Humidifier

• US 6,135,427 A
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kaz Incorporated (Helen of Troy Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kaz Incorporated (Helen of Troy Limited)
• Inventors: Tsai, Tony Teh-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, DUANE
• Application Number:
  US09/227,755
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 261/26, 261/72.1, 261/81, 261/DIG. 34, 261/DIG. 48, 261/DIG. 69
• US Class Current: 261/26
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0615 spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2006/008 Air-humidifier with water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/00 Air-humidification , e.g. cooling by humidification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/34 Automatic humidity regulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/48 Sonic vibrators

Abstract

A compact, small size humidifier which may be used as a portable humidifier. The humidifier may include the appropriate electrical plugs and internal electrical transformer to allow use in different countries with different voltages and electrical power systems, e.g., 110V use in the United States, 220V use in Europe, etc. The humidifier also includes an opening for receiving a number of different sockets allowing use of different sized water bottles as the water tank. The different sockets may be detachably affixed to the humidifier body in appropriate recesses or holding arrangements so that the different sockets are easily made available to the user. The humidifier may also include a low water detection assembly which utilizes, e.g., two projecting probes positioned in the water retaining chamber, to indicate the presence of a sufficient amount of water. Conversely, when the water drops below a certain, safe level, there is no longer an electrical signal indicated by one or both of the two probes, indicating that the water is below a certain threshold level. This indication is then used to shut off the humidifier to prevent damage to the unit, as well as any possible accident or injury.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

a main body including a fluid containing chamber having at least one water detecting means for detecting the presence of a predetermined level of water;

an ultrasonic vibrating member mounted in said main body in communication with said fluid containing chamber;

a covering member mated with said main body, said covering member including a first opening positioned relative to said vibrating member, and a second opening allowing fluid to be passed to said fluid containing chamber;

control means for preventing operation of said vibrating means based on the operation of said water detecting means;

at least one socket adapted to be received in said second opening, said at least one socket also being sized to interface with a conventional liquid container having a standard sized opening.

2. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a voltage selection circuit for operating the humidifier under different input voltage conditions.

3. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein said socket is adapted to interface to a water bottle.

4. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of different sized sockets, each said socket being sized to interface to a different sized water bottle.

5. The humidifier of claim 4, wherein said plurality of sockets are detachably mounted to said humidifier.

6. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein:

said main body further includes;

a cover detachably and rotatably received in said first opening, said cover having a plurality of vapor exit openings;

a propping protrusion formed on a base of said main body relative to said second opening;

said socket includes an annular recess for receiving a water exit portion of a water bottle being screwed into said socket, said socket being detachably received in said second opening of said main body, said socket having a through hole and a valve received in said through hole, said valve being capable of blocking said water in said bottle from flowing out when said bottle is inverted, said propping protrusion propping up said valve when said socket combined with said bottle is coupled to said main body to permit said water to flow through said through hole of said socket into said fluid containing chamber of said main body;

said ultrasonic vibrating member being capable of transforming said water in said fluid containing chamber into vapor form and is spread through said vapor exit openings.

7. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein:

said main body including two water detecting means, and a connecting trench, said trench arranged on an upper end portion of a circumference of said main body;

a propping protrusion in said water containing chamber;

a plurality of water detecting means arranged in said water containing chamber;

an electric fan;

said covering member having a rim detachably received in said connecting trench of said main body, said covering member second opening substantially arranged above said propping protrusion of said main body, said covering member having an annular protrusion on an inner side of a wall of said second opening, said covering member first opening receiving a cover therein, said cover having a plurality of vapor exit openings;

said socket includes

an annular recess on an outer circumference thereof;

a through hole therein;

a valve passed into said through hole;

a screw thread on an inner circumference thereof, said socket being received in said second opening of said covering member with said annular recess thereof engaging said annular protrusion of said covering member, said valve being capable of blocking fluid from flowing through said through hole when said socket is not coupled to said second opening, said valve being propped up by said propping protrusion of said main body for permitting water to flow through said through hole when said socket is coupled to said second opening of said covering member;

said humidifier being adapted for use with a bottle having a screw thread on an outer circumference of an exit opening thereof, said bottle exit opening being screwed into said socket, said bottle having water contained therein;

said humidifier further comprising a main circuit board including

a power supply control unit, said power supply control unit having a transformer for transforming input power into a first power output, and a second power output, said first power output being transmitted to said fan;

a moisture adjusting unit having a moisture adjusting knob, and a power supply switch, said moisture adjusting knob being provided for adjusting an amount of water vapor made by said humidifier;

an activating unit having a water detection circuit and a vibration control circuit, said water detection circuit having two transistors each electrically connected to a respective one of said water detecting means of said main body, said vibration control unit being electrically connected to said ultrasonic vibrating member, said second power output being rectified and then transmitted to said vibration control circuit, a message from said moisture adjusting knob being capable of being transmitted via said water detection circuit to said vibration control circuit when both said water detecting means detect the presence of water in said containing chamber, whereby said ultrasonic vibrating member is activated by said vibration control circuit in the presence of said water in said containing chamber to transform said water into vapor, which is then blown out through said vapor exit openings by said electric fan.

8. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein said main body further includes an electric fan for blowing water vapor.

9. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein said main body further includes a moisture adjusting means, said moisture adjusting means being electrically connected with said ultrasonic vibrating means for adjusting an amount of water vapor produced by said ultrasonic vibrating means.

10. The humidifier of claim 7, wherein said covering member includes a magnet on said covering member, and, a magnetic switch is provided between said moisture adjusting knob and said vibration control circuit, said magnetic switch being turned on by said magnet when said circumference of said covering member is firmly received in said connecting trench, and being otherwise cut off, whereby said vibrating control circuit is not capable of activating said ultrasonic member to produce vapor when said covering member is not fitted on said main body.

11. A humidifier comprising:

a main body including a fluid containing chamber having at least one water detecting means for detecting the presence of a predetermined level of water;

an ultrasonic vibrating member mounted in said main body in communication with said fluid containing chamber;

a covering member mated with said main body, said covering member including a first opening positioned relative to said vibrating member, and a second opening allowing fluid to be passed to said fluid containing chamber;

control means for preventing operation of said vibrating means based on the operation of said water detecting means; and

a plurality of different sized sockets, each said socket being adapted to be received in said second opening and being sized to interface to a different sized water bottle.

12. The humidifier of claim 11, wherein said plurality of sockets are detachably mounted to said humidifier.

13. The humidifier of claim 11, further comprising a voltage selection circuit for operating the humidifier under different input voltage conditions.

14. The humidifier of claim 11 wherein each of said sockets is adapted to interface to a water bottle.

15. The humidifier of claim 11, wherein:

said main body further includes;

a cover detachably and rotatably received in said first opening, said cover having a plurality of vapor exit openings;

a propping protrusion formed on a base of said main body relative to said second opening;

each of said sockets includes an annular recess for receiving a water exit portion of a water bottle being screwed into said socket, each of said sockets being detachably received in said second opening of said main body, each of said sockets having a through hole and a valve received in said through hole, said valve being capable of blocking said water in said bottle from flowing out when said bottle is inverted, said propping protrusion propping up said valve when said socket combined with said bottle is coupled to said main body to permit said water to flow through said through hole of said socket into said fluid containing chamber of said main body;

said ultrasonic vibrating member being capable of transforming said water in said fluid containing chamber into vapor form and is spread through said vapor exit openings.

16. The humidifier of claim 11, wherein said main body further includes an electric fan for blowing water vapor.

17. The humidifier of claim 11, wherein said main body further includes a moisture adjusting means, said moisture adjusting means being electrically connected with said ultrasonic vibrating means for adjusting an amount of water vapor produced by said ultrasonic vibrating means.

18. A humidifier comprising:

a main body including a fluid containing chamber having at least one water detecting means for detecting the presence of a predetermined level of water;

an ultrasonic vibrating member mounted in said main body in communication with said fluid containing chamber;

a covering member mated with said main body, said covering member including a first opening positioned relative to said vibrating member, and a second opening allowing fluid to be passed to said fluid containing chamber;

control means for preventing operation of said vibrating means based on the operation of said water detecting means;

at least one socket adapted to be received in said second opening;

said main body including two water detecting means, and a connecting trench, said trench arranged on an upper end portion of a circumference of said main body;

a propping protrusion in said water containing chamber;

a plurality of water detecting means arranged in said water containing chamber;

an electric fan;

said covering member having a rim detachably received in said connecting trench of said main body, said covering member second opening substantially arranged above said propping protrusion of said main body, said covering member having an annular protrusion on an inner side of a wall of said second opening, said covering member first opening receiving a cover therein, said cover having a plurality of vapor exit openings;

said socket includes

an annular recess on an outer circumference thereof;

a through hole therein;

a valve passed into said through hole;

a screw thread on an inner circumference thereof, said socket being received in said second opening of said covering member with said annular recess thereof engaging said annular protrusion of said covering member, said valve being capable of blocking fluid from flowing through said through hole when said socket is not coupled to said second opening, said valve being propped up by said propping protrusion of said main body for permitting water to flow through said through hole when said socket is coupled to said second opening of said covering member;

said humidifier being adapted for use with a bottle having a screw thread on an outer circumference of an exit opening thereof, said bottle exit opening being screwed into said socket, said bottle having water contained therein;

said humidifier further comprising a main circuit board including

a power supply control unit, said power supply control unit having a transformer for transforming input power into a first power output, and a second power output, said first power output being transmitted to said fan;

a moisture adjusting unit having a moisture adjusting knob, and a power supply switch, said moisture adjusting knob being provided for adjusting an amount of water vapor made by said humidifier;

an activating unit having a water detection circuit and a vibration control circuit, said water detection circuit having two transistors each electrically connected to a respective one of said water detecting means of said main body, said vibration control unit being electrically connected to said ultrasonic vibrating member, said second power output being rectified and then transmitted to said vibration control circuit, a message from said moisture adjusting knob being capable of being transmitted via said water detection circuit to said vibration control circuit when both said water detecting means detect the presence of water in said containing chamber, whereby said ultrasonic vibrating member is activated by said vibration control circuit in the presence of said water in said containing chamber to transform said water into vapor, which is then blown out through said vapor exit openings by said electric fan.

19. The humidifier of claim 18, wherein said covering member includes a magnet on said covering member, and, a magnetic switch is provided between said moisture adjusting knob and said vibration control circuit, said magnetic switch being turned on by said magnet when said circumference of said covering member is firmly received in said connecting trench, and being otherwise cut off, whereby said vibrating control circuit is not capable of activating said ultrasonic member to produce vapor when said covering member is not fitted on said main body.