초록

A fragrance dispenser comprises a receptacle for receiving an aromatic substance to be heated; and a heat exchanger connected to the receptacle for heating air upstream of the receptacle, the heat exchanger having means for agitating the air as it is heated and passes therethrough.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A fragrance dispenser comprising: a receptacle for receiving an aromatic substance to be heated; a heat exchanger being connectable to the receptacle for heating air to go through the receptacle, the heat exchanger having a housing having a chamber containing at least o

The invention claimed is: 1. A fragrance dispenser comprising: a receptacle for receiving an aromatic substance to be heated; a heat exchanger being connectable to the receptacle for heating air to go through the receptacle, the heat exchanger having a housing having a chamber containing at least one plate forming a means for agitating the air, the plate sealing most of the heat exchanger housing from the receptacle, the plate defining an open space which causes agitation and mixing of the air by subjecting the air flow to a turn of direction. 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for agitating the air comprises a plurality of plates. 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plates are arranged in a stacked, substantially parallel arrangement, wherein a channel is formed between adjacent plates, and the plurality of plates define an air flow path through the heat exchanger along the channels. 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger is substantially rectangular in cross-section, and each plate is substantially rectangular in shape, the plate connecting to the heat exchanger along three of its sides. 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein each plate has two long sides and two short sides, and the plate connects to the heat exchanger along two long sides, and along one short side, the plate having an unconnected short side. 6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein a gap is formed between the unconnected short side of the plate and the heat exchanger, the gap comprising a part of the flow path of the air as it passes through the heat exchanger. 7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein the open space associated with each plate is on an opposing section of the heat exchanger relative to the open space associated with the plates adjacent thereto. 8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein each plate has an upper and lower surface, and turbulence producing structures are formed on at least one of the upper and/or lower surfaces. 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the turbulence producing structures comprise a plurality of projections extending upwardly from the upper and/or lower surface of the plate. 10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the turbulence producing structures comprise depressions formed in the upper and/or lower surface of the plate. 11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 further comprising spacers formed between adjacent plates. 12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one rail, and the plates comprise corresponding receivers for engaging the rail and facilitating proper orientation of the plate within the heat exchanger. 13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the turbulence producing structures comprise a series of transverse walls located on the upper and/or lower surface of the plate, the transverse walls producing a nonlinear flow path for at least a portion of the air flowing between adjacent plates. 14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a spring connector associated with each plate, the spring connector being connectable to the plate and the heat exchanger in a releasable manner to secure the plate in the heat exchanger. 15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a container downstream of the heat exchanger. 16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a removable tray which can be inserted in the path of air discharged from the heat exchanger, the removable tray having a handle to facilitate insertion and removal of the tray. 17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a screen formed in a tubular extension extending from the heat exchanger. 18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ejection mechanism is a spring-loaded shaft, one end of which is a adjacent the receptacle, and the other end of which comprises a button for activation by the user. 19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a thermometer for monitoring and displaying the temperature in the heat exchanger. 20. A dispenser as claimed in claim 19 wherein the thermometer is a digital thermometer located in a handle housing adjacent the heat exchanger, the digital thermometer having a sensor or probe in the heat exchanger. 21. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a heating source external to the heat exchanger for heating air in the heat exchanger. 22. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an aroma dispersal container for realizable receiving at least a portion of the dispenser, the aroma dispersal container containing at least one aperture through which aromatic air produced by the dispenser can be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere. 23. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of aluminum. 24. A method for producing an aroma from an aromatic substance, comprising: placing the aromatic substance in a receptacle to be heated; and attaching a heat exchanger to the receptacle for heating air upstream of the receptacle, and agitating the air as it is heated by conveying the air over a plurality of approximately parallel plates which are staggered with respect to each other to define a flow path which subjects the heated air to shear forces; and passing the heated air over the aromatic substance. 25. A fragrance dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the heat exchanger comprising a series of plates wherein each plate has four sides, and the plate connects to the heat exchanger along three sides, the plate having an unconnected side, the plates defining a flow path for the air. 26. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an ejection mechanism for ejecting used aromatic substance from the receptacle.