초록 ▼

Disclosed is a filter unit for an air conditioner, which is provided at an indoor unit for the air conditioner so as to purify the air discharged to a room. The filter unit includes a filter for purifying air, a filter case accommodated in the filter and having a filter gate at a side thereof for pl

Disclosed is a filter unit for an air conditioner, which is provided at an indoor unit for the air conditioner so as to purify the air discharged to a room. The filter unit includes a filter for purifying air, a filter case accommodated in the filter and having a filter gate at a side thereof for placing/withdrawing the filter, and a cover for opening/closing the filter gate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit comprising: a cabinet forming an exterior of the indoor unit, the cabinet having an air inlet in an outside surface thereof; a fan mounted in the cabinet; an indoor heat exchanger mounted in the cabinet; and a filter unit

What is claimed is: 1. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit comprising: a cabinet forming an exterior of the indoor unit, the cabinet having an air inlet in an outside surface thereof; a fan mounted in the cabinet; an indoor heat exchanger mounted in the cabinet; and a filter unit detachably mounted on the outside surface of the cabinet over the air inlet such that air in drawn in through the filter unit and flows into the cabinet through the air inlet, wherein the filter unit comprises: a filter for purifying air; a filter case accommodating the filter therein and having a filter gate at a side thereof for placing/withdrawing the filter thereto/therefrom, the filter being detachably mounted on the outside surface of the cabinet; and a cover mounted to the filter case for opening/closing the filter gate, the cover being exposed to form an exterior of the indoor units, wherein the filter case is exposed to outside of the cabinet forming an exterior of the cabinet. 2. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the cover is rotatably connected to a side of an edge of the filter gate. 3. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises: a first panel having a side rotatably connected to an edge of the filter gate; and a second panel having a side rotatably connected to the edge of the filter gate. 4. The indoor unit of claim 3, wherein the first panel is rotatably connected to one of the both ends of the edge of the filter gate, and the second panel is rotatably connected to another one of the both ends of the edge of the filter gate. 5. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the filter gate is provided at an upper part of the filter case. 6. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an air inlet for drawing in the air into the filter case. 7. The indoor unit of claim 6, wherein the cover further comprises a louver for opening/closing the air inlet. 8. The indoor unit of claim 7, wherein the louver guides the air drawn in through the air inlet. 9. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the filter case comprises a placement/withdrawal guide for guiding the filter. 10. The indoor unit of claim 1, further comprising a filter drawer for withdrawing the filter. 11. The indoor unit of claim 10, wherein the filter drawer comprises: an elastic means provided at one of the filter and the filter case and applying restoring force to the filter in a direction of withdrawing the filter; and a restoration controller for controlling the restoration of the elastic means. 12. The indoor unit of claim 11, wherein the elastic means comprises a side connected to the filter case. 13. The indoor unit of claim 11, wherein the restoration controller comprises: a fixing means for fixing the elastic means in a changed shape; and a releaser for releasing the elastic means fixed by the fixing means. 14. The indoor unit of claim 13, wherein the fixing means comprises a hook member provided at the filter case and binding one of the filter and the elastic means. 15. The indoor unit of claim 14, wherein the hook member is rotatably provided at the filter case. 16. The indoor unit of claim 13, wherein the releaser comprises: a withdrawal button provided at the filter case; and a link member having a first end connected to the withdrawal button and a second end connected to the fixing means. 17. The indoor unit of claim 10, wherein the filter drawer comprises a movement converter for converting a rotation movement of a motor into a straight movement in a direction of placing/withdrawing the filter so as to withdraw the filter. 18. The indoor unit of claim 17, wherein the movement converter comprises: a pinion being rotated by the motor for withdrawing the filter; and a rack moving straight in the direction of withdrawing the filter by the pinion so as to withdraw the filter. 19. The indoor unit of claim 18, wherein the rack and the filter unit are formed as a single body. 20. The indoor unit of claim 10, wherein the filter drawer comprises a filter handle provided at a side of the filter. 21. The indoor unit of claim 10, wherein the filter is withdrawn outside of the filter case by one-touch system. 22. The indoor unit of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing a pollution level of the filter. 23. The indoor unit of claim 22, wherein the filter is automatically withdrawn from the filter case when the pollution level of the filter is over a predetermined level, the pollution level sensed by the sensor. 24. The indoor unit of claim 22, wherein information related to the pollution of the filter is displayed outside thereof. 25. The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein the filter case is detachably provided on an outer wall of the indoor unit of the air conditioner and communicating with the indoor unit. 26. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit comprising: a cabinet forming an exterior of the indoor unit, the cabinet having an air inlet in an outside surface thereof; a fan mounted in the cabinet; an indoor heat exchanger mounted in the cabinet; and a filter unit detachably mounted on the outside surface of the cabinet over the air inlet such that air in drawn in through the filter unit and flows into the cabinet through the air inlet, wherein the filter unit comprises: a filter case detachably mounted on an upper part of the inlet provided on the outside surface of the cabinet; a filter arranged at the air inlet and accommodated in the filter case for purifying air; a filter gate provided at an upper side of the filter case to withdraw the filter from the filter case or place the filter into the filter case; and a cover opening and closing the filter gate, the cover being rotatably connected to a side of the filter gate, wherein the filter case is exposed to outside of the cabinet forming an exterior of the cabinet. 27. The indoor unit of claim 26, further comprising a louver rotatable for opening and closing the air inlet and guiding air drawn through the air inlet. 28. The indoor unit of claim 26, wherein the filter case comprises a placement/withdrawal guide of guiding the filter. 29. The indoor unit of claim 26, further comprising a filter drawer for withdrawing the filter. 30. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, the indoor unit comprising: a cabinet forming an exterior of the indoor unit; and a filter unit detachably mounted to an outside surface of the cabinet, wherein the filter unit comprises: at least one air inlet; a filter for purifying air drawn in through the at least one air inlet; and at least one louver mounted in the at least one inlet, wherein the at least one louver is exposed to form an exterior of the indoor unit, wherein the filter unit is exposed to outside of the cabinet forming an exterior of the cabinet.