Humidifier with a heating disc

• US 6,874,771 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Kaz Incorporated (Helen of Troy Limited)
• Inventors: Feer, David, Montague, William J. Jr., Birdsell, Walter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUSHEY, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US10/216,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 261/72.1, 261/73, 261/130, 261/131, 261/133, 261/142, 261/DIG.10, 261/DIG.29, 261/DIG.65
• US Class Current: 261/131
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/10 heated electrically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A humidifier includes a base defining a reservoir for retaining liquid, a humidification device for inducing dispersion of liquid withdrawn from the reservoir into the environment and a liquid storage tank having an outlet for feeding liquid into the reservoir. The humidification device includes a heated disc for evaporating a stream of liquid delivered from the reservoir to the heated disc by a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism may deliver the stream of liquid as a mist, a thin film or a controlled stream of liquid onto the disc.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

a base defining a reservoir for retaining liquid;

a heatable disc having a surface for receiving a stream of liquid from the reservoir on the surface of the disc;

a mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid from the reservoir to the disc, said mechanism delivering at least a portion of the stream of liquid as an atomized mist; and

wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to evaporate at least a portion of the stream of liquid withdrawn from the reservoir and discharge the moisture into the environment.

2. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc is angled below a horizontal plane in which the stream of liquid is delivered.

3. The humidifier of claim 2, wherein the angle is less than about 10°

.

4. The humidifier of claim 2, wherein the angle is about 2.5°

.

5. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the disc is connected to the base adjacent to where the disc receives the stream of liquid.

6. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the disc has an edge and the entire edge of the disc is connected to the base.

7. The humidifier of claim 5, further comprising a gasket holding the disc to the base.

8. The humidifier of claim 6, wherein the disc is held to the base by a friction fit.

9. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the surface of the disc is a top surface.

10. The humidifier of claim 9, further comprising:

an extended portion provided on the disc to move the surface of the disc closer to a plane through which the stream of liquid from the reservoir substantially flows.

11. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc is stainless steel.

12. The humidifier of claim 11, wherein the disc has a surface that includes a coating.

13. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc is substantially round.

14. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the disc is substantially flat.

15. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc includes an electrical resistance coil and the coil is connectable to an electrical source for heating at least a portion of the surface of the disc.

16. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to have a cleaning mode for spiking the temperature of at least a portion of the surface of the disc.

17. The humidifier of claim 16, wherein the disc automatically enters the cleaning mode when the reservoir is empty.

18. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the disc is constructed and arranged to automatically shut-off the heat when at least a portion of the surface of the disc reaches a predetermined temperature.

19. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid includes a passageway provided between the reservoir and the disc.

20. The humidifier of claim 19, wherein the passageway includes a labyrinth.

21. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid includes an atomizer.

22. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the liquid received on the surface of the disc has a depth and the depth is less than about 8 mm.

23. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid delivers at least a portion of the stream of liquid as a thin film.

24. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for delivering the stream of liquid delivers at least a portion of the stream of liquid as a controlled stream.

25. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein liquid not evaporated on the disc is returned to the reservoir.

26. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle provided above the disc to direct the evaporated liquid through the nozzle; and

a venturi to release the evaporated liquid out of the humidifier.

27. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising:

a liquid storage tank having an outlet communicating with the reservoir and adapted to feed liquid thereto.

28. The humidifier of claim 27, wherein the tank is removably provided on the base.