초록 ▼

Disclosed herein is an air freshener of the type which releases a fragrance by permitting a scent-producing liquid to be evaporatively diffused into the surrounding atmosphere. A wick-like member, which is made from a material capable of conveying the scent-producing liquid by capillary action, is e

Disclosed herein is an air freshener of the type which releases a fragrance by permitting a scent-producing liquid to be evaporatively diffused into the surrounding atmosphere. A wick-like member, which is made from a material capable of conveying the scent-producing liquid by capillary action, is employed for the purpose of conveying the scent-producing liquid from a source located internally of the air freshener to a liquid-diffusing site located on an external surface of the air freshener. The wick-like member extends in a continuous manner from the source of the scent-producing liqiud to the liquid-diffusing site, whereby the scent-producing liquid is diffused to the atmosphere directly from the wick-like member itself. A circumferentially continuous spring-like member forms an internal liquid-tight seal in order to inhibit the inadvertent leakage of the scent-producing liquid from the air freshener. The wick-like member is maintained in a holder adapted for removable insertion into an open upper end of a base of the air freshener. By removing the wick-like member and the holder from the base, the base may be used as a receptacle for something other than the scent-producing liquid.

대표청구항 ▼

An air freshener, comprising a base having an open end, an closed end, and receiving means located between said open end and said closed end for receiving a scent-producing liquid; conveying means for conveying the scent-producing liquid from said receiving means to a liquid-diffusing site located i

An air freshener, comprising a base having an open end, an closed end, and receiving means located between said open end and said closed end for receiving a scent-producing liquid; conveying means for conveying the scent-producing liquid from said receiving means to a liquid-diffusing site located in said open end of said base such that the scent-producing liquid can be evaporatively diffused into the atmosphere surrounding said liquid-diffusing site, said conveying means including a wick-like member made from numerous strands of material capable of conveying the scent-producing liquid along said wick-like member from a first end located in said receiving means to a second end located at said liquid-diffusing site by capillary action, each of said strands extending continuously from said receiving means to said liquid-diffusing site such that the scent-producing liquid can be diffused into the surrounding atmosphere directly from said second end of said wick-like member at a relatively constant and uniform rate, said second end of said wick-like member being flared so as to promote the diffusion of the scent-producing liquid and matted so as to maintain the conveyance of the scent-producing liquid by capillary action; a wick holder attached to said base, said wick holder including first holding means for holding said first end of said wick-like member such that said strands of said first end are tightly bundled so as to promote the conveyance of the scent-producing liquid along said wick-like member by capillary action and second holding means for holding said second end of said wick-like member such that said strands of said second end substantially fill said open end of said base, whereby the diffusion of the scent-producing liquid is enhanced as a result of the increased surface area of said second end of said wick-like member, said second holding means including a pan positioned in said open end of said base, said pan having a sidewall and a bottom which cooperate to define an interior chamber sized and shaped so as to receive said second end of said wick-like member, and said first holding means including a stem extending from said bottom of said pan to said receiving means of said base, said stem having a solid outer wall defining a conduit through which said strands of said wick-like member extend from said interior chamber of said pan to said receiving means of said base; supporting means for supporting said wick holder in abutting relationship with said base, whereby an internal joint is formed between said base and said wick holder; and sealing means for sealing said joint in a liquid-tight manner, whereby the inadvertent leakage of the scent-producing liquid from said receiving means is inhibited, said sealing means including a spring-like member having an elasticity selected such that said spring-like member is constantly and automatically urged into intimate contact with said base.