Water purifier

Abstract

A water purifier that includes: a water storage tank that includes an interior area and a first opening to the interior area; a cover unit that is configured to cover the first opening and that includes: a frame body that includes a second opening, and a water storage tank cover that is coupled to the frame body and that is configured to rotate about an axis such that the water storage tank cover opens or closes the second opening; a sterilizer that is configured to sterilize water in the water storage tank; a switching module that is configured to control electric power supply to the sterilizer; and an operation member that is configured to control the switching module based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed is disclosed.

What claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water purifier comprising:
 a body;   a water storage tank that is located inside the body, that is configured to store water, and that includes an interior area and a first opening to the interior area;   a cover unit that is configured to cover the first opening and that includes:
 a frame body (i) that is coupled to portions of the water storage tank that surround the first opening and (ii) that includes a second opening, and 
 a water storage tank cover that is coupled to the frame body and that is configured to rotate about an axis such that the water storage tank cover opens or closes the second opening; 
   a sterilizer that is located on a surface of the water storage tank cover and that is configured to sterilize water in the water storage tank;   a switching module that is coupled to the frame body and that is configured to control electric power supply to the sterilizer; and   an operation member that is located on the surface of the water storage tank cover and that is configured to control the switching module based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed.   
     
     
         2 . The water purifier of  claim 1 , wherein the frame body includes:
 a recess on a first surface of the frame body, the recess accommodating the switching module.   
     
     
         3 . The water purifier of  claim 2 , wherein the operation member includes a magnet that as configured to generate a magnetic field, and
 wherein the switching module includes a reed switch that is configured to, in response to a magnetic field generated by the magnet, control electric power supply to the sterilizer.   
     
     
         4 . The water purifier of  claim 3 , wherein the water storage tank cover includes:
 a magnet receiving part that includes a recess accommodating the magnet.   
     
     
         5 . The water purifier of  claim 4 , wherein the magnet is arranged to face the switching module based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed. 
     
     
         6 . The water purifier of  claim 5 , wherein, in a state that the water storage tank cover is closed, the magnet is arranged to face the switching module. 
     
     
         7 . The water purifier of  claim 4 , wherein the switching module further includes:
 a switch cover that covers the reed switch and that is accommodated in the recess of the frame body.   
     
     
         8 . The water purifier of  claim 7 , wherein the switch cover includes:
 a plate that covers the reed switch, and   hooks that extend from the plate and that are configured to catch the reed switch.   
     
     
         9 . The water purifier of  claim 8 , wherein the switch cover further includes:
 a fixing member including a first portion and a second portion,   wherein the first portion of the fixing member is fixed to the plate, and   wherein the second portion of the fixing member is movable to hold the water storage tank cover based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed.   
     
     
         10 . The water purifier of  claim 9 , wherein, in a state that the water storage tank cover is closed, the fixing member holds the water storage tank cover. 
     
     
         11 . The water purifier of  claim 9 , wherein the fixing member is made of flexible material soon that the second portion of the fixing member is movable. 
     
     
         12 . The water purifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hinge (i) that couples a first edge of the water storage tank cover to the frame body and (ii) that is configured to rotate about, the axis along the first edge of the water storage tank cover,   wherein the water storage tank cover is configured to rotate with the hinge about the axis.   
     
     
         13 . The water purifier of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a wire that passes through the hinge and that connects the sterilizer and the switching module.   
     
     
         14 . The water purifier of  claim 2 , wherein the switching module includes:
 at micro-switch that is configured to control electric power supply to the sterilizer, and   wherein the operation member includes:
 a pressing protrusion that protrudes from the water storage tank cover and that is configured to, based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed, press a portion of the micro-switch such that the micro-switch controls electric power supply to the sterilizer. 
   
     
     
         15 . The water purifier of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an extension that is coupled to the water storage tank cover, wherein the switching module includes:
 a micro switch that is configured to control electric power supply to the sterilizer, and 
   wherein the operation member includes:
 a pressing protrusion that protrudes from the extension and that is configured to, based on the water storage tank cover being opened or closed, press a portion of the micro-switch such that the micro-switch controls electric power supply to the sterilizer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The water purifier of  claim 15 , wherein the switching module includes:
 a switch case that accommodates the micro-switch, and   a switch cover that covers the switch case and that includes a third opening,   wherein the pressing protrusions is configured to press the portion of the micro-switch through the third opening.   
     
     
         17 . The water purifier of  claim 16 , wherein the portion of the micro-switch is a switch lever. 
     
     
         18 . The water purifier of  claim 1 , wherein, in a state that the water storage tank cover is opened, the operation member is configured to turn off the switching module. 
     
     
         19 . The water purifier of  claim 1 , wherein, in a state that the water storage tank cover is closed, the operation member is configured to turn on the switching module 
     
     
         20 . The water purifier of  claim 1 , wherein the sterilizer is configured to emit ultraviolet rays.