A pause water switching structure
By designing a shower product switching structure that includes a moving axis and a pause plug, the problems of inconvenient operation and poor status recognition of existing shower products are solved, and single-handed operation and clear status water output control are achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- XIAMEN RUNNER IND CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing shower products have inconvenient water control operation, requiring both hands to operate and consuming effort to stop the water flow, and their status recognition is poor.
Design a water pause switching structure, including a body, a moving shaft, a pause plug, a button, and a sealing ring. The button moves synchronously with the moving shaft, and with the cooperation of the guide slope and the spring, it can achieve one-handed operation and status recognition.
It enables one-handed switching, reduces the effort required for operation, improves status recognition, and is suitable for a variety of shower products.
Smart Images

Figure CN116817008B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a water pause switching structure. Background Technology
[0002] In current shower products, water flow is controlled by a water outlet switch, typically located at the connection between the water supply pipe and the hose. This requires locating the switch. In practice, holding the showerhead requires using the other hand to turn it off, which is inconvenient. Furthermore, existing water-stopping mechanisms use a floating stopper at the vertical position of the inlet. Pressing this stopper pauses the water flow, but continuous pressure is required. This requires sustained effort and results in a poor user experience. Another issue is the existing water outlet device's water-stopping structure. It has a plug that can float up and down and rotate at the vertical position of the water inlet. The rotation direction has two latches, one high and one low. The water inlet is closed and opened by the difference in vertical position and rotational displacement. However, this method requires a large pressing force, and the button can move freely up and down when the water is stopped. The button is returned to its original position by the water pressure. The button is in the same position regardless of the state. After the water is turned off, it is impossible to confirm whether it is in the stopped or open state. The identification is poor, and users cannot tell what state the product is in. Summary of the Invention
[0003] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a water pause switching structure.
[0004] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0005] A water-stop switching structure includes a main body, which has a matching water passage cavity and a water outlet. The main body also has a movable shaft. A stop plug, rotatable relative to the axis of the movable shaft, is located within the water passage cavity. The movable shaft drives the stop plug to rotate within the water passage cavity, and the rotation of the stop plug can block or open the water outlet. The main body also has a connecting hole, into which the movable shaft is connected. A sealing ring is provided between the inner circumference of the connecting hole and the outer circumference of the movable shaft, ensuring that the relative position of the movable shaft and the connecting hole remains unchanged even without external force.
[0006] In this embodiment of the invention, a button is provided on the main body, the button is connected to the moving axis, and the button can move synchronously with the moving axis.
[0007] In this embodiment of the invention, the main body is further provided with a swing arm, one end of which is hinged to the main body and the other end of which is connected to a button. The swing arm is also connected to a moving shaft, and the button, the swing arm, and the moving shaft move relative to each other synchronously.
[0008] In this embodiment of the invention, a first protrusion is arranged circumferentially along the axis of the moving shaft inside the water passage cavity. A first guide slope is provided above each of the first protrusions. A notch is provided between two adjacent first protrusions. A support block is provided in one of the two adjacent notches. One end of the upper surface of the support block is connected to the lower end of a first guide slope. The other end of the upper surface of the support block is located below and to the side of the upper end of another first guide slope. A limiting surface is provided on the side of one of the first protrusions. The limiting surface connects the other end of the upper surface of the support block to the upper end of another first guide slope. A second protrusion is arranged circumferentially along the axis of the moving shaft inside the pause plug. A second guide slope is provided on the second protrusion facing the first guide slope. The second guide slope can be connected to the first guide slope. The second protrusion can switch between the notch and the support block at intervals. The side wall of the second protrusion can be connected to the limiting surface at intervals. A spring is also included. One end of the spring is connected to the pause plug. The spring drives the pause plug to move toward the first protrusion.
[0009] In this embodiment of the invention, the pause plug includes a rotor, the end of the rotor is provided with a baffle that can block the water outlet, the middle of the rotor is provided with a second connecting ring, and the second protrusion is distributed on the second connecting ring.
[0010] In this embodiment of the invention, a connecting disk is provided in the middle of the moving shaft. The connecting disk is located on the inner periphery of the first protrusion. A third guide slope is provided above the connecting disk. The third guide slope can be connected with the second guide slope. The third guide slope can also be connected with the first guide slope and then be fully engaged with the second guide slope.
[0011] In this embodiment of the invention, a guide block is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting disk. The guide block can move within the notch, and the connection between the guide block and the notch allows the moving shaft to move only along its axis.
[0012] In this embodiment of the invention, a first connecting ring coaxial with the moving shaft is also included. The first protrusion is tightly attached to the inner peripheral wall of the first connecting ring, and a connecting plate is provided on the outer periphery of the first connecting ring. When the baffle does not block the water outlet, the baffle is located between the connecting plate and the first connecting ring.
[0013] In this embodiment of the invention, a guide plate is provided on the main body. The guide plate is located between the water passage cavity and the water inlet of the main body. The guide plate enables the water flow direction entering the water passage cavity to be consistent with the rotation direction of the stop plug.
[0014] In this embodiment of the invention, a water inlet notch is provided between the guide plate and the water passage cavity, the water inlet and the water outlet are located on the same straight line, the connecting plate is provided on both sides of the straight line, and the water inlet cavity is provided on both sides of the straight line with grooves for connecting the connecting plate. The inner peripheral walls of the two connecting plates, the inner peripheral wall of the guide plate, and the inner peripheral wall of the water passage cavity on the side of the water outlet can form an arc-shaped surface.
[0015] The water pause switching structure of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. It has fewer functional parts, better stability, and strong product compatibility, and can be used in a variety of products (such as overhead sprayers, shower heads, spray guns, faucets, etc.). 2. Switching can be completed with one hand, without the need to continuously press the button; 3. The water pressure is balanced by the pause plug, and the switching force is small, which meets the needs of different users. Attached Figure Description
[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 2 This is another embodiment of the water-flow state of the present invention. Figure 1 .
[0019] Figure 3 This is another embodiment of the water-flow state of the present invention. Figure 2 .
[0020] Figure 4 This is a water-tight state according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .
[0021] Figure 5 This is a water-tight state according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .
[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the main body in this invention.
[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the pause plug in this invention.
[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the movable axis in this invention. Detailed Implementation
[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to represent selected embodiments of the invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.
[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0028] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.
[0029] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0030] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a water-stop switching structure includes a body 10. The body has a cooperating water-passing cavity 11 and a water outlet 12. Water flows into the body through the water inlet 13, passes through the water cavity, and exits through the water outlet. The body also has a moving shaft 20. In one embodiment, if the flow from the water inlet to the water outlet is horizontal, then the moving shaft moves vertically. A stop plug 30, rotatable relative to the axis of the moving shaft, is provided in the water-passing cavity. The moving shaft drives the stop plug to rotate within the water-passing cavity. The rotation of the stop plug can block or open the water outlet. When the stop plug is engaged with the water outlet, no water flows from the body; when the stop plug is engaged with the water outlet, no water flows from the body. When the connection with the water outlet is disengaged, water can flow from the main body through the water outlet. The main body is also provided with a connecting hole 14, and the moving shaft is connected to the connecting hole. A sealing ring 21 is provided between the inner circumference of the connecting hole and the outer circumference of the moving shaft. The sealing ring can keep the relative position of the moving shaft and the connecting hole unchanged when no external force is applied. Preferably, there are two connecting holes, located at both ends (upper and lower ends) of the moving shaft. The two sealing rings are tightly fitted around the outer circumference of the two ends of the moving shaft and are tightly fitted with the inner circumferential wall of the connecting hole. This allows the moving shaft to return to the initial position without switching. Different states have different positions relative to the main body, so that the user can know the current state.
[0031] Furthermore, a button 22 is provided on the main body. The button is connected to the moving shaft and can move synchronously with the moving shaft. In one embodiment, the button and the moving shaft are coaxially arranged. Refer to the accompanying drawings for details. Figure 1 Of course, the button and the moving axis can also be set on different axes. Specifically, the main body is also provided with a rocker arm 23. One end of the rocker arm is hinged to the main body, and the other end of the rocker arm is connected to the button. The rocker arm is also connected to the moving axis. The button, rocker arm, and moving axis move relative to each other synchronously. Specifically, the axis of the button and the axis of the moving axis can be eccentric, with a certain distance between their centers, or they can coincide. When eccentric, the lever can be used to reduce the switching force. The structure connects the button and the rocker arm, and a movable buckle 24 is set between the rocker arm and the moving axis.
[0032] Preferably, the water passage cavity is provided with first protrusions 41 arranged in a ring along the axis of the moving shaft. Each first protrusion has a first guide slope 42 above it. A notch 43 is provided between adjacent first protrusions. A support block 44 is provided in one of the adjacent notches. Referring to the attached figure, four notches are provided, two of which have support blocks. One end of the upper surface of the support block is connected to the lower end of a first guide slope, and the other end of the upper surface of the support block is located beside and below the upper end of another first guide slope. A limiting surface 45 is provided beside one of the first protrusions, and the limiting surface connects to the upper surface of the support block. The other end of the surface is connected to the high end of another first guide slope. When the second protrusion contacts and engages with the limiting surface, the body is in a state of water suspension. The pausing plug is provided with a second protrusion 31 arranged in a ring along the axis of the moving shaft. The second protrusion is provided with a second guide slope 32 facing the first guide slope. The second guide slope can engage with the first guide slope. The second protrusion can switch between the notch and the support block at intervals. The side wall of the second protrusion can engage with the limiting surface at intervals. It also includes a spring 33. One end of the spring is engaged with the pausing plug. The spring drives the pausing plug towards the first protrusion. In one application of this invention, the pause plug is not blocking the outlet, and the guide block of the moving shaft is located at the bottom of the notch (position A1). The second protrusion is located above the guide block and rests on the third guide slope. When the moving shaft moves upward, it pushes the pause plug upward, compressing the spring. Then, after the third guide slope connects with the first guide slope, that is, when the second guide slope moves to the highest point of the first guide slope, the moving shaft is at its highest position. Under the action of the spring, the pause plug rotates and falls as the second guide slope is lowered from the first guide slope, causing the second protrusion to rest on the support block. At this time, the moving shaft remains stationary under the action of the sealing ring, located in the middle of the notch, which is the second position A2. It has not returned to the first position. This is the pause plug blocking the water outlet. When the moving shaft continues to move upward, the second guide slope will move upward to the highest point of the first guide slope. Under the action of the spring, the second protrusion returns to the bottom of the notch under the action of the first guide slope. At this time, the moving shaft returns to the first position. This allows the user to know whether the body is in a water-flow or water-closing state based on the positional relationship between the moving shaft or the button (the two are connected) and the body, which has a very good identification quality.
[0033] Furthermore, the pause plug includes a rotor 34, with a baffle 35 at the end of the rotor that can block the outlet, and a second connecting ring 36 in the middle of the rotor, with the second protrusion distributed on the second connecting ring, as shown in the attached drawings of the specification.
[0034] Furthermore, a connecting plate 25 is provided in the middle of the moving shaft, located on the inner periphery of the first protrusion. A third guide slope 26 is provided above the connecting plate. The third guide slope can connect with the second guide slope, and can also connect with the first guide slope to form a unified slope, allowing the second protrusion to rotate downwards under the action of the spring. A guide block 27 is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting plate, which can move within a notch. The connection between the guide block and the notch allows the moving shaft to move only along its axis, meaning that the moving shaft only moves along its axis and does not rotate.
[0035] In this embodiment of the invention, a first connecting ring 15 coaxial with the moving shaft is also included. The first protrusion is tightly attached to the inner peripheral wall of the first connecting ring, and a connecting plate 16 is provided on the outer periphery of the first connecting ring. When the baffle does not block the outlet, the baffle is located between the connecting plate and the first connecting ring. A guide plate 17 is provided on the main body. The guide plate is located between the water passage cavity and the water inlet 13 of the main body. The guide plate enables the water flow direction entering the water passage cavity to be consistent with the rotation direction of the pause plug. In one embodiment, the water flow direction entering the water passage cavity can be tangential to the circumferential rotation direction of the pause plug, which can help the pause plug rotate.
[0036] Preferably, an inlet notch 18 is provided between the guide plate and the water passage cavity, the water inlet and the water outlet are located on the same straight line, the connecting plate is provided on both sides of the straight line, and the water inlet cavity is provided on both sides of the straight line with grooves 19 for connecting the connecting plate. The inner peripheral walls of the two connecting plates, the inner peripheral wall of the guide plate, and the inner peripheral wall of the water passage cavity on the side of the water outlet can form an arc surface. More preferably, the inner peripheral walls of the two connecting plates, the inner peripheral wall of the guide plate, and the inner peripheral wall of the water passage cavity on the side of the water outlet can form an arc surface, except that a gap is formed at the inlet notch.
[0037] More specifically, this invention features cylindrical shafts of the same diameter at both ends of the movable shaft. One end is used for switching force transmission, and the other end is used for balancing water pressure. The cylindrical shafts are interference-fitted with the connecting sealing ring and the connecting hole. When water passes through the water passage cavity, the cavity is filled with water, and both sides of the movable shaft experience the same pressure. Only when the force-bearing areas at both ends are equal will the switching process not be affected by water pressure. A sealing ring is provided at each end of the movable shaft. The friction between the sealing ring and the movable shaft ensures that the movable shaft remains in a submerged state when paused, preventing it from being impacted by water pressure and returning to its original position. The water passage cavity contains a plurality of first protrusions with guide slopes. Grooves are provided between the first protrusions, and the dimensions of these grooves vary due to the support blocks. The grooves with support blocks connect to the first protrusions, supporting the pause plug when the shaft is paused. When the movable shaft switches, it moves up and down in the notch, pushing the pause plug upward and rotating. When the second protrusion passes the highest point of the first protrusion, the spring behind the pause plug pushes the pause plug to rotate with the first guide slope until the second protrusion contacts the support block, completing the switch from the open state to the paused state. At this time, the button remains in its current state, and the paused state can be distinguished by appearance. Pressing the button again repeats the above actions, but the difference is that the second protrusion contacts the notch without the support block, and the button returns to the open state, completing the switch from the paused state to the open state. This is the complete cycle of the pause switching. It should be noted that the direction of rotation of the pause plug should be consistent with the direction of water inlet in the water passage, which can be clockwise or counterclockwise. This setting allows the water flow to assist the rotation of the pause plug, making the switching smoother. The main functional parts of this invention are the movable shaft, the pause plug, the body, and the spring. The number of functional parts is small, and the space required for the structure is small, which makes it particularly advantageous for products with small spaces (such as the structure applied to shower handles). The small number of functional parts results in strong product functional stability. The force-bearing area at both ends of the moving shaft can be adjusted to regulate the switching force during use, depending on actual needs.
[0038] The foregoing description illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the inventive concept described herein through the foregoing teachings or techniques or knowledge in related fields. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A water-stop switching structure, comprising a body, wherein a matching water passage cavity and a water outlet are provided within the body, characterized in that, The main body is also provided with a movable shaft, and a pause plug that can rotate relative to the axis of the movable shaft is provided in the water passage cavity. The movable shaft can drive the pause plug to rotate in the water passage cavity. The rotation of the pause plug can block the water outlet or open the water flow. The main body is also provided with a connecting hole, and the movable shaft is connected to the connecting hole. A sealing ring is provided between the inner circumference of the connecting hole and the outer circumference of the movable shaft. The sealing ring can keep the relative position of the movable shaft and the connecting hole unchanged when no external force is applied. The main body is provided with a guide plate, which is located between the water passage cavity and the water inlet of the main body. The guide plate can make the direction of water flow entering the water passage cavity consistent with the direction of rotation of the pause plug, and the direction of water flow entering the water passage cavity tangential to the circumferential direction of rotation of the pause plug, so that the water flow assists the rotation of the pause plug.
2. The water pause switching structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A button is provided on the main body, and the button is connected to the moving axis. The button can move synchronously with the moving axis.
3. The water pause switching structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main body is also provided with a swing arm, one end of which is hinged to the main body and the other end of which is connected to a button. The swing arm is also connected to a moving shaft, and the button, the swing arm and the moving shaft move relative to each other synchronously.
4. A water-switching pause structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The water passage cavity is provided with a first protrusion arranged in a ring along the axis of the moving shaft. Each first protrusion has a first guide slope above it. A notch is provided between two adjacent first protrusions. A support block is provided in one of the two adjacent notches. One end of the upper surface of the support block is connected to the lower end of a first guide slope. The other end of the upper surface of the support block is located below and to the side of the upper end of another first guide slope. A limiting surface is provided on the side of one first protrusion. The limiting surface connects the other end of the upper surface of the support block to the upper end of another first guide slope. The pause plug is provided with a second protrusion arranged in a ring along the axis of the moving shaft. The second protrusion has a second guide slope facing the first guide slope. The second guide slope can be connected to the first guide slope. The second protrusion can switch between the notch and the support block at intervals. The side wall of the second protrusion can be connected to the limiting surface at intervals. The system also includes a spring. One end of the spring is connected to the pause plug. The spring drives the pause plug to move toward the first protrusion.
5. The water pause switching structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pause plug includes a rotor, the end of which is provided with a baffle that can block the outlet, and the middle of the rotor is provided with a second connecting ring, and the second protrusion is distributed on the second connecting ring.
6. The water pause switching structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, A connecting plate is provided in the middle of the moving shaft. The connecting plate is located on the inner periphery of the first protrusion. A third guide slope is provided above the connecting plate. The third guide slope can be connected with the second guide slope. The third guide slope can also be connected with the first guide slope and then the whole can be connected with the second guide slope.
7. The water pause switching structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, A guide block is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting plate. The guide block can move within the notch. The connection between the guide block and the notch allows the moving shaft to move only along its axis.
8. The water pause switching structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a first connecting ring coaxial with the moving shaft, the first protrusion is tightly attached to the inner peripheral wall of the first connecting ring, and a connecting plate is provided on the outer periphery of the first connecting ring; when the baffle does not block the water outlet, the baffle is located between the connecting plate and the first connecting ring.
9. The water pause switching structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, A water inlet notch is provided between the guide plate and the water passage cavity. The water inlet and the water outlet are located on the same straight line. The connecting plate is located on both sides of the straight line. The water inlet cavity is located on both sides of the straight line and has grooves for connecting the connecting plate. The inner peripheral walls of the two connecting plates, the inner peripheral wall of the guide plate, and the inner peripheral wall of the water passage cavity on the side of the water outlet can form an arc-shaped surface.