AIR CLEANER

• US 20150273376A1
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: SOHN, Yongjoon, Kim, Taeyoon, Yun, Hyeongnam, Park, Jeeman
• Granted Patent: US 9,630,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/30 Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0002 Casings; Housings; Frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/62 connected in series

Abstract

An air cleaner is provided. The air cleaner may include a filter assembly, in which a plurality of filters may be stacked, a rear or first case including a filter mount sleeve, on which the filter assembly may be mounted, a middle or second case, on which a discharge grille may be disposed on a front or first side thereof, the second case being coupled to a front or first surface of the first case, a support leg disposed on a second side of the second case that corresponds to an opposite side of the discharge grille, a front or third case coupled to a front or first surface of the second case, and a front or first panel attached to a front or first surface of the third case. When the filter assembly, the first case, the second case, the third case, and the first panel are coupled to each other, the air cleaner may have a cylindrical exterior that lies on the support leg. The discharge grille may extend by a predetermined distance along an upper circumferential surface of the second case, and the support leg may be coupled to a lower circumferential surface of the second case.

Claims

1. An air cleaner, comprising:

a filter assembly, in which a plurality of filters are stacked;

a first case comprising a filter mount sleeve, on which the filter assembly is mounted;

a second case, on which a discharge grille is disposed on a first side thereof, the second case being coupled to a first surface of the first case;

a support leg disposed on a second side of the second case that corresponds to an opposite side of the discharge grille from the first side;

a third case coupled to a first surface of the second case; and

a first panel attached to a first surface of the third case, wherein, when the filter assembly, the first case, the second case, the third case, and the first panel are coupled to each other, the air cleaner has a cylindrical exterior that lies on the support leg, the discharge grille extends a predetermined distance along an upper circumferential surface of the second case, and the support leg is coupled to a lower circumferential surface of the second case.

2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a cleanliness display module mounted on or at a center of the first panel, the cleanliness display module comprising a light source that changes in color according to a pollution level or air flow rate.

3. The air cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising:

an annular first cover, from an edge of which a first grasp guide roundly extends, the first cover being coupled to a second surface of the first case; and

an annular second panel, from an edge of which a second grasp roundly extends, the second panel being coupled to a first surface of the first cover.

4. The air cleaner according to claim 3, further comprising a circular cover panel fixed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the second panel at an inner edge of the second panel, the cover panel having an annular air suction hole.

5. The air cleaner according to claim 4, further comprising a handle, to which the first and second grasp guides are fixed, the handle having a grasp groove therein.

6. The air cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the handle comprises:

a closely attaching end that vertically extends so that the closely attaching end is closely attached and fixed to the first surface of the first case;

a first step horizontally bent from an upper end of the closely attaching end;

a vertical portion that vertically extends from the first step;

a second step horizontally bent from an upper end of the vertical portion, the second step having the grasp; and

a hook rib that vertically extends from a bottom surface of the grasp groove.

7. The air cleaner according to claim 6, further comprising:

a coupling hook that protrudes from an end of the first grasp guide; and

a hook hole, in which the coupling hook is inserted, the hook hole being defined in the vertical portion.

8. The air cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a hook protrusion, on which an end of the second grasp guide is hooked, is stepped at a lower end of the hook rib.

9. The air cleaner according to claim 8, wherein a guide surface that guides a user'"'"'s hand to the grasp groove is disposed on an upper end of the first case, and a through hole, through which the user'"'"'s hand is put into the grasp groove, is defined in the guide surface.

10. The air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the first grasp guide is closely attached to the guide surface, and wherein the coupling hook is inserted into the hook hole through the through hole.

11. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a blower fan assembly mounted on the second case, wherein the blower fan assembly comprises:

a motor mounted on the first surface of the second case; and

a blower fan seated on a second surface of the second case, the blower fan being connected to and rotated by the motor.

12. The air cleaner according to claim 11, wherein an inclined surface is disposed on an edge of the second case at a side on which the discharge grille is disposed so that air discharged from the blower fan assembly is smoothly guided to the discharge grille.

13. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad assembly mounted on a top surface of the third case;

a control panel disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the third case that corresponds to a mounted position of the keypad assembly to allow an operation command to be input therein; and

a main control box mounted on a bottom surface of the second case.

14. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising an air guide mounted between the second case and the first case.

15. The air cleaner according to claim 14, further comprising at least one of an odor sensor, an anion generator, and a case separation detection switch, which are mounted on the air guide.

16. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of supports coupled to the lower circumferential surface of the second case opposite to the support leg such that the air cleaner is supported at three points.

17. An air cleaner, comprising:

a filter assembly, in which a plurality of filters are stacked;

a circular rear case comprising a filter mount sleeve, on which the filter assembly is mounted;

a circular middle case, on which a discharge grille is disposed on a front side thereof, the middle case being coupled to the rear case;

a support leg disposed on a second side of the middle case that corresponds to an opposite side of the discharge grille from the first side;

a circular front case coupled to the middle case; and

a front panel attached to a front surface of the front case, wherein, when the filter assembly, the rear case, the middle case, the rear case, and the front panel are coupled to each other, a cylindrical exterior is formed that lies on the support leg, the discharge grille extends a predetermined distance along an upper circumferential surface of the middle case, and the support leg is coupled to a lower circumferential surface of the middle case.

18. The air cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising:

an annular rear cover, from an edge of which a first grasp guide roundly extends, the rear cover being coupled to the rear case; and

an annular rear panel, from an edge of which a second grasp roundly extends, the rear panel being coupled to the rear cover.

19. The air cleaner according to claim 18, further comprising a circular cover panel fixed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the rear panel at an inner edge of the rear panel, the cover panel having an annular air suction hole.

20. The air cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising a blower fan assembly mounted on the middle case, wherein the blower fan assembly comprises:

a motor; and

a blower fan connected to and rotated by the motor.

21. The air cleaner according to claim 20, wherein an inclined surface is disposed on an edge of the middle case at a side on which the discharge grille is disposed so that air discharged from the blower fan assembly is smoothly guided to the discharge grille.

22. The air cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising an air guide mounted between the middle case and the rear case.

23. The air cleaner according to claim 22, further comprising at least one of an odor sensor, an anion generator, and a rear case separation detection switch, which are mounted on the air guide.

24. The air cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising a pair of supports coupled to the lower circumferential surface of the middle case opposite to the support leg such that the air cleaner is supported at three points.