Humidifier

Claim 2

A humidifier comprising a housing defining a water reservoir, the housing including an upwardly extending outer wall which provides an air inlet and an air outlet, means for effecting a flow of air through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, means cooperating with the reservoir for imparting moisture to the air flow, and baffle means adjacent the air outlet for deflecting the flow of air within the housing and for directing the air flow outwardly and downwardly from the air outlet, said baffle means including a first wall extending generally horizontally inwardly from said outer wall below said air outlet and a second wall spaced inwardly from said outer wall and extending upwardly from said first wall, said baffle means providing a surface positioned to intercept water drOplets in the air for preventing the droplets from flowing through outlet with the air.

Claim 3

A humidifier according to claim 1 wherein said means for effecting a flow of air through the housing comprises a fan mounted within the housing for drawing air through the inlet, and said means for imparting moisture to the air flow comprises a slinger driven by the fan, and an evaporation pad positioned to intercept the flow of air so that the air flows through the pad.

Claim 4

A humidifier comprising a housing having a bottom wall, a generally cylindrical side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a generally horizontally extending generally circular top wall, the side wall being provided with an arcuately extending outlet opening adjacent to the top of the side wall, a generally horizontally extending annular wall extending inwardly from the side wall below the outlet opening, and a generally vertically extending arcuate wall extending upwardly from the inner end of the annular wall inwardly of the outlet opening and having an upper end spaced below the top wall, the housing being provided with an air inlet and the lower portion of the housing providing a water reservoir, blower means within the housing for providing a flow of air from the air inlet to the outlet opening, means cooperating with the reservoir for imparting moisture to the air flow, the air from the blower flowing upwardly inwardly of the vertically extending arcuate wall, between the upper end of the arcuate wall and the top wall, and downwardly outwardly of the arcuate wall and through the outlet opening, the inside surface of the vertically extending arcuate wall and the top wall intercepting water droplets in the air flow before the water droplets can reach the outlet opening.

Claim 5

A humidifier comprising a housing having a bottom wall, a generally cylindrical side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and a generally horizontally extending generally circular top wall, the side wall being provided with an arcuately extending outlet opening adjacent to the top of the side wall, a generally horizontally extending annular wall extending inwardly from the side wall below the outlet opening, and a generally vertically extending arcuate wall extending upwardly from the inner end of the annular wall inwardly of the outlet opening and having an upper end spaced below the top wall, the housing being provided with an air inlet and the lower portion of the housing providing a water reservoir, blower means within the housing for providing a flow of air from the air inlet to the outlet opening, means cooperating with the reservoir for imparting moisture to the air flow, the air from the blower flowing upwardly inwardly of the vertically extending arcuate wall, between the upper end of the arcuate wall and the top wall, and downwardly outwardly of the arcuate wall and through the outlet opening, the inside surface of the vertically extending arcuate wall and the top wall intercepting water droplets in the air flow before the water droplets can reach the outlet opening.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 in which the blower means directs the air flow toward the side wall below the annular wall whereby a substantial portion of the air flow is forced to flow inwardly below the annular wall before flowing upwardly inwardly of the vertically extending arcuate wall whereby water droplets are intercepted by the side wall and the annular wall.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3 in which the outlet opening extends for about 180* around the circumference of the side wall.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 3 in which the upper portion of the side wall between the top wall and the outlet opening is secured to the top wall and is unsecured to the remainder of the side wall to provide a removable cover.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 6 in which the cover includes a flange extending inwardly from the lower edge of said upper side wall portion to provide a moisture-collecting ledge between the upper side wall portion and the vertically extending arcuate wall.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 3 in which the top wall is slightly concave toward the interior of the housing whereby water droplets intercepted by the top wall flow toward the center of the top wall before dripping downwardly therefrom.