IP Library Patent Application 13797475
Patent Application
App. No. 13/797,475

MEMBRANE AIR FRESHENER WITH DIRECT DOME LABLE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/797,475
Filed
Mar 12, 2013
Art Unit
3752
USPC
239/57
Abstract

An air freshener includes a capsule having a permeable membrane extending across and covering a cavity, and a front surface. A fragrant material is disposed in the cavity of the vessel and is visible through a capsule wall. The fragrant material includes a scent permeating the permeable membrane. A recess is formed in the front surface of the vessel. An insert is coupled in the recess of the front surface with the insert carried directly by the capsule. Indicia is carried by the insert or the recess of the front surface. The air freshener has means for mounting the capsule.

Claims (69)

1 . An air freshener device, comprising:

a) a capsule having a vessel defined by a plastic sheet with an indentation therein forming a cavity circumscribed by a rim, and a permeable membrane extending across and covering the cavity and affixed to the rim, the vessel having a front surface on a protrusion opposite to and defined by the indentation in the plastic sheet;

b) the plastic sheet defining a vessel wall and being at least translucent with a substantially constant thickness, and with the protrusion matching the indentation on opposite sides of the vessel;

c) a fragrant material disposed in the cavity of the vessel and visible through the vessel wall, the fragrant material including a scent permeating the permeable membrane;

d) a recess formed in the front surface of the vessel;

e) an insert coupled in the recess of the front surface with the insert carried directly by the vessel;

f) indicia carried by the insert or the recess of the front surface; and

g) means for mounting the capsule attached to the vessel.

2 . A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the means for mounting forms a single point connection to the rim; and wherein the capsule, the vessel and the rim are exposed and free from other structure, except for the single point connection and the insert.

3 . A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the insert extends beyond the recess in the front surface of the vessel.

4 . A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the insert is recessed within the recess in the front surface of the vessel.

5 . A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the insert further comprises:

a dome coupled to the front surface and having a broad, flat shape with an outfacing surface and with a flat and smooth center parallel to the front surface and surrounded by a radius perimeter.

6 . A device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the dome is at least translucent; and

wherein the indicia is disposed between the dome and the vessel, and visible through the dome.

7 . A device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the dome is opaque; and wherein the indicia is disposed on the outfacing surface of the dome.

8 . A device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the insert further comprises:

a) an adhesive film adhered to the front surface of the vessel;

b) a polyurethane dome affixed to the adhesive film and adhered to the vessel by the adhesive film.

9 . A device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the dome is translucent or transparent; and further comprising a graphic layer disposed between the adhesive film and the dome and visible through the dome.

10 . A device in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising:

a film with the adhesive film on one side; and

the graphic layer printed on the other side.

11 . A device in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising:

a substrate with the adhesive film on one side and the graphic layer printed on the other side; and

the substrate is at least translucent so that the entire insert except for the graphic layer is translucent or transparent.

12 . A device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein all of the outfacing surface of the dome between the radius perimeter is flat and smooth and continuous.

13 . A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the means for mounting further comprises:

a) a mount rigidly affixed to a back of the rim opposite the front surface and having a dimple therein;

b) a standoff brace rigidly affixed in the dimple of the mount; and

c) a clip affixed to the standoff brace opposite the mount.

14 . A device in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the clip further comprises:

a pair of fingers configured to engage a louver of an air vent and extend into the air vent with the permeable membrane separated from and spaced apart from the louver of the air vent by the standoff brace and with at least a bottom portion of the mount abutting to the standoff brace to resist pivoting of the mount with respect to the standoff brace, and thus resist pivoting of the permeable membrane towards the louver.

15 . An air freshener device, comprising:

a) a capsule having a vessel defined by a plastic sheet with an indentation therein forming a cavity circumscribed by a rim, and a permeable membrane extending across and covering the cavity and affixed to the rim, the vessel having a front surface on a protrusion opposite to and defined by the indentation in the plastic sheet;

b) the plastic sheet defining a vessel wall and being at least translucent with a substantially constant thickness, and with the protrusion matching the indentation on opposite sides of the vessel;

c) a fragrant material disposed in the cavity of the vessel and visible through the vessel wall, the fragrant material including a scent permeating the permeable membrane;

d) a recess formed in the front surface of the vessel;

e) an insert coupled in the recess of the front surface with the insert carried directly by the vessel, the insert including:

i) an adhesive film adhered to the front surface of the vessel;

ii) a polyurethane dome affixed to the adhesive film and adhered to the vessel by the adhesive film; and

iii) the dome having a broad, flat shape with an outfacing surface and with a flat and smooth center parallel with the adhesive film and surrounded by a radius perimeter;

f) indicia carried by the insert or the recess of the front surface; and

g) means for mounting the capsule attached to the vessel.

16 . A device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the means for mounting forms a single point connection to the rim; and wherein the capsule, the vessel and the rim are exposed and free from other structure, except for the single point connection and the insert.

17 . A device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the dome is translucent or transparent; and further comprising a graphic layer disposed between the adhesive film and the dome and visible through the dome.

18 . A device in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising:

a film with the adhesive film on one side; and

the graphic layer printed on the other side.

19 . A device in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising:

a substrate with the adhesive film on one side and the graphic layer printed on the other side; and

the substrate is at least translucent so that the entire insert except for the graphic layer is translucent or transparent.

20 . A device in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the means for mounting further comprises:

a) a mount rigidly affixed to a back of the rim opposite the front surface and having a dimple therein;

b) a standoff brace rigidly affixed in the dimple of the mount; and

c) a clip affixed to the standoff brace opposite the mount.

21 . An air freshener device in combination with a vehicle air vent with a louver, the device comprising:

a) a capsule having a vessel with an indentation forming a cavity circumscribed by a rim, and a permeable membrane extending across the cavity and affixed to the rim to enclose the cavity, and a front surface on a protrusion opposite the permeable membrane;

b) the vessel having a vessel wall that is at least translucent with a substantially constant wall thickness, and with the protrusion matching the indentation on opposite sides of the vessel;

c) a fragrant material disposed in the cavity of the vessel and visible through the vessel wall, the fragrant material including a scent permeating the permeable membrane;

d) a mount rigidly affixed to a back of the rim opposite the front surface and having a dimple therein;

e) a standoff brace rigidly affixed in the dimple of the mount;

f) a clip affixed to the standoff brace opposite the mount having a pair of fingers engaging the louver of the air vent and extending into the air vent with the permeable membrane separated from and spaced apart from the louver of the air vent by the standoff brace and with at least a bottom portion of the mount abutting to the standoff brace to resist pivoting of the mount with respect to the standoff brace, and thus resist pivoting of the permeable membrane towards the louver;

g) a recess formed in the front surface of the vessel;

h) an insert coupled in the recess of the front surface, the insert including:

i) an adhesive film adhered to the front surface of the vessel;

ii) a polyurethane dome affixed to the adhesive film and adhered to the vessel by the adhesive film; and

iii) the dome having a broad, flat shape with an outfacing surface and with a flat and smooth center parallel with the adhesive film and surrounded by a radius perimeter;

i) indicia carried by the insert or the recess of the front surface.

Assignments (14)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 032804 FRAME: 0191. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: HANDSTANDS PROMO, INC.
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056077/0300 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME ON THE COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 032597 FRAME: 0799. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: HANDSTANDS PROMO, INC.
Reel/Frame 056443/0761 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 5, 2016
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039258/0034 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 5, 2016
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
To: HANDSTANDS PROMO, INC.
Reel/Frame 039256/0252 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 5, 2016
From: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, LP, AS AGENT
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039255/0843 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2015
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036531/0446 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2015
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036470/0413 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2014
From: HANDSTAND PROMO, INC.
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032852/0658 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2014
From: HANDSTAND PROMO, INC.
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 032804/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2014
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: HANDSTAND PROMO, INC.
Reel/Frame 032597/0799 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 24, 2014
From: HANDSTANDS PROMO, INC.
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 032126/0730 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2014
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: HANDSTANDS PROMO, INC.
Reel/Frame 032031/0399 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2013
From: HAYMOND, BRYCE
To: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030327/0476 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 1, 2013
From: AMERICAN COVERS, INC.
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 030331/0036 →