Humidifier and home appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10808952-B2
Application number	US-201916557829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is a humidifier and home appliance having a structure with an air inflow path formed in a water tank separately from a water supply inlet and configured to prevent noise due to air bubbles during water supply to a water reservoir from the water tank, and a structure configured to block the air inflow path in order to prevent water from flowing into the air inflow path during replenishment of water to the water tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifier comprising:
a water reservoir;
a water tank configured to store water, the water tank including a water supply valve configured to open a water supply inlet to supply the water to the water reservoir while the water tank is coupled to the water reservoir and to close the water supply inlet while the water tank is separated from the water reservoir;
an air inflow portion through which air is supplied to the water tank, the air inflow portion is separate from the water supply inlet;
a float disposed between the water tank and the water reservoir in a vertical direction and configured to move up and down according to a water level of the water reservoir, wherein when the float moves down, the water is supplied to the water reservoir from the water tank through the water supply inlet;
a humidifying element rotatably supported by a support frame; and
a fan configured to produce an air current for evaporating water supplied from the water reservoir to the humidifying element,
wherein the water supply valve of the water tank is configured to be pushed up by a projection portion associated with the water reservoir to open the water supply inlet when the water tank is coupled to the water reservoir.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the float has a form of a tire to enclose the water supply inlet.

3. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water supply valve is installed in the water supply inlet by an elastic member.

4. The humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
an airtight member coupled to the float to move together with the float.

5. The humidifier of claim 4 , wherein the airtight member is formed of rubber material.

6. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein an amount of air supplied to the water tank and an amount of water flowing in the water reservoir correspond to each other.

7. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the humidifying element is configured to perform humidification with supplied water contained in the water reservoir.

8. The humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a main frame constituting an exterior, wherein the fan is placed inside the main frame for circulating air.

9. The humidifier of claim 8 , wherein an outlet is formed on a top of the main frame and the fan is disposed below the outlet.

10. The humidifier of claim 9 , wherein the air circulated by the fan first passes through the humidifying element and then passes through the fan to the outlet.

11. The humidifier of claim 8 , further comprising:
a filter unit configured to purify air flowing into the main frame and disposed in the main frame.

12. The humidifier of claim 11 , wherein the filter unit is capable of being lifted upward and separated from the main frame.

13. The humidifier of claim 12 , wherein an outlet is formed on a top of the main frame and the fan is disposed below the outlet, and
wherein the air circulated by the fan is transmitted to the outlet by sequentially passing through the filter unit, the humidifying element, and the fan.

14. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water supply inlet is provided at a bottom of the water tank.

15. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the support frame is connected to the water reservoir.

16. The humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the float is disposed in an open/close unit disposed on the water tank.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Mun Sub
• Seo Hyeong Joon
• Koh Hoon Yeong
• Kim Ju Hwan
• Mo Jin Yong

Classifications

• F24F11/74

  for controlling air flow rate or air velocity · CPC title

• F24F2006/008

  Air-humidifier with water reservoir · CPC title

• F24F13/24 Primary

  Means for preventing or suppressing noise · CPC title

• F24F6/16

  using rotating elements · CPC title

• F24F6/00 Primary

  Air-humidification {, e.g. cooling by humidification} · CPC title