US2898649A - Perfume diffuser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1959 A. E. MURRAY PERFUME DIFFUSER Filed Nov. 19, 1956 INVENTOR. ART/{UR E. MURRA 1 H/S A T TOPNE rs 7 United States Patent ngfi 2,898,649

Patented Aug. 11, 1959 PERFUME DIFFUSER Arthur E. Murray, San Jose, Calif, assignor, by direct and mesne as'sig'nmcnts, of forty percent to Elaine T. 'Cass'idy, Stockton, and twenty percent to Jim Flores Rodriquez, Santa Clara, Calif.

Application November 1'9, 1956, Serial No. 622,858

6 =Claims. (Cl. 21- 120) This invention relates in general to a perfume diffuser, :and more specifically to a perfume diffuser for use Within a vehicle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved perfume diffuser which may be conveniently mounted within a vehicle for creating a delicate odor within the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved perfume diffuser which is electrically operated with the electrical component thereof being so designed whereby a minimum of electricity is utilized for the perfume diffusing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved perfume diffuser which is of a. relatively simple construction and so constructed and designed as to be quickly and easily replenished with perfume.

A further object of this invention is to provide an "improved perfume diffuser for use in a conventional cigarette lighter outlet socket normally found in dashes [of vehicles.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a diffuser so constructed as to receive a conventional, com .mercially available vial containing perfume. In this connection the present invention contemplates that the tusual cap or cover of such vials be removed and a cap, particularly suited for operation in the diffuser of the present invention, be substituted therefor. To this end 'the present invention further embodies the provision of a wick bearing cap for perfume vials so constructed as to :transmit the liquid from the vial to a source of heat for vaporization thereby.

It is still another object to provide a perfume diffuser of the character herein mentioned with a transparent receiver for the perfume vial communicated with a light source so as to visually display the color and quantity :of perfume contained in the vial.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, com- !bination and arrangement of elements and portions as 'Wlll be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a :material part of this application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a perfume diffuser .embodying the present invention and mounted in a cigarette lighter electrical socket or outlet of the type rusuall y built into the dash of a conventional vehicle, the outlet being shown in section and the dash panel being .iilustrated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing fthe contact prongs of the socket in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the entire diffuser and socket of Figs. 1 and 2 but at larger scale that "the perfume diffuser 10, which is the subject of this invention has the general appearance of a conventional cigarette lighter and includes a perfume dispensing portion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 11, and an electrical actuating portion which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12.

In connection with the foregoing it will be noted that the electrical actuating portion 12 is formed at one end of a tubular body 13 the interior of which serves as a housing 14 for a light and heat source 15 in the form of a small incandescent globe or bulb 16 disposed substantially midway the ends of the diffuser.

The perfume diffusing portion 11 consistsof a handle 17 in the form of a receptacle 1'8 fora vial 19 of perfume. This handle 17 has a threaded neck 20 adapted to be threadedly connected to a threaded bore 21 in the free end of the tubular body 13. i

As best seen in Fig. 3 the vial I9 is a conventional small bottle for perfume available in the channels of commerce. The cap has been removed from the vial 19 and replaced by a cap 22 especially constructed in accordance with the present invention.

This special cap 22 has a wick 23 extending therethrough by way of a grommet of sleeve 24 constituting a wick holder. The sleeve 24 also extends through a light screen in the form of a translucent member or washer 25 to secure the light screen to the cap 22. The washer 25 is of such diameter as to fit into the tubular housing 14 against the neck 20 of the handle 17. The grommet 24 extends slightly beyond the washer '25 to receive a light coil spring 26 Which circumscribes the extended end 27 of the Wick 23 and tends to maintain the fatter in axial alignment with the cap 22, handle 17 and of course the housing 14 into which the wick extends. The grommet 24 is flared slightly to keep one end of the coil spring 26 securely fastened thereto so that the balance of the spring tends to urge the wick toward the globe or lamp 16 as best seen in Fig. 3. That portion of the wick which is confined within the grommet 24 fits snuggly within the latter so that the fluid in the vial will not leak out except by capillary action via the wick.

The opposite end 28 of the wick extends into the vial 19 and into the perfume contained therein. In this manner the perfume absorbed by the wick 23 travels by capillary action out toward the source of heat 15 (lamp 16) for evaporation by the heat created at suchsource of heat.

The tubular body 13 has a plurality of radially extending ports 30 formed therein adjacent the source of heat 15 so that the fumes of evaporating perfume can escape from the housing 14 for diffusion therefrom so as to permeate the chamber, room or vehicle cab in which the diffuser is installed.

In addition to the foregoing it should be noted that the rays of light from the light globe or lamp 16 pass into and through the light screen, translucent washer 25, and the glass vial 19 as well as the translucent material from which the handle 17 is made. In this manner the occupant of the vehicle is aware of the fact that the diffuser is operating and can also see whether the supply of perfume in the tank or vial 19 is sufficient or should be replenished.

The electrical actuating portion 12 includes a first contact 36 which is secured in spaced relation to a circular contact 38 by a rivet 40. It will be noted that the rivet 40 passes through the contacts 36 and 38 and that the contacts are maintained in spaced relation by an annular spacer 42 and an insulator 43 associated with an insulated bushing 44, the insulator 43 and the bushing 44 insulating the contact 38 from the rivet 40. The inner end of the rivet 40 compr'essively engages the flange 46 of bushing 44 and this flange 46 engages the inner surface of one end of a threaded socket 59, for securing the latter in axial alignment with the rivet 40. The contact 38 has a sleeve portion 39 which fits into an enlarged passage formed in one end 45 of the tubular housing 14 and as seen in Fig. 3, the socket 50 is secured firmly against this end wall 45 in axial alignment with the housing 14. The threaded socket 50 threadedly receives the lamp 16 which is a conventional small amperage light bulb whose base contact engages the inner head of the rivet 40.

Referring now to Fig. l in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated in phantom a portion of a conventional dash 66 of a vehicle in which is mounted an electrical outlet 68 for a conventional cigarette lighter. The outlet 68 is generally cupshaped and connected to the dash 66, which forms one lead of an electrical circuit. Carried by the base 70 of the outlet 68 is an insulated contact 72 to which is connected a lead wire 74.

In order that the perfume diffuser may be selectively positioned within the electrical outlet 68 in the same manner as is positioned a conventional electric cigarette lighter, the body 13 therefore is provided with a spacing ring 76 which has an outwardly projecting annular shoulder at the outer end thereof for limited movement of the perfume diffuser within the outlet 68.

It will be seen that when the perfume diffuser is pushed into the electrical outlet 68 to a position whereby the annular shoulder 76 engages the outer end of the electrical outlet 68 the outer head of the rivet 40 engages the insulated contact 72 carried by the electrical outlet 68. A further contact is made between the electrical outlet 68 and the second contact 38 of the perfume diffuser. Current then passes through the rivet 40 into the center contact of the electric lamp 16 thence via the screw shank of the latter into threaded socket 50 and out through the contact 38 and back to the electrical outlet 68 which is grounded to a second wire 80. By pulling the perfume diffuser slightly out of the electrical outlet 68, current through the electric light 16 is cut off and the diffuser does not operate.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and drawings. Further descriptions would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of this device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to Without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A perfume diifuser comprising a housing receivable in a vehicle cigarette lighter socket, an electrical contact at one end of said housing, a light globe within said housing electrically connected to said contact and said housing for receiving electrical energy from a cigarette lighter socket, a perfume tank within said housing remote from said light globe, a wick holder carried by said housing and communicating with said tank, a wick carried by said wick holder having one end disposed within said tank and an opposite end disposed closely adjacent said light globe, light and perfume passages in said housing adjacent said bulb.

2. The perfume dispenser of claim 1 including a translucent member carried by said wick holder to provide a light screen between said light globe and said light passages.

3. A perfume diffuser including a main body receivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected to an electrical circuit, said main body having a hollow center providing a housing, an electrical contact at one end of said main body, a light globe providing a source of heat Within said housing electrically connected to said contact at said one end of said main body for receiving electrical energy from said socket, a hollow handle removably secured to the opposie end of said main body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, a cap on said vial having a passage formed therethrough, a wick snugly fitting and extending through the passage in said cap and having its one end submerged in the perfume in said vial and its opposite end engaging said light globe for evaporating perfume from said wick, and a plurality of ports formed in said main body in the region of said light globe affording escapement of fumes of evaporating perfume from said housing.

4. A perfume diffuser including a main body receivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected to an electrical circuit, said main body having a hollow center providing a housing, a light globe within the housing electrically connected to said contact at said one end of said main body for receiving electrical energy from said socket, said body being perforated in the region of said light globe for venting said housing, the opposite end of said main body having threading formed thereon, a hollow translucent handle having a threaded neck at its open end threadedly secured to the threading at the open opposite end of said main body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, a cap for said vial having an axial passage for a wick, a wick extending through the passage in said cap adapted to have one of its ends in the perfume in said vial and its opposite end in engagement with said light globe, and yieldable means connected to said cap and bearing against said wick for urging the latter into engagement with said light globe.

5. A perfume diffuser including a tubular body of nonconductive material receivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected in an electrical circuit, an electrical contact at one end of said tubular body, a light globe within said tubular body electrically connected to said contact at said one end of the latter for receiving electrical energy from said socket, a hollow translucent handle removably secured to the opposite end of said tubular body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, cap means for said vial, a light diffusing transparent member secured to said cap for centering said vial axially of said handle and said tubular body, a wick extending through said cap and light screen for communicating the perfume in said vial with said light globe, and grommet means extending through said cap and light screen for sealingly securing them together while providing a passage for said Wick.

6. A perfume diffuser including a tubular body of nonconductive material receivable in a cigarette lighter socket connected in an electrical circuit, an electrical contact at one end of said tubular body, a light globe within said tubular body electrically connected to said contact at said one end of the latter for receiving electrical energy from said socket, a hollow translucent handle removably secured to the opposite end of said tubular body, a vial of perfume in said hollow handle, cap means for said vial, a transparent washer for centering said vial axially of said handle and said tubular body, a wick extending through said cap and transparent washer for communicating the perfume in said vial with said light globe, grommet means extending through said cap and transparent washer for sealingly securing them together while providing a passage for said wick, and a coil spring circumscribing said grommet means and that end of said wick extending therefrom toward said light globe for urging said wick into positive engagement with the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,440,255 Ward Dec. 26, 1922 1,535,287 Beeler Apr. 28, 1925 1,601,097 Alanson Sept. 28, 1926 1,712,204 Gibnev May 7, 1929 2,152,466 Clyne Mar. 28, 1939 2,231,095 Sommer Feb. 11, 1941 2,424,268 Delano July 22, 1947 2,434,825 Williams Jan. 20, 1948 2,469,656 Lienert May 10, 1949 2,514,171 Waltner July 4, 1950 2,714,649 Critzer Aug. 2, 1955 2,733,333 Peters Jan. 31, 1956

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