US 11,730,846 B2
Fragrance diffusion collector assembly, exchangeable fragrance cartridge, and fragrance diffusion system and method
Daniel J. Connors, Nokomis, FL (US); Matthew L. Browne, Gastonia, NC (US); and Logan T. Andres, Indian Trail, NC (US)
Assigned to ScentAir Technologies, LLC, Charlotte, NC (US)
Appl. No. 17/437,277
Filed by ScentAir Technologies, LLC, Charlotte, NC (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/022317
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/186018, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/817,207, filed on Mar. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0160924 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 9/14 (2006.01); B05B 15/30 (2018.01); A61L 9/12 (2006.01); B05B 7/00 (2006.01); B05B 7/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 9/14 (2013.01) [A61L 9/122 (2013.01); B05B 7/0012 (2013.01); B05B 7/2429 (2013.01); B05B 15/30 (2018.02); A61L 2209/133 (2013.01); A61L 2209/134 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fragrance cartridge incorporating a collector assembly adapted for use in a fragrance diffusion system, said collector assembly comprising:
a dual-thread collector base comprising an integrally-formed cartridge coupler and neck, said cartridge coupler having an internal screw thread designed for mating with a complementary external screw thread of said fragrance cartridge, and said neck having an external screw thread matching the internal screw thread of said cartridge coupler, wherein an outside diameter of said neck measured at an outermost thread is equal to an inside diameter of said cartridge coupler measured at a maximum depth of said internal screw thread;
an atomizing device comprising a flow nozzle attached to said collector base and defining an internal air passage having a first open end adapted for communicating with a source of compressed air and a second open end extending into an atomization chamber formed with said collector base, said atomization chamber defining a vapor port adapted for communicating with an inside of said fragrance cartridge, and said atomizing device further comprising an end wall sealing said atomization chamber on an output side of said collector base;
an elongated vacuum tube fluidly connected to said atomization chamber on a cartridge side of said collector base, and adapted for extending into a liquid fragrance stored inside said fragrance cartridge, whereby an airblast through the internal passage of said nozzle creates a suction force drawing liquid fragrance from said cartridge through said vacuum tube and into said atomization chamber where the liquid fragrance is converted into droplets prior to discharging outwardly through said vapor port and into a vapor chamber inside said cartridge; and
at least one diffusion opening formed in said collector base for enabling movement of fragrant vapor outwardly from said cartridge.