AU644053B2 - Water purifier attachable to a faucet, and a holder and cartridge for use therein - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 644053

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: WATER PURIFIER ATTACHABLE TO A FAUCET, AND A HOLDER AND CARTRIDGE FOR USE THEREIN.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:ft. f ft.

*ftftf ft f ft ft o WATER PURIFIER ATTACHABLE TO A FAUCET, AND A HOLDER AND CARTRIDGE FOR USE THEREIN HACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water purifier attachable to a faucet and switchble between a position for allowing water just to flow straight through without being purified, and a position for allowing water to flow out after purifying the water such as by filtration and dechlorination. More particularly, the invention relates to a water

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1 purifier including a holder having a device for coupling to a faucet, a cartridge detachably connected 15 to the holder and having a purifying device, and a 9S switching device for selectively guiding water to a purifying passage and a straight-through passage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART A water purifier of the type attached to a faucet 20 as noted above maintains its purifying function by changing a cartridge containing a filter when the filter is clogged or has deteriorated. Such a water purifier has the advantage of low maintenance cost over a disposable water purifier having a switching device and a purifying device integrated into a holder.

-1.A To provide the above advantage, the cartridge may be mounted in the holder, with water from the faucet guided to flow through a gap between the holder and cartridge to the straight-through passage or to the purifying device.

On the other hand, water from the faucet may be supplied selectively to a straight-through passage defined in the holder and to an inlet of the cartridge. In this case, unpurified water is 10 discharged directly from the straight-through passage, 0.00" while purified water is discharged directly from an outlet of the cartridge.

lFurther, such a water purifier may contain a purifying device having a double filtration structure 15 with hollow yarn films and granular activated carbon.

Conventional water purifiers as noted above have various disadvantages. One such disadvantage concerns .hygiene in that, when the cartridge is changed, tJie outer peripheral surface thereof which defines a water passage is touched by a hand.

The water purifier including a switching device has a purified water outlet and an unpurified water outlet spaced 'rom each other. This could result in a difficulty in bringing a glass or other receptacle to a right position for receiving purified or unpurified water at once. Where the holder is rotatable about a -2horizontal axis to switch between a purified water supplying position and an unpurified water supplying position, the purified water outlet and unpurified water outlet share the same position in use. However, residual water in the cartridge flows backward and remains therein when the cartridge is turned over for supplying unpurified water. Where the purifying device employs activated carbon, the residual water becomes dechlorinated, thereby inevitably increasing S. *i bacteria to the detriment of hygiene.

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Further, the use of hollow yarn films is costly, and has a strong passage resistance to reduce flow rate of purified water.

15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION e* S The object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier, and a holder and cartridge for use therein, which are hygienic and inexpensive to maintain, and presents little passage resistance.

20 The above object is fulfilled, according to the present invention, by a water purifier comprising a holder for coupling to a faucet, the holder having a first outlet and a second outlet defined in a bottom thereof; a cartridge removably attached to the bottin of the holder and including a purifying device, the cartridge having a discharge opening defined in a -3bottom thereof, a straight-through passage for allowing water to flow from the first outlet down to the discharge opening, and a purifying passage for allowing water to flow from the second outlet down to the discharge opening; and a switching device for guiding water from the faucet selectively to the first outlet and the second outlet.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holder for a water purifier comprising a 10 device for coupling to a faucet, a device for coupling to a cartridge having a purifying device, a bottom defining a first outlet and a second outlet, and a switching device for guiding water from the faucet selectively to the first outlet and the second outlet.

15 In a further aspect of the invention, there is 4* provided a water purifying cartridge removably attachable to a holder coupled to a faucet and having a bottom defining a first outlet and a second outlet.

This water purifying cartridge comprises a housing 20 defining a water inlet in one end thereof and a discharge opening the other end thereof, a partition for dividing the opening into a straight-through passage for allowing water to flow from the first outlet down to the discharge opening and a purifying passage for allowing water to flow from the secoind outlet down to the discharge opening, and a purifying device mounted in the purifying passage.

Preferably, the purifying device acts as a filter and includes porous shaped fiber activated carbon with antibacterial surfaces. Portions of the cartridge for contacting purified water may have antibacterial surfaces. o With the water purifier according to the present invention, unpurified water may be supplied through the discharge opening when the first outlet is 10 selected by the switching device, and purified water e may be supplied through the discharge opening when the second outlet is selected. Although this water purifier is switchable to supply purified water and unpurified water, only one discharge opening is 15 provided. Further, since the straight-through passage and purifying passage are both provided inside the cartridge, these passages are not contaminated by a hand at a time of changing the cartridge. In addition, water will never flow backward throuL't the 20 purifying passage since the cartridge directs the discharge opening downward whether purified water is supplied or unpurified water is supplied.

Particularly where the purifing device includes porous shaped fiber activated carbon with antibacterial surfaces or portions of the cartridge for contacting purified water have antibacterial rewovcf surfaces, dechlorination and Aeevabab b of organic substances are effected in addition to filtration.

Bacteria-free water is supplied although the redto vO.

dechlorination and -reffmvable of organic substances result in an environment for facilitating increase of bacteria in residual water inside the purifying passage. Thus, the water purifier remaining new and clean is always attached to a faucet, which does not require expensive hollow yarn films and does not 0 foster bacteria. In the absence of hollow yarn films, fa little passage resistance is imparted to water flows, o thereby allowing water to exit the cartridge at high flow rate.

According to the present invention, therefore, a 15 water purifier attachable to a faucet, and a holder and cartridge for use therein, are provided which are inexpensive to maintain, hygienic, compact, convenient for use, and capable of preventing increase of bacteria in residual water, and which presents little 2(0 passage resistance.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-6- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Vig. 1 is a view in vertical section of a water purifier according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross section of a portion of the water purifier, Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a main holder body and a fixing ring, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main holder body and fixing ring, S: 10 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge, Fig. 6 is a plan view of a partition pipe and a "support plate, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified valve, and 15 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modified valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, a water purifier attachable 20 to a faucet includes a holder 1, and a cartridge 2 detachably connected to a bottom of the holder 1.

The holder 1 includes a main body 3 having a coupling device for coupling to a faucet A, a diskshaped distributing plate 5 fitted to the main body 3 for defining a circular chamber 4 under the main body 3, and a cartridge attaching device for detachably connecting the cartridge 2 to the main body 3.

The coupling device includes an engaging ring 6 meshed with a forward end of the faucet A, and a fixing ring 7 meshed with the main body 3 for pressing a center portion of the main body 3 against the engaging ring 6. Packings 8 and 9 are mounted between the engaging ring 6 and faucet A and between the engaging ring 6 and main body 3, respectively.

The center portion of the main body 3 opposed to 10 an opening of the faucet A defines an inlet 10 for allowing passage of water from the faucet A down to •the chamber 4.

The distributing plate 5 forming the bottom of the holder 1 includes a first outlet ii extending from ".15 the chamber 4 and a plurality of second outlets 12 also extending from the chamber 4 and spaced from one another.

Numeral 13 denotes a packing for sealing between the distributing plate 5 and main body 3. Numeral 20 denotes a projection formed on the distributing plate and engaging a ci.cumferential groove formed in the main body 3 to set the distributing plate 5 to a position concentric with the main body 3. Numeral denotes a projection formed on the distributing plate 5 and engaging a cutout formed in the main body 3 to hold the distributing plate 5 against rotation -8relative to the main body 3.

This water purifier further includes a switchinr device for guiding water entering through the inlet selectively to the first outlet 11 and to the second outlets 12. Specifically, the switching device is in the form of a valve 14 disposed adjacent an upper circular opening of the first outlet 11. This circular opening is opposed to the inlet 10 which is also circular as shown in Fig. 3, for receiving water 10 flowing through the inlet 10. In plan view, the first outlet 11 is larger than and disposed outside the inlet 10. The first outlet 11 is defined by a nozzle ~pipe 15 depending from a center position of the distributing plate 5. Each of the second outlets 12 15 is also circular in plan view.

As also shown in Fig. 2, the valve 14 includes a spherical valve closure member 14A, an arm 14B and a ~control lever C. The valve closure member 14A is supported in a distal end of the arm 14B attached to 20 the main F -dy 3 to be pivotable about a vertical axis a. The arm 14B has a shaft portion 14a extending along the vertical axis a outwardly of the main body 3. The control lever 14C is connected to a projecting end of the shaft portion 14a. Thus, the valve closure member 14A is movable between a position resting on a circumferential edge of the upper circular opening of the first outlet 11 to close the opening, and a position retracted from the upper circular opening.

Numeral 16a denotes an O-ring for sealing between the shaft portion 14a and main body 3. The arm 14B has a valve holding portion 14b at the distal end thereof.

The valve holding portion 14b defines an opening 14c through which an upper surface of the valve closure member 14A in the closed position is opposed to the inlet 10. The distributing plate 5 includes a packing S: 10 17 defining the upper circular opening of the first outlet 11 and acting as a valve seat.

9 Thus, the switching device is operable to open *e the first outlet 11 to allow water to flow from the inlet 10 to the first outlet 11, and to close the 15 first outlet 11 to allow water to flow from the inlet to the second outlets 12.

As also shown in Fig. 5, the cartridge 2 has a basic construction including a housin, 18 defining an intake opening 18a in an upper end thereof for 20 receiving wate, and a discharge opening 18b in a lower end thereof for discharging The housing 18 contains porous shaped fiber aztivated carbon 19 acting as a filter for filtering water flowing from the intake opening 18a down to the discharge opening 18b. Specifically, the cartridge 2 includes a partition pipe 20 surrounding the nozzle pipe 15 of the distributing plate 5 when the cartridge 2 is connected to the holder 1. This partition pipe divides the housing 1" into a straight-through passage B and a purifying passage C. The straight-through passage B allows water to flow from the first outlet 11 down to the discharge opening 18b, :whereas the purifying passage C allows water to flow from the second outlets 12 down to the discharge opening 18b.

The shaped fiber activated carbon 19 is mounted in the S* 10 purifying passage C to act as a purifying device. The discharge opening 18b opens downwardly, an(i acts both as a purified water outlet 21 and an unpurified water outlet 21 of the water purifier. Numeral 16b denotes an O-ring for sealing between the nozzle pipe 15 and 15 partition pipe As also shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of the ousing 18 includes a mounting ring 18A projecting s outwardly for connection to the holder 1, and a retainer flange 18B projecting inwardly. The 20 cartridge 2 has a resin coated two-piece can construction having an upper opening closed by an upper lid clamped at a circumferential edge thereof, and a bottom thereof defining the discharge opening 18b. This upper lid includes a center portion 23 to define the intake opening 18a. with the clamped edge forming the mounting ring 18A, and a portion -11- 12surrounding the center portion forming the retaining flange 18B. The center portion 23 includes a pull-off tab 24. and a low-strength boundary is provided between the center portion 23 and the surrounding portion forming the retainer flange 18B. Thus, the intakc opening 18a is formed by pulling the tab 24 to tear off the center portion 23.

The partition pipe 20 is formed of a plastic material having a lower opening thereof opposed to and .w o.

:1 0 spaced from the discharge opening 18b. The partition pipe 20 defines a plurality of permeable pores, and a support plate 26 formed integral therewith for supporting the shaped fiber activated carbon 19. As also shown in Fig. 6, the support plate 26 has a 15 plurality of legs 26a formed integral therewith and arranged at in+ervals circumferentially thereof. The support plate 26 is placed on a bottom surface of the housing 18 and in contact with an inner peripheral wall thereof. With the legs 26a resting on the bottom 20 surface of the housing 18, a passage is defined between the support plate 26 and the bottom surface for water to flow through the support plate 26 to the discharge opening 18b. The partition pipe 20, support plate 26 and legs 26a are formed as an integral unit.

Numeral 27 denotes a flow straightening filter pressed firmly by the support plate 26 on the bottom surface -12- 12, of the housing 18 to close the discharge opening 18b and prevent scattering of water. This filter 27 is formed by baking beads of a resin such as methacrylic resin or styrene resin. Numeral 28 denotes paper filters placed on upper and lower surfaces of the fiber activated carbon 19. Numeral 29 denotes a plastic presser plate having permeable pores, which contacts the retainer flange 18B of the housing 18 to prevents the fiber activated carbon 19 and the abovementioned integral unit from moving upward from the *housing 18.

The shaped fiber activated carbon 19 is formed by adding a binder to fiber activated carbon, and defines a bore for receiving the partition pipe 20. This bore 15 has an inside diameter slightly smaller than the outer configuration of the partition plate. The fiber activated carbon 19 has an outside diameter slightly larger than an inside diameter of the housing 18.

Thus the fiber activated carbon 19 is fitted in a 20 compressed state in the housing 18.

Surfaces of the housing 18, fiber activated carbon 19, integral unit. flow straightening filter 27 and presser plate 29 are rendered antibacterial. That is, the portions of the cartridge 2 contacting purified water have antibacterial surfaces.

The housing 18 is rendered antibacterial by -13mixingan antibacterial agent into the resin coating.

The fiber activated carbon 19 is rendered antibacterial by mixing the antibacterial agent into the binder. The integral unit, flow straightening filter 27 and presser plate 29 are rendered antibacterial by mixing the antibacterial agent into the resin forming these components.

The antibacterial agent is in the form of minute particles of about 0.5 to 2 micrometers that destroy 10 bacteria upon contact therewith. This agent comprises an ion exchanger with ion exchange groups having r metallic ions, or an insoluble inorganic compound carrying metallic ions. The ion exchanger may be permutite or an ion exchange resin, and metallic ions 15 may be silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions or +in ions.

~Where the antibacterial agent is permutite with ion exchange groups having silver ions or an insoluble inorganic compound carrying silver ions for rendering .9 20 the surfaces of the housing 18, fiber activated carbon 19, integral unit, flow straightening filter 27 and presser plate 29 antibacterial, the agent is added in 0.1 to 10% by weight of the fiber activated carbon and in 0.1 to 10% by weight of the resin.

To described briefly a way in which the cartridge 2 is prepared, the fiber activated carbon 19 with the -14integral unit, the filter 28 and flow straightening filter 27 are placed in the housing 18 defining the discharge opening 18b. Then the presser plate 29 is placed in position, and thereafter the upper lid is secured in the double seam.

The discharge opening 18b is closed by a seal as shown in a two-dot-and-dash line in Fig. 6. Thus, the cartridge 2 has an interior sealed tight until use.

S: 10 The packing 13 is pressed from below against the 6.

main body 3 and distributing plate 5 for sealing between the main body 3 and distributing plate 5. A fixing ring 31, as also shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is removably attached to the main body 3 to press the 15 mounting ring 18A of the cartridge 2 against a lower surface of the packing 13. This cartridge connecting device secures the cartridge 2 to the main body 3 to be undetachable downwardly by pushing up the mounting ring 18A. The main body 3 includes a cylindrical 20 portion for engaging the fixing ring 31, and defining two large diameter portions 32 and two small diameter portions 33 arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. The fixing ring 31 includes a cylindrical portion for engaging the main body 3, and defining ridges 34 on inner peripheral walls thereof. When the fixing ring 31 is in a first rotation position relative to the main body 3, the ridges 34 contact the large diameter portions 32 to prevent the fixing ring 31 from fitting onto the main body 3. Only when the fixing ring 31 is in a second rotation position relative to the main body 3, the ridges 34 allows the fixing ring 31 to fit onto the main body 3. The large diameter portions 32 define grooves 35, respectively, for receiving the ridges 34 when the fixing ring 31 is fitted on the main body 3 and turned to the first rotation position, and for 4.44 preventing axial movement of the fixing ring 31. The grooves 35 include projections 35a, respectively, for elastically engaging recesses 34a when the fixing ring 31 is in the first rotation position, to stop rotation 15 of the fixing ring 31. Thus, the fixing ring 31 is turned to be rigidly connected to the main body 3, and turned in the opposite direction to be disengaged from the main body 3.

he above embodiment may be modified in various 20 ways, as follows: 4 In the foregoing embodiment, the valve closure member 14A is movable through pivotal movement of the arm 14B. The arm 14B may be replaced by a linearly movable element to move the valve closure member 14A.

The second outlets 12 may be in the form of -16slits rather than the circular openings as in the foregoing embodiment.

In the foregoing embodiment, the valve closure member 14A is pivotable about the vertical axis a to close and open the first outlet 11. Figs. 7 and 8 show different examples of valve closure members 14A. each of which is movable between a closed position and open position by rotation about a norizontal axis b.

10 In the foregoing embodiment, the valve 14 has

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the valve closure member 14A for opening and closing the upstream end of the first outlet 11 opposed to the 555*55 inlet 10. Instead of this construction, the first outlet 14 may be closed and opened at an intermediate 15 position or at an exit end thereof.

55 e In the foregoing embodiment, the shaped fiber activated carbon is employed as the purifying device 19. However, the purifying device may comprise a filtering film for superfine filtration or 20 ultrafiltration, or a layer of activated carbon particles, or a combination thereof.

The switching device may be modified to open and close the first outlet and second outlets in an alternative mode, instead of opening and closing only the first outlet as described.

The housing 18 may be formed of resin-coated -17- *r paper or a resin instead of being in the form of a can as in -the described embodiment.

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Claims (6)

1. A water purifier comprising: a holder for coupling to a faucet, said holder having a first outlet and a second outlet defined in a bottom thereof; a cartridge removably attached to the bottom of said holder and including a discharge opening defined in a bottom thereof, a straight-through passage for allowing water to flow from said first outlet down to said discharge opening, and a purifying passage for allowing water to flow from said second outlet down to said discharge opening; purifying means incorporated within said purifying passage, said purifying means acting as a filter and including porous shaped fiber activated carbon with antibacterial surfaces; and switching means for guiding water from said faucet selectively to said first outlet and said second outlet. whoe used

2. A holderA&4e-r u- in the water purifier defined in "Claim 1, said holder comprising: means for coupling to a faucet; e O means for coupling toA-cartridge having purifying means; a bottom defining a first outlet and a second outlet; and switching means for guiding water from said faucet selectively to said first outlet and said second outlet.

S.3. A water purifier as defined in Claim 1, wherein said water purifying cartridge further includes: i a housing defining a water inlet in one end thereof and a discharge opening in the other end thereof; partition means for dividing an inside of said housing into a straight-through passage for allowing water to flow from said first outlet down to said discharge opening, and a purifying passage for allowing water to flow from said second outlet down to said discharge opening; and said purifying means mounted in said purifying passage.

4. A water purifier as defined in Claim 3, wherein portions of said cartridge for contacting purified water have antibacterial surfaces.

A water purifier as defined in Claim 1, wherein said antibacterial surfaces are rendered antibacterial by forming said fiber activated carbon with using a binder mixed with an antibacterial agent, said antibacterial agent being in the form of minute particles of about 0.5 to 2 micrometers that destroy bacteria upon contact therewith, said agent comprising an ion exchanger with ion groups having metallic ions or an insoluble inorganic compound carrying metallic ions.

6. A water purifier as defined in Claim 4, wherein said antibacterial surfaces are rendered antibacterial by coating said surfaces with a resin containing an antibacterial agent, said antibacterial agent being in the S: "form of minute particles of -bout 0.5 to 2 micrometers that destroy bacteria upon contact therewith, said agent comprising an ion exchanger with ion groups having metallic ions or an insoluble inorganic compound carrying metallic ions. *0 DATED THIS 12TH DAY OF AUGUST 1993 SUNTORY LIMITED and TAKUMA CO., LTD. By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A water purifier includes a holder for coupling to a faucet, and a cartridge removably attached to a bottom of the holaer and including a purifying device. The holder has a first outlet and a plurality of second outlets defined in a bottom thereof. The cartridge has a discharge opening defined in a bottom thereof, a straight-through passage for allowing water ,0 to flow from the first outlet down to. the discharge 10 opening, and a purifying passage for allowing water to 0 flow from the second outlets down to the discharge opening. The holder also has a switching device for fees O 0 guiding water from the faucet selectively to the first outlet and the second outlets. 6 0 00 00