WO2003073014A1

WO2003073014A1 - Photo frame type humidifier

Info

Publication number: WO2003073014A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000313
Authority: WO
Inventors: Duk-Ki Kim
Original assignee: A & Z Technology Corporation Limited
Priority date: 2002-02-26
Filing date: 2002-02-26
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2002235018A1

Abstract

The object of this invention is to provide a photo frame type humidifier with a natural evaporating structure capable of naturally regulating the amount of water vapor in the air of a room. This photo frame type humidifier consists of a frame body (100), which receives a picture printed fabric (200) and defines a water container (150) in its lower portion. This humidifier is designed to easily feed water to the water container (150), and automatically drain water from the container (150). The humidifier also has a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell (500) consisting of negative and positive plates (510, 520), in the water container (150), thus automatically sterilizing water in the container (150).

Description

PHOTO FRAME TYPE HUMIDIFIER

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a humidifier having a natural evaporating structure capable of naturally regulating the amount of water vapor in the air of a room, and more particularly, to a photo frame type humidifier, which is designed to easily drain water from a water container of the humidifier and to destroy harmful microorganisms existing in water of the humidifier.

Background Art

Conventional photo frame type humidifiers have been disclosed in Korean U.M. Registration No. 193380 and Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-94435.

Referring to the Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-94435, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the photo frame type humidifier consists of a frame body 10, which receives a picture printed fabric 20 and defines a water container 15 in its lower portion. By actuating a submerged pump 30 installed in the water container 15, water is supplied from the water container 15 to a water feeding pipe 32. Water is sucked, starting from the upper end of the picture printed fabric 20 hanging on the water feeding pipe 32, and then returned to the water container 15. While water circulates through the humidifier in this way, water is naturally evaporated from the picture printed fabric 20 which always retains water, thus feeding water vapor to the air in a room. An auxiliary panel 40 is supported to a rear panel 12 by a plurality of support members 42, and is uprightly positioned below the water feeding pipe 32.

The picture printed fabric 20 hanging on the water feeding pipe 32 naturally droops, with its rear surface being closely attached to the front surface of the auxiliary panel 40. At both side edges of the auxiliary panel 40 are formed two water guide walls 41, each of which has a "T" shaped cross-section, thus preventing water from being spattered and overflowing out of the water guide wall 41 while water flows along the picture printed fabric 20.

The conventional photo frame type humidifier structured in this way is mounted to the wall of a room which is required to be humidified, in the same manner as conventional photo frames.

However, in the conventional photo frame type humidifier, it is difficult to fill water into the humidifier when it is mounted to the wall, because water has to be fed to the humidifier through a narrow gap defined between the lower end of the picture printed fabric and the water container 15. Thus, a user has to fill water into the humidifier after taking down the humidifier from the wall of the room. As a result, the conventional photo frame type humidifier has a problem that it is complicated to fill water into the humidifier, since the humidifier has to be taken down from the wall of a room whenever a user fills water into the water container 15, and the user must take great care to feed water to the humidifier.

Water contained in the water container 15 may be contaminated, due to the harmful bacteria which may grow in the case where water is stored in the water container 15 for a lengthy period of time, and contaminants, such as dust, which are attached to the picture printed fabric 20. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the contaminated water stored in the water container 15 with fresh water at regular or irregular intervals. But, the conventional humidifier is not provided with a device which allows water to be easily drained from the humidifier, so it is very inconvenient to replace contaminated water with fresh water.

When the humidifier is in use, water contained in the humidifier may be contaminated by harmful bacteria while coming into contact with the air of a room. The conventional photo frame type humidifier has another problem that it may harm a user's health, because this humidifier is not provided with a sterilizer for destroying harmful bacteria growing in the picture printed fabric 20, the water container 15, etc. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photo frame type humidifier, which is designed to easily feed water to a water container and allow water to be fed to the water container even when the humidifier is mounted to the wall of a room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photo frame type humidifier, which has a device for automatically draining water from the water container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a photo frame type humidifier, which has a sterilizer in the water container so as to sterilize water contaminated while circulating through the humidifier.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a photo frame type humidifier, comprising a frame body receiving a picture printed fabric and defining a water container in its lower portion, the humidifier operated in such a way that water is fed to a water feeding pipe from the water container by a submerged pump installed in the water container, and sucked starting from an upper end of the picture printed fabric hanging on the water feeding pipe, and then returned to the water container such that water is continuously circulated through the humidifier, thus feeding water vapor naturally evaporated from the picture printed fabric to the air of a room, the humidifier further comprising: a water supply port formed at a predetermined position of a sidewall of the frame body in such a way as to be higher than the water container; and a door for selectively opening the water supply port, whereby water is easily fed to the water container.

According to the humidifier of this invention, a drain hose is designed such that its first end is connected to the lower end of a connection pipe to communicate with the connection pipe connecting the submerged pump and the water feeding pipe, and its second end extends to the water supply port and is provided with a drain cock.

In addition, according to this invention, the humidifier includes a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell consisting of porous negative and positive plates, which is transversely installed in the water container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing a conventional photo frame type humidifier;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded and broken perspective view of a photo frame type humidifier according to this invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a water supply port included in the humidifier of this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view of a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell, included in the humidifier of this invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. Fig. 3 is a partially exploded and broken perspective view of a photo frame type humidifier according to this invention, Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a water supply port included in the humidifier of this invention, and Fig. 5 is a view of a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell, included in the humidifier of this invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the humidifier consists of a frame body 100 which is manufactured to have a photo frame shape using conventional plastics. The frame body 100 is also integrated with a rear panel 120, thus defining an interior space having a predetermined size.

The frame body 100 has, in its lower portion, a water container 150 for storing water. The lower portion of the frame body 100 is designed to have a channel shape for containing a predetermined amount of water.

A submerged pump 300 is installed at a position in the water container 150, and actuated to feed water into a water feeding pipe 320. The water feeding pipe 320 is made of plastics, and mounted to the inner surface of the upper wall of the frame body 100. The upper end of a picture printed fabric 200 is fitted into an axial slit formed on the water feeding pipe 320, whereas the lower end of the picture printed fabric 200 reaches the water container 150.

An auxiliary panel 400 is mounted to a rear panel 120 in such a way as to be uprightly positioned just below the water feeding pipe 320. The auxiliary panel 400 is positioned in the interior space of the frame body 100 in such a way that its front surface is in surface contact with the rear surface of the picture printed fabric 200. According to the present invention, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a water supply port 110 is designed to have a rectangular shape, and formed on a sidewall of the frame body 100 at a position above the submerged pump 300. The water supply port 110 is formed at a position which is higher that the maximum level of water to be contained in the water container 150. A door 130 is hinged, and rotates about a hinge pin 131 for selectively opening the water supply port 110. The door 130 is designed such that its outer surface forms a part of the sidewall of the frame body 100 in a normal state.

The submerged pump 300 installed in the water container 150 is connected to the water feeding pipe 320 placed on the upper portion of the frame body 100 by means of a connection pipe 310. In this invention, to the lower end of the connection pipe 310 is connected one end of a drain hose 330 in such a way that the connection pipe 310 communicates with the drain hose 330. On the other hand, the other end of the drain hose 330 extends to the water supply port 110 and is provided with a drain cock 331.

It is desirable that the drain hose 330 should be flexible and slightly elastic. The drain cock 331 is locked to the end of the drain hose 330 in the manner of force fitting or by fastening means, such as setscrews.

The door 130 is provided on its inner surface with holders 132 for holding the drain hose 330, so the drain hose 330 is stably exposed to the outside when the door 130 is opened. Further, a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell 500 consisting of negative and positive plates 510 and 520, is transversely installed in the water container 150.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the galvanic cell 500 is composed of different kinds of porous plates, each having a thickness of about 1mm. That is, the galvanic cell 500 consists of a negative plate 510, such as a nonmetal, and a positive plate 520, such as a noble metal. The positive plate 520 is made of a conductor containing carbon such as charcoal and graphite, whereas the negative plate 510 is made of magnesium. The negative and positive plates 510 and 520 are installed in the water container 150 at about 5mm intervals. Such a galvanic cell 500 creates a dielectric phoresis phenomenon between the two plates 510 and 520 in the water by a galvanic potential difference. At this time, the galvanic potential difference produces a voltage of 1.5-1.8V and an electric current of about 2,000mA, thus destroying the microorganisms existing in water of the water container 150.

The method of feeding water to the photo frame type humidifier constructed in this way is as follows. When it is required to feed water to the water container 150, a user has only to open the door 130 and supply water to the water container 150 through the water supply port 110, without taking down the humidifier from the wall of a room. In the case of feeding water to the humidifier, it is convenient to use a kettle or a hose connected to a tap.

Meanwhile, when it is required to drain water from the water container 150, a user opens the door 130, pulls apart the drain cock 331 connected to the drain hose 330, and actuates the submerged pump 300. At this time, water is not supplied to the water feeding pipe 320 from the water container 150 but discharged to the outside through the drain hose 330. That is, since the head of the drain hose 330 is lower than that of the water feeding pipe 320, water contained in the water container 150 is discharged to the outside through the drain hose 330. When the humidifier of this invention is in use, water circulating though the humidifier is sterilized while passing through the galvanic cell 500, so sterilized water vapor is fed to the air of a room, thus preventing respiratory disease as well as keeping the air of the room fresh and clean.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a photo frame type humidifier, which is designed to easily feed water to a water container and allow water to be fed to the water container without taking down the humidifier from the wall of a room.

In addition, this invention provides a photo frame type humidifier, which is designed to automatically drain water from the water container by a submerged pump, so it is easy to drain contaminated water out of the humidifier as well as to feed clean water to the humidifier.

Further, the present invention provides a photo frame type humidifier, which has a sterilizer, such as a galvanic cell, in the water container, thus preventing respiratory disease as well as keeping the air of a room clean and fresh.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A photo frame type humidifier, comprising a frame body receiving a picture printed fabric and defining a water container in a lower portion thereof, said humidifier operated in such a way that water is fed to a water feeding pipe from the water container by a submerged pump installed in the water container, and sucked starting from an upper end of the picture printed fabric hanging on the water feeding pipe, and then returned to the water container such that water is continuously circulated through the frame body, thus feeding water vapor naturally evaporated from the picture printed fabric to the air of a room, the humidifier further comprising: a water supply port formed at a predetermined position of a sidewall of the frame body in such a way as to be higher than the water container; and a door for selectively opening the water supply port, whereby water is easily fed to the water container.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein a drain hose is designed such that a first end thereof is connected to a lower end of a connection pipe to communicate with the connection pipe, said connection pipe serving to connect the submerged pump and the water feeding pipe, and a second end thereof extends to the water supply port and is provided with a drain cock.

3. The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the door is provided on an inner surface thereof with holders to support the second end of the drain hose in order to ensure that the second end of the drain hose is stably exposed out of the frame body 100 when the door is opened.

4. A photo frame type humidifier, comprising a frame body receiving a picture printed fabric and defining a water container in a lower portion thereof, said humidifier operated in such a way that water is fed to a water feeding pipe from the water container by a submerged pump installed in the water container, and sucked starting from an upper end of the picture printed fabric hanging on the water feeding pipe, and then return to the water container such that water is continuously circulated through the frame body, thus feeding water vapor naturally evaporated in the picture printed fabric to an air of a room, the humidifier further comprising: a sterilizer in the water container, thus being capable of sterilizing water of the water container.

5. The humidifier according to claim 4, wherein said sterilizer is a galvanic cell consisting of porous negative and positive plates, and is transversely installed in the water container.