Patent Application
20140268651
The present disclosure relates to decorative lights, and more particularly to strings of decorative lights. The present disclosure further relates to fragrance-emitting apparatus.
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a fragrance warmer comprises a base portion and a warming portion. The base portion is configured to connect physically and electrically to a light socket of a string light assembly. The warming portion comprises a fragrance holder configured to hold a fragrance pellet, a heating plate arranged to apply heat to the fragrance pellet, and a heating element arranged to receive electrical power from the string light assembly and transfer heat to the heating plate.
In some embodiments, the warming portion can be directly supported by the base portion. In other embodiments, an electrical cord can be connected between the base portion and the warming portion.
The fragrance warmer can include the fragrance pellet. The fragrance pellet can be formed of a polymeric material that is impregnated with a vaporizing agent and configured to emit the vaporizing agent when heated by the heating element.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a string light assembly can comprise an electrical cord electrically connecting a series of light sockets and at least one fragrance socket. The fragrance socket can be configured to hold a fragrance pellet. The fragrance socket can include a heating plate arranged to apply heat to the fragrance pellet, and a heating element arranged to receive electrical power from the electrical cord and transfer heat to the heating plate. The fragrance warmer can include a fragrance pellet formed of a polymeric material that is impregnated with a vaporizing agent and configured to emit the vaporizing agent when heated by the heating element.
Features, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure are described in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:
The decorative lights 102a-102d are individually removable by sliding them from their respective light sockets 106a-106d. For example,
Turning next to
The warming portion 204 includes a fragrance holder 208, a heating plate 210, and a heating element 212. The heating element 212 is connected to wires 214a and 214b, which are electrically connected to wires 206a and 206b, respectively. The fragrance holder 208 is preferably formed of a material that resists transfer of heat, such as a plastic or rubber material. The heating plate 210 is preferably formed of a material that efficiently transfers heat, such as a metal, for example aluminum. The heating element 212 is an element that can convert electricity into heat, for example a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) ceramic.
In use, the heating element 212 can receive electrical power from the electrical cord 104 via wires 206a, 206b, 214a, and 214b. The received electrical power causes the heating element 212 to increase in temperature and transfer heat to the heating plate 210. The heating element 212 and the heating plate 210 eventually reach a maximum operating temperature, which can be set, for example, based on the composition of the heating element 212 and/or the amount of electrical power being provided to the heating element 212. The heating plate 210 can then be used to transfer heat to a fragrant material, such as fragrance pellet 250 shown in
Referring to
The fragrance pellet 250 can be at least partially composed of a polymeric material, for example ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which is a known copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate that is flexible and can remain in a substantially solid state when heated by the heating plate 210. The fragrance pellet 250 can be configured so as to not substantially deform at temperatures of less than two hundred degrees Fahrenheit, although some shrinkage of the disk can occur over time as the vaporizing agents are dispersed into the air.
As those with skill in the art will appreciate, the properties of EVA allow it to be impregnated, embedded, or absorbed in or infused with (collectively referred to herein by use of the term “impregnate” or variations thereof) various vaporizing agents such as, for example, a fragrance, permitting it to be used as a fragrance reservoir in the device. It should be noted that for the purposes of this specification and the claims recited herein, the term “vaporizing agent” should be construed to mean any substance that may exist in a substantially solid and or liquid state but that is also capable of existing in a substantially vaporized and/or aerosolized state when heated.
Methods for making and using EVA and other polymeric materials and impregnating them with vaporizing agents such as fragrances, which can include odor-neutralizing substances, insecticides and substances having medicinal properties that are known in the art. EVA material of the fragrance pellet 250 can have a molecular weight in the range of 10,000 Daltons to 100,000 Daltons. Vaporizing agents may be impregnated into the EVA fragrance pellet 250 at weight percents varying from 10 to 90%, from 20 to 80%, from 30 to 70%, from 30 to 60%, and from 30 to 50%. For example, in some embodiments, the fragrance disk can be composed of about 75% EVA by weight and about 25% of fragranced vaporizing agent by weight. It should be noted however, that alternative embodiments of the fragrance pellet 250 may include other combinations by weight of the polymeric material and the vaporizing agent.
Alternative embodiments of the fragrance pellet 250 may be composed of other polymeric materials including, but not limited to, polyethylene (high or low density), polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), PEBAX and polymethylpentene, ethyl vinyl alcohol, polystyrene, acrylic polymers, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and nylons.
Possible fragrances to be impregnated in the fragrance pellet 250 may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of fragrances including musk oil, civet, castreum, ambergris, plant perfumes, sandalwood oil, neroli oil, bergamot oil, lemon oil, lavender oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol, camphor, verbena oil, citronella oil, cauout oil, salvia oil, clove oil, chamomile oil, costus oil, labdanum oil, broom extract, carrot seed extract, jasmine extract, minmosa extract, narcissus extract, olibanum extract, rose extract, acetophenonene, dimethylinadane derivatives, naphthaline derivatives, allyl caprate, alpha-amylcinnamic aldehyde, anethole, anisaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl propionate, borneol, cinnmayl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol, citral citronellal, cumin aldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, decanol, ethyl butyrate, ethyl caprate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl vanillin, eugenol, geraniol, exenol, alpha-hexylcinnamic aldehyde, hydroxycitrolnellal, indole, iso-amyl acetate, iso amyl isovaleratek iso-eugenol, linalol, linalyl acetate, p-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl dihydroasmonate, methyl eugenol, methyl-beta-naphthol ketone, methylphenhlcarbinyl acetate, musk ketol, mustk xylol, 2,5,6nanodinol, gannna-nanolactone, phenylacetoaldehydrodimethyl acetate, beta-phenylethyl alcohol, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanol, gamma-undecalactone, undecenal, vanillin, and mixtures thereof. The foregoing hindered amines may be added to the fragranced vaporizing agent at weights of between 0.1% and 2.0% by weight of the EVA, preferably at 0.7% by weight. Those of skill in the art will recognize that in constructing the fragrance disk, it is also desirable to mix the fragrance with hindered amines such as for example, 1-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy)-4-octadecanoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperi-dine; 1-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy)-4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-e; and bis(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)sebacate. Further, various antioxidants such as tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole, phenol bisphosphite, and butylated hydroxytoluene are preferably added to the fragranced vaporizing agent at amounts of between 0.015% and 2.5% by weight of the EVA or other polymer, and preferably between 0.2% and 0.5% by weight.
It is contemplated that in alternative embodiments the EVA material used in the fragrance pellet 250 may also be impregnated with other vaporizing agents such as an insecticide. The insecticide may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of substances including citronella, pyrethrum, methyl bromide, aluminum phosphide, and magnesium phosphide. Other alternative embodiments may also utilize a pellet 250 impregnated with vaporizing agents having medicinal properties. Such vaporizing agents having medicinal properties may be selected from the non-exhaustive list of preparations including eucalyptus oil, menthol, camphor, thymol, turpentine oil, 1-desoxyephedrine, and bornyl acetate. In other alternative embodiments, the foregoing substances may be impregnated in the pellet 250 in combination with one or more other fragrances or alone. In other words, it is contemplated that alternative embodiments of the pellet 250 as disclosed and claimed herein, may or may not be impregnated with fragrances, which can include one or more vaporizing agents not chosen primarily for the production of a pleasing aroma.
The beneficial properties of the EVA material used in the pellet 250 provide for the distribution of heat necessary to permit an approximately uniform heating effect throughout said pellet 250. When properly heated, the configuration of the pellet 250 allows warm air via convection to lift fragrant vaporizing agents from the pellet 250 into the ambient air. To facilitate this aspect of dispersal, a plurality of smaller (smaller than the central aperture) holes can be placed throughout the body of said pellet 250 to accommodate the effect of convection.
During operation of the present embodiment of the fragrance warmer 200, the upper surface of the heating plate 210 can be heated by the heating element 212 from room temperature to a temperature in a range of approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, in some embodiments, the upper surface of the heating plate 210 can heat from room temperature to a temperature in a range of approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In some such embodiments, the upper surface of the heating plate 210 can heat from room temperature to a temperature in a range of approximately 118 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 126 degrees Fahrenheit, such as, for example, approximately 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
Referring next to
The decorative lights 102a-102c are individually removable by sliding them from their respective light sockets 106a-106c, for example in a manner as shown in
A fragrance pellet 302 is individually removable from the fragrance socket 304.
In use, the heating element 312 can receive electrical power from the electrical cord 104 via wires 316a and 316b. The received electrical power causes the heating element 312 to increase in temperature and transfer heat to the heating plate 310. The heating element 312 and the heating plate 310 eventually reach a maximum operating temperature, which can be set, for example, based on the composition of the heating element 312 and/or the amount of electrical power being provided to the heating element 312. The heating plate 310 can then be used to transfer heat to a fragrant material, such as fragrance pellet 302, so that the fragrant material will emit its fragrance. Thus, the maximum operating temperature of the heating plate 310 can be selected based on the fragrant material being used.
The fragrance pellet 302 can be inserted into, and frictionally retained within, the fragrance socket 304. When inserted as shown in
As discussed above in connection with
Referring again to
The fragrance warmer 400 includes a warming portion 202, which can stand alone or be supported within a housing, such as a decorative housing 404 of any desired shape. In use, one or more of the fragrance warmers 400 can replace one or more decorative lights 102 in a light string assembly 100 so that the light string 100 can be used to emit a fragrance in addition to providing decorative lighting. Thus, the fragrance warmer 400 includes an electrical cord 414 connected to the warming portion 402, and further includes a socket connector 416 connected to the electrical cord 414. The socket connector 416 is preferably constructed to substantially match the base portion 112 of the decorative light 102c (shown in
The warming portion 402 includes a fragrance holder 408, a heating plate 410, and a heating element 412. The heating element 412 is connected to electrical cord 414, which are electrically connected to exposed wires of the socket connector 416. The fragrance holder 408 is preferably formed of a material that resists transfer of heat, such as a plastic or rubber material. The heating plate 410 is preferably formed of a material that efficiently transfers heat, such as a metal, for example aluminum. The heating element 412 is an element that can convert electricity into heat, for example a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) ceramic.
In use, the heating element 412 can receive electrical power from the electrical cord 104 via the electrical cord 414. The received electrical power causes the heating element 412 to increase in temperature and transfer heat to the heating plate 410. The heating element 412 and the heating plate 410 eventually reach a maximum operating temperature, which can be set, for example, based on the composition of the heating element 412 and/or the amount of electrical power being provided to the heating element 412. The heating plate 410 can then be used to transfer heat to a fragrant material, such as fragrance pellet 406, so that the fragrant material will emit its fragrance. Thus, the maximum operating temperature of the heating plate 210 can be selected based on the fragrant material being used. The fragrance pellet 406 can be identical to the fragrance pellet 250 shown in
The fragrance pellet 406 can be inserted into, and frictionally retained within, the fragrance holder 408. When inserted as shown in
While the fragrance pellets 250, 302, and 406 have been described herein as being frictionally retained within respective holders, alternatively a great variety of retaining means can be used to secure the fragrance pellets in place, such as barbs, clips, caps, snaps, or other known connection means.
The embodiments described herein provide for string light assemblies that can either be converted to emit fragrance or can be manufactured to emit fragrance using replaceable fragrance pellets. Such string light assemblies can be useful for adding fragrance to a Christmas tree or a room where decorative string lights are hung. Also, such string light assemblies can be used to illuminate an outdoor area, and fragrance pellets having insect-repelling properties can be used in the string light assembly to help keep the illuminated area free of insects.
While various embodiments in accordance with the disclosed principles have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and are not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.
Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 C.F.R. 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/783,748, filed 14 Mar. 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61783748 | Mar 2013 | US |
