Air purifying apparatus having shuntable air duct

Abstract

An air purifying apparatus according to an embodiment includes a body having first and second conduits through which a flow of air is generated from an air inlet to an air outlet, an ultraviolet light emitting diode part and a first filter part disposed within the first conduit, and a second filter part disposed within the second conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air purifier, comprising:
 a main body having an inlet and an outlet, the main body comprising a first portion and a second portion;   an air circulation device disposed in the first portion of the main body and configured to draw air from the inlet to the outlet;   first, opposing support frames disposed in the second portion of the main body, each first support frame comprising an upper frame and a lower frame;   a first filter retained by the first support frames in a position disposed between the upper and lower frames; and   an ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed between the air circulation device and the first filter and configured to emit a UV light for causing a photocatalytic reaction in the first filter.   
     
     
         2 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein the first support frames protrude inwardly from an inner wall of the second portion of the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 second, opposing support frames disposed in the second portion of the main body, each second support frame comprising an upper frame and a lower frame.   
     
     
         4 . The air purifier of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second filter retained by the second support frames in a position disposed between the upper and lower frames of the second support frames,   wherein the first filter is disposed in an adjoining position with respect to the second filter.   
     
     
         5 . The air purifier of  claim 4 , wherein the second filter comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         6 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein a wavelength of the UV light emitted from the UV light source is less than 388 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The air purifier of  claim 2 , wherein the UV light source is configured to allow to pass the air between the air circulation device and the first filter. 
     
     
         8 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein a joint generally having a step shape is formed between the first portion and the second portion of the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first support frame is generally “C” shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first support frames each have longitudinally extending side surfaces; and   the first filter has longitudinally extending ends with substantially the entire longitudinal extent of each ends contacting one of the first support frames.   
     
     
         11 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame and the lower frame of the first support frames cover portions of the first filter. 
     
     
         12 . The air purifier of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the main body comprises a third portion coupled to the second portion of the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The air purifier of  claim 4 , wherein the upper frame and the lower frame of the second support frames cover portions of the second filter. 
     
     
         14 . A method of supporting air filters in an air purifier having a main body comprising a first portion and a second portion coupled to each other, the method comprising:
 retaining a first one of the air filters in first, opposing support frames, each first support frame comprising upper and lower frames protruding inwardly from an inner wall of the second portion; and   retaining a second one of the air filters adjoining the first filter in second, opposing support frames, each second support frame comprising upper and lower frames protruding inwardly from the inner wall of the second portion,   wherein air drawn into the air purifier passes through the first and second filters, and is subjected to a photocatalytic reaction in the first filter by ultraviolet light emitted from inside the air purifier.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein retaining the first filter comprises:
 mounting the first filter in the first support frames in a position disposed between the upper and lower frames of the first support frames, such that two ends of the first filter contact substantially the entire extent of side walls of the first support frames.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the upper and lower frames of the first support frames cover portions of the first filter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  14 , wherein a cross-section of the first support frame is substantially “I” shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the second filter comprises a mesh material; and   retaining the second filter comprises:
 mounting the second filter in the second support frames in a position disposed between the upper and lower frames of the second support frames, such that two ends of the second filter contacts substantially the entire extent of side walls of the second support frames. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the upper and lower frames of the second support frames cover portions of the second filter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  19 , wherein a cross-section of the second support frame is generally “C” shaped.