JP3637215B2 - Water faucet - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a water faucet, and more specifically, a first functional unit such as a temperature control unit and a second functional unit such as a water stop / switch valve unit disposed separately and at different positions. The present invention relates to a faucet connected by a pipe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a temperature control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a temperature control unit) and a water stop / switching valve unit that is a separate unit are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction, and connected to each other by a connecting pipe. A water outlet and shower head are connected to the water / switching valve unit through a dedicated conduit, and the temperature control water from the temperature control unit flows into the water stop / switching valve unit through the connection pipe, and then the water is stopped / switched. There is a known faucet in which the temperature-controlled water is discharged from a water outlet or a shower head or is stopped by operating a valve unit.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this kind of faucet, depending on where the faucet is installed, there are a case where the water outlet and the shower head are arranged on the right side of the temperature control unit and the water stop / switch valve unit, and a case where it is arranged on the left side. In this case, it is necessary to dispose the temperature control unit and the water stop / switching valve unit in the opposite direction.
[0004]
However, in the case of this type of conventional faucet, each end of the connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the temperature control unit and the water stop / switch valve unit, that is, the temperature control unit and the water stop / Since the orientation of the connection part with respect to the connection pipe of the switching valve unit is fixed, the positional relationship between the temperature control unit and the water stop / switching valve unit is defined by the connection pipe, and the arrangement position of the water discharge pipe and shower head As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with the reverse arrangement.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The faucet of the present invention has been devised to solve such problems.
Accordingly, the faucet of claim 1 is configured separately from the first functional unit such as the temperature control unit and the first functional unit, and is arranged at a position different from the first functional unit. A second functional unit such as a water stop / switching valve unit, and a connecting pipe that connects and communicates the water channels of the first functional unit and the second functional unit, and the first functional unit, In the faucet in which the second functional unit and the connecting pipe are embedded in the lower part of the counter, each end of the connecting pipe has a cylindrical shape with a bottom with an axial center on the upper part. A male fitting portion having a circular cross section is provided in which a female fitting portion having a circular connection opening is provided and a lower end portion of each of the first functional unit and the second functional unit is fitted into the female fitting portion in a water-tight manner. The female fitting part and the male fitting part are in a fitted state with each other. Continued to, that each end of the connecting tube, for each of said first functional unit unit and the second functional unit unit and rotatably connected to the vertical axis about the respective functional section unit Features.
[0006]
A faucet according to a second aspect is the faucet according to the first aspect, wherein a tube main body of the connecting pipe extends in a horizontal direction from a side surface of the female fitting portion.
[0007]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
As described above, the faucet according to claim 1 is configured such that each end of the connecting pipe is connected to each of the first functional unit and the second functional unit so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis. In this faucet, the first functional unit and the second functional unit are connected to each other by a connecting pipe, and the first functional unit and the second functional unit are oriented in a certain direction. In this state, the second functional unit can be located at any position around the axis of the first functional unit.
Alternatively, the first functional unit can be located at any position around the axis of the second functional unit.
[0008]
Therefore, in this faucet, the horizontal positional relationship between the first functional unit and the second functional unit can be freely set and changed.
Moreover, the adjustment or setting of the horizontal positional relationship between the first functional unit and the second functional unit can be performed in a state where they are connected to each other by a connecting pipe.
[0009]
In the faucet according to claim 1, each end of the connection pipe can be connected to an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the first functional unit and the second functional unit. Each end of the tube is preferably connected to each lower end of the first functional unit and the second functional unit.
[0010]
If each end of the connecting pipe is connected to the lower end of each functional unit in this way, it becomes easier to connect each end of the connecting pipe to each functional unit so as to be rotatable.
[0011]
In the faucet of this first aspect, each end portion of the connecting pipe is provided with a female fitting portion having a bottom with a shaft centered vertically and having a circular connecting opening at the top, The lower end of each of the functional unit and the second functional unit is formed as a male fitting part having a circular cross section that fits into the female fitting part in a watertight manner, and the male fitting part and the female fitting part are connected to each other. Connect in a mated state so that it can rotate .
[0012]
If it does in this way, each end part of a connecting pipe will be connected to each of the 1st functional part unit and the 2nd functional part unit so that rotation is possible around the axis of each functional part unit with simple structure. be able to.
[0013]
Further, in this case, the pipe body in the connecting pipe can be extended from the side surface of the female fitting portion in the horizontal direction (Claim 2 ).
If it does in this way, a 1st functional part unit and a 2nd functional part unit can be connected with a connecting pipe by the shortest distance .
[0014]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 (A) shows the water faucet of this example attached to the counter 10. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a temperature as a first functional unit provided in an embedded state below the counter 10. 14 is a water stop / switching valve unit as a second functional unit which is separately provided and is embedded in the lower portion of the counter 10.
Operation handles 16 and 18 are respectively assembled to the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switching valve unit 14 on the upper side of the counter 10.
[0015]
Each end of the connection pipe 20 is connected to the lower ends of the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14, and the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 are connected via the connection pipe 20. Each waterway is in communication with each other. That is, the temperature control water from the temperature control unit 12 is sent to the water stop / switching valve unit 14 through the connection pipe 20.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, one end of a water / hot water supply pipe 22 made of a flexible pipe is connected to the side surface of the temperature control unit 12 via an elbow 24 that can rotate around a horizontal axis. Thus, water and hot water are introduced into the temperature control unit 12 through the supply pipes 22.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical female fitting portion 26 is integrally formed on the housing of the temperature control unit 12 so as to protrude sideways.
On the other hand, the elbow 24 is formed with a male fitting portion 28 that is also cylindrical and fits into the female fitting portion 26 in a watertight manner. The female fitting portion 26 and the male fitting portion 28 are fitted to each other. In the combined state, they are prevented from coming off from each other by an elastic clip 30 as a connecting member. That is, the female fitting portion 26 and the male fitting portion 28 are connected to each other by the elastic clip 30 in a state of being fitted to each other.
[0018]
Here, the elastic clip 30 is a member in a form in which a metal leaf spring is bent as shown in detail in FIG. 4, and includes an opening 32, and a guide portion 34 that opens in the shape of a letter C following the opening 32. And an engaging groove 36 formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction, and a flange portion 38 formed in each of the female fitting portion 26 and the male fitting portion 28 through the opening 32 is engaged in the engaging groove 36. By inserting, the female fitting part 26 and the male fitting part 28 are connected to each other.
[0019]
That is, in this example, the elbow 24 is connected to the temperature control unit 12 in a state of being rotatable around a horizontal axis with respect to the housing of the temperature control unit 12. That is, the water and hot water supply pipe 22 is connected to the temperature control unit 12 through the elbow 24 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 5, the other end of each supply pipe 22 is connected to a water or hot water pipe through a stop cock unit 40 incorporating a stop cock, a check valve, and a strainer. It has become.
[0021]
The water stop / switching valve unit 14 is a part for discharging the temperature adjusted water sent from the temperature adjusting unit 12 through the connection pipe 20 from the water outlet or from the shower head, or for stopping the water. A conduit 42 composed of a flexible tube for guiding the water to the water outlet and a conduit 44 composed of a flexible tube for guiding the temperature-controlled water to the shower head are connected to the water stop / switch valve unit 14, respectively.
[0022]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of cylindrical female threaded pipes 46 project from the housing of the water stop / switch valve unit 14 in the horizontal direction and opposite to each other, and the female threaded pipes 46. The male threads of the elbows 48 at the ends of the conduits 42 and 44 are screwed together in a rotatable state, so that the conduits 42 and 44 can rotate up and down with respect to the water stop / switch valve unit 14. Connected in a normal state.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the connection pipe 20 has a pipe body 50 and female fitting parts 52 at both ends thereof.
Here, the pipe body 50 extends in the horizontal direction from the side surfaces of the pair of female fitting portions 52.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows in detail the connection structure between one female fitting portion 52 and the temperature control unit 12 in the connection pipe 20.
As shown in the figure, the female fitting portion 52 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom 54, and an upward connection opening 56 is formed in the upper portion thereof.
[0025]
On the other hand, a cylindrical male fitting part 58 is formed at the lower end position of the temperature control unit 12 so as to protrude downward, and the male fitting part 58 can rotate into the female fitting part 52, that is, the temperature. The adjustment unit 12 is rotatably fitted around the vertical axis.
And the male fitting part 58 and the female fitting part 52 are mutually connected by the elastic clip 30 as a connection member in the state which mutually fitted.
[0026]
Specifically, the flange portion 38 formed on the female fitting portion 52 side and the flange portion 38 formed on the male fitting portion 58 side are engaged in the engagement groove 36 of the elastic clip 30, thereby The male fitting part 58 and the female fitting part 52 are connected by the elastic clip 30 so as to be rotatable around the axis.
In the figure, reference numeral 60 denotes a water channel through which the temperature adjustment water from the temperature adjustment unit 12 flows out.
[0027]
FIG. 6 shows a connection structure between the connection pipe 20 and the water stop / switching valve unit 14.
The connection structure between the connection pipe 20 and the water stop / switching valve unit 14 is basically the same as the connection structure between the connection pipe 20 and the temperature control unit 12. In the state in which the downwardly protruding male fitting portions 58 formed in the state are rotatably fitted into the female fitting portions 52 at the ends of the connection pipe 20, they are connected to each other by the elastic clips 30 at the flange portions 38. By connecting, the end of the connecting pipe 20 and the lower end of the water stop / switching valve unit 14 are rotatably connected around the vertical axis of the water stop / switching valve unit 14.
[0028]
Although not shown, a water channel 60 for guiding the temperature-controlled water sent from the temperature-control unit 12 through the connection pipe 20 to the inside is provided inside the male fitting portion 58 of the water stop / switch valve unit 14. Is formed.
[0029]
As described above, in the case of the faucet of this example, each end of the connecting pipe 20 can rotate around the respective vertical axis with respect to the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the temperature control unit 12 is at the left position, the water stop / switch valve unit 14 is at the right position, and the water outlet is at the right position of the water stop / switch valve unit 14. When the shower head is arranged or as shown in FIG. 1B, the temperature control unit 12 is set to the right side, the water stop / switch valve unit 14 is set to the left side, and the water stop / switch is further performed. Any of the cases where the water outlet and the shower head are arranged at the left side position of the valve unit 14 can be easily handled.
[0030]
Specifically, under the state where the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 are connected by the connection pipe 20, the direction of the units 12 and 14 is oriented in a certain direction, and the connection pipe 20 is The positions of the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switching valve unit 14 are reversed left and right with a rotational movement, and the elbow 48 on the water stop / switching valve unit 14 side is rotated up and down around a horizontal axis. Thus, the extending direction of the conduits 42 and 44 may be reversed.
[0031]
In addition, the position of the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 is changed or set in a state where the connection pipe 20 is removed, and then the connection pipe 20 is connected to each of the units 12 and 14. Also good.
[0032]
In addition, here, the case where the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 are set to the opposite positions has been described as an example. However, in the case of the faucet of this example, the water stop / switch valve unit 14 is heated. When installing at any position around the axis of the adjustment unit 12, this can be easily accommodated.
This is because the position of the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 can be freely changed around the axis of each other under the connection state by the connection pipe 20.
[0033]
In this example, the pipe body 50 of the connection pipe 20 extends in the horizontal direction from the side surface of the female fitting portion 52, so that the temperature control unit 12 and the water stop / switching valve unit 14 are connected by the connection pipe 20. It can be connected in the shortest distance.
[0034]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example.
For example, in the above embodiment, the temperature control unit 12 is used as the first functional unit, and the water stop / switch valve unit 14 is used as the second functional unit, and they are connected by the connecting pipe 20. The temperature control unit as the first functional unit and the constant flow valve unit as the second functional unit, that is, the water discharge amount is measured, and the water discharge is automatically stopped when the water discharge amount reaches a preset constant flow rate. The present invention can be applied when connecting a constant flow valve unit for connecting with a connecting pipe, or when connecting a first function unit and a second function unit of various other functions with a connecting pipe. Can be configured in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention in a connected state by a connecting pipe.
2 is a perspective view showing the water faucet of FIG. 1 with a counter removed. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part of a faucet of the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the essential parts of the faucet of the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a main part different from FIGS. 3 and 4 of the faucet of the same embodiment.
6 is an exploded view of the main parts different from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the faucet of the same embodiment. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 Temperature control unit (first functional unit)
14 Water stop / switch valve unit (second functional unit)
20 Connecting pipe 22 Supply pipe 24 Elbow 30 Elastic clip (connecting member)
50 Pipe body 52 Female fitting portion 54 Bottom 56 Connection opening 58 Male fitting portion 60 Water channel

Claims (2)

The first functional unit such as a temperature control unit and the second functional unit configured separately from the first functional unit and disposed at a different position from the first functional unit. A functional unit, and a connecting pipe that connects and communicates the water channels of the first functional unit and the second functional unit, and the first functional unit, the second functional unit, and the connecting pipe are counters. In the faucet provided in the embedded state at the bottom,
At each end of the connecting pipe, a cylindrical fitting with a bottom with an axial center extending vertically is provided, and a female fitting portion having a circular connecting opening is provided at the top, while the first functional unit and the second function The lower end of each of the unit units is formed into a male fitting portion having a circular cross section that is watertightly fitted into the female fitting portion, and the female fitting portion and the male fitting portion are connected to each other in a fitted state, water, characterized in that each end of the connecting tube, for each of said first functional unit unit and the second functional unit unit and rotatably connected to the vertical axis about the respective functional section unit plug. The faucet according to claim 1 , wherein a pipe body in the connection pipe extends in a horizontal direction from a side surface of the female fitting portion.

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