Humidifier

Claim 2

A humidifier comprising: an open top receptacle containing a quantity of water therein, said receptacle having an outwardly extending flange defining the open top thereof, an electrical heating unit positioned within a rigid outer tube and mounted transversely of said receptacle to said flanges by clamp members encircling the ends of said outer tube, and a plurality of wick means spaced from each other engaging said heating unit, said wick means having their free ends immersed in said water to a depth adjacent the bottom portion of said receptacle and conveying to said heating unit by capillary action a quantity of water for evaporation, said heater having exposed portions between said wick means whereby the surrounding air is heated and moistened by thermo-convection air currents moving through and around said wick means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a dehumidifier for maintaining a predetermined relative humidity in an enclosed area, said dehumidifier including an elongated tubular member, a humidistat responsive to the relative humidity within said enclosed area for controlling the operation of said humidifier and said dehumidifier within predetermined limits, said humidistat being supported on said dehumidifier and said humidifier being disposed in sufficiently spaced relation to said dehumidifier to prevent said dehumidifier from evaporating water from said receptacle.

Claim 4

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle includes a liner of plastic material, and support means connected to said receptacle and extending above the receptacle.

Claim 5

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wick means includes a pair of elongated absorbent strips having the central portion resting over said heating unit and the free ends terminating adjacent the bottom of the receptacle.

Claim 6

The structure as defined in claim 4 together with means supported from the heating unit to retain the central portion of the strips spaced from each other along the heating unit.

Claim 7

The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said spacing means includes a sleeve of mesh material disposed between the heating unit and strips, said sleeve including a central portion free of the heating unit and extending laterally thereof between the strips.

Claim 8

The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said sleeve of mesh material includes a depending panel of mesh material depending into the receptacle between the free ends of the strips to retain the free ends thereof spaced apart.

Claim 9

In combination with a muscial instrument provided with an enclosed space such as a piano having opposed surfaces disposed below a structural component, a dehumidifier in the form of an elongated rigid tubular heating unit mounted between the opposing surfaces, a humidifier supported below the structural component and below the dehumidifier, and a humidistat mounted on the dehumidifier and controlling the humidifier and dehumidifier to maintain a desired relative humidity within the instrument, said humidifier including an open-topped receptacle disposed vertically below the dehumidifier, a heating unit extending across the top of the receptacle and being rigidly supported therefrom, said receptacle and heating unit mounted thereon having a lengTh substantially less than the dehumidifier, wick members supported from the heating unit on the receptacle and depending into the receptacle, said receptacle including a quantity of water therein engaging the lower ends of the wick members, means on said heating unit on the receptacle to space the wick members apart to expose a substantial portion of the heating unit.

Claim 10

In combination with a muscial instrument provided with an enclosed space such as a piano having opposed surfaces disposed below a structural component, a dehumidifier in the form of an elongated rigid tubular heating unit mounted between the opposing surfaces, a humidifier supported below the structural component and below the dehumidifier, and a humidistat mounted on the dehumidifier and controlling the humidifier and dehumidifier to maintain a desired relative humidity within the instrument, said humidifier including an open-topped receptacle disposed vertically below the dehumidifier, a heating unit extending across the top of the receptacle and being rigidly supported therefrom, said receptacle and heating unit mounted thereon having a lengTh substantially less than the dehumidifier, wick members supported from the heating unit on the receptacle and depending into the receptacle, said receptacle including a quantity of water therein engaging the lower ends of the wick members, means on said heating unit on the receptacle to space the wick members apart to expose a substantial portion of the heating unit.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 8 together with a generally flat baffle panel disposed vertically above the dehumidifier and humidifier for diverting moist air around the periphery thereof, means adjustably connected to said receptacle for supporting it adjustably in suspended relation to the structural component, said receptacle including a removable plastic liner to enable replacement thereof to eliminate sediment build up in the receptacle.