Water purifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020115212-A1
Application number	US-201716469493-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2017
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; and a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing, in which the water chute includes a water cock through which cold water or hot water flows; and a light emitting element which is mounted on the water cock to emit ultraviolet rays, in which the water cock includes a water inflow part which extends in a transverse direction and has a water inflow passage formed therein; and a water outflow part which extends in a direction intersecting the water inflow part at an end of the water inflow part and has a water outflow passage formed therein, in which the light emitting element is disposed on the upper side of the water outflow part, and in which the water outflow passage includes a sloping part having a shape in which a cross-sectional diameter thereof gradually decreases toward the lower end thereof.

First claim

1 . A water purifier comprising:
a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; and a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing, wherein the water chute includes
a water cock through which cold water or hot water flows; and
a light emitting element which is mounted on the water cock to emit ultraviolet rays,
wherein the water cock includes:
a water inflow part which extends in a transverse direction and has a water inflow passage formed therein; and
a water outflow part which extends in a direction intersecting the water inflow part at an end of the water inflow part and has a water outflow passage formed therein,
wherein the light emitting element is disposed on the upper side of the water outflow part, and wherein the water outflow passage includes a sloping part having a shape in which a cross-sectional diameter thereof gradually decreases toward the lower end thereof.

2 . The water purifier of claim 1 , wherein the sloping part extends to the lower end of the water outflow part.

3 . The water purifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a straight part which extends from a lower end of the sloping part to a lower end of the water outflow part, the straight part having a constant cross-sectional diameter.

4 . The water purifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cylindrical water collecting part which is formed inside the water cock corresponding to an area where the water inflow part and the water outflow part intersect, wherein the sloping part extends from the lower end of the water collecting part.

5 . The water purifier of claim 4 , wherein a diameter of an upper end of the sloping part is formed to be smaller than a diameter of a bottom part of the water collecting part, such that a stepped part is formed on the bottom of the water collecting part.

6 . The water purifier of claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the water outflow part is convexly rounded.

7 . The water purifier of claim 4 , further comprising:
a bracket which is coupled to the water cock, the bracket being configured to support the light emitting element, and a waterproof unit which is disposed between the water collecting part and the light emitting element, the waterproof unit being configured to prevent water collected in the water collecting part from splashing to the light emitting element, wherein a seating part for seating the waterproof unit is formed inside the water outflow part corresponding to the upper side of the water collecting part.

8 . The water purifier of claim 7 , wherein the waterproof unit includes:
a transparent plate which is made of a transparent material, and a sealer which surrounds an edge of the transparent plate.

9 . The water purifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a safety guide which is coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the water outflow part, wherein the safety guide is fixedly or detachably coupled to the water outflow part.

10 . The water purifier of claim 9 , wherein the safety guide includes:
a coupling section which is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the water outflow part, and
a shielding section which is defined below the coupling section and in which a shielding space is formed.

11 . The water purifier of claim 10 , further comprising:
an extension part which is formed within the shielded space, wherein an extension passage which is continuously connected to the sloping part is formed in the extension part.

12 . The water purifier of claim 11 , wherein the extension passage includes:
a sloping part in which a diameter of the upper-end is the same as a diameter of the lower end of the sloping part and which has a reduced cross-sectional diameter toward the lower side or a straight part which has a constant cross-sectional diameter.

13 . The water purifier of claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of first partition ribs which are formed in the water outflow passage, and a plurality of second partition ribs which are formed in the extension passage, wherein the plurality of second partition ribs are integrally formed with the plurality of first partition ribs or are disposed so as to be spaced apart and separated from the first partition ribs in a circumferential direction of the extension passage.

14 . The water purifier of claim 11 , wherein the extension part is a part of the water outflow part.

15 . The water purifier of claim 11 ,
wherein the extension part is a part of the safety guide.

16 . The water purifier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a proximity sensor which is mounted on a front surface of the housing.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Youngjin
• Park Beomchul
• Moon Jungmin

Classifications

• B01D35/04

  Plug, tap, or cock filters {filtering elements mounted in or on a faucet} · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• B67D2001/075

  Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus · CPC title