Humidifier

• US 8,087,645 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Hepple
• Original Assignee: David Hepple
• Inventors: Hepple, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BUSHEY, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US12/317,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 261/94, 261/95, 261/97, 261/99, 261/104, 261/107, 261/DIG.34, 261/DIG.65, 844/53
• US Class Current: 261/99
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/00 Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 7/00 Other auxiliary devices or accessories, e.g. conductors' batons or separate holders for resin or strings

Abstract

This invention is a humidifier used to increase and maintain the humidity of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The humidifier is a container made of a water vapor permeable material that contains a water absorbent material such as acrylate polymer. The container is held within the body of the instrument by being mounted onto the strings of the instrument. The container is filled with water by an opening that is sealed with a cap. The water absorbent material can hold water without dripping, but will allow the water to evaporate.

Claims

1. A humidifier for musical instruments comprising:

a musical instrument with strings and a hollow body;

a flexible container made of water vapor permeable, but not liquid permeable, material that allows water vapor to evaporate out of the container,

the container has an opening on one end;

a cap on the opening of the container;

a mounting bar attached to the container at the end with the opening and the cap;

so that when water is poured into the container through the opening, then the opening is closed by sealing the cap and the humidifier is mounted onto the strings of the instrument using the mounting bar with the container within the body of the instrument and then the container will release the water as water vapor, resulting in the container changing shape and raising the humidity of the body of the instrument.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 where the container contains an acrylate polymer that can absorb and release water.

3. The humidifier of claim 2 where the container is large enough to contain enough water so that the acrylate polymer releases water vapor so the relative humidity of 40-60% is maintained for 24 hours.