Description FAUCET FOR A WATER PURIFIER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a faucet for water purifier and more particularly, to a faucet for water purifier in that faucets for discharging a water of the water purifier are formed at a downside and a lateral side thereof, whereby the water can be easily discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and the user can directly drink the water without a separate drinking vessel. Background Art

[2] Generally, a water purifier serves to remove the impurities and the hazardous materials contained in the water so as to provide a clean water to a user for the hygienic drink.

[3] The conventional water purifier includes an attachable and deattachable water tank, a body for supplying and purifying the water connected to water supply facilities, and a faucet for discharging the purified water to outside connected to the body.

[4] Here, in the conventional water purifier, the faucet for discharging the water is protruded toward the lower direction thereof. Accordingly, a container such as a cup, a kettle or a vessel is located at the lower portion of the faucet and then, it receives the water from the faucet.

[5] However, in the conventional water purifier, since the faucet is protruded toward the lower direction thereof, it is difficult to use a big vessel. Also, there is a problem in that it has a difficulty in directly drinking the water without a separate drinking vessel.

[6] Accordingly, in the public facilities such as a school, a company and so on, disposable paper cups for drinking the water of the water purifier are arranged in the water purifier. However, since the quantity of the paper cup consumed is increased, there is a problem in that it brings about a waste of resources.

[7] Especially, since the paper cups are not distributed well in the school, the students should prepare a separate vessel such as a cup or a water bottle and so forth. Also, where it sets the faucet to his lips for drinking the water of the water purifier, it is very hard to drink the water as well as it is unsanitary. Moreover, it can cause to the disorder of the faucet thereof.

[8] Accordingly, the development of the faucet of the water purifier capable of easily discharging the water without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and directly drinking the water without the separate drinking vessel has been demanded. Korean Patent publication No. 2003-61028 and Korean Utility Model registration No. 20-0373904 have been proposed such a faucet for water purifier.

[9] In the Korean Patent publication No. 2003-61028, a faucet controller for water purifier includes an outer pipe attached to a body of the water purifier and attached to a connection portion connected to a water tank, and an inner pipe transferred from the outer pipe at a predetermined length through a transferring means, thereby controlling the length of the faucet.

[10] Accordingly, it can freely discharge the water of the water purifier through the big kettle or the long vessel.

[11] However, since the faucet of the faucet controller for water purifier is still protruded toward the lower direction thereof, it has a difficulty in directly drinking the water without the separate drinking vessel.

[12] In the Korean Utility Model registration No. 20-0373904, an angle control type faucet valve for water purifier includes a pipe line having a horizontal path for moving the water of a water tank, a discharging portion formed at a front end of the pipe line and having a vertical path for discharging the water received through the pipe line, a opening and closing means for opening and closing the vertical path, an angle controlling means hinge-connected to the discharging portion for rotating the discharging portion, and an elastic blocking means for blocking for blocking the variable gap of the pipe line and the discharging portion during rotation of the discharging portion formed between the pipe line and the discharging portion.

[13] Accordingly, since the angle of the discharging portion can be varied during discharging of the water, the discharging direction of the faucet can be adjusted to the vessel. Therefore, the water can be discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and a separate member for drinking the water is not required.

[14] However, since the angle of the discharging portion can be adjusted only within a predetermined range, it has a difficulty in directly drinking the water without the separate drinking vessel as ever. Also, there is another problem in that the faucet valve can be easily damaged owing to a frequent angle adjustment thereof.

[15] In the meantime, in field facilities such as a park and so on, since the faucet for discharging the water is protruded toward the upper direction thereof, the user can drinking the water while setting the faucet to his lips.

[16] Accordingly, the development of the faucet of the water purifier capable of easily drinking the water while setting the faucet to his lips has been demanded.

[17]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[18] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a faucet for water purifier in that faucets for discharging a water of the water purifier are formed at a

downside and a lateral side thereof, whereby the water can be easily discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and the user can directly drink the water without a separate drinking vessel. Technical Solution

[19] To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a faucet for water purifier comprising: a body having an inlet hole for connecting to a main body of the water purifier and inflowing a water of the water purifier into an inside of the body therethrough, a lower faucet for discharging the water of the water purifier to the downside thereof formed at a lower end portion of the body, and a lateral faucet for discharging the water of the water purifier to a lateral side thereof formed at a side surface of the body; and a controlling member for opening and closing the inlet hole formed at an inside of the body and having a lower waterway and a side waterway separated from each other, the controlling member allowing the lower waterway to be connected to the lower faucet or allowing the side waterway to be connected to the lateral faucet, whereby discharging the water of the water purifier passing through the inlet hole to the lower side or the lateral side thereof.

[20] Preferably, the controlling member comprises a cylinder slidably inserted into the body of a pipe type and having the lower waterway and the side waterway, a lever for allowing the inlet hole to be connected to any one of the lower waterway and the side waterway through a sliding of the cylinder between an inlet of the lower waterway and an inlet of the side waterway, the lever being formed at an outside of the body and connected to the cylinder, a blocking circumference surface for opening and closing the inlet hole slidably adhered closely to an inner circumference surface of the body having the inlet hole, the lower waterway vertically perforated therein and connected to the lower faucet, and the side waterway having a grooved outer circumference surface and connected to the lower faucet.

[21] Preferably, the cylinder has the inlets of the lower waterway and the side waterway vertically separated from each other, the lever is hinge-coupled to an outer surface of the body and connected to an upper portion of the cylinder so as to connect the inlet hole to any one of the lower waterway and the side waterway through raising and falling of the cylinder during rotation thereof, and a spring fixed to inner upper and lower ends of the body is formed at the upper and lower surfaces of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder is elastically coupled to the body in a state that the blocking circumference surface of the cylinder blocks the inlet hole.

[22] To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a faucet for water purifier comprising: a connection pipe for passing a water of a water purifier therethrough coupled to a main body of the water purifier; a body of a pipe type having

an inlet hole for connecting to the connection pipe formed at one side thereof, a lower faucet formed at a lower end portion thereof, and a lateral faucet formed at a side surface of the body; a cylinder slidably inserted into the body and having a blocking circumference surface for opening and closing the inlet hole slidably adhered closely to an inner circumference surface of the body, a lower waterway connected to the lower faucet and having an inlet formed at one side of the cylinder and an outlet passing through and protruded to a lower portion of the cylinder, and a side waterway having a grooved outer circumference surface vertically separated from the inlet of the lower waterway; a lever hinge-coupled to an outer surface of the body and connected to a vertical connection pole protruded to an upper portion of the cylinder and for allowing the inlet hole to be connected to any one of the lower waterway and the side waterway through a sliding of the cylinder during rotation thereof; and springs fixed between an upper surface of the cylinder and an inner upper end of the body and a lower surface of the cylinder and an inner lower end of the body respectively, whereby the cylinder is elastically coupled to the body in a state that the blocking circumference surface of the cylinder blocks the inlet hole.

[23] Preferably, the faucet for water purifier further comprises a stopper formed at inner upper and lower portions of the body so as to stop raising and falling of the cylinder at spots where the inlets of the lower waterway and the side waterway correspond to the inlet hole and O-rings adhesively formed at upper and lower end portions of an outside of the cylinder so as to prevent the water from being leaked from the space between the body and the cylinder.

[24]

Advantageous Effects

[25] As described above, according to the faucet for water purifier, the faucets for discharging the water of the water purifier are formed at the downside and the lateral side thereof, whereby the water can be easily discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and the user can directly drink the water without a separate drinking vessel. Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] The above as well as the other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[27] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention;

[28] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a water purifier having a faucet for according to the present invention;

[29] FIG. 3 is an entire perspective view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention;

[30] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention;

[31] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view illustrating a neutral state of a lever of a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention;

[32] FIG. 6(a) is a sectional view illustrating a state of discharging a water of a water purifier to a lower faucet of a water purifier according to the present invention;

[33] FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view illustrating a state of discharging a water of a water purifier to a lateral faucet of a water purifier according to the present invention; and

[34] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a lever coupled to a body and a cylinder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[35]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[36] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below.

[37] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention.

[38] As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet 100 for water purifier according to the present invention includes a body for discharging a water of the water purifier 1 to an outside connected to a main body 2 of the water purifier 1 and a controlling member 40.

[39] The body 20 includes an inlet hole 22 for connecting to the main body 2 of the water purifier 1 and inflowing the water of the water purifier 1 into the inside of the body 20 therethrough, a lower faucet 24 for discharging the water of the water purifier 1 to the downside thereof formed at a lower end portion of the body 20, and a lateral faucet 26 for discharging the water of the water purifier 1 to the lateral side thereof formed at a side surface of the body 20.

[40] The controlling member 40 mounted in the body 20 serves to discharge the water of the water purifier 1 to the downside as well as the lateral side thereof, open and close the inlet hole 22 of the body, and control the discharging direction of the water of the water purifier 1.

[41] The controlling member 40 serves to allow the inlet hole 22 of the body to be closed in order that the water of the water purifier 1 is not discharged to outside during non- using thereof and allow the inlet hole 22 of the body to be opened in order that the water of the water purifier 1 is discharged to outside during using thereof.

[42] Also, the controlling member 40 includes a lower waterway 424 and a side waterway

426 separated from each other (note FIG. 5). Accordingly, the lower waterway 424 and the side waterway 426 are selectively connected to the lower faucet 24 and the lateral

faucet 26 according to the control of the controlling member 40, thereby selectively discharging the water of the water purifier 1 to the lower side or the lateral side thereof.

[43] Here, the controlling member 40 includes a cylinder 42 movably inserted into the body 20 of a pipe type and a lever 44 or 44' formed at an outside of the body 20 and connected to the cylinder 42.

[44] As shown in Fig. 5 and FIG. 6, the cylinder 42 includes a blocking circumference surface 422 for opening and closing the inlet hole 22 slidably adhered closely to an inner circumference surface of the body 20 having the inlet hole 22, the lower waterway 424 vertically perforated therein, and the side waterway 426 having a grooved outer circumference surface

[45] The lever 44 or 44' connected to the cylinder 42 serves to allow the cylinder 42 to be slid between the locations of the inlets 4242 and 4262 of the lower waterway 424 and the side waterway 426, thereby connecting the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 to the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424 or the inlet 4262 of the side waterway 426.

[46] Here, the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424 and the inlet 4262 of the side waterway 426 are separated from each other. Where the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424 and the inlet 4262 of the side waterway 426 are vertically separated from each other, the lever 44 or 44' allows the cylinder 44 to be vertically slid. Meanwhile, the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424 and the inlet 4262 of the side waterway 426 are horizontally separated from each other, the lever 44 or 44' allows the cylinder 44 to be rotated in the direction of a circumference thereof.

[47] Accordingly, the lower waterway and the side waterway are selectively connected to the lower faucet 24 and the lateral faucet 26 according to the control of the controlling member 40, thereby selectively discharging the water of the water purifier 1 to the lower faucet 24 and the lateral faucet 26.

[48] Also, according to the faucet for water purifier of the present invention, since the water can be discharged to a drinking vessel of various sizes through the side faucet, the water can be easily discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel. Also, the user can directly drink the water without the separate drinking vessel.

[49] The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention and FIG. 2 through FIG. 7. In the following description, accordingly, no description will be made in conjunction with those same elements.

[50] In the meantime, the concrete construction and reaction of the faucet for water purifier capable of being easily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art from the conventional faucet are briefly described or omitted here.

[51] Also, the detailed description and drawings on the concrete construction and reaction of the faucet for water purifier having no direct relation to the characteristics of the present invention are omitted here.

[52] Since trivial differences between the present invention and the conventional art in drawings and description can be easily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, separate description on those is also omitted here.

[53] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a water purifier having a faucet for according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an entire perspective view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side sectional view illustrating a neutral state of a lever of a faucet for water purifier according to the present invention, FIG. 6(a) is a sectional view illustrating a state of discharging a water of a water purifier to a lower faucet of a water purifier according to the present invention, FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view illustrating a state of discharging a water of a water purifier to a lateral faucet of a water purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a lever coupled to a body and a cylinder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[54] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the faucet 100 for water purifier according to the present invention includes a connection pipe 60, a body 20, a cylinder 42, a lever 44 or 44', and a spring 80 or 80'.

[55] The connection pipe 60 for passing the water of the water purifier 1 therethrough is coupled to the main body 20 of the water purifier 1. Here, the connection pipe 60 integrally formed at the body 20 can be attached and deattached to the main body 2 of the water purifier 1.

[56] The body 20 includes the lower faucet 24 formed at the lower end portion of the body 20 and the lateral faucet 26 formed at the side surface of the body 20 capable of discharging the water of the water purifier 1 flowed into the body 20 to the outside all together.

[57] Here, the lateral faucet 26 is slanted upward in the drawings. However, it can be slanted downward or bent upward or downward. The present invention is not limited to the shape thereof.

[58] The upper end portion of the body 20 of a cylindrical pipe type is open to the outside so as to insert the cylinder 42 therein. Also, a cap 28 serves to cover the opened upper end portion of the body 20, thereby preventing impurities from being flowed into the inside of the body 20.

[59] The cylinder 42 is slidably inserted into the inside of the body 20. That is, the outer circumference surface of the cylinder 42 is identical with the inner circumference

surface of the body 20, so that it can be slidably adhered closely to then inner circumference surface of the body 20.

[60] Accordingly, the cylinder 42 can be provided with the outer circumference surface as the blocking circumference surface 422, so that it can open and close the inlet hole 22 formed at one side of the body 20 through the sliding of the cylinder 42.

[61] Two O-rings 438 are adhesively formed at upper and lower end portions of the outside of the cylinder 24, thereby preventing the water from being leaked from the space between the body 20 and the cylinder 42. That is, the water leaking from the gap between the body 20 and the cylinder 42 can be mixed with the impurities to be contaminated. However, the O-ring 438 can prevent the contaminated water from being discharged to outside.

[62] The controlling member 40 includes the lower waterway 424 and the side waterway

426. The lower waterway 424 includes the inlet 4242 formed at the outside surface of the cylinder 42 and an outlet 4244 passing through and protruded to the lower portion of the cylinder 42. Also, the side waterway 426 has the grooved outer circumference surface vertically separated from the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424.

[63] Accordingly, the inlet 4242 of the lower waterway 424 is connected to the inlet hole

22 (note FIG. 1) of the body 20 and the outlet 4244 protruded to the lower portion of the cylinder 42 is connected to the lower faucet 24, thereby discharging the water of the water purifier 1 passing through the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 to the lower faucet 24.

[64] In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet 4262 and the outlet 4264 of the side waterway 426 are communicated with each other and the inlet hole 22 (note FIG. 1) of the body 20 is connected to the side waterway 426, so that it can discharge the water of the water purifier 1 passing through the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 to the lateral faucet 26.

[65] Here, when the lateral faucet 26 and the inlet hole 22 are located at a same height, the side waterway 426 is horizontally formed. Meanwhile, when the lateral faucet 26 and the inlet hole 22 are reciprocally located at a different height, the side waterway 426 is slanted.

[66] The lever 44 or 44' serves to vertically rise and fall the cylinder 42. That is, the lever

44 or 44' according to the present invention is rotationally fixed to the body 20, thereby rising and falling the cylinder 42.

[67] In other words, the upper end of the lever 44 or 44' is hinge-coupled to fixing means

282 and 442 or 282' and 442' formed at one side of the cap 28 of the body 20 through a fixing pin 90, so that the lever 44 or 44' can be rotated centering around the cap 28 coupled to the body 20.

[68] Also, the cylinder 42 is connected to the lower surface of the upper portion of the

lever 44 or 44' , so that the cylinder 42 can be vertically slide along the inside of the body 20. Here, a vertical connection pole 43 or 43', which is protruded to the upper portion of the cylinder 42 at a predetermined height, is coupled to the lever 44 or 44' , so that the lever 44 or 44' can be connected to the cylinder 42.

[69] The structure of the lever 44 or 44' connected to the body 20 and the cylinder 42 can be varied in the present invention.

[70] If the user pushes the lever 44 or 44' toward the main body 2 of the water purifier 1 or pulls it toward the faucet 100, the cylinder 42 connected to the lever 44 or 44'is vertically slid along the inner space of the body 20. In this case, the lower waterway 424 formed at the cylinder 42 is connected to the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 and the lower faucet 24, so that the water of the water purifier 1 is discharged to the lower faucet 24 (note FIG. 6(a)) or the side waterway 426 is connected to the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 and the lateral faucet 26, so that the water of the water purifier 1 is discharged to the lateral faucet 26 (note FIG. 6(b)).

[71] Here, stoppers 30 or 30' of a raised shape are formed at the inner upper and lower portions of the body so as to stop raising and falling of the cylinder 42 at spots where the inlets 4242 and 4262 of the lower waterway 424 and the side waterway 426 correspond to the inlet hole 22 during vertical raising and falling of the cylinder 42 through the lever 44 or 44'.

[72] Also, springs 80 or 80' are fixed between the upper surface of the cylinder 42 and the inner upper end of the body 20 and the lower surface of the cylinder 42 and the inner lower end of the body 20 respectively. Where the blocking circumference surface 422 of the cylinder 42 blocks the inlet hole 22 of the body 20 (neutral state of the lever), it can serve to elastically maintain the present state thereof. Meanwhile, if the lever 44 or 44' is operated, the springs are transformed. Also, the operation of the lever 44 or 44' is stopped, the springs are automatically restored to the neutral state.

[73]

Industrial Applicability

[74] The present invention relates to a faucet for water purifier in that faucets for discharging a water of the water purifier are formed at a downside and a lateral side thereof, whereby the water can be easily discharged without being connection with the size of the drinking vessel and the user can directly drink the water without a separate drinking vessel.

[75] While this invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the

spirit and scope of the appended claims. [76]