Vapor dispensing device having improved transverse loading stability
View Patent ↗A vapor dispensing device having a high transverse loading stability includes a relatively low profile with respect to the supporting wall or electrical receptacle such that the frequency and impact of accidental physical contact with the device are appropriately reduced. To achieve a low profile, the housing of a vapor dispensing device is designed such that the distance from the outlet face of the wall receptacle to a worst-case transverse loading point (d L ) is less than the distance from the plug to a worst-case support point (d S ).
1. A vapor-dispensing device having a high transverse loading stability when connected to an electrical receptacle having an outlet face, said vapor-dispensing device comprising:
a housing;
a device outlet provided within said housing;
a plug electrically coupled to said device outlet and configured to be inserted into said outlet face;
a vapor delivery device coupled to said housing;
a refill component removeably attached to said vapor delivery device, said refill component including a refill body and a volatizable material provided therein;
said refill component at least partially surrounds the outlet;
said housing having a worst-case transverse loading point a distance d L from said outlet face along an axis through said worst-case transverse loading point and substantially perpendicular to said outlet face;
said housing having a worst-case support point a distance d S from said plug along an axis through said worst-case support point and substantially parallel to said outlet face;
said transverse loading stability of said vapor dispensing device characterized by a transverse loading coefficient η, defined as:
η≡d S /d L
wherein said vapor dispensing device has a transverse loading coefficient η>1.0.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said refill is generally “U”-shaped.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said refill is configured to slideably attach to the environment-altering apparatus.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said refill is a rectangular ring.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-delivery device is passive.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-delivery device is active.