Humidifier

Abstract

A domestic humidifier ( 10 ) is disclosed as including a water tank ( 34 ) for containing water, a basin ( 30 ) in a liquid communicable relationship with the tank ( 34 ), an adsorption medium ( 28 ) for breaking down water delivered to the adsorption medium ( 28 ) into water droplets floatable in air, a pump ( 22 ) for delivering water from the basin ( 30 ) to the adsorption medium ( 28 ), in which the tank ( 34 ) includes a water inlet ( 36 ) and a cover ( 38 ), and the cover ( 38 ) is movable to selectively close or open said water inlet ( 36 ).

1 . A humidifier ( 10 ) including:
 a tank ( 34 ) for containing water;   a basin ( 30 ) in a liquid communicable relationship with said tank ( 34 );   means ( 28 ) for aerosolizing water;   means ( 22 ) for delivering water from said basin ( 30 ) to said aerosolizing means ( 28 );   characterized in that said tank ( 34 ) includes a water inlet ( 36 ) and a cover ( 38 ), wherein said cover ( 38 ) is movable to selectively open or close said water inlet ( 36 ).   
     
     
         2 . A humidifier according to  claim 1  further characterized in that said tank is releasably engaged with said basin. 
     
     
         3 . A humidifier according to  claim 1  further characterized in that said tank includes a water outlet ( 40 ) with valve means ( 42 ). 
     
     
         4 . A humidifier according to  claim 3  further characterized in that said tank is releasably engaged with said valve means. 
     
     
         5 . A humidifier according to  claim 3  further characterized in that said valve means is movable between an open position in which said outlet is open and a closed position in which said outlet is closed. 
     
     
         6 . A humidifier according to  claim 5  further characterized in that said valve means is biased by spring means towards said closed position. 
     
     
         7 . A humidifier according to  claim 3  further characterized in that said valve means is operatively associated with a float member ( 46 ). 
     
     
         8 . A humidifier according to  claim 7  further characterized in that said float member is engaged with said valve means via a lever ( 48 ). 
     
     
         9 . A humidifier according to  claim 7  further characterized in that said float member is movable between a lower position to move the valve means to its open position and an upper position to allow said valve means to move to its closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A humidifier according to  claim 9  further characterized in that movement of said float member between said lower position and said upper position depends on the amount of water in said basin. 
     
     
         11 . A humidifier according to  claim 1  further including means ( 18 ) for drawing air into and subsequently out of said humidifier. 
     
     
         12 . A humidifier according to  claim 11  further characterized in that said drawing means and said delivering means are operable by a single motor ( 20 ). 
     
     
         13 . A humidifier ( 10 ) including:
 a tank ( 34 ) for containing water;   a basin ( 30 ) in a liquid communicable relationship with said tank ( 34 );   means ( 28 ) for aerosolizing water;   means ( 22 ) for delivering water from said basin ( 30 ) to said aerosolizing means ( 28 );   characterized in that said aerosolizing means includes an adsorption medium adapted to break down water delivered to said aerosolizing means into water droplets floatable in air.   
     
     
         14 . A humidifier according to  claim 13  further characterized in that said adsorption medium is a metal mesh with a metal oxide or porous material. 
     
     
         15 . A humidifier according to  claim 13  further characterized in that said adsorption medium is made at least principally of aluminosilicate doped with a transition metal. 
     
     
         16 . A humidifier according to  claim 13  further including means ( 18 ) for drawing air into said humidifier, through said aerosolizing means, and subsequently out of said humidifier. 
     
     
         17 . A humidifier according to  claim 16  further characterized in that said drawing means and said delivering means are operable by a single motor ( 20 ). 
     
     
         18 . A humidifier according to  claim 4  further characterized in that said valve means is movable between an open position in which said outlet is open and a closed position in which said outlet is closed. 
     
     
         19 . A humidifier according to  claim 8  further characterized in that said float member is movable between a lower position to move the valve means to its open position and an upper position to allow said valve means to move to its closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A humidifier according to  claim 14  further characterized in that said adsorption medium is made at least principally of aluminosilicate doped with a transition metal.