Abstract:
Provided is a floating type humidifier, and particularly, a floating type humidifier which can prevent, when a floating type humidifier discharging water particles or vapor while floating on water in a water tank loses a balance thereof and falls, the water stored in the water tank from flushing abruptly and even though a water tank falls due to external force such as an earthquake or carelessness of a user, water stored in the water tank is prevented from being abruptly discharged to minimize a cleaning operation which occurs as much water is discharged, the floating type humidifier can prevent foreign materials from being input in the water stored in the water tank, and the floating type humidifier can be stably used even at places including a hospital, a kindergarten, and a home where a lot of children move.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a floating type humidifier, and particularly, to a floating type humidifier which can prevent, when a floating type humidifier discharging water particles or vapor while floating on water in a water tank loses a balance thereof and falls due to external shock, and the like, the water stored in the water tank from flushing. 
         [0003]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, a humidifier is an apparatus that provides moisture to a dry room. 
         [0005]    The humidifier can be classified into an ultrasonic humidifier using ultrasonic waves and a heating humidifier using a heater according to a humidification mode. 
         [0006]    In the former case, water stored in a water tank attached to/detached from a body is supplied to the water tank and the water in the water tank is changed into minute water drops by vibration of an ultrasonic vibrator provided in the water tank to be sprayed through a spray nozzle in a nebulization state together with air by actuating a blow fan. 
         [0007]    Contrary to this, in the latter case, the water supplied onto the water tank is vaporized by preheating of the heater to be sprayed through the spray nozzle in the nebulization state together with the air by the blow fan as described above. 
         [0008]    The ultrasonic humidifier and the heating humidifier are just different from each other in that the water in the water tank is generated into the minute water drops or vapor by an ultrasonic oscillator or the heater and can be similarly configured in terms of other structures. 
         [0009]    In the case of two types of humidifiers, proliferation of bacteria and a washing problem are emphasized as a big disadvantage and in order to resolve the problem, a natural type humidifier which is comparatively convenient to manage, such as washing is generally used. 
         [0010]    In addition, among the natural type humidifiers, a floating type humidifier which is comparatively convenient to manage such as the washing is generally used. 
         [0011]    The floating type humidifier is a type in which the water in the water tank is changed to the minute water particles by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator to be discharged to the outside while floating on the surface of the water stored in the water tank and is a mode to drive the ultrasonic vibrator by supplying power using a battery or a mode to supply the power to the ultrasonic vibrator in connection with an external power supply by an electric wire. 
         [0012]    However, since the floating type humidifier in the related art has a structure in which the top of the water tank storing the water is opened, the water tank falls down due to user&#39;s carelessness, and as a result, the water in the water tank flushes. 
         [0013]    In particular, since there are a lot of cases in which the humidifier is used for children having weak immune systems, the water tank of the floating type humidifier frequently loses a balance thereof and falls down due to children&#39;s carelessness at a place such as a children&#39;s hospital, a kindergarten, a home where children are brought up. 
         [0014]    Further, the floating type humidifier cannot but be limitatively used due to the problems in a country such as Japan where an earthquake frequently occurs. 
         [0015]    In addition, when dust or other foreign materials are input and immersed in the water tank, the floating type humidifier cannot also perform a natural function and a natural role. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, the present applicant has developed a floating type humidifier according to the present disclosure in order to solve the problems and as a reference prior art document, ‘Humidifier Using the Outer Water Storage’ of Korean Patent Unexamined Publication No. 10-2001-90320 is provided. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0017]    An object to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a floating type humidifier which can prevent, when a floating type humidifier and a water tank fall due to external force, water stored in the water tank from flushing abruptly through cooperation of the floating type humidifier and a cover. 
         [0018]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a floating type humidifier including: a water tank having a shape in which the top is opened; a floating body which has a water inflow hole through which water stored in the water tank flows and a space part formed therein and floats in the water stored in the water tank; a humidifier case detachably coupled to the floating body; and a floating cover covering the opened top of the water tank, having a through-hole into which the top of the humidifier case is inserted to be exposed to the outside, and inserted into the water tank to float in the water stored in the water tank. 
         [0019]    Further, the floating cover may include a plate covering the opened top of the water tank, and a protrusion provided on the bottom of the plate, and the protrusion may float in the water stored in the water tank. 
         [0020]    The humidifier case may have a shape in which an outer diameter gradually decreases from the bottom to the top and the top may be inserted into the through-hole with a gap. 
         [0021]    The inner surface of the floating cover partitioning the through-hole may be rounded so as to surface-contact to correspond to the outer surface of the top of the humidifier case. 
         [0022]    A packing member may be provided on the inner surface of the floating cover partitioning the through-hole. 
         [0023]    A handle may be provided on the floating cover. 
         [0024]    The protrusion of the floating cover may be made of any one of a foaming molding object which can float in the water and a rubber material. 
         [0025]    An ultrasonic vibrator may be inserted into the water inflow hole of the floating body to generate the water which flows from the water tank as water particles or vapor. 
         [0026]    A guide pipe that guides the water particles or vapor generated by the ultrasonic vibrator to the outside and having a guide hole formed on one side surface may be coupled to the top of the water inflow hole of the floating body. 
         [0027]    A cap for controlling an emission amount and an emission direction of the water particles or vapor may be provided on the top of the humidifier case, and an emission hole through which the water particles or vapor is discharged may be formed at the cap. 
         [0028]    A water injection hole may be formed on the cover and a plug may be detachably coupled to the water injection hole. 
         [0029]    According to the present disclosure, in a floating type humidifier, even though a water tank falls due to external force such as an earthquake or carelessness of a user, water stored in the water tank is prevented from being abruptly discharged to conveniently perform a cleaning operation which occurs as much water is discharged. 
         [0030]    Further, according to the present disclosure, the floating type humidifier can prevent foreign materials from being input in the water stored in the water tank. 
         [0031]    In addition, according to the present disclosure, the floating type humidifier can be stably used even at places including a hospital, a kindergarten, and a home where a lot of children move. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a floating type humidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a combinational perspective view of the floating type humidifier illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating configurations of a humidifier case and a floating body according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the floating type humidifier illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the floating body, the humidifier case, and a floating cover are moved according to a height of a water surface; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged diagram of part A illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water tank and a floating cover having a quadrangular cross section; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a packing member is mounted on the floating cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a floating type humidifier falls to one side according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]    The advantages and features of the present disclosure and a method of accomplishing these will become obvious with reference to embodiments to be described below in detail along with the accompanying drawings. 
         [0043]    However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth below, and may be embodied in various different forms. The present exemplary embodiments are just for rendering the description of the present disclosure complete and are set forth to provide a complete understanding of the scope of the disclosure to a person with ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains, and the present disclosure will only be defined by the scope of the claims. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a floating type humidifier  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water tank  10  having a shape in which a top of the water tank is opened, a floating body  20  having a water inflow hole  21  (see  FIG. 3 ) in which water stored in the water tank  10  may flow and a space part formed therein, and which floats in the water stored in the water tank  10 , a humidifier case  30  detachably coupled with the floating body  20 , and a floating cover  40  which having a through-hole  41  into which the top of the humidifier case is inserted and is inserted into the water tank  10  and floats in the water stored in the water tank  10 . 
         [0045]    In the water tank  10 , the space part in which the top is opened and the water may be stored therein may be formed. 
         [0046]    In addition, the water tank  10  has a cylindrical shape in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, but the shape of the water tank  10  is not limited thereto. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the water tank  10  may be manufactured in a quadrangular shape and may be manufactured in shapes including a triangular shape and a polygonal shape in addition to the quadrangular shape. 
         [0047]    The floating body  20  may have a dish shape in which the space part is formed so as to float in the water stored in the water tank  10 . 
         [0048]    Further, the floating body  20  may include an ultrasonic vibrator  23  which is inserted into the water inflow hole  21  to generate the water which flows from the water tank  10  as water particles or vapor as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0049]    In addition, a plurality of projections  21 a which contacts an outer surface of the ultrasonic vibrator  23  to support the ultrasonic vibrator  23  may be formed on an inner surface of the floating body  20  partitioning the water inflow hole  21  to be spaced apart from each other. 
         [0050]    Moreover, a rubber made packing member  21 b may be provided below the inner surface of the floating body  20  partitioning the water inflow hole  21 , which absorbs vibration shock generated by the ultrasonic vibrator  23 . 
         [0051]    Further, the floating body  20  may further include a discharge means  25  smoothly discharging the water particles or vapor generated by the ultrasonic vibrator  23  to the outside. 
         [0052]    The discharge means  25  is provided on the top of the floating body  20  and in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fan is exemplified as the discharge means  25  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but the discharge means  25  is not limited thereto and an air pump may be used. 
         [0053]    The humidifier case  30  may be detachably coupled to the top of the floating body  20  and manufactured in a gourd bottle shape in which an outer diameter gradually decreases from the bottom to the top. 
         [0054]    In addition, a plurality of air inflow holes  31  in which external air flows are formed on an outer surface of the top of the humidifier case  30  to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval. 
         [0055]    Further, a cap  32  for controlling an emission amount and an emission direction of the water particles or vapor generated by the ultrasonic vibrator  23  is provided on the top of the humidifier case  30  and an emission hole  32   a  through which the water particles or vapor is discharged may be formed at the cap  32 . 
         [0056]    Portions of the humidifier case  30  where the air inflow hole  31  and the cap  32  are formed are portions exposed to the top of the floating cover  40  when the floating cover  40  is inserted into the water tank  10  and floats in the water. 
         [0057]    In addition, the humidifier case  30  includes a guide pipe  35  guiding the water particles or vapor generated by the ultrasonic vibrator  23  to the top of the humidifier case  30  where the cap  32  is provided as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    A lower end of the guide pipe  35  may be inserted into the top of the inner surface of the floating body  20  partitioning the water inflow hole  21 . 
         [0059]    In addition, a guide hole  35   a  may be formed on one side surface of the guide pipe  35 . 
         [0060]    Further, a blocking unit  35   b  having a ‘         ’-shaped cross section is formed on the top of the one side surface of the guide pipe  35  with the guide hole  35   a.    
         [0061]    The blocking unit  35   b  is provided on the top of the discharge means  25  and serves to guide air moved by the discharge means  25  to the guide hole  35   a  when the lower end of the guide pipe  35  is inserted into the water inflow hole  21 . 
         [0062]    The water stored in the water tank  10  may be discharged to the outside of the water tank  10  in a water-particle or vapor state by the humidifier case  30  and the floating body  20  having such a configuration. 
         [0063]    The floating cover  40  has a figurative size to cover the opened top of the water tank  10  and the through-hole  41  into the top of the humidifier case  30  may be inserted is formed at the center of the floating cover  40  as described above. 
         [0064]    In addition, the floating cover  40  includes a plate  46  covering the opened top of the water tank  10  and a protrusion  42  which is provided to protrude downwards from the periphery of the bottom of the plate. 
         [0065]    It is illustrated that the plate  46  has a disk shape in the drawings in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, but the shape of the plate  46  is not limited thereto and as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the plate  46  may be manufactured in the quadrangular shape and manufactured in the triangular shape and the polygonal shape in addition to the quadrangular shape. 
         [0066]    The through-hole  41  of the floating cover  40  has a size to have a gap of a predetermined interval from the outer surface of the humidifier case  30  when the humidifier case  30  is inserted. 
         [0067]    The protrusion  42  is provided to protrude downwards from the periphery of the bottom of the plate  46 . 
         [0068]    In addition, the protrusion  42  may be made of foaming styrofoam as a foaming molding object which may float in the water or a rubber material. 
         [0069]    Moreover, an outer diameter of the plate  46  is smaller than an inner diameter of the water tank  10 , and as a result, the gap of the predetermined interval is formed between the inner surface of the water tank  10  and the outer surfaces of the plates  46  and the protrusion  42 . 
         [0070]    For reference, in the drawings of the specification of the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the gap is formed between the outer surface of the floating cover  40  and the inner surface of the water tank  10 , but actually, a gap which is difficult to identify with human naked eyes is formed between the outer surface of the floating cover  40  and the inner surface of the water tank  10 . 
         [0071]    When the floating cover  40  having such a configuration is inserted into the water tank  10 , as described in  FIG. 4 , the protrusion  42  of the floating cover  40  may float while a lower end of the protrusion  42  is partially immersed in the water stored in the water tank  10 . 
         [0072]    As a result, the floating cover  40  may also move vertically in the water tank  10  according to the height of the water surface of the water stored in the water tank  10 . 
         [0073]    For example, when the height of the water surface of the water stored in the water tank  10  decreases, as described in  FIG. 5 , the floating body  20 , and the humidifier case  30  and the floating cover  40  may also move downwards in the water tank  10  according to the height of the water surface of the water. 
         [0074]    In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a handle  43  is preferably provided on the plate  46  of the cover  40  so that the user easily executes an operation of inserting the floating cover  40  into the water tank  10  or extracting the floating cover  40  from the inside of the water tank  10 . 
         [0075]    In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a water injection hole (not illustrated) is formed on the plate  46  of the floating cover  40  and a plug  44  may be detachably coupled to the water injection hole. 
         [0076]    The water injection hole allows water to be poured into the water tank  10  even in the state in which the floating cover  40  is coupled to the water tank  10 . 
         [0077]    In addition, as a method in which the plug  44  is detachably coupled to the water injection hole, the known press-fit method, screw coupling method, or the like may be used. 
         [0078]    Further, the inner surface of the floating cover  40  partitioning the through-hole  41  may be formed in a shape of a plane corresponding to the outer surface of the top of the humidifier case  30 . 
         [0079]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , since the humidifier case  30  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has the gourd bottle shape, the inner surface of the floating cover  40  partitioning the through-hole  41  is preferably rounded in an arc shape so as to surface-contact the humidifier case  30 . 
         [0080]    The floating type humidifier  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which has such a configuration may prevent the water stored in the water tank  10  from being abruptly discharged to the outside of the water tank  10  by the floating cover  40  even though the water tank  10  falls by the external force as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0081]    In addition, when the water tank  10  falls, the humidifier case  30  may block the through-hole  41  while taking an attitude in which the humidifier case  30  is obliquely inclined by a weight of the water. 
         [0082]    Accordingly, the water stored in the water tank  10  may be secondarily prevented from being abruptly discharged to the outside through the through-hole  41  by mutual cooperation of the through-hole  41  and the humidifier case  30 . 
         [0083]    In this case, since the inner surface of the floating cover  40  partitioning the through-hole  41  has the round shape as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the outer surface of the humidifier case  30  may be minimized from being damaged due to hitting with the inner surface of the floating cover  40 . 
         [0084]    For reference, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the rubber made packing member  45  is provided on the inner surface of the cover  40  partitioning the through-hole  41  to minimize shock generated when the outer surface of the humidifier case  40  and the inner surface of the floating cover  40  partitioning the through-hole  41  hit each other and prevent the water from being discharged through a gap between the through-hole  41  and the outer surface of the humidifier case  40  when the water tank  10  falls by the external force. 
         [0085]    The detailed exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described up to now, but various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0086]    Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the exemplary embodiment and should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents to the appended claims.