Patent Description:
Air purifiers are devices that are widely used in our daily lives. The devices can filter physical particles such as dust, fine dust, ultra fine dust and the like, chemical substances such as odorant particles, harmful gases and the like, and microorganisms such as germs, viruses and the like, to purify air.

People cannot live without air purifiers in an industrial society since more and more people are greatly affected by fine dust and suffer from allergies. Accordingly, there is a growing demand for the devices.

Ordinarily, a large-sixed air purifier is used in a house that is <NUM> square meters or greater. The air purifier can be provided with a filter for physical particles such as dust and the like, a filter for chemical substances such as gas and the like, and a filter for microorganisms such as germs, viruses and the like. That is, such a large-sized air purifier capable of accommodating various types of filters can be used in a large space.

However, the large-sized air purifier is rarely used in a small space such as a studio apartment, a space in a vehicle and the like considering space availability, mobility and energy efficiency. Additionally, a user who moves from place to place usually uses a small-sized air purifier. Under the circumstances, there is a growing need for a portable air purifier that is easy to carry.

The portable air purifiers need to be small and lightweight enough for users to carry such that the users can easily carry and use the portable air purifiers anywhere. That is, the portable air purifiers are useful for people who often go out and move from place to place instead of staying in a place such as a house.

In a prior art document (<CIT>), air is suctioned into a rear surface of a portable air purifier and is discharged from a front surface of the portable air purifier.

A portable air purifier has a limited size such that a user carries the portable air purifier readily. Accordingly, the portable air purifier is not provided with an additional discharge part that can rotate to adjust a discharge direction of air.

A background art in relation to the subject matter of the present disclosure is disclosed in <CIT>). <CIT> relates to a fan assembly having a swirl fan and an air conditioner including the same.

The present invention is directed to a portable air purifier in which a discharge part for guiding discharge of air is installed in a rotatable manner. The present invention is also directed to a portable air purifier in which a discharge part rotates within predetermined angles, thereby preventing damage to an electric wire connected to the discharge part.

Aspects according to the present invention are not limited to the above ones, and other aspects and advantages that are not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the following description and can be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, the aspects and advantages in the present invention can be realized via means and combinations thereof that are described in the appended claims.

In a portable air purifier according to the present invention, a discharge part may be installed on an upper side of a housing in a way that the discharge part is supported by a rotation supporter in a rotatable manner. Specifically, the discharge part may be disposed at a ball joint included in the rotation supporter and may rotate around the ball joint, thereby readily adjusting a discharge direction of air. In the portable air purifier according to the present invention, a rotation angle of the discharge part may be limited within the predetermined angles by a rotation guide. Specifically, a guide projection protruding outside the ball joint may be held in a guide groove formed inside the discharge part, and the discharge may rotate within the predetermined angles, thereby preventing an electric wire connected to the discharge part from being broken or damaged.

A portable air purifier according to the invention includes a housing provided with an entrance part configured to suction air, provided therein with a filter part and a fan module and forming an air flow path in an up-down direction, a discharge part disposed at an outlet of the housing and configured to guide a discharge direction of air, a rotation supporter which is connected to the housing, movement of which is restricted and which supports the discharge part in a rotatable manner, and a rotation guide disposed respectively at the discharge part and the rotation supporter and configured to guide rotation of the discharge part to allow the discharge part to rotate within predetermined angles.

The rotation supporter includes a core member disposed on a lower side of the discharge part and extended from a center of the outlet to the discharge part, a core supporter which is extended outside the core member, which is fixed to an inside of the housing and movement of which is restricted together with movement of the core member, and a ball joint a lower side of which is coupled to the core member and movement of which is restricted, and an upper side of which is inserted into the discharge part and supports the discharge part in a rotatable manner.

The core member may have an outside that is a curved surface and have a transverse cross section that is gradually reduced from a lower side connected to the core supporter toward the ball joint.

The core member may have a circular cone shape and have a transverse cross section that is gradually reduced further toward an upper side.

The rotation guide includes a guide projection connected to the ball joint or integrated with the ball joint and protruding outside the ball joint, and a guide groove forming a concave groove inside the discharge part facing the guide projection.

The guide projection is inserted into the guide groove, and a rotation of the discharge part at a predetermined angle or greater may be restricted since the guide projection is held inside the guide groove.

The discharge part may include a discharge body part disposed at the outlet of the housing and configured to guide a discharge direction of air, a first supporter connected to the discharge body part or integrated with the discharge body part and provided with a first curved surface groove formed into a concave groove, and a second supporter coupled to the first supporter and provided therein with a second curved surface groove connected to the first curved surface groove.

The ball joint may be disposed in an inner space formed by the first curved surface groove and the second curved surface groove, and may support the first supporter and the second supporter in a rotatable manner.

The guide groove may be disposed at at least one of the first supporter and the second supporter facing the ball joint.

The portable air purifier may further include a position informing part held in the discharge part and providing a sense of manipulation when the discharge part is at a predetermined position.

The position informing part may include an informing projection provided with a moving projection that is pressed against an outside of the ball joint by an elastic force, wherein when the discharge part is at a predetermined position, the moving projection protrudes outside the ball joint, and an informing groove forming a groove into which the moving part is inserted and held, inside the discharge part facing the informing projection.

The informing projection may include a first adjusting bolt fastened to a lower side of a mounting hole disposed at the ball joint, and an inner elastic member a lower side of which is supported by the first adjusting bolt, an upper side of which supports the moving projection and which presses the moving projection using an elastic force.

A portable air purifier according to the present invention comprises a housing provided with an entrance part configured to suction air, provided therein with a filter part and a fan module and forming an air flow path in an up-down direction, a discharge body part disposed at an outlet of the housing and configured to guide a discharge direction of air, a first supporter connected to the discharge body part or integrated with the discharge body part and provided with a first curved surface groove formed into a concave grove, a second supporter coupled to the first supporter and provided therein with a second curved surface groove connected to the first curved surface groove, and a rotation supporter one side of which connects to the housing, the other side of which is disposed at a position facing the first curved surface groove and the second curved surface groove and which supports the first supporter and the second supporter in a rotatable manner.

The rotation supporter may include a core member disposed on a lower side of the second supporter and extended from a center to the outlet to the second supporter, a core supporter which is extended outside the core member, which is fixed to an inside of the housing and movement of which is restricted together with movement of the core member, and a ball joint, a lower side of which is coupled to the core member and movement of which is restricted and an upper side of which is disposed inside the first curved surface groove and the second curved surface groove, and which supports the first supporter and the second supporter in a rotatable manner.

The first supporter includes a first support body provided therein with the first curved surface groove formed into a concave groove and fixed to a center of the discharge body part, and a first wing member extending outside the first support body and facing the second supporter.

The first wing member and the second supporter are fixed as a result of fastening of a fastening member.

The second supporter may include a second support body provided with a hollow hole part communicating in the up-down direction and installed in a circumferential direction.

The second support body facing the hollow hole part may be provided therein with the second curved surface groove.

The rotating supporter may include a sphere-shaped ball joint formed disposed inside a sphere-shaped groove formed by the first curved surface groove and the second curved surface groove.

An outer diameter of the ball joint may be greater than an inner diameter of a lower end of the second curved surface groove to prevent the ball joint from escaping out of the second supporter.

According to a non-claimed embodiment, a frictional force between the first supporter and the ball joint and a frictional force between the second supporter and the ball joint may be inversely proportional to a distance between fie first supporter and the second supporter that are arranged to face each other with the ball joint therebetween.

In a portable air purifier according to the present invention, a discharge part may be installed on an upper side of a housing in a way that the discharge part is supported by a rotation supporter in a rotatable manner to readily adjust a discharge direction of air, thereby ensuring improvement in user satisfaction.

In the portable air purifier, a rotation angle of the discharge part may be limited to predetermined angles by a rotation guide, and an electric wire connected to the discharge part may be prevented from being broken or damaged, thereby ensuring a reduction in costs incurred for maintenance and repairs.

In the portable air purifier, a moving projection protruding outside a ball joint may be held in an informing groove formed at the discharge part, and a user may readily ascertain the ball joint arrives at an initial position, thereby ensuring improvement in user convenience.

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can make modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the appending claims. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a portable air purifier <NUM> in one embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the portable air purifier <NUM> in one embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the portable air purifier <NUM> in the embodiment may have an approximate cylinder shape. The portable air purifier <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, a filter part <NUM>, a fan module <NUM>, a discharge part <NUM>, a sterilizer <NUM>, a rotation supporter <NUM>, and at least one of a rotation guide <NUM> and a position informing part <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may be provided with an entrance part <NUM>, and the filter part <NUM>, the sterilizer <NUM> and the fan module <NUM> may be disposed inside the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may form an air flow path in an up-down direction. Since a cylindrical air flow path is formed inside the housing <NUM>, frictional resistance of air moving in the up-down direction may decrease.

Additionally, centers of the entrance part <NUM>, the filter part <NUM>, the sterilizer <NUM>, the fan module <NUM>, the outlet <NUM> and the rotation supporter <NUM> may be aligned in the up-down direction along a perpendicular reference line that passes through a center of the housing <NUM> in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the length of a path, in which air moves, may decrease, flow resistance of air may be reduced, and efficiency of air purification may improve, since air moving from a lower side to an upper side of the housing <NUM> flows linearly in a perpendicular direction.

When the portable air purifier <NUM> is disposed on a horizontal surface, the perpendicular reference line may align with a perpendicular line. The housing <NUM> may be made of a single member. However, the housing <NUM> may be made of a plurality of members, for example.

The portable air purifier <NUM> may be formed into a cylinder that is entirely long and stands in the up-down direction. Thus, a user may use the portable air purifier <NUM> in a state in which the portable air purifier <NUM> stands or lies. Additionally, since the portable air purifier <NUM> can be used in a state in which the portable air purifier <NUM> is seated in a groove such as a cup holder being concave downward, the portable air purifier <NUM> may stay at the same position reliably in places, e.g., inside a vehicle that rocks.

Directions are defined as follows. Under the assumption that a portion, where the discharge part <NUM> is disposed with respect to the first case <NUM>, is referred to as an upper portion and that a portion, where the second case <NUM> is disposed with respect to the first case <NUM>, is referred to as a lower portion, a "first direction" denotes an up-down direction or an axial direction. The first direction may have the same meaning as the perpendicular direction. A "second direction" is perpendicular to the first direction and denotes a left-right direction, a horizontal direction or a radial direction.

The portable air purifier <NUM> in this embodiment may include a housing <NUM>, a filter part <NUM>, a fan module <NUM>, a discharge part <NUM>, a rotation supporter <NUM>, a rotation guide <NUM>. The portable air purifier <NUM> may further include a position informing part <NUM>, a sterilizer <NUM> and a battery <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a first case <NUM> and a second case <NUM>. The first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> may form an exterior skeleton of the portable air purifier <NUM>. Lateral and bottom surfaces of the portable air purifier <NUM> may be formed by the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. An accommodation space <NUM> may be formed in the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. Electronic components and the like including the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM>, the sterilizer <NUM>, the rotation supporter <NUM> and the battery <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM>. The first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> have enough strength to protect the accommodated components from an external impact, for example.

The filter part <NUM> may be installed in the accommodation space <NUM> of the first case <NUM> and disposed between the fan module <NUM> and an entrance part <NUM>. That is, the filter part <NUM> may be disposed below the fan module <NUM>, and may purify air suctioned through the entrance part <NUM> of the portable air purifier <NUM>. The air, which is purified while passing through the filter part <NUM>, may be discharged from an upper portion of the portable air purifier <NUM>, passing through the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM>.

The filter part <NUM> may be installed inside the first case <NUM>, and may purify air suctioned into the entrance part <NUM>. The filter part <NUM> may be formed into a cylinder that extends in the up-down direction.

The filter part <NUM> may include a single filter or when necessary, a plurality of filters stacked. The filter part <NUM> may be further provided with a filter case (not illustrated) for fixing a filter.

The filter case may be fixed to an inside of the first case <NUM> and have an insertion space for accommodating a filter inside the filter case.

The fan module <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM> in the first case <NUM> and disposed between the discharge part <NUM> and the filter part <NUM>. Specifically, the fan module <NUM> may be disposed between an outlet <NUM> and the filter part <NUM>. That is, the fan module <NUM> may be disposed over the filter part <NUM>, and the outlet <NUM>, the rotation supporter <NUM>, the rotation guide <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> may be disposed over the fan module <NUM>. The fan module <NUM> may suction air, introduced into a lower portion of the filter part <NUM> through the entrance part <NUM>, and discharge the air to an upper portion of the first case <NUM>.

The center of rotation of the discharge part <NUM> may be aligned with a center of the fan module <NUM> in the up-down direction. Air suctioned through the entrance part <NUM> may move upward, and be discharged from an upper side of the portable air purifier <NUM> while passing through the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> one after another.

In this embodiment, the fan module <NUM> includes a mixed flow fan, for example. The fan module <NUM> may suction air having passed through the filter part <NUM> in the axial direction and discharge the air in a direction between the axial direction and the radial direction.

The discharge part <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side of the first case <NUM> in a rotatable manner, and may guide a direction of discharge of air moved upward through the outlet <NUM>. The rotation supporter <NUM> may be disposed over the first case <NUM>, and the discharge part <NUM> may be installed in the rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner. Both of the upper and lower sides of the discharge part <NUM> may be open. Accordingly, air, moved to a lower portion of the discharge part <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>, may be discharged out of the portable air purifier <NUM> through an upper portion of the discharge part <NUM>.

The sterilizer <NUM> may be disposed below the filter part <NUM> and fixed to at least one of the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>. The sterilizer <NUM> may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the filter part <NUM>, and may emit a light ray for sterilization toward the filter part <NUM>. The light ray for sterilization emitted by the sterilizer <NUM> is harmful to the human body. Accordingly, a position of the sterilizer <NUM> may be determined such that the light ray for sterilization does not leak out of the portable air purifier <NUM> through the entrance part <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> may be disposed in the accommodation space <NUM> provided inside the second case <NUM> and disposed below the sterilizer <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may supply power for driving the portable air purifier <NUM>.

The accommodation space <NUM> in the portable air purifier <NUM> may be divided into a first area A and a second area B. When the accommodation space <NUM> is divided in the up-down direction, an upper area may be the first area A, and a lower area may be the second area B. The first area A and the second area B are conceptually divided instead of being physically divided.

In one embodiment, the accommodation space <NUM> of the first case <NUM> and the accommodation space <NUM> in the second case <NUM>, forming the skeleton of the portable air purifier <NUM>, may be respectively set to the first area A and the second area B.

Components in relation to suction, purification and discharge of air may be disposed in the first area A. That is, since the entrance part <NUM>, the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM>, the rotation supporter <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> are disposed in the first area A, air may flow from a lower side to an upper side in the first area A, and a discharge direction of air may be adjusted by the discharge part <NUM> that is installed in a rotatable manner.

The entrance part <NUM>, provided with a plurality of entrance holes <NUM> as a passage for suctioning air, may be disposed at the first case <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> as a passage for discharging air purified in the first area A, and the discharge part <NUM> disposed at the rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner may be disposed over the first case <NUM>. Accordingly, an air flow path connecting the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> may be formed inside the first case <NUM>.

That is, the entrance part <NUM>, the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM>, the discharge part <NUM>, the rotation supporter <NUM>, a rotation informing part and the outlet <NUM> may be installed in the first area A. A flow path needed for air suctioned into the portable air purifier <NUM> to pass through the air purifier may be formed in the first area A.

Components, which do not directly relate to an air flow for purifying air, may be disposed in the second area B. That is, a controller including a PCB, the battery <NUM> and the like may be installed in the second area B.

In this embodiment, the hosing <NUM> may be formed into a cylinder having a vertical length greater than a horizontal length. The first area A in the upper portion may have a vertical length greater than that of the second area B in the lower portion. That is, when the portable air purifier <NUM> stands vertically, the first area A in the upper portion make take up more space than the second area B in the lower portion.

Since the discharge part <NUM> is disposed at the rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner, a discharge direction of air purified in the upper portion of the portable air purifier <NUM> may be readily adjusted. Accordingly, the air purified in the portable air purifier <NUM> may reach the face of the user more easily.

When the portable air purifier <NUM> is placed and used on a bottom surface placed further downward than the face of the user, the portable air purifier <NUM> may stand vertically rather than lie transversely to allow more air, purified in the portable air purifier <NUM>, to reach the face of the user.

To this end, when air is discharge from the upper portion of the portable air purifier <NUM> through the discharge part <NUM> rotated in a predetermined direction in a state where the portable air purifier <NUM> stands vertically, more air purified in the portable air purifier <NUM> may reach the face of the user.

The portable air purifier <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a housing <NUM>, a filter part <NUM>, a fan module <NUM>, a discharge part <NUM>, a rotation supporter <NUM>, a rotation guide <NUM> and a position informing part <NUM>. The portable air purifier <NUM> in one embodiment may further include a sterilizer <NUM> and a battery <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a first case <NUM> and a second case <NUM>, and the first case <NUM> may have an accommodation space <NUM> therein and be provided with an entrance part <NUM> on a lateral surface of a lower portion thereof. The first case <NUM> may have a cylinder shape and have upper and lower sides open. The first case <NUM> may be made of a single component, or when necessary, of a plurality of members. The first case <NUM> in one embodiment is made of a plurality of members, and the members may be coupled in various ways such as fitted-coupling, a coupling with an adhesive, welding, a connection with a fastening member <NUM> such as a bolt and the like.

Additionally, air may be suctioned through the lateral surface of the lower portion of the first case <NUM> and discharged through the upper side of the first case <NUM>. To this end, the entrance part <NUM> provided with entrance holes <NUM> may be disposed along a circumference of the lower portion of the first case <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> for discharging air may be disposed on the upper side of the first case <NUM>.

In a state where the entrance part <NUM> for suctioning air is disposed along an outer circumference of the first case <NUM>, a filter part <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side spaced from the entrance part <NUM>. Accordingly, air may flow uniformly across the entire surface area of the filter part <NUM>.

The entrance part <NUM> may have a plurality of entrance holes <NUM>, and the entrance holes <NUM> may be disposed at a slant in the form of an oblique line, and when necessary, may form a hole in the form of an inequality symbol that is bent at a center. The entrance holes <NUM> may be modified in various ways, for example, may be additionally formed on a lateral surface of the housing <NUM>, on which the filter part <NUM> is disposed, to increase a flow rate of air flowing into the filter part <NUM>.

Further, the housing <NUM> may be modified in various ways, that is, may include three or more members.

The second case <NUM> may connect to the lower portion of the first case <NUM> and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which a space for installing electronic components including the battery <NUM> is formed inside the second case <NUM>.

At least one of the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> may be formed into a cylindrical case. Both the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape or the second case <NUM> may only have a cylindrical shape. When necessary, the first case <NUM> may only have a cylindrical shape.

In the case of a second case <NUM> having a cylinder shape and extending in the up-down direction, the user may readily hold an outer circumference of the second case <NUM> with the hand, and the second case <NUM> may be easily held in a vehicle's cup holder provided with a groove having a circular cross section.

In the case of a first case <NUM> having a cylinder shape, friction, caused as a result of contact between air, which moves upward while passing through the first case <NUM>, and the inside of the first case <NUM> having a curved shape, may be reduced, thereby enabling the air to flow more smoothly.

Additionally, an air flow path may be formed inside the first case <NUM>, and no air flow path may be formed inside the second case <NUM>. Accordingly, air may be smoothly suctioned and discharged through the first case <NUM> even when the second case <NUM> is held in the cup holder or the user's hand, thereby ensuring improvement in usability.

The filter part <NUM> may be installed inside the first case <NUM> and modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the filter part <NUM> purifies air suctioned into the entrance part <NUM>. The filter part <NUM> in one embodiment may have a cylinder shape.

The first case <NUM> may have a circular pipe shape, and the filter part <NUM> installed inside the first case <NUM> may have a cylinder shape contacting an inside of the first case <NUM>. Accordingly, impurities of air passing through the first case <NUM> may be effectively removed.

In addition, the filter part <NUM> has a circular cross-section and includes a largest area inside the first case <NUM>. In addition, the filter <NUM> is manufactured in a cylindrical shape, and when an upper side and a lower side of the filter part <NUM> are cut, pressure loss is minimized, thereby maximizing a performance of the filter part <NUM>.

In addition, an outer diameter of the filter part <NUM> is manufactured to be larger than a suction diameter of a bell mouth <NUM> to guide air suction into a mixed flow fan module <NUM>, thereby maximizing a volume of the filter <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> may be disposed along the housing <NUM> in the up-down direction, and air may also flow in the up-down direction. That is, an air flow resulting from an operation of the fan module <NUM> may be performed in the same linear direction as the direction in which the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> are disposed.

As a result of the linear flow of air, resistance against an air flow may be reduced, and a smooth air flow may be ensured. Thus, a sufficient amount of air may be suctioned and a sufficient amount of air corresponding to the sufficient amount of the suctioned air may be discharged by the fan module <NUM>, thereby ensuring improvement air purification performance of the portable air purifier <NUM>.

The fan module <NUM> may be disposed between the filter part <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> and modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the fan module <NUM> rotates a fan to blow air toward the outlet <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing the discharge part and the rotation supporter in one embodiment, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a fan module in one embodiment, <FIG> is a plan view showing the fan module in one embodiment, <FIG> is a bottom view showing the fan module in one embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the fan module in one embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the fan module <NUM>, a circular mixed flow fan module, is applied, a shape of the fan module <NUM> may match or correspond to a cylinder shape of the inside of the first case <NUM>. Accordingly, the first case <NUM> may not be scaled-up despite fixation or a coupling of the fan module <NUM>, thereby enabling a compact product. Additionally, when the portable air purifier <NUM> according to the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle, the portable air purifier <NUM> may be small enough to fit into a cup holder.

Since the circular mixed flow fan module is applied to the fan module <NUM>, a small-sized upward discharge-type air purifier, which ensures maximized hydrodynamic performance, may be provided. A fan type of the fan module <NUM> may be a mixed flow fan, and an inner structure of the fan module <NUM> may change to mount the mixed flow fan.

A fan member <NUM> according to the disclosure may rotate as a result of an operation of a motor. A rotation shaft of the motor configured to rotate the fan member <NUM> may only connect to the fan member <NUM>. A rotor may be installed in the fan member <NUM>, and a stator may be installed in the fan housing <NUM> rotation of which is restricted. Since a magnetic field of the stator changes, the shaft connected to the fan member <NUM> may rotate along with the rotor such that the rotor and the fan member <NUM> rotate around the stator. The configuration of the motor for rotating the fan member <NUM> is well known. Thus, detailed description in relation to this is omitted.

The fan module <NUM> in one embodiment may include a fan housing <NUM>, a fan member <NUM>, and a fan base <NUM>.

The fan housing <NUM> may be fixed to the inside of the first case <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the fan housing <NUM> is provided therein with an enough space for the fan member <NUM> to rotate. The fan housing <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a support plate <NUM>, a connecting and supporting part <NUM>, a wire guide <NUM>, a lateral surface supporter <NUM>, an inner guide <NUM>, and a protruding boss <NUM>.

The support plate <NUM> may be formed into a circular plate and provided with a hole at a center thereof. A motor may be disposed at the center of the support plate <NUM> or the shaft connected to the motor may be disposed in the first direction. The support plate <NUM> may be disposed on a lower side of a core member <NUM>.

The connecting and supporting part <NUM> may extend outside the support plate <NUM> and connect to the lateral surface supporter <NUM>. A plurality of connecting and supporting parts <NUM> in one embodiment may be provided and formed into a rod. The connecting and supporting part <NUM>, extending outside the support plate <NUM> in a radial direction of the support plate, may connect to the lateral surface supporter <NUM>.

The connecting and supporting part <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed on a lower side of a core supporter <NUM> of the rotation supporter <NUM>. Four connecting and supporting parts <NUM> may be disposed around the support plate <NUM> at <NUM>-degree intervals, and the core supporter <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> to face the connecting and supporting part <NUM>.

The wire guide <NUM> and the connecting and supporting part <NUM> may be disposed one after another, and the wire guide <NUM> may support a lower portion of an electric wire <NUM> of an electronic device such that the electric wire <NUM> moves along a lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM>. The wire guide <NUM> may be formed into a projection that is disposed on a lower side of the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> and may guide an electric wire <NUM> of a motor installed in the support plate <NUM> in a way that the electric wire <NUM> is extended and disposed outside the fan housing <NUM>. The wire guide <NUM> may form a concave groove which is disposed on the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> and in which the electric wire <NUM> is installed. Accordingly, the electric wire <NUM> installed in the wire guide <NUM> may be disposed in the concave groove on the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> and supported by the wire guide <NUM>, thereby preventing the electric wire <NUM> from being damaged.

The lateral surface supporter <NUM> may be formed into a cylindrical pipe and have upper and lower sides that are open. An outside of the lateral surface supporter <NUM> may contact an inside of the housing <NUM>, and an inside of the lateral surface supporter <NUM> may connect to the connecting and supporting part <NUM>.

The inner guide <NUM> may form an inclined surface that is disposed downward at a slant from a lower side of the lateral surface supporter <NUM> toward the inside of the lateral surface supporter in a radial direction of the lateral surface supporter. The inner guide <NUM> may be formed inside the lateral surface supporter <NUM> and may prevent air, blown upward by the fan member <NUM>, from moving to an entrance of the fan member <NUM> through an outer surface of the fan member <NUM>, that is, prevent a whirl.

The protruding boss <NUM> may extend to a lower end of the lateral surface supporter <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the protruding boss <NUM> is provided with a groove into which a coupling projection <NUM> of a fan base <NUM> described below is inserted. A plurality of protruding bosses <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed in a circumferential direction of the lateral surface supporter <NUM>.

The fan member <NUM> may be disposed inside the fan housing <NUM> in a rotatable manner, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the fan member <NUM> moves air toward the discharge part <NUM>.

A mixed flow fan is used as the fan member <NUM> in one embodiment, but the fan member <NUM> is not limited. Another type of fan may be used as the fan member <NUM> according to the disclosure. The fan member <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a hub <NUM>, a fan wing <NUM> and a shroud <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a fan member in one embodiment, <FIG> is a plan view showing the fan member in one embodiment, <FIG> is a bottom view showing the fan member in one embodiment, <FIG> is a front view showing the fan member in one embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the fan member in one embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the hub <NUM> may be disposed at a center of the fan housing <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the hub <NUM> receives external power and rotates.

The hub <NUM> may be disposed at a center of the fan member <NUM> in a radial direction of the fan member, and may rotate along with the rotor constituting the motor and the shaft that is an output shaft of the motor. The hub <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a hub plate <NUM>, a shaft coupler <NUM>, an inner protrusion <NUM> and a skirt part <NUM>.

The hub plate <NUM> may be formed into a circular plate and be parallel with the support plate <NUM>. The hub plate <NUM> may be provided with a shaft coupler <NUM>. The shaft coupler <NUM> may be disposed at a center of the hub plate <NUM> in a radial direction of the hub plate. The shaft coupler <NUM> may protrude from an upper side and a lower side of the hub plate <NUM>.

The shaft coupler <NUM> may be coupled to an end of the shaft, configured to deliver rotation power, in an axial direction of the shaft. For example, the shaft coupler <NUM> may be coupled to the shaft in a way that the shaft is fitted into the shaft coupler <NUM>.

A first reinforcing projection <NUM> may be disposed along an outer circumference of the shaft coupler <NUM> at predetermined intervals. The first reinforcing projection <NUM> may be radially disposed around the shaft coupler <NUM>, and may form a strip-shaped projection outside the shaft coupler <NUM>. Accordingly, stress concentrated on the shaft coupler <NUM> may be scattered through the first reinforcing projection <NUM>, and structural rigidity of the shaft coupler <NUM> may improve.

The inner protrusion <NUM> may protrude upward from the hub plate <NUM> to an upper portion in which the support plate <NUM> is installed. The inner protrusion <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed along an outer edge of the hub plate <NUM> in a circular arc form. The inner protrusion <NUM> may be formed into a pipe extending in the up-down direction.

Additionally, a second reinforcing projection <NUM> may be disposed along an inner circumference of the inner protrusion <NUM> at predetermined intervals. The second reinforcing projection <NUM> may be disposed along an inner surface of the inner protrusion <NUM> in the first direction, and a lower side of the second reinforcing projection <NUM> may form a strip-shaped projection extending toward the shaft coupler <NUM>. Accordingly, stress concentrated on the inner protrusion <NUM> may be scatted through the second reinforcing projection <NUM>, and structural rigidity of the inner protrusion <NUM> may improve. When necessary, the rotor of the motor may be fixed to an inside of the inner protrusion <NUM>.

The skirt part <NUM> may protrude upward from an edge of the hub plate <NUM> to the support plate <NUM>. The skirt part <NUM> may form an inclined surface that is inclined outward in the second direction as the skirt part <NUM> becomes farther from the hub plate <NUM> in the first direction. The skirt part <NUM> may be disposed outside the inner protrusion <NUM>, and an inner diameter of the skirt part <NUM> may increase gradually from a lower side to an upper side.

For example, a shape, in which the hub plate <NUM> and the skirt part <NUM> connect, may be a truncated cone shape which is provided therein with a hollow hole and has one side open. The skirt part <NUM> may be formed into a funnel having an upper side open and a lower side blocked by the hub plate <NUM>.

The shroud <NUM> may be installed in a way that the shroud <NUM> connects to an end of the fan wing <NUM> in a ring shape, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the shroud <NUM> is spaced from the fan base <NUM>.

The shroud <NUM> may be arranged along an outer circumference of the skirt part <NUM>, and the shroud <NUM> and the skirt part <NUM> may be connected by the fan wing <NUM>. Additionally, an outer diameter of the hub <NUM> and an inner diameter of the shroud <NUM> may decrease gradually from an upper side to a lower side.

The shroud <NUM> may be spaced a predetermined distance from the hub <NUM> in the radial direction and may be disposed outside the hub <NUM> in the radial direction of the hub. The shroud <NUM> may be spaced from the hub <NUM> by a distance corresponding to a length of the fan wing <NUM> in a radial direction of the fan wing. Each fan wing <NUM> may connect between the skirt part <NUM> included in the hub <NUM> and the shroud <NUM>.

The shroud <NUM> may form an inclined surface that is approximately parallel with the skirt part <NUM>. In this embodiment, the skirt part <NUM> and the shroud <NUM> are arranged in a way that a gap between the skirt part <NUM> and the shroud <NUM> increases gradually toward an upper side of the shroud <NUM>, for example.

An entrance projection <NUM> disposed on a lower side of the shroud <NUM> may be formed into a ring and may extend from the lower side of the shroud <NUM> having a funnel shape in the first direction. Since the entrance projection <NUM> is disposed inside a bell mouth <NUM> described below, air, flowing into an entrance on the lower side of the shroud <NUM> along an outer side of the shroud <NUM>, may be prevented from whirling.

A plurality of fan wings <NUM> may be provided and spaced along an outer circumferential surface of the hub <NUM> at regular intervals. The fan wing <NUM> may protrude outside the hub <NUM> with respect to the hub <NUM>, and extend in a spiral form. The plurality of fan wings <NUM> may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the hub <NUM>.

The fan wing <NUM> in one embodiment may protrude outside the skirt part <NUM> in a centrifugal direction extending from a center of the shaft coupler <NUM> in a spiral shape. Under the assumption that a direction from the outside of the shaft coupler <NUM> toward the shat coupler <NUM> is a radial direction, an inside of the fan wing <NUM> in a radial direction of the fan wing may connect to the skirt part <NUM>, and an outside of the fan wing <NUM> in the radial direction of the fan wing may connect to the shroud <NUM> described below.

The skirt part <NUM> may be a portion directly connected to the fan wing <NUM> among the components of the hub <NUM> and directly contacting air passing through the fan wing <NUM>. The skirt part <NUM> may closely relate to a path in which air passing through the fan module <NUM> flows.

Each fan wing <NUM> connecting between the shroud <NUM> and the skirt part <NUM> may include a first end part <NUM>, a second end part <NUM>, a first edge <NUM> and a second edge <NUM>.

The first end part <NUM> may be disposed at a front end of the fan wing <NUM> in a rotation direction of the fan wing, and formed into a straight line that extends in the radial direction. The rotation direction is defined as a direction in which the fan member <NUM> rotates.

The second end part <NUM> may be disposed at a rear end of the fan wing <NUM> in the rotation direction of the fan wing and formed radially around the shaft coupler <NUM>.

The first edge <NUM> may connect one end of the first end part <NUM> and one end of the second end part <NUM>. The first edge <NUM> may connect to an inner circumferential surface of the shroud <NUM>.

The second edge <NUM> may connect the other end of the first end part <NUM> and the other end of the second end part <NUM>. The second edge <NUM> may connect to the outer circumferential surface of the hub <NUM>.

That is, one end of the first end part <NUM> and one end of the second end part <NUM> may connect to the inner circumferential surface of the shroud <NUM>. The other end of the first end part <NUM> and the other end of the second end part <NUM> may connect to an outer circumferential surface of the skirt part <NUM>.

One end of the first end part <NUM> may be disposed closer to the center of the hub plate <NUM> in a radial direction of the hub plate than one end of the second end part <NUM>, and the other end of the second end part <NUM> may be disposed closer to the center of the hub plate <NUM> in the radial direction of the hub plate than the other end of the first end part <NUM>, since one end and the other end of the first end part <NUM> are disposed further forward than one end and the other end of the second end part <NUM> in the rotation direction and that a radius of the skirt part <NUM> decreases toward a front in the radial direction.

In this embodiment, the fan wing <NUM> may connect to the skirt part <NUM> of the hub <NUM>. The skirt part <NUM> may form an inclined surface that is inclined upward, to guide a flow of air, flowing into the fan module <NUM>, upward at a slant.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the fan base <NUM> may be coupled to a lower side of the fan housing <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the fan base <NUM> guides air having passed through the filter part <NUM> into the fan member <NUM>.

The fan base <NUM> may be disposed between the filter part <NUM> and the fan member <NUM>. An edge of the fan base <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to a shape of an edge of the filter part <NUM>. For example, when the filter part <NUM> has a cylinder shape and the edge of the filter part <NUM> has a circular shape, the fan base <NUM> may have a ring shape with a hollow hole.

A base plate <NUM> may be disposed between the filter part <NUM> and the fan member <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> may be formed into a plate that extends in a ring shape and provided with a hollow hole for movement of air at a center thereof.

A bell mouth <NUM> is installed in an annular shape on the inside of the base plate <NUM>. The bell mouth <NUM> may have a longitudinal cross section that is concave and encircles a lower side of the entrance projection <NUM> of the shroud <NUM> and may extend in a circumferential direction.

The bell mouth <NUM> may be formed in a way that the bell mouth <NUM> encircles an outer circumferential surface of the hollow hole formed at a center of the base plate <NUM>. The bell mouth <NUM> may form a groove that is convex downward and concave upward.

The bell mouth <NUM> may be at least partially inserted into the shroud <NUM> in a radial direction of the shroud. The bell mouth <NUM> may guide a suction flow at an entrance of the fan module <NUM> and contribute to improvement in suction and discharge performance of the fan module <NUM>.

A coupling projection <NUM> may protrude from the base plate <NUM> upward and be fitted-coupled to the groove of the protruding boss <NUM> of the fan housing <NUM> to fix the fan base <NUM> to the lower side of the fan housing <NUM>.

As a result of the coupling between the coupling projection <NUM> and the protruding boss <NUM>, the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> may be coupled at a plurality of positions. When the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> are coupled as described above, the fan member <NUM> may be installed between the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> in a rotatable manner.

A protruding rib <NUM> may protrude from the base plate <NUM> and be disposed outside the bell mouth <NUM> in a radial direction of the bell mouth. The protruding rib <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed outside the bell mouth <NUM> in the radial direction of the bell mouth and installed in the form of a ring that encircles an outer circumference of the bell mouth <NUM>. The protruding rib <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may be integrally formed. Specifically, the base plate <NUM>, the bell mouth <NUM> and the protruding rib <NUM> may be integrally formed.

Additionally, the protruding rib <NUM> may be disposed at a slant at the same angle as that of an outer surface of the shroud <NUM>, and a gap between the protruding rib <NUM> and the shroud <NUM> may remain constant. The protruding rib <NUM> may protrude in the form of an inclined surface. The inclined surface of the protruding rib <NUM> may be spaced a predetermined distance from the shroud <NUM> and be parallel with the inclined surface of the shroud <NUM>.

Additionally, the inclined surface of the protruding rib <NUM> may have the same slant angle as the inclined surface of the inner guide <NUM> of the fan housing <NUM>. Accordingly, part of air, moving upward through a space between the shroud <NUM> and the skirt part <NUM>, may be prevented from moving to the entrance of the fan member <NUM> through the space between the shroud <NUM> and the protruding rib <NUM>, that is, prevent a whirl.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a fan module <NUM> in another embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing the fan module <NUM> in another embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fan module <NUM> may have a rectangular exterior. Additionally, since the fan module <NUM> is provided therein with a circular mixed flow fan module, a small-sized upward discharge-type air purifier, which ensures maximized hydrodynamic performance, may be provided. The fan module <NUM> in another embodiment may include a fan housing <NUM>, a fan member <NUM> and a fan base <NUM>.

The fan housing <NUM> may have various exteriors within the technical scope in which the exterior of the fan housing <NUM> includes a rectangular edge. The fan housing <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a support plate <NUM>, a connecting and supporting part <NUM>, a wire guide <NUM>, a lateral surface supporter <NUM>, an inner guide <NUM> and a protruding boss <NUM>.

The support plate <NUM> may be formed into a circular plate and provided with a hole at a center thereof. A motor may be disposed at the center of the support plate <NUM>, or a shaft connected to the motor may be disposed in the first direction.

The wire guide <NUM> and the connecting and supporting part <NUM> may be disposed one after another, and the wire guide <NUM> may support a lower portion of an electric wire <NUM> of an electronic device such that the electric wire <NUM> moves along a lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM>. The wire guide <NUM> may be formed into a projection that is disposed on a lower side of the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> and may guide an electric wire <NUM> of a motor disposed on the support plate <NUM> in a way that the electric wire <NUM> is extended and disposed outside the fan housing <NUM>. The wire guide <NUM> may form a concave groove which is disposed on the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM> and in which the electric wire <NUM> is installed. Accordingly, the electric wire <NUM> installed in the wire guide <NUM> may be disposed in the concave groove on the lateral surface of the connecting and supporting part <NUM>, and its lower portion may be supported by the wire guide <NUM>, thereby preventing the electric wire <NUM> from being damaged. The lateral surface supporter <NUM> may be formed into a rectangular frame and have upper and lower sides that are open. An outside of the lateral surface supporter <NUM> may be formed into a rectangular frame, and an inside of the lateral surface supporter <NUM> may form a passage through which air moves and form an inner space having a rectangular or circular shape.

The protruding boss <NUM> may extend to a lower end of the lateral surface supporter <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the protruding boss <NUM> is provided with a groove into which a coupling projection <NUM> of a fan base <NUM> described hereunder is inserted. A plurality of protruding bosses <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed at each edge of the lateral surface supporter <NUM>.

A mixed flow fan may be used as the fan member <NUM>. Description in relation to this is provided above.

A rectangular fan base <NUM> may be coupled to a lower side of a rectangular fan housing <NUM> and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the fan base <NUM> guides air having passed though the filter part <NUM> into the fan member <NUM>.

A shape of the edge of the fan base <NUM> may correspond to a shape of the edge of the fan housing <NUM>. For example, when the fan housing <NUM> has a rectangular shape, the fan base <NUM> may be formed into a rectangular plate provided with a hollow hole.

A base plate <NUM> may have a rectangular plate shape and be provided with a hollow hole for allowing air to move at a center thereof.

A bell mouth <NUM> is installed in an annular shape on the base plate <NUM>. The bell mouth <NUM> may have a longitudinal cross section that is concave and encircles a lower side of an entrance projection <NUM> of a shroud <NUM> and may extend in the circumferential direction. The bell mouth <NUM> may be formed in a way that the bell mouth <NUM> encircles an outer circumferential surface of the hollow hole formed at a center of the base plate <NUM>. The bell mouth <NUM> may form a groove that is convex downward and concave upward.

A coupling projection <NUM> may protrude from the base plate <NUM> upward and be fitted-coupled to the groove of the protruding boss <NUM> of the fan housing <NUM> to fix the fan base <NUM> to the lower side of the fan housing <NUM>. As a result of the coupling between the coupling projection <NUM> and the protruding boss <NUM>, the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> may be coupled at a plurality of positions. When the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> are coupled as described above, the fan member <NUM> may be installed between the fan base <NUM> and the fan housing <NUM> in a rotatable manner.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment connected to a rotation guide <NUM>, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing the discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a rotation guide <NUM> in one embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment separated from a rotation supporter <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the discharge part <NUM> may be disposed at an outlet <NUM> of a housing <NUM>, may be installed in a rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the discharge part <NUM> guides a discharge direction of air having passed through a fan module <NUM>. The discharge part <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be installed in a sphere-shaped ball joint <NUM> included in the rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner and may smoothly rotate.

The discharge part <NUM> disposed on an upper side of the housing <NUM> may be open in the up-down direction and connected to the rotation supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner such that a discharge direction of air having passed through the fan module <NUM> is adjusted. The discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a discharge body part <NUM>, a first supporter <NUM> and a second supporter <NUM>.

The discharge body part <NUM> may be disposed at the outlet <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and may guide a discharge direction of air. The discharge body part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a first discharge part <NUM>, a second discharge part <NUM> and a core mounting part <NUM>.

The first discharge part <NUM> may be disposed on one side (an upper side in <FIG>) of the ball joint <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the first discharge part <NUM> is provided with a plurality of vanes <NUM> for guiding discharge of air. The first discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a first discharge core <NUM>, a first discharge body <NUM> and a vane <NUM>.

The first discharge core <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side of the ball joint <NUM> and may have various shapes including a circular plate shape. The first discharge body <NUM> may be spaced from the first discharge core <NUM> and disposed in a ring shape that encircles an outside of the first discharge core <NUM>. An outside of the first discharge body <NUM> may be formed into a curved surface and installed in a state of being spaced from the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the first discharge body <NUM> may be prevented from contacting the hosing <NUM> when the first discharge part <NUM> rotates.

Since the first discharge core <NUM> and the first discharge body <NUM> are connected by the plurality of vanes <NUM>, the first discharge core <NUM>, the first discharge body <NUM> and the vane <NUM> may rotate together.

The second discharge part <NUM> may be disposed on the other side (a lower side in <FIG>) of the ball joint <NUM>, may connect to the first discharge part <NUM> and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the second discharge part <NUM> rotates around the ball joint <NUM> together with the first discharge part <NUM>. The second discharge part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a second discharge core <NUM>, a second discharge body <NUM> and a discharge core supporter <NUM>.

The second discharge core <NUM> may be coupled to the first discharge core <NUM> with the core mounting part <NUM> between the second discharge core <NUM> and the first discharge core <NUM>. The second discharge core <NUM> may form a groove that is concave downward, and the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM>, which encircle the ball joint <NUM>, may be disposed inside the second discharge core <NUM>.

The second discharge body <NUM> may be spaced from the second discharge core <NUM> and disposed in a ring shape that encircles an outside of the second discharge core <NUM>. An outside of the second discharge body <NUM> may be formed into a curved surface and installed in a state of being spaced from the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the second discharge body <NUM> may be prevented from contacting the hosing <NUM> when the second discharge part <NUM> rotates.

Since the second discharge core <NUM> and the second discharge body <NUM> are connected by the plurality of discharge core supporters <NUM>, the second discharge core <NUM>, the second discharge body <NUM> and the discharge core supporter <NUM> may rotate together.

The core mounting part <NUM> may be disposed between the first discharge part <NUM> and the second discharge part <NUM>, and may receive a manipulation signal through the first discharge part <NUM> or display an operation state of the portable air purifier <NUM> through the first discharge part <NUM>. The core mounting part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a touch panel <NUM> disposed on a lower side of the first discharge core <NUM> and configured to receive a user's manipulation signal through the first discharge core <NUM>, a display <NUM> disposed on a lower side of the touch panel <NUM>, configured to provide image information toward the first discharge core <NUM> and including a PCB configured to receive the manipulation signal of the touch panel <NUM>, and a fixing case <NUM> fixed to the first discharge part <NUM> while encircling the touch panel <NUM> and the display <NUM>.

The first supporter <NUM> may connect to the discharge body part <NUM> or the first supporter <NUM> and the discharge body part <NUM> may be integrally formed, and the first supporter <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the first supporter <NUM> is provided with a first curved surface groove <NUM> formed into a concave groove. The first curved surface groove <NUM> may be installed in a way that the first curved surface groove <NUM> encircles the upper side of the ball joint <NUM> having a sphere shape. The first supporter <NUM> in one embodiment may include a first support body <NUM> and a first wing member <NUM>.

The first support body <NUM> may be disposed inside the first curved surface groove <NUM> formed into a concave groove and fixed to a center of the discharge body part <NUM>. The first support body <NUM> in one embodiment may be coupled to a lower side of the second discharge part <NUM>. The first support body <NUM> may be inserted into a lower side of the second discharge core <NUM> of the second discharge part <NUM> and fixed to an inside of the second discharge core <NUM>.

The first wing member <NUM> may include a first wing member <NUM> extending outside the first support body <NUM> and facing the second supporter <NUM>. The first wing member <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> may be fixed as a result of fastening of a fastening member <NUM> and may be coupled with a gap therebetween.

The first wing member <NUM> may be formed into a plate that extends along a circular arc, and the first support body <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape that protrudes upward from a central portion of the first wing member <NUM>, may be provided therein with the first curved surface groove <NUM> and may have a lower side that is open.

The second supporter <NUM> may be coupled to the first supporter <NUM>, and may be provided with a second curved surface groove <NUM> connected to the first curved surface groove <NUM> on an inner side thereof. The second curved surface groove <NUM> may be installed in a way that the second curved surface groove <NUM> encircles a lateral surface and part of a lower side of the ball joint <NUM> having a sphere shape.

The second supporter <NUM> in one embodiment may be provided with a hollow hole part <NUM> that communicates in the up-down direction and may include a second support body <NUM> installed in the circumferential direction. The second curved surface groove <NUM> may be formed inside the second support body <NUM> facing the hollow hole part <NUM>.

An upper side of the discharge part <NUM> may be placed in the horizontal direction, and a position at which air having passed through the discharge part <NUM> is moved upward may be set to an initial position of the discharge part <NUM>. When the discharge part <NUM> is at the initial position, an inner diameter of a lower end of the second curved surface grove <NUM> may be less than a maximum outer diameter of the ball joint <NUM>. The second supporter <NUM> surrounding the lower side of the ball joint <NUM> is fixed to the first supporter <NUM> surrounding the upper side of the ball joint <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ball joint <NUM> from being separated to the outside of the second supporter <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a frictional force between the first supporter <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> is referred to as F1, and a frictional force between the second supporter <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> is referred to as F2. Additionally, when a distance between the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> is D, F1 and F2 are inversely proportional to D.

That is, the frictional force between the first supporter <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> and the frictional force between the second supporter <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> may be inversely proportional to the distance between the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> that are installed to face each other with the ball joint <NUM> therebetween. When D increases, F1 and F2 decrease, and when D decreases, F1 and F2 increase.

When the discharge part <NUM> rotates around the ball joint <NUM> and then does not maintain a state in which the discharge part <NUM> is rotated although the discharge part <NUM> needs to maintain the state, D may decrease as a result of adjustment of a fastening state of the fastening member <NUM>, and accordingly, F1and F2 may increase. Additionally, when the discharge part <NUM> does not smoothly rotate due to the increase in F1 and F2, the fastening member <NUM> may be adjusted to increase D, and accordingly, F <NUM> and F2 may decrease.

When a direction of rotation of the discharge part <NUM> is adjusted manually, the discharge part <NUM> may rotate readily, and the discharge part <NUM> may be prevented from rocking after the completion of its rotation, thereby improving reliability in operation of the discharge part <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first supporter <NUM> may be provided with the first curved surface groove <NUM> that forms a groove concave downward, and the second supporter <NUM> may be provided with the second curved surface groove <NUM> that forms a groove concave along an inner circumference of the second support body <NUM> facing the hollow hole part <NUM>. When the discharge part <NUM> is at the initial position, the upper side of the ball joint <NUM> may be inserted into the first curved surface groove <NUM>, and the second curved surface groove <NUM> may be installed to encircle part of the lateral surface and part of a lower portion of the ball joint <NUM>. Accordingly, the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> may rotate around the ball joint <NUM>.

The second supporter <NUM> may be fixed to the first supporter <NUM> by the fastening member <NUM>, and the first supporter <NUM> may be fixed to the discharge body part <NUM>. Thus, the discharge body part <NUM>, the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> may form a single module and rotate around the ball joint <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sterilizer <NUM> may be disposed between the filter part <NUM> and the second case <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the sterilizer <NUM> emits a light ray for sterilization to the filter part <NUM>. The sterilizer <NUM> in one embodiment may include at least one of a sterilizing and supporting part <NUM>, a supporting part <NUM> and an emitter <NUM>.

The sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> may be disposed between the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> and may shield the lower portion of the first case <NUM>. The sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> may be disposed on a lower side of the emitter <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> connects to the housing <NUM> and movement of the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> is restricted.

Air introduced into the first case <NUM> through the entrance part <NUM> may be prevented from moving to the second case <NUM> by the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM>. Accordingly, a flow rate of air moving to the fan module <NUM> may increase and air purification performance of the portable air purifier <NUM> may improve.

The supporting part <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the supporting part <NUM> protrudes from a center of the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> upward and supports a lower portion of the emitter <NUM>. The supporting part <NUM> may be disposed at a center of the entrance part <NUM> in a radial direction of the entrance part and a transverse cross section of the supporting part <NUM> may have a circular shape to reduce friction with air.

The supporting part <NUM> may be formed into a pillar that protrudes from the center of the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> upward. The supporting part <NUM> may be formed into a cylinder or a circular cone. The supporting part <NUM> in one embodiment may have a transverse cross section that is narrowed gradually from a lower side to an upper side and may be disposed at a center of the first case <NUM> provided with the entrance part <NUM>, thereby minimizing friction with air.

A transverse cross section of the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> for sterilizing the filter part <NUM> may have a circular shape, and air suctioned through the entrance part <NUM> may rotate outside the supporting part <NUM> while rotating in a spiral shape thanks to an inclined shape of the entrance hole <NUM> and may move to the upper side on which the filter part <NUM> is disposed. That is, the sterilizer <NUM> may be disposed in a central portion of the first case <NUM> and air suctioned through the entrance part <NUM> may move upward while rotating around an outer circumference of the sterilizer <NUM>, thereby reducing flow resistance of the sterilizer <NUM>.

Since rotation centers of the supporting part <NUM> and the fan member <NUM>, and a core member <NUM> of a rotation supporter <NUM> described below are disposed on the same straight line, resistance against a flow of air moving from the lower side to the upper side may decrease, and air may flow more smoothly, thereby ensuring improvement in air purification performance of the portable air purifier <NUM>.

The emitter <NUM> may be disposed on an upper side of the supporting part <NUM> and may emit a light ray for sterilization toward the filter part <NUM>. The emitter <NUM> may be disposed on a perpendicular reference line that vertically passes through the center of the entrance part <NUM> in a radial direction of the entrance part. When the filter part <NUM> is disposed on an upper side of the emitter <NUM>, an entire surface area of a lower end of the filter part <NUM> may be sterilized by a relatively small number of sterilizing light sources <NUM>, thereby reducing costs incurred for manufacturing, maintenance and repairs.

The emitter <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the emitter <NUM> is disposed at a position higher than or the same as a position of an upper end of the entrance part <NUM>. The emitter <NUM> in one embodiment may include a printed circuit board <NUM> and a sterilizing light source <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may be disposed on the upper side of the supporting part <NUM>, and the sterilizing light source <NUM> for emitting a light ray for sterilization may be disposed on an upper side of the printed circuit board <NUM>. The sterilizing light source <NUM> may be a UVC LED, and various types of sterilizing devices may be used within the technical scope in which the sterilizing light source <NUM> sterilizes germs in the filter part <NUM>.

Since the sterilizing light source <NUM> of the sterilizer <NUM> is disposed on an upper side of the entrance part <NUM>, the sterilizing light source <NUM> may be prevented from emitting out of the first case <NUM> through the entrance part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a rotation supporter <NUM> in one embodiment, <FIG> is a perspective view showing the discharge part <NUM> and the rotation supporter <NUM> in one embodiment, and <FIG> is a plan view showing a core supporter <NUM> in one embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the rotation supporter <NUM> may connect to the housing <NUM> and support the discharge part <NUM> disposed at the outlet <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in a rotatable manner, and movement of the rotation supporter <NUM> may be restricted. One side of the rotation supporter may connect to the housing <NUM>, and the other side may be disposed at a position facing the first curved surface groove <NUM> and the second curved surface groove <NUM>. The rotation supporter may support the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner. The rotation supporter <NUM> in one embodiment may include a core member <NUM>, a core supporter <NUM> and a ball join <NUM>.

The core member <NUM> may be disposed on a lower side of the discharge part <NUM> configured to adjust a discharge direction of air and may extend from a center of the outlet <NUM> to the discharge part <NUM>. The core member <NUM> may be disposed on a lower side of the second supporter <NUM>, may extend from the center of the outlet <NUM> to the second supporter <NUM> and may support the ball joint <NUM>. Additionally, the core member <NUM> may have an outside formed into a curved surface and a transverse cross section that is gradually reduced from a lower side connected to the core supporter <NUM> toward the ball joint <NUM>, thereby minimizing resistance of air moving from the lower side to the upper side.

The core member <NUM> may be formed into a circular cone shape and may have a transverse cross section that is gradually reduce toward the upper side. The core member <NUM> in one embodiment may include a core base <NUM>, a core body <NUM> and a core connector <NUM>.

The core base <NUM> may form a lower portion of the core member <NUM> and may be fixed to the core supporter <NUM>. The core base <NUM> may be disposed in a central portion of the housing <NUM> and formed into a pipe that extends in the up-down direction.

The core body <NUM> may extend to an upper side of the core base <NUM> and may be formed into a circular cone having upper and lower sides that are open.

The core connector <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the core connector <NUM> forms a space for installing a position informing part <NUM> and a space for connecting the ball joint <NUM> inside the core body <NUM>. The core connector <NUM> in one embodiment may include a joint seating part <NUM> and an inner fastening and supporting part <NUM>.

The joint seating part <NUM> may form a space for coupling the core body <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> through an upper side of the core body <NUM>. The joint seating part <NUM> in one embodiment may include a curved surface supporter <NUM> forming a surface that is concavely curved to allow an outside of the ball joint <NUM> to be seated on the upper side of the core body <NUM> facing the ball joint <NUM>, and a joint connecting hole <NUM> forming a hole for allowing the ball joint <NUM> to be disposed at an upper end of the core body <NUM>.

The inner fastening and supporting part <NUM> may extend to an inside of the core body <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the inner fastening and supporting part <NUM> supports the ball joint <NUM> and a first adjusting bolt <NUM> of the position informing part <NUM>. The inner fastening and supporting part <NUM> in one embodiment may includes a first fastening and supporting part <NUM> that extends to the inside of the core body <NUM> and forms a hole through which a body of the first adjusting bolt <NUM> passes, and a second fastening and supporting part <NUM> that is disposed on an upper side of the first fastening and supporting part <NUM> and encircles an outside of a mounting projection <NUM> extending to the lower side of the ball joint <NUM>.

The core supporter <NUM> may extend outside the core member <NUM> and may be fixed to the inside of the housing <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which movement of the core supporter <NUM> is restricted together with movement of the core member <NUM>. The core supporter <NUM> in one embodiment may include a first core supporter <NUM>, a second core supporter <NUM> and a connecting part <NUM>.

The first core supporter <NUM> may be coupled to the lower portion of the core member <NUM> and may be installed in a ring shape. The core base <NUM> may be coupled to an inside of the first core supporter <NUM>, and the second core supporter <NUM> having a ring shape is installed outside the first core supporter <NUM>. Movement of the second core supporter <NUM> may be restricted using various fixing methods such as a method by which the second core supporter <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM> based on fitting or using a bolt and the like.

The first core supporter <NUM> and the second core supporter <NUM> may be connected by the connecting part <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> may be installed spirally or radially with respect to the first core supporter <NUM>. Since the first core supporter <NUM> in one embodiment is installed spirally along a direction of winds discharged from the fan module <NUM>, frictional resistance between the connecting part <NUM> and air may decrease.

The ball joint <NUM> may be coupled to the core member <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the ball joint <NUM> supports the discharge part <NUM> in a rotatable manner. A lower side of the ball joint <NUM> may be coupled to the core member <NUM>, and movement of the ball joint <NUM> may be restricted. An upper side of the ball joint <NUM> may be inserted into the discharge part <NUM> and may support the discharge part <NUM> in a rotatable manner. The upper side of the ball joint <NUM> in one embodiment may be disposed inside the first curved surface groove <NUM> and the second curved surface groove <NUM> and may support the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> in a rotatable manner.

The ball joint <NUM> may be formed into a sphere disposed inside a sphere-shaped groove formed by the first curved surface groove <NUM> and the second curved surface groove <NUM>. An outer diameter of the ball joint <NUM> may be greater than the inner diameter of the lower end of the second curved surface groove <NUM>. Accordingly, the ball joint <NUM> may be prevented from escaping out of the second supporter <NUM>.

An end of the ball joint <NUM> may have a sphere shape, may be disposed inside the discharge part <NUM> and may support the discharge part <NUM> in a rotatable manner. The upper side of the ball joint <NUM> may have a sphere shape, and a mounting projection <NUM> formed into a bar extending from the sphere-shaped upper side to the lower side may be inserted into and fixed to the core member <NUM> through a joint connecting hole <NUM> disposed on an upper side of the core member <NUM>. The ball joint <NUM> and the core member <NUM> may be fixed using various fixing methods such as a screw coupling, a pin coupling or using an adhesive and the like.

The ball joint <NUM> in one embodiment may include a joint body <NUM> and a mounting projection <NUM>. The joint body <NUM> may be formed into a sphere and may be provided therein with a first mounting hole <NUM> and a second mounting hole <NUM>. The first mounting hole <NUM> may form a groove for fastening the guide projection <NUM> of the rotation guide <NUM> outside the joint body <NUM>.

The second mounting hole <NUM> spaced from the first mounting hole <NUM> may forma hole that passes through the joint body <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second mounting hole <NUM> may be disposed at a center of the joint body <NUM> and may form a hole for installing an informing projection <NUM> of the position informing part <NUM>. The second mounting hole <NUM> in one embodiment may include a small diameter hole <NUM> that forms a hole extending from an upper end of the ball joint <NUM> to an inside of the ball joint <NUM>, and a large diameter hole <NUM> that communicates with a lower side of the small diameter hole <NUM> and forms a hole downward. An inner diameter of the large diameter hole <NUM> may be greater than an inner diameter of the small diameter hole <NUM>. Accordingly, a moving head <NUM> of a moving projection <NUM> of the position informing part <NUM> may be disposed inside the large diameter hole <NUM>, and the moving head <NUM> of the moving projection <NUM> my protrude from the ball joint <NUM> upward through the small diameter hole <NUM>.

The mounting projection <NUM> may be formed into a pipe that extends to a lower side of the joint body <NUM> and may be provided therein with an inner elastic member <NUM> of the position informing part <NUM>. The mounting projection <NUM> may be inserted into the core member <NUM> through the joint connecting hole <NUM> and disposed inside the second fastening and supporting part <NUM>. The mounting projection <NUM> may be disposed inside the second fastening and supporting part <NUM> simply in a state of being inserted into the second fastening and supporting part, and since the mounting projection <NUM> is provided therein with a screw thread, the first adjusting bolt <NUM> may be fastened to an inside of the mounting projection <NUM>.

Alternatively, an outside of the mounting projection <NUM> and an inside of the second fastening and supporting part <NUM> may have a screw thread such that the mounting projection <NUM> is fastened to the second fastening and supporting part <NUM>.

The rotation guide <NUM> may be respectively installed in the discharge part <NUM> and the rotation supporter <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the rotation guide <NUM> guides rotation of the discharge part <NUM> such that the discharge part <NUM> rotates at predetermined angles. The rotation guide <NUM> in one embodiment may include a guide projection <NUM> and a guide groove <NUM>.

The guide projection <NUM> may connect to the ball joint <NUM> or the guide projection <NUM> and the ball joint <NUM> may be integrally formed. The guide projection <NUM> may be formed into a projection that protrudes outside the ball joint <NUM>. The guide projection <NUM> in one embodiment may be formed into a bolt and may include a held head <NUM> held outside the ball joint <NUM> and a fastened body <NUM> extending from the held head <NUM> and fastened to the inside of the ball joint <NUM>. The fastened body <NUM> may be fastened to the first mounting hole <NUM>.

The guide groove <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the guide groove <NUM> is provided with a concave groove inside the discharge part <NUM> facing the guide projection <NUM>. The guide groove <NUM> in one embodiment may be installed in at least one of the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> facing the ball joint <NUM>. Alternatively, the guide groove <NUM> may be formed respectively in the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM>. A first groove <NUM> may be formed inside the first supporter <NUM> disposed on a path in which the guide projection <NUM> moves, and a second groove <NUM> may be formed inside the second supporter <NUM>.

When a predetermined rotation angle of the discharge part <NUM> is <NUM> degrees, an angle between one end and the other end of the guide groove <NUM> may be <NUM> degrees with respect to the center of the joint body <NUM>. If the rotation angle of the discharge part <NUM> changes, the angle between one end and the other end of the guide groove <NUM> may also change with respect to the center of the joint body <NUM>. Accordingly, the guide projection <NUM> may be inserted into the guide groove <NUM> and may be held in the guide groove <NUM> such that rotation of the discharge part <NUM> at the predetermined rotation angle or greater is restricted.

The position informing part <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the position informing part <NUM> is held in the discharge part <NUM> and provides a sense of manipulation when the discharge part <NUM> is at a predetermined position. The predetermined position of the discharge part <NUM> may be set to an initial position where air having passed through the discharge part <NUM> is discharged upward, but not limited. The predetermined position of the discharge part <NUM> may be set to various rotation positions of the discharge part <NUM>.

The position informing part <NUM> in one embodiment may include an informing projection <NUM> and an informing groove <NUM>.

The informing projection <NUM> may be provided with a moving projection <NUM> that is pressed by an elastic force toward the outside of the ball joint <NUM>, and may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the moving projection <NUM> protrudes outside the ball joint <NUM> when the discharge part <NUM> is at the predetermined position. The informing projection <NUM> in one embodiment may include a moving projection <NUM>, a first adjusting bolt <NUM> and an inner elastic member <NUM>.

The moving projection <NUM> may move along the second mounting hole <NUM> of the joint body <NUM> in the up-down direction. The moving projection <NUM> in one embodiment may be formed into a bolt and may include a moving head <NUM> and a moving body <NUM>. The moving head <NUM> may be disposed inside the large diameter hole <NUM>, and an upward movement of the moving head <NUM> may be restricted since the moving head is held by a step disposed between the large diameter hole <NUM> and the small diameter hole <NUM>. A convexly curved surface may be formed at an upper end of the moving body <NUM> that extends from the moving head <NUM> upward.

The first adjusting bolt <NUM> may be fastened to the first fastening and supporting part <NUM> of the core member <NUM>. The first adjusting bolt <NUM> may be fastened to the large diameter hole <NUM> disposed inside the joint body <NUM>. Alternatively, the first adjusting bolt <NUM> may not be fastened to an inside of the first fastening and supporting part <NUM> while being fastened to the screw thread included inside the large diameter hole <NUM>.

A lower side of the inner elastic member <NUM> may be supported by the first adjusting bolt <NUM> and an upper side may support the moving projection <NUM>. A coil spring may be used as the inner elastic member <NUM> in one embodiment, and the moving projection <NUM> may be pressed by elasticity.

The informing groove <NUM> may be modified in various ways within the technical scope in which the informing groove forms a groove into which the moving projection <NUM> is inserted and held, in the discharge part <NUM> facing the informing projection <NUM>. The informing groove <NUM> in one embodiment may be formed in the first supporter <NUM>. The informing groove <NUM> having a concave shape may be formed on a lower side of the first support body <NUM>, and when the discharge part <NUM> is at the initial position, the informing groove <NUM> may be at a position facing the moving projection <NUM>. Accordingly, the moving projection <NUM> may be inserted into the informing groove <NUM> and may provide a sense of manipulation to a user.

The entrance part <NUM> for suctioning external air may be disposed along the outer circumference of the first case <NUM>. Accordingly, external air outside the first case <NUM> may move into the first case <NUM> through the entrance part <NUM> and a flow rate of suctioned air may increase.

As a result of operation of the fan module <NUM>, air outside the portable air purifier <NUM> may be suctioned into the portable air purifier <NUM>. In this case, the air outside the portable air purifier <NUM> may form an air flow rotating along an outer circumference of the sterilizing and supporting part <NUM> in a spiral shape while passing through the entrance hole <NUM> inclined.

The air, which is suctioned into the first case <NUM> and moves upward while rotating in a spiral shape, may pass through the filter part <NUM>, and in this process, physical particles such as dust/fine dust/ultra fine dust and the like, chemical substances such as odorant particles/harmful gases and the like and microorganisms such as germs/viruses and the like, which are included in the air, may be filtered.

Since the filter part <NUM> and the fan module <NUM> are disposed on the same straight line in the up-down direction, flow loss may be minimized and air may be suctioned and filtered effectively.

The air having passed through the filter part <NUM>, i.e., the purified air, may be introduced into the fan module <NUM>. A flow of the air may be guided by the bell mouth <NUM>, and accordingly, the air may be introduced into the fan module <NUM> effectively and smoothly.

The air introduced into the fan module <NUM> may be discharged from an upper side of the fan module <NUM>. The air discharged from the upper side of the fan module <NUM> may be discharged in a mixed flow direction. The mixed flow direction may be defined as an upward diagonal direction.

The air introduced into a central portion on a lower side of the fan module <NUM> may move upward through a discharge opening that is provided along an inside of an edge of the fan module <NUM> in a ring shape. That is, the air introduced into a lower portion of the fan module <NUM> may be discharged in the upward diagonal direction such that a passage for movement of air and a direction of a flow path of air of the rotation supporter <NUM> are matched, since a mixed flow fan is applied to the fan module <NUM>, thereby reducing flow loss.

The air discharged from the upper side of the fan module <NUM>, i.e., the purified air, may be introduced into the discharge part <NUM> from the lower side thereof and may be discharged from the upper side of the discharge part <NUM>.

The discharge part <NUM> may rotate within a range of predetermined angles. Accordingly, a direction of the discharged air may be adjusted depending on an angle at which the discharge part <NUM> is installed.

Additionally, an inside of the discharge part <NUM> may form a concave groove. Accordingly, an increase in the discharge resistance of air, a direction of which is changed by the discharge part <NUM>, may be suppressed. Further, since the filter part <NUM>, the fan module <NUM> and the discharge part <NUM> are disposed on the same straight line in the up-down direction, flow loss of air may be minimized, air may be suctioned effectively, and filtered and purified air may be discharged effectively.

Since the sphere-shaped ball joint <NUM> is disposed inside the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> of the discharge part <NUM>, the discharge part <NUM> may rotate around the ball joint <NUM>. The discharge part <NUM> may be rotatably installed in the ball joint <NUM> included in the rotation supporter <NUM>. Thus, the discharge part <NUM> may be installed in a way that the discharge part <NUM> rotates around the ball joint <NUM> such that a discharge direction of air is readily adjusted.

When a rotation angle of the discharge part <NUM> serving as a circulator is <NUM> degrees, the upper side of the discharge part <NUM> needs to be installed in the horizontal direction, and the informing groove <NUM> formed in the first supporter <NUM> of the discharge part <NUM> may face the informing projection <NUM>. Accordingly, the moving projection <NUM> pressed by the inner elastic member <NUM> may be held in the informing groove <NUM>, and the user may readily ascertain that the discharge part <NUM> is placed at the right position that is an initial position.

The core mounting part <NUM> serving as a touch panel may be installed in a central portion of the discharge part <NUM>, and an electric wire <NUM> connected to the core mounting part <NUM> may connect to a lower side of the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, when a panel makes a <NUM> degree rotation without additional restrictions on the rotation of the panel, the electric wire may be broken or damaged. To prevent this from happening, the rotation guide <NUM> may be installed to adjust the rotation angle of the discharge part <NUM> within predetermined angles, thereby preventing damage to the electric wire <NUM>.

That is, the discharge part <NUM> may rotate within the predetermined angles, thereby preventing the electric wire <NUM> connected to the discharge part <NUM> from being broken or damaged, since the guide projection <NUM> protruding outside the ball joint <NUM> is held in the guide groove <NUM> formed inside the discharge part <NUM>.

When the discharge part <NUM> rotates at the predetermined angle or greater, the guide projection <NUM> protruding outside the ball joint <NUM> may bump against the first supporter <NUM> and the second supporter <NUM> disposed at a boundary of the guide groove <NUM>. Thus, the discharge part <NUM> may rotate with the predetermined angles.

Further, since a spring force of the inner elastic member <NUM> is adjusted by adjusting the position at which the first adjustment bolt <NUM> is fastened to the mounting protrusion <NUM>, the force of the inner elastic member <NUM> to press the moving projection <NUM> is also adjusted.

The embodiments are described above with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof. However, the present invention is not intended to limit the embodiments and drawings set forth herein, and numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claim 1:
A portable air purifier (<NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) provided with an entrance part (<NUM>) configured to suction air, provided therein with a filter part (<NUM>) and a fan module (<NUM>, <NUM>), and forming an air flow path in an up-down direction;
a discharge part (<NUM>) disposed at an outlet (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) and configured to guide a discharge direction of air;
a rotation supporter (<NUM>) which is connected to the housing (<NUM>), movement of which is restricted and which supports the discharge part (<NUM>) in a rotatable manner; and
a rotation guide (<NUM>) disposed respectively at the discharge part (<NUM>) and the rotation supporter (<NUM>) and configured to guide rotation of the discharge part (<NUM>) to allow the discharge part (<NUM>) to rotate within predetermined angles,
wherein the rotation supporter (<NUM>) comprises:
a core member (<NUM>) disposed on a lower side of the discharge part (<NUM>) and extended from a center of the outlet (<NUM>) to the discharge part (<NUM>);
a core supporter (<NUM>) which is extended outside the core member (<NUM>), which is fixed to an inside of the housing (<NUM>) and movement of which is restricted together with movement of the core member (<NUM>); and
a ball joint (<NUM>), a lower side of which is coupled to the core member (<NUM>) and movement of which is restricted, and an upper side of which is inserted into the discharge part (<NUM>) and supports the discharge part (<NUM>) in a rotatable manner, and
characterized in that the rotation guide (<NUM>) comprises:
a guide projection (<NUM>) connected to the ball joint (<NUM>) or integrated with the ball joint (<NUM>), and protruding outside the ball joint (<NUM>);
a guide groove (<NUM>) forming a concave groove inside the discharge part (<NUM>) facing the guide projection (<NUM>); and
wherein the guide projection (<NUM>) is inserted into the guide groove (<NUM>), and a rotation of the discharge part (<NUM>) at a predetermined angle or greater is restricted since the guide projection (<NUM>) is held inside the guide groove (<NUM>).