Abstract:
A humidifier system includes a water reservoir and a water bottle defining a discharge opening therein. A valve assembly has a sealing member that is positionable in closed and opened positions for selectively dispensing water through the discharge opening into the reservoir. The valve assembly further includes a locking feature to lock the sealing member in the opened position, preventing the valve from returning to the closed position until desired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a nonprovisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/693,255, filed on Jun. 23, 2005, which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to humidifiers, and more specifically, to a fluid dispensing valve for a humidifier bottle.  
         [0003]     Humidifiers are well known and commonly used in households and businesses to add moisture to indoor air providing a more comfortable living environment. A comfortable level of humidity is generally 30-50% in the winter and 40-50% in the summer. If the humidity level is lower, atopic dermatitis, excessive static electricity, drying out of furniture and other various concerns may occur. A humidifier&#39;s many advantages include: alleviating a cold sufferer&#39;s sore throat, reducing any difficulty in breathing, and generally improving the health and comfort of the user&#39;s home.  
         [0004]     Several varieties of humidifiers exist, differing in both humidification methods, size and refilling. The method of humidification varies from evaporative, ultrasonic, cool mist impeller, steam vaporizers and warm mist humidifiers. The present invention is directed to an evaporative humidifier, which is often called a “wicking” humidifier because is employs a large “wick” or filter. The filter draws water upward from a water reservoir base through capillary action. A fan blows air across or through the filter thereby diffusing moisture throughout the room.  
         [0005]     Refilling a humidifier generally varies between a bottle fill design and a bucket fill design. Bottle fill designs have removable bottles for supplying the humidification humidifier with water. This enables the user to transport the bottle individually to the nearest sink for refilling. The reasonable size of the bottle and its removability from the humidifier make it easy to transport and causes little mess.  
         [0006]     Humidifier water bottles typically include a valve through which water flows into the humidifier&#39;s water reservoir. Discharge valve assemblies typically perform at least two functions: (1) when the water bottle is to be removed from the humidifier, the discharge valve assembly should shut off water flow from the water bottle to prevent spilling when the bottle is transported; and (2) when the water bottle is to be seated in the humidifier, the discharge valve assembly should provide a fluid flow path so that the water inside the water bottle may flow though the path into the humidifying mechanism.  
         [0007]     Discharge valve assemblies such as those described above can be complicated and often require multiple components. The requirement for multiple components may lead to procurement difficulties and high cost for the parts. The complex process of assembling can also result in higher manufacturing cost of the valve assembly.  
         [0008]     Moreover, with known discharge valve assemblies, the discharge valve is contained in a removable cap, or a refill opening covered by a removable cap is provided separate from the discharge valve. To refill the bottle, the cap must removed to allow access to the bottle&#39;s refill opening. This adds complexity to the task of filling the bottle, and can result in losing the cap required to seal the refill opening.  
         [0009]     The present disclosure addresses shortcomings of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, a valve assembly for releasing fluid from a container, such as water from a humidifier bottle is disclosed. For example, a humidifier system includes a water reservoir and a water bottle defining a discharge opening therein. A valve assembly has a sealing member that is positionable in closed and opened positions for selectively dispensing water through the discharge opening into the reservoir. The valve assembly further includes a locking feature to lock the sealing member in the opened position, preventing the valve from returning to the closed position until desired. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary bottle fill humidifier in accordance with certain teachings of the present disclosure.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary water bottle.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a discharge valve of the bottle shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
       [0015]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  conceptually shows an exemplary humidifier in accordance with certain teachings of the present disclosure. The humidifier includes a fan  1 , a water reservoir  2  and a wick  3  partially disposed within the water reservoir  2 . Water is discharged from a water bottle  4  into the water reservoir  2 . The wick  3  absorbs water from the water reservoir  2  and, in turn, supplies moisture to the air stream propelled through the mechanism by the fan  1 . The water bottle  4  may be removed from the humidifier periodically or as needed for refilling, cleaning or other purposes.  
         [0018]     The water bottle  4  includes a valve assembly  10  for discharging water into the humidifying mechanism.  FIG. 2  shows an exemplary water bottle  4  including the valve assembly  10  for selectively discharging water into the water reservoir  2 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  are close-up views of the bottle  4 , illustrating portions of the water bottle  4 , including the valve assembly  10 , in further detail. The water bottle  4  defines a discharge opening  20  in the bottom thereof The valve assembly  10  includes a sealing member  30 , a valve stem  32  and a biasing member  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member  34  is a spring situated about the valve stem  32 .  
         [0019]     A stationary cylinder  40  is fixed in place by rib members  42  extending from the cylinder  40  and connected to the water bottle  4  at the outer periphery of the discharge opening  20 . The valve stem  32  extends through the stationary cylinder  40  such that it is movable axially relative to the cylinder  40  and also rotatable. The valve stem  32  has an actuator  36  attached to one end thereof, and the opposite end is attached to the sealing member  30 . The biasing member  34  has one end received in the cylinder  40  and held in place therein such that, in the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member  34  pushes against the underside of the actuator  36  to position the sealing member  30  in a normally closed position.  FIG. 2  shows the valve assembly  10  in the closed position.  
         [0020]     To move the sealing member  30  to the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the actuator  36  is depressed to move the valve stem  32  axially, pushing the sealing member  30  into the bottle  4  to allow flow through the opening  20 . A catch  46  extends from the actuator  36 . To lock the valve assembly  10  in the open position, after the actuator  36  has been depressed to unseat the sealing member  30 , the actuator is rotated until the catch  46  engages one of the rib members  42 . With the sealing member  30  locked in the open position, a user can easily fill the bottle through the discharge opening, eliminating the need for a removable cap.  
         [0021]     To release the catch, the actuator  36  is again depressed and rotated so that the catch  46  is free of the rib member  42 , then released allowing the biasing member  34  to return the valve stem  32  and sealing member  30  to the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member  34  applies a torsional force to the valve stem  32  so that when the actuator  36  is depressed, the valve stem  32  “automatically” rotates to release the catch  46 , allowing the valve stem  32  to move axially and return the sealing member  30  to the closed position.  
         [0022]     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.