WO2009027668A1

WO2009027668A1 - Fragrancing device

Info

Publication number: WO2009027668A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002899
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Copeman; Sam Leach; Simon Woolley
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2007-08-30
Filing date: 2008-08-29
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: GB0716862D0

Abstract

An emanation device comprises a chassis (10), a heater collar (12), a PCB (14) carrying LEDs (16), an LED cover (18), a pillar (20), which is secured to the chassis (10) by a frosted translucent shroud (24) and which can incorporate a depression in its upper face. In use the emanation device emanates a fragrance material when the heater collar (12) causes evaporation of the fragrance material from a container (30) thereof. The LEDs simulate a candle flame.

Description

Fragrancing Device

This invention relates to a fragrancing device, particularly, but not limited to, a fragrancing device having lighting means adapted to imitate the flame of a candle.

Fragrancing devices are popular for providing pleasing odours in a room, or for masking undesired odours. A common type of fragrancing device is a scented candle.

Prior art devices that attempt to recreate one or more of the desirable characteristics of a scented candle often result in devices that fail to satisfactorily emanate the material for emanation.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an emanation device having receiving means for an emanation material container, emanation means and pillar means, wherein the pillar means incorporates a depression in an upper face thereof.

Preferably, the pillar means cover the receiving means and the emanation means.

Preferably, the depression is circularly symmetric. Preferably, the depression is conical, more preferably frusto-conical .

Preferably, the depression is co-axial with a longitudinal axis of the device. Preferably, the depression includes an opening, preferably at a bottom of the depression. Preferably, the opening is centrally located with respect to the depression. Preferably, the opening is co-axial with an outlet of the emanation means.

Preferably, the depression includes a lower land, which preferably surrounds the opening.

Preferably, the depression is surrounded by a rim at an upper end of the depression. The rim is preferably ring- shaped.

The sides of the depression preferably slope outwards at an angle of between 20 and 32 degrees to the vertical.

Preferably, the depression extends to a depth which eguates to approximately 55% to 75% of the internal diameter at the top of the pillar.

The slope of the sides and the depth of depression advantageously improve the dispersion of emanation material and reduce emanation material condensation.

The emanation device may be provided with lighting means. Said lighting means may include at least one light source, which is preferably an LED.

Furthermore, the emanation device is preferably provided with at least one partially translucent shroud means. The shroud means may be adapted to substantially radially surround the emanation device. Preferably the shroud means is sized to possess greater dimensions than the pillar means, thus potentially restricting access to the pillar means and improving the safe operation of the emanation device. Additionally, the greater dimensions of the shroud means may enhance the visual characteristics of the device since the pillar means may be substantially obstructed from view. The shroud means may be sized to possess between 10-50% more height than the pillar means.

Preferably the shroud means is more translucent than the pillar means. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shroud means may be provided in the form of glass, glass with a frosted effect, a plastics material, a plastics materials with a frosted glass effect, or the like.

The use of candles in the home environment can have disadvantages because of fire risks. However, the appearance of a burning candle is an attractive feature and attempts have been made to simulate the appearance of a burning candle using light emitting diodes.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention therefore, that according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an emanation device adapted to simulate a burning candle, wherein the device includes receiving means for an emanation material container, emanation means, lighting means, and at least one partially translucent pillar means.

The emanation device according to any aspect of the present invention is preferably provided with at least one partially translucent shroud means. The shroud means may be adapted to substantially radially surround the emanation device. Preferably the shroud means is sized to possess greater dimensions than the pillar means, thus potentially restricting access to the pillar means and improving the safe operation of the emanation device. Additionally, the greater dimensions of the shroud means may enhance the visual characteristics of the device since the pillar means may be substantially obstructed from view. The shroud means may be sized to possess between 10-50% more height than the pillar means.

The light means according to any aspect of the present invention are preferably provided in the form of one or more light sources, said light source (s) being arc preferably arranged regularly around a longitudinal axis of the device, preferably at centres separated by 120°.

The light source (s) are preferably located closer to a periphery of the device than to a central axis thereof.

The light source (s) of the device are preferably located at a distance representing between 10% and 20% of the internal diameter or cross-section of the pillar means, from the wall of the pillar means.

The light source (s) are preferably located about 20% to 40% of the way down the pillar means from the top of the pillar means. The latter feature advantageously simulates a partly burnt candle.

The lighting means according to any aspect of the present invention preferably include a light source cover. The light source cover is adapted to prevent light from shining downwards from the light source (s). The light source cover preferably includes a sleeve for each light source .

The light source cover preferably includes a deflection part, which may be a ring, to deflect light and prevent light from the light source (s) shining downwards. The sleeves may be formed in the deflection part. The deflection part may extend close to an inner wall of the pillar means of the device. The deflection part advantageously causes a strong delineation of light on the pillar means between illuminated and non-illuminated parts. Where the device is accompanied with the at least one shroud means, the lighting effect is further softened and diffused through the shroud means.

The use of three evenly spaced LEDs advantageously illuminates the pillar means of the device around all of the perimeter thereof, giving a constant light fill.

The device according to any aspect of the present invention may include a container for an emanation material, which emanation material may be a fragrance, a deodorising composition, a pesticide or a sanitising composition.

The emanation means according to any aspect of the present invention may comprise a heater and may include a wick. The wick is preferably adapted to draw the emanation material from the container to the heater for dispersion by evaporation. Alternatively, the emanation means may comprise a powered solenoid valve that is adapted to emanate or emit a portion, preferably a predefined portion, of emanation material. The solenoid valve may be adapted to communicate with a cartridge of emanation material, either directly or indirectly to permit the emanation or emission of the material from the device. The cartridge may contain the emanation material under pressurised conditions .

The lighting means according to any aspect of the present invention are preferably operable to emit a randomly varying light, preferably randomly varying based on defined parameters. Said parameters may include a maximum brightness, a minimum brightness, and a period of illumination at a given brightness. Said parameters may be given by a representation of a time series of current supplied to the lighting means.

The lighting means may include at least one light source, preferably three light sources. The light source (s) is/are preferably LED(s).

The light sources are preferably adapted to illuminate in unison. The light sources are preferably controlled by a programmable circuit of the lighting means. The programmable circuit is preferably operable to control the output of the light sources. The programmable circuit is preferably operable to brighten and dim the lights.

Preferably, the programmable circuit is operable to produce three modes of illumination. A first mode is preferably a drift mode in which the brightness of the light source is gradually changed over a period of 5 seconds to 20 seconds, which may be a period of time between maximum and minimum brightness, said maximum and minimum brightness may be maximum and minimum brightnesses set specifically for the drift mode.

A second mode is preferably a wind event mode, in which the light sources are rapidly brightened and dimmed, preferably over a period of 0.1 to 5 seconds, which may be a period of time between maximum and minimum brightnesses. The minimum and maximum brightness may be minimum and maximum brightnesses set for the wind event mode.

A third mode is preferably an idle mode, in which the brightness of the light sources is substantially constant.

The programmable circuit is preferably adapted to randomly select one of the three modes for operation of the light sources.

The programmable circuit is preferably operable to randomly select a duration for the selected mode, which duration is preferably between pre-programmed limits.

The programmable circuit is preferably operable to randomly select maximum and minimum brightnesses for the selected modes, said brightnesses preferably being between pre-programmed limits.

The programmable circuit is preferably operable to randomly select a mode after expiry of a previous selection. The programmable circuit is preferably operable to make a rolling selection of modes for continuous illumination of the light sources.

The random selection of a mode is preferably based on a pre-programmed probability of occurrence of each of the modes .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an emanation device adapted to simulate a burning candle, wherein the device includes receiving means for an emanation material container, emanation means, and flame simulation means.

The flame simulation means may be lighting means.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an emanation device adapted to simulate a burning candle, wherein the device includes receiving means for an emanation material container, emanation means and lighting means operable to emit a randomly varying light

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cut away perspective side view of a fragrancing device without a translucent shroud thereof;

Figure 2 is a schematic view from above of an inner section of the fragrancing device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the fragrancing device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the fragrancing device without a translucent shroud thereof.

A fragrancing device comprises a chassis 10, a heater collar 12, a PCB 14 carrying LEDs 16, an LED cover 18, a pillar 20, secured together by the frosted shroud 24.

In more detail, the chassis 10 has a lower face 26 which forms a base surface so that the fragrancing device can be placed on a table or the like. The chassis 10 has a peripheral lip 27 that extends upwardly and incorporates cylindrical collars 28a-d (see Figure 2) adapted to receive corresponding pegs of the frosted shroud 24. The frosted shroud 24 is received over the pillar 20. Pegs of the frosted shroud 24 extend through openings in a lower horizontally extending rim of the pillar 20 and into the collars 28a-d in the chassis 10 to thereby hold the pillar 20 and chassis 10 together.

The lower face 26 incorporates an opening through which is received an emanation material container 30. A pivotable arm 32 holds the fragrance container 30 in position.

A viewing opening 34 is present in the frosted shroud 24

(see figure 3) through which a user can view the container 30 to establish how much material remains in the container. A corresponding opening (not shown) is also present in the chassis 10. Also shown is a button 36 that is used to activate the device illumination. A cut-away section 38 is shown, which section receives a grommet (not shown) for securing a power supply cable 39 in position.

An upper part of the chassis 10 provides a neck on which the heater collar 12 is located by snap fittings.

The heater collar 12 comprises an annular recess, in which are located resistors 42a and 42b (shown in dashed lines in Figure 2) that form the heater. The resistors 42a and 42b are connected in series to a power supply terminal (not shown) .

The PCB 14 is ring-shaped and incorporates the necessary circuitry to power the three LEDs 16. An EPROM is included to control the LEDs 16.

The LED cover 18 incorporates openings with each LED 16 extending through one of the openings. The openings shroud the base of each LED and ensure that light only propagates sideways and upwards from the LEDs. The edge of the LED cover 18 provides a strong delineation of light and dark approximately at the part marked A on the pillar. The provision of the strong delineation assisted by the LED cover 18 provides a more realistic candle-like appearance.

The LED cover 18 is also ring-shaped having a central opening through which a chimney section 46 of the heater collar projects. The LED cover 18 has a snap-fit engagement with the PCB 16.

The chimney section receives a wick 48 of the container 30. As can be seen from Figure 4, an upper part of the chimney section 46 of the heater collar 12 meets with the pillar 20 in the centre of a well 50 of the pillar 20.

The well 50 has a frusto-conical shape tapering downwards. An opening 52 matches with an opening of the chimney section 46 of the heater collar 12, so that the fragrance or other material emanating from the wick 48 is provided with a direct path from the wick 48 to the outside.

The well 50 incorporates a flat base section in which the opening 52 is located. The sides of the well flare outwards at an angle of between 20 and 32 degrees to the vertical. At the top of the well 50, flat sections of the cover portion 20 provide a circular rim 54.

The thickness of material of the pillar 20 and the frosted shroud 24 is chosen to provide a realistic appearance to the LEDs 16 when they shine through the pillar 20.

The shape of the well 50 is chosen to provide optimum fragrance dispersion and to provide a reduced likelihood of condensation of the fragrance material. Furthermore, the wick 48 and chimney section 46 are located centrally to the device, which provides optimised fragrance dispersal .

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the PCB 14 is located close to the resistors 42a/b to combine the required heater placement for optimum fragrance emanation and the required placement of the LEDs to simulate a part burned candle. Another constructional advantage of the device is that the PCB 14 and collar 22 are supported on the heater collar 12. This results in an advantageous reduction in the materials used.

The advantageous location of the heater collar 12, PCB 14 and LED cover 18 are all chosen to optimise the space used for efficient location of parts and also to ensure that the circular pillar 20 can fit over the component parts. Furthermore, the light management issue referred to above is advantageously addressed and results in a particularly realistic candle effect.

As mentioned above the cutaway 38 is used to provide a location for a power supply lead grommet. As an alternative to this construction, a rechargeable docking station for charging an internal rechargeable battery- could be used.

A further possibility is a clockwork powered version.

The three LEDs 16 described above are located in a regular arrangement around a longitudinal axis of the device, preferably at separations of approximately 120°. This has the effect of very good candle simulation, because the LED that is closest to a user has the appearance of a single point, corresponding to the candle flame. The point closest has the most defined appearance, because of its closeness to the part of the pillar 20 being viewed. The LEDs 16 behind the single point above provide more diffuse, ambient, light, because of their greater distance from the front of the pillar 20 with respect to the user. Advantageously, the arrangement described above provides more variation and intensity of the light across the user' s field of view, which has further advantages for the simulation of a candle.

The LEDs 16 are illuminated together in the following three modes: natural drift mode is a slow brightening or dimming of the LEDs; a wind event is a strong "flickering" or rapid brightening and dimming; and idling is a constant illumination of the LEDs.

The majority of the illumination cycle comprises natural drift. A wind event is programmed to occur for a duration of approximately 0.1 to 5 seconds, typically every 10 to 20 seconds. An idle period would typically last for approximately two seconds.

The three types of event are randomly generated based on a probability that is set for each of the events. Also, time limits for a duration of each event are programmed into the EPROM. The intensity of the event is also randomly selected between pre-programmed limits, dictated by a current supplied to the LEDs 16 that may be between 1OmA and 4OmA.

For example, the duration of a wind event may be set between the limits of one and three seconds, with an intensity of between 10mA and 4OmA. Similarly, the idle period may be set to occur for between three and five seconds. The natural drift may be programmed to occur for ten to twenty seconds. It is possible for the same type of event to occur twice in succession, because of the random generation of the sequence of events. There are three steps in the generation of an event. First, the type of event is randomly selected based on a pre-programmed probability of that event being selected. Second, the duration of that event is randomly selected. Third, the intensity of the event is randomly selected. The second and third selections are made within the limits mentioned above.

In use, the device works as follows. The heater is activated when the device is plugged into the mains power and the power switched on. This activates the resistors 42 a/b. The heat is transmitted to the wick 48, causing evaporation of material that has passed up the wick by capillary action. The evaporation causes more material to pass up the wick 48 from the container. The evaporated material passes up the chimney section 46, through the opening 52 in the pillar 20 and into the surroundings.

Pressing of the button 36 causes illumination of the LEDs 16 as described above.

Although not shown, an additional switch could be incorporated allowing a user to customise the flickering pattern or adjust the flickering pattern to a constant illumination.

The viewing opening 34 could be provided with a light source which may use fibre optics fed from one of the flickering LEDs 16.

The width of the lower face 26 of the chassis 10 with respect to the height of the device has been chosen to give a ratio of 2 to 3. It has been found that this ratio, bearing in mind the location of a number of the parts being relatively high on the device, provides a stable configuration when the device is located on a flat surface.

The top of the pillar has a height of approximately 100 to 140 mm above the surface onto which the product has been placed and the outer frosted shroud preferably has a height of approximately 110mm - 150mm. The frosted shroud preferably extends between approximately 10 to 30mm above the height of the top of the pillar in the final assembled device in order to reduce the visibility of the top of the pillar when the device is viewed from a lateral direction.

Interchangeable translucent shrouds 24 may be provided to allow different shrouds to be used to provide custom effects and/or to personalise a device to a user's taste.

The button 36 that activates the LEDs 16 could be used as a boost of the fragrancing function of the device. For example, a user could switch the light on for increased fragrance evaporation, potentially by boosting a heating operation of the resistors 42a/b, or by causing the switching on of a further resistor (not shown) . In this way, when a user is in the room in which the device is located he could switch the light on to give an immediate fragrance boost.

A motion sensor could be built into the device, so that when a user walks into the area where the device is located it triggers the wind event of the LEDs 16.

It is not mandatory to use the device with the lights, it could simply be used as a fragrance emanator. In one embodiment, instead of a fragrance, the material in the container 30 could instead be a pest attracting composition. The composition could be used to attract pests to the well 50 where they could be captured, potentially by an adhesive coating to the interior walls of the well 50.

A low voltage adaptor can be used to enable an electrical air freshener to be used in a bathroom environment.

Provision may be made to allow a number of devices to be linked together for multiple use, using only one power source. This would enable a user to customise the products by using multiple devices which would allow mixing of fragrances between devices.

A further alternative, would be to allow multiple containers 30 to be placed within the chassis 10 to allow for selection or combination of fragrances for example.

An advantage of the device described herein is that it is cool to the touch, so it is a safe version of a wax candle. The materials of the pillar portion 20 have been chosen to enable them to have wipe clean surfaces. In particular, a V2 rated polypropylene is used with a specific polishing technique, known as a level one industrial polish.

The device has advantages over conventional candles, related to reduced risk of fire and no scope to generate smoke during normal usage.

The brightness of the LED 16 has been chosen to create a pleasing appearance to the device. The LEDs would typically be run at a current of 2OmA, but this may be varied between 1OmA and 4OmA.

A further alternative to the device is that it could incorporate a light sensor that switches on the LED 16 when ambient light levels drop below a certain level. This feature could be built upon by indicating movement within the range of the device by changing a flickering pattern on detection of movement.

Instead of the mains powered version described above, a standalone, portable, battery-powered version could be provided. In this version of the fragrancing device, a solenoid valve is used to eject the fragrance material from an aerosol canister. The solenoid valve is operated for a desired interval by control circuitry to eject a desired amount of fragrance material. The control circuitry may be programmable, and/or the device may be provided with user-selectable options.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An emanation device comprises receiving means for an emanation material container, emanation means and pillar means, wherein the pillar means incorporates a depression in an upper face thereof.

2. An emanation device as claimed in claim 1, in which the pillar means cover the receiving means and the emanation means.

3. An emanation device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the depression is circularly symmetric.

4. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression is frusto-conical .

5. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression is co-axial with a longitudinal axis of the device.

6. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression includes an opening.

7. An emanation device as claimed in claim 6, in which the opening is centrally located with respect to the depression.

8. An emanation device as claimed in claim 7, in which the opening is co-axial with an outlet of the emanation means .

9. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression includes a lower land, which surrounds the opening.

10. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression is surrounded by a rim at an upper end of the depression.

11. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sides of the depression preferably slope outwards at an angle of between 20 and 32 degrees to the vertical .

12. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the depression extends approximately 15% to 25% down the height of the device from the top of the pillar means .

13. An emanation device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the device incorporates lighting means, which may be flame simulation means.