RESERVOIR WITH HANDLE

RESERVOIR MUNI D'UNE POIGNEE

English Abstract

Provided is a reservoir (120) of a dehumidifier (100) comprising an enclosure (121) defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier (100) to define a guide path (140);and a handle (130) engaged with the reservoir (120). The handle (130) comprises a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user. The handle (130) is rotatably movable relative to the reservoir (120) between a first position and a second position. In the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand. In the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un réservoir (120) d'un déshumidificateur (100), comprenant : une enceinte (121) définissant une zone intérieure et une zone extérieure; une première surface de guidage fonctionnellement en prise avec une première surface complémentaire du déshumidificateur (100) pour définir une trajectoire de guidage (140); et une poignée (130) en prise avec le réservoir (120). La poignée (130) comprend une surface de préhension conçue pour être saisie à la main par un utilisateur. La poignée (130) peut tourner par rapport au réservoir (120) entre une première position et une seconde position. Dans la première position, la poignée est positionnée de manière à offrir à un utilisateur un moyen de tirer le réservoir ergonomiquement à la main le long de la trajectoire de guidage. Dans la seconde position, la poignée est positionnée de manière à offrir à un utilisateur un moyen de porter ergonomiquement le réservoir à la main.

Claims

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region;
a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of
the dehumidifier
to define a guide path; and
a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle comprising a grasping surface
adapted for
being grasped by a hand of a user, being movable relative to the reservoir
between a first position and
a second position,
wherein, in the first position the handle does not extend above a top surface
of the
enclosure, and in the first position a pushing surface of the handle laterally
extends beyond an outer
surface of the enclosure;
wherein, in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a
user to
ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and in the
second position, the handle
is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir
by hand.
2. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the interior region
is in fluid
communication with the exterior region through a first aperture.
3. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoir
is configured to be
removed from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path.
4. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the
reservoir is
configured to be replaced into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along
the guide path.
5. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
first guide surface is
engaged with the exterior region.
6. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the
handle is movable
between the first position and the second position by rotation relative to the
reservoir, at least when
the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier.
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7. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in
the second position,
the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir.
8. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in
the first position, the
handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the
reservoir into or out of the
dehumidifier.
9. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, in
the first position,
when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, the handle is at
least partially shrouded so as
to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir.
10. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
the guide path is
substantially linear.
11. A method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
providing a dehumidifier;
providing a reservoir adapted for operational engagement with said
dehumidifier, said
reservoir comprising
an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region;
a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of
the
dehumidifier to define a guide path; and
a handle engaged with the reservoir,
the handle comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand
of a
user, being movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a
second position,
wherein, in the first position the handle does not extend above a top surface
of the
enclosure, and in the first position a pushing surface of the handle laterally
extends beyond an outer
surface of the enclosure;
wherein, in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a
user to
ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and in the
second position, the handle
is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir
by hand; and either,
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a) installing the reservoir into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir
along the guide path, and moving the handle from a position intermediate to
the first position
and the second position to the first position, or
b) removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir
along the guide path, and moving the handle from the first position to a
position intermediate
to the first position and the second position.
12. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein
the interior region is in
fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture.
13. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 11 or 12,
wherein the first guide
surface is engaged with the exterior region.
14. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 13, wherein the
handle is movable between the first position and the second position by
rotation relative to the
reservoir, at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the
dehumidifier.
15. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 14, wherein, in
the second position, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir.
16. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 15, wherein, in
the first position, the handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle
for drawing the reservoir
into or out of the dehumidifier.
17. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 16, wherein, in
the first position, when the reservoir is fully inserted into the
dehumidifier, the handle is at least
partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir.
18. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 17, wherein the
guide path is substantially linear.
19. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims
11 to 18, comprising
removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along
the guide
path;

moving the handle from the first position to the second position;
carrying the reservoir by the handle to a disposal site; and
disposing of liquid water from the reservoir.
20. A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the
interior
region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first
aperture;
a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of
the dehumidifier
to define a substantially linear guide path, and engaged with the exterior
region;
a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle comprising a grasping surface
adapted for
being grasped by a hand of a user, being rotatably movable relative to the
reservoir between a first
position and a second position at least when the reservoir is not fully
inserted into the dehumidifier,
wherein, in the first position the handle does not extend above a top surface
of the enclosure,
and in the fi r s t position a pushing surface of the handle laterally extends
beyond an outer surface of
the enclosure;
wherein, in the first position the handle, is positioned to provide means for
a user to
ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and is adapted
to function as a
drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier,
and when the reservoir is
fully inserted into the dehumidifier, is at least partially shrouded so as to
be fixed from rotation relative
to the reservoir, in the second position the handle, is positioned to provide
means for a user to
ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand, and extends upwardly from the
reservoir; and
wherein the reservoir is configured to be removed from the dehumidifier by
drawing the
reservoir along the guide path; and
wherein the reservoir is configured to be replaced into the dehumidifier by
drawing the
reservoir along the guide path.
21. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of any one of claims 1 to 10 and 20,
wherein the outer surface
of the enclosure comprises an indentation located proximate to the handle when
the handle is in the
first position.
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Description

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RESERVOIR WITH HANDLE
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0001] The present subject matter relates to a small appliance. More
specifically the present
subject matter relates to a reservoir adapted for use with a dehumidifier.
[0002] A dehumidifier is an apparatus adapted to condition the air by reducing
the level of
humidity in the air. A dehumidifier reduces the level of humidity in the air
by extracting water
vapor from the air. The extracted water vapor may be condensed into liquid
water and stored
in a reservoir of the dehumidifier for subsequent disposal or other removal.
[0003] The liquid water stored in the reservoir may be disposed of by removing
the reservoir
from the dehumidifier and transporting the water within the reservoir to a
disposal site. It is
sometimes desirable to store a large quantity of water in the reservoir to
allow long duty cycles
between the times when the reservoir is full and must be emptied before
further dehumidifier
operation. It is sometimes desirable to make the reservoir with the water
stored therein easy
to transport from the dehumidifier to the disposal site. It remains desirable
to provide a way to
transport larger amounts of water without making transportation of the water
and reservoir
difficult.
[0004] It remains desirable to provide a handle for a reservoir of a
dehumidifier adapted to
position, remove, and replace the reservoir in the dehumidifier and also
adapted to provide
ergonomic means to carry the reservoir.
[0005] Provided is a reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising an enclosure
defining an interior
region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with
a first counterpart
surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and a handle engaged with
the reservoir.
The handle comprises a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of
a user. The
handle is movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a
second position. In
the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to
ergonomically draw
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the reservoir along the guide path by hand. In the second position, the handle
is positioned to
provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which particular
embodiments and
further benefits of the subject matter are illustrated as described in more
detail in the
description below, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a dehumidifier and
associated
components. FIG. la and FIG lb are perspective views showing an embodiment of
a
dehumidifier and associated components.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially
withdrawn from the
dehumidifier with the handle in a position intermediate to the horizontal and
vertical positions.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially
withdrawn from the
dehumidifier with the handle in the horizontal position.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially
withdrawn from the
dehumidifier with the handle in a substantially vertical position.
[0011] FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b are perspective views showing the reservoir of a
dehumidifier with
the handle. FIG. 5c is a rear perspective view showing the reservoir of a
dehumidifier without
the handle.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the handle for a dehumidifier
reservoir of the
present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Disclosed is a reservoir 120 of a dehumidifier 100 that comprises (1)
an enclosure 121
defining an interior region 124 and an exterior region 122; (2) a first guide
surface (not shown)
operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface (not shown) of the
dehumidifier 100 to
define a guide path 140; and (3) a handle 130 engaged with the reservoir 120.
The handle 130
may comprise a grasping surface 132 adapted for being grasped by a hand 82 of
a user 80; and
may be movable relative to the reservoir 120 between a first position and a
second position. In
the first position the handle 130 may be positioned to provide means for a
user 80 to
ergonomically draw the reservoir 120 along the guide path 140 by hand 82. In
the second
position, the handle 130 may be positioned to provide means for a user 80 to
ergonomically
carry the reservoir 120 by hand 82.
[0014] Referring to Figures 1-4, shown is a first non-limiting embodiment of a
dehumidifier 100.
The dehumidifier 100 comprises a reservoir 120. The reservoir 120 is adapted
to accept and
store liquid water (not shown) produced by the dehumidifier 100 as it operates
to remove
humidity from the air 90. The reservoir 120 stores the liquid water (not
shown) in the enclosure
121. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figures 1-4, the reservoir 120
stores the water
in the interior region 124 of the enclosure 121. The
interior region 124 is in fluid
communication with the exterior region 122 through a first aperture 126.
Liquid water (not
shown) may be introduced into the interior region 124 from the exterior region
122 through
the first aperture 126. In some embodiments, during operation, liquid water
condensed or
otherwise produced by the dehumidifier 100 as it operates to remove humidity
from the air 90
may drip or pour through the first aperture 126 and into the interior region
124 of reservoir 120
where it may be stored.
[0015] In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figures 1-4, some or all of the
stored liquid
water (not shown) may be occasionally disposed of by a user 80. The reservoir
120 is adapted
for removal from the dehumidifier 100. Because the reservoir 120 is adapted
for removal from
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the dehumidifier 100, water stored in the reservoir 120 may be transported,
while still in the
reservoir 120, from the dehumidifier 100, and disposed of at a disposal site
(not shown). A
disposal site may be a conventional drain (not shown) or other site chosen
with good
engineering judgment. The provided subject matter is adapted to provide an
ergonomic means
for removal and transportation of the reservoir 120 by a hand 82 of a user 80.
[0016] The handle 130 is engaged with the reservoir 120 such that it may be
movable with
respect to the reservoir 120. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in Figures
1-4, the handle
130 is free to rotate with respect to the reservoir 120 when the reservoir 120
is not in the fully
installed position within the dehumidifier 100.
[0017] In Figures 1 and la, the reservoir 120 is shown in the fully installed
position within the
dehumidifier 100. In the embodiment and position shown in Figures 1 and la,
the reservoir 120
is fully inserted into the dehumidifier 100 and the handle 130 is partially
shrouded or otherwise
enclosed between the dehumidifier 100 and the reservoir 120 in such a way that
the handle
130 is not free to rotate with respect to the reservoir 120. In the embodiment
shown in Figures
1-4, the reservoir 120 may be removed from the dehumidifier 100 by drawing it
out in a
drawer-like manner along a guide path 140 generally indicated by the bi-
directional arrow
shown. The arrow indicating guide path 140 is bi-directional because the
reservoir may be
removed or replaced by drawing it out or pushing it in along the guide path
140 generally
indicated by the bi-directional arrow. As used herein, unless otherwise noted,
the mechanical
action of drawing an object along a path, that is, to draw an object along a
path, comprises both
pushing and pulling actions. While the guide path shown in Figures lb and 2 is
linear, it is
contemplated that the guide path 140 need not be linear in other embodiments;
there are
curvilinear paths that may also be acceptable. The guide path 140 may be
defined by a first
guide surface (not shown) of the reservoir 120 being operatively engaged with
a first
counterpart surface (not shown) of the dehumidifier 100. In certain
embodiments, the first
guide surface (not shown) may be engaged with the exterior region 122 of the
reservoir 120. In
certain embodiments, the first guide surface (not shown) and first counterpart
surface may (not
shown) be any conventional components adapted to establish a guide path. In
certain
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embodiments, the first guide surface (not shown) and first counterpart surface
may be the
components of a conventional drawer slide, or a track and follower
combination, or a set of
surfaces adapted to slide over one another. In certain embodiments, the
components adapted
to establish guide path 140 may further comprise one or more of a roller, a
wheel, a bearing, or
a lubricant.
[0018] In Figure 1, the handle 130 is in a first position. In the first
position, handle 130 is
positioned to provide means for a user 80 grasp the handle 130 by a hand 82
and to
ergonomically draw the reservoir 120 along the guide path 140. That is, in
Figure 1, in the first
position, the handle 130 is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for
drawing the
reservoir 120 into or out of the dehumidifier 100. The handle 130 comprises
may comprise a
set of surfaces 132 adapted for ergonomic engagement with the hand 82 of, and
use by, a user
80. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, in some embodiments the handle 130 may
comprise one or
more grasping surfaces 132. A grasping surface 132 is adapted for being
grasped by the hand
82 of a user 80. A grasping surface 132 may comprise grasping features 134
adapted to
facilitate grasping, gripping, or other purchase on the grasping surface by
the hand 82 of a user
80. In some embodiments, grasping features 134 adapted to facilitate grasping,
gripping, or
other purchase on the grasping surface 132 by the hand 82 of a user 80 may
comprise knurling,
indentations, grooves, roughly textured elastomer, padding, or other similarly
functional
surface treatment. As shown in Figures 1-4, in some embodiments the handle 130
may
comprise one or more pushing surfaces 136. A pushing surface 136 is adapted
for being
grasped or pushed by the hand 82 of a user 80.
[0019] With continued reference to Figures 1-4, as the reservoir 120 is
withdrawn from the
dehumidifier 100 along the guide path 140, the handle 130 is exposed and may
be rotated
relative to the reservoir 120. As shown in Figure 1, the handle 130 is
positioned so that the
grasping surface 132 may be readily grasped or otherwise engaged by the hand
82 of a user 80
and is oriented such that the grasping surface 132 is substantially normal to
the guide path 140
such that the work applied by the user 80 in removing the reservoir 120 is
used efficiently in
order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility. At
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point at which the reservoir 120 is fully withdrawn from the dehumidifier 100,
the handle 130
may be rotated into a second position. It is contemplated that, in other
embodiments, the
motion of the handle 130 from the first position to the second position may
involve translation
or rotation or both. In Figure 4, the handle 130 is shown in the second
position. As shown in
Figure 4, in some embodiments, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir
120.
Transport of the reservoir 120 may be performed, at least in part, by a user
grasping part of the
reservoir 120 and carrying the reservoir 120. As shown in Figure 4, the handle
130 is positioned
so that the grasping surface 132 may be readily grasped by a user 80 and is
oriented such that
the grasping surface 132 is substantially normal to the direction of gravity
such that the work
applied by the user 80 in lifting and carrying the reservoir in transporting
it is used efficiently in
order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility. As
shown in Figure 1,
the handle 130 is positioned so that the pushing surface 136 may be readily
pushed by a user
80 and is oriented such that the pushing surface 136 is substantially normal
to the guide path
140 such that the work applied by the user 80 in replacing the reservoir 120
is used efficiently
in order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility.
[0020] This bucket handle improves over the prior art as it allows a single
handle for
conveniently removing the bucket from the dehumidifier and carrying the bucket
without a
substantial number of additional parts or steps.
[0021] Without limitation, when the non limiting embodiment of a dehumidifier
100 shown in
Figures 1-4 is in operation the reservoir 120 is fully installed into and is
operationally engaged
with the dehumidifier 100. As the dehumidifier operates to remove humidity
from the air 90
liquid water (not shown) is produced and is stored in the interior region 124
of the enclosure
121.
[0022] It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that
many changes
can be made to the present subject matter without departing from the
principles of the present
subject matter. These and other modifications in the nature of the present
subject matter or
the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
the disclosure
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herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing
descriptive matter is to be
interpreted merely as illustrative of the present subject matter and not as a
limitation.
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Representative Drawing