Humidifier with improved heated scent mechanism
AssigneeHelen of Troy Limited
InventorChristopher S. Kanel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable appliance includes a humidifier and a heated scent mechanism. The heated scent mechanism includes a scent generator that harvests excess heat produced by a liquid heating chamber, or heat produced as a byproduct of motor operation. The humidifier may be controllable such that the appliance can serve as either a humidifier or air-freshener, individually or simultaneously.
Claims17
A humidifier comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold water;
- humidifier equipment in fluid communications with the reservoir to generate humidified air using water held in the reservoir, the humidifier equipment comprising a heat source;
- an enclosure at least partially enclosing the heat source;
- and
- a holder configured to hold a scent-releasing element, the holder thermally coupled to the enclosure.
A method for generating a scent using heat from a humidifier, the humidifier comprising humidifying equipment having a heat source, wherein the humidifying equipment is in fluid communication with a reservoir configured to generate humidified air using the water held in said reservoir, the method comprising:
- utilizing heat from the heat source to heat a scent-releasing element by positioning the scent-releasing element at a location that is in thermal communication with the heat source.
A holder for a scent-releasing element of a humidifier, the scent holder comprising:
- a slot comprising a first surface and configured to removably hold a scent-releasing element in contact with the first surface, wherein the slot is further configured for placement in the humidifier so that the first surface contacts an enclosure of a heat source in the humidifier;
- an adjustable exposure mechanism for adjustably controlling exposure of the scent-releasing element.
A humidifier comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold water;
- humidifier equipment in fluid communication with the reservoir to generate humidified air using water held in the reservoir;
- and
- a holder configured to hold a scent-releasing element, the holder having a slot comprising a first surface and configured to removably hold a scent-releasing element in contact with the first surface, wherein the slot is further configured for placement in the humidifier so that the first surface contacts an enclosure of a heat source in the humidifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.