FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this patent document relates to devices and techniques that produce an aromatic scent, and in particular to devices and techniques that produce light in addition to aroma.

BACKGROUND

The first appearance of aroma producing devices dates back to the Han Dynasty and the Warring States Period and their use persist even to present day. In early scent producing imitation candle device s, an aroma stove is placed on a level surface, water is added into a recess on the top of the devices, 3 to 5 drops of pure essential oil are then added, and then a tealight is placed into an opening at the bottom of the essential oil stove. When the tealight is lit, the water temperature at the top slowly increases, and a scent is slowly dispersed into the air along with some steam as the water is evaporated. The scent is diminished and is ultimately gone when the tealight is extinguished. Such an aroma stove provides several tangible features such as masking odors, and purifying the air, as well as supposed benefits including refreshing the brain, clearing the mind and improving work efficiency. But the traditional aroma stove has the following drawbacks: first, the aroma stove has a high surface temperature that can cause burns and injuries, especially, to children and pets. Second, the candle has an open flame which can lead to fires. Third, an essential oil must be repeatedly added into the recess, which makes the stove difficult to clean. Over the recent years, scent producing imitation candle device s have been developed that include a light bulb to heat an essential oil, and melt the wax in the recess through the heat of the bulb itself. However, the bulb can only emit light, and does not flicker like a candle, and thus it does not and cannot create a romantic environment. In addition, the bulb is too hot, which leads to a very high surface temperature. As a result, similar to the traditional aroma stove, it can lead to injury and burns to adults, children and pets.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments related to an electronic scent producing imitation candle device that includes a support assembly comprising a base, a support rod and a top plate, where the support rod connects the base and the top plate. The device further includes a flame element and a light source for illuminating the flame element to simulate a real flame, where the flame element and the light source are positioned the base and below the top lid. The device further includes a fragrance compartment positioned above the top plate; the fragrance container includes a lid that can be removably positioned on top of the fragrance container to cover the fragrance compartment. The device additionally includes a heating element positioned above the top plate and below the fragrance container to provide heat to the fragrance container, and a switch coupled to the lid of the fragrance container and operable to sense whether or not the lid is positioned to cover the fragrance container and to deactivate the heating element upon sensing that the fragrance container is covered by the lid.

In one embodiment, the switch is mechanically coupled to the lid to sense a downward or an upward movement of the lid. In another embodiment, the switch is configured to deactivate the heating element upon detection of a downward movement of the lid and to activate the heating element upon detection of an upward movement of the lid. In yet another embodiment, the device further includes an insulation lid positioned under the lid to impede transfer of heat to the lid. According to still another embodiment, the lid includes a hollow structure that protrudes downward from a center of the fragrance compartment; the hollow structure includes an elastic material therein that allows the lid to be pressed downward or to moved upward.

According to another embodiment, the electronic scent producing imitation candle device further includes a locking base positioned within the device below the fragrance compartment to lock in place the lid when the lid is moved downward. In one embodiment, the fragrance compartment includes one or more partitions that divide the fragrance container into a plurality of chambers. In one example, each chamber is configured to hold a particular fragrance material that is different from fragrance materials in other chambers. In yet another example, the plurality of chambers are in communication with each other to enable scents from a variety of fragrances to be mixed in the fragrance compartment.

In yet another embodiment, the electronic scent producing imitation candle device includes an indicator light positioned to illuminate the fragrance compartment with light. For example, the indicator light can be configured to illuminate the fragrance container with any one of a plurality of colored lights. In particular, a first colored light is indicative of a low temperature of the fragrance compartment, a second colored light is indicative of a medium temperature of the fragrance compartment and a third colored light is indicative of a high temperature of the fragrance compartment. According to another embodiment, at least a section of the fragrance compartment is made of a clear material or a translucent material to allow contents of the fragrance compartment to be viewed.

In another embodiment, the electronic scent producing imitation candle device further includes a power cord to deliver power to the electronic scent producing imitation candle device, a remote control device that allows control of the operations of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device from a remote location, and a control panel coupled to the power cord. The control panel includes a plurality of buttons that allow control of an operation of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device. In one example embodiment, each of the remote control device and the control panel includes a corresponding magnetic element thereon; the remote control device is configured to be mounted on the control panel at least in-part due to attractive forces of magnets on the remote control device and the control panel. In another example embodiment, the remote control device includes a clearance groove configured to prevent the remote control device from contacting the buttons on the control panel when the remote control device is mounted on top of the control panel. According to one exemplary embodiment, the remote control device and the control panel include mutually matching structures that enable installation of the remote control device onto the control panel.

In another embodiment, the top plate of the support assembly includes an installation groove for accommodating placement of the fragrance compartment inside the installation groove. In yet another embodiment, the electronic scent producing imitation candle device also includes a temperature control device to control an on/off operation of the heating element according to a temperature of a fragrance material inside the fragrance compartment. In still another embodiment, the device further comprises a shell disposed along a periphery of the support assembly; the shell includes an observation window thereon to allow the flame element to be viewed from outside of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device. In another exemplary embodiment, the device further includes an electromagnet coupled to the lid and configured to close or open the lid in response to activation of the electromagnet.

According to another embodiment, the electronic scent producing imitation candle device further includes a sensor positioned to detect a presence or absence of a fragrance material within the fragrance compartment, and to affect a supply of power to the heating element in response thereto. In one embodiment, the sensor is configured to (a) deactivate the supply of power to the heating element upon detection of an empty fragrance compartment or a presence of a nominal amount of fragrance in the fragrance compartment, and (b) reactivate the supply of power to the heating element upon detection of a presence of fragrance compartment beyond the nominal amount. In one embodiment, the sensor is configured to activate or deactivate in response to a weight of the fragrance compartment.

