A fragrance system that fills the interior space of a vehicle with fragrance

Abstract

To provide an aroma system for dispersing an aroma in the interior space of a vehicle, the interior space of the vehicle having at least one interior part which can move to at least temporarily open a cavity when changing its state from a first state to a second state, this change in state creating an air flow in the cavity, and a fragrance holder disposed in the cavity is activated by the air flow to release fragrance molecules out of the cavity.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aroma system for providing a scent to the interior space of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] There are already air fresheners in vehicles that are intended to spread pleasant aromas in the interior space of the vehicle. In this case, there are already systems that emit the aroma via the vehicle's air conditioning. Passive air freshener systems that emit the aroma constantly are also already known.

[0003] However, there is still room for improvement in the area of ​​scenting the interior space of a vehicle. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved fragrance system for scenting the interior space of a vehicle. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous aspects are the subject of the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention proposes an aroma system for dispersing an aroma in the interior space of a vehicle, in which there is at least one interior part that can move to at least temporarily open a cavity when changing its state from a first state to a second state, and this change in state creates an air flow in the cavity, and a fragrance holder is disposed in the cavity, whereby the air flow activates the fragrance holder and releases fragrance molecules out of the cavity.

[0006] In one aspect, the cavity further comprises a chamber in which a scent carrier is placed, the chamber being formed such that in the above-mentioned first and second states the chamber is closed on all sides and an opening opens at least temporarily towards the interior space of the vehicle during the state change so that an air flow enters and flows over the scent carrier and, when the scent carrier is activated, the released scent molecules flow outwards through the chamber and cavity.

[0007] In one aspect, the portion of the room which at least temporarily opens toward the interior space of the vehicle during the state change is provided with a lid which is covered by an interior part in the first state and / or the second state or which becomes open during the state change.

[0008] In one aspect, the interior part is provided to be a steering wheel that can vary in shape.

[0009] In one aspect, the interior component is a steering wheel, a head restraint, an entertainment device, a support around a seat, and the second state is provided in a changed position and / or a position that is visible to the occupant and / or a usable position or a position that is no longer visible to the occupant and / or a usable position.

[0010] In one aspect, the scent carrier is provided as being a solid having at least a polymer having scent molecules therein that can be activated by air flow, or the scent carrier is provided as being a material impregnated with a fragrance.

[0011] In one aspect, the chamber is provided such that it is configured so that the scent carrier disposed therein can be replaced or refilled.

[0012] Furthermore, a vehicle is proposed, which is equipped with an aroma system as described above for scenting the interior space of the vehicle, said vehicle being advantageously a fully automated or autonomous vehicle.

[0013] In one aspect, the vehicle is provided further comprising one or more means configured to visually and / or audibly direct the release of scent molecules by the fragrance system according to predetermined criteria.

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention based on the figures of the drawings showing the details of the invention and from the claims. The individual features can each be implemented individually on their own or in any multiple combination in a variant of the invention.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a steering wheel in a first state; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a steering wheel undergoing a change of orientation and a fragrance system according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a steering wheel in a second state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] In the following description of the drawings, the same elements or features are designated with the same reference numerals.

[0018] The proposed fragrance system is used to temporarily fill a part of the interior space of a vehicle with a fragrance while the interior part 1 of the vehicle changes its appearance from a first state to a second state.

[0019] The behavior of the interior parts (only the steering wheel 1 is shown as an interior part in the figure) can be changed especially in the vehicle from level 4 (fully automated driving) onwards. Beyond this level, the (predetermined) driving task can be relinquished and the driver can be engaged in other things.

[0020] Thus, for example, the steering wheel 1 can be sunk into the dashboard 2 and then raised again, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The seat can be turned, the headrest and other supports such as armrests and / or footrests can be changed relative to their previous positions, i.e. when the aspect is changed, either the position of the interior parts changes (this may be the case, for example, when the aspect of the headrest or other supports changes) or the interior parts move from a position visible and / or usable by the occupant to a position that is no longer visible and / or usable by the occupant.

[0021] The interior components themselves may also be altered in appearance: for example, the steering wheel 1 may be geometrically altered, i.e. it may take on a different shape.

[0022] In both types of transformation, during transformation from the first state to the second state, at least one cavity 20 is temporarily revealed that is open to the interior space of the vehicle, and that cavity is otherwise obscured by the interior part (either in whole or in part).

[0023] In the scope of this specification, the state before the change in the state shown in Fig. 1, in which the steering wheel 1 is visible and usable by the occupant, is called a first state, and the state after the change in the state shown in Fig. 3, in which the steering wheel 1 is no longer visible and / or usable by the occupant, is called a second state, or the second state is a state in which the position or shape of the interior parts has simply changed.

[0024] The cavity 20 appearing during the state change can be used to temporarily generate a scent in the interior space. For this purpose, the scent carrier 30 can be placed in the cavity 20 in such a way that the air flow 40 (as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2) resulting from the state change activates the scent carrier 30, i.e. the air flow 40 causes the scent carrier to release the scent molecules. The scent carrier 30 is now arranged in the cavity 20 in such a way that the released scent molecules are carried by the air flow 40 into the interior space, possibly towards the passengers. Both the air flow 40 and the scent flow 41 are represented in Fig. 2 by the arrows 40, 41.

[0025] FIG. 2 also shows a chamber 21 arranged in the cavity 20. This chamber can be provided if the cavity 20 itself does not form a chamber, i.e. if the cavity 20 itself is open, for example, in an area not facing the interior space (for example behind the dashboard 2). In this case, the released aroma molecules, for example due to temperature fluctuations, may be wasted unnecessarily when there is no change in the state. For this reason, a chamber 21 can be provided which forms a closed space during the state change, i.e. is closed on all sides. This space is now formed in such a way that the aroma molecules released, for example due to temperature fluctuations, are kept in this chamber 21 when there is no state change and are only released during the state change. This means that the chamber 21 is either covered (in whole or in part) by the interior part in the area facing the interior space or has a separate lid which is opened during the state change. This can be done together with the interior part or the lid can be controlled separately. The aroma molecules can thus flow into the interior space of the vehicle (aroma flow 41) during (and only when) the state change.

[0026] The scent carrier 30 may be a solid body, with scent molecules therein that can be activated by the air flow 40. In this case, polymers are particularly suitable. Alternatively, the scent carrier 30 may be a material impregnated with a fragrance.

[0027] In one embodiment, the scent carrier 30 may be arranged so that it can be replaced or refilled. This can be made possible, for example, by the ability to interrupt the transformation when the cavity 20 becomes visible. This can be done, for example, via a service workshop so that the scent carrier 30 can be replaced or refilled with fragrance during maintenance.

[0028] The proposed fragrance system is a passive fragrance system, i.e. it only requires air flow 40 to release the fragrance molecules.

[0029] The direction in which the air flow 40 enters the cavity 20 or room 21 and the direction in which the aroma flow 41 exits the cavity 20 or room 21 depend on many factors, such as the shape of the cavity 20 or room 21, the shape and / or type of the aroma retainer 30, the placement of the aroma retainer 30, and / or the direction of movement or change in aspect. Therefore, the ideal air and aroma flows 40, 41 can be determined based on all the factors that affect them, for example using flow simulations.

[0030] Advantageously, interior components such as steering wheels, head rests, entertainment devices, seat supports, etc., can be used to scent the interior space if they change behavior, with interior components located close to the passenger's head being particularly advantageous as the scent can be better perceived.

[0031] The change in aspect and the accompanying scent flow 41 may be accompanied by visual and / or auditory presentation, provided the vehicle is appropriately equipped with visual and / or auditory means and corresponding controls.

[0032] Advantageously, the vehicle is a fully automated or autonomous vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Steering wheel (interior part) 2. Dashboard 20 Hollow in 2 Room 21 of 20 30 Fragrance retainer Air flow to 40 21 41 Fragrance flow from 30

Claims

1. A fragrance system for dispersing a fragrance into the interior space of a vehicle, wherein the interior space of the vehicle has at least one interior component (1), and when the interior component changes its form from a first state to a second state, it can move to open a cavity (20) at least temporarily, and this change in form creates an airflow (40) in the cavity (20), and a fragrance holder (30) is placed in the cavity (20), so the airflow (40) activates the fragrance holder (30) and releases fragrance molecules out of the cavity (20).

2. The fragrance system according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (20) is further provided with a chamber (21), the fragrance holder (30) is placed in the chamber, the chamber (21) is formed such that in the first state and the second state the chamber is closed on all sides, and an opening is opened at least temporarily in the direction of the interior space of the vehicle during the change of state so that the airflow (40) enters and flows over the fragrance holder (30) and activates the fragrance holder, causing the released fragrance molecules to flow out of the chamber (21) and the cavity (20).

3. The fragrance system according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the room (21) that opens at least temporarily in the direction of the interior space of the vehicle during the change of state is covered by the interior component (1) in the first state and / or the second state, or is a lid that is open during the change of state.

4. The fragrance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interior component (1) is a steering wheel (1) whose shape can be changed.

5. The fragrance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interior component (1) is a steering wheel (1), a headrest, an entertainment device, or a support device around the seat, and the second state is a modified position and / or a position visible to and / or usable by the occupant or a position no longer visible to and / or usable by the occupant.

6. The fragrance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fragrance retainer (30) is a solid having at least a polymer containing fragrance molecules that can be activated by the airflow (40), or the fragrance retainer is a substance impregnated with a fragrance agent.

7. The fragrance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fragrance retainer (30) is arranged so that the fragrance retainer can be replaced or refilled.

8. A vehicle equipped with an aroma system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for dispersing a fragrance into the interior space of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, which is a fully automated vehicle or an autonomous vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising one or more means configured to visually and / or audibly present the release of fragrance molecules by the fragrance system according to predetermined criteria.

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