Abstract: An evaporator includes a housing, a bottle containing a substance to be evaporated, a wick having a lower portion disposed within the bottle and an upper portion protruding from the bottle, a heating device disposed within the housing at a position proximate to the upper portion of the wick, and an adjustment mechanism within the housing for displacing at least the upper portion of the wick toward or away from the heating device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wick. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a hollow cylindrical portion that engages the upper portion of the wick, and a dial portion for rotating the hollow cylindrical portion about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A multi-functional electrical vaporizer for a liquid substance includes a bottle for holding the liquid substance, a wick for drawing the liquid substance out of the bottle, an electrical heating device positioned proximate to an upper portion of the wick, an electrical plug assembly, an electrical circuit for powering the electrical heating device, a housing structure with respect to which the bottle is detachably secured and in which at least the electrical plug assembly, the electrical circuit, and the electrical heating device are disposed, and a cover that is joined to and at least partially covers the housing structure. The housing structure, which includes a first shell and a second shell that are joined together, is configured to receive any of a plurality of different additional functional devices. The cover is provided with at least one access window corresponding to whatever additional functional device the housing structure is to be equipped with.

Abstract: A wall-mounted, plug-in appliance includes a housing and a plug assembly, which is rotatably disposed within the housing. The plug assembly includes (i) a plug for electrically connecting the plug assembly to a wall outlet and (ii) at least one integral extra outlet to which another electrical appliance can be plugged in. The plug assembly conducts power to electrical components of the appliance at each of at least two 90-degree intervals of rotation of the plug assembly, and the extra outlet is accessible through different ones of a plurality of windows in the housing at different 90-degree intervals of rotation of the plug assembly.

Abstract: An electrically activatable fumigating device, methods of using it, and methods of constructing the device, are disclosed. The device is adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet. It is provided with a resistance heater that is housed in a lower recess of a heating cup by crimping edges of the recess around the heater. The cup focuses the heat of the heater adjacent the bottom of the cup. A eutectic thermal cut-off operates as a primary means of energy cut-off. The resistance heater is also designed to fail after a specified heating period as a redundant means of cut-off.

Abstract: A wall-mounted, plug-in appliance includes a housing and a plug assembly, which is rotatably disposed within the housing. The plug assembly includes (i) a plug for electrically connecting the plug assembly to a wall outlet and (ii) at least one integral extra outlet to which another electrical appliance can be plugged in. The plug assembly conducts power to electrical components of the appliance at each of at least two 90-degree intervals of rotation of the plug assembly, and the extra outlet is accessible through different ones of a plurality of windows in the housing at different 90-degree intervals of rotation of the plug assembly.

Abstract: An evaporator includes a housing, a bottle containing a substance to be evaporated, a wick having a lower portion disposed within the bottle and an upper portion protruding from the bottle, a heating device disposed within the housing at a position proximate to the upper portion of the wick, and an adjustment mechanism within the housing for displacing at least the upper portion of the wick toward or away from the heating device in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wick. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a hollow cylindrical portion that engages the upper portion of the wick, and a dial portion for rotating the hollow cylindrical portion about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A multi-functional electrical vaporizer for a liquid substance includes a bottle for holding the liquid substance, a wick for drawing the liquid substance out of the bottle, an electrical heating device positioned proximate to an upper portion of the wick, an electrical plug assembly, an electrical circuit for powering the electrical heating device, a housing structure with respect to which the bottle is detachably secured and in which at least the electrical plug assembly, the electrical circuit, and the electrical heating device are disposed, and a cover that is joined to and at least partially covers the housing structure. The housing structure, which includes a first shell and a second shell that are joined together, is configured to receive any of a plurality of different additional functional devices. The cover is provided with at least one access window corresponding to whatever additional functional device the housing structure is to be equipped with.

Abstract: An electrically activatable fumigating device, methods of using it, and methods of constructing the device, are disclosed. The device is adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet. It is provided with a resistance heater that is housed in a lower recess of a heating cup by crimping edges of the recess around the heater. The cup focuses the heat of the heater adjacent the bottom of the cup. A eutectic thermal cut-off operates as a primary means of energy cut-off. The resistance heater is also designed to fail after a specified heating period as a redundant means of cut-off.

Abstract: An electric evaporator for insecticides or perfumes in liquid formulation, contained in a bottle which can be steadily inserted into a container, includes a wick, an element for housing and centering the wick and a respective electric heating device. The wick housing and centering element are joined to the walls of the container through elastic bridge-pieces which have the shape of a loop extending respectively in horizontal and vertical planes. A cam device, which is actuated manually outside of the container, allows displacement of the wick housing and centering element in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the wick, towards or away from the heating device.

Abstract: An electric evaporator for insecticides or perfumes in liquid formulation, contained in a bottle which can be steadily inserted into a container, includes a wick, an element for housing and centering the wick and a respective electric heating device. The wick housing and centering element are joined to the walls of the container through elastic bridge-pieces which have the shape of a loop extending respectively in horizontal and vertical planes. A cam device, which can be actuated manually outside of the container, allows displacement of the wick housing and centering element in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the wick, towards or away from the heating device.