Abstract:
A humidifier includes a reservoir for containing water, a wick wettable by water contained in the reservoir and a humidifier bottle for supplying water to the reservoir. The bottle is pivotally situated in the humidifier and a translating member is responsive to the angular movement of the humidifier bottle. The translating member includes a visual indicator thereon to indicate the amount of water contained in the bottle. A biasing member cooperates with the translating member to situate the humidifier bottle in a first angular position in response to the bottle being empty, such that the bottle is displaced from the first angular position within the receptacle when the bottle contains water. The amount of angular displacement of the bottle is a function of the amount of water in the bottle. A light source may be provided to illuminate the display window in response to movement of the translating member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to humidifiers, and, more particularly, to a capacity indicator for indicating the amount of fluid contained in a humidifier bottle.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Humidifiers are commonly used in homes to add moisture to the air, particularly during the winter months, when the air typically has low moisture content. The added moisture content in the air during these dry, cold weather months provides for a more comfortable environment within the home. As a result, humidifiers have become a popular, inexpensive means for achieving optimal air moisture content within the home environment.  
           [0005]    One difficulty commonly encountered with humidifiers, however, is the inability to determine the water level of a humidifier bottle with relative ease. Some humidifiers have an elongated clear plastic strip (i.e., a window) on their side such that one can view the bottle compartment of the humidifier. Typically, an individual will rely on direct visual sighting of the bottle&#39;s water level through this clear plastic strip to determine the amount of water contained therein. Since many humidifiers are compact in size and are placed on the floor, such viewing of the water level typically requires one to bend down to view the plastic strip of the humidifier. Viewing the water level within close proximity to the humidifier is generally needed since water is colorless, and it is often difficult to ascertain such water level at a distance. Thus, the action of bending down to the humidifier can be inconvenient.  
           [0006]    Previous methods may also require that the user open the unit, lift up the bottle, and estimate how much water remains in the bottle. If the unit has more than one bottle, this procedure would have to be repeated for the other bottle.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, users of humidifiers want an easy way to identify how full the humidifier is and not just when the bottle is empty. As well users desire a way of visualizing the amount of water in each of the bottles, without having to physically interface with the unit at all. Use of an illuminated capacity indicator could provide indication of the amount of water in the bottle of a humidifier from a substantial distance or even within a dark room.  
           [0008]    The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In one aspect of the present invention, a humidifier includes a reservoir for containing water, a wick wettable by water contained in the reservoir and a humidifier bottle for supplying water to the reservoir. The bottle is pivotally situated in the humidifier and a translating member is responsive to the angular movement of the humidifier bottle. The translating member includes a visual indicator thereon to indicate the amount of water contained in the bottle. A biasing member cooperates with the translating member to situate the humidifier bottle in a first angular position in response to the bottle being empty, such that the bottle is displaced from the first angular position within the receptacle when the bottle contains water. The translating member may, for example, be situated to move laterally and/or rotationally in response to the pivotal movement of the bottle. The amount of angular displacement of the bottle is a function of the amount of water in the bottle.  
           [0010]    The humidifier may include a display opening or window in the humidifier&#39;s cabinet such that the visual indicator of the translating member is visible therethrough. In certain exemplary embodiments, a light source is provided to illuminate portions of the display window in response to the movement of the translating member. 
       
    
    
     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]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating operation of a humidifier;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross section view schematically illustrating portions of a humidifier in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross section views of illuminated water level indicators having translating members mounted for lateral and rotational movement, respectively, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0015]    FIGS.  4 A- 4 C are cross section side, top and front views, respectively, schematically illustrating an illuminated water level indicator in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    FIGS.  5 - 9  conceptually illustrate exemplary illuminated water level indicators in accordance with various alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0017]    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  
       [0018]    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.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates the operating principle of a humidifier  100  in accordance with the invention. The various components of the humidifier  100  are situated in a cabinet  102 . A stream of dry air  12  enters the humidifier  100  through an intake and passes through or over a wet wick  14  and picks up additional moisture to form a humid stream of air  16 . The humid stream of air  16  leaves the humidifier by an output.  
         [0020]    One end of the wick  14  makes contact with water in a reservoir  20 . Water from the reservoir  20  replenishes water carried away from the wick  14  by the stream of air  16 . At least one humidifier bottle  105  is situated within a humidifier bottle receptacle  110  so as to supply water to the reservoir  20 . The humidifier bottle receptacle  110  includes a mounting seat  120 , which extends from the bottom of the humidifier  100 , and provides vertical support to the humidifier bottle  105  via a pivot point  125  about which the humidifier bottle  105  may pivot.  
         [0021]    In FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a portion of a humidifier  100  having a humidifier bottle  105  disposed within a humidifier bottle receptacle  110  is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a water level indicator generally indicated by reference  101 . Access to the humidifier bottle receptacle  110  shown in FIG. 2 is achieved via a hinged flap  115  on the top surface of the humidifier  100 .  
         [0022]    A mounting seat  120  extends from the bottom of the humidifier  100  and receives a pivot point or tab  108  extending from the bottom the bottle about which the bottle  105  pivots. In other embodiments, the mounting seat  120  has an extension about which the bottle  105  pivots. The mounting seat  120  further includes a water dispensing actuator  130  for actuating a dispensing cap  135  on the bottom of the humidifier bottle  105 . The dispensing cap  135  discharges water from the humidifier bottle  105  when actuated by the dispensing actuator  130 .  
         [0023]    The tab  108  of the bottle  105  is situated in the mounting seat  120  such that the humidifier bottle  105  is able to tilt towards a sidewall  145  of the humidifier bottle receptacle  110  as the bottle  105  pivots about the tab  108 . When tipped toward the sidewall  145 , the bottle  105  can rest against a support  140 . Alternatively, the humidifier bottle  105  could rest against the sidewall  145  when in a tipped position, eliminating the need for the support  140 .  
         [0024]    The humidifier  100  further includes a translating member  170 . The translating member  170  comprises a moveable actuator rod or plate that is supported adjacent to a surface of the humidifier cabinet  102 . The particular translating member  170  shown in FIG. 2 translates the pivoting movement of the bottle  105  to linear movement, and thus is situated to move laterally in response to the pivotal movement of the bottle  105 . In other exemplary embodiments, the translating member is rotatable, such that it translates the pivotal movement of the bottle  105  to rotational movement.  
         [0025]    The cabinet  102  includes a display window or opening  172 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the humidifier bottle  105  will tend to tip towards the sidewall  145  absent any biasing force. A biasing member, such as a spring  178 , is mounted on the translating member  170  and is arranged to push against a stop  180  affixed to the translating member  170 . The biasing member  178  is specifically calibrated to position a visual indicator  174  of the translating member  170  within the display opening  172  such that the visual indicator  174  is visible through the display opening  172 .  
         [0026]    A contact end  182  of the translating member  170  projects through an opening in the sidewall  145  and contacts the humidifier bottle  105 . The translating member  170  with the biasing member  178  provides a horizontal resistance against the humidifier bottle  105  when leaning towards the sidewall  145 . In particular, the biasing member  178  is adapted such that it situates the humidifier bottle  105  in various angular positions in response to the amount of water contained in the humidifier bottle  105 . In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member  178  and translating member  170  operate to position the bottle  105  in a generally vertical position when the bottle  105  is empty (the position shown with solid lines), and when the bottle contains water, it pushes against the translating member  170  and spring  178  to move the translating member  170  to the left as illustrated in FIG. 2 (such as position  155  shown in broken lines).  
         [0027]    The visual indicator  174  of the translating member  170  is situated such that it lies adjacent the display window  172 , such that the position of the visual indicator  174  can be viewed through the display window  172 . In this manner, the position of the bottle  105  is displayed, thus providing an indication of the amount of water contained in the bottle as a function of the position of the bottle. The display window  172  may simply be an opening through the humidifier cabinet  102 , or it could be a portion of clear or frosted plastic forming a window in the cabinet  102 . It may further include a lens with which to magnify and focus the contrast of the visual indicator  174 . Still further, in exemplary embodiments of the invention, a graphic is provided in conjunction with the display window  172 —for example, “F” for full and “E” for empty.  
         [0028]    The translating member  170  may also be used in conjunction with a microswitch (not shown in FIG. 2) to turn the unit off or on according to the position of the rotating humidifier bottle. It is important to have the correct spring tension on the biasing member  178  as this dictates the accuracy of the display and how closely the bottles will be empty when the unit is shut off.  
         [0029]    With the bottle filled to capacity, the humidifier bottle  105  applies a maximum pressure to the biasing member  178 . The position  155  shown with a dashed line indicates the tilt of the humidifier bottle  105  displaced from the original vertical position. The contact end  182  of the translating member  170  maintains contact with the bottle. As a result, the translating member  170  is forced to the leftmost position as depicted in FIG. 2. The visual indicator  174  aligns with a far end of the display window  172  (the leftmost position as shown in FIG. 2). The alignment corresponds properly to the condition of the humidifier bottle  155  filled to its capacity.  
         [0030]    As the humidifier bottle  105  drains of water through the dispensing cap  135 , the bottle becomes lighter and consequently begins to apply less pressure to the biasing member  178 . As the bottle empties, the biasing member  178  provides sufficient counter-force to the bottle and causes the bottle to change its angular displacement within the humidifier bottle receptacle  110 . The contact end  182  maintains its contact with the bottle, and the translating member  170  moves laterally with the displacement of the bottle  105 . The visual indicator  174  also moves with the translating member  170  and aligns with different portions of the display window  172 . The displacement and counter-force continues as the water in the bottle  105  depletes. Finally, the bottle  105  is emptied and attains the vertical position, and the visual indicator  174  is situated in the rightmost portion of the display window  172  (as illustrated in FIG. 2).  
         [0031]    The angular displacement (i.e., the tilt) of the humidifier bottle is directly proportional to the amount of water contained therein. Accordingly, the amount of water remaining within the bottle  105  can be indicated according to its angular displacement within the receptacle  110  and the amount of force exerted by the humidifier bottle against the biasing member  178 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an illuminated capacity indicator  200  for a humidifier bottle according to the present invention. The illuminated capacity indicator  200  functions in a manner similar to the indicator described in conjunction with FIG. 2. An enclosure or light chamber  300  is situated below the display window  172 . A light source  302  floods the enclosure  300  with light. Determination of the best type of light source (i.e. incandescent, neon, LED) depends on a number of variables such as the dimensions of the enclosure and the amount of desired visibility. In a preferred embodiment, a red colored LED is used to give a “high tech” look, and the LED generally has a longer life than other types of light.  
         [0033]    The translating member  170  passes through an opening  312  within the enclosure  300 . The translating member  170  generally functions in the manner described and illustrated in conjunction with FIG. 2. The visual indicator of the translating member  170  is a light emitting opening or window  308  therein, which may be fashioned of a transparent or semitransparent material, or simply an opening in the translating member  170 .  
         [0034]    The light emitting opening  308  of the translating member  170  is situated adjacent the display window  172 . When the humidifier bottle  105  is full of water, the humidifier bottle  105  pushes against the spring  178  and moves the translating member  170  to the left as illustrated in FIG. 2A, and the light emitting opening  308  fully aligns with the display window  172  so that the entire display window  172  is illuminated to provide an indication of a full bottle. A display graphic  309  (i.e., “F” for fill and “E” for empty) may further be provided.  
         [0035]    As the humidifier bottle  105  drains of water, the translating member  170  moves to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3A, as the spring  178  pushes the contact end  182  of the translating member  170  against the humidifier bottle  105 . As the position of the translating member  170  changes, less of the light emitting opening  308  aligns with the display window  172 , such that only a portion of the window  172  is illuminated. As the bottle  105  empties, less and less of the window  172  is illuminated, indicating the relative amount of water contained in the bottle  105 .  
         [0036]    In FIG. 3A, the translating member  170  moves laterally in response to the pivotal movement of the bottle  105 . Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3B, in which the translating member  170  includes a contact portion  183  that is rotatably mounted, such that the contact portion translates the pivotal movement of the bottle  105  to rotational movement. The contact portion  183  moves a display portion  171  laterally to position the light emitting opening  308  relative to the display window  172  to indicate the amount of water contained in the bottle  105 .  
         [0037]    An alternative illuminated indicator  201  in accordance another exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS.  4 A- 4 C. As with the indicator  200  shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an enclosure or light chamber  300  is situated below the display window  172  and a light source  302  floods the enclosure  300  with light. The translating member  170  includes a light emitting opening  308  therein. Light from the light source  302  within the enclosure  300  escapes through the light emitting opening  308  of the translating member  170  in a controlled manner to illuminate an appropriate portion of the display window  172 . Again, the translating member  170  functions in the manner described and illustrated in conjunction with FIG. 2.  
         [0038]    The translating member  170  is held adjacent to the top surface of the humidifier cabinet  102  by retainers  307  and  307 ′ on both sides of the thereof, shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. Light from the light source  302  escapes through the light emitting opening  308  and illuminates a portion of the display window  172 . The translating member  170  is movable within the retainers  307  and  307 ′, which act as a channel. In certain embodiments, the translating member  170  may also be used in conjunction with a micro-switch  161  to turn the humidifier off or on according to the position of the rotating humidifier bottle. For example, the translating member  170  may contact an actuator  162  of the switch  161 .  
         [0039]    When the humidifier bottle  105  is full of water, the humidifier bottle  105  overcomes the force of the spring  178  and moves the translating member  170  deeper within the retainers  307  and  307 ′ (to the left as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The light emitting opening  308  aligns with a far end of the display window  172 , with includes a display graphic  309  to indicate that the humidifier bottle is filled to its capacity (i.e. “F” for full).  
         [0040]    As the humidifier bottle  105  drains of water, the translating member  170  moves laterally. As the position of the translating member  170  changes, the position at which the light exits the enclosure  300  through the light emitting opening  308  also moves relative to the display window  172  and associated graphic indicators  309 . Finally, when the bottle is depleted of fluid, the light emitting opening  308  lies at the other end of the display window  172  (i.e. “E” for empty).  
         [0041]    FIGS.  5 - 9  conceptually depict additional exemplary embodiments of illuminated water bottle capacity indicators according to the present invention. The indicator  202  depicted in FIG. 5 has a light-bearing conduit or clear rod  318 . The rod  318  acts as the translating member, transferring the motion of the bottle  105  to the display window  172 , but also acts as a light-bearing conduit for light. The top of the humidifier cabinet  102  includes the display window  172 , which may have different colors to provide contrast to the light passing through the display window  172 . A light source  322  is situated adjacent the rod  318 . The rod  318  has a focusing area or a series of notches  320 . The notches  320  allow the light from the source  322  to enter the rod  318 . The light is conducted to the display window  172  where it illuminates a portion of the display window  324  outside the humidifier.  
         [0042]    In the indicator  203  shown in FIG. 6, the top of the humidifier  100  includes a series of display slots  173 . The slots  173  may offer different colors to provide contrast to the light passing through them. Relative to the display slots  173  is a light bearing conduit or a rod  332 . The rod  332  may be fabricated from a clear plastic material, including a focusing area or a textured portion  334 . The textured portion  334  allows light from a light source  336  to enter the rod  332 .  
         [0043]    The light is conducted to one of the display slots  173  where the end of the rod  332  is aligned. Light from the end of the rod  332  illuminates one of the display slots  173  so that the light is visible from outside the humidifier to indicate the position of the bottle  105 , and thus, the amount of water contained in the bottle  105 . FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in which a light source  346  is situated in a light bearing conduit or a light tube  344 . The light  346  moves with the tube  344  to maintain a constant light intensity.  
         [0044]    In the exemplary indicator  205  shown in FIG. 8, a light bearing conduit or a rod  354  is formed by a series of connected segments of light pipe  356  and extends from an opening  358  in the translating member  170 . The flexible tubing of light pipe segments  356  bends towards the display window  172  and a light source  360  to allow the light from the source  360  to illuminate a portion of the display window  172  outside the humidifier. In this manner, the light source  360  stays stationary, while the rod  354  is movable. FIG. 9 depicts yet another indicator  206  in which the display window  172  has a colored film  370 . The film  370  may have more than one color section to provide contrast to light passing through different sections of the film  370 . A light source  374  is situated on a light bearing conduit or a clear optic rod  372 . This configuration allows for different shapes of display as well as different colors of light. The light  374  moves with the rod  372  to maintain a constant light intensity.  
         [0045]    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. For example, it would be a routine undertaking for one skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure to modify the position of the light source from that shown and described 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.