CA2177080A1 - Portable and personal-sized warm air humidifiers - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable and personal-sized warm air humidifier (300) delivers a steam air mixture having a uniform moisture at a temperature that does not cause a sensation of pain. All the elements of the humidifier (300) are held with a shell (301) which includes a lower housing (303) and a removable upper cover (302). A water storage container (304) supplies water to filling compartment (325) from which it flows to an evaporation compartment (326) where the water is heated by an electric heating element (306). A steam nozzle assembly (307) is used to mix the steam from an evaporation compartment (326) with the air entering the humidifier (300). The warm air humidifier (300) only heats a small portion of water thereby providing a safer humidifier in the event of tipping.

Description

Wo 95/1~190 2 1 7 7 E~ ~3 0 Pcrluss4ll3435 .
Portable and Personai-Sized Warm Air TT~Imiriifi.~rc BACKGROUND OF Thl: INVEN~ON
The invention relates lO portable and personal-sized electric air more ~J~uL~cukulr to an improved warm air humidifier.
This application is a part of U.S. patent application no.
5 07/843,542 filed on February 28, 1992 which is a ~ -in-part of U.S.
pateM application no. 07/606,938 filed on October 31, 1990, which is a of U.S. Patent No. 5,014,338 issued on b~ay 7, 1991.
Air humidifiers are important in controlling the ~ in homes during very dry weather, or in winter whenever outside air of low . , is 10 drawn inside and heated. causing the relative humidity in the home to be lowered tO an u...u.l,r~ ., degree.
Portable humidifiers are well known in the art, and may be classified in the following pslr~rhc 1. Steam generators which comprise a water container and an electric heating element submerged in the water. Safety devices are provided for switching off the current as soon as the water level drops below the heating element. Since a flow of hot steam is blown directly into the room to be humidified, there is always the danger of a person. especially a child being scalded whenever he or she comes into contact with the jet of steam ejected, typically, at a . c of about 212~F. r~ .,..u,c, since all of the water is heated, the container of hot water, when overturned, may cause serious injuries to persons nearby.

2. Porous medium I ' = generally include a porous medium structure partly submerged in cold water contained in an open vessel and a blower unit drawing air through the porous medium structure. The porous medium may be in the shape of a disc or a drum with part of the medium dipping into the water, which is slowly rotated while air is blown through the portion above the wo 95/14190 2 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCrlUss4/1343s water level. thus carrving humidity into the room. The porous medium may also be in the form of a stauonary body adapted to draw water into the upper nu.. ~ part by capillary action, from where it is carried into the room by air blown Ih- : -u~

3. Ultra-sonic humidifiers generally comprise a container filled with water which is brought to a vibration by bigh-frequency vibrator means which causes the water to be atomized. An air stream directed onto the water surface carries the mist into the room to be humidified.
The major drawback of both porous medium humidifiers and ultra-sonic humidifiers is that the water staying in the contamer is not heated to its boiling point as in the steam generator and, is therefore susceptible to the growth of micro-organisms which are ' , `~ carried by the air stream into the room where it may be ingested by people.
Warm-air humidifiers share the benefits of steam generators in that growth of micro-organisms is forestalled by heating the water to its boiling pomt.
Also, warm-air humidifiers avoid the drawback of hot steam entering the room, since in this type of humidifier the steam is carried into the room as a mist mixed with air, at a ~ ul~i to be selected by judiciously choosing the ratio 20 of steam and air.
A typical warm-air humidifier is described in IJ.S. Paoent No. 4,564,746.
It includes a heated C~luuldliul~ chamber which is enclosed to prevent leakage or damage and a fan adapted for dispersing the generated steam into the room via a cabinet P~ .V. The CV~I~UI~;UII chamber is mounted on tracks which 25 permits it to be slid out of its enclosure for cleaning and servicing. The heatmg element, which iS or~t~ ly enclosed in the chamber, is attached to a cover which is likewise movable out of the humidifier cabinet for cleaning and servicmg.
u--rl ~, the design of this humidifier is relatively intricate and 30 expensive. The heating element is attached to a movable cover which is provided with flexible tubing and must be moved upwards on vertical tracks to clear the top of the water enclosure. permitting the latter to be slid out sideways.

wo 95/14190 2 1 7 ~ ~ ~ O PCr~Ss4/13435 This requires a significant amount of space and cannot be serviced excep~ by a skilled person.
In the present invention, a steam ejector is provided which takes the place of the motor driven blower.
T~ "' emp~oying the motor driven blowers. such as is found in U.S. Patent 5,014,338 and in patent application no. 07/606.938 have many benefits and advantages. On the other hand, the use of warm air humidifiers utilizing motor driven blowers have some ~;oa~411~o. When used in nurseries and in bedrooms such l "' are non-conducive to sleep because of the mechanical and a~,lud~ noise associated with motor driven blowers. In addition, the presence of high humidity to which motor shafts are exposed creates rusting problems with binding of the shafts to the bearings often resulting.
Obviousiy, this creates expensive l problems.
Certain criteria are desired in warln air humidifiers to maAimize the desirability and efficiency of such devices for the user. One criterion is to maintain the steam-air mixture at a t~ ..r. which ranges between 37C and 65C (99F-149F) where the lower end of the range a,u~ human body r ~ and the upper end represents a value at which the steam air mixture still may be brought into contact with a person 20 without the sensation of pain. Another criterion is to provide a uniform miAing of air and steam resulting in an even ~ lr profile at the outlet grille and avoiding non-uniforrn de~rees of air saturation as well as local l ' on portions of the ærille.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved 25 and novel non-motor driven warm-air humidifler which utilizes a simple and iri~.A~ structure and still obtains results eouivalent to. or better than. thoseobtained by l ' ' employing motor driven blowers.
Another object is to provide an improved and novel humidifler which provides for the proper and uniform mixture of steam laden air having the proper30 ratio of air and steam and substantially uniform t ,l .~ r profile at the outlet grille.
A further object is to provide an improved and novel humidifier which WO 95/14190 2 ~ 7 7 ~ 8 ~ PCTIUS94/13435 .
~mploys a steam ejector in p~ace of a motor driven blower and which exhibits less .,1.~ " ~ noises Ihan those employing motor driven blowers.
A stili further object is to provide a novel and improved humidifier which S utiiizes a steam ejector tube having a restricted throat portion therein and which is d' ' and positioned in relation to a steam nozle in which steam flows at a certain velocity and produces a steam air mixture of the proper saturation and t~ substantialiy noise free or of minimum noise.
Another object is to provide a novel and improved gravity water-feed 10 humidifler in which the constant pressure to drive the generated steam through a steam nozle is maintained by a differential head of water existing between the steam generation ~ ,.,.L~ ,... and the water supply . I~
A stil'i further object is to provide a compact, self conuined, personal-size warm air humidifler having the above advantages.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in the foliowing description of the invention and the claims, SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ON
The warm air humidifier of the present invention includes an C~,uuldliull chamber in the shape of an inverted cup which is provided with a steam nozle in its top portion and with an electric resistance heater at its bottom end. In a preferred ~, I,Ci.l; . l the CVA,UUIAIiUII chamber is capable of containing only a smali volume of water, thus promoting rapid start operation. The open bottom end is immersed in the main , of a water supply ~ which also includes a filling ~ 1 supplied with water from a portable jug positioned on a base which includes the water supply CU~ The water SUPPIY I ~ is kept fLiled with water to a IJ~ 1 level by the jug allowing water to fiow into the . only as high as the rim of the neck of the jug. The pressure within the CV~JUI_LiOl~ chamber, which is generated by the steam therein, is maintained constant by a differential head which exits between the higher level of the wa[er in the water supp~y UU~ IL~ and the WOg5/14t90 2 1 77~ PCT)Uss4/1343~
lower ~evel of the wa[er in the CV.~ iUll chamber.
Vertically disposed above the steam nozzle is a steam ejector tube having its ~ower end in spaced proximity to the sleam nozzle, whereby steam from the steam nozzle flows through the steam ejector tube. The tube has a narrow and 5 restricted portion which, in operation, creates as region of low pressure to thereby induce a flow of air within the housing to mix with the steam to producean air-steam mixture. The present invention takes advantage of certain phenomena as described below.
1. The high velocity jet stream from the nozzle, while flowing through the "still air" in the ejector tube, will cause air next to it to move with it through the exertion of a shear-force. That moving air then will carry aiong with it the adjacent layers of air patticles, which in turn carrv adjacent layers until the boundaries of the tube are reached. By properly designing and ~
arld positioning the relevant . . .~ involved, ~ .- of air with steam to provide a desired ratio of air to steam and c may be obtatned.
2. The negative or low pressure created within the steam ejector tube, which is dependent upon the dimensions of the "draft" of the tube, will influence the flow of the air to be treated into the humidifier, especially where provision must be made to overcome the pressure drop occasioned by reason of the air having to flow throu~h a filter medium when the humidifier is to remove particulates from the air to be treated.
3. A "buoyancy" ~ - is utilized in the present invention. As the steam mixes with the air the mixture becomes warm and humid, thus attaining a specific gravity lower than the ~UIII " ,, dry cooler air. ('~ . 'y, the air steam mixture adds another driving component to the flow of the mixture and rises through the tube to enhance the drawing in of fresh or cool air from the bottom of the tube. much as in the well known " . ' hyperbolic" cooling towers.

WO9S/14190 2 l 17080 PCT~US94/13435 The present invention ill~Ul~ and utilizes lhese phenomena to provide a simpli~led and effective low cost warm air humidifier which minimizes and avoids many of the problems associated with other portable I ' ''~ , ,U~ULil,UIdlly those employing motor driven blowers for mixing air and steam for5 delivery to a room in which such humidifiers are placed.
BRIEF DESCRIPIION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. I is a vertical section through the warm-air humidifler of the present invention and through an inverted water container in position on the base means 10 of the humidifier.
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the bottom portion of the humidifler illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the tray in lowered position ready for removal.
FIG. 3 is a section through the warm-air humidifier along line A-A of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged rl.. 6.. 1.,11Ld.y vertical section through the top portion of the humidifier illustrated in FIG, 1.
FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a second; ' ' of the warm-air humidifler containing a hinged ~.a,UUIdiiUII chamber, shown in position on the base means.
FIG. 6 is a vertical section of the warm-air humidifier FIG. 5 showing the CVd,Uuldiiul~ chamber displaced away from the base means.
FIG. 7 is a section in elevation, of a third r~ ; of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a section, in elevation. taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the steam injector tube and of the steam nozzle to graphically show the flowing streams of steam and air.
FIG. 10 is a graphical Ir~ of a velocity distribution plot of the phenomena occurring within the steam ejector tube of FIG. 9.
FIG. I l is an isometric view of the tray shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional front view of a personal-sized warm air wo 95/14~90 2 1 7 ~ ~ 8 0 PCTIUS941~3435 .
humidifier havin~ a removable water conrainer.
FrG. 13 is a cross-sectional front view of a personal-sized warm air humidifiér having a fixed internal water container.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a float valve employed in 5 the personal-sized warm air humidifier illustrated in FIG. 13.
FrG. 15 illnstrates a front of a shell r ' " elements of a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 16 illustrates a back of the shell of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of the personal-sized warm air humidifier 10 of FIG. 12 with the cover removed and with the removable water storage container removed.
FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of the personal-sized warm air humidifier of FIG. 13 with the cover removed.
FIG. 19 illustrates a left side view of a shell - ' ~ elements of a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 20 illustrates a right side view of a shell r ' ' ,. elements of a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 21 illustrates a top view of a cover of a personal-sized warm air humidifier.
FIG. 22 illustrates a cross section of a cap and valve assembly of the removable water container of the personal-stzed warln air humidifier of FIG.
12.
FIG. 23 illustrates a cross section of the steam nozzle assembly of the personal-sized warm air humidifier of FIG. 12.
FIG. Z4 illustrates a bottom view of the steam nozzle assembly of the personal-sized warm air humidifier of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESC~IION OF THE INVENTION
The ~ of the warm-air humidifier, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, are enclosed in a housing I including a base portion 1 and a top portion 2. The base is configured to support a water jug II in upside-down position. The base contains a drawer m of trapezoidal cross section which forms together with a wo 95/14190 2 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCr/USs4/1343s .
sloping inner waii 10 of the base. a ''V"-shaped trough 11. A tray IV is supported by the respective sloping walls 10 (of the housing) and 50 (of the drawer), whereby the contours of two opposite side walis 40 and 41 of the tray correspond in slope to the inclination of the two walis, whiie the tray bottom 42 S is substantialiy flat. The tray includes a main I 43 and a filling 44. in proximity to the drawer waLi 50, which are separated by a partition 45 perforated by a connectmg port 46. A verticai pin 47 projects from the bottom of the fiiiing ~ , and connects with a spring-supported vaive 20 in the neck opening 22 of the inverted jug ~. To keep the drawer in position 10 inside the housing, a tongue 38 projects upwardly from the bottom of the housing and engages an opening 39 in the bottom of the drawer when in its ciosed position.
The top portion of housing 2 includes an CV.I,uulaLiull chamber 30 in the shape of an inverted cup which extends into the base portion I and into the mam IS , , 43 of the tray, stopping short of the flat bottom 42 with a narrow gap remaining between the lower rim of the chamber and the bottom. The chamber top is stepped, forming a higher portion 31a which contains a steam nozle 32, and a lower portion 31b into which a flask-shaped member 33 is inserted and hermetically closed to prevent steam from escapmg i' ' u~
20 Member 33 holds a ~h~ ua~Lh, switch 35, as well as a set of levers 36 servingfor resetting the switch by means of knob 37. The tray, as weii as the bottom ofthe c~.,uu.~,iu,, chamber is fiiled with water, its upper level being defined by the lower rim 21 of the valve 20 in the neck of the jug II. An electric heater 34 isfully immersed in the water, and is held at its raised portion 34a in intimate 25 contact with the member 33 by means of a clip 52. The heater is switched off as soon as the water level drops below the raised portion 43a of the heating element due to lack of water in the jug.
For operation of the humidifier, the jug II fiiled with water, is placed with its valve 22 onto the filling ~UllI,U.l-i ' whereupon the pin 47 urges the 30 valve body 20 upwards off its seat and permits water to flow into the tray.
Water flows out of the filling Culll,uali 44 into the main ~,U~IIUO.I~ ,.Ii 43 throu_h the port 46 in the partition 45. T e level of the water is defmed by the wo 95/14190 2 ~ 7 7 (~ ~ O PCTIUSg4/13435 .
rim 21 of the jug s neck since no air can flow in~o the jug through the neck when it is covered by water and. obviously no water can flow out.
Due to ~ JUldiiUII, the water level in the tray will drop below the height of the rim of the jug, thereby permitting more water to enter the tray and 5 keeping it filled to the I ' ' level To clean the ttay, the drawer m iS
pulled out of the housing, causing the tray to slide down along the inclined wall 10 of the housing as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. At the same time, the pin 47 in the filling ~U ~ is taken out of contact with the valve 20 of the jug, thereby closing the neck opening and preventing water from flowing out into the 10 tray. The drawer m can now be withdrawn from the housing and the tray IV
c~m be taken out.
A vertically disposed steam ejector tube 84 is provided within housing I
' '~ above the steam nozle 32. Tube 84 is made of any suitable material and preferably may be formed from a plastic, such as~ pUlyulu~u~
15 which is molded to the prefetred shape disclosed. At its lower portion tube 84 is flared outwardly and then narrows to a throat 86. From the throat 86, the tube flares outwardly and towards the top 88 of top portion 2 of housing I. top 88 has an outlet opening 90 (I;IG. 1), the walls of which seat the l - ' ' edge of tube 84 at that point. A grille 92 is provided at opening 90 to direct the 20 flow of air from tube 84 and into a room. Housing I may also include side wall 94 having a removable air filter 7.
Since the Il~llllAIII ~ 43 and 44 are in liquid with each other. the water level in both, , will be the same height. When heating element 34 is energized. the water in ~ ~' 'I'Al i 1 l - '~ 43 and particularly in 25 c vA~JUldLiu.. chamber 30 begins to boil and steam is formed. The pressure of the generated steadm, as present in the space in C~A,uuldliol~ chamber 30, forces the level of water therein to a level below the level of the water in ~O~ 43 outside of cvA,uuldLiull chamber 30 and in . 44, to provide a differential head which in effect maintains the pressure within cv_~uu._liu..
30 chamber 30. This pressure forces or drives the steam out of c vA~Jul_Liull chamber 30 through steam nozle 32 at a l,lrll~ ~ .-";....l velocity. The existing steam then flows up into steam ejector tube 84 where it enters throat 86. The wo 95114190 ~ ~ ~ 7 0 8 0 PCTIUS94/l343s restricled dimensions ot throat 86 create a region of low pressure. which in conjunction wilh other phenomena to be described h~r~ r. sucks or draws atr in from the interior of housing I to fomm a steam-air mixture which discharges through outlet opening 90 in the top 88 of the top portion 2 of housmg 1.
The use of the steam ejector concept in the present invention requires an " ~ of certain phenomena which mai~es practicai the appiication of this concept to gravity feed portable warm air ' ' A steam ejector re~iuires a high velocity of steam from a nozzle through an ejector tube to provide a proper mixture of steam and air having the desired ratio, as weii as t l ...h.
10 First, the desired steam velocity should be considered. The velocity of steam through the nozzle is a function of the foUowing:
A = The cross-section area of the noz~le expressed in centimeters squared (cm~);
G = E~ate of steam generation in grams per second (GRlsec);
IS and ~' = The density of the steam in grams per centimeter cubed (g/cm3).
Thus:
V(cmlsec) = G . (~xA) The rate of steam generation is a direct function of the power input:
G = KxEP
Where EP = electric power in watts; and K = a constant dependent on the latent heat of water.
According to Bemouli's equation. the pressure required to drive this steam through the nozzle at a velocity (V) is P ~ (P = VZ ~ 2 g (g=gravitational ~ 1 ~1;,,,,) Applying the foregoing to the present invention, the pressure (~P) within c~l,ul~Liull chamber 30. translates to a difference in water levei (~H) by whichthe water level in CV~,uul~lliùll chamber 30 is lower than the water level in 43 and 44 which supply water to ev~l~Julaliul~ chamber 30. As wiii be obvious from the description above. as the water is boiied off in evaporation -2~ 7708~
Wo 95114190 PCTI~S94/13435 .
chamber 30. the water ~herein slowly recedes. This causes water to seep in1o CV~IliUld~iull chamber 30 from ~U~ 13 and 44 and through the space between the lower edges of cv~u-~.iui- chamber 30 and bottom 42 in ... 43 to replenish the water boiied off. In the stri~icture of the 5 humidifier employed. it is found that the head aYaiiable is in the range of 1/2" to 3/4" or 1.25cm to 2.0cm which r '~ cj provide steaim velocities of 1,000 to 3,000 feet per minute (fpm) or 5-15 meters per second. (mlsec). Since an objective of the present invention is to reduce the noise of operation of a humidifier, steam velocities through steam nozzle 32 are maintained below 2,000 10 fpm, or a rate of ste~im flow below 0.5 grlsec cm- because to go above il would result in ùb; I ;. . ` ~ !r "hissing" sounds The action of the steam fiow through ejector tube 84 to produce the desired results with the present invention may be expiaimed by reference to FIGS.
9 and 10. In FIG. 9 the steam jet emerging from steam nozle 32 is at a high 15 velocity and after leaving the nozle enters an area i~nown as "vena contract~i"
whereupon it starts diverging. The steam jet whi'ie traveling through the "stiii"
air causes the air next to it to move with it through the exertion of sheer-force.
The movement of air next to the steam jet will carry aiong the air particles next to it, and so on, until a velocity profile as shown in Fig. 10 is20 achieved. As the steam jet moves further away from the nozle it expands and entrains the air untii a substantiai~iy uniform mixture of air and steam is established in and around the narrowest area of the tube. which is the throat 86.
As the mixrure passes the throat and moves towards the upper end of the tube.
the mixrure rises due to the upwards imperus provided by the steam and by the 25 buoyancy of the warm. moist air mixture which is lighter than dry cool air.
FIG. lO iiiustrates, in a graphic manner, the air and steam velocity n~;ctrih:~ti~rm as measured along the "ref. iine" of ~IG. 9. The line described as "velocity prof1ie" is the locus of alii the individuai velocity 1~ taken along the "ref. Iine" of FIG. 9. It should be noted that aiong the "ref. iine"
30 ti~iere is stii~i very little mixing of air and steam and therefore a region of pure steam and pure air can be identified, as pointed out by the oerms "steam" and "air" .

WOg~/14190 2 i 7 7 ~ 8 0 PCTIUSg411343~
.
It was found when Cull~LIu~.Lil-~ the humidifler ot the presen~ invention that certain dimensions of the qector tube 84 had to be adjusted as described below As was brought out above, the rate of steam flow out of steam nozzle 32 S is preferably maintained below about 0.5 gr/sec cm~. r, . tO obtain an outiet moist air ~ between about 42C and about 65C, the ratio between the throat diameter and the distance of throat 86 from the steam nozzle 32 should be in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.75.
Moreover, it was aiso determined that the ratio of the diameter of the steam nozzle 322 to that of the throat of the ejector tube 84 should be in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.25.
FIGS. S and 6 show another, L ' of the present invention. In this warm-air humidifler, top portion 2 is hinged, allowing easy access to the tray IV.
In FIG. 5, illustrating the resting of the top portion 2 on the base portion 1, the lower portion 31b of ~ JUI~iUII chamber 30 is surrounded by the tray IV area.
A hinge assembly, comprising a hmge 71 and a hinge support member 70, are attached to the jug suppon platform 72, aliowing the top portion 2 of the housing I to be moved to an open position, as shown in FIG. 6. These figures aiso show an i ' " of the invention which does not include a drawer. In this ' ' t, base 60 supports the tray bottom 42. When the top portion 2 is moveLi to its open position, the tray lV is exposed. aliowing its easy removai.
A third, L ' of the present invention is disc~osed in FIGS. 7 and 8 and ill~.UI,UUl~l~C~ much of the ~ "J"' ` and concepts found in FIGS. I through 6 and FIGS. 9 and 10 except for some slight differences in structure as will become apparent from the foilowing ~PC~ ir~ n Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the por~able warm-air humidifier is generally designated by the reference character 112 and includes a water container 114 disposed in j- ~ with a housing 116, both of which are seated on a base 118 provided with feet 120 for placement on a flat surface (not shown). Water container 114 is provided at its top (FIG. 7) with a convenient handle 122 situated in a tecess 124 to permit the manual grasping of the handle 122 to remove and carry the container from base 118. The bottom of container 114, as wo 95/14190 2 ~ 7 ~ 0 8 ~ PCrlUS94113435 better seen in rIG. 7. has a neck 126 wilh exlernal threads 128 on which a cap 130 may ~e tightened. A spring t~iased valve 132 (springs not shown) having a valve steam 133 disposed in cap 30 and is normally biased for seating on the walls 134 of an opening 136. rxtended wulg members 138 are provided to assist 5 in the screwing and unscrewing of cap 130 from neck 126. After the container is filled and capped it is positioned as shown in FIG. 7 where it is supported on base 118 on integrally for~ned hollow projects supports 139 (one shown in FIG.
7).
Base 118 is - y hollow and - a removable tray 140 10 (shown in FIGS. 1 8 and 11) restmg on a floor 144 of base 118 and the tray has a filling ~ I- ` 142 to receive neck 126 of container 114. Tray 140 to tray IV in the first and second herein as seen in FIGS. 1-6. in terms of each being easily assessed and removable for cleaning.
r, the trays of each t has a f~lling ~ and a main 15 1 A floor 145 of ~ 142 has an upstanding molded pm 146. As seen in FIG. 7 when container 114 is positioned on base 118 pin 146 engages valve stea~n 133 to displace va1ve 132 upwardly permitting water to flow from the container through opening 136 into a filling 142 of tray 140. Tray 140 has a second or main ~iu~ i 150 formed integrally 20 with C-l-ll~ --- .. 142 to the left of the latter as seen in FIG. 7.
An upstanding post 152 is formed integral with floor 144 of base 118 and is positioned between l~ 142 and 150 between upstanding walls 154 of tray 140. r" 142 is substantially circular in horizontal cross section to 1 neck 126 whereas ~ 1 150 is substantially 25 rectangular in horizontal cross-section. Cu~ 142 and 150 of tray 140 are in with each other in that water from ~ 142 readily flows therefrom into ~ 150 whereby the level of water in 150 will always be a the level in ~ lI - .1 142.
Housing 116 is provided with a rectangular shaped floor 160 which 30 substantially seals off the interior of housing 116 from ~ 150 of tray 140 except for an opening in which the lower portion of a steam nozle 162 is seated. As better seen in rIG. 8. nozzle 162 has an enlarged circular lower .
portion 164 leading to a narrowed and substantially cylindricai jet opening 166.Floor 160 has. integrally formed therewith. a depending wall 168 which extends Ily of the floor and projects downward into ~ . 150 of tray 140 to form an C~ul_Liu-- chamber 169. The wall 168 is positioned in close 5 proximity to the walls 170 of illlllllAIII ..: 150. The lower edges of wall 168 also extend close to the floor 145 in ~ , 150 but are spaced therefrom as to permit wa~er in tray 140, and IJ~ii~uLuly ~II''.~IAIII''- ' ' 150, to readily flow between , 150 and evaporation chamber 169.
An electrical heating element 172 is provided in c~..,uul_liull chamber 10 169, which when energized, heats the water to boiling to generate steam therein which escapes chamber 169 through steam nozle 162. A plate or baffle 174 is secured adjacent to lower portion 164 of nozzle 162 and in the path of flow of steam to interrupt and minimize the discharge of water droplets from the ""~"" with the steam. as well as to muffle to some extent, the boiling 15 sound of water.
The outer sidewalls 204 of housing 116 has an extension of lip 206 which projects below floor 160 and into .,U..I~ ,..i 150 of tray 140 for t ~ ~
by a latch 208 which is mounted on post 152 for pivotal movement by a screw 210. When container 114 is removed from base 118, access may be obtained to 20 latch 208, to pivot it out of ~ c~ with lip 206 to permit the housing 116 to be lifted off of base 118 and thereby allow access to heater element 170 for cleaning and the like.
The present invention as embodied in the third; ' ' shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 operates in similar manner as the first two described, L
25 in the generation of steam in admixture with air. The humidifier of the third~ o~ as is apparent from the description and ~Yp~ rinn l~.Cillb~i'UlC, differs in that the housing containing the ~"AUUIAliUI~ chamber may be removed completely from the base whereas in the second, L ' the et~uivalent structure is pivoted to the base as at 71 (see Figs. 5 and 6). It is apparent that 30 there is no basic change in concept in that either structure permits ,~
of the c~auul_lil.t, chamber from the base to obtain easy access to the heater element. Also. the latching structure which includes latch 208 and lip 206.

WO95/14190 21 77~8a PCT/US94J~3435 permits the posltive latching of housin~ 116 on the base 1 18.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional from view illustrating a personal-sized warm air humidifier 300. All of the elements of the personal-sized warm air humidifier 300 are held within a shell 301 which includes a lower housing 303 5 and a removable upper cover 302. A removable water storage container 304, a tray assembly 305, a heating element 306. a steam noz~e assembly 307, a steam ejection tower assembly 308, and a medication cup assembly 309 are ' ' within the shell 301.
A recess 310 is defined by the bottom contour of the lower housmg 303 10 of the shell 301. A pair of posts 311 and 312 project down from the recess 310.
A pair of plate elements 313 and 314 are fastened to the ends of the posts 311 and 312, ..,~ , with fasteners such as screws, for example. ~Ahe assembly of the posts 311 and 312 with the plate elements 313 and 314. ~ u~~
permits a power cord (not shown) to be wound and uu~ ".k....ly stored within 15 the recess 310. At least one foot post 315 also projects down from the recess310. An end of the foot post 315 is provided with a foot element 316 composed of rubber for example.
An overheat shut-off resetting assembly 317 is fastened to a bottom section of the lower housing 303, with a suitable means such as screws, for 20 example. The reserting assembly 317 includes a floor 318. One or more foot elements 316 may be provided on the outer surface of the floor 318. The resetting assemblv 317 also includes a plunger 319 which has a sloped surface 320. The plunger 319 is biased outward by a suitable means (not shown). A
stop element 321 formed on an arm of the plunger 319 engages a blocking 25 surface 322 to limit the outward movement of the plunger 319. The operation of the resetting assembly 317 will be described in more detail below.
The tray assembly 305 is fitted, in a sealed manner, into a void deflned in the bottom of the lower housing 303. A top view of the tray assembly 305 within the lower housing 303 is illustrated in FIG. 17. The tray assembly 305 30 includes an outer peripheral wall 323 and an full length dividing wall 324. The dividing wall 324 defines a filling ,UIII~JGII~ 325 and an CV.,IJo~Aliu~
....11 326. A valve contact element 327 projects up from a floor of the 1~

~ ~ 77080 .
filling . .~ .. 3'5. I'his element actuates a valve elemem of Ihe removable water storage container 304 in a manner described below.
A wall 328 defuning a lengthened water channel is formed between the dividing wall 324 and an outer peripheral wall 323. The water chatmel S IPn~hPniA~g wall 328 has a height which is shorter than that of the dividing wall 324. A first end of the water channel I ,, ' ~ wall 328 abuts and is sealed against the dividing wall 324 while a second end of the water channel wall 328 defines an opening between it and the dividing wall 324.
A void (not shown) defmed in a lower portion of the dividit~g wall 324 10 permits fluid ~ between the filling ~ 325 and the c~auuldLiol~ ~,u...~JalL~ 326 of the tray assembly 305.
A floor of the cvauul_liul~ . , 326 is arranged below the floor of the filling ~.UII~Udl~ i 325. i.e., the ~valJUla~iUII , 326 is formed deeper than the filling ~O~II,U~ llt 325. A heating element 306. such as an 15 electric heater, for exampie, is fitted in a void in the floor of the ~vauulaliu 326. A water-tight seal 327 is provided between the heating element 306 and the floor of the C.a,UUla~iUll ~ , ' 326.
he steatn nozle assembly 307 is provided above the c~a,uùld~iu,.
326 thereby defining an e~alJula~iùll chamber. The steam nozzle 20 assembly 30i includes a downward projecting lip 329 fitting agamst an inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 323 and the dividmg wall 324 at a first area, and an outwardly projecting flange 328 fitting against a top edge of the outer peripheral wall 323 and the dividing wall 324. lAhe steam nozle assemblv also includes a downward projecting skirt 370 which fits against an inner surface of 25 the ouoer peripheral wall 323 on at a second area. A lengthened section 370' of the skirt 370 projects ~ ,ul~u to the dividing wall 324 and is disposed in front of the void defined in the dividing wall 324. FIGS. 23 and 24 more clearlyillustrate the skirt 370 and the lengthened section 370' of the skirt 370. The letter "H" in FIG. 23 indicates the d~)UI~ ' ' location of the void defined in 30 the dividing wall 324. As will be described below, the lengthened section 370' of the skirt 370 prevents pulses of hot water "slugs" from entering the filling UUlllUdl ~ 3_5.

WO95114190 2 1 7 70~ Q PCTIUS94113435 .
The steam nozle assembly 307 and the tray assembly 305 include means permirung the steam nozzle assembly to be. rotated and locked-onto. or sn4pped-onto, the tray assembly 305. A planer portion 330 of the steam nozle assembly 307 forms a ceiling of the CVotJu~ iull chamber. A tapered wall extending up 5 from a void deftned in the planer portion 330 deftnes a steam nozle 331. The wall deftning the steam no771e 331 includes an upper opening and a lower openirlg. The upper opening is centered above the lower opening and is smaller than the lower opening. The wall deftning the steam nozle 331 gradually tapers ftom the lower opening to the upper opening.
Each of the upper opening and the lower opening may be any one of many geometric shapes such as a circle, a square, a pentagon, an octagon, etc.
In a preferred; ' ' t~ the steam nozle 331 has a cottical shape. In a more preferred ~ L " t~ the upper opening is shapec as a square rather than a circle. r"...~ droplets may form on the top of the upper opening ûf the 15 steam nozle 331 and at least partially block the upper opening. Providing thesteam nozzle 331 with a circular upper opening tended to exacerbate this ptoblem. The sharp edges of a square upper opening of the nozle 331 minimize such droplets by creating areas of increased surface tension. At least one positioning post member 332 projects up from the planer portion 330 of the 20 steam nozle assembly 307.
The planer portion 330 of the steam nozle assembly 307 may include a recess pitched towarc the fillin~ CUIII~ IIL 325 and having a void permitting Quid I . ",.. , ;. ~1 i~ll between the steam no771e assembly 307 and the filling"~ 325. This permits any condensed water to flow back into the 25 filling ~ 325.
The steam ejection tower assembly 308 is fltted above the steam nozle assembly 307. The steam ejection tower assembly 308 includes at least one positioning hole 333 into which the at least one positioning post 332 of the steam nozle assembly fits, thereby assuring that the steam ejection tower assembly 30830 is correctly situated above the ste4m nozle assembly 307. The positioning hole 333 and post 332 also define an air intake space "s" between the plana} portion 330 of the steam nozle assembly 307 and an intake of the steam ejection tower . . .

WO95/14190 2 t 7708~ PCrlUSs4/l3435 .
308. An appropria~e means. such as a latch and catch pair, are provided on the steam ejection tower assembly 308 and the steam noz~e assemoly 307 to positively lock the two members.
The steam tower assembly 308 includes a substantiaily "hour-giass"
5 shaped waLi 334 defuimg an intake opening on the bottom and am outlet on the top, The medicine cup assembly 309 can be held in a rec~ss 335 in the top of the hour-glass shaped waii 334 near the outlet.
The removable water storage container 304 includes a cap 336 havmg downward projecting positioning members 337. The positionmg members 337 10 center the cap above the vaive contact element 327 of the tray assembly 305.
The cap 336 aiso includes a valve assembly 338 (shown in Fig. 22). The valve assembly 338 is fitted in a void 340 defined by the cap 336. A plunger arm 344 of the valve assembiy 338 is slidably centered in the void 340 by centering elements 341. A valve seat 339 attached at a top end of the plunger arm 344 15 seais the void 344 of the cap 336 when the valve assembly 338 is in its closed state. A biasing means 342, such as a spring for example, is disposed around the plunger amm 344 between the centering elements 341 and a contact element 343 and biases the valve assembly 338 to its closed position.
When the contact element 343 is forced up, against the force of the 20 biasing means 342, the valve seat 339 rises and pemmits water in the removable water storage container 304 to flow down through the void 340.
The operation of the personal-sized wamm air humidifier is described below.
The upper cover 302 is manually removed thereby exposing the top of the 25 steam ejection tower assembly 308, the medication cup assembly 309, and the top of the water storage container 304. The water storage container 304 is then manuaiiy removed by gripping indents (not shown) in the sides of the water storage container 304 and lifting it out from the lower housmg 303. The cap 337 is then removed and the water storage container 304 is ftiled with water, The 30 cap 337 is then screwed back onto the water storage container 304 and the water storage container 304 is retumed to the lower housing 303.
When the water storage container 304 is rerurned, the valve contact 1~

WO95/14190 2 lt 77~80 PCT/USs4113435 .
element 327 of the tray assembly 305 contacts the contact element 343 of the valve 338 thereby actuating the valve assembly upward against the force of the biasimg means 342 artd lifting the valve seat 339 up from the void 344 of the cap 336.
Waoer then flows from the water storage container 304 into the f~lling , 325 of the tray assembly 305. The level of the waoer is defmed by the top of the cap 336 since no air can flow into the water storage container 304 through the cap 336 when it becomes covered with water. The water flows from the filling ~ 1, 325 to the L.a~JulaLiol~ t . 326 via the void in the lower portion of the dividirJg wall 324.
Water in the e~a~ulaliu~ r 326 is heated by heating element 306 thereby producing steam and creating a higher pressure in the c.a,uuldLi chamber. This higher pressure forces the level of the water in the ~a,uulllLiu chamber 326 to be lower than that in the filling chamber 325. This higher pressure also forces the steam ~hrough the steam nozzle 331 of the steam nozzle assembly 307. In the steam ejection tower assembly 308, this steam draws cooler air as described above.
The dlviding wall 324 minimizes heat transfer from the water in the ~,va~JU~ iUII ~ 326 to the water in the filling, . i 325. The 20 water channel L~ ,,.;t; wall 328 lengthens the water channel between the voidin the dividing wall 324 and the cap 336 of the storage container 304 thereby minimizing heated waoer and heat transfer from the void to water stored in the water storage container 304. Further, the lengthened section 370' of the skirt 37.0 provides a physical barrier which impedes pulses of hot water from 25 traveling, ,l.~l,, lr~l from the heating element 306 to the void fommed in the dividing wall 324. Thus, only a small amount of water is heated thereby promoting safety in the event of a spill and promoting quick start-up time.
If the water level becomes too low, the i , c of the heating element 306 will rise since cooler water is no longer being supplied. When the . of the heating element reaches a I ' ~ r~ r, a - Ih.. ~ switch 360 will trip and tum offthe heating element. The themmostdt switch 360 can be reset by the resetting assembly 317 by pressing the wo 95/14190 2 1 7 7 0 8 3 PCTIUSg4113435 .
plunger 319 inward thereby causing the sloped surtace 3~0 of the p~unger 319 to reset the ~ switch 360.
A side cross-section of the ~ ~l " of the personal-sized warm air humidifier having a fixed internal water container 350 is illustrated in FIG. 13.
A top view of this; ' ' with the upper cover 302 removed is illustrated in FIG. 18.
In place of the tray assembly 305 and removable water storage container 304, a removable float valve 351 is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the float valve 351 includes a stem 353 having a float 352 on an upper end and a valve seat 355 on a lower end. Water flows up through the void 356 and out OpeMngs 354 uMil the water level rises to such an extent that the float 352 pulls the valve seat 355 upward thereby sealing the void 356.
Purther, as can be seen when comparing FIG. 12 with FIG. 13, the personal-sized warm air humidifier having a fixed water container 350 illustrated in FIG. 13 may have a smaller upper cover 302 and a larger lower housing 303 than the ' - " illustrated in PIG. 12.
The operation of the personal-sized warm air humidi~ler having a fixed water container 350 otherwise operates similarly to the personal-sized warm air humidifler of FIG. 12 described above.
FIG. 15 is a front view, and FIG. 16 is a rear view, of the shell 301 of the personal-sized warm air humidifler of FIG. 12 or FIG. 13. As shown, the lower housing 303 includes an air inlet grille 360 which permits air to be drawninto the shell 301 between the steam nozzle assembly 307 and the stealn ejectiontower 308. The lines beneath the inlet grille 360 have no function but are merely provided for aesthetic purposes.
PIG 19 is a left side view, and FIG. 20 is a right side view, illustrating the shell 301 of the personal-sized warm air humidifler of FIG. 12 or F~G. 13.
As shown in FIG. 20, the lower housing 303 includes the air inlet grille 360.
The lines beneath the inlet grille 360 have no function but are merely provided for aesthetic purposes.
Purther, as shown in PIG. 19, the height EI of the warm-air humidifler is at least twice its width W. In a preferred . ,.-',n.l:.,.. ~ the height is at least 9.5 WO95/14190 2 i 77Q~0 PCrlUS94113435 inches and the width is less than 4.1 inches. In a preferred, L ' the height H is d,u~ y 9.63 inches while the width W is dy~JII '!~ 4 inches. The minimum 2 to I ratio between height arld width provides an adequate height fo} mixing steam with air and a compact width.
S FIG. 21 is a top view illustratiLng the top cover 302 of the personal-sizedwarm air humidifier of FIG. 12 or FIG. 13. As shown, the top cover 302 includes an outlet grille siruated above the steam ejection tower 308. The linesto the right of point "P" have no function but are merely provided for aestheticpurposes.
Steam ejector tube 84 preferably is in the ~l, ~".. AI;III~ disclosed in thedrawings although the present invention: . ' the usage of a steam ejector tube which is straight or angled (rather than curved) or which does not have a restricted throat portion. However. these variations would result in a loss of efficiency of tube 84 as would be understood from points 1, 2. and 3 in the 15 "Summary of the Invention".
The present invention also ~ r ~ an ~.d~JUld~;Ull chamber in which the lower wall engages the bottom of the tray rather than spaced therefrom. In such an event, openings would be provided . i,, .. r. .l . `iAIly of the lower wall to permit water to enter the cVcl!)uldLiUll chamber from the main ~,u, Although the operation of the humidifier of the present invention would not materially change,a problem would arise in that the openings, in time, would become clogged by deposits from the water or other liquids used. to thereby impede the flow of water between the main ~U~ and the C~ uld~i chamber.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides an improved and novel humidifier which utilizes a simple and effective steam ejector tube in ( ' ` ' with a steam nozle through which a high velocity jet is produced under the constant pressure by reason of a differential head of water in the water supply ~ as constituted by the main ~ and the filling ~ of the base~
By utilizing the phenomena of ~ , negative pressure and buoyance a uniform and desired mixture of steam and air at a L~ ,ldL..l~ below WO 95/14190 ~ 1 7 7 0 8 0 PCT/US94/13435 the painful ran e is obtained without the use of relatively expensive mo~or driven blowers and the like. as well as . , with moving parts. The invention thus obviaoes the need of fans. motors, electric controls and the like, and the assembly costs required of them as weU as ~ costs. r, . the 5 pressure drop through the air filter, where used, is overcome by the present invention which adds to the value of same.
By providing an outer shell to - ' all elements, an easily ' ' personal-si~e warm air humidifier is possible. While the chances of ~ipping are increased by the height-to-width ratio, by only heating a small amount 10 of water, safety is increased.
Although several ~ I ' of the present invention have been disclosed and described herein, it may be readily understood that other variations of the invention may be practiced which still will be embraced by the spirit of the invention and covered by the claims which follow.

Claims (4)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A warm-air humidifier a) a base:
b) a housing on said base, and having an air inlet and an outlet. and an evaporation chamber in said housing;
c) means for delivering water from a water container to said evaporation chamber;
d) a heater for heating water in the evaporation chamber into steam; and e) an ejector chamber in fluid communication with the outlet in the housing, and suitable for mixing steam from said evaporation chamber with air.

2. A personal-size warm air humidifier comprising:
a) a water storage container;
b) an evaporation chamber fluidly coupled with said water storage container:
c) a heater disposed in said evaporation chamber;
d) a mixing element disposed above said evaporation chamber and mixing steam from said evaporation chamber with air; and e) an outer shell accommodating said water storage container, said evaporation chamber, said heater, and said mixing element.

3. The humidifier of claim 2 wherein said outer shell has a height and a width, said height being at least twice said width.

4. The humidifier of claim 3 wherein said height is at least 9.5 inches and saidwidth is less than 4.1 inches.