IP Library Granted Patent US 12,263,498
Granted Patent B2
US 12,263,498 · App. 18/324,054 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Aromatic fog generator for bathing environments

Inventors: Kenneth L. Stout (Sheboygan Falls, WI); Stephen J. Bowen (Sheboygan, WI)
Assignee: KOHLER CO.
B05B7/04A47K3/001A47K3/02A61H33/00A61L9/122A61L9/125A61L9/14B05B7/0081B05B17/0607A61H2201/0188A61H2201/102A61L2209/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,263,498
App. No.
18/324,054
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A well support assembly for a fragrance dispenser includes an upper cover including a plurality of chambers, a well support engaged with the upper cover proximate to the plurality of chambers, and a plurality of wells engaged with the well support. Each of the plurality of wells extends into a respective one of the plurality of chambers and is configured to receive a fragrance therein.

Claims (32)

1. A well support assembly for a fragrance dispenser, comprising:

a support shelf including a plurality of chambers;

a well support engaged with the support shelf proximate to the plurality of chambers; and

a plurality of capsules contacting the well support, each of the plurality of capsules extending through the well support and into a respective one of the plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of capsules configured to receive a fragrance therein.

2. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of chambers includes a plurality of recessed areas defined by the support shelf.

3. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of capsules is removable from the well support.

4. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the well support includes a plate defining through-holes spaced across a length of the plate, the plate configured to support the plurality of capsules at the through-holes.

5. The well support assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the through-holes are configured to receive a respective one of the plurality of capsules therein and to support the respective one of the plurality of capsules along an outer perimeter of the through-holes.

6. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the well support includes a perforated plate that is configured to allow air to move through the well support in areas between adjacent ones of the plurality of capsules.

7. The well support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a chamber cover covering the plurality of capsules, the chamber cover including a plurality of protrusions forming partitions between adjacent ones of the plurality of chambers.

8. The well support assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a chamber cover covering the plurality of capsules, the chamber cover spaced apart from the well support forming a gap therebetween so as to allow space for air to be pulled into the well support assembly.

9. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of capsules are suspended within the plurality of chambers by the well support and are spaced apart from walls of the support shelf that define the plurality of chambers.

10. The well support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support shelf includes a perforated portion beneath the plurality of capsules that allows air to flow through the support shelf.

11. A fragrance dispenser, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

a well support assembly coupled to the housing, the well support assembly comprising:

a support shelf including a plurality of chambers;

a well support engaged with the support shelf proximate to the plurality of chambers; and

a plurality of capsules contacting the well support, each of the plurality of capsules extending through the well support and into a respective one of the plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of capsules configured to receive a fragrance therein; and

a fan coupled to the housing, the fan configured to draw in air from a space surrounding the housing, across at least one of the plurality of capsules, and into the cavity.

12. The fragrance dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of capsules is removable from the plurality of chambers.

13. The fragrance dispenser of claim 11 , further comprising a flow control manifold that is configured to control a flow of the air across each of the plurality of chambers individually.

14. The fragrance dispenser of claim 11 , the well support including a perforated portion to allow the air to move through the well support.

15. The fragrance dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the well support includes a plate defining through-holes spaced across a length of the plate, the plate configured to support the plurality of capsules at the through-holes.

16. The fragrance dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the well support assembly further comprises a chamber cover disposed over the plurality of capsules and spaced apart from the plurality of capsules, the chamber cover including a plurality of protrusions forming partitions between adjacent chambers.

17. A method, comprising:

drawing air into a well support assembly from a space surrounding a housing that includes a support shelf defining a plurality of chambers;

forming aromatic air by drawing the air through a first chamber of the plurality of chambers and across at least one capsule of a plurality of capsules disposed in a respective one of the plurality of chambers, and by drawing air through a well support that contacts the plurality of capsules and through which the plurality of capsules extend, the plurality of capsules configured to receive a fragrance therein; and

pulling the aromatic air into a cavity of the housing by a fan coupled to the housing.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising repositioning a valve member to fluidly couple the fan to the first chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising repositioning the valve member to fluidly couple the fan to a second chamber of the plurality of chambers, and drawing the air through the second chamber containing a second well of the plurality of capsules.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein drawing the air through the first chamber comprises drawing the air through a perforated plate that supports the plurality of capsules.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2023
From: STOUT, KENNETH L.; BOWEN, STEPHEN J.
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 063768/0455 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17739485 · May 9, 2022
Continuation 16675994 · Nov 6, 2019
Provisional Application 62757001 · Nov 7, 2018
Related Publication 20230302471A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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