JP4008571B2 - Gas outlet - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas outlet to which a socket coupled to a gas appliance is detachably connected.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a gas outlet includes a casing fixed to a wall surface of a room, a main body provided in the casing, a disengagement member rotatably provided on the main body, an attachment position and a removal on the casing. And an operation member provided so as to be linearly movable between the positions, and when the socket on the gas appliance side is connected to the plug of the main body, the engagement release member is rotated in one direction by the socket. At the same time, the operation member is moved from the removal position to the attachment position by the engagement release member. When the operation member is moved from the attachment position to the removal position in a state where the socket is connected to the plug, the engagement release member is rotated in the other direction to push the front end surface of the socket to a predetermined position, and the socket and the plug Release the engagement. As a result, the socket can be removed from the plug (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-96475).
[0003]
Normally, when the operation member moves to the removal position, the entire operation member is accommodated in the casing so that the tip end surface is flush with the outer surface of the casing. When the operating member is in the removal position, that is, when the socket is not connected to the plug, the operating member is housed in the casing so that it cannot be seen from the outside. It is improving.
[0004]
By the way, if the operation member can freely move between the attachment position and the removal position, the operation member is moved from the removal position to the attachment position even though the socket is not connected to the plug. It may move and be exposed from the casing, reducing the aesthetics. Therefore, in the conventional gas outlet, between the casing and the operating member, biasing means for biasing the operating member from the mounting position side to the detachment position side provided unless connect the socket to the plug, the operating member Protruding from the casing is prevented.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the urging means is provided, the number of parts is increased by that amount, and the number of assembling steps is increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the gas outlet increases.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to claim 1 includes a casing, a main body provided in the casing, and formed with a plug on which a socket is detachably connected to a tip portion, An engagement release member provided on one side for rotation, and an operation member provided on the casing for linear movement between a removal position and an attachment position, and the socket is connected to the plug The engagement release member is rotated in one direction by the socket, the operation member is moved from the removal position to the attachment position by the engagement release member, and the socket is moved to the plug. When the operation member is moved from the attachment position to the removal position in the connected state, the engagement release member is rotated in the other direction by the operation member, and the engagement member is In the gas outlet in which the engagement of the socket with the plug is released by the release member, a pressing force for moving the operation member from the removal position to the attachment position side is predetermined between the casing and the operation member. A locking mechanism that prevents the operation member from moving toward the attachment position when the size is smaller than the size of the operation member, and allows the operation member to move toward the attachment position when the pressing force is greater than or equal to a predetermined size. It is characterized by providing.
[0007]
In this case, the locking mechanism includes a locking projection provided on one of the casing and the operating member, and a displacement provided on the other and capable of overcoming the locking projection by elastic displacement. It is desirable to comprise from a part. The displacement portion is formed of an elastic piece provided with a base end portion fixed to the other, a distal end portion abutting the locking projection and elastically deforming to overcome the locking projection. desirable.
[0008]
Further, in either one of the main body and the disengagement member, the disengagement member is rotated to a position where the engagement between the socket and the plug is released or a position slightly ahead of the position. Sometimes, it is desirable to provide a stopper portion that prevents the engaging member from rotating further by abutting against the other.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
2 is a plan view of the gas outlet 1 according to the present invention as viewed from below, FIG. 3 is a rear view as viewed from the X direction of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a YY sectional view of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. As shown in these drawings, the gas outlet 1 includes a casing 10, an outlet body 20, an engagement release member 30, and an operation member 40 as main components.
[0010]
The casing 10 has a fixed plate 11 made of a substantially rectangular metal and a substantially rectangular decorative box 12 whose back side is open. The fixed plate 11 is fixed to the wall surface on the indoor side of the wall plate W by screws (not shown) inserted through the long holes 11a. The decorative box 12 has a fixed plate 11 inserted into an opening on the back side thereof, and is detachably fixed to the fixed plate 11 by a ridge 12 a and a screw B ₁ that engage with the fixed plate 11.
[0011]
The outlet body 20 is fixed to the fixing plate 11 with screws B ₂ . A joint 51 is fixed to the outlet body 20 with screws B ₃ , and a gas pipe (not shown) on the supply side is connected to the outlet body 20 via the joint 51.
[0012]
A plug 21 is formed on the side of the outlet body 20 facing downward. As shown in FIG. 1, a socket S attached to the distal end portion of a gas pipe (not shown) connected to the gas appliance is detachably connected to the plug 21. The socket S has a main body S ₁ and a moving cylinder S ₂ provided at a distal end portion of the main body S ₁ so as to be movable within a predetermined range, and has an insertion hole 12 b formed in the lower wall portion of the decorative box 12. Inserted into the casing 10. When the body S ₁ is extrapolated to the plug 21 to a predetermined position (position shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B), the movable cylinder S ₂ moves to the proximal end side of the plug 21 and the socket S is plugged. 21 in an engaged state. In the connected state, when the movable cylinder S ₂ is pushed back to the tip end side of the plug 21 to a predetermined position (position shown in FIG. 1A), the engagement between the plug 21 and the socket S is released, and the socket S is connected to the plug 21. It becomes removable from. Since the engagement mechanism between the plug 21 and the socket S is the same as that of the conventional one, the description thereof is omitted.
[0013]
The disengagement member 30 is substantially U-shaped, and as shown in FIG. 8, bearing portions 31 and 32 are formed on both sides of the intermediate portion. One end portion and the other end portion of the horizontal shaft 52 are inserted into the through holes 31a and 32a of the bearing portions 31 and 32, respectively, and an intermediate portion of the shaft 52 is the outlet body 20 near the plug 21. The support hole 22 formed in the side part is rotatably inserted. Thereby, the engagement releasing member 30 is supported by the outlet body 20 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.
[0014]
A head 52 a is formed at one end of the shaft 52, and an annular protrusion 52 b is formed at the other end. The outer diameter of the head 52a is larger than that of the through hole 31a, and the outer diameter of the annular protrusion 52b is larger than that of the through hole 32a. The head 52 a abuts against the bearing portion 31, while the annular protrusion 52 b abuts against the bearing portion 32, thereby preventing the shaft 52 from coming off from the through holes 31 a and 32 a and the support hole 22. However, the outer diameter of the annular projecting portion 52 b is smaller than the through hole 31 a and the support hole 22, and the diameter can be increased or decreased by forming a groove 52 c on the other end surface of the shaft 52. Therefore, the annular protrusion 52b can pass through the through hole 32a after passing through the through hole 31a and the support hole 22, and can be reduced in diameter when passing through the through hole 32a. The holes 31 a and 32 a and the support hole 22 are inserted.
[0015]
The distal end portion of the disengagement member 3 extends from one side of the outlet body 10 to the front slightly from the central portion of the plug 21, and the socket S is slightly in front of the position shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). Upon insertion to the position, abuts against the front end surface of the movable cylinder S _2. When the socket S is inserted to the position shown in FIG. 1 (the position where the socket S is connected to the plug 21 in an engaged state), the movable cylinder S ₂ moves upward. The part is pushed upward, and as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the whole part rotates clockwise and becomes almost horizontal. When the disengagement member 30 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 1B counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 1A, the engagement between the socket S and the plug 21 is released.
[0016]
A stopper portion 33 that protrudes upward is formed at the rear end of the disengagement member 30. The stopper portion 33 is rotated when the engagement release member 30 is rotated counterclockwise to a position where the engagement between the plug 21 and the socket S is released, or when it is rotated slightly forward from the position. Then, it hits the outlet body 20 and prevents the engagement release member 30 from rotating further counterclockwise. The stopper portion 33 may be provided in the outlet body 20 instead. The reason why the stopper portion 33 is provided is as follows.
[0017]
That is, the case without the stopper portion 33 to the engagement release member 30, as shown in FIG. 9, the engagement release member 30 is largely rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the distal end surface of the socket S (moving cylinder S ₂ The angle θ formed by the line connecting the tip of the disengagement member 30 abutting on the tip of the socket 52 and the center of the shaft 52 and the tip of the socket S may be 70 ° or more, for example. In this state, when the front end surface of the socket S comes into contact with the front end portion of the engagement release member 30, the engagement release member 30 pushes the socket S in the clockwise direction by a force for pushing the socket S into the plug 21. A rotating moment acts and frictional resistance is generated between the contact surfaces of the disengagement member 30 and the socket S. However, when the angle θ is large, the moment is small and the frictional resistance is large. In addition, the amount of upward movement of the tip corresponding to the unit rotation amount of the disengagement member 30 is significantly smaller than the amount of movement in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the engagement releasing member 30 may be unable to rotate clockwise, and as a result, the socket S may not be connected to the plug 21.
[0018]
In this regard, when the stopper portion 33 is provided, the counterclockwise rotation of the engagement release member 30 can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, and the angle θ can be reduced. Therefore, when the socket S is connected to the plug 21, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the disengagement member 30 cannot rotate clockwise, and the socket S can be reliably connected to the plug 21. it can.
[0019]
A guide hole 13 extending in parallel with the plug 21 is formed on the inner side of the cosmetic box 12 near the plug 21. An operation member 40 is movably inserted into the guide hole 13. The operating member 40 is movable between a removal position shown in FIG. 1A and an attachment position shown in FIG. The rear end portion of the engagement release member 30 is in contact with the upper end surface of the operation member 40. Therefore, when the socket S is connected to the plug 21, it is moved downward by the engagement releasing member 30 that is rotated clockwise by the socket S, and its lower end portion (tip portion) is moved from the cosmetic box 12 to the outside. Protruding. The position of the operating member 40 at this time is the removal position. In this state, when the operation member 40 is pushed upward until the lower end surface of the operation member 40 is flush with the outer surface of the cosmetic box 12, the operation member 40 rotates the engagement release member 30 counterclockwise, The engagement between the socket S and the plug 21 is released. The position of the operating member 40 at this time is the removal position.
[0020]
A stop mechanism 60 and a locking mechanism 70 are formed between the operation member 40 and the inner surface of the guide hole 13, respectively.
That is, the operation member 40 is made of a relatively hard resin, and is composed of a lower thick portion 41 and an upper thin portion 42 that are integrally formed with each other, as shown in FIG. . Since each back surface (the surface facing the right side in FIG. 1A) of the thick portion 41 and the thin portion 42 is flush, the front surface (the surface facing the left side in FIG. 1A) of the thin portion 42 is The thickness portion 41 is retracted to the back side by the difference in thickness from the front surface of the thick portion 41, whereby a step surface 43 facing upward is formed between the thick portion 41 and the thin portion 42.
[0021]
Further, a recess 44 is formed in front of the thin portion 42. On the upper side of the bottom of the recess 44, a base end portion of the elastic piece 45 is integrally provided. The elastic piece 45 extends obliquely downward inside the recess 44, and a contact portion 45a extending downward is provided at the tip of the elastic piece 45. The contact portion 45 a is in contact with the inner surface of the guide hole 13 that faces the front surface of the thin portion 42. Here, since the elastic piece 45 is in a cantilever state, the distal end portion can be elastically deformed so as to rotate counterclockwise about the base end portion, and when such elastic deformation occurs, the contact portion 45a. Is separated from the inner surface of the guide hole 13.
[0022]
On the inner surface of the guide hole 13 that opposes the front surface of the thin portion 42, as shown in FIG. 7, a ridge 14 having a quadrangular section extending in the horizontal direction is formed. When the operating member 40 is moved to the removal position shown in FIG. 1A, the stepped surface 43 comes into contact with the lower surface of the protrusion 14 and the operating member 40 is moved to the mounting position shown in FIG. 1B. Sometimes, the lower surface of the contact portion 45a is disposed so as to abut the upper surface. Therefore, the operation member 40 cannot move upward from the removal position and downward from the attachment position, and the movable range of the operation member 40 is restricted between the removal position and the attachment position. A stop mechanism 60 is configured by the step surface 43 and the elastic piece 45 of the operation member 40 and the protrusion 14 of the guide hole 13.
[0023]
The elastic piece 45 can be elastically deformed so as to be separated from the surface on which the protrusion 14 is formed, but both the lower end surface of the contact portion 45a and the upper surface of the protrusion 14 are oriented in the vertical direction. The elastic piece 45 is not elastically deformed by hitting. Therefore, the contact portion 45a does not get over the ridge 14. Moreover, although the protrusion 14 is divided | segmented into plurality, this considers the ease of shaping | molding and the deformation | transformation prevention of the cosmetic box 12 at the time of shaping | molding. Of course, the entire protrusion 14 may be formed continuously.
[0024]
The locking mechanism 70 is for locking the operation member 40 at the removal position when the socket S is not connected to the plug 21, and the elastic piece 45 and the inner surface of the guide hole 13. The locking projection 15 is formed so as to abut against the lower surface of the contact portion 45a when the operation member 40 is located at the removal position. ing. However, the locking projection 15 has a triangular cross-section and a low height. Accordingly, when the operating member 40 is pushed downward with a force greater than a predetermined magnitude greater than the weight of the operating member 40, the elastic piece 45 is elastically deformed by the inclined side surface of the locking convex portion 15, and the contact portion 45a is The locking projection 15 can be overcome. Therefore, the operation member 40 is movable from the removal position to the attachment position side. Of course, when the operation member 40 moves from the attachment position side to the removal position, the contact portion 45a can get over the locking projection 15 in the same manner.
[0025]
In the gas outlet 1 having the above configuration, when the socket is not connected to the plug, the operation member 40 is maintained at the removal position by the locking mechanism 70 and does not move to the attachment position. Therefore, aesthetics can be improved. In addition, since the locking mechanism 70 keeps the operating member 40 in the removed position, there is no need to provide a biasing means for biasing the operating member 40 from the mounting position side to the removing position side, and the number of parts is accordingly increased. The number of steps can be reduced and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the gas outlet 1 can be reduced.
[0026]
In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A design change is possible suitably.
For example, in the above embodiment, the elastic piece 45 constituting the locking mechanism 70 is provided on the operation member 40 and the locking convex portion 15 is provided on the inner surface of the guide hole 13. 13 and the locking projection 15 may be provided on the operation member 40. Such a relationship is the same for the step surface 43, the elastic piece 45, and the protrusion 14 constituting the stop mechanism 60.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the inventions according to claims 1 to 4, it is possible to improve the aesthetics of the gas outlet and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the gas outlet.
In particular, according to the invention according to claim 4, in addition to such an effect, it is possible to obtain an effect of preventing a situation in which the socket cannot be connected to the plug.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged view showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 (A) shows a state immediately before a socket is engaged with a plug, and FIG. The state engaged with the plug is shown.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment viewed from below.
FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an operation member used in the embodiment.
7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ of FIG.
8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the disengagement member is largely rotated without providing a stopper portion in the same embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
S socket 1 gas outlet 10 casing 15 locking projection 20 outlet body (main body)
21 Plug 30 Disengagement member 33 Stopper portion 40 Operation member 45 Elastic piece 70 Locking mechanism

Claims (4)

A casing, a main body formed in the casing and formed with a plug at which a socket is detachably connected to a tip portion, an engagement release member provided rotatably on one side of the main body, And an operating member provided on the casing so as to be linearly movable between a removal position and an attachment position. When the socket is connected to the plug, the engagement release member is rotated in one direction by the socket. The operation member is moved from the removal position to the attachment position by the engagement release member, and the operation member is moved from the attachment position to the removal position with the socket connected to the plug. When this is done, the disengagement member is rotated in the other direction by the operation member and the disengagement member causes the socket to be connected to the plug. In the gas outlet if it is released,
Between the casing and the operating member, the attachment position from the detaching position of the operating member when the pressing force for moving the operating member from the detaching position to the attachment position side is smaller than the predetermined size prevents movement to the side, characterized in that a locking mechanism that allows the movement to the mounting position side from the detaching position of the operating member when the pressing force is predetermined size or larger Gas outlet.   The locking mechanism includes a locking projection provided on one of the casing and the operation member, and a displacement portion provided on the other and capable of overcoming the locking projection by elastic displacement. The gas outlet according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlet is configured.   The displacement portion is formed of an elastic piece that has a base end portion fixed to the other end, and a distal end portion that hits the locking projection and elastically deforms to overcome the locking projection. The gas outlet according to claim 2. Either one of the main body and the disengagement member includes a position where the disengagement member rotates to a position where the engagement between the socket and the plug is released, or a position slightly ahead of the position. The gas outlet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a stopper portion that prevents the engagement release member from further rotating by abutting against the other.

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