Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow. The display is coupled to the hygrometer for indicating when the wick requires replacement based upon the measured exit-relative humidity reaching a predetermined value.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a housing, a wick, a fan, and a wick change indicator. The housing has a upper and bottom portions. The bottom portion is formed with an air inlet and a reservoir. The reservoir holds water while supporting the wick. The wick is seated in the reservoir so that it is partially submerged in the water. The upper portion is formed with an air outlet with the fan mounted therein generally above the top of the wick. The wick change indicator generally includes at least one hygrometer and a display. At least one hygrometer is positioned within the airflow for measuring the exit-relative humidity of the airflow. The display is coupled to the hygrometer for indicating when the wick requires replacement based upon the measured exit-relative humidity reaching a predetermined value.

Abstract: A smokeless ashtray includes an ashtray that is formed with an ash receiving cavity and air passageway. The ashtray is supported by a housing having an upper portion which forms an air intake substantially adjacent to the ash receiving cavity, and a bottom portion which removably receives the ashtray. The bottom portion also includes a motor filter receiving space and is formed with an exhaust aperture. A motor is mounted within the motor filter receiving space with a fan being connected thereto such that the fan is located below the ashtray. The smokeless ashtray also includes an ashtray filter and/or a motor filter. The air passageway of the ashtray is configured to receive the ashtray filter while the motor filter receiving space within bottom portion of the housing is configured to receive the motor filter.

Abstract: A humidifier for vaporizing water including a base and a wick formed of a water absorbing material positionable on the base. The wick is in fluid communication with a water supply. A device is provided for moving air over the wick disposed adjacent thereto to vaporize the water absorbed by the wick thereby humidifying the air about the humidifier. A filtration device disposed in the flow of the water to the wick is provided and the filtration device is capable of removing impurities from the water supplied to the wick such that the wick is not contaminated by the impurities.

Abstract: An air purifier, an air filter and a method of manufacturing an air filter for an air purifier are provided. The air purifier includes a base assembly, a filter assembly and a grill. A fan is mounted to the base assembly, and draws air through the filter assembly. The base and filter assemblies include adjoining walls having openings which are substantially smaller in area than the areas of the adjoining walls and area through which air is drawn in through the filter assembly. A resilient gasket having a passage approximately the size of these openings is positioned between the adjoining walls. The filter assembly is drawn towards the base assembly when the fan is operated, thereby enhancing the seal formed by the gasket against the adjoining walls. Unfiltered air is accordingly unlikely to bypass the filter assembly. The air filter is manufactured in an efficient manner through the use of a back plate having oblique end portions.

Abstract: An air purifier, an air filter and a method of manufacturing an air filter for an air purifier are provided. The air purifier includes a base assembly, a filter assembly and a grill. A fan is mounted to the base assembly, and draws air through the filter assembly. The base and filter assemblies include adjoining walls having openings which are substantially smaller in area than the areas of the adjoining walls and area through which air is drawn in through the filter assembly. A resilient gasket having a passage approximately the size of these openings is positioned between the adjoining walls. The filter assembly is drawn towards the base assembly when the fan is operated, thereby enhancing the seal formed by the gasket against the adjoining walls. Unfiltered air is accordingly unlikely to bypass the filter assembly. The air filter is manufactured in an efficient manner through the use of a back plate having oblique end portions.

Abstract: An evaporative humidifier includes a base having a portion defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water. A housing is mounted on the base over the reservoir, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter with a permeable support is seated in the reservoir and extends up into the housing. The cylindrically shaped wick with permeable support filter has an open top end and a sidewall. A color change indicator strip is provided on the inner portion of the sidewall. The color change indicator strip provides a signal when the filter requires changing due to the extent of use and immersion of the filter in water. A fan is mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet, then into the center of the cylindrically shaped wick filter through the open top end, then out through the sidewall of the cylindrically shaped wick filter with a permeable support and then out of the housing through the air outlet.

Abstract: An evaporative humidifier includes a base having a portion defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water. A housing is mounted on the base over the reservoir, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is seated in the reservoir and extends up into the housing, the cylindrically shaped wick filter having an open top end and a sidewall. A fan is mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet, then into the center of the cylindrically shaped wick filter through the open top end, then out through the sidewall of the cylindrically shaped wick filter and then out of the housing through the air outlet. A heater is also mounted inside the housing for heating the air drawn into the housing prior to passage through the cylindrically shaped wick filter.

Abstract: A control circuit for an electrical appliance having an inductive load includes a signal conditioning element, a control element, a power conditioning element, a power adjustment element, and a switching element. The control circuit is sensitive to input received from a sensor which in turn is sensitive to a touch on an outside of a conductive casing of the appliance or a sharp sound. A separate touch pad is used if the appliance has a non-conductive casing. The load is typically a motor for driving a fan unit. The fan unit may be used either independently or as part of an appliance such as a humidifier, dehumidifier, heater, or air purifier.

Abstract: An air treatment system includes a housing having a from cylindrical chamber and a rear rectangular chamber, the front and rear chambers being separated by an internal wall. The front chamber is provided with a series of outlet vents, the rear chamber is provided with a series of inlet vents, and the internal wall is provided with a series of interchamber vents. A pair of electrically-powered cylindrical fan blades are disposed within the front chamber and are used to draw air into the rear chamber through the inlet vents, to move the air from the rear chamber to the front chamber through the interchamber vents and to exhaust the air from the front chamber through the outlet vents. A plurality of ionizer needles are also disposed within the front chamber. The rear chamber is shaped to include a generally rectangular reservoir. The air treatment system also includes a water tank removably mounted within the rear chamber for use in supplying water to the reservoir.

Abstract: An evaporative humidifier includes a base having a portion defining a reservoir for holding a quantity of water. A housing is mounted on the base over the reservoir, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is seated in the reservoir and extends up into the housing, the cylindrically shaped wick filter having an open top end and a sidewall. A fan is mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet, then into the center of the cylindrically shaped wick filter through the open top end, then out through the sidewall of the cylindrically shaped wick filter and then out of the housing through the air outlet. A heater is also mounted inside the housing for heating the air drawn into the housing prior to passage through the cylindrically shaped wick filter.

Abstract: An electric circuit is disclosed which includes an electric fan for dispersing air, a power switch for energizing the electric fan, and a convenience outlet for supplying power through the electric circuit to an external power consuming apparatus. The convenience outlet is operable separately and independently of the electric fan. In one embodiment for use in a humidifier the electric circuit further includes a refill light, a refill light switch, and a power light. In another embodiment for use in an air purifier the circuit further includes a filter sensor, a filter replacement indicator light, an ionizer for emitting ions, a negative ion switch, an ion indicator light and a power indicator light.

Abstract: An electric circuit is disclosed which includes a heater element for generating heat, a power switch for controlling the current to the heater element, a night light for providing illumination, and a night light switch for controlling the current through the night light. The night light is operable separately and independently of the heater element. In one embodiment for use in a humidifier the electric circuit further includes a thermo fuse, a thermo disc and a refill light. In another embodiment for use in a heater the circuit further includes a fan, a power light and a second heater element for generating heat.