Faucet handle cover

Abstract

To provide a faucet handle cover that can be easily attached without touching a triangular handle of a faucet and facilitates rotation of the triangular handle.SOLUTION: A faucet handle cover 1, formed of a flexible resin belt-like body attachable to a triangular handle 3, comprises first to seventh surface parts 21 to 27. The surface parts are bendably connected via first to sixth integral hinges 11 to 16. A second through-hole 22a is provided in the second surface part 22, a fourth through-hole 24a in the fourth surface part 24, and a sixth through-hole 26a in the sixth surface part 26, each configured to receive three arm parts 3a of the triangular handle 3. By bending the first to sixth integral hinges 11 to 16 with the arm parts 3a inserted into the respective through-holes and overlapping the first surface part 21 and the seventh surface part 27, the first surface part 21 and the seventh surface part 27 form a gripping part for rotating the triangular handle 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet handle cover, and more particularly to a faucet handle cover that is attached to the triangular handle of a faucet to make it easier to turn. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been handle cover members that are attached to the triangular handle of a faucet to facilitate rotation. The handle cover member for a faucet disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attached to one of the radially extending arms of the triangular handle, extending the radial dimension of the arm to facilitate rotation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-177148 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the handle cover member of the faucet disclosed in the above Patent Document 1, a mounting screw that fixes the triangular handle to the rotating shaft is used to attach the handle cover member to the triangular handle. This requires that the mounting screw be removed from the rotating shaft, and then the handle cover member is attached and screwed, which creates the problem that it is difficult to easily attach the handle cover member without touching the triangular handle of the faucet. There is a need to attach the handle cover member without touching the triangular handle of the faucet because it is hygienic to be able to operate the triangular handle of the faucet without directly touching it, which may be touched by an unspecified number of people.

[0005] In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a faucet handle cover that can be easily attached without touching the triangular handle of a faucet, making it easier to turn the triangular handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a faucet handle cover formed of a flexible resin strip that can be attached to the triangular handle of a faucet, the faucet handle cover having a pair of ends in the direction of its extension and a central portion between the pair of ends, the portions between the pair of ends and the central portion being capable of being bent in the out-of-plane direction of the faucet handle cover by integral hinges, the central portion being provided with three through holes into which three arm portions of the triangular handle can be inserted, and at least one integral hinge is provided in each portion between the through holes so that the faucet handle cover can be bent in the out-of-plane direction, and by bending each of the integral hinges and overlapping each of the ends with each of the arm portions inserted into each of the through holes, each of the ends extends radially from the rotation axis of the faucet longer than each of the arm portions to become a gripping portion for rotating the triangular handle around the rotation axis.

[0007] According to the first invention, the faucet handle cover is folded at each integral hinge, and by overlapping each end with each arm part inserted into each through hole, each end extends radially from the rotation axis of the faucet longer than each arm part and becomes a grip part for rotating the triangular handle around the rotation axis. This allows the faucet handle cover to be easily attached by wrapping it around the triangular handle of the faucet from the radial direction without touching it, and allows the triangular handle to be easily rotated around the rotation axis by gripping the grip part.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first invention, is characterized in that the pair of ends are each formed with an engaging portion and an engaged portion that hold the ends together in an overlapping state so as not to separate.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pair of ends are held in an overlapping state without being separated by the engaging portion and the engaged portion engaging with each other, so that the pair of ends can be easily grasped as a gripping portion.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, two of the integral hinges are provided in each portion between each of the through holes, spaced apart in the extension direction of the faucet handle cover.

[0011] According to the third invention, the portions between each through hole are folded by two integral hinges, so that the portions sandwiched between the two integral hinges come closer to the rotation axis and closer to the portions between each arm portion of the triangular handle, thereby being firmly attached to the triangular handle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a faucet handle cover according to one embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the faucet handle cover in the embodiment in an expanded state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the faucet handle cover in the above embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the faucet handle cover in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a view of the faucet handle cover in FIG. 1 as viewed from the horizontal direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A faucet handle cover 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. A single faucet 2 is often fitted with a triangular handle 3 having three arms 3a extending radially from a rotation axis A in order to rotate the rotation axis A. The faucet handle cover 1 is fitted to the triangular handle 3 so that the triangular handle 3 can be easily rotated around the rotation axis A without directly touching the triangular handle 3, which may be touched by an unspecified number of people. Here, the single faucet 2 corresponds to the "faucet" in the claims.

[0014] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the faucet handle cover 1 is made of resin and has a roughly band-like shape. As shown in each figure, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the band extends is the front-rear direction, the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is the width direction, and the out-of-plane direction of the band is the front-rear direction. The faucet handle cover 1 is formed with six integral hinges extending in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. From the front to the rear, there are six integral hinges, namely, a first integral hinge 11, a second integral hinge 12, a third integral hinge 13, a fourth integral hinge 14, a fifth integral hinge 15, and a sixth integral hinge 16. Of these, the first integral hinge 11 and the sixth integral hinge 16 have a V-shape whose cross section opens toward the back direction, and the second integral hinge 12 to the fifth integral hinge 15 have a V-shape whose cross section opens toward the front direction. The portion from the front end to the first integral hinge 11 is the first surface portion 21, the portion from the first integral hinge 11 to the second integral hinge 12 is the second surface portion 22, and the portion from the second integral hinge 12 to the third integral hinge 13 is the third surface portion 23. The portion from the third integral hinge 13 to the fourth integral hinge 14 is the fourth surface portion 24, and the portion from the fourth integral hinge 14 to the fifth integral hinge 15 is the fifth surface portion 25. The portion from the fifth integral hinge 15 to the sixth integral hinge 16 is the sixth surface portion 26, and the portion from the sixth integral hinge 16 to the rear end is the seventh surface portion 27. Here, the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 each correspond to the "end portion" in the claims. The second surface portion 22 to the sixth surface portion 26 correspond to the "center portion" in the claims.

[0015] 2 to 4, the first surface portion 21 is flat, and three equilateral triangular first through holes 21a are formed in the center of the width direction at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, with one side of the triangle extending in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the opposing apex facing backward. Here, each of the first through holes 21a corresponds to the "engaged portion" in the claims.

[0016] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the second surface portion 22 is curved so that its cross section in the front-rear direction is slightly convex toward the front, and its dimension in the front-rear direction is set to about 3 / 4 of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the first surface portion 21. The second surface portion 22 is formed in the center in the width direction with one rectangular second through hole 22a penetrating in the thickness direction, with its long side direction being the front-rear direction, close to the second integral hinge 12. The dimension of the long side of the second through hole 22a is about 2 / 3 of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the second surface portion 22. Here, the second through hole 22a corresponds to the "through hole" in the claims.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the third surface portion 23 is curved so that its front-to-rear cross section is slightly convex toward the front, and its front-to-rear dimension is set to approximately 5 / 8 of the front-to-rear dimension of the first surface portion 21.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the fourth surface portion 24 is curved so that its cross section in the front-rear direction is slightly convex toward the front direction, and its dimension in the front-rear direction is set to about 1 / 2 of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the first surface portion 21. The fourth surface portion 24 has a rectangular fourth through hole 24a penetrating in the thickness direction at the center in the width direction, with its long side direction being the front-rear direction, and one is formed at the center in the front-rear direction. The dimension of the long side of the fourth through hole 24a is about 3 / 4 of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the fourth surface portion 24, and is set to be slightly smaller than the dimension of the long side of the second through hole 22a. Here, the fourth through hole 24a corresponds to the "through hole" in the claims.

[0019] 2 to 4, the fifth surface portion 25 is curved so that its cross section in the front-to-rear direction is slightly convex toward the front, and its dimension in the front-to-rear direction is set to about 5 / 8 of the dimension in the front-to-rear direction of the first surface portion 21. The fifth surface portion 25 has the same shape as the third surface portion 23.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the sixth surface portion 26 is curved so that its cross section in the front-rear direction is slightly convex toward the front direction, and its dimension in the front-rear direction is set to about 3 / 4 of the dimension in the front-rear direction of the first surface portion 21. The sixth surface portion 26 has a rectangular sixth through hole 26a penetrating in the thickness direction in the center in the width direction, with its long side direction being the front-rear direction, and is formed close to the fifth integral hinge 15. The dimension of the long side of the sixth through hole 26a is about 2 / 3 of the front-rear direction dimension of the sixth surface portion 26, and is the same as the dimension of the long side of the second through hole 22a. The sixth surface portion 26 is formed symmetrically with the second surface portion 22 with respect to a line extending in the width direction at the center in the front-rear direction of the fourth surface portion 24. Here, the sixth through hole 26a corresponds to the "through hole" in the claims.

[0021] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the seventh surface portion 27 is flat and has a front-rear dimension set to be the same as that of the first surface portion 21. The seventh surface portion 27 has three equilateral triangular protrusions 27a protruding toward the front direction at the center in the width direction, arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction with one side of the triangle extending in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the opposing vertex facing the front direction. More specifically, each protrusion 27a is formed so that when the front side surface of the first surface portion 21 is overlapped with the front side surface of the seventh surface portion 27 with the sixth integral hinge 16 and the first integral hinge 11 aligned, each protrusion 27a is inserted into each first through hole 21a. Each of the projections 27a has a column portion 27b that has an equilateral triangular cross-sectional shape extending from the front side of the seventh surface portion 27 in the front direction by a dimension slightly larger than the thickness of the first surface portion 21, and an umbrella portion 27c that is disposed at the front end of the column portion 27b and is parallel to the seventh surface portion 27. The umbrella portion 27c has an equilateral triangular shape when viewed from the front direction, and the length of one side of the umbrella portion 27c is set to be longer than the length of one side of the equilateral triangle in the cross section of the column portion 27b and shorter than the length of one side of the equilateral triangle of the first through hole 21a. When the front side of the first surface portion 21 is superimposed on the front side of the seventh surface portion 27 with the sixth integral hinge 16 and the first integral hinge 11 aligned, a substantially V-shaped seventh through hole 27d is formed in the seventh surface portion 27 that corresponds to the area between the outline of each column portion 27b and the outline of each first through hole 21a when viewed from the front direction. As shown in FIG. 5, when the front side of the first surface 21 is overlapped with the front side of the seventh surface 27 and the first surface 21 is slid backward with each of the convex portions 27a inserted into each of the first through holes 21a, the back side of each umbrella portion 27c engages with the front side of the outer periphery of each of the first through holes 21a of the first surface 21 and does not separate in the front-back direction. A square ring-shaped traction portion 27e is formed on the rear end side of the seventh surface 27. The traction portion 27e is used to slide the seventh surface 27 engaged with the first surface 21 backward to release the engagement by hooking a finger on it and pulling it backward. Here, each of the convex portions 27a corresponds to the "engagement portion" in the claims.

[0022] The procedure for attaching the faucet handle cover 1 to the triangular handle 3 of the single faucet 2 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the three arm portions 3a of the triangular handle 3 are inserted into the second through hole 22a, the fourth through hole 24a, and the sixth through hole 26a of the faucet handle cover 1, respectively, and are wrapped around the triangular handle 3 so as to abut the front side of the faucet handle cover 1 from the radial direction of the triangular handle 3. Then, each convex portion 27a of the seventh surface portion 27 is inserted into each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21, and the front side of the first surface portion 21 is abutted against the front side of the seventh surface portion 27. In this state, when the first surface portion 21 is slid backward relative to the seventh surface portion 27, the back side of each umbrella portion 27c of each convex portion 27a engages with the front side of the outer peripheral edge of each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21, and the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 do not separate in the front-back direction. In this state, when the integrated first surface portion 21 and seventh surface portion 27 are rotated around the rotation axis A of the single faucet 2, the rotation axis A can be rotated with less force than when the triangular handle 3 is rotated. This is because the radial length of the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 of the faucet handle cover 1 from the rotation axis A is longer than the radial length of each arm portion 3a of the triangular handle 3 from the rotation axis A. When removing the faucet handle cover 1 from the triangular handle 3, by hooking a finger on the traction portion 27e of the seventh surface portion 27 and pulling it backward, the seventh surface portion 27 slides backward relative to the first surface portion 21, and the outer shape of each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21 matches the outer shape of the seventh through hole 27d of the seventh surface portion 27 when viewed from the front-back direction. In this state, when the seventh surface portion 27 is moved in an out-of-plane direction relative to the first surface portion 21, the engagement between each umbrella portion 27c of each convex portion 27a and the outer peripheral edge portion of each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21 is released, and the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 are separated in the front-to-back direction. In this way, the user of the faucet handle cover 1 can avoid touching the triangular handle 3 during the process of attaching and removing the faucet handle cover 1 to the triangular handle 3. Here, the integrated first surface portion 21 and seventh surface portion 27 correspond to the "grip portion" in the claims.

[0023] The present embodiment configured as above provides the following advantageous effects. The faucet handle cover 1 is folded at each integral hinge (the first integral hinge 11 to the sixth integral hinge 16) to insert each arm 3a of the triangular handle 3 into the second through hole 22a, the fourth through hole 24a, and the sixth through hole 26a. Then, each convex portion 27a of the seventh surface portion 27 is inserted into each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21 to bring the front side of the first surface portion 21 into contact with the front side of the seventh surface portion 27, and the first surface portion 21 is slid backward relative to the seventh surface portion 27. Then, each convex portion 27a engages with the outer peripheral edge of each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21, and the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 are integrated to form a grip portion. Since the grip portion extends radially from the rotation axis A longer than each arm portion 3a of the triangular handle 3, the triangular handle 3 can be easily rotated about the rotation axis A by gripping the grip portion and rotating it about the rotation axis A. In addition, the faucet handle cover 1 can be easily attached without touching the triangular handle 3, which is preferable from a hygienic standpoint because it can be operated without directly touching the triangular handle 3 that may be touched by an unspecified number of people.

[0024] In addition, each protrusion 27a engages with the outer peripheral edge of each first through hole 21a of the first surface portion 21, thereby holding the first surface portion 21 and the seventh surface portion 27 together as a gripping portion so that they do not separate, making it easy to grip.

[0025] Furthermore, the third surface portion 23 is disposed between the second surface portion 22 having the second through hole 22a and the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a, via the second integral hinge 12 and the third integral hinge 13. The fifth surface portion 25 is disposed between the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a and the sixth surface portion 26 having the sixth through hole 26a, via the fourth integral hinge 14 and the fifth integral hinge 15. This brings the third surface portion 23 and the fifth surface portion 25 closer to the portions between the arms 3a of the triangular handle 3, so that the faucet handle cover 1 can be attached more firmly to the triangular handle 3.

[0026] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those external appearances and configurations, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following can be mentioned.

[0027] 1. In the above embodiment, the third surface portion 23 is disposed between the second surface portion 22 having the second through hole 22a and the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a via the second integral hinge 12 and the third integral hinge 13, and the fifth surface portion 25 is disposed between the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a and the sixth surface portion 26 having the sixth through hole 26a via the fourth integral hinge 14 and the fifth integral hinge 15. However, this is not limited to the above, and it is also possible to connect the second surface portion 22 having the second through hole 22a and the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a, and the fourth surface portion 24 having the fourth through hole 24a and the sixth surface portion 26 having the sixth through hole 26a with one integral hinge, respectively, and to omit the third surface portion 23 and the fifth surface portion 25.

[0028] 2. In the above embodiment, the second surface 22, the third surface 23, the fourth surface 24, the fifth surface 25, and the sixth surface 26 are configured to be curved so that the cross section in the front-rear direction is slightly convex toward the front direction. However, this is not limited to this, and at least one of them may be flat.

[0029] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Faucet handle cover, 2 Single faucet (faucet), 3 Triangular handle, 3a Arm portion, 11 First integral hinge, 12 Second integral hinge, 13 Third integral hinge, 14 Fourth integral hinge, 15 Fifth integral hinge, 16 Sixth integral hinge, 21 First surface portion (end portion), 21a First through hole (engaged portion), 22 Second surface portion (center portion), 22a Second through hole (through hole), 23 Third surface portion (center portion), 24 Fourth surface portion (center portion), 24a Fourth through hole (through hole), 25 Fifth surface portion (center portion), 26 Sixth surface portion (center portion), 26a Sixth through hole (through hole), 27 Seventh surface portion (end portion), 27a Convex portion (engagement portion), A Rotation Axis

Claims

1. A faucet handle cover that can be attached to a triangular faucet handle and is made of a flexible resin strip, The faucet handle cover has a pair of ends in an extending direction thereof and a central portion between the pair of ends, The pair of ends and the central portion are each bendable in an out-of-plane direction of the faucet handle cover by integral hinges, The central portion is provided with three through holes into which the three arm portions of the triangular handle can be inserted, At least one integral hinge is provided between each of the through holes so that the faucet handle cover can be bent in an out-of-plane direction, By bending each of the integral hinges and overlapping each of the ends with each arm portion inserted into each of the through holes, each of the ends extends radially from the rotation axis of the faucet longer than each of the arm portions, forming a gripping portion for rotating the triangular handle around the rotation axis.

2. In claim 1, The faucet handle cover has an engaging portion and an engaged portion formed on the pair of ends, which hold the ends together and do not separate when they are overlapped.

3. In claim 1 or 2, The faucet handle cover has two integral hinges provided between each of the through holes, spaced apart in the extension direction of the faucet handle cover.

Images