Evaporative humidifier

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6604733
  • Patent Number
    6,604,733
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 1, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 12, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An evaporative humidifier including a base removably supporting a water tray for holding a quantity of water. A blower assembly and a water tank are removably supported by the base above the water tray. The blower assembly includes a housing and a fan disposed intermediate a pair of air inlets and an air exhaust outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is supported by the water tray and extends upwardly into the housing. The wick filter includes a cylindrical side wall and opposing open upper and lower ends. The fan is driven by a motor mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlets, through the cylindrical side walls of the wick filter, and then through the open upper end of the wick filter and out of the housing through the air exhaust outlet. A float assembly is removably supported by the water tray and includes a vertically extending switch actuator vertically moveable with changing water levels in the water tray and selectively engagable with a float switch for deactivating the motor when the water level falls below a predetermined point. The water tank includes concave and convex side walls and a handle defining a pivot point wherein support of the tank by the handle causes the concave side wall to swing upwardly and outwardly toward the convex side wall.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to humidifiers and, more particularly, to evaporative humidifiers utilizing a wick filter. The present invention is further directed to an evaporative humidifier having a structure to facilitate the transporting and cleaning of components which contact water.




2. Description of the Related Art




Various types of humidifiers are utilized to provide moisture to indoor air and thereby modify relative humidity. Included among such humidifiers are ultrasonic humidifiers, steam humidifiers or vaporizers, and evaporative humidifiers.




Evaporative humidifiers typically include a housing having a reservoir of water and a stationary wick assembly supported within the housing. The reservoir is usually provided in fluid communication with a water tank for providing an extended supply of water. The lower end of the wick assembly is positioned within the reservoir to absorb water contained therein. Air is blown through the wick assembly, thereby causing evaporation of the water from the wick assembly and subsequent transfer of the evaporated water to the ambient air. If a stationary wick is utilized, the level of water within the reservoir should remain relatively constant to provide for both continuous absorption of water by the wick assembly and sufficient air flow therethrough. An example of such a conventional humidifier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,511.




It is also known to provide a float assembly within the water reservoir for deactivating the humidifier when the water level within the water reservoir is deficient. A typical float assembly includes a float and a rod extending upwardly from the float. The float rod has traditionally been supported by a stationary retainer, fixed either to the inside of the humidifier housing or to a wick support frame. When the water level within the reservoir is sufficient, the upper end of the float rod closes an activation switch and the humidifier operates. As the water level falls, the float rod descends, until the rod no longer closes the activation switch, at which point the humidifier is deactivated. An example of such a prior art float assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,038.




As may be appreciated, the tank, reservoir, and float assemblies of conventional evaporative humidifiers are often in prolonged contact with water. Furthermore, the traditional humidifier is designed for operation in a moist, warm environment. As such, these conditions tend to foster the growth of microorganisms which adhere to components which contact water and which may be unpleasant and potentially harmful to individuals in proximity to the operating humidifier.




In order to effectively clean traditional humidifiers, standard procedures include flushing the humidifier with a cleaning agent, such as chlorine bleach or a combination of vinegar and water, followed by a clean water flush. Unfortunately, such prior art cleaning procedures are often time consuming and therefore not routinely performed by the ordinary consumer.




As such, it may be appreciated that there remains a need for an evaporative humidifier having a simple design wherein the components which contact water may be easily disassembled and removed for cleaning. More particularly, there remains a need for such an evaporative humidifier which includes components which may be easily removed, disassembled and cleaned within a conventional dishwasher.




A further disadvantage of prior art evaporative humidifiers is with respect to difficulties in filling and transporting the water tank. Such tanks are often cumbersome and difficult to carry, particularly after they are filled with water. While improvements have been proposed with respect to handles for carrying such humidifier tanks, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,616, there remains a need for a simple and effective design which facilitates the transporting of humidifier tanks.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The evaporative humidifier of the present invention includes a base having a bottom wall and a side support wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. A water tray supporting recess is formed within the bottom wall of the base and removably supports a water tray. The base is substantially elliptical and defines a longitudinal major axis and a transverse minor axis. The water tray supporting recess of the base includes a footprint asymmetrical relative to the transverse minor axis. The water tray includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom. The water tray further includes a footprint substantially conforming to the footprint of the water tray supporting recess of the base.




A float assembly is supported by the water tray and includes a cover removably secured to the side wall of the water tray. A buoyant float is slidably received within the cover and includes an upper end vertically moveable relative to the bottom wall of the water tray.




A blower assembly is supported by the side wall of the base above the water tray and includes a housing, a motor supported within the housing, and a fan supported within the housing and operably connected to the motor. A float switch is selectively engagable with the upper end of the buoyant float for selectively deactivating the motor. The housing includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and an evaporative air flow path extending between the air inlet and the air outlet.




A self-standing wick assembly is supported by the bottom wall of the water tray and extends upwardly into the air flow path within the housing. The wick assembly includes a wick filter having a cylindrical side wall, an open lower end, and an open upper end, wherein the lower end is in absorbing contact with water supported in the water tray. A cylindrical wick assembly locator extends upwardly from the bottom wall of the water tray, and the lower end of the wick filter is concentrically received over the wick assembly locator.




A tank is removably supported by the side wall of the base above the water tray and adjacent the blower assembly. The tank includes a concave side wall, a convex side wall, a bottom wall and a top wall. The concave side wall is concaved inwardly to provide clearance for the leg of a user carrying the tank. A valve is concentrically positioned relative to an aperture formed in the bottom wall of the tank. A valve actuator extends upwardly from the bottom wall of the water tray and is engagable with the valve for providing fluid communication between an interior chamber of the tank and the water tray. The valve is supported within a cap which selectively seals the aperture of the bottom wall of the tank. The aperture within the bottom wall of the tank is sized to have a diameter large enough, preferably at least as great as approximately 3.5 inches, to permit the hand of a user access to the interior chamber of the tank.




A handle is supported by the top wall of the tank and includes a support portion positioned opposite a center axis of the tank from the concave side wall wherein the handle defines a pivot point. As such, supporting the tank from the handle causes the concave side wall to swing about the handle in a direction upwardly and toward the convex side wall, thereby providing additional clearance for movement of the leg of the user holding the tank. A recess is formed within the top wall of the tank proximate the convex side wall. An upper portion of the handle is supported above the recess and is substantially flush with the top wall of the tank.




The water tray, float assembly and tank are formed of a dishwasher safe thermoplastic material. Additionally, the water tray, float assembly and tank are a first color, wherein the base, which is not formed entirely of a dishwasher safe thermoplastic material, is a second color visibly distinguishable from the first color. As such, the dishwashable components of the first color are easily identifiable.




Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an evaporative humidifier having components in contact with water which may be easily removed and disassembled to facilitate cleaning.




It is another object of the present invention to provide such an evaporative humidifier having a water tray, float assembly, and tank which may be easily removed and disassembled from each other and from a base, blower assembly and wick assembly.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an evaporative humidifier having a water tray, float assembly, and tank which may be cleaned within a conventional dishwasher.




It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an evaporative humidifier having a base with an asymmetrical water tray supporting recess to facilitate proper seating of a water tray therein.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water tray having a wick assembly locator to facilitate proper positioning of a wick assembly thereon.




It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide such a water tray having a handle extending upwardly from the wick assembly locator to facilitate removal of the water tray from the base.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a humidifier including a tank having a structure facilitating its transportation.




It is another object of the present invention to provide such a tank including a concave side wall which provides clearance for the leg of a user carrying the tank.




It is further object of the present invention to provide such a tank including a handle defining a pivot point for swinging the concave side wall upwardly and outwardly away from the leg of a user carrying the tank.




Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS




The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view as seen from the top, front and right side of an evaporative humidifier that embodies the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a left side elevational view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a right side elevation view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a top plan view of the base;





FIG. 6

is a top plan view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a front side elevation view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a rear side elevational view of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line


9





9


of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view as seen from the bottom and rear of the blower assembly;





FIG. 11

is a block diagram illustrating the interconnection between various electrical components in a preferred embodiment of the evaporative humidifier of the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a partial exploded perspective view as seen from the bottom of the tank; and





FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional view taken along line


13





13


of FIG.


12


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring initially to

FIGS. 1-5

, an evaporative humidifier


10


embodying the invention is illustrated as including a base


12


removably supporting a humidification unit or blower assembly


14


and a water tank


16


. The base


12


includes a bottom wall


18


supported by a plurality of legs


19


, and a side support wall


20


extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall


18


. A pair of opposing recessed handles


21


and


22


are preferably formed within the lower end of the side support wall


20


to facilitate handling of the humidifier


10


. As illustrated in

FIG. 5

, the base


12


is substantially elliptical and includes a longitudinal major axis


23


and a transverse minor axis


24


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 2

,


5


and


9


, a water tray supporting recess


26


projects downwardly within the bottom wall


18


. The water tray supporting recess


26


includes interconnected first, second and third sections


28


,


30


and


32


, and a footprint


33


which is asymmetrical relative to the transverse minor axis


24


(FIG.


5


). Moreover, the footprint of the first section


28


differs substantially from the footprint of the second and third sections


30


, and


32


. Additionally, the first section


28


is positioned above the second section


30


, which, in turn, is positioned above the third section


32


, thereby providing a downward gradient from the first section


28


to the second and third sections


30


and


32


.




A water tray


34


is removably supported within the water tray supporting recess


26


of the base


12


and is adapted for receiving and holding a supply of water. The water tray


34


includes a bottom wall


36


and a side wall


38


extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall


36


. The footprint


39


of the water tray


34


substantially conforms to the footprint


33


of the water tray supporting recess


26


of the base


12


. Moreover, the footprint


39


of the water tray


34


is received in substantially parallel relation within the footprint


33


of the bottom wall


36


.




The water tray


34


further includes a water receiving portion


40


in fluid communication with an evaporative portion


42


. A float reservoir


44


is provided in fluid communication with the evaporative portion


42


. The water receiving portion


40


, evaporate portion


42


and float reservoir


44


are received within the first section


28


, second section


30


, and third section


32


, respectively, of the water tray supporting recess


26


. Given the asymmetrical structure of the water tray supporting recess


26


and the water tray


34


it may be appreciated that the water tray


34


, is properly receivable within the water tray supporting recess


26


in only one position.




The bottom wall


36


within the evaporative portion


42


is positioned below the bottom wall


36


within the water receiving portion


40


. Additionally, the bottom wall


36


within the float reservoir


44


is positioned below the bottom wall


46


within the evaporative portion


42


. As such, water within the water tray


34


tends to travel in a direction from the water receiving portion


40


to the float reservoir


44


. A portion of the side wall


38


opposite the float reservoir


44


includes an inclined portion or spout


46


to facilitate pouring of water from the tray


34


.




Turning now to

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


9


, the float assembly


48


is removably supported by the water tray


34


and includes a cover


58


releasably secured to the side wall


38


. Moreover, the cover


58


includes a base


60


defining a slot


62


for frictionally engaging a portion of the side wall


38


. The cover


58


further includes a centrally positioned aperture


64


for slidably receiving and guiding a buoyant float


66


including a vertically extending switch actuator


68


. The buoyant float


66


is supported within the float reservoir


44


. In the preferred embodiment, the vertically extending switch actuator


68


is formed as an integral part of the buoyant float


66


. Regardless of the construction, at least the buoyant float


66


is made of a buoyant material. As may be readily appreciated, the buoyant float


66


and the vertically extending switch actuator


68


are vertically moveable relative to the bottom wall


36


of the water tray


34


in response to changing levels of water within the float reservoir


44


.




A lower end


70


of the vertically extending switch actuator


68


is supported by the buoyant float


66


, while the upper end


72


of the vertically extending switch actuator


68


includes a tapered switch engaging blade


74


. A retaining ring


76


is supported proximate the upper end


72


of the vertically extending switch actuator


68


and is engageable with a pair of retaining clips


78


and


80


fixed to an upper surface


82


of the cover


58


proximate the aperture


64


. The retaining clips


78


and


80


are preferably secured using traditional fasteners, such as screws


84


and


86


, although other fastening means may be readily substituted therefore. It should be appreciated that the interaction between the retaining ring


76


and the retaining clips


78


and


80


maintains the cover


58


, buoyant float


66


and vertically extending switch actuator


68


together as a single float assembly


48


, while providing limited relative movement between the cover


58


and the vertically extending switch actuator


68


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 1-4

,


6


and


10


, the blower assembly


14


comprises a housing


88


including arcuate front and rear walls


90


and


92


interconnecting opposing first and second side walls


94


and


96


, and further defining an open bottom


97


. A top wall


98


interconnects the front and rear walls


90


and


92


along with the first and second side walls


94


and


96


. First and second air inlets


100


and


102


are formed within the first and second side walls


94


and


96


and preferably include inlet grilles


103


and


104


having a plurality of substantially horizontally extending slots


105


extending therethrough. Likewise, an air exhaust outlet


106


is formed within the top wall


98


and includes a grille


108


defining a plurality of slots


110


. The air inlets


100


and


102


and air exhaust outlet


106


provide communication to an evaporative air flow path


112


(FIG.


9


).




The blower assembly


14


is removably supported by the base


12


above the water tray


34


. More particularly, a recessed flange


113


extends around the lower peripheral edge of the housing


88


for supporting the housing


88


by a lip


114


formed in the side support wall


20


of the base


12


. A plurality of positioning tabs


115


extend upwardly from the bottom wall


18


of the base


12


and adjacent the side support wall


20


for securely positioning the housing


88


.




Referring to

FIGS. 6

,


9


and


10


, a fan enclosure


116


is supported within the housing


88


and includes a cylindrical wall


117


extending downwardly from the top wall


98


. A conventional motor


118


is supported by the cylindrical wall


117


and is operably connected to a fan


119


. The fan


119


includes a plurality of blades


120


for propelling air upwardly from the open bottom


97


of the housing


88


and out through the air exhaust outlet


106


. A guard


122


is fixed to a lower surface of the fan enclosure


116


and includes a safety grille


124


for preventing accidental contact with the motor


118


and the fan blades


120


. Additionally, the guard


122


supports an arcuate receiving shield


126


including a plurality of air flow passages


127


extending concentrically downwardly from the cylindrical wall


117


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 1

,


6


and


11


, a control panel


130


is supported by the top wall


98


of the housing


88


intermediate the front wall


90


and the air exhaust outlet


106


. The control panel


130


includes a display


132


, preferably a liquid crystal display, for providing an indication of the relative humidity of ambient air received from a humidity sensor


134


communicating with a processor


136


. An inlet


137


is provided in the control panel


130


to provide fluid communication between the humidity sensor


134


and ambient air. The display


132


further provides an indication of a set or desired relative humidity which may be programmed by a user through desired humidity set point up and down set point buttons


138


and


140


. A rotatable fan speed control knob


142


is provided to control operation of the fan


119


by varying the desired speed of the motor


118


.




The humidity sensor


134


is of conventional design and senses ambient air relative humidity through the inlet


137


formed within the control panel


130


. The humidity sensor


134


is in a continuous active condition and sends signals to the processor


136


whenever the processor


136


is energized. Additionally, a power indicator lamp


146


and a refill indicator lamp


148


are supported within the control panel


130


and controlled by the processor


136


. More particularly, the power indicator lamp


146


illuminates when the motor


118


is activated. Likewise, the refill indicator lamp


148


illuminates when an activation or float switch


150


is in an open state as described below.




Referring further to

FIGS. 9 and 10

, the housing


88


of the blower assembly


14


supports the float switch


150


which communicates with the processor


136


for either allowing or preventing the supply of power to the motor


118


. The float switch


150


is of conventional design and preferably includes a spring biased lever arm


152


that creates an electrical contact when depressed and breaks the contact when not depressed. Consequently, when the lever arm


152


is depressed, the float switch


150


sends a signal to the processor


136


for activating the motor


118


. Likewise, when the lever arm


152


is not depressed, the float switch


150


sends a signal to the processor


136


for deactivating the motor


118


. The float switch


150


is supported within a control housing


154


adjacent to the fan enclosure


115


. The control housing


154


includes a bottom wall


156


including tapered converging surfaces


158


leading to a slot


160


. The lever arm


152


is positioned inside the control housing


154


adjacent the slot


160


.




The switch engaging blade


74


of the upper end


72


of the vertically extending switch actuator


68


is selectively engagable with the lever arm


152


through the slot


160


. The control housing


154


also contains the processor


136


which, as indicated above, is in electrical communication with the humidity sensor


134


, set point buttons


138


and


140


, control knob


142


, power indicator lamp


146


and refill indicator lamp


148


.




Referring now to

FIGS. 8 and 10

, the rear wall


92


of the housing


88


includes a cord storage compartment


162


for receiving an excess amount of electrical cord


164


. The electrical cord


164


is of conventional design and includes a plug


165


for providing electrical power to the motor


116


. The storage compartment


162


extends inwardly from the rear wall


92


and includes first and second vertically extending side walls


166


and


167


interconnected by an intermediate wall


168


. The second side wall


167


includes an arcuate portion


169


defined by an outer surface of the cylindrical wall


117


of the fan enclosure


116


. First and second retaining tabs


170


and


171


are provided for securing the excess cord


164


within the compartment


162


. A passageway


172


is provided within the rear wall


92


and provides communication between the storage compartment


162


and an outer surface


173


of the housing


88


. A recessed handle


174


is also provided in the rear wall


92


of the housing


88


to facilitate handling of the blower assembly


14


by a user. As may be appreciated by viewing

FIGS. 8 and 10

, the excess cord


164


is hidden from view by water tank


16


when the humidifier


10


is in its normal operating condition with the blower assembly


14


positioned adjacent the tank


16


on the base


12


.




Turning now to

FIGS. 2 and 9

, a wick assembly


175


is supported by the bottom wall


36


of the water tray


34


. The wick assembly


175


includes a wick filter


176


and a permeable support


178


which permits the wick assembly


175


to be self-standing. The wick filter


176


is preferably cylindrical in shape and includes a side wall


180


, an open top


182


and an open bottom


184


. The wick assembly


175


is preferably concentrically received over a cylindrical wick assembly locator


186


supported by and extending upwardly from the bottom wall


36


of the water tray


34


. As such, the bottom


184


of the wick filter


176


is in contact with water supported by the bottom wall


36


of the water tray


34


. The wick assembly


175


extends upwardly into the air flow path


112


defined by the housing


88


of the blower assembly


14


. The top


182


of the wick assembly


175


is received within and appropriately aligned with the fan


118


by the receiving shield


126


. A carrying handle


188


extends upwardly from the wick assembly locator


186


to facilitate removal and transportation of the water tray


34


.




The preferred permeable support


178


extends around the outer cylindrical side wall


180


of the wick filter


176


. The permeable support


178


is preferably comprised of expanded mesh of solid material, preferably a resin coated cotton/cellulose material. The wick filter


176


preferably consists of an expanded cotton/cellulose material, such as that manufactured by Columbus Industries. More particularly, the wick assembly


175


may have a structure similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,741, which is incorporated herein by reference.




Referring now to

FIGS. 1-4

,


6


,


8


and


12


-


13


, the water tank


16


includes a concave first side wall


190


, a convex second side wall


192


, a top wall


194


and a bottom wall


196


, thereby defining an interior chamber


198


. The concave side wall


190


is curved in a direction toward the convex side wall


192


, while the convex side wall


192


is curved in a direction away from the concave side wall


190


. An aperture


200


is formed within the bottom wall


196


of the tank


16


. A tubular projection


202


, including an annular flange


204


, extends downwardly from the bottom wall


196


and is concentrically disposed around the aperture


200


. The aperture


200


is sized to have a diameter large enough to provide adequate access by the hand of a user to the interior chamber


198


. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the aperture is at least as great as approximately 3.5 inches and is selected based upon ergonomic considerations for permitting a large percentage of users access with a hand to the interior chamber


198


of the tank


16


. It may be further appreciated that the large aperture


200


further facilitates filling of the tank


16


.




A cap


206


is removably and sealingly supported by tubular projection


202


. A gasket


208


is received within the annular flange


204


for sealingly engaging a lip


210


supported by the cap


206


. A plurality of radially inwardly extending first locking tabs


212


are supported by the tubular projection


202


. A plurality of cooperating second locking tabs


214


, having inclined ramp surfaces


216


, extend radially outwardly from a side wall


217


of the cap


206


. The inclined ramp surfaces


216


formed on the cap


206


force the lip


210


into sealing and locking engagement with the flange


204


through the gasket


208


as the cap


202


is rotated by approximately 90 degrees.




The cap


206


concentrically supports a valve


218


including a plunger


219


, a valve seal


220


, and a compression spring


222


. The cap


206


further comprises a horizontal circular bottom wall


224


and a discharge opening


226


formed therein. The valve plunger


219


is loosely received through the discharge opening


226


to allow for axial movement of the plunger


219


relative to the cap


206


. The valve seal


220


is attached to an upper end of the plunger


219


. The spring


222


is compressed between the cap


206


and a disc


228


supported on the lower end of the plunger


210


to bias the seal


220


toward the discharge opening


226


. The tubular projection


202


preferably extends below the disc


228


for preventing accidental opening of the valve


218


of the tank


16


should the bottom wall


196


be supported on a flat surface.




A valve actuator


230


, preferably in the form of a cylindrical protrusion, extends upwardly from the bottom wall


36


of the water tray


34


and is aligned with the disc


228


of the valve


218


. As such, when the water tank


16


is positioned on the side wall


70


of the base


12


, above the water tray


34


, the protrusion


230


forces the valve


218


into an open position by forcing the seal


220


away from the opening


226


and thereby allowing water to flow from the interior chamber


198


into the water receiving portion


40


of the water tray


34


.




A plurality of cylindrical locating pegs


232


,


234


and


236


extend downwardly from the bottom wall


196


of the tank


16


and are receivable within cylindrical recesses


238


,


240


and


242


extending downwardly within the bottom wall


18


of the base


12


for properly positioning the tank


16


. A recessed flange


244


extends around the periphery of the bottom wall


196


proximate the convex side wall


192


and engages the side wall


20


of the base


12


for locating and supporting the tank


16


.




A vertically extending center axis


246


passes through the center of 10 gravity of the tank


16


. A handle


248


, including a support portion


249


, is positioned above a recess


250


formed within the top wall


194


of the tank


16


. The top wall


194


of the tank


16


is substantially flush with the support portion


249


thereby defining a substantially planar surface allowing the tank


16


to be supported in an inverted position by the top wall


194


.




The support portion


249


of the handle is supported on the side of the center axis


246


proximate the convex side wall


192


wherein the handle


248


defines a pivot point. The support portion


249


is adapted to be grasped by the user transporting the tank


16


. By positioning the support portion


249


of the handle


248


on the side of the axis


246


opposite the concave side wall


190


, supporting the tank


16


by the handle


248


causes the concave side wall


190


to swing or pivot about the handle


248


in a direction upwardly and toward the convex side wall


192


. It may be readily appreciated that the concave side wall


190


provides clearance for the leg of a user carrying the tank


16


, while the positioning of the handle


248


facilitates movement of the concave side wall


190


away from the leg of the user.




In the preferred embodiment of the humidifier


10


of the present invention, the water tray


34


, float assembly


48


, water tank


16


and cap


206


are each made of a dishwasher safe material, such as molded thermoplastic. In the most preferred embodiment, these components are each molded from a polycarbonate material which is then annealed to substantially remove residual stresses resulting from the molding process. Further, the water tray


34


, float assembly


48


, water tank


16


and cap


206


are preferably made a first color, such as transparent smoke. The housing


88


of the blower assembly


14


and the base


12


, which are not entirely composed of dishwasher safe materials, are made a second color, such as opaque ivory, which is visibly distinguishable from the first color. As such, the user may easily identify those components which are dishwashable.




Next, the operation of the humidifier


10


will be described in greater detail. Prior to initiating operation of the humidifier


10


, the wick assembly


175


is inspected and replaced, if necessary. Installing a new wick assembly


175


involves simply removing the blower assembly


14


from the base


12


, removing the old wick assembly


175


from the water tray


34


, and placing the new wick assembly


175


concentrically over the wick assembly locator


186


. The housing


88


is then repositioned over the wick assembly


175


, wherein the top


182


of the wick filter


176


is received within the receiving shield


126


proximate the fan


119


.




The user then removes the tank


16


from the base


12


by simply lifting up on the handle


248


. The tank


16


is inverted and the cap


206


rotated in a first direction by approximately 90 degrees wherein the first locking tabs


212


disengage the second locking tabs


214


. The cap


206


may then be pulled in an axial direction away from the bottom wall


196


of the tank


16


, exposing the aperture


200


. The tank


16


is then supplied with water from an appropriate water source, such as the faucet at a sink, by passing water through the aperture


200


. The cap


206


is next axially aligned with the aperture


200


and rotated in a second direction by approximately 90 degrees, wherein cooperation between the ramp surfaces


216


and the first locking tabs


212


cause locking and sealing engagement between the lip


210


and flange


204


through the gasket


208


.




The tank


16


is returned to the humidifier


10


by preferably carrying it by the handle


248


. The concave side wall


190


provides clearance for the leg of the user, while the positioning of the support portion


249


of the handle


248


relative to the center axis


246


causes the concave side wall


190


to pivot in a direction upwardly and toward the convex side wall


192


, thereby swinging the tank


16


away from the leg of the user. The tank


16


is then inverted and repositioned on the side wall


20


of the base


12


above the water tray


34


.




With the tank


16


properly positioned by the locating pegs


232


,


234


and


236


and peripheral flange


244


, the valve actuator


230


in the water tray


34


pushes the valve plunger


219


upwardly to move the seal


220


away from the discharge opening


226


of the cap


206


. Water then flows from the tank


16


through the discharge opening


226


into the water receiving portion


40


of the water tray


34


. As water escapes from the tank


16


, air simultaneously enters the tank


16


through the discharge opening


226


. The water level rises within the water tray


34


until reaching the level of the bottom wall


224


of the cap


206


. At that time, water seals the air path into the tank


16


and prevents further discharge of water therefrom.




Water in the water receiving portion


40


of the water tray


34


flows to the lower evaporative portion


42


and float reservoir


44


due to the gradient therebetween. Water within the evaporative portion


42


is absorbed by a lower portion


184


of the wick filter


176


and drawn by capillary action upward into an upper portion


182


thereof. The water contained in the upper end


182


of the wick filter


176


is positioned within the air flow path


112


. More particularly, air driven by the fan


118


passes from the air inlets


100


and


102


and through the side wall


180


of the wick filter


176


thereby accelerating the evaporation of the water within the wick filter


176


. The humidified air is then forced out through the open upper end


182


of the wick filter


176


and out through the air exhaust outlet


106


, thereby causing the desired humidification effect.




As water is depleted from the water tray


34


, the water level attempts to fall but exposes the bottom wall


224


of the cap


206


to allow air to enter the tank


16


and thereby permitting water to escape therefrom. In this respect, the water level in the water tray


34


is self regulating in that it is maintained at its normal operating level until such time as the tank's water supply has been substantially depleted.




Power is supplied to the processor


136


, display


132


and humidity sensor


134


as soon as an electrical connection is established with the power cord


164


. The humidity sensor


134


continuously detects the ambient air relative humidity and supplies a measured humidity signal indicative thereof to the processor


136


. The processor then converts the signal to an appropriate reading within the display


132


.




Activation of the motor


118


driving the fan


119


is established by turning the motor control knob


142


from an off position to a desired fan speed position, thereby applying supply voltage to the motor


118


. At this point, the processor


136


activates the power indicator lamp


146


. A desired or set relative humidity is established by depressing the set point up and set point down buttons


138


and


140


until the desired relative humidity is indicated on the display


132


. In the preferred embodiment, the set point up and set point down buttons


138


and


140


increment the set point relative humidity by five percent increments. Once the processor


136


determines that the measured humidity signal as supplied from the humidity sensor


134


equals the set point relative humidity, it deactivates the motor


118


. When the processor


136


receives a measured humidity signal a predetermined number of percentage points below the set point relative humidity, it then reactivates the motor


118


. In the preferred embodiment the predetermined number of percentage points equals two.




In response to changes in the level of water within the water tray


34


, the buoyant float


66


and vertically extending switch actuator


68


move in a vertical direction as guided by the cover


58


supported on the side wall


38


. When the level of the water within the water tray


34


is at a predetermined sufficient level, the switch engaging blade


74


of the vertically extending switch actuator


68


is moved into an activating position for depressing the lever arm


152


of the float switch


150


into its active closed position. The processor


136


observes this condition and thereby allows operation of the motor


118


.




However, when the water level within the water tray


34


falls below the predetermined sufficient level, the buoyant float


66


and vertically extending switch actuator


68


move downwardly wherein the blade


74


of the elongated member


68


disengages the lever arm


152


of the float switch


150


. The switch


150


is thereby returned to its inactive open condition, which again is observed by the processor


136


. Further, separation of the blower assembly


14


from the float assembly


48


will cause disengagement of the lever arm


152


and return of the float switch


150


to its inactive open condition. When the processor


136


observes the float switch


150


in its open position, it activates the refill indicator lamp


148


and deactivates the motor


116


.




When routine cleaning of the water contacting components is required, the blower assembly


14


and tank


16


are simply removed from the supporting base


12


. The cap


206


is next removed from the bottom wall


196


of the tank


16


. The wick assembly


175


is then removed from the water tray


34


and replaced, if required. The float assembly


48


is easily removed from the water tray


34


by disengaging the cover


58


from the side wall


38


. Next, the water tray


34


is lifted by its handle


188


upwardly and away from the base. The tank


16


, including removed cap


206


, along with the float assembly


48


and water tray


34


are then preferably placed within a conventional dishwasher for cleaning. As noted above, these dishwashable components are easily identified by the color distinction from other components of the humidifier


10


.




While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.




It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A humidifier comprising:a base adapted to support a supply of water; a humidification unit supported by said base; and a tank removably supported by said base and defining a center axis and an interior chamber in fluid communication with a water tray, said tank including a concave side wall and a convex side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a handle supported by said top wall and positioned adjacent said convex side wall wherein said handle defines a pivot point for causing said concave side wall to swing about said handle in a direction upwardly and toward said convex side wall.
  • 2. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said handle includes a support portion positioned intermediate said center axis and said convex side wall.
  • 3. The humidifier of claim 2 further comprising a recess formed within said top wall of said tank proximate said convex side wall and wherein said handle is supported substantially flush with said top wall of said tank.
  • 4. The humidifier of claim 2 wherein said humidification unit comprises a blower assembly including a housing, a motor supported within said housing, and a fan supported within said housing and operably connected to said motor, said housing including an air inlet, an air outlet and an evaporative air flow path extending between said air inlet and said air outlet.
  • 5. The humidifier of claim 4 further comprising a wick assembly extending upwardly into said air flow path within said housing.
  • 6. A humidifier comprising:a base; a humidification unit supported by said base, said humidification unit including a housing having opposing front and rear walls; an electrical cord in electrical communication with said humidification unit; a tank supported by said base and including opposing first and second side walls, said first side wall of said tank positioned adjacent said rear wall of said humidification unit; and wherein said housing of said humidification unit includes a cord storage compartment extending inwardly within said rear wall for receiving an excess portion of said electrical cord.
  • 7. The humidifier of claim 6 wherein said first side wall of said tank covers said cord storage compartment when said tank is positioned on said base.
  • 8. The humidifier of claim 6 further comprising at least one retaining tab supported by said rear wall of said housing for retaining said electrical cord within said cord storage compartment.
  • 9. The humidifier of claim 6 further comprising a cord passage formed within said rear wall of said housing and extending from said cord storage compartment to an outside surface of said housing.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/637,484, filed Aug. 11, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,984.

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