Gas Inlet Patents (Class 261/30)
  • Patent number: 6283458
    Abstract: A portable humidifier including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path therebetween; a retainer disposed in the housing; and an air permeable, liquid absorbent cartridge element replaceably retained by the retainer and having a handle to facilitate removal from the housing. Also included is a blower disposed in the housing and activatable to produce air flow through the air flow path and cartridge element and a liquid supply for supplying liquid to the cartridge element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Cox, Thomas S. Chan
  • Patent number: 6276669
    Abstract: A bubble generating device is to be used with a water tank which has a water receiving chamber, and includes a bubble emission member adapted to be disposed in the water receiving chamber and formed with bubble emission holes, an air pump for providing pressurized air, a first air passage tube with a first end connected to the air pump and an opposite second end, and a second air passage tube with a first end connected to the bubble emission member and an opposite second end. The control unit includes a cam wheel, a valve seat formed with an air chamber which communicates fluidly the second ends of the first and second air passage tubes, and a spring-loaded piston rod with a first end portion in contact with a peripheral cam surface of the cam wheel and a second end portion extending into the air chamber and provided with a valve piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Dah Yang Toy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Nan Yang
  • Patent number: 6257501
    Abstract: A mister and an electric fan combination is mounted upon a vertical stand. The mister has a housing arranged to define a curvature that is concentric with a rotational center of rotary fan blades and with the central back of the fan. The housing is attached to the fan guard grill. The mister has a flexible hose extending from a junction with the housing to a location distal from the housing to convey pressurized fluid from a source. The electric fan is pivotally connected on diametrically opposite sides to a connection structure, which is raised by a pole from a base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Atico International USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Roach, Don Lee, Cobol Shu
  • Patent number: 6254065
    Abstract: An evaporation dispenser for freshening the air in closed spaces such as toilets, washrooms and waiting rooms, telephone booths and lifts. A mounting plate is arranged in a housing and is divided into two chambers by a horizontal separating surface. The lower chamber serves as an evaporation space and holds two bottles of active substance which form a saturated atmosphere in the chamber via evaporating elements. This atmosphere is diffused into the outside air by means of a fan which draws the saturated atmosphere from the evaporation space. Simultaneously, ambient air is drawn into the evaporation space to become saturated. Both the discharge of the saturated atmosphere and the drawing in of ambient air may be performed by a single rotor compressor, the rotor being divided into two sections by a radial divider. The discharge of the saturated atmosphere may be controlled by a microcontroller coupled to sensors which monitor activity in the closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: CWS International AG
    Inventors: Markus Ehrensperger, Hans-Jörg Studer
  • Patent number: 6241219
    Abstract: An air-circulator room deodorizer has a permeable container (1) that is positioned with an air-circulator attachment (8, 10, 12, 14) in airflow from a room air circulator such as a room fan (3, 5) or vent (4, 6) and has a deodorant pack (18) that releases fragrance selectively into the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventors: Michael A. Logan, Emae A. Villalobos
  • Patent number: 6241218
    Abstract: A permeable saturation body absorbs a liquid chemical for evaporative dispersion. External air is forced through the saturation body to vaporize and carrying the liquid chemical into a prescribed area. The liquid container and permeable body are mounted on a permeable support structure. Excess liquid dripping from the permeable saturation body is recaptured and redistributed by another permeable saturation body located below the first permeable saturation body. The device can be used in greenhouses to disperse insecticide into the air or along the ground. The device is also adapted to disperse deodorant or a bactericide for use in hospitals or restaurants, for example. One embodiment of the invention provides for reversible air flow so that a user can choose between dispensing the liquid chemical in a low position, or in a high position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Yuugen Kaisha Kaishin
    Inventor: Fuminao Tanitomi
  • Patent number: 6241944
    Abstract: An apparatus for the remote or local delivery of stored or real-time aroma sensory information to an end user of a multimedia device. The present invention includes an aroma converter for encoding aroma information into electrical signals, a delivery system for delivering the electrical signals, and a retrieval system for receiving and processing the electrical signals to control the aroma or combination of aromas emitted by one or more aroma release chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Budman
  • Patent number: 6237896
    Abstract: A portable fan with misting nozzles for providing a cooling mist to the air flow of a fan. The portable fan with misting nozzles includes a fan assembly adapted for creating an air flow. A water supply assembly for storing water. A plurality of nozzles adapted for spraying a mist of water into the air flow of the fan assembly. The nozzles are in fluid communication with the water supply assembly. The nozzles are coupled to the fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventors: Ricky D. Hicks, Lee A. Criswell
  • Patent number: 6234455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supplying substances to be dispensed into air or air mixtures, especially scents, with a flat disk-shaped or plate-shaped base body with multiple separate channels running through it essentially parallel to its top and/or bottom sides, with the channels accommodating the substances to be dispensed and containing an inlet port and an outlet port, respectively, so that a stream of gas supplied to the inlet port can flow through it, with the inlet and outlet ports of at least one channel being sealed in a gastight manner until the substance is released and/or the substance is placed with an airtight seal in at least one channel in a reservoir which does not release this substance until the time of dispensation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Gotz-Ulrich Wittek
  • Patent number: 6231032
    Abstract: A sensualizer or sense-simile machine reproduces smells and flavors using a cylinder housing smell and flavor cartridges. Selected cartridges deposit predetermined amounts of sense substances onto a carrier to reproduce the desired smell or flavor. The cylinder rotates to bring rows of cartridges to a position for depositing the substances onto the carrier. The carrier moves back and forth along a path under the row of cartridges and stops momentarily under the cartridges selected to reproduce the particular smell or flavor. An air blast disperses the substances into a tube for delivery to a location where the senses can be aroused. The machine can be activated from a remote location over a standard telephone line or accessed through a computer over a modem. With a computer or other input device, simulations and reproductions can be done locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Ellwood G. Ivey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6224041
    Abstract: An aerator for a water treatment plant or water conditioning application, includes a draft tube for vertical positioning within a volume of water and an outlet structure overlying a top open end of the draft tube. Water is lifted or pumped through the draft tube out of the top open end. The outlet structure includes a stepped splash plate which deflects the water flowing out of the top open end in a cascading fashion which increases the oxygenation efficiency and spray pattern of the thus aerated water. Additionally, a blinder bracket is applied to the outlet structure to reduce flow from the outlet structure at a particular preselected arc. The draft tube and outlet structure can be molded as a unitary plastic piece, and flow windows and openings can be cut into the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Rebori, John W. Struewing
  • Patent number: 6220579
    Abstract: A warm mist humidifier with a fan and a germicidal bulb to facilitate the dispersion of water vapor and the elimination of potentially harmful microorganisms in water. The humidifier includes a base unit having an energizing circuit, a water tank having a weight sensor and disposed on the base unit for supplying water to the base unit, a reservoir in the base unit for receiving water from the water tank, a heating assembly disposed in the base unit for vaporizing water received from the reservoir when the heating assembly is activated by the energizing circuit, and a tank switch for activating or deactivating the energizing circuit. The tank switch is responsive to a change of position of the water tank relative to the base unit in response to the water in the water tank. The heating assembly is consisted of a boiler cavity, a heating coil fixedly mounted underneath the boiler cavity, an insulative outer housing mounted on the boiler cavity, and a removable cover covering the insulative outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Tsu-Hsiu Chen
  • Patent number: 6179275
    Abstract: The diffuser (1) includes a receptacle which contains the odorous substance to be diffused in liquid form or the like, and which is closed by a diffusion membrane (3c), and means for rotating the receptacle about itself. The receptacle includes a plurality of compartments which enable the weight of the odorous substance to be distributed over the periphery of the axis of rotation (DD) of the receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle includes at least one annular-type housing (3) which is centered on the axis of rotation of the receptacle, and which is partitioned into a plurality of identical compartments (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Prodifa
    Inventors: Patrick Lagneaux, Christian Peretti
  • Patent number: 6149138
    Abstract: A portable humidifier including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path therebetween; a retainer disposed in the housing and defining key structure; and an air permeable, liquid absorbent cartridge element replaceably retained by the retainer and defining keyhole structure shaped and arranged to receive the key structure and at least one portion of the cartridge element being disposed in the air flow path. Also included is a blower disposed in the housing and activatable to produce air flow through the air flow path and cartridge element and a liquid supply for supplying liquid to the portion of the cartridge element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Birdsell
  • Patent number: 6086053
    Abstract: A mister for use with fans having blades protected by a guard wherein the mister is mounted on the guard and through a plurality of water atomizing nozzles projects a mist into the fan airflow to produce a cooling effect by the evaporation of the moist air. The mister may be used with original equipment fans, or may be retrofitted to existing guarded fans and economically produces a distribution of water particles within the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Airmaster Fan Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Natschke, Jesse W. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6070860
    Abstract: A high thermal capacity crossflow water cooling tower (30) is provided having upright fill structure (32) with a plurality of water distributors (34) oriented to deliver initially hot water to upper portions of the fill structure (32) for gravitation therethrough, with a cooling air current generator for producing cooling air currents which enter the fill structure inlet face (44) and exit the fill both laterally through the fill outlet face (46) and upwardly through the horizontal fill upper face (48). In practice, at least about 50% (more preferably at least about 70%) of the total airflow through the fill structure (32) exits the fill through the outlet face (46). Low cooling potential air traversing the fill structure (32) is thus vented upwardly so that greater volumes of more effective cooling air may be drawn through the fill structure (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: The Marley Cooling Tower Company
    Inventors: Ohler L. Kinney, Jr., John D. Dalton, Eldon F. Mockry
  • Patent number: 6062425
    Abstract: A method of facilitating replacement of a supply of air freshener every time a supply of soap is replaced, including the steps of providing a supply of air freshener, providing a supply of soap and joining the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener. Another aspect of the invention is a method of packaging a supply unit including providing a supply of soap and a supply of air freshener and connecting the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener in a manner such that when the supply of soap is removed from a dispenser, the supply of air freshener is removed from the dispenser as well. Another aspect is a supply unit for the dual dispenser including a receptacle, a supply of soap within the receptacle, and a supply of air freshener connected to or secured within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Fresh Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brown, David F. Scherger, George C. Heilman, Robert B. Brown
  • Patent number: 6053483
    Abstract: An aroma diffuser includes a housing with front and rear housing parts, a circuit-mounting frame and a fan unit. The front housing part has an upper portion formed with an air outlet. The lower portion of a rear wall of the rear housing part has a carrier that extends transversely into the housing and that supports an aromatic preparation thereon. The circuit-mounting frame is disposed inside the housing and is mounted on the upper portion of the rear wall. The fan unit includes a tubular collecting wall mounted on the circuit-mounting frame and disposed above the carrier. The tubular collecting wall has upper and lower wall portions. The upper wall portion has a front side formed with a radial air flow outlet that is registered with the air outlet of the front housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Bobson Hygiene International Inc.
    Inventor: Cheng-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 6050551
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for dispensing of vapor from a volatile insect repelling or animal attracting/repelling substance into the surrounding environment, which includes a body having an inlet and outlet means, a sealing means for selectively closing and opening the vent means, a substance containing means for containing the volatile, a motorized fan, and an electrical power source. The apparatus includes a sealing means to seal the volatile substance within the body of the apparatus when the device is not in use. An important feature is also the ability to transmit volatile insect repelling or animal attracting/repelling substance over a great area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Brent Gary Anderson
  • Patent number: 6024783
    Abstract: An apparatus for the remote or local delivery of stored or real-time aroma sensory information to an end user of a multimedia device. The present invention includes an aroma converter for encoding aroma information into electrical signals, a delivery system for delivering the electrical signals, and a retrieval system for receiving and processing the electrical signals to control the aroma or combination of aromas emitted by one or more aroma release chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Budman
  • Patent number: 6001155
    Abstract: A polyphasic pressurized homogenizer for removing substances, particularly contaminants from a gas environment, the homogenizer having a pressurized gas stream drawing gas from the gas environment and a pressurized liquid stream from a liquid source with the homogenizer having a mixing chamber for mixing the gas stream and liquid stream and a contact conduit with a venturi passage connected to the mixing chamber for homogenizing the gas and liquid mixture with the contact conduit discharging the homogenized mixture into a receiver where the substance originally in the gas is entrained in the liquid and separated from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: John R. Pease
  • Patent number: 5984280
    Abstract: Low-pressure gas is mixed in a viscous material. The flow of the gas can be easily controlled so that the dispersion of the mixing ratio of the viscous material to the gas may be confined within a small tolerance and fine bubbles may be uniformly distributed in the interior of the viscous material. The gas is mixed in the viscous material by a first pump, from which a mixture of the gas and the viscous material is delivered. Pressure is applied to the mixture by a second pump. The gas is distributed in the interior of the viscous material by allowing the mixture under pressure to pass through a conduit assembly. The viscous material is foamed when the mixture is discharged from a nozzle through a discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: Sunstar Engineering, Inc., Uni-Sunstar B.V.
    Inventors: Shinji Okuda, Yasuyuki Yoshimoto, Masaharu Takada
  • Patent number: 5958306
    Abstract: A collection system for use in cooling towers is disclosed. The collection system includes a plurality of spaced collection troughs with a pre-collector thereabove disposed between the fill material in the cooling tower and the collection troughs. The pre-collector includes a plurality of corrugated sheets positioned laterally and transversely adjacent one another to substantially fill the space between the collection troughs and the fill material. Water falling through the cooling tower will fall on the corrugations and will be directed by the corrugations into vertical discharge drains defined by the corrugated sheets. The vertical discharge drains will direct liquid falling onto the sloped flow surfaces defined by the corrugated sheets into collection troughs therebelow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Harold D. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5932147
    Abstract: The air freshener device is adapted to be mounted on a ventilation duct in a vehicle or other closed space. The housing has a front side and a back side and respective input and output air ports defined thereon. Forced air, expelled from the ventilation ducts, enters the input air ports of the housing, causes a rotatable fan to rotate and generate arcuate and, preferably rotating, air currents in the generally hollow interior space defined by the housing. An air freshener pellet is disposed within the housing and the arcuate air flow, and preferably rotatable air flow, passes over the pellet, mixes with the expelled ventilation air and is ejected from the housing via the output air port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: American Auto Accessories, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen Jye Chen
  • Patent number: 5918595
    Abstract: In a method an apparatus for vaporizing anesthetic liquids, in which a carrier gas is passed through a vaporizer so as to be saturated with vaporized anesthetic liquid, the vaporizer has a container, partially filled with anesthetic liquid, an inlet for a carrier gas, an outlet for carrier gas saturated with anesthetic and a pressure chamber. The carrier gas is supplied to the vaporizer at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and is bubbled through the anesthetic liquid in the container in order to become saturated with anesthetic. The flow of gas at the outlet can be regulated as needed. Exact pressure and temperature conditions can be measured and/or regulated with a pressure meter, pressure regulator, thermometer and temperature regulator in order to regulate the partial pressure of anesthetic in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB
    Inventors: Sven-Gunnar Olsson, Goran Rydgren, Anders Larsson, Tarmo Niininen
  • Patent number: 5904882
    Abstract: A portable humidifier is provided including a container having a predetermined amount of water situated therein. Also included is a plate with at least one inlet vent and at least one outlet vent formed therein. The plate is removably situated over the container. The humidifier further includes a fan positioned adjacent the inlet vent for effecting the flow of air through the inlet vent, in communication with the water and subsequently through the outlet vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Robert J. Featherly
  • Patent number: 5894001
    Abstract: A fragrance evaporator allows doses of fragrance to be released into the atmosphere in a controllable manner and only when required. The fragrance evaporator has a solid surface that may be wetted as required with liquid fragrance from a fragrance reservoir. An evaporation space that surrounds the solid surface and that is in communication with the atmosphere is thus created above the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Venta Vertriebs AG
    Inventors: Alfred Hitzler, Erich Harter
  • Patent number: 5861128
    Abstract: An air freshening device is made from a solution of a polymer and a fragrant material, which is applied to an air permeable substrate. A solid fragrant residue is formed on the substrate. A fragrant material diffuses from the residue for scenting flowing through and about the substrate. Means are provided for attaching the substrate to an air filter received in a forced air heating, ventilating, and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: New Ideas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug M. Vick, James T. Baxter, George S. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5851442
    Abstract: A button-actuated air freshener in which rotatable within a dome having a vented cylindrical shell is a turret having a central shaft aligned with the axis of the shell and an array of wings radiating from the shaft, each formed by a panel of porous material impregnated with a fragrance oil. Mounted on top of the dome is a spring-biased button operatively coupled to the shaft whereby when the button is depressed, this action causes the turret to spin to create within the shell an air vortex. This vortex acts to volatilize fragrance oil on the surface of the wings to produce an aromatic vapor that is discharged through vents in the shell into the atmosphere of the enclosure in which the air freshener is installed, the aromatic vapor serving to mask unpleasant odors permeating the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Donald Spector
  • Patent number: 5836515
    Abstract: A liquid spraying device including an elongate first vessel closed at one of its ends by a first free face of a piezoelectric transducer capable of emitting waves into a liquid filling the vessel, and open at its end remote from the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer includes a second free face opposite its first free face, and wherein an elongate second vessel is disposed symmetrically to the first vessel relative to the piezoelectric transducer, the second vessel being closed at one of its ends by said second free face of the piezoelectric transducer, which is thus also capable of emitting waves into a liquid filling the second vessel, said second vessel being open at its end remote from the piezoelectric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: IMRA Europe SA
    Inventors: Georges Fonzes, Michel Gschwind, Jean Lauretti, Gil Ching, Daniel Guyomar, Jean-Denis Sauzade
  • Patent number: 5837167
    Abstract: A compact portable misting fan includes a novel and attractive housing which makes extremely efficient use of space, encased fan blades which are mounted between front and rear baffles, a liquid reservoir with an atomizer, conveniently located mist and fan controls, and an easily accessible battery compartment. The housing has a substantially flat profile with a substantially cylindrical upper section in which the fan is mounted and a substantially rectilinear lower section in which the reservoir and batteries are contained. The fan on/off switch is located on a lower portion of the cylindrical upper section and the misting button is located on an upper portion of the rectilinear lower section and on a side opposite to the fan switch. It is easily held in the user's hand so that the fan and the mister can be operated separately by thumb or index finger. A small hole is provided in the housing for the outlet of the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Lederer
  • Patent number: 5829188
    Abstract: A liquid storage container, in which an extermination liquid is stored, is at an upper portion of a case. A gauze or other permeable material is mounted on the outer surface of a support on a lower portion of the liquid storage container. An upper end of a portion of the gauze is transferably connected to the liquid storage container to transfer extermination liquid to the rest of the gauze by wicking action. Capillary action causes the extermination liquid to saturate the gauze. A sirocco fan and a motor, below the gauze, causes air from outside to be drawn into the case from an opening on the upper portion of case. The air passes through and around the gauze, causing vaporization of the extermination liquid in the gauze. The vaporized extermination liquid, cooled and densified by vaporization, is blown outside the case through a lower ventilation opening of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Yuugen Kaisha Kaishin
    Inventor: Fuminao Tanitomi
  • Patent number: 5820791
    Abstract: An air freshening device used in conjunction with an air circulation system of a building for impregnating the air with an aromatic scent. The device comprises a combination integrally-mixed plastic and scent substance formed through a manufacturing process that produces a shape for the scent impregnating device which permits it to be removeably attached to an air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: William P. Canale
  • Patent number: 5820792
    Abstract: A perfume dispenser includes a housing, a fan and a perfume respectively mounted in the housing at different elevations and separated by a partition wall, the housing having clamping plates for mounting in louvers of an air output port of an air conditioner, a first air inlet adapted for guiding currents of air from the air conditioner into the fan chamber to turn the fan, a second air inlet adapted for guiding outside air into the perfume chamber, and a plurality of air outlets adapted for guiding air out of the fan chamber, the partition wall defining an air passage through which air passes from the perfume chamber to the fan chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Hsi Huang Lin
  • Patent number: 5799826
    Abstract: A method of facilitating replacement of a supply of air freshener every time a supply of soap is replaced, including the steps of providing a supply of air freshener, providing a supply of soap and joining the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener. Another aspect of the invention is a method of packaging a supply unit including providing a supply of soap and a supply of air freshener and connecting the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener in a manner such that when the supply of soap is removed from a dispenser, the supply of air freshener is removed from the dispenser as well. Another aspect is a supply unit for the dual dispenser including a receptacle, a supply of soap within the receptacle, and a supply of air freshener connected to or secured within the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Fresh Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brown, David F. Scherger, George C. Heilman, Robert B. Brown
  • Patent number: 5795504
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a hollow shaft (6) with water jet vacuum pumps peripherally attached to the end thereof at a certain distance therefrom wherein the water pumps have vacuum pockets (3) communicating with the inside of the hollow shaft via ducts (5). The lower portion of the shaft is plugged, and its upper portion has peripheral perforations (8) providing free access for air or gas flowing into the shaft so that the air or gas can reach the vacuum pockets of the water pumps. The top end of the shaft is coupled to an electric motor (9) either directly or via a motor reducer (10). When the shaft and the water pumps are rotating within a liquid, the liquid pressure at the tips (2) of the water pumps create a vacuum, whereby fine bubbles of air or gas can be fed into and diffused through the liquid at a submerged depth of the water pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Raymond Berchotteau
  • Patent number: 5776378
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying scent to clothing has an enclosed compartment having a top, bottom and side walls. A horizontal perforated shelf extends across the compartment and divides the compartment into upper and lower portions. A closeable access opening is located in the side walls of the compartment for placing articles of clothing on top of the shelf. An air circulation conduit connects the upper and lower portions of the compartment. A fan is connected to the conduit for moving air therethrough from the upper portion to the lower portion of the compartment. A scent cartridge is in communication with the compartment in the path of air passing therethrough so the passing air will pick up the scent of the scent cartridge whereupon the scented air will move into the lower portion of the compartment, thence through the shelf and articles of clothing, and thence into the upper portion of the compartment and back into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Modern Muzzleloading, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Knight
  • Patent number: 5770118
    Abstract: A bubble generator for a washing machine which utilizes bellows and an actuating cam for actuating the bellows is disclosed. The bubble generator includes a housing and a body installed within the housing. The body includes inlets for inflow of air at one side thereof, outlets for outflow of air at the other side thereof and passages for communicating the inlets with the outlets. Partitions for closing said passages are formed on the way of the passages, and spaces for expanding compressed air are formed adjacent to the outlets. An opposite pair of bellows are provided on an inner wall of the body. A plurality of holes are formed at the inner wall, one half of holes being for inflow of air into the pair of bellows, the other half of holes being for outflow of air out of the pair of bellows. An actuating cam for vibrating the pair of bellows by rotation is provided between the pair of bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jea-Yoll Lee
  • Patent number: 5715998
    Abstract: A device for circulating moist air throughout the interior of a humidor. The device includes a housing which has a front surface and a rear surface. A humidity gauge is mounted within the housing. A moisture containing element is also mounted within the housing. Positioned between the rear surface of the housing and the moisture containing element is a fan. The fan is adapted to circulate a stream of air through the moisture containing element, through the front surface of said housing and throughout the interior of the humidor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Suleiman S. Sula
  • Patent number: 5702648
    Abstract: A mist generating, self-contained room air humidifier ensures substantially complete evaporation of the mist introduced to an air flow drawn from a room environment prior to discharge back into the room by preferably providing a vertical column extending upwardly from the mist generator to the humidifier outlet and having sufficient height to allow complete evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Morgan & White Ltd., PA Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. White, David B. White
  • Patent number: 5698166
    Abstract: An air freshening device is made from a solution of a polymer and a fragrant material, which is applied to an air permeable substrate. A solid fragrant residue is formed on the substrate. A fragrant material diffuses from the residue for scenting flowing through and about the substrate. An attachment is provided for attaching the substrate to an air filter received in a forced air heating, ventilating, and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: New Ideas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug M. Vick, James T. Baxter, George S. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5695692
    Abstract: Described is an air freshener unit comprising a container, a disc-shaped cartridge of air freshening material rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis within the container, and a discharge outlet in the wall of the container to allow the air freshening vapor to be dispensed. The container has baffle means adapted to allow a faster rate of evaporation of the air freshening material in one part of the cartridge relative to the remainder of the cartridge. The quicker rate of evaporation of the offset part causes the center of gravity to self-rotate within the container. The disc-shaped cartridge comprises a holder having a hub portion for rotatably mounting the cartridge in the container and holding means for supporting air freshening material in block form uniformly around the hub portion. The hub portion has oppositely directed stub shafts for location in apertures in opposed walls of the container, the apertures allowing the cartridge to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: David Kennedy (Engineers) Holdings Limited
    Inventor: James Walter Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5672299
    Abstract: A humidifier is constructed from basic units that have a rigid part supporting a hydrophilic part. A lower portion of a basic unit is disposed in a water-filled canal, and the upper portion is exposed to air, especially heated air from a heater. One embodiment is adapted for placement over a floor outlet for heated air to evaporate water from the canal into the heated air to increase the humidity thereof. This embodiment may be above or just below floor level. Various forms of covers are associated with the units. The humidifier may take the form of an ornamental replica of a windmill having hydrophilic material on rotating blades that dip into a water reservoir, and having a fan inside that blows air onto such material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Yousef Daneshvar
  • Patent number: 5667733
    Abstract: An ultra low volume fog or aerosol generator produces a fog with droplets whose particle size or sizes are easily varied from about 5 microns to about 20 microns during the operation of the machine. This generator includes an air blower, the discharge of which is directed along a prescribed path, thence, through a passageway and, thence, through a nozzle into the ambient air. Liquid supplied to the nozzle is entrained by the air as it passes through the nozzle for producing finely droplets dispersed in the air. The particle sizes of the droplets are regulated by altering the volume of air discharged through the nozzle by means of an air regulator valve, which diverts a portion of the air from its prescribed path. An electrical motor controls the opening and closing of the air regulator valve.In one embodiment, the motor cyclically modulates the opening and closing of the valve. In another embodiment, the motor is a reversible, D.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Lowndes Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Waldron, Sr.,
  • Patent number: 5667732
    Abstract: A compact portable misting fan includes a novel and attractive housing which makes extremely efficient use of space, encased fan blades which are mounted between front and rear baffles, a liquid reservoir with an atomizer, conveniently located mist and fan controls, and an easily accessible battery compartment. The housing has a substantially flat profile with a substantially cylindrical upper section in which the fan is mounted and a substantially rectilinear lower section in which the reservoir and batteries are contained. The fan on/off switch is located on a lower portion of the cylindrical upper section and the misting button is located on an upper portion of the rectilinear lower section and on a side opposite to the fan switch. It is easily held in the user's hand so that the fan and the mister can be operated separately by thumb or index finger. A small hole is provided in the housing for the outlet of the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Lederer
  • Patent number: 5662835
    Abstract: An apparatus for emitting a chemical agent includes a supply of the chemical agent, an emanator from which the chemical agent can diffuse, means for transporting the chemical agent from the supply to the emanator, means for interrupting the transportation of the chemical agent from the supply to the emanator and means for providing a flow of air over the emanator to promote diffusion of the chemical agent from the emanator. The supply of the chemical agent, the emanator, the means for transporting the chemical agent and the means for interrupting the transportation of the chemical agent may be provided in the form of an integral replaceable cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Reckitt & Colman Products Limited
    Inventor: Keith Collingwood
  • Patent number: 5653919
    Abstract: A humidifier for adding liquid from a mist source to a gas flow improves the evaporation of the liquid by reducing the quantity of larger water droplets from the mist introduced to the gas flow by slowing a diverted portion of the gas flow, routing the gas flow through a partitioned chamber and deflecting the gas flow from direct impact on the mist while catching splattered liquid droplets within the humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Morgan & White, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. White, David B. White
  • Patent number: 5645769
    Abstract: The vehicular humidified cool wind system includes a blower, atomizing means, a water tank and an air passage which are integrated, and is mounted on the ceiling above the driver to blow out a humidified wind downward. The air passage is divided into a humidified wind passage to be fed with atomized water and an ordinary wind to be fed with no atomized water. The air outlet has a double duct structure, an internal cylinder and external cylinder, in which the humidified wind having passed through the humidified wind passage is blown out of an internal cylinder whereas the ordinary wind having passed through the ordinary wind passage is blown out of an external cylinder around the internal cylinder. The humidified wind is prevented from diffusing while being surrounded by the ordinary wind, so that it efficiently reaches the driver to give him a cool feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tamaru, Kazuhiko Nakagawa, Shouichi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5643503
    Abstract: Device for introducing a gas into a liquid, of the type which comprises a drive motor, a wind box, a gas intake pipe and a radial diffusion turbine coupled to an agitator turbine, the two turbines being immersed in the liquid mass and the gas being conveyed to the centre of the diffusion turbine and distributed between the vanes thereof, wherein the said diffusion turbine has a plurality of long radial vanes alternating with shorter radial vanes, the latter not extending as far as the shaft of the said turbine so as to leave a clear space between the said shaft and the respective internal edges of the said shorter radial vanes, these two sets of vanes being fixed under a plate driven in rotation by the said shaft and the said radial vanes of the diffusion turbine laterally extend the blades of the agitator turbine as far as a region of relative depression situated behind the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Roland
  • Patent number: 5635132
    Abstract: A process for decontamination and detoxification of a room wherein an atomizer is used to diffuse a product containing essential oils as a mist. The outer openings of the room to be decontaminated and detoxified are closed and the product is diffused as a true aerosol from the center of the room. After the diffusion is stopped, the mist is allowed to decontaminate and detoxify room and the room is then aired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventor: Michel Blanc