Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to supporters attached to a water purifier, and more particularly, to a detachable rotational filter supporter that can hold or release a filter through a rotational operation and that can automatically open or close the flow channel when the filter is separated from or installed to a water purifier. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, as a result of water pollution, consumers increasingly mistrust tap water cleanliness and thus usually drink tap water treated by water purifiers or bottled water. 
     In general, a water purifier is configured to include: at least one or more filters for filtering foreign materials contained in unfiltered water that flows thereinto through an inflow part, and for discharging purified water; and an outflow part for discharging the purified water to the outside of a conventional purification system. 
     When the filters of the water purification system perform a purifying operation for a certain amount of water or for a certain period of time, they filter and accumulate foreign material which reduce their filtering ability and as such must be replaced. 
     In order to replace filters in the conventional purification system, the filters and their supporters must be coupled to each other by male and female screws. Hoses and fitting, which couple between filters or between filters and supporters, must be separated from each other by using additional tools. Also, unfiltered water must be directly blocked by an unfiltered-water blocking device and then the filters are replaced. After that, the unfiltered-water blocking device is controlled to allow unfiltered water to flow therein. Therefore, replacement of the conventional purification system is complicated and inefficient. 
     Furthermore, it is difficult or even impossible to assemble the conventional purification system when it is installed in a relatively small space. And even when the conventional purification system is installed in a small space, its filters cannot be easily replaced due to its coupling structure. That is, the filters can only be replaced after the fittings are removed by additional tools. Therefore, the filter replacement of the conventional purification system is complicated and inefficient. Also, since it is difficult for general users to replace the filters of the conventional purification system themselves, users must ask the manufacturers or agent and pay a service fee to have the filters replaced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a detachable rotational filter supporter that can: release a filter when the housing of the filter supporter is rotated; block the flow channel immediately when the filter is separated from the filter supporter; automatically open the closed flow channel when the filter is installed to the filter supporter; and simultaneously hold the filter when the housing is located at the original position. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a detachable rotational filter supporter including: a housing with a receiving hole  11  in which a neck of a filter is placed; an inflow part whose inlet is formed at one side of the housing and whose outlet is formed to communicate with the receiving hole, wherein the inflow part includes a narrow portion of a flow channel at one side of the inflow part, so that the inlet has a larger diameter than the outlet; an outflow part whose outlet is formed at another side of the housing  10  and whose inlet is communicate with the receiving hole; a base installed to the housing in such a way to form a receiving space in the lower portion of the housing, wherein the base forms a through-hole whose axis is the same as the receiving hole; a pair of hinges each of which includes a flow-hole therein, wherein the pair of hinges are fixed to a inner wall of a water purifier, and inserted into the inlet of the inflow part and the outlet of the outflow part so that the inflow part and the outflow part can communicate with each other through their flow-holes, in which the pair of hinges are rotatable with respect to the axis established by the inflow part and the outflow part; a pair of locking parts slidably installed to the receiving space, each of which forms: an arc portion on a facing side and an thin plate at the opposite side of the facing side, which is protrudent to the opposite outside of the housing; at least two or more compression springs installed between the pair of locking parts for pushing the pair of locking parts to the outside; a protrusion protrudently formed from each hinge so that the protrusion can contact the thin plate of the locking part, wherein the protrusion assists the arc portion to contact the neck of the filter and to hole the filter when the protrusion contacts the thin plate; and a check valve installed to one side of the inflow part for opening or closing the flow channel of the inflow part when the filter is installed to or separated from the water purifier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a disassembled view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A, in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view depicting a narrow part of a flow channel depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view depicting another embodiment of a narrow part of a flow channel depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view depicting a locking part of a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view depicting another embodiment of a locking part of a detachable rotational filter supporter; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view depicting another embodiment of a detachable rotational filter supporter with a backward flow check valve, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a large view depicting a primary part of the detachable rotational filter supporter with a check valve of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a view that explains an operating state of the check valve; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view depicting a state where a filter is separated from a housing of the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B, in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line C-C, in  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIG. 16  is a view depicting an operating state of the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
         
           
               10 : housing 
               11 : receiving hole 
               14 : receiving space 
               20 : inflow part 
               21 : narrow portion of a flow channel 
               30 : outflow part 
               31 : flow channel enlarging part 
               40 : base 
               50 : hinge 
               60 : locking part 
               61 : arc portion 
               62 : thin plate 
               70 : compression spring 
               75 : protrusion 
               80 : check valve 
               87 : receiving portion 
               89 : receiving region 
               90 : filter 
               96 : locking groove 
               100 : backward flow check valve 
             U: flow pipe 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a disassembled view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a front view depicting a detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A, in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , the detachable rotational filter supporter includes a housing  10 , an inflow part  20 , an outflow part  30 , a base  40 , hinges  50 , a locking part  60 , a compression spring  70 , a protrusion  75 , and a check valve  80 . 
     The housing  10  forms a receiving hole  11  therein, in which a neck portion of a filter  90  is placed. More specifically, the housing  10  is configured to include an outer body  12  and an inner body  13 , so that the check valve  80  can be installed therein. The inner body  13  forms the receiving hole  11  therein, in which a neck portion of a filter  90  is place. The housing  10  is pivotally installed with respect to the hinge  50 . 
     The inflow part  20  is configured in such a way that: its one end (or an inlet) is formed at one side of the outer body  12  to communicate with the outside and to receive unfiltered water; and its opposite end (or an outlet) is formed to communicate with the receiving hole  11 . The inflow part  20  includes a narrow portion  21  of a flow channel at one side thereof, so that the inlet has a larger diameter than the outlet. 
     The inlet  20  serves to guide unfiltered water to the filter  90 . The narrow portion  21  of a flow channel can be formed as a sloping surface, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, the narrow portion  21  can be formed as a round shape, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The outflow part  30  is configured in such a way that: its outlet for discharging water, purified through the filter  90 , is formed at another side of the outer body  12  of the housing  10 ; and its inlet for receiving purified water from the filter is formed in the inner body  13  of the housing  10  so as to communicate with the receiving hole  11 . The outflow part  30  serves to discharge water purified through the filter  90 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the filter  90  is configured to include: an outer tube-type boy  92 , shape as a cylindrical form, with a neck  91 ; an inner tube-type body  93  installed in the cylindrical outer body  92 , forming a first flow channel communicated with the inflow part  20 , in which the inner tube-type body  93  forms a second flow channel communicated with the outflow part  30  therein; a filter member  94  installed in the flow channel of the inner tube-type body  93  for purifying unfiltered water that flows in through the inflow part  20 ; and a filter cap  95  whose outer portion is communicated with the inflow part  20  and whose inner portion is communicated with the outflow part  30 , in which the filter cap  95  is installed to the upper end of the inner tube-type body  93 , dividing the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92  into an outer portion and inner portion. 
     It is preferable that the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92  forms a locking groove at the outer periphery thereof, to which a locking part  60  is fitted. 
     The filter member  94  is made of any one of a carbon block filter, a bamboo block filter, a π-ceramic filter, and an ultra filtration filter, or made of the combination of two or more of the filters listed above. 
     Since the filter  90  is configured to include well-known elements, its detailed description will be omitted in the following. 
     The base  40  is installed to the housing  10  in such a way as to form a receiving space  14  in the bottom of the housing  10 , i.e., in the lower portion of the housing  10 . The base  40  forms a through-hole  41 , whose axis is the same as the receiving hole  11 , for allowing the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92  to pass through. 
     The receiving space  14  allows for the installation of the locking part  60  so that the locking part  60  can slidably move in the receiving space  14 . Therefore, the receiving space  14  is communicated with the receiving hole  11 . Here, the locking part  60  holds the neck  91  of the filter  90  received in the receiving hole  11 . 
     The hinges  50  form a pair and are installed to both the inflow part  20  and outflow part  30 , respectively. The respective hinges  50  form a flow-hole  51  therein. The hinges  50  are inserted into the inlet of the inflow part  20  and into the outlet of the outflow part  30 , respectively, so that the inflow part  20  can be communicated with the outflow part  30  through their flow holes  51 . The pair of hinges  50  is rotatable with respect to the axis established by the inflow part  20  and the outflow part  30 . Also, one side of the respective hinges  50  is fixed to the inner wall of the water purifier. 
     Also, opposite sides of the hinges  50 , which are located opposite the inflow part  20  and outflow part  30 , are each connected to U-shaped flow pipes installed into the water purifier. 
     It is preferable that a first O-ring  52  is inserted between the hinge  50  and the housing  10  to prevent water leakage. More preferably, the number of the first O-ring  52  should be at least one or more. 
     The locking parts  60  form a pair, and are slidably installed to the receiving space  14  horizontally. As shown in  FIG. 8 , each locking part  60  forms: an arc portion  61  for holding the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92  of the filter  90  on one side (i.e., a facing side) thereof; and a thin plate  62  at the opposite side thereof, which is protrudent to the opposite outside. 
     The arc portion  61  is formed to receive the locking groove  96  formed at a portion of the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92  of the filter  90 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , it is preferable that the locking part  60  includes a chamfered portion  63  formed as the upper edge of the arc portion  61  is chamfered, so that the art portion  61  can be received smoothly by the locking groove of the filter  90 . 
     Also, it is preferable that the thin plate  62  contacting the protrusion  75  is formed to be semicircular at its free end. 
     It is preferable that the outer tube-type body  12  of the housing  10  includes a through-hole  15  at its both sides, through which the thin plate  62  passes. 
     When the thin plate  62  of the locking part  60  is located within the housing  10 , the arc portion  61  holds the filter  90 . On the contrary, when the locking part  60  is slid by the compression spring  70  and thus the thin plate  62  is exposed to the outside from the housing  10 , the arc portion  61  releases the filter  90 . 
     At least two or more compression springs  70  are installed between the pair of locking parts  60  so as to elastically push the locking parts  60  to the outside. 
     The protrusion  75  is protrudently formed from the hinge  50 . When the protrusion  75  contacts the thin plate  62  of the locking part  60 , the arc portion  61  contacts the neck  91  of the filter  90 , so that it can be received in the locking groove  96  formed at the portion of neck  91  to hold the filter  90 . When the housing  10  is rotated, the protrusion  75  is released from the thin plate  62 . 
     The check valve  80  is installed to one side of the inflow part  20 . The check valve  80  opens or closes the flow channel of the inflow part  20  when the filter  90  is installed to or separated from the water purifier. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the check valve  80  is configured in such a way that: a first shaft  81  is located at one side of the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel; a first head  82  is formed at one end of the first shaft  81 , and installed to the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel, so that the opposite end of the first head  82  is located at the receiving hole  11 , contacting the upper surface of the neck  91  of the outer tube-type body  92 , received in the receiving hole  11 , and the opposite end of the first head  82  is placed within the inflow part  20 ; a block plate  83  is formed between the first head  82  and the first shaft  81 , and closely contacts the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel to close the flow channel of the inflow part  20  when the opposite end of the first head  82  is located at the receiving hole  11 ; and a first spring  84  whose one end closely contacts the block plate  83  and whose opposite end closely contacts the flow channel, so as to elastically and constantly push the block plate  83 . 
     When a portion of the neck  91  of the filter  90  is located at the receiving hole  11  of the housing  10 , its upper surface contacts the first head  82 , so that the opposite end of the first head  82  is located within the inflow part  20  and the block plate  83  is separated from the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel, thereby opening the inflow part  20 . When the filter  90  is separated from the water purifier, the first spring  84  closely joins the block plate  83  and the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel, thereby closing the inflow part  20 . 
     It is preferable that a second O-ring  85  is inserted between the first head  82  and the block plate  83  so as to enhance water tightness when the check valve  80  closes the flow channel of the inflow part  20 . 
     The second O-ring  85  is placed in a groove  86  formed between the first head  82  and the block plate  83 . 
     The inflow part  20  is formed as an L-shape so that the check valve  80  can be easily installed to the inflow part  20 . It is preferable to further include: a receiving portion  87  formed at a bent part that is positioned in the same direction as a vertical part, in which the receiving portion  87  is communicated with the surface of the inner body  13 ; and a plate  88 , installed to the surface of the inner body  13 , for closing one side of the receiving portion. 
     It is preferable to further include a protrusion part  89   a  protrudent from one side of the plate  88 . The protrusion part  89   a  is placed in the receiving portion  87 . The protrusion part  89   a  forms a receiving region therein to receive the first spring  84  and the first shaft  81  installed in the receiving portion  87 . 
     The outflow part  30  can be configured to include a flow channel enlarging part  31  at its one end, so that the inlet can be smaller in diameter than the outlet. It is preferable that the flow channel enlarging part  31  is formed to have a step, so that a backward flow check valve  100 , which will be described later, can be easily installed. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view depicting another embodiment of a detachable rotational filter supporter with a backward flow check valve, according to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , it is preferable that the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention further includes a backward flow check valve  100  at one side of the outflow part  30 . More preferably, the inflow channel enlarging part  31  is formed in the step. 
     The backward flow check valve  100  minimizes leakage of purified water that remains in the outflow part  30  when the filter  90  is separated from the water purifier. 
       FIG. 11  is a large view depicting a primary part of the detachable rotational filter supporter with a check valve of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is a view that explains an operating state of the check valve. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the backward flow check valve  100  is configured to include: a body  110  that is installed to the flow channel enlarging part  31 , includes an O-ring  111  at the periphery thereof, forms a hollow cavity  112  therein, forms a tri-ped  113  at one side thereof, and includes a connecting frame  115  that generates a hole  114  simultaneously when the free ends of the tri-ped  113  are connected thereto; a second shaft  120  slidably installed and extended through the hole  114 , wherein the second shaft  120  including, a second head  121  that closely joins its one end with the hollow cavity  112  and closes the hollow cavity  112 ; and a second spring  130  installed between the second head  121  and the connecting frame  115  for elastically and continuously pushing the second head  121 . 
     That is, as shown in  FIG. 12 , when purified water is output from the filter  90 , the second head  121  is retreated from the hollow cavity  112 , overcoming the elastic force of the second spring  130 , and is separated from the edge of the periphery forming the hollow cavity  112  by the purified water pressure, thereby opening the outflow part  30 . On the contrary, when purified water is blocked, by the elastic force of the second spring  130 , the second head  121  is moved to the hollow cavity  112  and contacts the edge of the periphery forming the hollow cavity  112 , thereby closing the outflow part  30 . 
     In the following description, the operation of the detachable rotational filter supporter will be explained with reference to figures. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view depicting a state where a filter is separated from a housing of the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention.  FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B, in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line C-C, in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 16  is a view depicting an operating state of the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention. 
     The filter  90  to be replaced is separated from a water purifier as follows: 
     The hosing  10  is rotated with respect to filter  90  or vice versa, as shown in  FIG. 13 . That is, the housing  10  is rotated with respect to the hinges  50  fixed to the inner wall of the water purifier, because parts of the flow-holes  51  of the hinges  50  are rotatably installed to the inflow part  20  and outflow part  30 , respectively, which are located at both sides of the housing  10 . 
     While the housing  10  is rotated, the protrusions  75  formed at the hinges  50  are separated from the thin plates  62  of the locking parts  60 . 
     The locking parts  60  are moved to the outside from the housing  10  by the compression springs  70  installed between the locking parts  60 , and then exposed through the through-holes  15  to the outside, as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The arc portions  61  of the locking parts  60  are separated from the locking grove  96  of the neck  91  of the filter  90 , thereby releasing the filter  90 . 
     As a result, the filter  90  is separated from the housing  10 . 
     When the filter  90  is separated from the housing  10 , the opposite end of the first head  82  of the check valve  80  contacts to the upper surface of the neck  91  of the filter  90  and becomes located in the receiving hole  11 . That is, the second spring  84  pushes the block plate  83 , so that the block plate  83  closely contacts the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel and closes the inflow part  20 . Also, the second O-ring  85 , placed in a groove  86  formed between the first head  82  and the block plate  83 , contacts the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel to enhance water tightness. 
     When the inflow part  20  is blocked, the second head  121  closes the hollow cavity  112  by the operation of the second spring  130  of the backward flow check valve  100  and thus closes the outflow part  30 . 
     Now, a new filter  90  is installed to the water purifier as follows. 
     The neck  91  of the new filter  90  is inserted into the receiving hole  11 . The upper surface of the neck  91  contacts the opposite end of the first head  82  and thus the first head  82  is moved into the inflow part  20 . 
     While the filter  90  is inserted, the block plate  83  having contacted the narrow portion  21  of a flow channel of the inflow part  20  is separated from the narrow portion  21  so that the flow channel of the inflow part  20  is opened. 
     When the inflow part  20  is opened, unfiltered water passes through the new filter  90  to generate purified water. When the purified water flows into the outflow part  30 , the second head  121  of the backward flow check valve  100  is separated from the hollow cavity  112  by the purified water pressure and thus the outflow part  30  is opened. 
     After that, the housing  10  is rotated to the original position. The protrusions  75  of the hinges  50  contact the thin plates  62  of the locking parts  60  so that the locking parts  60  are slid into the housing  10 . The arc portions  61  of the locking parts  60  are placed into the locking groove  96  of the neck  91  of the new filter  90 , so that the new filter  90  can be locked thereto. 
     As described in the foregoing, the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention allows the filters to be easily separated therefrom in such a way that: the protrusion formed at the hinge is released from the locking part when the housing is rotated; the filter is unlocked when the locking part is moved to the outside by the spring; the check valve blocks the flow channel when the filter begins to be separated from the housing, and allows the filters to be easily installed thereto in such a way that: while the separating order is inversely performed, the flow channel is opened; and the filter can be easily installed thereto when the housing is rotated to the original position. 
     In addition, the detachable rotational filter supporter according to the present invention allows general users to conveniently replace the filters themselves, since the filters can be easily installed to and separated from the water purifier. 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein above, it should be understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 7