JP2021088851A - Faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent deformation of a faucet cover regarding a faucet.SOLUTION: A faucet of this invention includes a faucet body 13 that can be operated by revolving a handle 17a and a faucet cover 15 that covers the faucet body with a gap with an outer surface of the faucet body 13, in which a bearing member 50 brought into contact with the outer surface of the faucet body 13 and an inner surface of the faucet cover 15 is provided between the faucet body 13 and the faucet cover 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a faucet.

As a faucet installed in a bathroom, a wash basin, etc., a faucet capable of discharging a mixed water of hot water is known. In such a faucet, the faucet body is covered with a faucet cover so as not to directly touch the metal faucet body which has become hot due to the discharge of hot water.

The faucet described in Patent Document 1 includes a faucet cover including a top cover that covers the faucet body from the front side and a back cover that covers the faucet body from the rear side. Both covers are detachably engaged by a groove provided on one cover and a protrusion provided on the other cover.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-315567

By the way, such a faucet cover is attached so as to have a small gap between the faucet cover and the faucet body in order to suppress heat transfer from the faucet body which has become hot. Therefore, for example, there is a problem that the top cover is deformed when a load is applied to the top cover from above. This is a common problem not only for faucets capable of discharging mixed water of hot water, but also for faucets having a gap between the faucet cover and the faucet body.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress deformation of a faucet cover with respect to a faucet.

The faucet that solves the above problems includes a faucet cover that covers the faucet body with a gap between the faucet body that can be operated by rotating the handle and the outer surface of the faucet body. A support member that comes into contact with the outer surface of the faucet body and the inner surface of the faucet cover is provided between the faucet cover and the faucet cover.

According to the above configuration, when an external force acts on the faucet cover, the faucet cover is supported on the faucet body via a support member that comes into contact with both the faucet body and the faucet cover. To. Therefore, even if there is a gap between the faucet body and the outer surface, the faucet cover is suppressed from being deformed.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the support member is in surface contact with at least one of the outer surface of the faucet body and the inner surface of the faucet cover.
According to the above configuration, the load from the faucet cover is easily dispersed over the entire contact surface due to the surface contact with the support member. Deformation of the faucet cover is further suppressed.

In the above configuration, a pair of the handles are attached to the faucet body, and the support members are a first support member provided on one handle side and a first support member provided on the other handle side. It is preferable that the first support member and the second support member are the same member that can be shared with each other.

According to the above configuration, the gap between the faucet main body and the faucet cover can be supported at a plurality of places. Deformation of the faucet cover is further suppressed. Further, the support members provided at a plurality of locations can be shared in common. The number of parts can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of cost, and the efficiency of assembling the support member can be improved.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the support member is provided with a regulating portion that regulates the movement of the support member.
According to the above configuration, the movement of the support member with respect to the faucet body and the faucet cover is restricted. The assembled state of the faucet cover is stabilized, and its deformation is further suppressed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the faucet cover with respect to the faucet.

Perspective view of the faucet. The perspective view of the faucet with the faucet cover and the handle removed. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. A perspective view of the faucet body on the flow rate control handle side. It is sectional drawing of the flow rate adjustment handle side of a faucet, and is the sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. A perspective view of the faucet body on the temperature control handle side. It is sectional drawing of the temperature control handle side of a faucet, and is the sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. (A) is a perspective view of the support member, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the support member.

An embodiment of the faucet will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet 10 is installed on the wall surface W of the bathroom. Hereinafter, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction when the water faucet 10 is viewed toward the wall surface W will be described as the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction of the water faucet 10, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the faucet 10 includes a faucet main body 13, handles 17a and 17b, faucet covers 15 and 16, and a support member 50. A water discharge pipe 11 for a faucet and a hose 12 for a shower head are connected to the faucet body 13. Two buttons 14 are provided on the front surface of the faucet main body 13. By operating the two buttons 14, the faucet main body 13 can stop water from being discharged from the water discharge pipe 11 for the faucet and a shower head. It is configured so that it can be switched between water discharge and water stoppage. Two through holes are provided on the front surface of the faucet cover (top cover) 15 that covers the faucet body 13, and the button 14 is exposed from the through holes. The handles 17a and 17b include a flow rate control handle 17a attached to the right end of the faucet body 13 and a temperature control handle 17b attached to the left end. The flow rate adjusting handle 17a is a handle for adjusting the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge pipe 11 and the shower head. The temperature control handle 17b is a handle that controls the temperature of the mixed water discharged from the water discharge pipe 11 and the shower head. The support member 50 is attached to both left and right ends of the faucet body 13.

Hereinafter, each member will be described in more detail.
<About the faucet body 13>
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, the faucet body 13 includes a metal body 20, a flow rate control valve 18, a temperature control valve 19, a flow control valve side nut 30, and a temperature control valve side nut 40. .. The outer shell of the faucet body 13 is mainly formed of a metal body 20. As shown in FIG. 2, both left and right ends of the metal body 20 are formed in a cylindrical shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flow rate control valve 18 is housed inside the right half of the metal body 20, and a rotation shaft 18a is provided at the tip thereof. The flow rate adjusting handle 17a is fixed to the rotating shaft 18a in a state of being integrally rotated and in a state of being prevented from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 7, the temperature control valve 19 is housed inside the left half of the metal body 20, and a rotation shaft 19a is provided at the tip thereof. The temperature control handle 17b is fixed to the rotation shaft 19a in a state of being integrally rotated and in a state of being prevented from coming off.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylindrical flow control valve side nut 30 is a member for fixing the flow control valve 18 to the cylindrical portion at the right end of the metal body 20. The flow control valve 18 is fixed from the metal body 20 in a retaining state by screwing the outer peripheral surface on the left end side of the flow control valve side nut 30 and the inner peripheral surface on the right end side of the metal body 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a contact surface 21 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the metal body 20 as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. The diameter L1 of the contact surface 21 is formed to be equal to or slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the flow control valve side nut 30. On the left side of the contact surface 21, a tapered surface 22 is formed as a smooth surface that continuously expands in diameter from the contact surface 21. Further, on the left side of the tapered surface 22, a contact surface 23 is formed as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. The diameter L2 of the contact surface 23 is larger than the diameter L1 of the contact surface 21.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cylindrical temperature control valve side nut 40 is a member for fixing the temperature control valve 19 to the cylindrical portion at the left end of the metal body 20. The temperature control valve 19 is fixed from the metal body 20 in a retaining state by screwing the inner peripheral surface on the right end side of the temperature control valve side nut 40 and the outer peripheral surface on the left end side of the metal body 20.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a contact surface 41 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion of the temperature control valve side nut 40 as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. The diameter L3 of the contact surface 41 is equal to the diameter L1 of the contact surface 21 of the metal body 20. On the right side of the contact surface 41, a tapered surface 42 is formed as a smooth surface that continuously expands in diameter from the contact surface 41. Further, a contact surface 43 as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the temperature control valve side nut 40 on the right side of the tapered surface 42. The diameter L4 of the contact surface 43 is equal to the diameter L2 of the contact surface 23 of the metal body 20.

<About faucet covers 15 and 16>
As shown in FIG. 2, the faucet covers 15 and 16 are a combination of two divided bodies, a top cover 15 attached to the front side of the faucet body 13 and a back cover 16 attached to the rear side of the faucet body 13. It becomes. The top cover 15 and the back cover 16 are collectively referred to as faucet covers 15 and 16.

The top cover 15 is formed in a substantially U-shape in a side view, and substantially U-shaped openings 15a are opened at both left and right ends. The openings 15a at both the left and right ends have the same shape and the same size. The front half of the opening 15a is formed in a semicircular arc shape in a side view. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 7, a contact surface 15b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the front half of the opening 15a as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the left-right direction. There is. Further, in the latter half of the opening 15a, an engaged portion 15c extending in the front-rear direction is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, side walls 16a extending in the front-rear direction are formed on both left and right ends of the back cover 16, and semicircular arcuate recesses 16b recessed rearward are formed on the front end edges of the side walls 16a. ing. An engaging portion 16c extending inward of the back cover 16 is formed on the upper and lower end edges of the side wall 16a. An extension wall 16d extending inward of the back cover 16 is formed on the front end edge of the recess 16b.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the top cover 15 and the back cover 16 are assembled, the engaging portion 16c of the back cover 16 is inserted inside the latter half of the top cover 15, and the engaging portion 16c is the top cover. It engages with the engaged portion 15c of 15. The contact surface 15b of the top cover 15 and the extending wall 16d of the back cover 16 form openings having a diameter L5 in a perfect circular shape on the left and right ends of the faucet covers 15 and 16.

<About the flow rate control handle 17a and the temperature control handle 17b>
As shown in FIG. 5, the flow rate adjusting handle 17a is formed in a bottomed tubular shape that opens on the left side. Inside the flow rate adjusting handle 17a, an inserted portion 17c into which the rotation shaft 18a of the flow rate adjusting valve 18 is inserted is formed. Further, inside the vicinity of the opening of the flow rate adjusting handle 17a, an end surface 17d as a flat surface extending in the radial direction of the flow rate adjusting handle 17a is formed by reducing the inner diameter of the flow rate adjusting handle 17a.

As shown in FIG. 7, the temperature control handle 17b is formed in a bottomed tubular shape that opens to the right side. Similar to the flow rate control handle 17a, the temperature control handle 17b is also formed with an inserted portion 17c into which the rotation shaft 19a of the temperature control valve 19 is inserted and an end face 17d.

<About support member 50>
As shown in FIG. 2, cylindrical support members 50 are attached to each of the left and right ends of the faucet body 13. The right side support member 50 and the left side support member 50 of the faucet body 13 are the same, and are attached in a state of being horizontally inverted from each other. In the following description, the axial direction, the radial direction, the axial base end side, and the axial tip side are the rotating shafts 18a, 19a of the faucet body 13 with respect to the support member 50 in a state of being attached to the faucet body 13. Is described as a standard.

As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 50 at the right end of the faucet body 13 is attached to the outer peripheral surface from the metal body 20 to the flow control valve side nut 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the support member 50 at the left end of the faucet body 13 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the temperature control valve side nut 40.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a contact surface 51 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support member 50 on the axially proximal end side as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. .. As shown in FIG. 8B, a contact surface 52 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 50 on the tip end side as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 50, a tapered surface 53 is formed on the proximal end side of the contact surface 52 as a smooth surface whose diameter continuously increases in the axial direction. A contact surface 54 is formed on the proximal end side of the tapered surface 53 as a smooth surface whose diameter does not change in the axial direction. Further, a regulation surface 55 as a flat surface extending in the radial direction is formed on the tip edge of the support member 50.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the diameter D1 of the contact surface 52 is slightly larger than the diameter L1 of the contact surface 21 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the metal body 20. Further, the diameter is slightly larger than the diameter L3 of the contact surface 41 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion of the temperature control valve side nut 40. The diameter D2 of the contact surface 54 is slightly larger than the diameter L2 of the contact surface 23 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the metal body 20. Further, the diameter is slightly larger than the diameter L4 of the contact surface 43 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the temperature control valve side nut 40. The diameter D3 of the contact surface 51 is slightly smaller than the diameter L5 of the openings formed on the left and right ends of the faucet covers 15 and 16.

Next, the operation of the faucet 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the faucet covers 15 and 16 are assembled so as to form a gap between the faucet covers 15 and 16 and the faucet main body 13. Support members 50 are attached to the left and right ends of the faucet body 13 so as to fill the gap between the faucet body 13 and the faucet covers 15 and 16.

The diameter D3 of the contact surface 51 of the support member 50 is slightly smaller than the diameter L5 of the openings formed on the left and right ends of the faucet covers 15 and 16. Further, the diameter D1 of the contact surface 52 of the support member 50 is slightly larger than the diameter L1 of the contact surface 21 at the right end of the metal body 20, and slightly larger than the diameter L3 of the contact surface 41 of the temperature control valve side nut 40. Is big. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, at the right end of the faucet body 13, the contact surface 51 is in surface contact with the contact surface 15b of the top cover 15, and the contact surface 52 is the metal body 20. It comes into surface contact with the contact surface 21. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, at the left end portion of the faucet body 13, the contact surface 51 is in surface contact with the contact surface 15b of the top cover 15, and the contact surface 52 is on the temperature control valve side. It comes into surface contact with the contact surface 41 of the nut 40. As a result, when an external force acts on the top cover 15, the top cover 15 is supported by the faucet body 13 via the support member 50. Further, since the support member 50 is in surface contact with the top cover 15 and the faucet body 13, the external force acting on the top cover 15 is easily dispersed.

The diameter D2 of the contact surface 54 of the support member 50 is slightly larger than the diameter L2 of the contact surface 23 at the right end of the metal body 20, and slightly larger than the diameter L4 of the contact surface 43 of the temperature control valve side nut 40. .. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, at the right end of the faucet body 13, the contact surface 54 comes into surface contact with the contact surface 23 of the metal body 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at the left end portion of the faucet main body 13, the contact surface 54 comes into surface contact with the contact surface 43 of the temperature control valve side nut 40. When an external force acts on the top cover 15, the top cover 15 is more easily supported and the external force is more easily dispersed.

As shown in FIG. 8B, a tapered surface 53 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 50. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, at the right end portion of the faucet main body 13, the tapered surface 53 comes into surface contact with the tapered surface 22 of the metal body 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at the left end portion of the faucet main body 13, the tapered surface 53 comes into surface contact with the tapered surface 42 of the temperature control valve side nut 40. As a result, the movement of the support member 50 toward the axial base end side is restricted. The tapered surface 42 of the temperature control valve side nut 40 and the tapered surface 53 of the support member 50 act as a regulating portion that regulates the movement of the support member 50.

As shown in FIG. 5, at the right end of the faucet body 13, the regulation surface 55 of the support member 50 comes into surface contact with the end surface 17d of the flow rate adjusting handle 17a. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at the left end portion of the faucet main body 13, the regulation surface 55 comes into surface contact with the end surface 17d of the temperature control handle 17b. As a result, the movement of the support member 50 toward the tip end side in the axial direction is restricted.

Next, the effect of the faucet 10 of this embodiment will be described.
(1) A gap is formed between the faucet body 13 and the top cover 15, and between the faucet body 13 and the top cover 15, the outer surface of the faucet body 13 and the inner surface of the top cover 15 are formed. A support member 50 that comes into contact is provided.

According to the above configuration, when an external force acts on the top cover 15 from above, for example, the top cover 15 is a faucet via a support member 50 that comes into contact with both the faucet body 13 and the top cover 15. It is supported with respect to the main body 13. Since the load applied to the top cover 15 from above escapes to the faucet body 13 via the support member 50, the deformation of the top cover 15 is suppressed. By suppressing the deformation of the top cover 15, the deformation of the back cover 16 is also suppressed. Further, it is not necessary to make the top cover 15 into a complicated shape in order to suppress deformation.

(2) The contact surface 52 of the support member 50 comes into surface contact with the contact surface 21 of the metal body 20 at the right end of the faucet body 13, and the temperature control valve side nut 40 at the left end of the faucet body 13. Is in surface contact with the contact surface 41 of.

According to the above configuration, the external force acting on the top cover 15 is transmitted to the faucet main body 13 via the support member 50 and dispersed over the entire contact surfaces 21 and 41. Deformation of the faucet covers 15 and 16 is further suppressed.

(3) The contact surface 51 of the support member 50 is in surface contact with the contact surface 15b of the top cover 15.
According to the above configuration, the external force acting on the top cover 15 is dispersed and transmitted to the contact surface 15b. Deformation of the top cover 15 is further suppressed.

(4) The contact surface 51 of the support member 50 is in surface contact with the surface of the extending wall 16d of the back cover 16.
According to the above configuration, the assembled state of the top cover 15 with respect to the back cover 16 is stabilized via the support member 50. Deformation of the faucet covers 15 and 16 due to an external force acting on the top cover 15 is suppressed.

(5) The support member 50 at the right end of the faucet body 13 and the support member 50 at the left end are the same and are attached in a state of being horizontally inverted from each other.
According to the above configuration, the gap between the faucet main body 13 and the faucet covers 15 and 16 can be supported at two locations on the left and right ends. Deformation of the faucet cover is further suppressed. Further, by sharing the support members 50 provided at the two locations, the number of parts (types) can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of cost, and the efficiency of the assembling work of the support members 50 can be improved.

(6) The tapered surface 53 of the support member 50 comes into surface contact with the tapered surface 22 of the metal body 20 at the right end of the faucet body 13, and the tapered surface 42 of the temperature control valve side nut 40 at the left end of the faucet body 13. Is in surface contact with.

According to the above configuration, the tapered surface 53 comes into surface contact with the tapered surfaces 22 and 42, so that the movement of the support member 50 toward the axial base end side is restricted. By restricting the movement of the support member 50, the assembled state of the faucet covers 15 and 16 is stabilized, and the deformation thereof is further suppressed.

(7) The regulation surface 55 formed on the tip edge of the support member 50 comes into surface contact with the end surface 17d of the flow rate adjusting handle 17a at the right end of the faucet body 13, and the temperature is adjusted at the left end of the faucet body 13. It is in surface contact with the end surface 17d of the handle 17b.

According to the above configuration, the regulation surface 55 comes into surface contact with the end surface 17d, so that the movement of the support member 50 toward the tip end side in the axial direction is restricted. By restricting the movement of the support member 50, the assembled state of the faucet covers 15 and 16 is stabilized, and the deformation thereof is further suppressed.

In addition, this embodiment can be implemented by changing as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
-The support member 50 of the above embodiment has a cylindrical shape, but the shape is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the attached portion is in contact with both the faucet main body 13 and the faucet covers 15 and 16. In this case, it is preferable that the shape is such that it is attached so as to come into contact with a portion where an external force is easily applied. For example, it may have a semi-cylindrical shape, or it may have a shape that allows it to be attached to a part of the peripheral surface of the faucet body 13.

-The mounting location of the support member 50 is not particularly limited. Any location may be used as long as there is a gap between the faucet body 13 and the faucet covers 15 and 16.
-The support member 50 may be attached at one location or at three or more locations.

-The support members 50 attached to a plurality of locations do not have to be common.
-The support member 50 and the faucet body 13 or the faucet covers 15 and 16 do not have to be in surface contact with each other. Deformation of the faucet covers 15 and 16 is suppressed even in point contact or line contact.

The tapered surface 53 as the regulating portion may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support member 50 instead of the inner peripheral surface. In this case, a tapered surface that the tapered surface 53 abuts may be formed on the top cover 15 or the back cover 16. Further, it may be formed on both the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. If the support member 50 is not cylindrical and has a shape that allows it to be attached to a part of the peripheral surface of the faucet body 13, even if the tapered surface 53 as a regulating portion is formed on the inner surface of the support member. It may be formed on the outer surface, or may be formed on both the inner surface and the outer surface.

The tapered surface 53 does not have to have a tapered shape. It may be a flat surface extending in the radial direction.
-The shape of the faucet body 13 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. The shape may be such that the support member 50 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the metal body 20 at both ends of the faucet body 13. Further, the shape may be such that the support member 50 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the flow control valve side nut 30 at the right end of the faucet body 13.

-The shapes of the faucet covers 15 and 16 are not limited to those of the above embodiment. For example, the upper wall and the lower wall of the back cover 16 may be formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the back cover 16 may be shaped to cover from above and below the faucet body 13. In this case, if the support member 50 is in contact with the back cover 16 and the faucet body 13, deformation of the back cover 16 when a load is applied to the back cover 16 is suppressed.

-The type of the faucet 10 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. It may be a faucet for a kitchen or a washbasin, not for a bathroom, or it may be a single lever type, a thermostat type, or a two-handle type faucet.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and modification is described below.
(A) A regulating portion for restricting the inward movement of the support member is provided on the base end side of the support member, and the outward movement of the support member is provided on the tip end side of the support member. The faucet provided with a regulatory section to regulate.

10 ... faucet, 13 ... faucet body, 15 ... top cover (faucet cover), 16 ... back cover (faucet cover), 17a ... flow rate control handle, 17b ... temperature control handle, 50 ... support member, 53 ... Tapered surface (regulatory part), 55 ... Regulatory surface.

Claims (4)

The faucet body that can be operated by rotating the handle,
A faucet cover is provided to cover the faucet body with a gap between it and the outer surface of the faucet body.
The faucet is characterized in that a support member that comes into contact with the outer surface of the faucet body and the inner surface of the faucet cover is provided between the faucet body and the faucet cover. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the support member is in surface contact with at least one of an outer surface of the faucet body and an inner surface of the faucet cover. A pair of the handles are attached to the faucet body.
The support member includes a first support member provided on one of the handle sides and a second support member provided on the other handle side.
The faucet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first support member and the second support member are the same member that can be shared with each other. The faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a regulating portion for restricting the movement of the support member is provided on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the support member. ..

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