CONFINED ENVIRONMENT

Field of the invention

The scope of the present invention is generally related to the field of smart home/smart building devices, currently generally referred to as Internet of things (loT) devices.

More specifically, the present invention relates to systems for improving the environmental comfort, pleasantness, and usability conditions inside a building, which avails itself of the use of a device capable of analyzing the status of the surrounding environment and allowing for an interaction between the environment and a user by means of a sensory communication of a visual, audible and, in special conditions, even olfactory type, by activating a plurality of operating modes which make it intelligent. Description of the prior art

Fragrance and aroma diffusors are substantially air fresheners used for a number of purposes: besides being used to scent some areas of a confined environment, they can also be used to perform aromatherapy functions; some models are also used to keep a right humidity in the environment so as to moderately humidifying it.

Numerous devices and systems are known in the present status of the art for diffusing fragrances in an environment: whereas many prior art systems apply one fragrance only, systems and devices have been recently developed for releasing scents of different fragrances released in the environment alternately, one after the other; some devices, besides performing the main function of diffusing scents, also emit multicolor lights which positively affect wellness thanks to the chromotherapy principles.

A number of patent documents are mentioned below to illustrate such devices.

Document JP2014014609 entitled“Aroma diffuser selectively using any one of multiple aromas” illustrates a multifragrance scenting device provided with aromatic bottles, a cam mechanism and sliding cans and a fan for diffusing scents delivered by those bottles; this device is also provided with built-in sensors capable of detecting the presence of people in an environment and of triggering scent delivery.

Said device is not provided with spray delivery bottles but avails itself of a fan for diffusing scents.

Document US2010272599 entitled“Fragrance delivery system” illustrates a system for diffusing fragrances comprising: a mechanism for releasing at least one fragrance and a control unit for controlling said release mechanism, said control unit comprising a selection unit to select said fragrance from at least two fragrances; the invention also provides a kit of component parts comprising said device and at least two fragrance containers filled with a scented substance.

Said device allows to dispense two fragrances and simultaneously detects the presence of people in an environment; however, it is not provided with any microphone nor does it interact with external sensors.

Document JPH04354950 entitled“Fragrance device” illustrates a multifragrance diffuser device provided with a motor-driven mechanism which operates a number of cams connected to a plurality of fragrance containers by way of a rod supported by a frame. Said device avails itself of the help of cams for a selective opening of the fragrance containers and an even simultaneous diffusion of one or more fragrances.

Document WO2014135722 illustrates a method for emitting aromas/odors, consisting of playing an audiovisual product in a software element, with at least one encoded environmental odor emission situation. In correspondence with every environmental odor emission situation identified and decoded in the audiovisual product, said software sends an encoded odor emission signal via wireless communication means, and said signal is received by an aroma/odor emitting device by way of wireless communication receiver means. The aroma/odor emitting device in turn comprises a control printed circuit which controls the synchronized operation of at least one solenoid valve in an aerosol assembly, for releasing aromas/odors and at least one fan for facilitating the diffusion of said aromas/odors according to the encoded odor release signal received. In general, the scent diffuser devices described in said documents use mechanisms for alternately or simultaneously activating scent delivery by means of electric motors/actuators, but none of them allows for a fast, precise, instant, programmable emission of said scents.

A further drawback of said inventions is in that none of them provides a scent diffuser that is also capable of taking evolved measurements of environmental conditions notifiable to a user in different modes and of activating programmable operating options. Also, none of them is a scent diffuser that simultaneously allows a multifragrance delivery, by way of an instant spray emission, and is designed for use of standard, easy to handle, cost-effective, and customary containers.

Patent documents are also known which describe devices and systems for monitoring people-related conditions or environmental conditions, in particular the thermo- hygrometric, acoustical, visual, and electromagnetic ones and in general the air quality conditions in a reference environment; said devices are provided with built-in sensors for detecting a reference condition and with actuators for interacting with users by way of sensorial alerts, in particular for interacting therewith by way of aromas/scents whose delivery is triggered by appropriate mechanisms.

Document EP1946790 entitled“Multisensorial diffuser with wellness sequences related to meditation, sleep, relax and energy” illustrates a multisensorial diffuser that is programmable via a special control capable of simultaneously distributing four reference therapies: aromatherapy, chromotherapy, music therapy, and crystal therapy; however, said device does not allow for such an interaction with users as to enable them to program a timed diffusion or a diffusion depending on other parameters.

Document KR1017935940000 entitled “Integrated safety system using air quality measurement” illustrates an air condition monitoring system based on a loT that uses eight sensors, including CO, CO2, VOC, LPG gas, temperature, humidity, and lighting sensor; such system is available for being used to measure air conditions in real time and in any situations, given it compact dimensions, and the assessed data is saved on a database in a server consumable by users in any installed environment and in any moment; however, said device is not a scent diffuser capable of alerting users.

Some further prior art inventions focus on monitoring the surrounding environment, or the presence of the users, which are facilities more or less evolved and more or less notified to users, combining some olfactory elements in some way.

However, most of them cannot be classed as scent diffusers and, in any way, they do not solve the typical problems of air fresheners, including saving of raw materials, absence of conflicts with the presence of inflammable gases, presence of gases signaled to users via a specific and intentional“bad smelling”.

None of said devices simultaneously performs the following functions either:

- use of spray cans activatable by one cam and one motor,

- use of an air pressure sensor for sensing the ventilation degree,

- activation of several operating modes, with the purpose of: saving raw materials, continuously detecting the presence of odorized inflammable gases without confusing scents, sensing high levels of odorless unhealthy gases through a specific and recognizable“bad smell”.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a scent delivery device capable of analyzing the status of the surrounding environment and consequently provide diversified feedbacks in order to communicate the environment status to users.

More specifically, the object of the intelligent device according to the present invention is to allow for an instant interaction between the environment and users by way of a sensorial communication by using alerts of the following type:

- olfactory, with scents emission by means of nebulized and/or vaporized fragrance dispensers,

- visual, by way of changes of color of multicolor light emitter means, and

- audible, with sounds emitted by means of loudspeaker means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an intelligent device for releasing fragrances configured in a manner suitable for its use or alternatively a kit comprising said device, at least two fragrance containers filled with different scented substances, and at least one support for said containers positionable inside the device.

Summary of the invention

The device for double fragrance diffusion of scents according to the present invention comprises a mechanism which allows the alternating release of one fragrance and a control unit used to control said release mechanism and to select the fragrance that is appropriate for the assessed environmental conditions.

For this purpose, the device is provided with built-in sensors which allow to monitor the thermo-hygrometric and acoustical conditions of a reference environment and with actuators for interacting with users by way of sensorial alerts.

The device according to the present invention is capable of simultaneously meeting all of the following requirements:

- quick emission of fragrances,

- easy replaceability of the fragrance containers and easy availability thereof on the market, - user’s programmability both in terms of start-of-diffusion time and diffusion frequency,

- intelligent operation with respect to the raw material saving criterion,

- intelligent operation with respect to the presence of users in the environment, safety conditions, or healthiness criteria.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in the light of the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the intelligent device for double fragrance diffusion of scents in a confined environment illustrated for explanatory non-limitative purposes with the help of the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 illustrates an orthogonal side view of the device,

figure 2 illustrates an axonometric view of the device depicted in figure 1 ,

figure 3 illustrates another axonometric view of the device depicted in the previous figures, wherein some parts are pre-assembled,

figure 4 illustrates an axonometric view of the device depicted in the previous figures, some parts being shown partially transparent,

figure 5 illustrates an orthogonal view of the device depicted in the previous figures, wherein some parts are partially disassembled;

figure 6 illustrates an orthogonal view and a detail of the internal mechanism of the device depicted in the previous figures.

Legend

1. device

2. outer case

3. compartment for removably accommodating two pressurized containers 6 3.1. seats for accommodating appendages 21.3

4. compartment 3 closing door

4.1. hooking element

5. door 4 opening button

6. pressurized container containing a scented liquid

6.1. flat surface

6.2. upper valve

6.3. conveyer

7. hole in outer case 2 in correspondence with conveyer 6.3

8. opposed slots for audio diffusion of loudspeakers 23

9. aeration grid means

10. push-button for switching device 1 on and off

11. electric power connector, possibly of the USB type or in any case implementing a wired data communication

12. WPS Wi-Fi connection identification button

13. operating mode selection push-button

14. loudspeaker 23 volume adjustment push-buttons

15. light emitters

16. sensor

17. protection grid

18. internal mechanism

18.1. 18.2. 18.5. gear means

18.3. spring

18.4. toothed cam

19. electric motor 20. encoder

20.1 optical sensor

20.2 encoder toothed wheel

21. pressurized container 6 support

21.1 seat

21.2 holes for conveyers 6.3

21.3 side appendages

22. multicolor light emitter,

23. loudspeaker

24. electronic processors

24.1 , 24.2

25. magnets

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

The device 1 according to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in figures 1 and 2, comprises an outer case 2 provided with at least one compartment 3 for removably accommodating two pressurized containers 6 containing two scented liquids having different fragrances, a door 4 for closing said compartment 3, openable by exerting a slight pressure onto a button 5 and unhooking the element 4.1 , and two holes 7 through which the scented liquid is allowed to go out from the two pressurized containers 6 in the form of an aerosol.

The outer case 2 of the device is also provided with two opposed slots 8 for diffusing sounds emitted by the loudspeakers 23, an aeration grid 9, and a protection grid 17 used to protect the internal component parts.

On the lower part, close to the base, the device 1 is provided with a push-button 10, which controls its switch-on and off, an electric power connector 11 , possibly of the USB type or in any case implementing a wired data communication, a WPS Wi-Fi connection identification button 12, an operating mode programming push-button 13, and two loudspeaker 23 volume adjustment push-buttons 14.

Internally with respect to the device, as illustrated in figure 4, there are provided a number of sensors 16, including a microphone sensor, a gas sensor (used to detect CO, CO2, VOC, NO2, SO2, H2S, NH3, C2H4, benzene, methane gas, propane gas, and other gases whose presence in a confined environment would be useful to detect, a relative humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor respectively, and actuators, such as light emitters 15, a multicolor light emitter 22, and two loudspeakers 23.

Further elements placed inside the device include an encoder 20, provided with an optical sensor 20.1 , and a toothed wheel 20.2, a wireless modem, a wired modem, possibly a carrier wave one, electronic processors 24.1 , 24.2, and a digital memory provided with firmware/software means.

The fragrance emitting system used by the device, illustrated in figure 5 and in figure 6 in details, consists of a mechanism 18 for alternately activating delivery of a scent contained in one of said spray cans 6; the mechanism 18 comprising gears 18.1 , 18.2, 18.5 and a cam 18.4 featuring a double sense of rotation.

The toothed cam 18.4 features a flat surface positioned in such a way as to adhere to the lower flat surface 6.1 of at least one of two pressurized containers 6 and a toothed surface engaging said gear means operatively connected to a direct current electric motor 19 which, upon starting, operates said cam and triggers a lower thrust onto a container 6, or alternately the other one, depending on the sense of rotation of the cam, and makes a pressurized scented liquid go out from a valve 6.2 equipped with a conveyer 6.3 conjugated with either hole 7 in the outer case 2, in the form of an aerosol. The operation of the cam 18.4 results in the scented liquid present in either container 6 go out; the scented liquid is diffused by the valve 6.2 in the container 6 provided with the conveyer 6.3 and conjugated with the hole 7 in the outer case 2 in the form of an aerosol.

In order to provide an accurate alignment of the containers 6, the device is provided with a support 21 , illustrated in figure 3, which can be removably positioned inside the compartment 3 of the outer case 2 and is provided with two seats 21.1 for slidingly accommodating the two containers 6, and two holes 21.2 for positioning in correspondence with the two conveyers 6.3 as necessary to spray deliver the scented liquid from each of the two pressurized containers 6 via a respective conjugated hole 7 in the door 4.

The support 21 is provided with two side appendages 21.3, conjugated with seats 3.1 operating as guides for its correct positioning inside the compartment 3 of the case 2 and for a perfect alignment between the cam 18.4 and the containers 6 and between the conveyers 6.3 and the holes 7 respectively.

Two magnets 25, one integral with the support 21 and one integral with a wall of the compartment 3 by way of magnetic attraction, secure the support 21 to the inside of the seat 3.

The encoder 20 monitors the positions of the gear means 18.1 and 18.2 and of the cam 18.4 and makes them move alternately and instantly bring them to the following positions, respectively:

a. an idle position, wherein the flat surface of the cam is positioned in such a way as to adhere to the lower flat surfaces 6.1 in both pressurized containers 6,

b. an operate position, wherein either container is alternately operated as a function of the sense of rotation of the cam, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, whereby in which the cam gets in contact with the lower flat surface 6.1 of either pressurized container (6) only, alternately to the other.

A user can manually interact by sequentially pressing the operating mode selector button 13 or alternatively entering a remote or local control via an application for mobile devices or similar software and hardware means to set the operation of the device according to a logic process which contemplates the following operating statuses of the device:

- “off” mode,

- “scheduling” mode, wherein the time periods during which the user wants the delivery of one fragrance or both fragrancies take place, as well as the delivery frequency, can be set;

- “economy”,“unsafe alert”, and“harmful alert” modes, which can be enabled jointly with the scheduling mode or alternatively thereto.

The“economy” mode depends on the two following set-ups:

- ventilation threshold level beyond which it is possible to decide to trigger the economy mode and to specify whether this implies a reduction, according to three or more degrees, rather than a total zeroing of the scent diffusion frequency,

- activation or deactivation of the user presence recognition mode, along with a specification whether this implies a reduction, according to three or more degrees, rather than a total zeroing of the scent diffusion frequency.

The “unsafe” alarm mode depends on the threshold level set for the presence of methane, or LPG or other inflammable gases in the environment, as compared to threshold values set on the device; above said gas presence values, it is possible to decide whether to trigger the unsafe mode, i.e. to stop emitting fragrances, in order to prevent users from being confused in their capability of olfactorily discriminating such gases which are typically odorized.

The“harmful” alarm mode is based on threshold levels set for the presence of CO2, CO, or other inflammable gases in the environment as compared to the threshold values set on the device; above said gas presence values, it is possible to decide whether to trigger the harmful mode, i.e. to stop emitting the fragrances according to the scheduling made, and rather emitting the fragrance selected by a user as a“bad smell”, at the highest frequency, so as to enable users to sense said harmful condition and take the measures they think most appropriate, such as opening windows or activating a ventilation, in order to remove the harmful condition.

Said thresholds are associated with a hysteresis which the system is capable of setting autonomously, in order to prevent instable behaviors; for instance, should the unsafe and harmful modes, if enabled, occur simultaneously, the unsafe mode prevails, hence no scent diffusion takes place any longer.

Said modes are controlled by a firmware/software algorithm, being run on any of the electronic processors 24.1 , 24.2, which processes at least one environmental condition of the confined environment.

The direct current electric motor 19 is activated, depending on the results of a comparison between the data assessed by the internal sensors and the pre-set optimum threshold values related to the environmental wellness parameters concerning relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure (used as a ventilation level indicator), microphone signal, and alarm threshold values due to concentrations of CO, CO2, VOC, NO2, SO2, H2S, NH3, C2H4, benzene, methane gas, propane gas, and other gases whose presence in a confined environment would useful detect, and with respect to the presence, or not, of a user in the environment, assessed as a function of any combinations of the values assessed by said sensors, and also intentionally confirmed by a user by way of a software application for mobile devices.

In summary, activating the device aims, amongst others, at providing a user with an olfactory feedback related to at least one environmental condition of the confined environment; said feedback is programmable in correspondence with one or several environmental conditions, i.e. any combinations of the values assessed by the internal sensors, or possibly by sensors external to the device, as compared to user programmable thresholds and/or timings.

Further interactions a user can make by sequentially pressing the button 13 enable him/her to:

- enable the multicolor led, controlled by the electronic processor, to emit lights of different colors in conjunction with each of the previous possible statuses, according to the selection of the colors to be associated with the individual statutes made by the user;

- enable the loudspeakers, controlled by the electronic processor, to emit specific sounds, or music or voices, previously loaded in the memory of the device, accessible from the external world or taken from the web, in association with each of the previous possible statuses, provided the user preliminarily selected the colors to be associated with the individual statuses,

- enable an application to provide visual and audible information in conjunction with each of the previous possible statuses according to specified graphical interfaces.

The device is also provided with an automatic safety system which uncouples the cam 18.4 from the gear means 18.5 in the end-of-stroke position, in the case of an abnormality in the operation of the mechanism; once the abnormal condition is over, the motor 19 being driven into rotation the reverse sense, thanks to a spring 18.3 which enables the cam 18.4 to couple again with the gear means 18.5, brings the cam 18.4 back to its stand-by position.

The device according to the present invention simultaneously meets all of the following requirements:

- instant emission of a fragrance by means of the cam mechanism;

- scheduling of the precise instant in time when a predetermined fragrance is to be released;

- fragrance containers interchangeable;

- device retrofittable for use of fragrance containers current used as known, low-cost, even though not intelligent, air fresheners;

- user’s programmability, both with respect to start-of-diffusion time and with respect to frequency of diffusion, by using a remote or local control, and availability of information on the operating status via a mobile app or via web;

- intelligent operation with respect to the raw material saving criterion, thus preventing scents from being diffused not only when no user is present, but also when an excessive ventilation is present in the environment;

- intelligent operation with respect to user presence in the environment, safety or healthiness conditions.

In the latter case, i.e. presence of a user in the environment and of safety or healthiness conditions, the intelligence of the device is such as to discriminate the two following cases:

- compatibility with the presence of inflammable gases, having a fragrance of their own, which an average user is typically capable of recognizing: in this case, the presence of scent diffusion would create for that user a risk not to sense a hazardous condition because of a scent being present; reference is specifically made to the case of a presence of inflammable gases, such as methane or LPG, which have a specific odor whereby there might be a risk for them of not being recognized by a user if the device emits an excessive scent; this problem is typically disregarded in the air fresheners of the current status of the art, which does not contemplate the case whereby the ordinary operation of scent diffusion in the environment would make other features, generally bound to the possibility for a user to sense something based on his/her own olfaction, non-viable;

- intentional olfactory signaling in the case of a presence of harmful gases, or in cases of gases that are adverse to health and healthiness of environments, in any case gases odorless: in this case, the intelligence of the system shall make it possible to use a specific fragrance the user can recognize as a harmful condition; reference is made in particular to a case wherein there is CO or CO2 in excess, a condition that would worthily be perceived as a harmful situation, hence with no scent or addition of a specific scent the user is capable of distinguishing and associating with the alarm condition, i.e. a“bad smell”; the air fresheners according to the present status of the art typically disregard this opportunity, i.e. using a particular, even disagreeable, fragrance to intentionally signal something to users, i.e. it does not contemplate the case wherein diffusing a scent in the environment makes other features, generally bound to the possibility for a user to sense something on the basis of his/her own olfaction, non-viable.

The device according to the present invention aims at meeting these requirements and makes it possible to achieve the advantages set forth below.

It is an electric motor/actuator-driven fragrance emission device provided with one double-sense-of-rotation cam and an electronic control which allows for an instant emission of a given quantity of fragrance; for this purpose, it uses a space which allows an easy insertion of spray cans easy to found on the market, the latter being also used in the most popular low-cost, even manual, models of air fresheners, of by now standardized types.

A specific support makes it possible to slidingly position the cans inside a compartment of the device, in such accurately set position as to allow its handling by means of an actuator consisting of a motor which turns in one direction of travel to actuate either of them and in the other direction of travel to actuate the other, thanks to a specific cam. The device is provided with on-board electronic devices, including both logic devices (electronic processors and memories) and wireless communication devices for connecting to the Internet, so as to take advantage of server services for complex processings, as well as for being reachable from a remote position whenever a user is outside the environment wherein the device is installed and he/she wishes to program its use; the user can thus use an app on his/her own smartphone or, via software, on his/her own PC, to display how is the device programmed, to extemporary disable it, and to configure the parameters which the intelligent operation is based on.

The on-board electronics also includes a multifunction key by means of which a user can set the device to the“standard” mode or switch it off, should he/she be present in person in front of the device and wish to rapidly set the device without accessing it via app.

Likewise, a user can display the operating conditions in a simple manner by looking at three bi-color leds placed on the device and at a multicolor led programmable for signaling any alarm conditions of alternatively by listening to sounds from two loudspeakers programmable for outputting different sounds to be associated with the different operating statuses.

A specific application makes it possible to set all operating parameters of the intelligent device. The device also allows to avoid wastes of fragrances in the following cases:

- when a user thinks it not reasonable for the device to emit fragrances in his/her absence: being the device provided with a microphone sensor, an appropriate software application program installed on the device will set it to the“stand-by” mode and the device will stop emitting fragrances if the user previously programmed that mode as an active one;

- when a user thinks that in the case of an appropriate ventilation of the environments making the device emit fragrances is a waste or is superfluous: being the device equipped with a sensor in charge of assessing the degree of ventilation, which can be in a fully original manner a differential pressure sensor, a special software application program installed on the device will set it to the“economy” mode and the device will stop emitting fragrances, if the user programmed such mode as active by setting a minimum ventilation threshold to be exceeded.

Optionally the device can assess further values by means of sensors external to the device but present in the environment, for instance a window opening sensor, thanks to its wireless communication capabilities; in this case, the user will be aware of the fact that a high ventilation condition is not measured, but presumed; optionally the device can also assess the presence of a user by way of an app, wherein a specific request will be addressed to the user to confirm his/her presence in the environment and to which he/she can give his/her confirmation via a graphical interface on the app.

The user is given the possibility of configuring either can as a“bad smell” one to be associated with“harmful” conditions, in order to enable him/her to sense it and take measures accordingly, either by increasing ventilation or via other actions which might also be configured automatically and implemented by wireless actuators controlled by the device; note that this specific function of the intelligent device under consideration is strictly related to the fact that all conditions leading to a harmful status shall be bound to the detection of gases that are harmful to health but are intrinsically odorless.

A harmful condition is the only one whereby the device uses a fragrance, in particular one only of the two, to send a feedback to users, without prejudice to the fact that this function is usually performed by the multicolor led, by the loudspeakers, and by the apps, be they mobile or PCs.

The emission system used is fully original in its details in that it uses an electric motor, with the axis of which one cam featuring a double sense of rotation is associated, with an electronic control that allows an instant emission of a quantity of fragrance, and an encoder makes it possible to know for sure that a movement took place, thus making the system a highly reliable one.

This is an original and innovative mode which allows to simultaneously achieve saving, thanks to one motor only being used, high reliability, thanks to the use of an encoder, electronic control capability, and possibility of using spray cans of common use, which require a special transmission of power mechanically implemented via a specific cam, a detail that is also a scope of the present invention.

The mechanics of the device is such that the openable space, upon closing, automatically sets the cans to an aligned position as appropriate for their operation by the cam which, driven by the motor via gears, triggers the emission of fragrance from a spray can as a function of the sense of rotation of the motor.

The encoder provides very high reliability in that it provides a feedback to the electronics for its motor control and user signaling functions.

The intelligent device according to the present invention can be a component part of a kit comprising at least two pressurized containers, each containing a scented liquid, featuring a flat surface below and a valve and a conveyer above, and at least one support, configured to be positioned inside a compartment of the intelligent device, for the removable and interchangeable insertion of said pressurized containers containing scented liquids of different fragrances.

The intelligent device for double fragrance diffusion of scents in a confined environment according to the present disclosure is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the inventive concept set forth in the attached claims.

All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements depending on the actual requirements, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

Whereas the invention has been described with a special reference to the attached figures, the reference numerals used in the description and in the claims are used to improve the understandability of the invention but do not constitute any limitations to the scope of protection claimed.