# US 2014/0151907 A1 · Combination warm and cool mist humidifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151907 A1 - Document ID: US20140151907A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,750 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-28 - Assignees: Kaz USA, Inc. - Applicants: Kaz USA, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher S. Kanel; Richard Katzman; Bill Fiebel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151907A1 ## CPC - F24F 6/02: by evaporation of water in the air - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A humidifier includes a housing with a substantially open top portion. Water can be added to the humidifier by pouring the water into a water reservoir through an open top. The water is pumped from the water reservoir to an upper portion of the humidifier where it is dispersed into the environment by a flow of air. The humidifier may include both an ultrasonic nebulizer and a heater to provide a warm mix of cool mist and hot vapor. Alternatively, a warm mist can be provided by dispersed water from an ultrasonic nebulizer in combination with warm air. The humidifier may also solely provide a cool mist from an ultrasonic element, or the water can be dispersed using a wicking filter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidifier comprising: a housing with a substantially open top portion; a main water reservoir tillable by providing water through the substantially open top portion of the housing; an engine deck configured to hold water disposed above a bottom of the main water reservoir; an impeller configured to pump water from the main water reservoir to an overflow chamber of the engine deck; a heating chamber disposed on the engine deck and having at least one heating element disposed therein; a nebulizing chamber disposed on the engine deck and having at least one ultrasonic transducer disposed therein; and an engine chamber disposed adjacent the main water reservoir and below the engine deck, the engine chamber including at least one motor for driving the impeller and a fan, the fan being configured to draw air through the housing so as to carry water vapor produced by the heater and nebulized air into the environment around the humidifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1 wherein the engine deck includes first and second paths configured to respectively direct water from the impeller to the heating chamber and nebulizing chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1 further comprising a control device operable to selectively operate the heating chamber and nebulizing chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1 further comprising a control device operable to adjust the flow rate of the impeller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an inner wall, an outer wall and an air gap between the inner and outer walls, the inner and outer walls including at least one vent, and wherein the fun is disposed adjacent to the vent disposed in the outer wall so as to draw air into the gap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a cover disposed over the open top portion configured to allow air and water to pass therethrough. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The humidifier of claim 6, further comprising stones disposed on the cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the at least one motor includes a motor having a magnetic drive coupled to the impeller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The humidifier of claim 8, wherein, the motor is also coupled to the fan. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the overflow chamber includes an overflow opening which is open to the main water reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the main water reservoir includes a shut-off device. ### Claim 12 humidifier comprising: a housing; a main water reservoir within the housing open to atmospheric pressure that is finable by providing water through an opening in a top portion of the housing; an engine deck disposed within the housing and configured to hold water, the engine deck being disposed above a bottom of the main water reservoir; a water feature disposed above the main water reservoir and configured to direct water to an overflow chamber of the engine deck; an impeller configured to pump water from the main water reservoir to the water feature; an engine chamber disposed adjacent the main water reservoir and below the engine deck, the engine chamber including at least one motor for driving the impeller and a fan, the fan being configured to generate an air flow over the engine deck and out of the housing; and a humidification device disposed on the engine deck and configured to dissipate water into the air flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The humidifier of claim 12 further comprising a control device operable to adjust the flow rate of the impeller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The humidifier of claim 12, wherein the humidification device includes an ultrasonic nebulizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The humidifier of claim 12, further comprising a cover configured to allow air and water to pass therethrough disposed over the engine deck, and stones disposed on the cover. ### Claim 16 A humidifier comprising: a housing; a main water reservoir within the housing open to atmospheric pressure that is finable by providing water to an opening in a top portion of the housing; a fan configured to generate an air flow through the housing; an impeller configured to pump water toward a top of the humidifier; ### Claim at position 17 17-26. (canceled) ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The humidifier of claim 16 wherein the impeller pumps water to the water feature, the humidification device includes a wicking filter disposed beneath the water feature, and the water feature includes at least one opening for supplying water to the wicking filter. ### Claim at position 19 28-29. (canceled) ### Claim 30 A humidifier comprising: a housing; a main water reservoir within the housing open to atmospheric pressure that is tillable by providing water through an opening in a top portion of the housing; a fan configured to generate an air flow through the housing; a wicking filter disposed above the main water reservoir and configured to distribute water into the air flow, the wicking filter being substantially planar and inclined from which excess water drips in a controlled manner into a conduit; an impeller configured to pump water to a water feature disposed above the main water reservoir, the water feature configured to drip a portion of the pumped water onto the wicking filter and to direct at least a portion of the pumped water back to the main water reservoir, the water feature including a downward curved slope and a funnel at a bottom of the slope; and at east one motor for driving the impeller and the fan. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The humidifier of claim 30 further comprising a control device operable to control a flow rate of the impeller. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The humidifier of claim 30 wherein the wicking filter is disposed on a v-shaped support that forms a lowest point at a bottom of the v-shape. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The humidifier of claim 32, wherein the v-shaped support includes a mesh support. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The humidifier of claim 33, wherein the conduit is disposed beneath the bottom of the v-shaped support. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The humidifier of claim 30, wherein the wicking filter is disposed on a mesh support. ### Claim 36 A humidifier comprising: a housing; a main water reservoir within the housing open to atmospheric pressure that is fillable by providing water through an opening in a top portion of the housing; a fan configured to generate an air flow through the housing; a wicking filter disposed above the main reservoir and configured to distribute water into the air flow; an impeller configured to pump water to a water feature disposed above the main water reservoir, the water feature configured to drip a portion of the pumped water onto the wicking filter and to direct at least a portion of the pumped water back to the main water reservoir, the water feature including a channel and at least one divider defining first and second conduits within the channel, wherein the first conduit is disposed below the second conduit such that a flow of water below a threshold volume flows only through the first conduit while a flow of water above the threshold volume flows through the first and second channel; and at least one motor for driving the impeller and the fan. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The humidifier of claim 36, wherein the channel includes a plurality of openings for dripping water onto the wicking filter. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The humidifier of claim 37, wherein the first conduit includes a single opening for dripping water onto the wicking filter and the second conduit includes a plurality of openings for dripping water onto the wicking filter.