U.S. patent number 3,908,906 [Application Number 05/485,943] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-30 for air freshener container or vapor diffusing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to VCA Corporation. Invention is credited to William G. Crowle, Efrem M. Ostrowsky.
United States Patent |
3,908,906 |
Crowle , et al. |
September 30, 1975 |
Air freshener container or vapor diffusing device
Abstract
A vapor diffusing device comprising a base and a closure or
cover which are detachable from each other, the base having a
bottom wall and an upstanding annular sidewall with the upstanding
sidewall having spaced openings therein. Means on the interior of
the upstanding sidewall providing a plurality of vertically spaced
ledges. The cover is adapted to be positioned so that when it is in
its fully lowered position the cover provides vapor sealing
engagement with the base and when the cover is raised with respect
to the base it is supported in its raised position on the
vertically spaced ledges to provide vapor passages through the
spaced openings.
Inventors: |
Crowle; William G. (Deerfield,
IL), Ostrowsky; Efrem M. (Highland Park, IL) |
Assignee: |
VCA Corporation (Baton Rouge,
LA)
|
Family
ID: |
23930015 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/485,943 |
Filed: |
July 5, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/58;
239/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L
9/12 (20130101); A01M 1/2055 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01M
13/00 (20060101); A61L 9/12 (20060101); A61L
009/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/34,35,55,57,58-60
;150/.5 ;206/.5 ;312/31,31.1-31.3 ;21/74R,74A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Kashnikow; Andres
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kraus; Max R. Mays; E. Donald
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vapor diffusing device compirsing a base and a closure or
cover which are detachable from each other, said base having a
bottom wall and an upstanding annular side wall with said
upstanding sidewall having spaced openings therein, means on the
interior of said upstanding sidewall providing a plurality of
vertically spaced apart ledges, said cover adapted to be positioned
so that when in its fully lowered position the cover provides vapor
sealing engagement with said base and when said cover is raised
with respect to said base it is supported in its raised position on
said vertically spaced ledges to provide vapor passages through
said spaced openings.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said vertically spaced
apart ledges are a plurality of grouped vertical, radially spaced
apart ribs and in which certain of said ribs in each of said group
also provide a stop means to prevent further rotation of the
closure in one direction while resting on the ledges.
3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cover has locking
lugs adapted to engage means on the base for detachably locking
said cover to said base in a vapor sealing position.
4. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which the locking lugs are
adapted to rest on said vertically spaced ledges to hold the cover
in elevated or raised positon relative to the base.
5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the cover has locking
lugs adapted to engage means on the base for detachably locking
said cover to said base in a vapor sealing position and in which
said locking lugs are adapted to rest on the ribs to maintain the
cover at different elevated positions with adjacent ribs of each
group providing stop means to prevent further rotation of the
closure in one direction while resting on the ledges, the
positioning of said cover at different elevated positions serving
to provide increased or decreased vapor passages through said
spaced openings.
6. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which each group of said
radially spaced ribs comprises at least three ribs with the first
and second ribs having the tops thereof at different heights to
serve as ledges for supporting the cover in two raised positions
and with the second rib and the third rib also preventing rotation
of the cover in one direction while resting on the first rib and
second rib respectively, and with the top of the third rib
extending above the top of the second rib.
7. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which the third rib also
serves to guide the cover when it is inserted into the base.
8. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which the cover has locking
lugs with sloping tops which when the cover is rotated clockwise
lock in a camming action with the means on the base to hold the
cover in fully closed and vapor sealing position.
9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which the base has an
annular groove which receives the annular lip on the bottom of the
cover when the cover is in vapor sealing position.
10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which the bottom wall of
the base has a centrally raised bottom portion defining a well and
provided with bosses to which the deodorizing material is secured
when it hardens.
11. A device as set forth in claim 6 in which the underside of the
base has a recessed portion which has inwardly extending bosses for
holding the base while the cover is initially secured thereto in a
locked position.
12. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said cover has an
opening in its upper end and means for closing said upper end
opening.
Description
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to an air freshener container or vapor
diffusing device comprising a base and a cover or closure member in
which the base contains a volatile material, for example, an air
freshening deodorizer, and in which the closure or cover is
manually displaceable with respect to the base to provide means for
controlling the effective rate of volatilization or evaporation of
the air treatment agent, and also wherein the cover can be
positively locked with respect to the base so that it is sealed
with respect to the base to prevent evaporation or volatilization
of the air treating agent.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
foregoing character where as the volatilization or evaporation
takes place and as the air treating agent reduces in size and its
appearance deteriorates or is destroyed that it will not be visible
and will be practically hidden from exterior view.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device in which
the cover may be adjusted relative to the base to a plurality of
different elevated or raised positions which permits substantial
control or variation of the rate of volatilization, while at the
same time effectively locking the cover relative to the base during
periods of non-use or during the period of shipment of same.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
foregoing character which is inexpensive to produce, substantially
foolproof in operation and very attractive in appearance and
appropriate for use in any environment where appearance is
important.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in closed position, with
the top disk of the closure member shown detached for illustrative
purposes.
FIG. 2 is a central cross-sectional view showing the disk in locked
sealing position.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view looking down into the base
member.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of the base member
showing the three ribs.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the
closure or cover locked to the base member.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the locking lug on
the closure and its position when being moved into locking position
on the base.
FIG. 7 is a broken-away perspective view showing particularly the
interior of the base member.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the cover resting in
its first elevated position with respect to the base; and
FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the underside of the base.
The device consists essentially of two basic parts, namely, a base
generally indicated at 10 and a cover or closure member generally
indicated at 12, each of which is integrally molded of a plastic
material. The cover 12 is molded to provide a top annular opening
14 which is closed by a disk 15, as shown in FIG. 2. The air
treating material indicated at 16 and illustrated in dotted lines,
subsequently to be described, is held secured in the base 10. The
base and cover are so constructed that the cover may be locked to
the base in a vapor sealing position, as shown in FIG. 2, and when
in use the cover 12 is elevated or raised with respect to the base
10 to various elevations to provide increased or decreased vapor
passages which are formed in the base. One of such elevated
positions is shown in FIG. 8.
The base 10 is generally cup-shaped and comprises a closed bottom
generally indicated at 18 which consists of a lower annular side
wall 19 and a horizontal bottom wall 20 which has an annular
centrally raised bottom portion 21 with spaced radially extending
bosses 22. The closed bottom forms a pocket 24 for receiving the
air treating material, as will be subsequently described, so that
it is secured to the base. The pocket 24 includes the annular well
25 between the annular side wall 19 and the centrally raised bottom
portion 21. The top or rim 23 of the side wall 19 has an annular
groove 26.
Extending upwardly of the lower annular side wall 19 is an upper
annular side wall generally indicated at 28 which is provided with
vertically extending spaced elongated openings 30 which form the
vapor passages and which also divide the upper side wall into
alternate side wall sections 32 and 34, with the wall section 32
being approximately twice the width of the wall section 34. The
bottom of each wall section 32 has an opening 36 which also form
vapor passages. The wall sections 32 and 34 forming the upper wall
extend from below the top of the annular side wall 19 to the top
edge which forms a scalloped-shaped rim 37 at the mouth of base
member 10. The lower ends 32' and 34' of the wall sections 32 and
34, respectively, incline and the upper annular side wall 28
inclines or tapers outwardly from the bottom to the top rim 37 to
give the upper annular wall an outwardly flared configuration. The
vertical openings 30 forming the vapor passages have an elongated
tapered appearance with the greatest width adjacent the bottom of
the opening and the top 30' of the opening terminates a distance
below the top edge or rim 37 of the cup or base.
The inside of the upper annular wall 28 of the base is provided
with five groups of inwardly extending vertical ribs. Each group of
ribs, generally indicated at 40, comprises three spaced ribs
identified by the numerals 42, 44 and 46 which are of different
lengths or heights. The first rib 42 of each group is the shortest,
the third rib 46 the longest and the second or intermediate rib 44
of intermediate length. The bottoms of the three ribs are connected
by a bottom horizontal locking strip 48 which is spaced upwardly of
the rim 23 of the annular bottom side wall 19 and which locking
strips are engaged by the locking lugs on the cover in a camming
action to lock the cover in its sealing position, as best shown in
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, to be described. The end of the locking strip 48
adjacent the rib 46 is beveled as at 49, as best seen in FIG. 4, to
facilitate engagement with the cover locking lugs.
The horizontal top edge 50 of the shortest rib 42 serves as a rest
or ledge or support for the cover 12 in its first raised position,
as best seen in FIG. 8. The horizontal top edge 52 of the second or
intermediate rib 44 serves as a rest or ledge or support for the
cover in its second or uppermost raised or elevated position. The
second or intermediate rib 44 above the top horizontal edge 52 is
inclined as at 53 toward the wall. The third or longest rib 46 has
a downwardly inclined top edge 54 which is rounded as at 56 as it
merges with the front edge 57 of said rib. The third rib 46 serves
to properly guide the cover into the base when it is inserted and
in addition serves as a stop member, as will be subsequently
described, as does the second or intermediate rib 44, more fully to
be described in connection with the operation of the cover. The
three spaced ribs 42, 44 and 46 of each group of ribs are formed on
the wider side wall sections 32 of the upper portion of the
base.
The cover or closure 12 is a shell-like member having a
cylindrical-shaped body 60 with an annular ring-like tip wall 62
providing the central top opening 14 and open at its bottom. The
top wall ring 62 is below the annular top edge 65 of the body 60.
The cylindrical body 60 is provided with a slight taper which
tapers inwardly from the bottom toward the top. The outer surface
of the cylindrical body may be ornamented with lines or other
configurations to enhance its appearance. The disk 15 has an
annular peripheral lip or shoulder 15' to engage the top wall 62
when positioned thereon and sealed thereto, with a portion of the
disk extending into the opening 14, as will be described.
The annular bottom edge 66 of the cylindrical body 60 is recessed
as at 67 to provide a downwardly extending lip 68 and a horizontal
shoulder 69 so that when the cover is positioned in sealing
position on the base, the lip 68 enters the annular groove 26 of
the rim 23 of the lower bottom of the base, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
5, to form a seal-tight fit therewith to prevent any vapor from
escaping from the interior of the sealed container.
Immediately above the recessed lower rim of the cover is a
plurality of spaced locking lugs generally indicated at 70. Five
such locking lugs are shown for engagement with the five horizontal
locking strips 48. As best seen in FIG. 6, the top 72 of each
locking lug slopes or inclines upwardly from the front or lead edge
73 thereof toward the rear which terminates in an upward projection
74 which serves as a stop to prevent further continued rotation of
the cover when in its fully closed or sealing position, as shown in
FIG. 2. The locking lugs 70 act as cams so that rotation of the
cover to lock the cover to the base in effect cams the locking lugs
in locking position.
The underside of the closed bottom of the base is best seen in
FIGS. 8 and 9. The raised bottom portion 21 also provides a
recessed area 76 above the bottom edge 77 of the base 10 which
opens downwardly and four arcuate-shaped bosses 78 are spacedly
formed on the underside so that the base 10 may be positioned on a
tool or the like to hold the base in position when the cover is
initially secured to the base, which is done at the plant where the
parts are molded, as will be better understood from the description
of the operation which follows.
OPERATION
The operation of the device will be understood from the foregoing
description, but briefly described is as follows.
After the air treating material 16 has been secured to the base 10
in the manner heerinafter described, the cover 12 is inserted into
the base 10 with the locking lugs 70 positioned between each group
of ribs 40. The third rib 46 of each group of ribs will serve to
guide and properly position the lower edge of the cover relative to
the base to permit easy and accurate insertion. The lip 68 on the
bottom edge 66 of the cover will enter the annular groove 26 on the
rim 23 of the base with the shoulder 69 resting on the rim. To lock
the cover to the base the cover is rotated clockwise with the front
edge 73 of the locking lug 7 first passing under the beveled edge
49 of the horizontal locking strip 48. As the cover is rotated
clockwise the sloping top surface 72 of the locking lug 70 cams the
locking lugs into locking engagement with the horizontal locking
strips 48 until the rear projections 74 of the locking lugs engage
the rear edge of the locking strips 48 which prevents further
clockwise rotation of the cover and thereby locks the cover to the
base in a vapor-seal position, in which position it remains during
shipment and when in non-use position prevents vapor from emanating
from the device. In this lowered or sealing position the cover if
rotated counterclockwise will still remain in vapor seal-proof
closed position as the rear edge and projection 74 of the locking
lugs will engage the bottom of the first or shortest ribs 42 and
the opposite edge of the adjacent locking strips 48 to prevent
further counterclockwise rotation. The cover, however, will not be
in a locked position.
Assuming that the cover is in locked position with the locking lugs
70 locked to the locking strips 48 and the device is to be used,
the cover is rotated counterclockwise until the locking lugs 70 are
free of the locking strips 48. The cover is then raised or lifted
to either first or second raised position as desired. For example,
if desired to raise it to first position, as shown in FIG. 8, the
cover is raised to the top edges 50 of the first ribs 42 and the
cover is rotated counterclockwise so that the bottoms of the
locking lugs 70 rest on the top edges 50 to support the cover in
its first raised position. The rear edges and the projections 74 of
the locking lugs will engage the intermediate ribs 44 and prevent
or stop further counterclockwise rotation at this raised position.
With the cover in first raised position (FIG. 8) the bottom of the
cylindrical cover is above the sealing position of the cover, thus
exposing the lower portions of the vapor openings 30 as well as
openings 36 to permit vapor to pass through. When greater
vaporization is desired the cover 12 is raised and rotated
counterclockwise so that the locking lugs 70 rest on the ledges 52
of the intermediate ribs 44 and further counterclockwise rotation
of the cover being prevented in this second raised position by
engagement of the rear of the locking lugs with the third ribs
46.
To close the cover, the cover is rotated counterclockwise from any
of its elevated positions so that the locking lugs are disengaged
from their respective ledges and the cover is lowered to its
lowermost position in the base and then rotated clockwise to
locking position as described. While three ribs are shown for each
group of ribs it will be understood that a fewer or greater number
of ribs may be provided in each group of ribs if increased or
decreased cover positions are desired.
Another feature of the invention herein is that as the cover is
elevated and as the air treating material 16 in the base is used up
due to its vaporization, there is no detraction from the appearance
since the deteriorated or misshaped air treating material remaining
in the base is substantially hidden from exterior view, even when
the cover or closure is in either of its raised positions.
The manner in which the volatile material or deodorizing material
is put into the unit will now be described.
The cover 12 without the disk 15 thereof is locked to the base 10
by means of lockings lugs, etc. as previously described. This
leaves the top of the cover open and in this manner it is shipped
to the company who will supply the volatile air treating agent,
which agent is poured into the locked container through the opening
14 in the cover. The material will then fill and occupy the closed
bottom 18 of the base, including the annular well 25 as well as the
pocket 24 and will extend upwardly beyond the top of the base into
the cover portion but be confined within the cover or closure. The
material is allowed to solidify and harden and becomes embedded in
the closed bottom 18 of the base and adheres thereto. The bosses 22
serve to lock the hardened deodorizing material in the base so as
to prevent rotation of the hardened deodorizing material when the
cover is rotated. While the deodorizing material when initially
poured into the cover will occupy the interior space of the
cylindrical body of the cover, it will reduce in size as it hardens
so that it disengages from the inside wall of the cylindrical wall
of the cover so that the cover can be rotated without disturbing
the hardened deodorizing material. The disk 15 is then permanently
secured to close the opening 14 in the cover in any conventional
manner.
* * * * *