IP Library Granted Patent US 10,852,014
Granted Patent B2
US 10,852,014 · App. 16/255,099 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Portable rugged dehumidifier

Inventors: Jared M. Stearns (Madison, WI); Steven S. Dingle (McFarland, WI); Jerome Verhoeven (Sun Prairie, WI); Conor DuBois (Madison, WI); Diane K. Bustamante (Elkhorn, WI)
Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLC
F24F3/1405F16M1/00F16M3/00F24F1/0358F24F1/04F24F3/14F24F11/30F24F13/20F25B5/02F25B6/02F24F2110/10F24F2110/20F24F2221/125
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,852,014
App. No.
16/255,099
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet, a fan, a dehumidification system, and a compressor. The cabinet includes a front side and a back side opposite the front side, an airflow inlet located on a first side of the cabinet, and an airflow outlet located on a second side of the cabinet that is opposite the first side. The dehumidification system includes a secondary evaporator located proximate to the airflow inlet, a primary condenser located proximate to the airflow outlet, a primary evaporator located adjacent to the secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser located between the primary evaporator and the primary condenser, and a compressor. The fan is 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 flows through the dehumidification system in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow.

Claims (93)

1. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

a front side and a back side opposite the front side;

an airflow inlet located on a first side of the cabinet, wherein the first side is positioned between the front side and the back side;

an airflow outlet located on a second side of the cabinet that is opposite the first side, wherein the second side is positioned between the front side and the back side;

a first stationary handle located on the front side of the cabinet;

a second stationary handle located on the back side of the cabinet; and

a pivoting handle located on the back side of the cabinet, the pivoting handle configured to pivot and to permit a user to tilt and lock the cabinet in multiple positions while in transport;

two wheels proximate to the front side of the cabinet;

a fan located adjacent to the airflow outlet;

an air filter located adjacent to the airflow inlet;

a dehumidification system comprising:

a secondary evaporator located adjacent to the air filter;

a primary condenser located adjacent to the fan;

a primary evaporator located adjacent to the secondary evaporator;

a secondary condenser located between the primary evaporator and the primary condenser; and

a compressor located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet;

wherein the fan is 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 dehumidification system in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow.

2. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:

a drain pan configured to hold water that is condensed from the dehumidification system; and

a drain pump located at least partially within the drain pan, the drain pump located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet.

3. The portable dehumidifier of claim 2 , the cabinet further comprising a wall located at least partially between the primary condenser and the secondary condenser, the wall rising from a bottom surface of the cabinet a height that is less than a height of the primary condenser, the wall configured to form at least a portion of the drain pan.

4. The portable dehumidifier of claim 3 , wherein the wall wraps at least partially around a bottom portion of the compressor.

5. The portable dehumidifier of claim 2 , further comprising a drain pan cover located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, the drain pan cover configured to:

secure the drain pump in place; and

cover a portion of the drain pan adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, thereby preventing water from spilling out of the portable dehumidifier when in transport.

6. The portable dehumidifier of claim 1 , further comprising:

a communications interface; and

a computing system configured to:

establish a wireless communications link with a remote system using the communications interface;

permit the user to claim ownership of the portable dehumidifier using the wireless communications link;

provide current status of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link; and

provide performance history of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link.

7. The portable dehumidifier of claim 6 , wherein the wireless communications link comprises Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

8. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

a front side and a back side opposite the front side;

an airflow inlet located on a first side of the cabinet, wherein the first side is positioned between the front side and the back side;

an airflow outlet located on a second side of the cabinet that is opposite the first side, wherein the second side is positioned between the front side and the back side; and

a pivoting handle located on the back side of the cabinet, the pivoting handle configured to pivot and to permit a user to tilt and lock the cabinet in multiple positions while in transport;

two wheels proximate to the front side of the cabinet;

a fan;

a dehumidification system comprising:

a secondary evaporator located proximate to the airflow inlet;

a primary condenser located proximate to the airflow outlet;

a primary evaporator located adjacent to the secondary evaporator;

a secondary condenser located between the primary evaporator and the primary condenser; and

a compressor;

wherein the fan is 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 dehumidification system in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow.

9. The portable dehumidifier of claim 8 , further comprising:

a drain pan configured to hold water that is condensed from the dehumidification system; and

a drain pump located at least partially within the drain pan, the drain pump located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet.

10. The portable dehumidifier of claim 9 , the cabinet further comprising a wall located at least partially between the primary condenser and the secondary condenser, the wall rising from a bottom surface of the cabinet a height that is less than a height of the primary condenser, the wall configured to form at least a portion of the drain pan.

11. The portable dehumidifier of claim 10 , wherein the wall wraps at least partially around a bottom portion of the compressor.

12. The portable dehumidifier of claim 9 , further comprising a drain pan cover located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, the drain pan cover configured to:

secure the drain pump in place; and

cover a portion of the drain pan adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, thereby preventing water from spilling out of the portable dehumidifier when in transport.

13. The portable dehumidifier of claim 8 , further comprising:

a communications interface; and

a computing system configured to:

establish a wireless communications link with a remote system using the communications interface;

permit the user to claim ownership of the portable dehumidifier using the wireless communications link;

provide current status of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link; and

provide performance history of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link.

14. The portable dehumidifier of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communications link comprises Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

15. A portable dehumidifier, comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

a front side and a back side opposite the front side;

an airflow inlet located on a first side of the cabinet, wherein the first side is positioned between the front side and the back side;

an airflow outlet located on a second side of the cabinet that is opposite the first side, wherein the second side is positioned between the front side and the back side; and

a fan;

a dehumidification system comprising:

a secondary evaporator located proximate to the airflow inlet;

a primary condenser located proximate to the airflow outlet;

a primary evaporator located adjacent to the secondary evaporator;

a secondary condenser located between the primary evaporator and the primary condenser; and

a compressor;

wherein the fan is 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 dehumidification system in order to provide dehumidification to the airflow.

16. The portable dehumidifier of claim 15 , further comprising:

a drain pan configured to hold water that is condensed from the dehumidification system; and

a drain pump located at least partially within the drain pan, the drain pump located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet.

17. The portable dehumidifier of claim 16 , the cabinet further comprising a wall located at least partially between the primary condenser and the secondary condenser, the wall rising from a bottom surface of the cabinet a height that is less than a height of the primary condenser, the wall configured to form at least a portion of the drain pan.

18. The portable dehumidifier of claim 16 , further comprising a drain pan cover located adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, the drain pan cover configured to:

secure the drain pump in place; and

cover a portion of the drain pan adjacent to the front side of the cabinet, thereby preventing water from spilling out of the portable dehumidifier when in transport.

19. The portable dehumidifier of claim 15 , further comprising:

a communications interface; and

a computing system configured to:

establish a wireless communications link with a remote system using the communications interface;

permit the user to claim ownership of the portable dehumidifier using the wireless communications link;

provide current status of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link; and

provide performance history of the portable dehumidifier to the remote system using the wireless communications link.

20. The portable dehumidifier of claim 19 , wherein the wireless communications link comprises Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Assignments (5)
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 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 Sep 15, 2020
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 053775/0394 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: THERMA-STOR LLC
To: CIBC BANK USA
Reel/Frame 048387/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: STEARNS, JARED M.; DINGLE, STEVEN S.; VERHOEVEN, JEROME; DUBOIS, CONOR; BUSTAMANTE, DIANE KATHLEEN
To: THERMA-STOR LLC
Reel/Frame 048109/0091 →