Description HUMIDIFIER HAVING TRAY IN WATER TANK PORTION

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a humidifier, and more particularly to a humidifier having a separate tray removably installed in the water-containing portion so that the creation of water stains in the water-containing portion is suppressed and that the inside of the humidifier can be cleaned easily. Background Art

[2] In general, a proper level of humidity (i.e. about 60%) in a room can prevent respiratory ailments and keep an indoor environment comfortable. Humidifiers, which change water into minute particles and disperse them all over the room, are used to foster such an indoor environment.

[3] The humidifiers are classified into centrifugal vaporizing humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers, electric heating humidifiers, etc. The centrifugal vaporizing humidifiers refer to humidifiers relying on centrifugal force so that inhaled water flies, collides, and changes into particles. The ultrasonic humidifiers refer to humidifiers containing an electric circuit which creates a particular frequency of electric signals. When the electric signals are transferred to a vibrator underwater, ultrasonic waves are created. The resulting cavitation creates mists. The electric heating humidifiers refer to humidifiers containing a heater or an electrode for heating water and creating steam.

[4] However, conventional humidifiers (e.g. ultrasonic humidifiers) have a problem in that, since a predetermined amount of water from the storage tank, which stores raw water, always remains in the water-containing portion of the humidifiers, water stains or calcareous components may be created or deposited on the surface of the water- containing portion.

[5] Furthermore, when the water-containing portion is cleaned to remove water stains, great caution must be taken lest water should penetrate into electronic components on the humidifier body. The fact that the water-containing portion generally has a complicated shape makes it difficult to clean every corner thoroughly. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a humidifier having a separate tray removably installed in the water-containing portion so that the creation of water stains in the water-containing portion is suppressed and that the inside of the humidifier can be cleaned easily.

Technical Solution

[7] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a humidifier including a body for changing water from a storage tank into particles and dispersing the particles indoors, the storage tank storing raw water; a water-containing portion formed on the body in a concave shape to contain water from the storage tank; and a tray having an identical shape as a surface of the water-containing portion, the tray being removably fastened to the water-containing portion.

[8] The tray has at least one through-hole formed on a bottom surface to prevent the water-containing portion from overflowing with water when the tray is pushed into the water-containing portion.

[9] The storage tank has a feed valve positioned on a lower portion to interrupt flow of water stored in the storage tank, and the tray has a feed rod protruding upward from a bottom surface so as to compress the feed valve and allow water stored in the storage tank to flow toward the tray.

[10] The water-containing portion has a level sensor for detecting a level of water supplied from the storage tank, and the tray has a partition positioned in front of the level sensor to prevent abrupt inflow of water toward the level sensor.

Advantageous Effects

[11] The humidifier according to the present invention is advantageous in that, since it has a separate tray removably installed in the water-containing portion to contain water, the creation of water stains in the water-containing portion is suppressed and that, since the tray can be separated from the water-containing portion for cleaning, the inside of the humidifier can be cleaned easily.

Brief Description of the Drawings [12] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [13] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall structure of a humidifier according to the present invention; [14] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the shape of a water-containing portion and a tray as main components of the humidifier according to the present invention; [15] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the water-containing portion and the tray at another angle; and [16] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the tray fixed to the water-containing portion.

Mode for the Invention [17] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with

reference to the accompanying drawings.

[18] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall structure of a humidifier according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the shape of a water-containing portion and a tray as main components of the humidifier; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the water-containing portion and the tray at another angle; and FIG. 4 is a top view showing the tray fixed to the water- containing portion. The overall construction and structure of the humidifier 100 according to the present invention are substantially similar to those of conventional humidifiers, except that the inventive humidifier 100 is characteristically provided with a removable tray 200 that has the same shape as the water-containing portion 140 formed on the body 110 of the humidifier 100.

[19] The humidifier 100 according to the present invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to FIGs. 1-4, the humidifier 100 includes a body 110 adapted to change water from a storage tank 120, which stores raw water, into particles and disperse them indoors; a water-containing portion 140 formed on the body 110 in a concave shape to contain water from the storage tank 120; and a tray 200 formed in the same shape as the surface of the water-containing portion 140 and removably fastened to the water-containing portion 140.

[20] The tray 200 has at least one through-hole 220 formed on the bottom surface 210 so that, when the tray 200 is pushed into the water-containing portion 140, water in the water-containing portion 140, if any, does not overflow.

[21] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that there is no specific limitation on the shape of the surface of the water-containing portion 140 and the shape and number of the through-hole 220, and various modifications can be made according to design requirements.

[22] According to the present invention, referring to FIG. 1, the storage tank 120 has a feed valve 130 formed on its lower portion to interrupt the flow of water stored in the storage tank 120. The tray 200 has a feed rod 230 protruding upward from the bottom surface 210 along the same vertical line as the feed valve 130. This ensures that, when the storage tank 120 is mounted onto the body 110 of the humidifier 100, the feed rod 230 compresses (pushes up) the feed valve 130 and allows water in the storage tank 120 to flow toward the tray 200.

[23] The water-containing portion 140 has a level sensor (not shown) for detecting the level of water supplied from the storage tank 120. The tray 200 has a partition 240 positioned in front of the level sensor to prevent the abrupt inflow of water toward the level sensor.

[24] The operation of the humidifier according to the present invention will now be described in detail.

[25] The humidifier 100 according to the present invention is operated in the following manner: the tray 200 is pushed into the water-containing portion 140 and is fixed therein. The storage tank 120 is mounted on the body 110 of the humidifier 100. Then, the feed valve 130 on the lower portion of the storage tank 120 is pushed back and opened by the feed rod 230 of the tray 200. As a result, water in the storage tank 120 flows into the tray 200 via the feed valve 130, which has been opened.

[26] The water in the tray 200 is atomized by an atomizing means (e.g. vibrator) of the body 110 and is dispersed indoors.

[27] The partition 240 of the tray 200, which lies in front of the level sensor for detecting the level of water supplied from the storage tank 120, prevents the abrupt inflow of water toward the level sensor and guarantees that the level sensor can always accurately detect the water level.

[28] If necessary, the user may power off the humidifier 100, separate the tray 200 from the water-containing portion 140 of the body 110, and clear it in order to keep the humidifier 110 clean.

[29] When the tray 200 is mounted on the water-containing portion 140 after the cleaning process, a small amount of water in the water-containing portion 140, if any, moves to the tray 200 via the through-hole 220 formed on the tray 200. This prevents the water-containing portion 140 from overflowing with water when the tray 200 is mounted on the water-containing portion 140.

[30] As such, the water-containing portion 140 of the humidifier 100 according to the present invention has a much simpler shaped than in the case of conventional humidifiers, and water stains are hardly created on the water-containing portion 140 of the body 110 of the humidifier 100.

[31] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that, although an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to an ultrasonic humidifier, the present invention is adapted and applicable to various types of humidifiers. Industrial Applicability

[32] The humidifier according to the present invention is advantageous in that, since it has a separate tray removably installed in the water-containing portion to contain water, the creation of water stains in the water-containing portion is suppressed and that, since the tray can be separated from the water-containing portion for cleaning, the inside of the humidifier can be cleaned easily.

[33] Although several exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described 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.