Water purification filter assembly for use in a refrigerator and refrigerator including the same

Abstract

A water purification filter assembly used in a refrigerator includes a filter head provided with an inflow conduit connected to a predetermined water source and an outflow conduit discharging purified water; a water purification filter detachably coupled with the filter head; a case housing the filter head and the water purification filter in such a way that the water purification filter is coupled with and disconnected from the filter head in a horizontal direction; and a water pooling member provided on the case to prevent water, which leaks from the filter head while the water purification filter is coupled with or disconnected from the filter head, from flowing down to an outside of the case. Thus, provided is a water purification filter assembly, which is capable of making it unnecessary to secure an extra space around a case for a replacement of a water purification filter and preventing water leaking from a filter head during the replacement of the water purification filter from flowing down to a storage compartment, and a refrigerator including the same.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0064584 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jul. 16, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to a water purification filter device and a refrigerator including the water purification filter device. Background technique [0004] In a conventional refrigerator, to use purified water, a user stores water purified by a separate water purification device in a refrigerator or freezes it in a freezer to make ice. [0005] However, due to the recent trend of multi-function and expansion of refrigerators, various functions are integrated into refrigerators. Such refrigerators are now commercially available, which have a water purification filter device and supply purified water produced by the water purification filter device to an ice maker to make ice or to...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] However, there is a disadvantage in this case: an additional replacement space is required around the housings 151 and 153 to replace the water purification filter 31

[0009] There is also a problem in the above-mentioned water purification filter device: because the lower case 153 is splashed downward toward the inside of the refrigerator 1, the water leaked from the filter cover (not shown) during the replacement of the water purification filter 131 flows downward. to the storage room to damage the exterior and the user needs to wipe the exterior whenever the filter is changed

Images