GB2377640A

GB2377640A - Holder for an air freshener canister

Info

Publication number: GB2377640A
Application number: GB0213158A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chinwe Ifeoma Osita
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-07
Filing date: 2002-06-07
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-07
Also published as: GB2377640B; GB0213158D0; WO2002098472A1; GB0113915D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns a holder (1) for holding an air freshener canister. The holder has means (6) for mounting the frame to a wall, and activating means (3, 9) for activating a canister held within the frame from below the level of the frame to thereby release air freshener. The holder comprises a frame (2) having a top (5), at least one side portion (6) by which the frame is mountable to a surface, and a base (7). A projection (8, 9) is movable towards and impingable upon the canister when activated by the user using string, cord, wire or rope (3).

Description

- 1 - DISPENSER HOLDER

The present invention relates to a holder for air freshener or other similar dispensers.

Conventional air freshener dispensers take the form of pressurized canisters. These have the disadvantages of being easy to misplace, and through mis-use can result in accidental ingestion of air freshener, when for example in the hands of 10 a child. Further, pressurised canisters can present serious dangers if they become overheated.

According to the present invention there is provided a surface mountable holder for an air freshener canister, comprising a 15 frame for holding an air freshener canister, means for mounting the frame to a surface, and activating means for activating a canister held within the frame from below the level of the frame to thereby dispense the contents of the canister. In this way, there is provided a dispenser holder 20 for an air freshener canister which can position the canister beyond the reach of children, which reduces the risk of misplacement of the canister by providing a purpose built location therefor, and which improves ease and convenience of use. The holder of the present invention may be mounted to any suitable surface, but is conveniently wall-mountable.

The frame of the holder of the present invention must be able 30 to support an air freshener canister, and be mountable to the surface (e.g. wall), either directly (i.e. the frame comprises the mounting means) or indirectly by the mounting means.

The frame may take any suitable form, for example, from a surface mountable single piece by which a canister may be held, to a surface mountable box within which a canister may be enclosed. Of course, if the canister is enclosed on all 5 sides within the frame, the frame should also comprise one or more openings through which air freshener may be expelled, for example a top opening and/or a side opening.

The frame preferably comprises a top, a side portion by which 10 the frame is mountable to a surface, and a base. In such preferred embodiments, the top of the frame preferably comprises an activator, for activating a canister held within the frame. When present, the activator is activated by the activating means (described below). For example, the top may 15 comprise one or more projections on its underside for activating a canister held within the frame. The projection(s) may be movable towards and impingable upon the canister when activated by a user. In particularly preferred embodiments, the top, and hence the projection(s) on the underside thereof, 20 is movable relative to a canister held within the frame, for example by means of one or more springs or hinges.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a plurality of projections, at least one of which is 25 removably attached to the top, for example, by means of a screw thread, and removal of which projection can facilitate accommodation of canisters of differing styles.

The top may be of any suitable size, according to the 30 particular type of canister to be held within the holder, and typical top dimensions are approximately 7.Scm square. The forward facing edge of the top may be rounded, pointed (with blunted tips for safety), curved, or formed into any desired

shape. In the above described preferred embodiments of the present invention, the side portion of the frame may comprise a single 5 flat portion for mounting to a surface (in particular, a wall), and includes means by which a canister can be held to or within the frame. Suitable means for mounting the side portion to a surface will be apparent to a skilled person, for example by screws, brackets, and the like. The means for 10 holding a canister to or within the frame may comprise, for example, one or more resilient clips for gripping a canister, or one or more hoops through which a canister may be placed.

The side portion may be of any suitable size, according to the 15 particular type of canister to be held within the holder, and typical side portion dimensions are approximately 7.5cm wide by 23cm high. However, as referred to above, the frame may comprise a plurality of side portions, for example to surround the canister on all sides.

In the above described preferred embodiments of the present invention, the base of the frame is the frame component upon which the canister rests during use. To restrict movement of a canister held within the frame, the base may comprise a 25 recess which corresponds substantially to the external dimensions of the base of the canister, i.e. a recess in which the base of the canister can sit. For example for holding canisters having a circular base, the base of the frame may comprise a recess of circular cross section having a diameter 30 slightly larger than the diameter of the base of the canister.

The base may be of any suitable size, according to the particular type of canister to be held within the holder, and

- 4 - typical base dimensions are approximately 7.5cm square. The forward facing edge of the base may be rounded, pointed (with blunted tips for safety), curved or formed into any convenient shape. The holder of the present invention comprises activating means for activating a canister held within the frame from below the level of the frame to thereby release air freshener from the canister. The activating means preferably comprises a string, 10 wire or rope. As referred to above, in preferred embodiments of the present invention having a top, side portion and base referred to hereinabove, the top, and any projection(s) thereon, are preferably movable relative to a canister held within the holder to activate the canister, and is more 15 preferably so movable by engagement with the string, wire or rope. Thus, in particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, a user may release air freshener from a canister held within the holder by pulling on the string, cord, wire or rope to thereby move the top, and any 20 projection(s) thereon, towards the canister to impinge thereon. In such preferred embodiments, the string, cord, wire or rope passes through one or more openings in the base. More 25 preferably, the base and top each comprise one or more pairs of openings, the string, cord, wire or rope passing through a first opening in the base, a first opening in the top, back through a second opening in the top, and a second opening in the base. In such an embodiment, the top may comprise a 30 groove running between the openings in which the portion of the string, cord, wire or rope positioned between first and second openings in the top may lie, so as to be flush with the upper surface of the top. As previously mentioned, the base

- 5 and top may comprise a plurality of such pairs of first and second openings, so that the string, cord, wire or rope may engage with different portions of the top, as desired according to circumstances. The string, cord, wire or rope 5 may of course be replaced by an inflexible rod or stick, as desired. As an alternative to the movable top of the preferred embodiments described hereinabove, the top may be fixed 10 relative to a canister held within the holder, but may comprise an activator which is movable relative to a canister.

Further alternatively, the activating means may comprise means for remotely releasing air freshener from a canister. For example, the top, or an activator thereon, may be movable 15 towards a canister held within the holder by wired or wireless remote electromagnetic means, such as a solenoid-iron core arrangement, in response to a signal (e.g. an infrared signal) generated by pressing an appropriate button or switch.

20 The holder of the present invention may be made of wood, plastics material, or any other suitable material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in 25 which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figure 2 is a back view of an upper portion of the embodiment of the present invention, a perspective view of which is shown in Figure 1; and

- 6 - Figures 3a and b are side views of an upper portion of the embodiment of the present invention, a perspective view of which is shown in Figure 1.

5 Referring to Figure 1, a holder 1 of an embodiment of the present invention is formed from a suitable material, for example, wood, metal or a plastics material. The holder 1 comprises a frame 2 and a string 3, for activating a canister held within the frame from below the level of the frame to 10 thereby release air freshener.

The frame 2 comprises a top 5, a side portion 6, by which the frame is mountable to a surface, and a base 7.

15 The top 5 comprises a first projection 8 and a second projection 9 on its underside for activating canisters of two different styles held within the frame. The projections 8 and 9 are movable towards and impingable upon the canister when activated by a user. The projection 9 is removably attached 20 to the top by means of a screw thread to facilitate accommodation of canisters of differing styles. The forward facing edge 11 of the top 2 is rounded.

The side portion 6 comprises a single flat portion for 25 mounting to a surface (in particular a wall), and a hoop 13 through which a canister may be placed for holding a canister to or within the frame 2. The forward facing edge 19 of the hoop 13 is rounded.

30 The base 7 is the frame component upon which the canister rests during use. To restrict movement of a canister held within the frame 2, the base comprises a recess 14 of circular cross-section having a diameter slightly larger than the

- 7 - diameter of the base of the canister, in which the base of the canister can sit. The forward facing edge 15 of the base 7 is rounded.

5 The top 5 is movable relative to a canister held within the holder 1 to activate the canister by engagement with the string 3. Thus a user may release air freshener from a canister held within the holder 1 by pulling on the string to thereby move the top 5 and the projections 8 and 9 thereon.

The string 3 passes through a first opening 16a in the base 7, a first opening 16b in the hoop 13, a first opening 16c in the top 5, back through a second opening 16d in the top 5, a second opening 16e in the hoop 13, and a second opening 16f 15 in the base 7. The top 5 comprises a groove 18a running between the openings 16c and 16d in which the portion of the string positioned between the first and second openings 16c and 16d in the top 5 may lie, so as to be flush with the upper surface of the top. The top 5, hoop 13 and base 7 each 20 comprises a further such pair of first and second openings 18a to 18f so that the string may engage with different portions of the top 5, as desired according to circumstances. The top 5 comprises a further groove 18b running between the openings 18c and 18d in which the portion of the string 25 positioned between the first and second openings 18c and 18d in the top 5 may lie, so as to be flush with the upper surface of the top 5.

Referring to figures 2, 3a and 3b, the top 5, and hence the 30 projections 8 and 9 on the underside thereof is movable relative to a canister held within the frame by means of two springs 10.

Claims

- 8 - CLAIMS

1. A surface-mountable holder for an air freshener canister, which comprises a frame for holding an air freshener canister, 5 means for mounting the frame to a surface, and activating means for activating a canister held within the frame from below the level of the frame to thereby dispense the contents of the canister.

10 2. A holder according to claim 1, which is wall-mountable.

3. A holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame comprises one or more openings through which the contents of the canister may be expelled.

4. A holder according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the frame comprises a top, a side portion by which the frame is mountable to a surface, and a base.

20 5. A holder according to claim 4, wherein the top of the frame comprises an activator for activating a canister held within the frame.

6. A holder according to claim 5, wherein the activator 25 comprises one or more projections on its underside for activating a canister held within the frame.

7. A holder according to claim 6, wherein the projection(s) are movable towards and impingable upon the canister when 30 activated by a user.

8. A holder according to claim 6 or 7, which comprises a plurality of projections, at least one of which is removably

9 - attached to the top.

9. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the top is movable relative to a canister held within the 5 frame.

10. A holder according to claim 9, wherein the top is movable by means of one or more springs or hinges.

10 11. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the side portion of the frame comprises a single flat portion for mounting to a surface and means by which a canister can be held to or within the frame.

15 12. A holder according to claim 11 wherein the means for holding a canister to or within the frame comprises one or more resilient clips for gripping a canister, or one or more hoops through which a canister may be placed.

20 13. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the base of the frame comprises a recess which corresponds to the external dimensions of the base of the canister 14. A holder according to claim 13, wherein the base of the 25 frame comprises a recess of circular cross section having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the base of the canister. 15. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the 30 activating means comprises a string, cord, wire or rope.

16. A holder according to any preceding claim, having a top, wherein the top is movable relative to a canister held

within the holder to activate the canister by engagement with the string, cord, wire or rope.

17. A holder according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the string, 5 cord, wire or rope passes through one or more openings in the base. 18. A holder according to claim 17, wherein the base and top each comprise one or more pairs of openings, the string, cord, 10 wire or rope passing through a first opening in the base, a first opening in the top, back through a second opening in the top, and a second opening in the base.

19. A holder according to claim 18, wherein the top comprises 15 a groove running between the openings in which the portion of the string, cord, wire or rope positioned between first and second openings in the top lies, so as to be flush the upper surface of the top.

20 20. A holder according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the base and top comprise a plurality of pairs of first and second openings. 21. A holder substantially as hereinbefore described with 25 reference to the accompanying drawings.