Vortex humidifier
First Claim
1. A humidifier comprising:
- a base unit defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water;
a water tank supported on said base unit for supplying water to said reservoir;
a humidification device in communication with said reservoir for vaporizing the water held in said reservoir to produce a mist;
a vortex unit supported on said base unit, said vortex unit having an opening disposed above said base unit reservoir to permit the mist produced by said humidification device to rise upwardly into said vortex unit;
a nozzle disposed in said vortex unit adjacent said mist opening for introducing a carrier medium flow into said vortex unit; and
a vortex creator positioned in said vortex unit above said nozzle and said mist opening for diverting the upwardly rising mist from said reservoir into the carrier medium flow from said nozzle and directing a combined mist and carrier medium flow into a helical path within said vortex unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A humidifier which creates a visually entertaining helical flow of mist generally includes a base unit defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water, a water tank supported on the base unit for supplying water to the reservoir, a humidification device, such as an ultrasonic transducer, in communication with the reservoir for vaporizing the water held in the reservoir to produce a mist, a vortex unit supported on the base unit and a nozzle and a vortex creator positioned in the vortex unit. The vortex unit has an opening disposed above the base unit reservoir to permit the mist produced by the humidification device to rise upwardly into the vortex unit. The nozzle is positioned adjacent the mist opening for introducing a carrier medium flow into the vortex unit and the vortex creator is positioned above the nozzle and the mist opening for diverting the upwardly rising mist from the reservoir into the carrier medium flow from the nozzle and directing a combined mist and carrier medium flow into a helical path within the vortex unit.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A humidifier comprising:
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a base unit defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water; a water tank supported on said base unit for supplying water to said reservoir; a humidification device in communication with said reservoir for vaporizing the water held in said reservoir to produce a mist; a vortex unit supported on said base unit, said vortex unit having an opening disposed above said base unit reservoir to permit the mist produced by said humidification device to rise upwardly into said vortex unit; a nozzle disposed in said vortex unit adjacent said mist opening for introducing a carrier medium flow into said vortex unit; and a vortex creator positioned in said vortex unit above said nozzle and said mist opening for diverting the upwardly rising mist from said reservoir into the carrier medium flow from said nozzle and directing a combined mist and carrier medium flow into a helical path within said vortex unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for generating a visually entertaining helical flow of mist within a humidifier comprising the steps of:
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vaporizing an amount of water contained within a reservoir of the humidifier to produce a mist; permitting said mist to rise upwardly from said reservoir into a vortex unit; introducing a flow of carrier medium into said vortex unit adjacent said upwardly rising mist; deflecting said upwardly rising mist into a path of said carrier medium flow with a plate member; and directing a combined flow of mist and carrier medium into a helical path within said vortex unit with said plate member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification