Portable humidifier

Abstract

A portable humidifier of the type utilizing a motor driven fan and pump to circulate air through a filter element which has been saturated with water deposited thereon by the pump. The motor driven fan and pump are supported on the removable top wall of a housing to permit easy access to the internal portions of the humidifier for cleaning and servicing. The filter element is supported in an upright position within the water reservoir by support means carried by the reservoir itself. The humidifier is provided with an air circulating system by means of which air is drawn in through the back wall of the housing, circulated downwardly and outwardly through the filter element, and then upwardly where it is discharged through louvers in the removable top wall of the housing. The motor driven fan and pump are resiliently supported within the housing by means of two simple wire formed members which engage rubber grommets attached to the motor mounting bolts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years the demand for high capacity portable humidifiers has increased substantially. This increase in demand is a result of a number of different factors. First there has been a greater appreciation of the need for adding moisture to the air for health purposes during the winter months when the normal moisture content of the air in the home is very low. This increased humidity is not only beneficial to the health and comfort of the inhabitants of the home but it also lessens the likelihood of damage to furniture as a consequence of its drying out. This increased demand has resulted in substantial improvements in portable room humidifiers both from a styling standpoint and also from a functional standpoint. The humidifiers are now made in a very compact form while at the same time being capable of adding 3 to 25 gallons of water to the air during a single day. In handling volumes of water such as this, the many impurities normally found in water tend to cause deposits in the humidifier which decrease its efficiency or cause it to malfunction completely. The problem caused by these deposits from the water necessitates that the interior of the humidifier be easily accessible for removing these impurities and/or replacing parts which may have become damaged as a consequence of these deposits.

Although there are various types of portable humidifiers available on the market today, all are similar in their principle of operation utilizing some sort of moistened filter element through which a current of air is circulated to pick up the moisture. The problem areas in connection with the deposit of impurities involve the filter element, the pump for circulating water from a reservoir onto the filter element, the water reservoir and in some instances the fan itself. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a housing construction for the humidifier wherein these elements were readily accessible for cleaning purposes.

In the design of a portable room humidifier, it is desirable that the discharge from the humidifier not be toward the back, front or sides of the unit. The discharge from the back tends to limit the manner in which the unit may be positioned since the discharge may discolor the wall and discharge from the front or sides may create an unpleasant sensation to those sitting near the humidifier because of the chilling effect of the damp air circulated therefrom. In view of these considerations, it would be desirable to provide a humidifier in which the air is discharged from the top where it is least likely to cause inconvenience or discomfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable humidifier having a housing provided with a readily detachable top wall, which wall supports on its underside an assembly including a motor driven fan and pump. The pump portion of the motor driven fan and pump extends downwardly into a water reservoir and is surrounded by a generally cylindrical filter element which is supported by hooks mounted on the upper edge of the reservoir walls. The top wall of the housing supports the controls for the motor driven fan and pump and is formed with detachable louvers which direct the air being discharged from the humidifier and provide openings through which water may be poured into the reservoir.

The reservoir itself is a large rectangular tub-like member of molded plastic and nested in the bottom of the humidifier housing. The back wall of the housing is formed with a large opening which is coextensive with the reservoir so that the reservoir may be readily removed for cleaning purposes and to permit easy access to the filter element which, as mentioned above, is mounted within the reservoir. Since the top wall including the assembly suspended therefrom with the motor driven fan and pump is readily removable from the housing, the reservoir and filter element may be readily removed without the interference which has been associated with prior art devices of this type. There are no drawstrings or resilient attaching means involved in the mounting of the filter element in the air stream within the housing. The assembly support by the top wall merely rests against the upper edge of the filter element when inserted downwardly into the humidifier housing. This simple assembly provides a sealed air circulation system in which the air is drawn in through louvers in the rear of the housing, circulated downwardly adjacent the pump, outwardly through the filter element and upwardly through the louvers supported on the top wall of the housing. In order to support the motor driven fan and pump in the assembly in a manner to minimize noise and vibration, there are provided a pair of simple formed wire elements which receive rubber grommets mounted on the fan mounting bolts. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable humidifier of the type having a motor driven fan and pump and a filter element all of which are easily accessible for servicing and replacement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved humidifier having a box-like housing with a motor driven fan and pump supported on a detachable top wall of the housing and having a filter element supported in a removable reservoir nested within the housing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved humidifier having a housing formed with a removable top wall which supports on the underside thereof an assembly including an air shroud or conduit member and a motor driven fan and pump, the shroud being positioned in sealed engagement with the upper edge of a filter element which is mounted in a reservoir positioned in the bottom of the housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable room humidifier having a housing with a detachable top wall which supports a motor driven fan and pump on the underside thereof and controls therefor on the upper surface thereof with plug interlock means provided to prevent removal of the top wall until the power cord has been disconnected from the unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a room type portable humidifier having a water reservoir nested in the bottom of a housing and including means for supporting a filter element directly from the walls of said reservoir.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable room humidifier having a motor driven fan mounted by means of a pair of V-shaped wire formed elements which engage resilient grommets supported on the mounting bolts of the motor.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable room humidifier embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the humidifier of FIG. 1 taken from the rear.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 3 with portions cut away to expose the motor driven fan and pump.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of FIG. 6 but with the plug removed from the receptacle.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of the support means for the filter element showing a portion of the reservoir wall and a portion of the filter element.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 9--9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portable humidifier designated generally by reference numeral 15. The humidifier 15 comprises a sheet metal housing 16 which is formed by side walls 16a, front wall 16b, bottom wall 16c and a rear wall 16d. The housing 16 is formed with a removable top wall 18. The bottom edge of the housing 16 is provided with a skirt 19 which extends around the front and sides of the humidifier 15 to form a decorative shield to obscure castors or wheels 17 which permit the humidifier 15 to be shifted from one room to another either for filling purposes or for other reasons.

The top wall 18 is a molded plastic member having a solid central portion 18a and openings 18b on either side of the central portion 18a. The openings 18b are formed by U-shaped frame elements 18c which connect to the central portion 18a. The purpose of the openings 18b formed therein is to permit air circulated and humidified by the humidifier 15 to be discharged from the housing 16. Received within the openings 18b on shouldered edges formed thereon are two sets of louver members 20. The louver members 20 include angled louvers 20a as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which are inner-connected by support walls 20b extending perpendicularly to the louvers as shown in FIG. 3 and 4. The louver members are square in shape so that they may be inserted in position in the openings 18b in any one of four positions to direct the air at an angle as it discharges from the top of the housing 16. The louver members 20 are merely set in place so that they may be readily removed to select the direction of air discharge or to provide access to the interior of the housing for depositing or pouring water into a reservoir 21 positioned at the bottom of the housing.

The reservoir 21 is a molded plastic container having side walls 21a, a bottom wall 21b and an open top. As is evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, the reservoir 21 is nested within the housing 16 with the side walls of the reservoir 21 being closely adjacent or in contact with the side walls 16a and the front wall 16b of the housing 16. The bottom wall 21b of the reservoir 21 is formed with lengthwise extending ribs 21c which extend across substantially the entire length of the bottom of the reservoir 21. The ribs 21c increase the rigidity of the reservoir 21 and support the portions of the reservoir bottom wall 21b between the ribs 21c spaced from the bottom wall 16c of the housing so that there will be some air circulation between these two walls and any moisture deposited therein will tend to evaporate.

For the purpose of increasing the rigidity and facilitating molding, the front and rear side walls of the reservoir 21 are formed with vertically extending grooves or ribs 21d which extend inwardly and terminate at their upper ends in solid ribs or posts 21e. The upper ends of the posts 21e as is best shown in FIG. 8 are formed with downwardly extending recesses 21f within which the filter support brackets 23 are received.

The filter support brackets are hook-shaped members having vertically extending mounting portions 23a at one end and an upwardly facing hook or U-shaped portion 23b on which a filter element 24 is supported. The mounting portion 23a of the bracket 23 inserts into the recess 21f until the horizontal portion of the bracket extends outwardly through a slot 21g in the post 21e. The slot 21g prevents any rotation of the bracket 23 in its assembled position on the reservoir 21.

The filter element 24 is a generally cylindrical member made of a flexible polyurethane foam material which is extremely porous and which is treated so as to provide a capillary action whereby the water in the reservoir 21 will tend to move upwardly within the portion of the filter element 24 extending above the surface of the water in the reservoir. The cylindrically formed filter element 24 is formed at its upper edges with four spaced grommets 25 which extend through the wall of the filter element 24 and are adapted to be received on the hook-shaped ends 23b of the support brackets 23. With the filter element 24 thus assembled to the support brackets 23, it assumes a generally cylindrical position within the reservoir 21 as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2. The top of the filter element 24 is positioned substantially level with the top of the reservoir 21 while the bottom edge of the filter element 24 is spaced closely adjacent to the bottom wall 21b of the reservoir 21.

As is evident from FIG. 4 of the drawings, the rear wall 16d of the housing 16 extends downwardly only to the upper edge of the reservoir 21. As a consequence the housing 16 is provided with a rearwardly facing opening 26 which is coextensive with the rear wall of the reservoir 21. The upper edge of the rear wall of the reservoir 21 is formed with an elongated handle portion 21h as is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The handle portion 21h increases the rigidity of the rear wall of the reservoir 21 which, of course, is not supported by the side walls of the housing 16. Thus the portion 21h eliminates any tendency there might be for the rear wall to bend outwardly or buckle as a consequence of the pressure exerted by the water contained therein. In addition, the portion 21h provides a handle by means of which the reservoir 21 may be withdrawn rearwardly through the opening 26 for cleaning purposes or replacement.

Positioned within the reservoir 21 and within the filter element 24, is a pump 28 and a fan 29 which are both supported and driven by a motor 30. The pump 28 is of a conventional form including an elongated tubular portion 28a having an apertured bottom wall through which water may enter the tubular portion 28a. Vanes are provided within the tubular portion 28a and rotation of the pump 28 causes these vanes to force water upwardly within the tubular portion 28a. At the upper end of the tubular portion 28a the pump 28 has a flared portion 28b at the top of which are openings through which the water is discharged outwardly against the inside wall of the filter element 24. The fan 29 is coupled to the pump 28 at the top by stub shaft 30 which is received in a cap 28c located at the top of the pump 28 and connected to the flared portion 28b. The assembly consisting of the fan 29 and the pump 28 is secured to the downwardly extending end of armature shaft 30a of the motor 30.

As the motor rotates the fan 29 and the pump 28, the pump 28 draws water upwardly throwing it outwardly against the inner surface of the filter element 24 and the fan draws air into the housing 16 forcing it downwardly and outwardly through the filter element 24. As is best shown in FIG. 3 the air then passes upwardly after going through the filter element 24 and discharges through the louver members 20 at the top of the housing 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, there are a plurality of plastic fins 21j extending upwardly from the bottom wall 21b of the reservoir 21. These fins extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of the pump 28 and tend to eliminate any vortex that might otherwise be created within the reservoir 21 as a consequence of the rotation of the pump 28. Such a vortex would be undesirable since it would tend to pick up particles and solid deposits within the reservoir and circulate them upwardly into the pump 28 where they might obstruct the discharge openings therein.

The motor 30, the fan 29 and the pump 28 are supported from the top wall 18 of the housing 16 by means of a molded plastic shroud 32. As is best shown in FIG. 2 the shroud 32 includes a lower support wall 32a, side walls 32b and a front wall 32c. The rear portion of the shroud 32 is cut away to provide an opening 32d which, when the shroud 32 is assembled to the housing 16, registers with louver openings 16e formed in the rear wall 16d of the housing 16. The louver openings 16e are formed by merely shearing a series of slots and then bending the material between the slots in the rear wall 16d to provide the area through which air is drawn into the housing 16 by the fan 29. This arrangement is illustrated best in FIG. 4. The side walls 32b and front wall 32c of the shroud 32 are formed with vertically extending channels 32e which increase the rigidity of the shroud 32. In addition, at the upper ends of the channels 32e there are formed integrally molded mounting plates 32f through which assembly screws 33 extend into the top wall 18 of the housing 16. The channels 32e not only increase the rigidity of the shroud 32 but also facilitate the molding of the mounting plates 32f.

For the purpose of mounting the motor 30, the support wall 32a is formed with four upwardly extending bosses 32g located in opposite corners of the shroud 32. One of the bosses 32g is shown in section in FIG. 10. Each of the bosses 32g is formed with a vertically extending recess 32h which is designed to receive one end of a wire formed V-shaped motor mounting bracket 34. The motor mounting brackets 34 are retained in position by screws 31 which are threadedly received in the upper ends of the bosses 32g as is best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The bosses 32g are formed with small projections 32j which engage the underside of the heads of screws 31 as shown in FIG. 10. In addition, the heads of the screws 31 also bear against the portions of the brackets 34 extending across the bosses 32g clamping the ends of the brackets 34 to the bosses 32g.

The motor mounting brackets 34 are formed from heavy wire stock and are generally V-shaped. The free ends of the brackets are formed with downwardly extending projections 34a which are received in the recess 32h. At the apex of each of the V-shaped brackets there is formed a loop 34b within which a rubber grommet 35 is received. The motor 30 is formed with a pair of downwardly extending mounting bolts 36 which extend through the grommets 35. A nut received on each of the mounting bolts 36 clamps by grommet and the loop 34b of the bracket 34 in assembled relation to the motor 30 with the aid of a pair of spaced washers which engage the opposite faces of the grommet 35. As is best shown in FIG. 10 the grommet 35 effectively insulates the bracket 34 electrically and from vibration which might be transferred from the motor 30 to the housing 16. The above-described mounting arrangement for the motor 30 provides a simple and effective means of mounting the motor 30 with a minimum number of parts so that the housing is insulated electrically and from vibration from the motor 30.

In order to indicate the amount of water in the reservoir 21 there is provided a liquid level gage 38 which is supported on the side of the shroud 32 as shown in FIG. 2. The liquid level gage 38 includes a float 39 which is made of a lightweight plastic material such that it floats at the surface of the water within the reservoir 21. The float 39 is mounted on the lower end of a plunger 40 which extends through a guide 41 secured to shroud 32. The upper end of the plunger 40 is pivotally connected to an L-shaped lever 42 which is supported on a pivot axle 43 extending outwardly from the side wall 32b of the shroud 32. As the level of liquid in the reservoir 21 varies, the float 39 moves up and down causing the plunger 40 to rotate the L-shaped lever 42. The upper end of the L-shaped lever 42 extends inwardly through an opening 32k into the interior of the shroud 32 as is best shown in FIG. 3. Mounted on the central portion 18a of the top wall 18 of the housing is a level indicator mechanism 44 which provides a dial reading in response to the rotation of the L-shaped lever 42.

Also supported on the central portion 18a are motor speed controls 45, a humidistat control 46 and an automatic shut-off 47. The humidistat 46 and the automatic shut-off 47 include switches which are connected in series with the motor 30. The humidistat automatically shuts off the motor 30 when the humidity of the incoming air reaches a preset level. The automatic shut-off 47 includes a switch actuated by the level gage 38 to shut off the motor when the reservoir 21 is nearly empty. Also associated with the automatic shut-off 47 is a visual indicator which illuminates a light to indicate the reservoir needs filling. The speed control 45 includes a switch which permits the user to select either a high or a low speed for the motor 30. The low speed is obtained connecting the power to a low speed tap provided on the field of motor 30.

The humidifier 15 is provided with a power cord 49 having a plug 53 which may be inserted through an opening 50 in the rear wall 16d of the housing 16 to engage a receptacle 51 which is mounted on the top wall 18 of the housing 16 as is best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The top wall is formed with downwardly extending brackets 52 to which the receptacle 51 is secured. It should be noted that when the plug 53 of the power cord 49 is engaged with the socket 51, the top wall 18 may not be removed from the housing 16 because of the interference between the plug 53 and the portions of the rear wall 16d defining the opening 50. When the plug 53 is removed from the receptacle 51 the top wall 18 may be lifted upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 thereby separating the motor, fan and pump assembly and its associated controls from the remainder of the housing 16 and the reservoir 21. This arrangement facilitates access to the electrical and mechanical parts of the mechanism for cleaning or servicing. Heretofore in humidifiers of this type, the pump, the liquid level gage and the filter were located in such a manner that it was extremely difficult to gain access to them for servicing or replacement. In this particular type of humidifier the minerals and other impurities in the water have a tendency to deposit on the pump and fan as well as on the filter element and water reservoir, thus requiring frequent cleaning and perhaps replacement of the filter element.

In the present design the top wall 18 may be removed from the side walls, front wall and rear wall of the housing 16 without the aid of any tools. The periphery of the top wall 18 is formed with a downwardly facing channel 18d as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The upper edges of the walls 16a, 16b and 16d are received within the channel 18d. Spaced rubber or plastic clamping elements 54 are sandwiched between the upper wall edges and the interior portions of the channel 18d to minimize vibration and noise which might otherwise be transmitted to the vertical walls of the housing 16.

When it becomes necessary to clean or service the humidifier 15, it is merely necessary to lift the top wall 18 as shown in FIG. 2 to gain access to the liquid level gage 38, the motor 30, the fan 29 and the pump 28. With this assembly removed upwardly from the housing 16, the reservoir 21 may be easily removed rearwardly for cleaning purposes as shown in FIG. 2. The filter element 24 is supported only on the four filter support brackets 23 and may be easily unhooked and removed from the reservoir 21. If the filter element 24 is to be replaced, this replacement may be accomplished without even removing the reservoir 21 from its position within the housing 16.

When the filter element 24 has been replaced the assembly including the top wall 18, the motor 30, pump 28 and fan 29 may be returned to the assembled position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this assembled position the shroud 32 engages the upper edge of the filter element 24 thus providing the sealed air passageway for the air to travel through the fan and the filter element 24 to the air discharge in the top wall 18.

The support wall 32a of the shroud 32 is formed with a flanged opening which defines an opening within which the fan 29 is positioned. When the motor 30 is energized the fan draws air inwardly through the louver openings 16e downwardly through the flanged opening 55, outwardly through the filter element 24 and upwardly through the louver members 20. The water within the reservoir 21 is drawn up through the tubular portion 28a and flared portion 28b and thrown outwardly onto the filter element 24. This assures that the filter element will be continuously dampened so that the air passing through the filter element 24 will evaporate moisture carrying it out through the louver members 20 where it will effectively humidify the atmosphere in the area of the humidifier 15.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A humidifier comprising a housing having front, side, back and bottom walls; a removable closure wall for the top of said housing; a motor driven fan and pump supported entirely by said closure wall on the underside thereof; said closure wall and said fan and pump being readily removable as an assembly from said housing; a reservoir having side and bottom walls and being nested in the bottom of said housing; said back wall of said housing being formed with an opening coextensive with said reservoir to permit removal of said reservoir therethrough; a filter element mounted in said reservoir and supported entirely independently of said assembly by means secured to the side walls of said reservoir; said reservoir with said filter mounted therein being removable as a unit through said back wall opening when said assembly has been removed from said housing; said filter element surrounding said pump and positioned to receive water thrown outwardly by said pump; and means on said assembly associated with said fan directing air through said filter element to humidify said air; said last-mentioned means engaging said filter element but not being connected thereto.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said filter element comprises a continuous belt of porous material having mounting holes formed in spaced relation along one edge thereof, support brackets received in molded recesses in said reservoir walls and extending into supporting engagement with said mounting holes in said filter element.

3. The humidifier of claim 2 wherein said brackets are Z-shaped each having a free end extending downwardly into an upwardly facing recess in said reservoir wall; the other free end of each said bracket having an upwardly facing hook on which said filter element is supported.

4. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said removable closure wall has mounted on its underside a shroud to which said motor is mounted, said shroud providing an enclosure for said motor with a rearwardly facing opening through which air is drawn into said housing, said shroud also having a downwardly facing opening in which said fan is received, said shroud engaging said filter element to provide a conduit for air moved by said fan from air intake means in the back of said housing through said filter element.

5. The humidifier of claim 4 wherein said motor is supported in said shroud by a pair of spaced horizontally disposed V-shaped brackets each bracket being formed with downturned ends which are received in upwardly facing recesses in said shroud, each said bracket being formed at its midpoint with a loop shaped portion which receives a rubber grommet through which the mounting bolts of said motor extend.

6. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said removable closure wall supports a humidistat and motor speed control switch connected in series with said motor; a power cord for said humidifier having a plug connector engageable with a receptacle supported on said closure wall; means connecting said receptacle in circuit with said humidistat, switch and motor; said receptacle being positioned within said housing; and said plug being insertable through an opening in one of said housing walls whereby said closure wall is locked against removal from said housing by said plug.

7. A portable room humidifier comprising a sheet metal housing having a plastic reservoir nested within the bottom half of said housing, said sheet metal housing having a removable plastic closure wall, said wall having a downwardly facing channel formed around the periphery, said channel receiving the upper edges of said sheet metal housing, said wall having a solid central portion which provides the entire support for a motor driven fan and pump disposed on the underside thereof, said pump extending downwardly into said reservoir and being surrounded by a filter element positioned within said reservoir and being supported by said reservoir, air discharge openings in said wall on both sides of said central portion, air conduit means channeling air through the rear of said housing downwardly through said filter elements and upwardly through said discharge openings, said closure wall and said motor and pump forming an assembly which is readily removable as a unit from said housing, said filter element and said reservoir forming an assembly removable as a unit from said housing.

8. The portable room humidifier of claim 7 wherein said discharge openings are provided with removable louver members which include a plurality of parallel angled louvers, said louver members being positionable in said discharge openings in any of a plurality of positions to direct the discharge air angularly away from the front, sides or back of the housing.

9. The portable room humidifier of claim 7 wherein said wall has a power receptacle connected to said motor and positioned on the underside thereof within said housing, a power cord having a plug thereon for insertion into said receptacle, an opening in said sheet metal housing adjacent said receptacle for receiving said plug when inserted in said receptacle, said plug when engaged with said receptacle locking said wall from removal from said housing.