GB2550434A

GB2550434A - Dehumidifier

Info

Publication number: GB2550434A
Application number: GB1611841.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsu Hong-Yang
Original assignee: NORM PACIFIC AUTOMAT CORP; North Pacific Automation Corp
Current assignee: NORM PACIFIC AUTOMAT CORP; North Pacific Automation Corp
Priority date: 2016-05-20
Filing date: 2016-07-07
Publication date: 2017-11-22
Also published as: CN107401783A; GB201611841D0

Abstract

A dehumidifier 10 comprises a casing 100, an accommodating space 150 housing a dehumidifying device 200, an opening 160, a filter 300, at least one water container 400 and a door 500, pivotally mounted to the casing. When closed the door covers the filter and the at least one water container and when the door is open, the filter and the at least one water container are exposed to the outside of the dehumidifier. The door may have an air inlet 510 and may be pivotally hinged. The dehumidifying device includes an air inlet side 210 and a water outlet side 220 and the accommodating space also holds the filter corresponding to the air inlet side, preferably near the door. The water container corresponds to the water outlet side. Preferably the casing comprises a bottom 110, top 120, back 140 and two side plates 130a, 130b. The filter is detachable and may comprise two water containers.

Description

DEHIJMIDIFIER

The present invention relates to a dehumidifier, and more particularly to a dehumidifier having a movable door.

With the development of technology, various types of electrical products are provided for user convenience. Furthermore, the development of the electrical products recently particularly focusses on the improvement of life quality and health. For example, humidity is generally high in an area prone to rain. High humidity is not good for health and results in mold growth. Thus, people living in this rainy area usually have a dehumidifier at home for dehumidification and drying. A dehumidifier has a built-in fan system for the passage of air there through. A moisture ab.sorber in the dehumidifier can absorb moisture from the passing air, thereby making the air discharged from the dehumidifier drier. Then, the absorbed moisture is sequentially passed through an inner circle, condensed into liquid and gathered into a water container. In addition, there is also provided a filter disposed in the dehumidifier for collecting dust and dirt from the air entering the dehumidifier, thereby improving lifespan of the moisture absorber. In traditional dehumidifiers, there is usually an opening accessible by users for insiallation/removal of the water container, so that users can take out and clean the water container by way of the opening. However, the filter is usually hidden inside the dehumidifier and not accessible to the users, and, if at all, can only be accessed via another opening, which is an inconvenience for users.

The present invention seeks to provide for a dehumidifier having advantages over known such devices and in particular for simplifying the processes of installing and taking out the water container and the filter.

One embodiment of the disclosure provides a dehumidifier including a casing, a dehumidifying device, a filter, at least one water container and a door. The casing can have an accommodating space and an opening. The opening can coiTespond the accommodating space, '['he dehumidifying device is located ia the accommodating space and has an air inlet side and a water outlet side. I'he filter can be located in the accommodating space and corresponds to the air inlet side of the dehumidifying device. The water container can be located in the accommodating space and corresponds to the water outlet side of the dehumidify'ing device. The door can be pivoted to the casing so as to cover the opening or leave the opening exposed. When the door covers the opening, the door covers the filter and the at least one water container. When the door leaves the opening exposed, the filter and the at least one water container are exposed to the outside of the dehumidifier.

According to the dehumidifier as discussed above, since the user can install and take out the water containers, and the filter, by way of the same door, the user need only action door opening/ciosing once in order to access/repiace the water containet^/filier, thereby simplifying the processes of installing and taking out the water container and the filter.

Furthermore, the back plate which is opposite to the door can be provided with no opening, thus the back plate can be close to a wall and taken as a support tor hanging the dehumidifier.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbeiow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the dehumidifier in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

In the follow'ing detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details, in other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, and Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the dehumidifier in fig. 1.

In this embodiment, a dehumidifier 10 is provided and which includes a casing 100, a dehuniidifying device 200, a filter 300, two water containers 400 and a door 500.

The casing 100 includes a bottom plate 110, a top plate 120, two side plates 130a and 130b and a back plate 140. The top plate 120 is located above the bottom plate 110. The two side plates 130a and 130b are connected between the bottom plate 110 and the top plate 120. The sides of the back plate 140 are respectively connected to the bottom plate 110, the top plate 120 and the two side plates 130a and 130b. The bottom plate 110, the top plate 120, the two side plates 130a and 130b and the back plate 140 together define an accommodating space 150. The accommodating space 150 has an opening 160. The opening 160 is located on a side of the side plates 130a and 130b which is opposite to the back plate 140. In addition, the top plate 120 has an air outlet 121.

Each of the two side plates 130a and 130b has a plurality of mounting parts 131. The mounting parts 131 are located on the saine side of the side plates 130a and 130b which is opposite to the back plate 140. Each of the mounting parts 131 is, for example, a plurality of threaded holes, and each of the threaded holes is for receiving a screw, in this embodiment, each of the side plates 130a and 130b has two mounting parts 131, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, each of the side plates 130a and 130b can have more than three mounting parts or only one mounting part. The advantages of both of the side plates 130a and 130b having mounting parts 131 are described later. Moreover, the preserrt disclosure is not limited to the arrangement of the mounting parts 131 on both of the side plates 130a and 130b. In other embodiments, only one of the side plates 130a and 130b has the mounting parts 131.

The dehumidifying device 200 is located in the accommodating space 150. The dehumidifying device 200 has an air inlet side 210, a water outlet side 220 and an air outlet side 230. The air inlet .side 210 of the dehumidifying device 200 is located at a side of the dehumidifying device 200 which is near to the opening 160. The water outlet side 220 of the dehumidifying device 200 is located at a side of the dehumidifying device 200 which is near to the bottom plate 110. The air outlet side 230 of the dehumidifying device 200 is located at a side of the dehumidifying device 200 which is near to the top piate 120.

The filter 300 is detachably located in the accommodating space 150. I’he filter 300 corresponds to the air inlet side 210 of the dehumidilying device 200. For example, the filter 300 can be assembled to the air inlet side 210 of the dehumidifying device 200 by hooking members (not shown). The opening 160 of the casing 100 leaves the filter 300 exposed, thus the user is able to access the filter 300 by passing through the opening 160 of the casing 100,

The two water containers 400 are detachably located in the accommodating space 150. The two water containers 400 correspond to the water outlet side 220 of the dehumidifying device 200. In detail, the two water containers 400 are arranged side by side and located under the dehumidifying device 200. The opening 160 of the casing 100 leaves the two water containers 400 exposed, thus the user is able to access the two water containers 400 by passing through the opening 160 of the casing 100. It is noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the quantity of the water containers 400. In other embodiments, the number of the water container 400 can be one or three or more.

The door 500 has an air inlet 510. The air inlet 510 is defined by a plurality of plate-like members. In detail, the plate-like members includes a plurality inner plates and a plurality of outer plates. The inner plates are more close to the dehumidifying device 200 than the outer plates. The inner plates are separated from the outer plates, and a part of inner plates are each overlapped by the adjacent two outer plates to form a staggered arrangement, thereby defining the air inlet 510. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the door 500. in other embodiments, the inner and outer plates can be replaced with a mesh.

The door 500 is pivotally mounted to the casing 100, thus the door 500 is able to cover tlie opening 160 or leave the opening 160 exposed. In detail, in this embodiment, the dehumidifier 10 includes a plurality of hinge assemblies 600. The number of the hinge assemblies 600 can match the number of the mounting parts 131. Thus, the present invention is not limited as regards the quantity of the hinge assemblies 600. In other embodiments, the number of the hinge assembly 600 can be one. In this embodiment, each of the hinge assemblies 600 can include a fixed member 610 and a pivotal member 620. The fixed member 610 can be selectively fixed to the mounting part 131 on the side plate 130a or the side plate 130b. The pivotal member 620 can be mounted to the door 500 and pivoted to the fixed member 610. As shown in FIG. 1, when the door 500 covers the opening 160, the door 500 covers the filter 300 and the water container 400. As shown in FIG, 2, when the door 500 is opened and leaves the opening 160 exposed, the filter 300 and the water containers 400 are exposed to the outside of the dehumidifier 10. lienee, the user can access the filter 300 and the water containers 400 by opening the door 500 only once when it is required to install and take them both out.

Since both of the side plates 130a and 130b have mounting parts 131, the user is able to selectively mount the door 500 to the left side plate 130a or the right side plate 130b according to an actual requirement, such as usage habit or environmental limitaiion. For example, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, a dehumidifier 10a is provided wherein the door 500 is mounted to the right side plate 130b.

Furthermore, the back plate 140 which is opposite to the door 500 has no opening, thus the back plate 140 can be close to a wall and taken as a support for hanging the dehumidifier.

According to the dehumidifier as discussed above, since the user can install and take out the water containers and the filter by opening the same door, the user need only open one door once in order to access the water container and the filter, thereby simplifying the processes of installing and taking out the water container and the filter.

In addition, since both of the side plates have the mounting parts, the user is able to selectively mount the door to the left or the right side plate according to an actual requirement, such as usage habit or environmental limitation.

While the invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure. It is therefore intended that the following appended clainis be interpreted as including ail such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier, comprising: a casing having an accommodating space and an opening, for access to the accommodating space; a dehumidifying device located in the accommodating space and having an air inlet region and a water outlet region; a filter located in the accommodating space and adjacent the air inlet region of the dehumidifying device; at least one water container located in the accommodating space and located adjacent the water outlet side of the dehumidifying device; and a door pivotally mounted to the casing and moveable beiw'een positions covering and exposing the opening: wherein when the door covers the opening, the door covers the filter and the at least one water container, and when the door exposes the opening, the filter and the at least one water container are accessible through the opening.

2. The dehumidifier according to Claim 1, wherein the air inlet region of the dehumidifying device is located at a side of the dehumidifier which is near to the door.

3. The dehuniidifier according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the door has an air inlet

4. The dehumidifier according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the casing comprises a bottom plate, a top plate, two side plates and a back plate, the top plate is located above the bottom plate, the two side plates are connected between the bottom plate and the top plate, sides of the back plate are respectively connected to the bottom plate, the top plate and the two side plates so that the bottom plate, the top plate, the two side plates and the back plate together define the accommodating space and the opening, and the door is pivoted to one of the two side plates.

5. The dehumidifier according to Claim 4, wherein the top plate has an air outlet, the dehurnidifying device has an air outlet side, and the air outlet side of the dehumidifying device is located at a side of the dehumidifying device which is near to the top plate.

6. The dehumidifier according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the water outlet side of the dehumidifying device is located at a side of the dehumidifier that is near to the bottom plate.

7. The dehumidifier according to Claim 1,2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, further comprising a hinge assembly, wherein each of the two side plates has a mounting part, one end of the hinge assembly is mounted to the door, the other end of the hinge assembly is selectively fixed to one of the mounting parts.

8. The dehumidifier according to Claim 7, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a fixed member and a pivotal member, the fixed member is selectively fixed to one of the mounting parts, and the pivotal member is mounted to the door and pivoted to the fixed member.

9. The dehumidtfier according to any one or more of the preceding claims and including two water containers.

10. The dehumidifier according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is detachably located in the accommodating space.

11. A dehumidifier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated In Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawings.