JP7384353B2 - Guide member and faucet device equipped with the guide member - Google Patents

Description

The present invention provides a faucet device in which a faucet main body includes a valve portion for circulating and blocking fluid and a spout for discharging fluid, and a pipe for supplying fluid and a conduit for discharging fluid are connected to the valve portion. The present invention relates to a faucet in which the conduit is laid inside the faucet body without interfering with the valve portion.

As such a conventional technique, for example, there is a technique shown in Patent Document 1 below. This technology is used in mixer faucets used in sinks and vanities, and relates to a water spout that removably supports a shower head to which a hose is connected. Specifically, the hose is inserted into the gooseneck-shaped water pipe to increase the sliding properties of the hose when inserting and removing the shower head, and to reduce sliding noise. A protective material is provided on the inner circumferential surface to make sliding contact with the hose.

The protective material is, for example, a spiral tube, slit tube, corrugated tube, etc. made of a material such as 6-nylon or polyethylene, and has a flexible and flexible tubular shape that is suitable for use in curved areas. It is. This protective material is inserted from the distal end side of the water spout, and the support member that supports the shower head is fixed by screwing to the distal end of the water spout.

Because this kind of protective material is highly bendable and flexible, it can be moved smoothly around curved parts of water pipes, and can be easily inserted into water pipes with small bending radius such as goosenecks. It is possible.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-183388

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the protective material is laid only inside the water discharge pipe. In other words, no protective material is provided inside the faucet body. Therefore, when the hose is inserted or removed, there is a possibility that the outer surface of the hose comes into contact with the inner wall of the faucet body or the components of the operating section inside the faucet body. As a result, the sliding properties of the hose may be impaired and internal components of the hose and faucet body may be damaged.

Further, according to FIG. 2 of the prior art, the position of the hose above the faucet body is offset from the position of the hose below the faucet body. It is unclear how the hose is inserted near the operating section, but it is clear that it is bent. In the case of such a configuration, it is presumed that the work of inserting the hose into the interior of the faucet body becomes complicated, but the related art does not mention this problem.

As described above, although there have been techniques for improving the sliding properties of retractable hoses, they do not attempt to solve this problem for the entire faucet device. Therefore, it is desired to provide a guide member or a faucet device that can further improve characteristics such as the slidability of the hose and the workability of laying the hose.

(Characteristic configuration)
The characteristic configuration of the guide member according to the present invention is as follows:
A faucet body that holds a spout and has a valve part that circulates and shuts off fluid;
Piping that supplies the fluid to the valve portion inside the faucet body;
A faucet device comprising a discharge conduit provided downstream of the valve portion and extending from the faucet main body to the spout,
A first opening and a second opening are provided inside the faucet body, and each end thereof has a first opening and a second opening through which the conduit can be inserted;
A first bending area is formed by once bending away from the valve part immediately below the first opening, and after extending the side part of the valve part vertically downward, the faucet main body is bent again. This feature includes an insertion path in which a second bending region that returns to the center side is formed.

(effect)
By forming two or more bends, the first bending area and the second bending area, in the passage of the conduit as in this configuration, the complexity of the work of inserting the conduit into the interior of the faucet body is eliminated. Ru. That is, for example, by making the bent portion correspond to the position of the valve portion, the conduit can be inserted into a narrow space that avoids the valve portion without getting caught.

In addition, the bent part allows the conduit that passes through the side of the valve part to extend downwards into the faucet body, allowing the conduit to easily pass through the faucet body and connect to the valve part, etc. Work becomes smoother.

(Characteristic configuration)
In the guide member according to the present invention, it is advantageous that the insertion path has a cylindrical shape.

(effect)
By configuring the insertion path in a cylindrical shape as in this configuration, even if the tip position of the conduit moves unexpectedly when the conduit is inserted, the conduit can be reliably guided and inserted.

Further, by configuring the insertion path in a cylindrical shape, the rigidity of the guide member is increased, and when the guide member is attached to the faucet body, problems such as deformation of the insertion path due to being pushed by piping or the like are less likely to occur. As a result, the shape of the passage through which the conduit is inserted is ensured in the desired state, and the appropriate insertion state of the conduit can be maintained for a long period of time.

(Characteristic configuration)
As the guide member according to the present invention, a guide piece that guides the end of the conduit to the first opening when the conduit is inserted can be provided adjacent to the first opening.

(effect)
Although a bend is formed in the insertion path and the tip of the conduit to be inserted is guided, depending on the configuration of the faucet body, the position of the first opening may be separated from the position of the internal passage of the spout. There is. In that case, the end of the conduit inserted from the spout side does not reach a position where it can be inserted into the first opening, making the insertion work complicated. Therefore, by providing the guiding piece as in this configuration, the end of the conduit is easily guided to the first opening, and the operation of inserting the conduit becomes simpler.

(Characteristic configuration)
The guide member according to the present invention includes:
A faucet body that holds a spout and has a valve part that circulates and shuts off fluid;
Piping that supplies the fluid to the valve portion inside the faucet body;
A faucet device comprising a discharge conduit provided downstream of the valve portion and extending from the faucet main body to the spout,
A first opening and a second opening are provided inside the faucet body, and each end thereof has a first opening and a second opening through which the conduit can be inserted;
An insertion path having two or more bends is formed between the first opening and the second opening, and a guide piece is provided to guide the end of the conduit to the first opening when the conduit is inserted. It can also be configured so that it is adjacent to the first opening .

(effect)
By forming two or more bends in the passage of the conduit as in this configuration, the complexity of the work of inserting the conduit into the interior of the faucet body is eliminated. For example, by making the bent portion correspond to the position of the valve portion, the conduit can be inserted into a narrow space that avoids the valve portion without getting caught.

In addition, the bent part allows the conduit that passes through the side of the valve part to extend downwards into the faucet body, allowing the conduit to easily pass through the faucet body and connect to the valve part, etc. Work becomes smoother.

In particular, by providing the guide piece as in this configuration, the end of the conduit is easily guided to the first opening, making the operation of inserting the conduit easier.

(Characteristic configuration)
It is advantageous for the guide member according to the present invention to include an elastic engagement portion that comes into contact with the inner wall of the faucet main body or the outer surface of the pipe.

(effect)
Inside the faucet body, a space with a complicated shape is formed depending on the shape of the inner wall of the faucet body and the state in which the piping is laid. However, since the state of piping is generally the same depending on the type of faucet body, the shape of the internal space will also be similar to some extent.

Therefore, by providing the elastic engagement portion on the outer surface of the guide member as in this configuration, the work of fixing the guide member to the faucet main body is simplified, and the efficiency of the installation work of the faucet device is further improved.

(Characteristic configuration)
In the guide member according to the present invention, the portion constituting the insertion path can be formed of an elastic material.

(effect)
By forming the portion constituting the insertion path from an elastic material as in this configuration, the guide member can be manufactured efficiently. For example, by integrally molding the portion related to the insertion path with an elastic resin material, it is possible to improve shape accuracy while reducing manufacturing man-hours and costs.

In addition, by appropriately setting the degree of elasticity of the materials used, it is possible to manufacture bending guide parts with different flexibility depending on the shape of the internal space of the faucet body, making insertion work easy and yet firmly fixed. It is possible to obtain a bending guide section that can be bent.

(Characteristic configuration)
In the guide member according to the present invention, a flexible hose capable of reciprocating inside the spout and the insertion path can be used as the conduit.

(effect)
The flexible hose can be easily bent so that it can be pulled out and retracted from the spout. Therefore, when the space through which the flexible hose is inserted is narrow and curved, the insertion work becomes complicated. However, in this configuration, since the bending portion is provided inside the faucet main body, even the work of laying a flexible hose can be easily performed.

Further, since the flexible hose is frequently pulled out and stored, the guide member can cover the flexible hose to reduce sliding resistance and suppress the generation of noise.

Furthermore, the durability of the faucet device can be increased by preventing scratches and wear on the flexible hose itself, the inner surface of the faucet body, and the outer surface of the piping.

(Characteristic configuration)
The above-mentioned guide member itself exhibits special effects, but a faucet device incorporating this guide member also exhibits the following effects.

(effect)
By providing the guide member in the faucet device, the number of man-hours required for installing the faucet device can be significantly reduced. In particular, when a flexible hose is provided inside the spout, the effect of improving the efficiency of the installation work of the flexible hose becomes more remarkable.

In addition, the operation of pulling out and storing the flexible hose becomes smoother, and the operation noise is reduced, which improves the usability of the flexible hose.

Furthermore, friction between the flexible hose, the inner surface of the faucet body, and the outer surface of the piping is suppressed, improving the durability of the faucet device.

Explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the faucet device Exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the faucet body Exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the faucet body Exploded perspective view showing the connection structure of piping and conduits Explanatory diagram showing the installation state of the guide member

〔overview〕
The guide member G of the present invention is used in a faucet device U having a faucet body 1 equipped with a valve portion V and a spout S for communicating and blocking fluid. The fluid here is, for example, tap water, purified water obtained by filtering tap water, or even hot water. Inside the faucet body 1, a pipe 2 that supplies fluid led from below the sink etc. is connected to the valve part V, and downstream of the valve part V, from the faucet body 1 to the tip of the spout S. A discharge conduit 3 through which fluid flows is connected. The guide member G of the present invention is installed in the faucet body 1 in order to facilitate the work of laying the conduit 3 inside the faucet body 1 and to suppress damage and wear of the conduit 3 and the faucet body 1. . Hereinafter, embodiments of the guide member G according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a faucet device U according to the present invention. For example, a substantially cylindrical faucet body 1 is attached to a sink, and a U-shaped spout S extends from the faucet body 1. The spout S rotates over a predetermined angle with respect to the faucet body 1. The spout S includes a holder part S1 that is connected to the faucet body 1 and rotates left and right with respect to the faucet body 1, and a head part S2 that is connected to the holder part S1 so as to be freely insertable and removable. A flexible hose 3a functioning as a conduit 3 is connected to the head portion S2, and is laid below the faucet body 1 through the inside of the holder portion S1.

A cylindrical low friction part (not shown), for example, is formed inside the holder part S1 so that the flexible hose 3a can slide smoothly. The structure of the low friction part is arbitrary, and may include a structure in which the inner surface of the holder part S1 is coated with a resin material that has low frictional resistance with the flexible hose 3a, or a structure in which a preformed resin pipe is installed inside the holder part S1. can be taken. In addition, the holder portion S1 itself may be made of a resin material having low friction characteristics.

A water purification cartridge C can be installed inside the head portion S2. A water spouting part 3b that can be rotated with respect to the holder part S1 is provided at the tip of the holder part S1, and the fluid to be discharged can be switched between raw water and purified water by operating the water spouting part 3b.

The faucet body 1 includes a valve part V that can adjust the mixing ratio of water and hot water as fluids and switches between a water spouting state and a water spouting stop state, and a handle H for operating the valve part V. is provided. The valve part V is connected to a first pipe 21 for supplying water and a second pipe 22 for supplying hot water, as pipes 2 for supplying fluid to the valve part V, for example.

Normally, water spouting and water spouting stop are performed by operating a handle H, but in this embodiment, a proximity sensor 3c and an electromagnetic valve EV are provided so that water spouting and water spouting can be performed touchlessly without using the handle H.

As shown in FIG. 1, the proximity sensor 3c is provided, for example, on the side surface of the holder portion S1. When the user approaches the proximity sensor 3c, the proximity sensor 3c reacts, drives the electromagnetic valve EV, and discharges water or hot water.

One electromagnetic valve EV is connected to a conduit 3 connected downstream of the valve portion V, for example, at a position not exposed to the outside, such as a position below the faucet main body 1. A flexible hose 3a is connected further downstream of the electromagnetic valve EV. This electromagnetic valve EV performs ON/OFF control to discharge and stop the discharge of water or hot water that has passed through the valve portion V, based on a detection signal from the proximity sensor 3c. In addition, when discharging and stopping water discharging by a touchless method using the electromagnetic valve EV, the handle H is set at a predetermined open position.

The first pipe 21, the second pipe 22, and the conduit 3 are made of copper pipes and have a soft structure so that they can be bent by hand during installation work. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the first pipe 21, the second pipe 22, and the conduit 3, each having an L-shaped tip, extend from below to a side position of the valve part V, and the valve part main body Va The valve case Va1 is connected to the valve case Va1, which forms part of the valve case Va1.

Each of the two pipes 2 and the conduit 3 is inserted and connected to a connection port Va2 formed in the valve case Va1. The two pipes 2 and the conduit 3 have a flange 2a formed at each tip, which is held between a fixing plate 10 having three notches and a valve case Va1, and a fixing member inserted from one side of the valve case Va1. By screwing the screws 11 into the fixing plate 10, it is fixed to the valve case Va1. At this time, a first seal ring 9a is attached in advance to the connection port Va2 of the valve case Va1, and a second seal ring 9b is attached to each of the tips of the pipe 2 and the conduit 3. Thereby, the piping 2 and the conduit 3 and the valve case Va1 are reliably connected in a sealed state.

During the connection work, the fixing plate 10, the piping 2, and the conduit 3 are inserted from below the faucet body 1. On the other hand, the valve case Va1 is inserted into the faucet body 1 from the opening on the handle H side. Thereafter, the piping 2 and the conduit 3 and the valve case Va1 are aligned and fastened with the fixing screws 11.

By configuring the tips of the piping 2 and the conduit 3 to be bent into an L-shape in this way, it becomes easier to deviate the valve body Va to the side of the faucet body 1, thereby increasing the internal space of the faucet body 1. It becomes easier to secure a wide range of Therefore, the work of connecting the piping 2 and the conduit 3 becomes easy, and the design of the faucet body 1 can be improved.

In addition, as another connection structure, a connection hole for piping is formed on the lower surface of the valve body Va, and the valve body Va is connected to the straight piping 2 or conduit to the faucet body 1 installed first. 3 may be approached from below and connected to the lower surface of the valve body Va. Further, a bent flow path is formed in advance inside the faucet body 1, and the valve part V is connected from the side of the faucet body 1 so as to be connected to this flow path. A straight pipe 2 or a conduit 3 may be connected from below the pipe 1.

Inside the faucet body 1, the size of the valve portion V and the installation state of the piping 2 and the like connected to the valve body Va pose problems. Particularly, in a faucet device U equipped with a flexible hose 3a, when the flexible hose 3a is stored in the spout S, a part of the flexible hose 3a extends below the valve part V, is folded back inside the sink, and is bent back to open the valve. It is often connected to the main body Va. That is, since the flexible hose 3a needs to be inserted into the side of the valve part V in a reciprocating state, it is important to secure the insertion space for the flexible hose 3a.

(First guide member)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, in the faucet device U of this embodiment, a first guide member G1 as one of the guide members G is provided on the side of the valve portion V. The first guide member G1 has a cylindrical shape, for example, and has a first opening P1 and a second opening P2 at both ends through which the conduit 3 can be inserted. An insertion path R is formed between the first opening P1 and the second opening P2, and two or more bent portions K are formed here. The flexible hose 3a is guided by this bent portion K while avoiding the valve portion V.

The main guide member G is a first guide member G1 having a bent part K, but in addition to this, a second guide member G2 is provided above the first guide member G1, and a third guide member G2 is provided below. A guide member G3 is provided.

The insertion path R of the flexible hose 3a formed in the first guide member G1 is cylindrical. With this shape, even if the tip position of the flexible hose 3a moves unexpectedly when the flexible hose 3a is inserted, the flexible hose 3a can be reliably guided along the inside of the first guide member G1. can.

In addition, by configuring the insertion path R into a cylindrical shape, the rigidity of the first guide member G1 is increased, and when the first guide member G1 is attached to the faucet body 1, the insertion path R is deformed by being pushed by the piping 2 etc. This makes it less likely that problems like this will occur. As a result, the shape of the insertion path R of the flexible hose 3a is ensured in the desired state, and the appropriate insertion state of the flexible hose 3a can be maintained for a long period of time.

The first guide member G1 is made of an elastic material such as a resin material, for example. In that case, the first guide member G1 can be manufactured by injection molding or the like, and the overall shape accuracy can be improved while reducing manufacturing man-hours and costs.

Moreover, the work of installing the first guide member G1 bent in this way in a narrow space of the faucet main body 1 tends to be complicated. However, by appropriately setting the degree of elasticity of the material used, it is possible to change the flexibility according to the shape of the internal space of the faucet body 1. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the first guide member G1 that can be firmly fixed while being easy to insert.

As shown in FIG. 5, the insertion path R of the first guide member G1 in this embodiment is bent away from the valve part V directly below the first opening P1 to form a first bending area KA, After the side portion of the portion V extends vertically downward, it returns to the center side of the faucet body 1 again to form a second bending region KB. In this embodiment, four small bends K1 to K4 are formed in the insertion path R. That is, in the first first bending area KA, small bending parts K1 and K2 are continuously formed in an S-shape to form an insertion path R. Similarly, in the lower second bending region KB, bending portions K3 and K4 are continuously formed in an S-shape to form an insertion path R.

In the guide member G of the present invention, only one S-shaped first bending area KA is provided directly below the first opening P1 of the first guide member G1, and the second opening P2 side is provided with only one S-shaped first bending area KA. It may be formed in a straight line vertically downward. As long as the flexible hose 3a can be easily guided downward from the faucet main body 1, the shape of the first guide member G1 can be set as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guide piece F is formed at a position adjacent to the first opening P1. This is to guide the tip of the flexible hose 3a inserted from the holder portion S1 side into the first guide member G1 when installing the faucet device U.

The faucet body 1 of this embodiment has a cylindrical shape, and at the connection part with the holder part S1, the faucet body 1 and the holder part S1 have the same axis X1 (FIG. 5). However, the first guide member G1 installed inside the faucet body 1 is located at a position offset from the axis X1 to avoid the valve portion V. Even in that case, the position of the first opening P1 is set to be close to the axis X1 of the holder portion S1, but this may not necessarily be the case depending on the internal shape of the faucet body 1.

Further, although the holder portion S1 is curved, the tip of the flexible hose 3a inserted therein may be directed to the outside of the curve when protruding from the lower end portion of the holder portion S1.

Therefore, by providing the guide piece F on the extension of the axis X1, the end of the flexible hose 3a can be easily guided to the first opening P1, and the operation of inserting the conduit 3 becomes easier.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an elastic engagement portion 4 that comes into contact with, for example, the inner surface of the faucet body 1 is provided on the outer surface of the first guide member G1. The elastic engagement portion 4 is formed by protruding a plate-shaped portion, for example, but may also be formed by protruding a rod-shaped portion.

In order to fix the first guide member G1, the outer shape of the first guide member G1 itself is also effective. As shown in FIG. 5, the first guide member G1 is curved to the left in FIG. Since the curved portions of the piping 2 and the conduit 3 are located in this portion, the first guide member G1 also has the function of holding the position with its entire outer surface.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a gutter-shaped elongated portion 5 is formed below the first guide member G1. This part comes into contact with the outer surface of the pipe 2, and not only stabilizes the posture of the first guide member G1, but also allows the pipe 2 to be bent when it becomes necessary to bend the pipe 2 after connecting the pipe 2 to the valve body Va. This prevents the material from entering the insertion path R carelessly.

This elongated portion 5 is also one of the elastic engagement portions 4. In addition to this, an elastic engagement portion 4 that contacts the valve body Va may be provided. These elastic engagement portions 4 and elongated portions 5 may be provided at any position on the outer surface of the first guide member G1.

A complex-shaped space is formed inside the faucet body 1 depending on the shape of the inner surface of the faucet body 1 and the installation state of the piping 2 and the like. However, since the state of laying the pipes 2 and the like is approximately the same depending on the type of faucet body 1, the shape of the internal space is similar. Therefore, by providing the elastic engagement portion 4 on the outer surface of the first guide member G1 as in this configuration, the work of fixing the first guide member G1 to the faucet main body 1 is simplified, and the work of fixing the first guide member G1 to the faucet body 1 is simplified. Installation efficiency is further improved.

In order to provide the faucet device U with the electromagnetic valve EV for a touchless system, wiring from the proximity sensor 3c to the electromagnetic valve EV is required. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cable guide 6 having, for example, a U-shaped cross section is formed on the side of the first guide member G1. A cable (not shown) fixed here is connected to a proximity sensor 3c provided at the tip of the spout S. By fixing the cable to the cable guide 6, there is no possibility that the cable will be inadvertently displaced inside the faucet body 1. As a result, inconveniences such as the cable being buffered by the reciprocating flexible hose 3a are prevented.

The material constituting the first guide member G1 is not required to have a stopper function when pulling out and storing the flexible hose 3a, and does not need to have very high rigidity. However, since slidability and wear resistance are important for the guide material, a material with a low coefficient of friction is preferable. From the viewpoint of sliding properties and abrasion resistance, PP (polypropylene), POM (polyacetal), nylon, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) are preferable. Considering dimensional stability, PP is preferable. On the other hand, POM is preferable in consideration of manufacturing cost and sliding properties. However, considering the necessary characteristics, it is preferable to use PP as the first guide member G1.

In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing damage and securing the shape, it is necessary to have a strength having a bending elastic modulus of about 1,400 MPa. On the other hand, since it has a bent shape, from the viewpoint of ease of assembly into the interior of the faucet main body 1, it is desirable that the bending elastic modulus is 2,500 MPa or less so that a predetermined bending deformation can occur during assembly.

(Second guide member)
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a second guide member G2 is provided on the side of the holder portion S1 of the spout S with respect to the first guide member G1, and is substantially continuous with the holder portion S1. There is. The second guide member G2 is a substantially completely cylindrical member, and is installed at the upper end of the faucet body 1 coaxially with the axis X1 of the holder portion S1. The second guide member G2 prevents the flexible hose 3a from coming into direct contact with the inner surface of the faucet body 1, and also has a convex portion, a concave portion, etc. (not shown) formed at the upper end that rotates the holder portion S1. Functions as a swing angle stopper.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end opening of the second guide member G2 is inclined, and is configured to reliably guide the flexible hose 3a to the vicinity of the guide piece F. By providing such a second guide member G2, the insertion area of the flexible hose 3a is further restricted, and when installing the faucet device U, the tip of the flexible hose 3a is inserted into the first opening P1 of the first guide member G1. It becomes easier to guide Furthermore, since the flexible hose 3a does not come into contact with the inner surface of the faucet body 1 when the faucet device U is used, damage and wear on the flexible hose 3a and the faucet body 1 can be suppressed.

The second guide member G2 is made of, for example, a resin material. This member is preferably made of a harder resin material than the first guide member G1 in order to function as a swing angle stopper when rotating the holder portion S1. For example, POM+GF (glass fiber reinforced polyamide) 25% having a bending modulus of about 8,500 MPa, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) 1140A1 having a bending modulus of about 13,000 MPa, etc. can be used.

(Third guide member)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a third guide member G3 is provided at the lower end of the faucet body 1 below the first guide member G1. The third guide member G3 guides the reciprocating movement of the flexible hose 3a extending downward from the first guide member G1. Further, when the head portion S2 is pulled out from the holder portion S1, it comes into contact with a stopper 3d attached to the flexible hose 3a, thereby regulating the length of the flexible hose 3a to be pulled out. Furthermore, the positions of the piping 2 and the like inside the faucet body 1 are fixed. Note that a sleeve 8 is provided to maintain a distance from the lower end of the first guide member G1.

The third guide member G3 has a split structure as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, and can be attached to the sleeve 8 by fitting from below while avoiding the pipes 2 and conduits 3 that have already been laid. The third guide member G3 is inserted and fixed from below the faucet main body 1 after the installation of all installed objects such as the flexible hose 3a and the piping 2 is completed, so that the installation work is very easy.

The third guide member G3 can be formed from a resin material. However, since it does not have a special stopper function, high rigidity is not required. However, since the function of holding the copper pipe 2 and stopping the flexible hose 3a is added, a bending modulus of elasticity of, for example, about 1,400 to 2,500 MPa is required from the viewpoint of preventing breakage and securing the shape.

(Materials of other parts)
As for the material of the faucet main body 1, since mass productivity and strength are important, a material with a high bending elastic modulus is preferable. If strength and mass productivity are important, zinc or brass is preferable. Brass is particularly desirable when considering corrosion resistance.

The material of the outer hose constituting the outside of the flexible hose 3a is preferably a material with high strength in consideration of slidability and durability. If strength and mass production are important, stainless steel, nylon, and PET can be used. Among these, stainless steel is preferred when emphasis is placed on design and luxury.

In this embodiment, the spouts S such as the holder part S1 and the head part S2 are made of resin material. In that case, it is desirable to have a high flexural modulus of 1,400 MPa or more to ensure rigidity. For example, this allows the holder portion S1 to be reliably press-fitted into the faucet main body 1, and the shape of the sliding portion after press-fitting is ensured. Moreover, the generation of noise and vibration due to the movement of the holder part S1 and the head part S2 is reduced, and even if the flexible hose 3a gets caught, it will not be damaged.

However, even if the bending elastic modulus is lower than this, 1,200 MPa or less, it can still be used because softness appears. With this level of bending elastic modulus, it is possible to obtain a spout S that is easy to deform, has excellent assemblability, and can be reliably press-fitted into the faucet body 1, even when considering quality variations during mass production. .

Further, when the spout S is made of resin, it is preferable to set the crystal structure as follows. That is, by using a crystalline resin to increase wear resistance, powder is less likely to be generated when press-fitting into the faucet body 1, etc., and powder is not generated when sliding on the faucet body 1 or the flexible hose 3a. It becomes difficult. Therefore, a longer life is possible.

Further, in order to reduce the friction with the flexible hose 3a, the dynamic friction coefficient is preferably 0.37 μd or less. With this configuration, the operating force for pulling out and storing the flexible hose 3a is reduced. Furthermore, the degree of wear is reduced, making it possible to extend the lifespan.

However, the spout S may be made of various metal materials. For example, brass, bronze, stainless steel, zinc die casting, etc. can be used. In that case, by casting, a hollow-shaped product can be easily obtained and there is little loss of material. This makes it possible to obtain a spout S with high rigidity and good texture.

The guide member of the present invention can be applied to a faucet device that requires laying various conduits from the inside of the spout to the lower part of the faucet main body. Applicable to those equipped with

1 Faucet body 2 Piping 3 Conduit 3a Flexible hose 4 Elastic engagement part V Valve part F Guide piece G Guide member K Bent part P1 First opening P2 Second opening R Insertion route S Spout U Faucet device

Claims (8)

A faucet body that holds a spout and has a valve part that circulates and shuts off fluid;
Piping that supplies the fluid to the valve portion inside the faucet body;
A faucet device comprising a discharge conduit provided downstream of the valve portion and extending from the faucet main body to the spout,
A first opening and a second opening are provided inside the faucet body, and each end thereof has a first opening and a second opening through which the conduit can be inserted;
A first bending area is formed by once bending away from the valve part immediately below the first opening, and after extending the side part of the valve part vertically downward, the faucet main body is bent again. A guide member including an insertion path in which a second bending region that returns to the center side is formed. The guide member according to claim 1, wherein the insertion path has a cylindrical shape. The guide member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide piece is provided adjacent to the first opening to guide the end of the conduit to the first opening when the conduit is inserted. A faucet body that holds a spout and has a valve part that circulates and shuts off fluid;
Piping that supplies the fluid to the valve portion inside the faucet body;
A faucet device comprising a discharge conduit provided downstream of the valve portion and extending from the faucet main body to the spout,
A first opening and a second opening are provided inside the faucet body, and each end thereof has a first opening and a second opening through which the conduit can be inserted;
An insertion path having two or more bends is formed between the first opening and the second opening, and a guide piece is provided to guide the end of the conduit to the first opening when the conduit is inserted. A guide member provided adjacent to the first opening . The guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an elastic engagement portion that comes into contact with an inner wall of the faucet main body or an outer surface of the piping. The guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the portion constituting the insertion path is made of an elastic material. The guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conduit is a flexible hose that can reciprocate inside the spout and the insertion path. A faucet device comprising the guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

Images