Air freshener dispensers, cartridges therefor, systems, and methods

Abstract

Automated air freshener dispensers and cartridges therefor are provided herein. Air freshener dispensers include a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an air freshening substance for release, a fan that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow, a motor for driving the fan, at least one sensor, and a controller that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An automated air freshener dispenser, comprising:
 a housing that comprises a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising an air freshening substance for release, the housing having a first end and an opposed second end;   an axial fan within the housing that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow directed from the air freshener dispenser;   a motor within the housing for driving the fan;   at least one sensor;   a controller within the housing that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto; and   at least one status indicator light or screen associated with the housing and configured to provide a visual indication of a cartridge depletion status, a fan operation status, a power source status, or any combination thereof,   wherein the housing further comprises an airflow outlet through which the airflow comprising the entrained released air freshening substance is directed from the air freshener dispenser, the airflow outlet being disposed at the second end of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive information regarding the cartridge depletion status, the fan operation status, the power source status, or any combination thereof, and to instruct activation of the visual indication of the at least one status indicator light or screen. 
     
     
         3 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor, a light sensor, a malodor sensor, a switch, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises an air inlet disposed at the first end of the housing, and   an airflow path from the air inlet to the airflow outlet is aligned with airflow channels of the cartridge.   
     
     
         5 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the airflow path from the air inlet to the airflow outlet is at least partially linear. 
     
     
         6 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive on the housing that is configured to mount the dispenser on a structure. 
     
     
         7 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one projection within the cavity, the projection being configured for engagement with a recess of the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of posts configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one projection within the cavity, the projection being configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity, such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1  wherein:
 the housing comprises a removable portion that provides access to the cavity, and 
 the housing further comprises at least one projection located on the removable portion, the projection being configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet. 
 
     
     
         11 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, a timer, or both, for providing cartridge depletion status information to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a user interface by which a quantity of air freshener released by the dispenser is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         13 . An automated air freshener dispenser, comprising:
 a housing that comprises a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising an air freshening substance for release;   a fan within the housing that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, via an airflow outlet, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow directed from the air freshener dispenser;   a motor within the housing for driving the fan;   at least one sensor; and   a controller within the housing that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto,   wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the fan has been driven within a predetermined period preceding receipt of a signal from the at least one sensor and to prevent the motor from driving the fan in response to receipt of the signal if the fan has been driven within the predetermined period preceding receipt of the signal.   
     
     
         14 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor, a light sensor, a malodor sensor, a switch, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises an air inlet, and   an airflow path from the air inlet to the airflow outlet is aligned with airflow channels of the cartridge.   
     
     
         16 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the airflow path from the air inlet to the airflow outlet is at least partially linear. 
     
     
         17 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising an adhesive on the housing that is configured to mount the dispenser on a structure. 
     
     
         18 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one projection within the cavity, the projection being configured for engagement with a recess of the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of posts configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one projection within the cavity, the projection being configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         21 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a removable portion that provides access to the cavity, and   the housing further comprises at least one projection located on the removable portion, the projection being configured to orient the cartridge in the cavity such that airflow channels of the cartridge are aligned with an airflow path between the fan and the airflow outlet.   
     
     
         22 . The air freshener dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a user interface by which a quantity of air freshener released by the dispenser is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         23 . An air freshener cartridge, comprising:
 a body that comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate impregnated with an air freshening substance for release, the air freshening substance being selected from an odor-combatting composition, a fragrance, and a combination thereof,   wherein the body has a volume of from about 0.1 in 3  (1,600 mm 3 ) to about 2.5 in 3  (41,000 mm 3 ) and a surface area of from about 2.0 in 2  (1,300 mm 2 ) to about 40 in 2  (26,000 mm 2 ),   wherein the body defines a plurality, of airflow channels extending from a first edge of the body to an opposed second edge of the body.   
     
     
         24 . The air freshener cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the body has a volume of from about 0.4 in 3  (7,000 mm 3 ) to about 1.4 in 3  (23,000 mm 3 ). 
     
     
         25 . The air freshener cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the body has a surface area of from about 9 in 2  (6.000 mm 2 ) to about 28 in 2  (18,000 mm 2 ). 
     
     
         26 . The air freshener cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the body has a weight of from about 6 g to about 20 g. 
     
     
         27 . The air freshener cartridge of  claim 23 , wherein the body comprises the air freshening substance in an amount of from about 1 percent by weight to about 75 percent by weight.