Dispenser with an improved heater arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11980703-B2
Application number	US-202217977064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2022
Priority date	Jan 15, 2020
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A volatile material dispenser includes a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick. The volatile material dispenser also includes a cylinder that includes an inner wall that defines an opening and an interior edge, a resistor embedded in the cylinder, and a heater chassis that includes an inner wall that defines a passage between an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the heater chassis abuts the interior edge of the cylinder. In addition, the inner wall of the cylinder extends away from the longitudinal axis at a first angle and the inner wall of the heater chassis extends away from the longitudinal axis at a second angle.

First claim

We claim:

1. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick;
a cylinder that includes an inner wall that defines an opening and an interior edge, wherein a resistor is embedded in the cylinder; and
a heater chassis that includes an inner wall that defines a passage between an upper end and a lower end,
wherein the upper end of the heater chassis abuts the interior edge of the cylinder, and
wherein the inner wall of the cylinder extends away from the longitudinal axis at a first angle and the inner wall of the heater chassis extends away from the longitudinal axis at a second angle.

2. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are identical.

3. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are different.

4. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the cylinder includes at least one inflection point between the opening and the interior edge.

5. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the heater chassis includes at least one inflection point between the upper end and the lower end.

6. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a first diameter of the passage at the upper end is smaller than a second diameter of the passage at the lower end.

7. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is configured such that, when the refill is received within the housing, the opening of the cylinder is axially aligned with the wick, and a radial gap is formed between the cylinder and a distal portion of the wick.

8. The volatile material dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the opening of the cylinder is smaller than an outer diameter of the distal portion of the wick.

9. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder and the heater chassis are formed of different materials from one another.

10. The volatile material dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the heater chassis is formed of a material that includes nylon.

11. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is formed of a material that includes metal.

12. The volatile material dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the material of the cylinder further comprises ceramic.

13. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the heater chassis extends continuously from the lower end to the upper end.

14. The volatile material dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the cylinder and the heater chassis are coupled to form a heater arrangement within the housing, and wherein the passage of the heater chassis extends at least 40% of a total height of the heater arrangement.

15. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick;
a cylinder that includes an inner wall that defines an opening and an interior edge, wherein a resistor is embedded in the cylinder; and
a heater chassis that includes an inner wall that defines a passage between an upper end and a lower end,
wherein an interior edge of the cylinder is configured to abut the upper end of the heater chassis, and
wherein the passage of the heater chassis has a non-uniform diameter that converges toward a diameter of the interior edge of the cylinder.

16. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the passage adjacent to the upper end is substantially equivalent to the diameter defined by the interior edge of the cylinder.

17. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the passage gradually narrows between the upper end and a lower end of the heater chassis.

18. The volatile material dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the inner wall of the cylinder and the inner wall of the heater chassis are flush across the interior edge and the upper end.

19. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the passage of the heater chassis is continuous and unobstructed by a protrusion extending inwardly from the inner wall.

20. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the inner wall of the passage and the inner wall of the cylinder are smooth.

21. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the cylinder is formed of at least one of a ceramic material or a metal material.

22. The volatile material dispenser of claim 21 , wherein the heater chassis is formed of a nylon material.

23. The volatile material dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the cylinder and the heater chassis are coupled to form a heater arrangement, and wherein, when the refill is received in the housing, a radial gap is formed between the heater arrangement and a distal portion of the wick, the radial gap being non-uniform along the longitudinal axis.

24. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick;
a cylinder that includes an inner wall that defines an opening and an interior edge opposite the opening, wherein a resistor is embedded in the cylinder; and
a heater chassis that includes an inner wall that defines a passage between an upper end and a lower end,
wherein an interior edge of the cylinder is configured to abut the upper end of the heater chassis, and
wherein the inner wall of the heater chassis at the upper end defines a substantially flush seam with the inner wall of the cylinder at the interior edge.

25. The volatile material dispenser of claim 24 , wherein the inner wall of the cylinder defines at least one inflection point.

26. The volatile material dispenser of claim 25 , wherein the opening of the cylinder is smaller than a diameter at the interior edge.

27. The volatile material dispenser of claim 26 , wherein the diameter at the interior edge is smaller than a diameter of the passage at the lower end of the heater chassis.

28. The volatile material dispenser of claim 27 , wherein the passage of the heater chassis converges toward a diameter of the interior edge of the cylinder.

29. The volatile material dispenser of claim 24 , wherein, when the wick is received by the housing, a radial gap is defined between the inner wall of the heater chassis and an outer diameter of the wick, and wherein the radial gap is non-uniform between the upper end and the lower end.

30. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick;
a heater comprising a resistor; and
a chassis supporting the heater, wherein the chassis defines a passage about the longitudinal axis, the passage being at least partially defined by an inner wall that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis,
wherein, when the refill is received by the housing, a radial gap is formed within the passage about an outer diameter of a distal portion of the wick, and
wherein the radial gap is non-uniform along the longitudinal axis.

31. The volatile material dispenser of claim 30 , wherein the inner wall of the chassis includes at least one of a curved portion or a tapered portion.

32. The volat

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Richard Jesse
• Haynes Michael
• Dycher David
• Augier Harold

Classifications

• A61L2209/133

  Replaceable cartridges, refills · CPC title

• A61L2209/134

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

• B01F23/215

  by forcing the gas through absorbent pads containing the liquid · CPC title

• A61L9/127

  comprising a wick · CPC title

• A61L9/037 Primary

  comprising a wick · CPC title