and other plumbing components utilized to transfer or outlet water, particularly warm or hot water. In particular, the term plumbing fixture includes shower heads and the pipes that connect to the shower head outside of the wall enclosing the shower and bathtub spouts and any pipes which connect to the spout outside of the wall enclosing the bath. If desired, the term plumbing fixture also includes any specially designed or configured components that can be utilized to carry water and cooperate with the aromatic apparatus of the present invention to generate a desired aroma
In one aspect of the present invention, the aromatic apparatus includes a plumbing fixture having a tubular component associated therewith that is configured to carry a warm or hot fluid, such as water, through the plumbing fixture and an aromatic component at least partially disposed around the tubular component of the plumbing fixture. The aromatic component is configured to emanate a desired aroma when the warm or hot fluid is carried through the tubular component. In one configuration, the aromatic component is a tube or ring-like shape that substantially encircles the tubular component. The aromatic component can be a solid, semi-solid, crystal, bead or liquid material that is coated or impregnated by an aromatic fragrance or the like. The plumbing fixture can be a shower head having an interior chamber with the aromatic component disposed in the chamber. To facilitate the dispersal of the aroma from the aromatic component in the area near the shower, the shower head can include one or more openings in communication with the chamber. The aromatic component can be located on or around a tubular component disposed inside the chamber. In one configuration, the shower head can have a spray cap portion that removably (i.e., threadably) attaches to a base portion with the chamber substantially enclosed therebetween. The removable spray cap allows the user to replace or refill the aromatic component as it is used up or when a different aroma is desired. For liquid aromatic components, the shower head can include an injection port in communication with the chamber. The plumbing fixture can also be a pipe, such as a pipe leading to a shower head, bathtub faucet, sink or other facility, and the aromatic component can be configured to removably attach to the pipe. To facilitate installation, the aromatic component can comprise a closure mechanism, such as ties, wire, hooks and other devices, for securing the aromatic component to the pipe. Alternatively, a clip member can be utilized for securing the aromatic component to the pipe. The clip member should be sized and configured to securely engage the pipe with a snap-on type of action. The clip member can comprise a frame with a pair of end members and one or more transverse members.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to disclose an aromatic apparatus for plumbing fixtures that provides the advantages discussed above and that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available aromatic apparatuses.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an aromatic apparatus that does not directly use electricity, battery or flame-generated heat to emanate the desired aroma.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an aromatic apparatus that is configured to cooperate with a plumbing fixture such that the flow of water through the fixture will cause the apparatus to emanate a desired aroma.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an aromatic apparatus that can be utilized as a shower head or can be attached to a tubular object, such as a pipe or bathtub spout, to cause aroma to be dispensed when water flows through the shower head or tubular object without intermixing the aromatic component with the flowing water.
The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims.
In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiments of the aromatic apparatus for plumbing fixtures of the present invention illustrated in the figures, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses of the present invention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein.
The aromatic apparatus of the present invention, identified generally as 10 in the figures, is configured for use with plumbing fixtures, such as the shower head 12 in
In a preferred embodiment of aromatic apparatus 10 of the present invention, aromatic component 16 is tubular or ring shaped, as best shown in
As stated above, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aromatic component 16 is substantially tubular or ring shaped so that it may be easily and beneficially placed inside chamber 32. Aromatic component 16 can be made out of a variety of materials that are suitable for having a heat sensitive fragrance, such as a volatile fragrance, placed or impregnated thereon. For purposes of this disclosure the term “fragrance” includes any compound that is suitable for emanating, generating or releasing an aroma. As understood in the art, many products (such as vehicle rearview mirror fresheners, bath beads or crystals, deodorants, candles, etc.) include a fragrance component that provides a preferred aroma. Different materials can receive and hold fragrances better than others. The preferred material for aromatic component is one that will cause the fragrance associated therewith to release the aroma in response heat, such as from warm or hot water flowing through shower head 12, and not release a significant amount of aroma when no water is flowing so that the fragrance can last for a relatively significant amount of time. Although shower head 12 of the preferred embodiment is configured such that aromatic component 16 can be replaced as the fragrance is used up by unthreading spray cap 26 from base 18, most consumers will prefer that this not have to be done on a frequent basis. A preferred material for aromatic component 16 is a silicon or other similar material that is impregnated with a volatile fragrance.
Although the preferred embodiment of aromatic component 16 is a solid or semi-solid material, shown as 38 in
In an alternative configuration for shower head 12, shown in
In an alternative embodiment of aromatic apparatus 10 of the present invention, apparatus 10 is configured to attach to a tubular member, such as pipe 14, that is located outside of shower head 12. Pipe 14 may be a portion of the piping system that carries warm or hot water and extends out of the wall in a shower or tub enclosure, is located below a sink or other water basin or is specially configured for aromatic apparatus 10. As with the embodiment for inside shower head 12 described above, aromatic component 16 can be configured in a tube or ring-like structure to substantially encircle pipe 14, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the aromatic apparatus 10 for pipe 14, aromatic component 16 is substantially flat or planar shaped and configured to be sufficiently flexible to lay over pipe 14, as shown in
While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use.
