Reservoir with handle

Abstract

Provided is a reservoir ( 120 ) of a dehumidifier ( 100 ) comprising an enclosure ( 121 ) defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier ( 100 ) to define a guide path ( 140 );and a handle ( 130 ) engaged with the reservoir ( 120 ). The handle ( 130 ) comprises a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user. The handle ( 130 ) is rotatably movable relative to the reservoir ( 120 ) between a first position and a second position. In the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand. In the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region;   a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and   a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle
 comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, being movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position, wherein,
 in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and 
 in the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir may be removed from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path. 
     
     
         4 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 3 , wherein the reservoir may be replaced into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path. 
     
     
         5 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 4 , wherein the first guide surface is engaged with the exterior region. 
     
     
         6 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is movable between a first position and a second position by rotation relative to the reservoir, at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier. 
     
     
         7 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein, in the second position, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein, in the first position, the handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier. 
     
     
         9 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 8 , wherein, in the first position, when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, the handle is at least partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 9 , wherein the guide path is substantially linear. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
 providing a dehumidifier;   providing a reservoir adapted for operational engagement with said dehumidifier, said reservoir comprising
 an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region; 
 a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and 
 a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle
 comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, 
 being movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position, wherein,
 in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and 
 in the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand; and either, 
 
 a) installing the reservoir into the dehumidifier by
 drawing the reservoir along the guide path, and 
 moving the handle from a position intermediate to the first position and the second position to the first position, or 
 
 b) removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by
 drawing the reservoir along the guide path, and 
 moving the handle from the first position to a position intermediate to the first position and the second position. 
 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 11 , wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 12 , wherein the first guide surface is engaged with the exterior region. 
     
     
         14 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 13 , wherein the handle is movable between a first position and a second position by rotation relative to the reservoir, at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier. 
     
     
         15 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 14 , wherein, in the second position, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 14 , wherein, in the first position, the handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier. 
     
     
         17 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 16 , wherein, in the first position, when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, the handle is at least partially shrouded
 so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir.   
     
     
         18 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 17 , wherein the guide path is substantially linear. 
     
     
         19 . The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of  claim 17 , comprising
 removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path;   moving the handle from the first position to the second position;   carrying the reservoir by the handle to a disposal site; and   disposing of liquid water from the reservoir.   
     
     
         20 . A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising:
 an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture;   a first guide surface
 operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a substantially linear guide path, and 
 engaged with the exterior region; 
   a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle
 comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, being rotatably movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier, wherein,
 in the first position the handle,
 is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and 
 is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier, and 
 when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, is at least partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir, 
 
 in the second position the handle,
 is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand, and 
 extends upwardly from the reservoir; and 
 
 
   wherein the reservoir may be removed from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path; and   wherein the reservoir may be replaced into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path.