System and method for dispensing substances into an environment

Abstract

A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building comprises at least one reservoirs, at least one nozzle, at least one pump, and logic. The reservoir contains a substance to be dispensed into the room, and the pump is coupled to the nozzle and the reservoir. The logic is configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the nozzle, the substances from the reservoir, and the nozzle is positioned within the building such that the substance dispensed from the nozzle passes into the room. In some embodiments, the nozzle is positioned within a duct of a heating, ventilated and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

1 . A system for dispensing substances into a room of a building, comprising: 
 a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;    at least one nozzle positioned within the building such that a substance dispensed from the at least one nozzle passes into the room;    at least one pump coupled to the at least one nozzle and the reservoirs; and    logic configured to control dispensing of substances from each of the reservoirs, the logic further configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the at least one nozzle, substances from any of the reservoirs.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of valves, wherein the logic, by controlling the valves, is configured to control from which of the reservoirs a substance dispensed through the at least one nozzle is drawn.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is configured to enable the user to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the at least one nozzle, the logic further configured to cause substances from different ones of the reservoirs to be automatically dispensed through the at least one nozzle at different times based on the schedule.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner has a fan, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan based on the schedule.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through the at least one nozzle, a mixture of substances from each of the reservoirs.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a user input interface; and    a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received via the user input interface,    wherein the logic is configured to activate dispensing of a substance from at least one of the reservoirs through the at least one nozzle based on the data.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the user input interface and the wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the air conditioner has a fan, and wherein the logic is configured activate the fan in response to a determination that a substance is to be dispensed through the at least one nozzle.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the air conditioner has a thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response to the determination during a time period that the thermostat controller determines that the fan is not to be activated based on the sensed temperature.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the air conditioner has a thermostat controller configured to sense a temperature within the building and to activate the fan based on the sensed temperature, and wherein the logic is configured to activate the fan in response to the determination independent of the thermostat controller.  
   
   
       12 . A dispensing system, comprising: 
 a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;    a plurality of nozzles positioned within a building;    at least one pump coupled to the nozzles and the reservoirs; and    logic configured to enable a user to select, for dispensing through any of the nozzles, substances from any of the reservoirs.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle, and wherein the logic is configured to enable substances from each of the plurality of reservoirs to be simultaneously dispensed through the first nozzle.  
   
   
       14 . A dispensing system, comprising: 
 at least one reservoir;    an air conditioner having a fan and a duct;    at least one nozzle positioned within a duct of the air conditioner;    at least one pump coupled to the at least one nozzle;    a clock; and    logic configured to enable a user to define a schedule for dispensing at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle, the logic further configured automatically activate dispensing of the at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and the clock, the logic further configured to automatically activate the fan based on the schedule and the clock.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a user input interface; and    a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit, to the logic, data indicative of a user input received by the user input interface,    wherein the logic is configured to activate dispensing of a substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the data.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user input interface and the wireless transmitter are coupled to a key chain.  
   
   
       17 . A method for dispensing substances into a room of a building, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of reservoirs, each of the reservoirs containing a different substance relative to the other reservoirs;    positioning at least one nozzle within the building such that a substance dispensed from the at least one nozzle passes into the room; and    enabling a user to select, for automatic dispensing through the at least one nozzle, substances from any of the reservoirs.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 enabling the user to define a schedule for dispensing substances through the at least one nozzle; and    automatically dispensing through the at least one nozzle at different times based on the schedule.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one nozzle is positioned within a duct of an air conditioner having a fan, further comprising the step of automatically activating the fan and dispensing of a substance from at least one of the reservoirs based on the schedule.  
   
   
       20 . A dispensing method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one reservoir and a clock;    positioning at least one nozzle within a duct of an air conditioner;    enabling a user to define a schedule for dispensing at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle;    automatically dispensing the at least one substance from the at least one reservoir through the at least one nozzle based on the schedule and the clock; and    automatically activating the fan based on the schedule and the clock.