Claims:1. An evaporating device (A) having DC supply and timed release of a substance comprising:
a housing (10);
a USB connector (30) through which a DC power is supplied;
a heating element (22) connected at one end to the USB connector (30) and at another end to metal terminals (21); and
a timer mechanism (80) provided between the USB connector (30) and the heating element (22) to time control the release rate of the substance being evaporated in a periodic or intermittent manner.

2. The device (A) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the heating element (22) is a wire element made of a material showing good conductivity to current.

3. The device (A) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the heating element (22) is supported on a cylindrical ferrule (23).

4. The device (A) as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the cylindrical ferrule (23) made of a material selected from ceramic or engineering polymer, such as reinforced Nylon, polyphenyl sulphide (PPS) or Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which have a high thermal stability.

5. An apparatus (1) for evaporating substance having DC supply and timed release of the substance comprising:
an evaporating device (A) which comprises a housing (10); a USB connector (30) through which a DC power is supplied; a heating element (22) connected at one end to the USB connector (30) and at another end to metal terminals (21); and a timer mechanism (80) provided between the USB connector (30) and the heating element (22) to time control the release rate of the substance being evaporated at a regular interval or intermittently; and
a refill arrangement which comprises the substance contained in a container (70), a wicking element (60) having one end dipped in the substance and other end connected to the evaporating device (A), and plurality of grooves through which the device (A) and the refill arrangement (B) are joined together.
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaporating a substance, such as mosquito repellent, room freshener and like, and particularly relates to the evaporating device, which can be powered by DC supply and which has an auto-control time release mechanism.

BACKGROUND & PRIOR ART:
Most of the evaporation devices require input power of 230VAC. As an alternative to the said power rating, the devices that can be powered by DC source have started flooding the market. The simplest way for DC powering the devices, as per the researchers working in this area, is through USB connection. If the evaporating device is provided with USB connection, it was thought that the said device may be powered through, say a computer. The said provision was thought to be advantageous when AC power would be unavailable. Some of the patents / patent applications describe such device, which are listed below:

CN101731196 discloses the electric mosquito-repellent incense comprises a data line for connecting the electric mosquito-repellent incense with a computer and a main body part of the electric mosquito-repellent incense. The body of the mosquito repellent device claimed in CN’196 used cold metal sheet which is heated after connecting the USB interface.

CN203386081U discloses a USB heating circuit of a mosquito-repellent incense liquid heater. The heating circuit with a complete band protection mode is formed in such a way that a direct current supplied by a USB adaptor or a power bank is accessed in to the circuit through a MINIUSB seat. Further, a fuse FU, a protection current limiting element NTC and a heater PTC are connected in series so as to form a loop. The protection current limiting element NTC and a diode LED are connected in parallel so as to form a working state indicating lamp. For the purpose of overshoot current protection of the power bank, an NTC starting protection resistor is ingeniously arranged.
Further, US20150320116 relates more particularly to the use of induction heating to produce an aerosol, in vaporiser devices or e-cigarettes. It comprises a cartridge configured to hold a vaporizable substance; a wick element coupled to the cartridge, wherein the wick element is configured to contact the vaporizable substance located in the cartridge; and an induction heating element inductively coupled to the wick element; wherein wick element is configured to heat the vaporizable substance based on induction heating of the wick element by the induction heating element. The vaporizer device may be provided with a communication connection to a computer device such as a USB port, wireless Bluetooth.

Furthermore, CN201499542U claims a USB electric heating mosquito incense liquid type mosquito repellent, which is provided with a timer circuit for the purpose of switching the power off automatically after a certain period of time, in order to save energy as well as mosquito repellent liquid. The device comprises of a case (2), a heating element (3) and a mosquito incense liquid bottle (4), wherein radiating holes (1) are formed on the case (2). Further, a USB interface (5) and a timing switch (6) are arranged on the case (2). The timing switch (6), an electronic element (3) and the USB interface (5) are connected with a power supply for forming a closed loop. Because of the adoption of the USB interface, a computer with the USB interface and the like can be used for supplying electricity for the mosquito repellent without occupying socket jacks of a socket.

However, the existing devices keep releasing the vaporised liquid continuously, utilising the substance when not even required.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
To overcome the limitations of the existing devices, the present invention discloses an evaporating device, that can be powered by DC supply and a timer mechanism that controls the output of the device.

The evaporating device comprises a housing; a USB connector through which a DC power is supplied; a heating element connected at one end to the USB connector and at another end to metal terminals; and a timer mechanism provided between the USB connector and the heating element to time control the release rate of the substance being evaporated.

The heating element is supported on a cylindrical ferrule. The heating element is selected from metal alloy material. The cylindrical ferrule is made of a material selected from ceramic or engineering polymer, such as reinforced Nylon, polyphenyl sulphide (PPS) or Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which have a high thermal stability.

In a further embodiment, an apparatus for evaporating a substance is disclosed, wherein the apparatus comprises an evaporating device and a refill arrangement. The evaporating device comprises a housing; a USB connector through which DC power is supplied; a heating element connected at one end to the USB connector and at another end to metal terminals; and a timer mechanism provided between the USB connector and the heating element to time control the release rate of the substance being evaporated. The refill arrangement comprises the substance contained in a container, a wicking element having one end dipped in the substance and other end connected to the evaporating device, and plurality of grooves through which the device and the refill arrangement are joined together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 illustrates a cut view of an apparatus (1) to evaporate liquid.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the evaporating device (A).
Figure 2(a) illustrates connectivity of heating element (22) which is a part the device (A)
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the refill arrangement (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Unless explicitly mentioned, all the scientific / technical terminologies used in the specification have their usual meaning as understood by the person skilled in the art. For example, the terms such as ‘VAC’, ‘AC’, ‘DC’ have reference in relation to the type of supply, i.e. alternating supply or direct supply.

The term ‘substance’ includes any substance that is evaporated / vaporised for the suitable purpose. For example, the substance may be an insect repellent that may be used to kill or drive away the insects. The substance may also be a room freshener that may spread a pleasant fragrance across the desired area. Further, the substance may be in the form of liquid, gel or any other suitable form. However, the present invention is less concerned about the substance but more concerned about the mechanism to evaporate or vaporise the substance. The invention is further concerned with timed evaporation of the substance.

The term ‘wicking element’ is the part which absorbs the substance and carries it to the heating element through capillary action. The substance is evaporated by means of the heating element.

The present invention discloses an evaporating device (A) having DC supply and timed release of a substance comprising: a housing (10); a USB connector (30) through which a DC power is supplied; a heating element (22) connected at one end to the USB connector (30) and at another end to metal terminals (21); and a timer mechanism (80) provided between the USB connector (30) and the heating element (22) to control the release rate of the substance being evaporated.

The heating element (22) is selected from any metal alloy wire. The heating element (22) is supported on a cylindrical ferrule (23). The cylindrical ferrule (23) is made of a material selected from ceramic or engineering polymer, such as reinforced Nylon, polyphenyl sulphide (PPS) or Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which have a high thermal stability.

Further, the present invention discloses an apparatus for evaporating substance using DC supply and timed release of the substance comprising: an evaporating device (A) which comprises a housing (10); a USB connector (30) through which a DC power is supplied; a heating element (22) connected at one end to the USB connector (30) and at another end to metal terminals (21); and a timer mechanism (80) provided between the USB connector (30) and the heating element (22) to time control the release rate of the substance being evaporated; and a refill arrangement which comprises the substance contained in a container (70), a wicking element (60) having one end dipped in the substance and other end connected to the evaporating device (A), and plurality of grooves through which the device (A) and the refill arrangement (B) are joined together.

The present invention is described herein with reference to figures appended at the end of the specification, which depict a mosquito repellent apparatus. It may be noted that the said figures are for illustrative purpose only and do not restrict the scope of the invention to the mosquito repellent apparatus. The apparatus for evaporating / vaporising the substance as well as device thereof may also be a room freshener or any such consumer good.

Figure 1 represents a cut view of the apparatus (1) for evaporating the substance, which comprises of an evaporating device (A) and a refill arrangement (B). The refill arrangement (B), also shown in Figure 3, includes a container (70) in which the substance being evaporated is housed, and a wicking element (60) having one end dipped in the substance and other end connected to the evaporating device (A). The evaporating device (A) and the refill arrangement (B) are joined through grooves (50). The evaporating device (A) has a heating arrangement that evaporates / vaporises the substance, creating a desired effect.

It may be noted that the refill arrangement (B) can be replaced by any other refill arrangement having same or similar construction once the substance in the container (70) is completely evaporated. Since the refill arrangement (B) is joined to the evaporating device (A) through the grooves (50), the refill arrangement may be removed from the device (A) and be replaced by another refill arrangement.

Figure 2 represents the exploded view of the evaporating device (A). The said device (A) has a housing (10) that houses a heating element (22) and a base plate (25). The base plate (25) is provided for the purpose of holding the heating element (22), the timer mechanism (80) and the refill arrangement (B) in place. The device (A) is powered through a USB connector (30), which is directly connected to the heating element (22).

As illustrated in Figure 2(a), the heating element (22) is connected to the USB connector (30) at one end and plurality of metal contacts (21) at other end. The heating element (22) is supported on a cylindrical ferrule (23). Further, a timer mechanism (80) is provided between the USB connector (30) and the heating element (22) to time control the rate of evaporation automatically.

The heating element (22) is any metal-alloy wire that may be used for electric heating. In an embodiment, the heating element may be made of stainless steel, kanthal, nichrome, Further, the heating element (22) has certain specific resistivity such that it achieves a temperature value that is required to evaporate the substance. In other words, overheating is avoided by certain choice of material having certain resistivity and a certain wire length. The cylindrical ferrule (23) is made of a material which has high thermal stability. Preferably, such material may be ceramic or engineering polymer, such as reinforced Nylon, polyphenyl sulphide (PPS) or Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which have a high thermal stability.

The said provision of powering the device (A) and the apparatus thereof through the USB connector (30) enables the device (A) to power at low voltage DC, preferably 5VDC. Therefore, the device (A) may not be necessarily powered through AC mains. The device (A) may be connected to a serial port of a CPU of a desktop computer, or to the serial port a laptop for input of the power. The device may be powered by AC mains, through any adapter known in the art that converts AC supply to DC. Such flexibility offered by the device makes it highly adaptable and transportable device.

Further, the timing mechanism (80) provided therein enables the device to auto-control the rate of evaporation. This provision avoids constant evaporation of substance and saves considerable amount of the said substance. For this purpose, the timer mechanism (80) includes a timer and a controller, wherein the controller shuts the evaporation for a particular period of time after the timer sends a signal to the controller to shut off the power supply to the device. The said on-off action of the power to the device by means of the timer mechanism occurs at either specific timer interval or intermittently. The specific timer interval or otherwise is pre-determined.

The present invention is advantageous and economical due to its construction. It consumes less power with its timer mechanism and DC input voltage. The portability of the device is an additional advantage of the present invention.