US 7,544,331 B1
Vehicle lighter air freshener
Romano Pettaway, 720 Doby La., Saraland, Ala. 36571 (US)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/483,512.
Int. Cl. A61L 9/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 422—125  [422/123; 392/386; 392/391; 392/394] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical automotive air freshener comprising:
a) a housing comprising;
i) a bowl shaped oil chamber for storing and vaporizing scented oil, said bowl shaped oil chamber mounted on a top surface of a lower housing;
ii) a removable cover for providing access to and securing said chamber;
iii) fragrance egress openings in said cover to allow vaporized oil to exit said oil chamber
iv) a heating element in said lower housing penetrating a bottom of said oil chamber in thermal communication with said oil chamber;
v) a heating coil in said lower housing in thermal communication with said heating element;
b) a plug projecting from said lower housing adapted to plug into a 12 volt receptacle in an automotive vehicle; and
c) contacts on said plug in electrical communication with said heating coil;
d) said plug detachable from said housing and remains in electrical communication with said heater via a retractable cord assembly; and
e) said retractable cord assembly comprises:
i) a spring loaded locking spool disposed in said housing;
ii) an axle extending vertically below said spool and to which said spool is rotatively attached;
iii) an electrical connection extending above said spool and communicating between said spool and said heating coil, said electrical connection being in axial alignment with said axle;
iv) a retractable cord having a first end terminating within said plug and in electrical communication with said contacts thereon and a second end terminating at said spool and in electrical communication with said electrical connection; and
v) engagement means on a bottom wall of said lower housing for securing said lower housing to a surface.