Humidifier with floating wick assembly

A room humidifier is disclosed as having a reservoir tank containing a freely and independently floatable wick element providing a constant evaporative area as the water level in the tank rises and falls. A fan is mounted in fixed position relative to an upper end of the tank. An extensible and collapsible closed air path is provided between the wick element and the fan, and an outside air flow path extends between open upper areas of the tank and the wick element, while also being in air flow communication with the fan. When the fan is operated, air is drawn into the outside air flow path for contact with the constant evaporative area of the wick element, while also drawing air with increased humidity through the constant evaporative area of the wick element as well as upwardly through the closed air flow path for discharge from the humidifier into the surrounding atmosphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a humidifier with a floating wick element 
that operates with a closed air flow path within the humidifier for 
discharging air with increased humidity from the humidifier. 
Humidifiers are typically used during the winter heating season to increase 
the humidity levels within heated rooms that normally tend to have a low 
moisture contact as the result of being filled with heated outside air. 
Among the problems associated with low relative humidity include 
discomfort to the occupants of the rooms, drying out of furniture and 
plants, excessive static electricity, and numerous other problems. 
In our prior co-pending patent application Ser. No. 156,598 filed Feb. 17, 
1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,533, we have disclosed some of the varieties 
of types of humidifiers that have been developed including centrifugal 
pump/evaporative filter humidifiers, air blown wicking/evaporative element 
humidifiers; motor driven belt pad or wicking element humidifiers; and 
other types. We have also disclosed some of the long standing problems 
associated with all of the above described types of humidifiers. 
As disclosed in part in our prior co-pending patent applications Ser. No. 
156,598 filed Feb. 17, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,533, the present 
invention relates to a humidifier which maintains a constant evaporative 
area of a wicking element independently floatable on water within a 
reservoir tank, which is part of a closed air flow path including a 
fixedly mounted fan for discharging air within increased humidity from the 
humidifier. The humidifier of the present invention requires no float 
control valves, pumps, rotary drives, rotary belts or any other type of 
mechanical drive member except the fan. The wick element collects both 
soluble and insoluble mineral deposits, and the wicking element may be 
readily and periodically removed from the humidifier for cleaning or 
replacement, thus, preventing accumulations of solid particles or 
insoluble mineral deposits in the humidifier, except within the wicking 
element. 
The present invention is the commercial embodiment of our above described 
humidifier, which retains all of the features and advantages of our prior 
designs, while substantially improving and simplifying the construction 
and operation of our humidifier, all of which will become apparent in the 
description that is to follow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Among the several objects and advantages of the present invention may be 
noted: 
the provision of a new and improved room humidifier which overcomes all of 
the previously known deficiencies of prior art devices, while providing 
substantially improved designs in the actual construction of the herein 
disclosed humidifiers; 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier which includes independent 
floatable wick elements having a constant evaporative surface above the 
water, regardless of the water level, while also enabling air to be drawn 
into and passed through the floating wick element in a simplified flow 
path or versatile duct structure within the humidifier; 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier which provides an outside 
air flow path that enables a fixedly mounted fan to draw air downwardly 
into the humidifier and into contact with the wicking element, with the 
wick element also being a part of an extensible and collapsible closed air 
flow path, thereby permitting air to be drawn through the wicking element 
and up into the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path, for 
discharge from the humidifier with increased humidity; 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier in which the fixedly mounted 
fan is constructed to be part of both the outside air flow path and 
collapsible closed air flow path, while also substantially sealing the air 
flow paths from each other; 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier wherein the wick element is 
contained within a supporting housing slidably mounted relative to 
opposing walls of the housing, to establish the aforementioned extensible 
and collapsible closed air flow path, while also enabling the supporting 
housing to be removed from the humidifier for changing or replacement of 
the wick element(s); 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier which incorporates a splash 
guard to prevent splashing of water during the filling or use of the 
humidifier; and 
the provision of the aforementioned humidifier which is of low cost, is 
reliable in operation, has a minimum number of moving parts, requires a 
minimum amount of service, is quiet and reliable in operation, and is 
otherwise well adapted for the purposes intended. 
Briefly stated, a humidifier of the present invention includes a water 
reservoir tank for holding a supply of water. A fan is mounted in fixed 
position relative to an upper end of the reservoir tank. At least one 
freely and independently floatable wick element extends across the 
reservoir tank and is in operative association with the water. The wick 
element includes an evaporative surface which extends a substantially 
uniform and predetermined amount above the water as the water level in the 
tank rises and falls to provide a constant evaporative area for the wick 
element. An extensible and collapsible closed air flow path is provided 
between the wick element and the fan, and an outside air flow path extends 
within the reservoir tank as well, and communicates between substantially 
open upper areas of the tank and a part of the constant evaporative area 
of the wick element, which extends outside of the closed air flow path. 
The fan operates above the closed air flow path so as to be in air flow 
communication with the outside air flow path, such that when the fan is 
operated to draw air from the outside into the outside air flow path for 
contact with the constant evaporative area of the wick element, the fan 
also draws air with increased humidity through the constant evaporative 
area and upwardly through the closed flow path means for discharge from 
the humidifier into the surrounding atmosphere. 
Preferably, a pair of spaced and independently floatable wick elements each 
contained within a supporting housing are provided and are slidably 
mounted relative to opposing walls of the reservoir tank. The supporting 
housings are spaced from each other and include an upper wall panel 
extending between the opposing walls and also being slidably mounted with 
respect thereto so as to define the extensible and collapsible air flow 
path between the slidable upper wall panels of the spaced supporting 
housings and interengaged opposing walls of the reservoir tank. The 
reservoir tank includes louvers along an upper transverse top and at least 
partially along an upper area of the walls of the reservoir tank, which 
communicates with the fan above the closed air flow path. The outside air 
flow path extends outside of the slidable wall panels and interengaged 
opposing walls of the reservoir tank, enabling air to be drawn therein by 
the fan for contact with the wicking elements and for subsequent withdraw 
through the extensible and collapsible air flow path for discharge from 
the humidifier. 
The reservoir tank is generally rectangularly-shaped with two opposing 
pairs of longer and smaller side walls, with the supporting housings 
containing the wick elements extending between the smaller pair of side 
walls. The upper wall panels including the supporting housings have 
aligned tracks on opposite sides thereof for complementary engagement with 
corresponding aligned grooves provided in the smaller pair of opposed side 
walls of the reservoir tank for cooperation with each supporting housing. 
Each supporting housing comprises an open-ended rectangular-shaped housing 
with the upper wall panel thereof being centrally located and extending 
vertically upwardly from each supporting housing. 
Each supporting housing further includes a splash guard centrally 
positioned relative to and supported by each supporting housing and upper 
wall panel, and extending transversely from each respective upper wall 
panel of the supporting housing and extending towards one of the longer 
side walls of the reservoir tank, to prevent splashing of water from the 
reservoir tank during pouring of water therein or during use thereof. Each 
supporting housing is mounted on a floatable base in order to position the 
wick elements contained therein, with the constant evaporative area 
relative to water within the reservoir tank, as described above. Each wick 
element is preferably a cartridge which may be readily removed from the 
supporting housing when the latter is slidably removed from the reservoir 
tank. Each wick element also preferably comprises a core of sheet wicking 
material with air passageways therethrough enabling water to be retained 
by the sheet wicking material, but allowing the water to be removed 
therefrom as increased humidity is included in air passing through the air 
passageways. 
The fan is fixedly mounted to and supported within the fan housing and 
having open areas above the extensible and collapsible air flow path for 
air communication with the closed air flow path. The fan housing also 
includes elongated sealing gaskets on opposite sides thereof for sliding 
sealing engagement with the upper wall panels of the supporting housing to 
maintain the integrity of the closed air flow path.

Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several 
figures of the drawings. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As described above, the present invention is a new and improved commercial 
embodiment of the constructions disclosed in our prior aforementioned 
patent applications, and incorporates features disclosed in such prior 
constructions in a new and improved system with new improved components, 
as will become apparent from the description that follows. 
Referring now to the drawings, a portable room humidifier of the present 
invention is indicated in its entirety by reference character 1. A 
humidifier 1 includes a reservoir tank 3 for holding a supply of water W 
(see FIG. 6), with the reservoir tank 3 mounted on casters 5 such that the 
humidifier 1 may be rolled to any location that may be desired. As best 
seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings, a cabinet-like enclosure 7 with 
various hardware, such as drawer pulls and the like as may be desired, 
extends around the reservoir tank 3. The cabinet-like enclosure 7, and the 
reservoir tank 3 may be formed together as a molded unit, or attached to 
one another, or may be formed as separate shells, one within the other, as 
may be desired. 
The reservoir tank 3, including the cabinet like enclosure 7, is 
illustrated in the drawings as being generally rectangular-shaped with two 
opposing pairs of longer and smaller side walls generally designated L and 
S respectively. As best seen in FIGS. 4-5 and 8 of the drawings, the 
longer side wall L at the rear of the humidifier includes spaced louvers 
9, 9 at opposite ends thereof, to allow outside air to be drawn into the 
humidifier. The louvers 9, 9 may be formed as integral louvered sections 
incorporated within the reservoir tank, including the cabinet-like 
enclosure 7, in a well known manner. In this same rear longer wall L of 
the reservoir tank 3, integral spaced hinge elements 11, 11 may also be 
provided in order facilitate the mounting of a louvered top 13. As shown 
in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the louvered top 13 may be pivotally moved to 
an open position to enable user of the humidifier 1 to pour water into the 
reservoir tank 3, according to operating instructions. Both the spaced 
louvers 9, 9 in rear longer wall L and the louvered top 13 enable outside 
air to be drawn into the humidifier 1, as will be described in detail 
below. 
Although the operating components of the humidifier 1, now to be described 
are relatively of simple construction and operation, they are uniquely 
constructed and structurally interrelated to one another in a new and 
improved way to provide humidifier 1 with economical and low maintenance 
operation that also provides increased relative humidity, all of which 
will be described in detail below. 
The principal operating components of the humidifier 1 include, as best 
seen the exploded perspective view of FIG. 8, a floating wick assembly 15 
and a fan assembly 17, both of which are mounted with respect to the 
reservoir tank 3, as will be described below. 
In the humidifier illustrated in the drawings, there are two floating wick 
assemblies 15, 15 contained within the reservoir tank, although it is 
conceivable the humidifier 1 could be modified to provide only a single 
floating wick assembly 15, if desired. In the preferred embodiment, each 
of the two floating wick assemblies 15, 15, contained within the reservoir 
tank 3, includes a floatable base 19 that is sized relative to the other 
floatable base 19 and the interior of the reservoir tank 3 to enable the 
floatable bases 19, 19 to rise or fall, dependent on the level of the 
water W within the reservoir tank. As illustrated in the drawings, each 
floatable base 19 includes a flat or planar median portion 21, having 
opposite sides which are integrally connected to opposite, enclosed float 
sections 23, 23. 
Resting upon the median portion 21 intermediate the float sections 23, 23 
of each floatable base 19 is an open-ended rectangular-shaped supporting 
housing 25 that is suitably configured to be received therein. The open 
ended, rectangularly shaped supporting housing 25 is constructed to 
receive the wick cartridge 27 therein, prior to the supporting housing 
being mounted as described above with respect to the floatable base 19. 
Each wick cartridge 27 includes a wick element or core formed of suitable 
sheet-like, absorbent capillary wick material, as is described in detail 
in our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 156,598, filed Feb. 17, 
1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,533. For purposes of the present invention, 
it is sufficient to note that the cartridge or core 27 has sheet wicking 
material with air passages therethrough for enabling water to be first 
retained by the sheet wicking material and then removed as increased 
humidified air passing through the air passageways. It has been discovered 
that wicking cartridges or cores constructed as described our 
aforementioned co-pending patent application enables same to be totally 
saturated with water, through its capillary action, within a relatively 
short period of time, for example about 30 minutes. 
To facilitate cleaning and/or replacement of the cartridges 27, each of the 
supporting housings 25 include a generally vertically extending upper wall 
panel 29 integrally formed and centrally located relative to the upper 
surface 31 of each open ended, rectangularly shaped supporting housings 
25. Thus, it will be understood that a user may simply grasp the upper 
wall panel 29, integrally associated with the supporting housings 25, to 
facilitate insertion and/or removal of the supporting housing 25 and the 
wick cartridge 27 mounted therein, for cleaning and/or replacement 
thereof. In addition, the upper wall panel 29 of each supporting housing 
25 cooperates with spaced elongated walls L, L to provide an extensible 
and collapsible closed air flow path between the floatable wick cartridges 
27, 27 of each floatable wick assembly 15 and a fixedly mounted fan at the 
upper end of the reservoir 3, to be described hereafter. More 
specifically, opposite vertically extending edges of the generally 
vertically extending upper wall panel 29, and continuing along the outer 
surfaces of the spaced vertically extending wall sections 33, 33 of the 
supporting housings 25 include male track elements 35, 35, on opposite 
sides thereof. As best seen in FIG. 7, the opposite longer walls L, L of 
the rectangularly-shaped reservoir tank 3 include corresponding aligned 
grooves 37, 37 in the spaced longer walls L, L for receiving the male 
track elements 35, 35 of each supporting housing 25, in complementary 
slidable engagement therewith. As a result, each supporting housing 25 and 
integral upper wall panel 29 associated therewith are suitably configured 
and dimensioned relative to the interior of the reservoir tank 3 such that 
the opposite male tracks 35, 35 of each supporting housing 25 are slidably 
received within the generally vertically extending aligned grooves 37, 37 
provided in the spaced longer walls L, L of the rectangular-shaped 
reservoir tank 3. 
The water level of the water W within the reservoir tank 3 not only causes 
the floatable wick assemblies 15, 15 to rise or fall with the water level, 
but the slidable interengagement of the opposite male track elements 35, 
35 of each supporting housing 25, will slidably engage the cooperating 
aligned grooves 37, 37 of the oppositely positioned and spaced longer 
walls L, L of the rectangular-shaped reservoir tank 3, in order to provide 
the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C, as best seen in 
FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings. 
The fixedly mounted fan 17 is mounted in the upper end of the reservoir 
tank 3 within the confines of the extensible and collapsible closed air 
path C, as also best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings, to draw air 
upwardly from the spaced floating wick assemblies 15, 15 up into the 
extensible and collapsible closed air path C, below the fixedly mounted 
fan 17, and also thereabove, establishing the venturi V including the 
extensible and collapsible closed air path C. 
As best seen in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the fixedly mounted fan 17 includes 
a fan housing 39 including spaced laterally outwardly extending flanges 
41, 41 which overlie the upper ends of the spaced longer walls L, L, as 
shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, for mounting the fan housing 39 relative 
to the reservoir tank 3. The fan housing 39 includes spaced closed sides 
43, 43 extending below and connected to the laterally outwardly extending 
flanges 41, 41, and spaced and opposed open sides 45, 45 which serve to 
reduce the amount of material needed in the fan housing. An elongated air 
sealing gasket 47 is attached to each of the closed sides 43, 43 such that 
the elongated air sealing gaskets 47, 47 slidably engage the upper wall 
panels 29, 29 of each supporting housing, so as to maintain the integrity 
of the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C. The slidable and 
sealed engagement with the spaced gaskets 47, 47 and the upper wall panels 
29, 29 of each supporting housing 25 is best seen in FIG. 4 of the 
drawings. 
When the fan housing 39 is fixedly mounted relative to the reservoir tank 
3, the fan motor 51 and fan blade 53 are positioned for air flow 
communication with the louvered top 13 and the spaced louvered wall 
sections 9, 9 on the rear longer wall L of the reservoir tank 3, as part 
of the outside air flow path 0 on opposite sides thereof, within the 
reservoir tank 3, to be discussed further in detail below. 
An integrally formed and connected spider element 49 extends within the fan 
housing 39 for fixedly mounting the fan motor 51 thereto by suitable 
fasteners as will be appreciated. The fan motor 51 includes a plurality of 
fan blades 53 mounted thereto in a well known manner. It will be 
understood that various types of fan motors and blades of various 
configurations may be mounted within the fan housing 39, as will be 
appreciated. For operating the fan motor 51 and associated fan blades 53, 
suitable controls 54, attached to one of the laterally outwardly extending 
flanges 4I of the fan housing 39, are provided. A fan guard 56 is also 
attached to the laterally outwardly extending flanges 41, 41 of the fan 
housing 39 for safety purposes, as will be apparent. The fan guard 56 also 
has spaced louvered areas therein in order that the fan motor 51 and 
associated fan blades 53 will draw air upwardly in the extensible and 
collapsible closed air flow path C, as well as above the fan motor 51 and 
associated fan blades 53, within the venturi V thereabove, to discharge 
air with increased humidity from the humidifier 1 into the surrounding 
atmosphere. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-7 for a description of the operation of 
the humidifier 1. A homeowner or other user can lift the pivotally mounted 
louvered top or cover 13 from the open upper end of the humidifier 1, 
exposing the reservoir tank 3. Water is then poured into the reservoir 
tank to a predetermined fill level (see FIG. 1). This filling operation 
may be carried out by pouring water from a bucket into the reservoir tank 
3. In order to prevent water from splashing from the reservoir tank 3 
through the spaced louvered areas 9, 9 in the rear longer wall L, a splash 
guard 58 is provided for each supporting housing 25. Each splash guard 58 
extends transversely from a respective upper wall panel 29 and extends 
towards one of the shorter side walls S of the reservoir tank 3, so as to 
prevent water from splashing out through the spaced upper louvers 9, 9 in 
the rear longer wall L of the reservoir tank 3, as will be appreciated. 
Following the filling of the reservoir tank 3 to the appropriate fill 
level, the humidifier control 54 are operated so as to energize the fan 51 
with associated fan blades 53, and the louvered top or cover 18 is then 
pivotally returned above the top of the reservoir tank 3. 
When the water level of the water W is at its full mark relatively high 
within the reservoir tank 3, the floating wick assemblies 15, 15 will be 
in generally near, but spaced proximity relative to the undersurface of 
the fan blades 53, and the extensible-collapsible closed air path C will 
be in its collapsed position, substantially as shown in FIG. 6 of the 
drawings. As previously noted, the spaced floating wick assemblies 15, 15 
are so constructed that they will, at all times, float with the supply of 
water W contained, within the reservoir tank 3, such that a uniform water 
level is maintained in operative association with the lower portion of the 
wick cartridges 27, 27. This maintains the lower regions of the wick 
cartridges or elements 27, 27 in contact with the water W. This ensures 
that the wick cartridges or elements 27, 27 will absorb water W from the 
water supply and, through capillary action, will allow the water W to move 
vertically within the absorptive sheet wicking material constituting the 
wick cartridges or elements 27, 27, for substantially uniform wicking of 
the wick cartridges or elements 27, 27. 
Operation of the fan 51 and associated fan blades 53 draws room air 
downwardly into the reservoir tank 3 via the louvered cover or top 13, and 
the spaced louvered sections 9, 9 of the longer rear wall L since the 
floating wick assemblies 15, 15 enable the fan 51 ,and associated fan 
blades 53 to draw air therethrough and establish an air fl path 
therebetween. 
It will be further noted that as outside air is drawn into the reservoir 
tank 3, it will be drawn therein on opposite sides outside of the 
extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C. As previously noted, 
because spaced supporting housings 25, including the upper wall panels 29 
have male track elements 35, 35 on opposite sides thereof which slidingly 
engage within the aligned grooves 37, 37 in the spaced longer walls L, L, 
the area within the slidable upper wall panels 29, 29 and interengaged 
spaced longer walls L, L define the extensible and collapsible closed air 
flow path C. At the same time, the area between the slidable wall panels 
29, 29 of each supporting housing 25 and the shorter side walls S, S of 
the reservoir tank 3, provide spaced outside air flow paths O, O on 
opposite sides of the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C. 
Air in the outside air flow paths O, O will be drawn into air flow 
engagement with exposed areas of the cartridges or elements 27, 27 that 
extend outside of the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C, 
as best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As air is drawn into the 
extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C through the spaced wick 
cartridges or elements 27, 27, air with increased moisture content, will 
be drawn through the wick cartridge or elements 27, 27, then through the 
extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C, and finally discharged 
upwardly through the venturi V into surrounding atmosphere from the 
humidifier 1. As a result, increased moisture content air is discharged 
into a room by the humidifier 1 so as to increase the relative humidity 
within the room containing the humidifier 1. 
It will be noted that a constant evaporative area of the wick cartridges or 
elements 27, 27, which extends a substantially uniform and predetermined 
amount above the water W, will continuously expose the constant 
evaporative area to air flow, as the water level in the reservoir tank 3 
rises and falls. This provides a constant evaporative area for the wick 
cartridges or elements 27, 27. It will further be noted that the fixedly 
mounted fan 17 serves both the outside air flow path O, O on opposite 
sides, as well as the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path C 
therebetween, as a result of the slidable interengagement between the 
supporting housings 25, 25 and the spaced longer walls L, L of the 
reservoir tank 3. The fan 51 and associated blades 53 to draw air 
downwardly from the louvered top or cover 13 and the spaced upper louvered 
areas 9, 9 of the longer rear wall L through the wick cartridges or 
elements 27, 27 of the floating wick assemblies 15, 15 for establishing 
the outside air flow path O, O on opposite sides of the extensible and 
collapsible closed air flow path C, without interfering with either the 
venturi V above the fan 51 and associated fan blades 53, or the extensible 
and collapsible closed air flow path C below the fan 51 and associated fan 
blades 53. Thus, the fan 51 and associated fan blades 53 serve both the 
outside air flow path O, O on opposite sides of the extensible and 
collapsible closed air flow path C, without any interference of the air 
flow established in such paths. 
From the foregoing, it will be noted that there are many advantages derived 
from the humidifier with floating wick assembly of the present invention. 
First, as noted above, since the fan 51, and associated fan blades 53, is 
the only powered or movable element of the humidifier 51, there is no 
requirement for motor powered pumps, rotary belts or rotary evaporative 
disks. Further, the fan 51 and associated fan blade 53 draws air within 
the outside air flow paths O, O, as well as exhaust air through the 
venturi V, including the extensible and collapsible closed air flow path 
C. Further, it will be noted that by providing the floating wick 
assemblies 15, 15, the wick cartridges or elements 27, 27 thereof will 
rise and fall with the water level within the reservoir tank 3, such that 
a substantial uniform and predetermined amount of each wicking element 
extends above the water level and constitutes a constant evaporative area 
for the wicking cartridges or elements 27, 27. This insures that the 
wetted surface area of the wicking elements 27, 27 remain substantially 
constant, regardless of the rise and fall of the water W within the 
reservoir tank 3. Further, the above described construction of the 
supporting housings 25, 25, with wicking elements 27, 27 carried thereby, 
permits the wicked cartridges or elements 27, 27 to be readily removed 
from the floating wick assemblies 15, 15 for cleaning or replacement, as 
desired. 
In view of the above, it will be seen that the other objects of this 
invention are achieved and other advantage results obtained. 
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without 
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter 
obtained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.