Faucet

Abstract

To provide a faucet capable of making it difficult for fingers to touch water discharge when operating an operation part 14.SOLUTION: A faucet comprises: a faucet body having a flow channel for water; and a discharge part for discharging the water from the flow channel, wherein the discharge part has a switching part capable of switching a discharge mode of the water between direct current water and water spray, the switching part has an operation part 14 having a cylindrical shape and rotating to switch the discharge mode, a water spray part 15 for spraying the water is positioned inside the operation part 14, the operation part 14 has a wall part 142 surrounding the water spray part 15, and a tip of the wall part 142 is located on a tip side of the water spray part 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet capable of switching the discharge form of water.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a faucet capable of switching the discharge form of water. This faucet includes a direct water flow path for discharging direct water and a water spray flow path for discharging water spray, and further includes a switching portion for switching these flow paths. This switching portion can be operated by an operation member, and the user can switch the flow path and the discharge form of water by gripping and rotating the operation member with a finger (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the faucet of Patent Document 1, the switching operation of the switching portion is performed by gripping and rotating the operation member with a finger. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 thereof, the tip of the operation member is located on the base end side in the axial direction rather than the water discharge member that discharges water. For this reason, when a finger is placed on the operation member, the finger may be close to or touch the water discharge member. And if water is discharged as it is, the water may accidentally hit the finger, and the water spray hitting the finger may scatter in an unexpected direction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a faucet in which a finger located on the operation portion is less likely to touch the discharged water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The invention for solving the above problems is a faucet having a faucet body with a water flow path and a discharge part for discharging the water from the flow path. The discharge part has a switching part capable of switching the discharge form of the water between direct water flow and sprinkling water. The switching part has an operating part having a cylindrical shape and switching the discharge form by rotation. A sprinkling part for discharging sprinkling water is located inside the operating part. The operating part has a wall part surrounding the sprinkling part, and the tip of the wall part is located on the tip side of the sprinkling part.

[0007] The discharge part has a discharge port part for discharging the direct water flow, and the tip of the wall part is located on the base end side of the tip of the discharge port part. The wall part is formed over the entire circumference of the operating part. The outer peripheral surface of the wall part is formed flush with the outer peripheral surface of the operating part. The wall part has a thickness of 3 mm or less.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when operating the operating part, it becomes difficult for a finger to touch the discharged water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the faucet 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the description of this embodiment, with respect to the tip and the base end of each component, based on the flow of water, the downstream (side) is referred to as the tip (side), and the upstream (side) is referred to as the base end (side). Also, the direction along the rotation axis of the operation ring is referred to as the axial direction.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the faucet 1. The faucet 1 is connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe (both not shown) extending from below the top plate T of the sink, and discharges water, hot water, or a mixed water thereof (collectively also referred to as water). As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet 1 is composed of a faucet body 2 disposed on the top plate T of the sink and a discharge portion 3 connected to the faucet body 2. The faucet body 2 has a mixing mechanism for mixing water from the water supply pipe and hot water from the hot water supply pipe, and a flow rate adjusting mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of water (both not shown), and a main body flow path 9 (see FIG. 2) serving as a flow path for the water after mixing and flow rate adjustment is formed. The faucet body 2 has a substantially cylindrical main body case 4 extending vertically upward from the top plate T and a flow path case 5 connected to the main body case 4. The mixing mechanism and the flow rate adjusting mechanism are disposed in the main body case 4, and the main body flow path 9 is formed across the main body case 4 and the flow path case 5. Further, a female thread 5a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tip side of the flow path case 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet body 2 has a single handle 6 at the upper part of the main body case 4, and by operating this handle 6, the temperature of the water and the discharge amount are adjusted. The handle 6 is rotatable in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. When rotated in the horizontal direction, the mixing ratio of hot water and water can be adjusted by the mixing mechanism, and when rotated in the vertical direction, the flow rate of water can be adjusted by the flow rate adjusting mechanism. Note that FIG. 1 shows the state where the handle 6 is lowered to the lower end, and at this position, the water is shut off.

[0013] The main body case 4 has a branch portion 7 on the side surface. The branch portion 7 is integrally formed with the main body case 4, has a cylindrical shape extending laterally, and the tip is open. Further, a flow path case 5 is connected to the tip of the branch portion 7. The flow path case 5 has a cylindrical shape with a curved tip, and a flow path pipe 8 is disposed inside to constitute the main body flow path 9 (see FIG. 2) of the faucet body 2.

[0014] A discharge part 3 is arranged at the tip of the flow path case 5. The discharge part 3 is connected to the tip of the flow path pipe 8, and the mixing ratio and flow rate are adjusted by the faucet body 2, and the water that has passed through the main body flow path 9 is discharged to the outside of the faucet 1. The discharge part 3 includes a fixed valve 11, a movable valve 12, a support cylinder 13, an operation ring 14 as an operation part, a watering plate 15 as a watering part, and a discharge port part 16. Further, the discharge part 3 has a switching part 10 that can switch the discharge form of the discharged water between straight direct water and shower-like watering. The switching part 10 switches the discharge form by switching the flow path in the water discharge part 3, and is composed of the fixed valve 11, the movable valve 12, and the operation ring 14 in the discharge part 3.

[0015] Based on the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the positional relationship of the members constituting the discharge part 3 will be briefly described. A fixed valve 11 is connected to the tip of the flow path pipe 8, and the movable valve 12 and the discharge port part 16 are located in series with this fixed valve 11. Further, the support cylinder 13 houses the fixed valve 11 and the movable valve 12 inside. The operation ring 14 partially covers the support cylinder 13 and the discharge port part 16, and the watering plate 15 is located inside the tip of the operation ring 14.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed valve 11 is a member having a convex shape in side view as a whole and is formed of resin. The base end side of the fixed valve 11 is an insertion part 111 and is fitted inside the flow path pipe 8. A flange part 112 is formed on the tip side of the insertion part 111, and a pair of locking grooves 113 are formed at positions 180 degrees apart on the outer peripheral edge of the flange part 112 (see FIG. 3). Further, the tip side of the flange part 112 is a fixed valve body 114 having a smaller diameter than the flange part 112 and having a substantially cylindrical shape, and an O-ring 114a is mounted on the outer periphery.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the fixed valve 11 as seen from the side of the fixed valve body 114 (the tip side). On the end face 115 of the fixed valve body 114, a pair of fan-shaped fixed valve holes 116 that are formed symmetrically with respect to the center are formed. In this pair of fixed valve holes 116, flow paths communicating from the insertion portion 111 are formed. The opening angle of the fixed valve hole 116, that is, the opening angle as seen from the base of the fan-shaped portion, is approximately 90 degrees. Also, between the circumferential directions of the pair of fixed valve holes 116 on the end face 115, a pair of relief holes 117 are formed, but these relief holes 117 have bottoms and do not constitute a flow path. For this reason, in the fixed valve 11, a flow path is formed through which water flowing into the insertion portion 111 from the flow path pipe 8 passes inside the fixed valve body 114 and flows out from the pair of fixed valve holes 116 formed on the end face 115 (solid arrows in Fig. 3).

[0018] On the end face 115 of the fixed valve 11, a pair of restricting wall portions 118 are formed on the outer peripheral edge. The restricting wall portions 118 have a substantially rectangular cross-section and are formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the end face 115 in a plan view. The pair of restricting wall portions 118 are located on the radially outer side of the pair of fixed valve holes 116 in the outer peripheral edge of the end face 115, but the angular range of the restricting wall portions 118 is slightly narrower than the opening angle of the fixed valve holes 116.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, the movable valve 12 is located on the tip side of the fixed valve 11. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the movable valve 12 as seen from the base end side. The movable valve 12 is a member having a movable valve body 121 on the base end side and a cylindrical portion 122 on the tip side, and is formed of resin. The movable valve body 121 has a flange-shaped pedestal 123 and a valve seat 124 protruding from the pedestal 123 on the base end side. The valve seat 124 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the pedestal 123 in a plan view and forms a pair of fan shapes that are integrated in the central portion. Also, a pair of fan-shaped movable valve holes 125 are formed through the valve seat 124, and this pair of movable valve holes 125 have substantially the same shape as the pair of fixed valve holes 116. An 8-shaped elastic ring 126 is attached to the valve seat 124 so as to surround the pair of movable valve holes 125, and its surface protrudes to the base end side of the movable valve holes 125.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4, the valve seat 124 has an outer peripheral edge formed in an arc shape, and its diameter is shorter than the distance between the inner peripheral surfaces of a pair of restricting wall portions 118 formed on the fixed valve 11. Also, at one end in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral edge of the valve seat 124, a pair of locking pieces 124a are formed radially outward at positions 180 degrees apart, and the distance between both outer ends of this pair of locking pieces 124a is longer than the distance between the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of restricting wall portions 118. The portion on the pedestal 123 where the valve seat 124 is not formed becomes a pair of recesses 127, and these recesses 127 constitute a water-diffusing flow path (dashed-line arrow in Fig. 4). The cylindrical portion 122 has a smaller diameter than the pedestal 123, and its inside forms a direct-flow water flow path that is hollow and communicates with a pair of movable valve holes 125 (solid-line arrow in Fig. 4), and its outside forms a water-diffusing flow path that continues from the recess 127 (dashed-line arrow in Fig. 4). On the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the cylindrical portion 122, four concave grooves 122a extending in the axial direction are formed at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction, and a female thread 122b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side of the cylindrical portion 122.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the fixed valve 11 and the movable valve 12 are positioned with the support cylinder 13 externally fitted. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the support cylinder 13 viewed from the proximal end side. The support cylinder 13 is a cylindrical member formed of resin. A male thread 131 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end side of the support cylinder 13 and is screwed into a female thread 5a formed in the flow path case 5. Also, a V-ring 132 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end side of the support cylinder 13.

[0022] Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the tip side of the support cylinder 13, a number of support frames 133 having the same shape are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. All of the support frames 133 are long in the axial direction and rise radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the support cylinder 13. Among the support frames 133, the base end side is a large-diameter frame 133a with a relatively large diameter of the inscribed circle (low rising height). Also, the tip side thereof is a small-diameter frame 133c with a relatively small diameter of the inscribed circle (high rising height) via a step 133b. The diameter of the circle inscribed in the large-diameter frame 133a is longer than the diameter of the pedestal 123 of the movable valve 12, and the diameter of the circle inscribed in the small-diameter frame 133c is shorter than the diameter of the pedestal 123 of the movable valve 12 and longer than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 122 of the movable valve 12. The inner peripheral surface of the support cylinder 13 surrounded by the support frames 133 constitutes a water spray passage together with the outside of the cylindrical portion 122 of the movable valve 12. Note that the inner peripheral surface of the support cylinder 13 has a smaller diameter and a thicker wall at the portion where the small-diameter frame 133c is formed than at the portion where the large-diameter frame 133a is formed.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the operation ring 14 is a member having a structure in which a water spray plate 15 is integrally formed on the tip side and is formed of resin. The operation ring 14 has a cylindrical shape with substantially the same diameter as the tip of the flow path case 5, and on its outer surface, uneven patterns 141 extending in the axial direction are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. These uneven patterns 141 function as anti-slip means when the operation ring 14 is gripped with fingers.

[0024] As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view in FIG. 6, the water spray plate 15 integrally formed with the operation ring 14 has a number of water spray holes 151 penetrating in the axial direction, and the water discharged through these water spray holes 151 becomes water spray. This water spray plate 15 constitutes a water spray passage. As shown in FIG. 6, the water spray holes 151 are tapered with a gradually smaller diameter toward the tip, whereby the discharge pressure of the water spray can be increased. An insertion hole 152 is formed at the radial center of the water spray plate 15, and the water spray plate 15 has a donut shape in plan view. A concave locking step portion 153 is formed over the entire circumference at the tip side of the outer peripheral edge of the insertion hole 152, and convex portions 154 extending in the axial direction are formed at four locations at 90-degree intervals at the base end side of the outer peripheral edge. These convex portions 154 can be respectively locked to the concave grooves 122a of the movable valve 12.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 6, the operation ring 14 surrounds the watering plate 15 and has an annular wall portion 142 that protrudes to the tip side of the tip surface 155 of the watering plate 15. The tip surface 155 of the watering plate 15 is located on the base end side of the wall portion 142. Note that although the wall portion 142 is also a part of the operation ring 14, in the following description, when referring to the wall portion 142 with respect to the operation ring 14, it means the portion that protrudes to the tip side of the tip surface 155 of the watering plate 15 in the axial direction of the operation ring 14. The wall portion 142 is formed over the entire circumference of the operation ring 14, and there is no step or the like between the outer peripheral surface of the wall portion 142 and the outer peripheral surface of the operation ring 14, and both outer peripheral surfaces are formed in a continuous flush shape. Also, the tip of the wall portion 142 forms an arc shape on the outer peripheral side and a linear shape that becomes narrower toward the tip on the inner peripheral side. The height t of the wall portion 142 with respect to the tip surface 155 of the watering plate 15 is 1.5 mm, and the thickness w of the wall portion 142 including the rising portion from the tip surface 155 of the watering plate 15 is 2.5 mm.

[0026] The discharge port portion 16 shown in Fig. 2 is a metal base member having a substantially cylindrical shape, with a male thread 161 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base end side and a large-diameter portion 162 formed on the outer periphery of the tip side. The inside of the discharge port portion 16 constitutes a straight water flow path. The male thread 161 is screwed into the female thread 122b of the movable valve 12. Also, the large-diameter portion 162 abuts against the locking step portion 153 of the watering plate 15. As shown in Fig. 2, a rectifying plate 163 for adjusting the water flow when discharging straight water and a filter 164 for filtering foreign matter are arranged inside the discharge port portion 16, but their descriptions are omitted.

[0027] Regarding the assembly configuration of the discharge portion 3 As shown in FIG. 2, a part of the discharge unit 3 is assembled in a form that is located inside the flow path case 5. Specifically, the insertion portion 111 of the fixed valve 11 is fitted inside the flow path pipe 8 in the flow path case 5. Locking portions (not shown) are formed at two positions on the flow path pipe 8. When the insertion portion 111 of the fixed valve 11 is inserted into the flow path pipe 8, the locking groove 113 of the fixed valve 11 is locked to the locking portion, and the fixed valve 11 is positioned so as not to be relatively rotatable with respect to the flow path pipe 8. Further, the valve seat 124 of the movable valve 12 is located inside the pair of restricting wall portions 118 formed on the fixed valve 11 in the radial direction, and a pair of locking pieces 124a formed on the valve seat 124 are located between the pair of restricting wall portions 118 in the circumferential direction.

[0028] The support cylinder 13 is screwed with the female screw 5a of the flow path case 5 with the fixed valve 11 and the movable valve 12 arranged inside, so that it is not relatively rotatable with respect to the flow path case 5. The O-ring 114a of the fixed valve 11 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the support cylinder 13, and the flange portion 112 of the fixed valve 11 is seated on the base end edge of the support cylinder 13, and both are positioned in the axial direction. The movable valve 12 has a flange-shaped pedestal 123 seated on the step 133b of the support frame 133 formed on the support cylinder 13 and is axially positioned in a loosely fitted state with respect to the support cylinder 13. The end face 115 of the fixed valve 11 and the valve seat 124 of the movable valve 12 face each other via an elastic ring 126.

[0029] An operation ring 14 is externally fitted to the tip side of the support cylinder 13, and a watertight state is achieved between the two by the V-ring 132 attached to the support cylinder 13. Further, the discharge port portion 16 is screwed to the movable valve 12 through the insertion hole 152 of the water spray plate 15 integrally formed with the operation ring 14. The large-diameter portion 162 of the discharge port portion 16 is locked to the locking step portion 153 of the water spray plate 15, and further, the convex portion 154 of the water spray plate 15 is locked to the concave groove 122a of the movable valve 12. Therefore, when the operation ring 14 is rotated, the water spray plate 15 integrally formed therewith also rotates, and at the same time, the movable valve 12 and the discharge port portion 16 also rotate. At this time, the fixed valve 11 locked to the flow path pipe 8 and the support cylinder 13 screwed to the flow path case 5 do not rotate.

[0030] Further, since the movable valve 12 can rotate only between the pair of restricting wall portions 118 formed on the fixed valve 11 by the locking piece 124a formed thereon, the rotation of the operation ring 14 is also restricted within the same range, and the operation ring 14 can reciprocally rotate within a range of about 90 degrees.

[0031] Regarding the switching operation of the discharge form from the discharge part 3 The discharge part 3 has the valve seat 124 of the movable valve 12 facing the end face 115 of the fixed valve 11 via the elastic ring 126. When the operation ring 14 is rotated, the movable valve 12 rotates within a range of about 90 degrees with respect to the fixed valve 11. The valve seat 124 of the movable valve 12 has a fan shape with an opening angle of about 90 degrees. When the operation ring 14 is rotated, the movable valve hole 125 of the movable valve 12 rotates between a position where it faces and communicates with the fixed valve hole 116 of the fixed valve 11 (communication position) and a position where it does not face and does not communicate (non-communication position).

[0032] When the movable valve 12 is in the communication position, the fixed valve hole 116 communicates with the movable valve hole 125 of the movable valve 12, and the elastic ring 126 is disposed around the movable valve hole 125. For this reason, the switching part 10 forms a direct current water flow path that communicates with the discharge port part 16 through the movable valve hole 125 from the fixed valve hole 116 (solid line arrow in FIG. 3), passes through the inside of the cylindrical part 122 (solid line arrow in FIG. 4), and water is discharged as direct current water from the tip of the discharge port part 16.

[0033] On the one hand, when the operation ring 14 is gripped with a finger and rotated by about 90 degrees, as the operation ring 14 rotates, the movable valve 12 also rotates by about 90 degrees, and the movable valve hole 125 reaches a position where it does not communicate with the fixed valve hole 116 of the fixed valve 11 (non-communication position). At this position, the fixed valve hole 116 communicates with a recess 127 where the valve seat 124 is not formed instead of the movable valve hole 125. The recess 127 communicates with the water sprinkling plate 15 via the space between the pedestal 123 and the large-diameter frame 133a of the support cylinder 13, and further via the space between the outside of the cylindrical portion 122 and the support cylinder 13 (dashed arrow in Fig. 4). Therefore, the switching portion 10 forms a water flow path that leads from the fixed valve hole 116 (solid arrow in Fig. 3), passes through the recess 127 of the movable valve 12, and reaches the water sprinkling plate 15 via the space between the outside of the cylindrical portion 122 and the inside of the support cylinder 13 (dashed arrow in Fig. 4), and water is discharged as water spray from the water spray holes 151. To make this into direct current water, if the operation ring 14 is gripped with a finger again and rotated by about 90 degrees in the opposite direction this time, the movable valve hole 125 of the movable valve 12 is switched to the communication position facing the fixed valve hole 116 of the fixed valve 11 again, and the direct current flow path described above is formed.

[0034] Here, the operation ring 14 has a wall portion 142 surrounding the water sprinkling plate 15, and the tip of this wall portion 142 is located on the tip side of the water sprinkling plate 15. When the operation ring 14 is gripped and operated with a finger, the tip side of the operation ring 14 may be gripped. In this case, the distance between the tip of the operation ring 14 (wall portion 142) and the water spray holes 151 of the water sprinkling plate 15 becomes longer compared to the case where there is no wall portion 142. Therefore, even if the finger is located on the wall portion 142 of the operation ring 14, the distance between the finger and the water spray holes 151 can be ensured to be long, and it becomes difficult for the finger to touch the water spray.

[0035] According to the faucet 1 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the operation ring 14 has a wall portion 142 that surrounds the water sprinkling plate 15, and the tip of this wall portion 142 is located on the tip side of the water sprinkling plate 15. And, due to the wall portion 142, the distance between the tip of the operation ring 14 (wall portion 142) and the water sprinkling holes 151 of the water sprinkling plate 15 becomes longer compared to the case where there is no wall portion 142. For this reason, even when a finger is positioned on the wall portion 142, the distance between the finger and the water sprinkling holes 151 of the water sprinkling plate 15 can be ensured to be long, and it is possible to make it difficult for the finger to touch the water sprinkling.

[0036] (2) The discharge portion 3 has a discharge port portion 16 that discharges direct-flow water, and the tip of the wall portion 142 is located on the base end side of the tip of the discharge port portion 16. For this reason, the discharge port portion 16 of the direct-flow water is located at the tip rather than the wall portion 142, and it becomes difficult for a finger to touch the direct-flow water in a form in which the water is discharged in a lump.

[0037] (3) The wall portion 142 is formed over the entire circumference of the operation ring 14. For this reason, no matter from which direction the operation ring 14 is gripped, it is possible to make it difficult for a finger to touch the water sprinkling. (4) Since the wall portion 142 is formed flush with the outer peripheral surface of the operation ring 14, even when a finger touches the operation ring 14 including the wall portion 142, it is difficult for a sense of discomfort to occur.

[0038] (5) The thickness w of the wall portion 142 is set to 2.5 mm with reference to the rising portion from the front end surface 155 of the water sprinkling plate 15. Also by this, when gripping the operation ring 14 including the wall portion 142, the distance between the finger and the water sprinkling plate 15 can be ensured, and it is possible to make it difficult for the finger to touch the water sprinkling.

[0039] (6) The water sprinkling plate 15 is integrally formed with the operation ring 14. For this reason, the molding of the operation ring 14 and the water sprinkling plate 15 becomes easy. (7) The wall portion 142 is integrally formed as a part of the operation ring 14. For this reason, the molding of the wall portion 142 becomes easy.

[0040] Note that the above embodiment may be modified as follows. · The thickness w of the wall portion 142 is set to 2.5 mm, but this thickness w may be changed, for example, it can be made 3 mm or less.

[0041] · The outer peripheral surface of the wall portion 142 and the operation ring 14 are flush, but a step or the like may be provided to distinguish the operation ring 14 other than the wall portion 142 in the formed portion of the wall portion 142. In this case, it can be recognized by the finger touching the step or the like of the wall portion 142 that this portion is the proximal end of the wall portion 142 and is touching the tip of the operation ring 14.

[0042] · The operation ring 14 and the water sprinkling plate 15 are integrally formed, but they may be formed separately and assembled. · The wall portion 142 is provided on the entire circumference of the operation ring 14, but the wall portion 142 surrounding the water sprinkling plate 15 is not limited to the entire circumference of the operation ring 14 and may be provided partially. Even if the wall portion 142 is formed partially on the operation ring 14, the water sprinkling plate 15 is surrounded by the wall portion 142.

[0043] · The faucet 1 may be configured to discharge and stop water by detecting a finger by a sensor. · The faucet 1 is not limited to being installed on a washbasin, and includes those installed on a sink or a shower installed in a bathroom.

[0044] · The faucet 1 is a so-called mixing faucet that mixes and discharges water and hot water, but it may also be configured to discharge only water or only hot water without a mixing function. Water as a liquid is the water referred to in the present invention regardless of temperature.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1... faucet, 2... faucet body, 3... discharge portion, 4... main body case, 5... flow path case, 9... main body flow path (flow path), 10... switching portion, 11... fixed valve, 12... movable valve, 13 support cylinder, 14... operation ring (operation portion), 15... water sprinkling plate (water sprinkling portion), 16... discharge port portion, 142... wall portion, 151... water sprinkling hole.

Claims

1. In a faucet having a faucet body with a water flow path and a discharge part that discharges the water from the flow path, the faucet body has a flow path case, the discharge part includes a fixed valve, a movable valve, and a support cylinder, the fixed valve and the movable valve are housed in the support cylinder, the support cylinder has a male thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base end side, and by screwing this male thread into a female thread formed in the flow path case, the support cylinder is non-rotatable relative to the flow path case, the discharge part has a switching part capable of switching the discharge form of the water between direct flow water and sprinkling water, the switching part has an operation ring as an operation part that forms a cylinder shape and switches the discharge form by rotation, the operation ring is externally fitted to the tip end side of the support cylinder, a sprinkling plate as a sprinkling part for discharging sprinkling water is located inside the operation ring, the operation ring and the sprinkling plate have a structure formed integrally, the operation ring has a wall part surrounding the sprinkling plate, and the tip of the wall part is located on the tip end side of the sprinkling plate. A faucet characterized by this.

2. the discharge part has a discharge port part for discharging the direct flow water, The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the wall part is located on the base end side of the tip of the discharge port part.

3. The faucet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wall part is formed over the entire circumference of the operation ring.

4. The faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the wall part is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the operation ring.

5. The faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wall part has a thickness of 3 mm or less.

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