Shower head

Abstract

To restrain an inner cup or a shower face from wearing out due to repeated attachment / detachment of the shower face to / from the inner cup.SOLUTION: A shower head comprises an inner cup 30 that constitutes a water passage, and a shower face that is attached to the inner cup 30. The inner cup 30 and the shower face are connected to each other by a nut 37 and a screw. Either the inner cup 30 or the inner face has a storage part 33 for storing the nut 37.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shower head.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a shower head. As shown in FIG. 16, the shower head 70 includes a water spraying part 71, a water passage member 74, and an appearance member 75. The appearance member 75 includes a first appearance member 75a located in the front and a second appearance member 75b located in the rear.

[0003] The water spraying part 71 has a circular water spraying plate 72 provided with a large number of water spraying holes 72a, and a cylindrical outer peripheral part 73 extending rearward from the water spraying plate 72. The water passage member 74 has a plurality of screw mounting parts 74a. The first appearance member 75a has a plurality of screw mounting parts 75a1. The second appearance member 75b has a plurality of screw receiving boss parts 75b1. A plurality of screws 76 are screwed into the screw receiving boss parts 75b1 in a state of passing through the screw mounting parts 74a and 75a1, whereby the screw mounting parts 74a, 75a1 and the screw receiving boss parts 75b1 are connected to each other. Further, the water spraying part 71 is attached to the appearance member 75 by fitting the cylindrical outer peripheral part 73 into the appearance member 75.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in some cases, the shower head 70 in Patent Document 1 etc. is required to make the connection state between the water spraying part 71 and the water passage member 74 stronger. In that case, for example, it is conceivable to provide a screw attachment part on either the water spraying part 71 or the water passage member 74, provide a screw receiving boss part on the other, and connect both with screws.

[0006] However, since the water spraying part 71 is removed during inspection or cleaning of the shower head 70, there is a risk that wear of the screw receiving boss part will progress more easily as the attachment and detachment of the water spraying part 71 are repeated.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The shower head of Aspect 1 is a shower head including an inner cup constituting a water passage and a shower face attached to the inner cup, wherein the inner cup and the shower face are connected to each other using a nut and a screw, and either one of the inner cup and the shower face has a housing part for housing the nut.

[0008] According to this configuration, since the inner cup and the shower face are connected using a nut and a screw, wear of the inner cup and the shower face can be suppressed even if the attachment and detachment of the shower face are repeated. In addition, a simple configuration of housing the nut in the housing part enables connection using a screw and a nut, so that the manufacturing process of the shower head can be simplified.

[0009] Aspect 2 is the shower head of Aspect 1, and has a closing part for closing the housing part so that the nut does not fall out of the housing part before being screwed with the screw. According to this configuration, by having the closing part, it is possible to suppress the nut housed in the housing part from falling out of the housing part before being screwed with the screw.

[0010] Aspect 3 is the shower head of Aspect 2, and includes a water passage member connected to the inner cup and a case, and at least one of the water passage member and the case has the closing portion. According to this configuration, since at least one of the water passage member and the case can be used as the closing portion, the configuration of the shower head can be simplified as compared with the aspect of separately preparing a member as the closing portion.

[0011] Aspect 4 is the shower head of Aspect 3, and the case has a main body case that covers the rear of the water passage member. The water passage member has a fixing portion that is attached in a fixed state with respect to the main body case, and the fixing portion has the closing portion. According to this configuration, since the fixing portion of the water passage member can be used as the closing portion, the configuration of the shower head can be simplified.

[0012] Aspect 5 is the shower head according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4. When the thickness direction of the nut accommodated in the accommodating portion is the height direction of the accommodating portion, the dimension of the space in the accommodating portion along the height direction is 1.2 times or more the thickness of the nut. According to this configuration, since the dimension of the space in the accommodating portion along the height direction is 1.2 times or more the thickness of the nut, it becomes easier to suppress the screw inserted into the accommodating portion from falling off from the accommodating portion before being screwed into the nut.

Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the shower head of the present invention, it is possible to suppress wear of the inner cup or the shower face due to repeatedly attaching and detaching the shower face to and from the inner cup.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the shower head will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shower head 10 includes a head case 11, a water passage member 14, a cover member 15, and a discharge unit 20.

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the surface of the shower face 60 of the discharge unit 20 described later, the front side toward the shower face 60 is defined as the front in the front-rear direction, and the back side as the rear in the front-rear direction. Also, the right side is defined as the right in the left-right direction, and the opposite direction as the left in the left-right direction. Further, the upper side is defined as the upper in the up-down direction, and the opposite direction as the lower in the up-down direction.

[0017] Hereinafter, each member constituting the shower head 10 will be described. <Head case> As shown in FIG. 2, the head case 11 has a main body case 12 and a front case 13. The main body case 12 is attached to the water passage member 14 and the discharge unit 20 from the rear side, and houses the water passage member 14 and the discharge unit 20 inside. The main body case 12 has three boss portions 12a for receiving screws 19 (see FIG. 10) for attaching the discharge unit 20, and four boss portions 12b for receiving screws 19 for attaching the water passage member 14. The front case 13 is attached to the water passage member 14 from the front side and covers the front side of the water passage member 14. The front case 13 has an opening 13a, and the front case 13 is attached to the water passage member 14 with the switching button 23a of the water passage member 14 inserted through the opening 13a.

[0018] <Water passage member> As shown in FIG. 2, the water passage member 14 is configured in a cylindrical shape and has a water passage inside. The water passage member 14 has a joint 40, an inner pipe 23, and a hose connection member 24. The joint 40 has the discharge unit 20 connected to its upper end and the inner pipe 23 connected to its lower end. Also, the inner pipe 23 has the hose connection member 24 connected to its lower end. The hose connection member 24 has a hose (not shown) connected to its lower end. The water passage member 14 circulates the hot and cold water supplied from the hose to the discharge unit 20. Details of the joint 40 will be described later.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, the inner pipe 23 has a switching button 23a on its front surface. By operating this switching button 23a, the open state and the closed state of the water passage in the inner pipe 23 can be switched. That is, by operating the switching button 23a, the on / off of the water discharge from the shower head 10 can be switched.

[0020] In addition to the joint 40, the inner pipe 23, and the hose connection member 24, the water passage member 14 may have other members. Also, among the joint 40, the inner pipe 23, and the hose connection member 24, two or more of these members may be formed as a single cylindrical member.

[0021] <Cover member> As shown in Fig. 2, the cover member 15 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction. The cover member 15 has a rectangular opening 15a that is long in the vertical direction and has a frame shape.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the cover member 15 is attached to the shower face 60 so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the front face of the shower face 60. <Discharge unit> As shown in Fig. 3, the discharge unit 20 has an inner cup 30, a rectifying member 21, a mist flow path forming member 22, and a shower face 60.

[0023] (Inner cup) As shown in Fig. 3, the inner cup 30 has a plate-shaped main body 31. The main body 31 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction, and at both longitudinal ends, both outer sides in the longitudinal direction are curved to be convex. The main body 31 has a through hole 31a that penetrates the main body 31 in the thickness direction at approximately the center in the vertical direction. The main body 31 has three insertion holes 31b through which the screws 19 are inserted above the through hole 31a.

[0024] The inner cup 30 has a peripheral wall 32 that protrudes forward along the thickness direction of the main body 31 from the outer periphery of the main body 31. The inner cup 30 has nut accommodating portions 33 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "accommodating portions 33") at the four corners of the main body 31. The accommodating portions 33 are integrated with the peripheral wall 32 and protrude to the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall 32. The accommodating portion 33 has a front wall 34, a rear wall 35, and side walls 36 that connect the front wall 34 and the rear wall 35. The side wall 36 has an opening 36a for accommodating a nut 37 (see FIG. 8) in the accommodating portion 33.

[0025] The type of the nut 37 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a so-called hexagonal nut whose outer shape is hexagonal when viewed from the axial direction of the nut 37. The opening 36a of each accommodating portion 33 opens in a direction away from the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 along the vertical direction. The width of the opening 36a is configured to be slightly larger than the two-face width in the radial direction of the nut 37. Also, the space inside the accommodating portion 33 has substantially the same width as the width of the opening 36a. The front wall 34 of the accommodating portion 33 has an insertion hole 34a through which the screw 16 is inserted. With the nut 37 accommodated in the accommodating portion 33, the screw 16 inserted through the insertion hole 60a of the shower face 60 described later is inserted through the insertion hole 34a of the front wall 34 of the accommodating portion 33. Further, by screwing this screw 16 into the nut 37 inside the accommodating portion 33, the shower face 60 and the inner cup 30 are connected.

[0026] The type of the screw 16 is not particularly limited, and a male screw that can be screwed into the nut 37 as a female screw can be adopted. Examples of the type of the screw 16 include screws and bolts. It should be noted that the same applies to the screw 19 other than the screw 16 in the present embodiment.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the inner cup 30 has a cylindrical portion 38 on the rear side of the main body 31. The cylindrical portion 38 is integrated with the main body 31 and extends along the vertical direction of the main body 31. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 38 extends to substantially the same position as the lower end of the main body 31. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 38 is open.

[0028] The inner cup 30 has a pair of plate-shaped engaged portions 39 that extend further downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 38. The pair of engaged portions 39 are arranged to face each other in the left-right direction. The engaged portion 39 has a through hole 39a in the central portion.

[0029] As described later, the insertion portion 45 of the joint 40 is inserted into the lower end of the cylindrical portion 38, and the engaging protrusion 45a of the insertion portion 45 engages with the engaged portion 39 of the inner cup 30, whereby the cylindrical portion 38 and the joint 40 are connected.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of the cylindrical portion 38 is located at approximately the central portion in the vertical direction of the main body portion 31. The cylindrical portion 38 has a top wall 38a that seals the upper end. The upper end portion inside the cylindrical portion 38 communicates with the through hole 31a of the main body portion 31. The hot and cold water flowing through the water passage member 14 flows through the inside of the cylindrical portion 38 from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 38. Further, it flows from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 38 through the through hole 31a to the front side of the main body portion 31. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 38 of the inner cup 30 functions as a water passage.

[0031] (Rectifying member) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rectifying member 21 is configured in a vertically long rectangular plate shape. As described later, the rectifying member 21 is disposed in the storage portion S (see FIG. 5) as a space formed by the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60, and is used to make the flow of the hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S uniform.

[0032] (Mist flow path forming member) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mist flow path forming member 22 is configured in a long plate shape having an elongated shape.

[0033] The mist flow path forming member 22 has a flow path 22a that communicates from the back side to the front side. When the mist flow path forming member 22 is attached to the back surface of the shower face 60, the flow path 22a is positioned to overlap with the mist discharge holes 63. As a result, a mist discharge flow path from the back side of the mist flow path forming member 22 to the mist discharge holes 63 is formed. In the mist discharge flow path, a swirling flow is generated within the flow path, and this swirling flow is jetted from the mist discharge holes 63, thereby discharging mist.

[0034] (Shower face) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shower face 60 is configured in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the vertical direction. The shower face 60 has insertion holes 60a through which screws 16 are inserted at the four corners. The shower face 60 has a peripheral wall 61 that protrudes rearward along the thickness direction of the shower face 60 on the back surface on the inner peripheral side of the insertion holes 60a at the four corners.

[0035] The shower face 60 has a plurality of shower discharge holes 62 and a plurality of mist discharge holes 63 at a position on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall 61. As shown in FIG. 4, a packing 18 is attached to the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 61. By this packing 18, the space between the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 and the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 61 of the shower face 60 is sealed in a watertight state.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, by sealing the space between the inner circumference of the peripheral wall 32 of the inner cup 30 and the outer circumference of the peripheral wall 61 of the shower face 60 in a watertight state, a storage portion S for storing hot and cold water is formed between the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60. This storage portion S is a space where the hot and cold water supplied from the cylindrical portion 38 of the inner cup 30 serving as a water passage is temporarily stored until it is discharged from a plurality of shower water discharge holes 62 and a plurality of mist water discharge holes 63. By arranging the flow rectifying member 21 in this storage portion S, the flow of the hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S becomes uniform. By making the flow of the hot and cold water flowing through the storage portion S uniform, it becomes possible to circulate the hot and cold water at a substantially uniform water pressure to the plurality of shower water discharge holes 62 and the plurality of mist water discharge holes 63.

[0037] The shower head 10 is constituted by the above-described respective members. The material of each member constituting the shower head 10 is not particularly limited. For example, the material of each member can be made of resin, metal, or the like. A metal plating may be formed on the surface of the resin. Also, the materials of the screws 16 and 19 and the nut 37 are not particularly limited, and can be made of resin, metal, or the like. It is preferable that the materials of the screws 16 and 19 and the nut 37 are made of metal because they have high strength and are less likely to wear.

[0038] <Water Discharge Mechanism of Shower Head> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the hot and cold water supplied from a hose (not shown) to the lower end portion of the hose connection member 24 of the water passage member 14 flows through the inner pipe 23. Further, it flows from the upper end portion of the joint 40 of the water passage member 14 into the cylindrical portion 38 of the inner cup 30 serving as a water passage. Further, it flows from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 38 through the through hole 31a into the storage portion S located on the front side of the main body portion 31 of the inner cup 30.

[0039] The hot and cold water flowing through the storage section S is rectified while passing around the rectifying member 21, enabling the hot and cold water to flow to the plurality of shower water discharge holes 62 and the mist water discharge holes 63 with substantially uniform water pressure. Then, shower water is discharged from the plurality of shower water discharge holes 62, and mist water is simultaneously discharged from the plurality of mist water discharge holes 63.

[0040] <Connection mechanism between the discharge unit and the water passage member> As shown in FIG. 2, the connection between the discharge unit 20 and the water passage member 14 is achieved by connecting the inner cup 30 of the discharge unit 20 and the joint 40 of the water passage member 14.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the joint 40 has a cylindrical main body portion 41 and a cylindrical insertion portion 45 that slopes from the upper end portion of the main body portion 41 and extends upward. The lower end portion of the main body portion 41 is connected to the inner pipe 23 using a screw 17.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 7, the main body portion 41 has plate-shaped fixing portions 42 that project on both sides of the main body portion 41 along the left-right direction. The plate surface of the fixing portion 42 extends along the left-right direction and also along the up-down direction.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing portion 42 has a bent portion (hereinafter also referred to as "first bent portion 42a") at the lower end portion and a bent portion (hereinafter also referred to as "second bent portion 42b") at the upper end portion. The first bent portion 42a is bent toward the rear side. The second bent portion 42b is bent forward and then further bent upward.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the main body portion 41 has a screw hole portion 43 that projects further upward from the upper end of the second bent portion 42b at the central portion of the second bent portion 42b in the left-right direction. The screw hole portion 43 has a pair of screw holes 43a. By screwing a screw 44 (see FIG. 12) into the screw hole 43a, the front case 13 described later is connected to the joint 40.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, on both the left and right sides sandwiching the screw hole portion 43, the upper ends of the second bent portions 42b extend linearly in the left - right direction. Further, the fixing portion 42 has notches 42c cut from both outer sides in the left - right direction toward the inner side at a position between the first bent portion 42a and the second bent portion 42b. With the screw 19 inserted through the notch 42c, the joint 40 is fixed to the main body case 12 by attaching the screw 19 to the boss portion 12b (see FIG. 1) of the main body case 12.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the insertion portion 45 has engaging protrusions 45a protruding outward on both sides in the left - right direction at the lower end portion in the axial direction. The engaging protrusions 45a have a tapered shape in which the protruding amount decreases as it goes toward the upper end portion side of the insertion portion 45 along the axial direction of the insertion portion 45. Also, an O - ring 46 is attached to the outer periphery of the upper end portion in the axial direction of the insertion portion 45.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, when connecting the inner cup 30 and the joint 40, first, the nut 37 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 33 of the inner cup 30. After accommodating the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33, the insertion portion 45 of the joint 40 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 38 of the inner cup 30.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 9, when the engaging protrusion 45a of the joint 40 engages with the through - hole 39a of the engaged portion 39 of the inner cup 30, the joint 40 and the inner cup 30 are connected in a state where they are prevented from coming off. By the O - ring 46 of the insertion portion 45 abutting against the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 38, the space between the inner cup 30 and the joint 40 is sealed in a watertight state.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 9, when the joint 40 and the inner cup 30 are connected, the upper end of the second bent portion 42b in the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 is in a state close to the openings 36a of the two accommodating portions 33 located on the lower side of the inner cup 30. In other words, the upper end of the second bent portion 42b is disposed at a position facing the openings 36a of the accommodating portions 33. Thereby, since the openings 36a of the accommodating portions 33 are in a state of being closed by the upper ends of the second bent portions 42b, it is possible to suppress the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33 from falling off from the accommodating portion 33 before being screwed with the screw 16. The second bent portion 42b in the fixing portion 42 functions as a closing portion for closing the accommodating portion 33.

[0050] When the second bent portion 42b of the fixing portion 42 functions as a closing portion, the fixing portion 42 is in a state of having a closing portion. Note that closing the opening 36a of the accommodating portion 33 does not only mean completely closing the opening 36a, but includes closing the opening 36a to such an extent that the dropping of the nut 37 can be suppressed. Note that closing the opening 36a is also referred to as closing the accommodating portion 33.

[0051] <Discharge unit, water passage member, and connection mechanism of main body case> As shown in Fig. 10, the connection between the discharge unit 20 and the main body case 12 is performed by inserting a screw 19 through the insertion hole 31b of the inner cup 30 of the discharge unit 20 and screwing the screw 19 into the boss portion 12a of the main body case 12. Also, the connection between the water passage member 14 and the main body case 12 is performed by inserting a screw 19 through the notch 42c of the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 of the water passage member 14 and screwing the screw 19 into the boss portion 12b of the main body case 12. Further, it is performed by inserting a screw 19 (see Fig. 2) through a notch (not shown) of the hose connection member 24 of the water passage member 14 and screwing the screw 19 into the boss portion 12b of the main body case 12.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, the main body case 12 has a convex portion 12d that protrudes inward on the inner circumference of the upper end portion. A pair of convex portions 12d are provided at intervals in the left - right direction, and each extends in the front - rear direction along the inner circumference of the main body case 12.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 11, when the inner cup 30 is connected to the main body case 12, the pair of convex portions 12d of the main body case 12 are in a state close to the openings 36a (see FIG. 3) of the two accommodating portions 33 located above the inner cup 30. In other words, the pair of convex portions 12d are arranged at positions facing the openings 36a of the accommodating portions 33. As a result, the openings 36a of the accommodating portions 33 are in a state closed by the pair of convex portions 12d, so that the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33 is suppressed from falling out of the accommodating portion 33 before being screwed with the screw 16. The pair of convex portions 12d in the main body case 12 function as a closing portion for closing the accommodating portion 33.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 3, after connecting the water - passing member 14 and the inner cup 30 to the main body case 12, a rectifying member 21, a mist flow - path forming member 22, and a shower face 60 are arranged on the front - face side of the inner cup 30. Further, the screw 16 is inserted through the insertion hole 60a of the shower face 60, and this screw 16 is screwed with the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33 of the inner cup 30.

[0055] By the above connection mechanism, the main body case 12 is attached to the discharge unit 20 and the water - passing member 14. <Connection mechanism between the water - passing member and the front case> As shown in FIG. 12, the front case 13 has a pair of arm portions 13b at positions above the opening 13a, with an interval in the left - right direction. The pair of arm portions 13b extend along the thickness direction of the front case 13 and have claw portions protruding upward at their tips.

[0056] Also, the front case 13 has a rectangular - plate - shaped protruding piece 13c (see FIG. 2) protruding upward at the upper end portion. The protruding piece 13c has a pair of insertion holes 13d for inserting the screw 44.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2, 12, and 13, a pair of screw holes 13d are inserted with screws 44, and the screws 44 are screwed into screw holes 43a of a screw hole portion 43 of a joint 40, whereby a front case 13 is connected to the joint 40. At this time, an arm portion 13b of the front case 13 engages with a lower end of a first bent portion 42a in a fixing portion 42 of the joint 40. By the above connection mechanism, the front case 13 is attached to a water passing member 14.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 13, the thickness direction of the nut 37 accommodated in the accommodating portion 33, that is, the front-rear direction in FIG. 13, is taken as the height direction of the accommodating portion 33. Then, the dimension T1 of the space in the accommodating portion 33 along the height direction is 1.2 times or more the thickness T2 of the nut 37. It is preferable that the dimension T1 of the space in the accommodating portion 33 is 1.5 times or more the thickness T2 of the nut 37.

[0059] Since the dimension T1 of the space in the accommodating portion 33 is 1.2 times or more the thickness T2 of the nut 37, the distance between the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33 and the insertion hole 34a of the front wall 34 of the accommodating portion 33 can be relatively increased. Thereby, when the screw 16 is inserted into the insertion hole 34a of the accommodating portion 33, it becomes easy to support the screw 16 in a state close to upright at the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 34a. That is, it becomes easy to support the screw 16 in a state along the axial direction of the nut 37. Therefore, it becomes easy to screw the screw 16 into the nut 37. Further, by supporting the screw 16 in a state close to upright at the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 34a, it becomes easy to suppress the screw 16 inserted into the accommodating portion 33 from falling off from the accommodating portion 33 before being screwed into the nut 37.

[0060] <Actions and Effects> The actions and effects of the present embodiment will be described. (1) The inner cup 30 and the shower face 60 are connected to each other using the nut 37 and the screw 16, and the inner cup 30 has an accommodating portion 33 for accommodating the nut 37.

[0061] Without providing a boss portion, the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60 can be connected using the nut 37 and the screw 16. Therefore, even if the attachment and detachment of the shower face 60 are repeated, wear of the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60 can be suppressed.

[0062] (2) As a method of connecting the inner cup 30 and the shower face 60 using the nut 37 and the screw 16, it is also conceivable to embed a nut by insert molding in either the inner cup 30 or the shower face 60. However, embedding a nut by insert molding complicates the manufacturing process of the shower head 10. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a simple configuration of accommodating the nut 37 in the accommodating portion 33 enables connection using the screw 16 and the nut 37, so that the manufacturing process of the shower head 10 can be simplified.

[0063] (3) The fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 of the water passage member 14 has a closing portion that closes the accommodating portion 33 so that the fixing portion 42 does not fall off from the accommodating portion 33 before the nut 37 is screwed with the screw 16. The main body case 12 also has a closing portion. Therefore, the working efficiency of the operation of screwing the screw 16 into the nut 37 can be improved. Further, since the water passage member 14 and the main body case 12 can be used as the closing portion, the configuration of the shower head 10 can be simplified compared to a mode in which a member as the closing portion is separately prepared.

[0064] (4) The dimension T1 of the space within the accommodating portion 33 along the height direction is 1.2 times or more the thickness T2 of the nut 37. The distance between the nut 37 within the accommodating portion 33 and the insertion hole 34a of the front wall 34 of the accommodating portion 33 can be made relatively large. Thereby, when the screw 16 is inserted into the insertion hole 34a of the accommodating portion 33, it becomes easier to support the screw 16 in a state close to upright at the periphery of the insertion hole 34a. That is, it becomes easier to support the screw 16 in a state along the axial direction of the nut 37. Therefore, it becomes easier to thread the screw 16 onto the nut 37. Further, by supporting the screw 16 in a state close to upright at the periphery of the insertion hole 34a, it becomes easier to prevent the screw 16 inserted into the accommodating portion 33 from falling out of the accommodating portion 33 before being threaded onto the nut 37.

[0065] <Modified Example> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range.

[0066] · In this embodiment, the second bent portion 42b in the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 functioned as a closing portion for closing the accommodating portion 33, but it is not limited to this aspect. As shown in FIG. 14, for example, in the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40, the second bent portion 42b may be omitted. In this aspect, the protruding piece 13c located at the upper end portion of the front case 13 has a flange portion 13e that further protrudes outward on both outer sides in the left - right direction. By inserting a screw 44 through a pair of insertion holes 13d of the protruding piece 13c and threading this screw 44 into the screw hole 43a of the joint 40, the front case 13 is connected to the joint 40. Then, the flange portion 13e of the front case 13 is disposed at a position facing the openings 36a (see FIG. 8) of the two accommodating portions 33 located below the inner cup 30. Therefore, the flange portion 13e prevents the nut 37 within the accommodating portion 33 from falling out of the accommodating portion 33 before being threaded onto the screw 44. The flange portion 13e functions as a closing portion. In this aspect, the front case 13 has an aspect with a closing portion.

[0067] · It may have both the second bent portion 42b in the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 and the flange portion 13e of the protruding piece 13c of the front case 13 shown in FIG. 14. In this aspect, both the second bent portion 42b in the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 and the flange portion 13e in the protruding piece 13c of the front case 13 shown in FIG. 14 function as the closing portion.

[0068] · The closing portion that closes the accommodating portion 33 may be omitted. That is, the second bent portion 42b of the fixing portion 42 of the joint 40 may be omitted. Similarly, the pair of convex portions 12d provided on the inner periphery of the upper end portion of the main body case 12 may also be omitted.

[0069] · In the present embodiment, the dimension T1 of the space in the accommodating portion 33 along the height direction was 1.2 times or more the thickness of the nut 37, but it is not limited to this aspect. The dimension T1 of the space in the accommodating portion 33 along the height direction may be less than 1.2 times the thickness of the nut 37 as long as it can accommodate the nut 37.

[0070] · In the present embodiment, the inner cup 30 had the accommodating portion 33 for accommodating the nut 37, but the accommodating portion 33 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 15, for example, the shower face 60 may have an accommodating portion 64 for accommodating the nut 37. In this aspect, the inner cup 30 has a flange portion 32a on the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 32. The screw 16 inserted through the flange portion 32a from the rear side may be screwed into the nut 37 accommodated in the accommodating portion 64 of the shower face 60, whereby the shower face 60 and the inner cup 30 may be connected.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0071] 10…Shower head, 16…Screw, 30…Inner cup, 33…Accommodating portion, 37…Nut, 60…Shower face.

Claims

1. A shower head comprising an inner cup constituting a water passage and a shower face attached to the inner cup, wherein the inner cup and the shower face are connected to each other using a nut and a screw, and wherein either one of the inner cup and the shower face has a receiving portion for receiving the nut. A shower head characterized by this.

2. The shower head according to Claim 1, further comprising a closing portion for closing the receiving portion so that the nut does not fall off from the receiving portion before being screwed with the screw.

3. Comprising a water passage member connected to the inner cup and a case, wherein at least one of the water passage member and the case has the closing portion. The shower head according to Claim 2.

4. The case has a main body case that covers the rear of the water passage member, the water passage member has a fixing portion that is attached in a fixed state to the main body case, and the fixing portion has the closing portion. The shower head according to Claim 3.

5. When the thickness direction of the nut accommodated in the receiving portion is taken as the height direction of the receiving portion, the dimension of the space in the receiving portion along the height direction is 1.2 times or more the thickness of the nut. The shower head according to Claim 1.

Images