Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to air fresheners.
Related Art
Various different types of air fresheners have been developed, particularly for use in vehicles. Vent stick type air fresheners include an aromatic body carried by the air vent, and utilizing air flow therefrom to disperse scent from the body.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop an air freshener that can improve scent release and/or dispersal.
The invention provides an air freshener with a carrier having a pair of tabs defining a gap therebetween. A center tab extends from the pair of tabs and defines a front face of the carrier and defines a longitudinal axis along which the center tab extends from the pair of tabs. The pair of tabs extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the center tab in opposite directions. The pair of tabs has a lateral width greater than a longitudinal depth. At least one scented body is carried by one of the pair of tabs. The at least one scented body has a desired scent interspersed within a material of the body and diffusible out of the material of the body over time to provide the desired scent. The at least one scented body extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the scented tab in opposite directions. The at least one scented body has a lateral width greater than a longitudinal depth.
In addition, the invention provides an air freshener in combination with an air vent of a vehicle having louvers extending across an opening of the air vent and having a front facing into the vehicle and having a longitudinal axis oriented out of the air vent. The air freshener comprises a carrier with a pair of tabs extending into the air vent defining a gap therebetween with a louver of the air vent in the gap and between the pair of tabs. The carrier has a front face disposed outside of the air vent. The pair of tabs extend laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the air vent and along a width of the louver. The pair of tabs has a lateral width greater than a longitudinal depth into the air vent. A pair of scented bodies is each one carried by a different one of the pair of tabs, and disposed in the air vent and between the louvers. The pair of scented bodies has a desired scent interspersed within a material of the bodies and diffusible out of the material of the bodies over time to provide the desired scent. The pair of scented bodies extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the air vent and along the width of the louver. The pair of scented bodies Has a lateral width greater than a longitudinal depth into the air vent.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
The terms “vent” and “air vent” are used interchangeably herein to refer to an air outlet in, a vehicle dashboard or console. The air outlet can be connected by ducts to a fan or blower to displace air through the duct to the air outlet. The air outlet can have a grid of louvers therein to further direct the airflow.
The terms “top” and “bottom” and “downwardly” and “upwardly” and the like are used herein relative to the air freshener device or housing thereof being oriented upright or vertical; while it is understood that the device or housing can be oriented horizontally or at an incline during use depending on the orientation of the power outlet.
The term “scent material” and “fragrant material” are used interchangeably herein to refer broadly to a material that carries a desired fragrance or scent, or even a neutralizing agent.
The invention provides an air freshener for providing a desirable scent or fragrance. The air freshener can be used in an air vent of a vehicle. The air freshener can be passive, and can rely on diffusion of the scent, or the air displacement of the air through the vent in the vehicle. The air freshener can orient scent bodies laterally across the vent, as opposed to into the vent, to maximize air flow past the scent bodies and into the vehicle. In addition, the air freshener can have scent bodies that are laterally longer than their depth to accommodate shallow air vents.
Referring to
The air fresheners 10a and 10b have a carrier 26a or 26b to carry a pair of (or at least one) scented bodies 30a or 30b. The carrier can clip to one of the louvers of the air vent, and hold the scented bodies in the air stream or air flow from the air vent. In addition, the carrier can impart rigidity and/or support to scented bodies that may be flexible and/or pliable. Furthermore, the carrier can orient the scented bodies laterally with respect to the air vent or longitudinal axis, or across the air vent. Thus, the air freshener can maximize the air flow across the scented bodies, and accommodate shallower air vents.
The carrier 26a or 26b has a pair of tabs 34 that are spaced-apart from one another, and that define a gap 33 therebetween. One tab can be an upper tab and the other tab can be a lower tab. In use, the tabs can extend into the air vent with a louver 18 of the air vent in the gap and between the pair of tabs, as shown in
The pair of tabs 34 extend laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis 22 of the air vent or the center tab, in opposite directions (or on each side of the center tab) and along a width of the louver. The width of the louver is taken across the air vent or across an opening in the air vent, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The pair of tabs 34 have a lateral width w greater than a longitudinal depth d into the air vent or along the longitudinal axis, as shown in
The pair of tabs 34 have outward facing surfaces 50 (
In addition, the pair of tabs 34 (and/or the scented bodies) and/or the carrier 26a or 26b can have lateral ends 58 (
The carrier can be formed of plastic, and can be formed by injection molding. The pair of tabs 34 can be formed integrally with and at the same time as the center tab 42a or 42b.
The scented bodies 30a or 30b are each carried by a different one of the tabs 34. In one aspect, a pair of scented bodies are earned by a pair of tabs, as shown. In another aspect, a single, or at least one, scented body is carried by one of the tabs. In use, the scented bodies are disposed in the air vent 14, and between the louvers 18, as shown in
As described above, the pair of scented bodies 30a or 30b extend laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis 22 of the air vent or the center tab, and along the width of the louver. The pair of scented bodies 30a or 30b have a lateral width w greater than a longitudinal depth d into the air vent or along the longitudinal axis, as shown in
Furthermore, the air freshener 10a or 10b can have an air tunnel extending therethrough and aligned with the longitudinal axis. In, one aspect, one or more air (low passages 74 can be formed between an adjacent tab 34 and scented body 30a or 30b. The air flow passage 74 can have a forward opening 78 in the front of the air freshener, and a rearward opening 82 in a rear of the air freshener. Thus, air flow can pass through the air freshener, as well as over or around the air freshener. And air can flow around more of the scented bodies, such as the inward facing surfaces 70. In one aspect, a pair of slots 86 can each be formed in a different one of the inward facing surfaces of the pair of scented bodies, and oriented longitudinally, to define the air flow passage.
The carrier 26a or 26b can have a thickness t between outermost surfaces 90 (
As described above, the scented bodies 30a or 30b can have lateral ends 58 (
In addition, an outermost exterior surface 98 of each of the pair of scented bodies 30a or 30b can have an arcuate profile taken along the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the lateral width of the pair of scented bodies, as shown in
In one aspect, the center tab 42a can be defined between a pair of indentations 102 formed in each of the pair of tabs 34. Similarly, each of the pair of scented bodies 30a can have an indentation 106 corresponding to a respective indentation 102 in a corresponding tab. The indentations 102 and 106 can facilitate grasping the center tab 42a to place and remove the air freshener from the vent.
In one aspect, the carrier 26a can be configured with the front face 46a extending substantially the entire lateral width of the carrier, and the tabs 34, as shown in
In another aspect, the carrier 26b can be configured with the front face 46b extending partially along the lateral width of the carrier, and partially along the tabs 34, as shown in
Furthermore, the carrier 26a or 26b, or the tabs 34, can have nobs or teeth 114 extending from the tabs and into the gap 38 and/or channel 110 to help grip the louver 18.
The indicia can include a logo of a business or company. The terms “business” and “company” are used broadly and interchangeably herein to refer to an organization that provides a product or a service. The business, company or organization can have a name, logo, slogan, trademark, service mark, etc. that is capable of identifying and/or distinguishing the business or company, or product or service, or both, or can otherwise be utilized to market, promote, and/or brand the business or company, or product or service, or both. In addition, the indicia can include instructions for use, or warnings.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
Priority is claimed to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/247,544, filed Oct. 28, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This is related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,687,038; 7,687,037; 8,147,761; 8,480,960; D594,954; 8,460,609; D640,359; D650,892; 8,685,330; D689,181; and 9,155,812; which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62247544 | Oct 2015 | US |