Electrically heated humidifying apparatus

• US 4,203,027 A
• Filed: 12/21/1977
• Issued: 05/13/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Brickell, Christopher G., Spilman, Lindsay G., O'Hare, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, A.
• Application Number:
  US05/862,687
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 219/242, 219/271, 219/275-276, 219/429, 219/432-436, 219/438, 219/311, 219/536, 128/186, 128/192-194, 128/212, 220/69, 220/293, 261/141-142, 126/24, 126/38, 126/215, 126/218, 403/26, 403/111, 403/339, 248/154, 248/310, 248/311.1, 248/313
• US Class Current: 392/390
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/10 heated electrically

Abstract

An electrically heated humidifying apparatus includes a humidifier element detachably secured to a humidifier heater with the base of the humidifier element in engagement with the electric heating plate of the humidifier heater. The humidifier element is secured to the humidifier heater by an intermediate adaptor having a ring portion with spaced lugs interfitting with correspondingly spaced lugs on the humidifier heater and a horse-shoe shaped portion adapted to slidably receive the humidifier element and engage with an annular shoulder on the humidifier element.

Claims

1. An intermediate adaptor for connecting a humidifier heater having a heating surface and circumferentially spaced connection lugs arranged substantially in a plane on the heater, with adjacent ends of the connection lugs defining spaces therebetween, to a humidifier element having an annular connection flange, said adaptor comprising

a ring and horse-shoe shaped member affixed to the upper surface thereof;

said ring having circumferentially spaced coacting lugs lying substantially in a plane with adjacent ends of said coacting lugs defining spaces therebetween, the dimensions and positioning of said coacting lugs being such that said coacting lugs are capable in use of being passed through the spaces between the connection lugs of the humidifier heater and then rotated to a holding position wherein the coacting lugs engage the connection lugs;

said horse-shoe shaped member comprising a partial annular disc spaced above said ring by a partial hollow cylindrical spacer, said disc and spacer defining a gap dimensioned to slidably receive the connection flange of the humidifier element as the humidifier element is slid to and from a heating contact position by movement of the humidifier element between the legs of the horse-shoe shaped member in a plane parallel to the plane containing said partial disc;

the humidifier element thereby being adapted to be held between the legs of said horse-shoe shaped member in a heating disposition relative to the heating surface by engagement of said partial disc and the connection flange.

2. A humidifier comprising:

a humidifier heater having a heating surface and circumferentially spaced connection lugs arranged substantially in a plane on the heater with adjacent ends of the connection lugs defining spaces therebetween;

a humidifier element having an annular connection flange; and

an intermediate adaptor securing said humidifier element to said humidifier element, said adaptor comprising a ring and a horse-shoe shaped member affixed to the upper surface thereof;

said ring having circumferentially spaced coacting lugs lying substantially in a plane with adjacent ends of said coacting lugs defining spaces therebetween, the dimensions and positioning of said coacting lugs being such that in use said coacting lugs pass through the spaces between said connection lugs of said humidifier heater and are rotated to a holding position wherein said coacting lugs engage said connection lugs said coacting lugs and connection lugs being engaged to secure the adaptor to the humidifier heater;

said horse-shoe shaped member comprising a partial annular disc spaced above said ring by a partial hollow cylindrical spacer, said disc and spacer defining a gap dimensioned to slidably receive said connection flange of said humidifier element as said humidifier element is slid to and from a heating contact position by movement of said humidifier element between the legs of said horse-shoe shaped member in a plane parallel to the plane containing said partial disc;

said humidifier element being held between the legs of said horse-shoe shaped member in a heating disposition relative to said heating surface by engagement of said partial disc and said connection flange.