JP3871688B2 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Description

  More particularly, the present invention relates to a water purifier that purifies tap water, and more particularly, a detachable valve that is attached to a tap and a housing that contains a member that purifies tap water supplied through the directional valve. It is related with improvement of the structure connected to.

Conventionally, water purifiers for purifying tap water have been widely used, but some of them are small in size and can be attached near the faucet of the water tap.
As a structure for attaching a water purifier of this type to a faucet, tap water can be allowed to flow straight down or in a shower-like manner, and the tap water flow path can be switched. A structure is generally used in which a switching valve is first attached to a faucet, and a housing containing a member for purifying tap water is attached to the switching valve via a dedicated adapter.
However, in this connection structure, the adapter must be connected to both the switching valve and the housing, and there are disadvantages such as an increase in the number of connecting parts and water leakage or a long time for connection work.

Therefore, a structure for directly connecting the switching valve and the housing, for example, a fitting convex portion is formed on one of the switching valve and the housing, and a fitting concave portion that fits the fitting convex portion is formed on the other. A connection structure is employed in which the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted, and the fitting portion is fastened using a dedicated fastener.
Furthermore, as a structure for directly connecting the switching valve and the housing, a male screw is provided in one of the switching valves and a female screw is provided in the other, and the male valve and the female screw are screwed together to switch the switching valve. A structure for connecting the housing and the housing is also employed.

However, in the connection structure in which the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted to each other, after the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted to each other, the fitting portion is used with a dedicated fastener. Because it is fastened, the time required for the connection work cannot be shortened as much as expected, but a dedicated fastener is required, so the number of parts cannot be reduced and the cost cannot be reduced. was there.
In addition, in the connection structure in which the male screw and the female screw are screwed together, it is necessary to screw the screws together, and the external dimensions of the connecting portion are increased because the screws need to have sufficient strength. There was a problem.
Further, since the water purifier of the above-mentioned type is often used in general households, when the filter or the like built in the housing is replaced with a new one, the switching valve and the housing can be easily and reliably attached and detached. It is desired to improve it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily and reliably attach and detach a housing containing a filter or the like to a switching valve attached to a faucet. And it is providing the water purifier which can reduce a number of parts and can reduce cost.

  The above-described problem is that the switching valve that is attached to the tap of the water supply and switches the flow path of the tap water and the housing that contains a member for purifying the tap water supplied through the switching valve are detachable. In the water purifier to be connected, the switching valve and the housing have male and female fitting portions that are relatively displaceable in the axial direction of the tap water flow path but are relatively non-rotatable around the axis. Each of the switching valve and the housing is provided with a locking arm extending in the axial direction and a locking portion for engaging with the locking arm is provided on the other. A protrusion is provided to bend the locking arm and release the engagement with the locking portion by being pushed up from below the water purifier, and the engagement between the locking arm and the locking portion To the switching valve and the housing. It can be achieved by water purifier, wherein the flow path of the tap water is Re provided respectively are adapted to communicate with each other.

  Preferably, the engagement with the locking portion is released when the locking arm is bent in the radial direction with respect to the axis. Preferably, the fitting portions respectively provided in the switching valve and the housing are formed only in three directions among four directions of up, down, left and right extending in the radial direction with respect to the axis. Further preferably, a flexible arm capable of flexing a locking arm protruding from a portion of the locking arm in a direction in which the fitting portion is provided in a radial direction of the axis. At the same time, a locking arm projecting from a portion in a direction where the fitting portion is not provided is a fixed arm that does not bend in the radial direction of the axis.

In the water purifier of the present invention, when the switching valve and the housing are brought close to each other in the axial direction in a state where the male and female fitting portions respectively provided in the switching valve and the housing are fitted, the locking arm is engaged. The switching valve and the housing are integrally connected by engaging with the stopper, and the flow path of the switching valve and the flow path of the housing communicate with each other. At this time, since the fitting portion is fitted so as not to rotate relative to the axis, the switching valve and the housing do not rotate relative to each other about the axis.
Further, the switching valve and the housing can be separated by bending the locking arm in the radial direction to release the engagement with the locking portion.
In addition, if the fitting part is formed only in three of the four directions (up, down, left and right) extending in the radial direction with respect to the axis, the fitting parts are fitted to each other while relatively rotating the switching valve and the housing. In other words, the switching valve and the housing can be easily attached and detached.
Further, among the locking arms, the locking arm protruding from the portion in the direction in which the fitting portion is provided is a flexible arm that can bend in the radial direction of the axis, and the fitting portion is If the locking arm that protrudes from the portion in the direction where it is not provided is a fixed arm that does not bend in the radial direction of the axis, the flexible arm is bent in the radial direction, while the fixed arm and the locking portion are not bent. The switching valve and the housing can be easily separated by relatively rotating the switching valve and the housing with the locking portion as a fulcrum.

According to the present invention, the fitting portions provided on the switching valve and the housing can be fitted to each other, and the locking arm can be engaged with the locking portion, so that both can be easily and reliably connected. .
Furthermore, the number of parts can be reduced if the fitting portion and the locking arm, etc. provided at the portion connecting the switching valve and the housing are molded integrally with the switching valve and the main body of the housing, respectively. Thus, the cost can be reduced.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a water purifier capable of easily and surely attaching / detaching a housing to / from a switching valve attached to a water faucet, and reducing the number of parts to reduce the cost. Can do.

An embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention will be described below in detail based on the drawings.
Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the connecting portion of the switching valve in one embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the structure of the connecting portion of the housing in one embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a fitting state between the switching valve shown in FIG. 1 and the housing shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the flexible arm shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is an overall plan view of the water purifier, and FIG. It is the whole side view.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the water purifier of the present embodiment incorporates a switching valve 10 attached to a tap faucet (not shown) and a member for purifying tap water supplied via the switching valve 10. And a housing 20.
The switching valve 10 has a fixed part 11 attached to a faucet (not shown), a main body part 12 incorporating the switching valve, and a lever 13 for operating the switching valve. Then, by operating the lever 13, the tap water flows down from the lower part of the main body portion 12 in a straight shape or a shower shape as shown by an arrow E, or the flow path of the tap water is switched to the housing 20 side. Have been able to.
The housing 20 is for purifying the tap water by filtering the tap water with a filter made of activated carbon and numerous hollow fibers (not shown) built in the main body portion 21, and filtering the tap water supplied through the switching valve 10. It is made to flow down from the lower part of the main body portion 21 as shown by an arrow F.

Next, the structure of the part that connects the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are connected to each other by fitting connection portions 30 and 50 provided to each other.
As shown in FIG. 1, the connection portion 30 on the switching valve 10 side is resin-molded integrally with the main body portion 12 of the switching valve 10, and its end surface 31 is tap water provided in the switching valve 10. It is perpendicular to the axis G of the flow path. The end surface 31 is provided with a peripheral wall 32 extending along the outer peripheral edge thereof. The peripheral wall 32 is provided with concave portions 33, 34, and 35 for engaging with a locking arm, which will be described later. ing. A cylindrical fitting portion 36 extending from the tap water flow path 37 in the switching valve 10 is suspended from the end face 31. An O-ring 70 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 36. Further, a second cylindrical fitting portion 38 is formed coaxially with the cylindrical fitting portion 36 outside the cylindrical fitting portion.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the connection portion 50 on the housing 20 side is resin-molded integrally with the main body portion 21 of the housing 20, and its end surface 51 flows through the tap water provided in the housing 20. It is perpendicular to the axis H of the road. In addition, a rib 52 that fits inside the peripheral wall 32 is provided on the end surface 51. The end surface 51 has a pair of locking arms 53 and 54 that engage with the locking portions 33 and 34 that are recessed in the peripheral wall 32, and a locking arm 55 that engages with the locking portion 35. Each is installed vertically. Further, a cylindrical fitting portion 58 that extends the channel 57 for tap water in the housing 20 is suspended from the end surface 51. Further, a second cylindrical fitting portion 56 that is fitted to the second cylindrical fitting portion 38 is formed on the outside thereof.

  When the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are brought close to each other and the rib 52 provided on the housing 20 side is fitted inside the peripheral wall 32 provided on the switching valve 10 side, the flow path 37 of the switching valve 10 is obtained. This axis G is coaxial with the axis H of the flow path 57 of the housing 20. Further, in this embodiment, since the peripheral wall 32 and part of the rib 52 are formed in a stepped shape, the rib 52 can be fitted to the peripheral wall 32 in a state where the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are assembled upside down. Can not. Further, in a state where the peripheral wall 32 and the rib 52 are fitted to each other, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 cannot be relatively rotated about the axis G · H.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ribs 52 are provided only in the downward and left-right directions with respect to the axis H of the tap water flow path. Thereby, compared with the case where the ribs 52 are provided in all four directions extending in the radial direction with respect to the axis H, that is, in the illustrated vertical and horizontal directions, the ribs 52 can be easily fitted to the peripheral wall 32.

In a state where the peripheral wall 32 and the rib 52 are fitted to each other, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are brought relatively close to each other in the direction of the axis G · H, and the tip surface of the rib 52 is in close contact with the end surface 31 on the switching valve 10 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking arms 53, 54, and 55 are engaged with the locking portions 33, 34, and 35 so that the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are integrally connected.
At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical fitting portion 56 provided on the housing 20 side is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 38 provided on the switching valve 10 side, The cylindrical fitting portion 36 is fitted in the flow path 57 of the housing 20. The inner peripheral surface of the flow path 57 on the housing 20 side compresses the O-ring 70 housed in the recessed groove provided around the cylindrical fitting portion 36 on the switching valve 10 side. The flow path 37 and the flow path 57 of the housing 20 are communicated with each other so as not to leak water at the connecting portion.

Next, an operation for separating the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of locking arms 53 and 54 disposed above the axis H on the housing 20 side and in the left-right direction are shortened in the axial direction. Thus, the fixed arm does not easily bend in the radial direction of the axis H.
On the other hand, the locking arm 55 provided on the lower side in the drawing with respect to the axis H has a long axial length as shown in a sectional view in FIG. The flexible arm can be easily bent in the radial direction. An operation projection 61 projects from the lower surface of the central portion of the locking arm 55 in the longitudinal direction.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the protrusion 61 is pushed in the direction of arrow K, that is, pushed upward from the lower side of the water purifier, the locking arm 55 is easily bent and provided on the switching valve 10 side. The engagement with the locking portion 35 is released. In this state, when the housing 20 is rotated with respect to the switching valve 10 with the locking portions of the locking arms 53 and 54 having a short length and the locking portions 33 and 34 as fulcrums, the ribs 52 of the housing 20 are switched. The switching valve 10 and the housing 20 can be easily separated from each other by being pulled out from the peripheral wall 32 of the valve 10.

On the other hand, in the case where the ribs 52 of the housing 20 are provided in all of the four directions, up, down, left, and right with respect to the axis H, the housing 20 is moved away from the switching wall 10 in order to pull out the ribs 52 from the peripheral wall 32. It must be displaced parallel to the axis H direction. In this case, since the engagement between the locking arms 53 and 54 and the locking portions 33 and 34 must also be released, when the housing 20 is separated from the switching valve 10, the three locking arms 53, 54 and An operation to bend all of 55 at the same time is required, and the operation of separating the housing 20 from the switching valve 10 becomes extremely difficult.
That is, in the water purifier of the present embodiment, the ribs 52 of the housing 20 are provided only in the three directions in the downward direction and the left-right direction with respect to the axis H, so that the housing 20 is switched only by bending the locking arm 55. It can be separated from the valve 10.

As described above, according to the water purifier of the present embodiment, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are brought close to each other, the peripheral wall 32 provided on the switching valve 10 side, and the rib 52 provided on the housing 20. Are engaged with each other, and the pressing arms 53, 54, and 45 are engaged with the locking portions 33, 34, and 35, respectively, by pressing in the direction in which the axes G and H of the tap water flow paths provided in the respective portions are extended. The switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are integrally connected with each other.
On the contrary, after the engagement between the locking arm 55 and the locking portion 35 is released by pressing the protrusion 61 provided on the locking arm 55 and bending the locking arm 55, By rotating the housing 20 with respect to the switching valve 10 with the locking portions of the arms 53 and 54 and the locking portions 33 and 34 as fulcrums, the rib 56 of the housing 10 is pulled out from the peripheral wall 32 of the switching valve 10. The switching valve 10 and the housing 20 can be separated.
Therefore, according to the water purifier of the present embodiment, not only can the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 be easily and reliably attached / detached, but also no fastening parts are required to fasten both. Manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

  In addition, the water purifier of this invention is not limited by the Example mentioned above, It cannot be overemphasized that a various change is possible based on the main point of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the locking portions 33, 34, and 35 are provided on the switching valve 10 side and the locking arms 53, 54, and 55 are provided on the housing 20 side. Stop portions 33, 34, and 35 may be provided on the housing 20 side, and locking arms 53, 54, and 55 may be provided on the switching valve 10 side. Similarly, it is good also as providing the surrounding wall 32 in the housing 20 side, and providing the rib 52 in the switching valve 10 side. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ribs 52 are provided in the lower and left-right directions in the figure with respect to the axis H. On the contrary, the ribs 52 are provided in the upper and left-right directions in the figure with respect to the axis H. Also good.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part of the switching valve in one Example of the water purifier which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the connection part of the housing in one Example of the water purifier which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which followed the CC arrow line shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA arrow line shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the action | operation of the flexible arm shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing along the BB arrow line shown in FIG. It is a whole top view of one example of a water purifier. It is a whole side view of one Example of a water purifier.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Switching valve 20 Housing 30 Connection part 31 End surface 32 Perimeter wall (fitting part)
33, 34, 35 Locking part 36, 38 Cylindrical fitting part 37 Flow path 50 Connection part 51 End face 52 Rib (fitting part)
53, 54, 55 Locking arm 56, 58 Cylindrical fitting portion 57 Channel 70 O-ring 100 Water purifier G, H Channel axis

Claims (1)

In a water purifier in which a switching valve that is attached to a faucet of a water tap and switches the flow path of tap water and a housing that contains a member that purifies tap water supplied through the switching valve are detachably connected, The switching valve and the housing are respectively provided with male and female fitting portions that are relatively displaceable in the axial direction of the tap water flow path but are relatively non-rotatable around the axial line. One of the housings is provided with a locking arm extending in the axial direction, and the other is provided with a locking part that engages with the locking arm. A projection for bending the locking arm to release the engagement with the locking portion by being pushed up toward the door, and the switching valve and the housing by the engagement between the locking arm and the locking portion. And each provided Water purifier, wherein a flow path of the tap water is adapted to communicate with each other that.

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