Moisture removal apparatus and method

Abstract

In one embodiment, a moisture removal apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a housing having a top and bottom surface, an outer side wall surrounding a drying zone, the drying zone for receiving a moisture-absorbent material. The moisture absorbent material may include a hygroscopic material, in one non-limiting embodiment. The apparatus may further include a fluid path in fluid communication with at least a portion of the bottom surface and the drying zone, and a movable lid portion for disposal over the drying zone. When the lid is disposed over the drying zone, access to the drying zone occurs via the fluid path from the bottom surface of the housing, such that fluid enters the housing from beneath the housing through the fluid path and is received in the drying zone, wherein moisture is absorbed.

1 . A moisture removal apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer side wall surrounding a drying zone, the drying zone for receiving a moisture-absorbent material;   a fluid path in fluid communication with at least a portion of the bottom surface and the drying zone; and   a movable lid portion for disposal over the drying zone, wherein when the lid is disposed over the drying zone, access to the drying zone occurs via the fluid path from the bottom surface of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drying zone comprises one or more drying wells. 
     
     
         3 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more legs extending from the bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an inner side wall surrounding each of the one or more drying wells. 
     
     
         5 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a gap is disposed between the inner side wall and outer side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid conduit comprises one or more access portals disposed along the bottom surface that are in fluid communication with the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer side wall defines a perimeter of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more spacers extending between the inner side wall and the outer side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the drying zone comprises two or more drying wells, and wherein a portion of the outer wall extends between the two or more drying wells. 
     
     
         10 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the inner side wall comprises a first height and the outer side wall comprises a second height, wherein the first height is less than the second height. 
     
     
         11 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a length and/or width of the housing is at least twice the height of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the housing comprises a range of 2-15 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the housing comprises a range of 2-15 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the housing comprises a range of 0.5 inch-24 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a moisture absorbing material is disposed in one or more of the one or more drying wells. 
     
     
         16 . A method for removing moisture from an environment, the method comprising:
 circulating air from the environment through a fluid path extending from a bottom surface of an apparatus for receiving air to a drying zone within the apparatus, wherein the drying zone comprises a material for absorbing moisture.   
     
     
         17 . A moisture removal apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer side wall surrounding a drying zone, and an inner side wall, the drying zone comprising one or more drying wells for receiving a moisture-absorbent material;   a fluid path in fluid communication with a portion of the bottom surface and the drying well(s), the fluid path disposed between the outer side wall and inner side wall;   a movable lid portion for disposal over the drying zone, wherein when the lid is disposed over the drying zone, access to the drying wells occurs via the fluid path from a bottom surface of the housing, such that moisture is absorbed from fluid as it enters the drying zone.   
     
     
         18 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the inner side wall comprises one or more apertures, and wherein the fluid path is in fluid communication with a portion of the bottom surface and the drying zone via the one or more apertures in the inner side wall. 
     
     
         19 . The moisture removal apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the inner side wall comprises one or more apertures, and wherein a fluid path is in fluid communication with the drying wells via the one or more apertures.