IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,241,653
Granted Patent B2
US 12,241,653 · App. 17/692,648 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Dehumidifier without condensate tank

Inventors: Zachary Chapin (Louisville, KY); Adam Schultz (Prospect, KY); David Leezer (LaGrange, KY)
Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
F24F3/14B01D5/0027F24F1/0358F24F11/30F24F11/61F24F11/63F24F11/89F24F13/222F24F2003/1446F24F2140/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,241,653
App. No.
17/692,648
Filed
Mar 11, 2022
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3763
USPC
62/150
Abstract

A dehumidifier without a condensate tank is provided. The dehumidifier may include a housing, one or more outlets, and no condensate tank. The dehumidifier may be positioned directly above a floor drain and/or a drain within a utility sink during operation. The dehumidifier may include a pump. The dehumidifier may include one or more sensors.

Claims (31)

1. A dehumidifier comprising:

a housing having a top wall and an opposing bottom wall interconnected by one or more side walls, wherein the housing includes at least a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, a fan, a motor, an air inlet, and an air outlet;

wherein the housing includes a first condensate water outlet and a second condensate water outlet, wherein the first condensate water outlet and/or the second condensate water outlet is positioned in at least one of the one or more side walls and/or the bottom wall, wherein at least one of the first condensate water outlet and/or the second condensate water outlet is positioned in the bottom wall of the housing; and

no condensate tank.

2. The dehumidifier of claim 1 further comprising a water level sensor.

3. The dehumidifier of claim 2 wherein the water level sensor is positioned in the bottom wall of the housing.

4. The dehumidifier of claim 2 wherein the water level sensor detects one or more condensate levels external to the housing of the dehumidifier at the bottom wall of the housing.

5. The dehumidifier of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the dehumidifier is adapted to contact a surface having a drain therein.

6. The dehumidifier of claim 1 further comprising a pump.

7. The dehumidifier of claim 6 wherein the pump is internal to the housing.

8. The dehumidifier of claim 6 wherein the pump is external to the housing.

9. The dehumidifier of claim 1 further comprising a hose connection structure releasably engaging at least one of the first condensate water outlet and/or the second condensate water outlet.

10. The dehumidifier of claim 1 wherein the first condensate water outlet is positioned in the one or more side walls of the housing and the second condensate water outlet is positioned in the bottom wall of the housing.

11. A method of reducing the humidity of a room, comprising the steps of:

providing a dehumidifier without a condensate tank;

configuring one or more condensate water outlets of the dehumidifier to be in fluid communication with a drain that is not part of the dehumidifier;

operating the dehumidifier to reduce the humidity of the room by converting water vapor in the room to condensate water, wherein the condensate water flows into the drain without passing through a condensate tank; and

plugging at least one of the one or more condensate water outlets.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of pumping the condensate water from the dehumidifier.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the dehumidifier includes a housing, wherein the housing of the dehumidifier includes a bottom wall, and further comprising the step of sensing the condensate water level exterior to the dehumidifier at the bottom wall of the housing.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of releasably engaging a hose connection structure to an outer periphery of the dehumidifier.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the bottom wall of the housing includes a water sensor, and further comprising the step of dispensing condensate water away from the water sensor towards the drain by gravity.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of dispensing the condensate water continuously from the dehumidifier without collection.

17. A method of dispensing condensate away from a dehumidifier housing without collection comprising the steps of:

providing a tank-free dehumidifier having a housing, wherein the housing includes a bottom wall, and wherein the bottom wall includes a water sensor positioned therein;

configuring one or more condensate water outlets of the dehumidifier to be in fluid communication with a drain that is not part of the dehumidifier;

operating the dehumidifier; and

dispensing condensate water away from the water sensor and into the drain when the dehumidifier is operating without passing condensate water through a condensate tank or a cavity configured to receive a condensate tank.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of sensing a level of the condensate water exterior to the housing at the bottom wall.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of dispensing continuously from the dehumidifier during operation without the tank-free dehumidifier having the ability to collect condensate water in a condensate tank therein.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method does not include a step of removal of a condensate tank from the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: CHAPIN, ZACHARY; SCHULTZ, ADAM; LEEZER, DAVID
To: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059256/0358 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63159796 · Mar 11, 2021
Related Publication 20220290876A1 · Sep 15, 2022
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