Fragrancing system for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865231-B2
Application number	US-202117165917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2021
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

A fragrancing system may include at least one cartridge for storing a fragrance and at least one closing mechanism. The cartridge may have a cartridge opening. The closing mechanism may include a flap, a shaft, a lever, and a pin. The flap may be displacable via the shaft to a closed position, in which the flap closes the cartridge opening, and an open position, in which the flap frees the cartridge opening. The fragrancing system may further include an actuating mechanism, which may have a disc rotatable via an actuator. A cam plate structure may project axially from the disc. The pin may be arranged on a radially outward facing outer side of the cam plate structure when the flap is in the closed position and may be engaged with a recess of the cam plate structure when the flap is in the open position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fragrancing system comprising:
at least one cartridge for storing a fragrance, the at least one cartridge having a cartridge opening;
at least one closing mechanism including a flap and a shaft extending along an axial direction non-rotatably connected to the shaft, via a rotation of the shaft about a pivot axis displaceable to a closed position, in which the flap closes the cartridge opening of an associated cartridge of the at least one cartridge, and an open position, in which the flap frees the cartridge opening of the associated cartridge;
the at least one closing mechanism further including a lever extending transversely to the shaft and mechanically connected with the shaft, and a pin extending axially and connected with the lever;
an actuating mechanism including a disc rotatable about a rotation axis, which extends in an axial direction;
a cam plate structure extending in a circumferential direction, and projecting axially from the disc;
the pin arranged on an outer side of the cam plate structure, which faces radially away from the rotation axis, when the flap is in the closed position;
wherein the at least one closing mechanism is configured to act upon the flap elastically in a direction of the closed position and to act upon the pin elastically in a direction of the outer side of the cam plate structure;
wherein the cam plate structure includes at least one recess disposed in the radial outer side, the at least one recess structured and arranged to engage the pin when the flap is in the open position; and
wherein an actuator is configured to, when in operation, rotate the disc about the rotation axis.

2. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one closing mechanism includes at least two closing mechanisms; and
the at least one recess is structured as a shared recess configured to engage the pin of each of the at least two closing mechanisms.

3. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein the cam plate structure is configured such that the pin, when the disc is rotated about the rotation axis in a first direction, is acted upon into the at least one recess, and, when the disc is rotated about the rotation axis in a second direction opposed to the first direction, slides over the at least one recess.

4. The fragrancing system according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one recess has a curvature following the second direction.

5. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one closing mechanism includes at least two closing mechanisms; and
the at least one cartridge includes at least two cartridges that are each associated with one of the at least two closing mechanisms and that are disposed spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction.

6. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge is arranged exchangeably.

7. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge includes at least two cartridges that are structured identically.

8. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein the lever and the pin are integrally provided as a single piece.

9. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one closing mechanism further includes a rotary spring wound around the pivot axis of the shaft;
the rotary spring includes a first leg acting upon the flap elastically in the direction of the closed position; and
the rotary spring further includes a second leg acting upon the pin in the direction of the outer side of the cam plate structure.

10. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one closing mechanism includes at least two closing mechanisms that are structured identically.

11. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a chamber in which the at least one cartridge is arranged; and
a flow path extending through the chamber, through an inlet opening that is disposed spaced apart from the at least one cartridge, and through an outlet opening that is disposed spaced apart from the at least one cartridge.

12. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical casing surrounding the at least one cartridge and the at least one closing mechanism in the circumferential direction.

13. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , further comprising an output shaft projecting coaxially to the rotation axis from a side of the disc facing axially away from the cam plate structure, wherein the output shaft cooperates with the actuator for rotating the disc about the rotation axis.

14. The fragrancing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one cartridges includes a seal surrounding the cartridge opening;
the seal is softer than the flap; and
the flap is disposed on the seal in a sealing manner when in the closed position.

15. A module for a fragrancing system comprising a cartridge configured to store a fragrance and a closing mechanism, the closing mechanism including:
a shaft extending in an axial direction and pivotable about a pivot axis;
a flap non-rotatably connected to the shaft;
a lever extending transversely to the shaft and mechanically connected to the shaft;
a pin extending axially and connected with the lever;
wherein, via rotation of the shaft about the pivot axis, the flap is adjustable to a closed position, in which the flap closes q cartridge opening, and to an open position, in which the flap does not close the cartridge opening;
wherein the closing mechanism is configured to act upon the flap elastically toward the closed position; and
wherein the closing mechanism is configured to act upon the pin elastically such that, when the flap is in the closed position, the pin is arranged on a radially outward facing outer surface of a cam plate structure of said fragrancing system and, when the flap is in the open position, the pin is engaged with a recess of said cam plate structure.

16. The module according to claim 15 , wherein:
the closing mechanism further includes a rotary spring wound around the pivot axis of the shaft;
the rotary spring includes a first leg acting upon the flap elastically in the direction of the closed position; and
the rotary spring further includes a second leg acting upon the pin.

17. The module according to claim 15 , wherein:
the cartridge includes a seal extending around the cartridge opening; and
when in the closed position, the flap is disposed on the seal in a sealing manner.

18. The fragrancing system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one cartridge includes at least two cartridges that are each associated with one of the at least two closing mechanisms and that are disposed spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction.

19. The fragrancing system according to claim 11 , further comprising a cylindrical casing surrounding the at least one cartridge and the at least one closing mechanism in the circumferential direction.

20. The fragrancing system according to claim 19 , further comprising an output shaft projecting coaxially to the rotation axis from a side of the disc facing axially away from the cam plate structure, wherein the output shaft cooperates with the actuator for rotating the disc about the rotation axis.

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Eberle Daniel
• Kasar Sham
• Petzner Sven
• Schultze Oliver

Classifications

• A61L9/125 Primary

  emanating multiple odours · CPC title

• B60H3/0035

  characterised by the control methods for adding the substance · CPC title

• A61L2209/133

  Replaceable cartridges, refills · CPC title

• A61L2209/134

  Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles · CPC title

• B60H2003/0064

  adding more than one substance · CPC title