The VUL500 humidifier was imagined as an update to the successful VUL520 series, adding tank lighting and the ability to accept essential oils for soothing babies to sleep. In early development, I offered guidance to the industrial design and marketing teams and built prototypes for feasibility testing. I designed the internal structures of all new parts, ensuring fits with shared parts, and selected materials for each, modifying the base materials where necessary. I oversaw and participated in the design qualification testing process, refined the design and materials selection, and brought the product to full scale production.

An ultrasonic humidifier works by means of a high-frequency piezoelectric transducer, which vibrates the water with enough energy to break the surface tension and generates fine mist. A small, DC fan is used to move air through the mist chamber and bring the mist into the room. The advantages of the design are that the small fan is much quieter than what is required for an evaporative humidifier and the visible mist is soothing and provides a visual cue that the humidifier is working properly.

The requirements of having tank lighting and accept essential oils made materials the greatest challenge of developing this product. Balancing the light transmission properties of each part was critical to achieving the even diffusion of light through the tank without bleeding through elsewhere, as well as achieving matching colors between parts of different materials. Additionally, because most plastics are made of hydrocarbon chains, other hydrocarbons, such as oils, can act as solvents and finding materials with the necessary chemical resistances within our budget turned out to be the more significant challenge to overcome.

My efforts, along with the rest of my team have made the VUL500 the first oil-compatible humidifier ever produced by Helen of Troy, as well as the first to be marketed for babies.

See more about the VUL500 model at VicksHumidifiers.com