A water purifier includes: a case including components; a cover mounted to the case to be opened and closed; a support frame mounted to the inside of the case and having at least one mounting part; a filter module detachably mounted to the case through the mounting part to filter and purify introduced raw water; a first flow path module including at least one flow path through which raw water flows and detachably mounted to the case between the case and the support frame to fix the filter module to the inside of the case; a second flow path module including at least one flow path through which purified water flows and which is connected to the components and the filter module, the second flow path module being detachably mounted to the case through the mounting part; and a faucet module mounted to the case to discharge purified water.

Disclosed is a filter attachment that removably couples with a faucet or other vessel. The attachment includes a flexible cover holding the filter on the vessel and that acts as a pressure relief mechanism if the water pressure of the faucet is above a predetermined threshold. Another flexible cover may be located on the opposite side of the attachment to allow reversible use and cleaning by backwashing. The attachment may further include a removable cap on one side that includes a flexible cover and that couples to the remainder of the attachment in a removable manner so as to allow other fitments to couple to the attachment.

In one aspect, a sterilization apparatus is provided to include a flow channel body comprising an inflow unit configured to provide an inflow channel through which water flows in one direction, a discharge unit configured to provide a discharge channel through which water is discharged, and a bypass channel unit configured to provide a bypass channel through which water bypasses in a different direction from the direction of the water flowing in the inflow unit; a mounting unit formed on the flow channel body and configured to provide an installation space connected to the bypass channel, a UV light emitting unit disposed in the installation space and configured to emit UV light towards the bypass channel; and a holder coupled to the mounting unit and securing the UV light emitting unit inside the mounting unit.

In one aspect, a sterilization apparatus is provided to include a flow channel body comprising an inflow unit configured to provide an inflow channel through which water flows in one direction, a discharge unit configured to provide a discharge channel through which water is discharged, and a bypass channel unit configured to provide a bypass channel through which water bypasses in a different direction from the direction of the water flowing in the inflow unit; a mounting unit formed on the flow channel body and configured to provide an installation space connected to the bypass channel, a UV light emitting unit disposed in the installation space and configured to emit UV light towards the bypass channel; and a holder coupled to the mounting unit and securing the UV light emitting unit inside the mounting unit.

In one aspect, a sterilization apparatus is provided to include a flow channel body comprising an inflow unit configured to provide an inflow channel through which water flows in one direction, a discharge unit configured to provide a discharge channel through which water is discharged, and a bypass channel unit configured to provide a bypass channel through which water bypasses in a different direction from the direction of the water flowing in the inflow unit; a mounting unit formed on the flow channel body and configured to provide an installation space connected to the bypass channel, a UV light emitting unit disposed in the installation space and configured to emit UV light towards the bypass channel; and a holder coupled to the mounting unit and securing the UV light emitting unit inside the mounting unit.

In one aspect, a sterilization apparatus is provided to include a flow channel body comprising an inflow unit configured to provide an inflow channel through which water flows in one direction, a discharge unit configured to provide a discharge channel through which water is discharged, and a bypass channel unit configured to provide a bypass channel through which water bypasses in a different direction from the direction of the water flowing in the inflow unit; a mounting unit formed on the flow channel body and configured to provide an installation space connected to the bypass channel, a UV light emitting unit disposed in the installation space and configured to emit UV light towards the bypass channel; and a holder coupled to the mounting unit and securing the UV light emitting unit inside the mounting unit.

Pipe fittings with a filter contain a body, a filter valve, and two seal gaskets. The body includes a first connection pipe and a second connection pipe, a receiving orifice, and at least one guide slot. The filter valve includes a driven section and an operation portion. The two seal gaskets are accommodated in the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove respectively. The driven section has a first peripheral groove, a second peripheral groove, and a filtration orifice defined between the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove and communicating with the driven section, and at least one fixing bolt mounted between the operation portion and the first peripheral groove and extending outward from the driven section. The at least one fixing bolt slides into the at least one guide slot respectively so that the filter valve is accommodated in the receiving orifice.

Pipe fittings with a filter contain a body, a filter valve, and two seal gaskets. The body includes a first connection pipe and a second connection pipe, a receiving orifice, and at least one guide slot. The filter valve includes a driven section and an operation portion. The two seal gaskets are accommodated in the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove respectively. The driven section has a first peripheral groove, a second peripheral groove, and a filtration orifice defined between the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove and communicating with the driven section, and at least one fixing bolt mounted between the operation portion and the first peripheral groove and extending outward from the driven section. The at least one fixing bolt slides into the at least one guide slot respectively so that the filter valve is accommodated in the receiving orifice.

A method for controlling sterilization of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing and includes a water outflow part extending downward; and a light emitting element which is mounted inside the water chute corresponding to an upper end of the water outflow part and emits ultraviolet rays for sterilization, and the method includes when a sterilization mode is started, turning on the light emitting element for a first set time and to emit ultraviolet rays through the water outflow part; and after the lapse of the first set time, turning off the light emitting element for a second set time to stop emission of ultraviolet rays, in which a sterilization cycle is defined as a sum of the first set time and the second set time, in which the sterilization mode is started at the same time when the water purifier is powered on, and in which the first set time is set such that the sterilization mode is performed for one day so that the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted to the outside of the water outflow part is less than 3 mJ/cm.sup.2 during the accumulated on time of the light emitting element.

A method for controlling sterilization of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing accommodating components for generating cold water and/or hot water; a water chute which protrudes from a front surface of the housing and includes a water outflow part extending downward; and a light emitting element which is mounted inside the water chute corresponding to an upper end of the water outflow part and emits ultraviolet rays for sterilization, and the method includes when a sterilization mode is started, turning on the light emitting element for a first set time and to emit ultraviolet rays through the water outflow part; and after the lapse of the first set time, turning off the light emitting element for a second set time to stop emission of ultraviolet rays, in which a sterilization cycle is defined as a sum of the first set time and the second set time, in which the sterilization mode is started at the same time when the water purifier is powered on, and in which the first set time is set such that the sterilization mode is performed for one day so that the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted to the outside of the water outflow part is less than 3 mJ/cm.sup.2 during the accumulated on time of the light emitting element.