Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates generally to humidifiers and, more
specifically, to portable humidifiers intended for domestic use.
Various types of products are used to increase the humidity
in the home environment. With respect to portable humidifying appliances,
they may be broken down broadly into two categories, one being the
evaporation type and the other being the steam vaporizer type.
Evaporation type humidifiers typically utilize belts, pumps, slingers
or the like to increase the rate of evaporation of the water from the
liquid to the vapor state. Steam vaporizers generally are used to
t~chieve very high humidification levels. Also known are humidifiers
which are ultrasonic means to atomize water and thereby increase humidity.
Examples of various prior art steam vaporizers are disclosed
in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,369,623; 2,804,870; 2,810,167; 3,152,240;
3,723,707; 4,604,246 and 4,810,854. All of these patents are
characterized by disclosing steam type humidification means in which
there is a reservoir or water supply of some type which supplies water
in controlled amounts to a boiler or heating means which is intended
to convert the water into a steam vapor.
There are many problems involved with the prior art steam
vaporizers. For example, the mineral deposits left by boiled water is
difficult to clean and often causes deterioration of heater elements.
Also, unsafe operation can exist under certain conditions such as
operation tvithout an adequate water supply.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an
~5 improved humidifier caith an evaporator easily reached for cleaning and
a means for insuring the existence of. an adequate water supply.
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The invention is a humidifier including a base defining a
cavity; a liquid tank removably mounted on the base and adapted to
maintain a given level of liquid in the cavity; an electrically
energized humidification mechanism for inducing dispersal of the
liquid contained in the cavity; and an electrical supply for supplying
electrical energy to the humidification mechanism. Also included is
a sensing means adapted to deactivate the electrical supply in
response to removal of the tank from the base. The sensing means
prevents operation of the humidifier with the tank removed.
According to one feature of the invention, the sensing means
comprises a control circuit including an electrical switch adapted
in an active state to allow energizing current flow to the humidi-
fication mechanism and in an inactive state to prevent current flow
thereto. The switch is arranged to be in its active state with the
tank on the base and in its inactive state with the tank removed
from the base.
According to another feature of the invention, the electrical
switch is a magnetically operated switch mounted on the base and
operatively coupled to the supply, and a magnet mounted on the tank
and arranged to activate the switch into its active state with the
tank mounted on the base and to deactivate the switch means into its
deactive state with the tank removed from the base. The magnetic
stuitch promotes safe operation by preventing energization of the
humidification mechanism with the tank removed from the base.
According to still other features of th a invention, 'the
evaporator is removable from the base and is enclosed by a latticed
enclosure. The enclosure restricts physical access to the evaporator
for safety taut facilitates settling of sediment to the bottom of
the cavity to facilitate cleaning.
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These and other objects and features of the invention will
became more apparent upon a perusal of the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a humidifier;
Fig. 2 is a view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit of the
humidifier shown in Figs. 1-3; and
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of an enclosure shown in Fig. 2.
A humidifier 11 includes an evaporation unit 12 arid a liquid
supply tank 13 each removably mounted side by side on a base 14. A
peripheral rim portion 15 and a divider wall 16 project upwardly from
an upper surface 17 of the base 14 and define an evaporator enclosure
18 for removably receiving the evaporation unit 12. Similarly a
peripheral portion 19 projecting upwardly from the upper surface 17
and the divider wall 16 define a tank enclosure 21 for removably
receiving the supply tank 13.
Formed in the base 14 and below the base surface 17 is a
reservoir 20 that includes a boiler cavity 22 disposed within the
enclosure 18. Also included in the reservoir 20 is a liquid supply
channel 23 having an outlet end 24 communicating with the boiler cavity
22 and an inlet end 25 located within the tank enclosure 21. A valve
actuator stem 26 projects upwardly from a bottom 27 of the liquid
supply channel 23 into the inlet end 25. Pivotally mounted on the base
surface 17 is a latch member 28 for securing the unit 12 to 'the base 14.
The evaporation unit 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes
a bottom plate 31 and an enclosure 32 supported thereby. Supported by
electrical terminals 34, 35 on the battom plate 31 and extending
downwardly therefrom is a humidification producting heater coil 36
5
that projects into the boiler cavity 22 in the base 14. An
enclosure 37 secured to the bottom plate 31 encloses the heater
coil 36 so as to prevent physical access thereto upon removal of
the unit 12 from the base 14. As shown in Fig. 5 is 'a latticed
bottom wall of the enclosure 37 is formed by struts 40 so as to
provide communication with the cavity 22. Because of the latticed
bottom wall 40, solid sedimentary particles created during
evaporation can fall substantially unimpeded in a vertical direction
to the bottom 38 of the cavity 22. Such sediment is easily cleaned
from the bottom 38 after removal of the unit 12 from the base 13.
Extending upwardly from the bottom plate 31 over an opening
41 communicating with the enclosure 37 in the cavity 22 is a rectangular
tube 42. A slotted cover 43 closes the upper end of the tube 42.
The slotted cover 43 provides fluid communication between the tube 42
and a duct portion 45 defined by the housing 32. Established by 'the
tube 42, the slotted cover 43 and the duct portion 45 is a vapor
passage with an inlet communicating via the opening 41 with the
restricted chamber 40 and the cavity 22 and an outlet communicating
with the surrounding environment via a discharge opening 46 in a top
wall 47 of the housing 32. Retained by the housing 32 adjacent to
the vapor passage duct portion 45 is electrical control circuitry 51
shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Also retained by the housing 32 is an air
blower 52 with an outlet disposed to discharge air into the duct
portion 45 through an air passage exit opening 53 therein. Air is
supplied to the blower 52 through air passage entrance openings 54
in a front wall portion 55 of the housing 32. A control switch 57
far actuating the electrical control circuit 51 is mounted on the
front wall portion 55 of the housing 32. Also supported by the
bottom plate 31 and extending transversely therefrom is a magnetically
activated switch 61 shown in Fig. 3.
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The liquid supply tank 13 includes a bottom wall portion 62
retained within the tank enclosure 21 of the base 14 and an upper
portion 63 for storing a supply of liquid such as water. Closing
an opening in the bottom wall portion 62 of the tank 13 is a threaded
cap 64 (Fig. 3) that can be removed to fill the tank 13. A valve
assembly 66 is retained by the bottom wall portion 62 of the tank 13.
Forming the valve assembly 66 is a valve stem 67 extending -through a
discharge opening 68 in the bottom wall portion 62 and a valve 69.
A spring 71 extending between the bottom wall portion 62 and a
bracket 72 mounted on an end o.f th a stem 67 normally biases the
valve 69 into a seated position closing the discharge opening 68
as shown by dashed lines in Fig.3. Projecting downwardly from the
bottom wall portion 62 and enclosing a lower portion of the valve
assembly 66 is a skirt 80 having an open bottom end 81 intersected
by slots 82. A permanent magnet 73 extends downwardly from the bottom
wall portion 62 of the tank 13 and is arranged for juxtaposition to
the magnetic switch 61 with the tank 13 mounted on the base 14.
As shown in Fig. 4, the control circuit 51 includes an AC
supply 75 such as a conventional household outlet. Connected in series
with the supply 75 by the manual switch 57 and the magnetic switch 61
are the heater coil 36 and the blower 52. The magnetic switch 61
is adapted in an active closed state to allow current flow to the
hEater coil 36 and the blower 61 and in an inactive open state to
prevent current flow thereto.
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To prepare the humidifier 11 for use, the tank 13 is removed
from the base 14 and filled with water through an opening created by
removal of the cap 64. With the cap 64 replaced and the normally
seated valve 69 seated over the opening 68, the sealed tank 13 is
inverted and positioned on the base 14 within the tank enclosure 21.
Engagement of the bracket 72 on the valve stem 67 with the actuator
stem 26 on the base 14 moves the valve 69 into an open position as
shown by solid lines in Fig. 4. Accordingly, water from the tank 13
flows through the opened valve 69, the inlet end 25 and the liquid
1~ supply channel 23 into the boiler cavity 22. As long as a supply of
water exists in the sealed tank 13, a water level L determined by
the height of the slots 82 i.n the skirt 80 will be retained by the
open valve 69 within the reservoir 20 formed by the boiler cavity 22
and the liquid supply channel 23.
Upon energization of the heater coil 36, water within the
restricted chamber 40 that has flowed through the orifice 38 into
the enclosure 37 is heated to cause evaporation and dispersal thereof.
Because of the restricted and isolated water volume provided by the
enclosure 37 in the boiler cavity 22, an extremely efficient evaporation
process is obtained. The vapor produced in the enclosure 37 rises
through the tube 42, the slotted cover 43 and the duct portion 45 of
the housing 32 for discharge 'through the discharge end 46 into the
surrounding environment. Enhancement of the vapor discharge is
obtained by energizing the blower 52 which draws air through the
entrance passages 54 in the housing 32 for discharge through the exit
passage 53. This air draws vapor formed in the boiler cavity 22 'through
the duct portion for discharge from the discharge end 46.
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If the supply tank 13 is in place on the base 14 to establish
the active closed state of the magnetic switch 61, energization of
the heater coil by current flow from the supply 75 is initiated by
manual closing of the switch 57. However, if. the supply tank 13 is
removed from the base 14, separation of 'the magnet 73 from the tank
sensing switch produces the inactive open state thereof to inactivate
the supply 75 and prevent current flow to the coil 36 and the blower
52. Undesirable energization of the heater coil 36 and blower 52 are
prevented, therefore, by removal of the tank 13 from the base 14.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention axe possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be
understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described.
