Claims
- 1. A system for delivering scent chemicals to an individual user, the system comprising:
a venting chamber having an opening, the venting chamber adapted to receive stream(s) of scent chemicals; a dispersion mechanism in communication with the venting chamber such that the dispersion mechanism moves the scent chemical through the opening in the venting chamber; and an absorptive liner formed over at least a portion of the venting chamber, the absorptive liner absorbs the scent chemical remaining in the venting chamber after the scent chemical has been moved through the venting chamber.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the venting chamber comprises a fan for evacuating the scent chemical, wherein the fan is directed away from the user.
- 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispersion mechanism is a bolus generator, the bolus generator delivering a pulse of air to create a bolus ring of the scent chemical.
- 4. A system for dispensing a scent chemical, the system comprising:
a venting chamber for receiving the scent chemical; means for electrically charging the scent chemical and the venting chamber, wherein the venting chamber has a corresponding electrostatic charge such that the venting chamber substantially repels the scent chemical and lessens the contamination from the scent chemical; and a delivery mechanism configured to force the scent chemical through an opening in the venting chamber.
- 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the delivery mechanism is a bolus generator, the bolus generator delivering a pulse of air to create a bolus ring of the scent chemical.
- 6. The system of claim 4 wherein the scent chemical is stored in a cartridge and is delivered to the venting chamber through a delivery assembly.
- 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the delivery assembly comprises at least one of a micro-pump, a micro-valve, a nano-pump, a vaporizer, a laser, and a piezo-electric device.
- 8. A method comprising:
selecting a scent chemical from a plurality of scent chemicals; forming a scent ring; and directing the scent ring toward a user.
- 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising metering the scent chemical.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein directing is carried out with a vibratable diaphragm or an audio speaker.
- 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising transferring the scent chemical from a storage area to a venting area.
- 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising inhibiting the contamination of the venting area.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein inhibiting comprises absorbing the scent chemicals.
- 14. The method of claim 12 wherein inhibiting comprises charging the venting area and the scent chemical with the same electrical charge.
- 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the storage area is a plurality of removable cartridges.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein moving comprises directing the scent chemical through check valves.
- 17. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring comprises vaporizing the scent chemical into a gas or an aerosol.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein vaporizing is carried out with a laser.
- 19. The method of claim 17 wherein vaporizing is carried out with a nano-pump.
- 20. The method of claim 8 further comprising aiming the scent chemical at a general vicinity of a user's nose.
- 21. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting comprises choosing more than one scent chemicals.
- 22. The method of claim 8 wherein the scent ring does not substantially contaminate third parties.
- 23. The method of claim 8 further comprising sensing the presence of the user.
- 24. The method of claim 8 further comprising sensing the location of the user's nose.
- 25. A method comprising:
moving a first scent chemical through a venting chamber; and absorbing at least a portion of the residue of the first scent chemical remaining in the venting chamber so as to inhibit the contamination of a second scent chemical moved through the venting chamber.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the absorbing step is carried out by using an absorptive material within the venting chamber.
- 27. A method comprising:
charging a scent chemical; moving the scent chemical through a venting chamber; and providing a like charge to the venting chamber, wherein the electrically charged venting chamber substantially repels the scent chemical so as to inhibit the scent chemical from adhering to the wall.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of, and claims the benefit of application no. 09/522,977, filed Mar. 10, 2000, which claims the benefit of provisional application no. 60/123,970, filed Mar. 12, 1999, under 37 C.F.R. §1.78, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60123970 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09522977 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10000432 |
Nov 2001 |
US |