US-20260124337-A1 - SCENT DIFFUSER DEVICE

US20260124337A1US 20260124337 A1US20260124337 A1US 20260124337A1US-20260124337-A1

Abstract

A scent diffuser comprises a housing having an open interior, and a top and bottom for closing the open interior, a reservoir container is provided for a scent, a diffuser nozzle, and a pump assembly. The pump assembly has a pump housing and a pump. The pump has a pump air outlet. A pump compartment receives the air pump. The housing includes an access opening and a removable cover for removing and replacing the air pump. An air fitting comprising a socket receives and seals with the pump air outlet. An air conduit communicates between the air fitting and the diffuser nozzle so as to transport air from the pump to the diffuser nozzle. A battery assembly includes a battery and electrical conductors. The electrical conductors communicate with the air pump assembly so as to power the pump. LED lights can communicate diffuser status. A method of operating a scent diffuser is also disclosed.

Inventors

Joseph Ayoub
Tamoor Shafi

Assignees

SCENTIMENT, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251104

Claims (19)

1 . A scent diffuser, comprising: a housing having an open interior, and top, bottom and side walls for enclosing the open interior; a reservoir container for a liquid scent; a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir container, and comprising an air nozzle and a liquid nozzle, the air nozzle and liquid nozzle being arranged so as to contact an air stream flowing through the air nozzle with a liquid stream flowing through the liquid nozzle to create an atomized scent stream in the reservoir container; a reservoir outlet in fluid communication between an atomized scent outlet in the housing and the reservoir container to release the atomized scent stream from the reservoir container into a surrounding environment; an air pump comprising a pump air inlet and a pump air outlet; an pump compartment having an open interior dimensioned to receive the air pump and an air fitting making a fluid connection with the pump air outlet of the air pump; an air conduit communicating between the air fitting and the air nozzle, and a liquid conduit communicating from the reservoir container to the liquid nozzle; the housing comprising a pump access opening and a detachable access cover for the pump access opening, the pump access opening being dimensioned to permit passage of the air pump for replacing the air pump; a battery assembly comprising a battery and electrical conductors, the electrical conductors electrically connected with the air pump so as to power the air pump; and, a switch assembly for controlling a flow of electric current from the battery assembly and operation of the air pump.
2 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , further comprising a portable pump cartridge comprising an air pump and structure for engaging the pump compartment.
3 . The scent diffuser of claim 2 , wherein the structure for engaging the pump compartment is affixed to an exterior of the air pump.
4 . The scent diffuser of claim 2 , wherein the structure for engaging the pump compartment comprises first and second cartridge portions which when attached to each other define an open interior dimensioned to receive the air pump, and wherein the air pump is dimensioned to be received within the open interior of the pump cartridge.
5 . The scent diffuser of claim 4 , wherein the pump cartridge further comprises first and second electrical contacts extending from an outside surface to an interior surface of the pump cartridge, wherein when the air pump is placed within the pump cartridge electrical contacts on the pump will make electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the pump compartment.
6 . The scent diffuser of claim 5 , wherein one of the first and second electrical contacts on the pump cartridge is circular and the second of the first and second electrical contacts of the pump cartridge is inside of the circular electrical contact.
7 . The scent diffuser of claim 3 , wherein the cover to the access opening comprises first and second electrical contacts.
8 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , wherein the pump air fitting and the pump air outlet comprise cooperating male and female socket connections, the male socket connection detachably mating with the female socket connection to transfer air from the air pump to the pump air fitting and thereby to the diffuser air nozzle, the female socket connection and the male socket connection permitting relative sliding attachment and detachment of the pump air outlet and the air fitting.
9 . The scent diffuser of claim 8 , wherein the pump air fitting is attached to the pump compartment and comprises a horizontal nipple and a sealing gasket.
10 . The scent diffuser of claim 9 , wherein the air conduit comprises a first air conduit extending from the horizontal nipple to a manifold, and a second air conduit extending from the manifold to the air nozzle.
11 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , further comprising a status indicator for indicating at least one status characteristic selected from the group consisting of battery life, scent level in the reservoir, and pump operation.
12 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a removable diffusion head, the diffusion head comprising the nozzle.
13 . The scent diffuser of claim 12 , wherein the atomized scent outlet is provided in the removable diffusion head.
14 . The scent diffuser of claim 12 , further comprising a tray comprising structure for engaging the reservoir container and for engaging the side walls of the housing.
15 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve for preventing fluid flow through the scent outlet opening when the housing is tilted from an upright position.
16 . The scent diffuser of claim 15 , wherein the check valve comprises a valve member and a valve seat having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the valve member movable to close one of the valve inlet and valve outlet to fluid flow when the housing is tilted.
17 . The scent diffuser of claim 1 , wherein the removable cover forms at least a part of the bottom wall of the housing.
18 . The scent diffuser of claim 17 , wherein the removable cover comprises a wireless charging receptor for wirelessly charging the battery.
19 . A method for operating a scent diffuser, comprising the steps of: providing a scent diffuser comprising: a housing having an open interior, and top, bottom and side walls for enclosing the open interior; a reservoir container for a liquid scent; a diffuser comprising a diffuser air nozzle and a diffuser liquid nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir container, the diffuser air nozzle and diffuser liquid nozzle being arranged so as to contact an air stream flowing through the diffuser air nozzle with a liquid stream flowing through the diffuser liquid nozzle to create an atomized air and liquid stream in the reservoir container; a reservoir outlet in fluid communication between the reservoir container and an atomized air and liquid outlet in the housing to release the atomized air and liquid stream from the reservoir container into a surrounding environment; an air pump comprising a pump air inlet and a pump air outlet; a pump compartment having an open interior dimensioned to receive the air pump and an air fitting making a fluid connection with the pump air outlet of the air pump; an air conduit communicating between the air fitting and the diffuser air nozzle, and a liquid conduit communicating from the reservoir container to the diffuser liquid nozzle; the housing comprising a pump access opening and a detachable cover for closing the detachable cover, the pump access opening being dimensioned to permit passage of the pump through the pump access opening for replacing the air pump; a battery assembly comprising a battery and electrical conductors, the electrical conductors communicating with the pump assembly so as to power the air pump; and, a switch assembly for controlling the flow of electric current from battery assembly and operation of the air pump; removing the detachable cover; removing the air pump through the access opening; and, replacing the air pump with a replacement air pump.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/717,037 filed on Nov. 6, 2024, entitled “SCENT DIFFUSER DEVICE”, the entire disclosure of which incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to scent diffuser devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of scent diffuser devices to provide a pleasing aroma in private and public spaces has become prevalent. Such devices in general include a reservoir of aromatic liquid, an air pump, and a diffuser for receiving air from the air pump and liquid from the reservoir and contacting the liquid with the air to atomize the liquid such that the scented air can then be distributed to the surroundings. Devices can come in various shapes and sizes to permit placement in diverse locations and service smaller or larger areas. Over time, the pump can fail due to long-term usage, typically defined by the lifetime hours of the pump. When failure occurs, the entire device must be replaced. Additionally, compact designs are crucial to allow for versatile placement options. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A scent diffuser includes a housing having an open interior, and top, bottom and side walls for enclosing the open interior, a reservoir container for a liquid scent, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir container. The nozzle includes an air nozzle and a liquid nozzle. The air nozzle and liquid nozzle are arranged so as to contact an air stream flowing through the air nozzle with a liquid stream flowing through the liquid nozzle to create an atomized scent stream in the reservoir container. A reservoir outlet is in fluid communication between an atomized scent outlet in the housing and the reservoir container to release the atomized scent stream from the reservoir container into a surrounding environment. An air pump comprises a pump air inlet and a pump air outlet. An air pump compartment can have an open interior dimensioned to receive the air pump and an air fitting making a fluid connection with the pump air outlet of the air pump. An air conduit communicates between the air fitting and the air nozzle. A liquid conduit communicates from the reservoir container to the liquid nozzle. The housing comprises a pump access opening and a detachable access cover for the pump access opening. The pump access opening is dimensioned to permit passage of the air pump for replacing the air pump. A battery assembly comprises a battery and electrical conductors. The electrical conductors are electrically connected with the air pump so as to power the air pump. A switch assembly for controlling the flow of electric current from the battery assembly and operation of the air pump. The scent diffuser can further include a portable pump cartridge comprising an air pump and structure for engaging the pump compartment. The structure for engaging the pump compartment can be affixed to or part of an exterior of the air pump. The structure for engaging the pump compartment can comprise first and second cartridge portions which when attached to each other define an open interior dimensioned to receive the air pump. The air pump is dimensioned to be received within the open interior of the pump cartridge. The pump cartridge can further comprise first and second electrical contacts extending from an outside surface to an interior surface of the pump cartridge, wherein when the air pump is placed within the pump cartridge electrical contacts on the pump will make electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the pump compartment. One of the first and second electrical contacts on the pump cartridge can be circular and the second of the first and second electrical contacts of the pump cartridge can be inside of the circle. The cover to the access opening can comprise first and second electrical contacts. The pump air fitting and the pump air outlet can comprise cooperating male and female socket connections. The male socket connection detachably mates with the female socket connection to transfer air from the air pump to the pump air fitting and thereby to the diffuser air nozzle. The female socket connection and the male socket connection permit relative sliding attachment and detachment of the pump air outlet and the air fitting. The pump air fitting can be attached to the pump compartment and can comprise a horizontal nipple and a sealing gasket. The air conduit can comprise a first air conduit extending from the horizontal nipple to a manifold, and a second air conduit extending from the manifold to the diffuser nozzle air inlet. The scent diffuser can include a status indicator for indicating at least one status characteristic selected from the group consisting of battery life, scent level in the reservoir, and pump operation. The housing can include a removable diffusion head. The diffusion head can comprise the nozzle. The atomized scent outlet can be provided