JP3453627B2 - Faucet handle - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a faucet handle. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a faucet handle (hereinafter, referred to as a "handle") has been often assembled and fixed to a spindle of a faucet body using screws or the like. However, according to this screwing, the assembling work and the removal work at the time of maintenance etc. are complicated. Also, the handle may come off during operation due to loosening of the screw. And
In order to solve these problems, there has been proposed a handle of a type that does not use screws for assembly (hereinafter, referred to as “one-touch type”). For example, there has been proposed a handle provided with a handle body for accommodating a stepped end of a spindle in a through-hole fitting portion, and an elastic stopper pressed into the fitting portion. (Actual opening 58-18627)
No. 4). Specifically, the elastic stopper is formed in a cylindrical container shape that opens downward, a locking projection is provided below the inner peripheral surface thereof, and when this stopper is pressed into the fitting portion, this projection is used for the spindle. A handle (hereinafter, referred to as “type 1”) that is engaged with an end portion side is disclosed (see FIG. 2 of the above publication). In addition, the elastic stopper has a similar container shape, and a circular ridge is provided on the upper side of the outer peripheral surface, and a circular groove is provided on the upper side of the inner wall surface of the fitting portion, and further, on the lower side of this inner wall surface. Notched type (hereinafter referred to as
It is called "Type 2". ) Is also disclosed.
In this handle, when the elastic stopper is press-fitted to the fitting portion, the ridge fits into the circumferential groove, and the lower end of the stopper fits into the notch. The cut-out portion of the inner wall portion of the fitting portion protrudes in an upwardly inclined shape while forming a tongue-shaped locking piece, and the tip end engages with the end of the spindle (see the above publication). 3 in FIG. 3). [0004] These handles are
Easy to assemble compared to screw-type handles,
After being assembled, it is firmly fixed to the spindle, but on the other hand, it is difficult to remove, so that there are various problems such as complicated work for maintenance and the like. For example, in the type 1 handle, the locking projection and the end of the spindle are firmly engaged. In the type 2 handle, the protrusion is firmly fitted into the circumferential groove and the locking piece is fitted to the end of the spindle. It is firmly engaged. Therefore, removal of either type of handle requires considerable effort. Further, when the handle body and the elastic stopper are pulled out, a large force is applied to them, so that there is a possibility that the locking projection, the ridge, the locking piece, etc. may be damaged or deformed. Further, in the type 2 handle, since the cut portion of the fitting portion has a substantially bag-like shape, foreign matter such as dust entering the handle tends to stagnate in this portion. If such foreign matter stagnates, or if there is a burr or the like in this part in manufacturing, there is a possibility that the elastic stopper cannot be sufficiently pressed. Furthermore, in the case of the type 2 handle, each time the handle is attached or detached, the locking piece is largely deformed with its root portion as a fixed end, and when it is engaged with the spindle, it remains largely bent for a long time. Becomes For this reason,
Unnecessary deformation or breakage of the locking piece may occur, or the elasticity of the locking piece may gradually decrease, so that the locking piece may not be firmly engaged with the spindle. In the type 2 handle, the locking piece is in close contact with another portion of the fitting portion before the elastic stopper is pressed. In addition, since the cut portion is in a blind state at the time of press fitting, the lower end portion of the stopper may not be properly inserted into the cut portion.
In particular, if at least one of the elastic stopper and the locking piece is thermally deformed due to the heat of hot water in the faucet body, the insertion becomes difficult. As described above, the conventional one-touch type handle still has many problems. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a handle which can be easily removed as well as assembled, and which can obtain a sufficient fixed state. [0007] The handle of claim 1 is
A handle body having a locking piece hanging down from the top surface and elastically expanded and locked to the locking step of the spindle;
A cap that is attached to the handle body while a fixing piece that disables elastic expansion of the locking piece is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the locking piece. According to the present invention, since the locking piece is locked to the spindle while elastically expanding, it is easy to attach the handle body to the spindle. In addition, since it is sufficient to insert the fixing piece on the outer peripheral side of the locking piece, it is easy to attach the cap to the handle body. Therefore, the handle is easily assembled. After the cap is assembled, the locking piece does not elastically expand unless the cap is removed, so that the locking piece and the locking step are maintained in a firmly locked state, and the handle is fixed to the spindle. Firmly fixed to Furthermore, when the cap is removed, the locking piece can be elastically expanded, and the handle body can be easily removed from the spindle. Also,
When attaching and detaching the handle, it is not necessary to apply such a large force to the handle body and the elastic stopper, so that problems such as breakage and deformation of the locking pieces and the like hardly occur. Further, the locking piece is configured to hang down, so that even if a foreign substance enters the handle, it is difficult for the locking piece to stay around the locking piece, so that it is difficult to disturb the work of arranging the fixing piece. Furthermore, at the time of assembling, the outer peripheral surface of the locking piece and the inner peripheral surface of the fixing piece are merely in surface contact with each other. Is hard to get in the way. Also,
The locking piece has a structure that hangs down, making it easy to elastically expand.In addition, when engaging with the spindle, elastic expansion is disabled, that is, the state before deformation is maintained. It is hard to cause troubles such as unnecessary deformation and breakage on the piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a handle H mounted on a side surface of a so-called wall-mounted hot-water mixing faucet as shown in FIG. 1 and a handle h mounted on an upper surface side will be described. First, an outline of a hot and cold mixing faucet to which these handles H and h are attached will be described. The mixing faucet is covered with a cover K which can be divided into two parts before and after the handles H, h. In addition, the faucet main body of the mixing faucet has a thermostat unit and a temperature control bonnet unit arranged on the left and right sides on the front side. Further, the right end of the temperature control bonnet unit protrudes from the right side of the cover K, and the end of the spindle 3 is exposed from the protruding end of this unit. The end of the spindle 3 includes a substantially barrel-shaped tip portion 31 and a connecting portion 32 provided with a serration groove on the outer peripheral surface. Further, a portion 31a below the distal end portion 31 is a locking step portion 31a in which a locking piece 13 described later is locked. One handle H, that is, a temperature control handle H, is attached to the spindle 3. By operating the handle H, the operation of the thermostat mechanism in the thermostat unit is controlled, and hot and cold water is mixed at an appropriate temperature in the hot and cold mixing chamber in this unit. A switching bonnet and a valve unit are vertically arranged behind the center of the faucet body. Further, the upper side of the hood protrudes from the upper surface of the cover K, and the spindle 3
The end portion side (not shown in FIG. 1) is exposed. The end of the spindle 3 has substantially the same structure as the end of the spindle 3 of the temperature control bonnet unit. The other handle h, that is, the switching handle h, is attached to the spindle 3. Further, by rotating the handle h, the handle 2 attached to the lower side of the spindle 3 is mounted.
Two valve bodies are operated. With this, it is possible to selectively select which of the spout water and the shower head the hot water inside the faucet body should flow out, adjust the flow rate of the hot water, and simultaneously stop the water discharge of the spout pipe and the shower head. Do. Next, the handles H and h will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handles H and h each include a handle main body 1 and a cap 2 mounted on a top plate 111 thereof. Of which, the handle body 1
Is an integrally molded product made of an ABS resin, and has a substantially cylindrical container-shaped base portion 11 opening downward.
And a handle portion 12 protruding from the outer peripheral surface. A portion of the surface of the top plate 111 of the base portion 11 other than a portion close to the outer periphery is a protruding portion 111a that protrudes in a disk shape. At the center of the top plate 111, a substantially circular through hole 111b is provided. Further, on the back surface of the top plate 111, three locking pieces 13 are suspended from the periphery of the through hole 111b at regular intervals while forming a substantially cantilever beam. Projections t having a substantially triangular longitudinal section protrude from the lower inner wall surfaces of the locking pieces 13. Further, a substantially arc-shaped insertion hole 14 is provided in a portion of the top plate 111 located outside each locking piece 13. A substantially cylindrical intermediate tube 15 hangs from a portion of the back surface of the top plate 111 that surrounds the three insertion holes 14. A serration groove meshing with a serration groove provided in the connecting portion 32 of the spindle 3 is provided on an inner wall surface below the intermediate cylinder 15.
However, a bush provided with a serration groove may be mounted below the intermediate cylinder 15 without providing the serration groove in the intermediate cylinder 15. Further, the handle portion 12 has an opening 121 upward.
In the shape of a container. In addition, this handle 12
Is substantially flush with a portion of the surface of the top plate 111 near the outer periphery. On the other hand, the cap 2 is also an integrally molded product made of ABS resin, and has a cover portion 21 having a substantially disk-shaped outer shape and a handle portion 22 protruding from the outer peripheral surface thereof. A portion of the rear surface of the covering portion 21 except for the portion near the outer periphery is a concave portion 211a which is depressed into a disk shape. The concave portion 211a is used to connect the cap 2 to the handle body 1
When mounted on the handle body 1, the protrusion 111 a
(See FIG. 5). In addition, a cut-out notch 211b is provided on a part of the back surface side of the covering portion 21. Further, from the back surface of the covering portion 21, three fixing pieces 23 having a substantially circular cross section are suspended.
These fixing pieces 23 are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference. The three fixing pieces 23 can be inserted into corresponding ones of the three insertion holes 14 provided in the handle main body 1 when the cap 2 is mounted on the handle main body 1. (See FIG. 5). Further, the handle 22
The positioning protrusion 24 protrudes from the back surface of the. When the cap 2 is mounted on the handle main body 1, the projection 24 is provided in the opening 1 provided in the handle 12 of the handle main body 1.
21 (see FIG. 5). Also, the handle 22
Is substantially flush with the portion of the back surface of the covering portion 21 near the outer periphery. Next, an example of a procedure for assembling the handles H and h will be briefly described. First, the handle body 1 is pushed in the direction of the spindle 3 while aligning the intermediate cylinder 15 of the handle body 1 with the connecting portion 32 of the spindle 3. At the time of this pushing work, as shown in FIG.
Elastically expands while sliding on the outer peripheral surface on the upper half side. In this elastic expansion, each of the locking pieces 13 is made of ABS resin having excellent elasticity similarly to other portions of the handle main body 1, and furthermore, the protruding portion t is slid on the upper half outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 31. It is performed gradually while moving, and since each locking piece 13 is formed in a cantilever shape that is easily elastically deformed, it is performed smoothly. Then, when the handle main body 1 is completely pushed in, the connection portion 32 of the spindle 3 and the serration grooves provided in the intermediate cylinder 15 are serrated and fitted to each other, and the attachment of the handle main body 1 is completed. At this time, the protruding portion t of each locking piece 13 is located below the distal end portion 31, that is, the locking step portion 31.
1a. Then, the locking pieces 13 are restored to the state before the elastic expansion, and the lower side of the distal end portion 31 is sandwiched by the three-piece locking pieces 13. Subsequently, the positioning projection 24 of the cap 2 is aligned with the opening 121 of the handle main body 1, and the three fixing pieces 23 of the cap 2 are aligned with the three insertion holes 14 of the handle main body 1, respectively. . Then, when the cap 2 is pushed, assembly of the handles H and h is completed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, each fixing piece 23 is smoothly inserted between the outer peripheral surface of each locking piece 13 and the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate cylinder 15. In this manner, the handle main body 1 and the cap 2 are easily assembled. By this assembling, the positioning projection 24 of the cap 2 fits into the opening 121 of the handle main body 1, and the concave portion 211 a on the back surface of the cover 21 covers the projection 111 a of the handle main body 1. Then, as shown in FIGS.
Is obstructed by the fixing pieces 23 arranged behind the outer peripheral surface, and cannot be elastically expanded. Therefore, the handle main body 1 cannot be removed unless the cap 2 is removed. Next, an example of a procedure for removing the handles H and h will be briefly described. First, the tip of a screwdriver, coins, and the like are pushed into the withdrawal notch 211b of the cap 2 to make it “lever” so that the cap 2 is floated from the handle body 1. When the cap 2 is pulled out, the handle 2 is removed from the handle main body 1. Subsequently, when the handle main body 1 is pulled out, the removal of the entire handle H, h is completed. At the time of this removal work, each locking piece 13
This operation is easy to perform because the protrusion t elastically expands while sliding the protrusion t against the outer peripheral surface on the lower half side of the distal end portion 31 of the spindle 3. As described above, the handles H and h are easily assembled to the spindle 3 because the members 1 and 2 constituting the handles H and h are easily attached. After the assembly, the locking state of each locking piece 13 and the locking step 311a is firmly maintained by the function of each fixing piece 23, so that it is firmly fixed to the spindle 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the handles H, h from being accidentally detached during the operation of the handles H, h. Further, the cap 2 can be easily removed, and if the cap 2 is removed, the handle body 1 can be easily removed. Since the detachment is easy, maintenance of the handles H and h and the faucet main body can be easily performed. Since it is not necessary to apply a large force to the handle body 1 and the cap 2 when attaching and detaching the handles H and h, the locking pieces 13 and the locking step 311a may be damaged or deformed. Is unlikely to cause problems. Furthermore, each locking piece 13
Is suspended, and even if foreign matter enters the handle main body 1, it is difficult for the foreign matter to stay around each of the locking pieces 13, so that the foreign matter hardly hinders the attachment work of the cap 2. In addition, since the locking piece 13 and the fixing piece 23 are merely in surface contact during assembly, even if burrs or the like exist in the members 13 and 23 during manufacture, they are unlikely to be an obstacle. Furthermore, each locking piece 1
3 is made of a structure and a material which can be easily elastically expanded, and when it is engaged with the spindle 3, the state before deformation is maintained.
Problems such as unnecessary deformation and breakage of each locking piece 13 are unlikely to occur. When the handles H and h are assembled, the outer periphery of the surface of the top plate 111 of the handle body 1 is close to the cap 2.
Closely adhere to the outer periphery of the surface. At the same time, the handle portions 12 and 22 of the handle body 1 and the cap 2 are firmly adhered to each other, so that water hardly enters the handles H and h. Further, since the handle body 1 and the cap 2 are integrally formed, the manufacturing is easy and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. The scope of the invention described in the claims is not limited to the specific embodiments described above.
Various modifications can be exemplified within the scope of the present invention. That is,
The number of each locking piece 13 is not limited to three illustrated in the embodiment. In addition, each locking piece 13 does not need to hang down from the top plate 111. For example, it may be hung from the portion near the top plate 111 inside the handle main body 1. Further, the shape of the end portion of the spindle 3 and the shape of each locking piece 13 corresponding thereto are not limited to those shown in the embodiment. Further, if a method such as fixing a bush that is serrated to the connecting portion 32 of the spindle 3 with a rib or the like protruding from the inner wall of the base portion 11 of the handle main body 1 is used, the handle main body 1 without the intermediate cylinder 15 can be used. It can be. Further, each handle H, h can be applied to a mixing faucet of a type different from the embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied to a two-handle type or a single-lever type mixing faucet having a water volume adjusting handle and a hot water volume adjusting handle. It can also be applied to water taps, hot water taps and the like. Furthermore,
In the embodiment, the so-called "wall type" faucet projecting from a wall has been mainly described, but the present invention can be applied to a so-called "deck type" faucet provided on a deck portion. As described above, according to the present handle, assembly to the spindle and removal from the spindle can be performed easily. After being assembled to the spindle, it is firmly fixed to the spindle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a handle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a handle main body and a cap according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the handle main body and the cap shown in FIG. 2 (each handle portion is cut vertically). FIG. 4 is a schematic partial longitudinal sectional view for explaining a procedure for attaching the handle main body according to the embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining an assembled state of the handle according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. [Description of Signs] H, h; handle, 1; handle body, 11;
111; top plate, 111a; protrusion, 111b; through hole,
12; handle, 121; opening, 13; locking piece, t; projection, 14; insertion hole, 15; intermediate cylinder, 2: cap, 2
1; cover portion, 211a; concave portion, 211b; removal notch, 22; handle portion, 23; fixing piece, 24; positioning projection, 3; spindle, 31; tip portion, 31a; Connecting part, K; cover.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Takai 4-10-25, Meieki Station, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City Tokai Rika Sales Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Tanaka 4-chome, Meieki Station, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City No. 25 Inside Tokai Rika Sales Co., Ltd. (56) References Real Open Sho 58-186274 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16K 31/44-31/62 F16D 1/06 F16K 11/02

Claims (1)

(57) Claims: 1. A handle main body having a locking piece that is suspended from a top surface and elastically expanded to be locked to a locking step of a spindle, and the locking body. A cap attached to the handle body while disposing a fixing piece for preventing elastic expansion of the piece on the outer peripheral side of the locking piece.