IP Library Granted Patent US 10,563,888
Granted Patent B2
US 10,563,888 · App. 15/632,812 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Water reservoir for a portable dehumidifier

Inventors: Todd R. DeMonte (Cottage Grove, WI); Steven S. Dingle (McFarland, WI); Joshua William Henry (Columbus, WI); James A. Scharping, Jr. (Madison, WI); Jerome Verhoeven (Sun Prairie, WI)
Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
F24F13/222F24F3/1405F24F13/06F24F13/20F24F3/14F24F2003/144F24F2003/1446F24F2013/202F24F2013/205F24F2013/227F24F2221/125
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,563,888
App. No.
15/632,812
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable dehumidifier includes multiple microchannel condenser coils, a fan, a water reservoir, and a bracket. 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 water reservoir is located at least partially below the evaporator and is configured to store water removed from the airflow. The water reservoir includes a top that is at least partially open to capture water falling from the evaporator. The bracket is coupled to a compressor and covers a portion of the open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at an angle.

Claims (45)

1. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

two wheels;

a cabinet comprising:

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

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;

at least one microchannel condenser;

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 condensers in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow;

a compressor located within the airflow between the evaporator and the plurality of microchannel condensers;

a water reservoir located at least partially below the evaporator, the water reservoir configured to store water removed from the airflow, the water reservoir comprising a top that is at least partially open to capture water falling from the evaporator; and

a bracket connected to the compressor, the bracket covering a portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at an angle;

wherein the bracket comprises an L-shaped bracket that comprises:

a first portion that is configured to couple to the compressor; and

a second portion that is orthogonal to the first portion, the second portion covering the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at the angle.

2. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a water pump located at least partially within the water reservoir, the water pump configured to pump the water out of the water reservoir.

3. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a drain coupled to the water reservoir.

4. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir is formed from one or more panels coupled to the cabinet.

5. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir that is covered by the bracket comprises a corner of the water reservoir proximate to the at least one microchannel condenser.

6. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

an airflow inlet; and

an airflow outlet;

a plurality of microchannel condensers comprising a first microchannel condenser and a second microchannel condenser;

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 condensers in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow;

a water reservoir located at least partially below the evaporator, the water reservoir configured to store water removed from the airflow, the water reservoir comprising a top that is at least partially open to capture water falling from the evaporator; and

a bracket coupled to a compressor, the bracket covering a portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at an angle;

wherein the bracket comprises an L-shaped bracket that comprises:

a first portion connected to the compressor; and

a second portion that is orthogonal to the first portion, the second portion covering the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at the angle; and

wherein the water reservoir is formed from one or more panels coupled to the cabinet.

7. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , further comprising a water pump located at least partially within the water reservoir, the water pump configured to pump the water out of the water reservoir.

8. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , further comprising a drain coupled to the water reservoir.

9. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein the water reservoir is formed from one or more panels coupled to the cabinet.

10. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir that is covered by the bracket comprises a corner of the water reservoir proximate to the at least one microchannel condenser.

11. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a plurality of microchannel condensers comprising a first microchannel condenser and a second microchannel condenser;

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 condensers in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow;

a water reservoir located at least partially below the evaporator, the water reservoir configured to store water removed from the airflow, the water reservoir comprising a top that is at least partially open to capture water falling from the evaporator; and

a bracket coupled to a compressor, the bracket covering a portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at an angle;

wherein the bracket comprises an L-shaped bracket that comprises:

a first portion connected to the compressor; and

a second portion that is orthogonal to the first portion, the second portion covering the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir in order to prevent the water from spilling out of the water reservoir when the portable dehumidifier is tilted at the angle.

12. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , further comprising a water pump located at least partially within the water reservoir, the water pump configured to pump the water out of the water reservoir.

13. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , wherein the water reservoir is formed from one or more panels.

14. The portable dehumidifier of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the at least partially open top of the water reservoir that is covered by the bracket comprises a corner of the water reservoir proximate to the at least one microchannel condenser.

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 042815/0269 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180372370A1 · Dec 27, 2018