IP Library Granted Patent US 10,458,676
Granted Patent B2
US 10,458,676 · App. 15/632,670 · Granted Oct 29, 2019

Retractable handle for a portable dehumidifier

Inventors: Todd R. DeMonte (Cottage Grove, WI); Steven S. Dingle (McFarland, WI); Joshua William Henry (Columbus, WI); James A. Scharping (Madison, WI); Jerome Verhoeven (Sun Prairie, WI)
Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
F24F13/32F24F3/1405F24F3/14F24F11/52F24F11/523F24F11/58F24F13/06F24F13/20F24F2003/144F24F2003/1446F24F2013/202F24F2013/205F24F2110/10F24F2110/20F24F2221/12F24F2221/125
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,458,676
App. No.
15/632,670
Granted
Oct 29, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable dehumidifier includes a plurality of microchannel condenser coils, a fan, and a retractable handle. The fan is located adjacent to an airflow outlet and is configured to generate an airflow that flows into the portable dehumidifier through an airflow inlet and out of the portable dehumidifier through the airflow outlet. The airflow flows through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow. The retractable handle is configured to slide into and out of the portable dehumidifier and to pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier.

Claims (74)

1. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

two wheels;

a cabinet comprising:

an airflow inlet located on a front side of the cabinet;

an airflow outlet located on a back side of the cabinet that is opposite the front side;

an evaporator located adjacent to the airflow inlet;

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils;

two bushing plates counted to the cabinet;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a fan located adjacent to the airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the airflow inlet and out of the cabinet through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through the evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to:

slide into and out of the cabinet; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises:

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

2. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the cabinet; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the cabinet.

3. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

4. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein:

each bushing plate is made of plastic; and

each bracket is made of metal.

5. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.

6. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

an airflow inlet;

an airflow outlet;

two bushing plates coupled to the cabinet;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils; and

a fan located adjacent to the airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the airflow inlet and out of the cabinet through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to:

slide into and out of the cabinet; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises:

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

7. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the cabinet; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the cabinet.

8. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

9. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein:

each bushing plate is made of plastic; and

each bracket is made of metal.

10. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.

11. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a plurality of microchannel condenser coils;

two bushing plates coupled to the portable dehumidifier;

two brackets, each bracket coupled to a respective one of the bushing plates;

a fan located adjacent to an airflow outlet, the fan configured to generate an airflow that flows into the portable dehumidifier through an airflow inlet and out of the portable dehumidifier through the airflow outlet, the airflow flowing through an evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condenser coils in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow; and

a retractable handle configured to:

slide into and out of the portable dehumidifier; and

pivot upwards and lock into a tilted position to allow for transport of the portable dehumidifier;

wherein the retractable handle comprises:

a cross member; and

two sliding members coupled to the cross member, each sliding member comprising one or more pins.

12. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , wherein:

each sliding member comprises an inward-facing front pin and an outward-facing rear pin;

each inward-facing front pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the bushing plates in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being pushed into the portable dehumidifier; and

each outward-facing rear pin is configured to engage with a notch on a respective one of the brackets in order to stop the retractable handle when it is being extended out of the portable dehumidifier.

13. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , wherein each bushing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to guide a respective one of the sliding members into and out of the bushing plate.

14. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , wherein:

each bushing plate comprises a transport stop that permits the retractable handle to pivot and stop in the tilted position;

each bushing plate comprises a transport lock configured to lock the retractable handle in the tilted position, each transport lock comprising a notch within its respective bushing plate; and

each sliding member comprises an end with a shape configured to be inserted into the transport lock.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2020
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 053775/0394 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2018
From: CIBC BANK USA
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 046226/0880 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2018
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 046227/0045 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2018
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 045021/0635 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 045003/0972 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2017
From: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.; THERMA-STOR LLC
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 044997/0596 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2017
From: DEMONTE, TODD R.; DINGLE, STEVEN S.; HENRY, JOSHUA WILLIAM; SCHARPING, JAMES A., JR.; VERHOEVEN, JEROME
To: TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 042812/0897 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180372371A1 · Dec 27, 2018