US2609230A - Wick type vaporizer - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 v, UNITED STATES PAT ENT "OFFICE WICKTYPE vimmzss Delbert S. Raleigh, Reno; News Application Jtne6,1950,srsiso. 166,461 1 7 Claims. (Cl. 299-20) This invention relates to a vaporizer of the wick type. It may be used for the controlled evaporation of disinfectants and deodorizers into the surrounding atmosphere to purify the air.

The wick type of vaporizer that has recently become popular has brought with it several problems. For one thing the containers have tended to fall overtoo easily and have spilled the fluid onto furniture, rugs, etc. The fluid has also been spilled when the wicks have been pulled out too far. Furthermore, the containers themselves have been relatively unattractive, and their advertising matter and labels have made them unsightly.

The present invention provides an attractive, refillable vaporizer that may be used with any of the well-known fluid deodorants and disinfectants now on the market. It includes a hollow, open-top container, and a hollow open-bottom piston member that fits into the open upper end of the container to close the container. The wick is supported over the outer wall surface of the piston member, preferably being secured to the upper end thereof just below the top. The lower end of the wick is secured to the bottom of the interiorof the hollow container base. The thickness of the wick is such that it fills the space between the walls of the telescoping members. Since the wick fits snugly within the container, it will hold itself and the piston member at any desired height to expose as much wick as is necessary to dispense the volatile liquid at the desired rate,

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment. It will be understood that there may be changes in shape, materials, and elements which will still fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The description and the drawings are presented in accordance with United States Revised Statutes,

section 4888, and are illustrative of the invention, not definitive of it.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a vaporizer embodying the principles of the invention, the wick being shown in an intermediate dispensing position.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the vaporizer of Fig. 1, showing it in its closed inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation and in section showing the vaporizer in its fully extendedposition'when it is disseminating the vapor into the atmosphere at the maximum rate and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the vaporizer with the cap in position so that the air and filler opening therethrough is closed.

The vaporizer shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is cylindrical, and this is the preferred shape. However,

it may be made in various other shapes. if desired. For examp1e,it may be elliptical or square as seen in cross section.

The lower or base member of the vaporizer is a hollowopen-topped, walled cylindrical container I having a flanged base II. The container II) supports the device and its wide bas keeps it from being knocked over accidentally. The inner wall I2 of the container I0 is preferably cylindrical and provides a chamber I3 that holds the volatile liquid.

A ring I4 may be cemented or otherwise formed at the bottom I5 of the chamber I3. The lower end I3 of a wick is cemented or otherwise se-- cured adjacent to the lower end I5 of the cham-- ber I3, being shown here as held between the; ring I 4 and container wall I2. The lower por-- tion 2I of the wick 20 preferably comprises a plurality of vertical threads, without any cross; threads, so that it consumes less space. The up per portion 22 of the wick 20 is woven with horizontal cross threads, as well as the vertical. threads, and its upper end 23 is secured by ce-- ment or otherwise to the upper end 24 of a cylin-- drical piston 25 between the piston and an outerring 26.

The cylindrical piston 25 supports the wick 23: on its outer wall surface 21, the clearance be-- tween the wall 21 and the wall I2 of the container being approxmately the thickness of the? wick 26, so that when the piston 25 is raised or lowered to expose more or less of the wick 20, the friction present will support th piston at whatever height it is moved to. The wick 20 secured at both ends I9 and 23 and is longer between these points than the vertical length of the wall l2 and is shorter than the combined vertical lengths of the wall I2 and wall 21 so that the top member cannot be pulled all the way out of the container ID. The piston 25 is hollow and has a relatively thin wall so as not to cut down on the liquid capacity of the base It? or to interfere with the lower end ZI of the wick 20folding in when the dispenser is closed, as in Fig. 2.

At the upper end 24 of the top member 25 a; It is illustrated as a lower cap: The lower cap may be made integrally with or cemented to the piston:

valve is provided. 30 and an upper cap 3I.

are provided through the caps 30 and 3! respectively. The openings 35, 36 preferably are the same size and lie at the same radial position so they may be aligned and disaligned by turning the upper cap 3|. When disaligned, they close the vaporizer and prevent evaporation.

All the parts except the wick may be made from well-known present day plastic materials. The plastic used for the case may be transparent to show the height of the liquid or it may be opaque to conceal the liquid and the interior of the device. The utility of such a vaporizer as that illustrated makes it suitable for use in an ofiice, or for a living room.

The wick may be woven in the round or it may be seamed together inform a tubular ele'- ment. The-cross threads may-be removed-for the lower portion 2|, or the wick 20 may be woven without any threads for that portion.

When thedevice is not in use, the piston will beinits lowest position, as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper part 22 of the wick" 20 will rest between the pistonswall- 26- and the. container wall l2; The vertical threads of the lower part 2i of the wick ZD-Will fold inside the hollow piston chamber 28. The upper cap 3i will normally be turned to the closed position shown in Figs. 3 and-4, with the holes and 36 out of alignment to keep the volatile liquid from evaporating.

When it is desired to dispense some ofthe deodorant or disinfectant into-the room, the cap 3| is turnedsdthat the valve openings 35 and 36 are aligned, asshown in Fig 2. Then the cap30 is lifteduntil' the-wick. 20' and DistOn-ZS' are pulled up as high as desired. (which may bepart of the way upas in Fig.1, or all the way: up as in Fig. 3) The cap 31 is again turneditodisalign'the holes 35 and Eliasshown in Figs. 3; and 4. The-snug fit of, the wick 20,. backed up by thezpiston l5, will hold it in this position and the closing of the' air column by disaligning of the holes 35 and. alsov helps it remain fixed. When theair has: been purified the. cap. 31 is, again. turned to align the. holes 3.5'and- 3B; the piston 251 and iwick '20 areithen depressedhy-pushing down on; the capr3l, and after the; container. is. closed'the holes 3.5. and 36 are again disaligned;

I claim:

1. Awick=type vaporizer. havinga hoilowopentopped; walled. base -member; a. hollow open-bots tomedwalled; top: member: loosely fitted; to. telescope within; said base member; a tubular: wick fitted between the walls of said telescopedmernbers, securedat its upper end to. said-.top'member:

and at its lower end to saidbase. member, said wickbetween itslsecured ends being; longer: than the vertical walllength of, said topmembenandi shorter than the: combined vertical wall lengths: of said base and Said top members, wherebywhen said base and top members are vertically extended said wicl; will limit their relative movement, and

when said-members are te1escoped',.the*surplus* length of wick, will .be accommodated:withinrsaid hollowmembers;

2.; The-devicemfzclaim l in: which thereais a.

valve-in said-;top.member to' allow-free fiow oi: fluids-intoror'out of the chamber formed bysaid:

telescoped baseiand top; members. 7

3..- Aavaporizerof: the wick type including; in

combination a hollow container having-a support--- ing base and an open upper end; a-hol1owpiston member of the same exteriorishape asthe. intothe lower end of said container near said base member; and a closure member secured to the upper end of said piston member.

4. The vaporizer of claim 3 in which only the vertical threads of the wick extend below the piston member.

5. A vaporizer of the wick type including in combination a hollow container having a supportingbase and an open upper end; a hollow piston member of the" same exterior shape as the interior shape of said container, adapted toslide up and down within said container witliclearance between their respective walls; a wick of a thickness approximately equal to" said clearance, embracing said piston member and securedto said piston at its upper end, and extending down below the lower end of said piston into said container; and a closure member comprising two cap portions', pivotallysecuredto each other; said caps having vertical openings thereth'rough lying the same radial distance from the center so that said openings may be aligned or disaligned.

6. A wick-type vaporizer'havin'g'a hollow opentopped walled base member; aholloWopen-bottomed walled top member looselyfitted to telescope within said base member; a tubular wick fitted-between the wallsof said't'elescoped members and-thick enough to hold them without; slipping in-anyrelative location in which they are positioned untili they are repositioned, said wick being secured at its upper end tosaid top member, said wick between its secured end's being longer than the vertical wall len'gth of said top member;

'7:.. A' vaporizer of the'wick type including in combinatiorra hollow container having a supportingbaseand an open upper'end; a hollow' piston. member of the same iexterior'shape, as the interior shapeioff said container; adapted to slide up and down within said container with clea'rance REFERENCE-S CITED The following references are of record" inthe file ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS" Number Name: Date 416,913. Hawk'es Dec. 10,1889 926,961. Raforth July 6,1909

1,043,159 Sleeper Nov. 5,1912 1,485,711 Resek et-al: i Mar". 4, ,1924 2,403,880 raft. July 9, 1946'

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