IP Library › Patent Application 12442089
Patent Application
App. No. 12/442,089

AIR-FRESHENING DISPENSING DEVICE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/442,089
Abstract

The invention relates to an air-freshening dispensing device, including a housing having a pair of mounts for mounting respective containers provided in outer sections of the housing; and a switchable shutter element arranged for selectively shutting access of an airflow to any of the outer sections. According to the invention, the shutter element is provided in a mid section between the outer sections and communicatively coupled to an air inlet. An air outlet provides throughput of the airflow through the mid section and the device further includes a clamp for clamping the unit onto an outlet channel to provide an airflow into the air inlet.

Claims (17)

1 . An air-freshening dispensing device, comprising:

a housing, comprising a pair of mounts configured to mount respective containers provided in outer sections of the housing; and

a switchable shutter element arranged configured to selectively shut access of an airflow to any of the outer sections;

wherein

the shutter element is provided in a mid section between the outer sections;

and the mid section is communicatively coupled to an air inlet, and further comprising an air outlet configured to provide throughput of the airflow through the mid section.

2 . A dispensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a clamp configured to clamp the unit onto an outlet channel so as to provide an airflow into the air inlet.

3 . A dispensing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter element is bistably switchable.

4 . A dispensing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the shutter element comprises a valve piece that is mounted in the mid section, to include or exclude the air inlet to either of the outer sections, by pivoting the valve piece against a seat structure provided in the housing.

5 . A dispensing unit according to claim 4 , wherein the mid section is bounded by a wedge shaped seat structure, the valve piece seating against either of opposite sides of the wedge shaped seat structure; and further comprising a knob protruding through the housing to switch the valve to any of the opposite sides of the mid section.

6 . A dispensing unit according to claim 5 , wherein the valve piece further comprises cross-shaped flaps, oriented transversely to the valve piece.

7 . A dispensing unit according to claim 6 , wherein the flaps, by pivoting the valve piece, open or close access to any of the outer sections through abutting a side of a flap against a seat arranged in the outer section.

8 . The dispensing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a slider element that slidingly shuts the air inlet, for regulating an airflow intensity.

9 . The dispensing unit of claim 8 , wherein the slider comprises a closure element slidable along an inlet opening provided in a first side wall of the mid section, for slidingly closing the air inlet access to the mid section, and wherein the slider further comprises a second closure element slidable along an air outlet opening provided in a second side wall of the mid section.

10 . The dispensing unit of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are adjacent; and wherein the second sidewall is a top wall when viewed in mounted condition.

11 . The dispensing unit of claim 9 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are opposite to each other.

12 . The dispensing unit of claim 10 , wherein the top wall defines a lower wall of a collection chamber that is provided with an air outlet.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2010
From: SARA LEE/DE N.V.
To: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025163/0732 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2010
From: LEE, SARA/DE N.V.
To: PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, THE
Reel/Frame 025138/0195 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2009
From: BULSINK, DIRK JAN; BOGERD, CASPAR BARRY
To: SARA LEE/DE N.V.
Reel/Frame 023069/0944 →