Background Art In the past various attempts have been made to introduce a scent into the interior of an automobile for pure olfactory reasons and to deodorize the interior. We are all familiar with the scented"tree"which hangs from the rear view mirror and which has been sold for decades. Another attempt to deodorize has been placing absorbent materials permeated with perfume in the air conditioning or ventilation system which bring an aroma to the vehicle interior. Other attempts involve the use of a perforated clip on attachment to gradually release an aroma with the action of the wind currents in the car interior.

Some of the clip on devices attach to the vents of the vehicle climate control system and have vanes thereon to assist in the dispersion of the scent. Older versions are connected to the defroster system of the car.

Air freshening or deodorizing has been a long sought goal of auto and truck users Products have been developed which include solids, liquids, or aerosol sprays to provide the desired effect. Typically these products are used to eliminate, chemically change or mask and existing scent. They either absorb odorous molecules by dissolving or emulsifying them or killing the bacteria that causes the offensive odor.

The problem with all of the foregoing devices is that they require a separate carrier for the scent, a new device to be introduced into the interior of the car especially when the car is in operation which makes it another unwanted piece of apparatus or fixture to bother with. It has to be specially manufactured and does not serve any other purpose.

The Invention <BR> <BR> Theinstantinventionsolvesalltheforegoingproblemsbyutilizinga devicealready<BR> inusebymillionsofmotorists,thesun shadeItallowsforascenttobegradually<BR> dispersedfromanalreadyexistingdevicefoundinavehiclewhichserv esanotherpurpose, namely deflecting the suns hot rays from the interior thereby avoiding unnecessary heating and degrading and potential cracking of the cars interior trim package including the dashboard. The scents used in the instant invention are those whose release can be normal or those which heating by the sun hastens and accelerates.

The present invention does not require a separate manufacture of a device and does not require any special attachment. It is manufactured together with the sun shield and is put into operation simply by the placement of the sun shield.

In addition, the instant device does its work when the car is sitting still and does not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. The vehicle owner simply puts the sun shield in place and the operation of the suns rays upon the device does the rest.

The instant invention can come in several versions. There is the preferred embodiment of the scent being embodied within a foldable cardboard windshield shade which can have a single layer air cell bubble, a double layer air cell bubble, made of a vinyl layer or a cardboard/polyester laminate. Other embodiments involve a vehicle side shade, rear window shade or a profile shade. These can be made of polyester mesh or perforated PVC vinyl. The scent delivery devices within the shades can include a typical blotter/oil essence hanging scent delivery system which can be applied to the shade using a self adhesive backing, a crack and peel scent carrier which affords controllable scent dispersion, the use of scent oils mixed with printing inks which are used to print images onto cardboard, bubble or polyester mesh window shades, ink flood coating where the shades are printed in a solid color and a polyester mesh used in various scent shade configurations impregnated with the scent material.

Thescentcarriersforminganintegralpartofthisinventioncanbe usedtocontrol<BR> theemissionofanairfresheningscent,usedtocontroloffensiveodor s,andfragrances,<BR> whichareusedtoenhancemood,controlstress,etc.Thefragrancealso varieswith<BR> genderasintheinstanceofpinesmellwhichwomenassociatewithclean ersanddonot<BR> likewhilemenassociatethesmellwiththeoutdoorsandlikeit.Also,c ounteragents,<BR> thosesubstancesthatbindwithodor-causingagentstoneutralizethe irsmelllikesome agents used to defeat the smell of cigarette smoke.

Objects of the Invention Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an scented sun shade for vehicles, and It is another object of this invention to provide a scented sun shade whereby the scent is released over time, and It is a further object of this invention to provide a scented sun shade using scented ink whereby printing on said shade emits a scent, and It is a still further object of this invention to provide a crack and peel scented sun shade of which sections may be peeled a. way to allow emission of scent in a controlled manner, and Another object of this invention is to provide a scented sun shade of either a single or multiple layer air cell bubble, and Still another object of this invention is to provide a scented sun shade of a vinyl construction, and Yet another object of this invention is to provide a scented sun shade of a cardboard/polyester laminate, and A further object of this invention is or provide a scented vehicle side or rear window shade, and Anadditionalobjectofthisinventionistoprovideascentedsunshade madeof<BR> polyestermeshorperforatedPVCvinyl,and These and other objects will become apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure I shows a diagrammatic view of a scented sun shade with a fragrance carrier thereon, Figure 2 shows the adhesion method of the shade of Fig. 1, Figure 3 shows an impregnated sun shade with a clear protective liner over one surface thereof, Figure 4 shows the laminated construction of Fig. 3, Figure 5 shows a partial scent impregnated fold shade with a crack and peel liner, Figure 6 shows the laminated construction for the shade of Fig. 5, Figure 7 shows the use of a molded designer shade with a tube carrier for the scent, Figure 8 is a top view of the shade of Fig. 7, Figure 9 shows a shade with a folded scent carrier, Figure 10 shows a side view of the shade of Fig. 9, Figure 11 shows a shade with a pouch carrier for the scent, Figure 12 shows the side view of the layers of the shade of Fig. I 1, Figure 13 shows configurations of panel spring shades, Figure 14 shows configurations of a side and profile shade, Figure 15 shows configurations of a rear window shade, Figure 16 shows a configuration of a scent disk for application to a sun shade, Figure 17 shows another configuration of a scent disk with a snap for application to a sun shade, Figure 18 shows a folding sun shade with a pocket opening with perforations for dispersal of a scent, Figure 19 shows an enlarged detail of the pocket of Fig. 18, Figure 20 shows a cut away side view of the pocket of Fig. 18.

Figure 21 shows a front view of a scent disk with a protective wrapper thereon, and Figure 22 shows a side view of the disk of Fig. 20 and a front and side view of a pressure washer which is used in conjunction with said disk.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a sun shade 10 with folds.

Shown in place thereon is a fragrance carrier 11 which can be made of impregnated cardboard, paper blotter, molded plastic, etc. The fragrance carrier usually has a seal thereon which, once broker, allows the scent to be dispersed. The carrier is packaged in either paperboard containers or plastic wrappers. Carrier 11 is usually adhered to the shade by adhesives but can be attached by the use of Velcro, glues or other adhesion methods which allow for easy application. To expose, the plastic encasing the carrier is cut along its top to allow for the carrier to protrude outwards to expose it to the air. The amount of exposure of the carrier determine the strength of the scent. The folding shade itself can be made of corrugated cardboard, polyester/pressboard or corrugated core, polyester/pressboard with polyester laminate, polyester/polyfoam laminate, polyester/air cell core/polyester, PVC/foam core/PVC. polystyrene or other materials designed with a degree of rigidity that allows the window shade to stand behind the windshield to block sunlight.

Figure 2 shows a windshield shade 12 with an impregnated rear surface 14 and a protective liner 13 which can be cracked and peeled to control the dispersion of the scent.

The liner is laminated over the scent 14 layer. Figures 3 and 4 show the layer 13 and the laminated construction. This embodiment allows for 100% surface coverage. The embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 shows a partial scent impregnated shade where the coverage can vary. The peel layer 1 covers area 17 on the shade 16 and allows for the same controlled dispersion as in the embodiment of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows the laminated construction of the embodiment.

Figures 7 and 8 show a shade 17 with folds 18 therein and which has attached on one edge a tube 19 carrying scented oil, water, etc. These tubes or scent carriers can be attached on either the left or right hand edge of the shades by use of clips, Velcro, stitching or cut pockets. This allows the shade to be closed to the full extent possible without interference by the scent carrier. The carrier tube or container can be manufactured from injected molded plastics, be jar or vial shaped and are elongated as shown.

Figures 9 and 10 show a shade 20 with folds 21 having a fold 22 with a tab portion 24 depending therefrom. A glassine pouch 23 holds the scent carrier and the tab 24 folds up against the shade 20 as shown in Fig. 20. Graphics can be printed on the side opposite the folded tab. The perimeter of the pocket can be secured by adhesive trapping the scent holder within the envelope. The scent carrier is withdrawn as scent in required within the auto interior.

Figure 11 shows a variation on the scheme with shade 25 having folds 26 with pouch 27 and a scent carrier 28 in raised jposition to expose its scent to the interior of the vehicle. A variation is shown in Fig. 12 with graphics 29 on both sides of a scent carrier 23.

Figures 13 through 15 show variations on a scented spring shade. These shades can be made of Nylon, PVC, polyester, Tyvek or other flexible cloths or materials. The fragrance or scent carrier can be made of molded or injected plastic materials, jars, vial or tubes and can be secured to the shade by clips or by a sewn pouch. Figure 13 shows two single panel spring shades 30, one of which has a carrier 31 thereon. The shades can be of a twin loop, one piece configuration such as that shown by 32. In Figure 14, a side shade 33 with scent carrier, profile shade (follows profile of window) 35 with scent carrier 36 and twin loop side shade 37 with scent carrier 38 are shown. Figure 15 shows a rear window shade 39 with scent carrier 40 thereon and a trapezoid twin loop shade 41.

Figure 16 shows a scent disk 30 which has fit pins 31 thereon with apertures 32 which allow for the disks to be pressure fit within holes in the scent shades. By variations of vinyl thickness and surface area size the scent may be controlled. One side may be scented and the other not. The configuration of the scent disks allows for consistent positioning of the disk from shade to shade. Graphics such as 33 can be place on the disks. Figure 17 shows a round disk 34 with a snap portion 35 of square configuration on one side and graphics 36 on the other.

Figure 18 shows a shade 40 with a center fold 42 and folds 41 with a pocket 43 therein for receiving a scent carrier. The pocket 43 has an opening 44 and holes 45 to allow dispersion of the scent. Folding seams 46 define the pocket opening. Figure 20 shows a shade 50 of double bubble construction with layers 51 and 52 with holes 49 partially through the shade material 51 to allow for scent dispersion.

Figures 21 and 22 show another embodiment of a scent disk. A disk 60 is shown in Figure 21 of generally rectangular configuration although it can be circular or another shape as desired. The disk 60 has a thickness 61 protruding therefrom is a pin member 62 which has ribs 63 molded thereon. The ribs 63 cooperate with a pressure washer 64 which has expansion joints 65 cooperating therewith to lock the disk in place It has been shown that the instant invention provides for a simple yet effective means for dispersing scents, whether of fi-esheners, fragrances or counteragents within the confines of an vehicle without the necessity of adding any components to the interior and for performing the dispersion when the vehicle is not occupied.

Itwillbeobvioustothoseofordinaryskillintheartthatmanychan gesand<BR> modificationscanbemadetotheappendedclaimswithoutdepartingfro mthescope<BR> thereof.