US3419217A - Air freshener device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1968 J. D. WHITE ET AL AIR FRESHENER DEVICE Sheet of 2 Filed March 24. 1967 A/RFLOW INVENTORS JOHN D. WH/TE FIG. 2.

. I III!!! ullllll ll! Ill llvlvl I ufi u l llll ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 J. 0. WHITE ET AL AIR FRESHENER DEVICE Sheet Filed March 24.. 1967 INVENTORS ATTORNEY M y j 7 L mm fi/ WB MM 5 w w a DH HHI I l l l II f w z w Q n -3, $5

United States Patent 3,419,217 AIR FRESHENER DEVICE John D. White, 2010 Drexel St., Apt. 101, Hyattsville, Md. 20783, and John L. Bailey, 1200 James St., Baltimore, Md. 21223 Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,773 12 Claims. (Cl. 23958) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing container is described which has a removable drawer for vaporizable material. An apertured slide plate separates the drawer from a chamber and serves to selectively valve the quantity of vapors arising into the chamber. Mounted to air ducting systems, inlet and outlet ports to the chamber permit an airflow therethrough which mixes with the vapors. An airflow opera ed gate positioned in the outlet port closes when airflow ceases and thus confines the vapors to the chamber and retards evaporation of the material except when it is required A sail arrangement is alternatively provided to operate the gate when it is on the inlet port.

This invention relates generally to dispensers, and more particularly it pertains to a device for introducing a deodorizer or freshener into an air stream of a ventilating system.

Evaporating types of deodorizing and air freshening materials disseminate rapidly even when they are not needed. Besides being wasteful in this regard, an excess of the vapors is sometimes quite distasteful.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a dispenser which automatically retards the evaporation of the deodorizing material except as it is actually required.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser which installed in the inlet bulkheads of forced air heating or cooling systems is responsive in action to the negative pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of deodorizing vapors which when installed in outlet ducts of forced air circulating systems is responsive to the positive pressure for actuation.

To provide a differential pressure activated evaporator which can be regulated in degree of performance and which economizes on the deodorant, is yet another object of this invention.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a novel dispenser of vapors shown mounted on a blower compartment bulkhead incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 depicting the automatic operation of the gate;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FLIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the invention as installed on the register plate of an air duct.

Referring now to the details of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral indicates generally a first embodiment of a novel air freshener dispenser device. This dispenser 10 consists of an enclosure 12 defined by a flanged backplate 14 having a plurality of apertures 16; by right and left hand endwalls 18 and 20, and

3,419,217 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 a front wall 22 which slopes outwardly from the bottom to the ceiling 24.

This dispenser 10 is intended for use with hot air home heating furnaces. It is installed on the suction side of the blower compartment and is set into a hOle 28 made in the bulkhead 26 or an existing access port, such as a doorway is utilized. For this purpose, the back plate 14 is peripherally extended to accommodate holes for mounting screws 32 and to provide backing for a seal gasket 30.

A removable filter element 34 is mounted in L-shaped flanged brackets 36 over a hole 38 in the front wall 22 as best shown in FIG. 3.

A tray 40 holding a freshening agent deodorant 42 is removably supported beneath the enclosure 12 on a flange 48. The front edge of the tray 40 has a bead 44 which slides into a groove 46 at the lower edge of the front wall 22. A depending lower edge 50 of the right hand endwall 18 serves as a stop for the inserted tray 40.

In this position, the deodorant 42 is exposed for evaporation into the chamber above comprising enclosure 12. An adjustable baffie arrangement is located therebetween so the amount of dissemination can be controlled. This feature consists of a baflle 52 which stops off half of the communicating passageway at the bottom of enclosure 12 and an apertured slide 54 thereunder mounted in horizontal tracks 58. The apertures 56 occupy only half of the area of the slide as best shown in FIG. 4. They thusly may be covered or uncovered at will by this half-baflle 52 by positioning the slide 54 with a finger tab 62 which protrudes from a slot 60 in endwall 20.

With all apertures 56 covered, there is no communication from tray 40 to the enclosure 12. With selectively greater uncoverage of the aperture 56, a greater amount of vapor diffusion occurs.

A short duct 64 extends rearwardly from the back plate 14 and has sloping edges 66 against which a lightweight gate 67 rests. The gate 67 is mounted at the top on hinges 68 so it can swing as shown by the dot-dashed lines in F116. 3 when a negative pressure exists on that side of bulkhead 26. Consequently, air is drawn through the filter element 34, through the mixing chamber formed by enclosure 12, and together with vapors rising from the agent 42, passes through the raised gate 67 as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 for ultimate distribution through the ducting of the heating (or cooling) system of the furnace.

In the modification of the invention, the dispenser 70, as shown in FIG. 5, has a similar enclosure and tray arrangement but it is not provided with a filter element. This dispenser 70 is intended for installation on the terminal end of ducting 74 in a room wall 72. Reference numeral 76 indicates a louvered register which is similar to conventional registers but has its lower quarter area apertured to receive the dispenser 70.

It will be noted the pressure within duct 74 is positive relative to that in the room. Consequently, the closure gate 78 (corresponding to the gate 67 of the previously described embodiment of the dispenser 10) is provided with a sail or upper panel 80. This sail or panel 80 is mounted rigidly to the gate 78 at an obtuse angle and moves with it on the same hinges.

The usual register gate 84 on hinges 86 may be positioned by finger pull 88 to cause the air (straight arrows) in duct 74 to flow and impinge against the sail or panel 80. This causes the latter to move against stop 82 and to open the closure gate 78. A portion of the air (curved arrow) moves through the freshener-charged dispenser 70 and on into the room.

The register gate 84 is cut away at 85 to clear the sail or panel 80 and allow it to be closed against the louvers of the register 76. For lack of air flow, the sail or panel 80 therefore drops the gate 73 and flow ceases through the dispenser 70.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for dispensing vaporizable material, comprising, a structural enclosure defining a chamber, said enclosure having front and rear walls, said front wall having an air inlet port communicating with said chamber, said rear wall having an air outlet port communicating with said chamber, a tray removably supported beneath said enclosure and communicating with said chamber, adjustable means positioned between said tray and said chamber of said structural enclosure for controlling the air communication therebetween, and a vaporizable material located in said tray.

2. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 1, and additionally a removable filter means positioned in said air inlet port of said front wall.

3. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 2, wherein said air outlet port consists of a pluarlity of spaced apertures provided in said rear wall.

4. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 3, wherein the means positioned between said tray and said chamber for controlling the communication therebetween of vapors from said vaporizable material consists of an adjustable baflie member.

5. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 4, and additionally means including an apertured slide member for separating said tray from said chamber and selectively valving the quantity of vapors arising into said chamber from said vaporizable material.

6. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 5, and additionally an airflow operated gate means positioned in said outlet port for confining said vapors in said chamber when airflow from said inlet port through said chamber to said outlet port ceases.

7. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 1, and additionally a louvered register 4 means positioned adjacent said air outlet port of said front wall.

8. A container for dispensing vapori zable material as recited in claim 7, wherein said air outlet port consists of a plurality of spaced apertures provided in said rear wall.

9. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as recited in claim 8, wherein the means positioned between said tray and said chamber for controlling the communication of vapors from said vaporizable material consists of an adjustable bafile member.

10. A container for dispensing vaporizable material as reciied in claim 9, and additionally means including an apertured slide member for separating said tray from said chamber and to selectively valve the quantity of vapors arising into said chamber from said vaporizable material.

11. A container for dispensing material as recited in claim 10, and additionally an airflow operated gate means positioned in said outlet port for confining said vapors in said chamber when airflow from said inlet port through said chamber to said outlet port ceases.

12. A container for vaporizable material as recited in claim 11, and said means for controlling the opening and closing of said gate means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,054 3/1878 Sexton 98l09 206,890 8/1878 McDowell 98109 526,653 9/1894 Iliowizi 98l05 526,923 10/1894 Iliowizi 98l09 544,175 8/1895 Iliowizi 98-109 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 98105, 109

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