JP2006176952A - Shower hose - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shower hose superior in durability, capable of restraining generation of an unpleasant sound, and superior in easiness-to-use. <P>SOLUTION: A polyethylene tube is inserted into a flexible tube 21. When heating and pressurizing the tube by putting steam in the tube, the polyethylene tube expands, and thereby, the polyethylene tube is brought into close contact with an inner peripheral surface 41 of the flexible tube 21, and a resin coating 25 can be formed. The resin coating 25 is formed so as not to largely project in a spiral groove 39 of the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a shower hose that can be pulled out of a shower device configured in a watering facility such as a washstand.

  Recently, watering equipment such as a wash basin provided with a shower device has become widespread. As such a shower device, a faucet body having an open / close tap, a rear end side is accommodated in a cabinet of a water faucet facility, a front end side is passed through the faucet body, and can be pulled out from the faucet body. A shower hose provided in such a manner and a shower head attached to the tip of the shower hose are generally used (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In the shower device configured in this way, the shower hose can be stored in the faucet body so that it does not get in the way when not in use, and when using it, hold the shower head and pull out the shower hose. Since it can be used, shampooing or cleaning of the sink can be performed easily.

  And the shower hose used with this shower apparatus has the double pipe structure which usually made the metal flexible pipe pass the rubber water pipe. A flexible tube is obtained by spirally winding a strip having engaging portions on both sides and engaging adjacent engaging portions of the strip, with the engaging portions extending spirally. The entire tube is formed in a spiral shape or a bellows shape so as to have flexibility.

Japanese Patent No. 3149482 JP 2003-64739 A

  By the way, in such a shower hose, when water is introduced by opening the opening / closing stopper of the shower device, the water passes through the rubber water pipe, so that the water leaks from the engaging portion of the flexible pipe. Although there is no water pipe, it swells with the water pressure at the time of water passage and is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the flexible pipe. However, since the engaging portion of the flexible pipe forms a spirally extending protrusion that protrudes outward, the water flow pipe pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the flexible pipe is within this protrusion (spiral groove). It expands and deforms to protrude. Then, it is not uncommon for the water pipe to come into strong contact with the opening edge of the spiral groove, rub and tear, and the life of the shower hose may be shortened.

  Also, when pulling out the shower hose with the shower head and when storing the pulled out shower hose, the edge of the hose opening of the faucet body through which the shower hose is passed and the outer peripheral part of the flexible tube rub against each other. In this case, the flexible tube vibrates and an irritating contact sound is continuously generated. Therefore, the user feels uncomfortable every time the shower apparatus is used, and the commercial value of the shower apparatus may even be lowered.

  In contrast, a foamed sponge sealing layer was formed on the outer periphery of the water pipe, and the water pipe was inserted into the flexible pipe so that the seal layer was in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible pipe. A shower hose (see Patent Document 1), a shower hose (see Patent Document 2) configured to fill the entire gap between the water pipe and the flexible pipe with resin, and the like are also disclosed. As a result, if the shower hose having such a configuration is used, the water flow pipe does not protrude into the spiral groove on the inner peripheral surface of the flexible pipe, and a seal layer or a resin layer is generated in the flexible pipe. Since the vibration is attenuated, unpleasant rubbing noise can be prevented.

  However, in a shower hose configured by filling a sealing layer or a resin layer between a flexible pipe and a water pipe, the flexible pipe, the seal layer, etc. and the water pipe have an integral structure. In many cases, the flexibility is hindered and the usability is lowered.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shower hose that is excellent in durability, can suppress generation of unpleasant noise, and is also easy to use.

  To achieve this object, the shower hose of the present invention is a metal flexible tube formed in a bellows shape and having flexibility, and a rubber or resin water flow tube passed through the flexible tube, A shower hose having a tubular resin coating, for example, over its entire length on the inner peripheral surface of the flexible pipe, and configured so that the water pipe expands and is pressed against the resin coating when water flows. It is what has been. For example, the resin coating is formed in a cylindrical shape by being applied to the entire inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube. The resin coating is also formed, for example, by bringing a film-like resin tube into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube. The resin coating is further formed, for example, to have a uniform or substantially uniform diameter, or to cover a groove (for example, a spiral groove) provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube, or for a groove (for example, It is formed so as not to protrude greatly into the spiral groove). In the present invention, polyethylene (PE) excellent in flexibility, durability and processability can be used for the resin coating.

  For the water pipe, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) having resistance to chlorine contained in tap water can be used. As TPE, styrene butadiene (TPS), olefin (TPO), polyester (TPEE), polyurethane (TPU) can be selected, and further, vinyl chloride (TPVC), polyamide (TPEA). Can also be used. Alternatively, fluororubber can be used for the water pipe. Olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers have high resistance to chlorine contained in tap water and are less expensive than fluororubber. The water pipe is configured to expand and press against the resin coating when water flows. Therefore, in a normal state in which no pressure is applied by the internal fluid, the outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the resin coating, and there is a gap between the water pipe and the resin coating.

The shower hose of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, by the following method.
A method for producing a shower hose having a flexible metal flexible tube formed into a bellows shape and a rubber or resin water flow tube passed through the flexible tube,
Arranging a film-like resin tube inside the flexible tube,
Pressurized heating fluid is supplied to the inside of the resin tube, and the resin tube is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube so as to have a uniform or almost uniform diameter over the entire length.
After the resin tube is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube, the resin tube is cooled,
Then, the manufacturing method of the shower hose which arrange | positions a water flow pipe inside the said resin tube.
By cooling the resin tube, a cylindrical resin coating is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube. Unpleasant noise is suppressed by the resin coating, and protrusion into the groove portion (for example, spiral groove) of the water pipe or direct contact with the opening edge or the opening end portion of the groove portion (for example, spiral groove) is prevented.

  As described above, the shower hose of the present invention has a structure that is sufficiently flexible, does not easily damage the water pipe, and can ensure a good feeling of use.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a partially broken side view showing a shower apparatus provided with a shower hose according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the shower hose.

  On the wash basin 1, a shower device 5 including a shower hose 3 according to the present invention is installed. The shower device 5 includes a faucet body 9 provided on a base 7 at the upper part of a sink (not shown) of the sink 1 and a cabinet (not shown) in which a rear end side is arranged below the sink 1. A shower hose 3 that is housed in the drainage branch 11 of the faucet body 9 and is arranged so that it can be pulled out from the hose opening 13 of the drainage branch 11, and the shower A shower head 15 attached to the outer periphery of the hose opening 13 of the water discharge branch 11 and held at the tip of the hose 3, and holding the shower head 15 on the tip side of the shower hose 3. The shower hose 3 drawn out to the outside can be accommodated by being pushed into the faucet body 9.

  Further, one end of the faucet body 9 is connected to a water pipe (not shown) piped in the cabinet of the wash basin 1, passes through the faucet body 9, and the outside of the faucet body 9. A lever-type opening / closing plug 19 is provided for opening and closing the water supply pipe 17 which is folded back at the end and returned into the cabinet and the other end connected to the rear end of the shower hose 3.

  The shower hose 3 disposed in the faucet body 9 connected to the water supply pipe 17 includes a stainless steel flexible pipe 21 and a resin water pipe 23 disposed through the flexible pipe 21. A resin coating 25 made of PE is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube 21 over the entire length in the length direction. The resin coating 25 has a uniform or almost uniform diameter over the entire length. More specifically, the resin coating or resin coating layer 25 is in close contact with only the inner peripheral surface of the first plate portion 33 of the flexible tube 21 and is not in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the second plate portion 37. Therefore, the resin coating layer 25 is not damaged (see FIG. 2).

  The flexible tube 21 is formed by spirally winding a band material 31 having a substantially S-shaped cross section provided with engaging portions 27 and 29 on both sides, by sequentially engaging adjacent engaging portions 27 and 29 with each other. Has been. The strip 31 is made of SUS304, and the first plate portion 33, the rising portion 35 that rises slightly to one side in the width direction from one end in the width direction of the first plate portion 33, and the outside of the rising portion 35 From the end (upper end), the second plate portion 37 that is parallel to the first plate portion 33 and extends to one side in the width direction is bent so as to be integrally formed. The plate portion 37 is integrally formed from one end in the width direction so as to fall in parallel with the rising portion 35, and the engaging portion 29 is curved in a semicircular cross section from the other end in the width direction of the first plate portion 33. And integrally formed so as to protrude outward. The engaging portions 27 and 29 that are adjacent to each other are engaged so that the engaging portion 29 enters the inside of the engaging portion 27. Therefore, the flexible tube 21 has a spiral bellows shape having a mountain at the second plate portion 37 and a valley at the first plate portion 33. The axial interval between the rising portion 35 and the engaging portion 29 is substantially half of the axial interval between the rising portion 35 and the engaging portion 27 in the normal state. Therefore, the spiral groove 39 is formed in the flexible tube 21 on the inner side of the other side in the width direction of the second plate portion 37. The outer diameter φ of the flexible tube 21 (the outer diameter of the second plate portion 37) is set to 13.8 mm, and the inner diameter φ (the inner diameter of the first plate portion 33) is set to 11.2 mm. Yes. Further, a single strip 31 can be used to form the flexible tube 21, or, for example, two or a plurality of strips 31 can be used side by side in the axial direction.

  The water passage 23 is a non-pressurized, santoprene (TPO) which is an olefin thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) having an inner diameter φ of 8.0 mm, an outer diameter φ of 9.3 mm, and a wall thickness of 0.65 mm. (Registered trademark: manufactured by AES Japan Co., Ltd.), but other TPO or other TPE such as TPS, TPEE, TPU, TPVC and TPEA, or fluororubber can also be used.

  The cylindrical resin coating 25 is formed by press-contacting a film-like PE tube over the entire length of the inner peripheral surface 41 of the flexible tube 21, and the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 41 is approximately 11.2 mm as a whole. They are provided so as to have the same outer diameter φ, but at the position of the spiral groove 39, they are deformed so as to slightly enter the spiral groove 39 (see the groove protrusion 42). That is, the groove protrusion 42 slightly protrudes outward in the radial direction from both opening end portions or both opening end edges 45 of the spiral groove 39. If the PE tube is pressed firmly, the flexibility of the flexible tube 21 may be hindered. However, if the PE tube is deformed so as to enter the spiral groove 39, the flexible tube 21 may be deformed. Thus, there is an advantage that the resin coating 25 is prevented from being displaced in the axial direction, for example. Since the thickness of the resin coating 25 is set to 0.5 mm, the inner diameter φ of the flexible pipe 21 including the resin coating 25 is 10.6 mm, which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the water flow pipe 23.

  FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a process of forming the resin coating 25 on the flexible tube 21.

  The shower hose 3 having such a configuration can be manufactured as follows. That is, first, a PE tube 43 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the flexible tube 21 and longer than the flexible tube 21 is passed through the flexible tube 21 (see FIG. 3a). The two ends in the length direction of the flexible tube 21 are arranged so as to protrude outward from the both ends in the length direction of the flexible tube 21.

  Next, one end of the tube 43 is closed, and water vapor is supplied into the tube 43 from the other end. Then, the tube 43 is heated and softened by water vapor, and is pressurized and expanded (see FIG. 3b), and is pressed against the inner surface of the first plate portion 33 of the flexible tube 21 (FIG. 3c). reference). At this time, the water vapor pressure is appropriately adjusted so that the tube 21 does not greatly enter the spiral groove 39.

  When the tube 43 is expanded and pressed against the inner peripheral surface 41 of the flexible tube 21 in this way, the supply of water vapor is stopped, the tube 43 is cooled using a fan or the like, and the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube 21 is resin-coated. 25 is formed. The resin coating 25 covers both the opening end portions of the spiral groove 39 or between both opening end edges 45 and 45 (see FIG. 2) to block the spiral groove 39 or the opening portion of the spiral groove 39.

  Thereafter, both end portions of the tube 43 protruding outward from the flexible tube 21 are cut out in accordance with the flexible tube 21, and the water flow tube 23 formed with a predetermined length is placed in the formed resin coating 25. Deploy. Since the outer diameter of the water pipe 23 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the flexible pipe 21 on which the resin coating 25 is formed, the water pipe 23 can be arranged relatively easily.

  If the shower hose of this invention is used, the shower apparatus for general households etc. of a comfortable feeling of use and a long lifetime can be comprised.

It is a partially broken side view which shows the shower apparatus provided with the shower hose which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of a shower hose. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of forming a resin coating in a flexible pipe | tube.

Explanation of symbols

3 Shower hose 15 Shower head 21 Flexible pipe 23 Water pipe 25 Resin coating

Claims (3)

A shower hose having a flexible metal-made flexible tube formed in a bellows shape, and a water-permeable tube made of rubber or resin passed through the flexible tube,
A cylindrical resin coating is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tube,
The shower hose is configured so that the water pipe is expanded and pressed against the resin coating when water flows. The shower hose according to claim 1, wherein the resin coating is made of polyethylene. The shower hose according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water pipe is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

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