Retractable handle for a portable dehumidifier

• US 10,458,676 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Original Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Inventors: DeMonte, Todd R., Dingle, Steven S., Henry, Joshua William, Scharping, James A., Verhoeven, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US15/632,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20180372371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/06 Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/32 Supports for air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/144 by dehumidification only
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2003/1446 by condensing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/202 Mounting a compressor unit therein
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/205 Mounting a ventilator fan therein
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/125 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/1405 in which the humidity of the air is exclusively affected by contact with the evaporator of a closed-circuit cooling system or heat pump circuit

Abstract

A portable dehumidifier includes a plurality of microchannel condenser coils, a fan, and a retractable handle. The fan is located adjacent to an airflow outlet and is configured to generate an airflow that flows into the portable dehumidifier through an airflow inlet and out of the portable dehumidifier through the airflow outlet. The airflow flows through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow. The retractable handle is configured to slide into and out of the portable dehumidifier and to pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier.

Claims

1. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

two wheels;

a cabinet comprising;

an airflow inlet located on a front side of the cabinet;

an airflow outlet located on a back side of the cabinet that is opposite the front side;

an evaporator located adjacent to the airflow inlet;

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils;

two bushing plates counted to the cabinet;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a fan located adjacent to the airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the airflow inlet and out of the cabinet through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through the evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to;

slide into and out of the cabinet; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises;

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

2. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the cabinet; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the cabinet.

3. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

4. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein:

each bushing plate is made of plastic; and

each bracket is made of metal.

5. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.

6. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising;

an airflow inlet;

an airflow outlet;

two bushing plates coupled to the cabinet;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils; and

a fan located adjacent to the airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the airflow inlet and out of the cabinet through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to;

slide into and out of the cabinet; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises;

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

7. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the cabinet; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the cabinet.

8. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

9. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein:

each bushing plate is made of plastic; and

each bracket is made of metal.

10. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.

11. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils;

two bushing plates coupled to the portable dehumidifier;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a fan located adjacent to an airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the portable dehumidifier through an airflow inlet and out of the portable dehumidifier through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to;

slide into and out of the portable dehumidifier; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises;

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

12. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the portable dehumidifier; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the portable dehumidifier.

13. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

14. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.