Humidifier

Abstract

This invention is a humidifier used to increase and maintain the humidity of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. The humidifier is a container made of a water vapor permeable material that contains a water absorbent material such as acrylate polymer. The container is held within the body of the instrument by being mounted onto the strings of the instrument. The container is filled with water by an opening that is sealed with a cap. The water absorbent material can hold water without dripping, but will allows the water to evaporate.

1 . A humidifier for musical instruments comprising: 
 a water vapor permeable container made of a non-rigid material;    where the water is contained within the container and water vapor evaporating from the water diffuses through the water vapor permeable container into the musical instrument.    
   
   
       2 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container has an opening to pour water into the container and a cap to seal the container.  
   
   
       3 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container has two layers of material, both water vapor permeable.  
   
   
       4 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container has a mount attached so that the container can be mounted in the instrument.  
   
   
       5 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container has a mount that is a bar so that the container is inserted between strings of the instrument and the bar prevents the container from being pushed through the strings.  
   
   
       6 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the humidifier is used with instruments that have a hollow body and strings.  
   
   
       7 . The humidifier of  claim 6  where the container has a mount that is a bar so that the container is inserted between strings of the instrument into the hollow body of the instrument and the bar prevents the container from being pushed through the strings into the hollow body of the instrument.  
   
   
       8 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the humidifier is used with a guitar so that the container is within a whole in the body of the guitar.  
   
   
       9 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container contains a water absorbent material that absorbs any water poured into the container and then allows the water to evaporate into water vapor.  
   
   
       10 . The humidifier of  claim 9  where the water absorbent material is an acrylate polymer.  
   
   
       11 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the water vapor permeable material releases water vapor so that the relative humidity within the instrument is 40-60%.  
   
   
       12 . The humidifier of  claim 11  where the container is large enough to contain enough water so that the water vapor permeable material releases water vapor so the relative humidity of 40-60% is maintained for 24 hours.  
   
   
       13 . The humidifier of  claim 1  where the container is made of a material that allows water vapor to evaporate out of the container, but does not allow either water vapor or any gas to enter the container so that the container changes shape as the water evaporates out of the container.  
   
   
       14 . A humidifier for musical instruments comprising: 
 a musical instrument with strings and a hollow body;    a flexible container made of water vapor permeable, but not liquid permeable, material that allows water vapor to evaporate out of the container, but does not allow water vapor or any gas to enter into the container;    the container has an opening on one end;    a cap on the opening of the container;    a mounting bar attached to the container at the end with the opening and the cap;    so that when water is poured into the container through the opening, then the opening is closed by sealing the cap and the humidifier is mounted onto the strings of the instrument using the mounting bar with the container within the body of the instrument and then the container will release the water as water vapor, resulting in the container changing shape and raising the humidity of the body of the instrument.    
   
   
       15 . The humidifier of  claim 14  where the container contains an acrylate polymer that can absorb and release water.  
   
   
       16 . The humidifier of  claim 14  where the container is large enough to contain enough water so that the acrylate polymer releases water vapor so the relative humidity of 40-60% is maintained for 24 hours.