WO2009066844A1

WO2009066844A1 - Filter assembly in air cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2009066844A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Woo Kim; Jung-Min Moon; Jeong-Sang Seo; Kyeong-Bo Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2007-11-19
Filing date: 2008-05-29
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-19
Also published as: KR100902922B1; KR20090051636A

Abstract

Disclosed is a filter assembly contained inside a body of an air cleaner. The filter assembly includes a box-shaped filter case having an inner containing space and a front opening; a plurality of filter bodies contained in the containing space of the filter case; a filter cover for covering the front opening of the filter case, an opening being formed on a central portion of the filter cover so that air can pass through, a holding handle protruding forward from an upper portion of a front surface; and a coupling unit for coupling between the filter case and the filter cover. The filter assembly minimizes the influence on the height of the body of the air cleaner, maximizes the space efficiency, and can be coupled and removed conveniently.

Description

FILTER ASSEMBLY IN AIR CLEANER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air cleaner, and more particularly to a new type of air cleaner filter assembly, the structure of which is optimized so that the height of the body case of the air cleaner is minimized, the space efficiency is maximized, and the filter assembly can be coupled and removed conveniently.

Background Art In general, an air cleaner refers to a device for drawing in polluted indoor air, purifying it, and emitting it into the indoor atmosphere.

Recent air cleaners not only collect dust and microorganisms, but also remove odor when purifying indoor air.

FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of a conventional air cleaner. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional air cleaner includes a body 10, a filter assembly 30 positioned in the front inner space of the body 10 and provided with various filters stacked on one another, a drawing device (not shown) positioned in the rear inner space of the body 10 to guide drawn and emitted air, and a front panel 20 for selectively exposing the inner front surface of the body 10. Indoor air is drawn via an air inlet 11 formed on a lateral surface of the body 10, and passes through the filter assembly 30 and the drawing device successively. Purified air is emitted into the indoor atmosphere via an air outlet 12 formed on the upper surface of the body 10.

The filter assembly 30 has a holding handle protruding from the upper surface, as shown in the drawing. The filter assembly 30 can be removed from the body 10 by slanting it forward and lifting it. However, the above-mentioned conventional air cleaner has a structural problem in that, since the holding handle 40 for holding the filter assembly 30 is formed on the upper surface of the filter assembly 30, a predetermined space needs to be created near the top of the front surface of the body 10 as an insertion recess 14, into which the holding handle 40 can be inserted. Particularly, the insertion space 14 must be large enough to receive the user's hand without interference, which increases the overall height of the air cleaner.

Furthermore, the size of filter bodies contained inside the conventional filter assembly 30 must be approximately equal to that of the filter assembly 30. This means that the larger the filter assembly 30 is, the larger filter bodies are used, which are inconvenient to manage (e.g. wrap, transport).

In addition, the structure for coupling the filter cover 31 , which covers the front surface of the filter assembly 30, is complicated and inconveniences the user when coupling or removing the filter cover 31.

Disclosure

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above- mentioned problems, and the present invention provides a new type of air cleaner filter assembly, the structure of which is improved so that the influence on the height of the body of the air cleaner is minimized, the space efficiency is maximized, and the filter assembly can be coupled and removed conveniently.

Technical solution In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter assembly contained inside a body of an air cleaner, the filter assembly including a box-shaped filter case having an inner containing space and a front opening; a plurality of filter bodies contained in the containing space of the filter case; a filter cover for covering the front opening of the filter case, an opening being formed on a central portion of the filter cover so that air can pass through, a holding handle protruding forward from an upper portion of a front surface; and a coupling unit for coupling between the filter case and the filter cover.

A frame is formed along a periphery of a rear surface of the filter cover so that a part of a peripheral surface of the filter case is inserted.

The coupling unit includes coupling holes formed on both sides of a front bottom surface of the filter case, and bent protrusions protruding downward from both sides of a bottom surface of the filter cover, lower ends of the bent protrusions being bent forward to extend through and engage with the coupling holes.

The coupling unit includes a rotation handle rotatably installed on a rear portion of an upper surface of the filter case, the rotation handle having a leading end formed and bent to successively surround the upper surface of the filter case, the upper surface of the filter cover, and the holding handle of the filter cover.

Coupling steps protrude from both sides of a portion of the upper surface of the filter cover, the portion being surrounded by the rotation handle, respectively, receiving recesses are formed on facing surfaces of both coupling steps, respectively, and engaging protrusions are formed on both lateral surfaces of the rotation handle to engage with the receiving recesses of the coupling steps, respectively.

The rotation handle has a handle hole formed so that the rotation handle can be held together with the holding handle. A delimiting rib is formed inside the filter case to divide and delimit the containing space into at least two spaces. Engaging ledges protrude from both lateral surfaces of the filter cover to engage with inner wall surfaces of the body of the air cleaner, respectively.

Advantageous Effects The air cleaner filter assembly according to the present invention has the following advantages.

Firstly, the overall height of the assembly is minimized by removing factors that would otherwise unnecessarily increase the height. This reduces the height of the air cleaner. Secondly, the filter cover and the filter case are coupled in a stable manner, and the filter cover can be attached/detached easily and conveniently.

Thirdly, the additional provision of the delimiting rib reduces the size of each filter body. This reduces the wrapping size and decreases the management cost. Fourthly, the filter assembly has a simple structure and is stably seated within the body of the air cleaner.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a conventional air cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of an air cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the front panel open;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an air cleaner filter assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view showing the structure of an air cleaner filter assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the coupling structure of a rotation handle of an air cleaner filter assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Invention

Hereinafter, an air cleaner filter assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 2-6.

Referring to FIG. 2, an air cleaner filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be contained in the body 10 of an air cleaner, and includes a filter case 100, a plurality of filter bodies 200, a filter cover 300, and a coupling unit.

Respective components will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The filter case 100 will be described first. The filter case 100 constitutes the exterior of the filter assembly, and has the shape of a square box, which has an inner containing space and a front opening.

The rear surface of the filter case 100 is formed in a lattice type so that air is drawn in through the front opening and then flows through the lattice-type rear surface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter case 100 has a delimiting rib 110 formed therein to divide and delimit the containing space. The delimiting rib 110 divides the containing space into at least two spaces and reduces the size of the plurality of filter bodies 200 contained in the containing space at least by half. This minimizes the volume and weight of respective filter bodies 200 to be transported. The plurality of filter bodies 200 will now be described.

Each filter body 200 includes a conventional dust-collecting filter 210 and a deodorizing filter 220 to remove various types of alien substances from the flowing air.

Respective filter bodies 200 are sized to match with respective containing spaces delimited inside the filter case 100 by the delimiting rib, as mentioned above.

The filter cover 300 will now be described.

The filter cover 300 is adapted to cover the front opening of the filter case 100 and prevent the filter bodies 200 from escaping from inside the filter case 100.

The filter case 300 has an opening 310 formed therein so that air can pass through.

The filter cover 300 has a frame 320 formed on the peripheral surface, and the frame 320 has an insertion recess 321 formed thereon so that a part of the peripheral surface of the filter case 100 can be inserted therein. The frame 320 guarantees that the filter cover 300 is stably coupled to the filter case 100 while surrounding a part of the front surface of the filter case 100.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter cover 300 has engaging ledges 330 protruding from both lateral surfaces to engage with both lateral wall surfaces inside the body 10 constituting the air cleaner.

This construction is one of the structures for ensuring that the filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention remains stably seated within the body 10 constituting the air cleaner. The engaging ledges 330 preferably have elasticity so that the filter cover 300 can be stably mounted on the body 10 of the air cleaner, and that the filter assembly can be easily removed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter cover 300 has a holding handle 340 protruding forward from the central upper portion of the front surface.

The holding handle 340 is used to hold the filter assembly. The reason the holding handle 340 is formed on the front surface of the filter cover 300 is to minimize the height of the body 10 constituting the air cleaner. In other words, since the holding handle 340 is positioned on the front surface of the filter cover 300, not on its upper surface, no separate space needs to be created in the upper space within the body 10, in which the filter assembly is seated, so that the user can hold the handle 340 therein. This reduces the overall height of the body 10. The coupling unit will now be described.

The coupling unit includes a series of components for coupling between the filter case 100 and the filter cover 300.

Although the coupling unit can be variously configured, it includes, according to an embodiment of the present invention, coupling holes 410 formed on both sides of the front bottom surface of the filter case 100, and bent protrusions 420 protruding downward from both sides of the bottom surface of the filter cover 300 with their lower ends bent forward so that they extend through and engage with the coupling holes 410.

This construction is adopted for the following reason: the holding handle 340, which acts as the handle of the filter assembly, is formed on the upper portion of the front surface of the filter cover 300. If the user holds the holding handle 340 and lifts the filter assembly, the filter cover 300 may be separated from the filter case 100 unintentionally. Such separation is prevented by this construction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling unit further includes a rotation handle 430 positioned on the upper surface of the filter case 100.

The rotation handle 430 is rotatably installed on the rear side of the upper surface of the filter case 100, and the leading end of the rotation handle 430 is bent to successively surround the upper surface of the filter case 100, the upper surface of the filter cover 300, and the holding handle 340 formed on the filter cover 300. Referring to FIGs. 5 and 6, coupling steps 350 protrude from both sides of the portion of the upper surface of the filter cover 300, which is surrounded by the rotation handle 430, respectively. Receiving recesses 351 are formed on the inner wall surface of the coupling steps 350, respectively. Engaging protrusions 431 are formed on both lateral surfaces of the rotation handle 430 to engage with the receiving recesses 351 of the coupling steps 350, respectively.

This structure of the rotation handle 430 prevents the filter cover 300 from being separated from the filter case 100 unintentionally when the user holds both the holding handle 3430 and the rotation handle 430 to transport or operate the filter assembly. The rotation handle 430 has a handle hole 432 formed on the leading end so that the user can hold the rotation handle 430 together with the holding handle 340. In other words, the user can hold both the holding handle 340 and the rotation handle 430 via the handle hole 432.

Processes for assembling the air cleaner filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, which has the above-mentioned construction, and installing the filter assembly on the body 10 of an air cleaner or removing the assembly from the body 10 will now be described.

The air cleaner filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled by placing a plurality of filter bodies 200 inside the filter case 100 and covering the front opening of the filter case 100 by the filter cover 300. The filter cover 300 is coupled to the filter case 100 by slanting the lower end of the filter cover 300 backward so that the leading ends of the bent protrusions 420 pass through the coupling holes 410 of the filter case 100, and then pushing the upper end of the filter cover 300 backward to cover the front surface of the filter case 100. During this process, the front surface of the filter case 100 is inserted into the insertion recess 321 of the frame 320 formed on the peripheral surface of the filter cover 300, which is coupled to the filter case 100 accordingly.

The rotation handle 430 on the upper surface of the filter case 100 is rotated so that the rotation handle 430 successively surrounds the upper surface of the filter case 100, the upper surface of the filter cover 300, and the holding handle 430 formed on the front surface of the filter cover 300.

Then, the engaging protrusions 431 formed on both lateral surfaces of the rotation handle 430 are received in and coupled to the receiving recesses 351 of both coupling steps 350 on the upper surface of the filter cover 300, respectively. As a result, the holding handle 340 on the front surface of the filter cover

300 and the rotation handle 430 are positioned so that they can be held simultaneously.

The filter assembly assembled in this manner is then placed inside the body 10 of the air cleaner. In this case, the user holds both the holding handle 340 and the rotation handle 430 of the filter assembly.

This prevents the filter cover 300 from being separated unintentionally as a result of holding the holding handle 340 only and pulling it forward, which is not allowed according to the present invention. In other words, the structure according to the present invention makes it impossible to hold the holding handle 340 alone, and fundamentally prevents the filter cover 300 from being separated unintentionally.

When the filter assembly is placed inside the body 10 in this manner, the engaging ledges 330 on both lateral surfaces of the filter cover 300 engage with the inner wall surfaces of the body 10 and prevent any deviation form the correct position. Although several exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A filter assembly contained inside a body of an air cleaner, the filter assembly comprising: a box-shaped filter case having an inner containing space and a front opening; a plurality of filter bodies contained in the containing space of the filter case; a filter cover for covering the front opening of the filter case, an opening being formed on a central portion of the filter cover so that air can pass through, a holding handle protruding forward from an upper portion of a front surface; and a coupling unit for coupling between the filter case and the filter cover.

2. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frame is formed along a periphery of a rear surface of the filter cover so that a part of a peripheral surface of the filter case is inserted.

3. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling unit comprises: coupling holes formed on both sides of a front bottom surface of the filter case; and bent protrusions protruding downward from both sides of a bottom surface of the filter cover, lower ends of the bent protrusions being bent forward to extend through and engage with the coupling holes.

4. The filter assembly as claimed in one of claims 1-3, wherein the coupling unit comprises a rotation handle rotatably installed on a rear portion of an upper surface of the filter case, the rotation handle having a leading end formed and bent to successively surround the upper surface of the filter case, the upper surface of the filter cover, and the holding handle of the filter cover.

5. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein coupling steps protrude from both sides of a portion of the upper surface of the filter cover, the portion being surrounded by the rotation handle, respectively, receiving recesses are formed on facing surfaces of both coupling steps, respectively, and engaging protrusions are formed on both lateral surfaces of the rotation handle to engage with the receiving recesses of the coupling steps, respectively.

6. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotation handle has a handle hole formed so that the rotation handle can be held together with the holding handle.

7. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a delimiting rib is formed inside the filter case to divide and delimit the containing space into at least two spaces.

8. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein engaging ledges protrude from both lateral surfaces of the filter cover to engage with inner wall surfaces of the body of the air cleaner, respectively.