GB2506943A - Radiator humidifier attachable to a radiator by at least one magnet - Google Patents

Abstract

The radiator humidifier 1 comprises an elongate container 10 including side walls 12,13, end walls 14,15, and bottom 11 and top 20 walls. The top wall has at least one aperture through which, in use, the humidifier is filled with water. Ideally the top wall is a removable lid having two end apertures 21,22 for filling the humidifier and a plurality of smaller apertures 23 for evaporated water to pass through. One of the side walls includes one or more recesses 16,17 in which one or more magnets 18,19, ideally rare earth magnets, are located. The exposed faces of the one or more magnets lie flush with the side wall, permitting improved conduction of heat between the humidifier and a central heating radiator (X figure 2) to which the humidifier is attached. The end walls can be semi-circular and the side walls may include thickened wall sections 16A,17A where the one or more recesses are located.

Description

Title: Radiator Humidifier The present invention relates to a radiator humidifier.

Radiator humidifiers are often used to increase the moisture content in heated rooms. Such humidifiers are usually in the form of a plastic or metallic container for water with hooks to hang the container on a radiator. Such containers often look unsightly and the hooks often break or fall off the radiator, causing the container to fall on the floor. Such containers predominantly rely on heat convection to function and can be inefficient.

The invention seeks to provide an improved radiator humidifier.

According to the present invention there is provided a radiator humidifier comprising: a) an elongate container having a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls extending from opposing side edges of the bottom wall, a pair of end walls extending from opposing end edges of the bottom wall, and a top wall with at least one aperture therein, and b) at least one magnet in a recess in one of said side wails such that an exposed face of the magnet is flush with the face of the side wall, in use the container being filled with water through one or more apertures and the said one side wall being placed against a planar surface of a radiator and secured thereto by the or each magnet, and heat from the radiator causing water in the container to evaporate.

Preferably the elongate container has a first component in the form of an elongate open face box forming said bottom wall, side walls and end walls, and a second component in the form of a removable lid for said open face box with the lid forming the top wall.

Preferably the lid has a pair of larger apertures at each end of the lid to fill the container with water, and a plurality of smaller apertures between the end apertures.

Preferably the magnets are rare earth magnets.

Preferably the end walls are semicircular.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view, and Figure shows a perspective view of the invention in use on a radiator.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a radiator humidifier 1.

Humidifier 1 is an elongate container with a first component in the form of an open faced elongate box 10 with a bottom waIl 11, planar opposing side walls side walls 12,13 extending from opposing long side edges 1 IA,1 lB of the bottom wall, curved semi-circular end walls 14,15 extending from opposing end curved semi-circular edges 11 C, lID of the bottom wall.

Humidifier elongate container has a second component in the form of a removable lid 20 for said open face box 10 with the lid forming the top wall of the container. The lid 20 has a pair of larger apertures 21,22 at each end of the lid to fill the container with water, and a plurality of smaller apertures 23 between the apertures 21,22, Lid 20 has a skirt 24 which forms a friction fit with the inside face of the side and end walls 12,13,14,15 whereby lid 20 is removable.

Side wall 12 includes a pair of recesses 16,17 to received rare earth magnets 18,19. Side wall 12 may have thickened wall sections I6A,17A to prevent water in the container coming in contact with magnets 18,19.

As shown in Figure 2, the humidifier container can filled with water through apertures 21 and/or 22, and side wall 12 can be placed against a planar surface of a radiator X and secured thereto by magnets 18,19. Heat from the radiator causes water in the container to evaporate. -i

Because side wail 12 is planar and the magnets are flush with the side wall 12, the side wall abuts against the radiator minimising air gap and maximising conductive heat transfer to water in the humidifier. This heat transfer process enhances water evaporation. Water evaporation is caused by both heat conduction and convection. The rare earth magnets are strong to provide good adhesion to the radiator and are not affected by the radiator heat.

The invention is designed to be placed on the front and the rear faces of the radiator.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications wifl be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing form the scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS1. A radiator humidifier comprising: an elongate container having a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls extending from opposing side edges of the bottom wall, a pair of end walls extending from opposing end edges of the bottom wall, and a top wall with at least one aperture therein, and at least one magnet in a recess in one of said side walls such that an exposed face of the magnet is flush with the face of the side wall, in use the oontainer being filled with water through one or more apertures and the said one side wall being placed against a planar surface of a radiator and secured r thereto by the or each magnet, and heat from the radiator causing water in the container to evaporane.
2. 2. A radiator humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the container has a first component in the form of an elongate open face box forming said bottom wall, side walls and end walls, and a second component in the form of a removable lid for said open face box with the lid forming the top wall.
3. 3. A radiator humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the lid has a pair of larger apertures at each end of the lid to fill the container with water, and a plurality of smaller apertures between the end apertures.
4. 4. A radiator humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the magnets are rare earth magnets.
5. 5. A radiator humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end walls are semicircular.
6. 6. A radiator humidifier substantially as hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figures. r (0