Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
67363-1005
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HUMIDIFIER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to humidifiers, and more
particularly to evaporative home humidifiers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional home humidifier includes a
reservoir or tank of water through which is passed an
endless belt fabricated of an air permeable medium such as
reticulated polyurethane foam. Air blown through the
portion of the belt that is not in the water evaporates
water from the belt and transfers the water to the
atmosphere as a vapor.
Another known humidifier includes a reservoir or
tank of water and a wicking element that is supported in the
water on floats so that only the lower end of the wicking
element is immersed in the water. The wicking element moves
downwardly relative to the reservoir as the water level
falls. Air blown through the wicking element evaporates
water from the wicking element and transfers water to the
atmosphere.
1
Another known humidifier includes a water reservoir and
a stationary wicking element having its lower end in the water
reservoir.
SUM~3AI~5~ OF THE INVEIdTI01~1
The invention provides a humidifier utilizing a
stationary wicking element. The wicking element has a honeycomb
or other suitable form and sits with only its bottom
edge immersed in a trough of water. Wicking action 'causes the
water to saturate the wicking element, and air is passed through
the wicking e3ement in order to transfer water vapor to, the
atmosphere.
It is believed that cap~.llar~,r attraction is the primary
force that causes the water to be drawn up to saturate the
wicking element. hccordingly, the present invention placed the
wicking element into the 'trough of water at an angle to reduce
the effect ~f gravity which oPPo~es the transfer of water up he
w~:cking element by oapa.llary attraction. Placing the wicking
ele~aent into the trough of water at an angle allows the wicking
element to become wetter at ids uppermost point than conventional
backing elements which are placid vertically into the trough of
water. This more unigorm wetting of the wicking element provides
an increased water evapora~iora rate as compared to conventional
vertical wicking elements. 7Ct has been discovered that by
angling a wicking element which was previously vertical and
extending ten inches above the water to a height of eight inches
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above the water will increase the water evaporation rate by
approximately twenty percent.
The humidifier further comprises a fan or blower
for transferring water from the wicking element to the
atmosphere. This fan or blower pulls air through the
wicking element and increases the evaporation of water from
the wicking element.
In particular according to the present invention
there is provided a portable humidifier adapted to rest on a
supporting surface, said humidifier comprising a base
defining a water reservoir and including a bottom wall
having therein an air inlet opening spaced horizontally from
said reservoir, means for supporting said bottom wall above
the supporting surface, a wicking element having a lower
portion in fluid communication with said water reservoir,
extending transversely relative to vertical and relative to
horizontal, and having an upper portion extending above said
inlet opening, and blower means for forcing air flow through
said inlet opening and through said wicking element, said
blower means being supported over said lower portion of said
wicking element.
According to another aspect of the present
invention there is provided a humidifier comprising a base
defining a water reservoir and including a bottom wall
having therein an air inlet opening spaced horizontally from
said reservoir, means for supplying water to said reservoir,
said water supplying means including a water bottle seated
on said base, means for supporting said bottom wall above a
supporting surface, a wicking element having a portion in
fluid communication with said water reservoir, said wicking
element being located on the opposite side of said inlet
opening from said water bottle, and means for forcing air
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flow through said inlet opening and through said wicking
element.
In one embodiment of the invention, the humidifier
is a portable or "tabletop" humidifier. The humidifier
includes a base defining the water trough, and the base is
supported above a table or other supporting surface by legs.
The bottom wall of the base has therein air inlet openings,
and the wicking element is tilted so that the wicking
element extends over the air inlet openings. This
arrangement provides maximum air flow through the wicking
element.
In particular, according to a further aspect of
the present invention there is provided a portable
humidifier adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said
humidifier comprising a base defining a water reservoir and
including a bottom wall having therein an air inlet opening
spaced horizontally from said reservoir, said base being
generally elliptical in horizontal cross-section, means for
supporting said bottom wall above the supporting surface, a
wicking element having a lower portion in fluid
communication with said water reservoir, extending
transversely relative to vertical and extending above said
inlet opening, means for forcing air flow through said inlet
opening and through said wicking element, a water bottle for
supplying water to said reservoir, said water bottle being
seated on said base adjacent one end thereof, and said water
bottle being generally cylindrical and having a generally
vertical longitudinal axis, and a cover which is seated on
said base adjacent said water bottle and which extends over
the remainder of said base, said cover being generally
elliptical in horizontal cross-section except for a
substantially semi-cylindrical recess housing approximately
of said water bottle, such that the combination of said
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cover and said water bottle has a horizontal cross-section
substantially identical to the horizontal cross-section of
said base.
According to another aspect of the present
invention there is provided a portable humidifier adapted to
rest on a supporting surface, said humidifier comprising a
base defining a water reservoir which is T-shaped and which
includes perpendicular first and second legs, said first leg
having a first end communicating with said second leg and a
second end opposite said first end, and said base including
a bottom wall having therein first and second air inlet
openings spaced horizontally from said reservoir, said first
inlet opening being located on one side of said first leg
adjacent said second leg, and said second air inlet opening
being located on the opposite side of said first leg
adjacent said second leg, and said base being generally
elliptical in horizontal cross-section, means for supporting
said bottom wall above the supporting surface, a water
bottle for supplying water to said second end of said first
leg of said reservoir, said water bottle being seated on
said base adjacent one end thereof, and said water bottle
being generally cylindrical and having a generally vertical
longitudinal axis, a wicking element which has a lower
portion seated in said second leg of said reservoir, and
which has an upper end tilted toward said water bottle such
that said wicking element extends above said inlet openings,
a cover which is seated on said base adjacent said water
bottle and which extends over the remainder of said base,
said cover being generally elliptical in horizontal cross-
section except for a substantially semi-cylindrical recess
housing approximately ~ of said water bottle, such that the
combination of said cover and said water bottle has a
horizontal cross-section substantially identical to the
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horizontal cross-section of said base, and said cover having
therein an air outlet, and means for forcing air flow
through said inlet openings, through said wicking element,
and through said outlet.
According to a further aspect of the present
invention there is provided a portable humidifier adapted to
rest on a supporting surface, said humidifier comprising a
base defining a water reservoir and including a bottom wall
having therein an air inlet opening spaced horizontally from
said reservoir, said reservoir being T-shaped and including
perpendicular first and second legs, said inlet opening
being located on one side of said first leg adjacent said
second leg, and said base having therein a second air inlet
opening located on the opposite side of said first leg
adjacent said second leg, means for supporting said bottom
wall above the supporting surface, a wicking element having
a lower portion in fluid communication with said water
reservoir, extending transversely relative to vertical and
extending above said inlet opening, and means for forcing
air flow through said inlet opening and through said wicking
element.
Other features and advantages of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review
of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view, partially in
section, of a humidifier embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the
humidifier.
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FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the
humidifier.
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a wicking
element.
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FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second alternative
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a humidifier that
is a third alternative embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base of the humidifier
shown in Fig. ?.
FIG. 9 is a view taken along lung 9-9 in Fi.g. 8.
FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 in Fig. 8.
FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the humidifier
shown in Fig. 7.
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the humidifier shown in
Fig. ?.
before one embodiment of the invention is to be
explained in deta~.l, it is to be understood that the invention is
not lima.t~d in its application to the details of construction and
the arrangement of components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being
carried out in various ways. l~lso, it is to be understood that
the phrasealossy and terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A humidifier 10 embodying the invention is
illustrated in Figs. 1-4. Except as described below, the
humidifier 10 is substantially identical to the humidifier
described in U.S. Patent No. 5,037,583 issued August 6, 1991
which is assigned to the assignee hereof. The humidifier 10
has a vertical axis 11 and is intersected by a horizontal
plane 12. The humidifier 10 comprises a cabinet 14 having
opposite right and left side walls 18 and 22 and a bottom
wall 26 and a rear wall 30 extending between the side walls
18 and 22. The rear wall 30 has therein (see Fig. 3) an air
inlet 32. A filter 33 is mounted on the rear wall 30 over
the inlet 32. The bottom wall 26 defines a trough or water
reservoir 34 located adjacent to the air inlet 32 and
adapted to contain water. The trough 34 is elongated in the
direction extending between the side walls 18 and 22.
The humidifier 10 also comprises a wicking
assembly 36 including a frame 37 supporting a wicking
element 38. The wicking element 38 extends transversely
relative to the vertical axis 11 and has a lower portion in
fluid communication with the water reservoir 34.
Preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, the wicking element 38 has
its lower portion in the water reservoir 34. The wicking
element 38 can have any suitable construction and can be
formed of any suitable material. However, the wicking
element 38 is preferably constructed in a "honeycomb" form
and is preferably formed of a high density nonwoven
cellulosic material. The
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wicking element 38 has (see Pigs. 3 and ~) a minor dimension °a"
extending transversely to the horizontal plane 12, a first major
dimension ~b" which is greater than the minor dimension ~a" and
which extends perpendicularly to the minor dimension "a", and a
second major dimension "c" which is greater than the minor
dimension "a°' and which extends perpendicularly to the first
major dimension "b" and to the minor dimension "a". Preferably,
the minor dimension "a" extends at an angle of approximately 30
degrees relative to the plane 12, and the major dimension "b"
extends at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to the
vertical axis 11.
The humidifier l0 also comprises means for transferring
water fram the wicking element 38 to the atmospher~. This means
preferably includes fan means for forcing air flow in a
non-horizontal direction, i.e. in the direction of the minor
dimension "a", through the wicking element 38. although any
suitable fan means can be employedp the fan means preferably
includes an electric fan,40 having ~ plurality of fag blades ~2
supported within the cabinet l4. The fan 40 draws air through
the wicking element 38. The aar then passes out of the
humidifier l0 and transfers water vapor to the atmosphere.
It is believed that capillary attraction is the pri~aa~
ford that causes water to be drawn up from the water reservoir
34 to saturate the wicking element 38. Thus, gravity is a
counterforce that resists the vertical transfer of water by
capillary attraction. The advantage of using an angled or
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horizontal wicking element rather than a vertical wicking element
is that the angled or horizontal wicking element becomes more
uniformly saturated with water throughout its entire height than
the vertical wicking element. This mare uniform saturation of
the wicking element provides an increase in the evaporation rate
of the water as compared to humidifiers utilizing a vertical
wicking element.
In humidifiers utilizing vertical wicking elements, the
area of the wicking element immediately above the water level in
the water reservoir and for approximately two to three inches
above this level is truly saturated. However, at the level ten
inches above the water level, the wicking element is merely
moist. Experimental work has shown that approximately ten inches
above the water level is the greatest height that capillary
attraction can elevate water from the water reservoir. Thus,_it
appears that at ten inches above the water level, the force of
gravity exceeds the capillary attraction of the wicking element
and theta is thereafter ~nly negligible water transfer.
gy placing the wicking element at an angle or
horizontally, a wicking element of the same ar greater "height"
as a vertical element can be used while at the same time lowering
the uppermost part of the wic%ing element in relation to the
surface of the water in the water reservoir. This will allow the
wicking element to become wetter at its uppermost part. If the
wicking element is placed into the water reservoir such that its
upperanost part is less than four inches above the water level in
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L..e water reservoir, the entire wicking element will be saturated
with water.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in
Fig. 5. In this alternative embodiment, the wicking element 38
extends generally perpendicularly to the vertical axis 11. In
other words, the major dimensions of the wicking element 38
extend perpendicularly to the axis 11. The wicking element 38 is
Z,--shaped and has a lower portion located in the reservoir 34.
The air inlet 32 is located in the bottom wall 26. The fan 40
forces vertical air flow through tine wicking element 38.
A second alternative embodiment is shown in Fig. 6. In
this embodianent, the wicking elemenh 38 extends generally
perpendicularly to the vertical axis ll. the wicking element 38
includes generally horizontally spaced-apart peripheral portions
48 and 50~ and a central portion 52 located between the
peripheral portions 48 and 50. The reservoir 34 includes spaced
apart portions 53 and 54, and the peripheral portions 48 and 50
are seated on respective means, such as a wettable sponge-like
ynaterial 56, located in the portions S3 and 54 of the water
reservoir 34 for transferring water frown the water reservoir 34
to the peripheral portions 48 and 50 of the wicking element 38.
The air inlet 32 is located in the bottoan wall 26 beneath the
central portion 52 of the wicking element 38. The fan means
forces substantially vertical air flow through the central
portion of the wicking element 38.
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A humidifier that is a third alternati~re embodiment of
the invention is shown in Fa.r~s. 7-12. The humidifier 100
comprises a base 104 that is generally elliptical in horizontal
cross-section. The base 104 includes an endless side wall 108
and a bottom wall 112. The bottom wall 112 is supported above a
supporting surface 116 by a plurality of legs 120. The base 104
has a longitudinal axis 124, and the bottom wall 112 defines a
T-shaped water trough or reservoir 128 an~luding a first leg 132
extending along the axis 124 and a second leg 136 extending
perpendicular to the axis 124. The bottom wall 112 includes a
gortioaa 140 which is tilted at an angle of approximately 20
degree pith respect to horizontal ~md which defines the bottom of
the second leg 136. Thd bottom wall 112 has therein generally
kidney-shaped inlet openings 1~4 end 148 spaced horizontally from
the resex~roir 128 and lochted pn opposite sides of the first leg
132 and adjacent the second leg 136. This arrangement of the
trough 128 and the inlet openings 144 and 14~ allows the overall
humidifier to be relativ~~:y compact>
The side will 108 of the bass 104 has therein, adjacent
the opposite ends of the base, finger recesses 152 that
facilitate handling of the humidifier 100. The recesses 152 are
defined in part by respective vertically extending walls 154
which are partially cut awa~r to provide air inlet openings 158.
The air inlst openings 158 facilitate air flow from the extera.or
of the base 104 to the air inlet openings 144 and 148 in the
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bottom wall 112. Such air flow is indicated by the broken arrows
in Fig. 8.
The humidifier 100 also comprises a generally
cylindrical water bottle 162 that sits on the right end (as shown
in Figs. 8 and ilj of the base 104. The water bottle 162 has a
generally vertical longitudinal axis 166: The lower end of the
water bottle 162 includes a conventional valve 1?0 having a
plunger 1?4 that is moved upwardly by a projection l?$ on the
base when the water battle 162 is seated on the base-I04. Upward
movement of the plunger 1?4 opens the valve 1?0 and allows water
to f low out of the bottle 162 and fill the trough 128. The upper
end of the water bottle 162 has therein finger recesses 1~2 that
facilitate handling of the water bottle 162.
The humidifier 100 further comprises a wicking element
186 seated in the second leg 136 of the trough 128. ~s shown, in
Fig. 1l, the wicking element 186 includes a bottom wall 190
seated against th~ wall portion 140 of the base 104, ~o that the
wicking element 186 extends at an anql~ of approxianately 20
degrees pith respect to vertical. As shown in Fig: 1l, the
wicking element extends above bhe inlet openings 144 and 148.
The humidifier l00 further comprises a cover 194 which
sits an the left end of the base 104 (as shown in Fig. 11j. The
cover 194 includes ~ generally vertical rear wall 198 having
therein an air inlet faille 202, aid the cover i94 also include
a generally horizontal top wall 206 having therein an air outlet
grille 210. The covey 194 supports a motor and fan assembly 214
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located beneath the air outlet grille 210. As best shown in
Fig. 7, the cover 194 is generally elliptical in horizontal
cross-section, except that one end of the cover 194 (the left end
as shown in Fig. 7, the right end as shown in Fig. 11) defines a
semi-cylindrical recess 218 housing approximately the inner half
of the water bottle 162. then the cover 194 and the water bottle
162 are mounted on the base 104, the combination of the cover and
the battle has a horizontal cross-section that is substantially
identical to the cross-section of the base 104. As a result, the
entire humidifier is substhntially symmetrical about a vertical
plane 222 (represented by line l0-~.O in Fig. 8) extending fxam
front to back (extending from top to bottom in Fig. 8). ~hi~
gives the assembled humidifier a neat, clean appearance.
The fan 214 draws aix into the humidifier 100 through
the air inlet openings 144 and 148 end through the air inlet
grille 202. Air flows to the air inlet openings 144 and 148
prianarily through the openings 158, but some additional air
simply flows between the supporting surfac~ 116 and the base
bottom wall 112 at a~her locations around the periphery of the
base 104. Air entering the humidifier through the openings 144
and 148 and through the grille 202 flows through the wicking
element 186 (in the direction of its miner dimension) and then
out through the air owlet grille 210. Mater in the water trough
i28 saturates the wicking element 186, and the wicking element
transfers this water to the air passing through the wicking
element: As explained above, the tilted wicking element
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~acreases water transfer to the air flowing through the wicking
element. Location of the air inlet openings 144 and 148 below
the tilted wicking element 186 increases air flow through the
wicking element. the combination of the tilted wicking element
186 and the inlet ogenings 144 and 148 in the bottom of the base
104 provides better humidification than do other humidifiers
having similarl~~sized wicking elements and similarly-sized fans.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
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