JP7211743B2 - faucet head - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to faucet heads.

Patent Literature 1 describes an invention relating to a faucet having a shower head attached to the tip side. The shower head has a water passage main body having two water discharge portions housed inside a cylindrical cover member having a water discharge port on the peripheral wall, and a switch for switching between the two water discharge portions at the tip of the cover member. A push button is provided as an operating member. By operating the operation member, either one of the two water discharge parts is selected and can be switched to DC water or shower water.

JP 2008-133712 A

A predetermined clearance is usually provided between the outer peripheral surface of the operating member and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member in order to smoothly operate the operating member. However, after long-term use, the outer peripheral surface of the operating member may interfere with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member and be damaged. In particular, in a plated water faucet, the plating on the outer peripheral surface of the operating member may peel off, resulting in an unattractive appearance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a faucet head capable of suppressing interference between an operating member and a cover member.

In order to solve the above problems, the faucet head of the present invention is a faucet head attached to the tip side of a faucet, comprising a cylindrical cover member having a spout on a peripheral wall, and a cover member accommodated inside the cover member. a water passage main body having a water discharge portion connected to the water discharge port; and an operation member provided inside the cover member for switching operation of water discharge to the water discharge portion, wherein the operation member is a part of itself. is provided movably in the axial direction of the cover member in such a manner that the guide member is exposed from the tip end side opening of the cover member, and a guide member that moves in the axial direction of the cover member together with the operation member is provided inside the cover member. The guide member is provided with a protrusion that protrudes radially outward from the cover member from the outer surface of the operation member.

According to the above configuration, the tip of the protrusion formed on the guide member is provided at a position closer to the inner peripheral surface of the cover member than the outer surface of the operating member, and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cover member. or located very close to the inner peripheral surface of the cover member. Therefore, when the operation member is operated in the axial direction of the cover member, the protrusion abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the cover member, thereby suppressing interference between the outer surface of the operation member and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member. This suppresses damage to the outer surface of the operation member. The mode in which the operating member is exposed from the distal end side opening of the cover member is not limited to the case where the operating member is exposed from the distal side opening of the cover member while protruding from the distal side opening, but also the state in which the operating member does not protrude from the distal side opening. Including when exposed.

The said structure WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said projection part is formed in the tapered shape.
According to the above configuration, the contact area between the protrusion and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member is smaller than when the protrusion is not tapered. Therefore, when the operating member is operated, the sliding resistance of the guide member that moves together with the operating member is reduced, and the operability of the operating member can be improved. The term "tapered" means that one of the longitudinal sections of the protrusion is tapered, and the area of the cross section on the tip side is smaller than that on the base end side of the protrusion.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the guide member is formed separately from the operation member.
According to the above configuration, a common operation member can be used for cover members having different inner peripheral surface shapes. A faucet head with high versatility and advantageous in terms of cost is obtained.

In the above configuration, the operation member includes a push button provided in such a manner that at least a portion of the operation member is exposed from the opening on the distal end side of the cover member, and is operated to switch water discharge to the water discharge section, and a proximal end of the push button. It is preferable that a slide member is provided on the side of the water discharger for switching water discharge to the water discharge portion, and the guide member is attached to the push button in a manner that contacts the base end edge of the push button.

According to the above configuration, the operation member can be operated by pressing the push button exposed from the tip side opening of the cover member. Further, since the guide member is assembled so as to abut on the base end edge of the push button, the pressing force from the push button is easily transmitted and the push button moves smoothly. Interference between the push button and the cover member can be preferably suppressed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the faucet head which can suppress interference with an operation member and a cover member is obtained.

The perspective view of the faucet to which the faucet head of this embodiment was attached. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the faucet head; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the inside of the faucet head; The front view which looked at the guide member from the back side. Sectional drawing in the VV line of FIG.

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet head 10 of this embodiment is provided at the tip of a faucet 12 installed on the upper surface of a sink 11 such as a kitchen or a washbasin. An operation unit (not shown) is installed at a position adjacent to the faucet 12 on the upper surface of the sink 11, and the amount and temperature of hot water from the faucet head 10 can be adjusted by operating the operation unit. It should be noted that the tip and base ends of the faucet head 10 in this embodiment are referred to as the base end side on the sink 11 side. For convenience of explanation, the vertical, horizontal, and front-rear directions of the faucet head 10 are defined as the directions shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the faucet head 10 has a cover member 20 , a water conduit main body 30 provided inside the cover member 20 , an operation member 40 and a guide member 70 .
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cover member 20 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape with a substantially flat upper surface. A downwardly opening water outlet 21 is formed in the front lower peripheral wall of the cover member 20 . The cover member 20 is made of resin, and the entire surface thereof is plated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water conduit main body 30 is assembled inside the cover member 20 in a positioned state. A water passage chamber 32 is formed inside the water passage main body 30 to which hot water that has passed through the water passage 31 is supplied. Two water discharging parts 33 and 34 are switchably provided. The water discharge units 33 and 34 are provided for switching between direct current water and shower water for water discharge. A spring accommodating portion 35 that accommodates an urging member 80 to be described later is formed on the front side of the water passage chamber 32 . As shown in FIG. 3 , a cam pin 37 that constitutes a heart cam mechanism for positioning the operation member 40 with respect to the water passage main body 30 is assembled to the spring accommodating portion 35 . Engagement portions 36 that engage with engaged grooves 58 of the slide member 50, which will be described later, are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the water passage main body 30. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation member 40 is installed inside the cover member 20 in such a manner that a part of itself is exposed from the tip opening 22 of the cover member 20 in order to switch between the water discharge portions 33 and 34. is provided. The operating member 40 is assembled to the water conduit main body 30 and provided movably in the axial direction of the cover member 20 inside the cover member 20 . The operating member 40 is movable between a first position (state shown in FIG. 2) where the amount of protrusion of the cover member 20 from the tip opening 22 is large and a second position where the amount of protrusion from the tip opening 22 is small. , the first position or the second position. At the first position, the water discharger 34 is selected to discharge DC water, and at the second position, the water discharger 33 is selected to discharge shower water.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation member 40 includes a slide member 50 assembled to the front side of the water passage main body 30 so as to be relatively movable with respect to the water passage main body 30, and a slide member 50 covering the front side of the slide member 50. It has a push button 60 attached. The slide member 50 is a member for positioning the operation member 40 at either the first position or the second position, and the push button 60 is a member for the user to press.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slide member 50 includes a tubular portion 51 formed on the front side and a semi-cylinder having a substantially half-cylinder shape extending from the rear end of the tubular portion 51 and covering the upper half portion of the water conduit main body 30 . It is formed in a shape in which the shaped portions 52 are continuously provided. The cylindrical portion 51 has a smaller diameter in the left-right direction than the semi-cylindrical portion 52 . A contact portion 53 that expands in the left-right direction is formed. An engaging portion 54 is formed on the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 51 , and locking portions 55 are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the cylindrical portion 51 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a spring mounting portion 57 extending rearward from the tip wall 56 is formed inside the tubular portion 51 and is biased between the tubular portion 51 and the spring accommodating portion 35 of the water conduit main body 30 . A member 80 is attached. The tip wall 56 constitutes a heart cam mechanism together with the cam pin 37 and also functions as an engaging portion that engages with the cam pin 37 . As shown in FIG. 3 , engaged grooves 58 are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the semi-cylindrical portion 52 . The sliding member 50 is attached to the water conduit body 30 by engaging the engaging part 36 in the engaged groove 58 in a state where the spring accommodation part 35 of the water conduit body 30 is inserted into the cylindrical part 51 . It is assembled so as to be able to move relative to it.

The slide member 50 (operating member 40) is biased forward by a biasing member 80, and is engaged with the engaged groove 58 of the slide member 50 when the operating member 40 is positioned at the first position. The engaging portion 36 of the water conduit main body 30 abuts on the rear edge of the engaged groove 58 . When the operating member 40 is pressed, the engaging portion 36 engaged with the engaged groove 58 moves forward within the engaged groove 58, positioning the operating member 40 at the second position. The operation member 40 is alternately positioned between the first position and the second position by the heart cam mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the push button 60 has the same outer shape as the cover member 20, but has a slightly smaller diameter. is formed in Therefore, a predetermined clearance is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 and the outer surface of the push button 60 . The vertical dimension of the push button 60 is larger than the vertical dimension of the slide member 50 , and the horizontal dimension of the push button 60 is larger than the horizontal dimension of the slide member 50 . Therefore, when the operating member 40 is assembled inside the cover member 20, the outer surface of the push button 60 is closer to the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 than the outer surface of the slide member 50 on all the inner peripheral surfaces of the cover member 20. placed in position. The push button 60 is made of resin, and the entire surface thereof is plated.

As shown in FIG. 2 , an engaged portion 62 with which the engaging portion 54 of the slide member 50 engages is formed on the upper inner surface of the push button 60 . An engaging portion 63 that engages with the rear edge of the lower surface 59 of the cylindrical portion 51 of the slide member 50 is formed on the inner surface of the lower side of the push button 60 . The engagement between the engaging portion 54 and the engaged portion 62 and the engagement between the rear edge of the lower surface 59 and the engaging portion 63 keep the push button 60 attached to the slide member 50 in a removable state. . In this state, the engaging portion 55 of the slide member 50 is engaged with a not-shown engagement recess formed on the inner side surface of the push button 60, thereby suppressing the push button 60 from rattling.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide member 70 includes a substantially semicircular annular portion 71 having a planar outer surface 71a, and engaging portions 73 extending forward from both left and right sides of the annular portion 71. , and a plate-shaped locking portion 74 extending forward from the lower portion of the annular portion 71 . As shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 70 is attached to the push button 60 so as to abut on the rear edge of the push button 60. As shown in FIG. In this state, the engaging portion 73 of the guide member 70 and the engaging portion 55 of the slide member 50 are engaged with engaged recesses (not shown) formed on the left and right inner surfaces of the push button 60 . The locking portion 74 is in contact with the inner surface of the lower side of the push button 60 . Further, the rear edge of the annular portion 71 of the guide member 70 is in contact with the contact portion 53 of the slide member 50 . In this manner, the guide member 70 is positioned between the rear edge of the push button 60 and the contact portion 53 of the slide member 50, and the engagement portions 73 and 74 suppress the rattling of the push button 60. Assembled.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the outer surface shape of the annular portion 71 is the same shape as the outer surface shape of the push button 60 and is slightly larger in diameter. On an outer surface 71a of the annular portion 71, a plurality of projecting portions 72 projecting radially outward and having a tapered left-right cross section are formed in such a manner as to extend in the front-rear direction. The projecting length of the projecting portion 72 is set to a length such that the projecting portion 72 projects from the outer surface of the push button 60 when the guide member 70 is assembled to the push button 60 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of protrusions 72 are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary line (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) extending vertically through the center N of the radial cross section of the guide member 70. formed in position. Further, the formation positions of the plurality of projections 72 include positions on the virtual lines on the upper and lower surfaces of the guide member 70, the positions of the left and right corners on the upper surface, and the substantially central positions in the vertical direction of the left and right sides.

Next, the action of the faucet head 10 will be described.
By operating an operation unit (not shown) provided at a position adjacent to the faucet 12, hot water is supplied into the water passage chamber 32 through the water passage 31 in the water passage main body 30, and the two water discharge portions 33, 34 Hot water is spouted from the spout 21 through either one. When the operating member 40 is at the first position shown in FIG. 2, the water spouting portion 34 is selected and DC water is spouted from the spout 21 .

When shower water is to be spouted from the spout 21 , the operation member 40 (push button 60 ) exposed from the tip opening 22 of the cover member 20 is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member 80 . Press axially. At this time, the forward movement of the engaging portion 36 within the engaged groove 58 is allowed, so that the operation member 40 (slide member 50) moves rearward inside the cover member 20 and is moved by the heart cam mechanism. Positioned at the second position.

The push button 60 of the operation member 40 has its outer surface positioned closer to the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 than the outer surface of the slide member 50 on all the inner peripheral surfaces of the cover member 20 . A predetermined clearance is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 and the outer surface of the push button 60 . A plurality of protrusions 72 projecting from the outer surface of the push button 60 are formed on the guide member 70 positioned between the rear edge of the push button 60 and the contact portion 53 of the slide member 50 . there is Therefore, when the operation member 40 moves from the first position to the second position, even if the operation member 40 is displaced in the radial direction within the clearance, the protrusion 72 of the guide member 70 is kept on the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 . Thus, contact between the outer surface of the push button 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 is suppressed.

When direct-current water is to be discharged from the water discharge port 21, the operation member 40 (push button 60) is pressed in the axial direction of the cover member 20 in the same manner as before. At this time, the operating member 40 (slide member 50) is released from the positioning state with respect to the water conduit main body 30, and the operating member 40 moves to the first position. Even when the operation member 40 moves from the second position to the first position, the contact between the outer surface of the push button 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 is suppressed by the protrusion 72 formed on the guide member 70 . be.

Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.
(1) An operation member 40 provided inside the faucet head 10 for switching the water discharge to the water discharge portions 33 and 34 is provided movably in the axial direction of the cover member 20 to open the front end opening of the cover member 20. It is movable between a first position where the amount of protrusion from 22 is large and a second position where the amount of protrusion is small. A guide member 70 that moves together with the operation member 40 is provided inside the cover member 20 , and the guide member 70 is formed with a protrusion 72 that protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the operation member 40 .

Therefore, when the operation member 40 moves in the axial direction of the cover member 20 , the protrusion 72 of the guide member 70 prevents the outer surface of the operation member 40 from interfering with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 . Damage to the outer surface of the operation member 40 is suppressed.

(2) The cover member 20 and the push button 60 of the operation member 40 are made of resin, and the entire surfaces thereof are plated. Therefore, peeling of the plating of the cover member 20 and the push button 60 is suppressed. The external shape of the faucet head 10 can be well maintained.

(3) The protrusion 72 is tapered in cross section. Therefore, the area of contact of the projection 72 with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 is smaller than that of the projection 72 that does not have a tapered cross section. The sliding resistance of the guide member 70 when operating the operating member 40 is reduced, and the operability of the operating member 40 can be improved.

(4) A plurality of tapered protrusions 72 are formed to extend in the front-rear direction. In other words, the abutment portion where the protrusion 72 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 extends linearly along the moving direction of the guide member 70 . Therefore, the sliding resistance during operation of the operating member 40 is reduced, and the operating member 40 can be operated smoothly.

(5) The plurality of protrusions 72 are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to an imaginary line extending vertically through the center N of the radial cross section of the guide member 70 . Therefore, rattling when operating the operating member 40 is suppressed, and the operability of the operating member 40 is improved.

(6) The formation positions of the plurality of protrusions 72 are defined on the upper and lower surfaces of the guide member 70 on a virtual line extending vertically through the center N of the radial cross section of the guide member 70, or on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the guide member 70. It includes the positions of the corners and the substantially central positions of the left and right sides of the guide member 70 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the operation member 40 is moved, the push button 60 is prevented from tilting in the horizontal direction or tilting in the vertical direction. The operability of the push button 60 is improved.

(7) The operation member 40 has the slide member 50 and the push button 60 , and the guide member 70 is formed separately from the operation member 40 . Therefore, even when the same slide member 50 is assembled to a faucet head 10 having a cover member 20 with a different shape, the shape of the guide member 70 may be changed so as to match the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20. . A faucet head 10 with high versatility and advantageous in terms of cost is obtained.

(8) The guide member 70 is attached to the push button 60 so as to contact the rear edge of the push button 60 . Therefore, the push button 60 is less likely to rattle and can be moved smoothly. Interference between the push button and the cover member can be preferably suppressed.

In addition, this embodiment can be changed and implemented as follows. This embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
- The shape of the tapered protrusion 72 is not particularly limited. It does not have to be a form extending in the front-rear direction. For example, the entire cross section of the cover member 20 at the protrusion 72 may be tapered into a conical or pyramidal shape. In this case, since point contact is made with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20, sliding resistance during operation of the operating member 40 is further reduced.

- Either of the longitudinal sections of the protrusion 72 may be tapered, and the area of the cross section on the distal end side of the protrusion 72 may be smaller than the cross section on the base end side. In this case also, the sliding resistance when operating the operating member 40 can be reduced.

- The protrusion 72 does not have to be tapered.
- The projecting length of the projecting portion 72 may be such that the tip of the projecting portion 72 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 . In other words, the tip of the protrusion 72 may have a length such that it is always in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 . In this case, when the operation member 40 is operated, the distal end of the protrusion 72 moves while constantly contacting the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 20 .

- The formation positions of the plurality of protrusions 72 are not particularly limited. It does not have to be formed at a symmetrical position with respect to an imaginary line extending vertically through the center N of the radial cross section of the guide member 70 . For example, if it is formed on each of the right and left sides of the virtual line, rattling of the operation member 40 during movement is suppressed, and the operability of the operation member 40 is improved. In addition, even if the guide member 70 is formed only at positions on the virtual line on the upper and lower surfaces of the guide member 70, rattling is suppressed. Furthermore, even if it is formed only at the positions of the pair of left and right corners on the upper side of the guide member 70, rattling is suppressed.

- The number of protrusions 72 to be formed is not particularly limited. It may be one, or it may be plural.
- The guide member 70 may not be formed separately from the operation member 40 . For example, it may be formed integrally with the push button 60 or may be formed integrally with the slide member 50 . Also, the slide member 50, the push button 60 and the guide member 70 may be integrally formed.

- The shape of the guide member 70 is not particularly limited. For example, one of the locking portions 73 and 74 may be omitted.
- The operation member 40 may not have the slide member 50 and the push button 60 . The tip of the slide member 50 may have the function of a push button.

- The cover member 20 and the push button 60 may not be plated.
- The operation member 40 does not need to protrude from the tip opening 22 of the cover member 20 at the first position and the second position. For example, it is movable between a first position where the tip opening 22 of the cover member 20 and the pressing portion 61 of the push button 60 are at the same position and a second position where the pressing portion 61 is inside the cover member 20 . may be Further, the pressing portion 61 may be inside the cover member 20 at both the first position and the second position.

- The faucet head 10 is not limited to switching between DC water and shower water. For example, it may switch between a water flow state and a water stop state, or it may switch between raw water and purified water such as purified water.

- The internal structure of the faucet head 10 is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment, and a known internal structure can be appropriately applied.
- The shapes of the cover member 20 and the push button 60 are not limited to those of the above embodiment. For example, the cover member 20 may have a substantially cylindrical shape, and the push button 60 may have a bottomed substantially cylindrical shape.

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiment and modifications will be described below.
(b) The guide member is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions are formed at positions symmetrical with respect to an imaginary line extending vertically through the center of the radial cross section of the guide member. said faucet head.

(b) The plurality of protrusions are at least one of the imaginary line on the upper surface and the lower surface of the guide member, the left and right corners of the upper surface of the guide member, and the approximate center in the vertical direction of the left and right sides of the guide member. The faucet head formed at the position of

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Faucet head, 20... Cover member, 21... Water spout, 22... Tip side opening, 30... Water conduit main body, 33, 34... Water spouting part, 40... Operation member, 50... Slide member (operation member), 60 . . push button (operation member) 70 .

Claims (4)

A faucet head attached to the tip side of the faucet,
A tubular cover member having a spout on a peripheral wall, a water conduit main body having a spout portion accommodated inside the cover member and communicating with the spout, and a water spout provided inside the cover member to the spout portion. Equipped with an operation member that switches and operates the water discharge of
The operation member is provided movably in the axial direction of the cover member in such a manner that at least a part of the operation member is exposed from the tip end side opening of the cover member,
A guide member that moves in the axial direction of the cover member together with the operation member is provided inside the cover member,
The faucet head, wherein the guide member is provided with a plurality of protrusions projecting radially outward from the cover member from the outer surface of the operation member. A faucet head attached to the tip side of the faucet,
A tubular cover member having a spout on a peripheral wall, a water conduit main body having a spout portion accommodated inside the cover member and communicating with the spout, and a water spout provided inside the cover member to the spout portion. Equipped with an operation member that switches and operates the water discharge of
The operation member is provided movably in the axial direction of the cover member in such a manner that at least a part of the operation member is exposed from the tip end side opening of the cover member,
A guide member that moves in the axial direction of the cover member together with the operation member is provided inside the cover member,
The guide member is formed with a protrusion that protrudes outward in a radial direction of the cover member from an outer surface of the operation member ,
The faucet head , wherein the protrusion is tapered in a radial cross-section of the cover member . 3. The faucet head according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is formed separately from the operation member. The operating member includes a push button that exposes at least a part of itself from a distal end side opening of the cover member and performs a switching operation for discharging water to the water discharging section, and a proximal end side of the push button. a slide member for switching water discharge to the water discharge unit;
4. The faucet head according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is assembled to the push button in a manner to abut on the proximal edge of the push button.

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