EP-4735059-A2 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A VOLATILE MATERIAL DISPENSER

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a volatile material includes a dispenser having a diffuser assembly, a controller, a temperature detection device, and a power source. A method of dispensing the volatile material includes receiving a refill unit including a wick, the refill unit being recognized by the controller. The method further includes activating the diffuser assembly to a first heat setting for a first interval and activating the diffuser assembly to a second heat setting for a second interval. The first heat setting is different from the second heat setting, and the first heat setting corresponds to a first fragrance characteristic of the volatile material and the second heat setting corresponds to a second fragrance characteristic of the volatile material.

Inventors

• CHAGNON, NICHOLE M.
• HASIK, SEBASTIAN D.

Assignees

• S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240626

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method of dispensing a volatile material using a dispenser having a diffuser assembly, a controller, a temperature detection device, and a power source, the method comprising: receiving a refill unit including a wick and the volatile material, wherein the refill unit is recognized by the controller; activating the diffuser assembly to a first heat setting for a first interval; and activating the diffuser assembly to a second heat setting for a second interval, wherein the first heat setting is different from the second heat setting, and wherein the first heat setting corresponds to a first fragrance characteristic of the volatile material and the second heat setting corresponds to a second fragrance characteristic of the volatile material.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first interval is different from the second interval, and wherein, upon the controller receiving a signal, the second heat setting occurs before completion of the first interval.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first interval and the second interval are the same, and wherein, upon the controller receiving a signal, the second heat setting occurs before completion of the first interval.
4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a third interval and a third heat setting correspond to a third fragrance characteristic of the volatile material.
5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the third heat setting occurs after the second interval is completed.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a first temperature and being located a first distance from a distal end of the wick, the second heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a second temperature and being located a second distance from the distal end of the wick, and wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are equal.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first distance and the second distance are different.
8. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a first temperature and being located a first distance from a distal end of the wick, the second heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a second temperature and being located a second distance from the distal end of the wick, and wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are different.
9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first distance and the second distance are equal.
10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature detection device is in thermal communication with at least one of the diffuser assembly or the wick.
11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the temperature detection device includes a first sensor and a second sensor, the refill unit carries the first sensor and the dispenser carries the second sensor.
12. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicating a time of day, an ambient temperature, an ambient humidity, a room use, a room size, or a weather condition.
13. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a refill unit identifier provided by the refill unit.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the refill unit identifier is associated with an operating profile corresponding to the volatile material of the refill unit.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the refill unit includes at least one of a tag or a code.
16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tag includes one of a NFC chip or a RFID chip.
17. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the code is a computer-readable code.
18. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein, upon detecting the refill unit identifier, the controller retrieves the operating profile from a local memory.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the operating profile includes the first interval and the first heat setting, the second interval and the second heat setting, and the first and second fragrance characteristics.
20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the controller is in communication with a user device that displays a graphical user interface associated with the operating profile of the dispenser.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A VOLATILE MATERIAL DISPENSER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/524,482, filed on June 30, 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. SEQUENTIAL LISTING [0003] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure [0004] The present disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for dispensing volatile materials, and more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling the dispensing of a volatile liquid to improve a user’s experience. 2. Description of the Background of the Disclosure [0005] A multitude of volatile material diffusion devices or diffusers exist in the marketplace. Many of such devices are passive devices that require only ambient air flow to disperse the liquid active material therein. Other devices are battery-powered or receive household power via a plug extending from the device. Some known diffusers include a heating element for heating a volatile material to promote vaporization thereof. Other diffusers employ a fan or blower to generate air flow to direct volatile material out of the diffuser into the surrounding environment. Still other diffusers that dispense volatile materials utilize ultrasonic means to dispense the volatile materials therefrom. Fragrance compositions that are used in the aforementioned volatile material dispensers are composed of a mixture of volatile perfume raw materials, and it is not uncommon for a fragrance composition to be composed of over twenty different perfume raw materials. The chemical properties of perfume raw materials in a fragrance composition often vary widely in terms of polarity, density, vapor pressure, flash point, and other properties. [0006] A problem with past volatile material dispensers is the limited number of controls made available to the user. Often, volatile material dispensers are manually adjusted by the user and, thus, require proximity to the volatile material dispenser in the space. Similarly, a user must physically approach past volatile material dispensers to identify operating issues, such as a need to refill the volatile material. Further, the heating elements of past volatile material dispensers are often limited to default settings regardless of the particular volatile material used, such that users have limited control over the particular fragrances or volatiles dispensed at any given time. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0007] In some aspects, an apparatus for dispensing a volatile material includes a dispenser having a diffuser assembly, a controller, a temperature detection device, and a power source. A method of dispensing the volatile material includes receiving a refill unit including a wick, the refill unit being recognized by the controller. The method can further include activating the diffuser assembly to a first heat setting for a first interval and activating the diffuser assembly to a second heat setting for a second interval. The first heat setting can be different from the second heat setting, and the first heat setting can correspond to a first fragrance characteristic of the volatile material and the second heat setting can correspond to a second fragrance characteristic of the volatile material. [0008] In some embodiments, a first interval is different from a second interval and, upon the controller receiving a signal, a second heat setting occurs before completion of a first interval. In some embodiments, a first interval and a second interval are the same and, upon a controller receiving a signal, a second heat setting occurs before completion of a first interval. In some embodiments, a third interval and a third heat setting correspond to a third fragrance characteristic of a volatile material. In some embodiments, a third heat setting occurs after a second interval is completed. In some embodiments, a first heat setting includes a diffuser assembly operating at a first temperature and being located a first distance from a distal end of a wick, a second heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a second temperature and being located a second distance from the distal end of the wick, and the first temperature and the second temperature are equal. In some embodiments, the first distance and the second distance may be different. [0009] In some embodiments, a first heat setting includes a diffuser assembly operating at a first temperature and being located a first distance from a distal end of a wick, a second heat setting includes the diffuser assembly operating at a second temperature and being located a second distance from the distal end of the wick, and the first temperature and the second temperature are different. In some embodiments, the first distance and the second distance may be equal. In some embodiments,