Faucet equipment

Abstract

To provide a water discharge device realizing both securing of durability of a resin hose and operability of a water discharge head when the water discharge head is pulled out and used.SOLUTION: A faucet device according to one aspect of an embodiment comprises: a faucet body; a water discharge head that is detachable from the faucet body; and a flexible resin hose part that is connected to the water discharge head so as to allow water flow, wherein the water discharge head comprises a head body that has a water discharge port, and a connection part that is inserted into the hose part, and the water discharge head has a reinforcing member attached to an end part of the connection part within the hose part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the present invention generally relate to water faucet devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, faucet devices in which the water discharge head is detachable from the faucet body are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Among such faucet devices, those in which the hose is made of metal and formed into an accordion shape, as in Patent Document 1, are widely known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-060407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] While using a metal hose as in Patent Document 1 makes it easier to ensure a certain level of durability, it also makes a loud noise when the inner tube of the faucet body and the metal hose come into contact when the spout head is pulled out, which is unpleasant for the user. Furthermore, using a metal hose that is long enough to be pulled out increases costs.

[0005] Here, using a flexible resin hose reduces the noise of the hose coming into contact with the inner tube of the faucet body when the spout head is pulled out, compared to a metal hose, and also reduces costs, but there is a risk that the durability of the hose will be reduced.In particular, in faucet devices where the pulled-out spout head is used by moving it in various directions, the hose is subjected to a large load, and if the hose's durability is low, it could break in the worst case scenario.

[0006] It is possible to improve durability by making the hose thicker, but if the hose is too thick, it will be difficult to handle the water spout head when pulling it out for use, making it difficult to operate.

[0007] The present invention was made based on the recognition of such problems, and aims to provide a water-spouting device that ensures both the durability of the plastic hose when the water-spouting head is pulled out for use and the operability of the water-spouting head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A faucet device according to one aspect of the embodiment comprises a faucet body, a water discharge head that can be attached and detached to the faucet body, and a flexible resin hose portion that is connected to the water discharge head so that water can pass through, wherein the water discharge head comprises a head body having a water discharge outlet and a connecting portion that is inserted into the hose portion, and has a reinforcing member that is attached to the end of the connecting portion within the hose portion.

[0009] As a result, when the water spouting head is pulled out and used, the reinforcing member supports the hose portion from the inside, ensuring the durability of the hose portion. Also, even if the water spouting head is handled in various directions, the reinforcing member bends, making it easy to handle the water spouting head and ensuring operability of the water spouting head. Therefore, it is possible to ensure both the durability of the resin hose portion when the water spouting head is pulled out and used and the operability of the water spouting head.

[0010] The reinforcing member is characterized by being a coil portion.

[0011] This makes it possible to ensure the durability of the resin hose section when the water spouting head is pulled out for use with a simple configuration, while also achieving ease of use for the water spouting head.

[0012] The connecting portion is characterized by having a spiral groove on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion.

[0013] This makes it difficult for the coil portion to come off the connection portion.

[0014] The coil portion has a first portion at one end, at least a portion of which is attached to the end of the connection portion, and a second portion located on the other end side of the first portion, and the winding pitch of the first portion is shorter than the winding pitch of the second portion.

[0015] This makes it difficult for the coil portion to come off the connection portion due to the first portion having a shorter winding pitch, and makes it easier to handle the water-spouting head due to the second portion having a longer winding pitch than the first portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to ensure both the durability of the plastic hose when the water spouting head is pulled out and used, and the operability of the water spouting head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a water faucet device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water faucet device according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a hose portion is pulled out. [Figure 3] 1A is an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of a water faucet device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a joint pipe and a coil portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a joint pipe and a coil portion of a water faucet device according to Modification 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a joint pipe and a coil portion of a water faucet device according to a second modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the following components, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0019] A water faucet device 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the water faucet device 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the water faucet device 1 according to an embodiment with the hose portion 30 pulled out.

[0020] The faucet device 1 is attached to a counter C provided in, for example, a kitchen or bathroom vanity, and comprises a faucet body 10, a water discharge head 20 that can be attached and detached from the faucet body 10, and a flexible resin hose portion 30 that is connected to the water discharge head 20 so that water can pass through.

[0021] The faucet body 10 has a lever 11 provided on the top, and a spout part 12 to which the water spouting head 20 can be attached and detached, and from which the hose part 30 can be pulled out and inserted as the water spouting head 20 moves.

[0022] The water-spouting head 20 comprises a head body 22 having a water outlet 21, and a joint pipe 23 having one end connected to the head body 22 and the other end connected to a hose section 30. The joint pipe 23 is formed separately from the head body 22. When the water-spouting head 20 attached to the spout section 12 is pulled out from the spout section 12, the hose section 30 is also pulled out together, as shown in Figure 2. This allows water to reach positions that the water outlet 21 cannot reach when the water-spouting head 20 is attached to the spout section 12, making it possible to spray water over a wide area.

[0023] Next, the connection portion between the joint pipe 23 and the hose portion 30 of the faucet device 1 according to the embodiment, and the coil portion 40 will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 shows (A) an enlarged cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of the faucet device 1 according to the embodiment, and (B) an exploded view of the joint pipe 23 and the coil portion 40.

[0024] The joint pipe 23 has a head body side connecting portion 24 at one end to which the head body 22 is connected, and a hose part side connecting portion 25 at the other end to which the hose part 30 is connected.

[0025] The hose part-side connecting part 25 is inserted into the hose part 30. The outer peripheral surface of the hose part-side connecting part 25 is provided with an annular protrusion 25a that bites into the inner surface of the hose part 30, an annular recess 25b that faces and presses against the inner surface of the hose part 30, and an end part 25c to which the coil part 40, which will be described later, is attached.

[0026] End portion 25c is formed so that its outer diameter is smaller than that of the portion where annular protrusion 25a and annular recess 25b are provided (i.e., the portion closer to head body 22 than end portion 25c). Furthermore, a spiral groove 25d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of end portion 25c. The outer diameter of spiral groove 25d is approximately the same as the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of coil portion 40. Preferably, the outer diameter of spiral groove 25d and the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of coil portion 40 are the same, or the diameter of the inner peripheral portion of coil portion 40 is smaller than the outer diameter of spiral groove 25d.

[0027] The method of connecting the end 25c and the coil portion 40 will be described. The inner periphery of the coil portion 40 is aligned with the end 25c, and the coil portion 40 is pressed into the end 25c while being rotated in the winding direction of the coil portion 40. This applies a force in the outer diameter direction to the inner periphery of the coil portion 40, expanding the diameter of the inner periphery of the coil portion 40. This makes the inner diameter of the coil portion 40 larger than the outer diameter of the end 25c, making it easy to attach the coil portion 40 to the end 25c. In the attached state, the attachment positions of the coil portion 40 and the end 25c are fixed. When the coil portion 40 is rotated in the opposite direction to the winding direction of the coil portion 40, a force is applied in a direction that reduces the diameter of the inner periphery of the coil portion 40, causing the coil portion 40 to bite into the end 25c. The normal force acting between the coil portion 40 and the end 25c increases, increasing the static friction between them. As a result, the relative movement of the coil portion 40 with respect to the end portion 25c is suppressed, and the coil portion 40 is less likely to come off the end portion 25c.

[0028] Next, the coil portion 40 of the faucet device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0029] The coil portion 40 is a member formed by spirally winding stainless steel wire that is formed separately from the joint pipe 23. The coil portion 40 has a first portion 41 at one end, at least a portion of which is attached to the end portion 25c, a second portion 42 located closer to the other end than the first portion 41, and a third portion 43 at the other end.

[0030] The first portion 41, the second portion 42, and the third portion 43 each have a different winding pitch. The winding pitch refers to the number of windings per unit length. The first portion 41 has a winding pitch that ensures close contact between the wires to ensure durability and reduce kinking of the hose portion 30 near the connection between the coupling pipe 23 and the coil portion 40. The second portion 42 has a winding pitch that leaves a gap of 3 to 6 mm between the wires to facilitate handling of the water spout head 20. The third portion 43 has a winding pitch that ensures close contact between the wires, similar to the first portion 41, to prevent damage to the hose portion 30 even if the end of the coil portion 40 comes into contact with the hose portion 30. By making the winding pitch of the first member 41 smaller than or equal to the winding pitch of the spiral groove 25d of the end portion 25c, the coil portion 40 is less likely to come off the end portion 25c.

[0031] The faucet device 1 of the embodiment is a faucet device 1 comprising a faucet body 10, a water discharge head 20 that can be attached and detached to the faucet body 10, and a flexible resin hose section 30 that is connected to the water discharge head 20 so that water can pass through.The water discharge head 20 comprises a head body 22 that has a water discharge outlet 21, and a connection section (hose section side connection section 25) that is inserted into the hose section 30, and is characterized by having a coil section 40 (reinforcing member) that is attached to the end 25c of the connection section (hose section side connection section 25) within the hose section 30.

[0032] As a result, when the water-spouting head 20 is pulled out and used, the coil portion 40 supports the hose portion 30 from the inside, thereby ensuring the durability of the hose portion 30. Furthermore, even if the water-spouting head 20 is handled in various directions, the coil portion 30 bends, making it easy to handle the water-spouting head 20 and ensuring the operability of the water-spouting head 20. Therefore, it is possible to ensure both the durability of the resin hose portion 30 and the operability of the water-spouting head 20 when the water-spouting head 20 is pulled out and used.

[0033] The connecting portion (hose-side connecting portion 25) is characterized by having a spiral groove 25d on the outer peripheral surface of end portion 25c.

[0034] This makes it possible to make it difficult for the coil portion 40 to come off from the connection portion (hose portion side connection portion 25).

[0035] The coil portion 40 has a first portion 41 at one end, at least a portion of which is attached to the end 25c of the connection portion (hose portion side connection portion 25), and a second portion 42 located on the other end side of the first portion 41, and is characterized in that the winding pitch of the first portion 41 is shorter than the winding pitch of the second portion 42.

[0036] As a result, the first part 41 with a short winding pitch makes it difficult for the coil part 40 to come off the connection part (hose part side connection part 25), and the second part 42 with a longer winding pitch than the first part 41 makes it easier to handle the water-spouting head 20.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the end 25c of the joint pipe 23 is formed with the spiral groove 25d, but this is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, the joint pipe 123 may be configured such that a recess 125d is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end 125c, and the end of the coil portion 40 fits into the recess 125d, thereby making it difficult for the coil portion 40 to come off the end 125c of the joint pipe 123. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the joint pipe 223 may be configured such that a tapered portion 225d is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end 225c, the diameter of which increases toward the tip, making it difficult for the coil portion 40 to come off the end 225c of the joint pipe 223 after the coil portion 40 and the end 225c of the joint pipe 223 are connected.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the coil portion 40 is used as the reinforcing member, but this is not limiting. For example, a flexible tube or spiral tube may be used as the reinforcing member and attached to the end portion 25c of the connection portion (hose portion-side connection portion 25) inside the hose portion 30.

[0039] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Faucet equipment 10 Faucet body 11 Lever 12 Spout 20 water discharge head 21 Outlet 22 Head body 23 Joint pipe 24 Head body side connection part 25 Hose side connection (connection) 25a Annular protrusion 25b Annular recess 25c end 25d spiral groove 30 Hose section 40 Coil section 41 Part 1 42 Part 2 43 Part 3 123 Joint pipe 125c end 125d recess 223 Joint pipe 225c end 225d tapered section C Counter

Claims

1. A faucet device comprising a faucet body, a water spouting head that is detachable from the faucet body, and a flexible resin hose portion that is connected to the water spouting head so that water can pass through it, The water spouting head comprises a head body having a water spouting outlet and a connecting portion inserted into the hose portion, a reinforcing member attached to an end of the connecting portion within the hose portion, The reinforcing member is a coil portion, the coil portion has a first portion at one end, at least a portion of which is attached to an end of the connection portion, and a second portion located closer to the other end than the first portion, A water faucet device characterized in that the winding pitch of the first portion is shorter than the winding pitch of the second portion.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector has a spiral groove on the outer circumferential surface of the end portion. Faucet device.

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