Efficiently packaged humidifier device

• US 5,143,655 A
• Filed: 07/08/1991
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Consumer Products, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Chiu, Bernard, Marino, Frank, Wang, Jui-Shang
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Tim
• Application Number:
  US07/726,677
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 261/107, 261/99, 261/104, 261/24, 261/29, 261/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 261/24
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/043 with self-sucking action, e.g. wicks

Abstract

A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid volume; the base having an open top and a horizontal cross section including a substantially rectangular portion, and a substantially circular portion intersecting and projecting into the rectangular portion; and the base including a substantially circular sidewall forming the circular portion, a substantially rectalinear endwall, a first substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and one end of the endwall, and a second substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and an opposite end of the endwall; the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the endwall forming the rectangular portion. The humidifier also includes an inlet wall defining an air inlet; a blower assembly demountably supported by the base and covering the open top; the blower assembly comprising an upper wall defining an air outlet disposed above the circular portion, a fan blade disposed between the circular portion and the air outlet, and an electrical motor coupled to the fan blade; and a wick retained by the base in the rectangular portion and comprising a source portion disposed in the reservoir and an evaporative portion disposed thereabove and between the air inlet and the fan blade, the wick adapted to provide liquid flow by capillary action from the source portion to the evaporative portion.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

a base defining a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid volume;

said base having an open top and a horizontal cross section including a substantially rectangular portion, and a substantially circular portion intersecting and projecting into said rectangular portion; and

said base comprising a substantially circular sidewall forming said circular portion, a substantially rectilinear endwall, a first substantially rectilinear sidewall extending between said circular sidewall and one end of said endwall, and a second substantially rectilinear sidewall extending between said circular sidewall and an opposite end of said endwall;

said first sidewall, said second sidewall and said endwall forming said rectangular portion;

an inlet wall defining an air inlet;

a blower assembly demountably supported by said base and covering said open top;

said blower assembly comprising an upper wall defining an air outlet disposed above said circular portion, a fan blade disposed between said circular portion and said air outlet, and an electrical motor coupled to said fan blade; and

wick means retained by said base in said rectangular portion, said wick means comprising a source portion disposed in said reservoir and an evaporative portion disposed thereabove and between said air inlet and said fan blade, said wick means adapted to provide liquid flow by capillary action from said source portion to said evaporative portion.

2. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said inlet wall is vertically aligned with and above said endwall.

3. A humidifier according to claim 2 wherein said wick means is disposed adjacent to and substantially parallel to said inlet wall and said endwall.

4. A humidifier according to claim 3 wherein said wick means is substantially co-extensive with said inlet wall and said endwall.

5. A humidifier according to claim 4 wherein said endwall and said inlet wall are formed by a single common wall.

6. A humidifier according to claim 5 wherein said air inlet extends between opposite vertical edges of said inlet wall.

7. A humidifier according to claim 5 including a rotatable air deflector supported by said upper wall in said air outlet.

8. A humidifier according to claim 5 including air filter means disposed between said air inlet and said evaporative portion of said wick means.

9. A humidifier according to claim 5 wherein said base comprises stop means disposed centrally within said circular sidewall and projecting upwardly to a desired maximum level of the liquid volume.

10. A humidifier according to claim 5 wherein said base defines recessed handle portions projecting into said reservoir and positioned at a desired maximum level of the liquid volume.

11. A humidifier according to claim 5 wherein said blower assembly includes electrical control means for activating said electrical motor.

12. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said air inlet extends between opposite vertical edges of said inlet wall.

13. A humidifier according to claim 1 including a rotatable air deflector supported by said upper wall in said air outlet.

14. A humidifier according to claim 1 including air filter means disposed between said air inlet and said evaporative portion of said wick means.

15. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said base comprises stop means disposed centrally within said circular sidewall and projecting upwardly to a desired maximum level of the liquid volume.

16. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said base defines recessed handle portions projecting into said reservoir and positioned at a desired maximum level of the liquid volume.

17. A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said blower assembly includes electrical control means for activating said electrical motor.

18. Humidifier apparatus comprising:

a unitary, integrally molded base defining stop means and a reservoir adapted to retain liquid at a given maximum level, said stop means projecting into a central portion of said reservoir;

a humidification unit removably mounted on said base in a normal orientation above said reservoir and retaining electrically energized humidifier means for producing dispersion of liquid retained in said reservoir, said unit in the absence of said stop means being shaped and arranged to permit reorientation into a positive wherein portion of said electrically energized humidifier means would be disposed in said reservoir below said given maximum level, and wherein said stop means is arranged to prevent said reorientation of said unit into any positions wherein any portion of said electrically energized humidifier means is below said given level.

19. A humidifier according to claim 18 wherein said stop means is a hollow tube projecting up into said reservoir from a bottom surface of said base means.