JP4870030B2 - Water discharge switching device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water discharge switching device in a faucet, and more particularly to a device with a click mechanism that generates a click feeling when switching water discharge.

Usually, the water faucet is switchable in the water discharge state, and is provided with a water discharge switching device for switching the water discharge state.
For example, a conventional faucet can usually switch between shower water discharge and straight water discharge with one rectifying bundle, and the shower water discharge port and the straight water discharge port are arranged at different positions for the switching. The straight outlet is located in the center, and the shower outlet is arranged on the outer circumference so as to surround the straight outlet, and the water discharge switching device switches between shower water discharged from the shower outlet and straight water discharged from the straight outlet. It has been.

  The water discharge switching device in this case is configured such that one of the water discharge path to the shower water discharge opening and the water discharge path to the straight water discharge opening is closed and the other is opened, or one is opened and the other is closed.

9 and 10 show an example of such a water discharge switching device (the following Patent Document 1).
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 200 denotes a water discharge switching device provided in the water discharge head 202 in the faucet, 204 is a straight water discharge port provided in the center of the water spray member 206, and 208 is an outer peripheral side so as to surround the straight water discharge port 204. This is a shower spout formed by a plurality of small water spray holes 208a.

210 and 212 are water discharge paths to the straight water discharge port 204 and the shower water discharge port 208, and are formed independently of each other. Reference numerals 214 and 216 (see FIG. 10) are communication openings provided in communication with the water discharge channels 210 and 212.
These communication openings 214 and 216 are provided so as to penetrate the valve plate 218.
A valve body 220 switches the water discharge paths 210 and 212, and is operatively connected to a seesaw type switch operation unit 226 via an arm 222 and a shaft 224.

In the water discharge switching device 200 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the left end portion of the switch operation unit 226 is pushed from the front (right side in FIG. 9), the valve body 220 is integrated with the shaft 224 and the arm 222. By rotating, as shown in FIG. 10A, one communication opening 214 is closed and the other communication opening 216 is opened. That is, the water discharge path 210 to the straight water discharge outlet 204 is closed, and the water discharge path 212 to the shower water discharge opening 208 is opened.
Here, the water supply is led to the shower spout 208 and is discharged from there.

On the other hand, when the right end portion of the switch operation unit 226 is pushed, the valve body 220 is in a state where one communication opening 214 is opened and the other communication opening 216 is closed as shown in FIG. . That is, the water discharge path 210 leading to the straight water discharge opening 204 is opened, and the water discharge path 212 reaching the shower water discharge opening 208 is closed.
Here, the water supply is guided to the straight water outlet 204, and straight water is discharged from there through one rectifying bundle.

  However, in the case of the water discharge switching device 200 shown here, since the straight water discharge port 204 and the shower water discharge port 208 are provided separately, the water discharge area (water discharge space) by each of the straight water discharge port 204 and the shower water discharge port 208 is narrow. Inevitably, the number of sprinkling holes 208a is restricted, and the diameter of the straight water outlet 204 is restricted to be narrow, which makes it difficult to realize comfortable shower water discharge and straight water discharge. .

  In addition, the switching mechanism for switching between shower water discharge and straight water discharge becomes complicated, and accordingly, the entire water discharge switching device 200 is inevitably enlarged, detracting from aesthetics and limiting the degree of freedom of design. Problems arise.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a water discharge switching device as shown in FIG. 11 in a previous patent application (the following Patent Document 2).
This water discharge switching device includes a cam mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the handle into the vertical movement of the water discharge switching member across the rotary handle held by the holding member and the water discharge switching member inside the handle. Provided to rotate the handle in one direction and switch the water discharge switching member from the lowered position to the raised position at the first water discharge switching position, and to raise the water discharge switching member in the second rotation operation of the handle and the second water discharge switching position. The position is switched from the position to the lowered position, and the water discharge state is switched between the first water discharge state corresponding to the raised position and the second water discharge state corresponding to the lowered position.

Specifically, in the figure, reference numeral 228 denotes a joint as a holding member, and a rotary handle 230 for switching water discharge is rotatably held by the joint 228.
A water discharge switching member 236 comprising a water sprinkling member 234 and a cylindrical member 232 that are separate from each other is disposed on the radially inner side of the handle 230, and the rotational movement of the handle 230 is spread over the water discharge switching member 236. As a cam mechanism for converting the vertical movement of 236 into the axial direction, a groove 238 having a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the handle 230 is provided on the water discharge switching member 236 side, specifically, on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 232. Protrusions 240 that are slidably fitted into the spiral grooves 238 are provided.
In this water discharge switching device, when the handle 230 is rotated, the cylindrical member 232 in the water discharge switching member 236 is directly moved up and down by the guide action of the spiral groove 238 and the convex portion 240, and interlocked with the up and down movement. Thus, the water spray member 234 is moved up and down.

  The water sprinkling member 234 is provided with a shower port 244 composed of a plurality (small number) of water spray holes 242 on the center side of the lower surface, and rises in a cylindrical shape on the outer peripheral side of the shower port 244. Further, a straight water discharge peripheral hole 248 surrounding the shower port 244 is provided between the tubular member 232 and the bank 236.

In this water discharge switching device, when the handle 230 is rotated in one direction, the cylindrical member 232 is first moved upward by the cam mechanism (here, the screw mechanism) by the spiral groove 238 and the convex portion 240, and During the movement, the reverse tapered portion 252 at the lower end of the cylindrical member 232 hits the outer periphery of the lower end of the watering member 234, and thereafter the watering member 234 is moved upward together with the cylindrical member 232.
And the upper end part of the bank part 246 of the water sprinkling member 234 is in contact with the seal member 250 made of an elastic material held by the joint 228 in a state of facing the bank part 246 in the axial direction at the rising position. (See FIG. 11 (A)), the peripheral hole 248 is blocked there, and the water supply is guided only to the shower port 244 and discharged from there.

On the other hand, when the handle 230 is rotated in the other direction opposite to the above, the cylindrical member 232 and the water sprinkling member 234 are moved downward together with this, and the water sprinkling member 234 is lowered and stopped at a certain position. 232 further descends to open the peripheral hole 248 (see FIG. 11B).
In this state, the water supply is guided to the shower port 244 and part of the water is guided to the peripheral hole 248 and discharged from both the shower port 244 and the peripheral hole 248, and the discharged water as a whole is rectified. It becomes straight water discharge consisting of a bundle.
In the water discharge switching device shown in FIG. 11, the water discharge state can be switched between shower water discharge and straight water discharge simply by rotating the handle 230.

  In the case of the water discharge switching device shown in FIG. 11, the shower port 244 serves as both a water discharge port for shower water discharge and a water discharge port for straight water discharge, so that the water discharge area of the shower water discharge and the straight water discharge is increased. In addition, it is possible to solve the problem of the enlargement of the entire water discharge device due to the fact that the shower water discharge port and the straight water discharge port occupy separate spaces as in the prior art, and the water discharge switching device can be configured in a compact manner. The structure of the switching device can be simplified.

  The water discharge switching device described above is configured to move the water discharge switching member up and down in the axial direction by rotating the handle 230 and switch the water discharge state between straight water discharge and shower water discharge. In the case of switching the water discharge state by rotating operation, it is possible to make the user clearly sense that the handle has reached the water discharge switching position by generating a click feeling at the water discharge switching position. It is desirable to improve the usability of the faucet and improve the operational feeling.

Some devices that have a click mechanism that generates a click feeling at the water discharge switching position have been proposed in the past, in which the water discharge state is switched by rotating the handle.
For example, the following Patent Document 3 discloses an invention of a water discharge device, which discloses a device provided with a click mechanism that generates a click feeling when a handle is rotated.

  However, the one disclosed in Patent Document 3 elastically engages an engaging protrusion provided in a form protruding outward in the radial direction into a corresponding engaging recess provided in a state of opposing in the radial direction. A click feeling is generated. In this case, a space for providing a click member for generating the click feeling is required in the radial direction, and there is a problem that the water discharge switching device is enlarged in the radial direction.

  On the other hand, the following patent document 4 also discloses a device that generates a click sensation with the rotation of the handle. The convex portion is elastically engaged with the corresponding engaging concave portion to generate a click feeling, and basically has the same problem as that disclosed in Patent Document 3.

On the other hand, the following Patent Document 5 discloses a device for a disc valve, in which an engaging protrusion is elastically engaged with a corresponding engaging recess in the axial direction of the handle to generate a click feeling. This point is disclosed.
However, in the thing disclosed in this Patent Document 5, the click member provided with the engaging convex part for generating the click feeling and the click member provided with the engaging concave part must be incorporated as separate parts, Inevitably, the number of required parts increases, and the structure of the click mechanism becomes complicated.

  In addition, in the one disclosed in Patent Document 5, a member for generating a click feeling is provided between the handle and the spindle as a separate member from the handle, and the engaging convex portion is elastic to the engaging concave portion. Because the impact when the door is engaged, that is, the impact when the click feeling is generated, is generated by the intervening member, the impact, that is, the click feeling is difficult to be transmitted to the user's hand operating the handle, and the click can be felt by the user. There is also a problem that the feeling is inevitably weakened.

JP 2001-11916 A JP 2006-193923 A JP 2001-173053 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-257201 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-14869

  The present invention is based on the circumstances as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a water discharge switching device with a click mechanism that can be configured in a small size with a small number of required parts and that can effectively transmit a click feeling to a user. It was made as.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the water discharge switch is configured such that the rotary handle for switching water discharge is rotatably held by the holding member and the water discharge state is switched by rotating the handle to the water discharge switching position. In the apparatus, a leaf spring that forms a ring shape as a regulating member that abuts the upper surface of the handle and regulates the axial position of the handle is assembled to the holding member in a rotationally positioned state, and the lower surface of the leaf spring An engaging protrusion projecting in the axial direction toward the other side is provided on one side of the upper surface of the handle, and the engaging protrusion is provided on the other side when the handle reaches the water discharge switching position. Engaging recesses that are elastically engaged by the spring force of the springs are provided, and a click mechanism is configured including the leaf springs, the handles, and engaging protrusions and engaging recesses provided on the leaf springs. The water discharge switching Characterized in that are no so as to generate click feeling when reached the location.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the water discharge is switched at each of the first water discharge switching position and the second water discharge switching position in which the handle is separated in the rotation direction. And the second water discharge switching position, the engaging protrusion is elastically engaged with the engaging recess to generate a click feeling.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a water discharge switching member is provided on the radially inner side of the handle, and the rotational movement of the handle spans the handle and the water discharge switching member. A cam mechanism is provided for converting the movement of the member into an up-and-down movement in the axial direction, and the position of the water discharge switching member is switched from the lowered position to the raised position by the one-way rotation operation of the handle and at the first water discharge switching position; Further, by rotating the handle in the other direction and switching the water discharge switching member from the raised position to the lowered position at the second water discharge switching position, the water discharge state corresponds to the first water discharge state and the lowering. The second water discharge state corresponding to the position is switched, and the upward movement of the handle in the axial direction when the handle is rotated in the other direction is blocked by the leaf spring. And wherein the are.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the water discharge switching member according to the third aspect of the present invention, the water discharge switching member is provided with a shower port composed of a plurality of water spray holes formed on the center side of the lower surface, and the outer periphery of the shower port A bank portion that rises in a cylindrical shape on the side is provided with a peripheral hole for straight water discharge surrounding the shower port on the further outer peripheral side of the bank portion, whereas the holding member is provided with respect to the bank portion. A seal member made of an elastic material is held at a position facing the axial direction, and the upper end of the bank portion is pressed against the seal member at the raised position of the water discharge switching member to shut off the peripheral hole, and supply water. The shower water is discharged from the shower opening, and the peripheral portion is opened by separating the bank portion from the sealing member at the lowered position, and the water supply is discharged straight from the water discharged from both the shower opening and the peripheral hole. It is characterized by being .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the engaging protrusion is provided on the lower surface of the leaf spring, and the engaging recess is provided on the upper surface of the handle.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, the engaging convex portion is provided on a lower surface of the leaf spring, the engaging concave portion is provided on an upper surface of the handle, and one engaging convex portion is provided. Two corresponding engaging recesses are provided apart from each other in the rotation direction of the handle, and the one engaging protrusion is provided on one of the two engaging recesses at the first water discharge switching position of the handle. The handle is engaged with the other of the engagement recesses at the second water discharge switching position.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the leaf spring, the engaging protrusions are provided at two positions separated by 180 ° in the rotation direction of the handle, and two of the engaging protrusions are provided for each. An engaging recess is provided on the upper surface of the handle.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the leaf spring is formed into a generally bent shape at the position of the engaging protrusion, and a downward spring force is applied based on the bent shape. It is characterized by being affected.

Effects and effects of the invention

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, one of the lower surface of the ring-shaped leaf spring assembled to the holding member and the upper surface of the handle is in contact with the upper surface of the handle and defines the axial position of the handle. The engaging convex part is provided with an engaging concave part on the other side, and a click mechanism is configured by including the leaf spring, the handle, the engaging convex part, and the engaging concave part. When the handle reaches the water discharge switching position, it is clicked. In the water discharge switching device according to claim 1, when the user rotates the handle and the handle reaches the water discharge switching position, the engagement convex portion elastically moves into the engagement concave portion. The user can clearly know that the steering wheel has reached the water discharge switching position, and the operability and operation feeling when operating the water discharge switching device are good. Become.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the engaging protrusion protrudes in the axial direction of the handle and elastically engages with the engaging recess, a click member for generating a click feeling is provided in the radial direction. Unlike the conventional water discharge switching device with a click mechanism, it is not necessary to secure a large space in the radial direction in order to provide the click member, and therefore the water discharge switching device can be made compact.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the restricting member that defines the axial position of the handle is constituted by a leaf spring, and the leaf spring is used as the click member. That is, the leaf spring as the click member is the shaft of the handle. Since it also serves as a restricting member for the directional position, the handle itself (in detail, the upper surface thereof) is provided with an engagement recess or engagement protrusion for generating a click feeling, that is, the handle itself has a click member. Therefore, according to the water discharge switching device of the first aspect, the required number of parts can be reduced, and the structure can be simplified accordingly.

  In addition, in the water discharge switching device according to the first aspect, since the handle itself as an operation object directly operated by the user is configured as a click member, that is, the engaging convex portion is elastically engaged with the engaging concave portion. The impact is generated directly on the handle that is the operation target, so that the impact, that is, the click feeling, is transmitted to the user's hand highly effectively, so that the user can clearly feel the click feeling by the click mechanism. Can also be obtained.

  In the present invention, the handle is rotated so that the water discharge is switched at each of the first water discharge switching position and the second water discharge switching position separated in the rotation direction, and the first water discharge switching position and the second water discharge switching are performed. In each of the positions, the engaging protrusion can be elastically engaged with the engaging recess to generate a click feeling (claim 2).

  Further, in this case, a water discharge switching member is provided on the radially inner side of the handle, and a cam mechanism is provided that converts the rotational movement of the handle into the vertical movement of the water discharge switching member across the handle and the water discharge switching member. The position of the water discharge switching member is switched from the lowered position to the raised position by the rotation operation in one direction of the handle and the first water discharge switching position, and the position of the water discharge switching member is raised by the rotation operation in the other direction and the second water discharge switching position. It is possible to switch the position from the first to the lowering position and switch the water discharge state between the first water discharge state and the second water discharge state.

  At this time, if a member for restricting the upward movement of the handle is not provided, when the handle is rotated in the other direction to lower the water discharge switching member, the handle is lifted (moved upward). However, in the present invention, the leaf spring is provided so as to abut the upper surface of the handle so as to restrict the position, so that the water discharge switching member can be smoothly moved downward during the rotation of the handle in the other direction. (Claim 3).

  In this case, the water discharge state can be switched from shower water discharge to straight water discharge or vice versa by the upward and downward movements of the water discharge switching member by rotating the handle (claim 4).

  In the present invention, it is possible to provide the engaging convex portion on the upper surface of the handle and the engaging concave portion on the lower surface of the leaf spring. According to claim 5, the engaging convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the leaf spring. It is desirable to provide the engaging recesses on the upper surface of the handle.

  Further, according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the engaging convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the leaf spring, the engaging concave portion is provided on the upper surface of the handle, and the two engaging convex portions corresponding to one engaging concave portion are provided on the handle. However, according to claim 6, two corresponding engaging recesses are provided for one engaging protrusion on the leaf spring side. Provided on the handle side separated in the rotation direction of the handle, one engaging protrusion at one of the first discharge switching positions of the handle to one of the two engaging recesses, and two engaging depressions at the second discharge switching position of the handle The other can be engaged.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there are provided engaging protrusions on the leaf springs at two locations separated by 180 ° in the direction of rotation of the handle, and two engaging recesses are provided on the upper surface of the handle. is there.
In this way, by providing the engaging protrusions at two positions 180 ° apart of the leaf spring, the urging force of the leaf spring acts on the handle in a biased manner, whereby the leaf spring itself or the handle It is possible to avoid the inconvenience of tilting with respect to the axial direction.

  In this case, the leaf spring can be formed in a bent shape as a whole at the position of the engaging projection, and a downward spring force can be exerted on the handle based on the bent shape. (Claim 8).

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1-3, 10 is a water discharge pipe, 12 is the outer shell pipe, 14 is an inner pipe. The inner pipe 14 has a water channel 15 inside.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a water outlet at the tip of the water discharge pipe 10. The water outlet 16 has a cylindrical handle 18 for switching water discharge, and a water discharge switching member 20 inside thereof (see FIGS. 2 and 3). A water discharge switching device 22 is provided.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 24 denotes a joint (holding member) in the water discharge port 16, which has a fitting portion 26 having a cylindrical shape at the upper end, and this fitting portion 26 is formed in the inner tube 14. It is inserted into the fitting hole 28 upward in the figure.
An annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 26, and an O-ring 30 as an elastic seal ring is held therein, and the fitting portion 26, the fitting hole 28, and the like are held by the O-ring 30. The space between them is sealed tightly.

In the joint 24, a water discharge passage 32 penetrating in the axial direction and in the vertical direction is formed at the center thereof, and a strainer made of a mesh member that removes foreign matters from the water supply is provided at an upper portion thereof, in particular, an inner position of the fitting portion 26. 34 is attached.
An engagement groove 36 is formed in the joint 24, and a mounting groove 38 is formed in the inner tube 14 at a corresponding position, and a lock member 40 is mounted there.

The lock member 40 is attached to the attachment groove 38 so as to engage with the engagement groove 36, and the lock member 40 prevents the joint 24 from coming off the inner tube 14 downward in the figure.
The lock member 40 is slidable in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in the figure) in FIG. 1, and engages with the engagement groove 36 of the joint 24 at its forward position, and locks it in a slip-off preventing state.
Moreover, the lock | rock with respect to the coupling 24 is cancelled | released in a retracted position, and the coupling 24 can be extracted downward.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inner tube 14 is provided with an arm 42 extending rearward (rightward in the drawing), and an end portion of the arm 42 is inclined downward and bent. Are integrally formed.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lock member 40 is in the forward movement position and the joint 24 is locked in the removal-prevented state. From this state, the lock member 40 can be moved backward in the right direction in the figure. At the retracted position, the positioning portion 44 is elastically fitted into the positioning recess 46 formed on the upper surface of the rear portion of the locking member 40, so that the locking member 40 is locked. Is positioned in the retracted position.

A locking hole 48 of a tool that is opened downward is also formed at the rear of the lock member 40, and the tip of the tool inserted upward through an insertion hole 50 formed in the lower surface of the outer shell tube 12 is formed. It can be hooked there.
The lock member 40 can be operated in the forward and backward directions by hooking the tip of the tool in the hook hole 48.
As shown in FIG. 1, the lock member 40 is provided inside the outer shell tube 12, and is hidden from the outside by the outer shell tube 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 18 has an inward flange portion 52 at the upper end, and this flange portion 52 is formed by an outward flange portion 54 provided in the joint 24. It is rotatably supported.
The handle 18 is also provided with a lever portion 56 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Further, the handle 18 is rotated over the inner peripheral surface and the water discharge switching member 20 so that the rotational movement of the handle 18 is moved up and down in the axial direction of the water discharge switching member 20. A cam mechanism for conversion is provided.
Specifically, here, a spiral groove 57 is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the handle 18, and a convex portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the water discharge switching member 20 as shown in FIGS. 58 is provided, and the convex portion 58 is slidably fitted into the spiral groove 57.

As shown in FIG. 5, notches 60 are provided at two positions 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction at the upper end of the water discharge switching member 20, and radially outward from the joint 24 in the notches 60. The protruding protrusion 62 is inserted, and the water discharge switching member 20 is prevented from rotating by the protrusion 62 and the notch 60.
Accordingly, when the handle 18 is rotated, the protrusion 58 slides along the groove 57, so that the water discharge switching member 20 is moved up or down in the axial direction.
The cam mechanism can be a normal screw mechanism of male and female screws.

The water discharge switching member 20 has an inner water sprinkling portion 64 and an outer cylindrical portion 66, and these are integrally formed in a state where they are connected by a connecting portion 68 as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. It is configured.
The water sprinkling part 64 has a large number of water sprinkling holes 70 formed of small holes on the lower surface, and a shower port 72 having a circular planar shape is formed by the water sprinkling holes 70.
The water sprinkling portion 64 has a cylindrical bank portion 74 that rises upward in the drawing on the outer peripheral side of the shower port 72, and between the bank portion 74 and the cylindrical portion 66, that is, the outer periphery of the shower port 72. A straight water discharge peripheral hole 76 surrounding this is formed on the side.

On the other hand, the joint 24 holds a seal member 78 made of an elastic material such as rubber at a position facing the bank portion 74 of the water sprinkling portion 64 in the axial direction. Here, the seal member 78 is fixed to the joint 24 by adhesion.
The seal member 78 is slidably in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 66, and a lip portion 80 that seals the space between the cylindrical portion 66 and the joint 24 in a watertight manner, and an upper end portion of the bank portion 74 upward in the figure. And a seating portion 82 for seating.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the handlebar is operated under the condition that an upper and lower gap is generated between the bank portion 74 of the water spray portion 64 in the water discharge switching member 20 and the seal member 78 held by the joint 24. 18 is rotated in one direction (right direction when viewed from below), the water discharge switching member 20 is moved upward in the axial direction, and the bank portion 74 is in contact with and seated on the seal member 78 at the raised position. Here, the peripheral hole 76 is blocked.

At this time, the water supplied to the water discharge port 16 is supplied only to the shower port 72 through the water discharge channel 32 and is discharged from the shower port 72 downward.
FIG. 2 shows the state at this time.

  On the other hand, when the steering wheel 18 is rotated in the opposite direction (leftward when viewed from below) from this state, the water discharge switching member 20 moves downward, and at the lowered position, as shown in FIG. An upper and lower gap is created between the portion 74 and the seal member 78.

  In this state, a part of the water supplied to the water discharge port 16 is discharged downward from the shower port 72, and the other part goes around the peripheral hole 76, passes through the peripheral hole 76 and is discharged downward. Is done. Then, the water discharged from the peripheral hole 76 and the water discharged from the shower port 72 become a downward flow in a merged state, so that the discharged water becomes one rectifying bundle, that is, straight water discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the joint 24 is assembled with a ring-shaped leaf spring 84 as a regulating member that abuts the upper surface of the handle 18 to define the axial position of the handle 18. .
As shown in detail in FIG. 6, the leaf spring 84 has engaging protrusions 86, 87 projecting downward at two locations separated by 180 ° in the circumferential direction (rotation direction of the handle 18). It is formed in a form in which a part is bent and deformed downward.
Here, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 have a mountain shape whose cross-sectional shape is downward, and have inclined surfaces 86a and 87a on both sides of the top.

  The leaf spring 84 is also positioned as a positioning portion that positions the leaf spring 84 in the rotational direction and the axial direction of the handle 18 with respect to the joint 24 at a position 90 ° apart from the engaging projections 86 and 87 in the circumferential direction. In addition, a locking claw 88 that functions as a locking portion that locks the leaf spring 84 to the joint 24 is formed in a bent back shape obliquely upward.

On the other hand, in the joint 24, as shown in FIG. 4A, a positioning portion for positioning the leaf spring 84 in the rotational direction and the axial direction in cooperation with the locking claw 88, and the leaf spring 84 in the joint 24. Locking grooves 90 functioning as an assembling part for assembling are formed at two positions 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction, and a pair of locking claws 88 are locked to each.
The leaf spring 84 is assembled to the joint 24 in the rotational state and the axial direction in a determined state by the engagement of the engagement claw 88 with the engagement groove 90.

  In this embodiment, the circumferential width of the locking groove 90 is slightly larger than the circumferential width of the two adjacent locking claws 88 that form a pair. The locking claw 88 can be moved relative to the joint 24 by a minute distance. That is, a slight play is provided in the circumferential direction between the locking groove 90 and the pair of locking claws 88.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the leaf spring 84 has a square shape in a free state, more specifically, the engagement protrusions 86 and 87 (strictly speaking, flat portions on both sides of the engagement protrusions 86 and 87). The shape is bent in a square shape. That is, the leaf spring 84 is previously formed into such a shape.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, two engaging recesses 92-1 and 92-2 corresponding to the engaging protrusions 86 of the leaf spring 84 are formed on the upper surface of the handle 18 so as to be recessed downward in the axial direction. Are provided at positions separated by 90 ° in the circumferential direction, and two engagement recesses 94-1 and 94-2 corresponding to the engagement protrusions 87 are provided at positions separated from each other by 90 ° in the circumferential direction. .
Here, the engaging recesses 92-1, 92-2, 94-1 and 94-2 are formed every 90 ° in the circumferential direction.

In this embodiment, when the handle 18 is rotated, one engaging protrusion 86 of the two engaging protrusions 86, 87 in the axial direction and downward provided on the leaf spring 84 is provided on the upper surface of the handle 18. The engaging recess 92-1 or 92-2 is elastically engaged by the spring force of the leaf spring 84 to generate a click feeling.
Similarly, the engaging protrusion 87 provided on the leaf spring 84 is elastically engaged with the two engaging recesses 94-1 or 94-2 on the upper surface of the handle 18 by the spring force of the leaf spring 84. Then, a click feeling is generated.

That is, in this embodiment, the two engaging protrusions 86 and 87 of the leaf spring 84 are simultaneously and vigorously fitted into the pair of engaging recesses 92-1 and 94-1 on the upper surface of the handle 18. When the handle 18 is further rotated from that position, the pair of engaging projections 86 and 87 are simultaneously fitted into the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 and clicked there. Generate a feeling.
In the present embodiment, the leaf spring 84 and the handle 18, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 and the engaging recesses 92-1, 92-2, 94-1, and 94-2 provided thereon are used to A click mechanism 96 (see FIG. 4) that generates a click feeling at the water discharge switching position is configured.

The leaf spring 84 is bent in a dogleg shape in a free-form state, but is elastically deformed into a substantially horizontal shape as shown in FIG. In this state, the engaging projections 86 and 87 are pressed against the upper surface of the handle 18 by a spring force based on the elastic deformation, and a downward urging force is exerted on the handle 18.
Thus, when the handle 18 is rotated, in detail, the handle 18 is prevented from being lifted (moved upward) when the water discharge switching member 20 is rotated in the other direction (leftward when viewed from below), which is the direction in which the water discharge switching member 20 is moved downward. To do.

Next, the operation of the water discharge switching device of the present embodiment will be described below.
In this embodiment, when the water discharge switching member 20 is in the lowered position, that is, in a straight water discharge state, as shown in FIG. At the rising position (first water discharge switching device), the embankment 74 of the sprinkling part 64 abuts against the seal member 78, the peripheral hole 76 is shut off, and the water supply is sent only to the shower port 72, from there Shower water is discharged. That is, the water discharge is switched to the shower water discharge state.

At this time, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 provided on the leaf spring 84 are elastically urged by the spring force of the leaf spring 84 to the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 provided on the upper surface of the handle 18. Engage and generate a click feeling there.
Therefore, the user can recognize from the click feeling that the water discharge state has been switched to the shower water discharge state.

Next, when the handle 18 is rotated to the left as viewed from below from this state, the water discharge switching member 20 moves downward, and at the lowered position, the water supply is guided to both the shower port 72 and the peripheral hole 76. Straight water is discharged by water discharged from the water.
That is, by rotating the handle 18 in the left direction to the second water discharge switching position, the water discharge state is switched from the shower water discharge to the straight water discharge state.

Also at this time, the pair of engaging projections 86 and 87 provided on the leaf spring 84 are elastically moved into the engagement recesses 92-1 and 94-1 on the upper surface of the handle 18 by the spring force of the leaf spring 84. At the same time, it is engaged and generates a click feeling.
Therefore, the user can immediately recognize that the handle 18 has reached the switching position to the straight water discharge, which is the second water discharge switching position, based on the click feeling.

In this embodiment, when the handle 18 is rotated to the right when viewed from below and the water discharge switching member 20 is moved upward to switch the water discharge state from straight water discharge to shower water discharge, the bank portion 74 of the water discharge portion 64 is connected to the joint 24. The seal member 78 is held in contact with the seal member 78, and the water supply to the peripheral hole 76 is shut off by crushing the seal member 78.
At this time, since the resistance by the seal member 78 acts, the rotation operation with respect to the handle 18 becomes heavy, so that the rotation speed of the handle 18 is usually slow near the end of the rotation operation of the handle 18 in the same direction.

Therefore, if the leaf spring 84 is strictly fixed in the rotational direction with respect to the joint 24, the engagement protrusions 86, 86 of the leaf spring 84 are at the water discharge switching position for shower water discharge, that is, at the end of the rotation of the handle 18. 87 does not fit into the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 of the handle 18 but fits gently.
Then, it is difficult to get a clear click feeling there.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the leaf spring 84 can be rotated relative to the joint 24 by a minute distance in the rotational direction.
In this case, when the handle 18 is rotated in the right direction, the leaf spring 84 is initially rotated integrally by the minute distance by the frictional force between the handle 18 and the upper surface of the handle 18, thereby FIG. As shown in FIG. 8B, the locking claw 88 of the leaf spring 84 abuts on the right end in FIG.
Here, the rotation of the leaf spring 84 is prevented, and only the handle 18 thereafter rotates relative to the leaf spring 84 in the right direction in the figure. Then, the handle 18 reaches the vicinity of the end of the rotation in the right direction in the figure, and as shown in FIGS. 8 (I), (A), (II), and (A), the tops of the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are When the end positions of the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 on the upper surface of the engaging member are reached and slightly exceeded, the cam action by the inclined surfaces 86a and 87a of the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 and the spring of the leaf spring 84 are performed. Due to the force, the leaf spring 84 is independently rotated in the left direction, which is opposite to the rotation direction of the handle 18, and the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are engaged with each other with the rotation of the leaf spring 84. It fits into the recesses 92-2 and 94-2 (see FIGS. 8 (III) and 8 (A)) to generate a click feeling.

The click feeling at this time is clear to the user because the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are fitted into the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 vigorously by the rotation of the leaf spring 84. The fact that the handle 18 has reached the switching position for shower water discharge, which is the first water discharge switching position, is transmitted by the impact.
When the handle 18 is rotated to the left, which is the opposite direction, the leaf spring 84 moves initially by a small distance integrally with the handle 18, and between the pair of locking claws 88 and the right end of the locking groove 90. Create an initial gap.

  It should be noted that here, the guide springs of the inclined surfaces 86a and 87a of the engaging convex portions 86 and 87 cause the leaf springs 84 to rotate independently so that the engaging convex portions 86 and 87 become the engaging concave portions 92-2 and 94-2. As described in FIG. 8, the side surfaces of the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 are inclined surfaces as shown in FIG. The engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are turned into the engaging recesses 92-2 and 94-2 by the guide action of both the inclined surfaces 86a and 87a of the portions 86 and 87 and the inclined surfaces of the engaging recesses 92-2 and 92-4. It can also be made to engage.

  In the water discharge switching device 22 of the present embodiment as described above, when the user rotates the handle 18 and the handle 18 reaches the water discharge switching position, the engagement protrusions 86 and 87 are engaged with the engagement recesses 92-1. 9-2, 94-1 and 94-2 are elastically engaged to generate a click feeling, so that the user can clearly know that the handle 18 has reached the water discharge switching position, and the water discharge switching. The operability and operation feeling when operating the device 22 are improved.

  In addition, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 protrude in the axial direction of the handle 18 and are elastically engaged with the engaging recesses 92-1, 92-2, 94-1 and 94-2. There is no need to secure a large space in the radial direction in order to provide the click member as in the conventional water discharge switching device with a click mechanism in which a click member for generating a click feeling is provided in the radial direction, and therefore water discharge The switching device can be configured compactly.

  Further, since the restricting member that defines the axial position of the handle 18 is constituted by a leaf spring 84 and used as a click member, the click feeling is further generated on the handle 18 itself (specifically, on the upper surface thereof). Since the engaging recesses 92-1, 92-2, 94-1 and 94-2 are provided, that is, the handle 18 itself also serves as a click member, the water discharge switching device 22 of the present embodiment is used. Therefore, the number of required parts can be reduced, and the structure can be simplified accordingly.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the handle 18 itself as an operation target directly operated by the user is configured as a click member, that is, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are the engaging recesses 92-1 and 92-. 2, 94-1 and 94-2 are impacted when elastically engaged with the handle 18 itself, which is the operation target, so that the impact, that is, the click feeling, is effectively transmitted to the user's hand. There is also an effect that the user can clearly feel the click feeling by the click mechanism.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the engaging protrusions 86 and 87 are provided at two positions 180 ° apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the leaf spring 84, so that the biasing force of the leaf spring 84 acts on the handle 18 in a biased manner. Therefore, the problem that the leaf spring 84 itself or the handle 18 is inclined with respect to the axial direction can be avoided.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention is another general water discharge switching device that switches the water discharge state by rotating the handle (the water discharge state to be switched is also the above example) For example, the present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is the figure which showed the water discharge pipe front-end | tip part containing the water discharge switching apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing one action state of the embodiment. It is a figure showing one action state different from FIG. 2 of the embodiment. It is the figure which showed the embodiment in the partial assembly | attachment state with the peripheral part. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of each member in FIG. 4. It is the figure which showed the leaf | plate spring in the same embodiment independently. It is a figure showing the one action state of the leaf | plate spring of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an action state different from that of FIG. 7 of the leaf spring of FIG. 6. It is the figure which showed an example of the conventional water discharge switching apparatus. It is a figure showing the operation state of the water discharge switching device of FIG. It is the figure which showed the conventionally well-known water discharge switching device different from FIG.

Explanation of symbols

18 Handle 22 Discharge switching device 24 Joint (holding member)
57 Groove 58 Protruding portion 70 Sprinkling hole 72 Shower port 74 Dyke portion 76 Circumferential hole 78 Seal member 84 Leaf spring 86, 87 Engaging protrusion 92-1, 92-2, 94-1, 94-2 Engaging recess

Claims (8)

In a water discharge switching device in which a rotary handle for switching water discharge is rotatably held by a holding member and the handle is rotated to a water discharge switching position to switch a water discharge state. A ring-shaped leaf spring as a restricting member for defining the axial position of the handle is assembled to the holding member in a rotationally positioned state, and one of the lower surface of the leaf spring and the upper surface of the handle is attached to the other. The engaging protrusion protruding in the axial direction toward the other side is elastically inserted into the engaging protrusion by the spring force of the leaf spring when the handle reaches the water discharge switching position. When an engagement recess is provided, and a click mechanism is configured including the leaf spring, the handle, an engagement protrusion and an engagement recess provided on the leaf spring, and the handle reaches the water discharge switching position. click A water discharge switching device characterized by generating a feeling.   In Claim 1, it is what switches the water discharge in each of the 1st water discharge switching position and the 2nd water discharge switching position where the said handle was separated in the rotation direction, These 1st water discharge switching position and the 2nd water discharge switching position, The water discharge switching device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement protrusion is elastically engaged with the engagement recess to generate a click feeling. 3. The water discharge switching member according to claim 2, wherein a water discharge switching member is provided on a radially inner side of the handle, and the rotational movement of the handle is moved up and down in the axial direction across the handle and the water discharge switching member. And a cam mechanism for converting the movement of the handle to change the position of the water discharge switching member from the lowered position to the raised position at the first water discharge switching position by rotating the handle in one direction and in the other direction of the handle. The water discharge switching member is position-switched from the raised position to the lowered position by the rotation operation and at the second water discharge switching position, and the water discharged state corresponds to the first discharged water state corresponding to the raised position and the second discharged water corresponding to the lowered position. Switch to the state,
The water discharge switching device, wherein the leaf spring prevents an upward movement of the handle in the axial direction when the handle is rotated in the other direction. 4. The water discharge switching member according to claim 3, wherein a shower port composed of a plurality of water spray holes made up of small holes is provided on the center side of the lower surface, and the tube rises in an outer peripheral side of the shower port. The dam portion has a straight water discharge peripheral hole surrounding the shower port on the further outer peripheral side of the dam portion, while the holding member is elastic at a position facing the ridge portion in the axial direction. A seal member made of a material is held, and at the raised position of the water discharge switching member, the upper end of the bank is pressed against the seal member to block the peripheral hole, and water is discharged from the shower port through the shower. The dike portion is separated from the seal member at the lowered position to open the peripheral hole, and water is supplied straightly by water discharged from both the shower port and the peripheral hole. Water discharge switching device.   2. The water discharge switching device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging convex portion is provided on a lower surface of the leaf spring, and the engaging concave portion is provided on an upper surface of the handle.   5. The engagement protrusion according to claim 2, wherein the engagement protrusion is provided on a lower surface of the leaf spring, the engagement recess is provided on an upper surface of the handle, and two corresponding engagement protrusions are provided. Engaging recesses are provided apart from each other in the rotation direction of the handle, and the one engaging protrusion is placed in one of the two engaging recesses at the first discharge switching position of the handle, and the second discharging water of the handle A water discharge switching device characterized by being engaged with the other of the engagement recesses at a switching position.   In Claim 6, the said leaf | plate spring is provided with the said engagement convex part in two places 180 degree apart in the rotation direction of the said handle | steering_wheel, and the said two engagement recessed parts with respect to each are the said handle | steering-wheel. A water discharge switching device provided on an upper surface.   8. The leaf spring according to claim 7, wherein the leaf spring is formed into a generally bent shape at the position of the engaging protrusion, and exerts a downward spring force based on the bent shape. A water discharge switching device.

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