IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0412911
(2003-04-14)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Martens, III,Edward J.
- Walter,Scott D.
- Helf,Thomas A.
- Tomkins,David A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- S. C. Johnson &
- Son, Inc.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
26 |
초록
▼
A replacement reservoir assembly (30) for an atomizing device (20), which uses a vibratable orifice plate ( 37) for atomizing liquid, includes a container (31), which contains a liquid to be atomized, and an elongated wick (56) having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within the container
A replacement reservoir assembly (30) for an atomizing device (20), which uses a vibratable orifice plate ( 37) for atomizing liquid, includes a container (31), which contains a liquid to be atomized, and an elongated wick (56) having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within the container (31) and an upper end located above the container (31). The wick (56) includes a dimensionally stable material having capillary passages for drawing liquid out of the container (31) to the upper end of the wick (56), which is outside the container ( 31). The upper end of the wick (56) has at least one surface that is configured to provide an unobstructed passage to the atmosphere from a region between a top surface of the wick (56) and a facing surface of the vibratable orifice plate (37) when the replacement reservoir is positioned in the atomizing device (20). A wick ( 56) for use in a replaceable reservoir assembly (30) that contains liquid to be atomized by a vibratory orifice plate (37) and a method of positioning an upper end of a solid, dimensionally stable wick (56) are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A method of positioning an upper end of a solid, dimensionally stable wick having liquid-filled interstices against a surface of a dome-shaped vibratable orifice plate, which has a plurality of minute orifices formed therethrough and is configured to dispense the liquid filling the int
We claim: 1. A method of positioning an upper end of a solid, dimensionally stable wick having liquid-filled interstices against a surface of a dome-shaped vibratable orifice plate, which has a plurality of minute orifices formed therethrough and is configured to dispense the liquid filling the interstices of the wick as the orifice plate vibrates, said method comprising the step of: moving the wick toward the dome-shaped vibratable orifice plate while maintaining a passage that extends to the atmosphere from a space created between a top surface of the wick and a concave undersurface of the dome-shaped vibratable orifice plate, as the wick is positioned with a portion of the upper end contacting the orifice plate. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of moving the wick while maintaining a passage includes providing a cutout in the upper end of the wick, the cutout having side surfaces and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being below a top surface of the wick such that the bottom surface does not contact the vibratory orifice plate, with the cutout defining the passage. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of moving the wick while maintaining a passage includes providing surfaces in the wick that are configured to provide the unobstructed passage to the atmosphere. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the surfaces are formed as a cutout in the upper end of the wick. 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step of providing surfaces includes sizing the cutout such that liquid filling the interstices of the wick will not fill the volume removed by the cutout when the wick is positioned against the orifice plate. 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said sizing step results in the cutout defining an angle of about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees. 7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said sizing step results in the cutout defining an angle of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of moving the wick while maintaining a passage includes providing a canted top surface of the wick. 9. An atomizing device, comprising: a replaceable container, which contains a liquid to be atomized; an elongated wick having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within said container and an upper end located above said container, the upper end comprising a passage portion; and a dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, which has a plurality of minute orifices formed through a dome section of said dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, wherein said dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate comes into contact with the upper end of said wick so as to define a cavity between the upper end of said wick and the dome section of said dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, such that said passage portion defines a passage in flow communication with the cavity and the atmosphere. 10. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 9, wherein said dimensionally stable material is made of high molecular weight polyethylene. 11. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 9, wherein said passage portion in the upper end of said wick is defined by a cutout having side surfaces depending from a top surface of said wick and a bottom surface being disposed below the top surface such that the bottom surface does not contact the vibratable orifice plate. 12. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cutout defines an angle of about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees. 13. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cutout defines an angle of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees. 14. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 11, wherein said cutout is sized such that the liquid from said container will not fill the volume removed by said cutout. 15. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 9, wherein a top surface of the upper end of said wick includes a raised dome that extends above the top surface of said wick and contacts the orifice plate when the upper end of said wick is positioned against the vibratable orifice plate, with the space between the top surface of said wick and the dome section forming the passage portion. 16. A replacement reservoir assembly according to claim 9, wherein a top surface of the upper end of the wick is canted to form the passage portion between a portion of the top surface and the dome section. 17. A wick according to claim 26, wherein said second material fibrous material embedded in the upper end of said wick. 18. A wick according to claim 17, wherein said fibrous material comprises one of nylon, cotton and polypropylene. 19. A wick according to claim 26, wherein said second material flexible foam embedded in the upper end of said wick. 20. A wick according to claim 26, wherein said first material comprises high molecular weight polyethlene. 21. A replaceable reservoir that contains a liquid to be atomized by an atomizer comprising a dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, which has a plurality of minute orifices formed through a dome section of the dome-shaped vibrating orifice plate, the dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate being configured to mate with the replaceable reservoir and vibrate to eject the liquid supplied by said replaceable reservoir through the minute orifices, said replaceable reservoir comprising: a container which contains the liquid; and an elongated wick having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within said container, and an upper end located above said container, said upper end having a passage portion wherein, when said upper end of said wick is brought into contact with the dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, to mate therewith, a cavity is formed between said upper end of said wick and the domed section of the dome-shaped vibratory orifice plate, and the passage portion defines a passage in flow communication with the cavity and the atmosphere.
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