Humidifier with removable wicking element

#The present invention relates to humidifiers and, more particularly to humidifiers including a removable and insertable wicking element.

#The effectiveness of a wicking element is partially dependent upon the minerals in the water, and if the water is not treated, the bacteria growth in the wicking medium. When a wicking element becomes ineffective (due to bacteria growth or minerals in the water), it is best to change the wicking element at the earliest opportunity. This requires frequent inspections of the wicking element by the user.

#Often times, wicking elements are not examined frequently because the removal or inspection of such a wicking element requires the humidifier to be disassembled or a portion of the housing to be removed. This in turn requires the humidifier to be reassembled when the wicking element is inserted. Since assembling and disassembling the humidifier is not a convenient method for accessing the wicking element, wicking elements often become neglected. When wicking elements are not inspected regularly and frequently, the user is not aware when the wicking element becomes ineffective.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a humidifier embodying the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the humidifier.

#Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

#A humidifier 10 embodying the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. The humidifier 10 includes an easily-accessible, removable wicking element 12. The humidifier 10 also includes a housing assembly or housing 16, which substantially covers the wicking element 12 when the element 12 is positioned in the humidifier 10. The housing 16 is preferably injection-molded out of plastic, as is well known in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing 16 includes a lower housing portion or base 20 having opposite left and right walls 24, 28, and front, rear, and bottom walls 32, 36, 40 extending between the left and right walls 24, 28. The walls 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 define recess 44. The base 20 further includes opposite inner left and inner right walls 48, 52, and inner front and inner rear walls 56, 60 extending between the inner left and inner right walls 48, 52. The inner walls 48, 52, 56, 60, surrounded by recess 44, define platform 64, which defines the water reservoir 68. Platform 64 also includes two generally planar, slanted surfaces 72, 76. The slanted surface 72 is positioned at an angle of approximately 40° from horizontal. The slanted surface 76 is positioned at an angle of approximately 50° from horizontal and is approximately perpendicular to the slanted surface 72. A tank valve opening peg or projection 80 (see FIG. 2) that extends vertically is formed on the bottom wall 40 of the water reservoir 68.

#The housing 16 further includes a main housing member 88 which rests on the base 20. The main housing member 88 includes opposite left and right outer walls 92, 96 and front, rear, and top outer walls 100, 104, 108 extending between the left and right outer walls 92, 96. The right outer wall 96 of the main housing member 88 defines an opening 112. The top outer wall 108 of the main housing member 88 defines an air outlet 116, which is covered by an outlet grille 120.