Lock and key system for fragrance heaters

Abstract

A fragrance diffuser system includes a fragrance cartridge and a plug-in module. The fragrance cartridge carrying a particular fragrance, the particular fragrance having an optimum diffusion temperature associated therewith. The fragrance cartridge further includes a fragrance heater configured for heating the particular fragrance at the optimum diffusion temperature. A portion of the fragrance cartridge defines a first key member. The plug-in module includes a cartridge receiver therein and has at least a first plug electrode and a second plug electrode associated therewith. The cartridge receiver is configured for receiving the fragrance cartridge therein, and the first plug electrode and the second plug electrode are configured for providing an optimum electrical power supply to the fragrance heater. The optimum electrical power supply is based upon an amount of power needed by the fragrance heater to heat the particular fragrance to the optimum diffusion temperature. A portion of the plug-in module defines a first lock member, the first lock member mating with the first key member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fragrance diffuser system, comprising: 
 a fragrance cartridge including: 
 a fragrance container having a particular fragrance therein, said particular fragrance having an optimum diffusion temperature associated therewith; and  
 a cartridge substrate carrying said fragrance container, said cartridge substrate having a first substrate side and a second substrate side, said fragrance container being mounted to said first substrate side;  
 a resistive thick film heater one of formed on and attached to said second substrate side, said resistive thick film heater being configured for heating said particular fragrance at said optimum diffusion temperature; and  
 a plurality of heater electrodes operatively connected to said resistive thick film heater, said plurality of heater electrodes including a first heater electrode and a second heater electrode, at least one of said fragrance container, said cartridge substrate, said resistive thick film heater and one said heater electrode being configured so as to define a first key member; and  
   a plug-in module including a cartridge receiver therein and having at least a first plug electrode and a second plug electrode associated therewith, said cartridge receiver configured for receiving said fragrance cartridge therein, said first plug electrode and said second plug electrode configured for contacting said first heater electrode and said second heater electrode, respectively, and further configured for providing an optimum electrical power supply to said resistive thick film heater thereof, said optimum electrical power supply being based upon an amount of power needed by said resistive thick film heater to heat said particular fragrance to said optimum diffusion temperature, one of said cartridge receiver, said first plug electrode and said second plug electrode being configured so as to define a first lock member, said first lock member mating with said first key member.    
     
     
         2 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 1 , wherein said first key member and said first lock member constitute a first set of mating mechanical features.  
     
     
         3 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 2 , wherein said mating mechanical features are one of a slot and extension pair and a notch pair.  
     
     
         4 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 2 , wherein said mating mechanical features are configured such that an interlocking therebetween is required to enable at least one of substantially complete insertion of said fragrance cartridge into said plug-in module and creation of an electrical interconnection between said resistive thick film heater and said plug-in module.  
     
     
         5 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 1 , wherein said first key member and said first lock member constitute a first set of mating electrical features.  
     
     
         6 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 5 , wherein said mating electrical features are particularly located circuit portions requiring electrical contact therebetween to establish an electrical connection between said resistive thick film heater and said plug-in module.  
     
     
         7 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second key member associated with said fragrance cartridge and a second lock member associated with said plug-in module, said second key member mating with said second lock member.  
     
     
         8 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 7 , wherein said first key member and said first lock member mate at least one of electrically and mechanically, said second key member and said second lock member mating a second set of mating at least one of electrically and mechanically.  
     
     
         9 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 2 , wherein said resistive thick film heater is a polymer thick film heater.  
     
     
         10 . A fragrance diffuser system, comprising: 
 a fragrance cartridge carrying a particular fragrance, said particular fragrance having an optimum diffusion temperature associated therewith, said fragrance cartridge further including, a portion of said fragrance cartridge defining a first key member;    a fragrance heater configured for heating said particular fragrance at said optimum diffusion temperature; and    a plug-in module including a cartridge receiver therein and having at least a first plug electrode and a second plug electrode associated therewith, said cartridge receiver configured for receiving said fragrance cartridge, said fragrance heater being operatively associated with one of said fragrance cartridge and said plug-in module, said first plug electrode and said second plug electrode configured for providing an optimum electrical power supply to said fragrance heater, said optimum electrical power supply being based upon an amount of power needed by said fragrance heater to heat said particular fragrance to said optimum diffusion temperature, a portion of said plug-in module defining a first lock member, said first lock member mating with said first key member.    
     
     
         11 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 10 , wherein one of said cartridge receiver, said first plug electrode and said second plug electrode are configured so as to define said first lock member.  
     
     
         12 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 10 , wherein said first key member and said first lock member mate at least one of mechanically and electrically.  
     
     
         13 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 10 , wherein said first lock member mating and said first key member are configured such that an interlocking therebetween is required to enable at least one of substantially complete insertion of said fragrance cartridge into said plug-in module and creation of an electrical interconnection between said fragrance heater and said plug-in module.  
     
     
         14 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 13 , wherein said interlocking is required to enable creation of an electrical interconnection between said fragrance heater and said plug-in module.  
     
     
         15 . The fragrance diffuser system of  claim 10 , wherein said fragrance heater is one of separate from and integral with said fragrance cartridge.  
     
     
         16 . A fragrance cartridge, said fragrance cartridge being configured for insertion into a particular plug-in module and electrical connection therewith, the particular plug-in module having at least a first lock member associated therewith, said fragrance cartridge comprising: 
 a fragrance container having a particular fragrance therein, said particular fragrance having an optimum diffusion temperature associated therewith; and    a cartridge substrate carrying said fragrance container, said cartridge substrate having a first substrate side and a second substrate side, said fragrance container being mounted to said first substrate side;    a resistive thick film heater one of formed on and attached to said second substrate side, said resistive thick film heater being configured for heating said particular fragrance at said optimum diffusion temperature; and    a plurality of heater electrodes operatively connected to said resistive thick film heater, said plurality of heater electrodes including a first heater electrode and a second heater electrode, at least one of said fragrance container, said cartridge substrate, said resistive thick film heater and one said heater electrode being configured so as to define a first key member, said first key member being configured for mating with the first lock member of the particular plug-in module.    
     
     
         17 . The fragrance cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein said first key member is one of a mechanical key and an electrical key.  
     
     
         18 . The fragrance cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein said resistive thick film heater is a polymer thick film heater.  
     
     
         19 . A fragrance diffuser system, comprising: 
 a fragrance cartridge carrying a particular fragrance, said fragrance cartridge having one of a lock and a key;    a plug-in module including a cartridge receiver therein, said fragrance cartridge being positioned within said cartridge receiver, said plug-in module having an other of said lock and said key; and    a fragrance heater configured for heating said particular fragrance, said fragrance heater being operatively associated with one of said fragrance cartridge and said plug-in module, activation of said fragrance heater being dependent upon an interfacing of said lock and said key.