Patent Application
20080105760
The present invention relates to aromatic devices and, more particularly, to suction-mountable aromatic devices.
Aromatic devices include a material emitting a desired aroma. Depending on the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the device, aroma from the device may spread throughout an area such as a room in a house or an interior of a car. Conventional aromatic devices come in various styles including surface-mountable, standing, hanging, and heat activated.
Some conventional surface-mountable aromatic devices are mountable on surfaces such as walls. One brand of surface-mountable device is a Stick Ups air freshener, which includes a scented pellet, a rigid vented body surrounding the pellet allowing scent to pass through the vents and away from the body, and double-sided tape attached to a back of the body for mounting the device to a wall. Stick Ups is a federally registered trademark of Airwick Industries, Inc., of Carlstadt, N.J. Standing air fresheners are designed to stand on a surface such as a bathroom counter. Exemplary standing containers include containers of potpourri, devices including a plastic vented base encasing a scented material, and candles that emit aroma.
Some aromatic devices include a loop for hanging them from structures such as a rear-view mirror of an automobile or a hook in a gym locker. Heat-activated aromatic devices include materials that emit an aroma when heated, such as by flame or electric current. Exemplary heat-activated aromatic devices include candles, incense, and oils. One brand of electrically heated aromatic device is a Plug-Ins air freshener, which includes a vented casing including a cartridge holding fragranced gel and prongs connected to the cartridge and extending from the casing for plugging the device into a standard electrical outlet. Plug-Ins is a federally registered trademark of S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc., of Racine, Wis. The electricity passing between the prongs and contacting the gel heats the gel, which emits an aroma when heated.
Conventional aromatic devices have various drawbacks. Most aromatic devices cannot be mounted on surfaces and therefore have limited utility. These devices that cannot be mounted on surfaces are inconvenient to use, especially in areas such as an office or a kitchen where desk and counter space are limited. Conventional aromatic devices including a string for hanging the device from a car mirror or locker hook are generally limited to use at locations where the device can be hung. Further, conventional devices, surface mountable or not, are generally relatively large. Thus, whether mounted on a surface or positioned on a countertop, conventional aromatic devices can be awkward and take up too much space. Relatively small surface-mountable aromatic devices would be useful and convenient.
Most surface-mountable aromatic devices are designed to be mounted only once. For example, devices mountable by adhesive such as glue or double-sided tape are generally designed to be mounted once. Removing one of these conventional devices from a surface on which it is mounted often damages the device and/or the surface, such as by leaving unsightly residue or peeling paint or wall paper away from the surface. Further, removing a nail or tack used to attach a device to a surface leaves marks on the surface. Aromatic devices are sought that are easily mountable, removable, and re-mountable for locating and relocating the device as desired.
One drawback of aromatic devices requiring heat to emit aroma is that a user of the device must provide heat, such as by electric circuit or flame. This energy requirement limits use of the device in many ways. For example, aromatic devices needing to be plugged into an electrical outlet for operation can only be positioned for use at a location having an outlet. As another example, candles can only be burned in certain safe areas, such as areas having sufficient ventilation and being free of nearby flammable materials. Further, the energy required to operate these devices, such as from electricity, lighters, and matches, increases the effective cost of the device. As described herein, the aromatic suction-mountable devices of the present invention do not have the aforementioned drawbacks.
There are many suction-mountable devices, such as conventional suction cups, but they are not aromatic. Conventional suction-mountable devices are very convenient for purposes including decoration because they can be formed in a variety of shapes, positioned on most any generally smooth surface, and easily relocated as desired. Further, many suction-mountable devices include a hook for holding items such as keys. Also, art and other messages can be formed on the body of suction-mountable devices. Despite all of these benefits, conventional suction-mountable devices do not freshen the air like the conventional aromatic devices described above.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The body further includes a message formed on the body at a position selected from a group of positions consisting of an outer position on the outer surface, an inner position on the inner surface, and an intermediate position between the outer surface and the inner surface. The device further includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma connected to the base. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The device further includes a protrusion extending from the outer surface of the body and the protrusion includes a second material emitting a desired aroma. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The device further includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma connected to the base wherein the aroma corresponds to a shape of the periphery of the body. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The device further includes a protrusion extending from the outer surface of the body including an exterior surface and a periphery extending around the protrusion and surrounding the exterior surface. The device also includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma connected to the base wherein the aroma corresponds to a shape of the periphery of the protrusion. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In yet still another aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material and having an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a non-circular periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The device further includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma connected to the base wherein the aroma corresponds to a shape of the periphery of the body. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface, and a periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the body. The device further includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma connected to the base wherein the aroma corresponds to a shape of the periphery of the body. The device also includes a fastener attached to the outer surface of the body for attaching an item to the device. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in the undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of using an aromatic device including a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion opposite the outer surface, a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the inner surface and the outer surface, and a material emitting a desired aroma. The method includes positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent a mounting surface in an area occupied by people or used by people to store things so the aroma emitted from the body may be sensed by the people when they are in or near the area. The inner surface of the body is positioned adjacent the mounting surface while the body is in an undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface. The method further includes moving the body to an actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface in the area.
Other aspects of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring to the figures, and more particularly to
The periphery 18 of the body 12 may be generally circular or non-circular. In one embodiment, the periphery 18 is non-circular and non-oval. The periphery 18 may be symmetric, such as circular, square, or oval, or non-symmetric. For example, the periphery 18 of the body 12 shown in
Circular bodies 12 are common because reflex forces developed within them are naturally distributed in a uniform circular pattern promoting a required balance between reflex forces and suction forces created between the body and a mounting surface 26 for mounting the device 10 on the mounting surface. As the concave flexible body 12 is deformed toward an actuated shape (shown in
The flexible body 12 has a thickness tb measured between the outer surface 14 and the inner surface 16 of the body. The thickness tb may be generally constant or vary throughout the flexible body 12. One way to reduce the effect of non-circular reflex forces in the body 12 is to taper (e.g., steadily decrease) the thickness tb of the body between the center 24 of the concave portion 22 of the inner surface 16 and the periphery 18 of the body. For example, the thickness tb of the body 12 may vary from a maximum thickness of between about 0.10 inch and about 0.25 inch adjacent the center 24 of the concave portion 22 of the inner surface 16 and a minimum thickness of between about 0.045 inch and about 0.125 inch adjacent the periphery 18. The reflex forces developed in tapered bodies 12 during deformation of them are more uniform because there is less material nearer the periphery 18 where the body is non-uniformly shaped. The body 12 near the periphery 18 contributes less to the reflex forces of the body in proportion to the decreased thickness, allowing the reflex forces distributed more uniformly around a center of the body to predominate the sum of the reflex forces. By developing more uniform reflex forces in the body 12, devices 10 having a tapered thickness tb can securely mount on mounting surfaces 26.
It is contemplated that reflex forces may also be reduced by varying the material or material properties of the flexible body 12 between the center 24 and the periphery 18. For example, the material of the body 12 may be less resilient nearer the periphery to reduce reflex forces created by the body adjacent the periphery.
Another way to reduce the effect of non-circular reflex forces is by forming the body 12 so the inner surface 16 includes a bend 28 (shown in
The flexible body 12 is deformable between an undeformed or default shape, shown in
The mounting surface 26 must include a surface area that is at least as large as an area spanned by the suction portion 32 of the inner surface 16 of the body 12 when the flexible body is in its actuated shape. Exemplary mounting surfaces 26 including mounting surfaces in an area occupied by people or used by people to store things so the aroma emitted from the body may be sensed by the people when they are in or near the area. For example, the device 10 may be mounted on a generally smooth interior surface of an automobile or other vehicle (e.g., boat and aircraft), a surface (e.g., interior) of a locker, a wall, a window, a mirror, a component of a computer, or a desk. The device 10 may be mounted to a surface 26 in a variety of environments including outdoors, in a bathroom, kitchen, basement or other part of a house or building such as a store, restaurant, or office.
To mount the display device 10 on the mounting surface 26, the inner surface 16 of the flexible body 12 is positioned adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its default shape, as shown in
To demount the flexible body 12 from the mounting surface 26, for example to relocate the display device 10 on another smooth mounting surface, the body is moved out of its actuated shape thereby breaking the seal and suction. To break the seal and move the body 12 out of its actuated shape, the user may move or pull on a portion of the periphery 18 of the body. Demounting the body 12 from the mounting surface 26 is both clean and simple. In contrast, removing a conventional aromatic device mounted on a surface by adhesive from that surface is more involved and often results in damage to the surface and/or the device, as described in the Background of the Invention section.
As described above, the body 12 includes a flexible base material. As a base material, the body 12 may include a polymer such as a rubber or an elastomeric material. The base material for the body 12 may include thermoplastics or other plastics. Particular examples of base materials for the body 12 are silicone, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or another polyvinyl or vinyl, neoprene, formed by polymerization of chloroprene, and nitrile or Buna-N, which is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile. The base material of the body 12 may be a single material or a combination of materials. The particular base material used depends on desired performance characteristics such as resilience, texture, and appearance, including color. The body 12 must be somewhat resilient and elastic so the body acts to return to the default shape when it is moved to the actuated shape thereby pressing against the mounting surface 26 and creating the suction used to mount the device on the mounting surface as described above. However, if the body 12 is too resilient, it will be too difficult to move the body to the undeformed shape and/or reflex forces greater than the suction will be created between the body and the mounting surface 26 thereby breaking the seal and suction securing the device 10 to the mounting surface.
As also described above, the body 12 includes a material (not shown in detail) selected to emit a desired aroma or scent. The scented material of the body 12 may include a single component, such as a single fragrant oil, or may include a combination of components. Various scents may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the scented material may emit an aroma selected from a group of aromas including floral scents, fruit scents, spices, herbs, other natural scents, and combinations of these scents. Exemplary floral scents include jasmine, lilac, lily, rose, ylang-ylang, magnolia, orchid, cherry blossom, and honeysuckle. Exemplary fruit scents include citrus, coconut, orange, banana, lemon, watermelon, cherry, strawberry or other berries, mango, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi, and grapefruit. Exemplary spices include cinnamon, coffee, and nutmeg. Exemplary herbs include rosemary, lemongrass, bergamot, chamomile, and mints such as sage, basil, oregano, thyme, peppermint, and lavender. Other natural scents include sandalwood, cucumber, patchouli, vanilla, eucalyptus, and pine. Further, the scented material may also emit other common aromas such as bubble gum, cotton candy, baby powder, musks, and chocolate. In addition, the aroma may resemble a popular perfume or cologne of a newly created perfume or cologne.
Although the scented material may have other forms, in one embodiment the scented material is in the form of a gel, a powder, or a liquid such as an oil. In one embodiment, the scented material of the body 12 is a liquid concentrate. The scented material may be added to the base material of the body 12 at various stages of development of the device 10. In one embodiment, the scented material is coated onto the outer surface 14 and/or the inner surface 16 of the body 12. Although the scented material may be coated onto the outer surface 14 and/or the inner surface 16 of the body 12 in other ways without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the scented material is coated onto the outer surface and/or the inner surface of the body by dipping the body into a bath of the scented material, spraying the body with the scented material, or painting the body with the scented material such as by brush or other applicator. It is contemplated that the material emitting an aroma may also be part of or formed on a thin item or film such as a label or sticker attached to the outer surface 14 of the body 12.
In one embodiment, the scented material is impregnated into the body 12 during manufacture of the device 10. The scented material may be added to the base material before the base material is molded and/or cured to form the resulting shaped body 12. For example, in one embodiment the scented material in the form of an oil is added to and mixed with a liquid or gel silicone base material before molding and curing the base material to form the shaped body 12.
The molding and curing steps of forming flexible vacuum-mountable devices are well known and include positioning the base material and any processing agents into a mold, such as by injection, and setting or curing that material to form the resulting body 12. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, an inhibitor or an accelerator may be added to the mixture forming the body 12 to control the rate and manner at which the body is molded and cures. Also, the base material of the body 12 may be vulcanized during formation by adding select chemical agents to add useful properties to the body or enhance such properties in the body including, for example, elasticity, strength, and stability. Vulcanizing materials include activators to initiate vulcanization, fillers, such as carbon, to reinforce the structure thereby enhancing chemical and mechanical properties of the body 12, and vulcanization agents to cross-link polymers. Other agents that may be added to the body material to affect the formation process and characteristics of the resulting body 12 include plasticizers, which soften the material and/or improve processing, processing aids, which may ease handling during mixing, extrusion, calendaring, or molding, mold release agents, which may be coated onto the mold such as by spraying and make it easier to remove the bodies from the mold they are molded in, and age-resistors, which retard aging of the body. In addition, as described in further detail below, pigments may be added to the base material to color the body 12 as desired.
The base material and the scented material of the body 12 and the manner in which they are combined and processed affect characteristics of the device 10 such as mounting and aroma emitting characteristics. In one embodiment, the base body material is selected, the scented material is selected and added to the body 12, and the body is processed so the device 10 emits a relatively strong aroma. In another embodiment, the base material is selected, the scented material is selected and added to the body, and the body is processed so the device emits aroma for a relatively long period of time (e.g., over one year). Although emission of aroma from the body 12 may be controlled in other ways without departing from the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the emission of aroma from the body is controlled by controlling a rate of evaporation of the scented material. The rate of evaporation or diffusion of the scented material depends on the substance of the scented material because various substances evaporate in different ways. For example, one scented material may evaporate rapidly when exposed to air, thus providing a strong aroma for a relatively shorter period of time, and another scented material may evaporate more slowly, providing an aroma for a longer period of time. Also, it is believed that the rate of evaporation may be controlled by controlling the presence and configuration of voids formed in the base material of the body 12 and channels connecting the voids to the each other and to the surface. By experimentation that is within the ability of those skilled in the art, a designer of the device 10 can select particular base materials, scented materials, and processing agents and methods to make an aromatic suction-mountable device having desired characteristics. For example, the designer may experiment with materials and processes to create a device 10 with desired performance characteristics such as ability to adhere to a variety of surfaces and emit a strong aroma for a relatively long period of time.
As mentioned above, the body 12 may be colored or tinted as desired. One manner of coloring the body is by adding pigment to the base material of the body during the formation process. Another manner of providing a body having a desired color is to select a base material inherently having certain color characteristics. For example, some flexible base materials have a default color, such as blue, black, red, green, white, orange, tan, grey, brown, purple, or variations of these colors, such as a translucent green or a brownish red.
As described above, the additional portion 34 of the inner surface 16 between the boundary 30 of the suction portion 32 and the periphery 18 is not needed to create the suction used to mount the device 10 on the mounting surface 26. The additional portion 34 and the periphery 18 surrounding the additional portion may have various sizes and shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention, as long as the suction between the body 12 and the mounting surface 26 can be created and maintained as described above. Exemplary periphery 18 shapes include those corresponding to articles of clothing such as a shirt or shoe, structures such as a building or bridge, a vehicle such as a car, boat, or airplane, and articles of nature such as a fruit, flower, tree, person, or animal. Other exemplary periphery 18 shapes are described below with respect to additional embodiments of the present invention.
The color or tint of the body 12, a shape of the periphery 18 of the body, and/or the aroma emitted by the body may relate to each other in various combinations. For example, the body 12 having a periphery 18 shaped as a pine tree shown in
The shape of the periphery 18 of the body 12 may be designed to communicate a message or theme. As an example, in one embodiment (not shown) the periphery 18 is shaped as an arrow and may be used to, for example, indicate a particular direction or point to an item. For instance, an arrow-shaped device including material that glows in the dark can be secured to a wall adjacent and pointing to a door in a darkened room such as a movie theater or an x-ray room. In this example, the arrow-shaped device would indicate a location of the door or doorknob. In another embodiment (not shown) of a device 10 having a periphery 18 forming a message or theme, the periphery is shaped as words, numbers, a logo, or other symbol or character. For example, the periphery 18 may be shaped to form the letters “LOVE”. As another example, the periphery 18 may form numbers, such as a two digit number representing, for instance, a jersey number of a famous professional athlete of a franchise or a channel number of a television channel using the device 10 for marketing.
In one embodiment, the periphery 18 of the body 12 has a shape relating to an entity using the device, such as a store or restaurant. For example, the periphery 18 of the body 12 may be shaped as a piece of fruit and used at a fruit market and/or as an advertisement for the market. Fruit-shaped peripheries may communicate, among other things, that fruit is sold in the area where the devices are mounted. As another example, the periphery 18 may be shaped as a fish to indicate that produce and seafood are sold in the area where the device is mounted. The particular periphery 18 shapes relating to an entity described herein are only exemplary and the device 10 may be designed to include peripheries having shapes relating to various other entities in various ways.
The shape of the periphery 18 may also communicate a theme of a company or a person's trade. As an example (not shown), the periphery 18 may be shaped as a dolphin for communicating, among other things, that the user of the device works with such animals. A dolphin-shaped periphery may also communicate, among other things, that the person using the device is fond of dolphins. As another example, the periphery 18 may be shaped as a house and used by a real estate agent or home builder to communicate their trade and/or for advertising purposes. The particular messages that the periphery 18 shapes may communicate described herein are only exemplary and the message and themes that the device may be designed to communicate are not limited to these examples.
As described above, the aroma emitted from the body 12 may correspond to the shape of the periphery 18 of the body. Specifically, when the shape of the periphery 18 of the body 12 communicates a message or theme, that shape may correspond to the aroma emitted by the body 12. In one embodiment, the shape of the periphery 18 of the body 12 is shaped as an item of nature and the body includes a material emitting an aroma resembling the item. For example, the periphery 18 may be shaped as a fruit and the body 12 may include material emitting an aroma of that fruit. As another example, the periphery 18 may be shaped as a flower (such as the peripheries 86, 138 in
In one embodiment the periphery 18 forms a shape related to an entity such as a store or restaurant. As shown in
As yet another example, in one embodiment (not shown) the body 12 has a periphery 18 shaped as a coffee cup and includes material emitting a coffee bean aroma corresponding to the coffee-cup shape of the body, which may relate to the business of a coffee making or coffee vending company. Such a device 10 may include a message such as “COFFEE HOUSE” printed on the outer surface 14 of the body and be used, for example, as a marketing device for a coffee company or cafe. As still another example of the aroma emitted by the body corresponding to the shape of the body 12, which may communicate a theme or message related to an entity, in one embodiment (not shown) the body is shaped as a bucket of popcorn and includes the name of a movie theater or popcorn-making company formed on the outer surface 14 and a material emitting an aroma of popcorn (e.g., buttered popcorn).
Devices 10 according to these and other embodiments may include markings or accents (such as the markings 92, 154, 190, 210 shown in
As another example of the markings or accents relating to a shape of the body 12, in the embodiment of the device 10 having a periphery 18 shaped as a number of an athlete described above, the body may include details further defining the number formed by the periphery by interior lines of the numbers between the periphery. As another example, a body 12 shaped to form the word “LOVE” may be colored red, include markings in the form of interior lines printed on the outer surface 14 of the body further defining the letters, and include accents in the form of raised material giving the heart a rounded surface and thereby more of a three-dimensional appearance. As other examples, the body 12 having periphery 18 shapes described above, such as a football helmet, and a dolphin, may also include markings and/or accenting related to the shape of the periphery. Thus, a football-shaped body (not shown) may be colored brown and include an elevated portion forming dimples and an elevated portion colored white forming laces of the football. The particular periphery 18 shapes communicating messages described herein are only exemplary and the device 10 may be designed to include peripheries communicating many other things in various ways.
In addition to the shape of the periphery 18, the aroma emitted by the body 12 may correspond to the markings or accents formed on the body. The accents may include textured, raised, and lowered portions of the base body material or other material attached to the body 12. For example, an ice cream cone-shaped body 12 (not shown) may be colored brown at a cone portion of the body and cream or white at an ice cream portion of the body and may include accents and/or markings (such as the markings 92, 154, 190, 210 shown in
As shown in
The embodiments of the device 10 including the fastener 38 may be used to hold a variety of items 40 without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition to the calendar and dry-erase board, exemplary items 40 include a photo or photo display frame, art, a pad of paper, an agenda, and a schedule (e.g., a schedule of a professional athletic team). When the device 10 is used to hold items that can be written on, such as a calendar, a pad of paper, or dry-erase board, it is contemplated that the device may also hold a writing instrument (not shown), such as a pencil, pen, or dry-erase marker. The writing instrument may be connected to the device 10, such as by way of a string or cord and a hole (similar to the hole 70 shown in
As described above, the device 10 may include a message 46 formed on or in the body 12. Messages 46 formed in the body 12 may be formed at an intermediate position between the outer surface 14 and the inner surface 16 of the body. In the embodiment illustrated in
The aroma of the scented body material may correspond to the message 46 displayed on or in the body 12. Further, the message 46 may be colored as desired and the shape of the body 12, the color of the body, the message, the color of the message, and the aroma emitted by the body may be selected to relate to each other as desired. For example, in an embodiment (not shown) similar to an embodiment described above, the body 12 is shaped as an ice cream cone and includes a light brown color at a cone portion of the cone and a pink color at an ice cream portion. The body 12 of this embodiment may also include accents forming waffle lines (e.g., in three-dimension) on the cone and details of the ice cream (e.g., raised and lowered portions forming scoops of ice cream on the cone) and a message 46 providing information about, for example, an ice cream store or an ice cream social sponsored by a church formed (e.g., by dark pink printing) on the outer surface of the body in the cone portion. The body 12 of this embodiment may further include material emitting a strawberry aroma corresponding to the ice cream represented by the shape of the periphery, the coloring of the ice cream, and the coloring of the message reflecting strawberry ice cream. As another example (not shown), the body 12 may include the name of a candy store (e.g., printed on the outer surface 14) and the body may include a material emitting a candy-type aroma, such as cinnamon or mint. As yet another example, the body 12 may include the business and/or domain name of a florist (see for example, the message 156 formed on the body 132 in
As described above, the device 10 may include markings and/or accents (exemplary markings 154, 190, 210 shown in
The device 50 according to this embodiment includes a hole 70 through the body 52 for holding a string or cord. The hole 70 may also be used to connect an object (such as the object 116 in
The device 50 may be used to hold a variety of objects without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the device 50 may hold a key (such as the key 122 shown in
As described above, any hole 70 extending through the body 52 must extend through the body at the additional portion 68 of the body so as not to interfere with suction created by the suction portion 64. Further, whether the hole is formed through the body 52 or an appendage (such as the appendage 82 shown in
The aroma emitted by the body 52 may correspond to the shape or other quality of the object attached to the body. In one embodiment, the aroma corresponds to a message 72 printed on the object. For example, the scented material of the body 52 may emit a floral aroma and the object may be shaped as a flower and/or include floral details or a florist's contact information printed on the object. The aroma corresponding to the object may also correspond to other characteristics of the device 50 such as the shape of the body 52 and a message 72 displayed on and/or in the body. In
The object 116 may be selected from the objects and items described above regarding other embodiments. The object 116 shown in
As described above, the suction-mountable devices according to the present invention may also include a protrusion.
The device 130 according to this embodiment includes a protrusion 144 extending from the outer surface 134 of the body 132. The protrusion 144 and the body 132 may be unitary (e.g., formed as one piece) or separate connected parts. The protrusion 144 includes a head 146 having an outer or exterior surface 148 and a periphery 150 extending around the protrusion and surrounding the exterior surface of the head. The head 146 may be connected directly to the body 132 or the protrusion 144 may include a stem 152 connecting the head to the outer surface 134 of the body. The periphery 150 of the protrusion 144 may have various shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention including those described above regarding the body peripheries 18, 58, 84, 106 of other embodiments of the present invention. For example, the periphery 150 of the protrusion 144 may be non-circular, symmetric, such as circular, square, or oval, or non-symmetric. Also, the protrusion 144 may be colored or tinted as desired, such as described above regarding the bodies 10, 50, 80, 100 of other embodiments of the invention.
The protrusion 144 may include material emitting an aroma along with or instead of the body 132 including material emitting an aroma. The scent of the body 132 and/or the protrusion 144 may correspond to any one or combination of the color of the protrusion and/or the body, the shape of the protrusion and/or the body, and markings, accents, or messages formed on the protrusion and/or the body. The markings, accents, colors, and messages may be the same as any of the markings, accents, and messages described above regarding other embodiments. In the embodiment shown in
The protrusion 144 may form three-dimensional objects by including raised and/or lowered accents similar to the manner in which the bodies described above regarding other embodiments form three-dimensional objects. For example, in one particular embodiment (not shown) the head 146 forms a three-dimensional baseball by being generally spherical (i.e., including a raised protrusion forming a sphere) and colored white and including additional raised portions colored red forming stitching of the ball. As another example (not shown), a head 146 having a periphery 150 shaped as a dolphin may also include raised and/or lowered portions forming parts (e.g., a rounded body, fins, flippers, flukes, eye sockets, and a blow hole) of the dolphin. Further in this embodiment, the head 146 forming the dolphin shape may be colored blue and include markings (e.g., black printed lines) forming details of the dolphin, such as details of the body, an eye, and the blow hole. The aroma emitted by the body 132 may correspond to the accents formed on or by the protrusion 144. For example, a protrusion 144 having a periphery 150 shaped as a pizza can include material emitting a pizza-like aroma (e.g., a scent of cheese and pizza sauce).
The shape of the periphery of the protrusion and the shape of the periphery of the body may be generally the same. For example, the peripheries of the body and the protrusion are both heart shaped. The same-shaped peripheries may be oriented in the same way (i.e., same direction) or differently (i.e., angularly offset from each other). In some embodiments, the shape of the periphery of the protrusion is different from the shape of the periphery of the body (see e.g.,
Differently shaped peripheries of a body and a protrusion may also relate to each other. For example,
As another example of differently shaped bodies and protrusions relating to each other,
The shape of the protrusions may communicate a message or theme similar to the manner that the shape of the body 12 of the device 10 according to the first embodiment (shown in
Another example of the peripheries of the body and/or protrusion forming messages or themes is the peripheries being shaped as letters, numbers, a logo, or other symbols or characters. The protrusion 206 shown in
In one embodiment, the peripheries of the body and/or the protrusion have shapes relating to an entity using the device, such as a store or restaurant and the scented material of the body may relate to the entity. For example, the peripheries of the body and/or the protrusion may be shaped as apples or bananas and used at a fruit market and/or as an advertisement for the market. The peripheries of the body and the protrusion may have different shapes relating to the same message or theme. For example, in one embodiment (not shown) the periphery of the body is shaped as an apple and the periphery of the protrusion is shaped as another fruit, such as a pineapple. The fruit-shaped peripheries of these examples may communicate, among other things, that fruit is sold in the area where the devices are mounted. As another example, the periphery of the body may be shaped as an apple and the periphery of the protrusion may be shaped as a fish to indicate that produce and seafood are sold in the area where the device is mounted. The particular periphery shapes relating to an entity described herein are only exemplary and the device may be designed to include peripheries having shapes relating to various other entities in various ways.
The exemplary periphery shapes described herein are not exclusive to the category that they are described with respect to. Accordingly, the examples provided in each category of the peripheries of the body and the protrusion corresponding to each other, communicating messages, relating to an entity, and communicating a theme of a company or person, may apply to each other. For example, although an example of a device including a body shaped as a flower and a protrusion forming the word “FLORIST” qualifies for the category of the peripheries of the protrusion and the body corresponding to each other, this exemplary device also fits within the categories of devices having a body and a protrusion having different periphery shapes, having periphery shapes communicating messages, having periphery shapes relating to an entity, and having periphery shapes communicating a theme of a company or person. When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
