US 7,073,782 B2 · Humidifier

Abstract

The present invention is a family of portable humidifiers. Each of the portable humidifiers has a housing, a number of wick assemblies, and a fan. The housing has an air inlet, an air outlet and a reservoir for holding water. The number of wick assemblies are positioned within the housing to contact the water in the reservoir. The wick assemblies are arranged in parallel between the air inlet and the fan. The fan is provided within the housing for creating an airflow. The airflow enters the air inlet, passes through the wick assemblies for adding moisture to the airflow from the water in the reservoir, and exits through the air outlet. The number for at least one of the portable humidifiers is different from the number for another of the portable humidifiers. Preferably each of the portable humidifiers includes a wick frame seated within the reservoir for supporting the wick assemblies. Each of the wick assemblies preferably has a wick element and a button.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A wick assembly for removable mounting within a portable humidifier comprising:

a wick element;
and
a button attached to said wick element, said button for attaching to the portable humidifier,
wherein said button is formed as part of a rivet, said rivet including:
a rod having a first end and a second end, said button being connected to said first end;
a first retaining plate connected between said first end and said second end to define:
a first portion of said rod located between said first end and said first retaining plate;
and
a second portion of said rod located between said first retaining plate and said second end;
and
a second retaining plate connected at said second end of said rod,
wherein said second portion of said rod extends through said wick element so that said wick element is located between said first retaining plate and said second retaining plate.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Humidifier

Life of this patent

Humidifier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35