IP Library Granted Patent US 7,677,536
Granted Patent B2
US 7,677,536 · App. 11/452,149 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Humidifier with controlled heated scent mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,677,536
App. No.
11/452,149
Granted
Mar 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable appliance including a humidifier and an electrically heated scent mechanism. The heated scent mechanism includes a scent generator and an electrical heating element. The heating element and humidifier may be independently controllable such that the appliance can serve as either a humidifier or air-freshener, individually or simultaneously.

Claims (44)

1. A humidifier comprising:

a housing;

a water tank coupled to the housing;

a humidifier mechanism within the housing including a water evaporator and an air circulator;

a receptacle within the housing and adapted to receive a scent generator;

an electrical heating element adjacent the receptacle for applying heat to the scent generator;

a first user control unit controlling the humidifier mechanism; and

a second user control unit controlling the electrical heating element.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein the air circulator generates a first flow out of the humidifier.

3. The humidifier of claim 2 wherein the first flow passes over the scent generator.

4. The humidifier of claim 2 wherein the first flow is isolated from the scent generator.

5. The humidifier of claim 4 wherein the air circulator generates a second flow which passes over the scent generator.

6. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein the electrical heating element includes an electrical heating coil.

7. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein the electrical heating element includes a PTC element.

8. The humidifier of claim 1 further comprising a door adapted to cover the scent generator.

9. A humidifier comprising:

a housing;

a water tank coupled to the housing;

a humidifier mechanism within the housing including a water vaporizer;

a receptacle within the housing and adapted to receive a scent generator;

an electrical heating element adjacent the receptacle for applying heat to the scent generator;

a first user control unit controlling the humidifier mechanism; and

a second user control unit controlling the electrical heating element.

10. The humidifier of claim 9 wherein the water vaporizer generates a first flow of vapor out of the humidifier.

11. The humidifier of claim 10 wherein the first flow passes over the air freshener.

12. The humidifier of claim 10 wherein the first flow is isolated from the scent generator.

13. The humidifier of claim 12 wherein the water vaporizer generates a second flow of vapor which passes over the scent generator.

14. The humidifier of claim 9 wherein the electrical heating element includes an electrical heating coil.

15. The humidifier of claim 9 wherein the electrical heating element includes a PTC element.

16. The humidifier of claim 9 further comprising a door adapted to cover the scent generator.

17. A humidifier comprising:

a housing;

a water tank coupled to the housing;

a humidifier mechanism within the housing including a water evaporator and an air circulator;

a receptacle within the housing and adapted to receive a scent generator;

an electrical heating element adjacent the receptacle for applying heat to the scent generator; and

a control unit for separately controlling each of the humidifier mechanism and the electrical heating element.

18. A humidifier comprising:

a housing;

a water tank coupled to the housing;

a humidifier mechanism within the housing including a water vaporizer;

a receptacle within the housing and adapted to receive a scent generator;

an electrical heating element adjacent the receptacle for applying heat to the scent generator; and

a control unit for separately controlling each of the humidifier mechanism and the electrical heating element.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2025
From: HELEN OF TROY LIMITED
To: KAZ EUROPE SÀRL
Reel/Frame 070496/0834 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: KAZ USA, INC.
To: HELEN OF TROY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 032264/0612 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2011
From: KAZ INCORPORATED
To: KAZ USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 025949/0030 →
CHANGE OF ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS Recorded Feb 24, 2009
From: KAZ, INCORPORATED
To: KAZ, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 022304/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2006
From: WANG, ZHIJING; HOTZ, LINDA
To: KAZ, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 017970/0177 →