U.S. patent application number 13/495641 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for aromatic nebulizing diffuser.
Invention is credited to Carsten Jorgensen.
Application Number | 20120251296 13/495641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46927494 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120251296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jorgensen; Carsten |
October 4, 2012 |
AROMATIC NEBULIZING DIFFUSER
Abstract
An aromatic nebulizing diffuser includes a base panel, a holder
defining therein an oscillation chamber, a power switch, an
electric fan, a fluid container, an ultrasonic oscillator, a fluid
intake control device set in between the oscillation chamber and
the fluid container, a dip tube in communication between the
oscillation chamber and the fluid container and changeable between
an open status and a close status to control the fluid intake
control device in closing/opening the passage between the
oscillation chamber and the fluid container, an outer housing, an
air passage in air communication between the oscillation chamber
and the cover for the passing of currents of air caused by the
electric fan, an exhaust passage for guiding a generated fine mist
of aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber into the
atmosphere.
Inventors: |
Jorgensen; Carsten;
(Kastanienbaum, CH) |
Family ID: |
46927494 |
Appl. No.: |
13/495641 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12510400 |
Jul 28, 2009 |
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13495641 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
415/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2209/132 20130101;
B05B 7/0075 20130101; B05B 17/0607 20130101; A61L 2209/12 20130101;
B05B 17/0676 20130101; A61L 9/14 20130101; B05B 17/0669 20130101;
B05B 17/0615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/116 |
International
Class: |
F04D 31/00 20060101
F04D031/00 |
Claims
1. An aromatic nebulizing diffuser, comprising: a base panel; a
power switch mounted on said base panel; an electric fan mounted on
said base panel and electrically connected to and controllable by
said power switch; a holder comprising a transverse partition
board, said transverse partition board dividing said holder into an
upper part and a lower part, a center opening cut through said
transverse partition board, said upper part defining therein an
oscillation chamber, said lower part defining a cover, and an air
passage set in air communication between the space inside said
cover and said oscillation chamber to provide a path for delivering
air currents caused by said electric fan; a fluid container mounted
in said holder, said fluid container comprising a container body, a
container base fastened to a bottom side of said container body and
defining with said container body a fluid storage chamber and an
exhaust passage in air communication between said oscillation
chamber and the atmosphere for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid
droplets out of said oscillation chamber; an ultrasonic oscillator
mounted in the opening of said holder and electrically connected to
said power switch; a fluid intake control device mounted in a
bottom side of said fluid container and selectively set between an
open status and a close status to control delivery of a fluid from
said fluid storage chamber to said oscillation chamber; and a dip
tube set in said fluid container and said oscillation chamber to
communicate said fluid storage chamber and said oscillation
chamber.
2. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an outer housing surrounding said fluid container and
abutted against said base panel, said outer housing comprising an
opening in air communication between said exhaust passage and the
atmosphere.
3. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said holder further comprises an exhaust fitting capped on a top
end of said air passage, said exhaust fitting comprising an
adjustable exhaust port for adjusting air output direction.
4. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said container base of said fluid container comprises an upper part
and a lower part, an upwardly extending connection tube defined in
said upper part, and a filling port defined in said lower part for
the filling of water or an aromatic fluid.
5. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said outer housing, said holder and said fluid container are
selected from a material group of transparent and translucent
materials that admit light.
6. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 5, wherein
said ultrasonic oscillator comprises at least one light emitting
device arranged on a top side thereof.
7. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said fluid intake control device comprises a first casing, a second
casing, a spring member and a ball, said first casing being
connected to the filling port of said container base of said fluid
container, said second casing being fastened to a bottom side of
said first casing, said first casing having an inside annular
flange, said second casing having a ball hole disposed in
communication with said oscillation chamber, said spring member
being mounted in said first casing and said second casing and
stopped at a bottom side of said inside annular flange to hold down
said ball on said ball hole.
8. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 7, wherein
said holder further comprises a protruding portion upwardly
extended from said transverse partition board and suspending in
said oscillation chamber for insertion into said ball hole of said
second casing of said fluid intake control device to move said ball
upwardly away from said ball hole against said spring member and to
further open the passage between said fluid storage chamber and
said oscillation chamber.
9. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said oscillation chamber has a volume smaller than said fluid
storage chamber.
10. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a gasket ring securing said dip tube to said container
base of said fluid container, and a water seal ring packed in
between the periphery of said ultrasonic oscillator and the
periphery of the center opening of said transverse partition board
of said holder.
11. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said fluid container further comprises a vent cap capped on a top
exhaust hole of said exhaust passage, said vent cap comprising a
plurality of vent holes.
12. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 11,
wherein each said vent hole has a diameter smaller than the
diameter of said exhaust passage.
13. The aromatic nebulizing diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a wireless receiver mounted in said base panel and
electrically connected to said power switch and controllable by an
external wireless control signal to switch on/off said power
switch.
Description
[0001] This invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/510,400, filed on Jul. 28, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an aromatic nebulizing
diffuser and more particularly, to such an aromatic nebulizing
diffuser, which employs oscillation techniques to distribute an
aromatic fluid into the air.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A known aromatic nebulizing diffuser or essential oil
diffuser uses an ultrasonic oscillator to generate a high
ultrasonic energy for causing atomization of an essential oil for
application. Separation of electric charges in falling rain, caused
by breaking up of the water droplets, the drops becoming positively
charged and the air negatively charged. This separation of electric
charges accompanying the aerodynamic breakup of water drops is
known as spray electrification, the waterfall effect or Lenard
effect.
[0006] However, conventional aromatic nebulizing diffusers can
simply produce an upwardly flying mist of aromatic gas. They cannot
simulate the natural visual effect of a flying mist caused by the
impact of a waterfall.
[0007] Further, regular aromatic nebulizing diffusers simply have
one single chamber for holding an aromatic fluid for oscillation by
an ultrasonic oscillator to generate a fine mist of aromatic fluid
droplets. To oscillate a big volume of aromatic fluid or essential
oil in a big chamber, a big capacity of ultrasonic oscillator
should be used. Thus, regular aromatic nebulizing diffusers are
less effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is main object of the present invention
to provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which automatically
supplies an aromatic fluid to the oscillation chamber thereof for
producing a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets.
[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which produces lighting
effects while generating a fine mist of aromatic fluid
droplets.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an aromatic nebulizing diffuser, which is practical for use
to generate a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets efficiently.
[0011] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
an aromatic nebulizing diffuser comprises a base; a power switch
mounted on the base panel; an electric fan mounted on the base
panel and electrically connected to and controllable by the power
switch; a holder comprising a transverse partition board, the
transverse partition board dividing the holder into an upper part
and a lower part, a center opening cut through the transverse
partition board, the upper part defining therein an oscillation
chamber, the lower part defining a cover, and an air passage set in
air communication between the space inside the cover and the
oscillation chamber to provide a path for delivering air currents
caused by the electric fan; a fluid container mounted in the
holder, comprising a container body, a container base fastened to a
bottom side of the container body and defining with the container
body a fluid storage chamber and an exhaust passage in air
communication between the oscillation chamber and the atmosphere
for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the
oscillation chamber; an ultrasonic oscillator mounted in the
opening of the holder and electrically connected to the power
switch; a fluid intake control device mounted in a bottom side of
the fluid container and selectively set between an open status and
a close status to control delivery of a fluid from the fluid
storage chamber to the oscillation chamber; a dip tube set in the
fluid container and the oscillation chamber to communicate the
fluid storage chamber and the oscillation chamber; and an outer
housing surrounding the fluid container and abutted against the
base panel, the outer housing comprising an opening in air
communication between the exhaust passage and the atmosphere. This
design enables the storage aromatic fluid to be continuously
supplied from the fluid storage chamber to the oscillation chamber.
Therefore, the invention eliminates the drawback of the prior art
design that cannot refill an aromatic fluid automatically.
[0012] Further, the outer housing can be transparent or light
transmissive, having an opening in communication between the
exhaust passage and the atmosphere.
[0013] Further, the ultrasonic oscillator comprises at least one
light emitting device arranged on the top side thereof
[0014] Further, the outer housing, the fluid container and the
holder are preferably prepared by transparent or translucent
materials, such as, light transmissive ceramics, transparent or
translucent plastics, glass, acrylic, frosted glass or any other
suitable materials having pores.
[0015] Thus, when a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets is forced
out of the exhaust passage of the fluid container and the outer
housing into the atmosphere during operation of the electric fan,
the fine mist of aromatic fluid is lightened by the light emitted
by the light-emitting device, showing colorful lighting
effects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an aromatic nebulizing
diffuser in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2A is an exploded view of an upper part of the aromatic
nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of a lower part of the aromatic
nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view in an enlarged scale of the
holder shown in FIG. 2B.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the
aromatic nebulizing diffuser in accordance with the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the present
invention, illustrating a status of use of the aromatic nebulizing
diffuser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4, an aromatic
nebulizing diffuser 100 in accordance with the present invention is
shown comprising:
[0023] a base panel 10;
[0024] a power switch 20 mounted at the base panel 10;
[0025] an electric fan 40 mounted at the base panel 10 and
electrically connected to the power switch 20;
[0026] a holder 30, which comprises a transverse partition board 31
that has a center opening 36 and divides the holder 30 into an
upper part that defines an oscillation chamber 34 and a lower part
that defines a cover 32, and an air passage 37 formed of an
open-ended duct and set in air communication between the space
inside the cover 32 and the oscillation chamber 34 to provide a
path for delivering air currents caused by the electric fan 40;
[0027] a fluid container 50, which, can be made of a transparent or
translucent material, is mounted in the holder 30, comprising a
container body 51, a container base 52 located on the bottom side
of the container body 51 and defining with the container body 51 a
fluid storage chamber 53 and an exhaust passage 57 in air
communication between the oscillation chamber 34 and the atmosphere
for exhaust of a mist of aromatic fluid droplets out of the
oscillation chamber 34;
[0028] an ultrasonic oscillator 60 mounted in the center opening 36
of the holder 30 and electrically connected to the power switch 20
for oscillating an aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber 34 to
produce a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets;
[0029] a fluid intake control device 70 mounted in the bottom side
of the fluid container 50 and selectively set between an open
status and a close status to control delivery of a fluid from the
fluid storage chamber 53 to the oscillation chamber 34;
[0030] a dip tube 80 set in the fluid container 50 and the
oscillation chamber 34 to communicate the fluid storage chamber 53
and the oscillation chamber 34; and
[0031] an outer housing 90 surrounding the fluid container 50 and
abutted against the base panel 10 and having an opening 91 in air
communication between the exhaust passage 57 and the
atmosphere.
[0032] Further, the aforesaid outer housing 90, fluid container 50
and base panel 10 are preferably made of a transparent or
translucent material.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, subject to the control of the fluid
intake control device 70, an aromatic fluid is repeatedly supplied
from the fluid container 50 to the oscillation chamber 34 where the
ultrasonic oscillator 60 oscillates the aromatic fluid to produce a
fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets that is then carried out of
the exhaust passage 57 into the atmosphere by currents of air that
are caused by the electric fan 40 to flow through the air passage
37 into the oscillation chamber 34 toward the exhaust passage
57.
[0034] Further, the aforesaid base panel 10 comprises a bottom
plate 11 defining an opening 111, and a bearing plate 13 mounted on
the bottom plate 11 to hold the electric fan 40 corresponding to
the opening 111 for inducing airflow into the inside of the holder
30.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 2B and 4 again, the holder 30
further has an exhaust fitting 58 mounted therein. The exhaust
fitting 58 is capped on the top end of the air passage 37. The
exhaust fitting 58 has an adjustable exhaust port 581 for adjusting
air output and diffusion direction (see FIGS. 2B and 5).
[0036] The exhaust passage 57 of the fluid container 50 is isolated
from the fluid storage chamber 53. The container base 52 of the
fluid container 50 is divided into an upper part and a lower part,
comprising an upwardly extending connection tube 521 and a through
hole 523 at the upper part and a filling port 522 at the lower part
for the filling of water or an aromatic fluid. Further, the
upwardly extending connection tube 521 is connected to the exhaust
passage 57 of the fluid container 50.
[0037] Referring to FIGS.4 and 5, the ultrasonic oscillator 60 is a
high frequency oscillator that oscillates hundred thousands to
millions times per second. The ultrasonic oscillator 60 is mounted
on the transverse partition board 31 of the holder 30 above the
center opening 36 and electrically connected to the power switch
20, having a plurality of light-emitting devices 62 provided at the
top side thereof. The light-emitting devices 62 and the oscillator
60 are electrically connected to the power switch 20. Further, the
light-emitting devices 62 are disposed in the oscillation chamber
34 and operable to emit light rays that penetrate through the fine
mist or aromatic fluid in the oscillation chamber 34, container
body 51 and outer housing 90. Further, a water seal ring 63 is
packed in between the periphery of the ultrasonic oscillator 60 and
the periphery of the center opening 36 of the transverse partition
board of the holder 30, preventing leakage of water from the
oscillation chamber 34.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 2B and 4, the fluid intake control device
70 comprises a first casing 71, a second casing 72, a spring member
73 and a ball 74. The first casing 71 is connected to the filling
port 522 of the container base 52 of the fluid container 50 by a
screw joint. The second casing 72 is fastened to the bottom side of
the first casing 71 in such a manner that the first casing 71 and
the second casing 72 define a passage in fluid communication
between the oscillation chamber 34 and the fluid storage chamber
53. Further, the first casing 71 has an inside annular flange 711
disposed in the passage in proximity to the fluid storage chamber
53. The second casing 72 has a ball hole 721 disposed in the
passage in proximity to the oscillation chamber 34. The spring
member 73 is mounted in the passage inside the first casing 71 and
the second casing 72, and stopped with its one end against the
bottom side of the inside annular flange 711. The ball 74 according
to the present preferred embodiment is a steel ball held down on
the ball hole 721 by the spring member 73 to stop the passage,
preventing leakage of a fluid out of the fluid storage chamber 53
through the filling port 522.
[0039] The holder 30 further comprises a protruding portion 341
upwardly extended from the transverse partition board 31 and
suspending in the oscillation chamber 34 for inserting into the
ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control
device 70 to move the ball 74 upwardly away from the ball hole 721
and to further open the passage between the fluid storage chamber
53 and the oscillation chamber 34 for enabling a fluid to flow from
the fluid storage chamber 53 into the oscillation chamber 34. On
the contrary, when moved the protruding portion 341 away from the
ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the fluid intake control
device 70, the spring member 73 immediately forces the ball 74 to
stop the ball hole 721, prohibiting flowing of the storage fluid
out of the fluid storage chamber 53. Further, the fluid container
50 is separately detachable, allowing insertion of a bottleneck of
a liquid bottle or aromatic fluid bottle (not shown) into the ball
hole 721 to refill a liquid or aromatic fluid.
[0040] The dip tube 80 has a top open end 801 and a bottom open end
802. Further, the dip tube 80 is inserted into the through hole 523
of the container base 52 of the fluid container 5 and suspending in
the fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34 and
secured in place by a gasket ring 81 to keep the top open end 801
above the elevation of the fluid level in the fluid storage chamber
53 and the bottom open end 802 in contact with the fluid level in
the oscillation chamber 34. In coordination with the connection of
the fluid intake control device 70 to the filling port 522 of the
container base 52 of the fluid container 50, the protruding portion
341 of the holder 30 is inserted into the ball hole 721 of the
second casing 72 of the fluid intake control device 70 to move the
ball 74 upwardly away from the ball hole 721 and to further open
the passage between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the
oscillation chamber 34. At this time, the inside pressure of the
fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the oscillation
chamber 34 are in balance, so that the storage aromatic fluid
flows, subject to a hydraulic head difference, in proper order from
the fluid storage chamber 53 through the filling port 522 of the
container base 52 of the fluid container 50 and the fluid intake
control device 70 into the oscillation chamber 34. When the fluid
level in the oscillation chamber 34 reaches a predetermined
elevation to block the bottom open end 802 of the dip tube 80,
filling of the aromatic fluid into the oscillation chamber 34 is
stopped. On the contrary, when the fluid level is lowered to an
elevation without blocking the bottom open end 802 of the dip tube
80, the dip tube 80 is returned to the status in air communication
between the fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the
oscillation chamber 34 for enabling the aromatic fluid to flow from
the fluid storage chamber 53 and the inside pressure of the
oscillation chamber 34 again subject to the effect of a hydraulic
head difference. This action is repeated again and again to keep
supplying the aromatic fluid. Therefore, the invention eliminates
the drawback of the prior art design that cannot refill an aromatic
fluid automatically.
[0041] The invention uses the fluid container 50 to store an
aromatic fluid and the oscillation chamber 34 to hold a relatively
smaller volume of the aromatic fluid for producing a fine mist of
aromatic fluid droplets. Because the volume of the oscillation
chamber 34 is much smaller than the volume of the fluid container
50, oscillation of the ultrasonic oscillator 60 in the oscillation
chamber 34 can cause a fine mist of aromatic fluid more quickly
than the formation of a fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets by
means of oscillating a same capacity of ultrasonic oscillator in
the fluid container 50. When compared to the prior art design that
uses a single large storage chamber for generating a fine mist of
aromatic fluid droplets, the invention shows a better performance.
Further, the volume of the oscillation chamber 34 must be smaller
than that of the fluid storage chamber 53 of the fluid container
50.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 4 and 5 again, the exhaust passage 57
of the fluid container 50 has a top exhaust hole 571 covered by a
vent cap 59. The vent cap 59 comprises at least one pair of vent
holes 591. Each vent hole 591 has a diameter smaller than the
diameter of the exhaust passage 57. During operation of the
electric fan 40, currents of air caused by the electric fan 40
flows through the air passage 37 into the oscillation chamber 34
and the exhaust passage 57 toward the atmosphere via the vent holes
591.
[0043] Further, a wireless receiver 131 is mounted at the bearing
plate 13 of the base panel 10 and electrically connected to the
power switch 20, which, in this embodiment, is an infrared
receiver. The wireless receiver 131 is equipped with a LED
indicator for operation status indication, and adapted for
receiving an external remote control signal to switch on/off the
power switch 20.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1-5 again, at first, the user pours the
prepared aromatic fluid (for example, a mixture of an essential oil
and water) into the fluid storage chamber 53 of the fluid container
50. At this time, the protruding portion 341 of the holder 30 is
inserted into the ball hole 721 of the second casing 72 of the
fluid intake control device 70 to move the ball 74 upwardly away
from the ball hole 721 and to further open the passage between the
fluid storage chamber 53 and the oscillation chamber 34. Thus, the
aromatic fluid flows from the fluid storage chamber 53 into the
oscillation chamber 34, and the user can control the ultrasonic
oscillator 60 to oscillate and to cause a fine mist of aromatic
fluid droplets to be produced in the oscillation chamber 34. At the
same time, the electric fan 40 is started up to suck in currents of
air from the atmosphere through the bottom plate 11, the air
passage 37 and the exhaust port 581 into the oscillation chamber
34, enabling the currents of air to carry the produced fine mist of
aromatic fluid droplets out of the oscillation chamber 34 through
the exhaust passage 57, the narrow elongated top opening 54 of the
fluid container 50 and the narrow rectangular opening 91 of the
outer housing 90 to the atmosphere.
[0045] At this time, subject to the significant diameter difference
between the vent holes 591 of the vent cap 59 and the exhaust
passage 57 of the fluid container 50, multiple flows of fine mist
of aromatic fluid droplets are forced out of the exhaust passage 57
and narrow elongated top opening 54 of the fluid container 50 and
the narrow rectangular opening 91 of the outer housing 90 into the
atmosphere and lightened by the light emitted by the light-emitting
devices 62, showing colorful lighting effects.
[0046] Further, the light-emitting devices 62 of the ultrasonic
oscillator 60 in this embodiment are light-emitting diodes of
different colors for emitting color light beams toward the vent
holes 591 of the vent cap 59. Further, the outer housing 90, the
fluid container 50 and the holder 30 are transparent or translucent
that admits light. Thus, the user can see the variation of the
flowing of multiple flows of fine mist of aromatic fluid droplets
under the lightening of the light emitted by the light-emitting
devices 62.
[0047] A prototype of aromatic nebulizing diffuser has been
constructed with the features of FIGS. 1-5. The aromatic nebulizing
diffuser functions smoothly to provide all of the features
disclosed earlier.
[0048] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *