Piezoelectric active emitting device with improved air flow output

Abstract

A piezoelectric dispenser includes a refill having a container having a neck and defining a fluid reservoir, a wick holder affixed to the neck, and a wick retained by the wick holder that has an upper end that is in communication with a piezoelectric assembly, the wick defining a longitudinal axis. The dispenser further includes a housing having a base and an overhanging cover that defines a fluid outlet and extends inward from the base at a shoulder, toward the longitudinal axis, the overhanging cover being disposed around and above the upper end of the wick and housing the piezoelectric assembly. The piezoelectric assembly includes a coil compression spring and the base is provided on a rear side of the refill with the left, right, and front sides being exposed to a surrounding environment after the refill has been coupled with the overhanging cover.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A piezoelectric dispenser, comprising:
 a refill, comprising:
 a container having a neck and defining a fluid reservoir, 
 a wick holder affixed to the neck, and 
 a wick retained by the wick holder that has a lower end disposed within the fluid reservoir and an upper end that is in communication with a piezoelectric assembly, the wick defining a longitudinal axis; and 
   a housing, comprising:
 a base, and 
 an overhanging cover that defines a fluid outlet and extends inward from the base at a shoulder, toward the longitudinal axis, the overhanging cover being disposed around and above the upper end of the wick and housing the piezoelectric assembly, 
   wherein the piezoelectric assembly includes a coil compression spring disposed above a piezoelectric actuator, and   wherein the base is provided on a rear side of the refill with left, right, and front sides of the refill being exposed to a surrounding environment after the refill has been coupled with the overhanging cover of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the overhanging cover and the base are integral with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a sensor is disposed within the base and is configured to interact with the refill. 
     
     
         4 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of posts are disposed within the overhanging cover and around a receiving aperture thereof that is disposed below the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the receiving aperture is configured to receive the wick of the refill when the refill is coupled with the overhanging cover. 
     
     
         6 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes an electrical input that is disposed below the piezoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a retainer and a coil spring. 
     
     
         8 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the coil spring is configured to facilitate contact between the wick of the refill and the piezoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 8  further comprising means in the piezoelectric assembly that is configured to counteract a force that the wick exerts on the coil spring when the refill and the piezoelectric assembly are coupled with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the means comprises a wire. 
     
     
         11 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the refill is removably coupled with the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly further includes an orifice plate. 
     
     
         13 . The piezoelectric dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator and the orifice plate are a unitary component. 
     
     
         14 . A piezoelectric device configured to receive a refill comprising a container having a neck and defining a fluid reservoir, a wick holder affixed to the neck, and a wick retained by the wick holder that defines a longitudinal axis, the piezoelectric device comprising:
 a housing that comprises:
 a base, 
 an overhanging cover that defines a fluid outlet and extends inward from the base at a shoulder, the overhanging cover being disposed around and above an upper end of the wick of the refill when the refill is coupled with the overhanging cover, and 
 a piezoelectric assembly that includes a coil spring and a piezoelectric actuator, the coil spring being disposed above the piezoelectric actuator, 
   wherein the base is provided on a rear side of the refill when the refill is coupled with the overhanging cover, with left, right, and front sides of the refill being exposed to the surrounding environment.   
     
     
         15 . The piezoelectric device of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of posts are disposed within the overhanging cover and around a receiving aperture thereof that is disposed below the fluid outlet, and
 wherein the receiving aperture is configured to receive the wick of the refill when the refill is coupled with the overhanging cover.   
     
     
         16 . The piezoelectric device of  claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly further includes a wire that is configured to counteract a force that the wick exerts on the coil spring when the refill and the piezoelectric device are coupled with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The piezoelectric device of  claim 14 , wherein the overhanging cover and the base are integral with one another. 
     
     
         18 . A piezoelectric assembly, comprising:
 a refill, comprising:
 a container having a neck and defining a fluid reservoir, 
 a wick holder affixed to the neck, and 
 a wick retained by the wick holder that has a lower end disposed within the fluid reservoir and an upper end that is in communication with a piezoelectric assembly, the wick defining a longitudinal axis, 
   a housing, comprising:
 a base, 
 an overhanging cover that defines a fluid outlet and extends inward from the base at a shoulder, toward the longitudinal axis, the overhanging cover being disposed around and above the upper end of the wick and housing the piezoelectric assembly, 
   wherein the piezoelectric assembly includes a coil compression spring that is disposed above a piezoelectric actuator;   wherein the base is provided on a rear side of the refill with left, right, and front sides of the refill being exposed to a surrounding environment after the refill has been coupled with the overhanging cover of the housing, and   wherein the piezoelectric assembly further includes a wire that is configured to counteract a force that the wick exerts on the coil spring when the refill and the piezoelectric assembly are coupled with one another.   
     
     
         19 . The piezoelectric assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly further includes an orifice plate, and the piezoelectric actuator and the orifice plate are a unitary component. 
     
     
         20 . The piezoelectric assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the overhanging cover and the base are integral with one another.