Float for humidifier

Abstract

Provided is a float for a humidifier that always enables clean air humidification while facilitating cleaning of the float. This float (100) for a humidifier comprises: a top plate part (110) that has a circular flat plate shape; a cylindrical pipe part (130) that extends downward from the center of the top plate part (110); a guide plate part (135) that has a width extending from the outer edge of the top plate part (110) to the vicinity of the opposing edge of the top plate part (110) via the pipe part (130); a dividing surface (165) that divides each of the top plate part (110), the pipe part (130), and the guide plate part (135) into two portions; and a hinge part (141) that connects divided portions of the top plate part (110) and the guide plate part (135) to each other. The top plate part (110) or the guide plate part (135) has a locking member (145) for locking and fixing the portions of each of the top plate part (110), the pipe part (130), and the guide plate part (135) that are divided by the dividing surface (165) to each other.

Description

Float of a humidifier

[0001] The present invention relates to a float for a desktop humidifier using ultrasonic waves.

[0002] In recent years, in small household humidifiers such as desktop ones, in order to efficiently atomize a liquid, an ultrasonic vibrator is arranged at the bottom of a liquid tank, and a cylindrical portion is arranged above this ultrasonic vibrator to effectively concentrate the ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasonic vibrator on the liquid surface filled in the liquid tank by the cylindrical portion, or a float is arranged in the cylindrical portion, and while guiding this float up and down along with the liquid surface by the cylindrical portion, a cylindrical body having a larger opening diameter at the lower end than at the upper end is provided on the float, so that the ultrasonic waves are concentrated by this cylindrical body to effectively atomize (vaporize) the liquid in the tank. This has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-144428

[0004] A humidifier that generates a liquid column without dispersing ultrasonic waves by a cylindrical portion in a liquid tank or by a cylindrical body provided on a float to atomize (vaporize) the liquid can humidify a room or the like efficiently and effectively. However, when the cylindrical portion or the float gets dirty, especially when it is difficult to clean the inside of the cylindrical body of the float, it may be difficult to perform clean air humidification.

[0005] Also, generating a liquid column by a cylindrical portion or a cylindrical body to vaporize the liquid can efficiently vaporize the liquid, but there are also water droplets that fall from the tip of the liquid column to the liquid surface without vaporizing, and the sound caused by the falling water droplets may become noise.

[0006] The float of the humidifier according to the present invention has a circular, flat top plate portion, a cylindrical pipe portion hanging down from the center of the top plate portion, a flat guide plate portion provided perpendicular to the top plate portion and having a width that extends from the outer edge of the top plate portion through the pipe portion to near the opposite edge of the top plate portion, a dividing cross section passing through the center of the top plate portion and dividing the top plate portion, the pipe portion and the guide plate portion perpendicular to the upper surface of the top plate portion, a hinge portion connecting the top plate portion divided by the dividing cross section to each other or to each other of the guide plate portion, and a locking member provided on the top plate portion or the guide plate portion for locking and fixing the top plate portion, the pipe portion and the guide plate portion divided by the dividing cross section to each other.

[0007] Furthermore, the guide plate portion divided by the cross-section may be provided with a hinge portion at the edge extending downward from the outer edge of the top plate portion, connecting the edges of the divided guide plate portions, and on the edge of the guide plate portion facing the edge on which the hinge portion is provided, a locking projection portion with a hook portion as the locking member may be provided on one of the guide plate portions divided by the cross-section, so that the other part of the guide plate portion divided by the cross-section can be locked by the hook portion.

[0008] Furthermore, the top plate portion may have a notch in a part of its periphery, and the edge of the guide plate portion that has the hinge portion may hang down from the notch portion which is the outer edge of the top plate portion, so that the hinge portion is located below the notch portion.

[0009] Furthermore, this float may have plate-shaped knob-like projections that protrude upward from the top plate portion, on one and the other of the top plate portion that are divided by the aforementioned cross-section.

[0010] Furthermore, the knob projection provided on one of the top plate sections divided by the aforementioned cross-section and the knob projection provided on the other of the top plate section are of the same shape and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the circular, flat top plate section as the center of symmetry.

[0011] Furthermore, one and the other of the top plate sections divided by the aforementioned cross-section have recesses formed on a portion of their upper surfaces, and a knob plate dividing the recess into two is sometimes provided in the recess.

[0012] Furthermore, the recessed portions provided on one and the other of the top plate portion divided by the aforementioned cross-section are formed symmetrically with the center of the circular, flat top plate portion as the center of symmetry.

[0013] Furthermore, hinge portions may be provided on both outer sides of the upper end of the pipe portion on the upper surface of the top plate portion divided by the aforementioned cross-section, connecting the vicinity of the cross-sections of the top plate portion to each other.

[0014] Furthermore, the hinge portion has a hinge base on the upper surface of each of the top plate portions divided by the cross-section, and the upper ends of each hinge base may be connected by a thin connecting portion.

[0015] Furthermore, a curved recess may be provided in the center of the top plate, centered on the upper end of the pipe section.

[0016] Furthermore, the curved recess may curve gently downward from the upper surface of the top plate, become a nearly vertical inclined surface, and then gently become a nearly horizontal surface, supporting the upper end of the pipe at the center of the curved recess.

[0017] Furthermore, the top plate portion may also have a flat auxiliary guide plate portion perpendicular to the guide plate portion.

[0018] Furthermore, the auxiliary guide plate section may have a weight storage section, and a weight may be provided in the auxiliary guide plate section.

[0019] The float for the humidifier according to the present invention is formed of a flat top plate portion and a guide plate portion and a cylindrical pipe portion, and is a float for a humidifier that can vaporize liquid with high efficiency without dispersing ultrasonic waves by the pipe portion, and the top plate portion, guide plate portion and pipe portion can be separated by a cross section, and by separating the float, it is possible to keep it clean and maintain a clean state, and clean humidification can be sustained.

[0020] Furthermore, a float equipped with a hinge portion on an edge extending downward from the outer edge of the top plate, and a locking projection portion as a locking member on the edge of the guide plate opposite the edge where the hinge portion is provided, can effectively prevent the float from opening unintentionally by positioning the locking member away from the hinge portion which is the center of opening and closing.

[0021] Furthermore, the float of the humidifier according to the present invention has a notch in a part of the periphery of the circular flat top plate, and the hinge is positioned below the notch. Therefore, the top plate can be opened so that the notch of one top plate divided by the cross-section comes into contact with the notch of the other top plate, and the float can be stabilized in the open position, making it easy to clean the float.

[0022] Furthermore, since this float has a knob projection that protrudes upward from the top plate, it is easy to remove the float from the humidifier and insert the float back into the humidifier by grasping this knob projection.

[0023] Furthermore, the knob protrusions on one and the other top panel are the same shape and are symmetrically positioned with the center of the top panel as the center of symmetry. This makes it extremely easy to perform operations such as removing the float by grasping the knob protrusions on one and the other top panel with the fingers of both hands.

[0024] Furthermore, if recesses are formed on one and the other side of the top plate, and knob plates are provided in these recesses, it becomes easier to remove the float from the humidifier and insert the float into the humidifier by grasping the knob plates provided in the recesses. Also, because the knob plates are provided in the recesses on the top plate, the height of the float can be lowered, allowing for stable float operation on the liquid surface.

[0025] Furthermore, by forming the recessed sections symmetrically with the center of the top plate as the center of symmetry, it becomes extremely easy to remove the float with the circular top plate and to insert the float into the humidifier by grasping the knob plates that divide each recessed section in half with the fingers of both hands.

[0026] Furthermore, the float, which has hinges on both outer sides of the upper end of the pipe section on the top surface of the tabletop, allows the pipe section and guide plate section to be opened, making it easy to clean the inside of the pipe section and other parts.

[0027] Furthermore, when the hinge section is designed with a hinge base located on the upper surface of each of the top plate sections divided by a cross-section and connected by a thin connecting part, the float can be easily removed and inserted into the humidifier by pinching the hinge base with one's fingers.

[0028] Furthermore, by providing a curved recess in the center of the top plate, centered on the upper end of the pipe, the splashing noise caused by water droplets falling from the liquid column at the upper end of the pipe onto the liquid surface can be reduced, resulting in a humidifier that operates quietly.

[0029] Furthermore, the curved recess gently curves downward from the top surface of the top plate, becomes almost vertical, and then gently levels out to support the upper end of the pipe. This shape ensures a reduction in splashing noise and facilitates the cleaning of the float.

[0030] Furthermore, a float that has a flat auxiliary guide plate section perpendicular to the guide plate section below the top plate section can perform vertical movement within the cylinder more stably by combining the guide plate section and the auxiliary guide plate section.

[0031] Furthermore, if a weight is added to the auxiliary guide plate, the float suspended on the liquid surface can be made even more stable.

[0032] A diagram showing the external appearance of a humidifier housing a float according to the present invention. A diagram showing the internal structure of a humidifier housing a float according to the present invention. A cross-sectional side view of a humidifier housing a float according to the present invention. A top perspective view of the float according to the present invention. A top perspective view showing the float in the open state according to the present invention. A bottom perspective view of the float according to the present invention. A top perspective view of another form of float according to the present invention. A top perspective view showing the float in the open state according to another form of float according to the present invention. A bottom perspective view of another form of float according to the present invention. A top perspective view showing the float in the open state according to another form of float according to the present invention.

[0033] The humidifier incorporating the float according to the present invention is a small tabletop humidifier 10 with a handle 14, as shown in Figure 1. This humidifier 10 has a cylindrical body section 12, and has an air intake port 21 below the body section 12, near the bottom 16 of the humidifier body, such as below the handle 14, and a steam outlet port 33 on a lid 31 attached to the upper end of the body section 12.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inside of the main cylindrical portion 12 has an inner bottom portion 23 near the main body bottom portion 16, and the control unit 75 and blower fan 60 are housed in the space below the inner bottom portion 23, while the internal space of the main cylindrical portion 12 above the inner bottom portion 23 is used as the liquid tank 25.

[0035] Furthermore, near the bottom 16 of the main body, there is a blower fan 60 driven by a motor, and the intake port 61 of the blower fan 60 draws in outside air from the air intake port 21 of the main body cylindrical portion 12 through a space formed below the inner bottom 23.

[0036] Furthermore, the exhaust port 63 of the blower fan 60 is connected to the lower end of the handle 14 inside the main body cylindrical section 12, utilizing the internal space of the handle 14 as an air duct. Outside air is sent out to the upper part of the main body cylindrical section 12 from the exhaust port 65 formed at the upper end of the handle 14, and the outside air taken in along with the steam 85 from the steam outlet 33 of the lid 31 can be discharged to the outside of the humidifier 10.

[0037] Furthermore, an ultrasonic transducer 71 is provided in the center of the inner bottom portion 23, and a cylindrical cylinder 40 having a larger diameter than the ultrasonic transducer 71 is positioned directly above the ultrasonic transducer 71. The upper end 47 of this cylinder 40 is attached to the inside of the upper end of the main cylindrical portion 12 by progressively increasing the diameter, thereby fitting the cylinder 40 inside the main cylindrical portion 12.

[0038] The cylinder 40 housed inside the main cylindrical portion 12 has its upper end 47 closed by a lid 31, and has an opening 45 at the bottom 43 of the cylinder. In addition, the body 41 of the cylinder 40 is provided with a number of small holes 51, allowing air and liquid 81 such as water from the liquid tank 25 to flow into the cylinder 40.

[0039] Furthermore, the cylinder 40 has a rod-shaped guide body 55 that extends linearly in the vertical direction on its inner surface, and a float 100 equipped with a circular, flat top plate portion 110 with a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder 40 can be housed inside the cylinder 40.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4, this float 100 has a circular, flat top plate portion 110, the top plate portion 110 has a notch portion 120 formed by cutting a part of its periphery in a straight line, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, it has a cylindrical pipe portion 130 extending downward from the center of the top plate portion 110.

[0041] Furthermore, at two symmetrical positions on the periphery of the top plate portion 110, there are recessed portions 115 that are slightly indented inward from the outer edge of the top plate portion 110. A guide body 55 formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 40 of the humidifier 10 is positioned in these recessed portions 115 to stabilize the float 100 within the cylinder 40, allowing it to move up and down. Additionally, when inserting the float 100 into the cylinder 40, the relative position of the float 100 and the cylinder 40 is kept constant, enabling stable insertion operations.

[0042] Further, on the lower surface of the top plate portion 110, there is a flat guide plate portion 135 perpendicular to the top plate portion 110. This guide plate portion 135 has an edge 139 perpendicular to the top plate portion 110 from the notch portion 120, and extends from the top plate portion 110 with a width that passes through the center of the top plate portion 110 from the center of the notch portion 120 and reaches near the position facing the notch portion 120 on the periphery of the top plate portion 110, and is formed across both sides of the pipe portion 130.

[0043] Further, in the center of the top plate portion 110, a curved concave portion 161 that depresses the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 is formed. This curved concave portion 161 depresses the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 in a circular shape, and is formed into a conical inclined surface that gradually slopes from the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 with a gentle curved line and is nearly perpendicular, and then is again formed into a nearly horizontal circular plane and is connected to the upper end of the pipe portion 130 so as to support the upper end of the pipe portion 130 at the center of the curved concave portion 161.

[0044] And this float 100 has a cross-section 165 that passes through the center of the top plate portion 110 from the center of the notch portion 120 and reaches the outer periphery of the top plate portion 110 facing the notch portion 120 of the top plate portion 110, and this cross-section 165 is a plane perpendicular to the upper surface of the top plate portion 110.

[0045] This cross-section 165 divides the top plate portion 110 into a first top plate portion 111 and a second top plate portion 112, and also divides the notch portion 120 into a first notch portion 121 and a second notch portion 122 at its center, divides the pipe portion 130 into a first pipe portion 131 and a second pipe portion 132, and further divides the guide plate portion 135 into a first guide plate portion 136 and a second guide plate portion 137.

[0046] And at the edge 139 of the guide plate portion 135 hanging down from the notch portion 120, a thin hinge portion 141 that connects the edges of the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137 is provided.

[0047] Incidentally, this float 100 is formed of a light synthetic resin such as polypropylene with a specific gravity of 0.9 or less than "1" so that the float 100 floats on water, and the flexibility of the resin facilitates the formation of the thin hinge portion 141.

[0048] Also, on the side that is the edge facing the hinge portion 141 of the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137, a locking projection piece 148 is formed on the first guide plate portion 136, and a locking protrusion 146 serving as a locking member 145 is formed on the second guide plate portion 137.

[0049] This locking protrusion 146 has a hook portion 147 at its tip. By engaging this hook portion 147 with the locking projection piece 148, as shown in FIG. 6, the surfaces of the cross-sections 165 of the first pipe portion 131, the first guide plate portion 136, and the first top plate portion 111, and the surfaces of the cross-sections 165 of the second pipe portion 132, the second guide plate portion 137, and the second top plate portion 112 can be maintained in a joined state.

[0050] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, near the locking projection piece 148, which is a position away from the hinge portion 141 in the cross-section 165 of the first guide plate portion 136, a protrusion 142 protruding from the cross-section 165 of the first guide plate portion 136 is provided. In the second guide plate portion 137, a fitting hole 143 is provided at a position corresponding to the position of this protrusion 142. When the cross-sections 165 of the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137 are combined, the protrusion 142 can be inserted into this fitting hole 143.

[0051] Further, at the position of the cross-section 165 of the first pipe portion 131, a mating groove 133 recessed from the cross-section 165 is formed parallel to the central axis of the pipe portion 130. At the position of the cross-section 165 of the second pipe portion 132, a rod-shaped mating protrusion 134 having a thickness smaller than the wall thickness of the pipe portion 130 is formed parallel to the central axis of the pipe portion 130. When the first pipe portion 131 and the second pipe portion 132 are combined to form a cylindrical pipe portion 130, the mating protrusion 134 can be inserted into the mating groove 133.

[0052] Therefore, when the float 100 is closed by aligning the first top plate portion 111 and the first guide plate portion 136 with the second top plate portion 112 and the second guide plate portion 137, the protruding body 142 is fitted into the fitting hole 143, which prevents the first top plate portion 111 and the first guide plate portion 136 from shifting with the second top plate portion 112 and the second guide plate portion 137, thereby creating a float 100 with stable integration.

[0053] Furthermore, by inserting the joining projection 134 into the joining groove 133, when the first pipe section 131 and the second pipe section 132 are joined to form a cylindrical pipe section 130, it becomes easy to stabilize the relative positions of the first pipe section 131 and the second pipe section 132 and to reliably maintain the cylindrical shape of the pipe section 130.

[0054] Furthermore, a plate-shaped first knob projection 151 protrudes upward from the position of the dividing cross-section 165 on the upper surface of the first top plate portion 111, and a plate-shaped second knob projection 152 protrudes upward from the position of the dividing cross-section 165 on the upper surface of the second top plate portion 112.

[0055] As shown in Figure 4, the first knob projection 151 and the second knob projection 152 are of the same shape and are provided on the upper surface of the first top plate portion 111 and the upper surface of the second top plate portion 112, respectively, at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the top plate portion 110.

[0056] Alternatively, instead of the first knob projection 151 and the second knob projection 152, a recessed portion 155 may be formed on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110, as shown in Figure 7, and a knob plate 156 may be provided within this recessed portion 155 to divide the recessed portion 155 into two.

[0057] The recessed portion 155 and knob plate 156 provided on the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112 are also provided on the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112, respectively, in symmetrical shapes at positions symmetrical to the dividing cross portion 165 or to the central center point of the top plate portion 110.

[0058] Furthermore, the float 100 provided with the recessed portion 155 and knob plate 156 shown in Figures 7 to 9 also has the same structure for the top plate portion 110, pipe portion 130, and guide plate portion 135 as the float 100 shown in Figures 4 to 6.

[0059] In yet another embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, a hinge portion 141 may be formed on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110.

[0060] The float 100, which has a hinge portion 141 formed on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110, has the hinge portion 141 provided on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 so as to connect the immediate vicinity of the dividing cross-section 165 in the first top plate portion 111 and the immediate vicinity of the dividing cross-section 165 in the second top plate portion 112, near the periphery of the top plate portion 110, which is on both outer sides of the pipe portion 130 and the curved recess 161.

[0061] In this way, by connecting the immediate vicinity of the dividing cross section 165 between the first top plate section 111 and the second top plate section 112 on the upper surface of the top plate section 110 with the hinge section 141, the float 100 can be opened by the dividing cross section 165, as shown in Figure 11.

[0062] When a hinge portion 141 is provided on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110, as shown in Figure 10, the hinge base 141a is positioned immediately adjacent to the dividing cross-section 165 between the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112, and the hinge portion 141 is raised from the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 so that the hinge portion 141 can be grasped with a finger.

[0063] Furthermore, the hinge portion 141 is not limited to the case where it is raised from the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 by the hinge base portion 141a, but may also be formed by directly connecting the nearest positions of the dividing cross-sections 165 in the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112 with mutually bendable thin-walled portions or the like.

[0064] When the hinge portion 141 is formed on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110, the locking member 145 is configured such that the tip of a locking projection 146, which has a hook portion 147 at its tip, is inserted into the locking hole 149 of the second guide plate portion 137, and the hook portion 147 engages with the position of the locking hole 149 of the second guide plate portion 137. As shown in Figure 12, this locking projection 146 protrudes from the side opposite to the cross-section 165 of the first guide plate portion 136.

[0065] Furthermore, this locking projection 146 has a tip that has a hook portion 147 that passes through the through hole 149b provided in the first guide plate portion 136 by reversing the direction of the tip with a U-shaped base, and passes through the divided cross section 165 and the locking hole 149 of the second guide plate portion 137.

[0066] Furthermore, the float 100 shown in Figures 10 to 12 further has a flat auxiliary guide plate portion 171 perpendicular to the guide plate portion 135, and the auxiliary guide plate portion 171 is provided perpendicular to the top plate portion 110 from the lower surface of the top plate portion 110, reinforcing the top plate portion 110 and the guide plate portion 135.

[0067] Furthermore, a weight storage section 175 is formed near the lower end of the auxiliary guide plate section 171, and a weight made of metal or the like (not shown) is built into this weight storage section 175, creating a float 100 that can float on the liquid surface with the top plate section 110 facing upwards and stabilizing the top plate section 110.

[0068] Furthermore, the weight storage section 175 is not limited to being formed in the auxiliary guide plate section 171. In floats 100 where the hinge section 141 shown in Figure 10 is provided on the upper surface of the top plate section 110, or in floats 100 where the hinge section 141 is provided on the edge 139 of the guide plate section 135 as shown in Figure 4, the weight may be attached below the guide plate section 135 by forming the weight storage section in the guide plate section 135, or by embedding the weight storage section in the surface of the guide plate section 135 without forming a weight storage section.

[0069] Thus, the float 100 for the humidifier 10 is formed by a circular flat top plate portion 110, a flat guide plate portion 135 at least perpendicular to the top plate portion 110, and a cylindrical pipe portion 130. Since the top plate portion 110, the guide plate portion 135, and the pipe portion 130 can be divided into two equal parts by a cross section 165, when the first top plate portion 111, the first guide plate portion 136, and the first pipe portion 131 are opened with the hinge portion 141, the second top plate portion 112, the second guide plate portion 137, and the second pipe portion 132 can be opened to form a semi-cylindrical pipe portion 130 and a flat top plate portion 110 and guide plate portion 135. This makes it extremely easy to clean the entire float 100, including the inside of the pipe portion 130, and makes it easy to keep the float 100 clean at all times.

[0070] Furthermore, the top plate portion 110 is provided with a first knob projection 151 and a second knob projection 152, or a knob plate 156 that divides the recessed portion 155 into two on the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112, or a hinge portion 141 that protrudes from the top plate portion 110. Therefore, by grasping each of the first knob projection 151 and the second knob projection 152, the two knob plates 156, or the two hinge portions 141 that protrude from the top plate portion 110 with the fingers of both hands, it is possible to easily remove the float 100 inserted into the cylinder 40 of the humidifier 10, as well as to easily handle the float 100 when inserting it into the cylinder 40.

[0071] Furthermore, the float 100 has a curved recess 161 in the center of the top plate portion 110. The curved recess 161 is made into a gently sloping, almost vertical surface from the upper surface of the surrounding top plate portion 110, and then becomes a nearly horizontal surface and is connected to the pipe portion 130 in the center. Therefore, when the water from the liquid column 83 ejected from the upper end of the pipe portion 130 falls onto the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 as water droplets 87 without atomizing, the water droplets 87 can be caught by the gently sloping surface or the liquid surface with a slope. This reduces the splashing sound and other water noises caused by the falling water droplets, enabling quiet operation of the humidifier 10.

[0072] Furthermore, the first knob projection 151 and the second knob projection 152 are not limited to the positions and shapes shown in Figure 4. The first knob projection 151 may be provided at an appropriate position and shape on the upper surface of the first top plate portion 111, and the second knob projection 152 may be provided at an appropriate position and shape on the upper surface of the second top plate portion 112. Alternatively, the knob projection may be provided as a single unit on either the first top plate portion 111 or the second top plate portion 112.

[0073] However, by having two knob protrusions, and making the first knob protrusion 151 and the second knob protrusion 152 the same shape, and having symmetrical positions and shapes with the central center point of the top plate portion 110 as the symmetrical point, when handling the float 100, such as removing the float 100 from the cylinder 40 or inserting the float 100 into the cylinder 40, the operation of the float 100 can be made extremely easy and reliable by grasping the two knob protrusions with the fingers of both hands, and furthermore, the operation of opening and closing the first top plate portion 111 and the second top plate portion 112 can also be made easier.

[0074] Furthermore, although the top plate portion 110 shown in the drawing has a linear notch portion 120 at its periphery, the notch portion 120 is not limited to being cut out by a single straight line. It may also be formed by two straight lines that create a single bending point.

[0075] In this case, the edge 139 on which the hinge portion 141 of the guide plate portion 135 is provided is positioned at the bending point of the notch portion 120, and the dividing cross section 165 passing through the center of the top plate portion 110 also passes through this bending point together with the center of the top plate portion 110, thereby dividing the top plate portion 110, the guide plate portion 135, and the pipe portion 130 into two parts.

[0076] In this way, when the notch 120 is formed by two straight sections having a bending point, if the angle of the bending point on the center side of the top plate section 110 is set to 180 degrees or more and the notch 120 is formed in a V shape, then when the first top plate section 111 or the first guide plate section 136 etc. is opened to the second top plate section 112 or the second guide plate section 137 etc., the opening angle between the dividing cross-section 165 of the first guide plate section 136 and the dividing cross-section 165 of the second guide plate section 137 will be less than 180 degrees. If the angle of the bending point formed by the two straight sections on the center side of the top plate section 110 is set to less than 180 degrees, then the opening angle between the dividing cross-section 165 of the first guide plate section 136 and the dividing cross-section 165 of the second guide plate section 137 can be set to 180 degrees or more.

[0077] However, if the notch 120 is formed by cutting out the periphery of the top plate portion 110 with a single straight line as shown in the drawing, when the float 100 is opened and the first notch 121 and the second notch 122 are brought together, the cross-section 165 of the first guide plate portion 136 and the cross-section 165 of the second guide plate portion 137 can be made into a single straight plane, making it easy to clean the float 100.

[0078] Furthermore, the periphery of the top plate portion 110 may be made perfectly circular without providing the notch portion 120. In this case, in addition to forming a hinge portion 141 on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110 as shown in Figure 10, a guide plate portion 135 may be provided with a width from the outer edge of the top plate portion 110 to near the opposite edge, and the hinge portion 141 may be formed on the end edge 139 of the guide plate portion 135 that hangs down from the outer edge of the top plate portion 110, which is positioned at the periphery of the top plate portion 110.

[0079] In this way, even when the top plate portion 110 is made into a perfect circle without providing a notch portion 120, when a hinge portion 141 is provided on the upper surface of the top plate portion 110, or when the edge 139 that forms the hinge portion 141 is positioned on the periphery of the guide plate portion 135 which is the outer edge of the top plate portion 110, the float 100 can be opened by the hinge portion 141.

[0080] Furthermore, although the float 100 shown in the drawing has a locking projection 148 on the side facing the edge 139 of the first guide plate portion 136 which has a hinge portion 141, it is also possible to omit this locking projection 148 and directly engage the hook portion 147 of the locking projection 146 with the side of the first guide plate portion 136 that faces the edge 139, thereby joining the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137.

[0081] Furthermore, the locking member 145 is not limited to a locking projection 146 having a hook portion 147 at its tip, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11. In addition, a projection 142 protruding from the cross-section 165 of the guide plate portion 135 shown in Figure 5 can be fitted into a fitting hole 143 provided in the opposing guide plate portion 135, thereby creating a locking member 145 by combining the projection 142 and the fitting hole 143 to maintain the state in which the cross-sections 165 of the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137 are joined. Alternatively, magnets can be incorporated at opposing positions between the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137, with the magnets serving as the locking member 145, and the magnetic force maintaining the close contact between the first guide plate portion 136 and the second guide plate portion 137.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the resin forming the guide plate portion 135 and the top plate portion 110 is made thin and the hinge portion 141 is formed by the flexibility of the resin. However, the hinge portion 141 may be formed from a different resin material, such as by using a resin with higher toughness than the top plate portion 110 and the guide plate portion 135 through two-color molding, or by incorporating a separate part as the hinge portion 141 through insert molding. In such cases, the material of the hinge portion 141 may be different from the material of the top plate portion 110 and the guide plate portion 135, thereby further increasing the durability of the hinge portion 141.

[0083] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with various modifications. For example, although the embodiment shown in the drawings divides the float 100 into two equal parts by the dividing cross section 165, the float 100 may be divided asymmetrically, or it may be divided into three or more parts and the divided guide plate section 135, top plate section 110, etc., are connected by the hinge section 141.

[0084] In other words, the float 100 is not limited to the case where guide plate portions 135 are formed linearly on both sides of the pipe portion 130 as shown in the drawing, but the float 100 may also be made in which guide plate portions 135 are provided at equal intervals on three or four sides from the pipe portion 130. In the float 100 in which guide plate portions 135 are provided at equal intervals on three sides from the pipe portion 130, the central axis of the pipe portion 130 is made the bend of the dividing cross section 165, the dividing cross section 165 is bent at an opening angle of 120 degrees, and the dividing cross section 165 divides two of the guide plate portions 135 that are arranged on three sides around the pipe portion 130 into two halves. A hinge portion 141 is formed on the outer edge of one of the divided guide plate portions 135, and a locking member 145 is provided on the other divided guide plate portion 135, so that the float 100 is divided asymmetrically.

[0085] Furthermore, in a float 100 in which guide plate sections 135 are provided on three sides from a pipe section 130, the pipe section 130 is divided into three sections 165 in a Y shape from the central axis, dividing all three guide plate sections 135 into two. Two of the divided guide plate sections 135 have hinge sections 141 formed on their outer edges, and the remaining guide plate section 135 is provided with a locking member 145 to divide the float 100 into three parts.

[0086] Furthermore, in a float 100 having an auxiliary guide plate portion 171 perpendicular to the guide plate portion 135, as shown in Figures 10 to 12, a dividing cross section 165 is provided linearly on both sides of the central axis of the pipe portion 130 to divide each of the guide plate portions 135 located on both sides of the pipe portion 130 into two. In addition, a dividing cross section 165 is added to divide one of the auxiliary guide plate portions 171 located on both sides of the pipe portion 130 into two. This results in a T-shaped dividing cross section 165 extending in three directions from the central axis of the pipe portion 130. A hinge portion 141 is formed on the outer edge of each of the guide plate portions 135 on both sides of the pipe portion 130, and a locking member 145 is provided on the auxiliary guide plate portion 171 divided by the dividing cross section 165 to divide it into three sections.

[0087] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, etc., in a float 100 having a guide plate section 135 and an auxiliary guide plate section 171 in a cross shape, two planar cross-sections 165 intersect by dividing the guide plate sections 135, which are located on both sides of the pipe section 130, into two halves, and dividing the auxiliary guide plate sections 171, which are located on both sides of the pipe section 130, into two halves. A hinge section 141 is formed on the outer edge of each of the guide plate sections 135 on both sides of the pipe section 130, and a hinge section 141 is also formed on the outer edge of one of the auxiliary guide plate sections 171 that has been divided by the cross-section 165. A locking member 145 may also be provided on the other divided auxiliary guide plate section 171.

[0088] Furthermore, even in a float 100 in which guide plate sections 135 are provided on all four sides of the pipe section 130 to form a cross shape, it is also possible to divide the float 100 into four parts by intersecting two planes, dividing cross sections 165, so as to divide all four guide plate sections 135 on all four sides of the pipe section 130 in half, forming hinge sections 141 on the outer edges of three of the four guide plate sections 135 formed on all four sides of the pipe section 130, and providing a locking member 145 on the remaining guide plate section 135.

[0089] The float 100 of the humidifier according to the present invention is equipped with a pipe section 130 that can effectively vaporize the liquid 81, and the float 100 can be opened in a way that separates it to facilitate cleaning and keep it clean for a long period of time. This makes it possible to create a humidifier 10 that can effectively humidify while maintaining clean air with clean water vapor, and also allows the humidifier 10 to operate quietly.

[0090] 10 Humidifier 12 Main body cylinder 14 Handle 16 Main body bottom 21 Air intake 23 Inner bottom 25 Liquid tank 31 Lid 33 Steam outlet 40 Cylinder 41 Body 43 Cylinder bottom 45 Opening 47 Upper end 51 Small hole 55 Guide body 60 Blower fan 61 Air intake 63 Exhaust 65 Outlet 71 Ultrasonic transducer 75 Control unit 81 Liquid 83 Liquid column 85 Steam 87 Water droplets 100 Float 110 Top plate 111 First top plate 112 Second top plate 115 Recessed section 120 Notch 121 First notch 122 Second notch 130 Pipe section 131 132 First pipe section 133 Second pipe section 133 Alignment groove 134 Alignment projection 135 Guide plate section 136 First guide plate section 137 Second guide plate section 139 Edge 141 Hinge section 141a Hinge base 142 Projection 143 Fitting hole 145 Locking member 146 Locking projection 147 Hook section 148 Locking protrusion 149 Locking hole 149b Through hole 151 First knob projection 152 Second knob projection 155 Recessed section 156 Knob plate 161 Curved recess 165 Cross section 171 Auxiliary guide plate section 175 Weight storage section

Claims

1. A float for a humidifier, characterized by having a circular, flat top plate portion, a cylindrical pipe portion hanging down from the center of the top plate portion, a flat guide plate portion provided perpendicular to the top plate portion and having a width extending from the outer edge of the top plate portion through the pipe portion to near the opposite edge of the top plate portion, having a dividing cross section passing through the center of the top plate portion and dividing the top plate portion, the pipe portion and the guide plate portion perpendicular to the upper surface of the top plate portion, having a hinge portion connecting the top plate portion divided by the dividing cross section to each other or to each other of the guide plate portion, and having a locking member on the top plate portion or the guide plate portion for locking and fixing the top plate portion, the pipe portion and the guide plate portion divided by the dividing cross section to each other.

2. The float for a humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the edge of the guide plate portion divided by the dividing cross section that extends downward from the outer edge of the top plate portion, a hinge portion is provided that connects the edges of the divided guide plate portions to each other, and at the edge of the guide plate portion facing the edge of the guide plate portion on which the hinge portion is provided, a locking projection portion having a hook portion as the locking member is provided on one of the guide plate portions divided by the dividing cross section, and the other guide plate portion divided by the hook portion can be locked.

3. The float for the humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that the top plate portion has a notch in a part of its periphery, and the edge of the guide plate portion having the hinge portion hangs down from the notch portion which is the outer edge of the top plate portion, so that the hinge portion is located below the notch portion.

4. The float for the humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that one and the other of the top plate portion divided by the cross-section are each provided with a plate-shaped knob projection that protrudes upward from the top plate portion.

5. The float for the humidifier according to claim 4, characterized in that the knob projection provided on one of the top plate portions divided by the cross-section and the knob projection provided on the other of the top plate portion are of the same shape and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the circular flat top plate portion as the center of symmetry.

6. The float for the humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that one and the other of the top plate portions divided by the cross-section have recesses formed on a part of the upper surface of the top plate portion, and a knob plate dividing the recess into two is provided in the recess.

7. The float for the humidifier according to 6, characterized in that the recesses provided on one and the other of the top plate portion divided by the cross-section are formed symmetrically with the center of the circular flat top plate portion as the center of symmetry.

8. The float for the humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with hinge portions on both outer sides of the upper end of the pipe portion on the upper surface of the top plate portion divided by the dividing cross-section, which connect the vicinity of the dividing cross-section of the top plate portion to each other.

9. The humidifier float according to claim 8, characterized in that the hinge portion has a hinge base on the upper surface of each of the top plate portions divided by the cross section, and the upper ends of each hinge base are connected by a thin connecting portion.

10. A float for a humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a curved recess is provided in the center of the top plate portion, centered on the upper end of the pipe portion.

11. The float for the humidifier according to 10, characterized in that the curved recess curves gently downward from the upper surface of the top plate, becomes a nearly vertical inclined surface, and then becomes a nearly horizontal surface, supporting the upper end of the pipe at the center of the curved recess.

12. The float for the humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a flat auxiliary guide plate portion perpendicular to the guide plate portion below the top plate portion.

13. The float for a humidifier according to claim 12, characterized in that the auxiliary guide plate section has a weight storage section and the auxiliary guide plate section is provided with a weight.

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