JP2013160312A - Opening/closing mechanism for valve and hand showerhead with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening/closing mechanism for a valve, in which while suppressing a stroke of an operating part small, the valve can be opened/closed with a small operational force.SOLUTION: An opening/closing mechanism 22 for opening/closing a valve through a pushing operation includes: an opening/closing mechanism body 8a; a valving element 24 which is disposed movable in a first direction and moved between a valve opening position, where a valve seat 26 is opened, and a valve closing position; a control stick 30 which is movably arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, acts an operational force on the valving element based on the pushing operation and moves the valving element in the first direction; and a moving direction converting means which converts the movement of the control stick 30 in the second direction into the movement of the valving element 24 in the first direction. The moving direction converting means is configured to make a moving amount of the valving element 24 in the first direction, with respect to a moving amount of the control stick 30 in the second direction, small at the valve closing position and to make it large at a position where the valving element 24 is moved from the valve closing position for a predetermined distance.

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve opening / closing mechanism, and more particularly to a valve opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a valve by a pressing operation, and a hand shower head including the valve opening / closing mechanism.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-30316 (Patent Document 1) describes a water faucet device. The faucet device includes a push button that is pressed by a user, and an open / close valve unit that is opened and closed by translational movement of a pusher. In the faucet device, the stroke of the push button is kept small with respect to the translation stroke of the pusher by inclining the abutment surface of the pusher that abuts the abutment portion provided on the push button, and the faucet device The size of the push button in the pressing direction is reduced.

JP 2009-30316 A

  However, if the stroke of the operation unit such as a push button is kept small and the translational stroke such as a pusher is made large, the operation force to be applied to the operation unit becomes large. Further, in the valve opening / closing mechanism of the type that directly moves the valve body by transmitting the operation force applied to the operation unit, the necessary operation force becomes particularly large, and thus the above problem becomes remarkable.

  Furthermore, the operating force required to move the valve element is generally particularly large when the valve element is pulled away from the valve seat while the valve element is seated on the valve seat. Decreases rapidly. For this reason, in the valve opening / closing mechanism that transmits the operating force applied to the operating unit and moves the valve body directly, if the operating force to be applied to the operating unit is set large by suppressing the stroke of the operating unit small, An extremely large operating force is required at the initial stage of operation, and the operating force is suddenly reduced after the valve is opened slightly. Such a problem of deterioration in usability is a technical problem peculiar to a mechanism for opening and closing a valve.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a valve opening / closing mechanism capable of opening / closing a valve with a small operation force while suppressing the stroke of the operation portion to be small, and a hand shower head including the valve opening / closing mechanism.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve opening / closing mechanism capable of obtaining a good feeling of use while suppressing the stroke of the operation unit to be small, and a hand shower head equipped with the valve opening / closing mechanism.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a valve by a pressing operation, and is arranged to be movable in a first direction with respect to the opening / closing mechanism body, Moves in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the valve body that is moved between the valve opening position where the valve seat is opened and the valve closing position where the valve seat is closed, and the opening / closing mechanism body An operating rod that is arranged in such a manner that an operating force is applied to the valve body based on the pressing operation to move the valve body in the first direction, and the movement of the operating rod in the second direction is the first of the valve body. A movement direction conversion means for converting the movement of the valve body in the first direction relative to the movement amount of the operating rod in the second direction at the valve closing position. It is small and configured so that the valve body becomes large at a position moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. It is characterized in.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the valve element disposed so as to be movable in the first direction with respect to the opening / closing mechanism body is moved between the valve opening position and the valve closing position. The operating rod arranged so as to be movable in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction causes an operating force to act on the valve body based on the pressing operation, and moves the valve body in the first direction. The movement direction conversion means converts the movement of the operating rod in the second direction into movement of the valve body in the first direction. The movement direction converting means has a small movement amount of the valve body in the first direction with respect to a movement amount of the operating rod in the second direction at the valve closing position, and large at a position where the valve body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. It is comprised so that it may become.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the amount of movement of the valve body relative to the amount of movement of the operating rod is small at the valve closing position, and is large at the position where the valve body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. . As a result, in the valve closing position where a large driving force is required to drive the valve body, a large driving force can be obtained with a small pressing force, and a predetermined distance from the valve closing position where only a small driving force is required. In the moved position, the valve body is moved greatly with a small movement amount of the operating rod. As a result, the valve can be opened and closed with a small operating force while suppressing the stroke of the operating rod small. Moreover, since the difference between the pressing force required at the valve closing position where a large driving force is required and the position where only a small driving force is required can be reduced, a good feeling of use can be obtained.

  In the present invention, preferably, the moving direction conversion means includes a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane provided on the valve body, which are inclined with respect to the second direction. In the inclined plane and the second inclined plane, the amount of movement of the valve body is small at the valve closing position, and the amount of movement of the valve body is large at the position where the valve body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. With different slopes.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, since the moving direction converting means can be configured by two inclined planes provided on the valve body, the moving direction converting means can be configured with a simple structure. .

In the present invention, preferably, the distal end portion of the operating rod that causes the operating force to act on the valve body by contacting the valve body is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the distal end portion of the operating rod is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, the contact state between the operating rod and the valve body is always kept constant regardless of the rotational position of the operating rod. be able to. In addition, since the contact area between the operating rod and the valve body can be reduced, the valve body can be smoothly slid relative to the operating rod.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the first inclined plane and the second inclined plane are directed parallel to the first inclined plane and the second inclined plane, respectively, on the distal end portion of the operating rod that causes the operating force to act on the valve body by contacting the valve body. The third inclined plane and the fourth inclined plane are formed, and only the first inclined plane and the third inclined plane are in contact with each other at the valve closing position, and the valve body is moved by a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. In this case, only the second inclined plane and the fourth inclined plane are in contact with each other.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, since the operating rod and the valve body are always slid while being in surface contact, the surface pressure acting on the operating rod and the valve body can be reduced, and the wear resistance Can be improved.

  Further, the present invention is a hand shower head capable of switching the water discharge state by opening and closing a valve, comprising a shower head body, a water spray plate provided with a plurality of water spray holes, and a valve opening and closing mechanism according to the present invention. It is characterized by having.

  According to the hand shower head of the present invention configured as described above, since the valve opening / closing mechanism of the present invention is provided, even in a thin hand shower head, the water discharge state can be switched with a small pressing force. Can do.

According to the valve opening / closing mechanism of the present invention and the hand shower head including the valve opening / closing mechanism, the valve can be opened / closed with a small operation force while suppressing the stroke of the operation unit to be small.
In addition, according to the valve opening / closing mechanism of the present invention and the hand shower head equipped with the valve opening / closing mechanism, it is possible to obtain a good feeling of use while suppressing the stroke of the operation unit to be small.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the hand shower head by embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the water discharging state of the hand shower head by embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the water stop state of the hand shower head by embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the valve element built in the hand shower head by the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the opening-and-closing mechanism of the valve incorporated in the hand shower head by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operating rod and valve body in the modification in which two inclined planes were provided in the operating rod side. It is a figure which shows the operating rod and valve body in the modification in which the moving direction conversion means was comprised by the curved surface. It is a figure which shows the operating rod and valve body in the modification in which the inclined surface was provided in both the valve body and the operating rod.

Next, a hand shower head according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a hand shower head according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a water discharge state of the hand shower head according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a water stop state of the hand shower head according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a valve body built in the hand shower head according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hand shower head 1 according to this embodiment includes a shower head main body 2, a water spray plate 4 attached to the tip of the shower head main body 2, and a switch between a water stop state and a water discharge state. And a push button 6 which is an operation unit.
The shower head main body 2 includes a grip portion 2a that is gripped by the user, and a circular opening 2b that is provided on the distal end side of the grip portion 2a and to which the water spray plate 4 is attached. A shower hose (not shown) is connected to the proximal end side of the shower head body 2.

The water spray plate 4 is a substantially circular plate, and is provided with a large number of water spray holes 4a through which hot water is discharged.
The push button 6 is a cylindrical button provided between the grip 2a and the opening 2b of the shower head body 2. When the push button 6 is pressed, the valve opening / closing mechanism built in the shower head body 2 is operated, so that the water stop state and the water discharge state are alternately switched.

Next, the internal structure of the hand shower head 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shower head main body 2 includes a first water passage forming member 8 and a second water passage forming member 10 connected to the tip 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8. The water passage connecting member 12 attached to the tip of the second water passage forming member 10 and the third water passage forming member 14 received in the water passage connecting member 12 are incorporated. Further, the shower head main body 2 includes a watering chamber forming member 16 attached to the water passage connecting member 12, a watering nozzle forming member 18 disposed on the back side of the watering plate 4, and a center of the watering nozzle forming member 18. And a hot water diffusing member 20 disposed in the housing.

  The 1st water flow path formation member 8 is an elongate cylindrical member, and the connection part 8a connected to a shower hose (not shown) is formed in the base end part. In addition, a valve opening / closing mechanism 22 is built in the distal end portion 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8. Details of the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 will be described later.

  The second water passage forming member 10 is a cylindrical member connected to the tip of the first water passage forming member 8, and the tip extends to the vicinity of the center of the water spray plate 4. An O-ring is disposed between the first water passage forming member 8 and the second water passage forming member 10 to ensure water tightness between these members. In addition, a circular opening 10a for receiving the water passage connecting member 12 is provided at the tip of the second water passage forming member 10, and the water passage connecting member 12 and the screw are formed on the inner periphery of the opening 10a. A female screw for mating is formed.

  The water passage connecting member 12 is a member that connects the second water passage forming member 10 and the water sprinkling chamber forming member 16 and receives the third water passage forming member 14 on the inner side, and is an inner circumferential cylindrical portion 12a formed concentrically. And an outer peripheral cylindrical portion 12b. The inner peripheral cylindrical portion 12a is received in the opening 10a of the second water passage forming member 10, and is screwed to the second water passage forming member 10 by a male screw provided on the outer periphery thereof. An O-ring is disposed between the second water passage forming member 10 and the water passage connecting member 12 to ensure watertightness between these members.

  Further, the outer peripheral cylindrical portion 12b of the water passage connecting member 12 is received by the water sprinkling chamber forming member 16, and is screwed to the sprinkling chamber forming member 16 by a male screw formed on the outer periphery thereof. Thereby, the 2nd water flow path formation member 10 and the water sprinkling chamber formation member 16 are connected.

  Further, the third water passage forming member 14 is received inside the inner peripheral cylindrical portion 12a of the water passage connecting member 12, and thereby the second water passage forming member 10 and the third water passage forming member 14 are connected. The In addition, an O-ring is disposed between the third water passage forming member 14 and the water passage connecting member 12 to ensure water tightness between these members.

  The 3rd water flow path formation member 14 is a substantially cylindrical member, and it is comprised so that the front-end | tip part may sag. Thereby, the hot water which flowed in from the 2nd water flow path formation member 10 is restrict | squeezed by the 3rd water flow path formation member 14, and a flow velocity becomes high.

  The sprinkling chamber forming member 16 has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 16a and a disc portion 16b formed so as to cover the cylindrical portion 16a. A female screw is formed on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 16 a and is screwed with a male screw provided on the outer peripheral cylindrical portion 12 b of the water passage connecting member 12. The disc part 16b is a substantially circular plate shape, and is arrange | positioned so that the water flow path connection member 12 and the 3rd water flow path formation member 14 may be covered by the back side. In addition, an opening is provided in the center of the disc portion 16b, and the recessed tip portion of the third water passage forming member 14 is inserted into this opening.

  Further, an edge portion 16c is formed at the peripheral edge portion of the disc portion 16b, and the tip of the edge portion 16c comes into contact with the peripheral edge portion of the water spray nozzle forming member 18. Thereby, a flat watering chamber is formed between the front side surface of the disc part 16 b and the back surface of the watering nozzle forming member 18.

  The watering nozzle forming member 18 is a generally disc-shaped member made of rubber, and is disposed between the watering chamber forming member 16 and the watering plate 4. The watering nozzle forming member 18 is provided with a large number of watering nozzles 18 a, and these watering nozzles 18 a project outside the hand shower head 1 through a number of watering holes 4 a provided in the watering plate 4. . In addition, since the water spray nozzle forming member 18 is made of rubber, when pressed against the edge 16c of the water spray chamber forming member 16, water tightness between them is ensured.

  The hot water diffusing member 20 has a generally circular disk part 20a and a shaft part 20b extending perpendicularly to the disk part 20a from the center of the disk part 20a. The shaft portion 20b is inserted and fixed at the center of the third water passage forming member. The disc part 20a is arranged so as to cover the opening at the center of the third water passage forming member 14 with a gap between it and the tip of the third water passage forming member 14. Thereby, the hot water which passed the 3rd water flow path formation member 14 flows in into a water sprinkling chamber, diffusing radially through between the front-end | tip of the 3rd water flow path formation member 14, and the disc part 20a. Further, the front side surface of the disc portion 20 a is in contact with the central portion of the watering nozzle forming member 18 and presses the watering nozzle forming member 18 against the watering plate 4.

  Next, the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 built in the hand shower head 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state where the valve is opened, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the valve is closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 is incorporated in the distal end portion 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8, and includes a valve body 24 and a valve seat 26 on which the valve body 24 is seated. The coil spring 28 that is a biasing member that biases the valve body 24 toward the closed position where the valve seat 26 is closed, the operating rod 30 that moves the valve body 24, and the operating rod 30 are moved. And a latch mechanism 32 that holds it in a predetermined position. In the present embodiment, the distal end portion 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8 functions as an opening / closing mechanism body of the valve opening / closing mechanism 22.

  In the valve opening / closing mechanism 22, the valve body 24 slidably disposed in the opening / closing mechanism main body (tip portion 8b) is separated from the valve seat 26 based on the operating force by the operating rod 30 (FIG. 2) or seated. By doing (FIG. 3), it is comprised so that the valve hole of the valve seat 26 may be opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the valve body 24 includes a seating portion 24a, a support frame portion 24b formed on the back side of the seating portion 24, and sliding protrusions 24c provided on both side surfaces of the support frame portion 24b. And a sliding protrusion 24d provided on the bottom surface of the support frame portion 24b, and a spring mounting portion 24e formed on the back side of the support frame portion 24b.

  The seating portion 24a is a circular cup-shaped portion provided at the tip of the valve body 24, and the valve hole provided in the valve seat 26 is closed when the tip of the seating portion 24a is seated on the valve seat 26. Is done.

  The support frame portion 24b is a rectangular parallelepiped frame formed on the back side of the seating portion 24a. The seating portion 24a is supported by the support frame portion 24b so as to be seated at an appropriate position of the valve seat 26.

  The sliding protrusion 24c and the sliding protrusion 24d are elongated protrusions respectively provided on both side surfaces and the bottom surface of the support frame portion 24b. The sliding protrusions 24c are respectively received in elongated guide grooves (not shown) provided on both side surfaces of the inner wall of the distal end portion 8b, and are slid along the guide grooves. Similarly, the sliding protrusion 24d is received in an elongated guide groove 8c (FIGS. 2 and 3) provided on the bottom surface of the inner wall of the distal end portion 8b, and is slid along the guide groove 8c. Thereby, the valve body 24 is linearly moved within the distal end portion 8b which is an opening / closing mechanism main body.

  The spring mounting portion 24e is a protrusion having a cross-shaped cross section formed on the back side of the support frame portion 24b. The spring mounting portion 24e is fitted inside the coil spring 28, whereby the coil spring 28 is attached to the valve body 24. .

  Furthermore, a first inclined plane 34 and a second inclined plane 36, which are moving direction conversion means, are provided inside the support frame portion 24b. The first inclined plane 34 and the second inclined plane 36 are plane portions integrally formed inside the support frame portion 24b. The first inclined plane 34 has an abrupt inclination with respect to the sliding direction of the valve body 24 that is the first direction, and the second inclined plane 36 has a first inclination with respect to the sliding direction of the valve body 24. It is configured so as to have a gentler slope than the one inclined plane 34. As will be described later, when the first inclined plane 34 and the second inclined plane 36 are pressed by the tip of the operating rod 30, the valve body 24 is driven in the valve opening direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve seat 26 is an annular member and is formed in a shape that matches the seating portion 24 a of the valve body 24. The valve seat 26 is attached to the proximal end portion of the second water passage forming member 10, and the proximal end portion of the second water passage forming member 10 is received by the distal end portion 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8. As a result, the valve seat 26 is positioned so as to face the valve body 24.

  The coil spring 28 that is an urging member is arranged to urge the valve body 24 toward the valve closing position. A spring mounting portion 24 e of the valve body 24 is received at the distal end portion of the coil spring 28. On the other hand, the proximal end of the coil spring 28 is engaged with a step portion provided at the distal end portion 8 b of the first water passage forming member 8.

  The operating rod 30 is a shaft having a circular cross section, and the tip thereof is formed in a hemispherical shape. Further, the operating rod 30 is arranged so that the central axis thereof is directed in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the valve body 24, and is shown in FIG. 2 from the position shown in FIG. Axis moved to position. Since the tip of the operating rod 30 is formed in a hemispherical shape that is rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis thereof, when the operating rod 30 is assembled at any rotational position when the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 is assembled. In this case, the contact state between the tip of the operating rod 30 and the inclined plane does not change. For this reason, it is not necessary to manage the assembly direction of the operation rod 30, and the assembly of the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 can be facilitated.

  Each time the push button 6 is pressed, the latch mechanism 32 is configured to move and hold the operating rod 30 alternately between the position shown in FIG. 3 and the position shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the latch mechanism 32 is constituted by a rotating cam, a coil spring, and the like, and this latch mechanism is a well-known mechanism that is also used in various water faucet devices, knock type ballpoint pens, etc. Is omitted.

  Next, with reference to FIG.2, FIG3 and FIG.5, the effect | action of the hand shower head 1 by embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 built in the hand shower head 1.

  When the user of the hand shower head 1 presses the push button 6 in the valve closing state shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 24 goes through the states shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) and opens the valve shown in FIG. A state is reached and water discharge is started. In this state, the position of the operating rod 30 is held by the latch mechanism 32, and the water discharge state is maintained.

  In the water discharge state, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, the hot water flowing from the base end portion of the first water passage forming member 8 flows into the valve hole of the valve seat 26 through the periphery of the valve body 24, and The two water passage forming members 10 are reached. The hot water that has flowed into the second water passage forming member 10 flows to the third water passage forming member 14 connected to the tip portion thereof. Hot water that has flowed into the third water passage forming member 14 is formed between the water spray chamber forming member 16 and the water spray nozzle forming member 18 through a gap between the tip portion thereof and the disc portion 20a of the hot water diffusion member 20. Into the water sprinkling room. Hot water that has flowed into the watering chamber is discharged through a number of watering nozzles 18 a provided on the watering nozzle forming member 18.

  In the water discharge state shown in FIG. 2, when the user presses the push button 6 again, the operation lever 30 is pulled upward in FIG. 2 by the latch mechanism 32. Along with this, the valve body 24 is moved to the valve closing position by the urging force of the coil spring 28 and enters the water stop state shown in FIG. The latch mechanism 32 holds the operating rod 30 pulled up at the position shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 will be described in detail.
First, in the valve closing state shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 24 is in the valve closing position, the seating portion 24a is seated on the valve seat 26, and the valve hole is completely closed. In this state, the primary pressure of the water supply (tap water supply pressure) acts on the upstream side of the seating portion 24a, and the atmospheric pressure generally acts on the downstream side. For this reason, in the valve closing position, the valve body 24 is pressed against the valve seat 26 by the force based on the biasing force of the coil spring 28 and the primary pressure of the water supply.

  Further, at the valve closing position, as shown in FIG. 5A, the distal end of the operating rod 30 is in contact with the first inclined plane 34 provided on the valve body 24. Here, as shown to Fig.5 (a), the inclination-angle of the 1st inclination plane 34 with respect to the 1st direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 5) which is the moving direction of the valve body 24 is (alpha) degree.

  Next, when the push button 6 is pressed, the operating rod 30 is moved (downward in FIG. 5) in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5) that is the moving direction by this operating force. For this reason, the first inclined plane 34 is pushed by the tip of the operating rod 30, and the valve body 24 opens in the valve opening direction (the right side in FIG. 5) against the force based on the biasing force of the coil spring 28 and the primary pressure of water. To the state shown in FIG. 5 (b). During this time, the tip of the operating rod 30 is moved downward by the distance S in FIG. 5B, while the valve body 24 is moved rightward by the distance D1.

  As a result, a gap is formed between the seating portion 24 a and the valve seat 26, and hot water on the upstream side of the valve body 24 flows out downstream through the valve seat 26. As described above, when hot water flows through the valve seat 26, the pressure on the upstream side of the valve body 24 rapidly decreases, and therefore, based on the primary pressure of the water supply that has pressed the valve body 24 in the closing direction. The power also drops rapidly. Further, in order to move the valve body 24 from the state where the valve body 24 is stationary at the valve closing position, a static frictional force acting between the valve body 24 and the distal end portion 8b of the first water passage forming member 8 is used. It is necessary to apply a driving force to overcome it. On the other hand, after the valve body 24 starts to move from the valve closing position, the frictional force acting on the valve body 24 becomes a dynamic frictional force smaller than the static frictional force, and the force necessary for driving the valve body 24 is also reduced. Get smaller.

  When the operation button 30 is further moved downward by further pushing the push button 6, the valve body 24 is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position, and as shown in FIG. Is brought into contact with a second inclined plane 36 provided in the valve body 24. Here, as shown in FIG. 5C, the inclination angle of the second inclined plane 36 with respect to the first direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 5) that is the moving direction of the valve body 24 is the first inclined plane 34. It is a milder β degree.

  When the push button 6 is further pushed in from the state shown in FIG. 5C, the tip of the operating rod 30 is moved downward by the distance S in FIG. 5D, while the valve body 24 is moved to the right by the distance D2. Moved towards. Here, the inclination angle β of the second inclined plane 36 is set smaller than the inclination angle α of the first inclined plane 34. For this reason, the movement amount of the valve body 24 with respect to the same movement amount (distance S) of the tip of the operation rod 30 is the movement amount (distance D2) when the operation rod 30 is in contact with the second inclined plane 36. The amount of movement (distance D1) in the state of contact with the first inclined plane 34 is larger.

  Further, the driving force that is generated based on the pressing force to the push button 6 and moves the valve body 24 in the opening direction is when the tip of the operating rod 30 is in contact with the first inclined plane 34. It becomes larger than the case where it is in contact with the second inclined plane 36. For this reason, when the valve body 24 starts moving from the valve closing position toward the valve opening position, the same pressing force is applied as compared with the state where the tip of the operating rod 30 is in contact with the second inclined plane 36. Thus, a large driving force can be applied to the valve body 24. Thereby, in the valve closing position where a large primary pressure and static friction force are acting on the valve body 24, a large driving force for the valve body 24 can be obtained by a small pressing force to the push button 6.

  Further, when the valve body 24 is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position and the tip of the operating rod 30 is in contact with the second inclined plane 36, the primary pressure acting on the valve body 24 is reduced. For this reason, even if the driving force to the valve body 24 generated based on the pressing force to the push button 6 decreases, the valve body 24 can be easily moved. As a result, the difference between the pressing force when the valve body 24 starts to move from the closed position and the pressing force after the valve body 24 is moved a predetermined distance from the closed position is reduced, and the use of the hand shower head 1 is reduced. A feeling improves.

  According to the hand shower head 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the movement amount of the valve body 24 with respect to the movement amount of the operating rod 30 (distance S in FIG. 5) is small at the valve closing position (distance D1 in FIG. 5). It is configured to be large (distance D2 in FIG. 5) at a position where the body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. As a result, at the valve closing position (FIG. 5A) where a large driving force is required to drive the valve body 24, a large driving force can be obtained with a small pressing force, and only a small driving force is required. In the position moved by a predetermined distance from the closed position (FIG. 5C), the valve body is moved greatly with a small movement amount of the operating rod. Thus, the valve can be opened and closed with a small pressing force against the push button 6 while suppressing the stroke of the operating rod 30 to be small. Moreover, since the difference between the pressing force required at the valve closing position where a large driving force is required and the position where only a small driving force is required can be reduced, a good feeling of use can be obtained.

  Further, according to the hand shower head 1 of the present embodiment, the moving direction conversion means is constituted by the first inclined plane 34 and the second inclined plane 36 provided on the valve body 24, so that the structure is simple. Thus, the moving direction conversion means can be configured.

  Furthermore, according to the hand shower head 1 of the present embodiment, since the tip of the operation rod 30 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, the contact between the operation rod 30 and the valve body 24 regardless of the rotational position of the operation rod 30. The state can always be kept constant. Further, since the contact area between the operating rod 30 and the valve body 24 can be reduced, the valve body can be smoothly slid relative to the operating rod 30.

  Further, according to the hand shower head 1 of the present embodiment, since the valve opening / closing mechanism 22 is configured to be thin, it is possible to switch the water discharge state with a small pressing force and a good operational feeling, while being thin. Design can be adopted.

  As mentioned above, although the hand shower head by preferable embodiment of this invention was demonstrated, a various change can be added to embodiment mentioned above. In particular, in the above-described embodiment, the valve opening / closing mechanism of the present invention is applied to a hand shower head, but the valve opening / closing mechanism of the present invention can be applied to any faucet device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first inclined plane 34 and the second inclined plane 36 which are moving direction conversion means are provided in the valve body 24. However, as a modification, each inclined plane is provided on the operation rod. It can also be provided on the side.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an operating rod and a valve body in a modified example in which two inclined planes are provided on the operating rod side.
In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the operating rod 40 is formed of a quadrangular columnar bar, and a first inclined plane 42 and a second inclined plane 44 are formed at the tip thereof. Further, the inclination angle of the first inclined plane 42 is formed larger than the inclination angle of the second inclined plane 44. On the other hand, the valve body 46 is provided with a contact portion 46a that contacts and slides on the first and second inclined planes. In this modification, the movement amount of the valve body 46 in the first direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 6) relative to the movement amount of the operating rod 40 in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) is the first inclined plane. 42 is small in the state where the contact portion 46a is in contact with the contact portion 46a (FIG. 6A), and is large in the state where the second inclined plane 44 is in contact with the contact portion 46a (FIG. 6B). Thereby, there exists an effect similar to embodiment mentioned above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the movement direction conversion unit is configured by two planes. However, the movement direction conversion unit may be configured by three or more planes or a curved surface.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an operating rod and a valve body in a modified example in which the moving direction converting means is configured by a curved surface.
In the modification shown in FIG. 7A, an inclined surface 54 formed of a curved surface is provided on the valve body 52 as a moving direction conversion means. In this modification, when the operating rod 50 is moved downward in FIG. 7A, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 54 in contact therewith becomes gradually gentler. Thereby, the movement amount of the valve body 52 in the first direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 7A) with respect to the movement amount of the operating rod 50 in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 7A) is closed. It is small at the position and large at the position where the valve body 52 is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position.

  Moreover, in the modification shown in FIG.7 (b), the inclined surface 62 comprised by the curved surface is provided in the front-end | tip part of the operating rod 60 as a moving direction conversion means. In this modification, when the operating rod 60 is moved downward in FIG. 7B, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 62 provided on the operating rod 60 that is in contact with the contact portion 64 a of the valve body 64 is Gradually become milder. Thereby, the movement amount of the valve body 64 in the first direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 7B) with respect to the movement amount of the operating rod 60 in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 7B) is closed. It is small at the position, and is large at the position where the valve body 64 is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface which is the movement direction converting means is provided on either one of the valve body or the operating rod. However, as an alternative, the inclined surface can be provided on both.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the operating rod and the valve body in a modified example in which inclined surfaces are provided on both the valve body and the operating rod.
In the modification shown in FIG. 8, two inclined planes are provided on both the operating rod 70 and the valve body 72. The valve body 72 is formed with a first inclined plane 74 and a second inclined plane 76, respectively. On the other hand, a third inclined plane 77 and a fourth inclined plane 78 are formed on the operation rod 70, respectively. In addition, the first inclined plane 74 and the third inclined plane 77 are formed at the same inclination angle, and the second inclined plane 76 and the fourth inclined plane 78 are formed at the same inclination angle. Accordingly, the first inclined plane 74 and the third inclined plane 77, and the second inclined plane 76 and the fourth inclined plane 78 are directed in parallel. Further, the inclination angles of the first and third inclined planes are configured to be larger than the inclination angles of the second and fourth inclined planes.

  In the valve closing position shown in FIG. 8A, only the first inclined plane 74 and the third inclined plane 77 are in contact with each other. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, only the second inclined plane 76 and the fourth inclined plane 78 come into contact with each other in a state where the valve body 72 is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. In this modification, the movement amount of the valve body 72 in the first direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 8) relative to the movement amount of the operating rod 70 in the second direction (vertical direction in FIG. 8) is the first inclined plane. In the state where only 74 and the third inclined plane 77 are in contact (FIG. 8A), the state is small, and only the second inclined plane 76 and the fourth inclined plane 78 are in contact (FIG. 8B). Then it gets bigger. Thereby, there exists an effect similar to embodiment mentioned above. Further, according to this modification, since the operating rod 70 and the valve body 72 are in contact with each other with a wide contact area, the surface pressure acting on each inclined plane can be reduced, and the wear resistance can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hand shower head by 2nd embodiment of the present invention 2 Shower head main body 2a Holding part 2b Opening part 4 Sprinkling plate 4a Sprinkling hole 6 Push button 8 1st water flow path formation member 8a Connection part 8b Tip part (opening-closing mechanism main body)
8c Guide groove 10 Second water passage forming member 12 Water passage connecting member 12a Inner peripheral cylindrical portion 12b Outer cylindrical portion 14 Third water passage forming member 16 Sprinkling chamber forming member 16a Cylindrical portion 16b Disk portion 16c Edge 18 Sprinkling nozzle formation Member 18a Water spray nozzle 20 Hot water diffusion member 20a Disk portion 20b Shaft portion 22 Valve opening / closing mechanism 24 Valve body 24a Seating portion 24b Support frame portion 24c Slide projection 24d Slide projection 24e Spring mounting portion 26 Valve seat 28 Coil spring 30 Operating rod 32 Latch mechanism 34 First inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
36 Second inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
40 Operation rod 42 First inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
44 Second inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
46 Valve body 46a Contact part 50 Operation rod 52 Valve body 54 Inclined surface (moving direction converting means)
60 Operation rod 62 Inclined surface (moving direction conversion means)
64 Valve body 64a Contact part 70 Operation rod 72 Valve body 74 First inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
76 Second inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
77 Third inclined plane (moving direction converting means)
78 Fourth inclined plane (moving direction converting means)

Claims (5)

An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a valve by a pressing operation,
An opening / closing mechanism body;
A valve body that is arranged so as to be movable in the first direction with respect to the opening / closing mechanism body, and is moved between a valve opening position in which the valve seat is opened and a valve closing position in which the valve seat is closed;
The opening / closing mechanism main body is arranged to be movable in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and an operating force is applied to the valve body based on a pressing operation so that the valve body is moved to the first direction. An operation rod to move in the direction,
Movement direction conversion means for converting movement of the operating rod in the second direction into movement of the valve body in the first direction;
The movement direction converting means is such that the movement amount of the valve body in the first direction relative to the movement amount of the operating rod in the second direction is small at the valve closing position, and the valve body is a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. A valve opening / closing mechanism configured to be large at a moved position.   The moving direction converting means includes a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane provided on the valve body, which are oriented obliquely with respect to the second direction, and the first inclined plane and In the second inclined plane, the amount of movement of the valve body is small at the valve closing position, and the amount of movement of the valve body is large at a position where the valve body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. The valve opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1, having different slopes.   3. The valve opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the operating rod that applies an operating force to the valve body by contacting the valve body is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape.   A third inclination directed parallel to the first inclined plane and the second inclined plane, respectively, at the tip of the operating rod that causes the operating force to act on the valve element by contacting the valve element A flat surface and a fourth inclined plane are formed. At the valve closing position, only the first inclined plane and the third inclined plane are in contact with each other, and the valve body is moved a predetermined distance from the valve closing position. 3. The valve opening / closing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein only the second inclined plane and the fourth inclined plane are in contact with each other at the closed position. A hand shower head capable of switching the water discharge state by opening and closing a valve,
The shower head body,
A watering plate provided with a plurality of watering holes;
The valve opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A hand shower head characterized by comprising:

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