Dehumidifier with a Humidity Display Device

A dehumidifier with a humidity display device has a hook body, a housing, a display unit, an indication unit, and a recovery unit. The display unit is light-transmissive and is mounted on the housing. The indication unit is mounted on the hook body and has a humidity indicator and a fixing portion. The humidity indicator is mounted on the indication unit and is displayed through the display unit. The fixing portion is mounted on the indication unit. The recovery unit is mounted in the housing and is connected between the housing and the fixing portion.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dehumidifier, and more particularly to a dehumidifier with a humidity display device.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional dehumidifier has a hook body and a housing. The housing is connected with the hook body and has multiple holes, multiple absorbent units and a humidity display device. The holes are formed through the housing at intervals and communicate with the ambient environment and a space formed in the housing. The absorbent units are mounted in the housing and can absorb the moisture from the ambient environment through the holes. The humidity display device is mounted on the housing and has a humidity-sensing unit. As the absorbing unit absorbs moisture from the ambient environment, the color of the humidity-sensing unit changes gradually from blue to pink. By observing color change of the humidity-sensing unit, the user determines whether to plug the dehumidifier for connection to an external power source to heat the absorbent units and remove the moisture in the absorbent units.

However, the changing of color from blue to pink of the humidity-sensing unit is a lasting process, that is, before eventually changing into pink, the color may transit from light blue to purple and then to light purple gradually, such that the user cannot accurately determine the timing of plugging the dehumidifier to an external power source. Therefore, the efficiency of the dehumidifier may be affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier with a humidity display device.

The dehumidifier has a hook body, a housing, a display unit, an indication unit, and a recovery unit.

The housing is slidably mounted on and around a lower portion of the hook body.

The display unit is light-transmissive and is mounted on the housing. The indication unit is mounted on the hook body and has a humidity indicator and a fixing portion. The humidity indicator is mounted on the indication unit and is shown through the display unit. The fixing portion is mounted on the indication unit. The recovery unit is mounted in the housing and is connected between the housing and the fixing portion.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a dehumidifier with a humidity display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dehumidifier in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the dehumidifier in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of the dehumidifier across line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an operational front view of the dehumidifier in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an operational cross sectional side view of the dehumidifier across line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view in partial section of a second preferred embodiment of a dehumidifier with a humidity display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of the dehumidifier in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view in partial section of a third preferred embodiment of a dehumidifier with a humidity display device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view in partial section of a fourth preferred embodiment of a dehumidifier with a humidity display device in accordance with the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of a dehumidifier with a humidity display device in accordance with the present invention has a hook body 10, a housing 11, a display unit 20, an indication unit 30, and a recovery unit 40.

The hook body 10 is for hanging on a wall. The housing 11 is slidably mounted on and around a lower portion of the hook body 10 and has a heating unit 12, a thermal plate 15, a plug 14, a connecting portion 13, and multiple absorbent units 16. The heating unit 12, the thermal plate 15 and the plug 14 are mounted in the housing 11 and are electrically connected with each other. The plug 14 protrudes out of the housing 11 for being connected to an external power source. The connecting portion 13 is mounted in the housing body 11. The absorbent units 16 are mounted in the housing body 11 and can absorb the moisture from the ambient environment.

The display unit 20 is light-transmissive and is mounted on the housing 11, such that when the housing 11 is moving, the display unit 20 is moving along with the housing 11.

The indication unit 30 is connected with the hook body 10 and has a humidity indicator 31 and a fixing portion 32. The humidity indicator 1 is mounted on the indication unit 30 and is displayed through the display unit 20. The humidity indicator 31 may be a projection, a pointer, or a graduated scale to provide an indicative effect. Perfectly, the humidity indicator 31 is a projection. The fixing portion 32 protrudes on a side of the indication unit 30 opposite to the humidity indicator 31. The fixing portion 32 may be a projection, an abutment surface, or a guiding slit, and preferably, is a projection.

The recovery unit 40 is mounted in the housing 11 and is connected between the housing 11 and the fixing portion 32. Perfectly, the recovery unit 40 is a tension spring and has two hook portions respectively formed on two ends of the tension spring. One of the hook portions of the tension spring is mounted around the fixing portion 32, and the other hook portion of the tension spring is mounted around the connecting portion 13 of the housing 11.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, before the absorbent units 16 absorb the moisture from the ambient environment, the recovery unit 40 (the tension spring) is not deformed, and the humidity indicator 31 is located in a bottom of the display unit 20.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the weight of the absorbent units 16 increases gradually since the absorbent units 16 absorb moisture from the ambient environment. The housing 11 moves downward relative to the hook body 10 due to the weight-increasing absorbent units 16. Moreover, the display unit 20 moves with the housing 11 but the indication unit 30 is fixed on the hook body and is kept from moving with the housing 11, such that the display unit 20 moves relative to the indication unit 30. Therefore, the position of the indication unit 30 in the display unit 20 moves upward relative to the display unit 20, and the user can determine the moisture degree of the absorbent units 16 according to the position of the indication unit 30 in the display unit 20. In the meantime, the recovery unit 40 (the tension spring) is deformed since the housing 11 moves downward and pulls the recovery unit 40 (the tension spring). When the position of the indication unit 30 in the display unit 20 is located at a top of the display unit 20, the absorbent units 16 are saturated with moisture and can be heated to remove the moisture collected in the absorbent units 16.

To remove the moisture collected in the absorbent units 16, the plug 14 is connected with an external power source to provide a power to the thermal plate 15 of the heating unit 12, such that the thermal plate 15 can heat the absorbent units 16. Then, the moisture in the absorbent units 16 is evaporated into the ambient environment. After the moisture in the absorbent units 16 is evaporated, the weight of the absorbent units 16 is decreased. Therefore, the recovery force of the recovery unit 40 (the tension spring) will overcome the weight of the absorbent units 16 and is applied on the housing 11 to pull the housing 11 upward. Then, the position of the indication unit 30 in the display unit 20 will return to the bottom of the display unit 20 again, and the humidity display device can be operated for repetitive uses.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a second preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier in accordance with the present invention has an indication unit 30A and a recovery unit 40A different from those in the first preferred embodiment. The indication unit 30A is mounted in the housing 11 and has a body 34, a fixing portion 32A and a bolt 50. The body 34 is mounted around the hook body 10 and has a body space, a body opening 341 and a locking hole 342. The body space is longitudinally formed in the body 34 and accommodates the hook body 10. The body opening 341 is formed in a top of the body 34 and communicates with the body space. The locking hole 342 is formed through a bottom of the body 34 and communicates with the body space. The fixing portion 32A is formed on the body 34 and around the locking hole 342. Perfectly, the fixing portion 32A is an abutment surface. The bolt 50 is inserted into the locking hole 342 and is combined with the hook body 10 by threads.

The recovery unit 40A is a compression spring, is mounted around the hook body 10, is accommodated in the body space, abuts between the housing 11 and the fixing portion 32A.

Due to the moisture-absorbing process, the weight of the absorbent units 16 is increased gradually still the absorbent units are saturated, and then the recovery unit 40A (compression spring) is compressed by the housing 11 and the fixing portion 32A (abutment surface). After the absorbent units 16 get saturated with moisture, the thermal plate 15 heats the absorbent units 16 to remove the moisture collected in the absorbent units 16. The weight of the absorbent units 16 is decreased gradually, such that the recovery force of the recovery unit 40A (compression spring) will overcome the weight of the absorbent units 16 and pushes the housing 11 upward.

With reference to FIG. 9, a third preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier in accordance with the present invention has an indication unit 30B and a recovery unit 40B different from those in the first preferred embodiment. The indication unit 30B is mounted in the housing 11, is connected with the hook body 10 and has a fixing portion 32B. The fixing portion 32B is a projection and protrudes from the indication unit 30B. The recovery unit 40B is a volute spring, is mounted in the housing 11 and hooks the fixing portion 32B (projection) and a connecting portion 13B of the housing 11. The operation process of the third preferred embodiment is similar to those of the first and second preferred embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 10, a fourth preferred embodiment of the dehumidifier in accordance with the present invention has an indication unit 30C and a recovery unit 40C different from those in the first preferred embodiment. The indication unit 30C is mounted in the housing 11, is connected with the hook body 10 and has two block plates 33 and a fixing portion 32C. The block plates 33 are mounted on the indication unit 30C at interval. The fixing portion 32C is a guiding slit and is formed between the block plates 33. The recovery unit 40C is a torsion spring, is fixed around a connecting portion 13C of the housing 11. An end of the recovery unit 40C (torsion spring) is inserted into the fixing portion 32C (guiding slit).

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention has the following advantages: the display unit 20 moves relative to the identification unit 31 due to the weight-increasing absorbent units 16, such that the user can accurately determine the moisture degree of the absorbent units 16 according to the position of the humidity indicator 31 in the display unit 20, thereby enhancing efficiency of the dehumidifier. Moreover, the recovery unit 40, 40A, 40B, 40C provides the recovery force for the display unit 20 to recover to the original position relative to the humidity indicator 31, such that the humidity display device can resume the indication function for repetitive uses of the dehumidifier.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier having:

a hook body;
a housing slidably mounted around the hook body;
a display unit being light-transmissive and mounted on the housing; and
an indication unit mounted on the hook body and having a humidity indicator mounted on the indication unit and shown through the display unit; and a fixing portion mounted on the indication unit; and a recovery unit mounted in the housing and connected between the housing and the fixing portion.

2. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion is a projection; and
the recovery unit is a tension spring and has two hook portions respectively formed on two ends of the fixing portion, wherein one of the hook portions is mounted around the fixing portion, and the other hook portion is mounted on the housing.

3. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion is an abutment surface; and
the recovery unit is a compression spring and abuts between the housing and the fixing portion.

4. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion is a projection; and
the recovery unit is a volute spring and hooks the fixing portion and the housing.

5. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion is a guiding slit; and
the recovery unit is a torsion spring fixed in the housing and is inserted into the fixing portion.

6. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the humidity indicator is a projection.

7. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the humidity indicator is a projection.

8. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the humidity indicator is a projection.

9. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the humidity indicator is a projection.

10. The dehumidifier as claimed in claim 5, wherein the humidity indicator is a projection.

Patent History
Publication number: 20140060332
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Inventor: Tsang-Hung Hsu (Tainan City)
Application Number: 14/014,891
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Indicating Means (e.g., Color Change Indicator, Etc.) (96/117.5)
International Classification: F24F 3/14 (20060101);