Fixing device and a water filter having the same

1. A water filter comprising:

a base seat;

a filter cartridge that is disposed in said base seat, wherein said filter cartridge filters water;

an outer shell that is coupled to said base seat and that covers said filter cartridge; and

a fixing device that includes:

first and second curved members clipped on a junction between said base seat and said outer shell, each of said first and second curved members having longitudinally-opposite first and second end portions, an inner surface that faces the junction between said base seat and said outer shell and that extends from said first end portion to said second end portion, and an outer surface that is opposite to said inner surface and that extends from said first end portion to said second end portion,

a hinge unit connecting said second end portion of said first curved member and said first end portion of said second curved member such that said first and second curved members are pivotable relative to each other, and

a fixing module including:

a hook member that is mounted on said second end portion of said second curved member, and

a fastener unit that is mounted on said first end portion of said first curved member, and that includes a handle member connected to said first end portion of said first curved member, and a ring member pivotally connected to said handle member and removably engaged with said hook member,

wherein said handle member is pivotable relative to said first end portion of said first curved member between a fastened position, where said handle member is proximal to said outer surface of said first curved member, and where said first end portion of said first curved member and said second end portion of said second curved member are drawn to be proximal to each other so that said inner surfaces of said first and second curved members abut tightly against the junction between said base seat and said outer shell, and a released position, where said handle member is away from said outer surface of said first curved member, and where said ring member is permitted to be disengaged from said hook member to thereby release said first and second curved members from the junction between said base seat and said outer shell,

wherein said outer shell has a protruding rim portion that defines a shell opening;

wherein said base seat includes:

a hollow main body portion,

a connecting body portion that is connected to a top edge of said main body portion and that is inserted fittingly into said outer shell through said shell opening, and

an abutment wall portion that extends outwardly from said top edge of said main body portion and that is adjacent to said protruding rim portion of said outer shell, and

wherein said first and second curved members are clipped on the junction between said abutment wall portion of said base seat and said protruding rim portion of said outer shell.

2. The water filter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said fixing device further includes a third curved member disposed between said first and second curved members and having longitudinally-opposite first and second end portions;

said hinge unit includes two hinge modules, one of said hinge modules connecting said second end portion of said first curved member and said first end portion of said third curved member such that said first and third curved members are pivotable relative to each other, the other one of said hinge module connecting said second end portion of said third curved member and said first end portion of said second curved member such that said third and second curved members are pivotable relative to each other.

3. The water filter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:

the one of said hinge modules includes two connecting seats mounted respectively on said second end portion of said first curved member and said first end portion of said third curved member, and a pivot pin interconnecting said connecting seats; and

the other one of said hinge modules includes two connecting seats mounted respectively on said second end portion of said third curved member and said first end portion of said second curved member, and a pivot pin interconnecting said connecting seats.

4. The water filter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said fastener unit further includes a securing portion mounted to said first end portion of said first curved member and connected to said outer surface of said first curved member;

said handle member has a first handle wall, two second handle walls extending respectively from opposite curved edges of said first handle wall and cooperating with said first handle wall to define a receiving space, and an engaging portion disposed in said receiving space and formed at said first handle wall; and

when said handle member is at the fastened position, said securing portion extends into said receiving space and is engaged with said engaging portion to secure said handle member onto said first curved member.

5. The water filter as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said fastener unit further includes a base plate mounted to said first end portion of said first curved member and connected to said outer surface of said first curved member, said handle member being pivotally connected to said base plate.

6. The water filter as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said base plate has a plate body, said handle member being pivotally connected to an end of said plate body which is proximal to said second curved member, said securing portion being formed on an outer surface of said plate body.