Faucet

Abstract

To make an opening cover attached to an opening of a case hard to come off.SOLUTION: There is provided a faucet having a water-permeable member, and a case 2 accommodating the water-permeable member and having an opening 21. An opening cover 8 is attached to the opening 21. The opening cover 8 has a pair of elastically deformable locking portions 83. Each of the locking portions 83 has a locking claw 834 that is locked to an opening edge 212 of the opening 21. The opening cover 8 is locked to the opening 21 by both of the locking claws 834 of the pair of locking portions 83. A sensor cover 71 housed in the case 2 is positioned inside the pair of locking portions 83. A release stroke α of the locking claw 834 with respect to the opening 21 is longer than an interval β between the locking portion 83 having the locking claw 834 and the sensor cover 71 housed in the case 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet with a case. [Background technology]

[0002] An automatic water faucet is equipped with a detection sensor that covers a certain area. This detection area is, for example, an area near the water outlet, and can detect a hand or the like held out to the water outlet. When the detection sensor detects a hand or the like, the control unit opens the water passage and water is discharged from the water outlet, and when the detection sensor no longer detects a hand or the like, the control unit closes the water passage and water is stopped from being discharged.

[0003] However, because detection sensors are precision components and water can cause breakdowns or malfunctions, automatic faucets often include a case to house components such as the detection sensor. A sensor opening is provided in the case, and the detection sensor is placed in a position facing the sensor opening inside the case, making it possible to detect a hand or the like through the sensor opening (sensor hole 17 shown in Figure 1 of Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-11150 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The sensor opening is formed by cutting the surface of the case into a rectangular shape or the like. For this reason, the sensor opening may have burrs generated during cutting, and it is therefore possible to cover the sensor opening with an opening cover. This opening cover may have a pair of locking claws that protrude in directions away from each other. When the opening cover is attached to the sensor opening, the pair of locking claws of the opening cover come into contact with the end surface of the sensor opening and elastically deform inward. When the locking claws overcome the end surface, they return to their original state due to their own elastic force, and the locking claws are locked to the opening edge of the sensor opening, and the opening cover is attached to the sensor opening.

[0006] However, since the locking claw of the opening cover is capable of elastic deformation, if any force is applied to the locking claw after installation and it deforms in the direction of releasing the lock, the locking claw will be released from the edge of the sensor opening, and the opening cover may come off from the sensor opening.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it difficult for an opening cover attached to an opening of a case to come off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, a faucet is provided which includes a water-passing member and a case which houses the water-passing member and has an opening, an opening cover is attached to the opening, the opening cover has a pair of elastically deformable locking portions, each of which has a locking claw that locks onto the edge of the opening, the opening cover is locked to the opening by both locking claws of the pair of locking portions, a member stored in the case is positioned inside the pair of locking portions, and the release stroke of the locking claws with respect to the opening is longer than the distance between the locking portion with the locking claws and the member stored in the case.

[0009] In addition, the faucet has a water outlet below the case and controls the water outlet by detecting the presence or absence of a hand held out at the outlet.The component stored in the case is a detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a hand held out at the outlet, and the opening is a sensor opening.

[0010] The detection sensor includes a sensor cover that covers a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the sensor cover is located inside the pair of engaging portions that face each other. The opening is formed in the lower part of the case.

[0011] The opening cover is integrally formed from a thermoplastic resin. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the opening cover attached to the opening of the case is less likely to come off. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic faucet from diagonally below and front. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of the opening cover, FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of the same, FIG. 3(c) is a front view of the same, and FIG. 3(d) is an enlarged view of the locking portion. [Figure 4] Partial side view of an automatic faucet (cover omitted). [Diagram 5] Cross-sectional view of line VV in Figure 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is an explanatory diagram of the locking portion in the locking position, FIG. 6(b) is an explanatory diagram of the locking portion in the middle of being elastically deformed in the unlocking direction, and FIG. 6(c) is an explanatory diagram of the locking portion in contact with the sensor cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An embodiment of an automatic faucet 1 embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an automatic faucet 1 attached to a wall, viewed from diagonally below and from the front. The automatic faucet 1 is connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) installed on the wall of a washbasin or sink, and spouts clean water (hereinafter simply referred to as "water") from a water supply source. A washbasin, sink, etc. (not shown) is also located below the automatic faucet 1 to receive the spouted water. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic faucet 1 is covered by a cylindrical case 2 with a lid at the tip. A roughly conical decorative sleeve 3 is fitted onto the outside of the case 2, covering the base end of the case 2. The automatic faucet 1 is a sensor-detecting type, and detects the presence or absence of a hand or the like to control the spouting of water and stop it.

[0015] 1 and 2 respectively define the tip (side) and base (side), top (side) and bottom (side), and width direction of the automatic faucet 1 and each of the components that make up the automatic faucet 1. Specifically, the tip (side) and base (side) are the directions in which the cylindrical case 2 extends, and this direction is also called the axial direction. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the up-down direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is also called the width direction.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the automatic faucet 1. The automatic faucet 1 mainly comprises a case 2, a decorative sleeve 3, a valve drive unit 4, a water-passing member 5, and a support member 6. The case 2 is made of a metal such as stainless steel and has a cylindrical shape with a lid at the tip. The case 2 can store the valve drive unit 4, the water-passing member 5, and the support member 6 inside. The valve drive unit 4 is equipped with a detection sensor 7, a control unit for an opening and closing valve (not shown), a power source (not shown), etc. The water-passing member 5 discharges water from the connected water supply pipe, and is equipped with an opening and closing valve (not shown) that is opened and closed according to the detection result of the detection sensor 7. As shown in FIG. 1, only the water outlet 51 that constitutes the water-passing member 5 protrudes from the case 2. The support member 6 is a member that supports the water-passing member 5 downward and the valve drive unit 4 upward.

[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a sensor opening 21 (shown in Fig. 2) and a water outlet opening 22 (shown in Fig. 1) are formed in the lower end of the peripheral surface of the case 2 in this order from the tip. The sensor opening 21 is an opening for irradiating light from the detection sensor 7 stored in the case 2 to the outside of the case 2 and for introducing reflected light into the case 2. The sensor opening 21 is formed on the peripheral surface of the case 2, so it has a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction when viewed from the bottom, but in reality, the long side (side extending in the width direction) of the sensor opening 21 is an arc shape based on the cylindrical shape of the case 2. The water outlet opening 22 is an opening for exposing the water outlet 51 of the water-passing member 5 to the outside of the case 2. The water outlet opening 22 is also circular when viewed from the bottom, but since it is formed on the peripheral surface of the case 2 that has a cylindrical shape, it actually has a three-dimensional elliptical shape. An opening cover 8 is attached to the sensor opening 21. This opening cover 8 is integrally molded from thermoplastic resin.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 3(a) in a perspective view of the opening cover 8, Fig. 3(b) in a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3(c) in a front view thereof, the opening cover 8 has a frame portion 81, a pair of insertion portions 82, and a pair of locking portions 83. The frame portion 81 is a rectangular frame having a sensor window 811, which is a rectangular opening, inside, and covers the periphery of the sensor opening 21 from the outer peripheral surface side. As shown in Fig. 3(b) in a plan view, the frame portion 81 has a rectangular shape, but in a front view shown in Fig. 3(c), the long sides (sides extending in the width direction) of the frame portion 81 have an arc shape along the peripheral surface of the case 2. The pair of insertion portions 82 are made of a pair of flat plate-like members extending upward from the inner edges of both opposing long sides of the sensor window 811, and the distance between the outer surfaces 821 (non-opposing surfaces) of the pair of insertion portions 82 in the thickness direction is approximately the same as the distance between the long sides of the sensor opening 21. Further, inner surfaces 822 (opposing surfaces) in the thickness direction of the pair of insertion portions 82 form the inner edge of the sensor window 811 on the longer side.

[0019] The pair of locking portions 83 are a pair of members extending upward from both opposing inner edges of the short sides of the sensor window 811, and each is elastically deformable. Each locking portion 83 has a flat locking portion body 831 that faces upward, and the distance between both outer surfaces 832 (non-opposing surfaces) of the pair of locking portion bodies 831 in the thickness direction is approximately the same as the distance between the short sides of the sensor opening 21. The inner surfaces 833 (opposing surfaces) of the pair of locking portion bodies 831 in the thickness direction are flat surfaces and form the window inner edges on the short sides of the sensor window 811. Each locking portion body 831 has a locking claw 834 formed on its upper side that overlaps the outer surface 832 (non-opposing surface) of the locking portion body 831 and protrudes outward in the width direction perpendicular to the outer surface 832. That is, each locking portion 83 is composed of a locking portion main body 831 and a locking claw 834, and the pair of locking claws 834 protrude in directions away from each other from an outer surface 832 of each locking portion main body 831.

[0020] The configuration of the locking claw 834 will be described from the bottom based on FIG. 3(d). The locking claw 834 has a lower inclined surface 834a that increases in thickness upward based on the outer surface 832 of the locking body 831, followed by a protruding end 834b of a constant thickness, and an upper inclined surface 834c that decreases in thickness upward. The upper end of the outer surface 832 of the locking body 831 is also flush with the upper inclined surface 834c, and the thickness decreases upward. The locking claw 834 is trapezoidal in front view with the outer surface 832 of the locking body 831 as the base (shown by a broken line in the locking part 83 in FIG. 3(d)). Therefore, the distance between the protruding ends 834b of the pair of locking parts 83 that protrude most outward is longer than the distance between the short sides of the sensor opening 21 by the amount of protrusion of the locking claw 834.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3(d), when the opening cover 8 is attached to the sensor opening 21, the outer surface 832 of the locking portion main body 831 is positioned opposite the end surface 211 of the sensor opening 21. Also, the lower inclined surface 834a of the locking claw 834 abuts against the upper opening edge (opening edge) 212 of the sensor opening 21. For convenience of explanation, the lower inclined surface 834a and the upper opening edge 212 are spaced apart in FIG. 3(d) and FIG. 6(a). Therefore, when the sensor opening 21 faces vertically downward, the inclination angle (accurately, a circular arc) of the upper opening edge 212 with respect to the vertical downward direction and the inclination angle of the lower inclined surface 834a of the locking claw 834 of the opening cover 8 attached to the sensor opening 21 are substantially the same. In this state, the lower inclined portions 834a of the pair of locking claws 834 are each in contact with the upper edge 212 of the sensor opening 21, so that the opening cover 8 is locked to the sensor opening 21 by the locking claws 834 of the locking portion 83 in a non-slip manner.

[0022] To release the engagement between the opening cover 8 and the sensor opening 21, the locking portion 83 is elastically deformed from the state shown in FIG. 3(d) in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the locking claw 834 (to the right in the figure) with the base of the frame portion 81 as the starting point. Then, when the protruding end portion 834b of the locking claw 834 is at least in the same position as the end face 211 of the sensor opening 21 (release position), the locking claw 834 can pass through the end face 211 of the sensor opening 21 and move downward. The distance that the locking portion 83 moves at this time is α. Therefore, this distance α is the release stroke of the locking claw 834 with respect to the sensor opening 21, that is, the length from the position where the locking claw 834 is engaged with the sensor opening 21 to the position where the locking claw 834 can be released from the sensor opening 21.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the automatic faucet 1, and FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of line VV in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the case 2 is omitted in order to show the positional relationship between the locking portion 83 of the opening cover 8 and the sensor cover 71 of the detection sensor 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the sensor cover 71 of the detection sensor 7 housed in the case 2 is located between the opposing surfaces 84, which are above the sensor window 811 of the opening cover 8 attached to the case 2 and inside the pair of locking portions 83. The detection sensor 7 includes the sensor cover 71, and the light-emitting element 72 and the light-receiving element 73 housed in the sensor cover 71. The sensor cover 71 is made of a translucent resin, and light from the light-emitting element 72 is irradiated downward through the sensor cover 71 and the sensor window 811, and the reflected light can be received by the light-receiving element 73 through the sensor window 811 and the sensor cover 71. In addition, the sensor cover 71 has a lower end that is an inclined surface facing upward and forward in order to make the light-emitting element 72 emit light diagonally downward and forward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensor cover 71 is not positioned on the tip side of the opposed surfaces 84 of the pair of locking portions 83 .

[0024] 6(a) shows the locking portions 83 and the sensor cover 71 in the locking position. As shown in the figure, the sensor cover 71 is located between the opposing surfaces 84 on the inside of the pair of locking portions 83. Here, the minimum distance between each locking portion 83 and the sensor cover 71 is the distance β between both inner surfaces 833 of the pair of locking portions 83 and the side surface of the sensor cover 71 (see FIG. 5), and this distance β is shorter than the distance α (α>β). Note that in this embodiment, both of the two gaps formed between the pair of locking portions 83 and the sensor cover 71 are the distance β.

[0025] The function of the locking portion 83 of the opening cover 8 will be described. When the automatic faucet 1 is assembled, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the opening cover 8 is attached to the sensor opening 21 of the case 2, and the inside and outside of the case 2 are in communication via the sensor window 811 of the opening cover 8. The detection sensor 7 is disposed inside the case 2, and the sensor cover 71 of the detection sensor 7 is located above the sensor window 811. The sensor cover 71 is also located between the opposing surfaces 84, which are on the inside of a pair of locking portions 83. The assembly procedure is as follows: after the opening cover 8 is attached to the case 2, the structure in which the valve drive unit 4 including the detection sensor 7 and the water passage member 5 are supported by the support member 6 is slid along the axial direction of the case 2 and stored in the case 2.

[0026] Assume that a force in the unlocking direction (rightward in the figure) acts on the locking portion 83 of the opening cover 8 in the locking position shown in FIG. 6(a). For example, the tip of a flat head screwdriver may be inserted between the case 2 and the opening cover 8. The locking portion 83 and the case 2 are locked by a lower inclined surface 834a of the locking claw 834 and the upper edge 212 of the sensor opening 21 that is inclined upward as it moves outward in the width direction relative to a vertically downward direction. Therefore, when a downward force acts on the opening cover 8, a force inward in the width direction acts on the lower inclined surface 834a of the locking claw 834, and the locking portion 83 is displaced from the locking position (FIG. 6(a)) to the rightward in the figure, which is the opposite direction to the protruding direction of the locking claw 834, starting from the base of the locking portion 83 with the frame portion 81.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 6(b), the gap between the inner surface 833 of the locking portion 83 and the sensor cover 71 gradually narrows as the locking portion 83 is displaced. Here, the minimum gap between the locking portion 83 and the sensor cover 71 is gap β, and the release stroke of the locking claw 834 with respect to the sensor opening 21 is distance α, which is longer than gap β. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(c), even when the locking portion 83 is further displaced, the inner surface 833 of the locking portion 83 abuts against the sensor cover 71 when the locking claw 834 moves a distance equivalent to gap β. This is before the locking claw 834 reaches the release position. Further displacement in the release direction is restricted while the locking claw 834 has not yet reached the end surface 211 of the sensor opening 21, so that the locking of the locking portion 83 is released and the opening cover 8 is prevented from coming off the case 2.

[0028] According to the automatic faucet 1 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the above embodiment, the distance α, which is the release stroke of the locking claw 834 with respect to the sensor opening 21, is longer than the interval β between the locking portion 83 and the sensor cover 71. For this reason, when the protruding end portion 834b of the locking claw 834 moves a distance equivalent to the interval β in the locking release direction, the inner surface 833 of the locking portion 83 abuts against the sensor cover 71. Then, because the locking claw 834 has not yet reached the end surface 211 of the sensor opening 21, further displacement of the locking claw 834 is restricted, and the locking of the locking portion 83 is released, preventing the opening cover 8 from coming off the case 2.

[0029] (2) The detection sensor 7 is disposed opposite the sensor opening 21. The locking portion 83 comes into contact with the sensor cover 71 of the detection sensor 7 when it moves in the unlocking direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated member for restricting the movement of the locking portion 83; it is sufficient to use the detection sensor 7, which is an existing member.

[0030] (3) When the locking portion 83 moves in the unlocking direction, it comes into contact with the sensor cover 71. Because the sensor cover 71 is a cover that covers the light-emitting element 72 and the light-receiving element 73, the function of the detection sensor 7 is not significantly affected even if the locking portion 83 comes into contact with the sensor cover 71.

[0031] (4) Opening cover 8 is a cover that covers sensor opening 21 located at the bottom of case 2. Opening cover 8 is attached from below sensor opening 21 and is therefore more likely to come off and fall than covers attached to other parts due to its position, but this can be prevented.

[0032] (5) The opening cover 8 is integrally formed from a thermoplastic resin, which makes it easy to form the elastically deformable locking portion 83. The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0033] The distances between the pair of locking portions 83 and the sensor cover 71 at two locations do not need to be the same. The opening cover 8 may be made of a material other than resin, or may be made by insert molding another material into the resin.

[0034] Although the opening cover 8 is used for the sensor opening 21, the opening cover 8 may be used to cover other openings. The member located inside the pair of locking portions 83 may be another member other than the detection sensor 7. In addition, the member may be a dedicated member used only to restrict the release of the locking claws 834.

[0035] The movement direction for positioning the member inside the pair of locking portions 83 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the detection sensor 7 as a member is slid along the axial direction of the case 2, i.e., parallel to the opening 21, and stored in the case 2 to be positioned inside the pair of locking portions 83. The movement direction of the member is not limited to this, and may be a direction perpendicular to the opening 21 or an oblique direction. As a result, it is sufficient that the member is positioned inside the pair of locking portions 83.

[0036] The location of the case 2 where the opening cover 8 is attached, i.e., the location where the opening 21 of the case 2 is formed, is not limited to the lower circumferential surface. It may be on the side or upper part of the circumferential surface of the case 2, or may be on the tip surface of the case 2.

[0037] Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects. (a) A faucet in which the locking portion and the member housed in the case are in a relationship in which, when the locking claw of the locking portion moves in the unlocking direction, the locking portion and the case come into contact before the protruding end of the locking claw reaches the open end of the case. Therefore, according to the invention described in (a), even if the locking claw of the locking portion moves in the unlocking direction, the locking portion and the case come into contact before the protruding end of the locking claw reaches the open end of the case, so that the locking by the locking claw is unlikely to come off. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1...automatic faucet (faucet), 2...case, 5...water-passing member, 7...detection sensor (member), 8...opening cover, 21...sensor opening (opening), 71...sensor cover, 83...locking portion, 84...between opposing surfaces (inside), 212...upper edge of opening (opening edge), 834...locking claw, α...release stroke, β...distance between locking portion and member stored in the case.

Claims

1. A faucet comprising a water-passing member and a case for housing the water-passing member and having an opening, An opening cover is attached to the opening, The opening cover has a pair of elastically deformable locking portions, Each of the locking portions has a locking portion main body and a locking claw that is engaged with an opening edge of the opening, the pair of locking portions are arranged so that the inner surfaces of the locking portion bodies face each other, and the locking claws protrude in directions away from each other from the outer surfaces of the locking portion bodies, The opening cover is engaged with the opening by both of the engaging claws of the pair of engaging portions, A member housed in the case is located inside the inner surface of each of the opposing locking body portions, The member housed in the case has side surfaces facing the inner surfaces of the locking portion bodies, The release strokes of the locking claws of the pair of locking portions relative to the openings are longer than the distances between the inner surfaces of the locking portion bodies and the side surfaces of the member housed in the case. A faucet characterized by:

2. The faucet has a water outlet below the case and controls water discharge by detecting the presence or absence of a hand held out to the water outlet. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the member housed in the case is a detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a hand held out to the spout, and the opening is an opening for a sensor.

3. The faucet according to claim 2, wherein the detection sensor includes a sensor cover that covers a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and the sensor cover is the member housed within the case.

4. 4. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed below the case.

5. 5. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the opening cover is integrally formed from a thermoplastic resin.

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