Component for vehicle interior

Abstract

A cartridge for a vehicle interior component configured to dispense scent from scent media may comprise a body comprising an inlet port and an outlet port and a chamber to contain scent media; and a valve assembly comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a valve mechanism. The valve assembly may facilitate air flow across scent media in the chamber and may provide a seal to obstruct air flow in the chamber. The valve mechanism may comprise an inlet spring to actuate the inlet valve and an outlet spring to actuate the outlet valve. The inlet spring and the outlet spring may be configured to be compressed in alignment with a connector to facilitate air flow. The component may comprise a console, overhead console, floor console, center console, etc.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for a component for a vehicle interior configured to dispense scent from scent media into air in the vehicle interior comprising:
 (a) a body comprising an inlet port and an outlet port and a chamber configured to contain scent media; and   (b) a valve assembly comprising an inlet valve and an outlet valve and a valve mechanism;   wherein the valve assembly is configured (1) to facilitate air flow at the inlet valve through the inlet port across scent media in the chamber and at the outlet valve through the outlet port; and (2) to provide a seal to obstruct air flow across scent media in the chamber;   wherein the valve mechanism is configured to provide the seal (1) with the inlet valve at the inlet port to obstruct flow of air through the inlet port and/or (2) with the outlet valve at the outlet port to obstruct flow of air through the outlet port;   wherein the valve mechanism comprises a spring and a connector between the inlet valve and the outlet valve.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the valve mechanism is configured to be actuated between a closed position to provide the seal and an open position to allow air flow across scent media in the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the closed position comprises an inlet seal at the inlet valve and an outlet seal at the outlet valve. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the valve mechanism comprises an inlet spring configured to actuate the inlet valve to provide the inlet seal and an outlet spring configured to actuate the outlet valve to provide the outlet seal. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4  wherein the inlet spring and the outlet spring are configured to be compressed to provide the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 4  wherein the inlet spring and the outlet spring are configured to be compressed in alignment with the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1  configured for installation into a scent-dispensing apparatus; wherein the scent-dispensing apparatus comprises a module configured for the vehicle interior; wherein an actuator of the module is configured to actuate the valve mechanism to the closed position to prevent scent from being dispensed from the chamber into the vehicle interior. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the component comprises a cartridge system comprising a set of cartridges. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge for a scent-dispensing apparatus providing an inlet and an outlet configured to dispense scent from scent media into air comprising:
 a body comprising an inlet port and an outlet port and a chamber configured to contain scent media;   a valve assembly within the body configured to control flow of air into the inlet port across scent media in the chamber and from the outlet port;   wherein the valve assembly comprises an inlet valve for the inlet port and an outlet valve for the outlet port;   wherein the valve assembly is configured (1) to allow air flow across scent media in the chamber of the body when open and (2) to provide a seal of air flow to scent media in the chamber of the body when closed;   wherein the seal is configured (1) to obstruct air flow through the inlet port and/or (2) to obstruct air flow through the outlet port.   
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve mechanism; wherein the valve mechanism comprises a spring configured to facilitate operation of (1) the inlet valve for the inlet port and/or (2) the outlet valve for the outlet port; wherein the spring is configured to bias the valve mechanism to provide the seal of air flow to scent media. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 10  wherein the spring comprises at least one spring configured (a) to expand to provide a sealed state when closed to obstruct air flow across scent media in the chamber and (b) to compress to provide an unsealed state when open to allow air flow across scent media in the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the valve mechanism comprises a connecting member configured to actuate (1) the inlet valve to provide the seal to prevent air flow through the inlet port and (2) the outlet valve to prevent air flow through the outlet port. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the inlet valve is coupled to the outlet valve by the connecting member. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the inlet valve is configured to move relative to the outlet port (1) to allow air flow from the inlet port across scent media in the chamber to the outlet port when open and (2) to provide the seal of scent media in the chamber of the body when closed. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the valve assembly comprises a spring; wherein the connecting member is configured to translate to compress the spring against the body to provide an unsealed state to allow air flow across scent media in the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the valve assembly comprises a spring at the inlet port and a spring at the outlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 9  further comprising a screen configured to position the scent media in the chamber and comprising at least one aperture to facilitate air flow through the chamber between the inlet port and the outlet port. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the body comprises a cap at the outlet port and a bottom at an inlet port. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the scent media comprises solid material configured to provide scent; wherein solid material comprises at least one of beads or particulate matter. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 9  wherein the body comprises a tag comprising information.