JP2000023868A - Shower device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve handleability, to simplify a structure, to lower a cost and to perform a sure manual operation. SOLUTION: This shower device is provided with plural shower forms (for instance, top shower, hand shower, mist shower and straight falling flow or the like). Manual changeover valves 51 and 61 for performing the alternative selection of at least two kinds of the shower forms and simultaneous water stoppage are provided. When the plural changeover valves 51 and 61 are provided, it is suitable in the case of alternatively selecting four or more kinds of the shower forms. As the combination of the shower forms alternatively selected by the same changeover valves 51 and 61 the combination of the shower forms for which at least one of a using frequency, a using purpose, a water jetting form and a water jetting position is similar to each other (for instance, combination of top shower and hand shower or the like) may be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a shower device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a multifunctional shower device, a device capable of selectively selecting a desired shower mode from various types of shower modes has been known.

[0003]

As a shower apparatus for selecting various types of showers, there is an apparatus using an electromagnetic valve. In this shower apparatus, the selection of the shower mode and the discharge of water in each shower mode are described. Is generally selected using a number of solenoid valves corresponding to the number of showers. In addition, at the time of this selection, it is common to operate an operation unit (operation button, handle, lever, etc.) which has a one-to-one relationship with each shower mode.

Accordingly, the shower apparatus using the solenoid valve has a drawback that a drive source such as a battery is required and the structure is complicated and expensive. Also, as the number of selectable shower modes increases and the function of the shower device increases, the number of operation units increases, and there is a possibility that the operation unit to be operated may be mistaken for another operation unit for operation. Get higher.

[0005] On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-86678, a device employing a manual switching valve has been proposed. However, in the configuration disclosed in this publication, the configuration for stopping water of various showers is unknown, and the following problem may occur.

When water is discharged from various showers, for example, it is generally considered that a water stop operation is performed on the side of the water supply, which is a supply source of hot water to the various showers, but this is inferior in usability. In other words, when the water stop operation on the side of the callan is forced, if the user wants to frequently perform the water stop operation when using various showers, the user must stand, sit, or reach for the side callan. Because.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a shower apparatus which is excellent in usability, has a simple structure and is inexpensive, and which can be reliably operated manually. With the goal.

[0008]

A shower apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a shower apparatus having a plurality of shower configurations, wherein at least two types of shower configurations are selectively selected and manual switching for simultaneously stopping water is performed. A valve is provided.

In this shower device, the water can be stopped by a manual switching valve. Therefore, when the shower is switched and used, the water can be stopped by the switching valve. Excellent on its own. Further, since the alternative selection of the shower mode or the like is performed by a manual switching valve, a driving source is not required, and the structure is simple and inexpensive.

[0010] Furthermore, since a single switching valve is used to control a plurality of shower-type water discharges, etc., the number of valves of the entire shower apparatus, and consequently, the number of operating parts can be reduced. Therefore, the possibility that the operation unit is mistakenly operated is reduced.

The "shower form" of the present invention includes:
(A) “Top shower” that performs shower water discharge toward the user's head, whole body, etc., (b) Shower using a shower head supported by a hook or the like on a bathroom wall or gripped by the user "Hand shower" to perform water spouting,
(C) “Body shower” that spouts hot water substantially horizontally toward the user's body, (d) so-called “mist shower” that spouts hot water in a mist state, (e) gives an appropriate stimulation to the user For this purpose, a so-called “splash hot water shower” for discharging hot water like waterfall water or the like, and a so-called “floor sprinkling shower” performed for the purpose of (f) warming the floor of a bathroom or the like can be exemplified.

However, the general “shower type” exemplified here can be further divided into a plurality of shower types. For example, a `` body shower '' includes a `` whole body body shower '' that spouts hot water substantially horizontally toward the user's entire body, and a `` upper body body shower ”that spouts hot water substantially horizontally toward the upper body of the user. It can also be subdivided into a "lower body shower" in which hot water is spouted substantially horizontally toward the lower body of the user.

Here, specific embodiments of the present invention include:
(1) For example, 2 such as hand shower and top shower
A type equipped with a type-selection switching valve (regardless of the presence or absence of another shower form), (2) An example equipped with a three-type selection switching valve such as a body shower, a hot water shower, and a mist shower ( For example, switching between three types of body showers of the whole body, the upper body, and the lower body is also conceivable.), (3) For example, a spouting water valve that skips the top shower and performs spitting water only for the hand shower (ie, main switching) A valve provided with a switching valve such as a tapping water shower or a mist shower (a valve other than a valve) (a case in which a hand shower is hooked on an upper hook so as to be used as a top shower, etc.) can be considered. ) Etc. are all included.

The switching valve system of the present invention can be selected in various ways. For example, the switching valve system of the present invention can be switched between a sliding disk system using a fixed disk and a movable disk that slide on and off to open and close a flow path. Valve "," a lift-type switching valve for switching the flow path and adjusting the flow rate by moving the valve body to and from a pair of opposed valve ports "," each of which is formed in a cylindrical shape and is fitted to each other. A rotary type switching valve having a movable valve body and a fixed valve body and sliding on the peripheral surface to open and close the flow path.

Since the switching valve of the sliding disk type can be easily miniaturized, it is much easier to make the shower device compact. Further, since the lift type switching valve is generally inexpensive, the shower device can be further reduced in cost. Further, when switching between three or more shower modes, it is effective to use a rotary type, sliding disk type switching valve or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the shower apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of the switching valves are provided.

The present invention is suitable for selectively selecting four or more types of showers. That is, according to the present invention, the number of valves and, consequently, the number of operating parts are surely reduced, so that the structure of the shower device can be simplified or made compact, and so on. Further, the possibility of mistaking the operation unit is further reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first or second aspect.
In the shower device described in the above, the combination of the shower form alternatively selected by the same switching valve, use frequency,
It is characterized in that at least one of the purpose of use, the water discharge mode or the water discharge position is a combination of shower forms that are close to each other.

For example, when switching the "top shower" and the "floor sprinkling shower" by one switching valve, if the operation direction of the operation unit is changed, the shower water discharged in a manner greatly different from the one envisioned by the user is generated. As a result, the mental shock of the user is increased. Moreover,
The user wearing clothes intends to be a “floor sprinkling shower”,
When the “top shower” is performed, there is a risk of physical damage such as wet clothes.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, even if the operation direction of the operation section is mistaken, the mental and physical damage to the user is reduced. Here, as the “combination of shower forms” of the present invention, for example, “combination of top shower and hand shower”, “combination of top shower (hand shower) and body shower”,
`` Combination of a hot water shower and a mist shower '',
"A combination of a top shower and a soaked hot water shower" is suitable.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. First, a specific example of the third aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, this shower device (hereinafter, referred to as "first example") A is arranged around a bulging portion 10 of a wall panel P of a bathroom. Further, on the lower front surface of the bulging portion 10, a hot water mixing tap (curan) 20 serving as a hot water supply source is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hot-water mixing tap 20 has a hot-water mixing section 21 (not shown) configured by using a thermostat mechanism and a flow-switch configured by using a three-way valve switching valve. A road switching unit 22 is incorporated. The hot and cold water mixing section 21 may be of another type such as a sliding disk type or a two-handle type. Further, in this example, the flow path switching and the flow rate adjustment including the water stoppage operation can be performed by the flow path switching unit 22.

As shown in FIG.
The hot water from the hot water source H and the water from the hot water source C are supplied to each of the supply paths 2.
3, 24. The hot and cold water flows into the hot and cold water mixing section 21 and is mixed at a mixing ratio according to the amount of turning operation of the temperature control handle (see FIG. 1) 2S. The switching unit 22 is reached.

Then, by operating the flow path switching section 22 using the switching handle (see FIG. 1) 2K, the mixed hot water flows out to the water discharge flow path 25 communicating with the water discharge pipe (see FIG. 1) T. Or a connection channel 2J leading to the shower device A.
Is selected, and the flow rate of the mixed hot and cold water, including the stop water, is adjusted. The type of the switching valve that constitutes the flow path switching unit 22 is not particularly limited, and for example, a sliding disk type or a lift type may be used.

As shown in FIG.
The over-bulging portion 11 on one side edge of the bulging portion 10 is defined as an outer shell. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal side of the connection channel 2J is drawn into the shower device A, and the first shower channel 3
The first and second shower channels 32 are branched.

At the end of the first shower passage 31, a "three-way valve system" showing one specific example of the "manual switching valve" of the present invention.
Are connected. This switching valve 51 is
The lever 52 (see FIG. 1) is used as an operation unit, and two branch flow paths 53 and 54 are connected to the downstream side.
One of the branch channels 53 is a top shower port 55.
, And the other branch channel 54 (configured by the shower hose B in FIG. 1) is connected to the shower head 56.

A switching valve 61 similar to the switching valve 51 is also connected to the end of the second shower channel 32, and the switching valve 61 uses a second lever 62 (see FIG. 1) as an operation section. Two branch flow paths 63 and 64 are also connected to the downstream side of the switching valve 61. Among them, one branch flow path 63 is connected to the mist shower nozzle 65 and the other branch flow path 64
Is connected to the hot water shower nozzle 66.

As shown in the first example, in a shower apparatus having a plurality of operation sections, various arrangements of the operation sections can be selected. However, as shown in FIG. In the case where the operating section 10 is provided and a plurality of operating sections are provided in the bulging section 10, it is preferable to connect the operating sections in the vertical direction in order to make the shower apparatus as a whole compact and improve the usability. Further, among the operation units, the one that is frequently used (the first lever 52 in this example) is connected to the hot and cold water mixing tap 20.
It is preferable to provide it on the side closer to because it is easier to operate.

In the first example, the switching handle 2K is rotated to select the connection flow path 2J as the outflow-side flow path of the hot and cold water mixing tap 20, and the first lever 52 or the second lever 62 is turned in the opposite direction. When any of the rotation operations is performed, a desired shower mode is selected.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the second and second levers 62 are at the water stop position, the first lever 52 is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed from the user to connect the connection flow path 2J and the branch flow path 53 to each other. Then, a “top shower” showing one specific example of the shower mode of the present invention is performed through the top shower port 55. In addition, when this shower water discharge is stopped, the first
What is necessary is just to return the lever 52 to a water stop position.

Further, when the first lever 52 is rotated leftward as viewed from the user to connect the connection flow path 2J and the branch flow path 54, the first A "hand shower" showing a specific example of the shower mode of the present invention is performed. In this case, the shower head 56 may be held in hand or hooked on the hook F of the wall panel P.

Similarly, by rotating the second lever 62 either forward or backward, a "mist shower" and a "hot water shower" are shown, which respectively show one specific example of the shower mode of the present invention. Selection and selection of the discharge water in these shower configurations are performed.

As described above, in the first example, since the water shutoff operation can be performed by the switching valves 51 and 61 provided in the shower device A, the usability is good. That is, in the first example, the hot / water mixer tap (curan) 20 has a switching valve (flow path switching unit 22) for switching between the water discharge port side and the shower side and simultaneously stopping water. First, the switching valve must be operated. However, since the switching valves 51 and 61 of the shower device A can perform the water stopping operation, the usability is good.

Further, the shower device A of the first example has a simple structure and is inexpensive because the selection of the shower mode is performed by the manual switching valves 51 and 61. When a desired shower mode is selected from all shower modes, two operation units corresponding to half of the number of all shower modes, namely, the first operation mode,
Since it is sufficient to perform an alternative operation of the lever 52 and the second lever 62, there is a low possibility of mistaking the operation unit.

The "top shower" and "hand shower" selected by one of the switching valves 51 are specific examples of the "combination of shower forms" according to the third aspect of the present invention. In all the showers performed by A,
The frequency of use corresponds to the first place and the second place. In addition, both types of showers have substantially the same purpose of use in that shower water is discharged to the entire body of the user to wash off dirt, sweat, soap, etc. attached to the user.

Further, the water discharge mode of both showers is common in that it is in a relatively strong and sprinkling state.
In addition, if the hook F is arranged above the wall panel P and the shower head 56 is hooked on the hook F and used, the water discharge position of both shower forms is also close.

The "mist shower" and "hot water shower" selected by the other switching valve 61 are other specific examples of the "combination of shower forms" according to the third aspect of the present invention. Both shower configurations have a common point that they are infrequently used and that the purpose of use is to provide comfort to the user. Further, the water discharge positions are all above the user's head and are close to each other.

That is, in the first example, it is assumed that the combination of the shower forms that is alternatively selected by one of the switching valves 51 is such that the use frequency, the purpose of use, and the water discharge manner are close to each other,
The combination of the shower types that is alternatively selected by the other switching valve 61 is such that the frequency of use, the purpose of use, and the water discharge position are close to each other. Therefore, the first lever 52
Alternatively, even if the operation direction of the second lever 62 is mistaken, the mental and physical damage to the user is small.

As described above, in the first example, the possibility that the first lever 52 and the second lever 62 are confused is low. In addition, the first lever 52 having a high operation frequency is arranged on the side closer to the hot / water mixer tap 20 that is easy to operate, and the second lever 62 having a lower operation frequency is arranged on the side separated from the hot water mixer tap 20. For this reason, although it is intended to select “top shower” or “hand shower”, there is a low possibility that “mist shower” or “hot water shower” is selected by mistake.

Further, according to the above-described shower apparatus using a conventional solenoid valve, it is necessary to provide a plurality of solenoid valves having a complicated structure in the number of showers. On the other hand, in the first example, the switching valve 5 has a simple structure.
It suffices to add half of the number of showerheads 1 and 61 to the number of all shower forms, so that it is easy to make the shower apparatus A compact. For this reason, as illustrated in FIG. 1, storage units M and N (for example, storage units for shampoo, soap, and the like) having a sufficient size can be provided below the shower device A or the like.

Next, another example that satisfies the invention of claim 2 and another example that satisfies the invention of claim 1 will be described.

First, as another example that satisfies the second aspect of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a “second example”), a switching valve 51 similar to the first example is disposed at the end of the first shower passage 31. And
One in which the end of one branch channel 53 is connected to the top shower port 55 and the end of the other branch channel 54 is connected to the floor watering nozzle can be exemplified. In the second example, a switching valve 61 similar to that of the first example described above is disposed at the end of the second shower flow path 32, and a shower head 56 is connected to one branch flow path 63, and the other is connected. The mist shower nozzle 65 is connected to the branch channel 64.

Also in this second example, the switching valves 51, 61
The water stop operation can be performed by this, so that it is easy to use. In addition, a low-cost shower device that does not require a driving source, has a simple structure, and is inexpensive is obtained, and the possibility that the first lever 52 and the second lever 62 are interchanged is low.

However, in the second example, since the symmetrical shower mode is selected by the first lever 52 and the second lever 62, if the operation direction is mistaken, the user suffers mental and physical damage. Is big. Therefore, the first lever 5
It is desirable to prevent the operation error by making the outer shapes of the second and second levers 62 asymmetrical and giving a clear difference in hand feeling between the right rotation operation and the left rotation operation.

Next, another example (hereinafter, referred to as "third example") that satisfies the first aspect of the present invention will be described. In this third example, as shown in FIG. 3, a water discharge valve 70 is arranged at the end of the first shower channel 31. In addition, the water stop valve 70
Shows a specific example of a "manual valve" other than the "switching valve" of the first aspect of the present invention.

The shower head 56 is connected to the end of the flow path 58 connected to the downstream side of the water discharge valve 70. Further, a switching valve 61 similar to that of the first example is disposed at the end of the second shower flow path 32, a mist shower nozzle 65 is connected to the end of one branch flow path 63, and the other branch flow path is connected. A hot water shower nozzle 66 is connected to the end of 64.

Also in the third example, since the water stop operation can be performed by the water discharge stop valve 70 and the switching valve 61 disposed in the shower device, the usability is good. Further, according to the present embodiment, an inexpensive shower device which does not require a driving source, has a simple structure, and is obtained. In addition, the total number of showers (3)
Since a smaller number (two) of the valves, that is, the water discharge stop valve 70 and the switching valve 61, are used, it is difficult to mix up the operation parts.

In the third example, only the shower head 56 is disposed downstream of the first shower channel 31, but the hook F is disposed above the wall panel P, and the shower head 5 is disposed.
If the hook 6 is used while being hooked on the hook F, it will be like a top shower.

In each of the specific examples described above, the three-way valve type switching valves 51 and 61 are exemplified as one specific example of the "manual switching valve" of the present invention. It may be a "multiway valve". Hereinafter, in this regard, another specific example of the invention of claim 3 (hereinafter, referred to as “fourth example”).
Will be described with reference to FIG.

In this example, as shown in FIG.
A switching valve 51 similar to that of the first example is disposed at the end of the shower channel 31, the end of one branch channel 53 is connected to the top shower port 55, and the end of the other branch channel 54 is connected to the shower head 56. Connected.

At the end of the second shower channel 32,
A "four-way valve switching valve 80" is provided as another specific example of the "manual switching valve" of the present invention. On the downstream side of the switching valve 80, the three branch channels 63, 64, 6
7, a mist shower nozzle 65, a pouring hot water shower nozzle 66, and a body shower nozzle 68 are connected to the respective ends of the branch flow paths 63, 64, 67, respectively. As the switching valve 80, for example, a switching valve 80 of a rotary type, a sliding disk type, or the like can be used.

In the fourth example, when the first lever 52 is rotated, a top shower or a hand shower can be performed. When the second lever 62 is rotated,
The second shower channel 32 includes three branch channels 63, 64,
The mist shower, the pouring hot water shower, or the body shower can be performed by communicating with any one of the showers 67.

As shown in FIG. 4B, when the second lever 62 is rotated once in either the forward or reverse direction, the second lever 62 is moved to the water stop positions 8a, 8b, 8c and the water discharge position. 8
d, 8e and 8f are alternately passed.

Also in the fourth example, since the water shutoff operation can be performed by the switching valves 51 and 80 provided in the shower device, the usability is good. In addition, a driving device is not required, the structure is simple, and the shower device is inexpensive. Furthermore,
Since the number of switching valves 51, 80 less than half (two) of the total number of showers (five) is used, the first lever 52 and the second
The possibility of mistaking the lever 62 is low.

It should be noted that the switching valve 80 may be a five-way or more multi-way valve, and four or more branch passages may be connected downstream of the switching valve 80. In this case, since the number of selected shower forms increases, the shower apparatus can be made more multifunctional. However, in the three-way valve switching valves 51 and 61 exemplified in the first example and the like, and the four-way valve switching valve 80 exemplified in the fourth example, when switching the shower mode,
No unnecessary showering is performed.

For example, according to the fourth example, when the "mist shower" is switched to the "hot water shower", if the second lever 62 is operated in the counterclockwise direction viewed from the user, the unnecessary "body" There is no need to "shower". From this point, the "manual switching valve (multi-way valve)" of the present invention includes:
It is considered particularly preferred to use a three-way or four-way valve.

In each of the above examples, the number of shower channels and
Although the number of the manual valves including the switching valve is two, the number is not particularly limited. In each of the above examples, the supply source of hot water to the shower device A and the like is a hot water mixer tap (curan).
Although it was set to 20, this source is not limited to this.
For example, in a case where the present invention is applied to a bathroom that uses hot water pre-conditioned by a hot water heater outside the bathroom, the hot water device serves as a hot water supply source.

[0059]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is easy to use, has a simple structure and is inexpensive.
A shower device that can be reliably operated manually is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the object of the first aspect of the present invention can be reliably achieved in a shower device having four or more types of shower configurations. Further, claim 3
According to the invention of the above, even if the operation direction of each operation unit is mistaken,
As a result, mental and physical damage to the user is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a shower device of a first example.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining the shower device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a shower device of a third example.

4A is a schematic block diagram illustrating a shower device of a fourth example, and FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view illustrating a second lever of the shower device in FIG. 4A. .

[Explanation of symbols]

P; wall panel, 10; bulging part, 11; excessive bulging part, F;
Hook, M, N; storage section, 20; hot water mixing tap, 21; hot water mixing section, 22; flow path switching section, 23, 24;
H: hot water supply source, C: water supply source, 2S: temperature control handle, 2K;
Switching handle, T; water discharge pipe, 25; water discharge channel, 2J;
Connection channel, A; shower device, 31; first shower channel, 32; second shower channel, 51; switching valve, 52; first lever, 53, 54; branch channel, 55; , 56; shower head, B; shower hose, 5
8; flow path, 61; switching valve, 62; second lever, 63, 6
4, 67; branch flow path, 65; mist shower nozzle, 6
6; tapping hot water shower nozzle, 68; body shower nozzle, 70; discharge valve, 80; switching valve, 8a, 8b, 8
c: water discharge position, 8d, 8e, 8f; water stop position.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yokoi 308 Kurono, Gifu City Inside Caveike Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Ishihara 308 Kurono, Gifu City Inside Caveike Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2D032 FA02 FA11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shower device having a plurality of shower configurations, comprising a manual switching valve for selectively selecting at least two types of shower configurations and simultaneously stopping water. 2. The shower apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the switching valves are provided. 3. The combination of shower types selected alternatively by the same switching valve is a combination of shower types in which at least one of use frequency, purpose of use, water discharge mode or water discharge position is close to each other. The shower device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein