Plug-In Diffuser Structure to Isolate Fragrance From Electrical Plug
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-in diffusers often allow substances like fragrances to come into contact with electrical components, potentially causing damage and safety issues, and do not effectively recycle unused diffused substances.
Innovation Solution
A plug-in diffuser design featuring a body with a receptacle for the substance, a converter to change the substance's state, a diffusion nozzle for dispersion, and a power supply, along with a plug protrusion that prevents liquid from reaching the electrical plug, and a canopy for decorative lighting, which also recycles unused substance by directing it back to the converter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the diffuser is designed with a compact body to integrate electrical components and diffusion mechanism, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the risk of substance contact with electrical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser body is divided into distinct functional zones: a substance-containing zone (receptacle with reservoir) and an electrical component zone (separated by internal structure). This segmentation creates physical barriers that prevent substance migration to electrical components while maintaining a compact integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
A converter mechanism acts as an intermediary between the substance reservoir and the diffusion nozzle. This intermediary component processes the substance (ultrasonic vibration, heating, or pumping) and directs it through controlled pathways, preventing direct contact between bulk substance and electrical components while enabling effective diffusion.
2Loss of substance
If the diffusion nozzle is oriented upward to recapture and recycle unused substance, then substance efficiency is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion nozzle is oriented at an upward angle (e.g., 45 degrees) to create a feedback loop where unused substance that does not diffuse immediately is recaptured and returned to the converter or receptacle. This feedback mechanism continuously recycles substance, improving efficiency without requiring complex external recycling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic substance flow management where the nozzle orientation and converter operation adapt to substance diffusion patterns. The upward angle allows gravity and converter action to work together dynamically, enabling substance recapture and return flow without complex mechanical recycling apparatus.
3Ease of operation
If the receptacle is positioned in the top of the body to facilitate substance access, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of substance leakage to electrical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is positioned in the top portion of the body with clear spatial segmentation from electrical components located in the bottom portion. Internal walls and structural elements create distinct compartments, allowing easy top-loading of substance while preventing leakage paths to electrical components in the base.
Solution Approach 2:
The converter mechanism serves as an intermediary that receives substance from the top-positioned receptacle and processes it in a controlled manner. This intermediary creates a controlled transfer interface that prevents uncontrolled leakage while maintaining ease of substance access from the top receptacle.
4Ease of operation
If the electrical plug protrudes from the body for easy connection, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of substance reaching the plug increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical plug is extracted and positioned externally, protruding from the body in a location spatially separated from the substance-containing zones. This extraction places the electrical connection interface outside the substance migration pathway, maintaining easy plug accessibility while eliminating substance contact risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The body structure itself acts as an intermediary barrier between the substance reservoir and the externally protruding electrical plug. The body's internal configuration and external shape create physical barriers that prevent substance from reaching the plug, while the plug's protruding position maintains ease of connection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents substance contact with electrical components, ensures safe operation, and recycles unused diffused substance, enhancing efficiency and safety while providing decorative lighting effects.
Implementation Method 1
the converter may comprise a heater or other apparatus that can change a state of the substance (e.g., from a liquid to a gas, etc.)
Implementation Method 2
the converter may comprise a pump or other apparatus that conveys the substance under pressure to facilitating atomization of the substance
Implementation Method 3
the diffusion nozzle may atomize or otherwise facilitate dispersion of the substance through the air outside of the diffuser
Implementation Method 4
the diffusion nozzle may be oriented at an angle (e.g., a somewhat upwardly oriented, or diagonally oriented, angle of less than 90° to vertical; etc.) that facilitates collection of an undiffused portion of the substance to be diffused and enables the undiffused portion of the substance to flow back to the converter and/or the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A plug-in diffuser, such as a fragrance diffuser, has a configuration that preserves a substance to be diffused, such as a fragrance. A configuration of a body of the plug-in diffuser may prevent the substance to be diffused from contacting an electrical plug of the fragrance diffuser and/or from entering into an electrical outlet. A receptacle in a top of the body of the plug-in diffuser may receive a reservoir of the substance to be diffused. A canopy assembled with the body may provide decorative effects (e.g., appearance, lighting, etc.).