Magnetically Coupled Humidifier Components
First Claim
1. A humidifier used for humidifying a gas, the humidifier comprising:
- a cup portion, the cup portion arranged to contain a liquid, the cup portion having a lip, the lip extending from an outer circumference of the cup portion at an open end of the cup portion;
a lid portion;
a collar portion, the collar portion engaged with the lip, thereby holding the collar portion to the cup portion; and
means for coupling the lid portion onto the cup portion using magnetically attractive forces between the lid portion and the collar portion, wherein the means for coupling comprises a first plurality of spaced-apart magnet(s) and/or metal piece(s) around a perimeter of lid portion and a second plurality of spaced-apart magnet(s) and/or metal piece(s) around a perimeter of the collar portion;
whereas a dimension of the lip dictates the distance between each of the first plurality of spaced-apart magnets or metal pieces and each magnet or metal piece in the second plurality of spaced-apart magnets or metal pieces, thereby determining a magnitude of the magnetically attractive forces between the lid portion and the collar portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for connecting a cup and a lid includes a cup portion that has a lip, the lip extending from an outer circumference of the cup portion at an open end of the cup portion. The device has a lid portion and a collar portion. The collar portion engages with the lip, thereby holding the collar portion to the cup portion. A series of magnets and/or metal pieces couple magnetically attract the lid portion to the collar portion. As pressure within the cup portion increases beyond a predetermined point, the series of magnets and/or metal pieces partially disengage, thereby allowing escape of excess pressure.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A humidifier used for humidifying a gas, the humidifier comprising:
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a cup portion, the cup portion arranged to contain a liquid, the cup portion having a lip, the lip extending from an outer circumference of the cup portion at an open end of the cup portion; a lid portion; a collar portion, the collar portion engaged with the lip, thereby holding the collar portion to the cup portion; and means for coupling the lid portion onto the cup portion using magnetically attractive forces between the lid portion and the collar portion, wherein the means for coupling comprises a first plurality of spaced-apart magnet(s) and/or metal piece(s) around a perimeter of lid portion and a second plurality of spaced-apart magnet(s) and/or metal piece(s) around a perimeter of the collar portion; whereas a dimension of the lip dictates the distance between each of the first plurality of spaced-apart magnets or metal pieces and each magnet or metal piece in the second plurality of spaced-apart magnets or metal pieces, thereby determining a magnitude of the magnetically attractive forces between the lid portion and the collar portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for connecting a cup and a lid, the system comprising:
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a cup portion, the cup portion having a lip, the lip extending from an outer circumference of the cup portion at an open end of the cup portion; a lid portion; a collar portion, the collar portion engaged with the lip, thereby holding the collar portion to the cup portion; and means for coupling the lid portion onto the cup portion using magnetically attractive forces between the lid portion and the collar portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification