RECONFIGURABLE PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER AND METHOD OF USING THE PORTABLE HUMIDIFIER

Abstract

A portable humidifier and a method of using the same. The portable humidifier has a frame; a fluid droplet generator on the frame; and a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid. The fluid droplet generator is operable to cause fluid droplets generated from fluid from the supply in the fluid containment unit to become entrained in environmental air in a space in which the portable humidifier is located. The fluid containment unit has a wall structure that is selectively reconfigurable to occupy different surrounding volumes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to portable space conditioners and, more particularly, to a portable humidifier that can be reconfigured to occupy different volumes. The invention is also directed to a method of using such a portable humidifier.

Background Art

Many different versions of portable space humidifiers currently exist, for personal use and for use in business environments. This category of humidifier has two principle components; a) a generator of fluid droplets that can be entrained in air in a space to be treated; and b) a containment unit for a supply of fluid, typically transportable with the droplet generator and configured to continuously deliver fluid to the droplet generator. The droplet generator may rely upon heat to vaporize a fluid or may cause droplets to be generated, as by using vibrated membranes of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,308,145 and 9,845,962, or by using other well-known structures and methods.

The desirability of functioning at all times in comfortably humidified environments has spawned the development of many different types of portable humidifiers that can now be transported readily, as in briefcases and luggage. Examples of these types of humidifiers are ones adaptable to cooperate with cap threads on a disposable plastic water bottle and ones that can be immersed in a conventional-type drinking glass.

While focus is on compact design to facilitate transportation of different humidifier structures, this end is commonly achieved at the expense of being able to provide a containment unit of substantial capacity to allow the humidifier to operate continuously for adequate time periods without requiring replenishment of the fluid supply. For example, a very small fluid containment unit may hold only enough fluid that the humidifier will operate for a handful of hours. Ideally, in a hotel room, a traveler would desire to continuously operate the humidifier through an entire sleep cycle. Unless the containment unit is periodically refilled, which is obviously inconvenient and impractical during sleeping hours, the desired humidity level in a space generally may not be maintainable.

Maximizing fluid containment capacity may also be a problem in units scaled up from the highly portable designs, discussed above. Some residential humidifier designs are commonly made with a containment unit having a one or two gallon capacity. While this larger capacity allows humidifiers to be operated for time periods long enough that refilling does not become onerous, such designs introduce other problems.

Large capacity humidifiers are commonly designed to strategically distribute a volume of fluid droplets into a space while having an aesthetically pleasing appearance. These objectives may result in a relatively high, and/or bulky, profile. While during operation, this may not be a particular problem, it creates inconvenience and adds expense associated with packaging, storing, displaying, and otherwise handling such humidifiers.

In the highly competitive portable humidifier market, display space in retail stores is at a premium and desirable locations within such stores are generally expensive. A relatively small number of units may take up a significant volume of display space in retail establishments which may significantly affect the bottom line profit on sales.

Further, large humidifier units require a complementary containment carton shape which, aside from its large size, may have to incorporate expensive and complicated cushioning to protect the humidifier parts being handled and shipped in such cartons.

From the standpoint of the consumer, a large volume portable humidifier, whether in a container or apart therefrom, may be inconvenient to handle and store. This is particularly a problem since room humidifiers are generally considered to be seasonal items usable primarily in periods when dry, heated air is present in an occupied space. Thus, many consumers will store portable humidifiers out of sight when they are not in use. A large humidifier represents an obvious inconvenience in this regard.

While the demand for portable humidifiers that allow individuals to increase humidity in spaces they occupy throughout their home, business, and recreational life, has increased, the industry has been challenged to balance the competing objectives of making humidifiers compact and allowing them to be operated continuously for adequate times that they do not need to be refilled, as in the middle of the night, or at inconvenient intervals. Heretofore, designers have generally focused their efforts on either compactness/portability or extended use capability without having the ability to reach an acceptable balance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention is directed to a portable humidifier having: a frame; a fluid droplet generator on the frame; and a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid. The fluid droplet generator is operable to cause fluid droplets to be generated from fluid from the supply in the fluid containment unit and to become entrained in environmental air in a space in which the portable humidifier is located. The fluid containment unit has a wall structure that is selectively reconfigurable to occupy different surrounding volumes.

In one form, the wall structure is reconfigurable back and forth in a predetermined manner between first and second shapes wherein the wall structure occupies different surrounding volumes.

In one form, the wall structure is configured to contain a supply of fluid independently of the frame.

In one form, the wall structure and frame are configured to cooperatively contain a supply of fluid.

In one form, the fluid containment unit is separable from the frame.

In one form, the portable humidifier is changeable between: a) a first state wherein the frame and fluid containment unit are fully separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the fluid containment unit is operatively joined to the frame, by relatively translating the fluid containment unit and frame without requiring manipulation of any separate fasteners.

In one form, the wall structure has first and second spaced wall portions. A peripheral wall portion extends between the first and second wall portions. The wall structure is selectively reconfigurable to allow the first and second wall portions to be moved towards and away from each other.

In one form, the wall structure has a peripheral wall portion that extends around an axis and bounds a part of a fluid containment volume. The peripheral wall portion is controllably collapsible in an axial direction to selectively increase and decrease the fluid containment volume.

In one form, the peripheral wall portion has a stepped perimeter that allows at least a first part of the peripheral wall portion to be moved relative to a second part of the peripheral wall portion to thereby change a degree of axial overlap of the first and second parts of the peripheral wall portion and, as an incident thereof, the fluid containment volume.

In one form, the peripheral wall structure is made from a resilient material.

In one form, the wall structure has a top wall portion connected to the peripheral wall portion. The top wall portion has an outlet through which fluid droplets generated by the fluid droplet generator discharge to a space in which the portable apparatus is located.

In one form, the wall structure has a bottom wall portion connected to the peripheral wall portion. There are connectors on the frame and bottom wall portion that cooperate to releasably maintain a predetermined operatively joined relationship between the fluid containment unit and the frame.

In one form, the connectors on the frame and bottom wall portion have cooperating male and female parts that are movable into and out of a connected relationship by relative movement in an axial direction.

In one form, the male and female parts have radially oppositely facing surfaces.

In one form, at least one of the radially oppositely facing surfaces extends substantially fully around the axis.

In one form, the fluid containment unit has a graspable handle.

In one form, the wall structure has a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a peripheral wall portion between the top and bottom wall portions. The fluid containment unit further includes a fluid fill opening in the bottom wall portion. A cap is releasably joinable to the bottom wall portion to block the fluid fill opening.

In one form, the fluid droplet generator is configured to generate fluid droplets by using at least one of: a) heat; b) water diffusion; c) ultrasonic energy; d) wicking; e) convection; and f) evaporation.

In one form, the wall structure has a peripheral wall portion extending around an axis. The peripheral wall portion is substantially oval as viewed along the axis.

In one form, the wall structure bounds at least a part of a fluid containment volume. Reconfiguration of the wall structure changes the size of the fluid containment volume.

In one form, the invention is directed to a method of conditioning air within a space. The method includes the steps of: a) obtaining a portable humidifier having: a frame; a fluid droplet generator on the frame and having “on” and “off” states; and a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid, the fluid containment unit reconfigurable between at least first and second shapes and occupying a smaller surrounding volume with the fluid containment unit in the first state than in the second state; b) changing the fluid containment unit from the first shape into the second shape to thereby increase a size of a fluid containment volume defined by the fluid containment unit; c) placing fluid in the fluid containment volume within the fluid containment unit; d) with the fluid droplet generator in the “on” state and the fluid containment unit having the second shape, causing the fluid droplet generator to produce droplets of the fluid in the fluid storage volume and causing the fluid droplets to be discharged into the space; e) changing the fluid droplet generator from the “on” state into the “off” state and f) after performing steps d) and e), changing the fluid containment unit from the second shape back into the first shape.

In one form, the fluid containment unit has a wall structure that bounds the fluid containment volume. Step f) involves collapsing the wall structure.

In one form, the fluid containment unit has a wall structure bounding the fluid containment volume. Step f) involves collapsing the wall structure in a predetermined manner.

In one form, the method further includes the step of separating the fluid containment unit from the frame.

In one form, the method further includes the step of directing fluid into the fluid containment unit with the fluid container unit separated from the frame.

In one form, the fluid containment unit has a vertical axis. The step of collapsing the wall structure involves collapsing the wall structure to reduce an axial extent of the wall structure.

In one form, the fluid containment unit has a vertical axis. The method further includes the step of separating the fluid containment unit from the frame by translating the fluid containment unit axially relative to the frame.

In one form, the step of obtaining the portable humidifier involves obtaining the portable humidifier in a container in which the fluid containment unit has the first shape.

In one form, the step of obtaining the portable humidifier involves obtaining the portable humidifier in a container in which the fluid containment unit has the first shape and the fluid containment unit is operatively connected to the frame.

In one form, the step of obtaining the portable humidifier involves obtaining the portable humidifier with the fluid containment unit having the first shape in a container.

In one form, the method further includes the steps of obtaining a cover that is separate from the portable humidifier and connecting the cover to the portable humidifier with the wall structure collapsed.

In one form, the step of connecting the cover involves press fitting the cover to the fluid containment unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a reconfigurable portable humidifier, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic representations showing alternative constructions for a fluid containment unit on the portable humidifier in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the fluid containment unit, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and showing additional detail thereof;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one exemplary form of portable humidifier, as shown schematically in FIGS. 1-4 and with the fluid containment unit in an expanded state;

FIG. 6 is a view as in FIG. 5 with the fluid containment unit operatively joined to the frame;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, front elevation of the portable humidifier in the FIG. 6 state;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the portable humidifier in the state in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a view as in FIG. 6 wherein the fluid containment unit is in a collapsed state;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, bottom perspective view of the fluid containment unit in FIGS. 5-9 in the expanded state;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid containment unit as depicted in FIGS. 5-10;

FIG. 12 is a view as in FIG. 9 with a cover for the collapsed fluid containment unit spaced thereabove and aligned to be connected thereto;

FIG. 13 is a view as in FIG. 12 with the cover connected to the collapsed fluid containment unit;

FIG. 14 is a view as in FIG. 11 with a different form of structure for distributing humidified air into a space occupied by the reconfigurable portable humidifier;

FIG. 15 is a view as in FIG. 6 with the assembled fluid containment unit in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that in FIG. 10 and showing a modified form of fluid containment unit, according to the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram representation of a method of conditioning air within a space, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention herein is directed to a portable humidifier of the type shown generically at 10 in FIG. 1. The humidifier is “portable” in the sense that it is designed to be conveniently lifted and moved by an individual from one location to the next to allow humidification of environmental air at different locations and to allow convenient movement to and from a storage location.

Typically, portable humidifiers are made for placement on floors or articles of furniture within rooms. As depicted, the humidifier 10 has a frame 12 which can be placed upon a support 14 at a desired location. A fluid droplet generator 16 on the frame 12 is operable to cause fluid droplets to be generated from fluid from a supply thereof in a fluid containment unit 18, whereupon the fluid droplets become entrained in environmental air in the space in which the portable humidifier 10 is located.

The generic showing of the fluid droplet generator 16 is intended to encompass all known and devised methods and apparatus for generating fluid droplets, among which are those using: a) heat; b) water diffusion; c) ultrasonic energy; d) wicking; e) convection; and f) evaporation to generate the fluid droplets.

Typically, the fluid will be water by itself or water with one or more additives that may assist water droplet formation, provide a scent, etc. Fluids other than water might be utilized.

The apparatus 10 may be constructed so that the fluid droplets generated disperse in the space randomly or may be controllably discharged through one or both of outlets 20, 20′, associated directly with the fluid containment unit 18 and fluid droplet generator 16, respectively.

The precise structure of the fluid droplet generator 16 is not critical to the present invention, and thus there is no need to describe the structure and operation thereof in any detail herein. An exemplary fluid droplet generator relying upon ultrasonic energy is disclosed in each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,308,145 and 9,845,962, respectively entitled “Apparatus for Delivering Humidified Air To A Surrounding Space” and “Portable Air Treatment System”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A supply of fluid is maintained in a fluid containment volume 22a shown to be defined entirely by the fluid containment unit 18a in FIG. 2.

In an alternative form, as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid containment volume 22b is defined cooperatively by the fluid containment unit 18b and the frame 12b.

Regardless of whether the fluid containment volume is defined independently by the fluid containment unit or cooperatively by the fluid containment unit and frame as depicted in FIG. 4, the fluid containment unit 18 has an associated wall structure 24 that bounds at least part of the fluid containment volume. The wall structure 24 is selectively reconfigurable so that it, and the entire fluid containment unit 18, occupy different surrounding volumes. As used herein, “surrounding volume” refers to a space within a three-dimensional boundary circumscribing the perimeter of the wall structure 24. When configured to different shapes, the wall structure 24 has different surrounding volumes.

The schematic depiction of the reconfigurable wall structure 24 in FIG. 4 is intended to encompass virtually an unlimited number of different structures that allow change in shape and surrounding volume. The reconfigurable wall structure 24 may consist of a flexible type membrane that can be randomly reshaped, as by being enlarged upon the introduction of a fluid supply therewithin. Alternatively, a mechanical type structure is incorporated to allow a controlled repositioning/folding of parts of the reconfigurable wall structure 24. As just an example, hinges might be utilized to guide pivoting between parts, accordion-type folds might be incorporated, etc.

While not a requirement, in a preferred form, as hereinbelow described, the reconfigurable wall structure 24 is such that it can be controllably and consistently changed back and forth between predictable different shapes that account for different surrounding volumes and fluid containment volumes.

The generic showing in FIGS. 1-4 is intended to encompass the specific forms hereinbelow described as well as virtually an unlimited number of different forms of components and their interaction that would be readily devised by one skilled in the art with the teachings herein in hand. The exemplary form of the invention herein is not intended to be limiting in nature.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-11, one preferred exemplary form of the portable humidifier 10 is shown to be made up of the aforementioned frame 12 and fluid containment unit 18.

The portable humidifier 10 is changeable between: a) a first state, as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the fluid containment unit 18 and frame 12 are fully separated from each other; and b) a second state, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, wherein the fluid containment unit 18 is operatively joined to the frame 12. The portable humidifier 10 can be changed between its first and second states by translating the frame 12 and fluid containment unit 18 towards and away from each other along a vertical axis 26 that is common for each of the frame 12 and fluid containment unit 18. As depicted, the change between the first and second states can be made without requiring tools or manipulation of any separate fasteners, as further described hereinbelow.

The wall structure 24 on the fluid containment unit 18 consists of a first, top wall portion 28 and a second, bottom wall portion 30, spaced axially from each other with the fluid containment unit 18 having the shape shown in FIGS. 5-8, 10, and 11. A peripheral wall portion 32 extends between the top and bottom wall portions 28, 30. The peripheral wall portion 32 extends around the axis 26 and bounds, in conjunction with the top and bottom wall portions 28, 30, the fluid containment volume 22.

There are connectors on the frame 12 and bottom wall portion 30 that cooperate to releasably maintain a predetermined operatively joined relationship between the fluid containment unit 18 and frame 12, as shown in FIGS. 6-9. The connectors consist of cooperating male and female configurations on the bottom wall portion 30 and frame 12, with a number of interacting configurations that support the operatively positioned fluid containment unit 18 consistently on the frame 12 as it is lowered axially into place thereon.

More specifically, the connector on the bottom wall portion 30 consists of a depending rim 34 extending fully around the axis 26 and nesting within the connector on the frame 12 defined by an upwardly projecting rim 36. In this embodiment, the rim 34 defines part of the “male” connector and resides within the rim 36. A radially outwardly facing surface 38 on the rim 34 confronts a radially inwardly facing surface 40 on the rim 36. The surfaces 38, 40 are substantially matching, with a slight difference in radial dimension to allow the fluid containment unit 18 to be guided, without significant interference, into its operative position supported by the frame 12.

Downward movement of the fluid containment unit 18 relative to the frame 12 is arrested by a downwardly facing surface 42 extending around the rim 34 and abutting to a top edge 44 of the rim 36.

Additional stability is afforded by providing a flat, downwardly facing surface 46 on the bottom wall portion 30 that abuts to, or is in close confronting relationship with, an upwardly facing surface 48 on the frame 12.

While the confronting surfaces 38, 40 extend fully around the axis 26, this is not a requirement. Further, the “male” and “female” connectors may be placed on either of the frame 12 and fluid containment unit 18.

As depicted, the shapes of the top wall portion 28, bottom wall portion 30, peripheral wall portion 32, and frame 12, as viewed along the axis 26, have the same oval shape, which is dictated primarily by aesthetics. The oval shape of the frame 12 is, however, convenient by reason of generally conforming to two cup-shaped receptacles 50, 52, spaced from each other along the major axis of the oval and in communication with each other through a cutout 54 in an upper region of a wall 56 between the receptacles 50, 52.

The receptacle 50 receives fluid stored within the volume 22 and continuously feeds the fluid through gravitational force from the receptacle 50 through the cutout 54 and into the receptacle 52. At the base of the receptacle 52, the fluid droplet generator 16 is located. As noted above, it is not necessary to understand the details of operation thereof, with it sufficing to say that water droplets are generated and caused to rise from the receptacle 52 for transmission through the fluid containment unit 18 to an outlet 20. The fluid droplet generator 16 is powered by an appropriate supply 60, which may be a household current, batteries, etc. An on/off switch 61 is provided on the frame 12.

The fluid is introduced to the containment volume 22 by way of a fill opening 62 through the bottom wall portion 30. The wall bounding the fill opening 62 is threaded to cooperate with threads on a cap 64 with a contoured peripheral surface 66 that conveniently allows fingers grasping the cap 64 to nest, thereby facilitating turning thereof.

The cap 64 has a check valve 68 which is normally biased to a sealed state. By pressing on the check valve 68 axially upwardly, as indicated by the arrow 70 in FIG. 10, fluid in the volume 22 can discharge from the volume 22 through the cap 64.

The bottom wall portion 30 has an associated graspable handle 72 that has a bowed shape spanning the rim 34 parallel to the minor axis of the oval shape of the bottom wall portion 30. By grasping the handle 72, the fluid containment unit 18 can be comfortably held in the inverted orientation of FIG. 10, whereupon fluid can be introduced into the containment volume 22 through the fill opening 62 with the cap 64 loosened and separated from the bottom wall portion 30.

With the fluid container unit 18 filled with a supply of fluid, it can be inverted from the FIG. 10 orientation, aligned with the frame 12 as in FIG. 5, and directed downwardly in the direction of the arrow 74, as shown in FIG. 5, until operatively joined with the frame, as seen in FIGS. 6-9. As the bottom wall portion 30 moves into the frame receptacle defined by the bottom wall portion surfaces 36, 40, the cap 64 is advanced into the receptacle 50, whereupon an upwardly projecting plunger 76 in the receptacle 50 acts against the check valve 68 and opens the same, at least once the fluid containment unit 18 is fully operatively positioned.

The bottom wall portion 30 has a separate opening 78 therethrough with a shape that overlies and registers with the complementarily-shaped receptacle 52 on the frame 12. A collapsible guide column 80 is fit sealingly within the opening 78 and extends fully from the bottom wall portion 30 to the top wall portion 28 and defines an internal passageway 82 that communicates between the opening 78 and the outlet 20 formed at the top wall portion 28.

As depicted, the guide column 80 has a truncated conical shape that converges upwardly towards the outlet 20. Generated fluid droplets from the frame 12 funnel upwardly through the passage 82 to be expelled at the outlet 20 upstream at which there is a surrounding guide surface 84 that causes a controlled dispersion of the droplets from the outlet 20 into the space in which the humidifier 10 resides.

In this embodiment, the peripheral wall structure 32 and guide column 80 are reconfigurable by being axially collapsible from the shapes/states in FIGS. 5 and 11 to the states shown in FIG. 9 to allow the top and bottom wall portions 28, 30 to be moved towards each other into the relationship shown in FIG. 9.

In this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 32 is made from a flexible material, such as silicone, which is readily reconfigurable. The peripheral wall portion is formed with a stepped perimeter, in this case with first and second steps 86, 88, which produce a progressively enlarging oval shape between three different oval ring parts 90a, 90b, 90c. The ring parts 90a, 90b, 90c are substantially the same, with the exemplary ring part 90a having a mid-height bulge at 92 which defines a live hinge location. By pressing down upon the top wall portion 28, the ring region 94 above the bulge 92 folds inside of the ring portion 96 on the ring part 90a below the bulge 92. This folding pattern can be seen in FIG. 9 for the ring part 90a.

The downward pressure on the top wall portion 28 causes serial folding of the ring parts 90b, 90c, in the same manner as for the ring part 90a, until the compact collapsed configuration for the fluid containment unit 18 of FIG. 9 is realized. With this arrangement, the top wall portion 28 is allowed to collapse into axial overlapping relationship with the folded ring parts 90 to produce a relatively low vertical profile.

The guide column 80 can be made with a similar folding/collapsible configuration or any other type of arrangement, such as accordion folds, or the like, that allow it to compress axially to generally match the collapsed axial dimension of the peripheral wall portion 32 and top wall portion. A thin flexible membrane material, without any self-maintained volume or shape, and connected between the wall portions 28, 30, would function as well.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 11, in one exemplary form, the peripheral wall portion 32 is joined to upper and lower parts UP, LP, respectively, each made as from polypropylene, by overmolding liquid silicone rubber to define a subassembly that is joined to the top and bottom wall portions 28, 30. The upper part UP may be considered to be part of either the top wall portion 28 or the peripheral wall portion 32. Likewise, the lower part LP may be considered to be part of either the bottom wall portion 30 or the peripheral wall portion 32. For purposes of simplicity, the upper and lower parts UP, LP will be treated herein as part of the peripheral wall portion 32.

The upper part UP nests within and is fixed to the top wall portion 28 with the lower part LP fixed to the bottom wall portion 30 to form the fluid containment unit 18.

While not so limited in construction, the depicted collapsible guide column 80 is formed with a stepped diameter from overmolded liquid silicone rubber. The upper end UE and lower end LE of the guide column 80 are respectively joined to a funnel piece F at the top wall portion 28 and the bottom wall portion 30.

The funnel piece F defines the outlet 20 and has the aforementioned surface 84 that diverges upwardly and guides discharging humidified air upwardly and radially outwardly fully around an axis 98 of the funnel piece F at the outlet 20. This outlet shape generally is usable for generated “warm mist” and “cool mist” and is preferred in designs that generate water droplets through heating.

The top wall portion 28 has an opening 99 that produces a graspable handle/rim 100 around the periphery thereof. By grasping the handle 100, the top wall portion 28 can be conveniently drawn axially upwardly, causing the ring parts 90a, 90b, 90c to follow in sequence until the expanded configuration for the fluid containment unit 18 at FIG. 5 is realized.

With the construction shown, the wall structure 24 has two distinct and consistently selectable shapes in FIGS. 6 and 9, with the latter accounting for a substantially reduced surrounding volume than the former. As a transition is occurring between the FIGS. 6 and 9 shapes, the fluid containment volume progressively changes. It is possible to partially collapse the peripheral wall portion 32 and operate the portable humidifier 10 with the wall structure 24 having an intermediate, consistently settable shape. With this particular design, the degree of axial overlap of the ring parts 90 determines the size of the flow containment volume.

With this design, the peripheral wall portion 32 is changeable back and forth consistently between predetermined shapes dictated by the strategic formation of the ring parts 90, which control folding of the ring parts 90 and collapsing of the peripheral wall portion 32.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, an optional cover 110 may be provided that may be press fit to the portable humidifier 10 with the fluid containment unit 18 collapsed. The cover 110 has a wall 112 with a substantially cup shape with a flat wall portion 113 having a depending peripheral rim 114 that closely embraces the peripheral surface 116 on the outermost of three nesting ring shapes 118, 120, 122 that result from the collapsing of the peripheral wall portion 32. An inside surface 124 on the peripheral rim 114 closely embraces the surface 116 about its full peripheral extent to releasably frictionally maintain the cover 110 connected to the collapsed fluid containment unit 18, as shown in FIG. 13.

With the fluid containment unit 18 on the portable humidifier 10 collapsed, a cavity 126 is formed in communication with the opening 98. With the portable humidifier 10 powered as by 120 volt service, a separable power cord 128 can be folded and directed through the opening 98 to be stored in the cavity 126. The power cord 128 is blocked in the stored position by the connected cover 110.

Apart from providing a dust cover and confining the stored power cord 128, the cover 110 conveniently affords a sliding surface as can be used to guide the combined portable humidifier 10 and cover 110 in the FIG. 13 state into and out of a container, as used for shipping, or a compartment at a storage location. The covered portable humidifier 10 thus potentially has a fully surrounding hard shell that protects particularly, but not only, the collapsed fluid containment unit 18.

While a multitude of different modifications from the basic construction described above are contemplated, within the generic showings herein, a number of such variations will be briefly described below.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, the fluid containment unit 18′ is shown substantially as in FIG. 11 with the exception that the funnel piece F is substituted for by a nozzle assembly at 130, consisting of a cup-shaped expansion guide component 132, at the top of which a disc-shaped nozzle 134 is attached. The nozzle 134 is configured to cooperate with the component 132 to redirect upwardly traveling humidified air substantially radially relative to the axis 136 of the component 132. In this embodiment, the nozzle 134 has an elongate opening 138 defining the outlet 20′. By turning the nozzle 134 guidingly relative to the component 132 around the axis 136, the radial direction of discharge of humidified air can be selected within a 360° range.

The construction of the fluid containment unit 18′, in FIGS. 14 and 15 with the nozzle assembly 130, is preferred for portable humidifiers that generate water droplets without requiring heat and that typically use the assistance of a fan 140 to cause discharge and dispersion of water droplets into a space.

The construction of the fluid containment unit 18′ is otherwise substantially the same as the fluid containment unit 18 as shown in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 16, a further modified form of fluid containment unit is shown at 18″. The fluid containment unit 18″ differs from the fluid containment unit 18 primarily by reason of integrally forming a handle 72″ by molding the bottom wall with an integral bowed region that creates a concave surface 142 that can be comfortably engaged by a user's hand to allow exertion of an upward force on the fluid containment unit 18″ in the FIG. 16 orientation with a supply of fluid therein.

A further modification in FIG. 16 is to a cap 64″ that has radially projecting walls 144 that produce a “T” shape as viewed along a turning axis 146 for the cap 64″. The “T” shape is conveniently graspable to allow hand turning thereof.

With the above structure, a method of conditioning air within a space can be performed, as shown in flow diagram form in FIG. 17.

As shown at block 150, a portable humidifier, as described above, is obtained.

As shown at block 152, the shape of the fluid containment unit is changed as a result of changing the shape of the peripheral wall portion from a collapsed shape into a more expanded shape.

As shown at block 154, fluid is added to the fluid containment volume within the fluid containment unit.

As shown at block 156, the fluid droplet generator is changed from an “off” state into an “on” state, thereby causing fluid droplets to be produced and discharged into the space.

As shown at block 158, the fluid droplet generator is then changed from the “on” state into the “off” state.

As shown at block 160, after performing the above steps at blocks 150-158, the shape of the fluid containment unit is changed by changing the shape of the peripheral wall portion into a more compact axial configuration wherein the fluid containment unit itself, and the operatively joined fluid containment unit and frame, have a reduced surrounding volume.

With this construction, handling of the portable humidifier between manufacturer and user can be carried out as follows. The manufacturer can package the portable humidifier with the peripheral wall portion on the associated fluid containment unit in its collapsed shape preferably with the separate cover in FIGS. 12 and 13 connected. A packaging container can be made with a size adapted to this smaller surrounding volume. A container may be provided for the frame and collapsed fluid containment unit together as in FIG. 9 with or without the cover in FIGS. 12 and 13. Alternatively, the fluid containment unit and frame may be placed in separate containers. The latter allows the flexibility to offer interchangeable fluid containment units with different capacity. This different capacity may be accounted for by providing additional ring parts or making the ring parts with different axial dimensions. Collapsibility of the peripheral wall portions can take place in the same manner, regardless of the desired vertical dimension of the fluid containment unit.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.

Claims

1. A portable humidifier comprising:

a frame;

a fluid droplet generator on the frame; and

a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid,

the fluid droplet generator operable to cause fluid droplets to be generated from fluid from the supply in the fluid containment unit and to become entrained in environmental air in a space in which the portable humidifier is located,

wherein the fluid containment unit comprises a wall structure that is selectively reconfigurable to occupy different surrounding volumes.

2. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure is reconfigurable back and forth in a predetermined manner between first and second shapes wherein the wall structure occupies different surrounding volumes.

3. The portable humidifier according to claim 2 wherein the wall structure is configured to contain a supply of fluid independently of the frame.

4. The portable humidifier according to claim 2 wherein the wall structure and frame are configured to cooperatively contain a supply of fluid.

5. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the fluid containment unit is separable from the frame.

6. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the portable humidifier is changeable between: a) a first state wherein the frame and fluid containment unit are fully separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the fluid containment unit is operatively joined to the frame, by relatively translating the fluid containment unit and frame without requiring manipulation of any separate fasteners.

7. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises first and second spaced wall portions and a peripheral wall portion extending between the first and second wall portions and the wall structure is selectively reconfigurable to allow the first and second wall portions to be moved towards and away from each other.

8. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises a peripheral wall portion extending around an axis and bounding a part of a fluid containment volume, the peripheral wall portion controllably collapsible in an axial direction to selectively increase and decrease the fluid containment volume.

9. The portable humidifier according to claim 8 wherein the peripheral wall portion has a stepped perimeter that allows at least a first part of the peripheral wall portion to be moved relative to a second part of the peripheral wall portion to thereby change a degree of axial overlap of the first and second parts of the peripheral wall portion and, as an incident thereof, the fluid containment volume.

10. The portable humidifier according to claim 9 wherein the peripheral wall structure is made from a resilient material.

11. The portable humidifier according to claim 8 wherein the wall structure comprises a top wall portion connected to the peripheral wall portion, the top wall portion having an outlet through which fluid droplets generated by the fluid droplet generator discharge to a space in which the portable apparatus is located.

12. The portable humidifier according to claim 11 wherein the wall structure comprises a bottom wall portion connected to the peripheral wall portion and there are connectors on the frame and bottom wall portion that cooperate to releasably maintain a predetermined operatively joined relationship between the fluid containment unit and the frame.

13. The portable humidifier according to claim 12 wherein the connectors on the frame and bottom wall portion comprise cooperating male and female parts that are movable into and out of a connected relationship by relative movement in an axial direction.

14. The portable humidifier according to claim 13 wherein the male and female parts have radially oppositely facing surfaces.

15. The portable humidifier according to claim 14 wherein at least one of the radially oppositely facing surfaces extends substantially fully around the axis.

16. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the fluid containment unit comprises a graspable handle.

17. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a peripheral wall portion between the top and bottom wall portions and the fluid containment unit further comprises a fluid fill opening in the bottom wall portion and a cap releasably joinable to the bottom wall portion to block the fluid fill opening.

18. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the fluid droplet generator is configured to generate fluid droplets by using at least one of: a) heat; b) water diffusion; c) ultrasonic energy; d) wicking; e) convection; and f) evaporation.

19. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises a peripheral wall portion extending around an axis and the peripheral wall portion is substantially oval as viewed along the axis.

20. The portable humidifier according to claim 1 wherein the wall structure bounds at least a part of a fluid containment volume and reconfiguration of the wall structure changes a size of the fluid containment volume.

21. A method of conditioning air within a space, the method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a portable humidifier comprising: a frame; a fluid droplet generator on the frame and having “on” and “off” states; and a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid, the fluid containment unit reconfigurable between at least first and second shapes and occupying a smaller surrounding volume with the fluid containment unit in the first state than in the second state;

b) changing the fluid containment unit from the first shape into the second shape to thereby increase a size of a fluid containment volume defined by the fluid containment unit;

c) placing fluid in the fluid containment volume within the fluid containment unit;

d) with the fluid droplet generator in the “on” state and the fluid containment unit having the second shape, causing the fluid droplet generator to produce droplets of the fluid in the fluid storage volume and causing the fluid droplets to be discharged into the space;

e) changing the fluid droplet generator from the “on” state into the “off” state and

f) after performing steps d) and e), changing the fluid containment unit from the second shape back into the first shape.

22. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21, wherein the fluid containment unit comprises a wall structure bounding the fluid containment volume and step f) comprises collapsing the wall structure.

23. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21, wherein the fluid containment unit comprises a wall structure bounding the fluid containment volume and step f) comprises collapsing the wall structure in a predetermined manner.

24. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21 further comprising the step of separating the fluid containment unit from the frame.

25. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 24 further comprising the step of directing fluid into the fluid containment unit with the fluid container unit separated from the frame.

26. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 22 wherein the fluid containment unit has a vertical axis and the step of collapsing the wall structure comprises collapsing the wall structure to reduce an axial extent of the wall structure.

27. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21 wherein the fluid containment unit has a vertical axis and further comprising the step of separating the fluid containment unit from the frame by translating the fluid containment unit axially relative to the frame.

28. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21 wherein the step of obtaining the portable humidifier comprises obtaining the portable humidifier in a container in which the fluid containment unit has the first shape.

29. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21 wherein the step of obtaining the portable humidifier comprises obtaining the portable humidifier in a container in which the fluid containment unit has the first shape and the fluid containment unit is operatively connected to the frame.

30. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 21 wherein the step of obtaining the portable humidifier comprises obtaining the portable humidifier with the fluid containment unit having the first shape in a container.

31. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 23 further comprising the steps of obtaining a cover that is separate from the portable humidifier and connects the cover to the portable humidifier with the wall structure collapsed.

32. The method of conditioning air within a space according to claim 31 wherein the step of connecting the cover comprises press fitting the cover to the fluid containment unit.