(2) BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Insect repelling or aroma releasing devices in present use require input of electricity to generate heat in causing their effective operation. This results in a use of energy that can be otherwise applied. Such devices also require connection to electrical wall sockets that are typically at low elevations rendering them ineffective at dispersing repellent or aroma into the air while causing them to be in reach of children. Such devices can furthermore be left functioning by accident over long periods of time causing wastage of repellent and/or aroma agent and even a fire risk. It is an object of this invention to, amongst others, address the above drawbacks.

(3) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an agent releasing device for use in releasing agent as carried by an agent carrier in response to becoming exposed to the heat of a device engaging type source of illumination in performing an environment influencing agent specific function. While not so limited the invention finds particular use in serving an insect repelling and/or aroma agent release function.

(4) PRIOR ART DESCRIPTION

One item of prior art known to the applicant as disclosed by US pat no. 8430336B2 is in the form of a fragrance dispensing wick which comprises a network matrix ceramic that is contacted either directly or indirectly with a liquid composition such as a fragrance-containing composition. The wick absorbs and transports the liquid composition through capillary action, and the composition is subsequently diffused into the surrounding ambient atmosphere. In contrast present invention is connected to a heat generating illumination source once in use that makes it more efficient in diffusing liquid composition into the atmosphere as heat is the main ingredient required for diffusion.

Another prior art disclosure is in the form of a thermal-fuse plug as disclosed in US patent no. 5937140A. The plug-in diffuser is used in conjunction with thermally diffusible substance. It includes a first and second electrical assembly by way of a female terminal that is electrically connected to a male terminal, non-conductive state at a threshold temperature. The present invention has the advantage of not requiring direct coupling to an electricity source thus not requiring any electrical components.

Even another prior art disclosure as disclosed in US patent no. 52421 1 1 A is in the form of a liquid dispensing device capable of dispensing an active liquid at a slow and substantially constant rate over an extended period of time .The dispenser is in the form of a sealed flexible bag or pouch containing a supply of the active liquid, a wick located inside a tubular member, and an emanator which diffuses the active liquid. Removal of a containment member frees active liquid to come into contact with the wick causing such slow dispersion while the sealed reservoir bag gradually collapses inward as the active liquid supply is depleted. In contrast the present invention makes use of a heat emitting source of illumination that causes the diffusing of agent once the source of illumination is functioning.

A variety of prior art disclosures of lesser relevance are disclosed in the following patents:

US2931880A; US4804821 A; GB2239801 A; US5647053A; US6610254B1 ; US48831 16A,; US2603532A; US2765194A; USD754278S1 ; US20150128877A1

(5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is now described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of an agent releasing device in the form of a heat activated insect repelling agent releasing unit in three dimensional view,

Figure 2 shows the unit of figure 1 in side elevation,

Figure 3 shows the procedure in operative readying and positioning of the unit of figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the heat activated insect repelling agent releasing unit in three dimensional view,

Figure 5 shows the unit of the figure 4 embodiment in side elevation,

Figure 6 shows the procedure in operative readying and positioning of the unit releasing device of figures 5 and 6, Figure 7 shows yet another embodiment of the heat activated insect repelling agent releasing unit in three dimensional view,

Figure 8 shows the unit of the figure 7 embodiment in side elevation,

Figure 9 shows the unit of the figures 7 and 8 embodiment as fitted to a device engaging type source of illumination in the form of a fluorescent tube.

(6) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Referring to the drawings an agent releasing device in the form of a heat activated insect repelling agent releasing unit for releasing insect repelling agent in repelling insects such as mosquitos once in use is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The unit 10 comprises agent carrier holding means in the form of an agent carrier securing layout generally indicated by reference numeral 12 and a source of illumination engager generally indicated by reference numeral 14 both integrally formed along a body formation 16.

The securing layout 12 is constituted to independently accommodate two different types of insect repelling agent carriers in holding such to the body formation 16. To this effect the securing layout 12 is in the form of two differently constituted agent carrier engaging and releasing facilities. The one is in the form of a liquid holding type carrier engager 18 as provided by an engaging bracket in the form of a loop formation 20 and the other in the form of a catch facility 22.

The catch facility 22 is provided by a flexible prong 24 co-operating with a carrier support base 26 along the body formation 16 by means of which an agent carrier in the form of an agent impregnated mat 31 as locatable between the prong 24 and the support base 26 is securable to the catch facility 22. The loop formation 20 provides for the holding of an agent carrier in the form of a bottle type vessel 28 by way of its upper end portion as accessible thereto via an entrance 30 as so defined. The loop formation 20 is suitably disposed to the engager 14 along the body formation 16, as discussed for the various embodiments below, to cause a bottle type vessel 28 as held by the unit 10 to be in its upright position once it is fitted for use.

Referring to figures 1 to 6 the source of illumination engager 14 is by way of a circular engaging opening 32 that is at least partly though at least substantially surrounded by the body formation 16. To attain the appropriate positioning of the loop formation 20 relative to the opening 32 in causing a bottle type vessel 28 as held by the unit 10 under these embodiments to be in its upright position once the unit 10 is fitted for use, the body formation 16 extends though generally a right angle between the opening 32 and the loop formation 20 in defining body formation sections 34, 36. The opening 32 is formed through one section 34 of the body formation 1 6 while the loop formation 20 is situated at the remote end of the loop formation 16 as regards the opening 32 along the other section 36. The planes 38 and 40 extending transversely through respectively the opening 32 and the loop formation 20 are at least substantially parallel to one another consequently having the upright bottle positioning effect once the unit 10 is situated at the ready for use in such case. The catch facility 22 is found along the section 36 in facing away from the engager 14.

In specifically referring to the figures 1 to 3 embodiment the engaging opening 32, as in the form of an engaging aperture 42 through the section 34 of the formation 16, is dimensioned to snugly fit the socket engaging plug portion 44 of illuminating means in the form of an electric light bulb 46. The body formation 16 thus becomes pinched onto a socket engaging plug portion 44 via its section 34 in the process of fitting a light bulb 46 to its conventional socket while the loop formation 20 also serves as spacer for firmly operatively holding the unit 10 once fitted for use.

In specifically referring to the figures 4 to 6 embodiment the engaging opening 32 is formed with an entry mouth 50 thereto thus being only partly though at least substantially surrounded by the body formation 16 thus extending in the form of a semi-enclosing loop. This embodiment is particularly suited for use with a down light 52 that becomes recessed in a ceiling or receiving base on operative fitting. The opening 1 6 is thus profiled to fit just upstream of the leading end 54 of a down light 52 in the formation 16 becoming pushed there onto or pre-fitted thereto via its mouth 50 in the process of down light fitment. In referring to the figures 7 to 10 embodiment the device engager 14 is in the form of a hooking facility as provided by a pair of hooking formations 56 for hooking the device 10 onto a horizontally extending source of illumination in the form of a horizontally fitted fluorescent tube 58. The hooking formations 56 are situated remote from the loop formation 20 along the body formation 1 6. As the unit 10 of this embodiment hangs from a location of operative positioning a bottle type vessel 28 as held by the unit 10 will automatically remain in its upright position. In referring to figure 3 operative positioning is the unit 10 is done by fitting it via its aperture 42 onto the socket engaging plug portion 44 of an electric light bulb 46, as shown in figure 3(a). The agent carrier as in the form of an agent impregnated mat 31 is then fitted to the catch formation 22 and/or a bottle type vessel 28 to the loop formation 20 as respectively shown in figures 3(b) and 3(c). The light bulb 46 once fitted to its conventional socket causes the pinchable holding of the unit 1 0 between the inner end of the plug portion 44 and its

conventional socket. It will be appreciated that the agent carrier(s) can also be fitted to the unit 10 once installed for use which may be prudent in the case of a bottle type vessel agent carrier. During installed used the agent carrier(s) can be easily replaced once their

effectiveness are spent by replacement similar to the actions of figures 3(b) and 3(c).

In referring to figure 6 and in the case of a source of illumination in the form of a down light 52 the bottle type vessel 28 is again fitted to the loop formation 20 and/or in the case of an agent impregnated mat 31 to the catch formation 22 as respectively shown in figures 6(a) and 6(b). The unit 10 is thus fitted for use by positioning it via the mouth 50 onto the down light 52 to become located upstream of its leading end 54 in becoming held between the down light 52 and a ceiling or base once the down light 52 is installed for use, as shown in figure 6(c). The agent carrier(s) can again be fitted to the unit 10 once installed for use simple replacement as discussed with reference figures 3(b) and 3(c).

In finally referring to figures 7 and 10 in the case of a source of illumination in the form of a horizontally fitted fluorescent tube 58 fitment of a bottle type vessel 28 and/or a mat 31 is dealt with similar to the procedure as discussed with reference to figures 3 and 6 as correspondingly shown in figures 10(a) and 10(b). Once thus fitted the unit is simply hung onto the tube 58 by means of its hooking formations 56, as shown in figure 10(c) to depend therefrom as shown in figure 9 once ready for use. Again the agent carrier(s) can be easily replaced once their effectiveness is spent by replacement as discussed.

In whichever configuration, a unit 10 once operatively fitted causes the release of insect repelling agent into its surrounding environment once the light providing equipment to which fitted switched on as the conventional type agent carrier only requires little heat to enable it to perform its function. While the invention is specifically discussed in relation to the repelling of insects it will appreciated that it can be applied under all circumstances where a source a heat causes the release of agent that performs any other environment influencing function inclusive of the dispersing of aroma and even in combination such as the equipment under discussion above on the one hand being used for repelling insects and on the other hand for dispersing aroma.

It is an advantage of the invention at least as specifically described that the heat generated by a conventional source illumination can be used to perform a useful additional function in causing the release of agent that is held by an agent carrier fitted to the equipment of the invention that would otherwise have required its own separate input of energy. In mostly being positioned at a conventional overhead location once the equipment is in operative use, agent thus released is distributed more effectively while being at a safe location in being inaccessible to children. A carrier in such use is further only active in releasing agent once a source of illumination to which the equipment is fitted is activated which is often under conditions in which agent release is required.