AIR FRESHENER DESIGN FOR OPTIMIZED AIR FLOW

1 . A volatile substance distribution system comprising:

a fan having a fan profile;

a housing that defines a fluid passage, the fan disposed in the fluid passage, the housing defining a receptacle configured to removably receive a capsule containing a volatile substance member, the fluid passage fluidly connected to the capsule when the receptacle removably receives the capsule; and

a shroud surface that partly defines the fluid passage and that opposes the fan, the shroud surface and the fan profile having a corresponding contour.

2 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the fan is supported for rotation about an axis; and

wherein the shroud surface extends substantially along the axis and contours about the axis in a circumferential direction.

3 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the shroud surface extends substantially parallel to the axis and contours about the axis in a circumferential direction.

4 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes an aperture that fluidly connects with the capsule when removably received in the receptacle;

further comprising a tapered surface that partly defines the fluid passage and that has a tapering width with respect to the axis, the tapered surface disposed axially between the shroud surface and the aperture.

5 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 4 , wherein the aperture is an outlet aperture of the fluid passage from the housing.

6 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 5 , wherein the tapered surface has an arcuate cross section taken perpendicular to the axis;

wherein the tapering width reduces as the tapered surface extends from the shroud surface toward the aperture.

7 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the fan is supported for rotation about an axis;

wherein the receptacle and the shroud surface are substantially coaxial and substantially centered on the axis.

8 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 7 , further comprising a chassis that supports the fan; and

wherein the chassis includes at least one aperture that is substantially centered on the axis.

9 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 8 , wherein the aperture defines an equilateral triangular profile.

10 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 9 , wherein the chassis supports a plurality of batteries that are arranged end-to-end in an equilateral triangular formation that is centered on the axis.

11 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an inner member that defines the receptacle and that includes a shroud member that is attached to the inner member and that defines the shroud surface.

12 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 11 , wherein the inner member includes a side wall and a lower support that cooperatively define the receptacle; and

wherein at least part of the shroud member depends from the side wall.

13 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 12 , further comprising a chassis that supports the fan; and

wherein at least part of the shroud member depends from the side wall and terminates proximate the chassis.

14 . The volatile substance distribution system of claim 1 , comprising the capsule that is removably received in the receptacle;

wherein the fan is supported for rotation about an axis;

wherein the capsule and the shroud surface are substantially centered on the axis.

15 . A method of manufacturing a volatile substance distribution system comprising:

supporting a fan within a fluid passage of a housing, the fan having a fan profile, the housing defining a receptacle configured to removably receive a capsule containing a volatile substance member, the fluid passage fluidly connected to the capsule when the receptacle removably receives the capsule; and

supporting the fan within a shroud surface that partly defines the fluid passage and that opposes the fan, the shroud surface and the fan profile having a corresponding contour.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising supporting the fan for rotation about an axis; and

wherein the shroud surface extends substantially along the axis and contours about the axis in a circumferential direction.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the shroud surface extends substantially parallel to the axis and contours about the axis in a circumferential direction.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the housing includes an aperture that fluidly connects with the capsule when removably received in the receptacle;

further comprising a tapered surface that partly defines the fluid passage and that has a tapering width with respect to the axis, the tapered surface disposed axially between the shroud surface and the aperture.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the tapered surface has an arcuate cross section taken perpendicular to the axis;

wherein the tapering width reduces as the tapered surface extends from the shroud surface toward the aperture.

20 . A volatile substance distribution system comprising:

a capsule containing a volatile substance member; and

a base unit with a housing that houses a fan, the fan having a fan profile, the housing defining a receptacle that removably receives the capsule, the housing defining a fluid passage that fluidly connects to the capsule, the fan disposed in the fluid passage, the fluid passage partly defined by a shroud surface of the housing, the shroud surface opposing the fan, the shroud surface and the fan profile having a corresponding contour.