Sterilization structure of water outlet and water treatment device containing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773975-B2
Application number	US-201615756885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2016
Priority date	Sep 1, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed are a sterilizing structure of a water outlet and a water treatment apparatus including the same. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a water outlet for discharging treated water treated in a water treatment device externally, and a sterilizer for sterilizing the water outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sterilizing structure of a water outlet device comprising:
a water outlet configured to discharge treated water, treated in a water treatment apparatus, externally; and
a sterilizer sterilizing the water outlet,
wherein the water outlet is located in a moving part configured to move on a main body included in the water treatment apparatus,
wherein the sterilizer includes a sterilizing space in which the water outlet is sterilized, and
wherein the sterilizing space contains sterilizing water sterilizing the water outlet, and at least a portion of the water outlet is submerged in the sterilizing water.

2. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer is located in at least one of the main body and the moving part.

3. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 1 , wherein the sterilizing water generated in a sterilizing water generation unit included in the water treatment part and discharged through the water outlet is contained in the sterilizing space for a predetermined period of time.

4. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 3 , wherein a sterilizing water discharge line configured to discharge the sterilizing water contained in the sterilizing space is connected to the sterilizing space, and
an interior diameter of the water outlet is greater than an interior diameter of the sterilizing water discharge line.

5. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 4 , wherein a residual sterilizing water discharge line configured to prevent the sterilizing water from remaining in the sterilizing space after sterilizing the water outlet is connected to the sterilizing space.

6. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 5 , wherein the interior diameter of the sterilizing water discharge line is greater than an interior diameter of the residual sterilizing water discharge line.

7. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the water outlet is greater than a sum of a cross-sectional area of the sterilizing water discharge line and a cross-sectional area of the residual sterilizing water discharge line.

8. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 5 , wherein the residual sterilizing water discharge line is connected to a lower surface of the sterilizing space.

9. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 3 , wherein the sterilizer further includes a tray member in which the sterilizing space is formed, movably disposed in the main body.

10. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 9 , wherein a sealing member having a fitting hole into which the water outlet is fitted to be sealed is disposed at an upper opening of the tray member.

11. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 10 , wherein a residual sterilizing water discharge line configured to prevent the sterilizing water from remaining in the sterilizing space after sterilizing the water outlet is connected to the tray member.

12. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 11 , wherein an interior diameter of the water outlet is greater than an interior diameter of the residual sterilizing water discharge line.

13. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 11 , wherein the residual sterilizing water discharge line is connected to a lower surface of the tray member.

14. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 1 , wherein a sealing member configured to seal the sterilizing space is disposed between the main body and the moving part.

15. The sterilizing structure of the water outlet device of claim 1 , wherein a sterilizing water discharge line is connected to the sterilizing space so that the sterilizing water contained in the sterilizing space is discharged, and the sterilizing water discharge line is disposed above the end of the water outlet.

16. A water treatment apparatus, comprising:
a main body;
a water treatment part configured to treat raw water flowing thereinto and disposed in the main body;
a sterilizing structure of a water outlet device including a water outlet configured to discharge treated water treated in the water treatment part externally, and a sterilizer configured to sterilize the water outlet; and
a moving part movably disposed in the main body,
wherein the water outlet is disposed in the moving part,
wherein the sterilizer includes a sterilizing space in which the water outlet is sterilized, and
wherein the sterilizing space contains sterilizing water sterilizing the water outlet, and at least a portion of the water outlet is submerged in the sterilizing water.

17. The water treatment apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the sterilizer is disposed in at least one of the main body and the moving part.

Assignees

• Coway Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yun Sung-Han
• Moon Hyoung-Min
• Joo Won-Ii
• Kwon Tae-Seong
• Kang Sang-Hyeon

Classifications

• C02F9/20

  Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems · CPC title

• B67D2210/00015

  UV radiation · CPC title

• C02F1/441

  by reverse osmosis · CPC title

• C02F2307/10

  as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title