Dispenser with an improved heater arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12491283-B2
Application number	US-202418634145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2024
Priority date	Jan 15, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

A volatile material dispenser includes a housing configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick. The housing includes a heater arrangement that defines an opening in which a distal portion of the wick is received. Additionally, a top cover is configured to be coupled to the housing and defines a central aperture through which a vapor plume exits the housing. The top cover includes an annular wall having a first surface, a second surface opposite therefrom, an outer edge, and an inner edge that defines the central aperture. The central aperture is positioned about a longitudinal axis that defines opposing first and second axial directions. The top cover further comprises a plurality of apertures arranged around the central aperture. The top cover defines a converging outlet defined between a trough and the inner edge, and the second surface curves from the trough to the inner edge.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick, the housing including a heater arrangement that defines an opening in which a distal portion of the wick is received; and a top cover configured to be coupled to the housing and defining a central aperture through which a vapor plume exits the housing, wherein the top cover includes an annular wall having a first surface, a second surface opposite therefrom, an outer edge, and an inner edge that defines the central aperture, wherein the central aperture is positioned about a longitudinal axis that defines opposing first and second axial directions, wherein the top cover further comprises a plurality of apertures arranged around the central aperture, wherein the top cover defines a converging outlet defined between a trough and the inner edge, and wherein the second surface curves from the trough to the inner edge.

2 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the inner edge and the outer edge are concentric and are provided on different planes.

3 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the second surface curves in the first axial direction from the outer edge to the trough and curves in the second axial direction from the trough to the outer edge.

4 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture that is positioned farther from the central aperture than the first aperture, and wherein the second aperture differs in size relative to the first aperture.

5 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures extends entirely through the first surface and the second surface of the annular wall.

6 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures vary in spacing relative to one another about the longitudinal axis and at least one of the plurality of apertures has a chamfered edge.

7 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first ring of apertures that are arranged circumferentially around a second ring of apertures.

8 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures are provided at different axial positions from one another relative to the longitudinal axis.

9 . A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick, the housing including a heater arrangement that defines an opening in which a distal portion of the wick is received; and a top cover configured to be coupled to the housing and defining a central aperture through which a vapor plume exits the housing, wherein the top cover includes an annular wall having a first surface, a second surface opposite therefrom, an outer edge, and an inner edge that defines the central aperture, wherein the central aperture is positioned about a longitudinal axis that defines opposing first and second axial directions, and wherein the first surface of the annular wall is concave and the second surface of the annular wall is convex.

10 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the inner edge and the outer edge are concentric and are disposed on different planes.

11 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the second surface curves in the first axial direction from the outer edge to a trough and curves in the second axial direction from the trough to the inner edge.

12 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of apertures are provided along the annular wall between the central aperture and the outer edge.

13 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of apertures are spaced apart from one another around the longitudinal axis.

14 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first ring of apertures that are arranged circumferentially around a second ring of apertures.

15 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the second ring of apertures is provided higher, in the second axial direction, than the first ring.

16 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 12 , wherein an aperture axis is defined by each of the plurality of apertures, and the aperture axis is provided at an obtuse angle or an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

17 . A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
a housing configured to receive a refill containing a volatile material and a wick, the housing including a heater arrangement that defines an opening in which a distal portion of the wick is received; and a top cover configured to be coupled to the housing and defining a central aperture through which a vapor plume exits the housing, wherein the top cover includes an annular wall having a first surface, a second surface opposite therefrom, an outer edge, and an inner edge that defines the central aperture, wherein the central aperture is positioned about a longitudinal axis that defines opposing first and second axial directions, wherein the top cover includes a first ring of apertures arranged circumferentially around the central aperture and a second ring of apertures arranged circumferentially around the central aperture, wherein the first ring of apertures are provided at different axial positions than the second ring of apertures relative to the longitudinal axis.

18 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the first ring of apertures and the second ring of apertures extend through the second surface between the central aperture and the outer edge.

19 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the first ring of apertures and the second ring of apertures are provided at a different radial distances from the central aperture.

20 . The volatile material dispenser of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first ring of apertures and the second ring of apertures is angled upwardly relative to the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B01F23/215

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

• A61L9/127

  comprising a wick · CPC title

• A61L2209/134

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

• A61L2209/133

  Replaceable cartridges, refills · CPC title

• A61L9/037 Primary

  comprising a wick · CPC title