Water discharge device

Abstract

To maintain proper operability during rotation of an arm, in a water discharge device having the rotating arm.SOLUTION: A water discharge device 10 comprises: a device body 11; an arm 51 which includes a water discharge part 56 and is rotatably supported by the device body 11; an elastic member 66 for applying an elastic rotational force to the arm 51; and an adjustment part 72 which adjusts the amount of deformation of the elastic member 66 when the arm 51 is located in a prescribed position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a water discharge device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a water discharge device in which the lower end of a body shower arm is rotatably attached to both the left and right outer surfaces of the housing of the device body. Water supplied to the body shower arm is discharged from a nozzle attached to the arm. In this specification, hot water and cold water are collectively referred to as water. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-112264 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above device, when rotating the arm upward, a force is required to resist the arm's own weight, which makes it difficult to operate. One possible solution to this problem is to provide a spring member that applies an upward force to the arm, thereby improving operability through the assistance of the spring member. However, there is a concern that the assist performance will decrease due to deterioration of the spring member over time.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to solve the problem of maintaining good operability when rotating an arm in a water discharge device having a rotating arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The water-discharging device of the present disclosure comprises a device main body, an arm having a water-discharging portion and rotatably supported on the device main body, an elastic member that imparts an elastic rotational force to the arm, and an adjustment portion that adjusts the amount of deformation of the elastic member when the arm is in a predetermined position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water discharge device showing the state in which the body shower is in the use position in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the water discharge device showing the body shower in the retracted position. [Figure 3] A partially enlarged perspective view showing the internal structure of the water discharge device [Figure 4] Front cross-sectional view showing the connection structure between the housing and the arm [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view corresponding to line AA in FIG. 4, showing the state before adjusting the deformation amount of the elastic member. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view corresponding to line AA in Figure 4, showing the state after adjusting the deformation amount of the elastic member. [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view corresponding to line BB in Figure 4, showing the state before adjusting the deformation amount of the elastic member. [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view corresponding to line BB in Figure 4, showing the state after adjusting the deformation amount of the elastic member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] <Embodiment 1> The water discharger 10 of the first embodiment embodying the present disclosure is used in a state where it is attached to a bathroom wall (not shown) with its back surface placed on top of the wall. The direction of the water discharger 10 is defined as it is attached to the wall. Figure 1 shows the water discharger 10 attached to the wall of the bathroom.

[0009] The front-to-back direction is a direction perpendicular to the front face F of the water discharger 10 and the wall surface, with the front face F side of the water discharger 10 (the positive side of the X axis in Figures 1 to 3, 5 to 8) being defined as the front, and the back side of the water discharger 10 being defined as the rear. The front-to-back direction and the depth direction are used synonymously. Regarding the up-down direction, the ceiling side of the bathroom (the positive side of the Z axis in Figures 1 to 4, 7 and 8) is defined as the top, and the floor side of the bathroom is defined as the bottom. Regarding the left-to-right direction, when a user faces the front face F of the water discharger 10 in the bathroom, the right side of the user (the positive side of the Y axis in Figures 1 to 6) is defined as the right, and the left side of the user is defined as the left. The left-to-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously.

[0010] <Outline of the water discharge device 10> 1 and 2, water discharge device 10 includes device main body 11, one hand shower 21, and a pair of left and right body showers 50. Device main body 11 includes housing 12, a faucet main body (not shown), shower switching valve 16, and shower support structure 30 for supporting body shower 50.

[0011] The housing 12 has an overall rectangular shape. When viewed from the front, the housing 12 has a rectangular shape with a height in the up-down direction greater than a width in the left-right direction. The depth in the front-to-back direction of the housing 12 is smaller than its width. The housing 12 is attached to the wall of the bathroom. The faucet main body is attached to the wall of the bathroom below the housing 12. The faucet main body has a water flow rate adjustment function unit, a water temperature adjustment function unit, a faucet, and a water flow path switching valve. The flow path switching valve switches between a water discharge mode from the faucet and a water discharge mode from the hand shower 21 and body shower 50. In this embodiment 1, hot water and cold water are collectively referred to as water.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 3, a shower switching valve 16 is housed inside the housing 12. A faucet connection 17 is provided at the left end of the bottom wall 13 of the housing 12. A shower connection 18 is provided at the right end of the bottom wall 13 of the housing 12. A water supply hose (not shown) extending from the faucet body is connected to the faucet connection 17. The downstream end of a shower water supply pipe 19 extending from the faucet connection 17 is connected to the shower switching valve 16. The upstream end of a hand shower piping 20 is connected to the shower connection 18. The upstream end of the hand shower piping 20 is connected to the shower connection 18. The upstream end of a shower hose 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of a hand shower 21 is connected to the shower connection 18. A shower head 23 is connected to the downstream end of the shower hose 22.

[0013] As shown in Figure 3, the upstream end of body shower piping 24 is connected to shower switch valve 16. A branch section 25 is provided at the downstream end of body shower piping 24. The upstream ends of a pair of left and right branch pipes 26 are connected to branch section 25. The downstream end of each branch pipe 26 is connected to the upstream end of the water pipes (not shown) of a pair of left and right body showers 50. By operating handle 27, shower switch valve 16 can be switched between a water supply mode for hand shower 21 and a water supply mode for body shower 50.

[0014] As shown in Figures 3 to 8, the shower support structure 30 for supporting the body shower 50 has a back panel 31, a pair of left and right brackets 32, a pair of left and right support frames 33, and a pair of left and right cylindrical fixed shafts 40. The back panel 31 is fixed to the rear wall 14 and bottom wall 13 of the housing 12. The pair of brackets 32 are fixed to the front surface of the back panel 31. The pair of support frames 33 are fixed to the front surfaces of the brackets 32.

[0015] The support frame 33 has a back plate 34, a pair of left and right side plates 35, 36, and a top plate 37. The back plate 34 is fixed to the front surface of the bracket 32. The pair of side plates 35, 36 protrude forward from both left and right side edges of the back plate 34. The top plate 37 connects the upper edges of the left and right side plates 35, 36. The internal space of the support frame 33 is open to the front and bottom surfaces of the support frame 33.

[0016] The support frame 33 is disposed at both left and right ends of the housing 12. Of the pair of side plates 35, 36, the first side plate 35, which is closer to the side wall 15 of the housing 12, is fixed to the side wall 15. As shown in FIG. 4 , a bearing hole 38 is formed in the side wall 15 and the first side plate 35. Of the pair of side plates 35, 36, the second side plate 36, which is farther from the side wall 15, is formed with a through hole 39. One end 41 of a cylindrical fixed shaft 40 is fixed to the through hole 39. The cylindrical fixed shaft 40 is disposed inside the support frame 33 with its axial direction oriented in the left-right direction. The other end 42 of the cylindrical fixed shaft 40 is formed with a flange 43 that protrudes radially outward.

[0017] <Body Shower 50> The pair of left and right body showers 50 each have a pair of left and right elongated arms 51, a pair of left and right balancers 65, and a pair of left and right braking mechanisms 80. The pair of arms 51 are attached to the shower support structure 30. The arms 51 rotate vertically around the base ends of the arms 51 between an in-use position (see Figure 1) and a storage position (see Figures 2 to 4). In the storage position, the arms 51 are positioned in an upright position along the outer surface of the housing 12. In the usage position, the arms 51 are tilted around the base ends of the arms 51 as a fulcrum and are positioned so as to protrude forward of the housing 12.

[0018] The arm 51 has an elongated exterior body 52, a water pipe (not shown), and multiple water outlets 56. The exterior body 52 is a cylindrical member formed by assembling an inner cover 53, a side cover 54, and a front cover 55. The inner cover 53 has a long, box-like shape with an opening on the outer surface. The side cover 54 is arranged to cover the opening on the outer surface of the inner cover 53. The front cover 55 is arranged to cover the front surface of the inner cover 53. A water pipe is housed inside the exterior body 52 over the entire length of the arm 51. The water pipe is provided with multiple water outlets 56. The multiple water outlets 56 are exposed at the openings in the inner cover 53 and the front cover 55. Temperature-adjusted water is discharged from the water outlets 56.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4 , a cylindrical movable shaft 60 with its axis oriented in the left-right direction is fixed to the base end of the arm 51. The cylindrical movable shaft 60 is attached to the inner cover 53 so as to be rotatable integrally with the inner cover 53 and protrudes from the inner cover 53 toward the housing 12. The cylindrical movable shaft 60 penetrates the bearing hole 38 of the housing 12 and the bearing hole 38 of the support frame 33 via a bushing 61. The protruding end of the cylindrical movable shaft 60 is disposed inside the support frame 33 and is coaxially fitted onto the other end 42 of the cylindrical fixed shaft 40. An annular stopper 62 protruding radially inward is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the protruding end of the cylindrical movable shaft 60. The stopper 62 is disposed between the flange 43 of the cylindrical fixed shaft 40 and a spacer 63 is sandwiched in the axial direction.

[0020] The arm 51 and the cylindrical movable shaft 60 are rotatable relative to the cylindrical fixed shaft 40 around the axis of the cylindrical movable shaft 60 and the cylindrical fixed shaft 40. The branch pipe 26 for the body shower 50 is inserted through the cylindrical fixed shaft 40 and the cylindrical movable shaft 60. The tip of the branch pipe 26 is connected to a water pipe inside the exterior body 52.

[0021] <Balancer 65> The balancer 65 has an elastic member 66 and an adjustment portion 72. The elastic member 66 is made of a torsion spring having a coil portion 67 and a pair of hook portions 68, 69. The coil portion 67 is disposed inside the support frame 33 so as to concentrically surround the cylindrical fixed shaft 40. The pair of hook portions 68, 69 extend from both axial ends of the coil portion 67.

[0022] Of the pair of hook portions 68, 69, the fixed portion hook portion 68 is connected to one of the two end portions of the coil portion 67 that is farther from the arm 51 in the axial direction of the coil portion 67. The fixed portion hook portion 68 is hooked onto an adjustment portion 72 of the support frame 33. Details of the adjustment portion 72 will be described later. The position of the fixed portion hook portion 68 does not change even when the arm 51 rotates between the storage position and the use position. Of the pair of hook portions 68, 69, the movable side hook portion 69 is connected to one of the two end portions of the coil portion 67 that is closer to the arm 51 in the axial direction of the coil portion 67. The movable side hook portion 69 is hooked onto a spring receiving portion 70 attached to the cylindrical movable shaft 60.

[0023] With the fixed portion hook portion 68 hooked onto the adjustment portion 72 and the movable side hook portion 69 hooked onto the spring bearing portion 70 of the cylindrical movable shaft 60, the coil portion 67 is maintained in a state of elastic deformation in the diameter contraction direction regardless of whether the arm 51 is in a position between the storage position and the use position. When the arm 51 and the cylindrical movable shaft 60 rotate between the storage position and the use position, the movable side hook portion 69 displaces circumferentially together with the cylindrical movable shaft 60. The direction of displacement of the movable side hook portion 69 when the arm 51 rotates from the storage position to the use position is a direction that causes the coil portion 67 to deform in a diameter contraction direction, i.e., a direction that increases the amount of elastic deformation of the coil portion 67.

[0024] The elastic member 66 applies an upward rotational force to the arm 51. The elastic rotational force applied by the elastic member 66 reduces the downward moment caused by the weight of the arm 51. Therefore, when the arm 51 is displaced from the use position to the storage position, the elastic force of the elastic member 66 reduces the operating force applied to the arm 51.

[0025] <Adjustment section 72> The adjustment portion 72 has a first hook portion 73 and a second hook portion 74 formed on the upper plate portion 37 of the support frame 33. A first notch portion 75 is formed in the upper plate portion 37. The first notch portion 75 is located on an edge portion of the upper plate portion 37 that is close to the second side plate portion 36 in the axial direction of the coil portion 67. In a plan view, the first notch portion 75 is open to the side edges and rear edge of the upper plate portion 37. A front edge portion of the notch edge portion of the first notch portion 75 in the upper plate portion 37 functions as the first hook portion 73. A side edge portion of the notch edge portion of the first notch portion 75 in the upper plate portion 37 that extends in the front-to-rear direction and the second side plate portion 36 function as a first positioning portion 77. The first positioning portion 77 prevents the fixing portion hook portion 68 from being misaligned in the left-right direction with respect to the first hook portion 73.

[0026] A second notch 76 is formed in the upper plate portion 37. The second notch 76 is disposed in a position on the upper plate portion 37 closer to the movable hook portion 69 than the first notch 75 in the axial direction of the coil portion 67. In a plan view, the second notch 76 has an L-shaped groove bent at a right angle. The second notch 76 opens to a side edge portion (first positioning portion 77) of the first notch 75. Of the notch edge portion of the second notch 76 in the upper plate portion 37, the innermost edge of the groove functions as a second hook portion 74. In a plan view, the second hook portion 74 is located rearward of the first hook portion 73. Of the notch edge portion of the second notch 76 in the upper plate portion 37, a pair of parallel side edges extending parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction function as a second positioning portion 78. The second positioning portion 78 prevents the fixing portion hook portion 68 from being misaligned in the left-right direction relative to the second hook portion 74.

[0027] When the water discharger 10 of the first embodiment is first installed in the bathroom, the fixing part hook part 68 is hooked onto the first hook part 73, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. If the water discharger 10 is used for many years, the coil part 67 of the elastic member 66 may deteriorate over time, which may cause a decrease in the elastic rotational force applied from the elastic member 66 to the arm 51. In this case, the fixing part hook part 68 is detached from the first hook part 73 and is hooked onto the second hook part 74, which is located further rearward than the first hook part 73, as shown in Figures 6 and 8.

[0028] When arm 51 is in a predetermined position (for example, the storage position), changing fixed portion hook portion 68 from a state in which it is hooked on first hook portion 73 to a state in which it is hooked on second hook portion 74 increases the amount of elastic deformation of coil portion 67. This increases the elastic rotational force applied to arm 51 from elastic member 66. In this way, by changing the position of fixed portion hook portion 68 using adjustment portion 72, it is possible to restore the assist performance of elastic member 66 when returning arm 51 to the storage position.

[0029] <Brake mechanism 80> The brake mechanism 80 is provided between the base end of the arm 51 and the cylindrical fixed shaft 40 of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4 , the brake mechanism 80 is configured to include a disc spring 81, a washer 82, a retaining ring 83, and a lock nut 84. The lock nut 84 is attached to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical movable shaft 60. The disc spring 81, the washer 82, and the retaining ring 83 are disposed between the lock nut 84 and the flange 43 of the cylindrical fixed shaft 40. The spacer 63, the flange 43 of the cylindrical fixed shaft 40, the washer 82, the retaining ring 83, and the disc spring 81 are disposed between the stopper 62 of the cylindrical movable shaft 60 and the lock nut 84 so as to be aligned in the axial direction.

[0030] When arm 51 rotates, frictional resistance is generated between the axially adjacent members 62, 63, 43, 82, 83, 81, and 84 due to the elastic restoring force of disc spring 81. Due to the frictional resistance caused by the elasticity of disc spring 81, braking mechanism 80 exerts a braking force that exceeds the moment caused by the weight of arm 51. This braking force exerted by braking mechanism 80 can hold arm 51 at any position between the storage position and the usage position.

[0031] <Effects of the First Embodiment> The water discharger 10 of the first embodiment has a device main body 11, an arm 51, an elastic member 66, and an adjustment unit 72. The arm 51 has a water discharge unit 56 and is rotatably supported on the device main body 11. The elastic member 66 applies an elastic rotational force to the arm 51. The adjustment unit 72 adjusts the amount of deformation of the elastic member 66 when the arm 51 is in a predetermined position. The position of the arm 51 when adjusted by the adjustment unit 72 can be set to any position between the storage position and the use position.

[0032] According to this configuration, the amount of deformation of the elastic member 66 when the arm 51 is in a predetermined position can be adjusted in accordance with deterioration over time of the elastic member 66. This adjustment prevents the elastic rotational force applied from the elastic member 66 to the arm 51 from remaining reduced. According to the water discharger 10 of the first embodiment, good operability can be maintained when rotating the arm 51.

[0033] The adjustment unit 72 is not provided on the arm 51, but only on the device body 11. This makes it possible to avoid an increase in size and weight of the arm 51, which is a movable member. The coil unit 67 of the elastic member 66 is disposed inside the device body 11. Compared to when the coil unit 67 is disposed inside the arm 51, the arm 51 can be made smaller.

[0034] The elastic member 66 has a coil portion 67. The coil portion 67 can be arranged coaxially with the rotation center axis of the arm 51 (the cylindrical movable shaft 60 and the cylindrical fixed shaft 40), resulting in excellent space efficiency. The elastic member 66 is a torsion coil spring having a pair of hook portions 68, 69 formed on both ends of the coil portion 67. Of the pair of hook portions 68, 69, the fixed portion hook portion 68 (one hook portion) is hooked onto the adjustment portion 72 of the device main body 11. Of the pair of hook portions 68, 69, the movable side hook portion 69 (the other hook portion) is hooked onto the cylindrical movable shaft 60 of the arm 51. Even when the deformation amount of the elastic member 66 is adjusted, the axial length of the coil portion 67 hardly changes, resulting in excellent space efficiency.

[0035] The adjustment portion 72 adjusts the amount of deformation of the elastic member 66 by changing the position of the fixing portion hook portion 68 in the circumferential direction of the coil portion 67. The adjustment portion 72 has a plurality of hook portions (first hook portion 73 and second hook portion 74) onto which the fixing portion hook portion 68 can be hooked. The first hook portion 73 and the second hook portion 74 are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the coil portion 67. The amount of deformation of the elastic member 66 can be adjusted by hooking the fixing portion hook portion 68 onto another hook portion.

[0036] The rotation path of arm 51 between the storage position and the use position includes a path of displacement in the up and down direction. The direction in which elastic member 66 applies elastic rotational force is a direction in which arm 51 is displaced upward. The elastic rotational force applied by elastic member 66 reduces the downward moment due to the weight of arm 51, so that arm 51 can be rotated upward with ease.

[0037] The water discharger 10 includes a housing 12 that rotatably supports an arm 51. Specifically, the arm 51 is rotatably supported by using a bearing hole 38 in the side wall portion 15 of the housing 12 and a cylindrical fixed shaft 40 attached to the housing 12. The arm 51 is rotatable between a storage position along the outer surface of the housing 12 and a use position in which the arm 51 protrudes forward from the housing 12 to activate the water discharger 56. The direction in which the elastic member 66 applies an elastic rotational force is a direction that displaces the arm 51 toward the storage position. After using the water discharger 10, the arm 51 can be easily returned to the storage position. The device includes a braking mechanism 80 that can hold the arm 51 at any position in the rotation path of the arm 51, so that the arm 51 can be held at a desired position between the storage position and the use position.

[0038] <Other embodiments> The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] (1) Adjustment unit: The adjustment unit may be provided only on the arm, or on both the device body and the arm. The adjustment unit may be capable of continuously adjusting the deformation amount of the elastic member. Specifically, the hook portion may be configured to contact a bolt screwed into the female thread portion.

[0040] (2) Elastic member: The elastic member may not have a coil portion. The elastic member may be a compression coil spring or a tension coil spring. The coil portion may be disposed only within the arm, or may be disposed both within the device body and within the arm. The direction in which the elastic member applies an elastic rotational force may be a direction that displaces the arm toward the use position.

[0041] (3) Arm: The arm may rotate horizontally while maintaining a constant height. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10...water discharge device, 11...device main body, 12...housing, 51...arm, 56...water discharge section, 66...elastic member, 67...coil section, 68...fixed side hook section (hook section), 69...movable side hook section (hook section), 72...adjustment section, 73...first hook section (hook section), 74...second hook section (hook section), 80...brake mechanism

Claims

1. A device body, an arm having a water discharge portion and rotatably supported on the device body; an elastic member that applies an elastic rotational force to the arm; an adjustment unit that adjusts the deformation amount of the elastic member when the arm is in a predetermined position, the elastic member is a torsion coil spring having a coil portion and a pair of hook portions formed on both ends of the coil portion, One of the hook portions is hooked onto the device body, The other hook portion is hooked onto the arm, the adjustment unit adjusts the deformation amount of the elastic member by changing the position of the hook portion in the circumferential direction of the coil portion; the adjustment portion has a plurality of hook portions onto which the hook portion can be hooked, A water discharge device in which the multiple hook portions are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the coil portion and in the axial direction of the coil portion.

2. A device body, an arm having a water discharge portion and rotatably supported on the device body; an elastic member that applies an elastic rotational force to the arm; an adjustment unit that adjusts the deformation amount of the elastic member when the arm is in a predetermined position, the elastic member is a torsion coil spring having a coil portion and a pair of hook portions formed on both ends of the coil portion, One of the hook portions is hooked onto the device body, The other hook portion is hooked onto the arm, the adjustment unit adjusts the deformation amount of the elastic member by changing the position of the hook portion in the circumferential direction of the coil portion; the adjustment portion has a plurality of hook portions onto which the hook portion can be hooked, The hook portion has a groove shape along the circumferential direction of the coil portion, A water discharge device in which the multiple hook portions are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the coil portion.

3. A water-discharging device as described in Claim 1, wherein the hook portion has a groove shape that runs circumferentially around the coil portion.

4. A water discharge device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustment unit is provided only on the device main body.

5. The rotation path of the arm includes a path of displacement in the up and down direction, The water discharger according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the direction in which the elastic member applies an elastic rotational force is a direction in which the arm is displaced upward.

6. A housing is provided that rotatably supports the arm, The arm is rotatable between a storage position along the outer surface of the housing and a use position in which the arm protrudes from the housing and activates the water discharger, The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the direction in which the elastic member applies an elastic rotational force is a direction in which the arm is displaced toward the storage position.

Images