Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid volume; the base having an open top and a horizontal cross section including a substantially rectangular portion, and a substantially circular portion intersecting and projecting into the rectangular portion; and the base including a substantially circular sidewall forming the circular portion, a substantially rectalinear endwall, a first substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and one end of the endwall, and a second substantially rectalinear sidewall extending between the circular sidewall and an opposite end of the endwall; the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the endwall forming the rectangular portion.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a boiler cavity; a liquid supply supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein; and an evaporation unit removably mounted on the base and adapted to induce evaporation of liquid contained thereby, and a vapor passage having a receiving end communicating with said cavity so as to receive vapor therefrom and a discharge end for discharging the vapor received from cavity. Also icluded is an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the heater; a switch mounted on the evaporation unit and adapted in one condition for deactivating the electrical supply and in another condition for activating the electrical supply and an actuator for producing the one condition in response to separating movement between the base and evaporation unit.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a cavity; a liquid supply tank removably mounted on the base and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid in the cavity; an electrically energized humidification unit for inducing dispersal of the liquid contained in the cavity; an electrical supply for supplying electrical energy to the humidification unit; and a sensing circuit for preventing electrical energization of the humidification unit with the tank removed from the base.

Abstract: A portable electric fan including a housing having a front wall defining a front opening for transmitting air, a rear wall defining a rear opening for transmitting air, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a fan blade rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted to move air in a given direction through the front and rear openings; and retainer means projecting upwardly from the top surface and adapted to engage one side of the sash of a vertically movable window. Also included are first and second elongated legs movably mounted in spaced apart positions on the bottom surface and adapted for movement between floor and window positions, each of the legs projecting in the given direction beyond the front and rear walls when in its floor position and extending in longitudinally aligned directions substantially perpendicular to the direction when in its window position. The retainer means and elongated legs facilitate alternative use of the fan for either internal or window applications.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir for retaining a liquid volume having an upper surface; a humidification unit removably mounted on the base and having an electrically energized humidifier adapted to induce dispersion of liquid retained by the reservoir, and a switch adapted in an active condition to energize the humidifier and in an inactive condition to cause deenergization thereof; and an actuator retained by the base and adapted for movement between activating and inactivating positions with respect to the switch, the actuator adapted in its activating positions to actuate the switch into its active condition and in its inactivating positions to actuate the switch into its inactive condition and wherein both given changes in the level of the upper surface and movement of the humidification unit relative to the base produce the controlling movement of the actuator.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a base defining a boiler cavity, a liquid supply being supported on the base and having a discharge opening communicating with the boiler cavity and adapted to maintain a given level of liquid therein. An evaporation unit is removably mounted on the base and includes an electrically energized heater projecting into the cavity and a magnetically operated switch. A float includes a magnet which activates or deactivates a switch. A vapor passage discharges the vapor from the cavity.

Abstract: A portable humidifier including a base defining a reservoir; a storage tank demountably supported by the base and adapted to retain a supply of liquid, the tank defining an orifice communicating with the reservoir; and a valve for controlling liquid flow from the tank into the reservoir through the orifice, the valve adapted to provide a liquid flow rate that maintains a given liquid level in the reservoir. Also included is a wick means comprising supply portions disposed in the reservoir below the given liquid level and evaporation portions disposed above that level, the wick means adapted to provide by capillary action a liquid flow from the supply portions to the evaporation portions; a housing defining an air flow path including the evaporation portions, the housing defining inlet openings and discharge openings; and a blower for producing air flow into the inlet openings, through the evaporation portions, and out of the discharge openings.

Abstract: An ultrasonic humidifier having a pair of water tanks which release their water into a reservoir in a staggered sequence. The staggered emptying of the water tanks enables the tanks to be refilled in a more efficient manner. Several different embodiments are disclosed.