Claims
- 1. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.comprising:
- a base .[.means.]. defining a reservoir for retaining a liquid volume having an upper surface;
- a humidification unit removably mounted on said base .[.means.]. and comprising an electrically energized humidifier .[.means.]. adapted to induced dispersion of liquid retained by said reservoir, a flow passage including a receiving end communicating with said reservoir and a discharge end for discharging dispersed liquid received therefrom, and .Iadd.a .Iaddend.switch .[.means.]. adapted in an active condition to energize said humidifier .[.means.]. and in an inactive condition to cause deenergization thereof; .[.and.].
- an actuator .[.means.]. retained by said base .[.means.]. and adapted for movement between activating and inactivating positions with respect to said switch .[.means.]., said actuator .[.means.]. adapted in said activating positions to actuate said switch .[.means.]. into said active condition and in said inactivating positions to actuate said switch .[.means.]. into said inactive condition and wherein both given changes in the level of said upper surface and movement of said humidification unit relative to said base .[.means.]. produce said movement of said .[.actuator means.]. .Iadd.switch; and
- a guide for guiding movement of said actuator between said activating and inactivating positions.Iaddend..
- 2. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 1 wherein said humidifier .[.means.]. comprises a blower .[.means.]. adapted to produce air flow through said passage between said receiving end and said discharge end.
- 3. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 2 including .Iadd.a .Iaddend.wick .[.means.]. having supply portions disposed in said resorvoir below said upper surface and evaporation portions disposed to intercept and transmit said air flow.
- 4. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 3 wherein said wick .[.means.]. is adapted to provide by capillary action a liquid flow from said supply portions to said evaporation portions.
- 5. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 4 wherein said actuator .[.means.]. comprises .Iadd.a .Iaddend.float .[.means.]. having a buoyant lower end disposed in said reservoir and adapted to be moved by changes in the level of said upper surface, and an upper end adapted to engage and actuate said switch .[.means.]., said float .[.means.]. being moved into its activating position by levels of said upper surface above a predetermined level and into its inactivating positions by levels of said upper surface below said predetermined level. .[.6. A humidifier according to claim 5 including guide means for guiding movement of said float
- means..]. 7. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.wherein said switch .[.means.]. comprises an electrical switch operated into said active condition by engagement with
- said upper end of said float .[.means.].. 8. A humidifier .[.apparatus.]. according to claim 2 wherein said actuator .[.means.]. comprises .Iadd.a .Iaddend.float .[.means.]. having a buoyant lower end disposed in said reservoir and adapted to be moved by changes in the level of said upper surface, and an upper end adapted to engage and actuate said switch .[.means.]., said float .[.means.]. being moved into its activating position by levels of said upper surface above a predetermined level and into its inactivating positions by levels of said upper surface below said predetermined level. .[.9. A humidifier according to claim 8 including
- guide means for guiding movement of said float means..]. 10. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.8 .Iaddend.wherein said switch .[.means.]. comprises an electrical switch operated into said active condition by engagement with said upper end of
- said float .[.means.].. 11. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 1 wherein said actuator .[.means.]. comprises .Iadd.a .Iaddend.float .[.means.]. having a buoyant lower end disposed in said reservoir and adapted to be moved by changes in the level of said upper surface, and an upper end adapted to engage and actuate said switch .[.means.]., said float .[.means.]. being moved into its activating position by levels of said upper surface above a predetermined level and into its inactivating positions by levels of said upper surface below said predetermined level. .[.12. A humidifier according to claim 11 including
- guide means for guiding movement of said float means..]. 13. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein said switch .[.means.]. comprises an electrical switch operated into said active condition by engagement with said upper end of
- said float .[.means.].. 14. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 1 including a liquid supply tank removably mounted on said base .[.means.]. and juxtaposed with said humidification unit, said supply tank adapted to provide controlled liquid flow into said
- reservoir. 15. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 14 wherein said humidifier .[.means.]. comprises a blower .[.means.]. adapted to produce air flow through said passage between said receiving end and
- said discharge end. 16. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 15 including .Iadd.a .Iaddend.wick .[.means.]. having supply portions disposed in said reservoir below said upper surface and evaporation portions disposed to intercept and transmit said air flow.
- A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 16 wherein said wick .[.means.]. is adapted to provide by capillary action a liquid
- flow from said supply portions to said evaporation portions. 18. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim 17 wherein said actuator .[.means.]., comprises .Iadd.a .Iaddend.float .[.means.]. having a buoyant lower end disposed in said reservoir and adapted to be moved by changes in the level of said upper surface, and an upper end adapted to engage and actuate said switch .[.means.]., said float .[.means.]. being moved into its activating position by levels of said upper surface above a predetermined level and into its inactivating positions by levels of said
- upper surface below said predetermined level. .[.19. A humidifier according to claim 18 including guide means for guiding movement of said
- float means..]. 20. A humidifier .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.according to claim .[.19.]. .Iadd.18 .Iaddend.wherein said switch .[.means.]. comprises an electrical switch operated into said active condition by engagement with said upper end of said float .[.means.]..
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/509,885 filed Apr. 17, 1990, .Iadd.now U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,162, .Iaddend.entitled High Capacity Portable Humidifier.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3507544 |
Sep 1986 |
DEX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Sears Owners Manual for Kenmore.TM. Quiet Comfort.TM. Evaporative Console Humidifier bearing notation "Printed in U.S.A. May 1990" (see last page, lower right hand corner). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
509885 |
Apr 1990 |
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Reissues (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
687141 |
Apr 1991 |
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