Motion-Sensing Air Freshener of the Spray Type

Abstract

The present invention describes a spraying device comprising: a housing adapted to receive a container of fluid; actuation means configured, in use, for periodic actuation of the container of fluid; motion sensor means; a controller in operable communication with said actuation means and said motion sensor means; wherein the actuation means is operable, in use, to actuate at a time interval of t 1 ; and wherein the motion sensor means is operable, in use, to detect motion in the vicinity of the device and communicate any detection to the controller which causes the actuation means to actuate; and wherein subsequent detection of motion by the motion sensor is communicated to the controller which causes the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 2 ; and wherein t 2 ≦t 1 . The present invention further describes a method of spraying fluid from a container.

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         24 . A method of spraying a fluid from a spraying device, wherein the spraying device comprises:
 a housing adapted to receive a container of fluid;   actuation means configured, in use, for periodic actuation of the container of fluid;   motion sensor means provided by an infrared sensor;   a controller in operable communication with said actuation means and said motion sensor means; and   wherein the method comprises:   placing the device in an operational mode to cause the actuation means to actuate immediately or substantially immediately to spray fluid and thereafter causing the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 1 ;   detecting motion in the vicinity of the device and communicate any detection to the controller, wherein the controller causes the actuation means to actuate;   and when subsequently detecting motion by the motion sensor, communicating this detection to the controller, the controller causes the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 2  after the previous actuation and wherein the relationship between t 1  and t 2  is defined by the following formula: t 2 =t 1 /x, where x=1.1 to 10; and wherein   the device is operable to not exceed a maximum number of actuations by the actuation means during a time interval equal to t 1 .   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the relationship between t 1  and t 2  is defined by the following formula: t 2 =t 1 /x, where x=1.5 to 8. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the relationship between t 1  and t 2  is defined by the following formula: t 2 =t 1 /x, where x=2. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein after the motion communicated detection of motion to the controller and the controller has caused the actuation means to actuate, the controller is further configured to cause the motion sensor not to be operable for a period of time≦t 2 . 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller only communicates with the actuation means to cause the actuation thereof once a predefined number of motion events have been communicated to the controller by the motion sensor means. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller is configured to be operable in a normal mode or a detection mode; wherein in normal mode the controller is operable to cause actuation means to actuate at the time interval of t 1 ; and
 wherein in detection mode the motion sensor means is operable to detect motion in the vicinity of the device and communicate any detection to the controller which causes the actuation means to actuate; and wherein subsequent detection of motion by the motion sensor means is communicated to the controller which causes the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 2  wherein t 2 =t 1 /x, where x=1.1 to 10.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein a user controls whether the device is operating in the normal mode or the detection mode. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the operation of the device in normal mode or the detection mode is controlled by a timing mechanism and/or a sensor operably connected to the controller. 
     
     
         32 . A method of spraying a fluid from a fluid container, the method comprising the steps of:
 loading a container of fluid into a device comprising a housing adapted to receive a container of fluid; actuation means configured, in use, for periodic actuation of the container of fluid; motion sensor means; a controller in operable communication with said actuation means and said motion sensor means; and   placing the device in an operational mode wherein the motion sensor means is capable of detecting motion in the vicinity of the device;   and wherein, upon detection of motion by said motion sensor means, the controller causes the actuation means to actuate in accordance with the method of  claim 24 .   
     
     
         33 . A spraying device comprising: a housing adapted to receive a container of fluid;
 actuation means configured, in use, for periodic actuation of the container of fluid;   motion sensor means;   a controller in operable communication with said actuation means and said motion sensor means;   wherein the device comprises means for carrying out the method according to  claim 24 .   
     
     
         34 . A kit of parts for spraying a quantity of fluid, said kit comprising a device in accordance with  claim 33 , said device further comprising a container of fluid wherein said container is configured to be loadable into the housing of the device, and wherein said device is adapted to operate according to a method which comprises the steps of:
 placing the device in an operational mode to cause the actuation means to actuate immediately or substantially immediately to spray fluid and thereafter causing the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 1 ;   detecting motion in the vicinity of the device and communicate any detection to the controller, wherein the controller causes the actuation means to actuate;   and when subsequently detecting motion by the motion sensor, communicating this detection to the controller, the controller causes the actuation means to actuate at a time interval of t 2  after the previous actuation and wherein the relationship between t 1  and t 2  is defined by the following formula: t 2 =t 1 /x, where x=1.1 to 10; and wherein   the device is operable to not exceed a maximum number of actuations by the actuation means during a time interval equal to t 1 .   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein after the motion communicated detection of motion to the controller and the controller has caused the actuation means to actuate, the controller is further configured to cause the motion sensor not to be operable for a period of time≦t 2 /2.