Abstract:
Disclosed is a filtering device for a bidet, including a base, a blower sucking air into the bidet, a filter casing mounted to the base, a phytoncide filter unit contained in the filter casing, a door opening and closing the filter casing, and a duct connecting the blower and the filter casing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to a clarifier for bidet with phytoncide filter, which uses a phytoncide filter unit to provide bad smell removal/deodorization and anti-bacterial/insect-proof functions, etc. in a bidet, as well as to provide a user with a pleasant feeling. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As disclosed in the Applicant&#39;s related Patent Documents, a deodorization device for a bidet has a structure in which a deodorizing filter unit is detachably attached to a lower housing thereof so as to filter air in the bidet therethrough and discharge the filtered air to the outside of the bidet. 
         [0005]    Here, the deodorizing filter unit is detachably attached into a through-hole formed in the lower housing of the bidet. The through-hole is formed at the side of the lower housing. 
         [0006]    In the case where the through-hole is formed at the side of the lower housing, a container for a cleaning solution and a nozzle are separated far apart from each other, so a feeding hose is needed to feed the cleaning solution from the container to the nozzle. 
         [0007]    The through-hole is opened and closed by a door. The door is provided with a plurality of air vents. The door has an inside recess in which the deodorizing filter unit is installed. 
         [0008]    When the deodorizing filter unit is replaced with a new one, the door is removed from the through-hole, the deodorizing filter unit is detached from the door, a new deodorizing filter unit is installed in the door, and the door is inserted into the through-hole, thereby completing replacement. 
         [0009]    However, since such a deodorizing filter unit only serves to remove a bad smell, for sterilization, anti-bacterial and insect-proof functions, air-purification, etc. in or around a bidet, a separate filter or a sterilizing solution is required. 
       CITED DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
       [0000]    
       
         Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1057447 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose a clarifier for bidet with phytoncide filter which uses a phytoncide filter unit to provide the bad smell removal/deodorization, anti-bacterial and insect-proof functions in a bidet, as well as to provide a pleasant feeling to a user. 
         [0012]    In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a clarifier for bidet with phytoncide filter, including: a base; a blower sucking air into the bidet; a filter casing mounted to the base; a phytoncide filter unit contained in the filter casing; a door to open and close the filter casing; and a duct connecting the blower and the filter casing to each other. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the invention provides a clarifier for bidet with phytoncide filter, wherein the phytoncide filter unit includes: a filter part; a body part having a longitudinal through-hole; a recess part provided at a front side of the body part to accommodate the filter part; a storage part provided at an upper or lower portion of the body part to store a mass of phytoncide therein; and a hole part communicatingly connecting the storage part and the front side of the body part. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the invention provides a clarifier for bidet with phytoncide filter, wherein the storage part has: a storage recess with an upper or lower side opened; and a cover opening and closing the storage recess, the storage recess having a stepped groove at an upper or lower front side thereof. 
         [0015]    The present invention has the following effects. 
         [0016]    The phytoncide filter unit deodorizes the bidet and purifies air in the bidet, so that the purified air provides a bathroom with a pleasant environment and has the effects of exterminating mold or insects such as dust mites in a room or a bathroom, and an anti-bacterial effect whereby the bidet is resistant to bacteria such as colon bacillus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, or the like. 
         [0017]    Further, since phytoncide is stored in a recess-type storage part blocked by a partition, the phytoncide does not come into contact with air passing through a through-hole, so the phytoncide can be used long-term. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, since a recess part for mounting a filter unit is provided with a stepped groove, air passes through the filter unit while flowing through the stepped groove as well as through the through-hole, thereby considerably improving filter efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a filtering device for a bidet in which a phytoncide filter unit is contained according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views showing the filtering device for a bidet in which a phytoncide filter unit of another embodiment is dissembled and assembled; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view showing the phytoncide filter unit of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a filtering device for a bidet in which a phytoncide filter unit is contained according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the filtering device for a bidet includes a blower  10 , a filter casing  30  having a phytoncide filter unit  35  therein, a duct  50  which connects the blower  10  and the filter casing  30 , and a door  70  which opens and closes the filter casing  30 . 
         [0030]    The blower  10 , the filter casing  30 , and the duct  50  are mounted to a base  1  of a housing of the filtering device. 
         [0031]    An intake port of the blower  10  is disposed in a through-hole (not shown) formed in the base  1 . The through-hole faces the inside of a bidet. 
         [0032]    The door  70  is detachably mounted to the filter casing  30  such that the phytoncide filter unit  35  can be conveniently replaced. 
         [0033]    A cover (not shown) is fastened to an upper surface of the base  1 . 
         [0034]    A nozzle  3  is mounted to the base  1 , and a nozzle assembly is disposed around the nozzle  3 . 
         [0035]    Phytoncides are the organic compounds (terpene) that plants produce to protect themselves from harmful insects and germs. Phytoncides serve to protect the human body from toxins and also have an antibacterial function. 
         [0036]    Phytoncides quickly and strongly react with harmful substances, such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, or the like, that are indoor noxious gases in order to deodorize them and decompose odor causing materials. 
         [0037]    Thus, phytoncides have the effects of bad smell removal/deodorization, and anti-bacterial and insect-proof functions, while providing a pleasant scent. 
         [0038]    The pleasant scent is the natural scent of plants, which provides humans with a pleasant sensation and contributes to the stabilization of autonomic nerves and psychological, physical relaxation. Further, when a person breathes terpene-mixed air, the air is purified, so the cardiopulmonary functions of the person can be improved. Further, phytoncides also contribute to both an increase in anions in the body, which helps to clean blood, and waste emission from the body. 
         [0039]    Phytoncides serve to purify air by deodorizing and removing bad smells of four representative bad-smell materials (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, trimetalamine, and methyl mercaptan which give out bad odors such as the smells of rotten fish or vegetable) and indoor noxious gases (benzene, toluene, xylene, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde). 
         [0040]    Phytoncides also serve to exterminate mold or dust mites in a room, such as a bathroom, and to provide resistance against bacteria such as colon bacillus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, or the like. 
         [0041]    With the employment of a filter unit containing such phytoncides having the above-mentioned functions and effects to a bidet, of the environment in which the bidet exists becomes pleasant and has anti-bacterial and insect-proof effects. 
         [0042]    Phytoncide ingredients in the filter unit  35  may preferably be prepared as a fine powder. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views showing the filtering device for a bidet in which a phytoncide filter unit of another embodiment is dissembled and assembled. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8 , a phytoncide filter unit  350  includes a filter part  351 , a body part  360  having a longitudinal through-hole  365 , a recess part  370  which is provided at a front side of the body part  360  to mount the filter part  351 , a storage part  380  which is provided at an upper or lower portion  361  or  363  of the body part  360  to store the ingredient of phytoncide, and a hole part  390  which communicatingly connects the storage part  380  and the front side of the body part  360 . 
         [0045]    The filter part  351  is an unwoven fabric pad that is a rectangular deodorizing filter that contains activated carbon and zeolite. The filter part has a plurality of holes  353  through which air passes and is filtered. 
         [0046]    The body part  360  is of a cubic form through which the longitudinal through-hole  365  extends at the center thereof. 
         [0047]    The front side of the body part  360  has the recess part  370  in which the filter part  351  is mounted. 
         [0048]    The recess part  370  has stepped grooves  371  and  373  at upper and lower front sides thereof, respectively. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the stepped groove  373  is a groove that consists of a bottom step  373   a , a side step  373   b , and an upper inclined portion  373   c , defining a space by the bottom side and lateral sides. 
         [0050]    Similarly, the stepped groove  371  is a groove that consists of an upper step  371   a , a side step  371   b , and a lower inclined portion  371   c , defining a space by the upper side and lateral sides. 
         [0051]    Thus, air (the arrow of solid line) flowing through the through-hole  365  passes through both a central portion of the filter part  351  and an outer portion of the filter part through the stepped grooves  371  and  373  along the inclined portions  371   c  and  373   c . That is, air uniformly passes through the entire surface of the filter part, so that durability and filtering efficiency of the filter part can be considerably improved. 
         [0052]    The body part  360  is divided into upper and lower portions  361  and  363  from the through-hole  365 . 
         [0053]    The upper and lower portions  361  and  363  of the body part  360  are provided with storage parts  380  containing the ingredient of phytoncide. 
         [0054]    The storage part  380  has a storage recess  381  with upper or lower side opened, and a cover  383  which opens or closes the storage recess  381 . 
         [0055]    The storage recess  381  is defined from the through-hole  365  by a partition wall, so the ingredient of phytoncide contained in the storage recess does not directly contact air passing through the through-hole  365 , and thus can be used for a long term. 
         [0056]    The cover  383  has protrusions  385  at opposite sides, and the storage recess  381  has grooves  387  into which the protrusions  385  are fitted. 
         [0057]    The storage recess  381  has stopper portions  382   a  and  382   b  at inner sides thereof. 
         [0058]    The stopper portions  382   a  and  382   b  serve to restrict a maximum distance at which the cover  383  is lowered, thereby preventing the cover  383  from being excessively lowered and damaged. 
         [0059]    The stopper portion  382   a  may consist of opposite semi-circular rib posts on one inner side of the storage recess. 
         [0060]    The stopper portion  382   b  may have a planar shape that naturally protrudes when forming the stepped grooves  371  and  373 . 
         [0061]    The hole parts  390  formed on the upper and lower portions  361  and  363  of the body part  360  allow the scent of phytoncide to escape therethrough as indicated by the arrow of dotted line in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0062]    The hole parts  390  are formed at four corners of the front side of the body part. 
         [0063]    Thus, the scent of phytoncide escaping from the hole parts  390  flows together with air passing through the filter part  351 . 
         [0064]    Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.