AIR SCENTING DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING AT LEAST ONE FRAGRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An air scenting device for introducing at least one fragrance into a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The air scenting device includes at least one fragrance cartridge arranged in a housing interior of a housing. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting at least one flap closure between an open position, where the flap closure releases at least one of an inlet opening and an outlet opening of a cartridge housing, and a closed position, where the flap closure closes the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening. A fragrance inlet is disposed on the housing for introducing air to be admixed with fragrance, and a fragrance outlet is disposed on the housing for discharging the air admixed with fragrance.

Claims

1. An air scenting device for introducing at least one fragrance into a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing that delimits a housing interior through which air can flow; at least one fragrance cartridge arranged in the housing interior, the at least one fragrance cartridge including a cartridge housing that accommodates a fragrance, wherein the cartridge housing has an inlet opening for introducing the air into the cartridge housing, so that it can be admixed with the fragrance provided therein as it flows through the cartridge housing, and wherein the cartridge housing has an outlet opening for discharging the air admixed with the fragrance from the cartridge housing, at least one adjustable flap closure for alternately opening or closing at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the at least one flap closure between an open position where the at least one flap closure releases the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, so that air can flow into the relevant cartridge housing to be admixed with fragrance and can flow back out of it again, and a closed position where the at least one flap closure closes the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening in a fluid-tight manner, so that air cannot flow through the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, a fragrance inlet disposed on the housing for introducing air to be admixed with fragrance into the housing interior and having a fragrance outlet disposed on the housing for discharging air admixed with fragrance from the at least one fragrance cartridge out of the housing interior.

2. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is structured cup-like and has a housing base, in which the fragrance outlet is arranged, and from which a circumferential wall of the housing forming a cup collar protrudes, in which the fragrance inlet is arranged.

3. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cup-like housing is structured open and has a cup opening, which is closable via a housing cover of the housing.

4. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cup-like housing has a cylindrical geometrical shape, such that the at least one fragrance cartridge is insertable through the cup opening into the housing interior and is fastenable on the housing base.

5. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fragrance cartridge includes at least two fragrance cartridges arranged detachably fastenable on the housing base of the housing in the housing interior.

6. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a partition wall that divides the housing interior into an air distributor space communicating fluidically with the inlet opening of the at least one fragrance cartridge and an air collector space communicating fluidically with the outlet opening of the at least one fragrance cartridge, such that the air distributor space only communicates fluidically with the air collector space via the at least one fragrance cartridge, but not directly.

7. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the air distributor space communicates fluidically with the inlet opening of the at least one fragrance cartridges arranged in the housing interior; and the air collector space communicates fluidically with the outlet opening of the at least one fragrance cartridge arranged in the housing interior.

8. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flap closure adjustable via the adjustment mechanism provided for the at least one fragrance cartridge provided in the housing interior.

9. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one flap closure is an adjustable flip valve having a valve flap for closing the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, wherein the valve flap is arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner on a valve shaft of the flip valve, which is rotationally adjustable relative to the housing, and the flip valve has a guide element interacting with an adjustable link guide such that by adjusting the link guide, the flip valve is adjustable between the open position and the closed position.

10. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein all provided flap closures are designed as a flip valve having a respective guide element and each guide element interacts with the link guide so that the flip valve can be adjusted by means of the link guide.

11. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is designed and adapted to at least two flap closures so that at most one of the at least two flap closures can always be located in the open position.

12. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a purge valve adjustable between an open position and a closed position, via which purging air can be introduced into the air collector space and can flow there to the fragrance outlet.

13. The air scenting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the purge valve is adjustable via the adjustment mechanism between the open position and the closed position.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body, at least one air scenting device arranged in a vehicle interior of the vehicle body, at least one air scenting device including: a housing that delimits a housing interior through which air can flow; at least one fragrance cartridge arranged in the housing interior, the at least one fragrance cartridge including a cartridge housing that accommodates a fragrance, wherein the cartridge housing has an inlet opening for introducing the air into the cartridge housing, so that it can be admixed with the fragrance provided therein as it flows through the cartridge housing, and wherein the cartridge housing has an outlet opening for discharging the air admixed with the fragrance from the cartridge housing, at least one adjustable flap closure for alternately opening or closing at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the at least one flap closure between an open position where the at least one flap closure releases the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, so that air can flow into the relevant cartridge housing to be admixed with fragrance and can flow back out of it again, and a closed position where the at least one flap closure closes the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening in a fluid-tight manner, so that air cannot flow through the at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening, a fragrance inlet disposed on the housing for introducing air to be admixed with fragrance into the housing interior and having a fragrance outlet disposed on the housing for discharging air admixed with fragrance from the at least one fragrance cartridge out of the housing interior.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the housing is structured cup-like and has a housing base, in which the fragrance outlet is arranged, and from which a circumferential wall of the housing forming a cup collar protrudes, in which the fragrance inlet is arranged.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the cup-like housing is structured open and has a cup opening, which is closable via a housing cover of the housing.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the cup-like housing has a cylindrical geometrical shape, such that the at least one fragrance cartridge is insertable through the cup opening into the housing interior and is fastenable on the housing base.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the at least one fragrance cartridge includes at least two fragrance cartridges arranged detachably fastenable on the housing base of the housing in the housing interior.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a flap closure adjustable via the adjustment mechanism provided for the at least one fragrance cartridge provided in the housing interior.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a purge valve adjustable between an open position and a closed position, via which purging air can be introduced into the air collector space and can flow there to the fragrance outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the figures, which are each schematic:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an example of an air scenting device according to the invention in a perspective illustration,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the air scenting device of FIG. 1 in a sectional illustration,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the air scenting device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an axial top view of an upper side of the housing facing toward the cup opening,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows the air scenting device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an axial top view of a lower side opposite to the upper side,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the air scenting device in a top view of the support structure in the axial direction,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows the illustration of FIG. 4 without fragrance cartridges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an air scenting device 1 according to the invention in a perspective illustration. FIG. 2 shows the air scenting device 1 of FIG. 1 in a sectional illustration.

[0036] As may be seen from FIG. 1, the air scenting device 1 comprises a housing 2, which delimits a housing interior 3 through which air can flow. Four fragrance cartridges 4a-4d are arranged in the housing interior 3, of which only a single fragrance cartridge 4a is shown in FIG. 2. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 2 is formed cup-like and has a housing base 5, from which a circumferential wall 7 of the housing 2 forming a cup collar 6 protrudes vertically. A fragrance inlet 19 for introducing air to be admixed with fragrance into the housing interior 3 is present in the cup collar 6 or in the circumferential wall 7. Correspondingly, a fragrance outlet 20 for discharging the air admixed with fragrance from the housing interior 3 is provided in the housing base 5.

[0037] As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the cup-like housing 2 has an essentially cylindrical geometrical shape. The housing 2 is formed open in an axial direction A and has a cup opening 8, which can be closed by means of a housing cover 9 of the housing 2. In this way, the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d can be introduced through the cup opening 9 into the housing interior 3 and detachably fastened there on the housing base. To facilitate the installation, suitable positioning aids 15 having axially extending positioning rails 16 can be provided in the housing interior 3, by means of which the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d can be brought into the provided fastening position.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows the air scenting device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view of an upper side 5a of the housing base 5 of the housing 2 facing toward the cup opening 8 in the axial direction A. FIG. 3 illustrates that four fragrance cartridges 4a-4d are arranged on the housing base 5 in the housing interior 3. The fragrance cartridges 4a-4d are detachably fastened on the housing base 5 independently of one another by means of a respective clip or catch connection (not shown).

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the air scenting device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view of a lower side 5b of the housing base 5 of the housing 2 opposite to the upper side 5a opposite to the axial direction A.

[0040] It may also be inferred from FIGS. 3 and 4 together with the illustration of FIG. 2 that each of the four fragrance cartridges 4a-4d comprises a cartridge housing 11 in which a fragrance (not shown) is provided. Each cartridge housing 11 has an inlet opening 12 for introducing the air into the cartridge housing 11. The fragrance provided in the cartridge housing 11 can thus mix with the air introduced into the cartridge housing 11, i.e., the air is admixed in the cartridge housing 11 with the respective fragrance provided therein. After this mixing process, the air can be discharged from the cartridge housing 11 again via an outlet opening 13 also provided in the cartridge housing 11.

[0041] It is obvious that an individual fragrance can be provided in each fragrance cartridge 4a4d, thus in each cartridge housing 11. However, it is also conceivable to provide the same fragrance, but in different concentration, in two or more of the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d.

[0042] It may furthermore be inferred from FIGS. 2 and 3 that each of the four fragrance cartridges 4a-4d has an adjustable flap closure 14, by means of which the respective inlet opening 12 and outlet opening 13 of the assigned fragrance cartridge 4a-4d can alternately be opened or closed.

[0043] As may be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 2 comprises a partition wall 10 arranged in the housing interior 3. This divides the housing interior 3 into an air distributor space 3a communicating fluidically with the inlet openings 12 of the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d and an air collector space communicating fluidically with the outlet openings 12 of the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d. The partition wall 10 is designed so that the air distributor space 3a only communicates fluidically with the air collector space 3b via the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d, but not directly. This means that no air can be guided past the fragrance cartridges 4a-4d having the respective fragrance in terms of a bypass. The air distributor space 3a additionally communicates fluidically with the respective inlet opening 13 of all fragrance cartridges 4a-4d arranged in the housing interior 3. The air collector space 14 accordingly communicates fluidically with the respective outlet opening 14 of all fragrance cartridges 4a-4d arranged in the housing interior 3. The flow path of the arrow through the housing interior 3 is identified in FIG. 2 by an arrow having the reference numeral 34.

[0044] As FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, a support structure 17 for the housing 2 adjoins the housing 2 axially opposite to the housing cover 9, in which structure an air duct 18 is provided, which communicates at one end fluidically with the fragrance outlet 20 and at the other end with a fan 21, which adjoins the support structure 17 and has a fan wheel 22. In this way, the air admixed with fragrance can be suctioned out of the housing interior 3 by means of the fan 21 and discharged via an outlet nozzle 23 arranged downstream of the fan wheel 22 to the external surroundings 24 of the air scenting device 1.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows the air scenting device 1 in a top view of the support structure 17 against the axial direction A. The illustration of FIG. 5 illustrates an adjustment mechanism 25, which forms a part of the air scenting device 1 and is used to adjust the flap closures 14. The flap closures 14 can each be adjusted by means of the adjustment mechanism 25 between an open position, in which the respective flap closure 14 releases the inlet and outlet opening 12, 13, so that air can flow into the relevant cartridge housing 11 to be admixed with fragrance and can flow back out of it, and a closed position, in which the respective flap closure 14 closes both the inlet opening 13 and also the outlet opening 14 fluid-tight, so that air and also fragrance cannot flow through these two openings 13, 14.

[0046] Each of the flap closures 14 can be designed as shown in the example of the figures in the manner of an adjustable flip valve 26 having a valve flap 27 for closing inlet opening 12 and outlet opening 13, wherein the valve flap 27 is arranged in a rotationally-fixed manner on an axially extending valve shaft 28. The valve shaft 28 is in turn designed to be rotatable relative to the housing 2. The valve shaft 28 can be rotatably mounted, for example, on the housing 2 or on the support structure.

[0047] As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, an adjustable link guide 29 rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction A, which forms a part of the adjustment mechanism 24, can be arranged axially between the housing 2 and the support structure 17.

[0048] According to FIG. 5, a guide element 30 designed in the manner of an extension 31 is provided on each valve shaft 28, which interacts with the link guide 29. These guide elements 30 are also part of the adjustment mechanism 25. The interaction takes place in such a way that successively each one of the flap closures 14 is adjusted from its closed position into the open position and back into its closed position by a rotational movement of the link guide 29. The interaction or the adjustment is thus implemented so that at an arbitrary point in time, at most one of the flap closures 14 is in its open position. In other words, it is ensured that two or more flap closures 14 are not adjusted simultaneously into the open position at any point in time. To functionally implement the adjustment mechanism 25 in this way, the link guide 29 can have, for example, a fundamentally symmetrical contour—in the example of FIG. 5 a circular contour 32 having an asymmetrical section 33, which deviates from the symmetrical, circular formation. All provided flap closures 14 are thus each formed as a flip valve 26 having a respective guide element 30 and each guide element 30 interacts with the shared link guide 29 so that the flip valves 26 can be adjusted by means of the link guide 29.

[0049] The illustration of FIG. 6 corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 4, thus shows the air scenting device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view of the lower side 5b of the housing base 5 against the axial direction A. In contrast to FIG. 4, the fragrance cartridges 11 are omitted in the drawing in FIG. 6.

[0050] According to FIG. 6, the air scenting device 1 can comprise a purge valve 32 adjustable between an open position and a closed position, via which purging air can be introduced into the air collector space 3b and can flow there to the fragrance outlet 20. The purge valve 33 can be designed similarly to the flap closures 14 as a flip valve 26, so that the above explanations in this regard also apply mutatis mutandis to the purge valve 33. The adjustment of the purge valve 32 can thus also take place by means of the shared adjustment mechanism 25 (cf. FIG. 5). The air path of the purging air through the air collector space 3b is identified in FIG. 6 by an arrow having the reference numeral 33. The purge valve 33 can be pre-tensioned toward the closed position by means of a pre-tensioning element, such as a spring-elastic component, for example, a coiled spring.